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 initiative. In the weeks leading up to race day, we’ll chronicle her training.  

To register for the Novant Health Thunder Road marathon, half-marathon or 5K with The Charlotte Post Foundation, log on to www.runsignup.com/charlottepostfoundationtrm15.   

October 20
Pre-run: Now that I’ve become acquainted with side stitches—gosh darnit. Let’s go back to before when my only concerns revolved around getting enough coffee.

 
Distance: 4.01 miles. Time: 36 minutes, 8 seconds. Pace: 9 minutes. Blue shoes: 120.37 miles. Pink shoes: 88.24 miles.  

Tired. Tight left quad. Welcome to the big kid’s table—it’s exhausting.   

October 21  
Distance: 8.02. Time: 1 hour 11 miles 47 seconds. Pace: 8:57 –Freaking first! The distance increases and the pace improves.  

SAVE THE DATE: March 26, 2016. Marathon No. 2: The… drat, what’s the name…the something of the New South…regardless, less than 175 days until I tackle Marathon No. 2…or it tackles me. Gosh, for a non-contact sport, my version of running involves a lot of tackling.  

Tight/achy lower back.

Tight left quad/IT band nonsense.  

Gosh, I miss having athletic trainers around to keep me intact. I’m falling apart without them.

Tried keeping up with another runner on the Rail Trail, portion of today’s because well let’s face it, more people on this planet should look that perfect while running. Maintaining that pace lasted about a half mile.

Fancy dinner, and by fancy I mean I actually used my stove. My pantry severs as my shoe closet. I am one of those women, which still shocks me—mostly because I didn’t even realize it until someone pointed it out. Back to the food: delicious spin on chicken alfredo. Yay for carbs – whole wheat carbs, not that other crap.  

Why does my back hurt? I’m 23, in the prime of my life or something to that effect. I need/want a massage and an adjustment, and a really good night’s sleep!

 
P.S. Dear Reader who has fallen out with running:

So you’re in a funk. That’s the best bit about running—it’s always there. It patiently waits for your return with open arms. It’ll be there when you’re ready. It won’t give up on you. Don’t give up on it.

Love always,  Marathon Miles 

 
October 22  
The New South Trail Marathon! That’s the name of Marathon No. 2!  Distance: 5.02 miles. Time: 45 minutes, 8 seconds. Pace: 9 minutes.  Blue shoes: 125.39 miles. Pink shoes: 96.26 miles.  

How does Latta Park not have monkey bars? How can I be ridiculous and act like a 5-year-old without monkey bars to hang upside down on while having someone take a picture of me holding a newspaper in front of my face? Monkey bar substitute!  

So tired.  

Beautiful run.

I should get up and walk around the office more, or invest in an adjustable desk, or the bike chair for under my desk.  

Marathon Miles met moving pictures today. I managed to watch the whole video without wanting to rip my eardrums out at the sound of my own voice.   

October 23  
Rest day. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz

 
October 24
Cross train

Aerobic biking (stationary bike). Distance: 10.54 miles. Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes. Average revolutions per minute: 52. Average heart rate: 94 beats per minute.   

Confession: I have been cheating on stretching with laziness. Now laziness seemed like a tempting mistress…mist…how do you even phrase this?  

Reset button. Laziness has gone from a tempting bedfellow to an abusive pain in the insert expletive here. No wonder my body feels 100 instead of 23.   Quality stretching complete.  

Bed. I am so sick of these nightmares. They’re more exhausting than not sleeping, and my back hurts a lot. Gosh I need an adjustment—we have surpassed the want state and have firmly landed in the need state. This visit to the State of Need has to end now…more like four months ago.

Dear health insurance companies: You need to cover chiropractic care!   

October 25
That run—ugh. I ran 16 miles last Saturday, but this felt longer. At least Uptown and the Rail Trail make for pretty views. I look like death, and I have to look presentable in less than two hours. OK, time to find the motivation to get up. Any second now…  

Distance: 13:12. Time: 2:07:34. Pace: 9:34 Blue shoes: 125.39 miles. Pink shoes: 109.38 miles.

  
October 26 
Rest day.

Body’s state: how does one describe this without using tired clichés? Tired…sore…well…not sore, but achy—my body just creaks like those old wooden stairs in an…Oh my gosh I can’t even put a coherent sentence together! Need coffee. Now.

 
P.S.: 11 weeks in the books…on the books. Ugh. Coffee!!!!!  

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