Last scheduled run before the big day

So I ran my 3 miles on Friday and only missed one run this week (work and lack of sleep are to blame).  I am not feeling great about the race, but I am excited to be getting out there. I had planned on running a race in Aug and Sept but I got sick in Aug and my lack of sleep made it hard for me to get out of the house early to race. Picked up my race number today. Not much there other than some shirts for sale. I had both kiddos so I just grabbed my Number and headed out (we had just come from Home Depot Crafts, Hope made a helicopter).

I have never run a half this unprepared. I did not get all my training runs, and I have not slept a full night's sleep in 6 1/2 months. My legs had a hard time recovering from long runs because I can't sleep more than 2 1/2 hours at a time. Should be interesting.

I am a competitive person but I am going to try and go out there and treat it as a nice long solo run. I have a new mix on my iPod and the weather will be cool (43 degrees at the start). I hope that will be enough to keep me loose. I set my Garmin virtual partner for 8:23 min pace, which would have me finish just under 1:50:00. Not a PR by any means but I would find that respectable. We will see how respectable I do tomorrow.

Also, just as I finish my race, my poor hubs will be taking the patent bar (9am-4pm). So if you are going to pray for anything, pray for him to pass. That is more I portent then my little race.

Racing and possibly a new kind of racing

I know, I know, it has been so long since I have blogged. But in all honesty, I haven't had much time and we are having major issues with our internet in our new house (still doesn't work after working for just 2 days). I also traveled for a week for work but I will update you on how well Hope did as well as some good pictures and cute stories of her. We had a blast together!

Well Sunday was the annual AJC Peachtree Road Race (10k) and Adam and I were up at 5:40am on the holiday to get ready for the race. It is the largest 10k race in the world with over 55,000 participants and it typically sells out within 6 hours. This is the 5th year Adam and I have done it. Because there are so many runners, they have groups that start at different times. The first year we did it, we were in the second to last group (group 8) and we didn't start until 8:45am (the race starts at 7:30am). But after ran that year, we learned that if you run another race within the year, you can submit your time and get in the earlier groups. I found a fast 10k race later that year and I in group 1B the next year. Since then, we have both submitted times with our registration and have benefited from starting in the early groups. It's nice!!! This year my time was not up to par, but given the fact that we have sold a house, bought a house, packed a house, fixed up a house and moved into a new house, I felt ok with my time. I was about 2.5 minutes slower than last year (my PR for the course), but I couldn't combine too much. I did also travel all last week, so I was not very rested.

Typically, the race mails you your number, but this year it cost an extra $5 per number to have it mailed. They wanted you to go to the Expo to get your number. So Saturday morning, we got up and went down to the Expo. I was totally fine with that because I like going to the Expo's and checking things out. I spotted some shirts from One More Mile, and had been eyeing them for a while at other expo's. Because of my hard week, Adam bought me one. It says "I run like a girl. Try to keep up." I love it!!!

Well also at the expo, I came across Ragnar Relays. I thought it was a triathalon relay race (which I am interested in doing), but this is all running. We stopped and spoke with the guy about it. He was telling us about one of the relays. It's a team of 12 people and you run 185 miles from Miami to Key West in January. Each runner runs 3 times. How awesome does that sound!!! I have already downloaded the race bible and am starting to construct my team. It sounds really fun and what a view. I will keep you posted on this one.

Race Pictures - ING Half marathon

I finally got the pictures uploaded from the ING a couple of weeks ago. It was cool and rainy so major props to my family for coming out to support me.

Here is Hope in her stroller, blanket and her new raincoat waiting for mommy around mile 9.

Hope thinking she sees me. She got so excited!

That is me in the pink top and green shorts. Adam bought me that outfit for my Oct. race as a way of being supportive but then it's easier to pick me out of the crowd.

After the race at home with mom and her medal. It was a pretty good race overall. I was not a huge fan of the rain, but it did help keep the temperature down, which is good when you are running 13 miles.

Now I am working on speed as distance running season is coming to an end and shorter races are coming up. I have 2 5k's in my future. One is the Race for the Cure which is a huge race, but also one of my favs. It is a great atmosphere and we always run it for my mom. If you are an Atlantan, I highly recommend this race. It has a lot of personality and jogging stroller are allowed. Yeah! Register here.

My fastest 5k time is currently 24:25, so I am hoping to break 24:00. Wish me luck!

Finished!

Of course I finished, but I am too tired to do a race recap, but wanted to let you know that I did not have a PR, but I did pretty good considering my training. I am never happy unless it's a PR, but I am going to take it today. It rained and was very hilly. Now I am currently trying to register for the Peachtree Road Race and and the system is having issues with the high volume. More to report later.