26 Miler: A Success

I made it! We completed our 26 mile training run yesterday and we all held up VERY well. Sara, Bob and I did the full distance and then Carrie joined us for the last 8. It was pretty funny because we were trying to get ourselves to be slower, but we couldn't slow down! How funny because it was quite the opposite experience in June. It just goes to show you how much conditioning slowly can get you in shape! I am very proud of us. We have worked hard and all deserve to do well in the marathon.

We have four weeks of training left! 2 short Saturday runs (One I will be doing alone) and a taper run! WOOP! The hard part is over. Now I need to get in 2-3 runs during each week and maintain a very healthy diet for the next four weeks so I can be mentally strong and confident for the race. I am going to get a PR, I can FEEL it!

Here's a picture of us after our 26 miler. I love my running team!!!

26 Miler Tomorrow!

Vamping up for our 26 mile run tomorrow! I am actually kind of excited about this one. Yes, I'm crazy. But I think it will be good for me to get out of my head and just enjoy good people, nice weather and great conversation with people I love the most. It really has made such a difference running with people that you are close to. 26 miles is going to be tough, no doubt...but it'll be good to get it done and have that be the last LONG mileage before the race.

One thing that sucks about the training season winding down is that I'm stuck with only gross flavors of Gu. The flavors that "looked good" but aren't, and then all the crap they give you at packet pickup. Like "Rasberry Creme Jelly Chews" and "Apple Cinnamon Oat Bar" that tastes like tree bark. Gross city! The good news: My friend Carrie is gonna save the day by bringing me some good flavors. YAY!!! I'll have to make sure I buy the good stuff before the marathon.

I've been eating horribly this week and then starting Monday, it's back to crazy strict diet for the last 4 weeks of training. I'm actually excited about losing weight and feeling strong again. I feel so fluffy right now! ARGMPH!

29 days and counting until a marathon PR! BRING IT!!!!

That's What Friends Are For

This Saturday is the yearly 26 mile training run that I hate. It's SOOO long, a full marathon's distance, and you don't even get a medal. WTF?! Anyway, I usually get out of it because it always falls on the weekend of mom's Six Flags company picnic. They shut down the park just for us and I get to bring a friend for free and ride rollercoasters with no lines. SCORE! Well-I had arranged to do that with one of my friends, and then I found out that Sara, one of my friends on my running team....she was going to be running the 26 miles by herself. It kept nagging at me and nagging at me because I know how hard it is to do that distance and she needs support. So, BECAUSE I'M AN AWESOME FRIEND, I made arrangements and will be running the full 26 miles with her on Saturday. This will be the first time I've ever run that distance that wasn't on a marathon. IT'S GOING TO BE AWFUL!!!! Lol the things I do for the ones I love. LOL!!

I am going to show up with a great attitude, some running cheers, lots of stories and of course Golden Oreos will be involved! It's going to be fun. Okay, maybe FUN is stretching it a little, but I'm determined to make the best of it.

26 miles, we are hardcore bitches! YEAH!!

:0)

2012 DRC Half Marathon

LOVE LOVE LOVE this medal! It's SO sparkly! The best DRC medal to date! :0)

2012 Heels and Hills Half Marathon

This medal is cute. It sparkles so that's good enough for me. :D

2012 Hottest Half Marathon

I ran this race because of the medal. THE SUN IS WEARING SUNGLASSES!!! It was hot, but so worth it when I saw the medal. AND--it sparkles! :0)

2012 DRC Half

I had SUCH a great time at the DRC Half yesterday. I had so much support. My super sweet friend Carrie picked me up, dropped me off, and met me on multiple spots on the course to cheer me on. I just love her, SUCH a supportive friend. My other friend Allison was there, too and that made my day because she recently was diagnosed with cancer, yet she still finds the time to be happy for others and be an amazing friend.

Here's the deal: I want to see 6:59:59 on my next marathon. I've only been in the 7 hours. Well, it's time for that to change. I was trying to come up with strategies and I figured I'd try the DRC Half at 30/30's to see how I do and I then I can predict a full marathon time.

I did much better than I thought I would. I maintained a pace of 14:20 for 13 miles, which is fantastic for me. I'm very excited about it. As long as I don't COMPLETELY crash on the full, I should reach the 6:59:59, and I'm probably gonna cry when I do. Progress seems so slow sometimes, so it's nice to see improvement.

Here is Janet and me after our finish. She did awesome and is a rockstar.

Carrie and I at the finish. She finished with me and ran me in the last 1/2 mile. And then they tried to give her a medal. HAHA!

And then check out the medal! IT SPARKLES!!!! The picture doesn't do it justice. It's a much prettier kind of sparkle. SO. FUN.

Great day, great friends, great time! I was one happy girl!! :0)

Woop!

I am feeling very excited about my races coming up. This Sunday, I will be running the DRC Half Marathon. I am using this as a practice run to to project how I will do on my full in December. My plan is to do 30/30's as comfortably fast as I can. I got my race shirt and it's ugly but it fits well so I will be wearing it. I also should be sporting a pretty intersting outfit because I want to wear the sparkle skirts because of all the pockets, but I want my legs covered, so I will most likely be wearing leggings under a sparkle skirt and a neon green shirt. Watch out hot guys, I'm comin'! HAHA!

Anyway, I just made my track list and have my Gu ready to go. I'm kind of bummed because since I'm at the bottom of my box, I only have gross flavors left. Oh well.

My friend Carrie is SO sweet. She's going to take me to my race on Sunday then be a spectator and then help run me in the last mile or so. I'm very lucky to have such supportive running friends that understand how crazy I am, and will be there for me, too!

I lost 3 lbs last week which was awesome. I'm hoping to have another successful week. Hopefully running a half this weekend will help with that.

I'm off to rest! Wish me luck!!