the big day is here!

Tomorrow is the half marathon! Weather reports range from anything from cold, rainy with wind gusts of 25 mph to cool, and partly sunny. I prefer the latter...

The hubby and I go pick up our race packets today. Of course we'll lay out all our stuff tonight so there will be no panicking in the morning. It's nice that the race is local so we won't have to leave the house until about 6:30 or 6:45!

When I ran I Phoenix amost 2 years ago I think we had to leave the hotel around 5 to get across town (via public transport.), drop our stuff and get situated among the 25,000 people running the half marathon!! (And to get around the 20,000 or so people running the full marathon!) I think there are about 2,000 people running this half and full in total.

So wish us luck!

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almost time

The big race is days away and it couldn't be further from my mind. The hubby is out of town all week and I've been dealing with some serious animal issues - by myself. (I don't know how parents do it, let alone single parents!)

For the past few weeks it's been like having a newborn. Up in the middle of the night. (On a regular basis) sometimes doing laundry in the middle of the night. (But I'm pretty sure that stage has passed. Whew!) A while there we couldn't leave Nikki (dog) unsupervised. At all. Had to call a friend to come sit with her a few hours once.

This week I've had cats at the vet for check ups that turned into a cat needing surgery. As a matter of fact - he's sitting here cuddled up to me still groggy.

And Nikki is getting noticably senile. Ever since her mini stroke about three weeks ago she's definitely not been the same. So this week has been tough especially since the hubby's been out of town. It's hard to focus on a race when so much else is going on. (Did I mention work is exceptionally busy too??)

Right now I just want the pressure of "training for a race" over with. Because the next few weeks are still going to be hell. The hubby will be gone again the following week to Boston for a huge regatta so big he'll be gone way more than just Saturday and Sunday. Then I leave Monday for the week, come home for the weekend and leave again for over a week. By the time Thanksgiving rolls around things should have settled down a bit.

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a week to go

Well, next Sunday we will be running this half marathon. And what was I having for a dinner a week before the HM? Bacon and a gin & tonic. I know what you're thinking - you didn't know alcohol fuels bodies too? (You know, like a bunsen burner)

Two weeks ago our long run was 12 miles. It was cool and rainy and I did great. Yesterday our long run was 8 miles (we're technically in a taper) and I did crappy. Did I mention it was HOT?!?!?! What is it doing almost 80 degrees in central NY in October??? Average temps this time of year are low to mid 60's. You can see my concern. The run yesterday was compounded by us waiting until almost noon to do the run. Why? Because the overnight temps had been in the LOW 30's!!! Go figure... welcome to CNY....

Needless to say I'm a bit concerned about the race. There's nothing worse than breaking your confidence than having a bad long run right before your race. I'm not concerned that I won't finish. But I've been really training and really improvong my pace. I mean REALLY improving my pace. And I want my finish time to reflect that. And of course I'm competitive so I'd like to either beat the hubby or at least finish respectably close to him. Not minutes and minutes behind!

The good news is the forecast is showing (for now) the day of the race to be cool and possible showers. Which, apparently, is when I do my best running. So I'll take it!

(Oh - and no more gin & tonics or bacon until after the HM. In my defense I've been eating exceedingly healthy the past few months. And have lost 15 pounds to prove it!)

Btw - guess where I'm writing this post! At the vet!! No worries. Not here for an emergency this time. I have all three cats here for annual exams. And I had to "capture" all three by myself cuz the hubby flew out of town this morning. (= me driving him to the airport at 4:30 this am...) so I successfully got them ready a bit early and thought the best action was just to bring them a bit early to their 10am appt. Only to get here to find out their appt isn't until 11.... oh well. Better early than late I suppose!! (I do have the day off!)

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the great and not so great

The great!
- losing weight from running!

The not so great...
- swimming in your bra cups
- desperately needing to go bra shopping but refusing to do so for a plethora of reasons

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Still got my Eye on the Prize

Ok.  There will be no prize for me at the end of this half marathon.  I'm not that fast.  Not even close.  But I will tell you I'm frickin' lightening faster training for this HM than I was for my first one just a mere 20 months ago.

I know it has everything to do with my training partner.  Or the fact that I HAVE a training partner.  If anything he keeps me honest.  (or at least I feel guilty if I try to weasel out of something)  I hear it's something called "accountability".  Whatever that is....

Today we had 12 miles to run.  Our longest training run.  I suppose they ("they" being the professional people who put together the training scheduled) figure if you can successfully run 12 miles then you can get through 13.1.  I was not looking forward to it.  Not necessarily because of the distance.  But because it was supposed to be cold AND raining. 

It hasn't been exceptionally cold here yet.  So we haven't had a lot of opportunities to "experiment" with figuring out the right clothing combo for cold temps.  And don't underestimate this.  This is an important component of competing in anything outdoors.  The tough part is figuring what will keep you comfortable, but not too hot.  But remembering that when you start you will feel cold because you have to account for the heat you will produce once you get going.  Tricky, I tell you!!

Now throw in rain.

I was certain we were screwed.

We knew rain was in the forecast so we planned to run as early as we could to try and miss the brunt of it. Alarm set for 5:45AM.  But the dog was up and pacing at 12:30AM.  (had a big scare with the dog all last week.  Thought we were going to lose her.  We didn't but I didn't blog about it because 1) I didn't want to bore you with all the vet details and 2) I was a little emotional about it)  Then I just couldn't get back to sleep.  And then an hour before the alarm went off the hubby had a migraine.  When the alarm did go off I was starting to get one.  And I was in a seriously pissy mood from being up all night.

This run was not starting out on a good note.

We decided to reset the alarm.  Rain be damned.

We started our run at 9:45AM.  The rain storm was delayed and we lucked out!!!  It was 44 degrees and just slightly spitting water.  After a thorough texting session with my BFF in CA (who has tremendous running experience) I altered my apparel choices accordingly (based on the bazillion tops, jackets, etc I had thrown in the car) and we set out.

It was the best long distance run I have EVER HAD!!!!  I even beat the hubby!!  (by only a minute.  But still!  I'll take every little victory!) And it was comfortable!! I don't think I've ever said that about a long run before!  I had dressed perfectly.  The rain never increased.  I was actually able to breathe THROUGH MY NOSE!  That never happens either.  I continually have congested nasal passages.  But the temperature was just right so I could blow out all the runny snot that usually causes me problems.

I know, I know.  That was gross.  But it's a part of running.  Or rowing.  Or riding.  C'mon.  It's just a fact of life in most sports - especially those outside.  At least I carry kleenex and blow my nose and not snot rockets.  But I do spit.  So don't run right behind me, especially slightly to my right or left.  I don't look before I spit.  If you get hit it's your fault, not mine.

So if the weather is similar to today (preferably minus the rain) and my nose is clear I'm feeling very confident about this race!!!  I'm actually looking forward to it!

In other news....

Wow have I've been bad about not posting!!!

The latest and greatest in our world is that 2 weeks ago the hubby came to me at 9:30pm on a Wednesday (I was already in bed doing a crossword puzzle.  That sounds amazingly boring when I actually say it "out loud"...) and delcared he wanted to run the Empire half marathon.

Great! you say??  Well I had been wondering whether he was going to do it or not.  We found out about the new race coming to our town last fall.  At that point he mentioned he'd like to train and run the half marathon.  (There's also a marathon and a marathon relay race -4 people over the 26.2mi)  The two of us ran about 2-3 weeks together last fall.  But as far as I know the last time he "ran" was for CC in high school...  although to be sure, I'm positive they did a little running for crew in college.  But it's crew -  MUCH more rowing than running for certain!

For the most part this was never mentioned again after the first declaration in the fall/ winter.  My FIL did ask us on 2 separate occasions (that I can remember) if we'd be interested in running the relay instead - the 2 of us, him and my SIL.  I thought that was a grand plan since the hubby hadn't made any additional comments about being interested in running the HM.  Plus the relay would be about 6.5 miles per person.  Much more realistic than 13.1 miles for someone who doesn't run.

(for the record - when I deicded to run my HM I had been running on and off for a few years at that point, albeit slow.  Although my consistency would wax and wain I still jogged.  The hubby, when looking for a physical workout, always turns to the rowing machine.  Or cycling.  NOT running....)

The hubby was not on board for the relay.  He wanted to do the HM.  Ok. Fine with me. 

Then silence.

It was never mentioned again.  Until now. 

When he came to me that night to tell me he wanted to run the HM my jaw dropped.  He said "the race is 9.5 weeks away.  I found this great 12 week program to follow!"  That's great but I saw immediately saw a flaw in his logic that HAD to be pointed out.  "You realize you have less than 12 weeks to train for said HM, right???"  He assured me this would not be a problem.  He would just start 2.5 weeks into the program.

I will admit this was not my best "wife" moment.  Instead of being supportive I'm pretty sure I launched into something like "Are you frickin' crazy??  We're not 23 anymore!!  You can't just NOT run and then decide to 'cram' for a HM!!!!"

I'm sure I continued on with something like "Jumping into the plan like that - you're sure to injure yourself!!  Why didn't you do a better job at planning this out?  You've know about it forever!  Duh!"

And of course the most important part of the rant (to me) "If you hurt yourself I don't want to hear about it!  This is ridiculous!!"  To which he replied "you don't have to run it with me".  Of course I don't but I'd still have to hear him whine about this hurting and that being sore....  I'm pretty sure all of that is akin to "don't say I didn't warn you!!" ("and I don't want to hear it!!!")

Like I said, not my best wife moment....

But alas he is still committed - 2 weeks in and we're still going.

Yes, I said "we".  I admit it is a good excuse to get my arse off the couch.  We have 7.5 weeks until the race.  We're not even registered yet.  The hubby said he wanted to run about 3 weeks to decide if he was able to run it or not.  At this point I might as well even if he decides not to.  I'm slow as molasses but I'm able to keep up with the training schedule ok.

So here's to nuthin'! 

(if you don't hear from me I might have died trying to train for this....)

Pretty pictures

I ran my first half marathon about a week and a half before my 34th b-day.  And so we celebrated like it was 1976!! (or something like that...)  Anyway - in honor of my first HM and it being my b-day and all, Tri-girl got me this for my gift.  I just came in the mail yesterday!!

Thanks again TG!!

PS - note the picture I put in there.  I ordered two - this one, taken right after we finished and one where I was running during the race.  The other looks like I'm about to die, among other things....  So I decided to put this one in instead.