Officially Marine Corps Registered, Thanks Matt.

Legal Waiver Excerpts:

“I verify I have full knowledge of the rigors of this race and the risk involved in participation, and I am physically fit and have sufficiently trained to complete this event.”

So I am now legally required to train, hear that honey?

“It is also recommended anyone over the age of 35 and/or with a family history of heart disease consult with their physician before undertaking the marathon.“

“PARTICIPATION CARRIES WITH IT CERTAIN INHERENT RISKS THAT CANNOT BE ELIMINATED COMPLETELY RANGING FROM MINOR INJURIES TO CATASTROPHIC INJURIES INCLUDING DEATH.”

So if I had waited one more year, this thing could have killed ME and not just my social life.

36 is the new old age ay? I'll show'em...soon as the ache in my left hip heals.

13 miles in 2 hours flat!

This whole week I was feeling pretty strong, it's either the conditioning is kicking in, or the temperatures weren't so bad. Today I opened it up just a little on the way out and paid for it a bit the last 3 miles, but overall felt pretty good. Great conditions 70's, no rain, no sun.

I am learning about where I need to keep the heart rate, 155-160 for early in the run, 160-165 is good and sustainable, 165+ and it seems to keep going up so maybe for hills and the end of the run, but 170+ and I am burning matches, I have about 2 miles of that in me before I hit the wall and have to pull it way back. Recovery from 170's is reluctant.

Gu tasting notes: chocolate: like the pudding--amazing, lemon: tastes better during run than prior, strawberry banana: awful especially when warm. Got the variety pack, so more notes to come.

Work/run balance: advantage run

12 miles in 1:52 & scrambled eggs beats cupcakes

Well, this 12 mile thing is getting almost routine. Another canal run, this time much cooler, got rained on a little to make sure I was totally soaked through. The fun today was trying out all the new gear I picked up at Road Runner Sports. New shoes, socks, sporty skivies, and a visor. Visor = no squinting + no headaches + keeps rain out of eyes--my dorky runner ensemble is almost complete.

Celebrated with a strawberry shortcake cupcake at Baked and Wired, and randomly the girl in the blue dress from the Jazz in the Park fashion montage was there working. She looked none too pleased to be recognized. Just left the change on the counter with the to go box when I got out of the lu. Can't say I blame her, even minor celebrity can be annoying, especially when you get recognized by sweaty runners--o joy! Food verdict: the cake part shrunk and the strawberries were smaller than last time, too much icing. That's not gonna get it done in the DC cupcake wars.

Not to worry, the girlfriend was awesome and cooked scrambled eggs and toasted Italian loaf and cantaloupe--now that's a runner's breakfast. Thanks babe. Feeling uneasy about what: school in session + weekday workouts = ?! stay tuned.

Jim came just in time! (Social Facilitation Part II)

This is my ode to runners giving each other a lift. The situation: dehydrated, running in the heat of the day, and I missed my mile marker, so now I'm running 9 instead of 7. About mile 6 a random retiree Jim catches up to me and offers to run along with me. All of a sudden, I am talking AND running faster. Jim carries me through the rest of my run telling me marathon war stories. He wears himself out to stay with me as I pick it up in the home stretch, so he ends his run early but we finish as teammates. Did I mention he is retirement age? What an athlete and a tribute to sport and sportsmanship. Wherever you are out there Jim, thanks man, you saved my run today. Maybe I'll see you on the canal again some time.

Pig Roasting as Cross-Training?

If cooking can be cross-training, then pig roasting has got to count, at least when you do it country style, I mean the pig carry, the wood chopping, not to mention the eating, there should be a championship for this man.

12 mile Golden Gate run!

Probably the most amazing scenery I will see for a run. I took in the Victorian Conservatory of Flowers, past stately Eucalyptus and vase shaped pines, past the huge working Dutch Windmill, onto the beach, then trail running up and down the beach cliffs toward the glowing red bridge, finishing with a triumphant downhill, or so it seemed, through the forest of the Presidio just in time to grab the bus back down Haight St. to the hotel!

Sadly the gf on roller skates and plan didn't work out (downhills + traffic + skates = yikes!).

I went pretty slow but felt good the whole way with something new and exciting around every bend. 1 PB&J and 2 Goos were enough to keep me going along with carried water. Nice cook temperature and SUNNY which is rare in SF this time of year :)

repeat moral: long runs don't hurt (as much) when they are gorgeous!

Truth telling: All this was made possible by the icing I did on the Achilles tendon the day before--I hope to avoid the tragic ending of a Greek demi-god, or the original marathon messenger of lore for that matter!

Cross-training or not cross-training I

Question: So does this qualify as cross-training?

NOT gone 10 miles yet! (continuing SF saga)

Excuses: I was feeling good and in a rush--needed to go: thank gf's uncle for the GPS>rental car return>train>bus>hotel>taxi in time for>ferry>backpacking before 3:30pm--so I went a little fast running to the park and realized that it wasn't 1.5-2 miles but more like 1 mile to get there (unless I was on warp speed). So that just cheapens 10 mile run on the same route down to 8+ UGH! That makes me mad, which following my instincts (see first post), makes me want to go fast and kill off this workout to make up for it.

Result: Missed training run the next day because the legs are a mess. Remember, speed kills in marathon training...must remember!

in a rush + angry about previous run = going way too fast + fried legs

On the plus side, Angel Island in the middle of SF bay had amazing views and amazing weather.

First 10 Mile Run!

Staying with my beautiful and very pregnant cousin and her husband in Campbell, CA. Had a great long run with race ambiance because a bunch of marathon clubs were out along with the Red Shirt Divas, plus-size women in bright red shirts with their motto: seeking balance. Seeing all those people working toward their personal fitness goals is pretty fantastic and a great motivator.

running + eating energy goo = snarfing + amused Red Shirt Divas