PAWS Chicago

Alright, so the first time around I ran the marathon for me. This time I am running it for someone else =)

As many people probably know, my dog passed away recently. So I have decided to run this year's Chicago Marathon on behalf of PAWS Chicago. PAWS is an anti-cruelty organization that supports no animal should be destroyed simply because it is homeless.

My fund-raising goal is $600, I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could donate to my cause. Even if it is only a couple of dollars. Every little bit helps!

Here is my fund-raising website https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=342429&supId=293566907

Thank you!

Racing Time!

OK, so I've signed up for 2 half marathons. Dexter-Ann Arbor and Rock 'n Roll Chicago. Dexter is on June 6th and Chicago is on August 1st. As of right now I am set to break my previous half marathon PR by at least 20 minutes. I'm pretty excited at how much I have improved over the past year. Also, if I keep up the pace I've been going I will break my marathon time by 20 minutes =D

Boston 2016?

Well, I am getting faster and faster as my training progresses. Today I ran a 44:28 5-miler and this past weekend I ran a 1:58:04 12-miler. This is significantly faster than I am used to running. It is definitely a great feeling when you look down at your watch expecting to see 22 minutes at mile 2 and you actually see 18.

Today was also the Boston Marathon, I know a few people who ran this year and have run in the past. My dad has run Boston twice in the past. (He was my inspiration to start running in the first place). Over the next 5 years or so I hope to get my pace down to BQ time, which for a female my age is 3:40:59. That may seem nearly impossible considering my marathon time is currently 4:57:38, but I disagree. Through my speed training I have gotten exponentially faster over the past few months. I am hoping that a combination of intensive speed work, my long legs and my young age will be enough for me to qualify by the time I am 25. Quite a goal, and it's a goal that I fully intend on meeting.

Wait..what?

So the other day I went out for a 5-miler and ran it in 46:30...wait...what? Yeah, I was pretty impressed with myself. Initially I thought I left half a mile out somewhere. Alas I did not. Normally that run would take me about 50-55 minutes, so that's pretty awesome. It's great to see that my speed training has actually been paying off. I can't wait to set some new PR's over the next few months =D

Chi-2010!

Well, today I signed up for the 2010 Chicago Marathon. It is on 10/10/10 and I think I am going to try and make it my 10th long distance race. We will see =P

I'm really excited to be running my 2nd marathon. It's kind of funny, even though I have run multiple half marathons and one full, I still don't really consider myself to be a runner...strange.

My mom also signed up for the race and I'm pretty sure my dad is going to as well. It is going to be an awesome race and I cannot wait!

Pounding the Pavement....Again.

I haven't really been running much since the marathon, so I've decided that it's time to sign up for another race to get my motivation going again. I am going to run the Martian Half Marathon in Novi Michigan on April 11. I am very excited, this is a race that I have been wanting to run for quite some time now. I am also very happy to actually have a race to look forward to, now I feel like my running has purpose again.

I have also decided that I want to get faster, so I have upgraded to an intermediate training schedule with a lot more speed training. So hopefully in April I will kick some butt!

OK...So now what?

Since the marathon I have been experiencing a little bit of "post race depression" if you will...I have been really been struggling with the motivation to continue running. I really want to keep running but when I'm not looking forward to a race it's difficult to keep with it. With that being said I have been running a bit, usually about 15 miles a week. I did an 8-Miler this past Sunday and guess what, my OTHER knee started acting up. It is the exact same thing that happened to my left knee, the irritating thing is I did so many things to prevent this from happening and it did anyways. Oh well, at least it happened after the race. So hopefully with some ice and smart exercise the problem will go away. I am also trying to find other races to do to keep me motivated, unfortunately I do not want to have to spend a crapload of money...I guess we will have to see. I know it will be easier to find races in the spring, it's keeping it up through the winter that I am worried about...