Friday, May 28, 2010

It's marathon night!!!!!!!!!

I'm in Traverse City!!  Got here about 3:30, checked in, walked to local running store (which just happens to have the same name as the one back home!), got my Gu stash (nothing like waiting till the last minute!), came back and then left for packet pick up.  It took me almost an hour to get there and it's only a few miles away!!!!!  This town is a zoo!  I just got back from dinner which I ate in the restaurant in the hotel.  I'm back in my room now.  It is so beautiful and sunny out and my hotel  is right on the bay.  I can see people everywhere walking on the beach and the sidewalks.  How am I going to go to bed??  I want to go wander around downtown.  I know I better stay off my feet.  I do have to make a trip to a grocery store because I have nothing to eat in the morning.  This room does not have a microwave or a fridge so that limits what I could bring.  I guess I will go get a bagel and a couple bananas.  The bus comes to the hotel at 5:15am and is scheduled to drop us off at the marathon start at 5:35.  That's almost 1.5 hour before the start. Don't know how I am going to occupy that amount of time. 
Hard to believe this is already here!
Happy Memorial Day weekend!
Runner Nerd

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Marathon training complete

I ran my last run today!!  The next running I do will be the marathon!!  It's so hard to believe it is so close!
I am excited but nervous!  I am becoming a mess of nerves and anxiety!
As of right now the forecast for Saturday is sunny, high temp 80, low 59.  I hope the marathon hours stay in the 60s.  As soon as I am done it can jump to 80; that will be fine with me!!!

I ran 5.5 miles this morning at an easy pace.  I ran at 10 am and it was warmer than I realized.  I don't know how warm it was but I was really surprised.
I don't know why I figured this out but the time between my last run and the start of the marathon will be 68 hours which is something like 2 3/4 days of rest.  (11am Wednesday through 7am Saturday)  This is the kind of stuff going through my mind while running this morning.  I tried to think about the paper I have to start for my English class but couldn't do it, the other thoughts kept creeping into my brain.  I think I decided what I am going to wear.  I forgot to call the hotel to see if my room will have a microwave; I really need to do that.  I have to plan what I am going to eat the morning of the race.  I also think that I decided that it is going to be vanilla Gu every 5 miles. yippie.  I need to pack too.
I have to work a few hours tomorrow afternoon.  I hope to begin packing tomorrow morning.  I am not going to running group tomorrow night.  I will really miss it.  I do have to stop and get the Gu packets.  Maybe I will do the warm up stretching with them.  It all depends on when I get out of work.

Well, I guess it's time for bed.  I hope I can sleep!
Runner Nerd
ready to run a marathon

Monday, May 24, 2010

getting close!!!

I'm running a marathon in 5 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (actually 4 1/4 days)
Today the forecast for Saturday said mostly sunny and high 63 degrees.  The temp has come down a few degrees but the sun is still there!!!!! 
I am trying to eat extra healthy this week and get lots of sleep. 
I am excited and nervous.   The hotel I am staying at has a restaurant and I was looking over their menu on the website and I think I can find an acceptable pre marathon dinner. 
Well, I must be getting to bed.  The only time I am going to be able to run tomorrow is early in the morning before work which is very unlike me.  I will be going right from work to class.  oh yippie-just what I've always wanted to do-go to class in my uniform. 
Off to sleep now,
Runner nerd

Friday, May 21, 2010

Last long run

Tomorrow will be my last long run before the marathon!  I am going to run 10. 
As of right now the forecast for May 29 in Traverse City is sunny and high 74!
This time next week I will be trying to sleep in my hotel room!  Hard to believe that it's this close now.  It was a long winter. 

Thursday, May 20, 2010

where did the cement come from??

OK, how did my legs get filled with cement??  Tonight my legs felt like they each weighed about 100 lbs.
We had a very small group tonight.  We ran 4 miles. 
Marathon day is now on the 10 day forecast!!  As of right now it says mostly cloudy and high 75.  No rain!  It will most likely be cooler then 75 at 7am but probably not 20 degrees!!  I know it will change daily and I don't know why I even look.  I remember 10 days out from my first marathon the forecast was terrible and it went from one extreme to the other and back again over the 10 days.  The day turned out to be perfect!

Bed time, have to work early.

Plan B

It was Plan B tonight.  I had planned on running 8 miles after work.  After work was supposed to be at 5 but ended up being at 7:30 instead.  I don't think I'd have had enough daylight left to run 8 miles by the time I drove to Gallup Park (the long way around since the Geddes Exit is closed) and changed my clothes.  Soooo I came up with plan B! I went to Bandemer Park to run my favorite route!  The parking lot was nearly full and I had no choice but to park next to a truck with 4 dudes standing behind it talking.  I climbed into my back seat and proceeded to change my clothes and they never even looked that way!!  THANK YOU to whoever invented tinted windows!!!!
I ran really good.  The first 3 miles were all under 9 minutes!!  I don't know what got into me!  It was just so beautiful tonight.  The weather was great, it was in the mid 60s and was still sunny.  The water is rushing full force over the dam again and the headrace is full of water again which looks so much better.  It is so good to see the water rushing over the end of it into the river again.  It looked so terrible all winter when they had it closed off.  They are cutting a lot of trees along there because they are going to be digging up those toe drain thingys to repair them.  It really looks different.  It is strange to be able to see so far down the path when entering it without all the trees.  I am so glad that they are not going to remove the dam.
I considered following the paved path back the way I came since I was running so good and to see if I could keep up that pace for another 1.5 miles but the woods won!  The wooded Argo Bluffs trail is my favorite part of this route; I couldn't imagine not running through there.  I had to slow down going through the woods or I'd have fallen for sure.  It's so pretty in there this time of year. 
It's now 10 days till M day and you know what that means!!  I know I shouldn't even think about it but I can't resist.  The 10 day forecast!  I looked on 2 different weather sites but neither had May 29th on yet.  There were only 9 days showing on the 10 day forecast.  The forecast for the days leading up to the 29th show sunny and 70s and 80s!! I know it will change daily.  I don't know why I even look at it.
Well, it's bed time.  More work tomorrow but thankfully not too early!! 
Can't wait till 6pm and Thursday night running group!!!
Goodnight
Runner Nerd

Monday, May 17, 2010

Looking for a plan for the fall

OK, I went and signed up for the Grand Rapids Marathon on Oct. 17 now I need a plan. 
I didn't follow any plan for this marathon I'm running in 2 weeks. 
I've been looking at a few plans.  The thing that is going to be difficult is this school thing.  I have no idea what days or times I'll be going to school this fall.  I run with my group on Thursday nights and I'm not going to change that.  One plan I am looking at has hill workouts or speed work or such on Thursdays.  I prefer long runs on Saturdays but most plans put the long runs on Sundays. 
I used to run with a group on Tuesday mornings and I would like to get back to that this summer when I am not working on Tuesday.  They do speed work. 
One plan has rest days on Mondays another has rest day on Fridays. 
I have no idea what to do.
Maybe I should wait until after my marathon before I worry about the next one.
Tomorrow my next semester starts.  I am only taking one class.  It's been so nice to not have homework hanging over my head. 
Well, I'm tired and heading to bed. 
Runner Nerd

Sunday, May 16, 2010

The 20 miler is in the books!! Taper time!

yep, I did it!  I ran 20 miles and it wasn't easy.  The last 5 miles were extremely tough. The last 2 were the worst.  I guess that's how it's supposed to be.
My early miles were too fast.  I ran with the Ironman training group.  They had been riding their bikes for 2 hours prior to the run.  Only one of them did 20 miles.  We first ran 12 miles and came back to the cars.  That's when most of them left.  The coach had stashed water at 6 miles so I didn't have to wear my water bottle belt.  I had sport beans at 6 miles and again at 12.  I think I also had some at 15.  We ran 2 3 mile loops coming back to the car after each.  We finished up the last 2 miles on a track.  We had had enough hills.  We started from the field house parking lot at the community college.
Right now I really don't know what I am going to do for fueling during my marathon.  I absolutely despise Gu (have I ever mentioned that before!!)  I like sport beans but it is a lot of chewing to get a whole pack down.  I only like 1 flavor of Gu Chomps.  There is just no denying that Gu is the easiest thing to carry.  The packets are small and skinny and 6 of them fit perfectly in the little pouch of my spibelt. I think it's gonna be choke down the Gu every 5 miles.  I will live. 
Well, I have to go to work in the morning earlier than usual so I better get my sore tired body to bed. 
Oh, I didn't mention that it was beautiful weather today and for the first time this year I wore a sleevless top!!!  IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!!! 
Goodnight
tapering Runner Nerd

Saturday, May 15, 2010

20 miler tomorrow

Tomorrow is the day!  I will be running 20 miles. 
Right now the weather forecast says 65 and partly sunny so that's good.  I'm tired of running in the rain.
I am running with the Ironman group from the Y.  They will be riding their bikes in the morning, 50 or 60 miles then running 20 miles. 

When I was driving to work this morning at 8:30 I was thinking that 2 weeks from that moment I'd be 1.5 hours into my marathon.  It is coming up fast!!! 

Well, I'm going to get some sleep! 

Runner Nerd
taking a break from nerd!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Blogging from my Phone!

I can blog from my phone!!!
I am doing this on my new blackberry!!
Ok, this is enough for now; I can sleep well knowing that I can and have blogged from my cell phone!!
Nite,
Super cool, high tech Runner Nerd

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Blackberry adventures

I got a Blackberry today!!!  I have no clue what to do with the thing!  The guy in the store showed me how to make a call and send a text message.  He also set up my email address and, of course, Facebook!  I tried posting something to Facebook and failed miserably!!  I would be typing and then it would be gone so I'd start over; turns out that all of the partial messages showed up!!  Yes, my friends are laughing at me!  I promised that I'd not try any more Facebooking with the phone! 
I spent some quality time with the instruction book!  I took a picture with it too!  I was always saying that I was the last person on earth to have a cell phone with no camera!!  I now have a camera on my phone!  I can probably blog from the phone too; I will have to look into that.  I know people do it from their Iphones. 
No running today, resting and recovering from the 25K.  Normally I would do a short recovery run but I am being oh-so-careful with the hamstrings.  I told a friend today that I am treating them like they are so fragile.  I don't know if they are or not.  I just want to make it to the marathon and then make it through the marathon and 4+ hours of running. 

The college kids are home now and the wireless internet card and router are not working very well and it is not a very happy place right now.  I guess I will be on the phone with both Verizon about the card and the router support people to see if we can get it working.  I am getting so tired of this.  I am paying way too much $$ for something that is not working properly. 

Well, my time with the wireless card is up; have to pass it on to next in line.  This is getting really old.

Runner Nerd
with a new toy!
(will post pics soon)

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Riverbank Run

Yesterday I woke up to the sound of rain beating against the window; not what I wanted to hear.  Most of my drive to Grand Rapids was in the rain. Yippie.    Geez, I thought Ann Arbor highways are a mess with a bunch of closed lanes and exits but Grand Rapids is way worse, 2 of the highways leading to downtown were closed.  Thanks to a friend who lives near G.R. I avoided a mess.  If you read this, Thanks, friend, for leaving work and driving to an exit and leading me into the city!!!  It is much appreciated!! 
Anyway, after a rainy drive there I checked into my hotel and walked to the expo.  It had stopped raining but it was much colder than it was when I left home.  I discovered that I had forgotten the jacket I had intended to take.  I actually wrote last night about the expo so I won't go into that. 
This morning when I first woke up it wasn't raining but it soon started.  I was having flashbacks.  Last year it rained for the entirety of this race.  It began right as the announcement was made for the 25K runners to begin lining up in the street and it rained the entire 2 hours, 23 minutes that I was running.  I was soaked.  I really didn't want to repeat that experience and today was colder than it was last year.  It did stop raining before the race.  It wasn't raining when I jogged over to where the race starts.  I checked my sweatshirt and long sleeve tshirt with about 4 minutes until the race, I wasn't giving it up until I had to!!  I wore shorts and a short sleeve shirt.  I went back and forth on wearing a long sleeve shirt.  It was 46 according to weather.com so I knew that I'd be freezing to start but if I was overdressed it wouldn't take very long until I would be miserable.  Around 5 or 6 miles I began hearing comments of being too warm and often I saw people taking off jackets or a shirt layer.  The wind came up a few times and that was miserable. 
I treated this as a long run since I know I am nowhere near the shape I was in the last 2 years.  My time was 2:33:46 which is 9:53 pace.  Oh well.  Last year I had 2:23:something and the year before 2:20:12 so I was way slower this year.  This is a huge race and there are always many people around me the entire race.  I picked up my pace at the 14 mile mark even though I knew better.  I kept it up until nearly the end!  The 15th mile was the fastest mile I ran in the entire race but my last half mile took 5:08. 
As soon as I stopped running I was freezing and I had to walk back to the place where gear check was.  It seemed like a very long walk.  Then it was back to my hotel. When I was in the building getting my things it had started raining so I walked back to the hotel in the rain.  I did not have any pants to put on over my shorts so my legs were freezing and my feet really hurt and my legs were getting stiff and sore.  I had 1.5 hours until I had to check out.  I stretched my hamstring, showered and crawled into the bed and rolled up in the covers and took a nap for about 40 mins. 
The good news: my hamstring never bothered!!!  It was well behaved! 
It's now 3 weeks until the marathon.  I will be running 20 miles next weekend.  I have no idea where I am going to run the 20 miles yet. 
It's time for bed, I'm exhausted and feel like I could sleep for 18 hours!! 
Happy running,
Runner Nerd

Friday, May 7, 2010

In Grand Rapids

I'm in Grand Rapids where I will be running the Riverbank 25K run tommorrow!!
I went to the expo, picked up my packet, looked everything over, went to the pasta dinner and did one other thing...
What am I doing in this picture??  I am signing up for something!
I signed up for the Grand Rapids Marathon!  I had already decided that I wanted to do it.  The price goes up soon and they offered a discount to sign up during this expo so why not!!

Well, I have a 25K to run tomorrow so I better head to bed!
I'm staying in a hotel that is only a few minutes walk to the start.
I'm just treating this as a long run for the big event that is 3 weeks from tomorrow!!  Yep, 3 weeks till M day!!  3 weeks from right now I will be in a hotel in Traverse City trying to sleep on the eve of my next marathon!!

See ya after the race!!

Runner Nerd
all runner tomorrow!

It's official! 4.0 in all classes!!

The grades are posted!!  I got 4.0 in both classes!!
I got  98.6 and 98 on my finals!!  Both of my teachers sent me emails today saying that they enjoyed having me in class!!  I was really surprised at that!! 
Now I can breathe!  I sure wish there was more than just 1 week between semesters.  I am only taking one class this summer but will be working as much as I can. 
Runner Nerd

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

This class is in the bag!!!!!!!!

presentation done! 80 of 80 points!!!!!!!!!!!!!  4.0 for the class!!!!!!!!!!!

One more class this evening!

Runner Nerd

Last day of classes!!!!!!

I am sitting in my computer class on the LAST DAY!!!  All I have to do is show my power point presentation!  We took the final exam last week. 
Gotta go; class is starting!

Runner Nerd

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

I am a college student; I can wear Crocs if I feel like it!

I have been at the library most of the day studying for finals.  I had to run over and vote for school board, came home and ate a sandwich and I am going to go back to the library for a couple more hours of studying.
I have such an exciting life.  I am sure that anyone reading this must be soooooo envious!!!!!!!!! 
I don't feel like putting my shoes back on.  My feet are protesting.  I am going to wear Crocs to the library and I don't care what anyone thinks! 

Later!
Runner Nerd
all nerd today