We did it!

We dit it, we ran more than ever before and finished a great race! I couldn't be more proud and feel more accomplished, it was amazing. The weather was brutal during the second half (sunny and 80+ temps) but we finished strong and had a great time! 4:45:26. I will share more later, after the muscle soreness and knee pains wear off so I can sit in a chair for more than 15 minutes and still be able to get out of it  :)

Keep on running!

Marathon Eve

Pasta dinner's down and we're loaded up on carbs. I'm feeling ready to run. Honestly, I have been itching for a run for the last two days. All the excitement of the Expo and everyone's encouraging words have really pumped me up. There's not much left to say for me right now except that I am excited and looking forward to the race. I'm not too worried about the weather anymore, it will be warm one but we'll have fun.

We had the opportunity to meet Dean Karnazes yesterday and hear him speak which was a great way to kick off race weekend. He left me with some positive thoughts which I will do my best to remember tomorrow when I need them. Basically, when it gets tough out there remember that it's about you and each step you take. Just focus on one step after another and don't even think about how far the finish may be or how much you have left to run. Run in the moment.

Thank you everyone for the kind words of support and good luck wishes, it really means a lot! 10 hours and 10 minutes to go, woot woot!

One week

So one week from today we'll be running the Chicago Marathon along with 44,998 other runners. I am experiencing a lot of mixed emotions right now. Part of me is very excited to just get it over with , go to the expo (who doesn't like free stuff, right?), see all the spectators, and run a very diverse course through the city. The other part of me is nervous and worried... mostly about the weather. The forecast right now says it will be mostly sunny with a high of 69 and a low of 54. Not bad... actually, that's pretty perfect. So let's keep our thumbs crossed that it will stay like that. My main concern is really the wind. I went for an easy 4 mile run today and set a personal record (averaged 8:56 min/mile) because the winds were blowing at a steady 15 mph! Lake Michigan has resembled the Atlantic ocean for the last 2 days because the winds have been so strong! Regardless though, I'm trying to stay positive :)

On another note, the day after I wrote my last blog, I read the perfect quote to describe it all. It really sums up everything I was trying to describe. And I am sure that any athlete, no matter what sport, gets this feeling. It really makes it all worth it. After a good long work-out or race you really feel like you're superhuman for a day.

 

"I think I get used to, even addicted to, the feelings associated with the end of a long training run. I love feeling empty, clean, worn out, starving, and sweat-purged. I love the good ache of muscles that have done me proud. I love the way a cold beer tastes later that afternoon. I love the way my body feels light and sinewy."  ~ Kristin Armstrong (author & runner)

So this week will be one to relax and enjoy. I'm looking forward to the race and hopefully many more to come... not to worry, I've already signed up for a half-marathon on Halloween and will be running it in costume and all!

For those of you interested, you can track our progress next Sunday by signing up at http://www.textinterface.com/pls/text/TF_BACM_DT. They'll send you text messages every time a runner passes a certain distance throughout the course. All you need is our first and last name.

Wish me luck!!