8 Weeks Running toward Houston 2025
As 2023 was coming to an end, I knew I needed to do something different. I’ve struggled with injuries for the last several years. I had PRP treatments in each of my patella tendons, right glute problems, then left glute problems, but I wasn’t even running enough to get injured. It didn’t make sense. I would take months off running, but injuries were not improving. I finally decided to take a different approach, hit the weight room, and target everything bothering me. Guess what it worked! By mid-December, I had a couple pain free runs. Then I told Pete this great idea I had. We should run a marathon! I’ve enjoyed going to the Houston Marathon; we see our friends there. I’ve never run it, and it gives us over a year to prepare.
I am now eight weeks into the year, the long journey back into running toward a marathon, and about ten years removed from my last preparation for the distance. I realize many things about me as a runner have not changed at all; I still suck at staying hydrated; I’m not so good at post-run fueling, and I’m a lazy runner, aka I don’t like doing the “little things” ….the mobility and strength work required to keep me healthy. Other things, however, have changed, like my eyes: I need a bigger watch or will start running with my reading glasses because I can’t read my little Timex when I’m trying to do a pace check at a marker on the Boone Greenway.
Running shoes have also changed….a lot!!… Not only are they twice as expensive, but I’m finding the super cushioned stacked heels of shoes today do not work with my 1990s, 2000s feet. I am also a lot slower, but at least I know that will change. Nevertheless, here I am, eight weeks running.
Week 1 and 2 (20 miles a week, mostly 10-11 min miles; I was excited. I’ve been desperate to be healthy and able to run consistently, and setting a long-term goal was just what I needed. I missed running, but what I missed was running with a purpose. January was quite cold and snowy, so most of my runs were on the treadmill. The “dreadmill” was the perfect way for me to start. It was all controlled; set a pace and go. I knew the excitement would fade as the fatigue of running five days a week began to set in. The reality of what training for a marathon takes and the idea of consistency and long runs started to scare me. But I figure I’ll deal with that when the time comes.
Weeks 3 and 4 were okay; I rarely felt good on a run. I did notice, however, that despite feeling lethargic, my daily paces were beginning to get a little quicker. Running about 20-25 miles a week, I used my dogs to keep me motivated and force me to go a little slower (they are a little older, too).
Weeks 5 and 6 were great. Things were starting to click, and I was looking forward to my runs, even running without my “crutch,” the AirPods! I hit 27 and 30 miles, respectively, during those weeks, including a 10-mile long run. And then my foot and shin started hurting. My anterior tibialis was not happy, and I got the “I told you so” look from Pete, who had alluded to the possibility that maybe I was overdoing it early on. What does he know? Well, I took extra days off, changed to different running shoes, and added 4-5 shin exercises to the list of things I should be doing. However, I know I still don’t do enough.
Weeks 7 and 8, I was told to stick in the mid to low 20’s for miles, and that’s about all I wanted to do. I’m back to the tired legs and not super motivated because I haven’t felt good since I did that 10-mile run (totally not my fault at all). I know it will get better, but I also know that I wouldn’t get out there if I didn’t have a goal. Sometimes I feel like a wimp when I get overwhelmed with what I should be doing, and then I think about all the runners I know who get up at ungodly hours of the early morning to fit everything in, and I feel validated that I am being a wimp. I’m getting it done as best I can, and I am so excited that so many friends want to join Pete and me in Houston. So think about it: you have 47 weeks until Houston!
As 2024 was coming to an end, I knew I needed to do something different. I’ve struggled with injuries for the last several years. I had PRP treatments in each of my patella tendons, right glute problems, then left glute problems, but I wasn’t even running enough to get injured. It didn’t make sense. I would take months off running, but injuries were not improving. I finally decided to take a different approach, hit the weight room, and target everything bothering me. Guess what it worked! By mid-December, I had a couple pain free runs. Then I told Pete this great idea I had. We should run a marathon! I’ve enjoyed going to the Houston Marathon; we see our friends there. I’ve never run it, and it gives us over a year to prepare.
I am now eight weeks into the year, the long journey back into running toward a marathon, and about ten years removed from my last preparation for the distance. I realize many things about me as a runner have not changed at all; I still suck at staying hydrated; I’m not so good at post-run fueling, and I’m a lazy runner, aka I don’t like doing the “little things” ….the mobility and strength work required to keep me healthy. Other things, however, have changed, like my eyes: I need a bigger watch or will start running with my reading glasses because I can’t read my little Timex when I’m trying to do a pace check at a marker on the Boone Greenway.
Running shoes have also changed….a lot!!… Not only are they twice as expensive, but I’m finding the super cushioned stacked heels of shoes today do not work with my 1990s, 2000s feet. I am also a lot slower, but at least I know that will change. Nevertheless, here I am, eight weeks running.
Week 1 and 2 (20 miles a week, mostly 10-11 min miles; I was excited. I’ve been desperate to be healthy and able to run consistently, and setting a long-term goal was just what I needed. I missed running, but what I missed was running with a purpose. January was quite cold and snowy, so most of my runs were on the treadmill. The “dreadmill” was the perfect way for me to start. It was all controlled; set a pace and go. I knew the excitement would fade as the fatigue of running five days a week began to set in. The reality of what training for a marathon takes and the idea of consistency and long runs started to scare me. But I figure I’ll deal with that when the time comes.
Weeks 3 and 4 were okay; I rarely felt good on a run. I did notice, however, that despite feeling lethargic, my daily paces were beginning to get a little quicker. Running about 20-25 miles a week, I used my dogs to keep me motivated and force me to go a little slower (they are a little older, too).
Weeks 5 and 6 were great. Things were starting to click, and I was looking forward to my runs, even running without my “crutch,” the AirPods! I hit 27 and 30 miles, respectively, during those weeks, including a 10-mile long run. And then my foot and shin started hurting. My anterior tibialis was not happy, and I got the “I told you so” look from Pete, who had alluded to the possibility that maybe I was overdoing it early on. What does he know? Well, I took extra days off, changed to different running shoes, and added 4-5 shin exercises to the list of things I should be doing. However, I know I still don’t do enough.
Weeks 7 and 8, I was told to stick in the mid to low 20’s for miles, and that’s about all I wanted to do. I’m back to the tired legs and not super motivated because I haven’t felt good since I did that 10-mile run (totally not my fault at all). I know it will get better, but I also know that I wouldn’t get out there if I didn’t have a goal. Sometimes I feel like a wimp when I get overwhelmed with what I should be doing, and then I think about all the runners I know who get up at ungodly hours of the early morning to fit everything in, and I feel validated that I am being a wimp. I’m getting it done as best I can, and I am so excited that so many friends want to join Pete and me in Houston. So think about it: you have 47 weeks until Houston!