Marathon Eve...

Here I sit... calm, collected, starting to realize I will be running the marathon in about 11 hours. What a long, strange trip it's been! :)

I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for your encouragement, support, and positive thoughts. There were definitely times I wanted to throw in the towel (20 mile runs alone?) and just reading others' experiences and thoughts really helped me through it.

My bib number is 17036- I will be running slllloooowwwwww.... my only real goal is to finish the race in one piece. After my return to running 18 months ago, I only wanted to be able to run our local 10K- the Cooper River Bridge Run. And now I am doing 20 more miles and running the Chicago Marathon. Dammmn- it feels good.

Well, here we go. If I ain't ready by now, I'm never gonna be ready.

Also, BEST OF LUCK to everyone else in BlogLand that is running tomorrow... I know you all have logged many miles and some are you are shooting for your ticket to Boston. Kick butt!

Let's do this!

Wooohooooo!!!

Well folks... it is nearing the big dance... the Chicago Marathon! I am not flying up there until Saturday morning but wanted to wish everyone and anyone best of luck and happy trails.

This is what we've been training for, folks.

Have fun :)

P.S. I wish I could write something inspirational, witty, and funny... but my Gamecocks are beating Kentucky right now and this is family PRIDE for the next year in my neck o' the woods.

More later...

Well, what can ya do?

I know... we have all been checking the weather reports in Chicago like 45,079 times a day (or that is just me?)

My Official Statement: I am holding out for cooler temps... I think Mother Nature's got it in her.

One thing is for sure- I would run this damn race if it was 120 degrees outside. We plan and train and do everything we can to prepare and one of the only things we can't control should not hold us down. Power to the people! Screw the weather!!! Let's revolt against the weather by breaking the world record marathon time set on Sunday- who is with me???? I can run a 2 hour, 4 minute marathon!!! (Well, maybe a half if I am lucky one day)

OK, no more caffeine in the afternoons.

OMG...it is only 4 days away!

Are we there yet?

8 miler went well this morning- I test ran a new sports bra and some new socks. Yes to the bra, NO to the socks!

I did a lot of thinking on this morning's run... I actually started to think about how I would feel on race day and some of the logistics of what to pack, what I would wear during the race (I have finally decided to wear my hydration belt with no bottles but with several pouches that hold my GU, little baggies of Accelerade, lip gloss, money, etc. You know... the important stuff. I struggled with whether or not I would wear the belt and just try to stuff things in my pockets and finally decided to just have everything I think I might need on my person. My past career as an All Star Girl Scout makes me think I should always be prepared. Plus, training with the Accelerade has really helped me so I decided I would do the same thing on race day.

What is everyone else doing? Just using the aid stations? Wearing your belt?

I would love to meet up with some of yall other Chicago'ers Sunday night for a celebratory drink. We have dinner reservations at 7:45 PM but I intend to hit the bar beforehand for a couple cocktails and might even make it out after dinner for a nightcap (or 12) depending on my physical state.

I am starting to get really pumped. I am just gonna soak up the entire weekend and enjoy myself in the process. Marathon weekend in Chicago is shaping up to be an awesome one and I intend to live it up!!!

Tales from the taperers...

Something about taper time has me going a little batty tonight! I am starting to second-guess myself... did I train enough? Am I ready? Will I totally struggle next week in Chicago? Do I have the perfect outfit?

OK, had to make myself laugh there. Truth be told, I am feeling good about Chicago. I have taken all pressure off of myself to finish in a certain time, or beat my boss, or any other expectations that might not make me enjoy my first marathon.

Yeah, I could have trained more. With the large amount of travel I do for my job, there are times training went to the way-side. There were weeks I only ran once (gasp!) and that was my long run. Oh well- life happens! I am hoping the brutal summer months of training will pay off in Chicago as I will not have to breathe through the muggy humidity and 90 degree heat. Yippppeee!!

Tomorrow morning is my last "long" run- 8 miles. I did a triple-take when I looked at weather.com and saw that it is supposed to be 59 degrees when I venture out to run tomorrow morning at 7:00 AM. 59 degrees WOOOOHOOOOO!!!! Where have you been, 50's? Even... 60's? Hell- where have the 70's been?

It is funny how much my view of running has changed over the last 16 months. I remember thinking my first half marathon was going to be impossible... how could I run 13.1 miles? I finished that race and thought I was going to die. I was sore for about two weeks and thought I could not push myself any further. Time went on... I got hooked on half marathons and did 3 more... each one getting easier. Now, I am running 13.1+ miles before work when I have to table my long runs. I rock!

Sadly, I realized my last race was back in the end of April- the Derby Festival Half. I have avoided letting myself cheat the long run by doing 5Ks and 10K races. Well, let's face it though... the racing season pretty much is nonexistent from May-September in Charleston. Too hot. Except if you are really crazy and train for a marathon. Make sense?

I love races. I really do. I love the excitement. I love looking around and thinking about how each of the people there made the same decision that I did to run the race. I think about how our journeys of preparation varied. I think about how we all run the same route and cross the same finish line- some in 2 hours like our Kenyan friends and some in 79 hours like me.

So, here we go. One more week. One more week of waiting, wondering, getting excited, etc.

Deep thoughts about the marathon.... CHICAGO SHOUT OUT!

Due to my crappy sickness today, I am left with PLENTY of time to sit here, peruse blogs, and think about the upcoming Chicago Marathon.

TWO WEEKS AWAY!!! I even got a preliminary glance at the weather report over at Shore Turtle's blog... 50 degrees?? Wa-a-a-a-a-what? I hope that sticks- but no rain, please.

There seem to be a HUGE number of people out in BlogLand running Chicago too! What fun... we all are crazy enough to 1) sign up 2) train through the summer months 3) run 26.2 miles with a gazillion other people. I love running!

Let's do a little CHICAGO MARATHON SHOUT OUT!! Drop me a quick comment if you are going to be rocking it on October 7th with the rest of us crazies! (And YES, Mendy... you are an honorary runner)

WOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

And as my favorite Baltimore crab bibs say, "Time to Get Cracking!"

Let the taper begin!

I just flew back home and thanks to the slowest baggage claim crew on the face of the earth... I have time to blog!

I am starting to get really, really excited about Chicago. I felt pretty confident after my first 20 mile run. And by confident, I was fairly convinced I could finish the race without dying. My second 20 miler on Monday solidified my confidence and really got me pumped up. I can't believe it is only 16 days away... where has the time gone?

Oh yeah.

It has been spent waking up at Ass O'Clock to run and beat the heat, turning down social invites to get ready for the long run, and dread... running.

I am ready though. OH YEAH.

And on a fun note- I got a little crazy at a silent auction this week and somehow ended up with a week-long stay at a suite villa in Cabo in June. HOLLLLLLAAA!!!!!

Um hello? Long run? Are you still there?

OK, let me start by admitting I never got to my long run this weekend. One of my best pals got married this weekend and I was consumed by the bachelorette party, rehearsal, being a superstar bridesmaid, wedding, getting my nails done, tanning, dancing, etc. I did not allow the marathon to take over my weekend and did what I wanted. Now I am left with feelings of guilt because I did not run it yet....

But I AM running it tomorrow morning before I fly to Philadelphia.

I have to.

I will.

If I was dating the Chicago Marathon... we definitely would have broken up by now!

I thought about my relationship with the Chicago Marathon and have come to the following conclusions why we have relationship issues at times...

1. Chicago Marathon (CM) is high maintenance. Weekends need to be planned around CM's demand for long runs. CM makes my alarm go off at 4:00 AM with no apology.
2. I wish I could cheat on CM. I wish I could cheat with another race, like a 1 Mile Fun Run.
3. The timing with CM just does not seem right. Summer training is not as fun as I thought it would be.
4. CM does not appreciate the nice things I do for it. It just keeps asking for more.
5. CM makes me hurt. Physically.

As much as I would love to tell CM, "It's not you... it's me..." - I am not gonna! I think I can make this relationship work- at least for 4 more weeks :)

Tiff + CM

Holy crap... I ran 20 miles this morning!

Well, I feel like I cleared a physical and mental hurtle in my Chicago Marathon training. I ran 20 freakin' miles... in the pouring rain. Luckily, I had 3 running partners (one of them is my boss too) who kept the time rolling with funny stories, debates, and the Kevin Bacon game.

Geez it feels good to accomplish this. I have to agree with Jess about how it feels good to reach this point and just soak it all in. It finally is hitting home that I am really running the marathon in 5 weeks and that I CAN do it. I WILL do it.

The alarm going off at 4:00 AM this morning was an unwelcome sound. I could hear the rain pouring outside and could see brief flashes of lightning. The funny thing is... I did not even consider crawling back into bed. I was DOING this run.

I usually do not eat before a run but decided to eat some peanut butter toast and a banana. BLAH! I could taste the peanut butter in my mouth as I constantly burped it up until mile 10.

Yuck.

I met my running partners and we were off... long before the sun even came up. The first couple miles were easy- I do not look at my Garmin as much when I run in the dark. I felt strong through mile 16 when I started to feel like I was falling apart a bit. I lost one of my clip-on bottles on my hydration belt... my legs started to really, really hurt... I felt like I was being tested. I kept trucking along- not talking as much and just concentrating on breathing and getting through it. Before I knew it- mile 20!

Post-run... I am really, really SORE. I also have some chafing issues from running 20 miles in soaking wet clothing, despite the BodyGlide I slathered on. I am tired, a little dehydrated, and just want to chill.

I feel good though... oh I feel good. I just ran 20 miles :)

RawwwWrrrrrrrrr rAAAAawwrrrrr RaaaWWWrrrrrrrrrrr

What is that sound, you ask?

a) A bear coming out of hibernation, ready to eat anything and everything

b) Tiff scavenging the kitchen several hours after a long run

c) All of the above

Yeah, definitely answer C.

I know 16 miles is good and everything for health and weight loss and I burned a ton of calories but then why do I eat anything and everything in sight? At least I am eating healthy stuff, as opposed to In-N-Out Burger or Sonic or something.

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

16 miles this morning... a new PR!

This morning was hot, muggy, humid, and everything else you would not want on a 16 mile run day. Lately, I have increasingly questioned my decision to a) Run a marathon and b) Run a fall marathon which means summer training yeeeech. Nonetheless, I know I can't whine to all of you because many of you are doing the same exact thing... some of you even training for more challenging physical feats.

So, this morning came early with a 4:50 AM wake up call to get my stuff together and out the door to meet my group. The first couple miles were a little fast which I ended up paying for later. We talked about anything and everything and enjoyed the quiet and peaceful solitude before the sun came up. I got a little burst of energy at mile 7 from some GU and getting fired up from talking about someone that really pi$$ed me off lately... always helps while running!

I changed running shorts and my shirt at mile 10 as I was drenched in sweat, refueled, and hit the last 6 with a groan. I really struggled through miles 12-15 although it still did not pull down our average pace per mile and my running group even stated they were running faster than normal today with me there.

In the end, I finished the 16 marking a new running record for myself and I feel great- albeit a tad sore and I have some chaffing issues from my sports bra when it was wet against my skin (maybe change it, too?) despite lots of BodyGlide. I drove home feeling on top of the world and ready to tackle anything. It sounds so cheesy but I love it... running just makes me feel like I can do anything and gives me this fabulous aura of confidence.

This afternoon is our company picnic which I think I am going to skip in lieu of taking a nap in my wonderful bed, studying for the GMAT, and just enjoying NOT spending my entire weekend running around and doing stuff.

Happy trails to all!

Just how long could I procrastinate doing my long run this weekend?

Til Tuesday morning! I knocked out my (very, very late) long run of 13 miles this morning... and then went to work and had to sit at a desk all day.

Yuck!

Only 4 days til my next long run- a scheduled 16 miler with my coworkers also running Chicago. It is AMAZING that this is the FIRST time since we started training that I am able to do my long run with them! Long runs alone SUCK... so I am happy!!!

Don't you just love those fabulous weekends that you wish you could go back and relive again and again and again and again??? Yeah, me too.

Still rocking some Chicago!

I am too tired to be witty and funny so I am just reporting my great 4 mile run yesterday through Chicago. Running partners included my boss (also training for Chicago) and one of our clients.

Beeee-autiful morning!

Damn, I am tired from traveling. Glad to be going home tomorrow night for a couple days before D.C.

Then Vancouver.

Then Chicago again.

Then Kansas.

Then Phoenix.

Then Philly.

Then Boston.

Hurray.

Welcome to the Windy City!

In Chicago for the next 8 days for work.... and I am really looking forward to it! I flew in this morning on an early morning nonstop, got into my beautiful hotel early, and am gearing up now to hit the 1:00 PM Cubs game with one of my favorite clients. Baseball, beer, and a hot dog in Wrigley is a fine plan! The weather is absolutely gorgeous.

My appetite for blogging has been pretty lackluster lately. I have been working a lot and trying to concentrate on selling my condo and buying a new house. I feel like my life and schedule are in a blender right now :)

I replaced my running shoes (for which this blog is named... actually I am on my third pair now since starting this blog) and they are the same model as my old ones. I admit I am a creature of habit. Friday will be my first run with them- yipppeee!!! I get to kick off my 20 weeks of Chicago training right here... in Chicago!

You may notice my blog looks different, perhaps because this blog is being written on my brand new shiny beautiful Dell laptop. It is soooooo pretty!!! Good riddance, IBM T43!! OK, my blog probably looks exactly the same- but I can tell.

Hmmm... what else? The alligator that lives in our pond at the office (we had previously nicknamed him Eric) had babies! There are now 3 baby gators out there and they are adorable. I guess Eric was really an Erica.

Happy trails to all!