As I mentioned previously my Florida trip got my Marathon Training off track. I have missed my key long run – the 20 miler! 20 miles is the longest distance I will be running before the full Mary. I reviewed a lot of training programs and most beginner marathon training plans require just 1 or 2 long runs of 18 to 20 miles. I decided on 2 – 20 milers. Since I missed my first 20 miler last weekend I will do a 20 miles this weekend (or at least I will try!). I am very worried that I won’t be able to run it all since my last long run was over 2 weeks ago! But since one of my 2009 goals is to stop stressing I am going to do my best and enjoy my little life.

I have 26 days until the race, but really I only have time for  1 more long  run. You should do 2 weeks of taper before the race so it breaks down like this:

1/10 – 20 miles

1/17 – 12 miles

1/24 – 8 miles

2/1 - RACE DAY!!!

That’s the plan, but since it’s been so long since I’ve had a good long run and the race is pretty close I might end up having to walk some of it. More than anything I want to finish, so that wouldn’t be the end of the world. I just want to know that I can do it,and I don’t want it to be a march to my death. I barely even consider myself a runner most of the time since I’m not fast and I don’t look like a runner.

I am going to try and run a marathon. I am just a normal girl.  I am not a super athlete or built very athletically. I am about 17 pounds overweight. I like to run. I may not have given myself enough time to train. I have never run more than 17 miles (and that was once!). But, I am going to try and run a marathon. If I can do this anyone can!

I have no idea how much I ran today because I don’t have a course mapped out and I didn’t have my Garmin this morning. So, I ran aimlessly for about an hour or a little less and went home.

I don’t know if I mentioned it, but with the whole airport debacle yesterday our bags didn’t get on the same flight as us, so we left the airport empty handed with the hope that we would get out bags today. So, I was without my favorite things last night and half of today including my toothbrush, my hair brush and clips, my chonies and a bunch of other things. * I just wanted an excuse to write the word “chonies” on my blog. Does anyone  know what that means? I am sure you can guess

Have you noticed my new and improved header? It was made courtesy of Mara at I Made Dinner. When I saw it I literally jumped up and down with excitement because it is exactly the idea I was going for – she really read my mind!  I like jumping up and down when I get excited, it makes me feel like a kid. Isn’t it really the simple things in life that are the best?

For whatever reason my pics do not want to show up right now, which isn’t a complete tragedy and I somehow neglected to take pics of all the chocolate I devoured today while working from home – coincidence? I think not. Busted Monica!

Well, I will work with what I have – I started the day with my fave oat combo with the added bonus of some Kashi Honey Sunshine cereal that stuff is addictive.My car’s check engine light went on last night when I got home and I had to take my car in today. When I got back around 10:30am I ate some grapes (also not pictured).

For some reason I wanted chocolate mid-morning too. So I busted out a bunch of random bites of fun size bars. I really should have just had one package and stopped there. This picture is just a representation of my candy craziness…Lunch was guacamole with chips, a veggie burger and broccoli. I love that we have an avocado tree in the backyard so the guac is super fresh and delicious.

My afternoon snack was a bowl of cereal with almond milk. All of my other pics are not coming out now so I guess that means I should just call it a night and start again tomorrow. Sorry peeps