So close!

Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon is next weekend!
Wow, back in December when I signed up for the training with Runner's World, I guess I never fully expected to get to this point. I am going to run for 26.2 miles this coming Sunday morning. This from a girl that a year and half ago thought that people who ran were crazy, crazy people. And, now I am not only running the marathon, but I also have a goal time of 4:30!
Interesting things I have learned:
1) New running terminology: PR (personal record), tapering (cutting down your weekly mileage in anticipation of the marathon), FARTLEK (I honestly really don't know what this means, but I think it is funny!), kilometers (which we all know I still haven't caught on to quite yet), splits (which I know what this means, but I have no idea how to explain it!)
2) You can get up, run early in the morning, and still go to work afterwards. I have started running at 6 a.m. two or three mornings a week-which is going to suprise a lot of people. Which means I have to get up at about 5:20 a.m. I consider 5:20 a.m. the middle of the night. So the fact that is my new wake up time is very suprising to me! And, for all you non believers out there, the sunrise is beautiful, and you really do have more energy for your day after working out in the morning.
3) Don't try to explain complicated theories you don't really understand to your husband who is super smart (he may make fun of you.) I have started taking yoga a few months ago, and had really been enjoying the benefits it has added to my running. So I am trying to explain to Stuart how it is kind of like a law of science, the one that says 'for every action, there is a opposite reaction.' Or, however that crazy saying goes. Anyways, Stuart starts asking me really hard questions like 'Who's law is that?' and 'What number law is that?' So it is Newton's first law of physics. Finally, I got fed up and explained it in my terms, yoga is the opposite of running. So they complement each other very well. And, my lovely husband replies (while laughing) that he is going to write a blog about me. Well, I beat him to it!
So I am ready to run a marathon. I am tapering right now, preparing to load up on carbs over the next week, and most important have a brand new running outfit all picked out to wear.
Oh, before I forget http://tracking.theendresultco.com/2009/okcmm/index.php
that is the web address you can register to recieve text message or email update of my porgress of my marathon if you would like to track me as I run this Sunday...
So I don't have much more to add, other than I will give you all a full report of the marathon next week!

Baby, I was born to run (in the rain, snow, sleet?)!

Saturday, March 28, 2009 6:00 a.m.-Not a drop of rain!
So the weatherman had been prediciting maybe a few inches of snow on Saturday morning, so I was up early to monitor the weather since our 20 mile run was scheduled to begin at 7:00 a.m. Since there wasn't a drop of rain outside, I thought I would stop procrastinating and head out.
6:55 a.m.-Pouring rain and thunder (what the heck was I thinking!?)
So at this point I am in my car next to April, when Kelly hops in my car. We are all debating about if they are having the run or not. Everyone is there sitting in their cars. Finally, Kelly makes a move suggesting we just go get started.
7:30 a.m.-We are jogging at a nice pace in the rain. It is about 38 degrees. Which sounds cold, but when you are running you produce a lot of heat!
Kelly and I are running directly in front of some boys that have to be either in high school or college. This is providing endless amusement for us, as they feel free to discuss all sorts of colorful topics! One of which being tights.
End of first 5 mile lap-Kathy is there waiting for us with snacks and water. We don't spend much time there. Instead we spend a good 5-10 minutes in the restrooms trying to dry out our gloves!
By this time it has went from sleet to snow. The sleet was misrable, as it hit you in the face (my only exposed surface) it hurt! So it is obviously getting colder outside. But, we smile our big girl smiles, and get back out there. We actually have a very scenic 5 mile loop, the snow is beautiful. And, it is not getting us nearly as wet as the rain, so this loop seems to go by very fast.
End of our second 5 mile lap-Kathy has bailed-lucky dog! Only a few runners are left. Kelly and I hit the road hoping that this experience will be worth it in the end! This lap turned bad very fast! The snow was coming down a lot heavier, making some of the surfaces very slick! And, the temperature has dropped a lot. We really don't even talk for most of the loop. Which if you know me (and I would assume if you are reading this you do, is very unusual for me!) At some point Kelly and I discuss the possiblity that this was a little crazy, but we both just decide that we are very dedicated. There is a very thin line between dedication, and frost bite appearently!
End of the 3rd loop (so 15 miles completed) I am starting to have second thoughts. I can't feel my toes, and my hands hurt. I had two pairs of gloves, but both are soaking wet by this point. But, we start out on the final loop. It appears that all the other runners have went home. The snow is heavy, and I am seriously worried about my toes. I think I may need them-don't they help with balance? And, since I am not all that graceful, I am pretty sure that losing one might effect my running!
When we arrive at the 11th street bridge I really notice how much snow has accumulated. Crud, I still have to drive back to Owasso. I am really conflicted at this point, I have come too far to quit is what my mind is saying, but I am also thinking none of this is going to matter if I get into a car accident. My mind is going back and forth over all of these thougths! Plus, running is sort of like the military, you don't leave a fellow runner behind. So I tell Kelly, that I think we need to go back. But, Kelly is determined to see the 20 miles through-plus, she lives within walking distance (if that was necessary) of the loop. So we part ways. I head back to my car feeling defeated, frustrated, and sad that I left Kelly! I look accoss the river for her as I am running on the other side, but the snow is too thick to see the other bank. I am so lonely at this point (so I can't imagine how Kelly felt finishing the final 4 miles). So I decided to pick up the pace, and just get back! So I end up with a little over 17 miles for the day.
Follow up to that day: Kelly finished her 20 miles, we both arrived home safely, and Owasso ended up with approximately 10 inches of snow.
Sunday, March 29, 2009-4:00 p.m.-Beautiful, sunny and 60 degrees!
I head out to Riverside thinking that I will run 3 miles just to say that I completed 20 miles. I really wasn't in the best of moods, because this felt like cheating! But, all is not lost, I ended up running 6 miles, and ran into a ton of people with Runners' World out finishing their mileage from the day before!
So 23 miles later the weekend was thankfully over!

Jack Rector Beacon 25K-2/28/09

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtjI5_K4qEU

I completed the Jack Rector Beacon 25K in OKC on 2/28/09. And, just so you don't have to complete the math, 25K=15.5 miles. This was my longest run to date!

Above is a link to me running the last half mile of the run, thanks to my friend Glen! Now before we get to the last half mile, I better start from the beginning of the day. The morning of the race brings 30-40 mph wind, and wind chills in the teens. It took some major urging that it wasn't going to be that bad to get my Aunt Susie out of the door on time. But, we were running late! When we arrived at the race, she let me out and said that she would go park my car, so that I could attempt to make the 9:00 a.m. start. Susie was going to run the 5K, but it didn't start until 9:20 a.m. So I get out of the car with approximately 5 minutes to get my chip and get lined up. So I take off running accross the park. Now, we know I am not exactly the most graceful. So I am sure we all know what is coming next, I manage not to see a wire rope in between two posts, and of course catch my foot as I am running. So I fall over the rope to the ground! Some guy comes running over asking me if I am okay, do I need to go see the medic? I let him know that I am fine, just embarrassed. So I continue on with my pride, and my knee hurting before I am even started! I get in line, and I am trying to put my chip (it records your time) on my shoe when the gun goes off. So we are off and running. The race takes place at Lake Hefner which has no wind protection, so I am bouncing around like a rag doll. But, the only thing I can think about is where is the bathroom?
Mile 1-Where is the bathroom??
Mile 2-Where is the bathroom??
Mile 3-Where is that guy going? Oh my goodness, is that a bathroom I spy? Hurry guy hurry!
Mile 4-This is about when I realize I haven't turned on my Ipod. So I start listening to my music. I also see that I am really at the back of the pack, never a good feeling.
Mile 5-6-I am just battling the wind, and praying that it will eventually be at my back.
Mile 7-8-This is when I am starting to contemplate that I don't really know exactly how the course is laid out. I am thinking that we have to run around the lake twice, but that seems way too long. Then people start coming at me, and I realize that we must have a turn around somewhere.
Mile 8-13-I picked up a new friend. She (Mary) was going to quit, but I talked her into finishing the race with me. I was kind of excited at this point, we had made the turn around, and I was realizing that we weren't going to have to run the lake twice! I was a strong woman! If I could do this in the wind-I could do anything. The marathon is going to seem easy. This is no problem, I have it. Who knows where all these crazy thoughts came from, dehydration, exhaustion.
Mile 14-15-I am pumped up! Mary tells me to go ahead, she can see that I have the energy to push hard for the final two miles. So I run hard in the wind for those miles. I can't wipe the smile off my face!
Mile 15-15.5-Who in the hell designed a course where you run by the finish line, then have to continue running a loop before you can actually go back and cross the line? But, I spy Glen and the video camera at this point, and for some reason that gives me motivation to keep going strong!
I finally cross the finish line at about 2 hours and 50 minutes. Way longer than I ever expected it to take me. But, I reason that I was practically running backwards for 75% of the race, so it was a really good time.
My aunts are waiting for me, and I am so excited to get into my warm car. But, guess what, someone accidently left the lights on (I am not naming any names), and we have to jump the car! But, all in all it was a pretty good day.
And, for anyone who is curious, yes, I have several bruises on my leg, and a scrape.