What's next?

Okay, I've decided that I need another race on my calander to start trianing again, so I've picked the Rudolph Ramble 8k on December 10. A couple of my friends are doing it too, and my sister signed up for it as well. I sent her the Hal Higdon training plan and she started it and signed up for the race already, which I think is a little crazy, because it's December in Chicago people, there could be a huge snow storm that day, so I've opted to wait to sign up until right before the race. I can't wait to start running again!

Ouch!

I am surprised! My legs were soooooo sore. The thing about stairs and not being able to go up and down them, totally true! I didn't think that was going to happen, I wasn't that sore after the 20's I did, so I figured as long as I recovered the same, I would be okay. Wrong!

Monday was okay, a little sore, but not bad. Monday evening was a little worse. By Tuesday I hurt. My quads, my hamstrings, my calfs, my back, my abs, everything hurt, I kinda felt like I got hit by a truck. I guess I'll take a couple more days off. Thursday seems a little far off for beginning again.

Then, something happened to my foot. I have pain on the bottom of my right foot along the outside. I figured I was just walking funny, so I strained it somehow, which really could still be the case, but the pain was the same all the way through Friday when I finally decided that it wasn't getting any better on it's own and I had to start icing it.

I iced it all weekend, and it does feel a little better today, but still sore. I was really affraid that I might have a stress fracture, but now I think it's just a strain of some sort. I really wanted to start running again on Monday, but I think I'm gonna wait until Wednesday.

I'm sure I've gained a couple pounds too since all I can think about is eating, and it ain't anything good! Oh well, it's time to get moving again.

I finished!!!!!

Well, it's over. I've climbed that mountain and saw what was on the other side. What a great experience! My time was 4:26 something, I can't remember the seconds right now. I was shooting for 4:30, so I met my time and saved a bit off at the end. I have to say that I might have been able to do better if I wouldn't have been sick! I had a cold for the week before and felt just terrible on Saturday, but Sunday morning I woke up feeling better. I am so happy that it wasn't really raining or snowing at the start. I did learn that it is difficult to cough while running, it kinda hurts my abs.

I don't have a real good mile by mile race report, because honestly I don't remember the first three miles or so. After the start the next thing I knew it it was about 5 miles. I do remember thinking that it felt pretty easy. I was worried about my breathing, because of the cough and all. I remember my legs feeling tired and I was worried about that because of being sick, but once I took my gel I felt better.

I did see my cousin Laurie and Patrick at the start. They were holding a sign that said "Aunt Carrie", which I saw right away because there are not that many Carrie's spelled the same way. That was great. I also heard my husband yell for me, but I didn't see him. It was very exciting the first few miles, even though it's kind of a blur. I was messing with my watch because I mixed up the settings and it was beeping when it wasn't supposed to and not beeping when I wanted it too, so I just let it go and figured I might not have great split times, but I'll know the overall time as I go.

I took my first gel at 3 miles and then took gatorade or water at pretty much every water stop. I probably didn't need that much, but that's what I did for the 1/2, so that was my plan for the full, I think it worked out good. I then decided to take a gel at 3, 8, 13, and then the one they gave us at 18. I didn't take any more after that, even though my original plan was for another one around mile 23, which now that I'm looking back on it, it might have helped because that was right when I really began to feel it. Mentally though I just couldn't take another get, I didn't even stop to drink the last 4 miles or so, I was afraid to walk for fear that I wouldn't run again.

I heard from my cousin around mile 5 on my cell phone, she kinda told me where they would be, but I didn't see them again. The next few miles were my favorite of the race, what an awesome city! This was my biggest surprise of the day, how much I really enjoyed seeing the city like this. I love this city! Running through all the neighborhoods and seeing all the people, what a great experience!

After running on the north end of the city we came back into the downtown area and there were people everywhere still. It was great to run through the city like that again. I guess this was right around the half, which my time was something like 2:12 at the 1/2 and I thought to myself that that was slower than the 1/2 I ran in August, but okay, it's windy, I'm sick, it's cold and I'm supposed to be pacing myself a little and in the 1/2 I was all out by this time. So on I went.

We came into the south end of the race just after the 1/2. If I had one suggestion for the race directors it would probably be start south and go north, only because the spectators were not there as much south, but it could have been the weather and time it took me to get to that point. Anyway, there's not much to look at there either.

I was scheduled to meet up with my family in Chinatown, which is somewhere in mile 21. I had my cell phone, so I was calling them back and forth to let them know right when I was coming. It was awesome to see them there, I gave everyone a hug and also gave my husband my fleece that I had been wearing and took off again, I was a little scared to stand still too long for fear that I wouldn't be able to start again. Chinatown was very cool and we also ran through the mexican village, which was also very cool. After I left my family I turned a corner and there was the wind, and I wished I wouldn't have given my fleece to them. After about mile 23 it was all mental. My miles slowed down about 45 seconds and I didn't stop at any of the water stops the rest of the race, I just kept going.

I remember about mile 24 a lady stepped in next to me and we ran together for awhile, until the hill. Then I saw the 800 meter sign and then I knew what was next, the hill. I'm soooo glad I knew it was coming to help me prepare mentally that that was really the last thing I had to get through and then it would be time to see the finish line. We got close to the top of the hill and I saw 400 meter sign and then around the corner and there it was, the finish. I kept it together pretty well, just focused on the finish line and looked around a little at all the people. It was an awesome feeling to cross that finish line. I hit my watch and it said 4:26 something and I was happy with that.

They put the mylar blanket around me and I got my medal. I walked around a bit and got some water and gatorade and a banana. I then went over to get my picture taken and then headed out of the runners area to find my family.

I first found my husband and just collapsed on him. I tried to put my pants back on, and that was a funny site, I'm sure. I couldn't lift my legs they were so sore and stiff. After I finally got the pants put back on we made our way over to the R section so I could see the boy's and the rest. We got over there, and the boy's ran up and gave me a big hug and I was so excited to see them, i just want them to remember this, and maybe use this someday to know that they can do the hard things in life, just put yourself into it and do it (I sound like a commercial).

My friend Joe was there too and his family. Joe ran the marathon too, he finished in 3:04!!!! It was a PR for him, I was thrilled for him. We stood around and took pictures and I was FREEZING! It was so cold after you stopped running. My parents surprised me with a marathon jacket, which I've only really taken off to sleep since the marathon. I love it. Well, that's it, my race report. I'm sure I'll have other reflections coming along soon. This report itself took about a week to write, I've been kinda busy with school since this thing ended.

4:26:37, definitely a time I can live with!

I'm sick

My body hurts, I'm super tired, my voice is funny, I'm coughing, this is what i get for having kids! I swear when I'm not looking they are licking every disgusting thing they can. I can picture it, as soon as I leave them at school they just start licking all the pencils and desktops they can and continue to do so until I pick them up. I'm glad it's not Sunday morning right now though, I've got a few days to feel better.

I do believe that the weather channel has taken out the precipitation for Sunday's forcast, or am I seeing things? I can run in the cold, I was concerned with running in the cold and the wet, but take out the wet and I'm good to go. I may even wear my shorts.

Things to Remember!!!!

1. I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength!
2. Countless pre-dawn runs in the dark around and around and around my block!
3. If I can run in all that humidity all summer, I can run in the cold - no problem
4. 14, 17, 18, 20, 20!
5. I have given birth to two children! You don't get to quit when that's going on, I'm not quitting this either!
6. Blisters, Chaffing, Physical Therapy!
7. There will be pain, but it's temporary.
8. I am so blessed to live this life and to be given this opportunity!

I'm sure there's more, but that's a good start. I want to remember these things when I'm standing at the start line.

Out of commission!

Well, I'm happy to say I have not been out of commission because of an injury or anything like that. There was a death though, my computer died. This is my new computer that is MUCH faster and prettier than my old computer. Anyway, I'm way behind on my posts.

The rest of training went pretty good. My last 20 kinda sucked, but I finished it and learned not to slack on preparedness. I think I thought, "oh, I've done this before and it was fine" well, not so much. But, lesson learned and I'm going to be better prepared all around for the marathon itself. Anyone else feel like we are not even training anymore for anything? It's kinda weird. I've been looking forward to the taper for awhile and now that it's here I want it to be over. I can't wait to get out there and run.

I'm trying to find the balance between getting all excited about the big day and staying calm as to not screw up the big day, you know what I mean? I've been watching the video's on Chicago marathon.com and that other one Running With the Gods just to get revved up, I was crying the other night watching them. My husband is being very supportive and encouraging about not freaking out.

I've decided I am not going to freak out about the weather. Yeah, the weather channel says it's going to be pretty crappy on Sunday, but it's only Tuesday, so we'll see. Even if it is going to be crappy, I can't do anything about it, it will just change my outfit a little, but I'll survive and not freak out. I'm sticking to not freaking out.

Alright, I've got to get back to the business of tapering, which means obsessively looking for more marathon people on the web to read about their plans and how their tapers are going. I should be using my time more wisely, but my mind is a little pre-occupied and I can't think real straight and I am a little unreachable by my friends and family, anyone else like this? It's a weird discovery about this marathon thing. I had to come home twice yesterday because I forgot things at home that I needed for my kids school and then I went to my own school and almost got to class before I remembered I forgot something at home AGAIN! A lot of back and forth yesterday, I can't think straight. I hope my brain returns after this thing.