Erinn’s blog

it was almost a perfect day for the race. I woke up this morning and took my dog for a walk. It was warm. Warm for November in Seattle. I had my pre-race “meal” of toast with peanut butter. I then got ready making sure not to layer too much. With race number in hand I head out the door. 

After finding a place to park (the usual suspects not available) and using the BIFFY I head to the start line. I’m glad it is not too cold as waiting for the gun to go off can be a long wait in the cold weather. As the count down begins I “high five” my running partner C (who ran her first 1/2 this morning) and off we went. 

At about mile 3 it started to spit a bit, but I was ready for the cool down Mother Nature provided. It was almost balmy. I passed the first water stop feeling really good. The first mile is always the toughest for me, but not today. I fell into a groove and started to pace myself. I grabbed water at mile 4 and headed through the tunnel on my way toward Lake Washington Blvd. 

At my split I thought I was making pretty good time and felt pretty self assured I would make my race goal. Then mile 10 hit and so did the worst muscle cramp I have ever had. Painful, painful, painful. I thought maybe I was dehydrated so I grabbed more water. Nope, that wasn’t it. Nothing I did helped and running made it worse. By mile 12 I was sooooo ready for the race to be over I think the last mile was the longest mile I ever ran. 

Then I began to hear to cheering of the crowd. I knew I had a mother hill coming up so I kept my pace and didn’t want to push it too hard and then once I hit the top of the hill I let the crowd lead the way. 

I finished. I didn’t finish in the time I wanted but I don’t care. I was on the couch in my comfy clothes nearly sloth-like in June of this year and today I finished a 1/2 marathon. Cramp or no cramp, I finished.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/30/2008
• Time: 07:35:00
• Distance: 13.1 miles

I don’t know how I could forget it is almost Thanksgiving which means it is really almost Christmas which means the mall and any other store surrounding the mall is CRAZY busy. Um, I’m not a shopper my nature. Shopping does not come naturally to me-I’m a bit of a fish out of water. An yet, I found myself not only near the mall, but IN the mall. Add low blood sugar to a little ice, mix well and you have one heck of a crab apple cocktail. 

Oh yeah…I ran today too. Tapering. One week to go.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/22/2008
• Time: 07:00:00
• Distance: 5.5 miles

I’ve been sick this week. Today was the first day since being sidelined by illness that I hit the pavement. I ran 4 miles today with the gang. It felt pretty good. I ran without my iPod so I could focus on my breathing. Good plan. The run ended with coffee and friends-totally worth it.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/15/2008
• Time: 07:00:00
• Distance: 4 miles

When I started out this morning the sun was peeking through the clouds and the sky was blue. I wore a short sleeved shirt because it was almost, dare I say, warm? Then mile 3 black, dark, ugly clouds move in and the rain starts flowing. Ugh. Now I’m cold, wet and 2 miles from my car. So, I kicked it up (just a bit). By the time I finished I was SOAKed. Happy for warm coffee.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/08/2008
• Time: 08:00:00

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/08/2008
• Time: 08:00:00
• Distance: 4.7 miles

I was hoping for a full 10, but just when I thought I was done and started my cool down my running friend with the GPS attached to her wrist burst my bubble. Not 10 miles. Ugh. Luckily it was a good route and it only rained on us for about the first mile. The wind was minimal and the sun actually poked her head out from the clouds. Now, off to stretch.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/02/2008
• Time: 08:00:00

ran a new route this morning. I was not interested in an out and back this morning so I really appreciate my friends who showed the new route. It included hills, which typically are not my friend and one hill was an arse kicker…but it was right at the end so that was good. One small adventure toward the end that included a lost friend (minor detail, right) but it was quickly solved when Mitch the wonder man (he is an Ironman after all) swooped in to save the day. Whew hew!!

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/01/2008
• Time: 08:00:00

Or forward in my case. It sure gets dark quickly these days which give “fall” back a whole new meaning for me. I haven’t been very good about blogging lately or tracking my runs. Tonight I set off with my running friend Connie with a plan to run 6 miles on the BG toward Fremont. We thought we had an hour or so of daylight, which should be plenty; but toward mile 3 as the trail became more tree lined and I heard less road noise I realized I wasn’t going to make it back before sundown. I eventually turned around and headed back toward the car. With one mile to go I realized as I could barely see one foot in front of me I better start paying attention or I might trip up on the roots and the road. Sure enough as I turned the last corner I nearly hurled myself into an ivy covered fence. Luckily my cat like reflexes saved me and I remained upright and moving forward.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/27/2008
• Time: 17:00:00
• Distance: 6 miles