Runner Girl: Healthy, Happy, and Hungry: Another Training Plan Completed

I just crossed run number 63 off of a 64 run training plan (the final 26.2 will happen Saturday)!!!

Crazy, amazing, and horrible things all happen simultaneously when you train to conquer 26.2 miles (or 26.7, as the Blue Ridge Marathon is officially .5 miles over the marathon distance - just one more little hurdle to throw into the mix).

1. Your weight will fluctuate. Some days I was up, some days I was way down. But I rarely weighed the same on any 2 consecutive days. That being said - I look pretty good naked ;) I have packed on muscle in my legs and my waist has thinned out....my pants are all loose. It's a win-win!

2. Hunger is going to happen. I thought I was avoiding it this time...but alas... I am starving 24/7. Which is OK-I mean I was running upwards of 40 miles a week.

3. Drinking isn't fun. I love beer, but whenever I over do it now I feel 100% awful. I've learned it's better to skip it all together the night before a long run. Hangovers and dehydration are NOT fun.

4. You become obsessed with tracking the weather. Right now it looks like I will be getting drenched at some point on Saturday. I'm updating my app every 15 minutes, hoping for good news.

5. Dedicated= stubborn. I was obsessed with figuring out how I would fit in every single run on the training schedule. This was much harder a few months ago when daylight was scarce. And getting in runs meant sacrificing. My evenings, weekends, and even my work schedule were affected by my 'dedication'.

6. Running will break and heal your heart. Some days it's impossible; some days it's therapy. But you never regret the run after you're done. I had a lot of emotional days where I would start crying while I was running. You don't realize how many things are building up, but running allows you to release it all when you need to.

Less Than 24 Hours Until I Leave!!!

I cannot put into words how excited I am for this race. I love Roanoke. I love that I was chosen to be an ambassador. I love the volunteers, the crowds, and the challenging course. I said I want to beat my time of 4:54:54, but honestly just finishing this marathon is a big enough accomplishment. Last time I did this race in 2015 it chewed me up and spit me out. The heat got to me, and I finished with a time of 5:32. I KNOW I will do better than that this time. My biggest fear is the rain...hopefully it's light and refreshing (not a torrential down pour). But regardless, in less than 48 hours I'll be climbing 3 mountains!!