Thursday, October 4, 2012

ZOMG More Marathon Talk?

I knew I would be excited for my friends running the marathon this year, but I didn't think I'd be this excited... A chill remains in the air. Banners are up throughout the town. Street closure warning signs are posted. Plans for the expo are coordinated. Marathon fever in the city of Chicago is in full swing and I'm soaking it all in. I have to admit, it is really nice to be on the spectating/support side of things. (My previous marathon regret has passed with all the studying I've been doing these last few weeks.) This time of year always gets me excited! I have to admit, I fully plan on wearing my GR Marathon tee to casual Friday.

Yes, it is lime green and may be a bit much but I don't care. I am a member of the "finisher" club and I will be wearing my shirt with pride. :) When walking to work this morning and remembering the course, I got a little choked up. I guess this will always be an emotional time for me, until I'm able to tackle and finish the Chicago Marathon. In the mean time, I'm suuuper pumped to cheer on my running friends as they tackle this beast of a distance!

Do you ever get emotional thinking about a certain race? If you live in Chicago, are you sporting your marathon gear this week?

My guest bedroom has been completely taken over by running gear. Outfits and necessities are laid out for both Saturday and Sunday.

Thankfully the guest bedroom is rarely used so I can lay out all my running stuff and not feel guilty about it! :)

So, my strategy for the 5k on Saturday is to take the first mile easy-ish, and get progressively faster so my last mile is faster than my first (this rarely happens for me, so that is what I'm going to work towards). Pepper and Toph may be there to cheer us on! Yahooo!!!

13 comments:

  1. Good luck, I hope it goes well!

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  2. Yay! I bet you will rock those neg splits on Sat! I love that top of yours!

    I am so excited for all my marathon friends! I bet Facebook is going to be crazy Sunday afternoon and night, lol! My sister is in Chitown today and is sending me texts about all the marathon stuff. I was sad for a sec not to be doing it. Marathon next year, maybe!

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  3. I'm "trying" not to be bummed that my weekend will be consumed with non-marathon things but its hard. :o( At least I get to hit the expo on FRI.....focusing on the postive and the reality that I can't be everywhere at once.

    good luck on SAT!

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  4. Thanks Kelly! I'll probably be posting live updates on the Running Kellometers Facebook page! :)

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  5. Thanks Kim! Yes, maybe next year we'll both be there?! ;)

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  6. I'm glad I'm not the only one bummed out. Thankfully we know marathons will always be there when we are ready to once again attempt to tackle them. :)

    Thanks! And good luck to Aby at cross country!

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  7. I try to run more slowly at the beginning of a 5k as well. In my head, I repeat over and over "just hold back" for the first 1/2 mile or so. It is so tempting to start fast, but I've been there enough times where the last 1/2 mile is miserable if I am running positive splits. It's a much better feeling to be flying by people at the end! Good luck!

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  8. Thanks Pete! That really is great advice! I will be sure to post how everything goes on Saturday! :)

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  9. I am SOOO emotional! Good luck on your 5K Saturday!!!

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  10. Thanks! I don't know what I'm more excited about!?!?

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  11. I just read on your facebook page that you were the second overall female and first in your age group in the 5K. Wow, congratulations on that. That's a great result. It must feel great when all that training and running strategy on race day pays off so well. It can only get better from there. Keep it up.

    Even though I've never ran it, I get emotional every year at the end of May when the Comrades Ultra marathon comes around. It's an 89km monster of a race that's ran between Durban on the east coast of South Africa and Pietermaritzburg in the interior. Grueling race that is. It's the toughest road race in the world. You should give it a try whenever you get the chance. I also plan run in a few years time when I'm mentally ready.

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