Still a-runnin'

So I ran the Crescent City Classic 10K on Saturday. With about 15,000 other people. Which means that a) I started wayyy in the back since I wasn't seeded and b) I didn't get to have my race time published online since I didn't pay the $15 on top of the $30 regisration fee to get a timing chip. We didn't cross the start time until about 5:45 after the cannon went of, so my guess as to my time was about 1:02 hrs. I didn't do as well as I would have liked, but I would like to think it was a combination of the following things:

1) A 10K (6.2 mi) is a still a race...it's no half-marathon, but it doesn't mean you shouldn't prep for it (i.e., resting the day before--not going to a N.O. VooDoo game, eating a starchy meal--not soup, etc.).
2) Running while you're sick is just not fun...no bones about it.
3) Get some new shoes, damnit!

On the up side, as with all New Orleans' races, the people that make running enjoyable were out on full force: the men parading as cross-dressing devils passing out free hotdogs to the runners (called 'Devil Dogs'), the free beer signs along the way, and yes, don't doubt it for a second, the cowbell player.

Next Race: the St Charles Parish United Way 5k Bridge Race...April 4th.

Gratitude

A day after the race, I am still doing "the wobble" whenever I try to move anywhere and have taken to walking down steps backward as it much less painful than the conventional method. Still, training and running the marathon has been one of the best experiences of my life so far and I wouldn't trade my sore muscles for anything.
I would just like to tell everyone how grateful we are for all of the support you gave us. It's a cliche, but it was truly a humbling experience to know that so many people were thinking of us. I had calls and e-mails from numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends wishing me good luck and then congratulating me afterwards. My friend in the Peace Corps in Morocco took the time to tell her friends about the run and encourage them to donate to SBP. Other friends stayed at the finish line to cheer me on even though it was getting late and Bob had finished forty minutes before me. Liz and Zach were at City Park just at the time when I really needed someone to cheer me on. Our friend Wes rode along with Bob for a few miles at the end of the marathon to take some of the pain off of his mind.
Jenn and I talked about how much we appreciated the complete strangers who cheered us on along the length of the course. There was the couple in Mid-City who played "Hey Pockey-Way;" the woman on the bridge in City Park who told every runner they were looking strong, no matter how horrible they actually looked; the men in red dresses giving out water on mile 19; and the man on the bike who rode through the course several times to tell everyone they were doing great. And, of course, we had the full support of our parents and siblings through till the very end.
We would also like to thank all of those who donated to the St. Bernard Project. We should have the final tally of how much money we raised soon. If you would still like to donate just look to the following links:
Donate
www.stbernardproject.org

Thanks again and again for everything. We could not have been so successful without all of your love and support.

In gratitude,
Kathleen

All Done

I'm still hurting today and need to rush to study for a class this afternoon, but I wanted to quickly note our times. I clocked in at 4:07:19, beating P. Diddy, and Kathleen came in at 4:47. We both finished near the times we wanted, and didn't hurt ourselves.
I'll write more about the intense pain/joy of it in the coming days.
BTW, We're still fundraising for St. Bernard for the next few days:
www.stbernardproject.org
With pained legs,
bob

Waiting

Yesterday, Bob and I ran our last run before the marathon: only 2 miles. Which means we were just getting started running when we found ourselves done for the day. The tapering overall has been a strange experience since it seems like we should be running constantly to train for the big day. Still, the rest is needed and my body is itchin' for a long run.
We would like to thank everybody who has donated to St. Bernard Project. Though we do not have an exact count, to date we have raised almost$1500 for this worthy organization. If you have not yet donated and would like to, please check out the following links:
Donate
www.stbernardproject.org
Thank you again!

-Kathleen

Times

Through the power of the internet, Bob and I found 25 celebrity marathoners and their respective times. In so doing, two things are made abundantly clear: Lance Armstrong is a god and I must beat Oprah. I say the first because Armstrong ran an incredible 2:46:42 and I look at beating 4 hours as a distant dream. Secondly, Oprah's running ability in 1994 was nothing to snear at and she happens to be the celebrity with the time closest to my goal. Does that mean if I break 4:29 I will have "beat" the most powerful woman in the world? Absolutely.
Unfortunately, 90s hip-hop sensation Salt N' Pepa have not run a marathon to my knowledge. However, earlier this year they came to south Louisiana to work and support the parish. You can support the parish, too, (and my dreams of beating Mike Huckabee-- 4:39:04) by checking out the following websites and donating any time and/or money that you can:
Donate
www.stbernardproject.org

Thank you for all your support!

Kathleen

One Week Out

Holy Crap.
A week from now, I will be either eating a huge meal while trying to ignore the pain in my legs, or I'll be laying in my bed trying to sleep and ignoring the pain in my legs. I will have run 26.2 miles straight.
My feelings have actually been relatively calm regarding the marathon. Occasionally I freak out--in particular with the taper--but I really do trust that our training has been good enough that we'll finish in good time. But as I get closer and closer to it, the reality of finishing a marathon begins to sink in more.
Today was the last so-called 'long run'. But the length wasn't really long at all: only 8 miles. We ran on a pretty scenic route up and down the levee into and out of Jefferson Parish, through The Fly (next to the Mississippi), and then back to Magazine Street. It was a beautiful afternoon.
I'm going to miss the long Sunday afternoon runs. Even today, I felt like running for another hour or so, just because I haven't been on a long run in a few weeks. I never expected to have that feeling, but I do.
Only one week left...only one week left to help St. Bernard Project while we're still training, too.
We feel good about the amount of people and money who have donated so far to the project. We thank you all very much. We're hoping to rack in more donations this week to keep buying Sheetrock, insulation, cabinets, sinks, tubs, and everything else that goes into remaking a house that had been flooded. Here are the two links, the first one to DONATE and the second one to the St. Bernard Project site:
Donate
www.stbernardproject.org
Thanks for reading! Later this week we'll talk about the times we want to beat and pre-race preparations...
Bob

So here we are...

Well, I know that it's strange that my first post comes just over a week away from the race but...you know how that is. I'm doing the half, and although it means I've done no where near the miles that Kathleen and Bob have done, it's still been tough training for it. I think Bob had it right, it's not exactly the physical nature of running...but sometimes it's more finding the three hours (well--in my case more like 1.5-2) of free time to go out and do something wholly unrelated to school, extracirriculars, etc.

I think if anything the training has made me decided to make the running a permanent part of my life. Small runs during the week with long runs on the weekend. I only hope that lack of a specific race to run in doesn't sway me from keeping that habit. Unfortunately, it's not always possible to get out there and run those miles--this past week for example, I was in Washington, D.C. and haven't done an ounce of running since I did 8.5 miles on Friday before I left. I hope it doesn't set me back too much...

I'm still excited/anxious for the marathon, nonetheless.