Odds and ends

I started breaking in the sneakers I'll wear for the marathon today. Ow. My calves are sore and my right foot is cramping and that's just from 4 miles. So uncomfortable. It reminds me of getting new Buster Browns (yes, I'm dating myself) and wearing them on the first day of school and getting big ole blisters on my heels. I love this sneaker model and I know once they are broken in they will fit my feet like a glove but getting there is not pleasant. I see some more missing toenails in my future.

The race is 8 weeks away but final preparations are already starting, like starting the arduous process of breaking in my sneakers. I got my transportation assignment to the start line and I got the Ferry! I was so excited! You get assigned either to the ferry or a bus and I always pictured myself on the ferry passing the Statue of Liberty on my way to the start line. Now I have it! Today I got an invitation to a pre-race rally for Team Animal League on Saturday afternoon. The race is coming, it's really happening. I just have to get through the next 6 weeks of relentless, insane training and get to the taper. I can do it. Gotta stay positive.

I'm starting to feel worn down though. I'm tired all the time now. On Saturday when I got home from my aunt's I took a nap, ate dinner, went back to bed and slept 9 hours, went out on Sunday morning, and took a 2-hour nap. I wish I could take a nap every day. I don't think this is abnormal at this stage of the training though. I feel bad because now that my husband is back to teaching and I only get to see him on weekends I feel like training is consuming a lot of that time. I don't want to stay up late on Friday because I have my long run on Saturday, then my long run on Saturday takes up the whole morning and by the time I shower and eat, it's already late afternoon which limits what we can do for the day. Then if I sleep all day on Sunday that's not really fair to him. I knew this would happen, I'm just grateful that he's so supportive and hasn't complained.

Oh, in the most important running news of all, my hair is finally long enough that I can pull it back into a high ponytail WITHOUT the need for a headband, McEnroe sweatband, or bandana! YES! Of course, I have a trim scheduled on the 26th but I'm not getting layers again. Could it be that the epic battle of what to do with my hair when I'm running is finally over? Could it be that I'm victorious?! Seriously, I'd take hassle-free hair over shaving 15 seconds off my pace any day. For realz!