30 Days Out

20.11.202521.11.2025 ~ Monica ~ Leave a comment

Adapt or perish, now as ever, is nature’s inexorable imperative.” ~ H. G. Wells

Today was day 214 of marathon training and it looked a lot different than day 214 of my training plan. Getting sick and the recovery required weren’t on the schedule. My runs the past two week have been hard and not even close to enjoyable. I was feeling not so great about this marathon. All the motivation I had left was because this is most likely my one chance at a marathon and I really want to finish. Thankfully, today’s run felt better. Maybe lowering the volume and intensity will pay off.

I do have some doubts. Volume and intensity have taken a big hit. I have accepted that they are what they are, but have some concern around how prepared I will be on the day. I think I hit my highest volume 3 weeks ago and that feels like it is way too early to peak. My current goal is to maintain. I know that 3 weeks ago I was able to do 16 miles, but I currently don’t know what my final long run will be. I’m hoping for 18 miles, but I don’t want to get to taper so beat up that I end up exhausted on the day.

The mental battle of this marathon is unquestionably the hardest thing I have chosen to do in a long time, maybe ever. Most of the time I feel like it’s a very solitary struggle. I run alone. I come up with my plan alone – with the help of google and Hal Higdon, oh and also Chat GPT. I do confer with my medical team. I share my struggles with family and friends and I make it accessible for anyone who has access to the internet. But when I walk out my front door for whatever run I aim to do that day it is just me. And it is hard.

This will be my last push for my fundraiser. I have met my goal, but I’m okay with going above and beyond.

Weeks 25-28, and 29

11.11.2025 ~ Monica ~ Leave a comment

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

I was at the point in my training where almost every run felt like it was a mental effort just to get it started. I was spending much more time trying to figure out when I was going to run and then convincing myself to get started than I was actually spending running. So mentally taxing. And then I got sick. Which has taken the mental aspect of training to a whole other level.

A little over a week ago I finished a 16 mile long run. My longest run to date. I felt like it went better than the 15 mile run I had done the week before – I felt better when the run ended and my recovery felt better, too. That was a Saturday. The next day, Sunday, I did a little strength training and an easy walk. Monday was a rest day and then Tuesday I had a 4 mile run. The 4 miles didn’t feel as easy as I thought they should, but they weren’t awful. I assumed I had reached the point of training where I was feeling the compounding fatigue. I went to bed Tuesday night with a bit of a sore throat and woke up Wednesday morning not well. I had a few symptoms, headache, sore throat, low grade fever, and the exhaustion – it was real. I slept. I tried to rally on Thursday, but that wasn’t happening. I managed to move from the bed to the recliner on Thursday afternoon where I slept some more. After about 40 hours of sleep and many more hours of rest I started to feel a little better, but I had a sneaky suspicion that my symptoms did not warrant the level of fatigue I experienced. I know the training fatigue is real and it contributed and I was sick so that would contribute, too, but this is where the constant low level fatigue I’ve adjusted to because of my heart failure really impacts things. It doesn’t add to, it sort of multiplies things. I just don’t tolerate all of this as well as I would like.

So I’ve tinkered with my training plan. I did use ChatGPT. I am well aware that I would be better served by finding a running coach, but I can’t afford it and I feel like this is my one shot at a marathon so it is what it is. I have a small amount of knowledge and I have checked in with my doctor. I’ve got 6 weeks until the marathon. This Saturday was supposed to be an 18 mile run, but I do not think that is smart. ChatGPT says this week should be a gentle re-entry week for me and that between Sat & Sun I should aim for 8 miles. Next week is a Return to Structure with my longest run being 7 miles. The longest run currently scheduled is 16 miles in a few weeks. I feel like the gap between 16 miles and 26 miles is huge and that scares me. But I feel like if I continue with the load from my original training plan I’ll be crushed which is probably more worrisome. Current state is a mix of fear and determination. I had reached the point where I already knew the toll that training for this distance isn’t worth it for a repeat, but it is definitely worth it for this goal. So not finishing feels like it isn’t an option. I want to be smart about it and I want to be successful.

Week 24 – A Half

17.10.2025 ~ Monica ~ Leave a comment

Running is alone time that lets my brain unspool the tangles that build up over days” – Rob Hanisen

13 years ago I ran my first 1/2 marathon and I did it without training for it. It was miserable and for days after I was miserable. I swore I would never, ever, ever, never do it again. I obviously lied or maybe I just misspoke, because on Oct 4 of this year I found myself running a second one – the Colorado Springs 1/2 Marathon. I didn’t actually train to run this one, but it was a distance that was in my marathon training so I figured I should get a medal. I had to tell myself over and over that this was just training run, not a race. How did I do? I was 4 minutes faster. I am also 13 years older. Elevation is 5200 feet higher. I’ve recovered from hip surgery. I’ve recovered from cervical disk replacement. And I have heart failure. So I’m pretty pleased with those four minutes.

I also finished that race feeling like the Marathon is doable. If I had to do it today I could. It would be super duper miserable and recovery would be ugly. Thankfully, I don’t have to do it today. I’ve got another 2 months of training to build capacity and confidence.

Week 19 – Feeling Good

31.08.2025 ~ Monica ~ Leave a comment

“You don’t have to go fast, you just have to go.” – Jeff Galloway

Not sure what might have been different this week, but it was a really good one. All my runs felt great. My long run was 7 miles (which I realize is many miles less than the 26.2 miles required to complete a marathon). I felt great all 7 of them and when I was done I felt like I could have done another 1 or 2 miles. I did have a feeling around mile 5 that there was a shift from my body just running to my mind taking over and telling my body to run, but it wasn’t a bad feeling.

I finished feeling confident that the 1/2 marathon I have coming up in Oct will be very doable. How am I feeling about the actual full marathon? Scared, but like in a healthy way. I try to keep it in my mind that it will suck. It’s gonna be a whole lot of mind over matter. I think I thrive in that space.

How’d I fuel this week’s long run?

Pre-run

Honey Stinger Energy Waffle Salted Caramel Flavor (10/10)

During run

Endurance Tap Double Tap Energy Gel – Canadian Maple Syrup, Sea Salt, Ginger. Was good for the first gel of the run. Suspect I would not have liked so much later on. (6/10)
SaltStick FastChews – Peach (10/10)
Bare Performance Nutrition Go Gel / Endurance Gel – Apple Cinnamon. (7/10)

Post run

Breakfast Tacos from Sonora’s Prime. (10/10)

Week 18 – Texas

29.08.2025 ~ Monica ~ Leave a comment

As we run, we become.” – Amby Burfoot

Headed to Texas this week to visit my parents. Was thinking runs would be fun and easy due to the 6500 foot decrease in altitude, but the 30 degree increase in temperature took care of that optimistic foolishness.

The trip started out a bit rough – 7 delays, 2 rebookings and I arrived at D/FW 24 hours later than planned. That airport is so unreliable, but that’s just the type of relationship I have with D/FW.

Had a great visit and if you happen to live in the area and have not visited The National Medal of Honor Museum you should check it out. I highly recommend it.

The runs I did while in Texas were good. Not as easy as I was hoping, but very doable. My long run this week was 6 miles, I did get really warm during it. The gels I tried were

Amack Drink Gel Strawberry and it was alright. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it.
Chocolate Edge. It was a lot like chocolate icing in taste and texture. I had this late in my run and I can’t say I’ve ever wanted chocolate icing when I was super hot and sweaty.

Week 17 – Powered by Mucinex

18.08.2025 ~ Monica ~ Leave a comment

We run to undo the damage we’ve done to body and spirit. We run to find some part of ourselves yet undiscovered.” ~ John Bingham

As I’m starting this blog post I’ve completed the first two runs of this week and they did not feel good, but they did feel doable. I googled if I should run while sick – google is uncertain. Have I been to the doctor? Sort of. I gave teladoc a try – they very helpfully said, ‘Oh you don’t sound good, but we can’t help you. Try urgent care.’ Will I do that? We’ll see. I’m not anti-doctor or anti-medicine, but I am pro be sure you need an antibiotic before you take one. So for now I’ll continue to manage symptoms and if there is no improvement in the next few days I’ll head to urgent care. Oh, I did try to get into my doctor, but with my symptoms they said I needed a virtual appt and the first one available is a week out. If I’m not improving by then I’ll give urgent care a try.

And now I’ve finished all the runs for this week. I did have some improvement going into the weekend – I would say I was at 50% for my long run. Thankfully, my long run was only 3.5 miles – so not so long.

I am a little nervous going into week 18. I officially start my marathon block and it feels like that comes with a bit of an escalation. Up until this point I have been running 3 days a week, strength training 2 days a week, and resting 2 days a week. I will be adding another day of running and a day of cross training. I’ll also be adding strength training to my running days. It feels like a lot and I had gotten a bit in my head about it. But when I really think about it, it’s not really an increase in mileage since I have been walking on my rest days. I just need to increase intensity so one of those walks becomes a run, but I think I can do that slowly. My upcoming long run is 6 miles – almost twice what I did this week, but I did a 10k earlier this month so I know I can do it. I’ve convinced myself I can do this, and I think that is half the battle.

Down With the Sickness

09.08.202513.08.2025 ~ Monica ~ Leave a comment

You can’t get much done in life if you only work on days when you feel good.” ~ Jerry West

Woke up Wednesday morning feeling ick. Super ick. I had a 2 mile run programmed and I had a little internal debate about getting up and doing it or turning back over and going back to sleep. I opted for sleep – telling myself I’d do it on Thursday. Thursday morning came around and it was a repeat of Wednesday. Back to sleep I went. Friday is currently strength day so I got that done and added in a walk just to get some miles in. Today was a comfortable 5k. I got up and did it. Still not feeling great, but feeling somewhat better. I was super slow and that was okay.

I find that I have to keep reminding myself of my goal – finishing a marathon. I’ve got no goals around time. I’m not worried about my pace. I just want to cross that finish line. Do I think I’ll have improvements between now and run day? I sure hope so, but I can’t let that distract me. My only focus over the next few months is building mileage and the mental strength to get it done.

Week 15 – In the Books

02.08.2025 ~ Monica ~ Leave a comment

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” ~ Confuscius

Wrapped up this week by running the Freedom Fest 2025 10k. My goal was to run it – not race it. How’d I do? Sorta okay, but also, it was a 10k PR for me. My Garmin reported I PRd my 1K, 1 Mile, 5K and 10k. I did know I was pushing it, but I was also feeling okay so I went with it. And when I was done my Garmin told me I needed 50 hours to recover.

For this run I gave SaltStick FastChews Electrolyte Tablets a go. I was a fan of these. I also tried a Krono Nutrition Maple & Raspberry Energy Gel and it was a definite nope. I had a package opening malfunction and ended up wearing most of it so I only got to try a little bit of it, but it coated my tongue for a long while. It was also super sweet.

This run also proved to me I can run a marathon. I have read several times that when you train for a marathon you are really training for the first 20 miles and the last 6.2 are no man’s land. So I have now decided that the 6.2 I ran today proves I can do the last 6.2 – and I just need to train the first 20 miles now. That makes sense, right? Of course it does.

There are a few other things I’ve read recently that I put into practice today. One of them is that wearing sunglasses can reduce your Rate of Perceived Exertion. Sunglasses are challenging because I can’t just pick up a cute pair. I need them to be prescription. I have a pair for everyday wear, but they are not great for running. There is a lot of pushing them up my nose. So I ordered myself a pair of Zunnies. I’m a fan. The other thing I read is that smiling while you run improves your run. And the article specified a real smile.

Maybe I need to work on the real smile, but not bad for mile 6.

14 Weeks Done and Dusted

29.07.2025 ~ Monica ~ Leave a comment

Jogging is very beneficial. It’s good for your legs and your feet. It’s also very good for the ground. It makes it feel needed.” – Charles Schulz

I struggled a little with last week’s long run. It just felt hard. This week’s long run was longer than last week’s so I wasn’t looking forward to it, but I knew I had to get it done. I’ve been trying to figure out the nutrition stuff – I know that is part of my problem. I’ve always found exercising on a full stomach a bit nauseating, but I also don’t care for the idea of getting up earlier than I already do. So it’s a struggle – what to do? what to do?

This week I opted to try out a Vanilla Honey Stinger Energy Waffle (super yummy). I had it waiting in the bathroom so I could wash my face, brush my teeth and then eat something before I did anything else. I’m a slow getter readier so it was another hour or so before I’d done all the things I needed to do (get dressed, stretch, do the dishes, the normal running prep stuff) and was out the door for my run. I then topped up with a gel at the half way mark. The gel was Glukos Lemon-Lime. I was not a fan of this. Texture wise it was good. Flavor wise it gave serious colonoscopy prep vibes. It is sold out on their website, so someone must like it. I did notice a difference in how I felt though, in a good way. It definitely was encouraging.

I’ve also found my way to #runnertok. I love the tips people give – sharing their running challenges and strategies. I’m a little terrified by those that honestly share their need-a-bathroom-but-there-isn’t-one-near stories – so far I’ve been able to plan routes where I know in advance the location of porta-potties and public restrooms. Maybe I’ll do all my training on these routes.

Where am I in my training plan? I’ve got a 10k scheduled this weekend. I figure if I’m gonna run the distance I might as well get the medal. Next week I officially start my marathon block. I have registered for a 1/2 marathon this fall. There just happens to be a half marathon in the Springs the weekend I am scheduled to do 14 miles. So why not?

Running the Runway

07.06.2025 ~ Monica ~ 1 Comment

Some of us have great runways already built for us. If you have one, take off.” ~ Amelia Earhart

Today’s programmed run was a 5k. So I signed up for a 5k – The Centennial Airport Runway 5k. Other than an early morning wake up I had no idea what to expect.

The FBI & the DEA both had a booth. The police and their drug dog were there along with the bomb squad. The fire department was present. There were all kinds of planes on display. Blue Bell was giving out Ice Cream – I peeped Cookie Cake, but the line was so long. I now regret not waiting. Nothing Bundt Cakes was giving out legit personal size cakes. There was a brewery giving out beer. I did the age check so I could get one, but the line convinced me 9:45a was sorta early for beer. No regrets there.

But how was the race itself? We for real ran on a runway. A real live runway. It was pretty close to flat. There was a lot of asphalt. There was no shade. My time wasn’t impressive, but I did set a post heart-failure diagnosis PB. Which has me wondering how do we measure PBs? (PB = Personal Best)

I have most definitely been faster. But that was at a lower altitude, a younger age, and a healthier heart. I feel like the heart thing is a metric I should consider. Like it’s outside the norm of aging and location. And maybe it’s not an actual PB. It’s some kind of different category than PB. It’s an improvement for sure, but it doesn’t compare with what I was able to do “back in the day”. And is it a measurement I should even be worried about?

What really matters?