running running running

Well here is a random assortment of images if I ever saw one.

I was doing so well about updating my blog, and then I just stopped. :( I do have to say that quite a bit has happened since August 14th but I'll probably just lay out a quick summary for you to digest.

I've been keeping myself fairly busy lately with the usual...running, working, eating and sleeping. Mmmm...not so much sleep anymore though. It got bumped down on my priority list. But I might bump it back up. Apparently if you train for marathons you need more sleep than normal. ;)

Since I last wrote, I finished two half marathons. Let me describe these to you.

The first half marathon was one that I signed up for on a whim because the rest of my running friends were doing it and I didn't feel like running alone. It was a trail race in San Jose called the Quicksilver half marathon. I figured it'd be one of my "easy" runs. Wow was I mistaken.

The first four miles? Uphill. No there wasn't any little spot where it evened out to give your legs a small rest. It was just a steep incline for four miles. I was ready to quit after my first mile, and I was so tempted to veer off to the 10k route. I finished in 2 hours and 19 minutes and 21 seconds. That's well over 20 minutes of what I usually run my half marathons in. I walked a lot. It was so brutal.

I was sore for an entire week.

After that miserable adventure I was signed up to do another half marathon in San Jose. This one was a lot more fun, and I managed to not only reach my goal of 1:45 but shaved another 3 minutes off it, with a final finish of 1:42:06!!! I was ecstatic. I ranked 23rd in my division (1022 women in my age group).

I've still been running a lot, and the Nike Women's Marathon is next weekend. I am shaking in my boots. This is a big deal. This is when I decide if I want to aim for an 8:23 pace and qualify for Boston. I have no idea how I will do.

Aside from running I've been hanging a lot with my friends in the area. :) I have to say that life is pretty good right now.

The pups are doing great as well. I just bought the dogs this new outdoors bed since Gottie loves to lay out in the sun. Lately they've been jumping on the bed as soon as my alarm goes off. At least I don't fall back asleep.

Anyway, that's about it for me! Going back to the ol' grind tomorrow. I'll try to be better about updating...