Mercedes Marathon

I keep forgetting to post about my first marathon in February. It was a great experience and I didn't die!;) Although I hit mile 18 and pretty much hit a wall.  My final time was 4:18.  Which I am happy about.  My goal was just to finish and get under 4:30.  My calves cramped a ton after mile 23 and even had some spasms in my foot that I couldn't control, but they didn't last long.  I learned alot from that race.  Since then I ran my best 5k time post kids, 22:43. I also ran my best half marathon time on a very hilly course in Homewood, Al in 1:52.13.  My goals now are to run in Tallahassee full marathon in Feb. of 2014.  The people I train with are shooting to BQ, but I know that is a very far reaching goal for me.  I would have to get under 3:40.  I would love to break four hours in that race.  I also want to break 1:50 in the half marathon and am setting my sights on Talladega in September and Florence in October.  It is great meeting with friends pretty consistently now 2-3 times a week for speed work and hills.  Getting up at 4am doesn't seem so bad knowing I have that accountability and fun running with them.  I have also been going to body pump at the Y twice a week and spin class once a week.  I just wish I could get healthier eating habits going more consistently.  Definitely going to do better at this! All in all I'm enjoying the running experience, loving the challenges and hard work it brings.  Just hope my body holds up and my feet stay healthy...still dealing with a lot of heel pain, but getting some new shoes in the next couple of days! I am looking forward to that! Soli deo Gloria!

Well, the Mercedes Marathon is 9 days away.  I am getting nervous, but also very excited! I ran two 20 milers, both at 3 hours and 18 minutes! This past Sunday Kasey and I ran the trial course of the marathon in downtown Birmingham.  We ran it in 1 hour and 57 minutes.  I felt good about this, because my PR for 13.1 is 1:54.  We kept a steady pace, speeding up the last three miles.  My plan is to stay with Kasey for as long as I can during the marathon.  She wants to try to get an 8:50 pace.  This might be too fast for me, but I'm going to try and stay with her as long as I can anyway.  I might  regret it 16 miles in but oh well. ;) We have our last long run on Saturday, 10 miles, then just going to try to take it easy next week and not eat too much!;) Not easy with it being Valentines week, and my love for chocolate!;)

I am excited to be running with my friend Sherry, and helping her to achieve her goals.  Also been spinning with my friend Misty, and Sherry too.  We all plan to run in the Rumpshaker 5k at the end of March, which I think it will be lots of fun!

My heel feels great.  I finally went to the doctor and got some good steroids, and I can't believe the difference.  I hope it continues to feel great even though I just finished with the steroids.  So thankful for that! It makes running so much more enjoyable! Ready or not 26.2 here I come!!;)