As you may or may not know, I am training for the Chevron Houston Marathon on January 19, 2014.  This will be my second marathon.  I ran the Galveston Mardi Gras Marathon in February of 2012.

It was mostly a terrible experience but I finished.  You can read about it here:  https://rundedeauxrun.com/2012/02/06/i-came-i-saw-i-got-my-medal/

I decided to run another marathon because I am SURE I can have a more pleasurable experience this time around.  I got into the Houston Marathon lottery and was picked.  They offered a training program for lottery winners called RunCoach.  I signed up and have been doing my best to follow the plan.  It started off really slowly and included only 2-3 days of running really short distances.  I’ve worked up to 4 days of running:  2 pace run days that include drills and some sort of interval training, 1 easy run day and one long run day.  It has been fun and nerve racking to inch up mileage each week. 

I am trying to give myself the best chance at a good run in January.  I also decided to lose some weight to relieve some of the stress on my knees and other joints.  So…  I’ve lost 30ish pounds.  I’d still like to drop a bit more.  It is amazing to pick up something that weighs around 30 pounds and imagine that I was running around carrying that extra weight with me 6 months ago! 

Last week, my long run was 8 miles!  I haven’t run 8 miles since some time in EARLY 2012.  That makes me feel so shameful.  I don’t know what came over me and made me stop running for months and months and months and…  You get the picture.  Anyway.  I ran 8 miles on a hilly pace last Friday.  It went really well.  If you’d like to be my Nike+ friend, send me a friend request.  My user name is  RunDedeauxRun.  If you aren’t flexing shirtless with extra body oil, I’ll accept.

The drills have been okay.  I had to do one day on the treadmill because I overslept and it was too hot to run outside.  I’ve agreed with my husband that I need to get out and brave the elements, but I think that will only apply on long run days.  I’ve noticed that I am running faster lately.  Even this week, when I ran with all kinds of problems:  uncomfortable panties, stomach was hurting, felt like I was getting diarrhea, was tired from running drills the day before… blah, blah, blah…  But I ran that run just a few seconds slower than my original regular running pace.  That’s pretty nice!  So I felt crappy physically when I finished but I was proud of myself for running 5 miles with all of those problems.  It was a ‘meh’ kind of run physically but yay me for slogging through and finishing.

I’ve told you about the Yay!  I just went through the Meh!  So, It’s time for the UGH!  My right knee is hurting.  Boo…

I have no idea what happened.  On my easy run the other day (the one with the panty, stomach and diarrhea issues), my knee started hurting AFTER the run.  I forgot to ice it and today it hurts even more.  I skipped my pace run/drills this morning.  When I kneel, I feel a shooting pain right up the middle of my knee.  I am not happy about this.  I’m thinking about going to an ortho just to check it out. 

I have 129 days left to train.  I don’t really know what to do.  I DO NOT have time for an injury.