Getting Excited

I think my last post made it look like I was not thrilled about running this weekend.   I am feeling better about it, and Ryan isn't upset about it, and in fact, is going to be going on a camping/climbing with the youth from our church in the Red River Gorge, so he is pretty excited about that.  It was totally last minute, but it is helping Ryan enjoy the weekend and do something he hasn't done in a while.  We haven't climbed outdoors in what feels like forever; since Soren was born.  Ryan has climbed indoor since, but I have not climbed at all since Soren was born.  I enjoy it, but I would rather bike if I have the free time to workout.  Hopefully now that the kids are getting older, I can get back to it.  But I digress.  The point of this is that the weekend should be pretty awesome for both of us.  My parents are coming into town to watch the kids while I run.  I am glad I am racing, otherwise I would just be hanging out with the kids all day.  I don't think it would have been as easy to convince my parents to come down unless I had this race.  Also, it is a fun way to get in a decent long run.  Will I be fast?  I have no idea.  I plan to start out very conservative, make it through the hilly section that starts at mile 3ish, and then see what I have left.  I am not going to shoot for anything.  It is a smaller race, with about 2800 people.  I am hoping I can be in the top 10 in my AG, if not place.  Although, since it is hilly, perhaps only fast people will show up.  I don't know.  It is hard to set goals like this because it isn't up to me. I am just saying top 10 because at Detroit I was 12 out of 800 people in my age group.  I am not sure how many people were in my age group in Indy, the results didn't display the same, but I was 15th there, and the field was just a tad smaller.  I am not sure the AG size.  Anyway, I am thinking I will try to settle into a pace, and then just try to hold my standing and not get passed.  I want to go out and enjoy the priveledge of being able to run 13.1 on a fall Saturday morning.  The course goes through the parks where I rode over the summer.  I did run here a couple times, with the stroller, and I got my rear handed to me.  Hopefully it won't be as bad without the stroller.  Hopefully all this racing I did will just help me. 

I went to the expo (or non expo, I should say), and got my packet.  It was one of those virtual packets, which I love because it is just less junk to sort through.  The chip is in a big foam rectangle stuck on the back of the bib.  It wasn't really an expo, just a room not even the size of our living room, where you could pick up your bib, shirt, and a clif shot.  They didn't have any cool signs or anything to stand by for a picture.  They did have a medal and a small sign.  Soren stood by it for the picture since he was the perfect size.

I was really happy with the shirt.  Here are a couple pictures:

It is pretty much the long sleeve version of the shirt from Indy, with less stuff printed on it.  Major plus.  My shirt from Indy stuck up a bit on my shoulders (hopefully it will lay down better once it is washed), so that bummed me out since it is Adidas. The Boston gear is Adidas, and I was worried that I wouldn't fit well into it.  That would make me super sad.  However, the long sleeve version of the shirt fit perfectly!  Maybe it was just the weight of the sleeves that pulled it down, or I have a funny one from Indy.  Either way, my doubts have been put aside that my Boston gear will look bad on me, once I get it. 

Anyway, I am still working on my neighbor to run.  She is entered, and I got her stuff for her today.  She would be a good running partner for a couple of the ladies from my rides, so hopefully I can hook them up with each other before the race.  I hope she does it.  She was part of the reason I signed up.  It is opening day for hunting season, so her husband is going to be out of town.  She has sitter options, but that is weighing on her decision.  It would not be super fun to watch the kids all weekend after killing yourself on a half marathon.  I am excited to race with Rhonda, who was my fearless leader of the VO2's chick rides on Monday.  She did IM LOU, and was the one who dragged me down to the Underpants Run.  It will be fun to race with these ladies!  Just about everyone in this pic shouold be down there!

Not to leave out Keira, here is a picture of her from yesterday.

We turned the house into a dance party, and just one tutu was not enough for her!  (and yes, she is using the foam roller as a stool).  My hip was actually sore from all the dancing!  I pulled it last year slightly while trying to zip up a knee high boot while wearing a super snug old bridesmaid dress for my Halloween costume, a queen since Keira was a princess.  I could not breath in it, or bend over to zip my boot, either, apparently.  I am sure I will be fine for race day, it hasn't bothered me in a long time.  I always feel so achey on my taper.  I am looking forward to just working out again, though, and be done with this taper/recovery cycle that I have been in for about the last month or so. I'll need a few days for recovery next week, but then I can add back those swims I have been skipping and get some time in on the trainer.