I can do it!

Marathon Week!  I am SOOO excited!!!  My plan is to take it fairly easy this week - eat healthily and do some light jogging to stay loose.  So this morning Britnee and I did two miles of running/walking and I followed it up with P90X core synergistics.  I think Ben and I are going to go to the pool this afternoon to do some laps. 

So we DID go to the pool, and I swam the first 20 lengths before my shoulder really started pulling - probably from the P90X this morning.  I did 20 more, but then I figured I'd better not kill myself off, but live to swim another day.  So I swam 6 more lengths with a kickboard, then ran out of time.  Otherwise, it was WAY easier to swim in the pool than the lake!  I felt like I could have gone on forever.  :D

All I did today was 1/2 hour of P90X yoga.  I didn't even finish the routine!  Then I ate like a pig all day.  What a slacker...

I ran three with Elijah this morning.  Then finished up with P90X ab-ripper.  Then ate like a pig all day again.  :D

Elijah and I did two easy miles of light jogging today, just to stay loose.  Then I did 40 minutes of P90X stretching.  I'm trying to eat the RIGHT kinds of carbs for the next two days, instead of being a sugar glutton.  I am SOOOO excited about the race!  The weather has FINALLY cooled down a bit, and it's supposed to be a beautiful fall weekend.  Everytime I think about running the marathon, I want to cry tears of joy!  How crazy is that?!?  I can't wait for tomorrow and the expo!  Still debating over whether or not I want to squeeze one more small run in tomorrow, or if I should just totally rest.  I'm also going to the chiropractor tomorrow to get kinesiotaped up.  :)

Today was a total rest day.  I spent all day at the marathon expo.  Elijah and I won over $270 worth of stuff like running shoes, clothing, and other products.  What a fun day!  I'm soooo excited for the race!

BEST RACE EVER!!!!

After only 2 1/2 hours of sleep, I ran the best race I've ever run!  Elijah and I ran the way we trained, with one minute walk breaks after evvery five minutes of running.  We stopped at every aid station for water, gatorade, and whatever food they were serving (usually bananas, oranges, and clif shots).  I had to stop once at a port-a-potty, but basically I ran the way I felt good running, and tried not to overdo.  The weather was beautiful - absolutely perfect for a race.  My first marathon in January was a 4:48, and I was really hoping for a 4:30 this time, with secret fantasies of doing a 4:20.  I was shocked when I realized I was doing better than I had thought possible!  I finished in 4:10:10 - 38 minutes faster than last time!  I had NO IDEA I could run that fast.  I cried when I crossed the finish line.  I felt incredible the whole time - only a blister on my right foot.  My attitude was the best it has ever been during a race.  I just felt joyful the whole time I ran.  It was, for me, the perfect race.  I can't wait to have that experience again.  :)