School, racing, and bunhuggers… yep.
This last week has been busy and exciting. I am back in my classroom and have it all set up and ready for 27 new first graders. I will take a video of my room tomorrow, it's so cute! There are a million and one things I still need to do, and even though they all don't NEED to be done before the first day of school on August 16th, my type A personality will have everything set and squared away. Once those kiddos come, it will only get busier!
I ran an 80 mile week this week. I had a great 20 mile run on Thursday and I averaged a 7:16 pace. I negative split the run and the last 10 miles were sub 7 minutes or very close to being so. I also had an awesome track workout on Tuesday. I ran 10 x 800- the Yassos. MWC told me to hit 2:48 each one. They were all 2:46 or under! I was very happy with this workout. The 'theory' is that your average time for 10 Yasso 800's will be your marathon time or close to it. I don't know how valid that is, but I will go with it! I looked back at my log from February when I had this workout- the same exact one. I ran pretty much what I ran on Tuesday, but I feel good about Tuesdays' because it was a bazillion degrees out.
On Sunday I have my last ARR summer series 5k at South Mountain. This is definitely my favorite of the 5 races, so I am excited for it and hope to PR- run under 17:50. Next week its all meetings, all week, at work. We have meet the teacher night on Friday night and I am so excited to meet the little guys and gals! I leave for San Diego Saturday morning, race the AFC 1/2 marathon on Sunday morning, leave right after the race to come back to Phoenix and prepare for the first day of school! Whew, it will be a stressful week! I need to remember to stay hydrated and relaxed so that I don't bomb my race because of stress.
So...After summoning up a *lot* of courage, I bought bunhuggers. Yep, the underwear looking bottoms that runners wear. This is cute, little, Deena Kastor in them. They will *not* look as cute on me, but you get the picture! (This one is from the Boston Globe)
I consulted my teammate Susan Loken about the bunhuggers. (holy cow, she is such an amazing runner, and check out her Chances For Children!) She told me that the main benefit of wearing them is that they make you feel fast and we need all the positive thinking we can get as we try to Olympic Trials Qualify. She said to just make sure you can run in them without your butt jiggling out! lol! I also consulted Sally (see below post of her awesomeness) who reassured me that I was fast enough to wear them (I didn't want to look like a poser) and that I need to run a tempo run in them to make sure they feel ok. *gulp* Well, I certainly am not doing that alone in my neighborhood or on the treadmill at the gym (OMG!) so why not try them out at AFC? hmmm... don't know if that is the best choice, maybe I will wear them under my shorts for a few runs first. I am such a nut. 
Oh yeah, I tried them on in front of Matt with my Brooks top and he said I looked like I was part of the Brooks Swim Team. Nice.
Happy Friday everyone!
Runningly Yours,
Whole lotta taperin’ goin’ on!
*Apologies in advance, I am all over the place with my thoughts and I blame it on taper madness*
7 days to go. 3 days of work and I am on a plane to Boston. Boy, am I nervous/excited/anxious. I am feeling really good, besides some minor allergies. Here is what is going on right now!
Food and Carb-loading
I am very close to my race weight and I feel light but strong. I have been holding 112 pounds for the last week so I think that is what I will be on race day. I wanted to be a tad lighter, but we shall see how this goes. I have been eating really clean; no white sugar, no processed foods, and no wine 
. I have had my fill of rice, quinoa, yogurt, fruit, eggs, and yams though! This will be the first marathon that I am trying to carb-load clean. No pretzels, loaves of bread, energy bars for this gal. I found that junk weighs me down come race day. I will also stop eating any dairy on Wednesday. For the plane ride I am going to take some all-natural honey stinger gummies, some gluten-free rice crackers, bananas, coconut water, and rice bread with pb & j. We plan on hitting up a TJ's or Whole Foods when we get to Boston so we can pick up snacks, chicken, rice, fruit, etc. for our hotel room.
The ever-important outfit choice:
Right now the forecast is 57 degrees and sunny for marathon Monday. I know it will change...but a gal has to plan.
I am going with my Brooks bra top, ID elite team shorts, ST 4 shoes, and of course my black ribbon for my pony-tail. I usually wear black nail-polish for races to remind myself to stay tough. But... after popular vote (thanks gals!) I am going with a coral color. It is supposed to be very Spring-like while we are there so I think it will be cute! And after all, we all know how important it is to look cute!
Plan for this week:
I ran 55 miles last week. I had a GREAT confidence booster work-out on Tuesday night at track. I did 10 x 800m (1/2 mile). They were all supposed to be done in 2:48. I did all but one just under that. On Saturday I had a last hill work-out progression run of 12 miles. 6 easy out, 6 each mile faster on the way back. I felt so good and ended with a 5:50 mile.
This week I have 40 miles before the marathon. 6 easy on Monday, 8 with 4 x 1 mile progression Tuesday, 10 on Wednesday, 0 on Thursday, 6 with strides on Friday and Saturday, and 4 on Sunday . Then, marathon Monday!!! I am way planned ahead at work, so I should be able to get some good rest in the next 3 days before we jet off. I also have a massage on Wednesday! yippee!
The Big Goal:
Normal day, my goal is 2:50 which is a 6:30 average pace. yikes! 2 years ago I could not even run a single mile at this pace!
Good day, stars aligned is a 2:48:xx which is right around a 6:25-6:27 pace. My friend Brett was funny, he knows me too well. He made the comment "If you run a 2:48, won't you be mad at yourself for not running a 2:46?" (2:46 is what I need to qualify for the Olympic Trials) Honestly, he is right, I would be. 
However, I don't think I am quite ready for that 2:46 yet. Soon enough!!
My main goal- unless Coach John tells me otherwise is 2:48-2:50. Prayers and good thoughts accepted! I know that it will be very hard for me.
I need to remember to not "collapse" and keep good form, I need to attack those Newton Hills when they show up at miles 19-21.
I need to remember FAITH NOT FEAR. I can do it. Its what I have been waking up at 3:30am to run my first out of 2 runs of the day for. It's why I have been going to bed at 8pm (always the life of the party!). It's why I have been spending Tuesday evenings doing speed-work at the track. It's why I have been running weeks of 90+ miles. It's why I have been running Mummy Mountain and jumping from wild critters! It is why I have basically been training my little a$$ off! And honestly, I have loved every minute of it!
Track Me!
So the Boston Athletic Association lets friends/family of runners track them through text/email. If you would like to track me, go to this site:
My bib number is 2605. Hopefully next year that number will be smaller with an "F" in front of it!
A Little Help From My Friends
Because I am in taper, I am allowed to get a little weepy. That's just the way it is. I am so lucky to have an amazing husband, amazing friends and family- thanks for the nutrition advice Don! , and an amazing coach to help me meet my goals. There are so many of my peeps running Boston this year, we are going to have so much fun. I feel so blessed to be able to be there with them! My BFF's Terri and Heppercraft are running the marathon also and they are going to kick some serious bootie! I can't wait for us all to see each other at the finish. I know it will be a good day and there will be much cause for celebration.
I will leave you with some pics from our post-run breakfast this weekend at Heppercrafts' house. His sister Kelly was kind enough to make us breakfast- popovers, frittata, fruit salad, granola, and homemade yogurt! yum!
Well, I think that's enough of my rambling for now. I can't believe its here already. I will try to update on FB or DailyMile post race. I'll take lots of pics too! Off to Baaaaasten!!!
((hugs))
Runningly Yours,
Running Buddy
There have been many studies that say running with friends improves your training and I completely agree! I need to share with you the amazing people that have come into my life that I have met through running. I am confident that many of them will be in my life until the end.
But before I do that, I need to give some credit to my dog. (!!??!!) You must really think I have gone off the deep end! But seriously, as I was sweeping up the dog hair that was multiplying before my very eyes today, watching as he was putting his wet nose against the windows I had just cleaned, and ruing the day he was born, I realized that I sure do love that little fella.
You see, he gets up with me at 4am every day. Tail wagging, happy to be alive. Even without coffee! He eats his breakfast, then comes into the office where I am sucking down coffee, checking my email, and 'waiting for nature to take its course' (as my friend Mark says). Tank curls up on the chair next to me and waits.
Until......Beeeeep! The Garmin is on and he's off! The dog is acting as though he has just gotten a shock of electric current as he bounds through the house knowing its 'go' time! Leash is on and we are off through the cold, dark, morning. Tank is my protector on these runs. He runs with his head up, constantly scanning for anyone or anything that 'dares' cross our path. I have to admit, I feel very safe with him by my side.
Sometimes I need encouraging and he pulls in front of me begging me to quicken up. Sometimes he needs encouraging and through the silent 5am dark you can hear me call "Come on old dog!" We are quite a team, Tank and I. So to him I raise a Gatorade. Without him, I would not be able to get all of my running in so early in the morning as I just wouldn't be safe. My pal, my 4-legged bud that is always up for a run. Thanks Tank!
Runningly Yours,
Perspective
Christa Brelsford, the young woman who was doing mission work in Haiti and was there during the earthquake is a close friend to our buddy Bradford, and was with many of our running group the night before the Tucson marathon at dinner. She was injured in the quake but remains in good spirits- what an amazing and inspiring woman. I know this is just a running blog, but I can't help but feel a little helpless, this disaster is just so unbelievable. Times like these make running seem so unimportant.
Terri and I were thinking of something we could do as we run this Sunday in honor of Christa. We were thinking of possibly a care package for her...need to get some ideas together.
Right now all of our prayers are with Christa, her family, and all those affected by the earthquake.
When my friend Mark emailed all of us this morning, he made such a good point. "As I head out for my run this morning on very tired legs, I'll be grateful to be out there anyway." Never take anything for granted, always be thankful and appreciative of your health and safety.
Read the story here.
Runningly Yours,
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