training day number eighty-one

this is close to my final post on this blog. the journey has been amazing. taking the time to reflect on my training here has helped me reach my goal. i did not consider that the collective days of running and pushing myself to train was more of an accomplishment than the actual race itself. so at this great moment after 81 training runs, i can honorably say, "i did that shit."

what a week it has been. president obama got 4 more years. i got a promotion at work. my crazy case at work got fixed and i get to go on vacation. that is real change from a year ago this time when i was ready to quit my job and i was over 20 lbs heavier. so cheers to this week and to life!

on wednesday, i ran the fullsteam run and that rocked. it was 55 degrees at start but dropped to 45 degrees by the end. i wore long pants and that made it bearable. i know i would have been embarrassed to wear tights a year ago. but on wednesday, i didn't care and maybe even flaunted a little especially all sweaty at the end back at the brewery. we ran hard and fast doing about a 9 min/mile pace. then we were treated to a free spanish meal of rice, black beans, plantains and chicken. i skipped the chicken but it looked really good and folks said it tasted yummy. on top of all that we all got a free pint glass for being runners.

i ran my solo training run on thursday. this was supposed to be a 3-mile run but i had a route in my head. that route took me from the house to prospect park then up vickers avenue to chapel hill street. then down the big hill and up the big hill which is my training hill for this bridge we have to cross in the marathon. when we drove over this bridge yesterday coming to obx, yes we are here, i know i can make it. it is a big hill bridge but one step at a time, i will make it. i finished thursday's run with a full loop at duke east campus and back the way i came. that all turned into 5 miles but so worth it.

the next post will be my marathon experience. i have my bib, i am number 946 in corral b. i will have to come up with something clever that rhymes with 946 B something like "when times are hard, and you just can't see, set yo ass free, with 946 B" but i only have 22 hours to work on it.

run:

duration: 51:35
distance: 5.30 mi (goal 3 miles) 
pace: 9:44 min/mi 
calories: 785

garmin link: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/241831529

weight: 179 lbs

days to go until race day: 22 hours (running2obx, yeah baby!!!)

total this week: 20.93 miles (that rocks)