That moment....

...when you get your training plan for the coming month and see your first 20miler...

I mean, you know it's coming; you're expecting it (though maybe not THIS soon....).
Nevertheless, this face still happens:

#canIgobacktohalfirontraining

#chicagobound

Does anyone know what day it is???

Something's been missing

It's no secret that I'm getting ready to run my first marathon this weekend (see previous post).  Every once in a while, I have mentioned training, but you may have noticed I have not giving "updates" like I did when getting ready for the Flying Pirate half marathon back in April.  It's not that I haven't wanted to share, but there are only so many times you might want to read, "I ran today," because my friends, when you are training for a marathon, your life basically consists of a combination of three things,

• eat
• run/cross train
• sleep

and then, the rest of life's little pleasures like working and such, you fit in around those 3 basic elements.

Now I will recap 16 weeks of marathon training in one swoop .....

And there you have it.

It's been the longest, yet fastest, 16 weeks I've ever experienced.

Let the carb load commence.

Oorah.

Dear Jyl,

So, I've been trying to come up with a really cool gift or something to send you off on your marathon adventure in Nashville.

At first I was going to give you a get well basket, but your mom took care of that.  Your brother has you all set up on the Boston Red Sox hat and Sam Adams Boston Marathon commemorative beer.  So...what does that leave?  Those are already the most awesomnest of gifts ever...

And then I thought I might get you jewelry.  A pendant more specifically, for you to put on your shoe when you're running that day.  And then all the inscriptions were so....and I'm like, "how dorky is that".  I need to come up with something completely awesome and cool because Jyl has rocked her training, has pulled me through my own, so I need to come up with something great to say "Thanks.  You're awesome.  It's going to be fantastic...."  all those things rolled into one little somethin' somethin'.

And then it hit me.  

Now, what I came up with, I can't actually give you....but I can sure as hell post it:

Even if I'm not "there", remember I'm with you every step of the way.  Imagine me talking nonsense, making you laugh with stories of Darth and other dumb stuff I do.  

Yes, it might hurt.  It might suck at times and if you plan on stopping, just remember what you told me a week or two ago when I didn't know if I could...

Just keep going.

And when you cross that finish line?  Man o man!

Now....go kill it!  And I'll be waiting for you to get back, with a grilled cheese in hand.  

See ya on the flip side,

Hope

For this Valentine's Day...

What I would REALLY like to do:

What I will REALLY be doing:

Training Update

It has just occurred to me that I have been talking a lot about a lot of things, except my training for the Flying Pirate.  I did tell you I registered and I have mentioned my love/hate relationship with swimming, but the rest of my posts have been fluffy, and many times, ABOUT my fluffy.  So, as I have just completed my first month of half marathon training, I thought I'd give a visual recap of weeks 1 - 4 in my favorite (and given my artistic ability, only) medium.

Training Week 1

Training Week 2

Training Week 3

Training Week 4

EDIT:
Now, this past Saturday, I'm proud to announce that I have reached another runner's milestone (My first was losing a toe nail.  I did take a picture.  You can thank me later for not sharing.) with my friend, Jyl.

TEN MILES, BABY!!!

Jyl (wearing Dukie colors) and Me (wearing Davidson red and black!)
in front of our after-run coffee shop, Summit Coffee.
Best base camp EVER.