Running, running in the... running pool?

When days are hot, when days are cold...

I've been on summer "vacation" for ten days now. In that time I've found a summer job and worked about 20 hours, committed myself to training for this marathon and run 20.5 miles (in 5 workouts), read 4 books, and managed to sleep a solid 10 hours every day : )

Yesterday before my run I went to the library, love the library, got a few new books. I blew through 32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny yesterday. It's a really cute book written by a man who has taught 3rd grade for twenty years. It sounds so fun, teaching times tables and state capitals, having silent reading time, art projects and recess.

Now I'm reading Ultra Marathon Man, Dean Karanazes first book. I like it a lot more than his other book because it talks more about the struggles of becoming an runner, and some his early failures.

Here is a marathon training schedule. This is similar to the one I used to train for the half marathon. I have 24 weeks to train Here's how I'm doing so far:

Today 6 miles - 13:15 min miles (I walked a lot)
Yesterday 3.5 miles - 12:50 min miles
Friday 5 miles - 11:30 min miles

So I'm getting slower?

Should I focus more on speed or distance?
Should I drink water or Gatorade?
Should I brave the heat and run outside in the mornings?
Why does my side hurt?
What should I be eating?
How do I keep my hair healthy when I have to wash it everyday because of sweat or working in a smokey bar?

During the day the gym is less crowded, but it's a much different crowd than in the evenings. I've noticed it's lots of skinny stay at home moms until 1, when then day care closes, then its some really intense people... I'm not usually intimidated by people at the gym, other than the creeper who picks the treadmill next to you when they are all open. I just think, they may be running faster, but I'm training for a marathon. Clearly, I'm awesome. There is a girl who has been they everyday I've gone. I imagine she just graduated from high school and has a college athletic scholarship. She's insane, she does sprints on the treadmill, does the stair climber side ways, is working out when I get there and working out when I leave (and today I stayed for an hour and a half). Very intimidating.