marathon training – week 2

This is the second week of the 18 weeks leading up to my first marathon attempt on 12/12/09 in Charlotte, NC.  The week calls for 3 3mile runs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and then a 7 mile run on Saturday.  Today is Wednesday and I ran 3 trail miles on the Anne Springs Close Greenway yesterday afternoon and a little more than 3 miles on the sidewalks this morning.

The trail run was a last minute decision.  I overslept on Tuesday morning and decided that I would either run at lunch or that evening.  After I watched the weather and they said it will be “real hot and steamy”, I decided a lunch run was out.  You’re welcome co-workers.  Then at some point in the morning, I realized that I couldn’t run in the evening because I was donating blood after work and I figure that would not be the best thing to do right after draining a pint of blood.  As luck would have it, I was able to leave work a little after 3PM and I hit the trails to avoid the mid afternoon sun.  The run started great – I love being in the woods and I had them all to myself (except for the squirrels, birds and snakes).  About a mile into the run, I was cruising down a hill and my left foot caught on a root that I didn’t see and I fell over before I could even react.  I fell face first and slid on the rocks, roots and dirt.  My hands and knees took the brunt of the fall and my right knee is bleeding.  Everything was still moving though, so no real damage.  I finished the remaining 2 miles, but with a pretty slow time.  Oh well, the miles still count right?

This morning, I had set my alarm for 4:30, I forced myself out of bed and into my running shoes (for the record, I wore more than just shoes, sorry ladies).  I hit the streets of Fort Mill and ran a little over 3 miles.  I had a faster pace this time, due to the cooler air and flatter terrain – not to mention I didn’t fall this time!

So week 2 is off to a good start.  I will run 3 more miles tomorrow and try to squeeze in the 7 miler on Saturday.  That day is also my daughter’s 3rd birthday and my grandmother’s 93rd birthday party.  Will be a busy day, so I might have to wake up early!