Monthly Archives: March 2009
Race day
I won’t bury the lede — I finished in 1:49:19, which was my “it would be cool if” goal, otherwise known as my “pie in the sky” goal. I knew I could theoretically do it. But I also knew I’d … Continue reading
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Pre-race routines
My race-day running clothes are laid out on my dresser, right below my bib and Timex IronMan watch. The espresso machine is loaded, the Luna bar is sitting in the counter and my iPod (well, my friend Chris’ iPod, as … Continue reading
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Last pre-race run, more pre-race jitters
Just got back from a quick 25-minute tempo run — my last before the race! It felt awesome to get out and stretch my legs, and I worked in a couple of hills just to remind my body that I … Continue reading
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Repeat after me
Before training for a marathon in 2007, I scoffed at the idea of a mantra. I wasn’t a serious enough runner to chant crap to myself, I reasoned. I’m just not a mantra kind of girl. Then, before a long … Continue reading
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Runner-friendly recipes: Roasted veggie lasagna, pumpkin-chocolate bread
Let me be honest here: I know there’s no need for me to carbo-load. For those running 26.2 miles, loading up on carbohydrates leading up to race day is a necessary step to ensure they’ve got enough glycogen stored for … Continue reading
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Taper time, baby!
Is there a weirder time in training than the taper, the days before a race in which you dramatically cut back on mileage and intensity to give your muscles a chance to rest? You spend months amping up, getting your … Continue reading
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Last long run!
My friend Sarah, a veteran of several (fast) marathons, gave me this advice about long runs while we were training for the Nashville Country Music Marathon: “The point is just to get through them. You don’t have to feel good. … Continue reading
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To Gu or not to Gu?
So I’m flipping through Runner’s World last night, and I come upon the following question in the nutrition Q&A: “Do I need an energy gel or some form of carbohydrate during a half-marathon?” In my head, I was saying, “Nooo, … Continue reading
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Last speed workout
I set out this morning to do what will serve as my last real speed workout before the half marathon. To mix things up and boost my confidence in the hills, I headed for the Mormon Temple, one of Montgomery … Continue reading
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Shake your rump
On account of my iPod’s convalescence, I borrowed Steve’s iPod for today’s lifting workout. When I sat down at the leg-press machine, I cycled through the list of artists, desperately searching for my standard pump-up tunes. I breathed a sigh … Continue reading
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