I DID IT!

This is me after being told I only had 1.75 miles to the finish. YEEHAW!

It was over 90 degrees. It took me a little over 9.5 hours.

I'm super duper happy. No knee pain AT ALL.

I will post a full report with lots of beautiful pictures, in the next day or so.


Until later.............

Gratitude and Excitement

First of all, I would like to thank each and every one of you nice people that read my blog and responded with such positive comments. I kept reading the comments over and over throughout the last couple of days and it really helped calm me down. I appreciate them SO MUCH. You guys are GREAT!

Like I always do two nights before a "race", I went out for pasta. Chicken Fettuccine was the choice tonight. I couldn't finish the entire plate so I will have the rest for lunch tomorrow. What? I couldn't finish the whole plate? No!!! I had to save room for dessert. LOL

I'm back to being excited about Sunday. Just a tad concerned about the temperature. Now they are saying it's going to be 86 to 90 degrees. I originally had thoughts of wearing a waist pack with one 20 ounce bottle. But now, without a doubt, I am wearing my Nathan hydration pack which will hold, if I need it, 1.75 liters. I will be bringing margarita flavored Clif shot bloks because they have more sodium. I will be sure to drink lots of fluids and soak my head whenever possible.

As usual, my goal is to complete the distance and not be DFL. If I am to be honest, (which I always am) I expect my finish time to be 8-10 hours. When I do the Golden Hills Trail Marathon, my finishing times have been 6:38 and 6:28. With the elevation of this marathon, I think I can easily add on another couple of hours. Do I want to be out in that heat for that long? Uh, that would be a big hell no! But, I have a feeling that's what it is going to take.

Now, maybe some of you are thinking, "then why the heck are you doing this?" Well I will tell you just a few reasons. 1) Because I will get to see some of my friends (either running or volunteering). 2) I've never been to the top of Mt. Diablo and this is one way for me to get there. The scenery is supposed to be spectacular. 3) I want to see if I can. 4) Aid station treats!

I plan on taking it one step at a time and making sure each step I take is leading me in a forward direction. I have to remember to breathe deeply and take in the beauty of the day. I hope to have lots of great pictures to share with you all.

One more day and I get to run. Yup, I'm excited! ;)

Until later.............

One second at a time

I wish I felt like Bella did this morning, happy and carefree. Just jazzed to be here.

But I don't. I have worries. Second by second, my mind changes. One second: I can do it! Next second: Oh crap, what the hell am I getting myself into? Literally, second by second!! It is driving me completely NUTS!

As I mentioned before, I am doing this marathon Sunday: Diablo (Apr 19)

I did my last long run a week ago. Since then I have done little things here and there. My last trail run was on Easter, one week before the marathon. I'm used to running every single day that I am able. This means if I'm not scheduled to work all day, I will be running. In a matter of three days without running, I am convinced that when Sunday rolls around I will forget how to run. My knees and ankles will not bend when they're supposed to. My muscles will have lost all their strength. My toes are going to curl up in my shoes. I'm going to slip and fall on loose rocks because my feet will be too heavy to lift off the ground. My lungs are going to feel like they are the size of soybeans, therefore I will not be able to breathe in and out deep enough. I'm going to fall backwards when I'm trying to climb up to the summit because the trail is super steep. Oh, the list goes on and on.

Then I read this on the PCTR message boards:

"You will need to carry and take electrolytes. It will be hot and you will be losing not only lots of fluids, but also electrolytes. You can take care of this by taking any number of electrolyte supplements. If you don't have any, then be sure to eat plenty of the salty snacks at the aid stations (potato chips, pretzels, etc. they even have salt at the aid stations). Finally, and not to scare you, but this is a difficult marathon. The elevation can be quite challenging. Be very careful, take it slow and easy. There are a number of technical challenges on this course and plenty of places where you can slip. But, it is an incredibly beautiful course and the people are quite friendly."

It's supposed to be 84 degrees Sunday. 84 friggin' degrees! This course is not known for having canopy covered single track trails, just in case you were wondering. There is a reason Diablo means The Devil.

Remember the way you felt after your last great run? You felt so strong. You could go run forever and you're sorry there was only ten miles on your training schedule for the day. Well, I want that feeling NOW. I want to feel that confidence that goes along with it too. I know I felt that way on Sunday but how quickly it faded. My legs feel great right now. I keep telling myself to just go out for a quick little run. With my luck I would pull a hammy or twist an ankle. I want to be healthy going into Sunday. Thank God I am scheduled all day at work for the next three days.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm scared to death about Sunday. I should be though. I never sign up for easy stuff. I like to challenge myself. If I wasn't nervous then obviously it would be too easy. After my last long run I felt more than ready for Diablo. But since then, a few people have asked me if I feel ready. Well shit! I did before people started asking me. Then I started second guessing myself. Did I do everything I possibly could to prepare myself? Should I have done something different? I was going to check out the course a little bit today with Christy but that didn't pan out. She had an opportunity to go to Disneyland with her son. Whatever, I guess I'll give her that one. ;)

Thanks for listening and letting me unload my brain. I'm going to keep staring at the course description and elevation chart and continue to freak myself out. I should feel even worse by tomorrow.

Until later.............

Easter Day Run

MY entrance to Garin:
After reading about RBR's affair with Garin, I knew where I had to go on Easter morning for my last real trail run before my marathon Sunday. I had to reclaim my territory!

And my cows were still happy to see me and Boomer. ;)

I guess, technically, I'm supposed to be tapering but since I don't follow any real training program, I'm just going to take it easy this week. Today was a 4.5 mile run in the quiet serene setting of my beautiful Garin.

RBR mentioned the bridges along the Dry Creek Trail. It's true, I have to run across them with my arms up in the air!

I took my rock back! It's MINE now. ALL MINE!

I know for a fact, she didn't see this secret trail:

A perfect sight on Easter morning:

And, my exit from serenity, back into the real world:

It was so lovely to get out early on Easter morning and get a run in with Boomer. I feel so blessed to be able to do that. And to do it in such a gorgeous surrounding.

I'm working 33 hours this week which is good in a way. At least I won't be wanting to run when I really shouldn't be. But I also know how my mood can get when I don't run (and it ain't pretty!). So, I'm sure I will have to get out a couple of days for a little run or a hike. Plus, the boy needs it! I will be going to Diablo on Wednesday to check out the beginning and the end of the marathon course since I've never been there. Christy will go with me so that will be a good day.

Until later.............

Unbelievable

I almost wept when I read this. Take a look..............

Run Bitch Run

It's a good Friday

Your life is worth living

Live it to the fullest!

Giants - 10, Milwaukee - 6!!!

Keith and I were lucky enough to enjoy the San Francisco Giants' season-opener at AT&T Park today, along with over 47,000 other people. After hot temperatures yesterday, we woke up this morning to RAIN. The game being rained out was a threat for the majority of the morning. We decided to head up to the ballpark since the radio was saying the rain was subsiding in San Francisco. We already had tickets so we would have to figure out what to do with them anyway. To our surprise, it cleared up and the game went on as scheduled, all without a drop of rain. We sat in the bleachers which was a lot of fun. Do you know that people buy bleacher seats because they're the least expensive and that way they can spend all their money on beer? I swear. Lots of beer flowing in them bleachers.

Best boot-ay in all of baseball, right here (Aaron Rowand):

While others enjoy beer and hot dogs at the ballpark, I enjoy many (any) other options. Clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl:

Kettle Corn:

And then there was this fried piece of dough. Half sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. The other half sprinkled with powdered sugar then topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.

Sweet Jesus!

This picture was taken less than five minutes later. Please notice the empty plate!

Sully Sullenberger (the pilot that landed his plane on the Hudson), threw out the first pitch. Taylor Hicks sang The National Anthem.

It was a great game and a wonderful day spent with my husband. I think I ate too much junk though. Oh yeah, I also indulged in some peanuts. Gotta have those when you go to the ballgame, right? I'll be running this day off for weeks!

Until later.............