Clarification

In my posting about the marathon, I wrote that the temperature was under 30 degrees. Well, it was but...

I just read in yesterday's newspaper article about the race that it was only 22 when we started. 22 degrees!!!

Now What?

OK, the marathon is done.

I didn't think I'd feel this way, but I can't wait until my leg muscles get back to normal (still a little tight) and my knee pain goes away (nothing serious) so I can start running again.

I finally finished the 10-page questionnaire for my soon-to-be coach and am about to email that to him. I also talked with the YMCA Aquatics Director today about scheduling a few swim stroke technique analysis sessions. She also recommended joining our masters swim class, which I intend to do.

So now I just stay active until I start working with the coach in January, when he'll help me develop my racing schedule for 2009 (choosing races in addition to the half-Ironman, Ironman, and marathon I've chosen) and create a training plan for me for each of those.

I'm feeling great! Walking down stairs forwards is no longer a challenge, everyone at work has been asking how it went, and I just can't wait to be on the course again!

3:42:51 !!!

Cold. Snow. Wind.

That's how the day started. It was less than 30 degrees at 7:00am when the marathon began. I was amazed at how "bundled up" many people were. I had my shorts, long-sleeved tech-top, a running baseball cap, and a fleece pullover that I planned to pull off at mile 4.5 when I'd see Meyer and Julie.

Everything went amazingly well. My first three miles were paced exactly where I wanted them to be. I started to speed up in mile four, dumped the pullover, and hit the trail strong. I was surprised that when I hit the halfway point, I was still feeling great. A couple miles were directly into the wind and were ridiculously tough, but once I got through that, I was ok again.

When I hit mile 18 in 2:30, I knew I was going to beat 4 hours. I got back on the trail and kept it steady on the last few miles. I crossed the finish line and looked at my Garmin. 3:42:51!

Julie had to wait forever for her relay partner to finish the first half, but once she did, Julie took off and had a great 13.1. She came through with a sub-two-hour half-marathon.

Meyer was awesome in his role as support crew. He took photos, handed me a bottle of Accelerade exactly when I needed it, and was waiting at the finish line.

I am ecstatic about this run. I'm still walking a little funny, but the legs should be back to normal soon.

Here are some photos:

Me at mile 4.5. (Notice my fleece pullover flying out of the way for Meyer to pick up.)


Just past the finish line.


Post-race with Julie at the beach.


The proof! (Somehow my Garmin tracked .16 additional miles.)

Brrrrrrrr

Baby, it's cold outside!

So the marathon is three days away, and we're in the middle of a cold snap. And Saturday is supposed to be the coldest of the next 10 days, with highs around 40. Yikes! At least it is supposed to be sunny.

Also, many people who read this may know that I am a Spinning instructor. And as of yesterday, I've had enough continuing education and passed the exam to move up from a "Star 1 Instructor" to a "Star 2 Instructor." In my current job this doesn't mean squat, but for Spinning enthusiasts, it carries a certain cache. My ultimate goal is to become a Master Instructor, but that's much further down the road.

Ready!

I'm feeling ready.

Today's workout was a one-hour run. And even though it was only 50 degrees and winds were holding steady at 20-25mph, I felt great! No shin problems, no knee problems, no hamstring problems. I did almost 7.5 miles in the hour time frame, and even had the energy (and breath) to carry on a short conversation in the last mile with another runner who is doing the marathon - her first also.

Julie's travel plans are almost set. She'll be here to run the half-marathon relay with a partner yet to be named. (We'll hopefully get that from the race officials soon!)

This is a take-it-easy week, with just a couple short runs.

I'm looking forward to Saturday!

10 Days 'til 26.2

An odd thing started happening this morning. Every time I think about the marathon, or read an email (lots of email traffic about night-before dinner), or hear someone talk about it I start getting nervous. My heart starts beating faster and I feel a bit of anxiety. Usually I'm pretty calm up until the day before. It's never happened this far in advance.

I've just got to keep telling myself that I'm prepared. I've done what I needed to do, and I'll be fine on race day.

Oops!

I realized that I left something out of my "Stuff" post - my BodyGlide. And the reason I remembered it today is because I forgot to use it today. BodyGlide is one of those things that reduces chafing, so it's a good idea to use it during long runs. I'm glad I only went 13 miles today. If it had been longer, I might have had a problem!

Video Time!

Anyone who has done a mass start in a triathlon knows how much you get kicked and hit by other racers. It isn't (for the most part) intentional. It just happens when you have dozens, or hundreds, or more people running into the water and trying to swim together.

This is quite possibly one of the funniest comercials I have ever seen. I've watched it over and over and I still laugh every time.

Stuff

After my last post I started thinking about the things that I've purchased at the running store and how much stuff I use when I run. Remember when you used to be able to throw on a pair of running shoes, shorts and a tee and go?

So here's all of the stuff I use when I go for a long run: shoes (which have a few hundred miles on them so they will be replaced by a new pair after the marathon), ID and cell phone in case of emergency, water bottle belt with a handy pouch for the ID and cell phone, medical tape to tape my toes so I don't get blisters, chest strap to record my heart rate, Garmin Forerunner to get the information from the chest strap as well as GPS satelites to record my speed and other things, hat to keep the sun off my face (but it also has a special liner that sucks up sweat), and GU - that wonderful who-knows-what's-in-it product that gives you a boost of energy.

All this for a couple hours of running? I'd really like to know how much faster or farther this stuff helps me run. Oh wait! I'll just check my Garmin.

Congrats!

Congratulations to my friends Mary Beth and Russ on finishing strong in the Florida Ironman this past Saturday. Mary Beth and Russ own the running store where I've dropped lots of cash over the last year. (But they've taken very good care of me too!)

Last Long Run

Today was my last long run before the marathon. Who knew I'd ever get to the point when I'd consider next week's 13-miler to not be a "long" run. But compared to today's 22, a 13 will be a welcome break.

While today's pace wasn't as fast as I was hoping for, it was still fast enough to finish in about 3 hours and 12 minutes.

And now I'm so tired I can't think of anything more to write.