Counting down

Instead of reflecting BACK on the last week that's passed by... Lets see what fun things I am looking FORWARD to!


Home: 13 days. So excited to head home for Thanksgiving, possibly my favorite holiday! Last year, we were at sea on our way to Antigua so I'm really looking forward to spending it at home with family. Joshua and Jacob will both be missing out this year unfortunately but that's what happens when you grow up :/

Seldon and Marks Engagement Party: 23 days. Looking forward to celebrating the engagement of Seldon and Mark again! While they've been engaged for 9 months or something, this will be the first time family and friends will get to congratulate and celebrate together. Any excuse for a party right?

Boston: 29 days!!!! It's been Over a year since I've seen my roommates from College, totally unacceptable but luckily that will change come December 7th :) I am flying to Boston for a much needed weekend with my best friends. Not looking forward to the cold- At All. But I suppose I can suck it up since I will be heading back to the Caribbean for the winter ;) sorry guys.

And then of course there is Christmas, which I will most likely be spending away from home AGAIN this year.... And the beginning of many trips to bring us through the season and back home for reunions :) aaaaand a wedding!!!

So many exciting things to look forward to!!!

Half Marathon Complete.

It's a great feeling to exceed ones own expectations and today I did just that! When signing up for this event: Rock n' Roll Savannah Half Marathon-- I registered with a time of 1:40:00 thinking if I got anywhere near that I would be happy. As time went on, my confidence in making that time dwindled. It's extremely difficult to train for any running event, let alone a half marathon when you live on a boat that's more times than not- at sea where boats belong. No treadmill.
I signed up, along with my sister, her fiancée and my father less than two months out from the race in September. Unfortunately, my Dad left for business in Iceland this morning so was unable to compete but the rest of us woke at 5am to head downtown before the major traffic hit and roads essentially closed down.

Now, it's been awhile since I've ran a race competitively... The last being a 4 mile mud run back in April that I hardly consider to be on the same competitive front as the run I just achieved. Training for most half or full marathoners is quite regimented as one could imagine: running six -seven days a week with long runs smacked somewhere in the mix of things, as well as swimming, cross training and tapering thrown into the mix. My training, having been on the ocean for so long and playing catchup with friends and family upon returning to the United States was a wee bit different.

5 weeks of running after a seemingly sporadic run here and there when on land in Europe for the previous 4 months seems hardly enough to be prepared for a run of this caliber. Some of you may be thinking that 13.1 miles isn't all that tough or long even, but having been an 800M runner all my life, it may as well have been an ultra marathon in my eyes.

So, 5 weeks. Averaging 4-5 runs per week. Most runs being in the 25-45 minute range with 2, yes... 2 runs just over the distance of 1hr.
For those of you that know me and my running habits, I don't normally mark distance and If I don't feel like running, I won't. And I like to eat what i like to eat.
It's an interesting thing running competitively for the better part of your life and then basically falling completely off the wagon with no regards as to proper training, eating or rest methods. But hey, to each is their own.

Back to the race:
After a 20 minute run yesterday, a good nights sleep and a mile or so jog this morning, I checked my bag into the provided gear check and entered my corral (number 2) about 30 minutes before the race to stretch and finish my warm up. The race officially started at 8am with my corral going off just one minute after. The first 5k felt quite amazing, and short even, a good sign as I then successfully completed my longest competitive race ever the next Kilometer.

At the ten mile mark, my legs started to really feel like bricks. But since they, as well as, the tons of supporters and bands throughout the course had brought me that far, I knew I'd finish. Besides, I may be out of the competitive running circuit but my competitive edge is far from gone.

About a mile later, I completed my longest run ever in the history of runs. This was the same time I started to feel like I might throw up... To avoid embarrassment and a messy outfit, I thankfully held this in and the feeling eventually subsided. :)

I crossed the line two miles later with a clocked time of 1:39:02... Converting to a chip time of 1:38:01. Two minutes under my goal time! Woot woot.

I am so proud of my Sister and Mark for also being finishers today. And so thankful for my kiwi for making me go out and run with him even when I didn't want to.

Another Half Marathon on the horizon? Perhaps a full..? Baaah! So impressed with all the marathoners today. I don't know how they do it....

Until next time!!

Thursdays

Thursdays have been anything but easy for the past few weeks.

The day of the week that I find myself most times looking forward to (as it's just one day away from the weekend) I had been trying to avoid for some time knowing that with all the Thursdays that passed, Today, Thursday November 1st would eventually be here. It has been exactly 30 days since Chris' moving back to New Zealand became a certainty. As I sit and write this now, I have the same sick and empty feeling inside as I did on that Tuesday, 30 days ago when the news of his leaving became a reality.

Chris is somewhere in the air getting closer to Houston now. Closer to Los Angeles. Closer to his final destination of Auckland. While at this very moment, I feel sad and lonely, I know I will be okay because I, much like the rest of the women in my family, am strong. It's the difficulties faced in life that try and wear us down. It is these same trying times that when faced head-on make each of us tougher than could ever be imagined.

 For now, I will continue to live in the present and reminisce on the past. Each Thursday will continue to be difficult...as now, it's not counting how many Thursdays until he leaves, but how many Thursdays he's actually been away. Going into a busy season with work, I know I will have distractions may I choose to accept them.

Sometimes we have to do things that are difficult in order to provide better for ourselves, as well as others. I admire and am happy that with a return home, Chris may strive to do exactly that. Besides, now I have the perfect reason to vacation to New Zealand someday soon!

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On a lighter note, only 2 more days until the Rock and Roll Half Marathon hits Savannah. As I was taught in High School. the night before, the night before the race (so 2 nights out) is the most important for R&R. A good nights sleep and a bit of Carbs will help your body feel more fresh the day of the race. In HS, we always had Spaghetti dinners to load up on necessary carbs before races, unfortunately nobody offered to make heaps of pasta and host said party- therefore, I am on my own this evening. Thinking of all my TCR XC girls this evening!
So many other factors are running through my head on the half marathon front.... how much clothing should I wear? Will my shoes be okay for that distance? How will I find my friends after the race if we split up? What if I get a cramp? What if I have to pee? Is it neccessary to warm up before an 11 mile race?
It's as I haven't run competitively for the past 12 years. I will be fine. Difficulties make us stronger right? ;)


Hoorah!!!