Done!

I am a 50 mile trail runner!
Instant PR, oh yeah it was my first but still.  
Details soon.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Can I?

Day #334

Today is my last day. 

This is the last day I will have to wonder, "Can I?" 

This is the last day I will have to second guess my sanity.  

Tomorrow I will seem as sane as the people who surround me for they will all be doing the same crazy thing I am doing,

pushing past what we've ever done before to prove that we can!

When today becomes tomorrow, "Can I?" becomes..

I CAN!

Three Things Thursday ~ Naked Truth Edition

The WEATHER: 

It's hard to imagine that on Tuesday night LBM was running around outside in snow and last night he was running around outside in only his Crocs.  I'll spare you the second photo.

The RACE:

I haven't even picked out a race day outfit.  It's Thursday.

  Maybe that would make it too real for me. 

I am nervous, no. 

I am excited, no. 

I am scared sh**less, no. 

I'm going puke, well maybe. 

In this blogger world filled with so much confidence it's hard to be brutally honest but I need to be.  I'm a bit freaked out about the possibility of running 50 miles.  But I am even more freaked out about the possibility of not running 50 miles.  But mostly, I'm completely freaked out about what I am going to need want to do after I prove to myself that I CAN run 50 miles. 

The GOALS:

My I FINISHED goal: To arrive on time. To start. To finish.

aka: Finish Feeling Fine having Fun

I say this at each new race but it's true.  My biggest worry is getting to the race start.  Because as you now know, I am geographically challenged.  I have a card. It's a club.  This time I will be meeting Hubbs at the hotel and he and kids ~ all three of them ~ will be hopefully able to be at the finish line.

My I CAN goal: Finish in 10:30 - 10:45.

This goal is a hard one.  I have never ran on these trails.  I have never gone this distance in one day.  I know the course is technically challenging but I have done the 2 5+ hours training runs (aka my 6ish hour 50ks) and that is a requirement so I'm told for being able to complete a 50 miler.  I feel as ready as I can be.  So based off of my most technical course I set a goal range.  The lower end of this goal is to account for more experience and better training.  The higher end is a bit of reality that so many things can happen over the distance.  I hopefully can make this goal. 

 

My I LOVE IT goal: To finish near 10 hours.

Meeting this goal would be beyond amazing.  This time would ensure snotty-nosed finish line photos from all the tears I would be crying.

My I DREAM IT goal: Under 10 hours.

As I often say, on any given day you just don't know what you are capable of until you amaze yourself doing it. I will take all the positive experience I can from this race and it's runners and volunteers no matter how my body chooses to perform on Saturday.

Wordless-ish Wednesday

Guess who comes home on Friday?

Could my weekend get any better?!



Clearly Kissing takes Concentration

Last evening S'ghetti Girl had soccer practice which meant we had to hustle to fit everything into our evening.  Add to our already busy evening a forecast of potentially violent thunderstorm and the need to pick up a few things from the store and we were pressed to make it to soccer practice on time.

Normally LBM and I might run errands during practice but we didn't want to risk a storm blowing in while we were away from the fields.  So after a quick run to the store, we made it to practice. 

LBM is not a fan of soccer practice.  Let me restate that, he is not a fan of not getting to practice himself and he quickly grows bored of mommy's lets-keep-LBM-busy antics...

...which lead to his discovery of my car keys.

You probably don't know but LBM firmly believes that he CAN drive my car.

He attempts to prove this every time we get in or out of the car.  He insists on having the car keys, tells me that he can drive and that the policeman is fine with him not having a license.

So when LBM found himself bored of my soccer skills, he quickly decided that he was going to drive me home.  In an effort to stall for the few minutes remaining in S'ghetti Girl's practice I offered to let him put the keys in the car for a kiss.

Clearly kissing me must be something he has to brace himself for.

Weekend Wrap Up ~ Ultra Busy Edition

Our family enjoyed a ultra busy weekend. 

We started out Friday evening with the drive from PA to VA and went right to the McCormick Observatory.

The kids loved it.  Three telescopes including the big one were open for public viewing.  The history surrounding the observatory was very interesting as was the museum.  Best thing, FREE!

Saturday morning we were up and off the the Farmer's Market.  Being early in the season the offerings were limited however we enjoyed seeing what vendors were there and sampling a few homemade tastes.

Of course for the kids the best vendor had puppies! 

Since we already parent two dogs and a cat, none of them came home with us.

No trip to C-ville is complete without time spent on the mall.  There is always live entertainment, good food and interesting people to see.

The kids and I went into the Discovery Museum. 

There were several different "discovery" areas to enjoy and something for all age groups.

LBM enjoyed climbing everything he could.  

Ouch $$$.

  It was entertaining for them however it was very expensive and not something we will probably do again.

LBM rode the carousel and would have stayed there for hours. 

I think he was hitting on the little Cindy-lou-hoo girl in blur.

Next up S'ghetti girl and I enjoyed the movie HOP. 

LBM enjoyed a nap so he missed out of a great show...

...and waaay too many snacks.

After all the activity we went to a Japanese steak house. 

It was delicious and entertaining.

I finished my evening with a quick run and joined the family for some down time.

Sunday morning meant breakfast and driving which can make for a hectic day.

So we stopped off at a great park we drive by on our usual route to indulge in an hour of play.

Getting home a little later was well worth the fun we had.

Sunday evening was my last long hard run before this Saturday's 50 miler.

11 miles a bit too fast on legs that didn't want to be running left me eager for bed.

Monday morning.

Day # 330

I woke up with unrested legs that had no desire to run.  How odd!

After slightly over 2.5 miles I finished with time to stretch but no time to ice my over used legs.

Maybe it was the travel time, maybe it was the busy weekend that had no regard for my personal daily routine, maybe it was the 11 too fast miles the day before.  Whatever is was it was a reminder that in the days prior to a race I really can not do anything to improve my performance at the race but I sure can do things that will hurt my performance. 

I tell myself that 2.5 miles is just right and know that when I go farther than 32 miles ~ the longest I have ever run at one time ~ I will be so happy that I allowed my legs a little "rest."

A mileage junkie to the nth degree

How'd March Go?

Monthly Miles Ran: 258.1 (Year total: 826.2)

Rest Days Taken: 0

The Streak: March 31st was Day # 326 of the streak 2675.4 miles,

445 Runs ~ ave. 8.2 miles per day/ 57 miles per week

Highest Mileage Week: 3/14 - 3/203 (DM Weeks) 66 miles

Races:

Seneca Creek Greenway Trail 50k ~ Distance and course PR ~ 6:06

The HAT Run Trail 50k ~ Second fastest 50k ~ 6:17

 

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure:

McDonald's Coffee almost every weekday morning ~ but I take my own cup!

Non-food Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure:

I am still living in compression. 

I wore my CEP compression shorts during both races and believe they made a difference in my ability to push through those last difficult miles without cramping.

Which Outfit did I Wear the Most:

I lived in One More Mile shirts, Nike shorts and my black and grey striped knee-highs this month.

What We Are Watching: 

With the Kiddos:  MegaMind

My Viewing:  127 Hours  Favorite movie of the month.

Funniest Kid Quote:

(S'ghetti girl shares loads of great conversation but LBM usually does say the cutest things)

Scene:  Me on treadmill as I stop the noisy treadmill

LBM playing in workout room

LBM, "Mommy.  You done?" in the cute young child with a head tilt way

Me, "Yep.  Are you ready to play with Mommy?" said somewhat rhetorically

LBM, "No.  Me run fast now.  Move."

Current Triumph:

Setting a new 50k PR, two weeks later completing my second fastest 50k ever on a very challenging course all while continuing my running streak.

Current Goals

Personal:

To budget both my time and money more deliberately

Running/Fitness:

To enjoy and be successful in running my first 50 mile trail race.

If successful, I will have raced 113 miles in 5 weeks ~ a new PR.

Current Blessing:

This day and all the ones that God gave me before it.

 

Current Excitement:

Family:  The continued hope that Army Son will be home soon.

Running:  At the beginning of March I was # 62 on the wait list for The Bull Run Run 50 miler.  You'd have to have just awoke from a coma to be unaware that I am finally IN!

April 9th, 50 miles here I come!

Current Concern:

Family:  Army son still is not home.  A problem with paperwork may keep him away another month.

Running:  On April 9th, I am going to be running 50 miles.

How did your March days add up?