More Training, Weddings, Tailgates!

If there has been one thing I've changed about my habits throughout this who training process, is that you have to make sacrifices. Since my Saturday morning "long runs" have actually gotten LONG, I've been staying in Friday nights in order to get up early on Saturdays to run before the events of the weekend. I currently have a 5, 8, and 15 mile route starting and ending at my house. Usually my long runs are focusing more on distance instead of speed or hills. These last 2 weeks, I have run my 15 mile route, which is beautiful until the last 3 miles when I hate my life :( Recently, my right leg has been hurting. First in the knee and hip flexor, and now in the hamstring. I actually brought GU along with me, hoping that it'd get me through the last 5 miles, because the first 10 (excluding mile 1 when I'm dreading the next 3 hours) are actually enjoyable. I couldn't have asked for better weather or scenery and I talk/smile to myself most of the way. Mile 12 used to be my stopping point where I could get in my car and drive home... but now that spot means I still have 3 more hilly miles in direct sunlight.


I finally got new shoes! I ordered the same pair, just the newer version and I'm still making up my mind if I like them or not. You are supposed to break them in slowly, so I'm wearing them for my shorter runs mid-week and during intermural volleyball, which has been a blast. I've never really been a big fan of sand, but court volley brings me back to my middle school days. I'm decent, but like most co-ed sports, most of the work gets done by 2 guys on each team. We've won one and lost one so far. Also speaking of intermurals, our kickball team had their last game on Friday. We won, giving us the best record, 5-1, in the league! Not that we win anything, but we have talked about making championship belts! That is now how I rate success!


2 of the tailgates have been interrupted early for weddings in KC Saturday night. The Missouri tigers haven't lost yet and are now ranked #11! However, we play Oklahoma next week for homecoming, so we will see. I'm very much looking forward to opening my doors to Joe, Bess, Kevin, and Kelly! I took off work on Friday so I can get my run (supposed to be 18, but I think I need to get this 15 one down without hating life) in before they get here.

Roots N Blue Half Marathon

Since last time I wrote, I had my half marathon. All of my friends who ran it with me did great and it's soo cool to see volunteers along the route with signs and cheering you on just because they can.

I knew to start out slow because otherwise I'd be dead by the end. The fist few miles were great. I caught up with one of my coworkers who had run the St. Louis marathon last March and I actually told him about this race, which he didn't really train for. So we ran to about mile 4 together until his shoe came untied and I had to leave him behind! Once on my own, I felt great! Kept my breath and set my pace where I was actually passing people. After I got to the MKT, I was at home, if you will, because I had run that leg of the race MANY times before and I knew exactly what to expect. Up until this point, I hadn't stopped at any of the stations for water because that's not how I'd been training and I was a little hesitant to put anything into my body in case it threw me off. But I knew that at mile 6 there was a station at the bottom of our first real hill. I had decided to take a GU (said like goo, which is exactly what it is) packet. (Let me just tell you that I'd heard about GU a few days before and wasn't sure what it was exactly. All I knew was that you're supposed to take it 15 minutes before you start and every 45 minutes after that.) Betsy had given my one of hers and they were passing them out along the way. There is actually a lot of GU per packet so I sucked it up and took it down in several swallows, making sure I could still breathe, then followed it up with a mini cup of water (which was a feat in its own.) Drinking and running is quite difficult. I'm sure I choked a few times, got it up my nose a few times, and threw it on the volunteers. Really, all I wanted was a high-five!

Miles 8-10 were pretty tough. It was actually the only part of the route I hadn't gone on and it was HILLY. This is where I caught up to Jose and we took turns in the lead until the last big hill where I was golden! Speed walking up the hills seemed like the best idea because it took less steps and I had more energy on the other end. At this point, I was just trying to get to Schnuck's, where I knew Teki, Cameron, and Beckett were waiting for me. I saw them before and kinda made a scene because I was really excited to see them. At that point, it was all down hill to the finish line. Also, around that corner, I ran into Betsy's family who had come in for the weekend. This is where my facebook picture was taken. I was still smiling, so that's a good sign. The last mile was back on the trail towards downtown (another stretch I had run SEVERAL times.) It seemed like it was never going to end but once you start seeing the number on the bridges go down, the closer you are. The timer wasn't working, but I still had the energy to actually speed up to cross this finish line! I had done it. They took off my time clip, handed me a water, a meal ticket (who would want pulled pork right after that I have no idea,) and my FINISHER BELT BUCKLE! I stretched, paced, and waited at the finish line for my friends! Never had I ever beaten everyone else I knew, and it was a good feeling. Granted, I was actually training for a full so I was ONLY half way there. I actually laughed at myself on mile 13 because NO WAY could I turn around and do it again. 26.2 is INSANE!

The rest of the day, I made overalls our of bubble wrap for the Anything But Clothing party over at Brad's that night! I have a very creative bunch of friends!

Half Marathon Eve

Well... Since it's been so long and I have so much to share, I'll probably split it up into a few post and put off my update on the last 4 weeks of my life a little longer. Unless I can't sleep tonight, which is a good possibility with the excitement, nerves, etc I'm feeling right about now.

I just got home from what seemed to me like the busiest week of my life. For some reason, I thought getting and 8-5 job would give me more time to hang out and relax. Although I'm not complaining, because I do it to myself by meeting new people and committing myself to, not more than I can handle, but more than I should handle! Several weeks ago, I signed up for 2 intermural leagues: Softball with work, and kickball with friends. The surprising thing was that both teams are actually good! Who knew?! Softball made it to the semi-finals, with is pretty good, considering we hadn't won a game before, or so I'm told. In kickball, we play our 4th game tonight and haven't lost yet...knock on wood!

Monday night I went to the Cardinals game with some people from work. It was actually organized by the college so we had a bus ride to and fro', ticket AND a t-shirt for $30... but our director offered to buy our shirts so it only cost $20... plus over-priced beer and food. Even though we didn't get back until about 12:30, it was a great evening. Tuesday was Softball at 9, then we did a little bar hopping because a friend was in town. Wednesday I ran my 5 mile route before cleaning so I got to bed around 11:45. Then yesterday was the Chubby Carriers concert at The Blue Note. WONDERFUL dace party, even though my dance partner (Who likes to anonymously comment on my posts) couldn't make it.

Currently... I'm sitting at my table carb loading with Shells and Cheese, which aren't as good as I remember, and the saltiest grilled onions I've ever had. I pretty much dread each bite, but eat it anyway. Today at work I had a water off with the guy downstairs, who is also running the half tomorrow. I didn't quite make it to a gallon, but was close... surely I can drink that glass tonight! We also picked up our race packets, numbers, shirt and shoe chip so they can track us. I have NO idea what I'm going to wear tomorrow. It'll probably be in the 40s-50s, which is supposedly what the weather will be in Seattle, but I have my doubts...

No idea what any of this means but:
www.onlineraceresults.com
my chip code is 05800184e16c
my No is 1024

Very very excited... Sorry no pictures. Too many thoughts in my mind to sort out and be clever. I'll write more after the FINISH LINE :)