I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, running with friends is amazing! Even more amazing, is having friends in different cities across the country with whom I can run.

This week’s running schedule, which has been adjusted slightly due to feeling under the weather Tuesday, has turned into a bit of a step back week in terms of mileage. But, mileage aside, it has been nothing of the sort. I’ve dealt with illness, travel, bad fuel, and finally a nice little stomach bug.

Let me tell you folks, I’m not making excuses. Even the worst runs, like last year’s 18 mile tune-up, teach us a great deal!

First and foremost, I tested the fueling gods last night and tried to have barbecue, compliments of Montgomery Inn Boathouse, the night before a run. Based on my activity during the night last night and my unsettled stomach this morning, I’m going to venture to say I won’t be making that mistake again.

While attending the dinner was required for work, I should have stuck with something a bit more simple. I had a handful of their popcorn for an appetizer but was excited for the main attraction.

But, when tempted with ribs, I thought I was doing well to have the appetizer portion and half a baked sweet potato. At least the views and company was wonderful!

At 5:30 when my alarm went off, I stepped out a bed and immediately felt like an old lady. While yesterday morning’s run was amazing, that and two days of heavy lifting have left my legs a bit tired, even though my mileage is low. I need to start focusing on maintaining the muscle I’ve developed over the past few months and do more agility and cardio during my personal training sessions. Three different experienced marathoners have given me this suggestion over the past week and I think it’s valid. Last year I did nothing but run. This year I may be trying to do a bit too much which is putting stress on my leg muscles. I want my legs to feel fresh for my long runs! I decided to wear my Zensah calf sleeves, hoping they would help my legs during the run.

Within minutes I was dressed and chowing down a half a Clif Bar. I forgot to pack long run shorts so instead I experimented with my Nike Tempo shorts, being sure to use Glide all over my thighs.

Tracey, an old work friend, met me at 5:45 on the dot. We hadn’t seen each other in over 3 years so that alone had me excited for the morning’s run. An active runner in Cincinnati, he knew a perfect route which would take us down through Cincinnati’s stadium, over the bridge to Northern Kentucky, along the river, through the small towns, and back over the river.

There were two things I immediately noticed while running. Talking constantly is a tough skill to master and Cincinnati is not flat! Little did I know that our route would include two bridges and plenty of rolling hills in between. While it wasn’t as challenging as Hyde Park and some other neighborhoods, it was a great hill workout. In addition, I enjoyed our conversation though at times found myself having to shut up just so I could focus on my breathing. Does anyone have tips for how to master running and talking?

Tracey has run some amazing marathons over the past few years.

• ET Full Moon Marathon
• Death Valley Trail Marathon
• Dublin Marathon
• London Marathon
• North Face Endurance Challenge Marathon in Wisconsin
• Flying Pig

His stories kept me entertained throughout the entire run, especially his Nashville horror story which included a DNF and hospital visit. Needless to say, his experience is proof that everyone should wear a Go Sport ID for safety sake!

A few miles left in our run, my stomach became very uneasy therefore requiring two bathroom stops. Unfortunately this meant that running became really tough due to both tired legs and lack of fuel. This morning’s water and Shotblocks weren’t cutting it. But, check out the classic picture Tracey captured as I left bathroom stop #2.

Please see the guy in the background. I can only imagine what he’s thinking. Actually, if you head over to my earlier post you can enter the caption contest and tell me what he’s thinking.

We finished the run at 10.5 miles instead of 12. I immediately felt defeated and started venting to Tracey. Luckily, the voice of reason helped me put things in perspective.

• Being a runner means having good runs and bad runs.
• Bad runs make the decent and good runs that much better.
• Before 8am we had logged 10.5 hilly miles while spending time catching up!
• Fueling properly can make or break a run.
• Strength training and cross training is key for successful marathon training but it has to be balanced and can’t leave my body exhausted the next 60 days.

I’m happy to have my run done for the weekend so I can focus on Lauren’s wedding festivities. I know it’ll be a fun filled weekend which will nicely balance this crazy week.

Last but not least, good luck to all my East coast readers who are weathering this storm. Please be safe and smart!