Ooo..Oooo.. 2:03:50!!!!

There was some goof with the chip timing and now my results say 2:03:50!!! (My Garmin was closer to the original time) But I'll take it!!!! That's so weird. Also.. I looked up Eddie George's time (the football player) and his is now 2:04:08 ! I wonder what happened. Everyone's is different.

2:04:03

Country Music Marathon Start

Well..I didn't quite hit the goal, but I gave it every ounce of juice I had so I did my dead-level best and so I am happy with my time. I was going for under two hours this year, and I guess the lack of training this month got the best of me. I was actually right on target for under two but I ran out of steam by around mile 11. Oh well. It was fun and the amount of people running it was unbelievable. Oh...and the weather was PERFECT..no rain!

I woke up at 4:30 to start getting ready. I ate a bowl of oatmeal and drank some sport's drink, then I put on my running gear and waited on Kelli to arrive. She was a few minutes late so we only got to snap a couple of photos.
So then we made plans to meet in Corral 11 because that's where the 2:00 pacer was going to be and Doug and I went to pick up my friend Nathan. He drove in from Memphis to run it with me and it was his first Half Marathon. He parked his truck at the finish line and we picked him up and drove to the Start line. The traffic was insane so Doug took 100 shortcuts through Nashville to get us there. Then we luckily found a place to park and headed to the Porta-Johns. Here's the scene at 6:30! And there's me surveying the area for an alternative. There were 4 other Porta-John areas with the same sized crowd so I was pretty much SOL!
I ended up standing in a shorter line at a permanent restroom at the park, but it still took forever. While I was there, Doug took my stuff to the UPS truck to be delivered to the Finish line, and at 7:00 I heard the gun go off for the start of the race. I managed to get through the bathroom line and get to the start line at 7:10...They let the Corrals out every 1.5 minutes and so it was a while before corral 11 got up to the start. There was a sea of 30,000 people, and I couldn't find Kellie ANYWHERE.! Here is a photo of Nathan and I waiting for the start of our corral.They had this new thing this year called Bones in Motion or BIM. You carry your cell phone with you and the GPS in your phone tracks you and sends text messages to all your friends every 15 or 20 minutes telling them where you are. They could also watch your progress from a computer map, or get emails. I decided to try it and I carried my phone in my jog bra. After we FINALLY started I was running ahead of the pace leader and I spotted Kellie way up ahead so I ran really fast to catch her. Somehow I ended up passing her because I kept running and never saw her. Then she saw me and ran to catch me. YAAAAAYYY!

So the first mile went by fast with us trying to catch each other. The miles actually ticked by pretty well until mile 6. This is where the pace leader passes me and the hills started getting to me, and I took my first gel. I could really tell I was starting to shut down at that point because I had not trained hardly any for the past month..and the runs I DID do were weak. I still managed to keep the pace leader in sight, though...and Kelli and Nathan were behind me. Then this massive hill came into view around 7 miles and I got passed up by Nathan. He asked me how I was (I was walking) and he charged on. This was the last time I saw him.

After the hill we turned and started running past thousands of runners who had not gone though the neighborhood yet. I was psyched to see how many were behind me. I mean it was endless! By the time I reached mile 8..some of those people were just reaching the 4 mile mark. The gel was working and I was feeling better, but then Kellie passed me. This went on back and forth through-out the rest of the race. We'd run together for awhile..then pass each other. But by mile 10 I was REALLY struggling and she had me. The pace leader was completely out of sight by this time, but I kept my eye on Kellie and hoped for the best. I knew I had a 5k to go and I started to panic because I was out of steam , so I took another gel and almost threw it up. My Garmin said 1:31:47, but my pace band said I needed to be at 1:31:13. ok..Not a problem. I will make it up in this mile and be right back on track. Well.. That didn't happen. Mile 11 I was at 1:41:26. I should have been at 1:40:20. DAMN! Ok...re-group and Don't panic. You can still make it. Just really run hard this mile. (With absolutely NOTHING left in the tank!) At Mile 12 the pace band said I should have been at 1:49:27. Garmin time.....1:54:13. At this point tears were starting to stream down my face..The cheerleaders were cheering and moving me along but my legs stopped working. Still...My "Runner's Math" told me I could bust ass and still make it somehow. So I started "sprinting". ( Some people could walk faster than this feeble attempt) It just wasn't registering that I can't run 1.1 miles in less than 6 minutes. It was down hill though..So I'll try.

While I was running my heart out, this spectator jumped out in front of me and I was so focused I ran right over her. Knocked her completely down and kept running. I could her her screaming at me and I was praying she didn't try to catch me because I couldn't run any faster and I would have easily got my ass kicked at that point. With the finish line in sight..and I am sure some UGLY photos..I made a mad dash and crossed over to safety. I looked down at my Garmin and it said 2:04:05. At first I was disappointed..but looking back I gave it my best so I am happy with it. My chip time ended up being 2:04:03. ...and 2:12:58 was LAST YEAR'S time so I beat it!! Nathan finished in 2:03:34, and Kellie in 2:01:18. None of us got under Two. Eddie George (former NFL Titan's running back) did it in 2:02:56! He said it was a lot more difficult than he thought it was going to be, and he was going to do the Full next year but he has changed his mind. HeHe! Nathan has now caught the Marathon bug, though...and he wants to try the Full next year. You go, Nathan! Been there..done that..and I'll be waiting for you at the finish with my Half medal. I can't fathom another Full Marathon.

After the race I went to eat Mexican Food with Nathan and then I went home and took a nap. Later, I met Nathan downtown and we went to the Sara Evans concert which was free for the runners, but we left early because I was exhausted and really sore, and he wanted to go eat the entire Shoney's buffet so he took me to my car and I was home and in bed by 10:00. I am pretty sore today so I went for a walk and I have been eating and eating and eating. The post-race depression has started to set in as well because the anticpation is over..it's done..and I have to wait till next year to do it again.

Pre-Race UpDate

My Anxiety level is so high right now I am bitchy and sick. Why do I get this way? For dinner tonight I am having Spaghetti with Whole wheat pasta, and I have been eating junk all day in an attempt to store some fuel in the tank for Saturday. I went to the Expo today to get my race packet and it was a ZOO. I am so glad I did it today instead of tomorrow. It's suppose to Rain on Saturday. (How fun will that be?) I usually avoid running in the rain, so I guess I'll pay for that lack of mental training. I need to get some Body Glide tomorrow just in case...because my new jog bra will probably make me bleed in the rain after about 10 miles. (SCREAM!!!!!)

Christy's Kickin'@ss!

Christy and I did another training run today to get her ready for her 5k next weekend. She's shooting for a 35 min run. Today's run was 36:30! Woo-Hoo! Go Christy!!! My first 5k AFTER training was a 38:00 so she's whoopin' my butt as far as a newbie goes. She ran the first 1.5 miles without stopping and only walked a couple of times after the turn-around. I KNOW she can run a 35 or better next weekend. I put on my trail shoes and ran with her on the side of the road because I am trying to save my legs for this weekend's Half marathon.

I am so keyed up about this weekend. It's all I can think about. I don't know why because other runs don't do this to me..but this one gets me all bent out of shape every year. I am feeling strong (FINALLY) and I think I can hit it right under Two hours if I play my cards right. I have a new running skirt that is too cute to run it in, and a matching tank of course...with a straight-jacket of a jog bra to wear underneath to ruin the cuteness of it all..but whachagonnado? Kelly's wearing the same thing so we'll look like we are running together in pictures. She got on the JumboTron last year at the concert because of what she was wearing. (SchoolGirl outfit similar to the photo in the margin) We all wore those for the marathon, too..but I was too far behind to make it on the screen. BOOOO! (I didn't look quite that slutty for the marathon. I vamped it up more for the Party Run) I will post pics after we hook up Saturday morning. I CANNOT WAIT till this weekend!

Back at it!

Ok..I have tweaked the diet a bit, and I am back at 124 today. I am thinking I must've lost a lot of water or something. I have eaten extra carbs for the past few days and I feel better.

Yesterday I rode my Trek beside Christy and paced her through a 5k work-out. I didn't run because I am saving up for this weekend .(Country Music Marathon...I am SOOOO not ready for it due to recent illness. Oh well...Suit up and Show up..That's the best I can do at this point) I warmed her up for a 1/2 mile..then I made her do sprints at .10 mile intervals. She got down to a 6:45 pace at one point! Then I would let her walk for a while, then sprint another one. She probably sprinted 5 times full effort, then she ran the last mile solid. It was a good work-out for her and we finished in 40 Minutes. She wants to do the 5k in 35 so I am introducing some speed work-outs to try and knock off a few minutes next Saturday (Cinco de Mayo) I think we may have started the speed seesions a little late in the game, but maybe we'll see a difference. Who knows.

Today I lifted weights and went swimming for the first time in a month. I am kinda back at square one with the swimming, unfortantly. Next week I plan to join the Master's swim team for a few months to get my swim fitness level up. I have two Tri's in the next month so I gotta get on it.

Then tonight I went to Connor's baseball game. This was the 6th game and they are undefeated!! Connor's plays the catcher position and he does a good job at it. He's hitting and scoring well this year, too. But the Mom of the Year award goes to me once again because I looked behind me on the other field to see what was going on..and what did I see?? Bailey's team playing baseball. Where was Bailey? At my mother-in-law's house. Yes...His game was tonight at the very same time Connor's was....one field over. Could I be more of a ditz? And to top it off..the "Meanie Mom" was there glaring at me from across the field. This woman has been on a team of my kids every year(Her boys are the same age as mine) and she has this superiority complex like you wouldn't believe. She talks to everyone but me..and always has a snide remark directed my way if she does talk to me. Just a lovely person. Her kids go to school with mine, too so she's always the "room mom" or whatever. Love her to pieces.

The Diet that works TOO well!

Ok..The new eating plan need some tweaking. I went from 128 two weeks ago to 119 today, and I wasn't trying to lose weight. I look like an anorexic which is my worse nightmare. I am weak, too. There are carbs..lots...but they don't "Stick" if that makes sense. Nothing is really stored. This works great if you are not an endurance runner and you are trying to lose weight. But yesterday I went for a run and Bonked" (You were right Allez). This could be fixed if I eat more pasta and take some Gu's..but I haven't done that this week and it was a very difficult run. Nothing left in the storage tank after 2 miles. This will not work for me. On the other hand, my husband has lost 9 pounds this week and looks better already. His face is even thinner. Our metabolisms are so supercharged it's crazy. I am not going to post a before pic of me because I look grotesquely skinny. My abs show. Big woop. It's what I wanted but now I think I prefer me with about 8 or 9 extra pounds. This week I am going to eat alot of rich foods and try to store up some fuel for the race this weekend. Today I went for a run after drinking some Gaterade and eating peanut butter crackers and I felt decent.

Moral of the story..If you want to look lean and mean in a short amount of time, this diet is a sure shot. If you are already thin ...don't do it. You'll waste away. I am gaining it back hopefully this week because I seriously want to cry when I look in the mirror.

WOW!!

Today I ran with Christy. We started off at Granny White Park and did 4 miles in 45 minutes...which is excellent for her considering it takes her that long to run 3 miles when she's on her own. Then after that we came back to my house and she got on my Trek and followed me while I ran my 5 k course. We left at 3:35 and returned at 3:58. So that's a 23 something. (I didn't have my Garmin on.... just going by the clock in my car so I don't know how many seconds) I am VERY excited about this because I haven't been able to run well in WEEKS and I haven't had a 5 k time like that since Feburary. I don't know if it's the new clean eating plan I am on, or the super-extra long rest break I took, or a combination of both. I know Christy made a difference because she never stops when I keep pushing her, and I couldn't stop if she doesn't stop...so I really pushed it today. THANK-YOU Christy!!!!!!

FOOD UpDATE: I did Really well today, and I ate my weight in Food..yet I was always hungry and ready for it. I won't bore you with the detail of every meal, but dinner was good enough to talk about. We had broiled Mahi Mahi which I marinated in a bunch of spices and lemon juice, asparagus (this was marinated in Balsamic dressing..which did have a touch of sugar in it, but it was far down on the list of ingredients so I went for it) and Mango salsa. OMG the Salsa was SO good. I got these recipes from the fish department at Harris Teeter because the Tuna recipe in the book was going to be too expensive. Still stuck to the diet though. The whole menu was delicious and I feel better after eating this way. I have been worried about carbs but I think there are PLENTY. Just not from anything sugery or processed. Healthy Carbs. If I find I am not getting enough..I'll do a Gu or something during my runs, but so far so good. I know I am going to have some whole wheat pasta before the marathon, and I am making my spaghetti sauce instead of the jarred stuff..(Full of sugar). That and a Gu should get me through the half no problem. I'll honestly let you know how my runs go on this eating plan so we can all decide if it works for endurance runners. I'll be the Guinea Pig. Still trying to get the nerve up for Before and After shots.

Latest work-outs and new Food

Yesterday Christy came over and ran three miles while I was finishing up a dog. Then we loaded up the bikes and went to Crockett Park for a bike ride. This was the first time in 12 years that she has been on a bike. I let her ride my Trek,....which is s mountain/Comfort type of bike, and I rode my road bike. We went slow and did about 7 miles. No biggie, but fun and different for her. Then we walked to the gym and lifted weights.

Today I managed a 6 mile run/walk and it was HELL! I am STILL not feeling 100% but I covered the distance. I walked a lot then some chick ran past me..so I ran right behind her letting her pace me. It was good because her pace was slower than my usual pace, so I managed to run farther than I have been able to for the past couple of weeks. I'd say I did 2 miles without having to stop on that interval. Then she turned off and I immediately started running too fast again and walked. I'll be glad when I can run again. There HAS to be an end to this madness. But, at least I'm back at the gym and running.

The eating plan Is going really good, except it's SOOOO much food. I mean, seriously..there's no way I can eat that much. I have managed to eat 3 times already today, and dinner will be soon..then a bedtime snack, so I only skipped one of the meals today. (I ate 6 yesterday) The pork chops I made tonight are so spicy it set me on fire when I tasted it...live and learn. I know Bailey and Doug will eat them but there is no way Connor will and I am having doubts about me. I also made Pico de Gallo and sweet potatoes. For breakfast I had scrambled egg whites with cherry tomatoes, and multigrain toast with honey. Then for a snack I had cottage cheese on top of 1/2 apple and red grapes, with a glass of Vanilla soy milk. YUM. Then I also had some almonds and spinich salad with lemon juice. That's Alot of food for me. Doug has lost 2.5 pounds since yesterday from eating like this. I am SO glad because he seriously needs to lose some weight. He works out 5 times a week, but he looks like someone who sits on the couch all day eating ice cream. It's his diet. I don't want to lose, just flush out the gunk. I hate the jiggly stuff when I run so I think that will be gone in a few weeks.

Making a Come-Back

Just when I thought the end was near...I'm feeling better. ABOUT TIME! Yesterday I worked out with Christy...sort of. I did half a Tae Bo tape..she did the whole thing, but half-way through it we ran a mile. That was all I had to give but she came back in and finished the Tae Bo work-out. Then today I got up and ran to the gym (Still gasping, but not as bad) lifted weights, then ran home. I walked some but I still did better than I have done lately, so I know I am finally on the mend. This gives me hope that I might be ready for the Half Marathon coming up in 2 weeks. (My previous post said 9 days...I don't know where I got that number.)

I have started a new eating plan called "Eat Clean" by Tosca Reno. It's basically eating foods in their purest form and eat 6 times a day, etc. I'll be healthier if I eat this way, and be naturally lean as a by-product. I also got her other book...."The Butt Book". I have no ass to speak of and I really want one, so maybe this will help. I'd like to look like this......

Yes... I know...keep dreamin'. But this is my goal by summer time. Maybe I should post some Before's so I can prove any progress made. (I don't think I have the guts)..HA!

F'n Bleep!!!!

From a runner's perspective...I just went on the most pathetic excuse for a run in the history of runs. What the HELL??? Is it STILL too much to ask my body to do? It's been 10 days since I got sick..and my mind is ready..but when it asked my body to perform...it just...couldn't. I am so frustrated right now it could kick through a wall. I have a half marathon in 9 days, and I literally couldn't run from one mailbox to the next today. I have never felt so weighed down during a run..like I was trying to carry a 250 lb man on my back. Am I going to have to walk this HALF?? My lungs WILL NOT fill up with enough air, my feet won't lift from the ground....I am coughing like a pack a day smoker...and my head is pounding so loud I can hear it. Should I even be trying to run through that? Is that my body's way of telling me I will drop dead if I keep on pushing it? Is this a mental barrier I can run through..or a physical one that's going to need a few more days..if not weeks to get past. How can a few days of sickness destroy my fitness level the way it apparently has?

I took a WALK

Yesterday I forced myself off the couch and took a walk. It was nice. I ran a tiny bit because I forgot something in my car while I was at a golf lesson...so I ran to my car to get it and I still can't breathe and I have zero energy. It's getting ridiculous. So yesterday afternoon after the lesson I was getting stir-crazy and walked. I went 3 miles...did the last mile with the kids and the goat, and went to bed at 9:00 pm. That's also unheard of for me. My usual bedtime is around midnight, but I was exhausted by 8:30. I am thinking I will do a 2:30 half-marathon on the 28th IF I am lucky. I was shooting for under 2 this year. Maybe I needed the rest. It's been a LONG rest break though, and I am definitely worried about my performance for the CMM.

About the Golf...I promised Doug last year I would learn to play because we never do anything together, so I took a few lessons and then it started getting cold. So this year we have joined the country club and there is a ladies group that plays every Wednesday. I went to a clinic yesterday and worked on some putting and driving, and then next Wednesday I go for another lesson while the rest of the group plays. I think I will take quite a few lessons before I actually have the guts to go play a round with them. They do nine holes then have lunch. There is an 18 hole group but you have to know your stuff to play with them. I am years away from that. I will be taking Wednesdays off for the summer though , so I can work on my game. Wish me luck!

Poodle Before and after

Before

AfterSince I have been too sick to do ANYTHING this week, I'll show another Yard Monster I did on Monday. ( Before the Flu struck and took EVERYBODY in my family down.) That' s all I have to say for the week. The marathon is in a couple of weeks and I am not ready. Still sick, still can't breathe, and we have all had it. Doug has it right now and he's sicker than I have ever seen him in 11 years..yet he's still in denial. Ha! He considers it a sign of weakness to act sick, so he puts up a front. He's been laying on the couch half-dead for 3 days, but as long as he says he's fine, he's not "sick". Hopefully I'll have some work-out related posts starting next week, because this week has been a total loss in training. It was cold anyway. It actually snowed Friday. Crazy.

The Flu

I haven't done crap this week. I came down with the flu Tuesday, and I haven't left the room. I finally got up this morning at 5:30 because my back hurt too much to stay in bed any longer. This is the 2nd time in 3 weeks I have been bed bound. (I had vertigo in Florida REALLY bad 3 weeks ago). Bailey had a 103 F temp on Friday and was sick all weekend, then I came down with it...although my fever hasn't exceeded 101 f. Then Connor came home from school early yesterday with it. His fever was 102 f. It feels like I have been hit by a truck. All my joints hurt, sore throat, fever, coughing, chills. A few days ago I weighed 128 lbs and I weighed this morning and I am 122 lbs. I think this is because of the buckets of sweat I have produced over the past few days. In the 7 years I have been grooming dogs, I have never had to call clients and cancel on them. I had to yesterday morning. On Tuesday Christy was working at my place so she did a lot of the dogs for me.

Also, my running partner, Jessika, has a stress fracture in her ankle. She did the 20 mile training run Saturday and it started bothering her at mile 10, but she ran through it because she's tough like that...but as the day went on, it got worse. She went to an orthopedic doctor (who is also into running) yesterday, and the x-rays confirmed it's broken. This sucks because her parents were flying in from Boston to see her run the Country Music Marathon, but she won't be running again for at least 6 weeks. She's so strong on her training runs, too. You'd never know she just ran 18 or 20 miles. I guess her ankle knew, though. I had a stress fracture up in my foot back in 2004. I started training for Chicago right after the country music and my foot just couldn't take it anymore. CRACK! Couldn't run for 8 weeks after that. MAybe we just aren't supposed to run that kinda of distance. I think after this half marathon in 3 weeks, I might not run like this anymore. Maybe stick with speedier races like 5 or 10k's. Do more Tri's so at least I am forced to cross train. Or take up biking and race. My poor body is worn out from all this distance running. I am supposed to do the 10 mile moon pie run in June, but I am having doubts about it. I just don't enjoy the distance running anymore.