Race times

My race time was 2 hours 28 minutes for the 1/2 marathon.
Dave's race time was 4 hours 51 minutes for the full marathon.

We did it!

Both Dave and I finished our races today. I can mark #3 and #43 completed on my 101 in 1,001 list (well, I edited #3 so I can mark it done. I did my best, even if the time didn't break my time record)!

I am very happy with my race. It wasn't a personal best, but it was my second best. Eight minutes faster than last year. I am very satisfied with that. I'm actually most proud that I kept a great attitude going the entire race. Last year ended up being really miserable. I cried. I didn't want to do it. I got really down on myself. There was one particular word I said in every sentence (starts with an F and ends with a K).

After the race, I was disappointed. I knew that I could have done better. I knew I could run faster. I knew I could have a better attitude. I think I decided right after the end of the race last year as I was sitting on a bench with Dave, giving Bobby the finger as he was taking our photo that I needed to do this race again. To prove to myself that I can. So I could be happy, proud of my hard work.

I did that this year.

This year I got on the bus that takes you to the start line all by myself (Dave had to get on a different bus to go to the marathon starting point). My cousin, Ginny, was looking out for me at the start so we started the run together. We ran the first half together. I felt great the whole time. We got to talk and it was fun to run with her....a great bonding experience. Her knee was bugging her though, so she slowed down and I kept going. The next couple of miles were good too. It was all pretty much great until I decided to walk through one of the water stops. My right knee started popping when I started running again. But unlike last year, this year I chose to stay positive despite the pain. And even though I had to slow down, I kept going, step by step. And as I crossed the finish line, I pumped my arms high in the air proud that I did it. Proud that I gave it my all. Proud that I did my 2nd best time. Proud that I ran with the right attitude.

Now that I am done and satisfied with the results. I think I could easily retire from 1/2 marathons. If I do, I'll go out on a good note. But if I decide to run again, I'll once again do it the way I did today.

Stay tuned...

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Dave did it too! So really unfortunately for him he rolled his ankle on a crevice in the road right after the race began. But he and Bryan pushed on. I am really proud of Dave for staying in the race. Especially when I first saw him after the race....Trish was on one side, Andee was on the other...using them as crutches. But I also want to thank Bryan for staying with Dave the whole time. Bryan probably didn't get the time he wanted, but loyally stayed next to his friend's side and that means so much. Thank you!

Dave's taking a nap on the couch right now. He's got ice on his ankle for the third time since the end of the race. It's pretty swollen, a little bit bruised on the outside, and really tender. He'll probably have to go to the doctor next week.

This time tomorrow...

About this time tomorrow, I'll be watching Dave and Bryan cruise through the finish line at Grandma's! Just finishing my last half-hour of work before I run one last errand and the go home to load up the car. Then Dave will come home, we'll take the dogs to their favorite vacation destination (Camp Bow Wow), then we'll pick up Krissy and will be on the road to Duluth.

Dave just called me and he's super pumped up to run. Reminded me to keep drinking water. Said we're going to do great tomorrow. He's ready to go. He's enthusiastic. ENTHUSIASTIC.

Be thinking of us tomorrow and hopefully you have either signed up for the text alerts or are going to be cheering us on in person. Grandma's website will have a database with the race results later tomorrow. My race starts at 6:30 a.m. CST and Dave's starts at 7:30 a.m. CST. So when you're waking up tomorrow comfortably in your own bed, we'll already be on the road running towards Canal Park.

4 more days...

Ok. With all the posts about the 1/2 marathon that I am sure you are getting tired of, I'm probably not the only one who is excited for it to be done and over. A distant memory.

The good news is that Dave and I did a 4-mile run and I did all four miles in 36 minutes (9-minute mile pace). While I don't think I'll be able to maintain the pace the whole way through, I am a little more confident about obtaining a new personal best. And on the run, Dave was telling me he thinks this is the most ready I've been. I tried to counter that I was better prepared the first year. He countered back and said he re-calculated our long runs (9-miles). Well, it turns out they weren't 9 miles after all. They were only 7. So he may be right that this is the most ready I've been to run the race.

I am ready to run. Ready to be FINISHED. Ready to get my personal best. Ready to cross of two things of my 101 in 1,001 list (#3 and #43).

Let's do it!

The Final Countdown...

The Garry Bjorklund Half-Marathon is only 5 days away. And needless to say, just like every other year, I do not feel as ready as I should be. Maybe it's just nerves, but honestly, my love for procrastination and the need to diligently train for a 1/2 marathon don't really work well together. And I woke up to a slight sore throat this morning. Luckily, it's dissipated throughout the day. So I'm not 100 percent confident that I'll be able to pull off a personal best, but it'll be close. The weather forecast is looking pretty good:

Only a couple days left to get some shorter runs in and to drink lots of water to prepare for the big event. Time is running out!

Get Grandma's Marathon Race Updates!

The registration for the text or email updates for runners in Grandma's Marathon (and half-marathon) is open! I just filled out the registration form online, so I'll get updates on Dave and Bryan as they run the race and I'll know where to go find them on the course after I'm done with my race. The form is easy to fill out. Here's the link.

I did it!!

Hurray! I completed my longest run to date for my training -- 4 miles. I took a while, but I stuck it out and finished.

Now I'm going to go enjoy my dinner, my Skinny Cow, and my family as we watch our Friday night movie. This week we rented The Kite Runner.

Have a great weekend!

Running update...

88 days until Grandma's...


Let's see...I'm on a two-day running streak. lol. But I'm actually ahead of the game for the week. Yesterday was supposed to be an off day (but I ran Monday b/c I took of Easter when I wasn't supposed to do it). Monday was a good two miles. I ran the second whole mile in 8:57 minutes. Training to do all 13.1 miles with a 9 min/mile pace is a pretty big goal. I'm hoping that as I continue to get in better shape, I'll be able to maintain more than just a mile at that pace...right now I'm not there yet. Today I did three miles...did about a 10 min/mile pace. On Thursday, I have the longest one to date -- 4 miles. Let's hope I can get it all done!


Yeah, this photo is obviously not from today (our ground is still snow-covered, it's way too cold to run in short sleeves and shorts, and my hair is currently too short for a ponytail.) It's from 2006, just before Grandma's that year. I just wanted to post a photo, and in this one I just look so happy to be running. outside. warm.

The training officially begins...

I completed my first training run for the Gary Bjorkland 1/2 Marathon. I only had to run 2 miles, so I tried to run fast. My goal this year is to obtain a personal best time of 2 hr 13 min. -- that shouldn't be too hard. All I have to do is run 10 minute miles or better, and that's done. My big audacious goal is to be done in less than two hours. I have no idea how I can run that far with a 9 minute per mile pace, but that's basically what I'd have to do. Today I ran my two miles between 9 and 10 minute miles. I guess if I follow the training program and if I keep pushing myself to run 9 minutes miles, then I'll be able to do it. A lot of actually comes down to staying motivated to train consistently through the race. And I guess, whatever happens, just finishing three half-marathons is a pretty big accomplishment...

No turning back now!

I'm in!

Just got the acceptance email! I'm officially registered for the 18th annual Gary Bjorklund Half Marathon on June 21, 2008!

I'm waiting to hear from some of my other crazy runner friends if they got in. Here's a list of people that I know entered the lottery for the half-marathon: sister, Rachel; BIL, Steven, cousin, Ginny; and friend, Dan. So far I know that both Ginny and Dan got into the race too. It'll be fun to run with others and of course having family and friends watch us race and cheer us on.

I'm glad I got in the race, so I don't have to consider running the full-marathon that I accidently signed up for a couple weeks ago...Haha.

My training will officially begin now...

Only 108 days and 17 hours until race time!

Idiot!!!!

So I was just checking my email, and had a "Welcome to Grandma's" email. I opened it, thinking, "That's weird, I thought this was a lottery." Then I read the email and it says, "Welcome to the 32nd Annual Grandma's Marathon."

OMG. I just signed myself up for the wrong race!

After a moment of panicking and calling Dave, I called the office for Grandma's. They're going to call the company that does the transactions and cancel my registration for me....hopefully.

Time for Grandma's

I just signed up for Grandma's 1/2 marathon. It's a lottery, so I won't know if I'm officially in for a couple of weeks. But it makes me excited for June 21, 2007 just knowing I'm closer to running the race again. This year, my goal is to set a personal best time, which I honestly don't think will be too hard if I train well.

Speaking of Grandma's and running. My husband decided to start of his own about his journey of completing his first full marathon at Grandma's this year. Since he's doing the full marathon, he's already completed the registration and has officially started the training schedule. My training officially begins March 3.

It's going to be a lot of hard work to find the time and energy to train, but it's going to be worth it to complete the race with my best time ever!

We Need You!

Actually, Dave needs you and your support on the morning of June 21, 2008 in Duluth, Minn. He has decided to run Grandma's Marathon. Yes, the full marathon! With a lot of hard work, training and fans cheering him on, he will do it! Of course, he can do the hard work and training himself, but he needs our friends and family to cheer him on and encourage him to keep going all the way to Canal Park. Bring yourself. Bring signs. Bring your camera. Bring cow bells and clappers. Bring kazoos. And definitely bring your voice. Let our support and enthusiasm help Dave run all 26.2 miles and achieve this goal of his!!

And if your wondering, yes, I will be running too. For the third year in a row, I will run the half-marathon. So if you go to watch Dave, you can watch me too. It's like a two for one special.

We're really motivated to great at Grandma's this year. We're already working out to get in shape and lose some weight before the actually training begins. We'd really appreciate your support and your consideration for coming up to Duluth and watch the race!