6 DAYS TILL THE STATEN ISLAND HALF, ENJOYING MY VERY LONG TAPER, HOPEFULLY NOT TO LONG. LOL

Well, I can't believe I haven't posted since September 21st. Yikes, but I've been totally spent. Not sure if it was running the two hilly races back to back, or getting my 'friend', the day after I ran Cow Harbor, that totally wiped me out, but I've been pooped. So, I'm in my third week of a taper. Hope I don't pay for it come Sunday!!

My legs feel great. I have run 3 runs since my last race:
took the whole week off after the Cow Harbor 10K then
Sun, 10/29 ran a very nice 3 miles in 30 minutes.
Wed, 10/1, ran 6 miles in 60 minutes
and then this past Saturday, 10/4, ran a great 8 miles in 1:20:00

all runs were run at a very pleasant 10 minute pace and my legs felt GREAT. But afterwards, I was tired, like the next day, though the legs felt good, I felt like I could take a nap, and I NEVER feel like that:(

So, is my body telling me that I am entering the close of my racing season?? I certainly have not over trained, as my runs are few and far between. But running two hilly courses back to back, the first being a Half, in horrible HOT humid conditions, the next being a hilly 10K, with gorgeous weather, but still drained from the first race. Not sure, but I will be thankful when my racing for this year is OVER!!

Thanks BR411 for the shout out!! It is official, I have qualified for guaranteed entry into the 2009, NYC Marathon. I set a goal on Christmas day last year, to run these races, and I DID IT. It feels GREAT!!! Now, the discipline/training really begins. What are my goals/plans??

Well, I do have one more short race in November, sometime. My brother, who I'm doing this with, can't make the Staten Island Half, and he is only 1 race away from guaranteed entry, and I told him, he'd better get that one race under his belt, and that I would go in and run it with him. So, though my race schedule is technically over come Sunday, I will do one more with him, probably a 4 miler, we'll see.

So, my plan is to go into base building mode once the Half is over on Sunday, and build my mileage back up. This year I didn't do any speed work. I used my 9/10 races for that. So all my runs were run at a very comfortable pace of 10-11 minute miles, with a heart rate of 70% or lower. My plan worked!! I stayed pretty much injury free, felt a few twinges here and there in my left calf, but nothing that didn't work itself out during a run, or went away the next day thankfully:) I plan to start my training on Monday, November 3rd, the day after this year NYC Marathon. I will be using Allen's plan over at runninginjuryfree. Allen was a HUGE help when I started in January, as was Bruce, and I know it's a plan, but we all have to start somewhere!!

I accomplished bringing my race time down from 9:48 pace in my first run, down to a PR of 8:22. Every race I ran I PR'd. I am a very competitive person within myself. I set a goal of trying to beat my previous times, and I did that:)!! I hope to breakdown all my race times, and races in a post soon, to have it all there. So, overall I am extremely happy with my performance this year. Not too shabby for a 43 year old, stay at home mom:)

Oh, and on top of running, I accomplished another goal I had. Since January 2nd, the day I started running, I have lost 16 lbs. When I started running I weighed 130 and I am now 114. I didn't do anything special, except grab my running shoes and get out there and run. I did cut out all BAD carbs, and focused on the GOOD carbs, which I know I need to fuel my running. Hmmm.... wonder if I will gain any back once Marathon training starts? or if I will continue to lose. Not that I have any to lose, I'm now 114 on a 5'4" frame. Yikes, time will tell:)

But the best part of my running has been that my hubby, you all know him as Beachrunner411, has gotten himself off the couch and is now a runner!!!!!!!!! I can not wait to run the Long Island Half Marathon with you next May!!!!!!!!!! I know you say you'll do the 10K, but I'm telling you now, the Half Marathon is in your blood:)