Finally.....A Long Run

On Saturday I ran the 10 miles required for the groups half marathon training. So glad to see everyone able to make it and doing well. They are all ready for the race on Oct 1st, and I'm excited to run with them that day and see them accomplish their goal. They all plan on running with the 2:40 pace leader, which is really cool as he is the one that was my pace leader when I trained for my first marathon. I'll be very happy to see him again.

I went on with three other gals to do another 8 miles on the lakefront. The temperature started creeping up and I knew it would slow me down. I was testing out eating a pack of beans slowly, as it bothered my stomach in the last race when I ate it all at once. That worked real well on this run, but by mile 12 I was S-T-A-R-V-I-N-G! Not good! I really don't like the sweetness in the beans during my runs--last year I used GU and I'm thinking of trying that this Saturday for my 20-miler. Tho I hit the wall hard at mile 21 of the marathon last year, and was very hungry. I need to find something to carry that will work, with enough calories, that won't upset my stomach. The search continues.

At mile 16 we were in front of the Lincoln Park Zoo and we saw a group of people dressed up as fruits carrying signs. Fruit of the Loom was protesting???? One of the girls had to check it out, so we all stretched while she went over there. It was the drink, Naked, advertising and giving away free drinks! Perfect! We all ran over and enjoyed. I wish I had my camera. The girls said last week they saw a group doing makeovers and they ran over and got goodie bags with makeup in them. Nothing like living in a big city!!

I ran real slow....the first 10 miles I ran a perfect 2:01 with my group. I was happy with that. Sat around for about 1/2 hr waiting for the other girls to get in---I stretched during that time. The next 8 miles was done also in 2 hrs since they wanted to do a run 4 mins/walk 1 min thruout. I wouldn't have done that if I had the choice, but I went along with the crowd. Since they like to chat (I'm not your typical gal----not very chatty, don't even like talking on the phone) it made sense for them. The good thing was that I recovered real well. I had a massage the same day as the long run and did the special ice-heat-ice in the evening. No aches the next day at all. I think if I slowly build up after the marathon, and get my body used to the longer runs again, and I religiously do weight training twice a week, I'll be a happy camper.

I've lost all the weight I had taken off before.....so I'm down to the lowest I've been in years. But I'm still aiming for at least another 10 lbs. I'm feeling dedicated now....I bought The Paleo Diet book and am sticking to their methods. It basically advises you to eat the way we did back in cavemen times.....lean protein, lots of fruits and vegetables and NO processed foods at all.

I've become a firm believer in thinking all this processing is a big cause of diseases Americans are suffering with....that and of course overeating which is a terrible American pasttime. Add to that the lack of exercise in the majority of Americans lives and we're dealing with a major problem. I won't even touch on tobacco. I get to see the results in my patients daily. Auto immune diseases, heart disease, cancer.....I just wonder how we'd do if we eliminated the processing--and if we could eliminate abuse of alcohol, cigarettes and lack of exercising --I'd happily be out of this job.