Summer RUNdown

Welcome back, blogosphere!  Where have you been?!  Okay, okay, it was actually me that disappeared.  Sorry about that.  I've still been super dehydrated from Boston, so I've been standing next to my sink this whole time.  

Okay, no, that is not true.  I've been next to the garden hose.  Okay, no.  Actually, I recovered very well from Boston.  I didn't need more than two days off, and I was back at it again.  The heat obviously drained me, but since I ran so much slower than prepared to run, my legs were actually very...springy.  It also helped that the temperatures returned to normal; it's funny how traveling back down south gave us cooler temps! 

Eight days after Boston, I went back to the track:  16 x400's with 5 seconds less rest on each one until I was only down to 20 seconds rest.  I averaged 1:25, and my legs felt solid.  Therefore, I decided to try the Pittsburgh Marathon again on May 6th or the Pocono Mountain Run for the Red Marathon on May 20th.

Then, plans changed.  The weekend of April 28th, two weeks post-Boston, Mike competed in the Cohutta 100-mile mountain bike race in Tennessee.  During that weekend, I was supposed to run an easy 6-8 miles one day, followed by a 60-minute run with 5x 5-minutes at 6:20 pace afterwards the next day.  Problem was, being in the mountains, I got really excited and started climbing up any mountain I could find on the easy day.  Greensboro might be "hilly", but mountains are mountains...and they were awesome!  Needless to say, it was not "easy", and therefore, my 5x5 the next day did not, um, happen.

Mike's turn to crush it!

Point being, I was enjoying just being out there and..........running.  Where I wanted.  How fast I wanted.  How far I wanted.  No expectations or limits.  Since the beginning of February, I diligently stuck to a new training plan and did what it took to run well in Boston.  Now, post-Boston and unsatisfied, I was tinkering between going back for the time I deserved or forcing myself to be content with the day, as it was, and relieving myself of the emotional hype that goes into marathon training.  In the end, the latter won.  Plus, there was no guarantee that my body would continue to hold up after already having run two marathons and a half-marathon in only four months.  I was also entering a very busy two weeks at work, and quite frankly, the thought of both was kinda, sorta, maybe stressing me out.

I am also down two toenails.  Not that this would ever keep me from running, but my right foot has already lost its second toenail, and the big toenail is dangling by a thread.  Yes, dangling by a thread.  Oh, are you eating lunch right now?  Is it yummy?  Oh, you didn't hear me?  I said MY TOENAIL IS DANGLING BY A THREAD.  I will spare you the picture.  I am also finally getting a pedicure today.  Perhaps I will ask for the marathon-feet-eight-toenails-only discount.......... ;)

So, that is that.  There will be more marathons, just not right now.  I will say though, I have a hard time talking to someone about Boston that has no clue what it means to run a marathon, add to that, one in 90 degrees.  Some comments:  "So, you mean you couldn't run faster just because it was hot?"  "Wait, that was your official time?"  "Well, didn't they have water out there?"  "I know how you feel...I ran a 5K in the heat, but I was actually okay."  .....................barf.

I find my mind to be a little all over the place all the time lately too.    I definitely have thoughts of running an ultra-marathon, and Mike and I have both been challenged by our Navy Seal friend to compete in the Lake Placid Ironman one of these years (note-to-self:  learn how to swim, k thanks).  Both would be a great challenge, and I always need a challenging goal.  'Tis what makes me tick!

Speaking of making me tick, I am very excited for the Olympics this summer!  First up, we have the Tour de Druggies France beginning on June 30th, with the Olympics following in July and August.  This past Friday night, we watched the USA Olympic 10K trials, and I gotta say, I am cheering for Amy Hastings all the way to London and back.  What an incredible, gutsy race she ran.  As she started making her move around Shalane on that final turn, I was on my feet screaming at the television screen, ya know, just in case she could hear me.  When we were in Houston in January, Amy shot the shit (uh, sorry, there was no better way for me to say that) with Emily and I post-race, so graciously handling her one-woman-out fourth place finish in the Marathon trials.  Meanwhile, when Emily and I asked Shalane, who won the Marathon trials, for a photo that same day, she looked at us like we had two heads*.  Now, granted, I cannot even begin to imagine what it is like handling the pressure, media, and fans while being at the top of your field.  I am also excited to see just how far Galen Rupp will go.  ...And let's not forget Ritzenhein; after being heartbroken for him after his fourth place finish in Houston, he makes his third trip to the Olympics in the 10K.  Go Ritz!

* no, it does not matter that we interrupted her conversation with someone else to ask for the photo.  I mean, we are Jen and Emily after all.  VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE.  Sheesh!

So, that's where I'm at.  After my reject-pedicure today, I am going to head out for a longer run.  And by longer, I mean where I want, how fast I want, and how long I want.  ...just because I love it, and because I can!

  I've also decided NOT to spare you the picture of my lack-of toenails.  So, here you go.  Dangler on the left and missing toenail (with the actual toenail below it) on the right.  At least I gave you enough time to finish your lunch!  You're welcome. :)

Happy Running!