How about another 20?

This past Saturday was supposed to be an 18 - but crazy Julie got me to do 20. I am training with a group who are all running the Chicago marathon - one week after I run Milwaukee. Therefore I have to adjust my schedule during these later weeks. The group only had to do 8 this week - those luck dogs! Anyhow...


Julie met me at the Prairie Path at 5:30 am to get in 5 miles before the group got there at 6:30.

At 6:30 we went out 4 miles (total 9) with the group...at which point they got to turn around and head back. Oh, and that last 4 miles she had us running at an 8:50 minute mile pace - which is a minute faster than we normally run. I thought I was going to die!

Julie and I kept going another 1.5 miles (total 10.5) when she said that she had a surprise for me. Oh no what could it be???

We head back 1.5 miles (total 12) to mile marker zero where there is an event going on. Guess what it is ... a 5k and 10k race ... Julie then asks if I am ready to run a 5k race just to mix things up a bit? Mix things up a bit? Are you crazy? I have already run 12 miles lady!

But seriously - it was pretty cool! I love races - I love to run with lots of people - it was an absolute blast. And, instead of sucking down another gross Gu - we got to eat bananas and bagels at the end of the race to fuel our next 5 miles. Race - 3.1 miles (total 15.1).

Home stretch...5 miles to go. My knees are killing me! Julie says we can run 3 miles and then walk the last two. Yeah right! I knew I shouldn't have believed that. We are approaching the 3 mile mark and I can just feel the excitement - I get to walk soon:) HOORAY! Then she asks me..."hey, do you see that crazy tree way up there? if you had to, could you make it to the tree?" What am I supposed to say, no? Of course, if I HAD TO, I could do anything. "yes, I can make it to the tree." Long story short, we played that game for 2 miles and ended with a total of 20.1 miles under my belt for the day. Hey, that's my longest run ever! :)

Now for real I am tapering. I have to do a couple of 10 milers this week - but that should be a piece of cake.

Looking forward to the finish line! ...then onto my next adventure.

Longest Training Run - CHECK!!!

20 miler done - no prob! Click here to see the awesomeness that is 20 miles > TWENTY

Okay - I was sore and felt like throwing up the rest of the day. But after that I felt great! During the run it felt great! I feel like I am going to be able to do this. I am getting in very few weekday runs - only like 2 - but my IT band acts up and I think this is the best way to go in with the least amount of pain and injury as possible. So this weekend is an 18 miler and then I am on a very steep decline until race day. YEAH!

SUPER DEPRESSING...the fact that I have run over 400 miles training for this event and haven't dropped a single pound! I will have to start the diet on October 5th. Missing 4 weeks of training due to injury

SUPER EXCITING...the marathon is only 25 days away! And after this Saturday my longest run will only be 12 miles.

LOOKING FORWARD TO...seeing my boys at the finish line, a beer at the finish line, a day of eating whatever I want, and being able to proudly say that I am a marathoner.