Omaha

It's been almost a month and a half since my big PR in Oklahoma.  I finally feel like my legs are recovered and ready to run again.  Perfect timing, because training has officially started for the Omaha Marathon!

Omaha is in September and will be marathon #6!  After OKC I said I wanted to try for Boston at my next race.  To qualify for Boston I'd have to run a 3:35 marathon.  And since I ran 3:53 last time, I've obviously got some work to do. 

At one point in the past I made the goal of qualifying for Boston before my 30th birthday.  After dealing with injuries and bum knees for several years, I kind of lost hope of reaching this goal.  But this has been an amazing year as far as running is concerned, and even if it is a crack-pot goal, I think I've got to at least try. 

So Omaha it is.  Because friends, 30 is right around the corner.  I mean, don't tell anyone, but it may be happening this year.  And if you ever bring that up, I will 100% deny it.  And then I will wish horrible things will happen to you... like turning 30.  So let's just drop it.

Back to running...

I've stepped up my training program this time around.  Instead of doing Hal's novice training plan, I'm using his Intermediate plan.  I think having 5 marathons under my belt qualifies me to step up from being a novice.  I get a little nervous though because the last time I attempted this plan, I got injured.  I don't really blame the training plan though.  I blame myself for being a runner who only runs... which typically leads to injury.  So this time around I'm doing lots and lots of cross-training.  Yea cross-training!

But my super-secret weapon for knocking 20 minutes off my time* is something I started today.  I got a coach.  Yes, there are people who coach mediocre-almost-30-wannabe-fast runners.  Don't act so surprised. 

I headed up to the track at 5:30 this morning to meet my coach and a training group of 5 to do my first speed session.  We used lots of terms like "lactate threshold", "VO2 Max", "time trial", "hill repeats", and "intervals" that didn't really register with me.  But I did what he said and had a kick-butt workout.  And by kick-butt workout I mean I wanted to puke and die at the end.  But I didn't.

So there you go.  I'll be spending the next few months working my butt off, trying for what seems like a crazy-unattainable goal.  But I figure if I keep telling ya'll about it, maybe I'll be more afraid of failing, so I'll work harder.  Whatever works, right?

*Hopefully

Finders Keepers

Big trash pick-up was last week, and you know how fun that is, right?  The neighborhood is crawling with big ol' trucks out to snatch up other people's "garbage" AKA busted furniture, moldy old carpeting, and mangled lawn ornaments.  One person's trash is another person's treasure, or so they say.

To be honest, this year's big trash pickup was a bit lack luster.  There wasn't as much big trash as usual, so there weren't as many creepsters out to pick it up.  It really wasn't much of a show.

Fast forward to this week...

... I'm driving home and I see our neighbor has set out what look like two old end tables at the end of her driveway, obviously for "pick-up".  My immediate thought was, "Hey dum-dum, you're a week late!  Big Trash Pick-up was last week!"

Later I headed out for a quick late night run that took me right by the same house.  Only, the lady had obviously been out to set up the tables so that you could see they were actually sewing tables!!!  Oh my goodness!  That just changed everything!!!

After my run I attempted to pick up a table to carry home, but that was not happening.  So I headed home to find recruits.  Let me tell you how thrilled Drew was to be a part of this plan.  When he realized what I wanted he responded, "We are not picking up big trash!"

But then he remembered that I'm the boss. 

He was still not happy.  We picked up our prize and were shuffling home and he said, "You know all the neighbors are staring out their windows right now."  Yep, I know.

And then one of the legs fell off.  Ha!  He threw a fit and said no way no how were we taking this thing home, and again I had to use my powers of persuasion to get him to cooperate.  Such a baby. 

We arrived home and he literally dropped the table on the living room floor and said he wouldn't take it another step* and I was on my own to get it to the guest room where I planned to set it up.  After I dragged it about a foot across the hardwoods he rolled his eyes, huffed & puffed, and picked up his side again.

Now imagine how difficult it was to get him to take a picture of me and my prize!  But he did**.

So happy!  And sweaty.

Ummm... please ignore all the laundry and clutter that's taking over my guest room sewing room.  

Sweet Sewing Machine!!!

It took me a bit, but I finally figured out how to get it to fold down.  I honestly didn't think the machine would actually work.  I have my mom's old machine and I thought maybe I could rig it up to the table.  I almost died when I found the plug, put it in the wall, and the thing runs!  It works! 

Now you see it, now you don't.

For real, I'm so excited.  I've got some sewing to do this summer!

Speaking of summer, school is officially out.  As I was leaving this afternoon the principal showed me the tentative schedule for next year and guess who's teaching sewing?  This girl.  Ha!  I guess I'll really be spending some time with my machine this summer.

*Maybe I should have titled this post, "Drew throws a temper tantrum".
**Cause I'm the boss.

Number 5

This weekend we made a quick little trip to Oklahoma City for the 12th Annual Memorial Marathon!  It was an amazing trip, amazing race, and overall amazing weekend.  But let's talk about the race.

Drew dropped me off downtown at 5:45 for the 6:30 start.  I walked a few blocks to the starting line, stopping at a nearby church that was holding a free pancake breakfast for any and everyone.  Although it smelled amazing, I skipped the pancakes and headed to the bathroom.  The lines were long, but I will always choose a real bathroom with a sink over a port-a-john with hand sanitizer.  Have I mentioned that the part of running I like least is the inability to wash your hands?  I even brought handi-wipes with me, but forgot them in the car. 

Anyways...

I arrived at the starting line with just enough time to join the corral and the 3:50 pace group before the ceremony began.  The ceremony included 168 seconds of silence in honor of the Oklahoma City bombing that took place in 1995.  It was incredibly moving and an amazing way to start the morning.

Can you find me?!

The weather forecast called for storms, so everyone was extremely pleased with the overcast but storm-free sky.  I started out with the 3:50 pacers and felt really good.  It was incredibly humid, so despite the cooler temperatures, I was sweating like crazy.  So I was also drinking like crazy.

I was totally digging the vibe of the pace group, so I was seriously sad to leave them at mile 8 when... ahem... nature called.  Damn porta potty.  I was in and out within a couple of minutes, but the pace group was long gone.

After that I tried to pick up my pace a bit to try to catch up to the pacers, but it just didn't happen.  I felt like I'd lost my running mojo.  So I tried to focus on just enjoying the atmosphere while keeping my pace up.

Blurry.

Around mile 10 it really started to rain, but only for a few minutes.  When I hit the half-way mark I decided it was time to call in reinforcements and I pulled out my Ipod.  I had been trying not to rely on music because my Ipod died at mile 20 of Big D last year and it had a terrible effect on me.  I've been making it a habit of running with 2 Ipods ever since, but accidentally washed one last week.  Really???  1 week before the race???

The music totally revived me.  And so did the change of scenery.  The course snaked by a lake that had much better running juju than the residential neighborhoods and strip malls of the past few miles. 

Holla!

I must have been bobbing my head and hitting a good pace, because this dude saw me check my Garmin and asked what pace I was going for.  He said he was the same and that we could pace each other.  I was a bit wary at first because I really wasn't sure I could keep it up.  I told him that but he reassured me that I could and I had already made it half way and didn't even look winded.

Running Buddy.

This guy was like the best running pacer/stranger ever.  He had his headphones on too, so he didn't try to chat me up.  We just ran.  My Garmin chose this moment to go berserk on me so I couldn't see my pace anyway, so this guy really was a lifesaver.  We even passed the 3:50 pace group at one point!

No worries, they eventually passed us again, but seriously.  I was so full of self-doubt that it was an incredible boost to have someone there to push me.  Even if it was a total stranger.

Around mile 22 my running friend had to make a porta-potty stop and told me to go ahead and he'd try to catch up.  I did, but again, I totally lost my mojo.  I kind of hate that I need someone there to keep me going.  I kept telling myself that I could do it and to keep my pace up.  But it definitely fell those last few miles. 

Those last few miles were incredibly different from last year's marathon though.  My legs hurt, but I wasn't dying.  I knew I could keep going, and even though my pace slowed, I didn't walk like I did in Dallas.  I wasn't hopeless.

Finishing!

 In the end, I beat the 4:00 time goal that I've been aiming at for so long.  My official time was 3:53:26.  I was so proud.  So happy.  And so tired!

After the race, I snagged some eats and we headed back to our hotel to shower up.  I was literally soaking wet through and through!  After cleaning up, we drove back downtown to go to the OKC Memorial Museum.  Neither Drew nor I knew much about the bombings, so we were really interested.  Plus I had a free admission ticket in my virtual race bag!

The museum was really good.  I mean, obviously it wasn't exactly uplifting, but still a great experience.  I was in middle school when the attacks happened so I never really registered the impact.  If you are ever in OKC, go to the museum!  Totally worth it.

As for the race, I'm going to make a bold statement and say that #5 was #1 (sorry KC!).  I can't even explain how great a race this was. 

It started with the breakfast spread at our hotel set out at 4:30 AM just for runners.  AND they gave us a late check-out specifically so I could shower after the race.

The race start was incredibly well organized and the ceremony gave such a great touch.  The 6:30 start might sound early, but trust me, it is better than waiting until later! 

The course was well marked with frequent porta-potties. 

The drink stops were the best I've ever seen.  Each one had snacks of bananas & pretzels, plus Poweraid and water well marked. 

The volunteers and spectators were all smiles, despite the rain. 

I was offered GU and sports bars frequently. 

Even the cameras were well organized.  There were several cameras set up high, so you could see them, and actually look at the camera and smile.  The photos aren't up yet, but I'm hoping the results are better than the cringe of death race photos I usually end up with.

The finish was full of lots of tasty food that was only served to runners.  Plus it was easy to pick up the finisher's shirt and get another photo.  Oh, and Mylar blankets!  Love those things.

If you are trying to find a race to do, this is it.  I cannot say enough good things about it.

SO!  What's next?  Are you still reading this?  If so, here it is:  I want to qualify for Boston.  I'm putting it out there.  I know it will take a lot of hard work to shave another 20 minutes off my time, but I know I can do it.  I've got a race in mind and if these silly legs will cooperate, I'll be going for it in September. 

Wish me luck!