Kill the germs part 2 (or is it 3...)

This morning I walked around the house with a bottle of Lysol and sprayed anything that anyone might have touched in the past week. Especially my Dad, who was sick all last week coughing and blowing his nose everywhere and not cleaning anything afterwards. Well, actually he did start cleaning a few things yesterday after I started feeling miserable. I almost didn't make it through church yesterday. I sat there listening and trying to figure out how to take a breathe without having my chest hurt. Not the feeling I wanted with only 10 weeks to train for my next race. Fortunately a nap and a whole bunch of vitamins seem to be helping. This I found my last packet of powered wheat grass, mixed it up, and chugged this morning! If it helps like it says it will then I need to stop by Whole Foods later and get some more for the week because I need to get in a 14 mile run on Saturday to stay on schedule. I don't know if I'll be able to run tomorrow or not. My chest is still a little heavy, but at least it doesn't hurt anymore. The germs need to go away. I'm so over them!!

I have an answer to what is next!!!

For weeks people have been asking what race I'm doing after Thanksgiving's half marathon, and now that I have run and eaten my way through the day I have an answer!!! If you read my last post you know that the 13.1 miles went really well. That and I chatted with a friend along the way who had signed up for a flat race herself, and I came to a decision. So here's the 2010 race schedule as it currently stands:

• Tallahassee Marathon February 7, 2010
• ING Georgia Half Marathon March 21, 2010
• Big Peach 5k
• Peachtree Road Race 10k July 4, 2010 (assuming I get in)
• fall marathon (currently thinking about Chicago)
• Atlanta Half Marathon (loved it!!! totally want to do it again)

So, now it's time to figure out a training schedule with only 10 weeks till the next big race!

Atlanta Half recap or running for turkey!!

Ah revenge is sweet!! Take that lake Merced!! and the great highway too!!

As you might have guess I had a pretty awesome run this morning :). But I'm getting ahead of myself. I got a really good night's sleep Wednesday night, and jumped out of my bed when the alarm went off. It took me a minute to remember why I had set the thing for so early. Fortunately I had gotten everything ready the night before and all I had to do was eat my usually peanut butter and honey sandwich along with a shot of wheatgrass. Don't ask me why. I had a wheatgrass shot on Wednesday and spent most of the morning bouncing off the walls, so I thought it might be a good thing to have before the race. I also decided to wear my Nike finishers necklace (it says run like a girl!!) for the race this morning partly as a reminder of what had happened, and partly to show it who was boss.

It was freezing when I walked outside. I decided to keep my jacket on for the first part of the race instead of checking it since I was just wearing my TNT singlet, arm warmers, and gloves. It turned out to be a really good decision! I got to see a bunch of my TNT friends before the race, which always makes me happy, and we headed over to the starting area to figure out our corrals. I was in the green corral (yay, my favorite color!!), which in normal language meant I was in corral 3 and got to start right at 7:00! My friend Sally and I started off together and only seperated for a few minutes when I had to go play mentor :). But that also meant that we found Andy who joined us for the rest of the race. Honestly, it was a blast!! it felt like we were the three amigos running down Peachtree Road, and getting dirty looks from the people we were passing as we ran happily down the street. I had originally thought of trying to run in 2:00 hours, but decided early in the week that it would be more enjoyable to just run for fun. Whatever happened would happen. I just wanted a nice enjoyable long run. Holly cow!! I'm still really happy about it (the Starbucks girl said I must be on a runner's high if I was going to go home after running 13.1 and cook a turkey. Umm apparently she is right). We just ran and talked. We said high to other runners we knew, and ran into a couple of awesome TNT coaches. (seriously whoever the coach at mile 12 was you rock!!). We got cheered on by a couple of Nike teammates. And then the sprint downhill to the finish started. Um, yeah, so it wasn't sprinting all downhill. There was a hill in there too. Kind of knocked the wind out of me, so I slowed for just a bit, and then the finish line appeared, and the next gear kicked in. Oh finish line, I think I love you!! :) In the end it was an awesome run, and a new PR (2:11). Have I mentioned I'm still really happy about it :). My Mom and sister came out to cheer us on too! My sister made a couple of signs for me and had some fun with my camera:

Pretty awesome. I also like to run for pumpkin pie :).

All in all, I feel really great. I got tight, but nothing major bothered me. I'm ready to sign up for some more races now! Say something flat that might take place the first weekend in February in the capital city of Florida...

So, take that great highway & Lake Merced!! This girl is so ready to run more fabulous races!

The dogs really wanted a walk when I got home. They felt forgotten...

Thankful

I am Thankful for:

1. my family
2. 2 crazy dogs who make me smile, love me no mater what, and drive me crazy :)
3. wonderful students who put up with their crazy violin teacher
4. that I have a job
5. that I have the ability to do something very creative
6. that I get to be a musician and get paid to do something that I love
7. that I can run
8. for Team in Training and all of the amazing people I've met over the past 1 1/2 years
9. friends
10. a roof over my head and food in the fridge
11. for a teacher who believes in me, and thinks I'm doing good
12. for coffee. After all I'm a musician
13. laughter and silliness
14. for good mentors in my life (I want to grow to be just like them :))
15. for a cup of tea of a rainy day
16. for Karen Tuttle and Heather Mudd who are always there for the big & little moments. When's the next trip?!
17. for Anne Marie who said that training for a marathon was only a little further than a half marathon. I'm glad I was running when you said that and couldn't really think about distances at the time, but I'm so glad you talked me into them.
18. hugs, especially bear hugs (that may or may not come after a run with a certain group. Thanks Jim :))
19. bagel crack :) (and Carol)
20. for family and friends who never hesitate to donate towards my races for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
21. Lori Rasmussen for all your words of encouragement
22. the ladies from my bible study (Anna Beth, Ashley, Megan, Lydia, Caroline, Stacy and, Anne Marie). Even though we don't see each right now I loved seeing you every week, studying the Bible, and encouraging and supporting each other.
23. the plan God has for me, even when I don't see it
24. running with friends
25. orthotics that keep my high collapsing arches in check so I can run pain and injury free
26. that tomorrow is always a fresh start
27. humidifers
28. really good bow hair!
29. cookbooks
30. for my life, no mater what is thrown my way

What's next?

I seemed to get this question a lot this morning from my Team in Training buddies. What's next? Well there's the Atlanta Half Marathon on Thanksgiving day. No, after that? Ummmm..... I don't have a clue, and to be honest it's slowly driving me up the walls. What is the next race? I've had many ideas:

• Callaway Gardens Marathon or Half Marathon - it's in January, which seems to early, and all the reviews complain about hills. Umm, this is Georgia, and we do have hills. Besides Callaway Gardens is on a mountain people.
• Tallahassee Marathon or Half Marathon - the first week in February still seems kind of early, but it's appealing because it's flat! And I have a sister and lots of friends down there... But it's in February....
• ING Georgia Half - will probably end up running this one. I don't have time to do the full because I have to teach a violin class that afternoon. Dang it!
• Country Music Marathon - this is one that I've started thing about more the past couple of days. It's not until April, which gives me plenty of time to get ready for it, and I've been told that it's not a hilly course. Might be leaning towards this one, but will probably train as an alumni and save the big fundraising race for the fall.
• Peachtree Road Race 10k - I love this race!! And my time gets better every year. I'll be back as long as I get in :)

Hopefully I'll have a better idea after the 1/2 marathon on Thursday. Don't even think about asking what I'm doing in the fall yet. I've got some ideas. It's pretty much between 2 races, and I think I know, which one I'm leaning towards. That's all I'm going to say. You'll just have to come back and find out :).

Have a race suggestion?

An old friend in a new place

It's been a year and a half since I first signed on the dotted line with Team in Training. It's hard to believe it's only been that long. I feel like it's been much longer than that, which is a good thing. A really good thing! See Team in Training combines two things I really love, fighting cancer, and running. Every Saturday I get excited about heading out to the GTS whether I'm training with the team or on my own because I get to see some of my all time favorite people. Oh, and I get to run :). We're not just about running though, we're about making a difference in the lives of cancer patients with all sorts of endurance events.

Do you live in Georgia?
Want to find out more about Team in Training?

They have a new blog!!! Head over to Team in Training Georgia's new blog and find out more. You'll never regret it!

cleaning, taking care of the to-do list, and practicing after sleeping late this morning :) #win5000

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