Many Thanks (this is it)!

This is it kids! I can't believe it's finally here!



•Airline Tickets...check

•Warm and cold clothes for unreliable Ohio autumn weather...check

•Race day uniform (with alternative pieces in case of suddenly changing weather)

•shorts
•shirts
•shoes
•socks
•sports bra
•dry fit underwear
•watch
•hat
•headband
•sunglasses
•body glide
•gu
•clif bars
•something to attach gu to body

....check

•Camera(s) for my photography obsession...check

•Money for beer after race...cheeeeeeccckkkk!



Looks like I'm good to go!

I had my last training run yesterday morning, a pretty uneventful 3.2 miles. We tried to run really slow, but as I said, I was itching to get out of the gate, so we ended up running it a 9:37 pace (a minute per mile pace faster than we plan to run the marathon). Ooops. Other than the humidity, the run was pretty good and my legs felt great!

I have also been a little better about the whole weather.com issue. Like a few of you reminded me, 75 and sunny are not the worst conditions for a marathon. I need to relax and remember that I have been training though the entire summer in Miami, so a late-October morning in Columbus, Ohio shouldn't kill me too much. My newest obsession has been about how I am going to hold all that GU since my favorite shorts have no pockets and I'm not carrying a fuel belt. Oh yeah, and that my favorite singlet is dark gray and its going to be SUNNY on Sunday. I really don't want to change the shirt since it's my "lucky running shirt". Sigh... See??? There is always something to obsess over.

So the plan is set. I leave tomorrow at 8am to fly to Columbus with J and our friends Kevin and Marissa. We will arrive at our first hotel, check in and make our way to the expo. Then we will probably just wander around, find a place to eat and try and get some sleep.

Saturday, we have totally lucked out! See, anyone who knows anything about Ohio State knows that they have the BEST tailgating in the ENTIRE country, especially now that this week they are ranked NUMBER 1!!! :) The tailgate on campus is INSANE and covers half the city. They close off streets, shut down businesses and it's scarlet and gray as far as the eyes can see! Anyway, Kevin's buddy apparently has a crazy tailgate set up so we may venture out and try to find him. Of course the only thing about this plan that sucks is, of course, we can't drink. But those of you that have ventured to my photoblog know how obsessed I am with taking pictures, so I plan to photograph the madness all day long which should keep my mind off the whole no alcohol thing.

Sunday is race day. We have a decent plan laid out that I hope we can stick to. Since this is my first marathon and we have been training together, Jeremy is going to run it with me at my pace (I know, aaawwwww!). He usually runs it a lot faster, but I think he just wants to relax and enjoy himself this time. We will try and run with Kevin and Marissa for a bit, but since she is running an 11:00mm pace, we will probably take off after mile 3-4.

We have been training with the Galloway method and plan on sticking with it on Sunday with a 10:30 pace and 5:1 walk ratio. I think this is doable, since most of my running has ventured into the 8:45-10:00mm pace. Of course the longer runs get slower, which is where the 10:30's come in.

My initial goal was just to finish. Ha! That one was soon replaced with an under 5 hour race. Now I am really hoping for around 4:45 or under. And by under...I really want to do around 4:30 ;) Funny how competitive I can get with myself when the heat is on. But seriously, if I finish in the realm of 4:45, I will be extremely happy with myself. Especially for a first marathon.

Then from Monday to Thursday we just plan on hanging out, enjoying the autumn weather, going to all our old favorite bars/restaurants, meeting up with some old friends in town and on campus, relaxing at this cute B&B and NOT being in Miami. Ha. I love Miami, but sometimes we REALLY need a break. I will not be able to access a computer probably until I get back next weekend, so I wont be able to do a report until then. A few of you have asked about tracking me, but I don't have my number yet and can't find a spot on the website for it.

I really want to thank you guys for everything over the past year, especially these past few months leading up to this weekend. I don't have too many friends that are into running, so there is a lot of confusion as to why the hell I would want to a marathon in the first place. I love reading about everyones running adventures and getting feedback and encouragement from so many funny, amazing runners I admire. So anyway, thanks. I couldn't have done it without you guys!

Suzanne and Irish Blue, I wish you both luck and I hope to run into both of you there! (Not literally, that would suck.)

Also good luck this weekend to Leana, Dori and Wendy who's races are coming up sooner than later! Good luck guys!

Monday, 10/15 - 5.6 miles/56:01 - 10:00 pace
Wednesday, 10/17 - 3.2 miles/30:59 - 9:37 pace

Total Weekly Mileage: 8.8 (hehe...EIGHT miles!!)

* UPDATE *
I just got my bib number, it's 2529 in case there ends up being a link on the site to track! Thanks guys! Have a good week!