This can't be good.

Friends...it appears that my legs have simply forgotten how to run. Which clearly poses a major problem considering in just a week's time I'm supposed to run 26.2 miles. I really don't know any other way to describe it...I just completely forgot how to run.

I guess it all started last Saturday after a totally awesome 10 mile run. It was just over 2 hours and I felt really strong, and I even had my fastest mile as the last mile. Then, when I got home, my knees were a tad bit sore...like on the insides by the knee caps (not so much IT band issue area). And I mean, how are you supposed to bring pain relief to the insides of your knees? Are there some miraculous stretches I can do? I did some icing and biofreeze and basically took it really easy last week.

Cut to yesterday's run...which was supposed to be an hour. I had planned to go 5-6 miles. A mile and a half in, I had to turn around and go back. With each strike of the foot, the insides of my needs ached. And not just a ignorable, tolerable ache...but an 'omigawd if i keep running i feel like my knees are going to crumble beneath my body' ache. It wasn't pretty. I felt like I was just shuffling along, unable to pick my feet off the ground. It felt like I was at mile 25 of the race where you can barely will your legs to keep moving. Most importantly though, I just felt frustrated. When checking my Garmin, I was spot on my pace. I just didn't feel as if I were running. Or like I was kicking my legs behind me in an strange way. It was VERY bizarre.

I'm hoping that this is simply a "Phantom Pain." One that you can feel during taper, but sorts itself out before you step foot on the course. So. Someone diagnose me. What am I supposed to do to ease the aches? I've got exactly a week to get this sorted out, or else I'm in store for a doozy of a marathon. Plus I want to re-do that 6 miler on Monday night, hopefully. And get a run in on Wednesday...and maybe even a short one Friday.

WWRBFD?

Calling All Chicago Marathon RBFers -- 27th Mile Celebration Details

Okay...here's the skinny...

If you're running the Chicago Marathon (or if you're a Chicago-area RBFer), listen up!

Here are the details of this year's 27th Mile, post marathon celebration!!

Who? YOU!
What? The 27th Mile Celebration...RBF Meet Up...Post-Race Celebration
When? Sunday. 10/7 at 6:30
Where? Garrett Ripley
Why? Because you just ran 26.2 miles, want to meet some RBFers, will need a drink, and can unload your tales of blisters and trots and walls to people who actually understand :)

Please feel free to post these details on your blog to spread the word. The first round of evites went out today, so please let me know if you still need the evite (*cough lisa cough*). Either post it in the comments section here or shoot me an email at barbsmarathon AT gmail.com. Be sure to RSVP so I can let the owner know how much space to save for us.

Hope you can make it!!

safety shirt...

tonight when i got home from work i tried to escape the fact that i was another year older (and undoubtedly none the wiser) with a relaxing shower, barb style. i turned the shower on, hot as i could stand it, and sat down letting the steam fill my lungs. i thought about today and the past 26 years (geez it feels weird to say that). it's almost necessary to think about the good, the bad and the ugly of your life once in a while. i watched flecks of dirt from my feet, along with tiny other tiny imperfections, swirl their way down the drain.


twenty minutes later i crawled out and slipped into my safety shirt. you know, that one shirt in your closet that you love quite possibly more than life itself. there may or may not be any sentimental value to it, but its how the shirt makes you feel is why you love it so. this one particular shirt makes me feel safe. it could be because it makes me smile at the thought matching two of my best friends wearing the same shirt one special night at lake sara. or because it evokes fondness of the person who gave it to me twelve years ago (rest in peace pvt goodspeed). or maybe because it resembles a younger me. regardless, this shirt has seen it all. i can't tell you how many times it has been saturated with snot and tears (seriously, this thing has absorbed gallons of that shit). or been the recipient of bear hugs and warm embraces. this shirt, is a part of me. and to me...this shirt is home. a best friend. an old soul. and i love it dearly. and so whenever i need a little lift, i usually slip into this shirt.

now-a-days it's faded after hundreds of washes. the print in the silver heart on the front is crackled beyond belief. and honestly? it kind of looks like it's on its last leg. but i'll never part with it. and truthfully, i couldn't think of a better way to tack on another year to my life than in this simple black tee with silver writing. i mean, isn't black perfect for mourning?

i didn't actually get to talk to my mom on my birthday, which totally sucks. But she left me a few voicemails which was nice and made me warm inside. except for the part where she said 30 minus 4 (thanks, mom). she obviously didn't get the memo that i was turning 24...again. and you know you're getting old when you have to use birthday money to pay bills rather than those trouser jeans that have been the object of your affection for months. but hey...i guess having heat far outweighs being cute, right? especially on the brink of another chicago winter.

is adding another year to my life all that bad? probably not. but i don't have to decide that today. in fact, it's best that i don't decide that right now based on one day at 26. i've got all year to figure that out.

but for now...it's me and my safety shirt. and that's good enough for me.

Aging is overrated.

I'm not a big fan of the birthday hoopla. Well...more like I'm not a big fan of birthday hoopla surrounding my birthday. I'm the kinda gal who'd rather have a nice, chill evening with her hubby or a few good friends rather than spend it dancing the night away on a bar. Now, don't get me wrong, I love celebrating other people's birthday's in that fashion...but really, I'd rather have my own go down without fanfare.

And so, because aging is indeed overrated...today I am turning 24 for the third time.

Not too much is going on over here. Saturday's 10 mile run was great. Last night's swim class with Well Fit was awesome (and I really think it's going to improve my swim time in next year's tri's!). One thing I noticed was that the times from both my 10 and my 20 miler, McMillian plugs in a 5:44 marathon. I'll take it. But we'll just have to see what my body can muster up that day. It's anybody's guess. My second toe on my right foot is pretty effed up (think totally screwed up toenail meets horrible blister that has popped) and so I'm hoping that doesn't cause too many problems on race day.

Hmm...yeah...that's about it. Have a good day, everyone.

Declaration of Intent.

Saturday, October 27th - 8:30am - Lakefront 50/50

Naturally, it'd be for the 50k. And I completely reserve the right to withdraw the aforementioned declaration pending injury or recovery issues after the Chicago Marathon and the Kansas City Half Marathon. Registration will not occur until after the 26.2...but come on...really...what's another 5 miles when you can already go 26.2?

An ultra is something that I've been wanting to do, just wasn't sure about timing and all that jazz. Plus it's a really low key event (all of 250 participants between the 50k and 50 mile portions), so there's no pressure. I'll just go out and see how I fare. It's an 8 hour cutoff for the 50k, which is about a 15:30 pace. Fine.by.me.

So I kinda figure...why not?

I think it'll be a lot of fun...so let's get ready to enjoy the ride...

Calling all race stalkers...

Although it looks like you gotta know my name to track just how slow I'm going...

Runner Update Network (R.U.N.)

Marathon Goals:
A) Finish 5 minutes faster than I did last year.
B) Finish in 5:55 again.
C) Just get over the line.

What can I say? I have high expectations. :) It's all part of "Project: Don't Psych Barb Out."

And here's a scary thought....it's only FIFTEEN DAYS AWAY. I just have to go to bed 15 more times and race day is here. In three days we can say the race is "next weekend." There are only two more "long runs" before the big day. I am only working eight and a half more days. We're talking like 350-something hours until the gun goes off, people!

Between now and then here's what's going down. I'm starting swim classes. Leah turns 28. I turn 26. We're going to see Maroon 5. We're going to see Smashing Pumpkins (OHMIGODENTERBARBCIRCA1999). And most importantly, there will be no yaking. No vomiting. No nerves so strong that I want to reach down my throat and pull out my stomach. We were yak-free in Tennessee...damnit, we're going to be yak-free in the Windy City.

Woo!

I know why they call it a "Brick" workout...

They're called "bricks" because that's how your legs and feet feel when you change disciplines.

For fun last night, Mike and I decided to do a bike/run brick workout. We agreed that a 15 minute out and back on the bike would be great and then we'd follow it with a 4 mile run. Easy enough, right?!?

Apparently I forgot how just tough brick workouts can be.

For starters, I haven't been on my bike in what...over a month? Bad idea. My knee was bothering me, there was wind coming off the lake and I just couldn't get comfortable. So I rode nice and easy (around the sweet tune of 12 mph). And still, I managed to eat no less than 3 bugs--it was truly disgusting as the first one kinda buzzed around in my mouth before bolting to the back of my throat. The other two were a little crunchy if my memory serves me correctly. I'm getting the heebie jeebies just thinking about it.

When we started the run, I may as well have been traveling through murky swamps. My feet could not come off the ground to save my life. The 4 miles quickly turned into me questioning running at all. I wanted to just go back to the car. So instead we settled on a 2 mile run where we just couldn't get our running legs back. Including walking breaks, we averaged over 13 minute miles. How dismal. But when we were running...we were averaging 10-11 minute miles (and sub-10 at the very end), which for me is brilliant. Running will resume tomorrow...hopefully with a 5-6 mile run. We shall see!!

So tonight we're headed to Wrigley Field for the Cubs game. And project excess baggage is going well...I'm about a pound and a half down. Woo!

Swim classes start in less than a week...and I'm actually looking forward to them (assuming I don't sink).

For everyone running the Chicago Marathon, I've got a place in the works for the 27th mile soiree, so stay tuned...we should have a place secured by the end of the week.

Perspective.

I was reading an article about some marathon (not sure which one) where the first place finisher and the last place finisher were interviewed together. Upon hearing each other’s times, the last place finisher turned to the elite and asked with astonishment, “You can run a marathon in 2:10?!” In turn, the first place finisher asked in amazement, “You’re capable of running for more than seven hours?!”

I guess it's all in how you look at it.

The 20 mile verdict.

You know those runs where you just can't seem to get your pace, you feel like your feet are constantly fumbling and you're shot by mile 3? The ones where you bowels don't agree with you, ya can't stay hydrated to save your life, and distance running seems to be the stupidest sport in the world? Your legs are lead, your feet are screaming at you and you think you may have just lost a toenail? And you're secretly wishing that a crazy biker runs you over so can call an ambulance and chill in the hospital the rest of the day rather than go another 10 miles.


Yeah.


Today...dear friends...was not one of those runs.


The weather couldn't have been any perfecter (yes, I'm making up word tenses?). My feet couldn't have been any happier. My legs couldn't have moved any quicker (okay...so maybe they could've if I willed myself to it, but I was taking it easy). And all was right with the world.

I went out with a simple goal in mind. Run conservatively. Run 20 miles in 4:30 or less. Take a walk break when I needed to. Get through the distance and not kill myself (or hate running) in the process. And most importantly, just enjoy the morning.

Mission accomplished. Every time I pushed off the ground, I felt as if I were the reason the earth was spinning...with each step, I was sending the planet spinning on its axis. Everyone on the running path seemed to be traveling 20 miles today...and everyone was in great spirits. Lots of encouraging words and high fives along the path. And thankfully, Mother Nature was kind enough to keep the lady cramps at bay--Mother Nature or the wonderful drug known as Tylenol...take your pick.

There was, for a few brief miles, a point where I was convinced that I was going to have some very evident bowel issues and basically make a huge embarassment of myself (totally awesome, right?). All you runners know what I mean....when you're out there and you start to feel the trots coming on...and you're not sure if it's actually the trots or just a weird, painful gas...so you clinch and pray that it all subsides within the next quarter mile...and of course, it doesn't...and still you press on hopefully coming to a bathroom soon...and finally you're at a breaking point where something's gotta give and of course there is no bathroom or porta potty in sight...so you grit your teeth, muster your courage, and try to release some of the pain while vowing to the heavens that you'll live the most perfect life without any vices if you can just pass some gas and hopefully nothing else...yeah...that was totally me. And thank gawd it was just gas. Cause let me tell ya...I was wearing some light green shorts and THAT would've been tragic. But I honestly thought I was about to have the most repulsive of accidents. I know I wouldn't be the first person it's happened to...but it easily would make me want to never run again. Us runners are such a smelly--yet open--crowd. Aren't we?

But aside from that, the run was brilliant. Much to my surprise, I averaged just slightly faster than I did during my 20 last year. Which clearly is a hell of a lot quicker than my 20 in December of 2005. Apparently McMillian seems to think I've got a 5:45 marathon in me. I'll be happy coming in under 6 again. I haven't put in the leg work to get under 5:30 this year...unless, of course, there is a miracle on 10/7. So...as you've probably figured out...I'll be out in force on 10/7. Not trying to set a PR. But just trying to enjoy the day...enjoy the company...and enjoy the run.

20.17 miles in the bank, including a trip up Crickett Hill at the end. 20 hit at 4:19:00 even. A 12:57 average. Slower than all of you, but someone's gotta be the back of the pack. Why not have it be me?

So now we celebrate...because as of today...WE TAPER!

Miscellania Mania

So. Tomorrow is the big one. That long run. The crazy 20.

My plan is to go out and run it conservatively. Maybe even a little too conservatively. Just to be safe. Then, and only then, will I have a final decision made.

Wednesday's treadmill run was a nice conservative 5k. Kept my legs loose and averaged around 12 minute miles.

Last night's 4 miler outside...was...hmm...iiiiiiiiiiinteresting. First mile in at 11:11. Felt great. But then decided to start incorporating walking breaks...and once I start taking walking breaks, I like to take a lot of 'em. With 2-3 water breaks, and even a potty break at Castaway (I feel like my bladder is shrinking!!), I ended up averaging around 12:50. How ridiculous. Oh, and on the return way home during the last half mile, I ended up having this weird bubble-like feeling sitting in my stomach. What's up with that?!

Still having issues with a tight right hip flexor. It's really quite annoying. I need to pony up and stretch more. A lot more. A whole helluvalot more.

But...most importantly...the new shoes felt great. My Mizuno Wave Nirvana 3's are so comfy. And the color? OH, so happy and heavenly. I think I have a name for them already, but I'll know for sure after Saturday's run.

In other miscellanious news...the new job is going brilliantly. I love my team. I love the account. I love it all. And...in case you didn't put two and two together, this guy took over my old job. There's a special place in heaven for him, that's for sure! But the best part is, I'm not super psycho stressed out like I was before. Sure, I'm still working long days...but I don't mind it!

I'm still a bit in shock that Mike signed up for the Ironman Louisville. I'm so excited for him. And I'm a little nervous about the 180 we're about to have in regards to lifestyle change...but it'll be good. We just need to find a solid plan for him...and it seems like we've already recruited a running coach for the occassion. Awesome.

Swim classes start in less than 2 weeks. I'm not sure I'm ready for an ass kicking in the water.

There are exactly 20 days until I get to see Smashing Pumpkins. In 18 days I get to see Maroon 5. And I should've been seeing The Cure in 2 weeks...but they've rescheduled their tour (I'm only slightly bitter).

Only 12 more days until what Leah calls my "Golden Birthday" (when you turn the age of the day you were born on...ya know...I'm turning 26 on the 26th). And I really don't want to make a big stink about it all...

We're on Day 3 of our health kick and it's going surprisingly well (with the exception of Mike's minor slip up on Wednesday). Hopefully I can start seeing a difference sometime within the next 2 weeks.

And the weather? It's brilliant here in Chicago. I'm not saturated in sweat. Nor am I freezing. I love it. This is the *perfect* time of year.

And really...that's about it. Happy Friday, campers!!

Excess Baggage

So last night...I stepped on the scale.

About 2 hours of hysterics later...I'm turning my diet around. I'm going to stop eating so much shit and actually eat to run and not run to eat.

If you see me out...and you see me eating shit. You've got my permission to kick me in the shin and throw out whatever it is I'm eating (unless it's a "night out" and there's a beer in my hand...as long as I'm not overindulging). It's your chance to roughen up the Jayhawk.

And I'll be sure to provide updates once in a while (I promise I won't be one of 'em crazy weight obsessed bloggers who tells you every last thing she put in her mouth during the day).

I know that the weight is only temporary. Afterall, you don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.

Mmmmk...that is all.

Oh...and I'm going to hit the treadmill for a few miles tonight. Good times.

To run, or not to run...that is the question.

So I have a little confession to make to everyone...

This past Saturday may or may not have been my first "run" in practically three weeks. And when I say "run" I mean really, really long walk with maybe a combined 1.5-2 miles of actual running intermixed.

The truth is...I'm not so sure I'll be able to hack it on 10/7. I had a completely craptacular 16 mile. It was awful. Totally horrendus. And I missed the 18 miler because of the cruise (I also missed the 18 during my 1st marathon). And really, looking back, the half marathon wasn't all that great either. I feel like I've got a great base in regards to distances under 12 miles...but my 12+ mile runs haven't left a great taste in my mouth. And I certainly won't be meeting my desired goal time....which is super frustrating.

We've got a 20 miler on Saturday...so perhaps I'll make that decision as we go into taper.

I'm trying to figure out a contingency plan in the meantime. In the event that 10/7 goes out the window (and I hope it doesn't, I just don't know if I want to hate myself for 6 hours and have a rough recovery) I would at least run the Kansas City half marathon on the 20th since we're in town. I may even elect to do both in the end. I just can't let that many months worth of training go down the drain. Should I not run, I know I'd be waiting for my mentees and fellow RBFers with a fresh set of legs around mile 22 and help run people in and keep their spirits up. Plus I'd have a blast doing that. But really...I just kinda want more hardware...especially since this is the 30th anniversary AND the last year it'll be the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.

...sigh...

what's a girl to do?

I'm married to a masochist.

Insanity.

Things are about to get really interesting here at the Jayhawk casa...