Last Training Run

Yesterday was our last "long" run before the marathon. We "only" did 10 miles. It was really hot again. My body doesn't seem to like running in the heat - and tends to stop after about an hour. I'm hoping that the weather in Alaska will make all the difference - and the marathon will be a breeze. :)

Apparently, the Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon website will update throughout race day with results - so feel free to go to http://www.mayorsmarathon.com/ on Saturday to see how we did! You can also go and check out what the course looks like.

They were supposed to have net times for us - but didn't get some equipment refurbished in time, so all times will be from when the gun goes off til when we cross that finish line. Betsy, who ran last weekend in the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon, said it took her about 20 minutes to get to the starting line - so just keep that in mind. :)

We leave on Thursday evening and most of the team will come back on Sunday night. Brant and I are staying a few days longer and will leave Alaska on Wednesday night - getting in to Houston at 6:30 Thursday morning! We will be sure to put up pictures and update everything once we get back. Keep us in your thoughts!!

A Week from Saturday!?!

Okay - I realize I'm ridiculously far behind with this update. The 16 mile run between the 18 and the 21 was really really hot. It was the first week when the heat and humidity really decided to kick in. The heat totally wiped us out - we ended up walking the last 3 or so miles. The next week I got in a few of my practice runs - though that magic number three has been elusive.

The day of the 21 miler was thankfully not quite as hot as the previous Saturday. We got up at 4:30 again and headed over to the park. This time we decided we would run on the streets - no dangerous sidewalks for us. It was a really weird run somehow. At one of the water stations I had some grapes, and after that I didn't feel very good for the rest of the run. I ended up only taking a little more than one gel pack (I usually finish one about every hour) and I even pretty much stopped drinking water. Surprizingly enough - by the end I had also stopped running. Mindy and I walked in the last 5 or so miles.

We were both feeling really tired, but happy to actually finish. And I do feel confident we will finish the marathon in Alaska. For one - it won't be nearly as hot. It might even be cold. Hopefully it'll be somewhere in the mid 50s to low 60s. Great running temperatures. Apparently last year it was 70 - but all the papers were talking about what a scorcher it was - so that's not supposed to be normal. Anyway, we might walk some of the marathon, but we will definitely finish. We did the 21 miles in 5 hours - so we're confident that we will at least finish within the 8 and a half hour time limit to be considered an official finisher.

Anyway, last week I didn't run at all. I was a combination of busy and lazy. I also found out that I do for sure have hypothyroidism, so I started my medication on Thursday or Friday. We'll see if I notice a difference...Anyway, then on Saturday, Brant was in Vegas at a Bachelor party for one of his friends from college, and Mindy and I were in New Braunfels at the Schlitterbahn water park. So no running for any of us! We all hit the trails again last night, however.

Our training schedule actually said that we're supposed to do just two runs this week - a 40 minute run and a 60 minute run. This Saturday is 10-12 miles. Then next week it's 30, 30, 20 for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and then two days of rest before the marathon. I can't believe it's already here!!

We are still about $1300 shy of our fundraising goal - so if you know anyone who would like to donate.... :)

I can't believe how far we come - and I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. I'm pretty sure that this will be my only marathon - though everyone keeps telling me I might get addicted.

We will be staying in Alaska until Thursday the 23rd, but we'll be sure to update everyone on the marathon and put up our pictures soon after we get back. Thanks to everyone for supporting us through this!!