Editor’s note: Post journalist Ashley Mahoney is training for her first marathon on November 14 as part of The Charlotte Post Foundation’s Black Lives Matter Charlotte campaign. In the weeks leading up to the Thunder Road marathon, we’ll chronicle her training.

August 25: Distance: 3 miles. Time: 26 minutes 48 seconds. Pace: 8 minutes 55 seconds. Morning run and PR thus far.  

William (my English iPod—I bought him for my first trip to London) died. Rest in peace my poor baby—a good three years we had!

Dear Wallet: I am SO SORRY for the dents, punches, etc., you are suffering because of this. I’d like to say that they’ll stop, but they probably won’t.  
Managed to get this morning’s run off of William—he looks better – not really. Time to go to the Apple Store.  

Post Apple Store: Replacement for William ($69.71 post tax) at the South Park Apple Store. The new iPods…no, just no. They stopped making the Nano sixth generation 8G and spending $49 on the Shuffle—it doesn’t include the Nike app — isn’t appealing.

The other two options cost over $150 including tax and don’t have the clip like the little Nano (I do not want to wear the arm sleeve thing – bleck)—but a new iPod means new music—it’s like cleaning out a closet. Some music stays—others gets tossed.  

August 26: Second morning in a row that I got up and ran before work (a miracle on the order of loaves and fishes!) Distance: 4 miles. Time: 38:28. Pace: 9:37  
No humidity in the morning. FANFREAKINGTASTIC!  

August 27: Third morning a row I got up and ran (who am I!?!?!) Distance: 3.02 miles. Time: 28:15. Pace: 9:21.

I cheated last night. I ate Ramen (my binge food as I’ve quit drinking and never been one for candy) again and it didn’t leave me satisfied. It left me physically sick, nauseous and just yuck. Ramen’s usually my comfort soup…I think we broke up. It’s horrible for you anyway.  I need to spend some time in the pool and do some solid stretching.  

August 28: Rest day. A bad day on the food front. Tea and moving on (Celestial Seasonings: Tension Tamer. Herbal Tea: Caffeine free).  Don’t complain about eating poorly—just eat better. You are what you eat. Eat the good stuff.  

August 29: Cross training. Aerobic biking (stationary bike). Distance: 9.53 miles. Time: 1 hour 5 minutes.

Wore old running shoes. Sore feet. Tight calves. Tender left knee. Need sleep.  

Iced quads. Foam rolled. Stretched. Spent some time in the pool—hoping the water will have a therapeutic effect.

 August 30: That run—humid. Felt like someone lodged a rock in my right shoulder—then my left. Heavy legs. A huge second wind around Mile 3 and then exhaustion, followed by another second wind.  

I want balance out of this—mental and physical. I can already see the mental alterations in certain aspects of my life, as well as greater conviction and passion. Yet, it’s a balanced passion…if that makes any sense at all.

Better decision-making—maybe not the easiest decisions, but decisions that keep me balanced and sane. Perhaps they come across as rude (some of them are), but if I have to choose between rude and sane or yielding and crazy, I’ll stick with rude.

Gosh, my shoulders hurt—can I have a massage and a glass of that delightful infused water that they always have at the spa? Now, please!  Distance: 5.01 miles. Time: 48:52. Pace: 9:46.

 
August 31: Tired. Mondays feel less odious now. Rest day. Three weeks in. I still have no clue what I’m doing, and that’s half the fun.    

To sign up for the Thunder Road 5K, half marathon or marathon, go to www.runcharlotte.com/registration/register.

Also:

Losing control and gaining new perspectives

Clear mind with an early run

The best run of my life, and comfortable earbuds

I'm running for myself, others

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