Run for Boston

So this week has been crazy, but good news for y'all: I have scheduled posts for this week! As in, they are in the little scheduler feature that Blogspot has!

On Sunday, April 21st, I did the Charleston Run for Boston.  It was an amazing event that was very uniting.  Runners from all over the tri-county area came out.  It all started with the organizer doing a group run with some of her friends, and it turned out to have (600-1000?) runners running it.  It was crazy awesome.  Of course I forgot to bring my phone to take pictures, but luckily some of the organizers of the Charleston Marathon were able to take some pictures.

The organizer talking to the runners before the race.

Runners finishing the race.  Most everybody that finished stayed at the finish line until every single person finished the run.

Runners cheering on finishers at the finish.

The course was a 5K, but I had an 8 mile run scheduled so I ran 4 miles right before the start, the race, and a mile after the race.  Great run!

Expo Recap!

So the Bridge Run was today (race report to follow).

The expo was open Thursday and Friday.  I opted to go on Thursday because it is much less busy.  I also decided to volunteer at the packet pickup later in the day.  I went early on Thursday because I was trying to find some running shoes, but the selection was not that great so I decided to keep looking.

I picked up my number, my dad's number, and my brother-in-law's number first.

my bib

I then went and picked up the rest of the packet.

drawstring bag, USB with race info, restaurant coupon, Aleve, bib, and towel

The towel is going in my workout room on my bib wall!

I then lolly-gagged around the expo.  I went to the TrySports booth, but they only had Newtons which I have heard are great and the whole midfoot-strike thing, but I don't know if I am ready to go that radical yet.  I then looked at another booth, but I think I just need to go to the running store and have time, and not have to worry about keeping up with packets, ect.  I went and got some samples from Bi-Lo (having a big grocery store as a sponsor is great).  They also had Front Porch Ice Cream Samples which were really good.

I then volunteered at the expo.  I handed out packets.  They were already pre-stuffed with the towel, coupon, USB, and Aleve.  The runners handed us their bib, we got their t-shirt, and put it all in the packet.  The process worked really well and I was glad to volunteer in a race and still be able to run in it.

a box full of packets

I was slightly disappointed in the selection of the expo, but I had a good time and it was fun to be around so many other runners to share experiences.

Last Run before the Bridge Run

I went on my last run (a "shake-out" run) before the Bridge Run tomorrow.  I meant to wake up and do it this morning, but that just didn't happen.  I covered 1.5 miles with my dog.  I normally don't run with her, but she was begging to go so I took her.  It would keep me at an easy pace anyway.  I went at an easy 10 min/ mile pace.  

my feet ready to go

I have been resting this week as I hope to get sub 50:00 in the 10K.  I am not 100% sure I will make that goal, but I am going to give it everything I have while I am out there.

Sunday: Rest

Monday: 3 miles

Tuesday: Rest

Wednesday: Rest day from exercise, but I was on my feet all day.

Thursday: Same as Wednesday, but I was volunteering at the Bridge Run packet pickup instead of shopping :)

Friday: 1.5 mile shake-out run

I had pasta and mom's meat sauce for dinner tonight and it was oh-so-good.  This is my typical pre-race dinner so I have confidence that it will sit well with my stomach.

food prep

Tomorrow's Plan:

2 mile warmup run

some food- probably some sort of apple/applesauce and some dry cereal and water and maybe some peanut butter on the apple- I do not have a 'set' pre-race meal, but I know that a combination of those things works for me so I don't worry about it too much.

6.2 miles at an 8:00 pace

2 mile warm-down

We will see how all of that goes.  This is kind of in the middle of my training for the Divas Half Marathon on April 28 so I haven't been doing a whole lot of race-specific work outs, but I feel like with all of the people and all of the excitement, I should be able to run fast.