I think my wife Lora is trying to sabotage me this week. She knows I've got a marathon to run this weekend yet she is insisting on baking some of my favorite foods for dinner and desert. I have been weak, and haven't been able to resist large portions. Do brownies count for carbo loading? I should get some credit for not eating as much as I could. I finally told her to make something I'm not too fond of.
 | This will be my last post before running in the 20th annual Austin marathon (on the 20th). Some commented that I looked ready to BQ based on my training times and distances. I am flattered in the confidence my peers have in me. Unfortunately, I lack the same. While I do believe I'm ready to PR big time, a BQ time for my age is 20 minutes faster than the PR I set last Fall. Also I set my current PR on a fairly flat, fast course with near ideal conditions. Austin is a bit of a technical course with a 14 foot average elevation gain per mile for the first 17 miles. It is starting to look like it will be pretty warm that day, so the weather might not be on my side either. I'm trying not to worry about things beyond my control, and I did lots of incline workouts on the mill to prepare for the hills. I'm lousy at predicting my marathon finishes, but I think I'm capable of a 3:25-3:30 time which would put me at a sub 8 minute pace. |
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| Elevation Chart |
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Just bought a new pair of Ascics shoes. Normally, that's not much news, but I've only got a week to break them in before my 26.2 miler. My old pair had over 1000 miles logged on them, so I was
being cheap due for a new pair.
Other little factoids about my trip to Austin.
- The only other time I was there was for part of my 1 year wedding anniversary.
- Now I'll be there with an additional 3 kids.
- Looking forward to meeting up with a friend who is flying in from the San Francisco area to run the marathon too.
- We'll be hanging out with some other friends who now live there.
- My wife and I have yet to make plans for what touristy things we'll do, but it will have to be kid friendly.
I missed out on blogging during V-Day. So here is my very brief belated tribute to my wife: We met back in 1997 over the internet (she initiated contact). After emailing for a couple weeks, we finally decided to meet in person. She says she's never done anything like that before
wink, wink... Anyway, it was love at first sight for me. For her, apparently not so much ;-( I guess I had to woo her over a bit. I think what finally did the trick was the first time she felt comfortable to drink alcohol in front of me, she had too much, and threw up all over my car's floor board. In her eye's I handled it like a champ, I cleaned up after her, and got her inside her house safe and sound, all without complaint. Fast forward 10 years of marriage and 3 kids later,
I've learned to complain a little, but we're still as happy as we were after that first time she spewed chunks on our 4th date.
I missed out on blogging during V-Day. So here is my very brief belated tribute to my wife: We met back in 1997 over the internet (she initiated contact). After emailing for a couple weeks, we finally decided to meet in person. She says she's never done anything like that before 
20 comments:
Good luck at Austin!
Have a great race!!! I can't wait to hear your report. Have a wonderful family vacation as well :-)
Have a wonderful, fast, fun, awesome race out there!! Yes, brownies count. :)
Best wishes for your marathon!!! That's so exciting!
Congrats on 10 blissful years of marriage, as well!
Good Luck at Austin!! Sounds like you guys had quite the first few dates...but hey it all works out in the end right ;)
Good luck in Austin! If I was your wife, I'd flick you in the nose for telling a blew chunks story;) congrats on 10 yrs!
good luck in austin! BQ or not, you WILL PR. and yay for you and your wife, you should bring her to j&l sometime so we can all meet her. hope to see you soon.
p.s. are you doing the easter 10k?
@Tortuga_Runner: Thanks for the well wishes. You have a valid point, but perhaps it's best you're not my wife otherwise I might get flicked in the nose quite a bit :-) Actually that story has been told many a time, and she seems to see the humor in it.
@Fair Weather Runner: My wife would like to make it out to J&L sometime, we'll just have to make plans for the kidos. I usually run the Easter 2 miler that way, once a year, I can feel what it's like for my legs and lungs burn simultaneously.
good luck at Austin! Just like Fair Weather Runner I think you will PR as well. Though like you say, the elevation profile is pretty steep, and if it's hot as well that won't help. BQ might be a tall order, but I still think a PR is in order.
1000 miles on your shoes? whoa, that is a lot. I almost had a heart attack reading that, haha I try to replace them at maybe 400-500 miles =) Some of it is personal preference, but I notice that my knees start to take more of a pounding the older my shoes get.
hilarious story about your wife's first date, haha
and I've never been to Austin but I have friends that are from there, try to see the bats fly under the Congress bridge at dusk. Or walk down 6th street - there are a ton of bars there.
Have a great time (above all), and get a PR if it all clicks!
Austin is a great town, should be fun for all there.
Congrats on 10 yrs of marriage and creating your own cheering section 8)
Good luck and have fun
Such a romantic story - you fell in love over a big technicolour yawn.
Good luck with the race. Don't even think about the BQ. If your body is ready for it - it'll happen.
Great story about meeting your wife. I am rooting for you this weekend. Do what Meb does, "Relax and your body will follow".
Don't forget to check out my latest post.
See ya in Austin! If you see me passed out on one of those hills, please check my pulse or something ... but I'll be waaaaaaaay behind you! Best wishes ... go get it!
When I BQ'd the first time, I knocked off 33 minutes in a 6-month span. Just saying...it's not impossible :). Go get 'em!!
Good Luck!
Good luck this weekend! Woot! That elevation chart is insane! ;) You will do great, I'm glad you got new shoes for it, 1000 miles!?!
Have a great time tomorrow!!!
good luck tomorrow, get er done!
Hi, new follower. Found you thru jims blog. I'm excited to read more about your running! Ps what kind of dog do you have? It looks similar to mine!
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