Saturday morning arrived---4:15 am, rise and shine---Matt actually set the alarm for that time because he is on call this weekend. Between his pages going off all night from the on-call patient line and me tossing and turning, I think I only got 2 1/2 hours sleep. Oh well!!.....I was just happy to be feeling better! Layed in bed being lazy a little while longer, eating a Clif bar and some Powerade Zero, while Matt got ready for work. Finally dragged myself out of bed and starting getting ready. It was in the 40's that morning............something we haven't seen in MS in a LONG time ;) I was happy because that means a better running day, but also scared because that could mean I would get sick again.
I headed on over to the race---called Staci, one of my old running buddies, on the way, and we met up. We did a 1 mile warm-up beforehand and I pretty much decided then that I was going to be "smart". Now, as Matt can fully tell you, one of the fun things for me about race day is the huge amount of adrenaline I get from races. I seem to get this extra energy out of nowhere and it is what I believe helps drive me on race day. I did feel it Saturday morning, but for once, I kept telling myself, "this race may matter right NOW, but what if something happens and it ruins NY marathon?" How upset would I be? No question. I was going to use this as a training run. I was going to make it a marathon-pace training run, just so I could give myself a little motivation during the race. I felt like if I could hold marathon pace after being sick all week, then you add a taper to that before NY, I have a strong chance of doing well. I also knew I hadn't hydrated well over the last few days, though, and I was scared this would catch up with me. The cool weather would be on my side though.
I will have to say I was proud of myself. If you are a competetive athlete, you understand why. I am SO well trained right now and I wanted to just go out there and see how I could perform. I know this would have been my strongest half ever. Nonetheless, I didn't. I told Staci and her friend, Adam, good luck. The race started, and I took my time. Not to say that I was poking around out there--I was still going to try for marathon pace, but I didn't have that excitement feeling of pushing my body or anticipation of how I would finish. I got passed at first by LOTS of people. Oh well, I said. Maybe they don't have a marathon in 2 weeks----stick to the PLAN, Amanda!!!!!!!!! .........and sticking to the plan I did :) The run was pretty uneventful, to be honest. I wish I could say there was more crowd support, but, Uh, I don't think I would have stood out there in the cold either :) The wind going across the spillway of the reservoir was harsh!!!! I pretty much kept pace the entire time. I sped up a little bit from miles 11-13 on the trail, but other than that, it went as planned. I passed Adam again and asked him how Staci was feeling. He told me she was having a great day and was up ahead. Staci has had issues with a couple of stress fractures over the last year and is not up to full potential again, but she is getting it back fast!
Staci and I did another mile cool down to get in a few more miles and then talked a little while with friends. Staci ended up getting 1st in her division and I got second! I kept a 7:39 pace and was excited that I felt good and think I might be fully recovered from the flu or whatever I had this week. It feels so good to not be sick!!! I am becoming a wus in my old days!! ha!
Matt ended up getting home from work around lunch so we had lunch together after I got changed and showered. I had to buy food for our triathlon team party tonight----I have a chocolate fountain with yummy strawberries, and different sides that I can't wait to use tonight!
Other weekend fun included sushi and a movie last night----Law Abiding Citizen---fantastic movie, minus the gore factor!!!!!!!! Talk about a man getting justice for someone killing his family??? Gerard Butler is fantastic in this movie and it keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time----It really was a well thought out 10 years that man spent planning his scheme. Ok, not going to spoil it!!! GO SEE IT!!!!! You won't be disappointed ;)
And, last but not least, I will leave you all with what we walked into last night after a lovely dinner and a movie--------
Yes, Ollie decided to have his own personal dinner and a reading----with the case of books I left by the door to take to our meeting tomorrow---the books that Dane wrote to have signed(he shipped them to my house!!!!!............Oh MY GOSH!!!!!! You have to laugh to keep from crying. Matt said we might as well just start learning to take this stuff in stride, because this will be similar to our kids! Regardless, of all this mess, thank God Ollie only truly damaged 3 books. He had a magnificent time with the cardboard box they were in though-----Mr. Cardboard box and Ollie dog seemed to bond QUITE well.........................until next time!!! (p.s. Sorry Dane :( I am going to pay you for the books tonight :(
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