Pittsburgh Marathon Update

This is going to be a very emotional post for me. I ran the half marathon last year just to try it and to see if I could finish.
I did no training other then the cardio I did normally - which consisted of a zumba or hiphop class a few times a week and of course a run here and there but no FORMAL training schedule. I finished the half and aside from feeling really tired it was not TOO horribly painful. Here is my proof from the finish.

This year I was getting ready to register for the half again and started questioning myself. I am 45 years old and have the onset of psoriasis. Chances are pretty good that I am slowly going to have the painful part of this disease which is arthritis (pain in the joints). When this occurs, I will no longer be able to run.  This helped me change my decision and I decided that now is the time and I should try the full marathon before I am no longer able.

I downloaded the below training schedule from the internet and set off on my training (The check marks indicate completed runs to date). For the first two months I would run four days a week (according to the schedule) and also still do my zumba, hiphop and bodypump classes about 6 a week total.

After those first two months, I got a really sore knee and had trouble bending it. I decided that it is probably due to over use (I was working out over four hours a day on some days) so I stopped everything except the running and of course stretching.

I am sooo looking forward to getting back to my favorite place on this planet, StudioFit, after the marathon is over on Sunday! I MISS MY CLASSES SOOO MUCH!!

So, all of this to say...I am not one of those people that has been bit by the marathon bug. I am proud of all that I have done....I will do my best to cross the finish line on Sunday...I will never DO this again. It will be checked off my bucket list as completed and that will be that. I LOVE running, don't get me wrong, but after Sunday I will stick to 5Ks and 10Ks with an occasional half - HEE!
I have missed a lot of family functions for this training, including my niece and nephews birthday parties. I can never get that back and those are the things that I cherish today.

I am in this weird place because I just found out that pretty much my entire family is coming in from out of town for this marathon! This is them below!!!

WOWSA!!!
I am sooooooooooooo blessed! I never expected that!
My Mom and Dad, sister and brother-in-law and their three kids and brother and sister-in-law and their two kids! AMAZING!!! I do not know what to say! I am humbled by the support that my family gives me constantly!! They have been through soooo much because of me and now, today, still support me SOOOOOOO much!!!
I am beyond blessed!! I also have many relatives and friends that are cheering me on from afar! Again, WOWSA!

As for Sunday, I keep having dreams that I do not finish!!! Scary, however, I know I will never do this again and this Sunday I will cross that finish if it KILLS me!! I have trained....I am strong...I am capable....I am worthy....and most of all I am blessed!!!!! I have the best family on the PLANET!!!!!

God, give me strength!!!

Fingers crossed that I cross on Sunday!

Yeah it is Friday!!!!!!!

I am soooooooooo excited that it is Friday!

This weekend I have ABSOLUTELY nothing planned and this thrills me!

I think I may walk on the path and play outside for two days!!!!

What I know is I WILL NOT set an alarm!!! And I will not work - AT ALL!!!!

Yeah me!!!

On an icky note! I do not think I have ever mentioned this by I have psoriasis!

I was diagnosed years ago by a family doctor and he advised against any medical treatment (on a side note - he actually said that tanning controls it and the only treatment would be dangerous steriod shots). So, for four years I have justified my tanning as keeping my psoriasis in check and it has. However, lately that is not the case.

I have new patches all down both legs and this Easter my niece kept saying "why does Aunt Annie have all those bo bos"?

Here is an example of what they look like...

Children are honest!!! LOL

So, I decided that it is time to go to a dermitologist and check out my options.

Turns out, they have tons of treatments they can use these days that only involve mild steroid creams and coal tar mixtures. We are starting with one of these mixture creams and seeing if it will clear them up and we will try other things after a month if it does not help.

Well, it has been about a week and they already look soooooooooo much better - I think (knock on wood) that I will actually be able to wear shorts this summer without being totally paranoid!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!

I just have to walk around with bandages all down my legs so it is pants all month!!!!!!! LOL

If you or anyone you know has this, then you know it is horrible!!! It is sooo embarrasing and people look at you like you have some kind of horrible disease that is contagious and it is not. It is just ugly!!!!!! And icky!!!!!! And it never leaves you it just goes into a kind of remission and anytime there is skin trama another poatch starts (do you know how hard it is to shave your legs without nicking) LOL!!!!!!

Anyway hopefully (as mine is SO FAR only a moderate case) it will be gone soon and I can keep little patches in check from here!!!!

Also, stress makes it worse so I told Waliacha I should quit my job, stay home and have a baby!!!!! LOL
Happy Weekend all!!!!