It's GO TIME!!! Marathon DAY IS HERE!!

So today is the day.

Marathon number two is upon us....

 

Things have certainly felt a little different this time around. I had such a long recovery post July marathon/nasty shin injury that I feel like my training just started (well, 6 weeks ago...!)

I haven't had a single horrible long run possibly due to the fact that my longest run since July has been 19 which keeps me out of that 22-26.2 mile trouble zone. A friend of mine compared those last miles to climbing Mt. Everest and getting to the elevation when (even with an oxygen tank) your body starts to fail. The judgement falters and every step feels like it takes a lifetime.

Um, yes. Excellent comparison!

 

My goals for this race are very, very reasonable.

 

Goal# 1: DO NOT END UP FACE PLANTING LIKE THESE GIRLS DID!!!!!

Goal #2- Start slow.

Goal #3- Be flexible, if I'm feeling good I feel like I should be able to do this at about a minute slower per mile than I did in July which puts me roughly at a 4:01 finish. I'd take it. The EMAIL OF DOOM from MDI was a bit intimidating, no lie. I'm willing to believe that half way thru marathoning over the Alps I might seriously need to stop, take a breather, eat a few pancakes, sit and read Harry Potter and send a few texts before continuing on. I'd just like to be done by lunchtime, dammit! Don't get between me and my FOOD stupid race! 

 

Bottom line, I don't have a "real" time goal to meet this time. I'd like to be a little more relaxed this time, perhaps not projectile vomit (that was fun, not...) cruise along at a pace that doesn't kill my legs too terribly but also brings me in before lunch! Yes please.

 

Even though my training has felt more limited this time around I still need to give a shout out to my family, friends, excellent exclusive dating partner and all the cool people in my life for accepting the fact that hey, my name is Sara and I have a running problem! This shit takes up a lot of time and energy and (per the norm) I have been a terrible Friday night date because that's long run day! Thanks you guys, wish you could all be here today but I know you're thinking about me (as in: rolling your eyes at my legit insanity!)

 

I'm feeling excited about this race, glad it's not 23,585 laps around a lake, pleased that it's not going to be 85 degrees and humid and I'm excited to see friends and to meet new ones! (always fun to meet people IRL!)

 

Now on to some amusing items:

Possible the best text about running EVER thanks to my cousin Jen

SEXY DATE NIGHT!!!!! This is how we roll. HOT.

HAHAHA! What happens when you imap a track workout.

Wish me luck everybody. We'll see what happens out there on the road today!

How to be the BOSS of the MARATHON

(the final chapter)

(I know you are all soooo bummed out about that!)

 

I promised pictures of the chaos of my house-of-athletes and am about to deliver in a big way!

 

But first! I have to admit that I am glad my MDI plan doesn't involve the goal of a PR or a BQ. Upon reading the "final instructions" email I discovered that the MDI people gave a dire warning!

 

"Don't plan to PR. the course is horrible and hilly and almost impossible. you might die. just be glad to cross the finish line, fool..."

 

I took slight (but very slight) artistic liberty with that but essentially that was exactly what they wrote.

And yet, I'm looking forward to this.

Special kind of stupid up in here!

 

OK onto the good stuff.

To train for a Marathon you don't have a lot of time to pick up your house. And you are so exhausted that you don't give a crap about this...! It's more important to run 50 miles a week then to clean after all. DUH...

 

The shoes. SO MANY!!!
Arranged lovingly on my shoe rack built of paint cans and a board. Classy
I will make one for you for a slice of pie and a beer!

The pantry.
SO MUCH RUNNERS STUFF.
And a bottle of Bourbon. Keeping it real, keeping it real!

A whole DRESSER devoted to athletic garb!

Race numbers on the bathroom sink. That makes sense.
Along with cortisone for the poison ivy that's on my butt (story for another day)
And the stuff for chafing. Nice....

Race medals randomly hanging from a bathroom light fixture.
What, this isn't what everyone does with their hard earned bling??
 

The Good, The Bad, and the UGLY!!!!

Part IV in how to train for a Marathon like a BOSS!!!

(a quick one today. this lady isn't built for daily blogging...)

Bottom line, when you're running 400 miles a week (or 4, like I have been this training cycle) things are going to fluctuate wildly between Good, Bad and just heinous and ugly.

I'm trying to become more realistic and not gnash and stew too badly when things get bad... And on the flip side I'm trying to keep a handle on the enthusiastic jumping up and down and "squeeeee-ing" when things are good! (that's a complete lie.)

 

 

The GOOD! The race is upon us! (maybe this is bad. or ugly?)

I'm excited and feel that I'm ready enough.

Ready enough to cross the damn finish line and BE DONE that is!

 

The bad (but honestly, I don't really care. I'm a messy girl.)
My house looks like THIS!
I hang race medals in the bathroom for heavens sake... WHY??
I'll have a picture tomorrow to prove it...

THE UGLY.
OMG. My FACE. My SCARY LEG!!!!!
And the fact that a 60 year old guy who was also wearing 2 sparkly headbands beat me.

 

And the saga continues!

How to train for a marathon like a BOSS part III:

Go to the Tufts 10K and (wait for it....)

Spectate.

WHAT?????

 

I really wanted to run this race.  But for once in my life logic and reason actually prevailed and with a marathon 6 days away, I decided to sit this one out in favor of supporting a couple of lovely ladies.

This choice made me die inside just a little bit. But in retrospect it was wise...

 

I am suspicious that this will be a must do for me next year, it's easy to get to, beautifully organized and they give fantastic tech shirts (which almost makes up for the notable lack of finishers medals... total rip off!!) It was a gorgeous day which certainly made for some excellent spectating conditions.

 

 

 

The well dressed racers!!! I LOVED the pink sparkle skirt.
I LOVED the knee high "bacon" socks.
These gals know how to dress for success!
(says the queen of fashion...)

We arrived in plenty of time and good thing, because they started lining people up close to an hour before start time. I'm sure with 8,000 women this made for a smooth start but I would have been "eh" about standing around for so long pre-race. I like my warm up routine and standing like sweaty sardines for 45 minutes usually isn't part of how I roll...


While waiting for the start I was struck with serious race envy and did some pouting.
Yeah. I behave like I'm 5 when I can't run!!



I want to run fast like these girls. HOLY crap they are quick!

The thing about a 10K is that there is very little waiting around time. We looked around the expo a little (timed this very well to avoid the crowds. timed it very BADLY for seeing people, whoops!!) thought about snacking, had water spilled onto us by a sketchy strange dude and then camped out to watch the finish. Not shockingly the fast ladies started cruising thru around the 31 minute mark. HOLY shit, they were just flying! Made me realize my dire need for speedwork! There was a light trickle of fast finishers until around the 45ish minute mark when people started pouring thru the finish. Including Jen who PR'd like a BOSS!  Not too long after that the girls I was actually there to watch came zipping by, meeting their time goals and looking good!  Both of them were really pleased with how they did (it was the first 10K post-baby for one of them and the first 10K EVER for the other! Good job you two I'm wicked proud!)

 

Then, since it was, after all, a RACE we all went out for TONS of pasta (which was totally justified being that it was post athletics) wine (which actually improved our sobriety since we shared a couple bottles) and cheesecake (which was totally vegan, obvs, and probably had negative calories since there was more sharing involved!) Basically, as you might have noticed my rules for food change when there is sharing involved. (or standing, or only having one bite, or eating/drinking anything before, during, or after running.)

So, another fine day for me in my taper and perhaps the first thing that I have done that might improve my chances of successful marathon completion.
Seriously counting down at this point. More wise words to come tomorrow!

How to train for a marathon like a BOSS: Part II

Part two of my expert series.

And I use the term expert in the most serious way possible because I am really the greatest EVER...

 

Yesterday we covered the fact that I chose hills/preparedness over speed for marathon training cycle round two (the modified, crappy, but much more fun version!)

 

I worked the hell out of the hills around here and could literally see my speed work declining. My stupid inflamed foot tendon was balky during speed work so all the more reason to skip the dreaded tempo runs!!! (yeah, I missed maybe two, total fail, obvs....)

 

At 11:30 on Sunday AM I made the excellent decision to go to the other side of town and run a 5K, just to see how the speed was holding up. (with 6 days to go until the Marathon my conclusion was that this was the very best way to kick off my taper!)

 

This was perhaps the best show of judgement ever since less than 24 hours before I had run 15.5 straight up a mountain. Yes, I'm smart, a bright girl indeed.

 

I kinda figured I'd shuffle along and head home with a 26 minute slog under my belt. However, my competitive nature and my desire to win a JUG of syrup kicked in and I ended up placing 2nd with a 21:51. Decent, for an old lady who has avoided speed work like one might avoid Ebola for the past few weeks!

 

I also dragged Eric and my Dad along and they were fast too. Just not as fast as I am, HAH!!

 

 

The syrup. The fashion. Be jealous!!!

I ate a LOT on candy corn post race and proceeded to feel very sick for a long time. As an expert runner I feel the need to warn people away from refueling with pure, straight up JENK food. I'm sure that this is a stunning revelation to most of you out there, I know it was for me!

In retrospect running this race was not a bad idea at all as my legs felt fine the next day and my morale was bolstered by my ability to still run a respectable 5k.

 

And yes lucky readers. More words of wisdom from yours truly tomorrow!
(don't count on this streak continuing. I only have so many smart things to say after all...)