Awareness

One of the many gifts that running has given me is a greater understanding of the world and more compassion for those around me. Today is the first Veterans Day that I have truly took the moment to understand and comprehend what has been sacrificed for us...for me.

Thank you veterans. Thank you for giving me the freedom to run down my street when I so choose, the freedom to run races in whatever I choose, the freedom to believe in what I want, the freedom to blog about whatever I think - whatever I feel, the freedom to have as many children as I want, the freedom to vote, the freedom to marry who I choose, the freedom to go where I want to go and to be what I want to be. Thank you.

Gulf Coast Relief 5K & Lost Races

I've decided that I want to try and find the results of all the races I've ever run. I only ever kept track of the marathons. I sort of felt those were the only important ones. Now I realize that EVERY race I run is important. Each and every one. In searching I found the results from the Gulf Coast Relief 5K. This makes me laugh. I completely forgot about this race. My friend has a picture from us at the race on her facebook page so I remember the race, but didn't remember my time or the distance. Turns out that I only ran seconds slower than my 5K this past spring. This also means that I haven't run just one 5K like I thought - I've run two. Good thing I pr'ed this year or I would have had to run another 5K before the close of 2009 to make sure I had pr'ed at every race distance.

Now I am wracking my brain trying to remember if I've run more than two!?!?! I've signed up for athlinks to try and recover some of the races but they don't have all of them. If you are on athlinks too - add me as a friend!

I'm thinking it might take awhile to find all the races I've run. From now on I'm keeping track!

Another PR bites the dust....

Miss 1:34:35

Sunday morning I was Miss 1:34:35 - Sunday afternoon I was Miss 1:32:52

Saturday night before the race my husband asked me what my plan was and what my half marathon PR was. I said I had no plan because I wasn't sure if my legs were going to give me 7:30s or 9:30s. After I reminded him of my PR he said - oh that's fast - I don't think you can beat that one! It's little things like that, that motivate me. He didn't discourage me. He encouraged me to prove him wrong.

Sunday morning my alarm went off at o'dark thirty. This was the least prepared I have ever been for a race and I was actually running late. Something I NEVER do. I'm anal about being on time or early for places. I think it's an important quality. I called my mom to inform her that I was running late and she reiterrated my sentiments of feeling totally unprepared. We headed into DC and I was pleased to find out that the start of the 1/2, was where the St. Patty's Day race I've run a couple of times started. So we found a great spot on the side of the street and walked down to the start. We ran into Charlie's mommy and daddy(they were also running the race) and had just enough time to hit up the port-o-potty's before lining up at the start.

I moved my way towards the front and ran into Linday Foley. One of my *heros* This woman is twice my age and can kick my butt any day in a race. She makes me excited for my future - I don't worry one bit about getting older. I turned to my left side to get in a little stretch and the runner next to me was bib #818. I smiled. It was in that exact moment I knew I would pr.

My splits were 7:01, 6:56, 6:51, 6:58, 7:02, 7:01, 7:00, 6:56, 7:07, 7:10, 7:08, 7:02, 7:03, and a 1:31 - for a total of 13.23 miles according to Monsiuer Garmin. Was it a fast course you might ask? NO. It was three loops - which I actually didn't mind. However there were about 5 or more turns each loop that were dead turns. Dead turn meaning - you are running down the street as fast as you can and you have to stop dead in your tracks to turn back the opposite direction. This breaks your stride. Then because there was also a 5K going on at the same time - on the same course - you started to literally run into walkers on your second loop. It sort of started frustrating me that the walkers of the 5K and the 1/2 were not aware of their surroundings and were completely not moving over for any of the runners. I was forced to waste precious energy to weave in and out of these people. I wanted to yell - but you can't very well yell at someone wearing a cancer survivors shirt in a race that is raising money for cancer. So I kept my mouth shut and just told myself that everyone else was dealing with the same conditions I was.

I was the 14th overall female and I had fun. My mom and Charlie's mommy cheered for me everytime we looped back and they saw me. Random spectators on the side said "you go girl!!" As I sprinted to the finish I was elated at my performance. I ran over to Charlie's mommy when she finished and said - *I love us!! How much fun is it running a 1/2 marathon on a Sunday morning instead of being hung over from the night out at a bar?!?* Don't get me wrong - I love a good night out sometimes. But being that I'm a mom - the running lifestyle works for me.

I don't miss out on happy hours - because I don't go to them period - I'm at home making dinner. I don't miss out on going out to bars/clubs/concerts because I have a long run the next day. I'm in bed anyways so when my alarm goes off at 4:50 so I don't mind getting up for a long run. I don't have to rush to work in the mornings because I stay home with my kids - this leaves me room to get a run in.

Introducing....Miss 1:32:52

P.S. My new Saucony Arm Warmers ROCKED!! I highly recommend getting arm warmers - keeps your body cooler than a long sleeve shirt - but warmer than just wearing a tank/or short sleeve shirt.

It's Not Doily Lacing Day

It's racing day....well not yet, but almost....

Tomorrow I'll be running a new 1/2 marathon in DC with none other than the one and only Snez(my mom). I never really understood how cool it was running races with my mom until I became one. I hope that when I'm in my 40's - I look great and am still kicking butt in races with Miss Chloe Raine running up ahead of me. Honestly my mom rocks. Up until last year her marathon PR 3:38 killed my 3:59!! And she set that PR in her 40's :0) I hope this means that many more PR's are in my future.

My new favorite pre-race tune I hum in my head is actually from the children's show the Backyardigans. It's a catchy little tune - I'll share the lyrics for all my readers who don't happen to watch children's shows on Friday nights and actually have a life! ;)

Racing day, it's racing day,
Racing day, it's racing day!
It's not nervous pacing day.
Today's the day we race.

I'm ready to race a long, long race.
This race goes almost every place.
It's fast, it's long,
It's vast, it's far,
It starts out right here where we are.

But when the finish line's unfurled,
We will have raced around the world.
When we finish this long, long race
I hope, I hope I'll take first place.

Racing day, it's racing day,
Racing day, it's racing day!
It's not sausage casing day,
Today's the day we race.
Today's the day we race.
Today's the day we race.

Racing day, it's racing day,
Racing day, it's racing day!
It's not picture-tracing day,
Today's the day we race!

We'll run somewhere that's not right here,
And while we do the crowd will cheer.
Through the forest over the snows,
Across the ocean and then who knows?

Whoever is the first around,
will get to make that victory sound,
Dunt-da-daa! is what they'll say
at the end of racing day.

Racing day, it's racing day,
Racing day, it's racing day!
It's not puppy chasing day,
Today's the day we race!

Racing day, it's racing day,
Racing day, it's racing day!
It's not doily lacing day,
Today's the day we race!

A long, long, long, long way we've come,
To get back where we started from.
We raced real hard but now it's time,
To break that tape and cross that line.

Racing day, it's racing day,
Racing day, it's racing day!
It's not self-effacing day,
Today's the day we race.
Today's the day we race.
Today's the day we race.

I don't have any goals tomorrow except to have fun! I mean of course deep down inside I secretly would love to do well but I'm realistic and certainly know it's not the best idea to race a 1/2 two weeks after running a marathon. Sooo that being said we will just have to see tomorrow what the day brings.

P.S. I am super excited to wear my new Saucony arm warmers they sent me as a *job well done at Freedom's Run Marathon* present!!!

Still Got It.

Part of running is fitness - part is mental. Sometimes the mental can take over and make you question the fitness. Sometimes I feel the need to push myself a little on a run just to make my mind remember that *indeed girl - you still got it*

Sunday - I ran 5 in rain before 6 am - 9:19, 9:19, 9:07, 8:18, 8:21. I had wanted to run 10, but was too cold, soaked and discouraged. I called it a day at 5 miles. Then on Monday I ran with Charlie's mommy and felt like we were really running fast - 9:07, 9:10, 9:02, 9:27, 9:14. Don't get me wrong - I don't think that any of those miles were slow per se but I felt like I was running a 7 min pace when I was really running over 9. I know that some of you will say - hello Dorothy - you just ran a marathon - and I know this. I just don't like the inevitable slow down/ recovery period after a marathon and so my mind goes a little crazy.

And so today arrived and I hadn't run in two days. Reason #1 - laziness. Not so much laziness of not wanting to run but because it takes a whole lot to get out the door. I must get dressed, get my hydration ready, get the kids up, dressed, fed breakfast, then get drinks/snacks/lollipops ready for them, make sure we have the correct blankets they like, let the dogs out/get them water and food, then try to head out the door. All that before even taking a step to run and I'm exhausted. Reason #2 - OLD MAN WINTER IS COMING. And I don't like him. I feel bad taking the kids out on especially cold mornings because even though I bundle them up - I feel like it's still just too cold/windy. This morning I was dying to run so I just was going to suck it up and head out the door. Luckily Charlie's mommy offered to watch the kids and I did not hesitate for a moment to take her up on the offer.

Anyone who has kids and whose husband works crazy hours(or is a single parent) knows that it's super hard to run/work out in the winter if you don't either a. have a treadmill or b. a gym membership. Since we moved we ditched the gym membership and we don't have a treadmill(though I have been pleading my case to my husband to get us one). So when someone offers help of the running kind I'm always ESPECIALLY grateful.

I decided to run a 3 mile tempo, which then turned into 4 mile tempo, which then turned into a total of 8 miles. 7:37, 7:33, 7:15, 7:05, 7:56, 7:39, 7:41, 7:15 - 8 miles in exactly 1 hour, average 7:30 pace. I still did the 4 miles tempo but then slowed a bit a mile 5 to recover a little but still push myself. Yes this is less than two weeks after a hard effort at Marine Corps, but my mind has started doubting my capabilities and is wondering if I will loose all my gains from this summer, over the winter. I pushed myself sooner than I know I should but now I feel like *I still got it*.

My mind needed this run. I left Charlies mommy's house feeling refreshed and better than I have felt all week. I'm so thankful for friends who run - they truly understand the need to *get out there and pound the pavement*

If you are a mommy of little kids - how do you make your winter running work? Any tips or suggestions are welcomed!!

MEB

As some of you may remember I had the awesome fortune of getting to pick up Meb from the airport this spring. I chatted with him the whole way to his hotel and left the brief meeting feeling like he was a seriously great guy! Totally humble and totally amazing all in one. So you can IMAGINE how pumped I was that he won NYC Marathon yesterday!!! Though I can't say I'm friends with him or even that I truly know him - I can say that in my personal opinion I totally think he deserved it and couldn't be happier for him. It's a nice thing in life when *the good guy wins*

If you don't follow Ryan Hall's blog - you should! I loved his entry about the marathon. It's really nice knowing that it's not just the average runner that feels the disappointment of a race that doesn't go the way you wanted it too. Sure he had an amazing time - but it's not always about the number on the clock compared to others - he didn't run the way he wanted to run/the way he had dreamed he would run. Some how in some weird way it makes me feel better about my marathon season :)

Good Luck to everyone running Richmond this weekend!!! I've got the marathon bug and totally wish I was out there running too - hehe.

P.S. Congrats to my uncle who ran NYC for the umpteenth time and in usual fashion finished in an impressive time! Congrats also to my blogger friend The Laminator on a seriously fantastic time!

Healthy Competition Part 2

It looks like Dorothy #4 definitely won. Not only did I have more miles in the 7's than any other marathon I have run, but this was the FIRST marathon I have ever run where I had NO miles in the 9's. HOORAY for me!

So the tricky thing about wearing a Garmin during a marathon is learning that you ran farther than 26.2 miles. According to the Garmin I ran 26.43 miles in 3:31:21(the exact number of my chip time) for an average pace of 7:59. And while I realize that it doesn't matter what the Garmin says - since marathons are always a tad long in order to make sure they aren't short - I'm left wondering if they are always this long?? I also wonder if any other Garmin wearing runners at MCM ran wayy longer than 26.2???? The fact that it was a little long makes me feel better about cursing at my husband about where the heck was the 26 miler marker?? (of course I feel that I can not be held accountable for anything that came out of my mouth during the last mile of a marathon - hehe)

I'm not the least upset by the news that I ran longer than 26.2 - I'm actually really happy because this means that I completely have the capability to run in the 7's for future 26.2's and technically according to Monsieur Garmin I already did ;)

P.S. I put MCM 2009 right next to MCM 2008 because the course was the exact same - so it's nice comparing exactly how I ran each mile from 2008 to 2009.

Where oh where is Dorothy?

I'm here but surprisingly don't have much to say about running. Why you may ask? Well it seems that after Freedom's Run something was ignited inside of me. I was frustrated/happy/angry/sad/elated and found that all my energy was best focused on Marine Corps in order to feel normal again so I blogged and blogged. With that being said I ran *the time of my life* at MCM this past Sunday and am just plain happy.

I knew in the first couple of miles that my ultimate goal of 3:25ish was not going to be run that day. My legs were tired - tired from Ragnar Relay - tired from Freedom's Run - tired from sitting in class for two days straight - tired. I did however still feel that I had some sort of fitness left even though I completely was coming to grips with the fact that I probably peaked at Freedom's Run or even Ragnar Relay. Instead of getting angry or upset, I felt a sense of peace. I felt like I was having fun. Fun you may ask? How can I describe running a marathon as fun. Well it was just that. All twelve of my marathons - whether or not I had a good time - whether or not I hit the wall - were some of the happiest days of my life. So yes even though I was tired, I was having fun. This marathon literally went by faster than any of my other marathons and here is why.

I did not start out too fast - in fact I started out wayyyy slower than my goal of 8 min pace - 8:43 in part to the fact that it was more crammed than any MCM I have run before. This unknowingly helped me to never really hit the wall. Sure I slowed down - but it wasn't from hitting the wall - it was from my legs telling me "Dorothy you have asked us for allot and we are trying to give you allot but girlfriend for the LOVE will you please stop asking us to race back to back marathons?!?!" The time also flew because I was looking forward to seeing my husband at mile 10, mile 15, and mile 21. Each time he handed me a full water bottle and I handed him my empty one, I just couldn't wait till I was at 21 when he would run me into the finish. It went by fast because I realized that since the April of 2008 - I have had a baby(Miles), lost the baby weight, nursed my son for 15 months, took care of two kids and kept our townhouse clean while trying to sell it, sold our townhouse and packed it up, moved to a house and unpacked, ran 6 marathons, pr'ed at 3, qualified and ran the Boston Marathon, re-qualified three times for Boston, ran Ragnar Relay(Team Saucony Rocks) and came in 2nd overall with a team average of just over 7 minute pace for all 197 miles, and ran and pr'ed at every race distance in 2009. WOW. I just ran and kept thinking about how proud of myself I was. How amazed at all this girl had accomplished. How I would have never guessed that I would have made it to this point in my life! Who knew that a girl who used to run 11 minute miles would one day run a 3:31 marathon?!? Certainly not me!

I guess the peace from the race is spilling over and I just haven't had that much to say. That and I've been busy recovering, working on my coaching test, and tomorrow I have to sit in another class ALL day long so I can become CPR and first aid certified.

So there you have it. That is where I have been :)

Marine Corps Marathon Finishers Video

Today I feel like I ran a marathon. It always takes two days for the soreness to really kick in for me. Yesterday I was a tad sore but it was similar to what I would have felt after a hard 10K. This morning I'm walking around feeling 30 years older. I have heard from numerous different people that taking a bath in epsom salt helps to relieve soreness after racing. I then saw on Ryan Hall's blog that he takes them - I figured if it's good enough for him then it must be good enough for me! So I gave it a try this morning. I don't know if my soreness is improved or if it's a mental thing but I certainly feel better after a warm bath.

If you haven't checked out your finish video then click here. I think it's so cool watching yourself moments before you cross the line. I'm on the 3:31:10 video about 1:11 in.

MCM and my number break down

WOW - What a whirlwind weekend!!!!! Friday and Saturday were spent sitting in a class room in Arlington for my Road Runners Club of America Running Coach Certification Class. The class was great and I was happy to have some familiar faces in the class. I learned a ton of stuff that I can't wait to apply to my own training and also share with all of you.

Marine Corps 2009 was the 7th year I headed down to DC for the race. As always it was amazing and I can't say enough how much I love this race. I have so many thoughts right now but after being in class for two days, running 26.2 miles and then getting woken up by Miles at 5am this morning - I'm exhausted. So I'll just share my number break down tonight and hopefully blog more tomorrow about my experiences!

MCM 2009
3:31:21 - My fastest marathon to date
182 Overall Female - out of 8,280
1341 Overall - out of 20,936 finishers
67th in my division

MCM 2008
3:36:41 - My fastest marathon at the time
239 Overall Female - out of 7,150
1637 Overall - out of 18,279 finishers
71st in my division


My age grade from last year was a 62.5% - this year I'm up to a 64.1%. 60% is considered a Local Class Athlete. 70% is considered a Regional Class Athlete. I'm improving and that's all I can ask for!!!

I'm so beyond proud of myself for all I have accomplished. Yesterday I ran faster than I ever dreamed possible.

I can think of no better thing than finishing the fastest marathon of my life with my husband by my side cheering me and pushing me on. Without him I would not have achieved half of what I have.

**Congrats to Michelle T, Rebecca S, Kate R, Jessica H, Jenn Z, Zoya, Lauren P, Lisa R, and all the other wonderful women who rocked it yesterday!!! WE ARE STRONG MOMMIES!!!

P.S. The pic is of me after the race with Race Director Rick Nealis!!!

Haines Point: Marine Corps Marathon

Won't you all be so happy when it's Monday and I won't be blogging about what to do before Marine Corps anymore?!? Not to worry I'll still be blogging about Marine Corps ;)

I've gotten a couple of last minute questions so I'll address those first.

Haines Point(East Potomac Park) - These two words used to evoke fear among Marine Corps Marathon runners. This, the loneliest stretch of the race, came at about 20 miles. Not only were you already starting to possibly feel defeated or hit the wall but then you were hit with this windy, lonely, peninsula that is surrounded by the chilly waters of DC. Because it is a peninsula it is very hard for spectators to get too - so don't count on seeing anyone during this part of the course. I've never run it when it wasn't windy out there. So like I've said before if you like wearing hats, wear one so you can tuck your head down a little and avoid getting any junk in your eyes. Also depending on what time of day you hit this point it can be extra sunny as the trees do not cover the whole road. Try to stick to the sides of the road where there is the most shade and remember to put sunscreen all over, even though you will hardly think you need it before you start.

Good news though. YOU are stronger than this part of the race. ANNNNND no longer is this part of the race at around 20 miles. Last year they changed the course and so runners will hit this-not-so-fun little stretch at about 12-14 miles. So like I said YOU are stronger than this lonely little stretch. Be sure to have your race day mantras ready to tell yourself(in your head of course) through this bit and you will be good to go!

Next question to address is the corral system and going out too fast. I've been asked how you could start out too fast with so many people at the start slowing you down. Yes - there are a zillion and one runners out there. However it's really up to each individual to place themselves in the correct corral, meaning that some people who are slower than you will start in your corral and some people who are faster than you will start in your corral. So really there is no way of knowing if the person next to you is going too fast or too slow. You will also have TONS of adrenaline flowing through your body. There isn't a Marine Corps start that has not reduced me to tears. Tears of joy, of excitement, of pride in this wonderful country we call the US of A. So it's easy when the gun goes off to let your emotions get the best of you and take off like the wind. You will feel great, it won't feel fast, you will think WOW I am kicking butt right now....but it's too fast and you will pay for it later. Better to start out too slow than to go too fast. Also don't waste energy weaving around people. Trust me - it's very aggravating at the start and tons of energy can be wasted passing people....it's part of the reason why I keep trying smaller unknown races. Just keep telling yourself though that you are running your own race and let these people do all the weaving - you will be passing them in the late stages of the race when you feel great and they don't. Run the pace you planned to start out at(everyone in my opinion should come up with a reasonable game plan before the race). For me this pace is going to be around 8 minutes - much slower than I started out at Freedom's Run....hopefully this will help me not give up in the later miles like I did there. PATIENCE is very very important when it comes to the marathon distance, it's like no other race, which is part of it's lure.


As for me - I went on my last easy run before MCM this morning - pushing the babies of course. Then I sat them in the grass to watch me run strides on my street. I may do some more strides early Saturday morning if I have time. I'm taking a Road Runners Club of American Running Coaching Class that meets all day Friday and all day Saturday - so I will be MIA. This means that I had to head to the store today to stock up on food for Sunday and my own food for the next two days. They will be providing food for us, but like I've said before - this is not the time to try new things. I bought four, yes four bags of brown rice - remember that we need to store up as much glycogen in our muscles as possible right now. Bananas for potassium, apples for fiber, water - to force me to drink the enter huge bottle each day - chocolate z bars, peanut butter puffins and sugar free red bull for before the race, and a magazine to take my mind off all this marathon stuff!

If you have any more questions let me know today!! Otherwise I'll be back Sunday afternoon!! Off to go do laundry and pack my bag for Sunday :)

Good LUCK all MCM'ers

P.S. For anyone curious my # is 17469

Less Than 5 Days....

Thanks to George Buckheit of Capital Area Runners, rather than running alone for all 26.2 Miles on Sunday I get to run with a group of girls!! I'm super excited about this because I had some of my best runs this summer with MR PIC. I've found that running with someone on these longer runs helps push you through the bad miles. It's only natural that there are some miles that are great and some that are not so great - when alone I ease up a little on myself. When running with someone else I push myself through the tough mile and make it to the next one.

These girls all have the same target time I do - so we can all help pace each other in the first miles. This will help us all stay on target to Start Slow, and Finish Strong!!

Here is the elevation chart for anyone who is curious. And the weekend schedule.

I'm very happy that the course will be the same as last year. I seem to do better on courses that I am familar with, rather than new ones. I really like to know what is coming so I can pace myself accordingly.

I'm starting to get that nervous excited feeling and feel like there are too many things I need to get done before Sunday. I think I need to go make a list!

Comment below if you too will be running Marine Corps!

P.S. Don't forget to pick up your USAA Finishers Coin at the finishers festival. They are a cool little FREE momento of your accomplishment.

Heathy Competition

really happens when you compete with yourself. I've said it before, but I'll say it again. There will always be someone faster, skinnier, prettier, smarter, richer, happier, etc....so why bother even trying to be them. BE YOU.

Here is Dorothy vs. Dorothy vs. Dorothy from my last three marathons I 'raced' - looks like Dorothy #3 won. Here's to hoping the new girl on the block - Dorothy #4kicks Dorothy #3's butt on Sunday!

Heading to bed dreaming about more 7's and putting Marine Corps Marathon medal #5 around my neck.

TWEET TWEET

I broke down and joined. My friend MR PIC was running Columbus Marathon this weekend(and ran a 3:17 - WHAT WHAT!!!) and the race automatically tweeted your time as your crossed mats on the course. How high tech of them! I wanted to track how she was doing so I signed up. I've since learned that Marine Corps Marathon is on twitter and so I'm officially a "follower" - not sure if that's what you call it in twitter land....

Anyways for all of you running MCM and are on twitter - follow me :) and MCM. Blog stalkers welcome! I've had 599 page views this week and don't know who you guys are!?! Would love to virtually meet some of you!!(Feel free to comment below ;)

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

With the marathon one week away it's time for me to really come up with my game plan.

All week long I've been getting myself pumped up and ready by trying to do all things running - except of course run too much. I finished the book What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. I'll include some excerpts I loved at the end of this post. The beginning was a little slow, but overall I loved the book and loved how I could completely relate to all that he was saying. I copied another bloggers idea for displaying her race numbers and made a race number collage in my room. I still have tons of numbers left so when I find another suitable frame I may make another one!! I'm still working on Bart Yasso's book but hopefully will finish it this week. By the way he will be at the expo for anyone who wants to meet him!!

I finally decided that even though I'm just borrowing a Garmin I was going to download the software so I could really analyze how I ran at Freedom's Run. It has surprised me and so I will share the details

Mile 1 - 7:45 - Most of the first mile was on a dirt trail in a field
Mile 2 - 7:35
Mile 3 - 7:19
Mile 4 - 7:31 - Part of this mile was on cobblestones
Mile 5 - 7:52 - This was where I encountered the spiral staircase
Mile 6 - 7:46 - For the next 10 miles we ran on packed dirt/gravel/rocks/leaves
Mile 7 - 7:44
Mile 8 - 7:35
Mile 9 - 7:42
Mile 10 - 7:43
Mile 11 - 7:42
Mile 12 - 7:38
Mile 13 - 7:31
Mile 14 - 7:36
Mile 15 - 8:37 - Left the trail of the C&O Canal and faced the first giant hill
Mile 16 - 8:00 - Still climbing the hills
Mile 17 - 7:39 - Still thought I had a shot at 3:30 and that the hills were over
Mile 18 - 8:16 - Smaller hills
Mile 19 - 9:01 - Back to the big hills
Mile 20 - 8:18 - Hills
Mile 21 - 8:33 - More hills
Mile 22 - 8:37 - Even more hills as we start to leave the battlefield
Mile 23 - 10:35 - At this point I don't think I realized how fast I was still running - I should have never given up. This was when I started walking.
Mile 24 - 9:36 - Still walking
Mile 25 - 9:22 - Meet up with my husband who tells me to stop walking and run
Mile 26 - 9:09 - Supposedly downhill but felt like I was climbing the whole time
Mile 26.2 - 2:05

So the awesome thing about the garmin, which I didn't know it did - is that it lays out in each mile the ascents and descents. The overall ascent for the course was 3,606 feet and the overall descent for the race was 3,751 feet. HOLY CRA*!

Looking at the Freedom's Run course it starts at about 251 feet and the highest point was 580 feet. For Marine Corps Marathon it starts around 0 feet and only goes up to 160 feet. Seriously from now on I am going to really pay attention to the elevation charts before signing up for a marathon. I personally don't like super flat races like Chicago. I feel like my legs work to hard the whole time rather than getting a small break on any declines. However it doesn't matter if you descend 3,751 feet if you have to climb 3,606 feet to get there. So a relatively flatter course is sounding fantastic right now!

So how does this all make me feel? Well it makes me feel hopeful that I can do better on Sunday. I hope that I haven't lost any fitness by tapering for one marathon, running it and then re-tapering for another one. In exactly one week I'll find out!

I'll end this post with some quotes from What I Talk About When I Talk About Running.

"It's precisely because of the pain, that we can get the feeling, through the process, of really being alive - or at least a partial sense of it. Your quality of experience is based not on standards such as time or ranking, but on finally awakening to an awareness of the fluidity within action itself."

"Long-distance running(more or less, for better or worse) has molded me into the person I am today, and I'm hoping it will remain a part of my life for as long as possible. I'll be happy if running and I can grow old together. There may not seem to be much logic to it, but it's the life I've chosen for myself."

"Thus the seasons come and go, and the years pass by. I'll age one more year, and probably finish another novel. One by one, I'll face the tasks before me and complete them best I can. Focusing on each stride forward, but at the same time taking a long-range view, scanning the scenery as far ahead as I can. I am, after all, a long-distance runner."