Great Run!

I just got back from a great run with Erica. She is such a trooper. It was her first 13 mile run and she did it with a head cold!! Considering this was just a "practice" run, we finished in under 2 hours. I feel great and am really looking forward to going out this afternoon to watch Michigan. GO BLUE!!!

Andy just asked me what I was thinking about...I told him, "I just ran 13 miles like it was nothing." How cool is that?? I love this running nonsense!

You Know It's Bad...

When your own mom tells you that you're no fun. My mom suggested getting together for dinner tomorrow night with me and Andy but I told her I couldn't go out because I was running on Saturday morning. She said I was 32 years old and no fun....which is pretty much the case lately. I would love to go out tonight actually after this horrific week of work, but I'll be running for the second time today at 8pm. This is the last night practice run for RTB. We have a meeting next week to tie up loose ends, and then we leave town the following week. I'm really getting excited!

As for running, mileage has been good this week but my back has been a little sore. I'll be taking tomorrow off, which is my last day off from any sort of activity until the marathon...Unless my body decides to tell me otherwise. Saturday I'm running 13 miles, which will bring me to my total goal of 37 miles this week. After last weeks 18, 13 should be a breeze.

Leg Assignment

I got my leg assignment for RTB. While it wasn't one of my top 4 choices, I'm ok with it. I got leg # 1 which means I'll be starting and all 11 team members will be there to see me off. My night run is also short and may not even fall during the night but closer to sun rise, which would be beautiful. After I'm done my third leg, I'll have a lot of time while I wait for the other 11 runners to finish up, but hopefully I can get some rest during this time and not come home completely exhausted!! My schedule is below:

1 - 7.8 miles with a -690 elevation change (difficulty = moderate)
2 - 3.8 miles with a +110 elevation change (difficulty = easy)
3 - 9.3 miles with a rolling climb of +400/-400 (difficulty = hard)

After my run on Saturday, I feel much more confident that RTB won't leave me in too bad of shape for PDR the next weekend.

I'm shooting for 37 miles this week, with 2 runs on Thursday and a long run of 13 miles on Saturday.

Now That Was a "Long Run"

I just got back from an 18 mile run and have a new respect for the "long run." I started off running with someone from the club but at about mile 9, I picked up my pace and ran the last half by myself. This was a great test because I had no ipod and no one to talk to...exactly what it will be like for the marathon. I felt good through the run and ate the cliff blocks along the way. Mile 16 is where it really hit me and I started to feel the blisters on my feet with each step I took. I finished strong though and can't wait to do it again!

As I'm typing this, I just thought, "I can't believe I just did that." A year ago, I never would have even thought about running 18 miles...

Nothing To Do With Running

I'm happy to say that we successfully sold our house in Michigan. Closing just completed and everything went smoothly. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted now that this is over with. Finally, Andy and I have nothing hanging over our heads and we're ready to settle into a HOME in Pennsylvania!!!

Oh, and I can't wait to get new furniture...bye, bye ugly blue sofa!!

Another Way To Look At It

It would take nearly a half hour, going 60mph, just to DRIVE the distance of a marathon.

Not much going on right now. My mileage is good for the week and I'm taking tomorrow off completely. I'll be heading out early Saturday morning for my first 18 mile run. I'm actually looking forward to it...wonder if I'll still feel the same way afterwards. Not only is it my first real "long" run, but I need to use it as a test to see what kind of food I can handle during the run. Each long run is suppose to be a test to see what food works well for you and what doesn't. This is the part of running that completely overwhelms me. Up until this point, I just ran. I didn't need to worry about what to eat before or during a run, but now that is extremely important and can mean the difference between making it through the marathon and pooping out. So, based on advice and reading, some things on the list to test out: Gel/Gu, fig newtons, raisins, honey, different sports drinks...ugh.

RTB Team

Here are some pictures of the RTB team from our night practice run last week. Next week we'll be doing another two a day on Thursday with one of the runs being at night.