Maureen, Ashley, Me, Paige, Tal
I set a goal of finishing in 35 minutes- that would be just below a 9 minute mile pace. I know that was a bit ambitious considering I do ZERO speed training, but I just had it set in my mind that I would and could hit this goal. I busted out of the gate and finished mile 1 in 8:12. I was proud, but also knew I couldn't hold that pace for 3 more miles. I pulled back and finished mile 2 in 9:12. It was then that the most disgusting wave of nausea poured over me and I felt like I would soon be curled in a bush in the fetal position in a pile of my own vomit. It was terrible. I had eaten a lunch that could have kept a family of 4 full for a week- and it was fighting back with a vengeance. I knew I could make it the last 2 miles, but I was hurtin'. I finished mile 3 in 8:44. I turned up my music, put my head down, and tried to just focus on the finish line in my mind. I finished with 4 seconds to spare....
Official time: 34:56, pace 8:44
Saturday was an awesome day: Farmer's Market, a Clemson victory over Auburn, and the Cooper Young Festival. Beautiful sunshine and a happy heart!
Sunday morning, I woke up at the crack of dawn to join some fellow runners for a nice 12.5 miler. My friend Bruce is part of a great running group, the Germantown Thoroughbreds. They meet every Sunday morning and do a 12.5 mile loop around Germantown, then enjoy coffee and breakfast together. Bruce has tried to get me to join the group for a run for the past 6 months, but I haven't had a chance to make it out there. I usually do my long runs on Saturday (just works better with my schedule) and Germantown is a good 30 minute drive from my house downtown. But, since it was a pull-back week in my training and I only had to do 10 miles, I figured I would go ahead and join the group. Ashley and Paige came also. I was really nervous at first because the group has some amazing runners- well conditioned, experienced, and fast. But, it was the most supportive and positive group I could have imagined! The pack surely had runners of all paces, and there was never a time that I felt I was being left in the dust. They have 4 water stations set up along the way, and even bathrooms along the route! It was fantastic!
Thanks for an amazing run, Thoroughbreds! I cant wait for my next run with you!
About 30 people came out for the run, it was awesome! They all had some amazing stories and were so inspirational. If a 60 year old woman can run a marathon, who am I to say I cant? It definitely planted a dangerous seed of hoping to continue with running past my race in December....
And I got an awesome prize from Bruce for finially making it out to join the group: a BCDD tech tee! I love it! Thanks, Bruce!
I was really sore after the 4 miler, so I took my Sunday run pretty easy. I was exhausted and still sore after this 12.5 miler, so I went home and just crashed. I realized I really need to do a better job of cross-training if I am going to keep my body and mind in a healthy place. This week, it is my goal to integrate a good cross training plan... and to stick with it...
Oh, also, I am starting back on Weight Watchers today. The meeting is at 12:00. Time to regain the control I have lost. It is so easy to say, "I ran 10 miles today, I can eat whatever I want today! And tomorrow! And the next day! Nom nom nom, binge, etc!" Well, no, Amy, that is not the case. I have gained another 5 lbs on top of the 7 I gained over the spring. So, back to the scale. I know I can do it, I just have a few hurdles that I am VERY aware of that I need to work out...
Next week is a 17 miler, the next weekend is the Green Line 1/2 marathon, then I am off to Chicago to cheer on Omar and Andrew in their 1st Marathon- some pretty exciting stuff coming up! I can't wait!
