the last piece of pie... (Lindsey)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. As I write this I am enjoying familial laughter, the Simpson's, doggie fur, and one too many pieces of pie. I love the holidays. It's so nice to spend time with people who you are just comfortable with, who love you despite your quirks, and may share your healthy appetite for competition. I'm sure game night part 2 is about to start...

Well, we've reached the dark side of training, the untapped mileage is about to be tapped. I ate my pieces of pie without guilt this year because I'm about to embark on the impossible. Thankfully I have two great running buddies to share the blood, sweat, and tears. I also have one of the most supportive hubbies ever. Zach and I ran the Richmond half marathon a couple weeks ago and it turned out to be a motivating experience. The week before the race I was actually very fearful that I would have a difficult time, that I wouldn't feel good after the race and that would bring me down about my marathon training. However, it turned out to be quite the opposite. Zach ran the whole race with me (because he is super sweet) and I ended taking 13 minutes off my time! That was super motivating. But to top it off, I felt great after the race. Bonus! So in the very least I'm embarking on my impossible journey on the right foot.
Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend!

85 days to go!

man's best friend (Lindsey)

In case you didn't already know I'm kind of a crazy animal lover. Between my maniacal grooming and care taking of Mafazi, my ridiculous coddling of my fur babies, Harry and Tilly, and my unexplainable attachment to my crazy cat, it should probably be evident. But just in case you didn't know... This week's post goes out to my dogs. But to explain why, we should go back to last weekend...

I really don't remember much of last weeks training except for my long weekend run. I saved my long run for Sunday since Zach and I were attending the Montpelier Races on Saturday. Oh the races. If you haven't been and live in Charlottesville, you should check it out next year. It's probably one of mine and Zach's favorite days of the year. So I may have celebrated a little bit too much. oops. :-) I woke up Sunday morning refreshed, didn't feel any remnants from our festivities from the day before. However, my body said otherwise about halfway through my run. I ran the 10 miler course and added an extra loop to complete the full 12. I started my run pretty strong (9:30/10 min mile pace!) but once I hit the 9 mile marker I hit my wall. Nothing I did could make my steps go any faster. I felt like I had two heavy tree limbs for legs and was trying to run through a swamp. Ick! So that's when I realized... oops, I'm dehydrated. Way to go Linds. sigh. This is how we learn life lessons, right?

Which brings me to my dogs. This week's runs are a taper to prepare for my half marathon on Saturday. I was wicked sore from my Sunday run on Monday, so when Tuesday rolled around I was somewhat hesitant to put on my running shoes. I looked to my two dogs and thought "hmm... they could probably pull me around the neighborhood. Why not?" Tilly and Harry were up for the challenge and completed their 3 mile run on Tuesday with no problem.

It's funny, all day today at work I was excited to get home so me and the dogs could complete our 3 miler. I think I have some new running buddies. I mean honestly, doesn't Tilly look so cute in her red harness? 

In all seriousness though, it's go time. After this half marathon on Saturday I'm going to be running in uncharted territory. It's getting a little real and it's about time to put the shenanigans aside and get focused. gulp. 

Inspriational long run song of the week: Brittany Spears - Till the World Ends (because I'll be running until the world ends...)

100 days to go!!

"Whoaaa, we're halfway there..." (Austin)

So, I'm not sure if we are technically "halfway there", but distance wise, we've got 13.1 down!  The rock-n-roll half marathon in Savannah turned into 4 laps + some around a 3 mile park in Heather's and my hometown [Tara, one of our other bea-utiful sistas ran too].  I'm not going to lie...it was painful.  But we did get to celebrate with recovery fro-yo :) ....and I haven't stopped thinking about it since.  Good thing the new Sweet Frogs close to my parking lot hasn't opened yet!  

I got a glorious e-mail from Lindsey this weekend reminding Heather and I that we need to step up our elevation! Am I the only person that thought Texas was flat?  As much as that thought makes me cringe, I sucked it up and ran 7 miles of hills tonight.  

This time change is killer though!  I need to invest in reflective gear and a head lamp (gonna be hard to look any cooler than I already do with my water bottle fanny-pack!).  

So now I'm eating roasted brussel sprouts, carrots, and rice (nice cell phone shot, huh) and waiting for my MIA running partner, Heather, to come home. 

It's Malbec & Modern Family time!

 

Thanks for reading!  

Until next time I remember to blog... :)

PS:  I love her (and the rest of my precious family -- this is the only picture I took this weekend)