Relay

I'm running in the Oakland Running Festival this coming Sunday. This is the first marathon that Oakland has hosted in 25 years, so it's going to be a pretty big, and exciting event. There is a 5K, a 10K, a 1/2 marathon, a marathon, and a 4-person team relay marathon.

I'm running in the relay marathon! I'm excited to be a part of the Oakland community in this way since I don't feel like I've done a TON in Oakland yet, plus I've never done a relay before so that will be fun to try out. The route goes practically all over Oakland so it will be fun to run through areas which are usually too busy to run through and see them from a different vantage point.

I can't say I've been training super well for this event, though I did my last long run today of 7 miles (my leg is 7.5) so I did at least get all my long runs in and I've been doing a lot of cross training so I know I'll be able to do it with relatively little pain - but not at a very fast pace. ;)

Wish our Team - "ShoesMove - luck!!!!

Yeah...um...I didn't name us.

Running

I'm making Jenny do the cowtown half marathon. Supposedly you get a cow bell at the end. I mean, HELL-O how could we NOT do this.

Anyway running sucks. I've gone 3 times so far this week and the first one I swear to God I am now 200lbs 'cause that's how much I felt like I was dragging down the street. The other two were much easier though, thank God, but they still sucked. I don't remember being this slow before.

I need new running shoes, though. Jess' face exhibited nothing less than horror when she examined mine yesterday. Hopefully that will help some.

Also, anyone who is anyone is doing the Bay to Breakers run in May, although, sadly, they have banned nudity and drinking this year. I highly doubt that will stop anyone...except the mail room man I know who plans to find a flesh-colored speedo and attach "something" to it. I hope he either runs a lot faster than me or a lot slower...most likely faster at the rate I'm going.

Runrunnyrun

It's been a while!!!

A while since...what? Since I blogged of course...and um...ran. hah.

The half-marathon went pretty well. I did not have a good time. But I learned a couple very important things. 1) do not have any milk before you go run that early in the morning. 2) I do not do well with gu packets on a mostly empty stomach - they make me nauseated.

Anyway, I basically felt like puking the entire time because of the aforementioned things...but I still finished the race! I ran most of it, but had to walk the hilly part in the middle. I really really want to do it again though and figure out how best to eat in the morning without making myself sick!

It was a gorgeous route - you see a LOT of San Francisco and then end up on the ocean! aaaah, I love this place.

Anyway since then running has been sparse for a variety of reasons. But last week I went a couple times and ran my first sub-9 minute mile! That was exciting.

As soon as finals are over, running must get back to a regular schedule. I'm trying to run at least twice a week right now though...

At least there is now SNOW here like for some people. wahahah!

Time to Pay the Piper...

In less than 48 hours I will be running my first half-marathon.

I'm kinda nervous and kind of excited at the same time. I'm really worried that when I get there I'm going to get so nervous I'm going to do horribly. But my plan is to tune everyone out except to cheer them on in my head. And the route is going to be GORGEOUS so I'm looking forward to distracting myself by looking out to the ocean.

I've trained enough, I know I can do the mileage. It's just making sure my mind doesn't get the better of me! And, seeing how fast I can do it :) I am aiming for under 2:30 but I'd really like to do it and average 10min. miles (so a little over 2:11). I generally can average 9-10min miles, unless there are hills and then it's variable (depending on different factors) - well this run has HILLS let me tell you.

Anyway, I am looking forward to it 'cause I think it will be fun, and I am gonna feel happy to have just finished it!

Wish me luck :)