Feelin' Good

I got a great night's sleep last night. I woke up feeling ready to run. I got out to the meet up point and the weather was perfect. I had decided to not think about the mileage and just think of it as a morning run. I think this really helped my mental state for the run.

During our pre-run announcements, coach Helen informed us that one of our fellow team members was in the hospital with a blood-clot in her head. This was very upsetting because Melody is such a wonderful person. She is a run/walker who has been training with us but is meeting up with old girlfriends at the Nike marathon to do it with them. She always has a smile and a positive attitude. Sarah and I were very sad, and we hope that she can at least come to the marathon and support the team and her friends even if she can't participate.

For the first part of our run, Sarah and I discussed Melody and how worried we are for her. We also discussed, of course, wedding plans. The first out and back was quick and easy for both of us. We were both feeling like it was just a warm up and we felt really good about it. The weather was also holding up which was giving us an even more positive outlook.

The second out and back was a little rough on Sarah. At the turn around point Sarah was having mental trouble, and I was having a small cramp in my rib cage. So we both slowed a little. I took a GU and at the water stop I hydrated and I was feeling much better. Sarah, though, ended up getting foot pains and had to slow to a walk. She encouraged me to keep going, so I did, but I felt really guilty about it. I really wanted to be there for her and to help her through it, but she ended up only being 30 seconds behind me at the next water stop. Then she started out ahead of me on the last leg home and I ended up catching up to her and running with her for a little while again. But by that point I was feeling great and I was ready to push myself. Sarah was a really great motivator and kept encouraging me to push forward so I did. Again she came to the finish line 30 seconds behind me. She is really incredible. I don't think I would have been able to push through foot pain the way she did.

I made my way home and sunk into an ice bath that hurt so good. When my 20min was up I turned on the shower to scalding and took a 20min shower. It was incredible. I am really happy with my run today. I think that if I have a run almost as good as today for the marathon, then I should be able to finish in 5.5 hours. I know that is really slow for most people, but it is really good for me and I would be thrilled with that time.

Tomorrow Sarah and I are boot-blocking on our normal corner from noon-2. Please tell everyone to come donate all their spare change. Every penny helps save lives. If you would like to donate more or by credit card, please visit my fundraising page by clicking the link above this post!

Welcome to the dark side

My run this morning was good and bad all at the same time. I pushed hard and ran fairly quickly, which was good. But my chest was constricted and I was having trouble breathing. Why? Because I knew that when I got home I was going to step over into the dark side.

For work, I have made my fb account public and created a limited profile group for work friends and others who I do not want to share everything with, and I have opened a twitter account and linked it to my cell phone. I am not saying that I was forced to do this or that it isn't necessary to be linked into the world with which I want to make my career, I just feel like personal relationships are changed in a way that is both good and utterly bad by social media. And I am having a hard time dealing with the fact that once you become part of social media, people seem to think it is okay to cut off the in person, personal side of the relationship.

So today's run was filled with thoughts of making sure that I work hard to keep my personal relationships human, and anything social media to do with work, my running, or invites between my friends for parties.

I pushed really hard up my steep hill and felt really good about the whole run. Even with a tight chest I really felt like I had a good run. Saturday is my first 22 miler. I'm a little nervous, but I'm ready. I know I can do it.

Sunday Sarah and I are boot-blocking. Please come support us!

Squish

Getting out of bed this morning was a struggle. I knew I needed to get the run in early because the weather is supposed to be miserable today, but I just didn't want to get out of my comfortable bed. Fortunately my future hubby nudged me out and I got out the door relatively quickly.

At the very beginning of my run there was a dead snake in the middle of the road. I almost stepped in it but fortunately I just missed it. Poor little sucker had obviously been run over and squished to death. I was a mixture of sadness and disgust.

My run was all over the place. I started off slow and then got really fast. Then I slowed down again and got really fast. This happened 3 times. But it was one of my fastest times ever. And I felt really good when running. So I was pretty happy by the time I got home.

I had one creepy moment. On the last leg of my run, there was this guy walking and as I passes I said good-morning, like I do to everybody that I pass. He responded with a good-morning and a how are you. So I said good, and you. And he responded with not great, but I will be. And then I had run far enough ahead that I didn't need to respond, but the way he said it just creeped me out. That spurred the last of my run to be fairly quick.

Anyway, I am home and safe and getting some work done and getting ready to go dress shopping again! I am hoping to get out and boot block with Sarah again this weekend. Please send everyone you know to come give us your spare change. Just dig through the couches and I know you will find some! Help support finding the cure for blood cancers.