Carb-Loading, Packing and Norah Jones

Such a b-u-s-y day, sometimes I feel like I live 2 different lives. But I am now packing, eating some breakfast for dinner and listening to Norah to chillax.

The Nike Expo began today! Only 22k people in the race, no biggie. An appearance from Kara Goucher and other Olympians.  A Tiffany's Finisher's necklace delivered by firemen on a silver platter.  Lots of sweat. Maybe a tear or two.

One thing is for certain, Nike can really stack an event, here are some deets that arrived in my email yesterday:

It's here. We'd say it's the day you've been waiting for… but "waiting" hardly describes the effort you've put in over the past few months. No. It's the day you've laced up and headed out the door literally hundreds of times for. It's the day you envisioned in every painful moment where you questioned why. It's the day that never let you press snooze. It's the day you have trained for. We've pulled out all the stops to make sure it's a day you'll never forget. Crossing the finish line (because you WILL cross it, you know) is going to seal the deal on making 10/16 a memorable day, but you've got an awful lot to look forward to in the meantime. This weekend is a celebration of all the STRONG.SEXY.FIERCE women out there, so make plans to enjoy it to the fullest. You deserve it! Here's what we've got in store:

The NWM Expotique & Packet Pick-up THURS, Oct 13: 12pm – 8pm FRI, Oct 14: 10am – 9pm SAT, Oct 15: 8am – 6pm You have to come to pick up your bib, but you'll want to stay to check out all of the awesomeness, including Nike+ Race Day Benefits, a chance to see what shoe works best for your stride at our interactive gait analysis experience, and every woman's dream  – fittings by the experts at our personalized Nike Women's Bra Bar. You'll also have a chance to test out Nike's most cutting-edge product innovations, including a photo-op with the most reflective jacket you've ever seen – just wait! Last, get ready to hear insider  tips and stories from some of the world's finest runners – we're pleased to host Olympians Joan Benoit Samuelson, Kara Goucher, Shalane Flanagan and Shannon Rowbury. And from our partners, here are just a few of the great, totally free experiences to make any girls' weekend complete!

• Foot Massages from Cole Haan • Hair Styling Salon from Paul Mitchell • Neutrogena Skincare Consultations • Safeway Bike Blended Smoothies • Gatorade Interactive Course Video Game • Lite POM Photo Booth Kaiser Permanente Music + Massage Lounge Congratulations on completing the hardest part of running a marathon: getting yourself to the starting line. Now, welcome to the celebration. We'll see you soon. I could go for a little bit of all of that right now! On my list for tomorrow morning before our flight: 1. Hy-drate! 2. Hot Yoga-Topaz 102 degree class, so invigorating in the morning 3. Make homemade low-sugar, low-fat pun'kin spice latte  ;) 3. Put on a new pod so I don't have to deal while flying 4. Upload some jams for our travels! Well here goes a great trip to San Francisco!  Over the past 22 weeks I  have ran over 565 miles and can excitedly say that as of Sunday will have completed the last 26.2.  All while repeatedly checking my blood sugars, planning my meals/times based on my running accordingly and let's be honest---having such a-mazing support.

A Nice Suprise!

I came home from work last night and found this on my dining room table :D

Such a sweet & thoughtful gift from Brian & Sarah!

        With quite a nice card about inspiration and dedication....


I think as it is getting closer to the race date I am actually relaxing a little more (whhhaaat?) I mean if you know me, that is pure craziness. 
Perhaps it is due to the fact Mike actually accompanied me to a hot yoga class last night. I know, I know, can you believe it?! His first ever, Black Opal. And I must say he did pretty amazing and I think he enjoyed it, especially the frozen ice pops they were giving out at the end.
Or it could be that I ran my last 3 miles before the 26.2 on Sunday this morning, in the drizzling rain while visualizing crossing the finish line. 


Hope you all have a great day!

Some pics

 The Map for the Race-note the Elevation & Hills (who knows why those             
 white dots are there...)        

Mike's awesome support drawing. Hey, if he gets bored w/medicine, 
looks like he's got another option.

Some goodies!

Made by my sis, pretty a-mazing! Love

The Week Of....

Hard to imagine the last 21 weeks of training are coming to an end this Sunday as I will be in San Francisco. And exciting as well! Plenty of hot yoga on my horizon this week so I can chill out a bit :) Although I have already mentally packed, I am still second guessing pretty much all of my choices but I am sure as the week goes on that will subside, hopefully (crosses fingers!).

I have received soooo much support from loved ones, as well as some pretty awesome care packages preparing me for both before and after the race. It is truly amazing.

Mike & I have some fun plans to explore the scenery in SF including Fisherman's Wharf, the Expo Nike will be hosting all weekend as well as riding a trolley car throughout the streets. We are looking forward to our trip together.

*Pics to come later of goodies in my care packages, training pics and the course map!*

Happy Wednesday!

This week has been a little laxed if you will, at least as far as my training is concerned. It is always more pleasant to hear my alarm go off at 4am instead of the usual 3:15am for a long run Wednesday morning. I enjoy that time of day because everything is how it should be; the air is usually very still and the only thing I can hear is the sound of my footsteps on the pavement and my deep breaths. That is why I prefer early morning runs vs. afternoon when the air feels different, cars are plentiful and who knows how long it has been since I have eaten my lunch.
This morning was fastest I have ever finished a 10k, 8:19/mile pace. Eeekkk! I try to not put so much pressure on myself as far as time is concerned for the marathon, as my focus should be on completing it. However, that can be difficult since when I started running a 10-minute mile was pretty good for me. But I truly believe it is all relevant to how much training you put into it.

Am icing my ankle since last week it was pretty swollen, seems to be improving though. I am not really giving it an option since there is only eleven days to go! 
I have been trying to monitor what I eat since a good portion of my run is contingent upon my diet. That said, I am glad my mileage is tapering off this week so I can store my energy :) My sugars have been fluctuating a little this week, could be stress, could be my pump or I suppose it could just be.

I am looking forward to hot yoga tonight and have even attempted to recruit Mike to join me, I feel like one more week and maybe he will! I am hoping he can make Black Opal his first class since it has a prefect blend of flow and vinyasa as well as beginners to advanced and there is music. Also, the temperature is "only" 92 degrees.

Hope your day is going well!

Miami and the end of summer

We just got back Sunday from visiting our dear friends, Jasmin & Brandon, in Miami, FL before they move to London and what a GREAT trip Mike & I had w/them! It will definitely take some time getting used to them not being here, but we are very happy for them.

                                                      South Beach & Mojitos!

10.16.11

Seventeen days until I will run my first Marathon and I can hardly believe it!!  Although it has been time consuming and energy draining, it has changed my life for the better and helped me truly understand what it is to push myself beyond what I thought I was capable of.  My sugars have been up and down with me throughout my 23 week training program, but my intentions are to run with my pump on.  I believe Mike is going to be on the sidelines (if I can find him amongst the huuumuungo crowd, or so I hear) and will have my meter available so I am able to check at least once if not twice while I am running.


I could not be where I am today without the support and encouragement of my family and close friends. Between Mike's 5:00am texts cheering me on when I am on mile 8 and have 10 more to go, him waking up at 4:15am to come save me from my owl attack and most recently picking me up on the side of the road at 8:30am during rush hour because it was a terenchal downpour out and I was worried about my phone getting ruined.  My sister's constant support, telling me about recipes I may like to try while training and sending me new gear for raceday.  My parents giving me my Nike shoes that I have trained with for 15 weeks that I will use for the Marathon and sounding so proud eveytime I speak to them and they ask about the race. Mike's parents getting me gift card so I could further support Nike and purchase some sweet outfits for the race. And to all my dear friends who listen to me discuss my knee injury after I fell, the blisters and calluses that cover my wish-it-wasn't summer feet, failing to have appetite control since I was a bottomless pit for the majority of my training and congratulating me when I was both mentally and physically exhausted.


More updates & pics to come later today!