Back Again!

I’m almost embarrassed … it’s been about nine months since I last posted. The funny thing is, I always THINK about what I want to write, especially when I’m running, but never seem to get a minute to type it out. I’m finally making time because I think it might give me the extra push I need.

Where did I leave off? Oh yeah, I ran Boston last April and qualified again! I had several months to contemplate running the well-known 26.2 again the next April and came to the conclusion that as long as I can qualify for Boston, I’m going to run it. It’s not something everyone gets to do so I want to take advantage of such a rewarding opportunity. Anyway, I went online the morning that registration went live and I tried signing up for Boston 2011 twice without receiving any kind of confirmation, which was strange. I couldn’t tell if I was registered or not. I had to run (literally) and then get ready for Chris and my engagement pictures that day so I figured I could sign up later that night. It took months and months for it to fill up last year – why would this year be any different? It was. Boston filled up in eight short hours and I found out via Twitter (@B_A_A_) on the ride home from getting our pictures done. I was devastated. Most of you know the story – MANY people did not get into the esteemed race due to technical difficulties and the short open period. After a couple days I more or less accepted the fact that I wasn’t going to be running that race in April but I still managed to call the Boston Athletic Association a couple times with my sob story. Leaving messages both times, I’m sure my voice was one of hundreds or maybe thousands on the machine. Finally, I wrote the association an e-mail explaining what happened on registration day and that I qualified for Boston 2011 at the 2010 race. I didn’t expect anything from it. It was more for me making one last effort. A few weeks had passed and I saw an e-mail from the BAA in my inbox. Hmm. It was a short note apologizing for the hiccups and a personal link to register for the 2011 Boston Marathon. I was beside myself with excitement and motivation! You can ask my dad or my sister, Marley, I was on the phone with them when it happened. I even think I squealed. :-)

Since Boston, I’ve gotten engaged and then encouraged my fiancé to run the Charlotte half marathon with me in December. We trained together and stayed together throughout the entire race. We had a blast. The weather was perfect, the course was great and we enjoyed each other’s company. I’ve even heard him say he’ll do another half, and yes, I’ve even heard the rumblings of a FULL! I won’t hold my breath but baby steps are good. Now, we’re planning a wedding and in the process of buying our first home. Not to mention, I’m in the middle of Boston training.

That motivation that was so present when I signed up for Boston has been playing a bit of hide-and-seek. Some days it’s there and ready to go when I wake up, other days I have to seriously do some digging to find it and there are even times when it escapes me completely. I’m getting through it – hitting my long run numbers and running just as fast this time around. But I wanted to do better. I set a goal for myself – 3:31:00, which is about six minutes faster from Boston 2011 and three minutes faster than my PR. I know I can do it, especially now that I know what to expect, but I have to be better in training. I can’t just get through my runs to reach my goal. I have to really push myself. Shaving minutes off a time isn’t as easy as butter and bread – it takes a concentrated effort. Maybe more like … boiling an egg. (haha)

Nine more long runs until the big race. I’m running 12 miles this weekend and after that, the mileage shoots up pretty quickly. I’ll be better and keep you posted during training. In the meantime, happy training!

2010 BOSTON MARATHON: PART TWO

And continuing in my Boston Marathon ramblings … I’ll start with the finish.

The Finish

After getting over the peak at mile 21 I knew I had a little over five miles to go until I could run past the Boston Public Library and cross that big blue finish line. They say (whoever “they” are) that your body can deal with 20 miles but after that your survival relies on your training and nutrition to push to 26.2, which is why many runners face a battle after the 20 mile mark. I had anticipated hitting a wall right around this part of the race since I’d been feeling tighter than normal. I’m not sure if I bypassed the agony of hitting that wall or if I just pushed through it – but I kept up my same pace and kept on going until 26.2. There were countless times I wanted to stop and walk for only a minute, you know, to stretch my legs out, catch my breath or whatever excuse I could make up, but I didn’t and I am so happy I didn’t. My legs were lacking something (besides energy) and I kept imaging that they'd be good as new if they were refueled and so I chugged Gatorade and water with every water station we passed and finished off my GU. When my legs still felt like they were fighting a brick wall I accepted that it was going to hurt and I also told myself that there was no way in the world I would give in and walk during the Boston Marathon. I made it this far, I can make it to the end. The spectators were consistently energetic throughout the race but during the last handful of miles the sidewalks were overflowing with people hanging over the railing, waving their arms and pushing the runners along with their cheers. We ran under the bridge, saw the yellow sign on the side of the road that read “One Mile To Go,” made a quick right turn and then at mile 26 we took our last turn, a left turn onto Boylston Street. I didn’t know we were as close as we were so when we took that final turn I mouthed the biggest “Oh. My. God.” It was a roar of adrenaline, a spurt of energy and a feeling that a rockstar must feel when they take the stage, the lights flash on and the fans scream. Incredible.

You can talk to any runner and they will tell you that the last 0.2 miles in a marathon seems farther than the first 26. You’re so close but still have a couple minutes to go. Honestly, the last bit was a blur. All I remember is a sea of excited faces and a blue strip of relief ... the finish banner in the horizon. Finishing was surreal. Seriously, did I just BEAT the BOSTON MARATHON? What a feeling. They kept you moving once you stopped running. If you didn’t feel important in the race, here was your time to embrace your celebrity status. You walked, they gave. First they gave you a bottle water, then the heating blanket that they wrapped around you and the next person used a sticker to close the blanket to keep you warm. Next, you were given a Gatorade recovery drink and then a lunch bag with a collection of food items inside, including chips, granola bars and maybe a banana. Finally when you thought it was all done someone was there to place your finisher's medal over your head and around your neck. How did that feel? Well, I have chills running down my body and tears in my eyes writing about it – can you image that feeling in real time? After collecting my bag from the buses that I left at the start I made my way to the Boston Commons, where I figured was a good place to meet my entourage. Like icing on the cake, my family walked up and we shared a round of congratulatory hugs.

Motivation

Mine as well continue on those heavy emotions while I’m at it. Most of you know about my race shirt that I created on CustomInk.com. The front was simply “Boston Marathon 2010” and the back read “Running as fast as my angels can fly,” which was followed by my angels’ names: Grandma, Grandpa, Mom-mom, Pop, Tippy and Franny. That speaks a lot to where I find inspiration when I’m in the middle of a difficult run and I’m digging for something within to keep going – I usually think about the people in my life – those who are living and those who have passed. It meant a lot to me that I had the opportunity to honor them in this kind of way.

I had my phone in Athlete’s Village and was texting people here and there since we had so much time. One of those people was my mom. This is pretty personal but I want to share it anyway because it really gave me some wings during critical times in the marathon. Here is a text message my mom sent me before the race:

“Mere, Mom-mom would tell you that she loves you and is so proud and she taught all of us when our feet hit the ground in the morning, be sure to offer all your prayers, works and sufferings up to God. Also, when it feels like you can’t go any further, she would tell you to pray to Mary, one Hail Mary after another! I love you so much Mere! You are beautiful inside and out. Love, Mom”

Instantly, my eyed flooded with tears as my thoughts shot back to memories and memories. That is when I really understood what I was running for. It was the perfect message. With every mile, I said a Hail Mary … (and remember those last five miles I said were hellish) … well I may have said one every other step to keep my butt in gear. Someone must have been listening because it did the trick.

Results

FINALLY … how in the heck did I finish?

There is the short of it! My Outer Banks time was 3:34 so I ran three minutes slower than my best but with the course being considerably more difficult I think this time was comparable. My pace was five seconds slower than my first marathon but I am beyond satisfied with these results. I didn’t have a goal when I started; qualifying again was in the back of my mind but I didn’t want to put that kind of pressure on my shoulders. The way in which I paced myself kept me on track to qualify though so I guess I wanted it more than I made known.
 
I finished a little slower than I started. My fastest split (in the beginning) to my slowest split (at the end) was only a 63 second difference and surprisingly I didn’t lose a lot, if at all, as I was climbing heartbreak hills. Some other fun finishing facts: I was 9305 overall, 2272 overall women and 1680 in my division. Like I said in part one of my recap, they assigned bib numbers according to qualifying times and so I was happy that I finished better than my bib number.

And so there it is! A long journey, finished. But one I’ll have the chance to make new memories at next year too. I’m looking forward to it and in the meantime, I’ll look for a half marathon or two to run in the late summer/fall timeframe.

Stay tuned for more! As always, thanks for reading and thanks for your overwhelming support.

2010 BOSTON MARATHON - PART ONE

When I heard it was going to be an incomparable experience, a once in a lifetime kind of day and a motivating journey I never realized how true those phrases would be. The Boston Marathon was one of those awe-inspiring events and I am blessed to have been a part of it.

The Expo

The sports and fitness expo was a zoo, simply put, but a very exciting one. Runners were easily spotted carrying their extra-large neon yellow bags that everyone received when they picked up their bib number. In it was a blue Adidas long sleeve running shirt that had 2010 BOSTON MARATHON in bright yellow down the sleeve, pamphlets, an official race program, bottled water and a 2010 Boston Marathon keychain. Think of an athletic apparel company and it was set up at the expo in Boston that weekend. In addition to apparel, Power Bar, Runner’s World and GU were among the other vendors – plus many, many, many more. It being my first Boston Marathon (and as far as I knew, my only one) I had a list of things I wanted to buy and so I did. On that list was a black track race jacket, the nalgene bottle decorated with the race course, a Boston Marathon t-shirt, a pint glass and finally, a print. I know it’s weird – I bought a print for the race – but it’s something I would think was worth it even if it didn’t have anything to do with the race. 

 Pre-Race

The night before we had reservations at a nice Italian restaurant in Boston's North End, Mother Anna's. I split spaghetti and meatballs and had a couple slices of bread so I could get an ample amount of carbs but not an overload. I set out everything I needed the night before, tried on my running outfit, pinned my number to my shirt and attached my timing chip to my shoe. Then I got to sleep as soon as I could. On race day, I woke up at 5:20am, got dressed and prepped my bags. For breakfast I had a banana with peanut butter and a plain bagel. About an hour before the race I had a quarter of a Power Bar. I hydrated myself thoroughly leading up to the race but did not continue that streak on race morning. At that point, you're as hydrated as you're going to be and let's face it - you don't want to have to go to the bathroom while you're running. I left around 6am to head to our transportation to Athlete's Village.

Athlete’s Village

For those of you who don’t know, runners get transported via bus to the start in Hopkinton and are taken to a large area that is available for participants only. Runners were instructed to arrive in the Boston Commons anywhere from 6am to 7:30am, depending on their start wave, and board one of what seemed to be a never ending line of buses. I waited in line for 30 minutes or so and then got onto a bus and sat next to a guy named Richard Ferguson. Similar to OBX I found my bus-riding buddy to have an interesting story. The last time he’d run Boston was about a decade ago where he placed 13^th overall. He used to be a professional runner, sponsored by Saucony. I absorbed as much advice as I could and after the hour-long bus ride to our destination we wished each other luck and headed into Athlete’s Village.

The village was like a community in itself but of course it has to be to occupy 26,000 or so athletes for multiple hours before the first start. The village offered large tents that appeared very vacant since it was such a nice day (thankfully).  My first sight was a sea of runners either sitting on their bags or blankets, stretching, listening to music or laughing with friends (both old ones and new ones). It was crowded but not overwhelming, and if anything, it was humbling to be with the 26,000 other people who were about to take on the same incredible challenge I was. Bagels, bananas, coffee, water and Power Bars were available under the tents for athletes. The announcer on a large platform didn’t let any more than a couple minutes pass between his announcements, and music blared throughout the morning. The lines for the bathroom were fairly long but it’s not like you had anything else to do but wait. I took some time to listen to the sports psychologist speak but he wasn't preaching anything I didn't already know. The elite women started at 9:30am and wave one, which included the elite men, took off at 10am. Right before the start of the first wave they did a fly-over with three F-150s that flew as low as the treetops that surrounded the village. With about 30 minutes to go until the wave two start time at 10:30am they announced for those runners to make their way to the start. I shed my layers of clothes that kept me warm all morning and brought them to the information tent where they will donate all left behind clothing to the Boys and Girls Club. Then I dropped my bag off at the buses to be taken back to the finish and continued onto the starting line.

Starting Line

The starts were broken into two waves. The first wave consisted of all the elite men and runners with a bib number numbered 1,000 to 13,999. The bib numbers were given in order of qualifying times. I was in wave two, which included bib numbers 14,000 and up. My bib number was 14021 – just nearly making wave two. Fortunately for me that meant I was in the first coral of wave two. Corals were separated by the 1,000s. I was in the front of wave two, which gave me plenty of elbow room to start the race. The town of Hopkinton is small, and it’s apparent that it holds a lot of history. I’ve heard concern with the number of runners and Hopkinton being able to host the volume of people but I think it was executed wonderfully. As far as I know, there weren’t any glitches and maybe it was because of my starting position but I also felt that I had plenty of room, relatively speaking for a race.  Hundreds of people lined the streets with signs and cameras, runners were jumping up and down to get loose and turning on their GPS watches and the sun was shining on a mid-50 degree day. After a prayer and counting down – the gun sounded and we were off.

The Race

The night before the race I bought a roll of hot pink duct tape and stuck a couple strips onto my purple shirt and wrote my name in all caps across my chest. What a great idea. From the minute I set out on the course to the finish on Boylston Street I felt like a celebrity. I don’t think I ran for more than a few minutes without hearing my name softly spoken by a quiet spectator, yelled by a fan (sometimes even accompanied with a fist pump) or chanted by a group of friends. The start is electrifying in large part due to the spectators’ energy. We begin the race on a big downhill and I was quickly passed by what seemed like everyone in my coral. I kept an eye on my time and was sure to not start out too fast because I learned from my first marathon that saving energy is crucial to last and stay strong for the full mileage. My goal is to be faster than 8:23 (Boston qualifying pace) but not any faster than an 8 minute/mile, which is right around my last marathon pace (8:13).

The course was beautiful. Trees and back road scenery lined the first bit of the race. We visited several small towns on our way to Boston and experienced each community in a special way. Small kids reached their hands out to offer up their high-fives and encouragement. I tried to hit as many as I could because I think it made their day and Lord knows it certainly made mine. We passed a biker bar where you were a minority if you didn’t have a plastic cup of beer in your hand, we passed Boston fans with chalkboard score boards with Red Sox updates, screaming college students who probably started just as early as the runners to pre-game and all sorts of other fans of every age.

I saw my parents, my sister and her boyfriend at mile 20. They held signs like true supporters - one with a favorite quote of mine, “Pain is temporary, pride is forever.” That quote is undoubtedly true and especially for a marathon. They said that one got a lot of attention; I think most runners can appreciate the meaning behind it. Marley (my sister) came out and ran for a minute, too. Mile 20 was perfect for them because I had just defeated the first part of the heartbreak hills series and I was just about to battle THE heartbreak hill. They gave me the oomph to conquer it. 

Heartbreak Hills

The Boston Marathon is known for a lot of things but one thing that stands out when talking about the race course is Heartbreak Hills. Surprisingly, these did not get the best of me. Around mile 16 you start on the first of four stair-like hills. Like everyone has said, it's not the incline of the hill it's where they are in the race. Much of the first 16 miles is downhill or flat and when you are faced with a difference in elevation - your muscles go into shock. Then you hit mile 20 and you are faced with the Heartbreak Hill. This is a gradual incline stretching for a little less than a mile. The good part - when you get over it downhill is basically all there is left. Don't let it fool you though - those last five miles are hardly easy. They say your body is equipped to run 20 miles and the last six rely on your nutrition and training to pull you through. This is where you have to start racing and you have to get in a mindset that, well, pain is only temporary. 

Obviously I have a lot to say about the race so I’m going to stop there and finish in part two of my post. Part two will include the finish, my results, post-race and more of my motivation, emotions and mentality. Stay tuned for the rest! Thanks for reading!

One Hand Countdown

Seriously, I mean SERIOUSLY? Five days to go until the Boston Marathon?! Hopefully now with two runs remaining (having run my three miles already tonight) I've done all I can do to run my best race. The road to the starting line in Hopkinton has undoubtedly been a constant journey of ups and downs with motivation but now that the sound of the gun is in hearing distance, I'm thrilled I pushed through when I didn't want to and thrived when I was optimistic.

My last long run went well. I ran the eight miles with my sister. We maintained a good pace and faced a lot of hills (contrary to what my sister told me before we started). (HI KATE!) This week is, of course, very easy so I can be completely rested before the race. Usually where I'd alter my training program during the week I feel like I can't do a lot of that the week of the race. I'm sure I could but my nerves really kick it in a higher gear and I turn into a slave to my schedule. I ran four yesterday and three tonight. Tomorrow I'll do another three with my sister and then two miles on Friday. That will give me two full rest days before race day.

Chris and I fly out to Boston Saturday morning to get in around 10am. It'll be nice to have a couple days to enjoy the city and do some touristy things, and maybe ever catch a Red Sox game. No, no ... not to watch them win - to check out the stadium and see them lose. (Go Yankees!) We have dinner reservations on Sunday for some good Italian in Boston's North End. The weather outlook for the weekend is pretty good; it's no Raleigh sunshine but it's better than wind or rain (knock on wood). Race day is looking to be in the 50s and mostly sunny. Most would say that's perfect running weather.

Gettin' Close

A couple things ...

I got my race packet in the mail yesterday! The booklet they give you has pretty much all the information you'll need for race weekend from parking to course information to official race gear. It also explains how to get to the start. Even though I'm in wave 2 and starting at 10:30am I still have to be on the buses at 6:45am because the roads close leaving the city. They transport you to the start where athletes will be able to hang out in "The Athlete's  Village." It's a huge tented area where light refreshments and entertainment are provided for the three hours before the gun. Something else I didn't think about before ... I can qualify for the 2011 Boston Marathon during the 2010 Boston Marathon. DUH! I guess I just never thought about it but I am trying to forget it as quickly as I became aware of it. No more pressure will be needed.

My race shirt came in the mail today! I'm running in memory of my family members who I've lost. Instead of telling you about - see for yourself!

It turned out better than I thought and it fits great, which is what I was worried about. I am so happy to have the opportunity to run for such incredible people who truly made me a better person and taught me some of the greatest lessons in life.

12 days to go!!

Two Weeks and One More Long Run

What a busy weekend! Monday snuck up on me quickly, which means Boston is getting closer too! Looking back on training I can’t believe how fast it has been flying by. I’m on an even steeper downward slope to the start line now. Last Saturday I had the first of my tapered long runs – 14 miles. The first half of the run went very well but I committed one of the biggest long distance running mistakes. I started too fast. Even though I felt great, averaging 7:45 minute miles hurt me in the long run. No pun intended. The last four miles were difficult and were mostly overcome with a lot of talking to myself, trying to motivating myself and digging up some mental toughness from who knows where. Sometimes, that’s what it has to come down to. I finished with an overall pace of 8:12. My legs got some rest on Sunday but my stomach certainly didn’t. What can I say – my family likes to eat and we had my sister, brother-in-law and two nieces over for Easter. We went to town on the food and candy and, needless to say, I felt a little sluggish today.

This week is pretty calm. Tonight I did a hard 45 minutes on the elliptical, a typical Monday night workout. I round out the week with my last long run of Boston Marathon training – an eight miler on Saturday. Wow.

I should have received my Boston race packet in the mail already but I think with my move a few months ago things may have gotten mixed up since I registered under my old address. I'll try calling tomorrow to see what's up. It is a big disappointment though because I eagerly checked the mail every day last week and got nothing! Bummer!

Two weeks and counting ... BOSTON BOUND!

Boston Playlist

I'm not going to say much because this list is lengthy! Like a marathon, my playlist is a collection of different moods and intensities. With that said - enjoy!

Beer on the Table - Josh Thompson
Why Don't We Just Dance - Josh Turner
Ridin' Solo - Jason Derulo
Bedrock - Young Money
The Power of Love - Huey Lewis and The News
Take It Off - The Donnas
Rock Star - R. Kelly
Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall
Can't Stop - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Life After You - Daughtry
Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm
Telephone - Lady GaGa
Some Days You Gotta Dance - Keith Urban
Can't Tell Me Nothing - Kanye West
Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
Hillbilly Bone - Blake Shelton
Got Money - Lil Wayne
My Life Your Entertainment - T.I.
Keep On Lovin' You - Steel Magnolia
Rude Boy - Rihanna
All the Right Moves - OneRepublic
Something to Talk About - Bonnie Raitt
Fix You - Coldplay
Gimmie That Girl - Joe Nichols
Hell on the Heart - Eric Church
Ain't Back Yet - Kenny Chesney
When I Look At You - Miley Cyrus
All I Do is Win - DJ Khaled
Hey, Soul Sister - Train
Fighter - Christina Aguilera
Blind - Jason Derulo
That's How Country Boys Roll - Billy Currington
In The Ayer - Flo Rida
Footloose - Kenny Loggins
Tricky - Run DMC
You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
Find My Way - The Gabe Dixon Band
Get A Haircut - George Thorogood and The Destroyers
Whatcha Say - Jason Derulo
In My Head - Jason Derulo
Young Forever - JayZ
Impossible - Kelly Clarkson
Let It Rock - Kevin Rudolf
Last Resort - Papa Roach
Walking in Memphis - Lonestar
Don't Stop Me Now - Queen
The World's Greatest - R. Kelly
Outside My Window - Sarah Buxton
Cowboy In Me - Tim McGraw
Work Hard, Play Harder
Haven't Met You Yet - Michael Buble
Hold On - Michael Buble
Skynrd Nation - Lynrd Skynrd
Simple Things - Lynrd Skynrd
That Ain't My America - Lynrd Skynrd
Imma Be - Black Eyed Peas
Kris Allen - Live Like We're Dying
Tik Tok - KeSha
Bad Romance - Lady GaGa

Surprisingly I don't even know if I got them all but you got the gist. :-) 19 days to go!!

Coasting to the Start

And let the taper begin! Three weeks to go until Boston and I've thrown my gear into neutral and am hoping for a seamless ride to April 19. Before I could do that I had to brave the longest run in my training program, 22 miles. Fortunately, the run could not have gone any better but to best honest, I was terrified of the mileage beforehand so I had to pay special attention to my mentality before I hit the road.

One thing I mastered during my OBX training was my outlook before each run. Thinking 'I'm just going for another run' made a world of difference. I would erase the intimidating numbers, like mileage, time and pace, out of my mind and only focus on going for a simple run. This allowed me to find a comfortable stride and have some peace of mind as I set out on some of those longer runs. I applied this technique to my last training run of Boston, and luckily, I was successful. Mentality is EVERYTHING!

Starting at a relaxed pace, I let my body naturally pick up a speed that was fitting for that day. Something else that always sets me at ease is good music and I downloaded a few handfuls of new music the night before so I was set. I also knew that I had my sister, Kate, waiting for me at mile 12 to finish out the last 10 miles of the run. Who doesn't love running buddies?! Needless to say, odds were in my favor that day. I felt and finished strong and that's all I could ask for to begin my taper optimistically.

Before the run I was nervous about the blisters I've been getting on my feet during my runs. I went into the Raleigh Running Outfitters (one of my favorite places) and asked for advice. They told me to use Body Glide on the problem areas. Shocked, but I gave it a shot. To my surprise it worked like a charm! Thank you Raleigh Running Outfitter guys! :-) Oh and thanks for all the GUs, the Mizuno shoes, the 50 percent off running pants, the sports bra, and for letting me kill time during my lunch hour.

Stay tuned for my Boston Marathon mix - coming in the next day or two! Thanks for the continued support!

Four Long Runs Left

Eleven weeks of training completed and only five more to go. Better yet - I only have four more long runs to brave before I jump on a place to Boston. Once again I recorded another week of successful runs last week, which gave me confidence heading into an 18 mile run. Instead of running my long run according to my typical routine on Saturday, I postponed the adventure until Sunday. That decision left me with two rest days before my longest run yet in my training for Boston.

I feel like a broken record but my goodness – those Raleigh hills! There’s no catching a break. All in all I would describe my run as OK. Just OK. It wasn’t great – my pace (8:40) was significantly slower than my 8:11 average during my 16-miler the week before. My shoes are giving me hellacious blisters … something I didn’t experience with my last pair. If I haven’t said it before I bought last year’s model of the Mizuno Nirvanas (the orange pair). When I was fitted for a pair they insisted that I needed a pair of shoes with the most support because of my in-step and my arches and naturally I listened because they are the experts, not me. Well, this particular pair feels like it has no support at all so I don’t know how that math works out. Anyway, I walked a few times for less than .1 mile each time. I’d defeat a majority of many of the hills I encountered and then had a need/want to take it down to a walk over the crown of it, which is always the worse part. If I am not prepared for these Boston hills then I really don’t know what else I could have done.

Rounding out training I have 14 miles to look forward to this weekend and then a whopping 22 before I start to taper. I am ecstatic that the word “taper” is in my very near future. And yes, two weeks and 22 miles is considered near future in a 16-week training program. After my 22-miler I have a 14-miler and then eight before the race on April 19. There is a big 35 written on a pad of purple post-it notes in my cubicle at work, signifying the number of days until Boston. It’s exciting to tear away each day and see how quickly it’s coming. Butterflies are swarming with the thought of it.

Sweet Sixteen

Oh, Monday. Hello again.

I logged some great training last week. The short of it … on Monday I paid a favor to my knees and did an hour on the elliptical, on Tuesday I ran a good seven miles on the treadmill with altering speeds and incline percentages, on Wednesday I was able to get back outside and get in five miles and yesterday I squeezed in a little over five and a half miles outside before dark fell. I’m running consistently at an average pace of 8:25 to 8:30 per mile, which is fine. When Boston comes around I would bet that the adrenaline will pick up the difference and get me down to an 8:10 pace. This is what I’m hoping at least. Not like I can avoid it much in Raleigh but as I’ve been saying, hills have been incorporated into every run for the most part; and not just some rolling hills, I am facing hills I would describe as monstrous! Others may think differently. To my surprise I keep a good pace up the hills too – I just hope I can maintain that for 26.2 miles.

That brings me to my 16-mile long run on Saturday that I was dreading in the worst way. Thankfully it was an awesome run. I had one of those running experiences where I couldn’t help but smile and enjoy myself. My guess is a lot of it had to do with the weather – sunny and mid- to high-50s. Perfect running weather. Spring fever was going around and I was undoubtedly a victim. This was the hilliest run I’ve faced yet and I handled the hills just fine. I focused on what I could do when being challenged with a hill to make it easier. Long, deep and relaxed breathing really helped. I’m so happy that I had a good run because my motivation was getting slim and I was scared I was headed for a bad marathon experience. Anyway, I averaged 8:11 – running below 8:00 for a majority of the run. Am I happy with that? Uh, ECSTATIC!

On a different note - I’ve been thinking about the idea of the training program lately. For a lot of beginner runners – it’s like the Bible. If you don’t hit the mileage recommended for that day, for example the six-miler in week seven of training, then there’s no way you’ll finish your race. Hmm … not true. It’s kind of like relationships if you want to think about it like that, because when you’re training for a race you tend to feel like you’re involved enough for it to be considered a relationship. There’s isn’t a need to marry the program. Sure, it’s stable and always there for you, but it’s better to date and keep it in close reach in case you ever do want to cling to it. But seriously, who wants to be committed when you have so much going on in your life, like work or school, a social life and not all that much time. When I was running with the man I talked about in my previous post he told me about his “perfect 50” week. First he asked me how many miles I do a week and maybe I’m just that new of a runner but that isn’t how I calculate my training mileage. I’m a day-to-day kind of runner – not weekly. Anyway, his “perfect 50” was something to this nature – eight on Monday, seven on Tuesday, six on Wednesday, nine on Thursday and then his long run on the weekend. No thanks. I rarely hit seven during the week, and if I do, that’s probably the max.

When it comes down to it, it’s whatever works for you. That guy likes his “perfect 50” and that is good for him. I typically don’t exceed 40 during the week (not including my elliptical or video workout) if I were to count like that. The program is just a skeleton for ideas on how to build up your endurance and ability – but it’s not a schedule set in stone to follow. I know some who only run four or five miles during the week and their long run on the weekend. The most important run is your long run and so I DO recommend hitting those numbers, but other than that listening to your body is crucial. What works for one may not be your best compass.

I hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather. I know I am!! Oh, and six more days until DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME!

Bad Run, Decent Time

Contrary to my previous post …

There are good runs and there are bad ones. When it’s bad … es no bueno. My usual routine before my long run when it comes to mapping a run is either set out on a route that has been recommended to me or go to MapMyRun.com, make a few twist and turns and write down the directions. Then, off I go without much of a clue in how the run is going to pan out. Needless to say, the verdict was not in my favor this time.

Let me start with some positivity since there isn’t a great deal of it that pours out of this past long run. I was a little more than a mile into my 11-mile run when I saw an older man running in my direction. He was obviously a veteran runner with his spandex running outfit and long, lean physique. To my surprise, he slowed up when we crossed paths and asked if I wanted some company. “Sure, I’d love company,” was my response. We chatted about running, races we’ve competed in and the Boston Marathon for about two miles. He’d run Boston twice roughly 20 years ago and he was going to try and qualify again next year. Of course I asked for advice being a relatively new runner and a virgin Boston marathoner and like everyone else he had heard countless things about heartbreak hills before he faced Boston for the first time. So, he concentrated on those and during the race he worked to conquer them. Around mile 20 when the hills were evening out he realized that he still had another six miles to go … something he did not concentrate on. I guess that goes for most things in life … don’t focus on the tough parts or one thing in particular … keep your eye on your bigger goal and all else will become just a part of the race (figuratively and literally).


Anyway, he left just short of three miles into my run and I was on my own for the next eight. It started out with rolling hills here and there, nothing to speak of, but I made a turn and it was for the worst. Maybe I wasn’t hydrated well-enough and maybe I just wasn’t in the moment but the steep inclines got the best of me that day. I walked for a minute or so about three times, feeling pretty terrible for a majority of the run. If I didn’t know any better I would have thought I was pulling a 30 pound wagon behind me with lead in my shoes. My average pace ended up being 8:27. I’m more than satisfied with that considering how I felt.

I wasn’t going to do anything on Sunday but I knew a recovery workout might work in my favor. A run outside didn’t seem too appealing, especially after the day before, so I went to my apartment’s fitness center and did an hour on the elliptical. I didn’t push any limits but I was worked hard enough to break a decent sweat. Time passed quickly as I watched the end of the Louisville basketball game (Chris is a huge UofL fan). They won in the last seconds! Then I watched the USA hockey game. Very exciting but a disappointing finish to the game. Oh well – I’m proud of our boys.

Tonight was another elliptical night. I think my knees appreciate a break from the constant pounding. Again, it was an hour-long workout and this time I worked a lot harder.

I’ll post again soon but in the meantime, happy running! We have Daylight Savings Time to look forward to!!!! YAY! :-)

Boston On My Mind

Some weeks just don’t play out in your favor, but some weeks really do … and they are great. Running wise, of course. I had three solid weekday workouts this week. They weren’t easy by any means; they were challenging and trying. But I did them, finished strong (enough) and am ready for a successful long run tomorrow. Lately , I’ve found myself typing “Boston Marathon Training Tips” in the Google search bar partly because I’m eager and obsessed and partly because I want to make sure I’m getting the most of out of my training program. The last thing I want to do is qualify for Boston and go through the motions of training – I want to kick butt too! I’m discovering a lot about the marathon and what to expect, which has in turn changed my perception of how I should train.

Everyone has heard of Heartbreak Hills. If not, it’s the series of hills during the Boston Marathon that start at mile 17 and continue until mile 21 or so. Apparently, they aren’t steep and wouldn’t rattle any typical run. The catch? Yes, there’s always a catch. The first 17 miles are downhill, with small rolling hills here and there. Wouldn’t your muscles go into shock after changing what you were doing for 17 miles? That’s what I hear happens. The change from downhill to a steady incline is what gives the hills the infamous name. On the flip side, I’ve even heard quite the opposite. After mile 21 the course is dominantly downhill, which set some people’s muscles off with the drastic change from up to down.

So how have I changed training? HILLS! I’ve said it before, that I want to incorporate hills, but I haven’t quite challenged myself like I should. This brings me back to my workouts this week, which starts with my long run last weekend. I finished a tough 14 miles last Friday. I faced a lot of hills, the height and duration I think Boston will prove to be. After that run I realized that I am not prepared for a hilly course. Even though I felt heavy and slow for a majority of the run I still averaged an 8:30 pace, which is perfectly acceptable in my book. I have been very sore all week and mostly as a result of that run but what better than to keep pushing and fighting when you’re preparing for one of the biggest sporting events. Whoa. Tuesday I ran about six and a half miles and made certain to squeeze as many hills as I could. It was a difficult run but I felt good and light. I didn’t have my GPS watch but I would bet my pace was much faster than my long run pace the weekend before. Wednesday and Thursday weren’t as hilly of runs because I had to make friends with the treadmill but I hit my numbers, four and six, and ran hard. It’s much more satisfying when you completed a workout knowing that you put everything you had into it and probably even became a better runner because of it. I can tell I’m becoming a “runner” – I’ve stopped running just to run and finish a workout and have started thinking strategically in how I can best prepare my body and mentality for this particular race.

Tomorrow I scale back to 11 miles. My knees are looking forward to a bit of a break. I hope everyone has a great weekend! Happy running! :-)

Training - In Good Times and In Bad

Training last week was strong. Usually separating my week runs and my long run helps in my mental game. If I can hit all my goals Monday through Thursday then I get a nice, relaxing Friday. When Saturday rolls around I have to prep myself in a completely different mindset. During the week I’m running hard, I’m hitting my mileage and working on various techniques, like hills, intervals and speed. Long runs are a task by itself. It’s something I don’t ever think about – I just do it. Saturday morning routines typically consist of waking up, brushing my teeth, throwing on workout clothes, grabbing my watch and walking outside. Hopefully by then I’ve woken up and my eyes have opened to notice I’m actually outside and about to go on another adventure. Then I start without thinking of time, mileage or anything else really. It’s going to take awhile and there’s a good possibility I’ll be a little achy but I’ll push through it and finish yet another weekend long run.

I’ve had to do a lot of overcoming treadmill boredom during the week. Monday is my cross-training day so I did a 45-minute Jillian Michaels workout two Mondays ago and a P90x plyos workout yesterday. Both consist of constant core work, a lot of jumping, squatting and cardio. Last Tuesday I ran six-mile intervals on the treadmill. I warmed up with the first mile and then ran half mile intervals for the rest of the time, varying the speed increases each time. Tuesday was a good run; I felt strong. On hump day I worked in a four mile run on the treadmill (again) and incorporated hill inclines. Runner’s World says running at a 1 to 2 percent incline on the treadmill is similar to road running. So, I maintained that incline and then went up to 3, 4 and 5 percent to simulate hills. Thursday rolled around and I had to do a lot of digging for motivation. It happens to everyone. When I finally got to the workout center, I ran five miles at a tempo pace. I didn’t do the higher mileage here (six) but I did the other two days and that was good enough for me. My pace ranged from 7:45 to 8:34 during the five miles. The last couple were tough to get through but I did it.

In conjunction with my runs last week I also did leg, arm and ab work. For legs, squats (bodyweight or light weights), lunges (same as squats), leg raises, calf raises and pelvic thrusts are good for long distance runners. You get toning and strength but not too much. Hill workouts also act as a great leg workout. For arms I keep it simple with bicep curls, tricep pulls, overhead presses, weighted punches and push-ups. Again, I don’t have a goal to bulk up – I just want to be strong. I do all kinds of ab exercises, on the stability ball, on the balance ball, weighted, not-weighted … anything you can think of. I try and get a good core workout in three to four days a week. Running is easier when you have a strong core for support.

Friday night was my rest day and I took full advantage of it. They were calling for snow flurries and possibly rain on Saturday but when I stepped out on my deck and noticed nothing had fallen yet I got dressed and went out for my long run. When I stepped outside – the flurries were there to greet me. Great. I ran anyway though. I spent a lot of time dodging puddles and spots of mud. All in all I felt good and ran a solid 10.5 miles averaging 8:34 minute/miles.

I knew I was going to do a good bit of eating on Sunday for the Super Bowl so I decided to go against my typical routine and workout on Sunday. The elliptical was my safest bet since I didn’t want to cause too much strain on my muscles. I did 30 minutes on the machine and then worked in some arm, leg and core exercises. And as I said before, I did a P90x plyos workout.

That brings me to today … and my lack of motivation. I listened to my body tonight and didn’t run. I am mentally exhausted and needed a break. My program will start back up again tomorrow and I plan on getting two hard runs in and then taking Friday off. Twelve miles awaits me this weekend – stay tuned for the verdict! Happy running!

Why I Run

I've been pretty bad at this, haven't I? Well instead of rambling off what I've done to prepare for my next marathon - I'm going to share something a little more personal. Why I run.

Running isn’t something I am forced to do each day. There are reasons behind my madness, behind my passion. It’s like that quote that talks about how the road won’t miss you if you don’t run. Basically, it’s your decision and every runner has a different drive behind his or her step.

I have a few. The more obvious reasons are to stay fit, to be able to eat more of what I want and for the competition. Constantly challenging myself is an exhilarating test each time I go out for a run, and it's even more heightened when I line up for a race. But there are other reasons ... ones that have become clearer with each year and more experiences.

My sister and I were talking the other day about running and why we do it. The short of it - it’s therapeutic and it's a place to go where you are completely alone with your thoughts. There’s no better place to think with an uncluttered mind than on the pavement. In the last six years of my life I have lost five very close family members and running has been what I've turned to so I can sort out my thoughts, cope with my heartbreak and ask God the questions I don't seem to understand. It's not always that deep of course - sometimes I run to get away from it all. I can leave reality for a little bit and then come back refreshed.

Even more, I can deal with whatever anxieties or stresses I've taken on that day or whenever. Anxiety often times clouds up my chance for sanity in a particular moment, and to experience the openness of the road is the best escape. I don't always turn to running when I'm dealing with something negative though - a majority of my runs are because I just like the feeling. I love passing other runners who share a similar joy, I love seeing different parts of a city that I never would have seen any other way and I love pushing myself to a limit that I didn't seem imaginable before that day.

So when asked why I run - well I guess I have a few reasons. People handle the cards that was dealt to them differently. Sometimes running is a cure, sometimes it can be a celebration or it can just be something I want to do that day. But it is definitely a part of my life in a big way.

Pushing Through Rough Times

Once again I've slacked on keeping up with my posts. These last couple weeks have been a whirlwind to say the least. Traveling to Orlando in early January for work was my first hurdle. Not that the trip was anything negative, but I needed to show more motivation then I did when it came to my running. We worked long days and long story short, the fitness center and I did not get acquainted. On the second day of my trip I received devastating news - my mom-mom passed away. The news was unexpected and heartbreaking. After contemplating getting an early flight home, I decided to stick it out in Orlando to keep myself busy. The weekend after I got home was the weekend Chris and I had to move into our new apartment. Since we needed to drive to Maryland for my grandmother's services we had to pack all the work into one day. Missed my long run. I still planned on squeezing it in at this point but a few very long, emotional and exhausting days had passed and still no running.

We returned to Raleigh late Tuesday night and so I picked up where I left off on training Wednesday. I ran a little over three miles and then Thursday I ran a tempo three miles. Friday called for a rest day - not like I needed any more rest - but I took it regardless since I had a long run on Saturday, which was seven miles. I felt pretty good but I did face a couple steep hills that took a lot of energy and strength to get up. As I've said before, it's going to be crucial to work in hill work outs with Boston's course having several throughout.

Today I rested. My program says to run a recovery run the day after my long run but after some experimenting last time around, I decided that I felt better when I take the day off the next day. With my long run going fairly well I'm confident that the week I missed won't rattle my training at all. The weather is getting nicer so I think hitting the pavement versus running on the treadmill might be a little more inviting.

Boston Bound

Sorry it's been so long since I posted last ... but I'm back now and training for the 2010 Boston Marathon is underway! I'll be using the same training schedule that I used for the OBX Marathon. Why change something that worked so well? Monday kicked off the 16 week long journey. What I didn't realize is how much harder it's going to be to stay motivated when it's so cold and dark all the time. Training for OBX will seem like a cake walk compared to what I'm setting out to do for Boston. I guess this is where I'm supposed to get tough and not let the weather break me down and not let the early mornings scare me away. Conquering the obstacles during this training will be a very rewarding experience, and there's no doubt that I can do it.

I went home to Maryland for Christmas, which is where I started my first day of Boston bound training. It was supposed to be a 30-minute run but the bitter cold turned it into a quick and stiff 20-minute run. Sadly, I took the next two days off just because of my busy schedule and my holiday exhaustion. Good start, eh? Thursday I found a drop of motivation again and I ran with it - literally. Something tells me there will be a lot of treadmill work outs this time around because that's where I found myself running four miles that night. Since treadmill running is typically easier because of the rotating belt, I varied the incline percentage throughout the run to simulate running up and down hills, and I also cranked up the speed. My average pace was 8.05 (or something like that), of course with variation there too. I figure if I'm going to resort to those kinds of work outs, I'll need to make it challenging and realistic. That brings me to Friday, where I took advantage of my rest day to, well, rest! Today marks my first long run and I'll head down to the treadmill again to run four to five miles. With wind chills making it feel like 18 degrees - I say NO THANKS to braving the cold.

I haven't been doing that much since I ran the OBX Marathon. A lot of elliptical work outs, an occasional treadmill run and some weight lifting and ab work. To keep my body guessing, which is always good when you're trying to slim down, I like to incorporate intervals and weights into my elliptical work outs. Since I train for long distances my intervals need to be longer too - like two to five minutes on and off - depending on how I feel that day. When I use weights while I'm on the elliptical, I weave in curls, presses and arm raises, or just hold very light weights. I like to think of it as multi-tasking! Strength work is usually kept simple. Squats, lunges, leg raises and calf raises round out my leg work, and curls, presses, tricep pulls and some other made up lifts make up my arm work. Also, I like to incorporate weights into my ab work outs so that I know I'm not just going through the motions. Weight training will be especially important in training this time around since I'll be facing a lot more hills than I did in OBX.

Happy New Year! Here's to many SUCCESSFUL RESOLUTIONS! :-)

OBX Marathon

THE GOOD NEWS ... I FINISHED A MARATHON! I FINISHED IN 3:34.15 AND I QUALIFIED FOR THE BOSTON MARATHON! I FINISHED 3RD IN MY DIVISION! :-) AND ... I FELT GREAT AND ENJOYED EVERY STEP OF THE JOURNEY!

Here's the long winded breakdown ...

Four days later and I'm finally able to walk down the stairs without cringing in pain. What an experience! I could not have asked for a better day than race day last Sunday. Sixty-five degrees, sunshine and a refreshing breeze made for perfect running weather. I was worried the wind was going to play a negative factor during the day since it was blowing in a resisting direction the day before. Luckily my two lucky pennies and the dead lady bug played in my favor and conditions were flawless. (That's another story.) Apparently dead lady bugs are just as lucky as living ones!

First I'll start with the Expo. It was a small event but that was expected since it is a smaller race, relatively speaking. The Outer Banks is a small community, too. It was held in a youth community center. Walking in I felt the vibe and energy from all the eager runners and vendors. Everything was very well-organized and the process was fast and painless. The full marathoners received long sleeve shirts and the half-marathoners got the short-sleeved ones. The shirts are nice and light-weight, perfect for running on a fall day. Anyway Chris and I left the Expo and went to check into our motel. Yes, a motel. Hotels got quite pricey for race weekend. Hey, whatever works right? :-)

We didn't do much that night - went to the outlet mall and walked around a bit. I wanted to get my legs moving since we just traveled a few hours. For dinner, we went to an Italian restaurant of course and I got spaghetti and meatballs! It was delicious! I had a beer with dinner too - I don't think there's any wrong in enjoying a beer before the race. A little something to calm my nerves. When we returned to our motel I got everything ready for the next morning so I didn't have anything to worry about at 5am! My clothes were laid out along with my watch, iPod, running belt and all of its contents. In my running belt - six GUs, chapstick, vaseline, gummy bears, bandaids and my phone. Before I hit the sack I made sure everything that needed to be charged was charged.

My alarm went off at 4:50am. I shot up anxious for the day and proceeded to get ready. I had an everything bagel without any spread and half a banana for breakfast. I didn't drink too much water for two reasons - I didn't want to cramp up and I didn't want to have to use the bathroom during the run. I met the shuttle to transport me to the start and before that I took a couple Ibuprofins. That's something I've done before all my long runs. Since Chris and I were staying where the finish was we basically drove the entire route before getting to the start. This was intimidating. I sat next to a very nice guy who gave me a lot of great advice when he found out it was my first marathon. I used the bathroom before the race, stretched and ate a GU about 20 minutes before the start. I bought a cheap long-sleeved t-shirt to wear before the race and right before we lined up to start I threw it away.

Gun shot and go! I felt great at the start probably due to my three-week taper. I was told by someone who was familiar with my times, pace, etc. to try and stay in between a 8.00 and 8.15 pace. At times I looked at my watch and saw I was running faster than 8.00/mile so I forced myself to slow down. I didn't start my iPod right away because I remember my battery almost died during my 22 mile training run. We weaved in and out of neighborhoods, bike trails, a three mile dirt/sand path, the woods and finally the main road. Spectator support wasn't that of a big city race but even though the streets were flooding, groups of people were frequent and they were all energetic and motivating. The views were breathtaking. We got to run alongside the sound, passed beautiful beach homes and around the Wright Brothers Memorial.

I ate a GU gel every six miles. My mentality was a major factor in my success in this race. When the gun shot I told myself that I'm going to go on a run this morning, it's a beautiful day and I'm going to enjoy the sights and take in the experience. I was going to smile as often as I could. This all probably sounds cheesy but let me tell you, it worked. I was relaxed and calm and as I continued to run I kept smiling. What I like to do is set little goals so that the entire distance isn't overwhelming. My goals ... 5, 6, 10, 12, 13.1, 16, 18, 20, 22.5, 24, 26.2. Now I'll tell you the significance. The night before I set several text messages to inform Chris where I was. I made them funny and light-hearted so I would laugh when I opened them up during the race to send them. So I text Chris at miles 5, 10, halfway, 16, 20, 22.5 (the big bridge) and 24. The other mileages was when I ate the GU. This keeps me continually looking forward to something. Chris and some of my family members would send me text messages throughout the race too - and those were fun to get and to know that I had a lot of people hoping for the best for my race.

I met and ran with several people throughout the race. One guy, Terrell, was running his 19th marathon. His goal was 3:40, as was mine. We ran together around the Wright Brothers Memorial and then for another few miles. I lost him in the dirt and sand path when he dropped back a little and I kept on with my pace. Then I met Hal and Dan, a very funny running pair. Dan was quite the pessimist, but ironically in a comical way. Hal was running his 63rd marathon and was going for his 21st Boston qualification. Everyone was quick to give me their bit of advice when they found out I was running my first marathon. I appreciate all the information I can absorb. I went ahead of those two at a water station after three or four miles of running together. Water stations sometimes slow people down but I was nervous it was going to take away from my pace so I grabbed my water, cupped it and drank on the go. Once I left Hal and Dan I turned on my iPod (around mile 17) and was determined to finish the race in good time.

If there were people out cheering I would happily thank them for their support, if a little kid was sticking out their hand for a hi-five I embraced the energy and hi-fived them ... a positive attitude really works wonders. I kept waiting for that wall I was supposed to hit but I never really encountered one. Around mile 21 miles kept getting a little longer but I pushed forward. Then, there was the bridge! A mile-long bridge. I'm not sure how tall it is exactly but at mile 22 - it looks like a mountain. Traffic was pretty much stopped next to us so there was some support from the passengers. I jokingly asked one car for a ride to the finish. Downhill from here - literally. Down the bridge, a small strip until the right at the light to turn into downtown Manteo and then a couple miles to the finish. If I hit a wall it would be here - not a big one - but enough to challenge me. Again I pushed forward and fought the pain. The finish was a rush. Fans lined each side of the street and downtown Manteo is a beautiful sight. Chris was right near the finish line and he was cheering loud. It was so great to see him! The coolest thing was getting my name announced when I was crossing the finish line. "MEREDITH BROWN FROM RALEIGH!"

They gave me my medal right away and kept the runners cycling through. We were led to a tent with half peanut butter sandwiches, bananas and apple slides. I had the sandwich, half a banana and an apple slice. I also had some water and a sip of Gatorade. I felt pretty good but my legs were tired obviously. My breathing was great and I was hardly out of breath. It was really only the pain circulating in my legs.

The post-race festivities were cute. There was a band playing, people dancing, free beer and food. All of this was right on the water, too. Chris and I enjoyed the scenery for a bit then got some food (I had some chicken fingers that ended up going right through me) and sat on a bench on the sound.

After reading my results I found out I finished 167 overall (out of nearly 2,000) and 24 out of 796 females. I also discovered that I ran negative splits, meaning my pace got faster throughout the race. For the first half of the race I averaged a 8.15 pace, after 20 miles I averaged a 8.12 pace and then I finished the last 6.2 miles with a 8.07 pace. This all averaged out to a 8.11 pace for the duration of the race. I was extremely pleased and surprised by my performance and experience.

I registered for the 2010 BOSTON MARATHON today. I'll start training in January. For now I'm resting my body. I'll probably work in a little workout tomorrow on the elliptical and then something this weekend as well. My oldest sister and I are running a seven-mile trail run in December. After that I have my next marathon to look forward to. I hope that training is just as positive as my OBX training and race was. Of course, it's all what you make out of it.

I'll post every week or do talking about different things running-related and will pick up on training when I start in January. I can't wait to take you along in my Boston experience. I plan on taking on a different training schedule so it will be interesting to compare.

THANKS for all the support and interest. I'm so lucky and blessed to have wonderful family and friends! Love you all!

Two Days 'til the Big Show

Have you heard the news? There has been a swarm of killer butterflies attacking the North Raleigh area.

Two more days. Oh. My. Gosh. I took it very easy this week. Here’s the short of the workouts …

Monday I switched it up and did an elliptical workout.  Just kidding – I did the usual and this time for 30 minutes. Tuesday I aimed at finishing an easy four mile run but I didn’t have my Garmin so I just ran for 35 minutes. My pace must have been faster than I thought because I ran more than four miles. I was really trying to slow my pace down but I have yet to prove to master that skill. After work Wednesday I hit the pavement for an easy three miles. Yesterday I was ecstatic that I had to only run two miles. The last time I was told to or felt like running only two miles was, well, a long time ago.

Now I’m in rest mode. Today and tomorrow are days to be nice to my body. I might even refrain from taking the stairs; forcing myself to be lazy.  I’m starting to feel recovered so I hope that feeling only increases for when Sunday rolls around.

Water has been my best friend, especially this week. I’m forcing an immense amount of water into my system. My nervous are overtaking me because I was scared into not drinking sodas this week. I didn’t realize how much I depend on my soda mid-morning. For the life of me I could not figure out why I was so exhausted during the latter part of the afternoon. I finally figured it out and continued with my one soda routine. It won’t hurt me as long as I drink sufficient water (and then some). I also drink a cup of coffee in the morning but that’s also a part of my routine and didn’t see a need to change that either.

Chris and I plan on leaving tomorrow (Saturday) morning. We’ll head to the Expo probably after grabbing a bite to eat. I’m looking forward to seeing what the Expo has to offer, maybe some running goodies.  Then, I hope to get a good dinner before the rush of runners hit the Outer Banks. We are staying until Monday to enjoy OBX for another day with each other. And, to celebrate our four-year anniversary! It’s turning out to be an excellent week so far – let’s hope that continues!

Smooth Sailing From Here

At this point I've done all that I can to prepare for this race. Yesterday I finished my last long run until I face 26.2 miles a week from now. I've been tapering for a couple weeks now - running 15 and then 8 (yesterday) after my 22-miler in Indiana. This week will be an extremely easy week - making sure I am 100% recovered and ready-to-go on Sunday.

I didn't feel like I was running fast during my 8-mile run but surprisingly I averaged an 8:13 pace. North Carolina is perfect. A 76-degree day - at some points overcast and others sunny - made for a beautiful fall Halloween, and a great running day. I know I've complained about the hilly routes that are inevitable in Raleigh but I'm noticing that they are phasing me less and less as I continue to face them. I came across many hills yesterday - more than usual I would say - and I wasn't so worried about avoiding them. They were just part of the run. Of course that happens at the end of my training but I'm hoping that will work in my favor in OBX. Reviews say that course is mainly flat with a steep and long hill going over the bridge into Manteo at mile 22 or 23. If I've learned to conquer unforgiving hills then a flat terrain will be cake! Or at least that's what I'm hoping.

Anyway - I've been consumed in the OBX Marathon Web site. They don't really post anything new but I check every day just in case. I think I'm just getting eager to get this thing started! Many of the reviews online are very contradicting to one another. Some will say it's not a course for a PR, and some will say this is the perfect course to get your best time. Maybe it all just depends on the weather, which seems to be a common theme. One review from a couple years ago said at the start it was drizzling and overcast, then it got sunny, then it down-poured, then it was overcast and windy and they finished with the sun. Everything but snow pretty much! Apparently the racers last year got lucky with gorgeous weather. Weather.com says cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain for Sunday. I just hope the wind off the ocean isn't overbearing. I'll have to be strategic when packing and will probably have to go out and buy some "throw away" clothes. Clothes I can toss if it gets too hot or what have you. It's easier to shed then it is to steal the rain jacket from the guy next to you. You would have to pray that you are faster than him!

I'll post this week's very easy training schedule on the side. Today I'm resting - maybe I'll do a core workout and stretch. I'm also tracking a co-worker in the New York Marathon, which is getting me motivated for next weekend! It's football sunday (Go Eagles!) and game 4 of the World Series (Go Yanks!) so I don't want to do much else besides watch some sports and relax. :-)

Thanks again for all your support!! Now the countdown REALLY begins!! 7 days!

Two Weeks Out ...

Can't write too much tonight - the Yanks are on and my attention on any one thing will be non-existent.

The day after my long run I kept out of my running shoes and enjoyed a travel day to Ohio and a great visit with my little sister and many other family members. We went to Ohio University to catch one of Tay's field hockey games. Two of my other sisters, Meg and Kate, wanted to go for a run the next day and so I joined them. We explored the OU campus, weaving around the athletic fields, going through downtown and outlining the campus. What a beautiful run - especially as the leaves are turning into warm autumn colors. It was a relaxing 40-minute run and really served as a good recovery run after my 15-miler from Friday.

This week has been pretty low-key for me so far. Monday, as usual, was my elliptical day. The book, Women Who Run, had kept me occupied for a majority of the 30-minute workout. I'm borrowing it for now but it's a book comprised of many short stories, all different, about an array of different experiences from, yup - you guessed it, women who run. The two that stuck out to me most recently was of a women who was diagnosed with epilepsy and when no other medicine would really work - running became her medicine. It was the only escape she had to alleviate some of the hardship in having that type of disorder. The other story revolved around how Lance Armstrong's ex-wife, and now a Runner's World contributor, got into a relationship with running. Her friends suggested she partake in some weekend runs, which became a regular routine after awhile. It acted as a release as she dealt with her divorce and the media. She ventured into marathon and trail running and has made it her passion ... along with her role as a mother. Very brief summaries but I definitely recommend it.

Tuesday called for rain, overcast and five to six miles. Got the rain, got plenty of overcast and was oh-so-close to five. Actually - I ended up getting in four. The day had worn me out so it was one of those forced runs. When I finally got the guts to hit the road I hit the gas and really pushed my tempo. My GPS watch had run out of battery so I can't tell you how fast but I know I was flying. Today was an absolutely beautiful 75-degree day, just perfect weather. My schedule called for three to four miles today. Squeezing in three and some change was a bit like the day before ... forced, but very fast.

One more long run and then the big race! I had planned on running 11 this weekend but I was advised to rethink that. Apparently the rule of thumb is that for each mile you run on a long run you need that many days to recover. I think I will run seven or eight but no more than eight. Eager doesn't even begin to describe how I'm starting to feel since the race is getting so close! :-) I'm most surprised that I am pretty much done with training. Yeah there were some rough long runs, forced training nights and your basic aches and pains but all in all, it's been an enjoyable experience.