Women's 1/2 Marathon!

I had a crazy busy weekend and I can't believe that it is Monday already! Saturday I worked the expo for the event and it was awesome. Everything there was so nice and the race packet was seriously the cutest once I have ever received. There were 5,000 runners, 70 of which were men. So you can imagine how girly, pink, and fun the expo and race both were! I loved getting a chance to see all my coworkers again, it has been forever since I have worked an event. Getting to meet all different women who are running the same race you are, and sharing their stories is such a rare experiene that I am so grateful to have!

Sunday was race day and I was up bright and early! My parents were my cheerleaders and drove me to the race. The 3 half marathons I had done in the past I was always out of town, so it was a new experience for me knowing I had fans cheering for me on the coarse. Race day was alot hotter than I had anticipated so I made sure to take advantage of all the water stations. The coarse was so beautiful, all along the water front of downtown St. Petersburg. We even were able to run a lap around Tropicana Field where the Tampa Bay Rays play! I ran 1:57. Not exactly my PR but I was happy to break 2 hours. Also the medals were so cool. The center was a detachable charm that you can put on a nacklace or bracelet, or you could leave it as it. I haven't decided what I am going to do with mine yet!

I am not going to lie, my favorite part of race day was going to see New Moon later that afternoon with two of my girlfriends. Something about those adolescent werewolves and vampires can even get this runner girl's heart racing!

Working in my Running Shoes

I am running a half marathon this Sunday so I took Thursday off to rest my legs. Today I ran 4.5 and had a great run. It may have been in the pitch black, but I am pleased to report that I was almost hit by a car only once! May seem like a small victory but I live to run another day. I am hoping I can feel as good as I have this week at my race on Sunday, so fingers crossed. The coarse and weather are supposed to be fantastic, so now it's just up to me to take advantage and run the race I know I can.

Saturday I am working at the subscription booth at the Women's Running Magazine 1/2 Marathon Expo. I worked for the magazine part-time as an expo rep before getting my full-time big girl job. I traveled to races across the country and even ran in a few. It was the best opportunity I could have asked for and I am thrilled to be able to help out at the expo and run the race this weekend. I love the vibe of expos before racing, everyone there is so excited for the upcoming race. You can feel the energy surrounding you and it's hard not to be motivated to do your best. It is going to be a long day and I am going to be on my feet for most of it, but the past 3 half marathons I have run I have worked prior so you could say I am used to it. I get to see my co-workers and even pick a few of their brains for any advice on marathon training. This is going to be a great weekend!

Run, Eat, Sleep, Run.

Running Club was Tuesday! Me and Patrick are only one week away from getting out official Four Green Fields Run Club t-shirts. Once you have been to 10 runs you get a dry fit t-shirt with the club logo on it! We are so excited and our parents are even going to come next week for the presentation, very kindergarten I know, but hey just another excuse to have Blue Moons! My legs were a little tired from my long run the night before, so I let Patrick run ahead of me. He is really improving, I can't believe that just a couple of months ago he had never run a 5K!

After a quick dinner and a few hours sleep I was up again this morning for yet another run. I am giving this whole running before work thing a try. I ran 5 miles and took it easy. I noticed the early morning has a whole different breed of runners. They all looked like they were on a mission and very serious about their training, much different than the social vibe I get from my after work evening runs. I also think getting on this schedule will help me to stay on task and avoid those distractions that have a tendency of popping up after a long work day.

Lesson Learned....Well Sort Of.

As part of my penance for missing a whole week of training I had an 8 miler on the schedule. Some might be daunted by such high milage after a week long hiatus, but I was actually excited for the challenge. I wanted to prove that I could come back and gain a good momentum. I strapped on my Spi Belt made sure I had my GU Chomps and set out. I of coarse had my blinking light on, getting run over while training for a marathon would not be conducive to a successful race day performance. It was a great night and I felt a freshness in my legs that made for a fantastic run. I finished inspired by my performance over the 8 miler, hoping that I will feel and run this well over the weekend during my race.

I was anticipating that this long run would punish me and teach me a very valuable lesson. I just didn't learn the lesson I expected. The days when I am looking forward to running and wanting to get out there are the days when I am going to have my best runs. Last week I lost myself and for whatever reasons didn't get my butt out there. But now I am rested and ready for this week, a week when I am looking forward to my runs, a week where I am participating in a Half Marathon, and week where my legs are rested and ready for the miles ahead. It seems my unintentional step back not only strengthened my desire to get out there, but gave me a fresh set of legs and an enthusiastic outlook on the road ahead. No more speedbumps though, this race will be here sooner than I think and I need to be ready!

A Promise to Be Better

It may seem that I have gone dark for the past week and that would be a correct perception. I went rogue as I sometimes do and I am definitely regretting it. What started off as Monday with a 6 mile run quickly turned into after work beers with my parents. Tuesday and Wednesday were rained out and Thursday, well I guess I am not the kind of girl who skips a wine tasting with her Mom so she can run. It's not in my nature, I can't pretend I am something I am not. Friday, Saturday Sunday I was playing "Mommy" to my next door neighbors while their parents are out of town. Did I make more per hour than I do at my full-time big girl job? Yes. Did I manage to get away from those children for more than 2 minutes? No. Right there a week of my training gone.

Luckily it is early enough in the game where there is no real harm done. I am putting this week behind me and moving forward with a greater resolve to be a better runner and more focused on my training. I now see that distractions are more likely to occur after work and I may need to consider.....GASP.....early morning runs. Can't belive I just said that. But I am serious about this race and I am serious about doing well so I need to buckle down and make the sacrifice. From this moment forward I am in marathon mode and it is going to take much more than a Sparkling Wine Tasting to knock me off coarse.

That's What Friends Are For

I needed to get my run in before work again, and I was a little nervous about running in the dark by myself. I recruited my BFF and running club buddy Patrick to come with me. He lives right down the street and loves early morning workouts so I knew he would say yes. I was out the door by 6:15 and he startled me standing there on my porch ready to go. I noticed that it wasn't nearly as pitch black as the week before. I decided that since I had a companion, I just wasn't as paranoid. As we were running I noticed the sun rising and the sky was lighting up right before my eyes. I commented how last week it was much scarier and darker. I felt like a baby needing a bodyguard in the morning daylight. Patrick looked at me like I was learning disabled and said "Time change you clown." If I were a cartoon character a lightbulb would have literally gone off over my head. It was a great run and I definitely enjoyed the company. I know Patrick liked getting another 3 miler in for the week, he is a beginning distance runner. If you can't get your friends to run with you at the butt crack of dawn then who will.

I am off to the Gainesville this weekend for the Gator game with my Dad for Tridelta Father Daughter Weekend. I am so excited to spend time with my sisters and see the Gators play! I have a feeling my Sunday run may get pushed to Monday again. But this is the last weekend, I promise ;)

Mother Knows Best, Some of the Time

This morning I was talking to my Mom over breakfast and she started grilling me about this whole marathon thing. I guess she is finally starting to take the idea seriously. She had read an article about marathon training in the newspaper, so she was obviously now an expert on the subject. She was telling me how I need to be walk running and cross training as much as possible. I demanded to see this article where she got literally all of her knowledge on running from. The article was geared towards older, beginner runners so I scoffed and told her she did not know what she was talking about. Come on I am a 23 years old and have spent the last 9 years of my life running, I am practically a seasoned veteran. She was right though, alot of the more recent schools of marathon training are encouraging cross training, to avoid injuries and keep your legs fresh. However I do have my pride, and I will never walk run.

My Mom pushed on with more advice and opinions, desperate for me to take her seriosusly. She started asking about nutrition and special diets for marathoners, demanding that as my training progresses I need to stop avoiding carbs. Again I knew she was right and that this was something I definitely need to look into. I can't just expect my body to take on the next several weeks of training and mile after mile of running without the proper fuel. Since she has so much free time on her hands and loves to boss me around I challenged her to become my nutritionist and come up with some tasty ways for me to fuel up before and after my runs. I am sure she won't disappoint me. So today on my 4 mile run after having a delicious pre-workout snack of grapes and almounds I couldn't help but think about how my Mom's literal ingorance in the sport of running helped bring a fresh perspective to one runner who thinks she knows it all.

The Ultimate Decision

In the spirit of full disclosure, and me chronicling all the gory details of my training, I have a confession to make. I expect full judgment and even some grimaces, but this is a recurring predicament for me. What do you do when you are on a run, and there is no bathroom in sight? 4 miles is never a traumatizing experience but I knew there were going to be issues one mile in. My choices were few to none in the restroom department, so I had to get creative. I spied some mangroves on the water, hidden from the roadway by a sand dune. To describe my situation as dire would be an understandment. I scrambled down the dune, through the tall grass, praying no one could tell what I was up to. I hoped if someone was watching me they would sense my desparation and kindly understand. I emerged from my hide-a-potty a new woman, and jogged away as if nothing shameful had happened. My initial reaction was guilt with a dash of embarassment, but after breaking into my stride I felt nothing short of relief. As a matter of fact, I felt great and decided I wouldn't have done a thing differently. Yes, I may have lightened my load in an inappropriate fashion, but I immediately felt better and had a great run. Don't judge someone until you have run a mile, or four, in their shoes. And hopefully during that run you don't find yourself having to make the ultimate decision.

Running, A Great Way to Check the Ladies.

So tonight was the weekly Run Club. It was cooler and darker outside so all signs pointed to me and Patrick knocking more time off of our 5k PR. We kept to the front of the pack and both of us were feeling good. The lack of extreme heat seems to do wonders for my running stride, confidence and performance. We crossed paths with the girls cross country team on our way out and I enthusiastically yelled "Hey Coach!" as we passed. Once we reached the turn around I definitiely picked it up so I could try and catch up. Patrick on the other hand had his own agenda. A little less than a mile later we had caught the pack. I immediately slowed, to talk to my Coach for a qucik catch-up. Patrick settled in behind the girls and patiently waited for me to stop my chitchat and finish our run. Obviously once we finished we were a minute shy of our PR, and I apologized to Patrick for holding us up. He smiled and said " No problem, while you were yammering on I got to watch the hot schoolers run! It was awesome!" So lesson learned, it's not about the times or the PR's, it is about enjoying yourself along the way.

Finishing Strong

First off today was my Mom's LAST CHEMO!!! I am so excited. Back in July when we first got started with treatments, November seemed like so far away. I am so proud of her and this is one more check on list of recovery.

Secondly congrats to American Meb Keflezighi for winning the New York City Marathon. He ran in 2 hours 19 minutes and 15 seconds, which is kick ass. To put it into perspective for myself I realized that my HALF marathon time is only 27 minutes faster. So a little SAT lesson for you is Katie:Meb as 13.1:26.2.

So compared to those two my 5 mile run today seems kind of lame, haha. I was supposed to run yesterday but being the bad runner that I am i didn't make it out there. I may or may not have been too hung over for my Sunday afterrnoon run, but switching a long day with a rest day never hurt anyone right? I definitely need to work on becoming more disciplined over my weekends because that is when I am going to log my long mileage. My days of happy hours are soon going to be replaced with running for hours. So here's to chugging lots of water and taking shots of Gatorade, oh us runners are party animals!