Dave and I did our long run together this weekend on Saturday. It was a rare treat to be able to run together. We did most of our long runs together when we were training for our first half marathon in the winter of 2007, but haven't been able to run together a lot since that race. It was nice to leave my ipod at home and talk while we ran. I did need to remind Dave of the talking while running etiquette: Whoever is having the easier time running does most of the talking. Meaning: Dave please keep me entertained for the next hour and twenty minutes. He was happy to oblige. We had planned on doing 9 or maybe 10 if I felt good. I did, so we ran the full 10 miles. We laughed a little when we remembered getting ready for our first half marathon. The day we did 8 miles for the first time I thought my legs were going to stop moving. I remember passing Applebees on Grant's Trail and needed to use everything to keep picking my feet up. Its amazing how much easier 8 miles seems now. The best news of the run? Dave said that he was happy with my pace, Hooray!
Today fall weather seems to have rolled in. Both Dave and I ran during soccer practice in long sleeve shirts. Dave did 5 miles and I did 4 miles around the track. I've started to have a new respect for the laps around the track. Its a great way to watch my pace in quarter mile segments. It will make running negative splits easy, if I ever decide to torture myself with that.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Week 1: Official Training Begins
Last weekend, we started our official training for the marathon. Before that, Dave and I were both preparing for the Lewis and Clark as our main priority. Dave completed this week's long run with the TNT group at Forest Park. He finished 9 miles. As soon as he got home, I left to run 8 miles near our house. I was a little nervous about starting at that distance, but I did fine. I do need to remember to eat breakfast before running, instead of just drinking coffee. I ran out of energy near mile 3. Luckily I had gatorade and that gave me enough of a boost to finish. Our goal is try to get 15-18 miles in during the week and then add our long run on the weekend. It looks like we'll be increasing our long runs by one mile almost every week. Our longest runs should be Dec. 13 and 20.
The kids helped with our fundraising this week by sending letters to their teachers and pastors at school. Lucas wrote the letter and both kids signed it. Everyone has been very supportive and generous so far! We also worked on getting some updates out and letters to new people; so maybe some new supporters are checking out our training this week. Thanks to everyone who has helped! We still have a long way to go with our training, but our progress with fundraising has been very exciting. Hopefully we can meet and exceed our goal of $5000 by the fundraising deadline at the end of November.
The kids helped with our fundraising this week by sending letters to their teachers and pastors at school. Lucas wrote the letter and both kids signed it. Everyone has been very supportive and generous so far! We also worked on getting some updates out and letters to new people; so maybe some new supporters are checking out our training this week. Thanks to everyone who has helped! We still have a long way to go with our training, but our progress with fundraising has been very exciting. Hopefully we can meet and exceed our goal of $5000 by the fundraising deadline at the end of November.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
10.crazy
By the time Ike arrived in St. Louis on Sept. 14th, it was only a tropical depression, but for 10 miles it felt like a full-blown hurricane.
All week leading up to the Lewis and Clark Marathon we watched the weather reports. Ike kept coming and our weather looked bleaker and bleaker. Friday night the Weather Channel posted flood warnings in St. Charles along the Missouri River- the location of the race. The final forecast on Saturday predicted that Ike would hit St. Louis, with up to 10 inches of rain and wind gusts of 30+ mph, at sunrise- the start time of the race. The predictions were dead on.
When we woke at 4:15am the rain was slowing. By the time we left our house it had all but stopped, I was starting to relax. At 5:45am, as we cruised down 270, the rain returned. And got worse. And then it got even worse. By the time we pulled onto the parking lot at the race start it was 6:55am, 10 minutes after the planned start time, and the rain and wind were unbelievable. (If you follow the link to the Lewis and Clark Marathon site, check out video #3. The view from that car is priceless.) We got out of the car, stepped in a river over our ankles, became fully soaked in seconds, and started to walk to the starting line. I'm pretty sure I screamed most of the way. The strangest thing was that we were not the only people there. The parking lots were full. All around us people were heading to the start line too.
Once we starting running, our moods changed. We got into it. This was fun. Or at least this was crazy! Most people were running in garbage bags or ponchos. A few brave souls bare-chested it. Dave and I sported jackets and hats from the Go! Marathon in April. Dave also wore sunglasses?! My water resistant jacket soon proved to be not that at all, but I kept it on because it instead, and more importantly, protected my arms from the driving rain. At several points I had to run with my hands behind my back because the rain was just that painful. Around mile 4 we began the singing the rain medley: I love a rainy night, Raindrops on roses, Raindrops keep falling on my head, Singing in the rain, Noah's rise and shine song (complete with hand motions), Fire and Rain (more on that later). I'm sure the people around us loved it. One girl said she'd have to stay with us cause her ipod died, but I don't think I saw her for long. Generally people were happy. Yes the weather sucked, but we were there and we were doing it.
At mile 7, we were informed that the course changed. Remember the flood warnings? Apparently 3 miles of the course were right on the river in a flood plain. At mile 8, we were informed that the race was stopping at mile 10. We only had 2 miles to go. I ate the world's best Jolly Rancher that I had gotten from a volunteer. We started to see people running toward us from the finish line trying to get a full half marathon in. We decided against that; we were happy with our accomplishment, our 10.crazy miles!
As a life experience, this race will probably not be matched. As step on our training, it was 10 miles in poor weather conditions. This weekend we get serious about training for Disney. We have less than four months. Dave went out for his first post-hurricane run today and I'll go out tomorrow morning. This weekend looks like 8 miles.
I can't forget the final disaster: On our way home, we stopped for pancakes at IHOP and started to regret the James Taylor. As we finished up, the fire department came roaring onto the lot. Our waitress informed us that there was a fire, but they couldn't find it. We left in a hurry.
All week leading up to the Lewis and Clark Marathon we watched the weather reports. Ike kept coming and our weather looked bleaker and bleaker. Friday night the Weather Channel posted flood warnings in St. Charles along the Missouri River- the location of the race. The final forecast on Saturday predicted that Ike would hit St. Louis, with up to 10 inches of rain and wind gusts of 30+ mph, at sunrise- the start time of the race. The predictions were dead on.
When we woke at 4:15am the rain was slowing. By the time we left our house it had all but stopped, I was starting to relax. At 5:45am, as we cruised down 270, the rain returned. And got worse. And then it got even worse. By the time we pulled onto the parking lot at the race start it was 6:55am, 10 minutes after the planned start time, and the rain and wind were unbelievable. (If you follow the link to the Lewis and Clark Marathon site, check out video #3. The view from that car is priceless.) We got out of the car, stepped in a river over our ankles, became fully soaked in seconds, and started to walk to the starting line. I'm pretty sure I screamed most of the way. The strangest thing was that we were not the only people there. The parking lots were full. All around us people were heading to the start line too.
Once we starting running, our moods changed. We got into it. This was fun. Or at least this was crazy! Most people were running in garbage bags or ponchos. A few brave souls bare-chested it. Dave and I sported jackets and hats from the Go! Marathon in April. Dave also wore sunglasses?! My water resistant jacket soon proved to be not that at all, but I kept it on because it instead, and more importantly, protected my arms from the driving rain. At several points I had to run with my hands behind my back because the rain was just that painful. Around mile 4 we began the singing the rain medley: I love a rainy night, Raindrops on roses, Raindrops keep falling on my head, Singing in the rain, Noah's rise and shine song (complete with hand motions), Fire and Rain (more on that later). I'm sure the people around us loved it. One girl said she'd have to stay with us cause her ipod died, but I don't think I saw her for long. Generally people were happy. Yes the weather sucked, but we were there and we were doing it.
At mile 7, we were informed that the course changed. Remember the flood warnings? Apparently 3 miles of the course were right on the river in a flood plain. At mile 8, we were informed that the race was stopping at mile 10. We only had 2 miles to go. I ate the world's best Jolly Rancher that I had gotten from a volunteer. We started to see people running toward us from the finish line trying to get a full half marathon in. We decided against that; we were happy with our accomplishment, our 10.crazy miles!
As a life experience, this race will probably not be matched. As step on our training, it was 10 miles in poor weather conditions. This weekend we get serious about training for Disney. We have less than four months. Dave went out for his first post-hurricane run today and I'll go out tomorrow morning. This weekend looks like 8 miles.
I can't forget the final disaster: On our way home, we stopped for pancakes at IHOP and started to regret the James Taylor. As we finished up, the fire department came roaring onto the lot. Our waitress informed us that there was a fire, but they couldn't find it. We left in a hurry.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
New Fundraising Goal: $5000!
This week Dave increased his fundraising goal to $5000. Thanks to everyone who has already generously given, Dave was close to reaching the minimum goal set by Team in Training. We decided to raise our goal and continue working to raise as much money as we can for this great cause! We have plans to send more emails and letters out soon and Dave may come to a church or school near you asking for donations. While the race is certainly an exciting event to look forward to, I know that this fundraising is more thrilling for Dave.
This week Dave did his long training run at Creve Coeur Lake with the TNT group. He did two laps around the lake, just about 7 miles. The first lap was still foggy enough that he couldn't see to the other side of the lake. I think he will try to train with that group at least once or twice a month. We haven't figured out how we are going to train together on the weekends, but I'm hoping we will do some of our long runs together. Its easier to run for hours if you're with someone else. Plus, if we run at my speed, Dave should be able to talk and entertain me the whole time. I, of course, will respond minimally. Dave did tell me that there were a couple of guys at the training run that were faster than him- good! I finished my pre-Lewis and Clark training with a short 4 miler today at the high school track. We did a lot of runs there this summer, so it was fun to finish our race training there. I've been putting in more run time during the week than usual to build up to the marathon training that I will officially start in two weeks. After my summer traithlon cross-training, its been relaxing to switch to all running, but I can tell it takes a different toll on my body. I'm hoping that I can schedule a bike or swim workout each week. I do feel good about getting several 4-6 mile workouts during the week though. Thank goodness its getting cooler!
This week Dave did his long training run at Creve Coeur Lake with the TNT group. He did two laps around the lake, just about 7 miles. The first lap was still foggy enough that he couldn't see to the other side of the lake. I think he will try to train with that group at least once or twice a month. We haven't figured out how we are going to train together on the weekends, but I'm hoping we will do some of our long runs together. Its easier to run for hours if you're with someone else. Plus, if we run at my speed, Dave should be able to talk and entertain me the whole time. I, of course, will respond minimally. Dave did tell me that there were a couple of guys at the training run that were faster than him- good! I finished my pre-Lewis and Clark training with a short 4 miler today at the high school track. We did a lot of runs there this summer, so it was fun to finish our race training there. I've been putting in more run time during the week than usual to build up to the marathon training that I will officially start in two weeks. After my summer traithlon cross-training, its been relaxing to switch to all running, but I can tell it takes a different toll on my body. I'm hoping that I can schedule a bike or swim workout each week. I do feel good about getting several 4-6 mile workouts during the week though. Thank goodness its getting cooler!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Training in Rockford
We just returned from a holiday weekend in Rockford. Saturday morning Dave and I went out for a run on a local bike path. It was nice and cool. It was a big change from last weekend's run. I did 8 miles and Dave ran 12 miles. We have 2 weeks until the Lewis and Clark marathon so next week will be a taper week for us. Dave and I will probably do around 6 miles. Donations are rolling in and we thank everyone who has visited David's site or donated this week!
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