9 weeks til NYC!

Friend
 I am incredibly out of shape and just realized how little I have moved since the big 26.2! I have to say that the recovery from the marathon was minimal compared to what I expected (I felt completely normal by day 3) but I feel like we never got a chance to download on what an incredible mind-f the race was!!! Oh my gosh I just finally looked at my GPS watch splits from the race and miles 18-22 were so downhill.. ugh.. i kept telling myself, just finish, you know you can finish, but you will not make Boston. And then with 4 miles left something inside me clicked and I just went for it. My legs rotated in the right rhythm and my mind was focused away from the pain and I just went.. It didnt hurt that the Philly Phanatic was at the bottom of the last .75 miles to give me a high five! : ) Wow though, I really didnt think I could do it for awhile.. All I can say is glad its over!
  And on to the next.. I am not nearly training enough yet, but this one will just be a warm up. I am also signed up for a late May triathlon (same one I did last year) so the half marathon will just be the beginning. We should really keep our eyes out for a good late fall/ winter race to warm up for Boston- thoughts?

I just got a new camera for Xmas so I will have to take some shots of running weather.. this snow sucks!!! : P
Stay warm out there.. lots of love!!! - your running pal

2011

Wow, it's 2011.

can you believe it?

Thank you for my gift! I did not get an issue yet, but I got a lil card.


And I wanted to start this business up again, since the NYC half-marathon is in less than 3 months!!!!

I am beginning to be a bit more serious after being a bit more lazy after our Boston qualifying efforts in November. When I think of it I will have to post the link here to our results.

I am on my way home from work now, but I will hopefully talk to you soon.

Miss you, and Happy New Year and Christmas, too.

luv, Ziga

In 24 hours, we will be Marathoners!!!

I cannot contain my excitement! What a crazy ride its been over the past few months, but I feel ready for this. The weather today is so perfect and I think tomorrow is going to be the same. I ran with Runner's World at the rocky steps (saw a little blurb about the marathon in the December issue and it had a note that they were doing a shake out run in Philly this AM). I of course ran with this cool old guy half the time who was asking me about my favorite parts of the magazine and I had no clue who he was- just figured he was one of the runners world contributors. Everyone started taking their pictures with him at the end, and I whispered to someone to ask who he was.

Freaking Bart Yasso!!!

He told us all to be very conservative in the first half because if you can be strong in the last 10K then you will really break it down.. because you will be passing so many people that it will give you incredible strength. That is my goal- to not hit the wall! : ) I'm planning on running with the 3:40 pace group for the first half and then breaking it down for the second if I feel good.

Did you sign up your parents/ Josh for the text messages of you hitting each 5 mile mark? Its kind of confusing. ..but should be cool if it works.

I'm planning on wearing capri tights, tee, gloves (long sleever at beginning to throw in the donation box).

I'm just ready for that starting line... trying to relax and hydrate today but its hard to sit still!!!! I have been trying to eat really well all week and I feel strong and not at all heavy from the taper. little pains in the shoulder (which is what wraps around to my heart- phys therapist assured me its not heart related, just muscular) and in my shin, but overall the shin splints are feeling much better. I have been doing advil 2 x day so that has helped.

Well, I'm off to hydrate more... cant wait to see you this afternoon for the Expo!

Last note before go time??
XO
Mer

Track your Favorite Runner!

will write more later, but make sure you sign up your family and friends!!!

http://live.activeresult.com/msg/MSG-signup.tcl?event_id=33

its free : )

Oh and also, will you and your parents and Josh be hanging out a bit after the race or are you all going right to the family reunion? Just want to plan if I will have company! : ) And let me know what time you will arrive on Saturday...

SO EXCITED!!!!

XXO

Holy Taper, Batman.

I am in a bit of a state of disbelief. Or fear. It is just so weird that the marathon is this Sunday. This Sunday!!! Holy hell!! That's 4 days away, generously counting Sunday as a day.

I was feeling a bit slow and sluggish on my Saturday run, so Monday morning I did like a faster pace for a couple miles, about 7 min pace, felt good, but am worried about sustaining goal pace. Which, I was on crack or was temporarily not able to do math when I signed up for this... I said my predicted time was 3:15:00! That is running 7:30s which is crazy. I'm in the 2nd coral with that. Honestly I would be thrilled to pull that time off, but I really just want to break 3:30:00.

I am prob running 4 tomorrow, 3 Friday, and like 2 on Saturday?? Some people say take sat off, but I think I'll feel better loosening up.

I had a nightmare the other night that I woke up and I missed the starting time. I think I was in my parents house looking at the kitchen clock making tea and was just super upset. I hope that is the only one, although a lot o people say they have hitting the wall nightmares.

I think I'm wearing the shorts and top I wore for the half. With gloves prob. We can wear clothes we want to donate into the coral for warm up, and put them in the donate bins right before the race. I think I may do that-

I am pumped but nervous and ready to finally conquer this race - I keep thinking o the two mantras that helped me the most during college:

1. From you, "where do you you want to be?"
2. From coach, at sr. yr conference 10k, "you could run this pace all night"

And one from Carl for humor, "be fierce! Grrrrrr!"

Ha.

I may not be in the 10k-shape, size 0, sports bra and butt-huggers-confident that I was back then, but I did work for this race and I am so happy we really do get to share our first marathons! It is certainly a long time coming!

Keep popping those advil, I know I'll down a couple pre-race. Are you still having chest pain?
I hope not.

Felt good this weekend!

I hope you felt as strong and good as I did this weekend! Advil 2 times a day is helping the little shin and my body is feeling rested : )

I got my race number and I am number 3031 in corral 3 (my predicted finish time was 3:33)... so overall, I've got lucky 3's on my side!!!

I wanted to try and figure out the service where you can send your family members texts as you cross certain mile markers/ check points, but I didnt see anything about that on the website, did you? I hope they still do it...

Love the weather report!! Super excited to run this thing and just get it under our belts : )

XO
Mer Figgy

ditto

I owe you a better post, but had to update you on a few items:

1. I am registered for NYC half!!!! March 20 here we come!

2. Sunday weather so far so good! 58 and sunny for the high! Morning will be chilly, but great for us runners!

More to come....