It is November 8th, and you know what that means….10 days until November 18th, ten days until 26.2 miles!!  Since there are only 10 days until marathon, I am going to list some of the “ten ways my life has changed during marathon training.”

1. Running is now a part of my “life”…in more ways than one.

2. I go to newsstands the day the new Runners World comes out and spend the entire afternoon reading cover to cover and loving every second of it (no interruptions please!)…Yes, please tell Santa I would like a subscription to this…I have been a very good girl!

3. Eating dinner now takes me 60 minutes as opposed to 6 minutes pre-marathon training. And no it has nothing to do with eating slower…but everything to do with me, sitting on my iPad reading 7 different blogs about running….daily. It is a ritual, and won’t be given up anytime soon. Let’s just say my iPad gets to taste whatever I taste:)

4. You have to like spending time with yourself when you run 20 miles.

5. I started a blog. This picture was taken the first day I got my Mac..and wrote my first blog entry! Almost two months ago…crazy that I have been blabbing on this thing for 2 months! I love it…even if every other word is spelled wrong or I make no sense or say & take pics of weird stuff…it has been a great way for me to reflect, laugh, and share with people my training ups and downs.

6. I am grateful. I am grateful that I have the ability to run. I am grateful for the lucky life I have been blessed with. When you run with a purpose or with people in mind who are struggling through a rough time, it really comes naturally.

7. I have become more focused on grad work. I don’t know how this has happened but running has made me have better time management and also much better focus when writing a long paper or discussion board…running is also the BEST break from a long day of reading, discussion boards and papers.

8. I stretch these things. I now stretch my legs…and foam roll..this is something I ignored before with all of my other trainings but now I look forward to getting home from a run and that time before bed when I stretch and roll on my foam roller…while reading more blogs…

9. Running has helped me become more self-confident and less self-destructive….running 18 miles makes you realize how much your body is capable of. Be nice to yourself. Treat yourself to sleep, delicious & healthy food, a new pair of running pants, time with people you love (and wine too!). I can hear my sister saying this quote in her southern accent right now:)

10. Running has changed me into….me.