>Let me start you off with some stats:Location: Champaign-Urbana, Illinois; only my favorite place in this state!Weather: started out at 50* and windy, topped out around 75* and still windyChip time: 4:53:02Goal time: 5:00:00Average pace: 11:11Water consumed: well over 64 ozGels consumed: at least 6Celebrities spotted: Abraham Lincoln (guess they had Asics back in the day.. … Continue reading >Race report and reflection: ILLINOIS MARATHON 2011
Category: marathon training
>Marathon Training: Week 17: One week! and aspirations
>I'm updating from my mom's computer at their permanent campsite in Galesburg. When we first started camping years and years ago, we had a tent. Then we had a small pop-up. Then we had a bigger pop-up. Then we got a trailer. Then we got a toy-box (to transport the motorcycle, and on our trip … Continue reading >Marathon Training: Week 17: One week! and aspirations
>A little motivation goes a long way
>Anyone who knows me knows that I hate running on treadmills. The weather in Illinois this week is, for lack of a better word, just crappy. Rain, thunderstorms, and chilly! I wouldn't mind the storms so much if it were at least 60*. But, no luck there.The taper is a strange phenomenon.. I'm not really … Continue reading >A little motivation goes a long way
>Marathon Training: Week 14: THE LAST LONG RUN
>Hello, friends. I write to you tonight from my couch, having indulged in corn dogs and those little soft pretzel cheese thingies. Yes, that's a technical term. I'm also enjoying orange creme soda. After our twenty-miler and lots of baking and cooking for First Sunday Lunch and the bake sale, I'm beat. Note to self: … Continue reading >Marathon Training: Week 14: THE LAST LONG RUN
>Improvements
>Some of you may have already seen my post on Daily Mile about my great five-miler today. I have to say that I could not believe I ran that fast! I mean, I know I've been training hard, but by the way I was feeling as I was forcing myself to get out the door, I … Continue reading >Improvements
>Marathon Training: Week 12
>What a great week!! With caffeine and sweets not clouding my vision or fitness, I felt really good this week.Monday: 3 mile recovery-ish run, strength trainingTuesday: 5 mile tempo run, strength training... this one felt great!! I love tempo runs.Wednesday: 4 mile runThursday and Friday: rest, did a little stretching.Saturday: 20-miler with Gabriela!!! Our pace … Continue reading >Marathon Training: Week 12
>Marathon Training: Week 11, and Lent
>Monday: 4 miles at the gym, worked on arms/absTuesday: 7 miles at the gym, worked on legs/absWednesday: 3 miles at the gym, worked on arms/abs again.. decided to retire my first pair of Asics after an achy run that should not have been achyThursday: restFriday: yoga with a Yogamazing podcastSaturday: 18 miles allllll around Peoria. … Continue reading >Marathon Training: Week 11, and Lent
>Marathon Training: Week 8; and crossing the finish line
>I seriously can't believe training is halfway done. Only ten more weeks until the marathon! That means only nine weeks until my birthday. The next several weeks are crucial, as there is hard-core mid-week training as well as long runs on the weekends.Monday: I rested since I did 12 miles the day before.Tuesday: A difficult … Continue reading >Marathon Training: Week 8; and crossing the finish line
>My first trail "run", and Marathon Training: Week 7
>This week has been strange. I've really been missing Aaron. We haven't been able to talk on Skype or on Facebook chat, just the phone. Every couple minutes we lose the call. So incredibly frustrating. And after having three days off last week, it was challenging to get back into working eight hours a day … Continue reading >My first trail "run", and Marathon Training: Week 7
>Marathon Training: Week 6
>I really shouldn't kid myself - weeks 4 and 5 were nonexistent. Ah well. I jumped back on the running train anyway.Monday: 3 mi at the gym. Yuck.Tuesday: thought about the gym and didn't do yoga even though I said I would.Wednesday: actually wanted to workout, but dug my car out of 15" of snow … Continue reading >Marathon Training: Week 6
MPM 2.0: mercy unmasked 