Fantabulous 14(.5)

First things first: 13 MORE WEEKS TIL CHICAGO MARATHON!!!

(I had to get that out of the way so I wouldn't forget this week. )

As ya'll know, I trekked over to B.o.B's neck of the woods to run with her and the BRA on Saturday morning. After a grueling 2 hour drive (an hour of which was spent in O-town going NOWHERE) I finally arrived at my destination with enough time to eat the naked noodles B lovingly bought me (You know your friend is a runner when... she buys you the noodles she knows you eat so you don't have to bring your own), pet Lloyd the attack terrier, enjoy a bit of small talk, ice the knee and then hit the hay promptly at 9pm.

It was a restless night for the both of us, non to surprising on my end, but I felt bad for B, and before we knew it, it was 4:30 am... UGH. Time to rise and shine!

Before I go any further, I just gotta say that I love when B and I run together. First off, because we've done a few runs together, we have a pretty established system worked out between us from beginning to end... or start to finish... or from pre-run dinner to wake up to run to after run breakfast. You get the idea. Both being creatures of habit we've picked up on each other's routines and accomodate each other in what seems to come as second nature... it's like we share one mind! *Cue eerie music. It cracks me up!

Anyway, we headed over to the meet up spot and I FINALLY got to meet the BRA, or most of them anyway... what a great, hard core, hilarious group of people! I've been so excited to meet everyone as B talks about them all the time and I was not disappointed (well except I didn't get to meet Caribbean Steve). There they were at 5:30 am, wide awake, warming up, chatting like it's perfectly normal to be wide awake going for a run at this time. The camaraderie was immediate and they welcomed me to the run with open arms. I couldn't wait to run with a "pack."

So off we went and almost immediately I was in pain with the knee. I had a rough week last week so I went into this run with no expectations and I forewarned B of this from the get go. I wanted to push to 16 but in all actual reality I was going to be happy if I even made it a mile. I was in that much pain. Well as I suspected the knee pain was excruciating and a mile or so into the run I felt certain I wasn't going to make it. We started off on a decent loop and I begged the car key off B and told her I was just going to continue doing the loop so I wouldn't get caught out in no man's land 10 miles into the run and have to limp/ambulance ride back, plus I didn't want to mess up anyone else's run so when they went straight I turned left and so it went...

By the time I got to the car I was feeling better so I kept going... and going... and going... the further I went the better I felt... I just kept looping around and lapping the other runners/bikers that were also doing the loop. Before I knew it I was on mile 12 and ran back into B. Not only was the knee perfectly fine but I also had tried a caffeinated Gu for the first time and all systems were go there as well. I was having a great frigging run... I was sooooooooooo confused. I mean I'm not going to complain but I am at a loss over how I went from imminent doom to frolicking in the fields. I ended up at 14.5 miles for the day at a 9:30 pace overall and although I look back and wish I would've pushed it out to 16, it was probably for the best I didn't.

After some idle chit chat we headed over to Panera for breakfast and then home to clean up before meeting back up with everyone at the beach for a picnic. I got to meet the infamous, redhead luving, Coach Tom (who kept me wildly entertained for a good portion of the day) and the rest of the crew that hadn't made it out for the run. All in all it was a great day spent with a great group of people and I can't wait to come back and run with everyone again!



After some fun in the sun I headed back to O-town for a home cooked dinner by Beaker Luv's mommy who's in town for Baby RJ... she made Pot Roast with all the fixings in my honor. It was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo yummy! Mmmm... oh how I miss a real home cooked meal. After dinner I was going to go out for drinks with friends but I was so frigging tired that I ended up in bed, watching a chick flick when I had this text exchange with B:

B - 12:09 am - I am lame. Going home now.

Me - 12:10 am - Never ended up out. Watching movie in bed. I win.

B - 12:10 am - Awesome we rule.

Me - 12:10 am - That we do. Eat ur heart out party animals.

You know you and your friend are runner nerds when... you applaud each other's lameness.

Yesterday I took it easy, rode my bike to brunch and back and then went on a crazy shopping spree to finish decorating the bathroom. Now here we are at week 13 of training for Chicago... and with how last week played out I have decided that it is in my best interest to take it easy this week, rest and xtrain only, so there will be little to no running for this redhead. I'm already itching to run but honestly my body needs a break before I end up not being able to run Chicago or cause myself permanent damage. I don't really want to get into the specifics but let's just say last week I was thisclose to giving up and that is unacceptable. I do not give up. No pain, No gain. So I will take a break, rest up and come back stronger than ever. Because in 13 more weeks I am going to run through this finish line...