*This post was begun weeks ago, but I stopped about halfway through, got busy with life, and didn't post for the remainder of training. ------ Last week was a great week of training. I did almost everything I wanted to, aside from Ashtanga on Sunday, but I also realized that I need to have a rest day. My body was asking for it. I hate to sacrifice that yoga class, but if I'm going to be in the kind of training shape I want to be in, it's a sacrifice that must be made. Week 4: 1/14/13 - 1/20/13 M:  3.1 mi (E) T:  5 mi (P) W:  CrossBoot (XT) R:  4 mi (E) F:   hot yoga (XT) Sa:  8 mi (LSD) Su: rest Weekly mileage: 20.1 Key: (E) = Easy; (P) = Pace; (LSD) = Long Slow Distance; (XT) = Cross Training On Monday, right after work (or perhaps a teensy bit before the end of the work day), I left to meet my friend Cameron at Trout Creek for a trail run. I've been wanting to do more trails, and she was sort of familiar with this one and knew of an approxi...

Key: (E) = Easy; (P) = Pace; (LSD) = Long Slow Distance; (XT) = Cross Training Week 5: 1/21/13 - 1/27/13 M:  5 mi (P) + yin yoga (XT) T:  6 mi (E) W:  rest R:  6.1 mi (P) F:   hot yoga (XT) Sa: 11mi (LSD) Su:  yoga in the park (XT)/ swing dancing Weekly mileage: 28.1 Week 6: 1/28/13 - 2/3/13 M: 5.69 mi (E) T:  rest/ swing dancing W:  CrossBoot (XT) R:  5 mi (P) F:   9 mi (LSD) Sa:  rest/ swing dancing Su:  3   mi (E)/  yoga in the park (XT) Weekly mileage: 22.69 Week 7: 2/4/13 - 2/10/13 M:  4 mi (E) T: 4 mi (P) W:  CrossBoot (XT) R:  6 mi (P) F:   CrossBoot (XT) Sa: 12  mi (LSD) Su:  donation yoga (Bella Prana) Weekly mileage: 26 Week 8: 2/11/13 - 2/17/13 M: 6.32 mi (E) T: 4 mi (P) W:  mini strength workout R: 6 mi (P) F:   CrossBoot (XT) Sa:  8 mi (LSD) Su:  yoga in the park (XT) Weekly mileage:...

I gave myself a deadline of this past weekend to decide whether I would try to run the marathon, now 20 days away, or forgo it in favor of more recovery. After a week of more concerted therapy efforts , more rest, and lots of reflection, I've decided to go to DC and "do" the marathon. Whether that means running, walking, or a combination of both, I feel confident I'll be able to finish within the time limit and, more important, not further injure myself. Throughout most of the day Saturday, I was almost certain I would not go. I was feeling the same sort of background pain in my calf, in addition to other pains in my body--right IT band, left piriformis, right back-of-knee, achy shoulders--and I felt like my body might never feel good again. I was pretty despondent, despite getting to spend the day with my sister, mom, and niece. In fact, I've noticed an increase in depressive symptoms during the past week, in particular, even though I've tried my best to...