October 13

Saturday October 13
I woke up at 5:30 California time today. I went up to the 36 floor of our hotel, the Grand Hyatt in Union Square.  The entire city was dark but the view was fantastic.  I wrote in my travel journal and watched the sunrise while michelle and kate slept in.  Around 8, we went to find breakfast.  The concierge suggested this placed named Sears, but there was a long line so we went to Goldens Gate Grill.  It was really cool inside, was owned by the same people and there was no line.  All of us are being careful about what we're eating today. I got eggs and toast. My stomach is so tight I can hardly eat.  We went around to Niketown and Macy's after breakfast and Kate and Michelle bought NWM items, but I couldn't bring myself to buy anything.  Our inspiration lunch was at noon.  We met everyone in the lobby and walked .5 miles to the Muscone Center.  The lunch was a bit overwhelming for me.  Walking into the building there were tons of people cheering, blowing whistles and yelling.  For some reason, it really freaked me out.  I felt like I was having an emotional break down during lunch.  It became so real.  I can't believe I'm running a marathon tomorrow.  I don't want to do this, I won't be able to do this, I'm going to die tomorrow.  The walk home was very quiet for me.  I just felt frozen by fear.  I went back to the hotel and laid down.  It didn't really help clear my mind though.  I'm so afraid and I can't explain why.  I keep picturing myself getting hurt, being carried off the course, not making it.  26.2 miles sounds impossible, painful.  For dinner, I joined Kate and her parents at an Italian restaurant in little Italy.  They hired a car and made reservations in advance.  Good thing because the city was so packed with people it would've been near impossible to get a taxi.  Kate and I were able to split chicken and pasta, very similar to our usual Friday night meal, which I was very thankful for.  Dinner was great and we got home a bit after 8, plenty of time to get to bed early.

10-12-12 We're in San Francisco!!

10-12-12

We arrived in San Francisco on friday.  The day was grey and dreary, which was okay with me because I had a migraine all day. The temperature is nice and chilly but not too cold. I don't think I'm going to need the goodwill clothes we bought. Not sure if I mentioned this before but we went to goodwill to get warm clothes to wear at the beginning of the race and then take off and donate when it warms up.  The hills here are bigger than I was expecting and I'm ner vous we didn't have enough hill training.  One of my teammates mentioned I should get compression sleeves for the run sunday.  I've never worn them and everything says don't try anything new on race day, but now I'm debating whether to buy some or not.  I'm really worried about being sore afterwards.  Instead of taking an ice bath, I think I might soak in the ocean after the run. It's supposed to be pretty cold.
Tomorrow michelle and I want to take a taxi to view the course. That way we know what to expect and what's coming next.  I wonder how much a taxi will cost to drive us 30 miles lol
The atmosphere here in sf is very exciting.  Our hotel is right in downtown and the expo tent is right outside.  There is a wall of all the participant names. We found ours and took pictures.  The expo tent is full of vendors. Everything from sports drinks and running earphones to hair stylists and makeup artists.  Niketown is a real place and packed with NWM items.  I'm debating whether to buy a shirt or not.  Will I wear it after the fever of this weekend is gone?  After wandering around the expo and stores, we rested for a while and then met the group for dinner.  Down in the lobby, Kates parents were supposed to jump out during the group photo to surprise her so we could get pictures of her face.  I was so anxious, I'd been texting them all day. I don't think I'm looking at the camera in any of the photos because I was watching all around for them.  When we finished the photos and the group started walking to the restaurant I called them and ran over to see them.  They decided to wait until Saturday to surprise Kate.  I was so upset.  This has been the hardest secret to keep!!  And I am so excited for their family, that her dad is healthy enough to be here.  As we walked to the Stinking Rose her parents text me they were coming to meet us still!  All the girls at the table thought I was being so sketch all day - getting "lost" on the way to dinner, texting the whole time and taking random pictures.  When kates parents showed up she was soooo surprised!!  It was awesome.  I'm so happy for them.
the food at the restaurant was really good.  Then we walked back to the hotel and I passed out.  I was exhausted.
I woke up at 5:30 California time and came up to the restaurant on the 36 floor.  Here's my view.

4 Days to Marathon

I went for a jog last night with Kate and Michelle.   I think it was a good idea to get our muscles loosened up some.  My legs aren’t hurting as badly today.  I also signed up to go get a massage, so I’m hoping that helps as well.

We also decorated our shirts last night with our names.  Kate had so many cute ideas!  I need to find more stuff to put on my shirt. 

I had to put "Dani" instead of "Danielle" because it wouldn't fit with the letters so large.  It's going to be really weird hearing people yell "Dani!" at me.  We put our names on the shirts so that people could cheer for us.  I read online that it is very encouraging when people yell your name while running.

5 Days to Marathon

I couldn’t sleep much last night, so I’m even more exhausted than usual today.  I’ve been trying to find a good sports therapist to get a massage before the run.  I’ve heard it helps with performance to get it before, rather than after.  This week is supposed to be full of lots of hydration, healthy eating, rest and a little running.  With the hydration, I wonder how much I need to increase my electrolytes though?  If I’m doubling my water intake, should I be doubling my electrolytes?  I don't sweat much when I run, so I've only added a 1/2 nuun tablet to my water each day.

6 Days to Marathon

I didn’t think it was possible to get this nervous for an event.  My stomach has been tight all week and I’m having trouble sleeping.  I thought we’d be better prepared by this point, but I don’t feel like we’ve received much in the way of instruction leading up to the race.  No one has told us about how our eating and diet should be changing throughout the training process, which I would think to be important.  My legs are still hurting this week and on Saturday my feet hurt again while running.  I feel like I’m doomed no matter what I do at this point.  Melodramatic?  Yes, but I definitely feel like I’m stressing out.

14 Miles

5:30 Kilarney Station. 

 

We set off in the pitch dark, on a path under the trees.  The only light to see was provided by my headlamp, reminding me of an old home movie (or the Blair Witch Project lol).  It’s so quiet and peaceful, the moon and stars were still out and there were very few sounds of human activity.  The air was think and heavy, as it usually is before the sun rises.  Michelle, Kate, Jen and I ran along the trail.  The sound of foot steps and heavy breathing the only noises.  It feels like a dream so early in the morning, even my mind feels half asleep.  Very little thoughts come to mind, aside from observing the things around me, hearing the noises of my companions and thinking about one foot in front of the other.  It must be tough for Kate to run at our pace because she soon sped off in front of us, swallowed up by the darkness.  She went from full view, to where we could only see the reflectors on her shirt and shoes and then disappeared entirely into the darkness.  I wonder if she enjoys running in the dark alone.  I think I would be afraid. 

 

We’re running down the path with old tall trees forming a canopy overhead.  My key caution is to watch for dangling spiders from the trees and at one point we all passed beneath a giant web, inches above our heads.  I thought it best not to mention it to the other girls.  The humidity made it difficult to breathe, let alone carry on conversation.  We were sweating like crazy within the first several minutes.  I tried to pay attention to where my thoughts go during running, but it actually took effort to think about thinking.  I realize, I don’t think I ‘think’ at all for most of my run.  I zone off into another space and my mind simply enjoys the quiet.  We went past houses, with dogs barking at us, went by a luxury retirement home, looked out over fields of grass, and as we came to a clearing I thought how lovely it would be to watch the sunrise this morning.  The song of birds changes gradually as the sun rises – from several roosters crowing in the dark distance to a few small birds singing and gradually the trail becomes alive with sounds of human and animal alike. 

 

We arrived in downtown Winter Garden, which is 5 miles into the trail. It is such a cute little town with old looking shops and lots of locally owned places (my favorite).  Every time we run here, I think about how I’d like to come hang out in the town one evening.  I’ve yet to accomplish that.  Robyn and Michelle were just beginning their run when we passed them.  They’d gone along the trail to set out water for all of us, which was greatly appreciated!  I’d like to teach myself to need less water, like Dinah, but I’m not at that point yet and the more water stations available the better.

 

 

 

No sooner had we gone through downtown, we entered into a rolling fog.  It was like walking into the Twilight Zone and so much for watching the sun rise.  For the next two miles out and back, everything was covered in a thick, heavy fog.  We ran past West Orange Station, winding up through a field and could hardly see the houses on the other side.  Arriving at the next station at mile 7, we stopped for water and returned back through the fog.  Jen and I ran together today.  For a little bit, Kate was with us as well, but after mile 9 she was off in front of us again.  Michelle fell a bit behind because her knee wasn’t feeling so hot.  The hills on this side of the trail were actually one of my favorite parts.  Lean forward and fall into the hill.  It’s exhilarating and helps me to pick up a lot of speed. 

 

Running with Jen was good for me because it kept me running when ordinarily I’d stop.  The back of my legs (hamstrings) was still in serious pain this week, but it hurts worse to walk which encouraged me to continue running.  Jen and I chatted a little, she’s very sweet and we keep about the same pace.  I wish she was doing the early start with us because she’d be a great person to keep time with.

 

We ran back through the West Orange Station and once into downtown Winter Garden, the fog lifted.  The humidity died back as the sun continued to rise.  The breeze was cool, although it was still warm out.  I enjoy people watching as others run by and I wonder what I look like to them. Do I look like I’m struggling through a 2 mile run, like I’m approaching mile 10 and going strong or like I’ve just started running and haven’t even broken a sweat?

Another thing I realize I think about while running is things that make me angry.  When you’re brooding over something that makes your blood boil, it takes all thought off the pain, the breathing, the distance… it pushes you to go harder and stronger.  Although I end up more angry at the issue than I should be, I realize I thought about angry things for at least a few miles during the run.

 

When we passed West Orange Station on our way back, we came up to a lady driving an electric wheel chair down the trail.  How awkward!  Not only are we stuck with the dilemma of whether to pass the wheel chair, but also distressed by the fact she keeps passing us!!  Every time we stopped for water, she passed us by.  One time, I saw Kate come up to pass the chair and hesitate for a while on what to do.  It is very uncomfortable!!  I guess the wheel chair lady got well in front of Jen and I at some point because around mile 10 we saw her stuck in her chair on a dirt road to our left.  We stopped to help her pull the chair out of the sand and then continued on our way again.  It made me feel better for all the times I ran past, but boy was that chair heavy!

 

The last two miles are the most difficult.  It’s easy to give up and want to walk.  Jen and I tried talking, but we were both struggling to keep going.  This was when I began to think about the jiggle effect – I feel the wind in my hair, the wind on my face, my eyelashes moving, my cheeks bouncing, my arms moving, etc… over and over until we finally reached the finish!  My legs were in so much pain afterwards.  My hammies felt like they were ripping with each step to the car.  I really hope I feel ok for the race.  The rest of my body felt pretty good though, so at least there’s that J  2 weeks to marathon!

September 28th

So, I’m not feeling as confident this week.  I’m actually really nervous for tomorrow and we’re "only" running 15 miles.  The overtraining thing is definitely true.  I’m at a point where I just don’t feel like training anymore, I'm ready for the marathon!  I’ve not done too well practicing during the week the last month or so and I’ve still been having serious leg pain.  I don't don’t want to return my new shoes and with 2 weeks left to the marathon, I don’t want to break in a new pair.  I hope that I’m not in pain tomorrow, that the weather’s cool, that I feel good and that we all have an awesome run. 

I’m also getting really nervous about how we’re going to feel after our marathon.  We’ve made arrangements to stay for 3 days after the race and see the city.  Are we going to be able to walk?  I’m not sure.  It sounds like 26.2 miles is pretty rough on your body no matter how much you train.  Ahhh… I’m being a little negative today, I’m sure everything will be fine.  Everyone has positive and negative days.  I just hope tomorrow is a positive one!

San Fran 16 days to go!