Holy crap...what have I gotten myself into?

Gulp!

13.1... DONE

We did it!  We were, at various times, tired, cold, hot, sore, thirsty, hungry...but we crossed the finish line!

Here is a summary of our day in pictures!

Waiting for the bus to Epcot at 3:30am

On the bus

The first of many GUs.  Yum then...yuck later

Gettin' ready!

Getting set!

One last pre-race picture in the corral

GO!

Running up to the castle in Magic Kingdom

We are Half Marathon Pricesses!

Last long run until race day - 10.76 miles - woo!

Nature smiled on me - and the City of Chicago - this weekend as I set out for my last long run before race day.  It was 45 degrees and sunny!  For the first time in a really long time, I wasn't dodging sheets of ice or snow drifts, I was dodging puddles.  Even splashing smack in the middle of one less than half a mile into the run, and having a soaking wet left foot for the remaining 10+ miles couldn't dampen my spirits.  I had energy, I had a laugh-out-loud funny This American Life podcast on my ipod and I was loving it. 

 
It always takes me a couple miles to actually get into it, to warm up enough and get into enough of a groove to let my mind go.  But once it goes, it goes. Mile 3-7 I was totally in the zone, and really enjoying myself, laughing out loud at mulitple points in my TAL and The Moth podcasts and looking at all of the gorgeous old victorian houses emerging from under the blankets of snow.

By mile 8, I was getting tired and I could feel a blister forming on my wet left foot.  I ran out of Gu last week so I didn't have anything with me to take.  But I pushed though.  And told myself that if the blister got bad enough I'd stop when I ran past the house at mile 9.  Luckily it didn't get too bad and I finished my route -- 10.76 miles!  And eventhough my foot hurt, I felt like I could have easily kept going with a bit of Gu and some gatorade...which is good because two weeks from now I WILL have to keep going for another 2.94 miles :)

Regular training = no more knee pain

...well, not much knee pain anyway.  I learned...er, have been learning...a valuable lesson in training.  If you fall off the wagon for a good length of time (like the month of December) you should NOT pick up right where you left off.  I made it through NYE, went for a refreshing dip in Lake Michigan, and decided the next day to get back on the running wagon with a 9 mile run...after 3 weeks of sporadic (at best) training.  NOT a good idea.  I paid for that decision for the first 2/3 of January with a really sore left knee.

Only now, after my first long run in a month with relatively little pain, do I feel like I'm finally back on track.  I finally slowed down and let myself take the time to heal instead of stubbornly trying to "push through it".  I got back in the gym and started cross training and lifting weights again.  And I went back to running in the streets instead of on the snow covered sidewalks where my gait was getting messed up.

So...now fingers crossed for a healthy month of February and a strong finish to my training!

Theresa - 9.2...what?!?!!

That's right...I ran 9.2 miles straight on Wed. afternoon. It is by far one of the biggest accomplishments in my life to date. My dear friend Ryan is a fitness buff and loves helping other people achieve their goals as well. I was realizing that my long runs were not happening, or at least not happening well and knew I needed so help. I asked Ryan if he would run 8 miles with me. He said yes. I also shared with him that in a perfect world I could run without knowing how far or for how long I had been running and that the route would be a surprise. This way I couldn't fake myself out or convince myself I couldn't do it.

Well, that is exactly what he did for me. He picked a route, he wore the watch and all he told me I needed to think/worry about was my breathing, my steps and to keep my head up. It was a miraculous day!! I couldn't believe how it felt. I couldn't believe that I didn't stop and once we finished and he said, that was 9.2 miles...I almost passed out! Not out of exhaustion, cause I actually didn't want to die, but out of pure excitement, accomplishment and achievement.

I feel like this day was a game changer for the rest of my life. I realized I don't push myself as hard as I can. I don't test the limits or take a lot of risks and I learned that there are some days that I just need to ask for help and be ok with that.

I will never be able to thank Ryan enough for showing me such grace, patience and belief in me that I can do this. I know feel like I have broken through a huge barrier, a point of no return and a knew confidence in myself that so many more things are possible.

I felt so proud that day and still do. I now 100% know that I can finish this half marathon and maybe even enjoy the process along the way :0)

Spirit of the Marathon

Watch this movie.  Amazing inspiration.  This is what made me want to run in the first place...

http://www.hulu.com/watch/85354/spirit-of-the-marathon

Theresa - 5K time...new personal record!

I ran the Season's 52 race this Saturday morning. It was a 5.2K in spirit of the theme. I finished it in 37.82 minutes, which made for about a 11:58 mile pace. SO excited!!!

I will be running 8 miles on Wednesday with my good friend Ryan. He is a fitness rock star, so I know that I will be challenged and pushed!

Tutu is still in the works and am having so much fun making it. It makes me feel like a little girl again :0)

Theresa...also Official!!

Signed up, reserved our sweet room at a Disney resort and got a 4.46 mile run in tonight that went awesome!!! New motivation, new excitement and new confidence! P.S. I looked up the route...it looks amazing!!!!

I am headed out to buy my supplies for my tutu. Pictures to come!

13.1...it is getting done!!!

Laura is Official!

I know we totally put the cart before the horse for awhile...ok, a long while...but I'm officially signed up!  YAY!

Tutu...Yes Please!!

Laura...I'm jumping on the bandwagon. I'm making my own!!!

Getting excited about the race!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ambrosialove/522118984/in/photostream/

Weekend run and a positive about the *gasp* Chicago Marathon

I'm still on track!  I was going to do my long run on Saturday and rest Sunday so I could be back at it with the morning runs today (Monday) but a broken furnace and a 2+ hour wait for the repair man altered my plans. 

But good news - furnace is working again, and I was able to do a 9 miler on Sunday.  I will say, I notice a definite difference after this long run, when I HAVEN'T been great about the daily runs, versus the long runs when I am doing my daily runs.  My knees are killing me today.  I have to be better about getting my shorter runs in this week.

And another positive - I think - the time  limit for the Chicago marathon in October is 6 hours and 30 minutes.  For some reason I had it in my head that it was 6 hours flat.  Not that that :30 makes a big difference in reality, since (if I do it) I would *hope* that I would be well under both.  A 12 min/mile average time = roughly 5 hours and 30 minutes.  But that extra :30 just seems to provide the extra mental cushion necessary to say - okay, maybe I can do this.  The thought of a limit just scares me in general.  I can't think of anything worse than training for months and months and finishing over the limit, and not getting the finishers medal.  And really, that 6:30 limit might be from the start of the first wave...in which case there are people still crossing in the final waves a good amount of time after that.

And on a final note...I would like to formally extend the invitation for you to come up to Chicago for a second half marathon - 8/24, the Chicago Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon

Back on the wagon this week

First of all - YAY Theresa!  I'm so glad you're back on track AND that you've discovered the value of podcasts in longer runs!  I wish I had figured that out sooner.  I never run anymore without listening to something somewhat intelligent to take my mind off the miles.  If you're thinking about what you're hearing, you're not thinking about how much your knees hurt, or how much longer you have to go :)

Speaking of back on track...I finally am too.  I ran a couple times over break, including a 9+ mile run the week prior to Christmas and a 6 or 7 mile run the week after.  But honestly there wasn't much in between that and I've found it hard this week to get back into the regular routine of shorter runs.

Part of the problem is its so frigging COLD and DARK.  But I don't like running on the treadmill, so unless it's pouring rain or icy I'd prefer to do it outside, even in 5 degrees.  That of course is (way) easier said than done.  I've taken to sleeping in my running clothes the nights before morning runs so literally all I have to do is jump out of bed and tie my shoes and throw on my jacket, gloves and hat.  Before, when I would have to change, I'd get cold and more often than not go back to my warm bed in my dark room. 

But having the clothes on helps.  It really does.  I've run three days this week, between 3 and 4 miles each day and I'm shooting to do another 9 miles on Saturday or Sunday.  Once it becomes routine again it will be easier.  I've just got to force myself through the adjustment phase...again.

We're gonna do this Theresa!

Theresa - Podcast while running = success!

Laura, you were right! Running while listening to a podcast is brilliant! I did 4 miles yesterday, will do 3 today and 3 tomorrow and plan to do 6 this weekend.

Back on track people...thank you Lord!!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,

who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame,

and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Hebrews 12:1-2