WE DID IT!!!!

THE RACE WAS AMAZING!  

Run well this weekend!

Have a good time running the 13.1 this weekend. Don't take it out too fast. ; -)

Heaven = Eating Pasta Every Day

One of the best things about training for this half marathon is that I get to eat lots of spaghetti.  I've eaten noodles almost every day for the past two weeks.  Anytime Joel complains or gives me the "eye", I explain that it's imperative that we carbo-load  in preparation for the race.  I'm thinking about training for a race every month simply so I can be on a steady diet of spaghetti.

This past weekend I was supposed to run a 6 miler, but I skipped it because Joel and I hiked Mount San Gorgonio, the tallest mountain in Southern California.  At its peak, the mountain is over 11,000 ft.  This was our second attempt at climbing the mountain.  Our first attempt was marred by a very, very violent thunderstorm.  Joel and I hiked a total of 15 miles.  It took us more than 9 hours.  I've never done ANYTHING for 9 straight hours except for sleep.  Unfortunately, because I was suffering from altitude sickness and because it was freezing, we were not able to summit.  We came within 30 minutes of the summit.  It was so cold that it snowed!  It was my first experience with snow on the west coast.  Anyway, I'm sure Joel is going to make us attempt the mountain next year.  

I can't believe the race is this Sunday!  According to our training schedule, we have 3 low-mileage training runs and then we run/walk our 13.1 miles!  Congratulations ladies and Joel!  We done GREAT!!!

My Philly Pre-Run

Took a practice run to the 2nd half of the Philly half-marathon this Sunday morning to make sure my hill training was on par with the course. The Komen Breast Cancer walk/run was also going on that morning on the same last 3 miles of the half-marathon course. It was nice crossing the finish line @ the Philly Art Museum to a round of applause and cheers and gatorade from people who thought I was running the Breast Cancer walk. Everytime I think about the actual race, I get these butterflies and jitters in my stomach. Can't wait!

2 weeks and counting

I am back on the blog!!! Sorry for being such a lame a$$ and not writing on here. My training went to crap since I could not run. I was swimming and taking spin classes but nothing to write about.
Anyway I am back in the game, I ran 7 miles today. I was supposed to do a long run this weekend but I was not feeling well on Sunday. I did the run today instead, I am feeling pretty sore right now. My hip flexers and knees are achy. It is hard to believe that I have to run almost double that for the race. YIKES! I am hoping to walk and run to make it to the finish line. I am getting exicited for the race, it seems like forever since we started this blog. Great job to you guys for staying with it .

T Minus 2 Weeks!

Date: 3 October 2008 / Distance: 3 mi / Time: 25:45

Date: 5 October 2008 / Distance: 8.03 mi / Time: 1:12:18

Only two weeks until the half marathon!  I'm just focused on staying healthy and hydrated these next couple weeks.  I'm going to eat the most boring foods on the planet.  The only activity I'm worried about is the hike I'm doing with Joel this weekend.  Joel planned a 9 hour hike of Mount San Gorgonio this Saturday.  It will be our second attempt to scale the 11,000 ft + peak.  Joel and I failed our first attempt several years ago because of a massive thunder and lightening storm.  It was one of the most frightening experiences I've had in my life.  I hate thunder and lightening. Anyway, Joel sweetened the deal for this weekend by planning an apple picking adventure the following day.  We'll see how it goes.  If I get injured on the hike, I will be EXTREMELY annoyed. 

Week 2

This week's recap:

Monday: supposed to be a 4-mile run. My foot was still hurting really badly, though, so I took a 2-hour nap instead.

Tuesday: 35 minutes on the elliptical, strength circuit

Wednesday: my foot felt much improved, so I decided to attempt my 3-miler. It went OK. Still some soreness in the foot, but the cushioning of my shoes was a big help.

Thursday: 35 minutes on the elliptical, another strength circuit

Friday: about 30 minutes of yoga

Saturday: supposed to be an 8-mile run. However, my foot was STILL not fully healed, and I neglected to sufficiently carbo-load on Friday night, so I did a 72-minute, 6.5-mile walk/run. Then I went out and ate a huge pancake breakfast. haha!

My foot is still hurting this morning--blah :( I'm going to continue favoring it up until race day, I guess--meaning, I'm basically going to tweak the remainder of the schedule to however I'm feeling on a particular day. My little bun has started bouncing around a lot in the oven, too, which is making running even more interesting. We'll see how it goes!

Three Miler on the Treadmill

Date: 30 September 2008 / Distance: 3 mi / Time: 25:14

I ran my 3 miler on the treadmill yesterday.  Nothing new to report -- just a complaint.  ha ha.  In my gym, one of the treadmills has a personal TV.  That treadmill is one of the most popular pieces of equipment in the gym.  It's the only treadmill I use when I run.  Unfortunately, the audio unit of the personal TV is now broken from extreme use.  According to condo management, it's not going to be fixed or replaced unless the HOA provides the funds.  Given the mortgage mess and some owners struggling to pay their HOA fees, I'd better get used to just watching the tv without any sound.  Rats!  I wish San Diego would cool down and actually experience Autumn so I can run outside again.  I STILL need to set up my running playlist.  Bigbadbooboodaddy, thanks for providing your running music.  Joel was busting on it a little bit.  :)   Although he has little room to talk because he listens to Pantera.

Color Me a Mizuno Convert. Yeah!

Now i know why everyone swears by this brand. Took my new untested Wave Riders out for a 6 mile ride through my hills route yesterday. Unbelievable, airy feeling running in these shoes. Walking in them, they feel a little stiff and unforgiving compared to other brands. But running in them, they're so light and surprisingly soft. No foot, hip, knee pain, or blisters. Felt an extra pep and lift in climbing the hills. Took 1:30 off my 6 mile time as well. Kudos, Mizuno.