13.2 Half Way There

Well, it has been a while since I have updated the blog, and we have definitely put in some mileage since last time.

We are currently up to 13.2 miles. That is right ladies and gentleman, we have passed the half way point and I have to admit it wasn’t to bad. But I am getting ahead of myself. Let me back up a week or two and fill you in on what we have been doing.

Because I am writing the blog I can really only speak for myself and let you know how I think Scooter is doing. However, from the amount of time we spend talking about running I think I have a pretty good handle on his situation as well.

2 weekends ago, we woke up late, and in a panic!!
We were supposed to start our group training and 10.5 miles at 6:15 and it was 6:20 when we rolled over. I was irrational and distraught, because I did not know how I could possibly run that long without support from the team and WATER/AID STATIONS. Scooter was convinced we could make our own up ad we would be fine. (he is definitely self motivated, unlike me). Luckily enough Beth called from the starting point wondering where we were. I explained the alarm problem and we came up with a solution. She would leave the maps under her windshield and we could head to the starting point and do the run as well.

We got there about 45 minutes after they started and were shocked to find that every single one of the volunteer aid stations had heard we were close behind and waited for us!! We ended up coming in just before the last walkers, not to bad for a late start.

The week after that was kind of uneventful. I went to an abs class at Jack and Adam’s bike shop on Monday. I was definitely tired when I left, but kind of disappointed about the work out, because I did not feel it in my abs at all.. UNTIL NEXT DAY! I definitely ate my words, it hurt so bad to even drive to work. But hey, a marathon is run from your core. You can have the strongest legs in the world, but if you don’t have a solid core you wont make it. But 3 weeks later I think I am still recovering.

We sent our 1st and 2nd batch of checks in (although we have yet to see them actually post). And we sent our first batch of thank you cards (only 2 have come back to us).

The week later we were in New Orleans for the long run. We were supposed to run 12 miles. It ended up being about 11. But it was by far the worst 2 hours of my life, and I say that with no exaggeration. Scooter mapped a run that looked beautiful (on a map) it was in Slidell, LA on the water, through upper class neighborhoods and golf courses. Well the run was AWFUL. It was flat and boring, and sweltering hot. The traffic was bad and there was nothing to look at. At about mile 10, I really thought I was done. I had not given up yet in our training, but I knew this would be it. Before passing out I stopped to walk and Scooter was smart enough to find a water spigot at an apartment building, where we re-hydrated and were able to make it back, to the much needed ice bath.

The week after was a slow one. We were kind of beat up (and down) from our run on Saturday, we may have taken more than one day off to recover. Scooter headed to Houston, where he was forced to take another couple days off, due to weather and lack of sleep.

Saturday came and it was the “half marathon” We ran the Motive Bison course which is a half marathon run here in, North Austin, Riata area to be exact. Lots of hills, okay maybe only 4 but they were awful hills. We climbed 250 feet in less than 2 miles.
I also had my first real experience with the runner’s goo. I found 2 flavors I actually kind of enjoy, “double latte” and “vanilla bean.” But at mile 10 I realized that the goo can go right through you if you are not careful, or not used to it. Something about the mile 10 and I, we just do not get along well. We made it in finally, and I made it to my car and home just in time. I didn’t have time for an ice bath, so needless to say I am definitely feeling tight.

This week has started slow again, the morning runs are actually getting harder and harder, not easier. We are meeting at 5AM now, in order to get done in time. The August schedule came out today and it looks like we are increasing mileage again. We will be running 6 and 7 miles in the morning, which will probably mean a 4:30 start time.

Oh and most importantly, we have reached our recommitment point. We have to look at our donations and “recommit” which basically means deciding whether or not we should quit now, or try and raise the remaining money. We still have quite a ways to go, but there is no stopping now. We have come too far, hundreds of miles to be honest!