Great Experience

I just got home from running the RTB relay and it was an incredible experience!! After driving up to New Hampshire on Thursday, checking in at the race, then eating dinner, we in our rooms and in bed around 11pm. I didn't get much sleep, maybe 3 hours at best. We were up at 5:15am Friday morning to head to Cannon Mountain for the start of the race. I took off for our team around 8:25am and it was great going first. Everyone was there to see me off and that's the last time the whole team is together until the finish line. I wasn't able to get any rest before my second leg, which started at 7pm. It just started to rain when I started this leg, but it was only 4 miles so it wasn't too bad. After everyone in my van was done with their second leg, around 1am, we stayed at the transition area to get some rest. I slept in the van and got 3 hours of sleep. We were awake and getting ready to head to the next transition area around 4:30am. I started my third, and most difficult, leg at 6:50am. This leg was not only more difficult because of the distance (9.4 miles) and topography (steep climbs and rolling hills), but I was exhausted and completely alone. At this point in the race, teams are so staggered that you can run a few miles without seeing any other runners. The scenery on this leg was so pretty and peaceful that I was a little sad when it was all over. After my van finished, we checked into our hotel in Hampton Beach, got cleaned up, and headed to the beach to cross the finish line with the second half of our team. We finished around 4:30pm on Saturday afternoon then went out to celebrate. Lisa, Lenore and I managed to stay out a lot longer than we planned and once again didn't get much sleep. And believe it or not, we were up early Sunday morning to go for a run!! Oh, and it was raining...I think we're all sick in the head.

As for my mileage, according to my leg descriptions, I was suppose to run 20.9 miles but my Garmin totaled 21.3 miles. I have to say, those 21.3 miles were the most memorable miles I have ever run. On the ride home everyone was talking about next year but I'm not sure there will be a next year for me. It was such a good experience I'm not sure I want to do it again and risk it being any different. It's a trip I'll never forget and I think I might be happy leaving it at that.

Off to New Hampshire!

I'm all packed and ready to go. It was interesting packing and trying to keep it to one moderate sized duffel bag, but packing each outfit in a big Ziploc bag really helped. I was able to squeeze all the air out of the bags and it saved a lot of room. Andy will be dropping me off shortly and we hope to be on the road by 8:30am. I'm really excited and hope to have lots of good stories when I get back. Thanks to everyone who called, emailed, etc wishing me a good trip...it meant SO much!! Think of me tomorrow morning at 8:20am as I start off for the Ambler Stampede...

Flattering

A woman who works out every morning at the gym came up to me today and asked what I was training for. It's silly, but that was really flattering. It was like someone noticed the hard work I'm putting in and knew it must be for something. We chatted for a while about running and training and the commitment it takes to get ready for a marathon. I didn't understand it myself before I started training, but it's really like a second job. I have to get up and do it every day, no matter how tired I am, how much I don't want to run, etc. I can't make excuses and just take a day off and everything I do is planned around my running schedule. I'm sure this doesn't sound like much fun, doesn't even sound fun to me when I read it, but I'm loving it and what it's done for me, my health and my life.

Shawmont Hill

I ran 14 miles today and the route we took went up the infamous "Shawmont Hill." The hill is a mile long steady climb, for which the local running club Shawmont is named after. It was good practice for the hills I'm about to face in New Hampshire this week. Speaking of that, I found out today that if someone gets hurt during RTB, that we all move up a leg. Since I'm # 1, that means I have the biggest chance to end up doing 4 legs. Hopefully no one gets injured and this won't be an issue. Here's a picture of the team from our meeting last Thursday. We leave in a few days...I can't wait!

Going Out!

I'm surprised I did it, but I actually changed my long run this weekend to Sunday and I'm going out tonight! At the last minute, Hanna ruined some plans and an old friend I haven't seen in 8 years is coming into town tonight instead of tomorrow. I think this might be the first Friday night that I've gone out on all summer...actually, it's been longer than that. I'm still getting my long run in, though. Due to Hanna, a few people from the running club were more than willing to hold off on running until Sunday so we're meeting then instead. I'm looking forward to having 2 nights of the weekend without having to 1) go to bed early to be well rested for my long run or 2) being exhausted after having done a long run.

We leave for New Hampshire in exactly one week...I can't wait!!

Start Time

We were assigned our start times for RTB today and I'll be starting off for Ambler Stampede at 8:20am. This is perfect as I prefer to run early and before eating any big meals for the day. We have our last team meeting this Thursday to discuss any last minute items and to answer any lingering questions. Surprisingly, I'm doing ok considering the fact that I really don't know what I'm getting myself into...for those who don't know me, I like details and plans! But I have the feeling that this is going to be a trip that teaches me a lot. From how to survive 4 days with little to no sleep, to how to cope when you're trapped in a van with stinky people, to most importantly...not having control and being forced to go with the flow.

Running is going well this week. We have a traveling fun run this Saturday and although I'm scheduled to do 18 miles, due to weather and RTB next week, I might scale it back a little. Off to do more work from my couch...I'd rather be running...

Relaxing...

Just got home from a fast 6 mile run at Valley Green. My running schedule is a little up in the air this week. I'm scheduled to do 40 miles this week, but I'm not sure I want to push myself and do 18 on Saturday when I have RTB next weekend. I might add some mileage to my runs during the week and cut back a little on the long run.

So, with my workout done for the day, I'm relaxing in my pj's watching Gustav coverage. I'm going to enjoy this day off and do nothing because the next few months of work (and running!) are going to be terrible.