Running: Then and Now

As a follow up to my somewhat serious previous post, I thought I would do a more lighthearted comparison of my running then and now. For "then" I'll take 2009, the year I met my husband and I was still living in my condo in Falls Church.

2009	Now
Always ran with iPod/Headphones	Almost never use iPod/Heaphones
Speedwork on the treadmill	Intervals on the track, tempos on track or road
Monday-Friday always on the treadmill.	Treadmill only on business trips, and even then I try to avoid it.
Usually ran alone, had a training partner for some long runs.	Run with my husband and/or Capital Area Runners. Only run alone if husband is injured or sleepy.
Average mileage was in the low 50's during marathon training.	Average mileage is in the upper 30's to low 40's during marathon training.
Only swam when injured.	Swim at least once a week.
BQ on the Brain.	Focused on races of all distances.
Brooks Adrenaline for long runs and easy runs, Mizuno Elixir for races and speedwork.	No change! These are great shoes for me.
Ran all races in a skirt.	Longer races in the skirt, shorter races in shorts.
Followed a training plan.	No training plan. One day at a time!
Did long runs without gels and on an empty stomach, trying to teach my body to burn fat.	Eat breakfast before long runs, use sports drink and gels during.
Rarely did core work.	Do planks almost every day & stuff on the Bosu Ball.
All long runs on the W&OD trail.	Long runs on various routes in DC, VA and MD with my group, or on neighborhood streets w/husband.
Posted on Runner's World Forums almost every day.	Never post on Runner's World Forums.
Started most runs at 5:00am (waking up in the 4:00 hour), bedtime was 7:30-8:00.	Start most runs at 6:00am. Bedtime is 8:30-9:30.

Most of these changes can be attributed to three huge factors:

My husband and me in NYC

• Meeting my husband and doing most of my runs with him.
• Moving to house where I can run out my front door and have a shorter commute to work.
• Training with Capital Area Runners.

A quick training update: I am now four weeks out from the Shamrock marathon in Virginia Beach. I've completed one 20-miler (progression run) and have another one planned for next weekend. I've run two 16-milers each including 10 MP miles. I've been running decently fast intervals and tempos and feeling energized overall.

I like focusing on how far I've come with my running in the past few years instead of having my PRs be the "tell-all". I don't necessarily think that what I was doing before was wrong or ineffective. I just feel like I'm more balanced now and enjoying it more.