By the way (running update)....

I know I've been severely lacking in the whole "keeping my blog up-to-date" thing. So here's a photo from the Tobacco Road Marathon that I completed back in March (lucky #3!). And yes, I survived, short training schedule and all. Every weekend I increased my mileage: 7, 10, 14, 19, 26.2 (race day). Probably not the best for your body, but hey, it worked. And most surprisingly, I got my personal best of 3:52:12 (8:52/mile pace). The course was flat and mostly shaded, which sounds like a runner's dream, but to be honest, I kind of missed the hills. They keep things interesting! Either way, it was fabulous to have both sides of my family there (my parents and Ryan's parents). The course was ideal for spectators, so I had a cheering section throughout the entire race. Ryan's dad even made a video documenting my entire journey (very epically, may I add). Enjoy. : )

Marathon #3!

It's been practically another year, and sure enough, I have the marathon bug again. I officially signed up for the Tobacco Road Marathon yesterday (well, once again, I was debating about it, and Ryan signed me up). Luckily this race is literally in my backyard, covering the west side of Cary (my town), along with areas from New Hill, NC to Durham, NC. It's going to be quite a tour!

The catch on this race is that I impulsively signed up for it. I haven't been training for a full marathon; I had planned on doing the half, but then that filled up to capacity. So all 26.2 miles it is! I've only gotten up to 7-8 miles in training so far, so I'm really going to have to dedicate my weekends to working up to 18-20 miles. Honestly though, once you've mentally completed one of these races, the thought of the next one gets less and less daunting. You know you can do the mileage; it's just about getting your head in the right place and really committing yourself to the thrill of finishing. Paying an $80 registration fee is a pretty good incentive in making you run it, too.

I Heart Charlottesville.

I did it! Marathon #2 is officially (and successfully) complete. I got my PR at an official time of 3:53:27, which is an 8:55 pace (full results here). I can't believe that I beat my best time at such a hilly (but BEAUTIFUL) course. I was sooo much better prepared this time, mentally and physically. I didn't peak too early, and I tapered down in my training after about 21 miles, both to prevent injury and so not to psych myself out. I already knew that I could do it and it wasn't a matter of finishing, but instead, feeling as good as possible during the entirety of the race. I knew my limits, I knew when fast was "too fast," and I knew that I should enjoy every moment because finishing would make it all worth it.

As you can see, I couldn't do anything but smile when I crossed that finish line. Even though this was my second race, I finally felt like a trained marathon runner. I had trained all by myself for this race, which was a huge feat mentally. It took me a lot of willpower to get out of bed on my Saturday mornings and run for multiple hours with only myself to hold me accountable. Also, after finishing my first marathon back in 2008, I remember saying that I would never do another one... that it was the hardest thing I'd ever done in my life. This experience was the total opposite. When I returned home, I immediately started looking for the next race to sign up for--I felt so gratified by the run, the organizers, and by the town. Charlottesville is truly a little gem: historic, diverse, rich in character, curvy, and truly loved by its inhabitants. I genuinely feel that it inspired me to never quit this sport and instead, to wholeheartedly embrace it. I'll be back next year.

With my husband Ryan at the finish line.

Two days! Dun Dun Dun....

I got my blue (CAROLINA!) shorts ready to go! Only two days left, and I'm starting to get the shaky-leg syndrome. I've fallen in love with these Saucony Run Lux shorts though-- I now have a black, pink, and blue pair of them (see the ridiculously awesome jumping photo to the right). :) Who says you can't run a marathon and look cute while doing it?

Anyways, I'm leaving at lunchtime tomorrow to get up to Virginia, pick up my race packet, and scope out the course. I regrettably looked at the elevation chart for the course yesterday. Let me emphasize: REGRETTABLY. I knew it was going to be a hilly course, but wasn't prepared to see spikes as ragged as icicles. The race admins really emphasize the "four flat miles!" of the course, but four out of twenty-six just doesn't seem like a substantial slice of pie to me. I guess it's time to prep my calves for a workout of their life. I know it's nieve, but I'm really banking on the scenic course distracting me for the first 20 miles... and then I'll just miraculously wake up during the flat part of the course, realizing I only have 6 miles to go. A good plan, no??

Pain is Temporary.

So... I've finally forgotten the last race, and therefore, I've signed up for the next one. I'd been debating for months whether or not to sign up for the Charlottesville Marathon, which is taking place on April 17th, 2010. Luckily, my husband--who can decipher any password of mine--hacked into my registration account and officially signed me up a few weeks ago. No turning back now!

Once again I've dedicated one day of every weekend to a relentless run that will undoubtedly leave me limping for the next three days. But boy o boy, it's a good kind of pain. I've heard the Charlottesville, VA, course is one of the most scenic and beautiful in the country, so therefore, I'm kind of viewing this race as my personal tour of the town by foot. Hey, it's healthy justification, right?

My first and last 26.2-mile race was Raleigh's City of Oaks Marathon. My old blog (that I neglected the majority of the time) includes a blog post from November 2008 after I completed the race. I can honestly say that it was one of my top highlights from the past 5-10 years. It really pushed me to my limits, and enabled me to cross something off my list that I've always aspired to accomplish. And that's not as easy as it sounds. It's difficult when you get into the hub and bub routine, the monotonous schedule of your normal, everyday life. I work all week and live for the weekends. I wish I was the type of person that could throw my hands up and take off for a spontaneous trip, leave my 9-5 schedule behind, and set off for an adventure of a lifetime. But reality doesn't always work that way, and we can't all disconnect and escape from our current lives. So things like running, running looooong distances, aiming to complete a race like this, gives me a taste of that adrenalin and that adventure.

But don't worry, one day you'll see photos of me backpacking through the Alps or lying in a field in the Scottish countryside. One day...

Until then, lets get another notch in my belt for marathon #2. : )