TWENTY point FIVE-SEVEN (to be exact)

Date: Sunday June 1, 2008

20.57 miles completed.

It's just over a 10 mile loop from our apartment, down to the East side of Alki, West through Alki, around the West side of Beach drive and then up Fauntleroy Way back home. I did 2 loops.

I purposely took it extra slow (just to ease up on my hip a bit and concentrate on pacing, and to save energy for the actual 26.2)

It was a good day!

I needed a little motivation to get me moving before I started. I've been training for so "long" now (6-ish months), that I think I'm starting to get a little bored. Mostly, this drizzly, grey weather is REALLY eating at me. I just really notice how my mood changes when the some comes 'round!

So, I asked Cory to help "pump me up" for the run. He gave me a great pep talk! And I decided to make it a little fun. I took a sharpie, and on the back of my singlet wrote:

"I'm running 20 miles right now
First Marathon June 29th, SunRiver, OR
Motivation"

It felt a little narcisistic, but it's the ONLY time I've ever done anything like that. I was hoping I'd get some encouragement from passers-by, but either they didn't even notice, or they just ignored me. Cory snapped a picture. I'll post it soon. Anywho--at least it got me moving! Also, cory promised me encouraging euphamisms at each water stop. And he delivered. Examples of his captivating knowledge:
"If your world turns upside down, squat, squat, squat your way to the top"
"When the wicker chair breaks, reach for the bean bag of hope"
"A wise man once said, DUH....but a wiser man said, NO DUH"
It helped give me something to focus on--and was entertaining to say the least.

I have been paying really close attention to how/when I'm fueling my body and my fluid intake over the last week. And, I'll continue this through the marathon. I want to be sure I'm doing everything I can to be well-prepared. Now is the time to focus.

Sunday's 20-miler went well. NO stomach problems, and I think I found the best foods to prep the day before. Also, I decided to try those "orange slices" gummy candies to use to fuel during the race rather than any gels or power bars. Eureka! The consistancy was perfect, and NO stomach issues. Hopefully I've found the right combo! As long as I eat a powerbar or something a few hours before I run, I don't need to start fueling during the run until about 80 minutes in. I usually eat a small piece of candy/powerbar about every mile starting around mile 8. I'm thinking I might need to start fueling a little earlier than that since I seem to really hit the wall towards the end--though that may be impossible to avoid with the length of the run.

Things I encountered along the way:
Huge mass of Sunday divers at Alki--much more than usual
STRONG winds West bound on Alki Drive
A very loud, arguing couple near the Alki Beach House
Some sort of mariachi band performing and videotaping scantily-clad ladies near New York Alki.
Lots of bicycle carriages stuffed with people (they rent them near the beach house)
The entrails of a dead bird--yuck! I almost stepped on it!
Still road/sewer construction going on East of the beach house--still smells!
There are lots of houses for sale along Fauntleroy Way.
Running up the long hill of Lincoln park way has become much easier.
Running a mile downhill starting my second loop was just as hard as going up Lincoln Park Way.
West seattle bridge to Beach Drive seemed to pass really quickly!
Group of teenage boys w/guitars and tambourines singing modest mouse songs.
Cute place on Beach Dr.--retail space, still empty. Bad location for a business.
My energy dropping at mile 17--worrying about running 26.2
Fighting those negative mental thoughts, and winning!
Idiot drivers
Finishing!

I start tapering this week. At this point, mostly my long run just decreases. My daily runs stay about the same. I did 6 miles Tuesday, cross-trained on the eliptical last night (1 hour), and will do 7 easy miles this evening, then 4 easy miles tomorrow. Rest Saturday. 14 miles Sunday.

I haven't had enough sleep this week, but I am just really trying to pay attention to my body. If I need an extra rest day, I'll take one. So far so good, though.