Ragnar Relay - Race Recap

I can honestly say that I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I volunteered to be Runner #6 on High Cloud's Ragnar Relay Race Team. Even at 6am on Friday morning, when I was meeting my team, I was still clueless. Ha! It was one of the most bizarre, crazy, exhausting, ridiculous, weird race experiences I have ever had and I CAN'T WAIT TO DO IT AGAIN! It was also inspiring, at times breath-taking and just a lot of fun.

How did I get roped into the Ragnar Race? Well, I was talking to one of my running friends at work and she was telling me how they put together a team every year and asked if I have ever done the race. I haven't and I kinda felt left out. I love racing! Why hasn't anyone asked me to be on their team?!?! Not 15 minutes later, I saw a message posted on Facebook from Rick Amernick, President of DC Capital Striders, calling out for anyone who would be interested in racing for High Cloud. ME! ME! ME! I think that was actually my response. Just tell me where to be, what to bring and you can count me in! 

As I mentioned before, our day started out at 6am. Half of our team met at the Huntington Metro, piled into a rented van to head to the start line in Cumberland, MD at Rocky Gap State Park. It was gorgeous. Our team's start time was at 10am.

Starting line at Rocky Gap - Cumberland, MD

Van 1 Team (minus one runner who was on the trail)

My First Leg - Race Leg #6
2:26pm - Friday - 6 miles - 43:25 - 7:14 pace
After watching all my teammates in my van run their legs, I was totally ready to go! My adrenaline was pumping - all downhill and a paved surface? A cinch! Well, not so. The elevation charts provided were rather deceiving and it was an uneven, rocky, gravel-type of surface. This course was KILLER. The "rolling hills" were absolutely ludicrous. While I did end up at a lower elevation than where I started, there were some pretty hefty inclines. It was soooo much fun though. I chatted with each of the four guys I passed (hee hee)! They totally appreciated being passed by a chatty girl in a sparkle skirt. They were really good sports! I was just passed by one herculean-type of man over the course of the entire event and that happened at about mile 2 of this leg. 

"Chicking" boys in a Team Sparkle Skirt is fun! 

C-ya!

I totally LOVED this leg and finished so happy. It was exhilarating. My last mile was my fastest race mile ever - 6:36! It wasn't smart though. After I finished, I got kind of scared because my shins started to twinge. I ran too fast. I had nothing to prove at this race. This was supposed to be for pure fun - not PRs. The last thing I wanted to do is injure myself half way through my JFK Training. I called my mom after I finished and she told me to take it down a few notches. Racing is just so addicting! I love the thrill, the chase, the overtake...but I told myself to just take it easy for next two legs.

Muddy Fun

My Second Leg - Race Leg #18
1:10am - Saturday - 6.33 miles - 53:24 - 8:26 pace
This portion of the race was mind boggling. It actually made me question my own sanity - who the heck does this kind of thing? Running/racing in the middle of the night on back country, foggy, dark roads, up a mountain?!? Well, obviously a few of us because there were over 200 teams of 12! My team dropped me off at the bottom of South Mountain in Keedysville, MD (elevation 400 feet) with a headlamp and reflective vest and wished me luck! They would see me in Middletown, MD - after my climb up to 1,100 feet! I knew it was going to be tough but I was not prepared for the "hill" I was about to encounter. It kept getting steeper and steeper. There was no end in site. Finally, it leveled off. Ahhhh - YES! I made it! Um - no little girl in the sparkle skirt - that was the easy part! The final ascent was ridiculous. I just told myself to just keep running, so matter how slow I was going. Just don't walk! I passed close to 10 people on this leg just because I kept moving. It hurt, I am not going to lie. Not my body, but my lungs. I was breathing hard and it FELT GREAT! It's such a wonderful feeling of satisfaction to actually conquer a tough run. I was as high as a kite as I finished. Extreme endorphin high. It was 2am.

My Third Leg - Race Leg #32 
11:18am - Saturday - 8.58 miles - 1:09 - 8:04 pace
I luckily got some sleep between 3am and 5am cuddled up in my compression socks. I wasn't cramping or anything. Well, I wasn't cramping until I tried to take off my socks at 5am. It is a hell of a workout getting those suckers on and off. I seriously got a shooting cramp in my hamstring - taking off my socks. Ha. We hit the road again at 5:30am.

A beautiful way to welcome the morning - Germantown, MD.

I, of course, started to get antsy because I had my longest leg in front of me, I was tired and I really just wanted to be done and eat some real food. We were able to stop at a Ruby Tuesday's for a salad and baked potato but I was eating snacks, pretzels, Honey Stingers and a TON of caffeine so I was feeling kinda yucky. My last leg was through familiar territory starting in Rock Creek Park, onto the Capital Crescent Trail and then into Bethesda. It was long though. I told my team that I would running between 8:15-8:45 miles. Rick guessed I would be finished in around 1:09. I hate when people predict my race time because then I subconsciously HAVE to meet or beat it. I found out after that he thought it was a 7 mile leg and that is what he based his prediction on. Grrrr. Ha.

My team bonding as I ran.

The whole experience was a blast. It included everything I love about racing. The competition, the comraderie and energy of 2,000 silly active people, and the feeling of accomplishing/experiencing something new and great! I really can't wait to do it again...next year.  It really does take a lot out of you. They have an "Ultra" division that intrigues me and I have already thrown my hat in the ring for that. WHO IS IN? All in all, the team finished in 30 hours, 8 minutes and 56 seconds.

The Prize

Week 8 - Training Summary

It was a step-back week and what a strange training week it was! Strange, but fun with lots of good stuff happening. #1 - I GOT INTO BOSTON! (Just in case you missed my post earlier this week) #2 - I got the results back from Oliver's blood tests. His vet called me on Tuesday to tell me that he has a rare but treatable condition called Cryptococcosis. It's basically creeped into his sinuses and we have a 6 month treatment plan now. He still struggles to breath, but it's much better news than I was anticipating. #3 - I participated in my first 200 mile relay which threw off my training a bit, but got some good workouts in and had some fun with lots of laughs. I needed the laughs for sure!! I will be doing a full Ragnar Relay Race recap this week.


TOTAL MILES WEEK 8 : 55.91 miles


9/19 (Monday) - Rest
The Epsom salt bath yesterday did not work as well as the ice baths. I was SORE this morning. Darn! I did find out this morning though that my entry was accepted in the 2012 Boston Marathon! Yippeee!
9/20 (Tuesday) 5:28am - Interval Training
This is supposed to be a step-back week. Imagine my surprise, when I opened my training plan to find that I had 3 x 2 mile intervals scheduled. Add a warm up and cool down - that's 10 miles. Doesn't sound like a step-back to me. Ha. I did them though with just a little scrunchy face. I am still floating from the news yesterday, thinking about how I am going to train for Boston. I have only ever done one Spring marathon (San Diego in 2007) and training did not go well dealing with the winter weather. In any regard, I did my first 2 mile interval in 15:10, the second in 14:36 and the last in 14:16.
9/21 (Wednesday) 6:35pm - Easy
I hate running in the evenings...seriously. It actually makes me cranky all afternoon in anticipation - having to wait. I feel so good once it is done, but no more. I am getting up early moving forward. It's not worth being cranky.
9/22 (Thursday) 5:39am - Tempo Run
I REALLY didn't want to get out of bed this morning even though I was TKO'd by 10pm last night. I hit the snooze button several times - negotiated with myself - telling myself I would just do the run tonight. Well, we all know how that usually turns out. I eventually got my butt out of bed and ran. It of course, felt wonderful. My tempo was a little slow today at a 7:30 pace, but at least I did it. It was dark on the track. I love that. There were only two other crazies out there - the usual suspects.
9/23 (Friday) - Ragnar Relay
I will include more detail in my full race recap, but I did my first leg at 2pm. It was so much fun and such a rush. I ran 6 miles in 43:25. Yep! That is a 7:14 pace. Wooohoooo! Such a great experience! Runners Rock! Here are some silly ways people decorated their vans:

9/24 (Saturday) - Ragnar Relay
My second race leg started at 1:10am! It was straight up South Mountain. 6.33 miles starting at an elevation of about 400 feet, all the way up to 1100 feet. It was one of the toughest runs I have ever had. Look for more in the race recap, but I ran it in 53:24 - a 8:26 pace. Then, my last leg started at 11:18am. After 2 hours of sleep and having to watch everyone else run their legs - I was ready to go! I ran through some familiar territory - Rock Creek Park, the Capital Crescent Trail and ending in Bethesda. It was 8.58 miles and I ran it in 1:09:20 - 8:04 pace.
9/25 (Sunday) - 10:45am - 2 Hour Long Run
Holy moly am I tired today. Like depleted. Not sore. Just TIRED. I got 11 hours of sleep after only 2 the night before but I am definitely feeling it. Every step took all my effort. I am going to be doing a lot of resting today. 

Ragnar Relay Time!

Tomorrow morning at 6am, I will be meeting a team of runners to participate in the Ragnar Relay. This relay is a 200 mile race that starts in Cumberland, MD, heads through the Appalachian Mountains, eventually ending up in National Harbor - just outside of DC. There are 12 runners on a team and each runner has to run three legs of the race ranging anywhere from about 3 to 9 miles. It should take about 26-28 hours for our team to complete the 200 miles, I am guessing.

I have only ever done a marathon relay - never anything like this! I am runner number six. This is the perfect time in my JFK 50 mile training to do this race. First, it will be fun and switch it up a little bit. Second, it will help me learn once again to run on a different type of tired legs. When choosing which runner I wanted to be, I of course picked one of the most challenging legs. If I am going to devote my time to something like this, I am gonna make it worth it and get a great workout!

1st Leg - 6.0 miles - HARD
You would think that running downhill would be a cinch, but not so. It's really hard on your quads. I have been training on hilly courses, so I am not too worried. I just have to concentrate on leaning forward and taking smaller strides. You tend to want to lengthen your stride when running downhill, but that puts a lot of pressure on your knees.

2nd Leg - 6.6 miles - VERY HARD

I will basically be running up a mountain during this leg. I actually don't mind hills. I am not sure about mountains. Stay tuned for the post-race report. Running uphill is feels good on my piriformis muscle.

3rd Leg - 6.0 miles - MODERATE
My last leg will be fun. I will running through familiar territory, on the towpath and it is pretty flat.

I will then meet my team to cross the finish line together at National Harbor. There will be a festival with lotsa stinky, tired running folk. I can't wait! This is going to be a blast!

BOSTON - Here I come!

I received awesome news this morning at 8:26am. My entry into the 2012 Boston Marathon has been accepted! You don't understand how thrilled I am! I don't know how I am going to concentrate the rest of the day. I soooo needed this and takes a tremendous amount of pressure off, especially training for this JFK 50 miler. Even though I didn't want to "race" the Marine Corps Marathon this year, because of the risk of injury for all these miles I am putting in, I knew I probably would. I have been running fast in fear that I am going to lose my speed I have worked so hard to gain over the past 2 years. (Big sigh of relief.) Now, maybe I can have some fun with this training!

Boston Marathon Confirmation Email

Entrant Confirmation

Week 7 - Training Summary

This training is no joke. I knew it would be hard going in, but wow. It's really tough. Maybe I'm taking it too seriously but I just don't want to be at mile 37 the day of the race wishing I would have trained harder/smarter. I'm doing it and I am giving it my all. I'm pretty much always tired and always STARVING! I eat/snack all day long - fuel is good! I have been slacking off on the cross-training, especially lifting weights and core work though. I truly think it helps to prevent injury and strengthens my weak spots. I am going to make sure I get some sessions in this week which should be easy because it is a step-back week. My long runs this coming week only consist of the Ragnar Relay Race and a 2.5 hour long run! 


TOTAL MILES WEEK :  73.43 miles


9/12 (Monday) - Rest
I had good intentions to go to the gym tonight to do some yoga/stretching. Home sounded more inviting.
9/13 (Tuesday) 4:15am - Interval Training
I tossed and turned last night not falling asleep until probably midnight and then woke up about every hour. You see, I worry - A LOT - always thinking of the worse case scenario. I actually think this helps me over prepare, allowing me to shine at times. Other times, it burns me out and just gives me a tummy ache. I have a couple big meetings at work tomorrow that I need to prepare for; both of my cats had to be at the vet at 7:30am for pretty significant procedures; I am going through some not fun personal relationship stuff - which resulted in less than 4 hours of sleep. I got up anyway and cranked out my 6 x 1 mile repeats, sandwiched in between 2 warm up and 2 cool down miles. I was able to run away from it all for just a little bit. Mile 1: 6:58; Mile 2: 6:53; Mile 3: 6:48; Mile 4: 6:44; Mile 5: 6:39; Mile 6: 6:31. One mile at a time, one day at a time, one task at a time, one drama at at a time...
9/14 (Wednesday) 5:35pm - Easy
The drama continued today. My work meetings went ok. One went really well, and the other could have gone better, but it's a process. I got some not so good news about my baby kitty Oliver which resulted in a biopsy and a head x-ray :-( I won't have the results until early next but it is causing me a lot of concern and emotion. I got out there and ran through the emotion though and maybe shed a tear or two along the path.
9/15 (Thursday) 5:32am - Tempo Run
It was actually a very beautiful morning. I do love running in the dark, but don't fear, I play it safe. Believe it or not there are a lot of other runners out at this time in the morning. I love living in an active city. I ran 3 miles up to the track and did my tempo run, averaging a 7:15 pace, then ran home. It's strange to run on the track in the dark but wonderfully quiet. 
9/16 (Friday) - Rest
Woot! Woot! I got to apply to the Boston Marathon today! I thought it would have filled up by today, but I guess not! I am trying not to get my hopes up too much. Now, the waiting begins.
9/17 (Saturday) - 8:03am - 3 Hour Long Run 
I ran a 20 mile race this morning - The Revenge of the Penguins. I didn't set out to "race" this and I question why I signed up in the first place. It didn't feel like a "race" or at least have all of the components I LOVE about racing such as crowd support, spectators, athlete camaraderie, enthusiastic race organizers, etc. It kind of just felt like a group run with a timing chip and water stops. I ran by myself for most of the time just like any other Saturday run. My FAVORITE part of the race though was getting passed by two local elite running celebrities - Michael Wardian and Wilson Komen. They were not racing, and in fact probably just warming up, but flew by me both ways. INSPIRING! After I finished the 20 miles, I had about 7 minutes left to complete my 3 hour run, so like the crazy person I am, I just ran around the park until the 3 hour beep went off. I totaled 20.88 miles. Not a stellar performance, but I will take it! Ice Bath is next!
9/18 (Sunday) - 8:15am - 4 Hour Long Run
I started later than usual this morning. There is no need to beat the heat, so the cooler temperatures allow me to hit snooze once or 5 times. Ha. I was still up at 6:30am though and procrastinated for awhile. I started my run at Belle Haven Marina, following the Mt. Vernon Trail to the 14th Street Bridge, crossing over to Hain's Point, past the Jefferson Memorial, around the Tidal Basin, running by the new MLK Memorial (breathtaking) and to the Lincoln Memorial. That took me about 2 hours. I stopped briefly to buy a water and eat a Honey Stinger gel. I didn't know if I had it in me to do 2 more hours but I thought that if I could slog my way around Hain's Point, back over the bridge onto my "home trail" I would be OK. That's exactly what happened. It was tough running through Hain's Point again - it's just sooo boring to me. I know it's flat with not much traffic, but I'd much rather spend my time there playing golf. I ended up running 27.19 miles at an 8:49 pace. It's so hard for me not to run faster. It's going to be tough at the Marine Corps Marathon holding back - but, one goal at a time. I tried an Epsom Salt Bath today. I couldn't bear thinking about another Ice Bath. I guess we will see if they work tomorrow - if I am able to walk! Ha.

I got chills running by this - as I do visiting many of DC's memorials 

Every Second Counts

Say what you must about Lance Armstrong but his book, Every Second Counts, has been one of the most inspirational books I have ever read. I actually downloaded the book from iTunes and listened to it as I was training for my second marathon, The Scotia Bank Marathon, in 2007. I had to buy the hard copy and actually read it because it was so powerful. The messages that stick with me have been particularly applicable in my life this week. They are full of hope and empowerment. Just what I need. 

"There aren't many clearly marked, signpost moments in your life, but occasionally they come along. And you have a choice. You can either do something the same old way, or you can make a better decision. If you are willing to make a harder choice, you can redesign your life."

"The real reward for pain is this: self-knowledge. If I quit, however, it would have lasted forever, that surrender, even that smallest act of giving up, would have stayed with me for the duration...When you feel like quitting, you had to ask yourself which you would rather live with."

"So this is about life….It’s about risk, it’s about agenda, and it’s about balance. It’s about teeing the ball up high and hitting it hard while trying not to lose control. And if you shank it, then go find your ball and try it again…because the way you live your life, the perspective you select, is a choice you make every single day when you wake up. It’s yours to decide." 

“Time is limited, so I better wake up every morning fresh and know that I have just one chance to live this particular day right, and to string my days together into a life of action, and purpose.”

"Pain is good, because it teaches your body and soul to improve. It's almost as though your unconscious says, "I'm going to remember this, remember how it hurt and I'll increase my capacities so that next time, it doesn't hurt as much."

"Suffering is essential to a good life. It's a great enhancer. It might last a minute, or a month, but eventually it subsides, and when it does, something else takes place, and maybe that thing is a greater space. For happiness! Each time I encountered suffering, I believed that I grew, and further defined my capacities - not just my physical ones, but my interiors ones as well, for contentment, friendship, or any other human experience."

Week 6 - Training Summary

It started raining here on Monday evening and didn't stop until Friday afternoon. There is a direct correlation to my mood/motivation and the weather. I need the sun. Even if it is chilly, the sun does wonders for me. Needless to say, I was pretty blue all week. I ended up having to do my week day runs on the treadmill. I don't normally mind running in the rain, but at 5am, it's just a little too cold and dark for me. Luckily, the weekend weather was perfect - high 70s during my runs! 


TOTAL MILES WEEK : 67.43 miles


9/5 (Monday) - Rest
I drove home from VA Beach today and took a well deserved day off. This is going to be another monster week, so I need all the rest I can get.
9/6 (Tuesday) 5:23am - Interval Training
I wimped out today and jumped on the treadmill. It was 65 degrees, raining and very dark at 5am when my alarm went off. I don't mind running in the rain but I didn't feel like being a wet rat this morning. I kind of feel like doing speedwork on the treadmill is cheating because I am not in control of my pace. Yes, I can press a button to go faster or slower, but it's not the same as being on the track. I did 6 x 1 mile intervals with a 2 mile warm up and a 2 mile cool down. The treadmill is in front of a window, so I can see my reflection and it was actually good to see my running form. It definitely gets better and more efficient the faster I go. I was happy with the workout - as long as I keep my miles in the 6s! Mile 1: 6:58; Mile 2: 6:53; Mile 3: 6:48; Mile 4: 6:44; Mile 5: 6:39; Mile 6: 6:35. 
9/7 (Wednesday) 5:27pm - Easy
Another treadmill run. Grrrr. 
9/8 (Thursday) 5:22am - Tempo Run
It is still raining, therefore I did another treadmill workout this morning. I started with a 3 mile warm up, then 3 miles at tempo pace (7:13 pace) and then a 3 mile cool down. The run felt relatively easy which is OK with me!
9/9 (Friday) - Rest
9/10 (Saturday) - 6:49am - 4 Hour Long Run 
After a really crappy week of all uninspiring treadmill runs, it felt really good to be outside and crank this run out. It still amazes me that I am actually able to run for this long. I did 28.29 miles of the WO&D Trail which is pretty hilly, so averaged a 8:29 pace per mile. 28 miles is a long way! My "marathon time" or when I passed the 26.2 mile mark was at 3:42:10. It felt nice to feel the sun and I sweat much more than I thought. When I stopped, I was pretty much caked with salt. I am not sure if that is bad or good, but I think as long as I am replacing the fluids/electrolytes, I am OK. I came home, took a 3 bag of ice bath, used The Stick and wore my compression socks all day. Hopefully, that will help make tomorrow's 3 Hour Run, easier(?) and I will be able to walk on Monday.
9/11 (Sunday) - 6:55am - 3 Hour Long Run
My goal today was to just keep moving. Period. I wasn't feeling particularly sore or anything - just fatigued. The Nation's Triathlon was this morning and I really wanted to get out to Hain's Point before the athlete's came barreling passed me. It is a respect thing too. They deserve to have a course clear of non-competitors. I asked some volunteers when they expected them to start passing through and they told me in about and hour or hour and a half. That gave me plenty of time to do my two loops. Well, after my turn around point, the elites starting shooting passed me. Ugh. It was actually inspiring and made me move faster, but I felt like a poser running in the midst of greatness. Ha. I ended up running 20.14 miles, averaging a 8:56 pace. 

WANTED: Full Body Compression Cat Suit

Throughout my marathon and race training, I never really had to focus on recovery. My body kind of took care of itself. I attribute that to strong athletic genes. In the past, if I was ever truly sore, all I have ever had to do was give my body a day or two of rest and I was back to 100%. Training for the JFK 50 Miler is quite different. Maybe it is age, but I have really had to focus on  the recovery process mostly because my training schedule doesn't allow for multiple days of no running. Now, after my 3 and 4 hour runs, I spend at least an additional 90 minutes in recovery mode which include activities such as:
ICE BATHS
Also known as Cryotherapy, ice baths constrict blood vessels and decrease metabolic activity which reduces swelling and tissue breakdown. They help to flush harmful metabolic debris out of your muscles. I sit in the empty tub, 2 bags of ice at my side, and slowly fill the tub with cold water, while slowly adding the ice. My method/process helps to reduce the shock factor. I sit in the tub for 10-15 minutes, hands clenched with a scrunchy face. It's funny to see how your body reacts to the cold. My leg muscles actually convulse. It is not a pleasant experience at all, to be honest, but I can't argue with science. The hot, hot, hot, stingy shower that follows is heavenly.
MINERAL SALT BATHS
My aunt sent me these awesome mineral salts from Tel Aviv that I have used several times. These baths are much more pleasant than the ice baths, obviously. I am not sure if they are as effective, but there are studies that show that they will reduce swelling and aid in the healing process. They do certainly flush the toxins out. After a couple long rainy 3 hour runs, they have done the trick!
"THE STICK"
After hearing people rave about this cool toy for years, I finally broke down and bought one at the VA Beach 1/2 Marathon Expo. I am in love! Click HERE to see all the benefits for athletes, but I really love that it loosens up my muscles, flushing all the lactic acid out. It's like your own personal massage. It really does wonders. I should have purchased one years ago.

"COMPRESSION SOCKS"

I also finally caved in and bought a pair of CEP compression socks at the VA Beach 1/2 Marathon Expo. Compression socks have been widely accepted in the treatment of edema, varicose veins, and DVT. The aim in running recovery is to improve oxygen delivery to muscles, speeding lactic acid removal and stabilizing the lower leg. I have not worn these yet but if they work, I am hoping that CEP develops a head to toe cat-like compression suit. I'd be all over that! I, of course, got the pink ones. I don't think I will be wearing them out in public, so I might as well get the most obnoxious ones possible. Ha!

MASSAGE
I have only had one professional massage this training cycle so far, but I plan on doing this more in the coming weeks. The more activity a muscle undergoes, the greater its tendency to contract when you are resting which leads to tight muscles. These tight muscles are then more injury prone at the next vigorous workout. Massage increases blood flow and realigns muscle fibers. By stimulating and then relaxing the system, massage flushes toxins from these healing muscles, which speeds recovery. I can tell you that after doing a 24 mile run, followed by a 14 mile run the next day, I got a massage and was feeling no pain, soreness or stiffness the day after. AMAZING! Too bad it's like $100 a pop though. I need a sponsor. Ha.


Are there any other tools/toys/methods I am missing?

Week 5 - Training Summary

Whew. After last week, I needed some rest. That was a tough week and it's only going to get tougher, but these rest weeks really revive me - mentally and physically. It's pushing through the tiredness and pain. I am happy with how the week panned out, ending it with a 1/2 marathon PR, but once again, I really need to focus on getting to bed at a decent time. It can't be that hard, right? I WILL BE IN BED BY 10 pm EVERY NIGHT THIS WEEK! 


TOTAL MILES WEEK 5: 50.2 miles


8/29 (Monday) - Light Workout
I am so sore today. Like more sore than after my BQ at the Marine Corp Marathon last year or any marathon I have ever done. I needed to work some of the lactic acid out, so I opt'd to just do 30 minutes on the bike, then a massive amount of stretching along with some time on the foam roller. I really have to invest in one of those. 
8/30 (Tuesday) 5:43am - Interval Training
Holy tired legs! There is a big difference between tired and sore. My legs were slightly sore when I got up this morning, but MUCH better than when I went to bed last night. It's OK to run on super tired legs. Super sore? Not so much. The track workout was OK. I did 3x1mile intervals and kept them all at or just under a 7 minute pace.
8/31 (Wednesday) 5:27pm - REST
Got to take a day off. My legs really still needed it.
9/1 (Thursday) 5:27am - Tempo Run
My form felt a little funny this morning, like something was off. I am not sure why that is - maybe I am still tired. Things just didn't feel smooth. I did a 3 mile warm up and cool down with a 3 mile tempo in between at a 7:22 pace. I am happy with that.
9/2 (Friday) - 11:40am - 2 Hour Run
I did my 2 Hour Run today since I have a race on Sunday. I was able to work from home today, so you think I would have gone to bed early to take advantage of the extra time I would have in the morning to run. Nope - I did not! I really need to get this sleeping thing under control. The truth is, I have never been a good sleeper. I woke up at 7am which was too late to start my run. I worked for a couple hours, then headed out for a 2 hour lunch break/run. I felt AWESOME the first half of the run. I was running uphill on the Mt. Vernon Trail towards Belle Haven, averaging a 7:57-8:08 pace. Then, things started to feel weird. I couldn't get my legs to move any faster going downhill - basically, I was out of fuel. I didn't eat breakfast and went out without taking any gels. Rookie move. I struggled to pull out 8:15-8:20 miles the second hour. All in all, not a bad run though. I ran a total of 14.60 miles. Moral of the story? EAT.
9/3 (Saturday) - Easy
A VERY SLOW slog this morning before heading off to VA Beach. I knew it would be a tough recovery run, so I didn't wear my Garmin. That forces me to slow down.
9/4 (Sunday) - Virginia Beach Rock N Roll 1/2 Marathon
I had no idea what to expect from this race. I woke up feeling very well rested though. I was a little stiff, but my piriformis felt great, meaning I did not feel it at all. I thought a good goal for me would be to stay under an 8 minute mile the whole race. I just focused doing that mile by mile. The course was flat and about 99% of it was on pavement. Because I ran out of "juice" on Friday, I decided I would take a Pink Lemonade Honey Stinger at 6.5 miles - half way through. I want to me more proactive with my fueling. I did not feel like I needed it at 6.5, but took it anyway. I am not sure if it helped, but I was able to maintain my pace, so who knows. The weather was perfect for me - high 70s and overcast. The last mile was the toughest, as it is with any race. It's on the Boardwalk, so you can see the finish a mile away and it never looks like it's getting closer. I pushed hard though and that was my fastest mile. I remember thinking, that I don't care if I faint, I will PR and I did with 1:41:48. FINISHED 28th OUT OF 996 WOMEN IN THE 35-40 AGE GROUP AND 142nd out of 6,385 WOMEN RUNNERS!!! Mile 1: 7:43; Mile 2: 7:38; Mile 3: 7:47; Mile 4: 7:49; Mile 5: 7:46; Mile 6: 7:45; Mile 7: 7:47; Mile 8: 7:44; Mile 9: 7:41; Mile 10: 7:39; Mile 11: 7:41; Mile 12: 7:39; Mile 13: 7:11

Finish line at the VA Beach 1/2 Marathon.

My friend Christian, who will also be running the JFK 50.

It's September! Boston Registration Opens!

Last year, as I was preparing to run the Marine Corps Marathon, my goal was to run under 4 hours. I would have been elated with 3:59:59. I ran the first half of that race FAST. At the 13 mile mark, I was at 1:45 - my fastest 1/2 marathon time ever! After that point, I started to feel the burn. My breathing got wacky and my abdomen started to cramp but I still ran hard. I knew I would see my mom at Mile 17 and that kept me going. Hearing her cheer for me, holding her bouquet of balloons really gave me the motivation to keep pressing on. Miles 18 through 23 really were a blur. It was soon after Mile 23 when I looked at my watch and a certain reality set in - I can qualify for Boston. Those last 3 miles were the hardest miles I have ever run in my life. I crossed the finish line at 3:39:45 with 5 minutes to spare. I needed a 3:45 to qualify. A marathon PR by almost 40 minutes! I was in pain. Every muscle hurt. I almost collapsed after crossing the finish line though my tears were ones of pure joy. A young marine placed the finishers medal around my neck telling me, "Congratulations, Ma'am" and I thanked him for his service.  I have never been so proud of myself - EVER! I won't be able to ever explain the actual feeling. It left me floating for a week at least.

There have been rumors for years that they are changing the qualifying standards and registration process for the Boston Marathon. It sold out in less than 8 hours last year. In February, I was in Miami, working the Miami Boat Show and the Boston Athletic Association issued a press release announcing the changes that will take effect starting with the 2012 race. Basically, the fastest runners get to register first starting on September 12. It's fair, no doubt. But it means that I don't get to register until Friday, September 16 which also means that registration will most likely be filled by then. I hope not, but I am just being realistic. I am truly honored and proud to just have qualified. I didn't think it would be possible for me for at least several more years. Sure, I could run it for charity but in all honesty, that is not really running Boston. No disrespect to charity runners because a ton of money is raised for very good causes at that race. I just want this to be a race I earned. 

I will be BOSTON BOUND one day. I hope it's in 2012, but if it's not in the cards, I will shoot for a 3:30 marathon this Spring!