Start With the Finish in Line

Or actually start showing the finish!  Subtract about 18 minutes of waiting until we made it to the starting line from Corral E.

Marathon Day!

Spoiler Alert:  I'm a 2-Time RUNNER OF STEEL!

Boy, after the race, I flew home and life happened.  So my run report will be coming soon, it's written, and I will post soon.  All I can say is PR on a great, great, and surprising run!

Run #77--The Last Training Run

The end is here.  At least the end of the training.  A good run for the last run--Clay Pike at my folks, lots of hills, but lots of peace, except for some cows.  A pretty decent run going into the rest before Sunday.
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--4.0 miles

Run #76

Life is small, but grows.  It sprouts from something small, trivial, in its own time.  It grows, spreads roots, reaches for the sky and the sun.  It does see rainy days and hot, dry days.  It sees cold and storms, high winds, and darkness.  Yet it continues to grow.  Much like a marathoner.  Yup, just about time, and this little buddy of mine is going to get me to the finish line.
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--6.0 miles (GOOD run!)

Run #75

Taper week.  A decent run today.  Just a short one, at work, but I could feel my legs being ready.  Two more runs to go before the big one!
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--3.25

Run #74

Last long run.  Kinda cool, but humid today.  Wondering how the weather will turn out next week.  Decent run at times.
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--10.0 miles

Run #73

Getting close to the end...
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--4.0 miles

Run #72

Sluggish this week due to the camping trip last weekend.  Thank goodness for the taper!
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints (new)
Distance--6.5 miles

Run #71

Phew!  Got lots of catching up to do.  Last weekend Lucy and I camped out for Y Princesses.  I missed my long run on Saturday, but her and I did a 5k and earned a 5k patch.  Pretty neat.  She did pretty well for no training.  Made daddy proud.  Then I came home and ran a bunch more, but was pretty tired.
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Shoes--Black Vibram TrekSports (5K), Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--5K, 8 miles

Run #70

Had these on the sidewalks when I came home.  Definitely some inspiration for running.  One more long run before the taper.
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints

Distance--4.5 miles

#69

What run am I thinking of?  SIXTY-NINE.  That was about all the noteworthy ness of the run.  Hot and humid here.  Soaked through a t-shirt on a brief fun-run.
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Shoes--Black Vibram
Distance--4.3 miles

Run #68

This is an example of beauty in a world gone crazy.  It exists all around us.  We all just need to look at it and look for it in each other.  Share it with everyone.
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--4.25 miles

Run #67

Tapering commences.  Only did a 17 miler this weekend.  Only.  Started at Meredith College and ran the Greenway home.  Definitely liked the first couple miles, all the bridges and tunnels.
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Shoes--New Black Vibram Sprints
Distance 17.0

Run #66

Mario Lemieux run day!

So I decided to try the Crabtree Creek Greenway which goes under Capital, Atlantic, and Falls of Neuse. Great trails!  Heading east from Atlantic, you see this boardwalk, that goes up, up, right, then out for awhile.  Long boardwalk.  Then under Capital, then out on what I guess was Lake Crabtree and more boardwalk.  Looks like they are diverting the trail though.  Then I got as far as Crabtree Blvd, and had to turn around with construction.  Good run, negative splits.  Under a 10 minute pace.
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Shoes--New Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--4.2 miles

Not Cool!

Run #65

On a very hot day, only I would forget to do something for the chafing.  No Body Glide, nor shorts.  Ugg!  So while my body felt good, did not do too much on this run.
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--3.0 miles

Run #64

800s.  Not too bad, but I did not do the full complement...as there were lots of folks on the baseball field and I got a little squirrley.  I finished going down the Greenway.
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Shoes--New Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--4.0 miles

Run #63

FAVORITE RUN OF TRAINING!  Today is Kerry and my anniversary.  12 years of marriage.  Works out to about a marathon every 3 years!  We decided to take the girls on the Greenway.  We parked on the Wake Forest spur, ran over the Neuse Bridge, then up to Capital.  Great run with my family!  Felt pretty good too.
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Shoes--New Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--4.4 miles

Run #62

Running definitely puts you through many different situations.  Today, went for a long 20 miler.  Went the whole way to the Crabtree Valley Mall via the Greenway.  And went through every possible emotional issue too.  Started off ok. Had some pain in my right hip after about 8 miles off and on.  Coming back had some tough emotional issues.  Just struggling, then could run a few more, then needed to stretch.  Tough.
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--20 miles

Run #61

Ugg.  Nothing to write home about on this run...not even worthy of a picture.  Did 6, but very slow, tired, and aching knees.  Love having time home to run over Spring Break and the runs being garbage.
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--6.0 miles

Run #60

34 days remain.  If today's run is any indication, I am getting stronger.  Had 5 800s and then a time trial.  Good 800s and good time trial, so I decided to run down Falls to October to Crisp and home.  Sore, but putting in the training.
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Shoes--New Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--6.0 miles

Run #59

Another long run down to Shelley Lake and North Hills Greenway.  Great run down through there.  Felt pretty good overall--tried the SCaps, and they are AWESOME!  I sweat pretty hard, so these definitely help keep me going.  Clif Blocks too.
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprint
Distance--20.0 miles

Run #58

You can't see it that well, but this pedestrian bridge over 540 has a message...Prom?.  Awesome.  Hope she said yes.
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints

Distance--6.3 miles

Run #57

Another run, on a slow week.  Just down the Greenway, and very slow, mostly. Picked up at the end.  Thank goodness for a recovery week.   22 on Saturday!
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Shoes--New Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--4.0 miles

Run #56

Ugg.  Glad it is a recover week.  Felt turrible today.  Head pounding.  Cold.  Sore.  Did 800s, but not happy.  Even pounding down this hill, my head felt full of rocks.
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Shoes--New Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--4.0 miles

Run #55

I can't run...55....

Ugg.  Turrible run.  Had 800s, but felt sick, migraine coming on, and cold.  Yuck.  First really really turrible run.
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Shoes--New Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--4.0 miles

Run #54

So my longest run in Vibrams and longest of the training session.  Wasn't too bad either.  I went down to Shelley Lake, Greenways, and even had juice to make it back up the STEEP hill on Six Forks.  I started getting confident that I could definitely make it for the Marathon.

Neat running on some of our old stomping grounds.  The tunnel under North Hills, for instance, and a lot of our memories came flooding back.  Raleigh is definitely not a flat city!
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--20.0 miles

#53

This 53rd post is the only good 53 going on in Carolina...since my hockey team has been GARBAGE lately!  Nice run on a warmish day.
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--6.2 miles

Run #52

Another week begins.  This is the first 20 mile week--20 on Saturday.  Although a weird little week--I may do my long run on Friday again, after doing Field Day at the Girls' school.  Today was 5 800s shifting from 2 to 3rd to 4th gear.  Better than last week!
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--4.5 miles

Run #51

Long run Saturday.  Went out through some rural roads, through some busy roads, and back home.  Decent run, even with all the hills on Brassfield, Ravens Ridge, and Honeycutt.  Go me!
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprint
Distance--16.0 miles

Run #50

The end is the beginning is the end says the Smashing Pumpkins song.  Yup, 50 runs into my training.  About 50 days to go, so I figure another 30 or so runs.  Over halfway.
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--4.0 miles

Run #49

Speed work today.  Back to the path beside the waste treatment plant.  Pretty good run though, 4 800s, then a time trial of a mile.  Ran the trial in 8:56, so I am pretty pleased with that, since it was at 'average' pace.  Also they were putting in the 2nd and final layer of the new Falls of Neuse.
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Shoes--New Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--4.5 miles

Run #48

So decided to do my long run on a Friday afternoon, with Myra's soccer starting Saturday morning.  Tough run.  Just tired, sore, stomach...so many issues.  Still got the miles in, but very slow.  Overall, looking back, except for Monday, not a great week.  Hopefully just a blip.
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Shoes--New Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--17.0 miles

Run #47

It's me!  A run down through the neighborhoods.  Did some surges that actually felt good overall.  Need to start getting some strength!
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--4.5 miles

Run #46

One of those slow to start, but faster to continue runs.  Decent enough too...and got to go over my favorite bridge!
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--4.5 miles

Run #45

Wow...45 runs in this training session already.  Where did the time go.  Definitely starting to feel strong, I  have been noticing recently.  Went on first speed work of the session.  Did shifters out in front of the water treatment plant.  It is sort of sloped, so there was some elevation work as well.
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Mileage--4.7 miles

Run #44

Long run day!  Started cool and stayed cool!  Overall a pretty good run.  Longest yet in Vibrams.
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints (old)
Distance--16.0 miles

Run #43

Another work run.  Cool, windy day, with rain clouds, but luckily it held off until the end of the run.  Much stronger than the last one, I flew up the hills.  No idea of true pace, though, as my gps didn't work.
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Shoes--New Black Vibram Sprints
Mileage--5.5 miles

Run #42

Another decent run today.  Like running through the neighborhoods and around the dump.
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints (new)
Mileage--4.0 miles

Run #41

What an awesome run!  Best so far of training.  I needed to go 4.5, so I decided to go down to our old house.  I figured I would continue and go down through Bedford, hop on the Greenway, back.  Great run!  Low 9 minute mile the entire time.  Felt good!
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Shoes--NEW Black Vibram Sprints
Mileage--6.3 miles

Run #39 (and #40)

Well, another long run and another rain.  Very difficult run this time.  Raining hard, so I decided to go to the Y and run the dreadmill for awhile.  Did it for an hour, so got 6 miles in.  Then later in the day, the rain almost stopped, so I ran down Rainforest (appropriate) and back up Falls.  Got in another 9.5, so I could 15.5 for the day.  Hopefully, hopefully, I get a good, sunny run next week.

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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--15.5 miles

Run #38

Those two decent week runs this week played into a poor run for me today.  Only got in 3 of projected 4-5 miles.  Pretty sore and tired.  Long week too.  Hopefully will not rest up for this weekend.
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Mileage--3.0 miles

Run #37

Went for a run at work again.  This time ran through River Bend Park then the Bike Trail.  Total of 5.5 miles.  Overall not too bad.
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Mileage--5.5 miles

Run #36

I am just like Kerry now--got a shirt with the thumb hole.  I made fun of her, but it actually makes sense, until you get soaked.  Ran a pretty strong run after the long run Saturday.  Was doing a lot of gear work, switching gears, and had enough to switch gears.
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Shoes--Blue Vibram Sprints
Distance--4.1 miles

Run #35

What a run.  I knew we would have rain, but I thought I would get about an hour in at least.  No such luck.  Started raining on me right away.  At mile 8, started getting some ice.  Then eventually rain and snow mix, and by mile 11, all snow.  Pretty heavy by the time I got home.  Very cold too.  Wool gloves and my orange running shirt keep me warm, but two + hours of wet stops working.
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--14.0 miles

Run #34

A surprisingly much better run today.  Thank goodness, as the doubts began to creep in again.  Went through Falls River and around the dump.  Powered up the hills with little effort.  Good last run before the long run this weekend.
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Shoes--Blue Vibram Sprints
Distance--4.2

Run #33

So a cool, rainy, yucky run.  I intended to go right down Falls of Neuse and do the Harps Mill loop for 6 miles.  I started, and felt pretty poorly.  I crossed Litchford into the neighborhoods, and decided to find the pedestrian bridge over 540.  Found it--and very excited I did.  Very cool, as you can see those ramps leading up to the bridge, sort of like a parking garage.  Very fun to sprint up it.  Came out on the other side and down Falls.  Ended up doing 6 miles and getting stronger as I ran.  Just not a good starting running.
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Shoes--Blue Vibram Sprints
Distance--6.0 miles

Run #32

Decent run in the rain.  Actually not too bad after the long run this Saturday.  Just some hills and more focuses.
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Shoes--Blue Vibram Sprints
Distance--4.2 miles

Run #31

Long run Saturday.  Went down Perry Creek to hop on the Greenway.  Then I decided to cross the bridge into Wake Forest.  The picture is looking toward the Greenway from the Wake Forest side.  Mistake though, as I tuckered out once I got back to Falls of Neuse.  Really need to keep training outside the runs.
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Shoes--Blue Vibram Sprints
Distance--13.0 miles

Run #30

Yup, those are a bunch of deer on one of the dump hills.  There were probably 20-30 of them all over today.  Decent run, much better at the end.  Beginnings continue to be a struggle, like they always have been.  Cool and some sprinkles.  Worried about conditioning--really really got to hit the weights and some cross training.  Big, important run Saturday.
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Shoes--Blue Vibram Sprints
Distance--4.2

Run #28

Just a simple 4 miler.  Not too bad, not too much to discusss.
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--4.0 miles

Run #29

Decided to run during lunch hour today. Pretty interesting, running through Louisburg--as lots of people out and students, just watching me.  Decent run--4ish miles, some hills.  Getting some foot pain at times and a little winded, but not too much.  Real fun came back at work, doing a Polish shower and washing hair in sink!
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Shoes--Black Vibram Sprints
Distance--4.0 miles

Run #27

Long Saturday run.  Pretty cold for the first three miles, then my feet warmed up.   Nothing more painful than frozen toes in Vibrams.  Did a decent run, but cut it a little shirt.  Wanted to make sure I had enough, so I will look to do more this week and follow up with a long run next Saturday.  Good hill work on Haymarket and Rainwater though.
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Shoes--Blue Vibram Sprints
Distance--10ish

Run 26--Cancelled!

Decided to cut another run this week.  Not anything specific, but just figured with my long run today, an extra day of rest and healing would be appreciated.  Hopefully this run today will reflect the rest!

Run #25

So we have a pretty big storm coming.  Luckily going to be rain, as my run after work today was in the 70s. T-shirt--HOT!  So I ran fifty minutes up Harps Mill and back.  Not too bad of a run, felt conditioning was an issue--really need to start cross training.
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Shoes--Blue Vibram Sprints
Distance--5.0 miles

Run #24

Back to it today.  No ice.  Not too much cold.  Working on lean and pelvic rotation today.  See my cards?  Not too bad, just a run down the Greenway.
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Shoes--Blue Vibram Sprints
Distance--3.1 miles