48 Hours Left!

Here come the nerves! Tapering is so hard on the mind! I feel like I haven't ran in forever. Most marathon runners fear the two taper weeks but I told myself not to worry about it. Now that the marathon is almost here and peak week was a few weeks ago, I hope I have trained hard enough. I have, I know I have. I think I can, I think I can...

Only 3 Days til the Marathon!

ONLY 4 DAYS TIL THE BASS PRO SHOP MARATHON!!!

We are getting really excited. :)

Running in the Dark

This morning we had a 7 mile hill work out and ran it around Plainview road and the Rivercut area. Plainview was fine because it is along a busy road, lined with houses, and lit. I was scared, almost to tears, when we were running out by Rivercut. It was pitch dark so I couldn't see where I was going and I kept hearing noises. I would see bushes move as animals stirred, deer running in the fields, the weeds would brush by my legs and this would all freak me out! I was just waiting for a mountain lion to jump off the rocks and have me for an early morning snack. Plus I couldn't see the sidewalk where there could be dreaded wire rings that trip me (I still have flashbacks and nightmares). I was so tense it was ridiculous! Maybe I am a drama queen but we ended up cutting it short last hill of the Rivercut portion and added a bit to the end of the Plainview portion.
I do not see how people live out in the country. I am so scared to be in the woods in the dark. I feel much safer in my neighborhood (even though my neighbors "roll out" together in their pimped out SUVs and we have the occasional coked out hommie at our door). I just like all the lights and people around. That is comforting to me :)
~Aimee

Kickin Asphalt Takin Names

So we are officially two weeks away from the Bass Pro Marathon and we have begun "the taper". This is the time you take it easy, lower the mileage, and begin to worry you are not doing enough to complete a full marathon. Like most runners, I too struggle with this down time, so for our last long run (16 miles) on Sunday I decided I needed to run at pace to build my confidence. And run at pace I did, finishing the 16 miles in exactly 1:56:00 (Boston Pace)! Now, if I can only do this for 10 more miles. Man, after running 16 miles, 10 more always seems like so much more!

I am sure Aimee will blog about this, but she too ran her butt off. I am so proud of all the work she has put in and the improvements she has made in her running. A lot of times when people talk to Aimee and I about running they always ask me how running is going and not Aimee. After our next marathon, with the way Aimee is progressing, I doubt this will be the case.

AHH...I'm scared! And not of Ghosts and Goblins

Tomorrow we are running a 22 mile long run around town. Basically, we are running the marathon course minus the area that is shut down right now because of construction at James River and 65 hwy (will be opened with a temporary trail for race day only). I know I can make it, but I am scared that I won't be able to finish in a good time. There is no reason for me to think that I wouldn't do well, but it will be more hilly than the last course when we ran 20 a few weeks ago and the hills really scare me. AHHHH!
~Aimee

Stella got her groove back

Ok, maybe not quite like Stella, but...
Wednesday I woke up excited about running again because we were running Yasso 800's. I think it really helps to do a "tempo", "hill", "speedwork" run instead of just 6,7,8 miles easy because it gets so boring! I never thought I would say that I liked speed work more than an easy long run but right now it distracts my mind.
Yasso 800's are "marathon predictors". Whatever time you run your 800 in, you turn it into hours and minutes to predict your marathon time (of course when the yasso's are used as part of a whole marathon training schedule). I don't know if it is true, but I would like to think that it is going to work for me. My easy marathon goal is 4:00, main goal is 3:40, and ultimate goal is 3:34. I ran all 8 yasso's in the 3:20's (range from 3:22-3:29). And, I really enjoyed it. I almost puked after the last one which made me happy that I ran them hard. Yikes, that sounded a little sick/morbid/weird.
So, thanks for your thoughts and prayers for my inspiration. Please keep them coming because we have a 10K race tomorrow, 22 mile run Sunday, and then of course the marathon.
~Aimee