Week 17 - Beating the Storm

My right calf is still tight.  Really tight.  Super tight. But I figured something out - if I wear shoes with small heels when I'm not running, it feels better since it takes pressure off the achilles.  Note to self: do that.

This week I worried a lot about the weather.  A storm was promised, and I was praying every day that it would hold off until after my 22-miler on Saturday.  This was my final week before tapering.  My weekday runs went just fine.  It has been in the 20's and windy, but the marathon isn't going to run itself, so I just bundle up and go. 

On Friday, I had a huge surprise...my bosses gave me a Garmin GPS Running watch for Christmas.  Thank you, Santa-Bosses!!!!!  I've never been able to completely track my actual mileage/speed before.  Since I started Gallloway interval training, my Nike Plus has been somewhat off.  I am so happy to have this new running toy!  I rushed right home after work and got it all figured out to use on my Saturday run.

Saturday morning, my friends Christi & Dave met me at 6:45 AM.  It was 25 degrees. I repeat: It was 25 degrees.  The storm was on its way to NYC, having already hit Phili with a foot and more coming.  I needed to get running and get it over with! 

Drumroll...I made it!  TWENTY TWO MILES IN TWENTY FIVE DEGREES.  It took me four hours and forty seven minutes.  This is a minute per mile over what I hope marathon pace will be, so I'm right on track. 

There was an NYRR 15k in Central Park, so we signed up for it just to break up the run.  Jim had to get in his 9+1 volunteer slot that day, so he was waiting at mile 7 (which was 12 to me, since we had done 5 before the race).  It was soooo good to see his face at this point (well some of it- he was bundled up too)!

Mike also came and took some pictures.  Thanks, Mike!  I look completely frozen, but happy.

I'm the one in pink, of course.

After the race, Liz joined us for some windy miles around the reservoir.  Christi left at 16, Dave left at 17, Liz left at 18...and then there was 1.  They're all veteran marathoners so the distance was enough, but the Turtle needed to finish 22.

So I completed miles 18-22 by myself.  At this point, my hands were completely frozen and I couldn't bear the thought if taking them out of my gloves to get out my iPod, so I did it music-free.  I thought a lot about my training, my goals, and how a non-runner like me got to this point.  I would have cried, but I think my eyes were frozen.

As I was coming around the bend of Harlem Hill, the first snowflakes started to fall.  But no matter, I was DONE.  We got 8 inches of snow that night as I slept peacefuly, knowing I'm off to taper-land.

Sarathon or bust!