They Don't Make A Tennis-Ball-Head Size

Since this second marathon is only 6 weeks away, I don't really know how to prepare for it.  I'm sure that some people think it's awfully soon after my first marathon, but I'm really just doing this for fun.  There is a good chance that this marathon could be on a snow-covered path.  As far as the path, part of it is bridle path and hard packed and the other half is single-track and more technical.  Should be a good mix, I think. 

As far as having a "plan", my plan is to do the last 6 weeks of the first marathon training plan that I used.  Which is basically three build weeks followed by three taper weeks.  I figure if it worked the first time around, why mess with success?  

I've been on the fence for a while now about whether or not I need/want a Garmin.  And tonight I'm biting the bullet and buying one.  I'm assuming that this marathon course won't have mile markers, so I think that I'd like to know how it's going during the race.  Technically, it's a Christmas present from my mom, I'm just getting it for myself early!  So, let's hope the quick Amazon shipping will get here soon!  I'm really looking forward to seeing how I like it and I'll be sure to report back. 

Tonight I headed to the gym after work.  I had forgotten my own headphones at home, so I asked Drew if I could borrow his.  He was gracious enough to say yes.  He can't use the iPod headphones because they fall out of his ears.  I never really understood that.  He has the other kind of headphones.  You know, the ones with those little rubbery things on the end? 

Well, my ears are quite happy with the iPod headphones.  Those little rubbery ones?  Not so much.  In fact, I wanted to quit running after 0.10 miles today because I was so annoyed with those headphones.  I also knew I'd never make it on the treadmill staring at a white wall at the gym (really, there should at least be a mirror) without the headphones.  That meant that I spent 55+ minutes pressing the headphones back into my ears.

Let me be the first person to tell you that pressing headphones into your ears for more than 50 minutes is not fun.  And starts to make your ears hurt.  I really wanted to quit, but I also knew that I wanted to run 5 miles today.  If I wasn't so gosh-darn stubborn, I would have given up earlier, but I toughed it out.  It wasn't really all that fun, but when is the treadmill ever that fun?  It sure was sweaty, too.  I've got to get back to running outside! 

I met Drew when I was done at the gym to return his "defective" headphones.  He said that the problem was that they don't make a tennis-ball-head-size headphone.  It's true.  I have a child-sized head.  It's really small.  I have a lot of issues with hats.  But who knew it translated to my ears, too?  Either way, I'm glad that the free iPod headphones work marvelously.  I'm going to have to remember not to leave home without them. 

Running
Time: 55:05
Distance: 5.00 miles
Pace: 11:01/mile