Back and Running around....

So, I am back in the groove. Thanks to my friend Kristen, I have someone hassling me to get me out the front door and on the road.. thats my golden ticket, if you can get me out the door... I am set. I know what I need to do, and I will do it. For some reason I just dread the door. Thus Kristen's sole job is to hassle me til I do. We ran last sunday, it is 3 miles from my house to hers, so I run my first 3 and then run the last 4 with her, then i ran with her tues, wed, and thursday (monday was a day off and friday cross training) Then this weekend I ran Charlie (the dog) since Karen was out of town for 3, then ran to her house, 3 more, then ran the last 4 with her. Tried out the new shot blocks with extra sodium... (uhhh by the way, I then understood why the extra sodium ones are margarita flavored, duh, w/ salt) they where too bad, although I prefer the berry ones, probably b/c they are less salty tasting, and the margarita was missing some tequila... regardless, they did a great job as I had plenty of energy and steam to finish the 10.5 and go about the rest of my day...

Yesterday I was to run 7, and I did, I ran Charlie up in the forest for 4, getting in some killer hill time and then Kristen met me at my house and we ran the last 3... was defiantly tired, but I did it, and didn't feel like I ran 17.5 miles this weekend.. great great news... I feel like there is hope. Next weekend will be rough b/c i'm going to be in murrieta for a wedding... but I think i'm going to be ok. then kristen is going to italy for 2 weeks, so running solo will be a bit rough, but she has gotten me back in my rythme, so I think I will be able to make it til she comes back...

Wohooo for 17.5 and 2 long runs in a weekend, thats a first, and a most mileage in two days, so i'm stoked... and nothing hurts to bad

Lost

I am a reck, and I am pretending that i'm not running a marathon in 68 days... or 66, or whatever it is today. I know if I just put in the time, I can do it and finish, I am just nervous as hell. I was watching biggest loser last night, and they all completed one, these people that have been overweight and lost 100+ pounds in the last 5 months.... they did it, and they did it in a respectable about of time (well lets face it, them finishing in any amount of time is respectable) however, I am not overweight, I am not out of shape, I there for feel I have high expectations. I should be doing it, and doing it "fast" The goal is to break 4, and i feel like maybe i need to take a step back and just take it for what it is, and plan to just finish, wear the watch with my pace and all that on my ankle or somewhere I can't worry about time... what is time, its always just something to rush you, and not allow you to just enjoy what you are doing. Maybe I just need to do it to do it, everything is a race, a competition, something to prove... maybe i need to realize i am proving enough doing it, I don't need to be the best, or to have some set time I want to hit, maybe I just need to be in it, really be in it, and enjoy it, it should be a celebration, it is an impressive feat, that not just anyone can do.

I happen to live in a very healthy state overall, and I think I have a mis-conception of my body and a good body, and success....
I need to live in the moment, enjoy running around san francisco... I'll get to the finish line when I get there...

funny how 26.2 miles is more of a mental battle then a physical one (at least at this point)

13. 1 check,

I finished, and I did pretty well for my first 1/2 marathon ever.
Placed 10th in my age category (out of 53)
147th out fo 728 women
and 341st overall (out of 1126)

I would call that an accomplishment and a job well done. I finished in 2:03:03. just over both of my goals. But I did end up with a salt deficency that messed with me for the last 4 miles, and I think without that (and the cramping calf that came with it) I would of broke 2... it was a hilly course, but a beautiful day, a little bit of wind between 5 and 7, (a headwind both ways, how I dont know, but that is what it was) I hit the half way mark at 60:50 and finished the second half in just over 62 minutes, no so shabby. (even though i was planning to negative split)

It went well, I am happy with it, I finished, and I finished in the bracket of time I wanted to finish in. I had no gauge of speed/pace while I was running, I totally would think one thing, look down and realize I was totally different then I thought (most of the time, running faster then I thought I was)

It went well. I am nervous to see how a full marathon goes, not in the forest but on the streets of SF... quite a difference, nervous but excited... once I figure out a way to get salt in me... the salt tablets are a bit to big for me to try and swallow, let alone try and swallow while I am on the run and trying to swallow.

Today I am tired, but i drank lots of water yesterday and walked around, just sore all over and tired.