The racing events:
--I signed up for a marathon training course. I have track practice once a week with about 40 other runners and a COACH--I have a COACH:) It is great--we run hill repeats and sprints and all sorts of stuff that would bore you all to tears but gives me chills of excitement. Yes, Mom, I do remember collapsing on the track in high school and had a brief moment of fear when I started but quickly got over it when I realized that now at 29 I am not bad running around the track and can do a mile around the track almost 6 minutes faster than in high school.:)
--I also now meet with this track group to do my long runs on the weekend. We meet at a local beach parking lot Saturday morning, by 7 am, and start most runs with 3.5 miles of hills and then head out for longer distances sometimes crossing three towns. It is nice because I have great friends to run with; get my long run done early on the weekend; have my coach out there to give water, Gatorade, and advice; and end at the icy ocean for a nice refreshing soak (much like the ice bathes in prior posts). I have met others with tons of marathon experience and have made friends and running partners with some running their first. It is nice to be able to even give advice to others and help my friends pace themselves for their own big day.
--I had my very first trail race where I was literally leaping tree roots and climbing steep loose-dirt hills. And, I LOVED it! This was a ton of fun and I ran the loop twice--once as a racer and once with a friend just for fun.
--I ran a 5K for the first time since I started running two years ago and set a PR by around 8 minutes dropping from a 33:18 to just under 26. I have now broken that PR as well thanks to the track practice:) (As a shout out and side note, the friend who talked me into that first 5K just finished her own first half-marathon and I am wicked proud of her!)
--I ran the famous (okay for New Englanders it is famous) Falmouth Road Race. This race is a 7.2 mile race in the Cape and has a limited entry number with a lottery system to get into the race with 25,000 runners and beautiful views of the coast. The light house view at the beginning of the race is in many films apparently (see photo below). My husband and I enjoyed a beautiful weekend and an okay race on my part (they can't all be your best race right).
--I ran my first official 10K last weekend, the day after running 20 miles mind you, and had an amazing race. I ran a 8:07 pace to finish 6.2 miles in 50:25. Okay, so my legs were shot the next day, but man, what a heck of a good time. (For photos go to capstonephoto.com and click on the Lone Gull 10K and then search by my last name.) The Lone Gull race was one of the most beautiful races in nearby Glocester (see photos below).
--I have run many of my long runs with a great friend from my running club and have laughed (and sung) through 16 miles of pouring rain with puddles up over my socks and encouraged her through the last 4 miles of a twenty miler refusing to let her quit (but telling her she could cry all she wanted--I know I am mean) and celebrating with her at the end (she is going to have a great marathon!).
Now, I have 6 more weeks until the marathon. I have just two real long runs ahead of me (a 20 and a 22) as well as a half-marathon, a 5K, and a 6.66 Devil run (come on I live in Salem) before marathon day--Nov. 7th. My spirits are high, the fridge full of carbs and protein, and my sleeps deep. I promise to blog lots more in the coming weeks before the marathon!
