Today's Magic Number is: 3

more days til...

I'm so freaking excited I can hardly stand it! I've spent the week planning out the trip details (because I'm a psychotic planner); Heading over to Tampa after work on Friday with PJ, dropping her off at the hotel with Race Buddy and then heading over to Crazy B's house to spend the night and hash over our race excitement... Saturday meeting back up with RB & PJ to hit the expo and get some goodies. Rixy will head over at some point and we're going to just relax poolside at the hotel and/or go exploring around Ybor. Running Roomie should arrive sometime after dinner then it's in bed by 9pm. (Though I highly doubt I'll be able to sleep) Then Sunday is the big day! I'm seriously getting chills just thinking about it!

After two months of solid training, hard work, determination, motivation and a lot of miles & sweat, my first Half Marathon is finally here. I am so ready!

Alright I need a moment here... not to get all wishy-washy on ya, but I'm feeling a little sappy today. I'm secretly sad that my fam isn't going to be at the finish line. Being a transplant from the north gets a little lonely sometimes. Don't get me wrong, I have a great group of friends that are essentially my Florida family, but there are times, like this, that I wish I could share the moment with the real thing. *Sigh*

Alright, enough of that...

3 MORE DAYS!

The countdown is ON!

5 MORE DAYS TIL GASPARILLA!

Gee can you tell I'm beyond excited? :)

Well this weekend was a ton of fun! Crazy B got into town Friday night and we attended the bridal shower, went out to dinner and then rented a movie. It's great hanging out with a fellow running nerd because renting a movie and calling it a very early night on Friday didn't even cause her to blink an eye...

Saturday we were up bright and early and headed over to the trail. Running Roomie joined us, as she was planning on running 10 miles as well and we had a total girly running morning. Caught up on all the juicy gossip of each other's lives (we're all single... incredibly single...) and just nerded out about all the running we do and what we're training for, etc... It was fun. I have to admit though, Crazy B is a little slower paced than I'm used to running so I had to mentally make myself run a little behind them to make sure I didn't set the pace... which apparently I didn't do that great of job at because we still ran faster than she's used to and she was subsequently sore that night. Whoops! :)

Crazy B left to meet up with some other O-town friends while Running Roomie and I went to go get pedicure's. Man oh man do I miss having pretty toes! The lady was like "what you do to your toes!?!?" Running. That is what I did to my toes. *Sigh* That was one of the first things I had to let go of when I started running; pretty, french manicured toes. *Sigh* After the manicure's it was nap time and then Running Roomie was off on her blind date and I was off to make a rare (and brief) appearance downtown for Crazy B's birthday. It was fun to be out but I promptly turned into a pumpkin just before midnight.

Yesterday was a nice easy day, went outlet shopping with my preggers friend and then did an easy 10 mile xtraining bike ride around downtown... had dinner with Race Buddy and his girlfriend PJ and then it was home and to bed nice and early to start my taper week before the big race!

Can I just say that running 3 miles this morning was like warming up? LOL! I got done and I'm like, "Running Roomie, I feel like we should still be running!" I had so much morning left this morning to actually get ready for work! I even curled my hair! *GASP*

Oh I almost forgot!!! Running Roomie has decided to do Gasparilla with Race Buddy and I! The talk with Crazy B about what she was training for motivated her to "Just do it." So it's going to be quite an entourage this weekend; Race Buddy, Running Roomie and I are all doing the half and Crazy B & Captain C are doing the full. PJ, Rixy, Hancock & Banana are all coming to cheer us in... then we'll cheer in Crazy B & Captain C when they finish up the full. I can't wait for this weekend!!!

5 MORE DAYS!

Just keep running, just keep running...

Man what a week... and it’s only Wednesday! Where to start?

First things first... 14 miles. That’s all I gotta say... 14 MILES ON SUNDAY! Holy crap was that rough. I mapped out this whole run to and around downtown by way of a bunch of scenic lakes, beautiful run but by mile 10... I was dying.
Foot issues + new shoes = OUCH!
Mile 12-13 were killers, I felt like I was stepping down on needles with each step. I finally had to admit defeat and walk it in... and that’s when I became the human salt lick.



If you run a lot you know what I mean, at the end of your run you’re covered in salt, it’s disgusting enough all on it’s own... then throw in a dog that won’t stop licking your leg as you exhaustedly try and fail to get the dog to leave you alone. I’m sure that was a sight all in its own. LOL!

I’ve taken it easy since Sunday; that took a lot out of me. First long run that was over 10 miles... but I felt awesome just knowing that I could do it! Hell’s yeah! Gasparilla here I come! I've got this!
I have this little motivational song I’ve made up for myself when I start struggling and believe it or not it works, or at the very least, keeps my spirits up.

“Just keep running, just keep running...” Think “Finding Nemo” and you’ll get it.

Next up, my Crazy Running Friend; B, let’s call her Crazy B, is coming into town! I’m so stoked! She’s my crazy running friend because she did the Disney Marathon in January after only training for 6 weeks, did the Sarasota Half this past Sunday and is doing the Gasparilla Full Marathon next Sunday.... Crazy. Absolutely Crazy. Love her to death though. We used to work together and casually ran a few times after work together, but then she moved to Tampa and we haven’t had a chance to see each other since. We were talking Sunday and laughing over how we used to struggle with 2 or 3 miles and now we’ve both become such running nerds, training for marathons and what not and that 3 miles is merely a warm up. We’ve both come a long way. Anyway, she’s coming in to town on Friday for a mutual friends wedding shower and then spending the night so we can tackle a 10 mile long run together on Saturday morning. We’re both tapering down our runs before Gasparilla so it worked out perfect! I absolutely can’t wait to spend some quality time running with her, catching up and nerding out about running!!! The first thing you learn when you start running is that only other runners think it’s fun to talk about running. LOL!

Speaking of which, Crazy B left me a voice message last night about seeing the Gasparilla shirts and medals, she said they were awesome so of course I called up Race Buddy and hashed over it with him. You’d think we’d get sick of talking running with each other but I’m his only outlet since his girlfriend isn’t into running so we end up on the phone for like 20 minutes nerding out as usual. 10 more days!

10 MORE DAYS! 10!!!!!

Love is... New Running Shoes!

Happy Valentines Day! And what better way to Celebrate Valentines Day than to break in some NEW RUNNING SHOES!?!?! Oh yes... Love is... New Running Shoes.

As I logged 6 miles this morning in my new Asics I sang a little something to myself that went like this:

"I'm running on sunshine... whooooooooooooooooa... I'm running on sunshine... whoooooooooooooa... and darn it feels GOOD!" :)

Stuck on the injured list.

I learned a new term this week: Plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammatory condition of the foot caused by excessive wear to the plantar fascia that supports the arches of the foot or by biomechanical faults that cause abnormal pronation. The pain usually is felt on the underside of the heel, and is often most intense with the first steps of the day.

- From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Why is Plantar Fasciitis the term of the week you ask? Cuz I’m fairly certain this is the pain I am experiencing. BLAH!

So last Thursday night I got out of work and remarked to Running Roomie that I felt like there was a cramp in my arch... didn’t think much on it and went to bed. Friday I got ready for work, threw on a pair of heels and started my day. (BIG MISTAKE) After work I headed over to the track to do sprints, as per the norm.... except my foot was KILLING me. I didn’t want to be a wuss so I just pushed myself through the sprint routine and called it a day. I kept off it that night and took it easy, iced it and didn’t do anything on Saturday. It was my rest day anyway and I wanted to be in tip top shape for Sunday’s run in Jacksonville. Running on the beach was intimidating enough, better yet running 10 miles on the beach, but running injured... not something I was hoping for, or expecting.

Sunday I popped some Aleve and made it through the Jacksonville 10 mile beach run fine enough. I mean it was sore and the beach did not make things easier but I was determined, come hell or high water, that I was doing that race. And I did. Finished in 1:31; 9+ minute miles, not to bad all things considering... I had a lot stacked up against me: hurt foot, first time running on the beach, first race over a 10k, etc. I was happy with the outcome and limped my ass home and to my bed.

I decided to take it easy on Monday, xtrained on my bike instead of running my usual 6 mile morning tempo run. Did 10 miles around town and called it a day. My foot was sore but none the worse for the wear. Tuesday I did my morning tempo run and was dying... but again, not wanting to be a wuss, I pushed myself through it. By Tuesday night I was in so much pain that I came home and went straight to bed. Didn’t run at all Wednesday morning and Triathlon Boy happens to call me... I tell him about my foot and he starts yelling at me... Why did I run that race with my foot hurting? Why didn’t I tell him about this sooner? Blah, blah, blah. Seems I wasn’t being a wuss at all... seems I could’ve seriously injured myself. Whoops.

So after Googling what he thought was the problem; Plantar Fasciitis, I realized he might be on to something. So I took Thursday off as well, iced and elevated and I’m still hurting. I did an easy 3 mile run this morning, it wasn’t too bad, hurt like hell when I first got going but then I was ok.... but ultimately, it’s still hurts.

:(

It’s no fun being on the injured list. It’s really no fun not being able to run. It’s absolutely no fun realizing that Gasparilla is approximately 15 days away and I’ve trained so hard and been so disciplined and here I am... on the injured list. TGIF.

Pedestrian's have the right of way.

Prior to becoming a runner, this sign meant nothing to me. I was that impatient driver trying to turn right at the corner only to be annoyed by the walker taking their sweet ass time meandering across or the runner that comes out of nowhere just as I’m turning and I have to slam on the breaks. I would think in my head, “10 points!”

Oh yes, I was that driver.

But when you become a runner, this sign takes on a whole new meaning. When you become a runner... you become a pedestrian! *GASP!!!*

Suddenly you gain a whole new respect for that little sign; it becomes your best friend. Well sorta; it’s basically your only survival mechanism to safely crossing a busy intersection. Which by “safely” I mean you have to proceed with extreme caution and say multiple “Hail Mary’s” in an attempt to cross with life and limb still intact. Every driver out there is the “pre-runner” me; and I’ve become “10 points”.

Case in point: Yesterday and this morning. It’s 6am, Running Roomie and I are doing a 6 mile neighborhood Tempo run, I’m telling her about how yesterday I was cross training on the bike and when I crossed at the pedestrian appointed crosswalk I got beeped at by a car that barely slowed down. Mind you, not only was it a clearly marked crosswalk area, but there’s signs warning drivers that they are coming up on the crosswalk, there’s even yellow blinking lights. One would think...

Anyway, so I’m telling her I’m so tired of almost getting hit while running/riding; “Why do drivers get mad at you for crossing when you have the right of way? Pedestrian's have the right of way." Within minutes, as if on cue, we both almost get creamed by a driver that doesn’t see us come up on him trying to pull out of a driveway. “20 points”

Can I issue a statement… maybe send out a memo… update my Facebook status;

PEDESTRIAN’S HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY.

19 Days til Gasparilla Half...

After yesterday's 10 mile Jacksonville Beach Winter Run I gotta say... I am absolutely READY for the Half Marathon. 19 more days?!?!?!?!!! ...and to think mere months ago I couldn't fathom running this far. There are days where I don't even understand where I got the motivation and determination to get my ass out of bed, let alone run or xtrain for hours at a time!

There are times though... where it kills me, where I'm tired and I just want to quit. Days where I wonder what on earth AM I doing? When the heck did I let this hobby takeover my life? When the heck did I stop buying going out shirts on Fridays for the weekend and start buying new running gear? When did I trade in my pumps for sneakers?

It all started last year, July 4th, 2008. Watermelon 5k, Mead Gardens. That race kicked my ass, I was exhausted, hot as balls and exhilarated beyond belief! After that race it was like I finally found the missing piece of me. I'd been so empty, I had nothing that was driving me or that I was passionate about, I was still so sad over the break-up with the ex and just blah in general and suddenly... suddenly I felt alive again.

I started running a couple times a week, did a 5k here and a 5k there... October rolled around and I did the UCF 5 miler, in 44 minutes might I add, not too shabby for a first "long run." Then it was the Founders Day 10k in Celebration in November... I prayed for an hour or less time, I did 57 min... Hook, line and sink her... I was addicted.

I picked up a race partner (RP) shortly after and moved in with a former, come training again, marathon runner (Running Roomie) and together they helped motivate me even more. Then I made the decision to run my first half marathon. Thus Gasparilla Half became my holy grail. Triathlon boy made the training schedule for me and just looking at it made me squirm: Training started on Dec. 29th; 3 mile runs 3x a week, xtrain, speedwork (WTF is that?) and a 5 mile "long run". Could I really do this? Could I really train and run 13.1 miles? 6 weeks ago it was a very intimidating concept... now??? Now I just can't wait for it to be here!

Gasparilla, here I come!