Feeling Thankful

As I continue to give my body an extended period to rest and repair from running a marathon on under-trained and slightly injury legs, I finally downloaded my Garmin data last night (15 days post race). I knew my overall time from the marathon (of course), but I hadn't looked at the details, and I honestly didn't care.

So here is what it looks like. Basically, lots and lots of short bouts of walking. About double the amount as last year (interesting to compare).

IMLP 2013

IMMT 2012

Lake Placid Splits

It's always so interesting to look back and compare your memory with the actual splits. For example, I'm shocked that Mile 19 was my slowest mile. From my memory, there is no large hill there and nothing jumps out in my mind about that mile being significant. I do remember feeling like it was taking FOREVER to reach mile 20. I walked the entire hill near the ski jumps and the entire hill back into town (both times), but both were faster. Strange.

More than anything, looking at this data makes me thankful. Thankful that I was able to pull together a great day at Placid. Thankful that my body allowed me to push through the pain for 26.2 miles. Thankful that I (fingers crossed) did not do any more damage to my legs or feet by running this marathon. And thankful that hopefully this run has helped provide clarity as to what I want to tackle in the months to come.

Ironman Mont-Tremblant - The Run

Pre Race and Swim here.
Bike here.

As I entered transition, I took my feet out of my bike shoes, dismounted my bike, gave it to a lovely volunteer, and feared the worst. Coach had told me those first few steps after getting off the bike were like nothing you've ever felt before. Well, my feet were sore, and I was running a bit knock-kneed, but right away, I realized I felt really fine. Really OK. Almost great. Perhaps it was the adrenaline of getting off the bike and finally making it to the run, but I ran to the changing tent with a smile and was determined to keep the smile on my face for the next 26.2 miles.

T2
2:26

I grabbed my bag from a volunteer, and knew this transition was simple. I emptied my back pocket of my arm warmers and trash from the bike, changed socks and put on my shoes while I asked the volunteer to spray my back with sunscreen (irony: it rained.). I had my gels (just in case they didn't have what I wanted/needed on the course), plus aleve, tums and some Imodium in a small plastic bag that I stuffed in my back pocket, I grabbed my Garmin and a small water bottle and was off

RUN
4:19:02 23/AG
(2:07 first loop, 2:12 second loop)  9:54 pace

Right away, I fixed my ponytail, adjusted my visor and knew I needed to pee (yes, AGAIN). I wasn't haven't any stomach distress, and I didn't feel sloshy, but I just need to pee. The first few sets of porta potties I ran past had lines of people waiting, and my need wasn't urgent (yet!) so I decided to find my legs and stop in a few kms when hopefully there would be no lines. You exit transition, make a left, and right away are confronted with a climb. I focused on keeping my steps small and my knees high, didn't pay attention to pace, and knowing when I crested the hill I would see the Terrier cheering squad and my parents kept me moving forward. It was the best sight all day; I totally forgot about the weird feeling in my legs and I threw high-5s and loved every second of their cheers.

I turned the corner, saw more lines for bathrooms, grabbed a gel and kept focusing on small quick steps. My garmin finally picked up satellite and I was holding just about 9:30 pace. I felt GREAT, totally within myself and thought back to the course and how I had broken it up in my race plan. I finally found a porta-potty that was open, quickly jumped in and out and focused on getting through the first 5k and to the gravel path out and back.

The run is a huge blur in my mind, it seemed to fly by with very few low moments. I remember specific moments and people. I have tried to capture the run below, but these thoughts are not in any particular order - they are just my memory of the day as it progressed.

• I know I ran with a little guy in all black for most of 5k-10k, and we traded off taking the lead and keeping pace. Every time he took the lead he would push the pace from mid 9's down to about 8:30s, which still felt totally comfortable and I REALLY wanted to let it go, but I was scared to push my luck and I would reign myself in.

• I remember crossing the timing mat just before 10k, pressing lap and seeing it under an hour and being SO HAPPY that everyone tracking would know I was OK, that I was DOING IT! I wished they could see the smile on my face [come to find out later the splits weren't coming and people were really worried about me...oops! ha]

• I remember being a little frustrated that there were SO MANY aid stations (ha). My plan was to walk every other aid station, but there were so many and they weren't spread out evenly and not all them had gels and coke, so I tried just to not walk THAT much. I didn't want to be a slave to my watch and the miles/time that had passed, so I decided to just wing it.

• I have no memory of what I ate. I know I thad at least 3-4 honey stinger gels (maybe more?) and at the end I started grabbing orange slices and I had a few Honey Stinger Chomps that were SO GOOD at mile 22. I also grabbed a cup of chicken soup around mile 20 and threw it back like I was water and it splashed all over my face and chest and I just laughed at myself.

•  I remember taking Aleve and a salt tab somewhere around mile 10 and my stomach cramping immediately and feeling really nauseous and thinking "Well, there goes my day" with visions of the horrible cramps I got in Clearwater in my mind. I took a moment to walk and take some deep breaths, and focused on getting to the next aid station to take a gel.

•  One of the best feelings all day was cresting a nasty little climb just before going back through town, seeing my family and especially my mom again, and allowing myself to talk and say hi and give her a hug before she sent me back on my way.

• There was another group of Terriers and some of my best girls cheering just up the hill and I saw Dan and he looked SO HAPPY. I was so happy he was having fun and just wanted to walk and talk to him. He kept on yelling at me to keep going, that I was doing so good. It was just about 1 km through town and back to this section of the course, so I focused on just getting back to them again. 

•  Running through town was INCREDIBLE. I went through halfway just as some of the female pros were finishing, so the crowds were HUGE and CRAZY and when I turned off to start my 2nd loop they cheered for me just as much as those finishing. It was awesome and a huge energy boost.

• I saw 2:07 at halfway. "Oh geez, I still feel OK, and I am DOING THIS!! Oh god, I have 13 more miles?!" I decided I would walk up the hill out of town again and chat with Dan. I had actually told him before "Listen, I am going to walk up this hill when I come back to talk to you, so please don't yell at me to run!" Again, how excited he was made me excited, and he finally said the words I was trying to keep out of my head "Babe, you're gonna go sub 12!!" I told him to stop, not to jinx it, and I just needed to keep moving forward.

•  From 'hot corner' back to the gravel path I did not walk. I put my head down, stared at the blue line, didn't look at my pace and just focused on getting through the hills. 

• Thing started to hurt - not cardio wise, and not mentally, but my feet hurt and my right hip flexor, which started bothering me about a week before the race, was really tight. I found a little group that was running the perfect pace and tucked in behind them. I continued to walk some aid stations, taking in coke and gels.

• The first time I looked at my total distance on my garmin it said 19 miles. I was 2.5 miles past my longest run this year. I was really glad it took me that long to look, because 7 miles left felt really doable at the pace I was running.

• I was so happy when I saw sign for 32k. Only 10k left. I liked the course being marked in kms. It gave me something to do in my head and also seemed to go by a lot faster.

• I started running with a sweet French speaking older man. He asked if I was on my second loop, I said yes. He asked if this was my first Ironman, I said yes. He was the second person of the day to say the words "You're going to break 12." We had 8k left and it was 6pm. 12 minute miles to the finish. I finally let myself believe. He tried to pull me along, but I felt like I was holding him back so I told him to go - I passed him back about 1km down the road and he cheered me on.

• I remember walking an aid station to take some coke somewhere in the early 20s and finding it really really hard to start running again. I decided, that was it, no more walking except for some of the hills towards the end.

• Off the gravel path, I thought "I can do anything for a 5k" And I did. I again focused on the blue line, picking people off and getting to the finish line.

• With about 3k to go, the skies OPENED. It was pouring, there was thunder, and all I could do was smile. 

• I looked at my watch with about 2k to go and started to hyperventalite I was so happy. No. Not yet. You're not done yet.

• I walked the last little climb into town, picked it up through special needs, and was running pretty much alone. I heard a 'Sarah!' and looked up and say my dad waving from the awning in front of the Westin. I waved and then really started to lose it.

About 800m left in the pouring rain. 

• I vaguely remember running through town to the finish line. The atmosphere was so amazing and I knew I was ugly crying but I just didn't care. I was trying to keep it together and pretty much sobbing at the same time. I don't remember hearing my name, or really even seeing the finish line. I walked across the line (why did I do that?), watched the clock turn from 11:51:59 to 11:52:00 and was just in utter shock that I was done.

If I could have sat down right there, I would have.

Proof that RUNNING through the finish line would have in fact, been a good idea.

DONE!

 
Volunteers pretty much attacked me as I crossed, I was shivering pretty badly, sobbing and couldn't really catch my breath, and they said my lips were blue. I wanted to just sit down for a second but they made me keep walking and yelling in my face about being ok, blue lips, cold, rain, it was all a blur. Then I heard my mom and ran over and gave her one of the best, most satisfying hugs of my life. I then saw Dan and I said 'I did it!' and we hugged and then the volunteers continuing to pull on me.

I assured them I was OK as I was finally able to take deep breaths again, and was ushered to the finisher's area/food tent. It was still raining pretty hard, and I saw a teammate and finally SAT DOWN.

2012 Ironman Mont-Tremblant

11:52:01

I was happy to look at my Garmin file and see for most the run (save a bathroom stop at Mile 1.5, a stop for a hug about mile 12 - I also think I was having some satellite issues Miles 18-21ish bc nothing was happening there and I was clearly not running 6minute miles)  I kept my walk breaks fairly consistently spaced without being a slave to my Garmin. Based on the time of my two loops, I really think I was running about the same pace the entire way, but as I got closer to the end I started walking the hills a bit more.

It's back to real life for me as I head off on a work trip tomorrow. I wanted to get all the details about the swim/bike/run down before they started to blur. I have so much more to say about the race, the town, the experience, but I'm going to take a few days, or more, to let it all sink in and really pull my thoughts together. 

National Half Marathon: Mission Accomplished

...1:38:42 :)

After spending the first three months of the year training for the National Marathon, focusing on lots of miles and fine-tuning my marathon pace, my confidence was a bit shaky going into this race. I had done a few tempo runs at a fine speed, done some treadmill speedwork, but I had no clue how my body would react to racing a half marathon. I put my goal time out there with my coaches, they were honest with their feedback, and we developed a race plan. Start at 7:50 pace and increase the speed every two miles. This would put me very close to sub 1:40, but would most likely give me a PR (1:44).

After a hellish bus trip to DC on Friday (Lincoln Tunnel closed = 6+ hour nightmare), my boy picked me up and we headed straight to the expo, had a good Italian dinner, and got ready for the 5am alarm. My anal tendencies got us a front row parking space at 5:50 for a 7am race start. We hung around the start for awhile and I lined up Corral 3. This put me across the about 1:15 after the official race start. I ate a peanut butter bagel early, a banana on the way, and then sipped 1 scoop of CarboPro (with grape flavor sugar-free mix mmm) as I waited for the start.

Long story short: First mile was really crowded and came on at 7:55. It felt painfully slow, but I was happy that I had followed coach's plan for the first mile. I picked up the pace as the crowd opened up a bit, looked at my Garmin, and was running sub-7. I felt great, debated for about a half second, and decided to just go for it. I ran slightly out of my comfort zone, worked the downhills, and the miles flew by. I felt like I blinked and was climbing the biggest hill of the course right around 10k. I started to feel the effort about Mile 11, but tried to tuck in behind some people I had been running around and get to the finish. I didn't have my cumulative time on my watch, but knew I had been running right around 7:30s and was very confident I was going to be sub-1:40.

Turned the final corner and saw that I was going to cross right at 1:40 clock time. Which put my official time at 1:38:42. I had held a consistent pace and HR and felt strong to the finish. My mile splits (range from 7:08 to 7:49) reveal the course was much more 'rolling' than I expected, but training in Central Park was perfect practice. I was overjoyed when I finished, and my boyfriend promptly told me I had way to much energy left and hadn't run the finish chute nearly fast enough :) That's my boy ha.

I really loved this race. I got to run on iconic DC roads and neighborhoods (under Dupont Circle, through Adams Morgan, straight down North Capitol with the Capitol building straight ahead) and I think the course was more than fair. I do have a few gripes (only mile marker/clock was at Mile 10, no warning of upcoming aid stations), but that may come from being spoiled at NYRR races.

Due to work this year, I don't have too many races on the schedule, so I really want to make each one count. I am so happy to have put this race together, trust my training and fitness, and really allowed myself to go for it. I think the mental lessons I learned racing last year have really come through in my races this year (be confident!!) and I can't wait for South Beach in two weeks !!

What a week can bring...

This past week has been a rollercoaster, to say the least. When I get quiet on the blog-front, it usually is bc something is going on that I don't want to admit and putting it in writing makes it real. So....

Last Sunday, during a planned 3 hour long run, at about 60min, I started having sharp pains in the side of my foot. I slowed down and took some walk breaks, but around 2 hours, I decided there was no reason to be a hero and slowly walked home. It took 24 more hours for me to admit something was wrong and I needed to get it looked at.

Tuesday - PT visit, major massage and taping job later, I am sent to 1) buy narrow running shoes and, 2) get an xray of my foot.

X-ray is all clear, but to be safe, podiatrist send me for MRI. Says he will text me the results later that night. When I get a phone call at 9pm and not a text, my heart sinks. Good News first: No stress fracture. Bad News: Partially torn Peroneal Tendon. Pain in foot a result of the inflammation. Prescription: Can treat symptomatically (ice ice ice), need to be honest with myself about the pain, OK to run if feeling good.

Wednesday - Officially change my registration from the full marathon to the half marathon on March 26th. Trying to be smart about taking the pressure off. Feeling good about my decision, excited to see what I can do over 13.1 miles.

Fly to Florida for 6 days of triathlon camp. Great timing.

Thursday - 27 mile bike, 45 minute swim.

Friday - 45 minute, 5.3 mile run, (pain was OK), 45 minute swim. Open water swim.

Saturday - Clermont Race. Crap swim, great bike, painful yet speedy run. Very happy with the result - 2/AG to my speedy roommate, 8th overall. 45 minute swim, transition practice with team (I will do a flying mount/dismount at South Beach!).

Sunday - 60 minute swim, 27 mile bike, 1 hour yoga. Have a run in with a water cooler top, give myself a black eye.

Monday - Longest.Ride.Ever. 105 miles. 6 hours. Felt stronger at the finish. Saddle agreed with me. Ecstatic.

Tuesday - 45 minute swim, 60 minute run. 9:30 pace. NO PAIN.

So now I'm back in cold and windy NYC, excited to continue my momentum, annoyed with myself for leaving my bike shoes in Florida with the team, and trying to listen to my foot and not change my registration back to the full marathon.

Marathon Goals

With the release of the new application process for the Boston Marathon in 2012, the BAA just pushed me to finalize my goal of the marathon. 3:35. I think that's the only way I will possibly have a chance of registration for 2012.

A lofty goal. But I would rather push the pace and try my best than run comfortably for 3:50 and wonder 'What If?'

Why, hello there 8:10 marathon pace workouts for the next 6 weeks...

I'm alive.

Just busy smartly and slowly increasing my mileage.

I also have finally found the cure for the insomnia I had been suffering from since the beginning of January: Marathon Training.



6 weeks left. Have set no goals for the race yet, but am feeling happy and healthy and loving the training!

3/26/2011

As long as my feet thaw from the frigid mornings - I think this will set up a kick ass year.

Yes, I registered on 12/31. No I wasn't drinking.

3 weeks down, feeling good, can't wait!

Weekend in Pictures

This weekend is best told through pictures.

After my last long brick on Saturday, I finally was able to use a gift certificate for a massage I have been saving up. While it was heaven, and I plan to go back Wednesday before hopping on a plane down to Tampa, I'm not sure she believed me when I told her I had sensitive skin...


After laying around for a bit , I motivated to do me some baking. Cake Balls for the boy. Sounds easy, right?



Well, I would not say these were a TOTAL disaster, but they were close (as you can maybe tell from the finished product). I learned a few lessons:

1. If a recipe calls for 1 box of cake mix + 1 can of frosting, eating chunks of said cake will mess up the ratio.

2. Cake Balls should be bite size. I got about 30 balls, when I was supposed to make 50+. I guess my bite-size is larger than most?

3. Too large cake balls (see #2), result in longer than necessary cooling time prior to the chocolate dip.

So I ended up with about 12 'usable' Cake Balls after an utter disaster of a dipping process. And even the ones that were presentable weren't the tasty treats I was hoping. I think I will just need to play with the amount of frosting to perfect this recipe, and learn to be more patient (however, I've been working on that for 27 years).

Sunday called for one last run and then some major cheering, celebrating and overall loving of NYC on Marathon Sunday.

Daily (walking to work) Inspiration

Marathon Maddness

The electricity of marathon week is officially in town. From the finish line bleachers under construction at 6am this morning, to the groups of international runners taking group photos at the Reservoir yesterday morning - it's the best time of year in the park. There is an energy that you can feel and carries you through your runs.

Although I have missed the training over the past few months, I have no regrets to not be participating in this year - for the first time ever I actually get to be a spectator and am REALLY excited. My first two years living in NYC I was out of town for work marathon weekend, and I ran the past two years, so I am really looking forward to taking my camera and parking my butt somewhere on 5th or behind the Met and cheering on the masses.

My favorite sign I have seen so far :

On the training front, for the first time in a while, I actually feel like I'm training again with my head in the game. I'm in the water every day this week and my swim feels great, and I hit some 800s at a pace I didn't know was in me this morning, so things are looking up. Now I just need to get out of the freezing, dark mornings and to the Florida sun!!

NYC Marathon 2009

I almost prefaced this by saying I don't think it will be one of my usual long, overly detailed race reports. But I am sure it will turn into that regardless...

I returned from Zambia on Wednesday, took Thursday off and bummed around the city, but by Friday I was DEAD tired and a walking zombie. I tried to ignore it, woke up early on Saturday and got in the last few easy miles around the Res. Marathon buzz was LOUD in the park, and in the span of 20 minutes, I ran past Brian Sell, Lance, and I think Ryan Hall and his little wife sped past- but they were moving a bit too quickly for me to be sure :)

I spent the rest the Saturday with the roomies- easy trip to Target to stock up on Halloween sock/arm warmers, throw away sweats, plus tons of other stuff I clearly didn't need. I had this strange feeling of indifference towards the race- I wasn't nervous, I wasn't anxious, I just....was. I didn't know what this meant, but I ate dinner, watched some bad TV, listened to the rest of Manhattan celebrate Halloween outside my bedroom window, and went to bed early.

Woke up later than last year thanks to the luxury of tickets to the VIP bus via my lovely roommate who works for one of the corporate sponsors. I still had a weird nonchalant feeling- we were on the bus by 6:45, and to Staten Island by 8am. Headed straight to the VIP tent with heat, food, and (relatively) clean bathrooms. Went through the usual motions- body glide, repeated visits to the bathroom and waited for the nerves to arrive. Nothing.

Headed over to the start. Still nothing. Was pushed around by loud, rude, smelly men while waiting for Wave 2 start. Was herded towards the start line, ran into friendly faces, and found myself only a few back from the very front of Wave 2. Decided the anxiety and nerves weren't going to come. Told me roommate (who started with me and stuck by my side for the next 26.2 miles) the plan: Ignore my splits the first two miles, find 8:45 and stick to it. She said 'Whatever you want' and with no warning, the cannon sounded and we were off.

The first half of the race went by in a flash. Every mile my watch chirped- I looked and announced "I need to slow down" My roommate agreed, but I felt comfortable and light on my feet and was having a ball. We chatted and joked down 4th Avenue, gave the firemen high-fives, and scared Jewish children in Greenpoint. We smelled pot in Williamsburg, saw friends and waved like silly girls- I was cruising. Around mile 8 I got a familiar ache in my hip - I tried to push it from my mind and took 2 Tylenol 8-hour and focused on getting to the halfway point.

Mile 9- LOVE the crowds in Park Slope.

We ran through half way in exactly 1:50. It was at this moment I opened my mind to the possibility of far exceeding my expectations for the day. All morning all I could think about was last year- On the Pulaski Bridge, I finally let that go. I pushed through Queens and was ready for the Queensboro Bridge- I was ready to kick its ass and prove to myself I could do it.

Running down the bridge hurt as bad as last year, but this year I trusted my legs to carry me through it. We turned onto 1st and I let my legs take over. My fastest miles (after the first few) were running up 1st: 8:08, 8:09. I knew I was pushing the pace, but remember thinking "What do I have to lose?" Even if I fell apart, I was going to reach my goals. I saw loads of friendly faces on 1st, including my Dad at 103rd, which was the only time in 26.2 miles I slowed down, but just enough to give him a quick hug and get on my way. I actually hadn't looked at my watch for the last 4/5 miles.

Waving hi to my Dad around Mile 19

When I saw my total time at mile 19, I realized running 10/miles the rest of the way would put me at 3:50. And for the first time all day my brain reeling: 9 /miles would put me....VERY close to Boston. And I hadn't yet run a 9 /mile. I stopped myself there- Ignore the math, ignore the time, just RUN. I had 7 more miles to get through, that is all that mattered. The Willis Ave Bridge got me bad. This was the first time the pace I was running became a bit of labored, but I held fast and tried to keep it together. It was also right around this time when I started catching the back of Wave 1 and had to start weaving. It was fun and a great feeling to be passing people left and right, but having to avoid those walking and having a tough time started to get as taxing as putting one foot in front of the other.

Leaving the Bronx, running back up 5th Ave and into Central Park, things got a bit blurry. I wanted to stop, 5th Ave felt endless, and I was counting the blocks until getting to Central Park: 20 blocks, 1 more mile. 10 blocks...less than 5 minutes. The climb seemed endless, and ironically this was the part I enjoyed the most last year.

Entering Central Park- totally out of it, didn't even see BC take this picture.

Into the park, all I wanted to see was the mile 25 marker. I was looking for friends who I missed on 1st Ave, but I didn't see them again. I tried not to get sad.

I don't remember running down Cat Hill. I remember my visor was starting to annoy the hell out of me. I remember holding back tears and willing my legs to keep moving. I dumped a cup of water on my head a bit after Mile 25. It felt great, but then got in my eyes and wasn't nice anymore. For some reason a bike was in the middle of the course and got in my way and I almost tripped on a curb turning on Central Park South. I remember just feeling SO close. The finish came, all I wanted to do was stop. I was overwhelmed at the end, I couldn't comprehend that I just ran a 3:42.

Both of my amazing roommates finished Kona a few weeks ago - one ran with me for 26.2 miles, even letting me finish alone a step before her, and the other jumped in on 1st and ran the last 10 miles. They pushed me when I wanted to slow down, we got each other water when it got crowded. I know I did the work get to the start healthy and prepared, but I'm not sure I would have put this race together without them, and I am SO grateful.

Splits.

Garmin Splits (Garmin had me at 26.81 - ouch that's a lot of weaving!)

1 Mi	8:20
2 Mi	7:44			Veraz. Bridge Downhill
3 Mi	8:07
4 Mi	8:28
5 Mi	8:26
6 Mi	8:29			(10k split: 51:46)
7 Mi	8:26
8 Mi	8:19
9 Mi	8:14
10 Mi	8:19
11Mi	8:28
12 Mi	8:20
13 Mi	8:25			Pulaski Bridge (Half Split: 1:50:02)
14 Mi	8:12
15 Mi	8:31
16 Mi	8:40			Queensboro Bridge
17 Mi	8:12
18 Mi	8:08			1st Ave
19 Mi	8:09
20 Mi	8:41			Willis Ave Bridge
21 Mi	8:19
22 Mi	8:30
23 Mi	8:29
24 Mi	8:58			5th Ave
25 Mi	8:32
26 Mi	8:41
0.81 Mi	6:17

3:42:56

Perfect day in every way. I don't have the words to describe how great I felt the entire race, including how incredibly awful I felt the last 3 miles.

Went out in 1:50 exactly and it wasn't until that point I let go and realized I would be OK. Ran my heart out coming up 1st Avenue and paid dearly for it coming back up 5th, but I wouldn't take a second back of the entire race. Not even saying 'I need to slow down' after each mile for the first 13.1 miles :)

There is absolutely nowhere to look back and find the 2 minutes between me and Boston. It will come eventually, but that was never the goal. 40 minutes faster than last year and running only a 2 minute positive split? Couldn't have written a better ending.

Ready Steady Go

I have never been so happy to be able to look back and read my thoughts on last year's marathon, and believe me, I have read it several times over last few weeks.

I am SO ready for this weekend. I have learned from my experience last year, have put EVERYTHING into my training over the past 14 weeks, and am ready for whatever is to come on Sunday.

I am pacing for a 3:50. I WILL find 8:45/ mile and stick to it through halfway and then reassess how I feel. I will pick up a friend around mile 16 who will pace me for about 6-8 miles, get me to Central Park. She will push the pace if I want her to - it's up to me. Once in Central Park, I will hold nothing back, I know the road, I know the course, and am READY!

Zambian Distraction

Just a quick trip to Zambia. Although I was worried about the added stress and travel before the marathon, I am hoping the trip and meeting will be a good distraction from the taper-induced anxiety that I have been dealing with - and so far so good. Last weekend during my 'logn' run, I decided that I didn't even want to run the marathon anymore, but I think the legs and mind are coming around.

This morning, I did an easy 8.5km on a treadmill that reset every 2km, and shocked me if I touched it. Unfortunately, the only 'new' treadmill in the gym was being used by a man doing sets of 30 second sprints+squats on the treadmill. He did this the entire hour I was in the gym.

hello, legs

Dear legs,
I am sorry for yesterday. I know you wanted to be done at mile 9.5. I made you run 12.7. It still wasn't the 15 we needed to get done.
Please come back to me before November 1. Thanks, S


Taper is...taper. My legs feel worse than they have felt the entire 3+ months I have been focusing on this race. My long run yesterday was the slowest run I have done in weeks, maybe even months. But that's OK, the work is done. I just need to listen to my body.

I need to officially let go of 'my plan'. It has gotten me this far, healthy with more miles under my legs than ever before- but NOW I need to listen to my legs and body, and let them rest enough to be ready to carry me 26.2 miles on November 1. Because I know they can!!

hello, taper

I am sick of running
my shins hurts
my hips ache
i am tired
i am hungry
all i do is eat, i want to lose 5 lbs

I hate the first week of taper, because you get all excited to 'rest' but really, you're not resting yet. I still am supposed to run 40-45 miles this week. I can't imagine being rested for race day. I am doubting the plan I have followed faithfully for the past 13 weeks.

I skipped my mile repeats this morning. With how my body felt last night, there was no way I was getting up in sub-40 degrees. I will try to get out the door for an easy hour after work.

blahhhh.

The last push.

I am lacking some SERIOUS motivation. The past two mornings I have woken up and turned my alarm off and slept a few more hours. This is my biggest week, I have three more runs to get through - that's it!

But I find myself with the attitude "At this point, what harm will missing one, easy hour run do?" blahhhh

So I am hoping the power of positive thinking will help:

1. I will get the run I skipped this morning done after work. Even if it's a slow ass jog or even a walk on the treadmill.

2. I will do my last 20-miler tomorrow morning (SLOWLY!), go home, order the hamburger and fries I have been craving all week (Hello, Jackson Hole, Olivia!), then spend the rest of the day watching my 2 roommates and 3 other teammates TEAR IT UP! in Kona.

Week 12

Hit all my workouts last week, feeling great and the confidence is coming around as I enter the last three big weeks.

Best Long Run Ever.

Bring it on.