And why did I sign up for this??? So...I've been training for this marathon since July I think and I'm really thinking that I'm out of mind! What? Do I want total pain and suffering? In just 5 short weeks I'll be hitting the streets of San Francisco to complete my first marathon. Thought it might be fun to share in my training and how it's going. Okay, okay it's really more like something to make me laugh at myself while allowing all of you to share in my pain!

Last week.....oh the glory! I did 16 miles in like 3 hours and really it wasn't that tough! I was indeed a bit sore for a day or so but nothing I couldn't manage. Perhaps it was the fact that the trail was wonderfully flat?

TODAY was a WAY different story! It started out so well when I jumped out of bed and ran out of the house at 5:30 this morning ready to enjoy a morning of great training and inspiration! So maybe you don't quite believe that but that was my original plan! Didn't quite turn out that way ;) Hit the streets on a new course covering 18 miles which wouldn't be that bad except for the damn hills that kept coming and going, and then there were more! The first 9 miles went by pretty well, it only took me about 1hr 45 min.......and then it went down hill fast! And I don't mean that I was actually getting to enjoy the downhill part...oh no...those damn hills! At mile 10 or 11 I was pretty sure that my hamstring was ready to snap....not good! So I dutifully continued, taking short rests for stretching....trust me, it didn't help!

The great thing about Team-in-Training is that they have wonderful coaching and most important.....they feed you along the way!! One of the water/food stops was a 1/4 mile up a VERY steep hill....not my favorite at this point because now I swear that my hips are going out, I'm limping along at a disgraceful pace. I was VERY close to simply calling someone to rescue me from my self-prescribed misery...but No! I bravely continued on....in agony! LOL...actually one of the coaches walked with me that last few miles and I'm sure that she was waiting for me to just fall over!

I was so glad to be done!! But then....there was the 1 hour drive home :(.....so when I arrived at home....it was all I could do to get out of the damn car! And to make matters worse....I discovered that my driveway is like Mt. Everest....I kid you not! After an ice-bath, epsom salt, and some Motrin....it looks like I'll survive. Not sure if I'll be able to walk for a few days but at least I know I'm killing myself for a good cause!

I need your support and donations for the Leukemia & Lymphoma society so if you have a kind bone in your body....get out the check book and help out ;)

Tune in next week for my 20 mile adventure! I'm really, really hoping that it'll be a bit less painful!