Fuel Belt

I bought this thing today. I don't know whether or not I'll like it and if I don't 10 miles tomorrow is a lot to not like it (I hate it when the hairtie around my wrist is too loose or too tight when I'm running-- I'm gonna HATE it if this thing is clunky or ill-fitting). But it has been SWELTERING and I know I need it. Ran ~4.5 in Chapel Hill North on Wednesday and damn near died from heat heat heat.
Trying to stay positive, but hellfire, I am looking forward to <85 degrees.

Fleet Feet!

TNT will always be my first training love, but I've just joined a new training group at Fleet Feet Carrboro and I'm really, really happy with it. It's set up sorta like TNT-- group runs Saturday morning at 7:00 at different locations, but FF also has Wednesday evening runs. We also have the privilege of cool clinics after training. Yesterday was a quick chirunning lesson--super fascinating. It basically carries the principles of yoga I've learned over the years into running. This makes a ton of sense and yet I've never exploited the crossover.
And, of course, I really love the people in the new group. I think I just love runners!?!?!?! So much energy going around.
It's been too hot for me to really be "successful" (=fast) lately and it gets me down when I snooze through a morning run, so I've been struggling a little with my 'tude. I used to consistently be able to wake up to run regardless of how much I had slept the night before. I also used to always shower before school. I've re-prioritized now, I think, but it feels so damn good to be freshly-run and freshly-cleaned that I can't really parse that decision.

Anyway, yeah, excellent new group, registered for my second half, with the first full possibly in sight before the end of 2010... beautiful.
Oh, and I'm really, really happy these days. Summer in Carrboro is perfect.

You'd Better Believe It

I dun registered for #2:

So Much Love All Around

I just finished Phase I of writing thank you notes and I think my hand hurts worse than my legs did after running the race. Which means we have a hell of a lot to be grateful for.

It was a spectacular weekend. The race was hard but about half an hour after all we could say to ourselves was "WHEN DO WE GET TO DO THE NEXT ONE?!?!" so I guess that means we gotta get on that soon.
We love you all so much. Thank you for your support--monetary, emotional, sometimes even physical. It's incredible to be surrounded by such a giving and warm community.
There's no way I'm going to abandon this blog because I like the link so much so I think I'm going to keep it as a training log in the future. That may mean for other races/marathons and even for future TNT events but for the next little while I'm just going to try and beat the heat and love the road, so if you're into hearing about how much I (we, I guess) like to run, keep checking back. I've got a lot to learn about running and a lot to learn about fundraising and being charitable and giving of the self-- many things I can learn from you guys. So stay tuned. Let the force be with you. Live it up. Run on.

We're Really Ready

The View from the Wagon

WELL. I'm back. Looking through my paper journal, I (involuntarily) had almost a full month off of training (with a few short runs sprinkled in). My knee is feeling better.
Saturday I did about 8.5 miles (really, really hilly) in the Korstian Area of Duke Forest. I had never been out there even though it's like 10 minutes from my house. It was so, so beautiful and the 7AM start got me finished before the heat made things unpleasant. Coach Bill ran about a mile with me and we had never met before it-- that's one of my favorite things about TNT, is just saying YES to running, saying YES to friendships, to 7 AM. I get out of my comfort zone sometimes but the program is so well-designed that it always seems to work out.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about building up distance over the next few weeks (only 5 left!), but my legs feel pretty strong and I think if I can stretch a lot and beat the heat I'll be okay. We'll be great!!!
According to my calculations, I have raised $2,401.00. Amazing, right??? That leaves $499. I'd like to see if people will pay for my weekend distance runs-- $14 to my 14 miler this weekend (my first 1/2 marathon distance!), $18, etc., etc. I might go around Friday nights with a blank tshirt and some Sharpies and say I'll wear it to training and you can write whatever you want on it (and my face, etc.) for a dollar a mile. I have no idea. Might be fun, right?
Please donate. The link's on the right side of the page and it's super easy. Let's KICK CANCER!

-Elizabeth

This is a Teaser

WE'RE BACK ON THE WAGON. Details to follow.

Arrrrrgh

Well, this is the kind of post we never want to make but to be fully candid, BAD THINGS are happening with our training. We both have had illiotibial band syndrome stuff going on, which comes in combo from stacking up mileage too fast and, I'm sure, the incredible physiological stress of finishing our honors theses the past 3-4 weeks. While I'm sure fundraising and training will both get back in line and we'll be able to finish raising $6,000.00 and running 26.2, things look a bit glum. We ran 12.5 miles a few weekends ago in the cold/rain--Emily did fine, I was a bit worse off (complaining, etc.) and ended up with an upper respiratory infection. See what I mean? BAD THINGS. The rest of our team is up to 16 miles and we're pretty far away from that. We've got to get back on track somehow. Send good vibes!

E&E

Lesson Learned

I staunchly disrecommend attempting to PR your 10k time on the first day of direct-sun, 80-degree Chapel Hill Heat.


Though that may have been obvious to others.

Whoa

This, my friends:



Is an eight mile loop. Which we ran yesterday in cold and sun. In one hour and eighteen minutes (that includes a stop at about 5.25mi to see if they had a water fountain in Calvander Body Shop: no dice, they gave us a bottle of water instead!) Painful, fun. We've discovered that no matter how far or hard you run, the second quarter is the most difficult (but why?)

Donations are rolling in! It amazes us when we check the mail. Thank you to everybody for being so very generous. Happy spring break! And even if you're a grown up and don't have one of those, we wish you the feelings of peace and relaxation that go along with this sacred week.