what's next

For the past few weeks, I've been languishing in the "I just ran a marathon!" feeling. But that can only last so long. It's time to start thinking about what's next. Today marks just 21 weeks until the New York City Marathon. (Well, that just reminded me how short summer really is...*depressing*) However short that may seem, I'm incredibly excited to run NYC. So. Excited. I've heard/read so many accounts of how much fun this race is - can't wait!!

Although, I can wait...because I have a long training cycle in front of me! With a busy summer, it's so important to schedule in the long runs and (as I found this past winter) the shorter runs, as well. I'm interspersing a few races here and there to keep things moving along. I find that if I don't participate in actual races, I will just give up training altogether - or train as little as possible. And even though that seemed to work out okay for Maine Coast, I'm not willing to try that tactic with NYC.

That said, I already have a half marathon lined up for Sept 20th. A few friends are already signed up as well! I love doing races with friends. Check out the website (and sign up yourself!) here.

I continue to incorporate T25 into my training routine and I honestly think it helps a ton! And I love doing it with other people. Such accountability. Not sure about keeping that going during the summer...I'd love to get back into incorporating Insanity instead of T25...we shall see.

maine coast marathon race recap

It's always a bit challenging to put an experience like a marathon into words. It's an experience that is so much about feeling that putting it down in black and white almost cheapens it a bit in my mind. With that said, I'll do my best to try and recap (succinctly!) my experience this weekend at the Maine Coast Marathon.

After a very busy week, John and I headed up to Maine on Saturday afternoon to attend the expo and pick up our bibs and t-shirts. Before we got to Biddeford, we drove the course of the marathon to know what we'd expect along the way. We kept saying, "I can't wait to see this tomorrow!" :) Neither of us felt super prepared, but we were going to make an experience out of it - no matter what!

The race was the smallest marathon I've ever done, and the expo was the smallest expo I've ever been too. Typically, they are full of vendor tables and runners wandering around getting samples and looking for last minute gear they may have forgotten. This expo was 4 vendor tables and about 20 runners. Most of the runners were either lined up to get their bibs or to sign up for the bus that would take you from the finish line to the starting line. We were in and out in about 10min.

Dinner before a destination marathon is always a little tricky...not knowing the area and what kind of restaurants you might find. We found a great public house and brewery that had just the right thing: burgers and fries, and a tasty brew just for me. :) Oh, I also found something, or someone else!

Race day dawned at 4:45am. After breakfast (two sweet potatoes, a banana and some almond butter, and coffee - always coffee), we headed out to catch the bus that would take us to the starting line. I have to say, for a small marathon they had their system on lock down. Everything was timed perfectly and went so smoothly. They even had enough portapotties at the start line!!

The first half of the race went incredibly well for me. The course was beautiful! We passed through some gorgeous neighborhoods, along the coast, through downtown Kennebunkport. It flew by - I started out running 10-10:15min miles. By mile 6, I was feeling really good and bumped up the pace to 9:30-9:45min miles until about mile 18. After that I slowed down to about 10:30-11min miles. By the time I got to mile 20, my legs were starting to really cramp up. Karla (John's wife) jumped in with me at mile 23.5, and if her mom had lingered with the car, I seriously would have considered getting in and driving to the finish. Thankfully, Karla was willing to take my Camelbak from me (I used it for extra water - it was hot - and for my fuel - babyfood packets, dates and apricots) and she had cold Gatorade and water for me. She was like my own personal Sherpa!

Karla ran me into the finish and really helped me push through that last mile. My legs were so cramped up at this point that my toes were curling in my shoes! That has never happened before...it didn't feel great. I ended up crossing the line at 4:47:24, my second fastest marathon time! After a lackluster training cycle, I was shocked that I was able to run this under 5hrs. I thought for sure I'd come in closer to 5:30-6hrs. Guess not!

Around mile 24, I asked Karla, "Why do we do this?!" Her first response was, "I don't know..." But then she said, "I do know. To cross that finish line." Yes, that's it exactly. The reason we put ourselves through the many long, lonely hours of training, through running a ridiculous amount of miles in one go is to cross that line and say, "I did it." I pushed myself further than I thought I could go. I overcame the desire to just give up because it was hard. And I'm stronger because of that.

At the finish, I was completely spent and had a lovely volunteer drape my medal around my neck. And another one hand me a take home bottle of ice cold water. The volunteers (so many of them!) were ALL awesome and wonderful. They were all cheering and encouraging the runners. They were at every intersection so no runners got lost and went the wrong way. Again, it was an incredibly well organized race.

If you are ever looking for a fun, small, beautiful marathon to run on the east coast, run this one. You will not regret it. I sure didn't.

countdown to maine coast final photo!

We finished!!! (Post-showers and pre-lunch at a beachside restaurant.) And now I will sleep for many hours....

countdown to maine coast #6

Got my bib! Ready to ruuuuun!

countdown to maine coast #5

My steps to a good Friday morning: T25 Stretching and Shakeology. (Plus half of a bagel. To note, I haven't had a bagel in over two months. I've professed my love for them here before, so this is a big deal...)

Also, just a quick update on the weather for Sunday: 70deg, partly sunny/cloudy, and no rain. I'm diggin' the no rain forecast. But wish for more mid 50's-low 60's rather than 70... I'll take what I get!

countdown to maine coast #4

Lunch today: sweet potatoes, chicken and broccoli. All roasted. All amazingly delicious! But especially the sweet potatoes. Whole, wonderful, natural energy. 

countdown to maine coast #3

Water. Water. Water... I've had this water bottle for so long and it goes with me everywhere! It's so old, my manager at REI (where I bought it) called it retro. At least being retro is cool, right?

I picked up the 26.2 sticker at the expo for the first Hyannis Half Marathon I ran back in 2010. I had just run Chicago 4 months before and decided right then to be one of "those people." I also purchased a magnet for my car - which got me out of a ticket after getting pulled over.