NYC Marathon: Training Update 7/6

**Winner of Josiah’s Photography is listed at the bottom of this post!!

(See:  7/6–My bad math is hard to ignore! Oh well.)
Here I am.  And it’s almost time.

My last week of “tapering” my mileage has been a bit odd.  It is uncomfortable.  I mean, my legs feel really good.  I have hardly been sore, and I’m forgetting to stretch.  Tapering is a strange time, and if you’ve trained for a marathon, you may remember.   It’s hard not to feel guilty for not being out running more than I am.  Perhaps this will just make me all the more ready to go hard next weekend.

This is so true!

Here is a quick look at last week’s training:

MONDAY:  3-mile easy one.
TUESDAY:  5-mile hilly.
WEDNESDAY:  rest.  Birthday massage. 🙂
THURSDAY:  4.5 mile flat.
FRIDAY:  Rest.
SATURDAY:  10.75 miles with Gretchen. Even that was super hard.  Oh dear.
SUNDAY:  Rest.

About Gretchelope:  I got a massage on my birthday which was an absolute highlight.  I went to a girl named Stacy, who Gretchen has been going to for a few years.  So, as Stacy was working on me, of course we had to talk about Gretchen.  Mostly, I was curious what it is like to massage someone who is made of 100% muscle and bone.  Stacy said that Gretchen is like an antelope.  (Not that Stacy has ever massaged an antelope, I’m pretty sure she just meant her general physique.)

(and maybe Gretchen’s diet too, now that I think about it.)

She nailed it!  An antelope.  Perfect.
So now we’ll just call her Gretchelope! 🙂

RUNNING WARDROBE:  So, I hate to be boring, but I really have very little to update you on as far as my race wardrobe goes.  I never did go shopping, because–well, I just didn’t.  I’m wondering if a thick hoodie will be enough?  One to wear around (and for travel,) and another to run in, and toss out to be given to charity.  If you live anywhere near NYC, please give me your thoughts on weather, and what I’ll need!  I’m so confused I cannot even imagine what it will be like.
I’m still hoping to hit our thrift store before I leave on Thursday.

GETTING AROUND:  I’m a little nervous about transportation.  I need to figure out how to get from the airport to where we are staying, and all of that.  I’m feeling like a frightened little country girl, but I’ll be ok…
My brother and Gretchen come in a few hours after me, so I figure that gives me enough time to get really lost, take in a few sights, and have a few new stories to tell.  Haha.

GOALS?  I know I should set an actual goal for how fast I want to do this race, but I don’t think I have one.  I keep telling myself that I don’t even mind walking–I just want to finish it.  And honestly, I think its true.  Most of my longer run have still averaged about 8:30 min/mile, but I am pretty positive that my legs will give in after 18 or so miles…so some walking will be in order.  I’ve done one marathon in 4:11, and another in 3:23, but that sounds like crazy town now.  4:11 would be just fine!! 🙂

FINAL MARATHON ANXIETIES AND EXCITEMENT:

ANXIETY:
1.  Pain:  Thank God I’m still injury-free.  But honestly, with each run, I seriously HURT by about mile 10.  I don’t remember that in my training 18 years ago!  I get knee and hip joint pain–like knives stabbing into my joints.  This is probably totally normal, but it scares me.  I think HOW can I make it to 26.2 if it hurts like that at 10?  Fortunately, my body recovers quickly, and I don’t hurt at all the day after a long run, so I’m telling myself it is normal and not to worry.

2.  Big City:  Just getting around NYC.  Thank GOD my brother and Gretchen will be there.  But it’s still a big city, right?

3.  So far away:  I’ll be so very far away…Truthfully, I miss my family when I’m away for a few hours.  I will be missing them like crazy when I am so far away.  🙁  I know it’s healthy for all of us, but still.

EXCITEMENT:

1.  The NYC Marathon!!  Really–this is amazing.  I still can hardly believe I’m doing it.  It is by far the most exciting thing I’ve done in a very long time!

2.  New Friends!!!  Not only do I have my brother and Gretchen there, but I get to meet a whole TEAM of people running for the END DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY team.  Apparently there will be a support crew along the race route as well, with signs to cheer us along.  That will be amazing!!!

3.  Reppin’ the Aina:  Gretchen and I want to find a way to not only represent DMD, but also Hawaii!  We are considering wearing grass skirts, or fake leis, or something to show the world that we are there from Hawaii!  Any ideas?  Let us know!   It will be so much fun to see so many runners, from all over the world.  What a RUSH!

**I MAY have the computer along on the trip, but either way, you know you can always find me on Facebook and Instagram.  I’ll love hearing from you as I go!!!
You can bet I’ll be doing a Post-Race update here soon after I get back.

NOW BEFORE I GO!!!  Darlene D.  is the very LUCKY WINNER of my birthday giveaway.  She will be receiving the darling turtle FLOATING IN A BLUE WORLD as soon as I hear from her!  Darlene–please email me using my contact form to give me your mailing address!!  Thank you all for being a part of that very fun giveaway.

A few people have asked about HOW TO ORDER–to ORDER at the Smugmug site, you simply must click on a photo to enlarge it, then you can click on “buy” and it will show you all of the options for sizing and type of prints, and if you want to add a mount, a frame, etc.  Let us know if you have any problems!! 

I’ll see you back here soon!
XOXO
Monica
PS  Start from week ONE on my training HERE.

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