Day 25 - Hittin' the Slopes

Alcohol Units: 2 glasses of champagne
Running Units: 0
Other exercise Units: Skiing
Stretching Units: 0

Poppa and I hit up the slopes today. At first it felt like I was getting the old rhythm back but by the end of the day I was tired and falling - a lot.

Day 24 - Day of Rest

Alcohol Units: 0
Running Units: 0
Other exercise Units: 0
Stretching Units: a bit

Did a bit of stretching. And that's about all.

Day 23 - Yoga anyone

Alcohol Units: 0
Running Units: 0
Other exercise Units: Yoga
Stretching Units: multiple

Hit up yoga at dad's gym. It was hard. Very hard but very good.

Day 22 - Shopping with Mom

Alcohol Units: 0
Running Units: 0
Other exercise Units: Shopping with Mom
Stretching Units: multiple

Hip was still killing me. KILLING me! So I limped around Nordstrom with Mom and bought a few nice things (thanks Mom!).

Stretched it out as best as I could.

Went to dinner in Plymouth at a little restaurant called Taste. It was phenomenal.

Day 21 - Sacramento TNT

Alcohol Units: 0
Running Units: 6 miles
Other exercise Units: 0
Stretching Units: 0

I found the Sacramento Team In Training chapter at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery at 7:30 this morning. It was VERY cold (for me). 39 degrees. No joke. I had no idea what to wear.

I was supposed to do 8 miles but only did 6. My hip was killing me by the end. The first 2 miles I ran/walked 1 minute each which went pretty well. the next 2 I ran 1 minute - walked 2 minutes. The last 2 miles I limped back.

I did have an epiphany while out on this run. I've been focusing in pushing myself up with each step. Shockingly I'm supposed to be pushing myself forward. Sounds like a moronic revelation but I'm a moronic runner.

I do have to say the Sacramento team was AWESOME! All the couches were really nice as were the team members. I can't thank them enough.

Day 20 - SF for a day

Alcohol Units: wine, definitely wine
Running Units: 0
Other exercise Units: walk
Stretching Units: none

Drove into SF today to visit the new CA Academy of Arts and Sciences. Unfortunately everyone else in the Northern CA area had the same idea.

Instead we walked around the Palace of the Fine Arts and down to Crissy Fields (picking up hot chocolate on the way of course).

Day 19 - He Came! He Came!

Alcohol Units: well there were the mimosas in the morning, the wine later on...
Running Units: 0
Other exercise Units: Long walk with the family, playing with the little ones
Stretching Units: Some

First of all - Santa did visit. He came, he delivered and I was happy he recognized what a good girl I was this last year.

There was no organized exercising or stretching today. I did go for a long walk with the family and then spent a few hours rough-housing on the floor with the little ones.

Day 18 - Santa is coming

Alcohol Units: more than 1
Running Units: 30 - 55 minutes
Other exercise Units: Shopping??
Stretching Units: 0

Set out in the rain for my 30-55 minutes of running. This included large pains in my shins. A little ice afterwards helped a great deal.

Later in the day I shopped, shopped and shopped.

Dinner was at 4PM with all the Pomers and Longs. Church right after and then... bedtime so Santa could visit!

Day 17 - Am I there yet?!

Alcohol Units: 0
Running Units: 0
Other exercise Units: Isometrics in the car during my 8 1/2 hour drive north
Stretching Units: Absolutely NONE

I drove north after work today and did not get up early to go on a run or do an alternate exercise - yes you're shocked! I worked ALL day which was just torture and then got in the car to head north. It took over 4 hours to get to the grapevine. The worst was from Cal Arts to Magic Mountain (a few miles) which took over a year. The lovely state had closed 2 lanes. Grrrrrr.

I tried to do some exercises while speeding down the highway but really not a great idea so I just sat and listened to my book on tape. The last hour or two I grooved to some tunes and danced and drived.

It was a LONG trip. But I made it home safely.

Day 16 - Stretch & Pack

Alcohol Units: 0
Running Units: 0
Other exercise Units: Packing, taking items to the car, up and down the stairs repeatedly
Stretching Units: multiple

Anyone remember Legally Blonde "Bend and Snap"? Well I stretched and packed last night. Not quite the same ring to it. My car is full of all kinds of goodies for a week in Northern CA. I've got ALL my laundry plus assorted items to give to the nieces and then the items I'll need for a week of holiday festivities, skiing and visiting.

As for my stretching... my hips were killing me today! I was limping around the office for the first half of the day unable to loosen them up. Eventually they did loosen their clench hold on my legs. I was good about stretching them out last night but didn't do too many other stretches. By the time I was done loading the car I was pretty tired from the up and down of 2 sets of stairs.

Day 15 - Wow

Alcohol Units: 0
Running Units: 7 miles
Other exercise Units: 1 mile limping to dog park
Stretching Units: Not quite enough

Today was 7 miles with a nice fat hill in the middle. Let's keep in mind that this is the start of my 3rd week running. I've done none of the mid week work (including stretching). I'm tired. Might have had a little stomach bug. In short - really not in the best place to do 7 freaking miles.

I started with the 3-1 (3 minutes running 1 minute walking) group. I kept up for 2 cycles then switched to 1-1 on my own. I was feeling really great about how long I was able to do 1-1 because 2 weeks before - and even the week before - I went about half the distance doing 1-1. Progress! Before I started this I was doing 4-1 on the treadmill (4 minutes walking 1 minute running). Yes I have a long way to go.

When we got to the big hill - and I mean big - I walked. I was not about to run up that damn thing. The walkers caught up with me - quickly and I could barely keep up with them. So my spirits went from "Yes I can!" to "What the hell was I thinking?!". By the time we got back to base camp my feet were screaming at me. My ass was hurting. My body and I were not pleased with each other. I had failed to keep up the running pace AND the walkers had kicked my ass.

I'm going to keep going though. One step at a time!

I did walk Reilly (Jess's dog) to the dog park this afternoon. Really it was more like limping to the dog park. I should tack on that extra mile to my exercise total above!

Reilly the wonder dog (Who was channeling Marley all day!)

Day 14 - Groan

Alcohol Units: 1
Running Units: 0
Other exercise Units: 0
Stretching Units: 0

Still feeling queezy in the AM being vertical so I didn't do my 35-50 minutes of easy running. Instead I went to get my hair done this afternoon.

Tonight I went to the opening of the new Yard House at LA Live. Knowing I have to get up before 7AM tomorrow I was not in party spirits. I did have one cocktail.

Day 13 - Recovery

Alcohol Units: Absolutely positively NONE
Running Units: 0
Other exercise Units: 0
Stretching Units: 0

The recovery was not from training - it was from the holiday party. Whether it was a bad reaction to the food (starting to look that way) or alcohol related the ENTIRE day was spent recovering. I made an effort to go to AJ's 30th birthday party but was still in pretty bad shape. Vertical was not the position for me on Friday.

Day 12 - Holiday Party

Alcohol Units: Far far far too many
Running Units: 0
Other exercise Units: 0
Stretching Units: 0

Company party started at 1:30PM. I had WAY too much alcohol. No exercise was had.

Day 11 - Holidays are here!

Alcohol Units: 0
Running Units: 0
Other exercise Units: 0
Stretching Units: 0

Today was supposed to be a rest and stretch day. Instead it was a go out to eat and do holiday stuff day. Woops.

Day 10 - Cross Training

Alcohol Units: 0
Running Units: 0
Other exercise Units: 1 hour
Stretching Units: Many

Tuesdays are cross training days and pilates days (which are really one in the same). Normally I do semi-privates with this kick ass chick named Nicole. She's tiny and petite and everything I'm not but she's super fierce. She is amazing!! Our instructor is named Erin and she too is tiny (yeah I know they're ridiculous!).

Nicole is off on her honeymoon so I took the group class taught by Lizzy who is... tiny (theme here right?!). Lizzy kicks my ass every single class. She is tough but oh so good.


So after I left pilates I picked up 21 gift cards of a large dollar amount at Burke Williams. These are gift cards for clients (they're from the company not me). I was unsuccessful in negotiating a free massage for my large purchase. It did feel wrong to walk into BW, pick up that many gifts and get nothing. NOTHING.

Day 9 - Rest & Stretch

Alcohol Units: 0
Running Units: 0
Other exercise Units: 0
Stretching Units: Many

Monday is the day of rest (along with Wednesday and Friday) so that's what I did. Rested and stretched.

I spoke with Lisa Pomer Long on Monday. She didn't have much more faith in my ability to do this than John and Blake. Her words "I'll give you $2 for every mile you complete" followed by giggles.

Looking for support here people!!!

Day 8 - Practice

Alcohol Units: 0
Running Units: 4 miles
Other exercise Units: 0

Sunday's 7:30 practice came really early this week. It was probably due to the fact I was at holiday parties the night before (please note the alcohol units from yesterday remain at 0). We did 4 miles through Venice and back to Santa Monica.

My shins were not exactly pleased with me so I did a run walk mixture the first half and walked the second half. The coach told me I should take a week off running to let my shins heal. I pointed out I took 2 years (or 29) off running and had only been running 1 week on them. So we're going to try some stretches and other methods to alleviate the pain.

After practice I headed to Laguna to see brother John. Brother John informed me that he and Brother Blake both agree that I will not do this and will quit. Translation: they have zero faith in me and are offering zero support. Love you too!

Day 7 - "Easy Running"

Alcohol Units: 0
Running Units: not many
Other exercise Units: 0

Saturdays are easy running days. I had a few errands to run before I went for a jog (including buying new shoes).

I went to Top 2 Top (anyone know what that means) to buy my shoes as they offer Team in Training discounts. As with most things I do buying running shoes is difficult. My foot is super narrow especially in the heal making most running shoes unwearable. I was able to find a pair but I'm afraid they're too big in the heal. I would like to mention that buying socks is near the top of my list of things I don't like spending money on. Add to that the fact that the washing machine really does eat socks and I'm just grumpy at socks in general.

I headed down to the water with my fancy new shoes but there was gale force winds down there (not kidding) and my shins were hurting. Yes- the shins hurt again. I walked most of the 35 minutes and stopped at the end to buy a new dress for the evening's parties.

Day 6 - Rest

Alcohol Units: 0
Running Units: 0
Other exercise Units: Does stretching count?

The little calendar I have says "Rest - Be Sure to Stretch!" so I did. I rested after
work and did a bit of stretching.

I sent an email to my family to start raising money for the big race. The subject of the email was "Big Big Announcement From Sarah Owen Lyman (the first)". Of course I received one response that said they thought I was announcing an engagement. Hahaha. See how little my family knows ;). I was able to raise $100 through that email due to my very very kind family.

Day 5 - Hitting the Track

Alcohol Units: 0
Running Units: 2+ miles
Other exercise Units: 0

That's right it only took an extra 4 days to actually run again. Team practices are Thursdays and Sundays. Apparently most people don't attend Thursday practice (but they should - it was nice). There were only 8 of us in total so it was a very small group.

I did a mixture of run/walk again. They (the coaches) still seem confident they can get me running. We'll see.

Oh the practice is like blocks from my house. I thought about driving because I needed food after but realized I couldn't justify that. I was almost hit by a very erratic driver. That would definitely have put a crimp in my training.


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Day 4 - Work Party

Alcohol Units: 0
Running Units: 0
Other exercise Units: 0

Had a work party to attend that prevented any work outs (no morning work outs are not an option). I did refrain from any of the alcoholic temptations as I was driving. In better news my flu seems to have disappeared. I love Oscillococcinum (the wonderful natural flu remedy). I think that plus flu shot helped me out.

Day 3 - Ick

Poundage: We're leaving this one blank forever
Alcohol Units: 0
Running Units: 0
Other exercise Units: 0

Had every intention of going to pilates but seem to have a small dose of the flu. I know it's the flu because last week I said that my flu shot worked really well this year and completely jinxed myself. I did take Oscillococcinum which helped tremendously.

Day 2: Groan

Poundage: We're leaving this one blank forever
Alcohol Units: 0
Running Units: 0
Other exercise Units: 0

Day 2 is off to an excellent start! A little sore from all the exercise yesterday but soreness is always a good thing.

Slowly starting to tell people I signed myself up for this. Most of the reactions so far are shock and awe. Okay really just shock but I'm working on the awe part. Soon my friends, very soon.

Workin' hard for the money

Day 1: The Beginning

Poundage: Don't know don't want to know
Alcohol Units: 0
Running Units: 2-3 miles walk/run
Other exercise Units: 6 hours shopping with Mom

Started the marathon training today. The team seems supportive and very nice. They have confidence they can get me into marathon shape over the next few months.

After 1st 1/2 mile I was informed I should be able to easily have a conversation at my pace. Ha! Need quite a bit more stamina running before that will happen.

I now have just over 5 months to be ready for 26 miles and change. At this point I'm concerned with 1 mile.

Why does it feel like I'm at the bottom of Mt. Everest ready to climb it in flip flops?

Called home and Dad's advice: Don't worry about being #1 in a marathon - really Dad?? You honestly thought I'm aiming for a first place finish?

Workin' hard for the money