Marathon Weekend Video

After creating this music slideshow of our weekend, I thought I'd post this link on here instead of posting pictures all over again.

Sit back, turn up the tunes, and enjoy the journey to and through 26.2 miles... :)

http://smilebox.com/playBlog/4d5445344e4463344e44673d0d0a&blogview=true

Pre-Marathon Love

Not only did friends and family shower us with wonderful blog comments, Facebook messages, emails, and cards...but I also received 2 delivered goodie bags on my doorstep that made my heart smile...

Cease left her massage stick (came in handy for sure) for me to borrow, my favorite purple Gatorade, my favorite fuel snack (Gu Chomps and Sport Beans) and the more encouraging note. She knows all the running things I love. :) THANKS, CEASE!!! I heart you!

Team TurBo (aka: our neighbors - Ryan and Lauren) left me AND Matt goodies: a 6-pack of beer, a bottle-0-wine (celebration libations), sour patch kid candy for Matt while he's cheering us on, and the sweetest, most hilarious card. They witnessed the back side of me many-o-mornings as I left our house and embarked on yet another run. Thanks for your support, guys!

WE DID IT!!!

Final Time: 4:47:23

Photos and updates coming soon... :)

Who would have thought...

...that THESE two would someday be running a marathon together?










I can't wait to make another life memory with ya, Lynnith!

Don't Forget to Vote!

Earlier we had a post asking everyone to vote on our total miles run during our training. We have had a few votes so far but it's not too late to get your guess in. The person to guess the closest to our total miles run without going over will win a special prize. Remember, we both add our milage separately, and we will each run 26.2 miles on Sunday!!! So get your votes in NOW!!

Here are the guesses so far:

Kellie - 777

Bridget and Andy - 765

Julie - 744.4

Turner and Lauren - 914.4

Jordan - 714

Katie Rads - 795

AAAAAHHHHHH!!

There are only 6 days left of the countdown to the right!! Can you believe it!?!?!?!

Petitions Wanted

Our good friend, Erin Linville is a marathon veteran and potential motivational coach! She has been sharing some inspirational tips with us this week. One of her AWESOME suggestions is to have a petition for each mile. We will pick 26 different things to pray for at the beginning of each mile and offer up our thoughts to that item.

Not only does this sound like a totally moving experience that can push us through those tough moments, but it is also a great way for us to involve you, our supporters, in our race day. Please, share with us any special needs or petitions that you want us to pray for. It can be a person in your life, an event, a cause, or anything really.

We are really looking forward to the race day and to hearing all of your wonderful petition requests! Thanks!

Runner Tracking

3 cheers for 2009 technology!

Spectators can electronically track multiple runners along the race course by receiving real-time updates via e-mail or text message throughout the race. Updates will be received as runners cross the 10K, halfway (13.1 miles) and 30K checkpoints, as well as the finish line.

If you would like to receive updates on our progress this Sunday, please click "COMMENT" at the bottom of this post, and let us know if you want to receive text message or email updates.

Note: If you would like a text update, please text me (317.372.8164) the confirmation # once it sends it to you via text.

(sorry Matt, Jeff and Bridget - I didn't give you a choice. I already registered your phone numbers for this as my "test" numbers. tee hee)

Hey, Lynn!!!

We're in the 10 Day Forecast!!!

It looks like it's going to be a chilly morning. I think I might wear my spandex pants instead of the shorts. What are you thinking?

(yes, folks, just like girls call each other to figure out what to wear to weddings and nights out on the town - we also need to discuss what we're wearing before running a marathon).

Ps. It's not really going to rain, so don't worry about that part.

Team Monkey

I haven't had this much fun and this many friends to run with on a Saturday run since...ever. I did my longer training run on Friday morning (wouldn't recommend running 12 miles before a full day of work, bytheway) so that I could enjoy a nice 4 mile run with friends in the Ovarian Cancer Run & Walk on Saturday morning. Some of us ran, some walked - but we all went together and had a blast.

We were Team Monkey in support of Andrea's organization, Two Little Monkeys, benefiting Philadelphia Shriners Hospital and raising awareness about obstetrical brachial plexus injuries from which her daughter, Ally, suffers.

Here we are bright and early before we head downtown. Thanks to Jay and Matt for sending us off with such excitement! :)

me, Christie, Nan, Andrea, Stephanie and Elise

It's all down hill from here!

Having Lynn home was so great!

We did our "warm-up run" on Wednesday, had girl night on Thursday with friends, and embarked on our longest training run together on Friday. So many of my early-running days jogs were spent with Lynn. When we lived together on Meridian at the Buckingham, we'd do little jogs downtown. And when we lived together on Kenwood, we'd regularly do our "Butler Loop" with Christie and go for longer Saturday runs on occasion. Lynn is motivating, competitive, talkative and a good listener...all the things in a perfect running buddy.

Our 20 mile run was no different. Instead of heading north on the monon for 10 miles and then back like we originally planned, we decided to do a "Tour de Indy" since this would be Lynn's last long run in Nap Town before her big move. I took a personal day from work, she met early at my house that morning...and we prepared for the longest run of our lives!!!

Fuel Belt: check. Watch: check. Spandex: check. Body Glide: check. Gu Chomps: check. Running Shoes: check. Sunglasses: check...AND WE'RE OFF!
We headed downtown and made our way to the canal where Lynn had some of her wedding photos taken near the canal fountain...
and at our half way point, we stopped at The Taylor's to re-fuel our belts, stretch, and give Mrs. T and ole' smell of our shweaty bodies (ewwww)...
Heading back north we ran past The Stutz Building, where I worked for 4 years and also had my wedding reception last August...
And back up Meridian we ran past The Buckingham, where Lynn and I lived with her sister Julie for a year...
Heading towards Butler we had to fly by our beloved Kenwood home where we lived together for 2 years and made more memories than we can count...
And finally, after the Butler/Broad Ripple canal, we made it back home where our good friend Nan was waiting to join us for a post-run burrito (and mock our nerdy fuel-belts)... :)
AND WE'RE SPENT...but we have 20 miles under our belt and our mileage only goes down from here until our marathon in just 3 weeks!!!!

Back Home Again In Indiana

My husband, Mike, and I found out in July, that we will be moving to Japan in November. I wanted to make sure that I got to see all of my favorite people before I go. So last week I went home to Indianapolis for a visit. In addition to visiting with friends and family, I was able to run with my training partner, Jenny!!

We had planned to do our longest run on Friday, but decided to meet on Wednesday for an 8 mile warmup run. We met at her house and ran south on the Monon, something that Jenny is not allowed to do without company. It was the first time in all of my training that I had someone to talk to while running! I realized all too soon that it is much harder to run while chatting! But I also know that Jenny is a great running partner. She is easy to talk to and understands when I say, "I... can't... talk... right... now..."

In addition to having Jenny by my side, it was AWESOME to run in lovely Indiana weather! There was no humidity, cooler temperatures, plenty of shade, and more forgiving rays of sun. This run with Jenny made me soooooo excited for the marathon! We have less than a month until the big day and I am looking forward to the finish line!!

Dear Lynn,

Do we have a marathon goal time? Everyone keeps asking me.

Love,
Jenny

I Am a Little Sick

After my long run this morning, there are a few reasons why I am a little sick...

This week we only had to run 13 miles for our long run. After 19 last weekend, 13 sounded like a breeze! I'm a little sick if I think that running 13 miles is easy!!

I ran on base, something I haven't done in several weeks. Out of embarrassment, I didn't wear my awesome hydration belt. In fact, I met one of my neighbors a few weeks ago. When a mutual friend mentioned that I was training for a marathon and that she might see me on base, the new neighbor said, "Oh yeah! You're the girl with the crazy belt!! My husband and I saw you last week and couldn't figure out what you were doing!" I'm a little sick if I let fashion get in the way of hydration!

As I was running this morning, I kept thinking, "It's really cool today!" Of course, it was 82 degrees, feeling like 88. I'm a little sick if I think that anything less than 90 degrees is cool!

Finally, I wore my "big" ipod today. My shuffle was dead so I strapped the arm band on with the 30 GB ipod, turned on my old workout mix and took off. I couldn't believe how much I missed such classics as Buttons by Pussy Cat Dolls, Wind It Up by Gwen Stefani, Bet That by Trick Daddy, My Humps by Fergie, and last but certainly not least, a little DPH - Dem Player Haters! Now THAT IS SICK!!

Dear Jenny,

We broke the 500 mile mark!! YIPPIE!!

I added 13 miles today. You do the same tomorrow?

Lynn

Cool & Cloudy

Now THAT'S the perfect 18-miler running weather in my book!

I, too, completed the longest run of my life this past Saturday with 18.4 under my belt in 3 hours. My Indy training buddy, Cease, did it with me. With a mix of the weather listed above, a good night's rest, an even fuel belt mix of water and light purple Gatorade (my favorite), Gu Chomps and Jelly Belly Sport Beans...it was surprisingly a great run. As per usual, I craved my homemade breakfast burrito the entire run, which Katie (Kaschak) Harrison, my good friend in town from VA, made for me when I got home. Thanks, Katie! :) Can you tell that's a "1" and an "8"? :)

And Cease ran 16 miles (see the "1" and the "6") - her longest since she did the NY Marathon 15 months ago!

Let's Make a Bet...

Jenny and I have been counting the miles that we have run during the course of our training. You can see the tally to the right. At this point we have run 460 miles!

I think it would be fun to guess what our total milage will be after we run the marathon! The person who guesses closest without going over will get a prize!!

Keep in mind that we both contribute to this number. We run 3-5 days per week. There are only around 6 weeks left, and we only have one obscenely long run left before the big race!! This number should also include the 26.2 miles of the marathon.

19?

Been there! Done that!

This past Saturday I ran 19 miles! The longest distance I have run in my life!

My plan was to get up at 4:45 am, drive to downtown Panama City, and run from the Panama City Marina through an area called The Cove. The Cove is a nice neighborhood that hugs the coastline of the Panama City Bay. It's shaded by large trees draped in Spanish moss. The houses can be huge with beautiful landscaping. Every now and then I get a view of some pretty large boats and a breeze from the water. It's a perfect place to run!

Before I started my run, I was really nervous. I had gotten blisters on the back of both heels during one of my weekly runs. So much for expensive new shoes! After doctoring up both feet with 2nd Skin and athletic tape, my full belief in the product was reinforced! 2nd Skin is the perfect cure for blisters or sore spots! My feet didn't hurt a bit!

The weather was also a topic of concern. It had been in the upper 80's and raining off and on all week. The week before my run was cut short by a torrential downpour! If I didn't finish this run once I had started, I don't know that I would complete it later! It ended up being in the low 80's and sunny. I can handle that.

Finally, I was worried that I would stop running after the first 15 miles. My route brought me right by the car at mile 15. After running that long, it would be so tempting to just climb in the driver's seat, head home, shower, and sleep the day away. So, my loving and supportive husband met me. He ran that last 4 miles with me, encouraging me all the way. I have done 95% of my runs on my own and all of my long runs have been alone. Though it is nice to get lost in my thoughts, running just 4 miles with Mike makes me realize how nice it is to have a running partner!! I am very grateful to have Jenny to run the real deal with.

Finally, after finishing 19 miles, I climbed into the car, drove home, and collapsed on the floor. Rusty was there to congratulate me! The day was complete with a shower, a few Alieve, and 4 hour nap!!

Now just think, after running 19 miles, what's another 7?! We can totally run a marathon!!

It's JENNY'S Birthday!

Wish her a very happy day today!!

A Penny for Your Thoughts

Well folks, our long runs are getting REALLY long! I was thinking during my 17 mile run last Saturday, that I am running out of things to think about! Topics I have covered in my head include things such as, but not limited to:

- Which houses I would buy?

- What I would change about each house if I did buy it?

- What is the name of that dog that is chasing me down the street?

- What choice words I would use to tell the creepy honking truck driver how I feel about creepy honking truck drivers if I could!!?

- What I will eat first when I'm done running?

- Beer or wine tonight?

- What will I write about on my next blog post?

- Where the hell am I? I think I'm lost.

So, as you can see, I have exhausted many topics to occupy my mind during my long runs. This weekend we have another 18 miles! Please help me out! Give me some new inspiring, funny, inquisitive, or just different thoughts to ponder during the 3 hours on the road this weekend! Thank you for your help!!

Dear Chicago Marathon Planners,

I have thought it through and this is my order for the Chicago Marathon on Oct 11, 2009:

1. Temperature in upper 60's or lower 70's - You can decide the specifics.

2. Slightly overcast - not too sunny, but not too gloomy.

3. Maybe a little spritz of rain around 10 am - we will be pretty sweaty by then and need a cool-down.

4. A slight downward grade for the entire course.

5. Gatorade at every water station.

6. Lots of crazy costumed runners or funny sign bearing cheerleaders on the sidelines to keep us entertained.

7. Oh yeah - and can you please replace the bananas with beer at the finish line?

Thank you for your cooperation and I look forward to seeing you at the finish line.

Sincerly,

Lynn Taylor Glass

runner #15,629

My #1 Fan

From other's perspective, I may seem like an extremely self-motivated and anal marathoner when it comes to my training schedule, following it diligently, and checking each day off as soon as I finish my work-out. I suppose part of that is true, but the secret is, I have a live-in #1 fan who is constantly motivating me, challenging me...and literally pushing me out of bed in the morning to run 8 miles before work or 15 miles on a Saturday. My husband, Matt, would rather die than run even one block with me, but the encouragement and excitement he provides is just as good as a running buddy to me.

Last Friday I did my 11 mile run before the weekend since I was heading to Virginia Beach later that day for my friend Katie Kaschak's wedding (and man was it a beautiful wedding. Congrats to Katie and Tyler!). While I was on my daily visit to mapmyrun.com trying to figure out how to make this 11 miles interesting by myself, Matt volunteered to ride his bike next to me during my entire run the next day! I was so excited and immediately put down my computer when I realized this meant we could go south on the Monon Trail, which I'm "not allowed" (slash it isn't safe) for me to do by myself. So I ran, and he rode his bike (rrr...my Dad's bike), and kept me going the entire way. He sang songs like "Eye of the Tiger", the Rocky Theme song, and whistled the theme song to the Andy Griffith show, and just kept the chatting up so I stayed nice and distracted from running.

The next best part of the run was at about mile 8 when we were headed back north, Matt branched off real quick, went home, and got our dog Ike who joined us for the last 3 miles. Ike was in heaven, I had little things to look forward to throughout the run, and our family or 3 had one helluva fit morning!

This Saturday we're running 17 miles. My good friend Cease from IU/Theta just moved to Indy (YAY, CEASE!) and is training for the NY Marathon, so now I have a permanent training buddy. We did 13 together a couple of weekends ago and it was wonderful having her by my side the whole way.

Matt certainly isn't my only source of encouragement - everyone around me is and it's so helpful to have the support of the others. THANK YOU to each of you who have been cheering us on during our training and preparation! It actually makes us excited to run 26.2 miles in 2 months. :)

Is it really all in my head?

I don't mean to be a Debby Downer, but this weekend was a rough one. For some reason, my schedule just did not correspond with the weather. Every time I tried to run, it was too hot, I was too tired, or it was raining. ARG!! How frustrating!

Finally, I just decided, it's all in my head. Heat, rain, humidity, and fatigue are only obstacles that I get make bigger than they really are. I can overcome them. So, this morning I woke up and decided to run my 15 miles no matter what! I set out around 9 AM after the torrential downpours had cleared. By the end of 7.5 miles, this is what the weather was like: 87 degrees (feeling like 99) with 74% humidity! That's when I decided, it's not in my head! The weather really does affect how I perform. So, from now on I'll have to get up before 6 AM to do my long runs! Roommates like Jenny know that I am not a morning person and LOVE my snooze button!! Early mornings may be the biggest obstacle for me to overcome.

It's been confirmed! Weather does play a huge role! I ran the last 7.5 miles this evening after rehydrating and taking a nap. It was much cooler and though the sun hadn't set yet, it was well behind

the trees. I felt great! It also helped that I saw an F15 bank in an almost full moon, a deer grazing in a small field, and at the end, my hubby was waiting for me to watch the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico. This has been an awesome ending do a not-so great day!

Comments - Keep 'em coming!

Hey friends, family, and blog followers -

I figured out how to change a few settings on our blog so now anyone can post a comment without logging in. At the end of each post you will see something like this: "POSTED BY JENNY AT 5:56 PM 0 COMMENTS " Click on the word "comments" and type your thoughts into the text box. You should now be able to submit without any other trouble!! Please keep your words of encouragement coming!! Thanks!

Who new...

...that when Lynn and I became friends freshman year of high school in 1995, that we would grow closer throughout high school, even closer during college, and ever CLOSER after college?

Who new a couple of years after college we would live together for 3 years, first in an apartment with her sister Julie, and then just the two of us (plus Ike) in a house in Butler-Tarkington?

Who new that after running together for those 3 years, we would be training "together" today for a full marathon in two different states, and growing even close throughout this experience?

Jenny, Lynn and Ike on moving day into our Butler home: August 2007

I miss you as a roomie, LT, but love having you as a training buddy!

Stay tuned for more Lynn & Jenny history moments to come throughout the rest of our training... :)

Pack Mule

I've always kind of chuckled at the people with ALL of the running garb hanging off of them, thinking "How can they possibly run that distance with all of those THINGS attached to them?" But now that I am in the 30+ miles per week running club...I not only get it, but I'm one of them.

Ever since I started running about 3 years ago, my iPod has always been attached to my arm. As a matter of fact, I still have the first few "workout mixes" on there that I made the first night I got that bad boy. Then a few weeks ago, Matt convinced me to get a fuel belt waistpack at the Nike Outlet in Hilton Head. Three days later when I went out to do my 12 mile run, I couldn't have been happier to have it. Then, last Friday before my 14 mile Saturday run, I hit up The Running Company for some Gu Chomps and energy Sport Beans, and the grocery to get Gatorade for my fuel belt. I never thought I'd say this about a 14 mile run...but it went great! I had a yummy pasta dinner Friday night, got a good night's sleep, and the weather on Saturday morning was perfect (overcast and cool). I ran the distance by myself on the monon, and used it as good thinking and "Jenny" time. I finished in 2:05, putting me at about a 9:30 pace which is about normal for me these days.

So now I'm that pack mule runner I used to laugh at who packs all sorts of THINGS on and around her in order to survive long runs...

In Other Recent News

I got a bib number for the race!! Thanks to my dear sister, Katie, I can now officially run in the Chicago Marathon! Up until just recently, I was planning on jumping in around the starting line and dodging the race officials the whole way. But not any more!! Though she won't be able to run due to an ACL injury, Katie will be there with a martini for us when it's all over! Thanks for the support, Kato!!

Also, we have more fellow marathon trainers! My sister, Julie, on the left here, and brother-in-law, Paul, are training for a full marathon in Indy in November! I am excited to run with them when we get together this fall! Again, more photos on those experiences to come. Good luck Julie and Paul! Let's keep each other motivated!

Who else is training?! When and where is your marathon? What are you doing to stay motivated? What will be the first thing you will eat and/or drink when you cross the finish line (after the free bananas of course)?

Tyndall Running Club

I will admit, running on my own on base has gotten very boring. Motivation is at an all time low. So, to get an extra kick in the backside, I joined the Tyndall Running Club. They run a 5K every Tuesday and after 4 weeks of running, you get a free T-shirt! I have only been 2 weeks, but when I get my shirt, I'll be sure to post a photo!! It has been a great way to meet new people, get some training tips, and discuss ideas for new routes around town. The other motivating factor is the competitive atmosphere. Each week I not only try to beat the guy in front of me, but I also try to beat my best time. Last week I ran it in 26 min 34 sec; this week, a swift 26.07! Next Tuesday I am aiming for below 26 min. I'll let you know how I do!

Blog Slacker

Thank goodness Lynn is on top of the blog posting, because I have been a slacker! :)

2 weeks ago, my family took our annual trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina, where we enjoyed the beach, good food, good drinks, and relaxation.

Group Picture before our private boat cruise to spot dolphins

See what I mean by good food and good drinks? This fresh crab and shrimp was AMAZING!

Me and Matt on the beautiful beach

The Olecks/Bolings with Grammy O.

I ran my 11 miles the Friday before we left with someone I met through my Indy Runners Club. Who knew running 11 miles with a complete stranger could be so fun? This left me with a 3-miler, 6-miler, another 3-miler and a 12-miler while in Hilton Head. My hopes were high and after day 1 when the whole family went to the gym together, I thought "This won't be hard." I did my first 3-miler, my 6-miler, and by Tuesday I was finished with workouts for the week. Oops. Determined to get my 12-miles in before the work week started, Sunday morning back in Indy I got up and ran down to the circle and back. Let me tell you...it sucked! The combo of not running since the Tuesday before, being in the sun every day, eating everything in front of me, and enjoying frosty libations every night...my body said "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?". I "only" made it 10 miles that morning.

I made up for it by adding couple of miles to the scheduled run last weekend while in Chicago visiting friends. My friend Eric Cale and I ran 10 miles along the beautiful Lake Shore Drive. A change of scenery is JUST what I needed. It was wonderful and refreshing.

I also had the pleasure of running with my friend Cease on Monday who was in town, and have at least one running date a week with Christie (and our doggies). Between the shorter week-day runs with friends, and the long Saturday runs with Indy Runners Club, the training hasn't been too bad...

...and then comes 14 miles this Saturday. This will the longest distance I have even run. Eek! Any problems of the world we should think about solving? Wish us luck!

My Favorite Place to Run

Yesterday I ran 12 miles. It was a long 2 hour run, and it gave me lots of time to think. I realized, that my new favorite place to run is Tyndall Air Force Base. It has been the only place I have run during our training so far, so it is getting slightly redundant. But, where else can you run for 2 hours and during that time run on the beach, through neighborhoods, forest, and around a lake, all while watching F15's and F22's flying overhead? Some times I tease myself by thinking I am chasing the jets that soar overhead! They certainly give me something special and fascinating to watch while I run! Admittedly, I will be looking for a new variety of places to run in the near future because the same roads and paths are getting boring, but I will always look forward to running here at TAFB and chasing the jets!!

The F22 is on the left, the F15C on the right.

That is an F15 being flown by my hubby on his first solo flight.

This is the beach on base. The sand doesn't pack down so it makes for a very difficult run. But it's beautiful!

Cross Training

I have a confession to make. I did not run my 11 miles this Saturday! OOPS!!

But I have a good reason. My husband, Mike, myself, and friends, Ryan and Heidi, took a weekend trip to Disney World (one of the perks of living in the panhandle). So, instead of running 11 miles one day, I walked about 272 miles for 3 days! Let's just chalk it up to cross training. We had a great time and can't wait to go back! Next time I'll go running with Mickey!

Magic Kingdom

Epcot

Animal Kingdom