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 27  
When you’re running in the rain and cars don’t slow down and it’s splash city—thanks! You all are awesome! Jerks.

 
Raced home from the office. Ran 5 miles in the pouring rain—that nonsense came down sideways! I couldn’t even see heading back. My raincoat doesn’t breathe at all. If I hadn’t been so concerned about Edward (my iPod) getting wet, then no way in heck would I have worn that coat.

Good run though, despite the rain. Heck, I’ve played and practiced in worse, but I enjoy complaining too much to let the opportunity to squawk about my aching right knee pass. Maybe it was that Pumpkin Spice Latte after the Charlotte 49ers pressers—that must be it. Gosh, I love coffee.

My poor soaked shoes are stuffed with newspaper. No, not old copies of The Post.  

Distance: 5.01 miles. Time: 44 minutes, 52 seconds. Pace: 8 minutes, 57 seconds. Blue shoes: 130.4 miles. Pink shoes:  109.38 miles.  

October 28  
After a dismal day, the rain ceased, and the sun came out just in time for my glorious 9-mile run—I love that when this process started, 3 miles felt like a lot. Now my midweek mileage has stacked up to 9 miles, and it feels like nothing. OK, not quite nothing, but it does feel pretty darn good.

Now I find myself staring at the clock wishing it read something after 5 p.m. I could run before going into the office, but I prefer running on the Rail Trail to Route 51.  

Is it November 6 yet? I cannot wait for my adjustments. I should schedule one for after the marathon, too—how soon is too soon to get an adjustment post-marathon? Is there a too soon for that? Gah. Bed.

Tight/achy legs.  

Blisters on my toes. These aren’t like soccer or ballet blisters, and I figured my feet would be completely callused by now. So why do the tops of my two middle toes feel like balloons that are about to pop? 

Oh my feet ache, and I have to wear heels tomorrow.  Calves. Cramping. Ow!

October 29
Morning run. Bleh. I like running after work better than running before. How to get through a morning run: Tell yourself “there’s coffee waiting for you at the end!”

Distance: 5.01 miles. Time: 46:16. Pace: 9:14. Blue shoes: 135.41 miles. Pink shoes: 118.39 miles.  I’m so rungry! All. The. Time!  My back hurts.  

I’m out of things to complain about.   

October 30  
Rest day. 

 
October 31
Cross train—aerobic biking.  Distance: 10.89 miles. Duration: 1 hour, 5 minutes.  Tired. 

November 1  
Distance: 14.02 miles. Time: 2 hours, 14 minutes, 9 seconds. Pace: 9:34  Blue shoes: 135.41 miles. Pink shoes: 132.41 miles.

When you tell yourself to get your butt out of bed, and run before going to cover a Hornets game because you got an extra hour of sleep thanks to Daylight Savings Time ending, you’re supposed to get your 14-mile run in! Unless you hear the rain pouring outside, and you decide to pull the covers over your head and growl at the universe because you think you’re a baby lion or something ridiculous. So you decide to run after the Hornets game.  

Pack running attire to change into at Time Warner Cable Arena. Properly hydrate throughout the game—check. Except, when you leave the arena…and it’s pitch black and still raining. So you grumble and do a fine job at complaining (as usual) about having to run, but all of this could have been avoided if you hadn’t procrastinated. Eventually you take your procrastination crow, park the car at the office, shut up, and go for a nice 14-mile stroll along Providence, Sharon Amity, Morehead, Tryon and Camden.  

There’s a saying about the best runs being the ones that almost never happen or something like that. Gosh, I needed that run. I needed a bit of perspective, because when you’re soaked and trying not to slip and fall flat on your face since you still have 5 miles to go, it brings everything into focus. It shows you how much everything else doesn’t matter, the little petty things wash away in the rain, and yes you want to cry because your mind tells you that what you’re doing is difficult and you should feel tired, if not exhausted, but another part of your mind tells that part to bugger off because this high is worth it.  I’m going to sleep well tonight.  

My legs and feet ache. Poor blistered feet. Cramping calves and feet.  Thirteen days and counting.

 
November 2
It takes four weeks for you to notice your body changing. Eight weeks for your friends and family to notice, and 12 weeks for the rest of the world. Well world, this marks the end of week 12.  

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