it.is.hot

i woke up this morning to go on a long run, and i didn't make it out to the lake until 8:30. bad idea. I should've started about 3 hours earlier. it is so incredibly hot already in Texas. not cool.

our forecast for the week:

Sunday - 99

Monday - 97

Tuesday - 95

Seriously Dallas? It's only June. I'm wondering how in the world my brother and I trained for a marathon over the summer last night? Not sure what we were thinking, but I'm just glad I'm not doing it right now.

I will say, though, that I totally have the bug again. I've been looking and looking for a marathon that I can run this year. It seems like they are all on dates that I can't do. Hoping to find one soon though. I'll keep you posted.

Just a little remembrance from the Chicago marathon....

can't get enough

I can't get enough of my new kicks! It was time for some new ones, since I bought my last pair last August and trained for a marathon in them.

I bought them Friday afternoon, and I've been running every day since I got them. What is it about new shoes that just makes you want to run all the time? I've been 23 miles in these shoes in 4 days. Not that that's a ton, but it's still more than I usually run in that amount of time.

It's amazing what some new running gear can do for your training. My feet and my knees are happy =)

Cheers to new shoes!

10 Days Til Race Day!

I cannot believe that the Marathon is only 10 days away!! I have so much anticipation and anxiousness and it gets closer and closer. I know it's going to be so much fun and I have nothing to worry about, but it still makes me cringe a little bit to think about the fact that it is so close.

Margie sent me an amazing email this morning with marathon tips. I wanted to share with you what gets me so excited; and, if you are training for a marathon or ever want to run one, I recommend you read through this list:

* There's nothing you can do in the last week to improve your race time but there are a thousand things you can do that will hurt your time.

* In the last two weeks before your race, don't run more miles in a single day than the number of days remaining before your race.

* Don't worry that no one is running when the cannon goes off. You've got a chip and your time doesn't start until you cross the start mat.

* Don't let your excitement trap you into running too fast for the first few miles.

* Don't double lace your shoes, just tie the knot tightly and tuck in the lace ends.

* Stay off your feet as much as possible the day before the race.

* Don't run in new shoes.

* Drink water throughout the day before the race.

* Secure your race number and chip the night before the race.

* Get one hour extra of sleep each night the week before the race.

* You won't sleep well the night before the race. Don't worry, it's ok.

* Take warm clothes for the start (throw aways) and the finish.

* If your race is in a different time zone, remember that your morning routine will still be on Central time.

* Being nervous at the start is normal. Everyone around you is nervous even though they may not show it.

* Take toilet paper with you to the start.

* Pack the bag you're taking to the start the night before.

* Get to the start early. Sit down or lie down and rest.

* Avoid stepping in puddles.

* Wear in the race what you wore in your long runs.

* Set two alarm clocks.

* Fill in emergency information on the back of your bib.

* Clip your toenails.

* Take a large garbage bag to wear at the start if cold or wet.

* Don't get a massage in the five days before your race.

* Sip, don't gulp, water on the course.

* Take one gu (or whatever you're use to) just before the race and one each hour during the race.

* Only drink water with your gu (or whatever), not a sports drink.

* Don't eat red meat for several days prior to the race.

* Don't lace your shoes too tightly, your feet will swell during the race.

* Eat carbs on race morning, not fats.

* Don't eat spicy foods the day before the race.

* Drink 2 to 4 ounces of water every 20 minutes.

* If there's a head wind, draft behind someone running your pace.

* Run the tangents on turns but stay away from the very inside of turns because they tend to be too crowded.

* Everybody hurts after 20 miles; it's not just you.

* Take a bottle of water with you to the start.

* Don't wear earphones, listen to the crowd cheer for you.

* It's ok to cry at the finish.

* If your first name isn't displayed prominently on your bib, write in on duct tape and wear it on the front of your shirt.

The crowd will know to call your name when they cheer you on.

* If it's humid, accept the fact that your time will be slower.

* Don't forget to savor the moment. You're doing something you'll remember the rest of your life.

WISH MY BROTHER AND I LUCK!!

Gearing Up

I'm about to head to Waco so that my brother and I can run our 19 miler tomorrow morning! Holy cow. 19 miles. Really, I've been trying not to think about it all week. I think my body somehow knows it's going that far tomorrow because I am COMPLETELY exhausted today. I had to wake up early this morning for the Desperate for Jesus conference, and when I got back from lunch, I took a 45 minute nap. When I woke up I cleaned a little bit and did some reading, and took another 45 minute nap. Hah! Please know that I NEVER take naps, so that's a lot for me.

Not sure what time we will start in the morning, but if you think about it, say a little prayer for us. I'm so grateful that I will have someone to run with. I'm just going to pretend like it's a easy breezy run =/

Hope it's a great weekend for you.

Also, a little shoutout to Martha and Dudley who are moving this weekend. Good luck!!

New Shoes On

So, if you know me at all, you know that I've been running for about 4 years now. I started running my junior year of college, and quickly developed an avid love for it! I can honestly say that it is one of my favorite things to do!

I started to have some IT band issues in high school playing volleyball, and they got much worse when I started running. So, like every other runner, I went to Fleet Feet to get fitted for the best shoe for my foot. Now, let me say that I have always loved Fleet Feet. They were good to me. I did many training runs with them while I was in Nashville, and they always put on some great races.

Wellllllllll long story short, Fleet Feet has always put me in a stability shoe. I've been running in Brooks Axiom/Adrenaline for like 3 years.

Yesterday I went to Luke's Locker because I needed to get a new pair of shoes so that I can break them in for my marathon in October. Guess what they say at Lukes? I shouldn't be running in a stability shoe! For three years I've been running the wrong type of shoe! They said that probably the shoe I was in when I first started running was so bad that the stability shoe made my knees feel better, but they still didn't fix the problem. So, with that being said, I was pretty ticked. Not that the people at Fleet Feet meant to put me in the wrong shoe, but really?!

I'm really anxious to see how these new Asics work out for me. I will be amazed if my IT bands no longer hurt when I run. It will be a miracle!

Thank you Luke's Locker for knowing what you are talking about. I must admit, I will never go to Fleet Feet again. They ruined me!

Running

My brother and I have started a really cool tradition of running every time we are together. I usually see him over the weekends so we will go on long runs Saturday or Sunday mornings. I look forward to our runs so much! It's been so great living so close to he and his family because we have lived so far from each other for several years now. But now, we are only 1 1/2 hrs from each other which is wonderful! We are working on moving our whole family to Texas ;)

I don't know if I have told you guys this, but he and I have signed up for the Chicago marathon. HOLY COW. So exciting and yet very nerve racking. This past Saturday we ran 14 miles, which by the way is the longest I have ever run. It was actually not bad at all, despite the fact that we ran at 5:00a.m. which was really 4:00a.m. because of daylight savings.

What I want you to know, is the difference between girl and guy runners. On my long runs, I bring water and gummies to eat. When my brother runs, he brings M&Ms and snickers bars! I just can't fathom eating chocolate while I am running. It cracks me up. This was the picture I took of all the stuff we wanted to bring with us. Everything chocolate is Brian's..