First Friday of Summer.

Man, it feels like it’s been a while since I typed up a random Friday post.  I have been failing miserably at blogging lately, most likely because I am sick of typing the same posts over and over and over again talking about marathon prep this and marathon prep that.  That is certainly one thing I am going to be very happy to have behind me after Sunday!  (And I suppose the whole running for 5 hours thing too!)

That’s right!  Sunday is the Big Day take 2.0 already!  These past 5 weeks have literally FLOWN by and it’s hard for me to believe it is here already.  In fact, I am pretty sure I am more in denial this time than last time because I have failed to have shoes fit for running in… oops.  My new ones showed up at my parent’s house yesterday (thank you VIP status with ZAPPOs.com!!!) so I’ll have to hope that walking a bit in them tomorrow helps break them in.  If not, I guess I will pay the price but my old ones are so bad I couldn’t make it 3 miles on Wednesday without my legs hurting horribly bad because they were so worn out.  I am pretty sure they are over 6 months old which is about 2 months past my normal retirement date… again with the Oops.

They used to look so pretty and new!

Other not so interesting facts about my week:

1) It was hellishly hot on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  Like walk in an oven hot.  Somehow this particular heat wave appears to be leaving by the marathon although I will not place bets on that fact…Seriously Wisconsin.  Enough!

2) I ran about 4 miles on Monday and 3.5 on Wednesday this week for taper week and struggled with each and every step I took.  I am trying to convince myself that that does not mean anything about race day… but…

3) I am 1/3 on carbo load days so far!  It didn’t take much for me to overshoot 400gs so we shall see how the really high days go.  To be honest, I felt pretty drunk/sugared up all day and I really didn’t have much sugar, more bread like products.  Oats, bananas, pizza, larabars, homemade bread, potatoes, oh my!

Last night’s carb filled dinner!

4) These items are on standby for carbo-loading and race day!  I hate food with food coloring but sometimes I just really don’t care and say bring on the Red 40!  I bet it’s the magic marathon drug.

5) I have the taper crazies in totally different ways this time than last time.  Prepping for the last marathon I was totally mentally distracted all week but this time, I am physically bouncing off the walls.  Probably some thanks to the excess sugar/carbs and much more reduced exercise than last time?!

6) When I look at the course pictures/map for this marathon, I am so much more interested and excited by what I am going to see!  It’s pretty much all right along Lake Michigan and looks gorgeous!  Too bad I can’t just stop and take lots and lots of pictures while I am running

7) This weekend is also the second annual SummerFest Rock n Sole Half Marathon in Milwaukee.  Last years’ was an absolute disaster so I am interested to see if this years goes any better.  From what I have seen on Facebook, it sure looks much more organized than last years.

I survived!

8) I am still 100% terrified that I am going to putter out around mile 12 on Sunday.  Eeek!  I was so much more positive about the outcome of the last one… oh well, maybe that’s a good thing?!  No over confidence to mess with my head this way, that’s for sure.

9) 48 Freaking Hours!

Here we go again…..

Dammit, I want to earn this stupid sticker!

Carbo-Load.

To carbo-load or not to carbo-load.  That is the question.

My favorite food group.

When preparing for my last marathon that didn’t really happen, I didn’t bother to carbo-load. I used to be better about this when I first started running and racing but now am more freaked out by packing on even more weight in the days leading up to a race rather than being as fueled as humanly possible.  Now that I get a do-over, I am wondering if maybe I should put a little more effort into this aspect of racing.  Last time I only made it to 15 miles before they called the race but I was already starting to feel a little “wall” popping up… and I honestly don’t know how much longer I would have been able to run in that state.  Maybe it had nothing to do with carbo-loading but just maybe it did…

Oh these were GOOD carbs!

I’ve been doing a little google research these last few days (scientific, I know!) but it’s leading me to think maybe I SHOULD give myself every advantage I can in trying to cross this stinking marathon finish line finally.  I found one article that was especially convincing from Run Your BQ.  I would be joking if I thought I was capable of running a BQ race but I don’t think that exempts me from being able to use some of their tips to run MY best marathon!

Also GOOD carbs!!

According to the article, I should aim to consume 500-700g of carbohydrates for 2-3 days before the race.  That’s a TON of carbs… I normally eat about 200ishg I would guess.  If there is any truth in this theory, I would pretty much be setting myself up to fail by only consuming 200-300gs the few days before.  So I think I am going to give it a shot.  Worst case scenario I gain 5 more lbs from marathon training and it does nothing to help.  Best case scenario, it actually does something and helps me come race day.  I don’t really think the worst case scenario would be the end of the world.  What’s another 5lbs at this point??

If only I could carbo-load at the all you can eat pancake joint in TN!!

So my plan consists of the following:

Thursday: Increase carbs to 400-450g, light workout

Friday: Increase carbs to 500-550, light workout (1-2 mile jog/walk)

Saturday: Increase carbs to 600-700, no workout

Sunday: Race Day Breakfast, per usual

I’m not really sure if I could even fit that many grams of carbs in my belly so I am going to have to drink some of those carbs if I am going to really hit 700 on Saturday.  Doing the math, 700g carbs=2,800 calories of straight carbs!!  Yikes!  This could be interesting but if I am really having trouble getting all those carbs in, I won’t worry too much about it but those are my goals!  Come race day, I guess we will see if this helps anything or not.  But it will probably make my glutenous tendencies very happy

Bring on the pasta, muffins, bread and cereals!

Time to EAT!

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

TGIF

Well, it’s Friday again.  Another week over and another weekend just about to begin!  I have quite a few things on my to do list this weekend though so that always makes me wish I had a magic wand to wave so I could actually enjoy my weekend and relax!  I’ll have to make my list so at least I can get the fun out of crossing items off!  Is it just me or are those some of the most rewarding lines you ever make with a pen?

For this week, I am sticking with my Friday Random theme because I like the weekly recap of things that have happened!!  So here it goes…

1) It is snowing right now.  This should not surprise me as it has snowed approximately 10 times this year, 8 of which have been Friday’s before my long run.  Figures.  Oh well, I guess I really only know how to run 14 miles in a blizzard so whatever!  At least it looks pretty and probably won’t last long since it’s supposed to be 35 degrees today.  Bring on the melting so I don’t have to shovel!  You know, for my back and all…

2) I am finally going to admit I am semi-allergic to almonds… I seem to be able to eat a serving or two per week fine but a serving or two per DAY, not so much… I have a huge rash on my arm that I used to have before stopping eating them routinely the last time.  Some things I never learn.  At least I was eating them to try to avoid eating so much processed food!  So now it’s back to square one in the snack department…

3) I ran two of my speedwork miles on Wednesday in under 8 minutes.  That has NEVER happened to me.  Apparently all my 5k training with a certain someone who runs 7:30 minute miles is paying off!  Mr. Speedy McSpeedster!

Clearly it's the carbo-loading that makes him so fast...

4) I am reading Confessions of a Shopoholic Ties the Knot.  I forgot how completely ridiculous this series of books is but yet how cute at the same time!  It probably just makes me feel better about myself because I don’t have a shopping problem – ha!  If you are looking for a very light read, check these out.  The movie was also pretty cute.  Nothing earth shattering as far as books go but you know, sometimes I really could care less and just want to read a silly book!

5) I wore my new New Balance shoes to Body Pump last night and LOVED THEM!  Although they were so lightweight, they didn’t ground me the same and I almost fell over backwards doing squats twice.  Classy.

6) I get to scrapbook this weekend!  I have been “meaning” to all year to get caught up with a million pictures that need to go somewhere but yet have made zero progress… hopefully I am feeling inspired on Sunday!

7) I want these donuts so bad.  Why can’t Babycakes be closer?!  But maybe it’s better that they are not… And we have had horrible luck baking these recipes at home  Also, sadly we could get these if Sister and I were running the Princess Half Marathon in Disney this weekend.  Double boo! (yes, I am 4 years old)

8) Best new recipe I tried this week was Edible Perspective’s Pan Bread!  It literally did take 5 minutes to make this and was a really awesome texture!  Thanks to this recipe and the Babycakes website I was just looking at, I think breakfast might include a version of this pan bread topped with cinnamon and sugar and cream cheese so I can pretend it’s cinnamon roll bread… why not, it’s Friday!

You know you want one....

9)  Speaking of cinnamon… have you tried Cinnamon Chex?  If not, buy a box and thank me later.  Chex have a few sketchy ingredients in them but sometimes I just get sick of health cereal.  Bring on the chemicals!  But don’t buy them from amazon… $5/box?!?  They are like $2.xx at my grocery store… maybe they are the big boxes?

10) And finally, one more random before this day gets started for me…

Love it!

Sidenote: I keep trying to include a link to the source from the pictures I steal off of Pinterest but WordPress hates me when I do that and strips everything off and just messes up the text link I try to leave… I think clicking the pictures will redirect back to the source but I am so dumb with this stuff… I am trying to talk sister into updating this thing and getting me free from WordPress.com but I don’t know how she feels about that… and I am pretty sure she told me it would “cost me”.  Nice!

Hope you all have a happy Friday!  Hopefully I will be back tomorrow morning with a recap of another 14 miler!

 

This Morning.

Is the first time I have not felt at all nervous for a race… good sign?  Bad sign?  This is also the first time I slept just perfectly fine the night before a long run… weird…

Our hotel is pretty nice!

I woke up after having a dream that for some reason I did not wake up to my alarm and slept until 8:09am and therefore missed the start of the race.  I don’t remember the last time I slept until 8am so this would have really been a feat… Maybe the odd dream was induced by the complete sugar coma from last night’s carbo load?

Outpost's gluten free goodness

Pre-Race Breakfast has already been consumed and the hotel continental breakfast bar has been raided for after (hard-boiled eggs, bananas and fruit)…

Rice Cakes with Justin's Maple Almond Butter and Honey

I guess I have decided that going into this race with no expectations and only a wish to have fun might be a good combination to at least calm the pre-race jitters?  I guess only time will tell… we’ll see what I am saying in about 4+ hours from now?!… Stay Tuned!