He's proud of his peeps!

A congrats email from George this week:

Dear Rock n Roll Marathoners:

My heartiest congratulations for everyone participating and FINISHING the San Diego Rock n Roll Half or Full Marathon!

I know the huge sacrifices you and your families have made since January in training for this event, as well as the tremendous effort required to raise the funding required, and surpass it. But you all DID IT!

I am so honored and proud to have been a part of this process, and to think that many of you went from 0.0 to 26.2 (or 13.1) in a matter of 19 weeks is a phenomenal accomplishment! And from $0 to $4,000+ WOW! I suspect all of you had your share of both supporters and doubters all the while, but you have proven the supporters right and the doubters wrong. Me, I never had any doubt that each of you would stick it out and cross the finish line upright!

I hope all of you are taking that well deserved rest break, eating all the rewarding foods, and nursing any lingering maladies. I saw some attractive blisters on some, and perhaps for the really "special folks" maybe there are a few black toenails or missing toenails by now . . . the price of a TNT marathon warrior!

And certainly I would be remiss if I failed to acknowledge and thank the mentors who were instrumental in this program - without them taking charge in a hundred ways, and covering my absences, none of this would have happened.

Thank you again for the opportunity to coach - it's been a rich and rewarding experience for me and will be cherished for years to come.

George

George is proud of his peeps

A congrats email from Coach George:



Is WHEW an understatement or what?


Congratulations to all of you! Superb job!


You have conquered the big 20. WOW! And virtually everyone who happened to be at Shelby Farms around 12:30 knows it because Angie told them! And strong is another understatement. You guys (gals) looked like you had just taken a jog around the lake! Look out San Diego, the Memphis TNT folks are on their way and lookin' good!


Hope all of you are feeling OK. Soreness is fine, but if you have anything more serious that lingers past tomorrow, please let me know. And do not slack off the mid week runs. But in every case, take them nice and slow.


Also hope Lindy is on the mend, and continues to take it easy to get that IT band all fixed for race day.


We now start the well deserved and much appreciated TAPER! That means a big reduction in the miles for next week's long run. Unless you are really unique, the long runs (especially the 20 miler from Saturday) resulted in microscopic tears in your muscles, and now is the time for rebuilding, so they are even stronger for June 1. You can load up on the protein to help in this process.


So, we back way down to 12 next Saturday, and then 8 the following. Yahoo!


Any questions now that we are approaching race day, shoot them to me. I know I have left out something or many somethings, so don't be shy about asking anything!


And remember the jersey party on Monday, May 19!


See you Saturday, 7 am.

A message from Coach George

Greetings RNR's:


Well this Saturday is the culmination of all the hard work and dedication that you have put in for the past 3 months. The twenty miler. Two zero. Ta when tee. 20. 10 times 2. My age divided by 2 point something.


This one is really important, both from a physical and mental perspective. All of you are physically well prepared - you have logged the miles necessary to break the 20 mile ice. And, once you have a 20 miler under your belt, your level of training is so strong that it will take you the remaining 6.2 on June 1. Heck, the crowds and camaraderie you will experience will make it seem like a walk in the park...well, maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration, but they do help tremendously!


Besides the physical preparation, the 20 also will test your mental senses to their max. I know I have come up with every great reason why I should not take one more step, why I should call it a day, even though I have more miles togo. I know all of you have as well, whether it was during those early 4 milers or the recent 18 miler. Funny how our minds try to discourage us at different points in a run. The 20 gives you an even better chance to stand the challenge - to face and defeat each of those great reasons. And once you do, you will realize that they were really worthless reasons in the final analysis. So the next few days, get psyched up for the challenge, and prepared for the mind games.


Otherwise:


You know the drill on clothing and equipment - tried and true duds.


You know the drill on pre race and during race nutrition - good carbs.


You know the drill on pre race and during race hydration - lots.


You know the drill on speed - distance matters, time does not.


One more thing that we have not experimented with is the use of salt mid/late race...a small packet to replace sodium lost thru sweat, even moreso with higher temps. I'll bring some if any of you want to try (and have no medical reason to avoid). The gels and accelerade also have sodium and similarly work well for this purpose.


As always, feel free to bring your ipod if you wish, we may be out there for a while...and as you know, my singing gets really old after 3 or 4 hours.


So, see you at Shelby Farms at 7 am on Saturday. The route will be sent in the next day or so, with an attempt to stay in the shade as much as possible due to temps (80's). Plenty of water and your favorite - accelerade - will be available.

I get by with a little help from my friends

May 10. It is the date that has been looming on the training calendar since January when I received my copy. It's the big twenty miler. And it's this Saturday. Lots going on in my brain about this. I'm dreading it. But I'm looking forward to it. I want to do it. I don't want to do it. Just the challenge of attempting it. Doing it. I am fretting about the recovery from it. Will I live to tell about it? Will I *want* to tell about it? Twenty miles. That's a long way. But after this Saturday's huge hurdle, I really feel like I'm in the home stretch. Because then it's 12 and 8 and then the marathon.

This week my legs and feet seem to really be feeling the 180 miles that have been put on them. Not real sure what's going on there. They are just achey and are so tired. I hope they'll hang in there with me. They have served me well. And I only need about 80.2 more miles out of them. Then they can retire.

WEATHER
The weather isn't looking too favorable for Saturday. Highs are expected to be in the low 80s. My email exchange with my personal meteorologist went something like this:

TO: Ron

FROM: Angie

RE: Cut it out

AW: You're killing me with the Saturday forecast Childers. I'm gonna' die in that heat. And the low Friday is mid 60's. I won't even start off with cool temps. Are you kidding me?! I thought you were my friend.

RC: Come on....a little rain and heat never killed anyone....intentionally

ROUTE
I asked George yesterday what the route would be. He said he was still working on it. But was looking for somewhere shady. No such place in Shelby Farms. He said, with a lilt to his voice and a sick smile on his face "The Hills of Walnut Grove Lake are shady!". Ugh. I. Hate. Hills. He also referred to this Saturday's run as "a nice twenty miler". Nice? NICE?!? Can you use that adjective when you describe a TWENTY MILE RUN?!?!? He's a good guy and a great coach and all. But he's just sick. (Sorry George. You know I love you.)

RIGHT BRAIN
It will be key for me this Saturday to keep Mr. "You Are Tired. Stop Running Right Now" Left Brain out of this. I've got to focus on positive -- and distracting -- thoughts. Last weekend, I admit that at one point when I was so tired and beyond bored, I started rattling off state capitals. I may try that again. Or just all the states in alphabetical order. Or maybe reciting Pi to 100,000 places.... So, the suggestion box is now open. Anybody have any ideas on things I can think about on Saturday? Any lists anybody wants me to create for them? Problems to solve? Any song requests that I may perform? I'd love to hear from you.

THINK TWENTY!!!

This week's message from Coach George

OK ladies, it's official - it's us for the San Diego Rock 'N Roll marathon, and we are at T minus 30 days and counting!

As you know from the schedule, this is a step back week, backing down to 14 miles, in prep for our 20 miler next week! And after that, we TAPER! You will come to cherish that word, by the way.

So, it is important from now on out that you try out exactly what you plan to use in the RNR on June 1. Shoes, socks, shorts, shirts, hats and other paraphernalia if used. You want to break in everything, be sure all of it fits well, and none of it rubs you the wrong way. Nothing worse than a raw spot developing midway thru the race and having to bear with it for the remainder.

Same with the use of vaseline or bodyglide on your toes or other body parts. You want NO CHAFING! So experiment with these for all of the upcoming runs, even your shorter mid week runs. You don't want to do anything new on race day that you have not experimented with previously.

And, same for beverages and gels. I will bring Accelerade (the brand provided at RNR) tomorrow and the remaining weeks, so if you plan to drink it during the race, which I recommend, need to get used to it now. And remember, the temps in San Diego are projected to be in the mid sixties, so hydration will be even more important than when we have run in cooler temps.

Same with pre race nutrition. Heavy on the carbohydrates, especially of the pasta variety for the days leading up to the race. And something like a bagel before the run works well for me. Don't get out there hungry due to concerns about food not agreeing with you - you need the nutrition and need to see what works well in the hours before the race.

See you at 7 am tomorrow. Shelby Farms lower level parking lot. Angie has mapped out the course.

A detour and a slight rerouting prevents a derailment

I gave in today and saw Nanette the PT about my continued knee pain. I told her I had self-diagnosed myself with the IT band ouchy thing and I had been doing stretches, ice, NSAIDS, etc. but needed to make sure I was on track. She wanted to take a look to see if I was doing the right stretches.

You should be doing this. Check.
And this. Check.
And this. Check.
And get a foam roller and use that every day. Check.

So, I am doing everything I needed to do. Glad about that. She put another one of those cortisone patches on my knee. Remember those? She suggested getting a few more next week.

I'm laying off tomorrow. I know that if I can't walk down the hall without discomfort, then I do not need to be running 16 miles all over Shelby Farms. Or even 1 mile for that matter. So, rest it is. I'm ok with that. Because I know that I've got to back off when I'm hurting. I have got to listen to my body. There's just some pain you can't push through, nor should you. I've learned that.

George if you're reading this, you should probably quit at this point. Nanette also suggested that I alter my training plan a little bit. I can't run 5's and 9's during the week and then take on a long run on the weekend. My body just can't keep up. And it shouldn't take an entire week to recover from the weekend's long run. All I really want to do is run and have fun doing it. It shouldn't hurt all the time. Nanette said the main goal from this point forward is to help my body recover and stay healthy. She assured me I was on track and could remain on track even with this detour and rerouting.

Now don't get me wrong, George is a great coach. He is patient (Wow is he patient. He has probably wished more than once that he never talked me into doing this marathon thing....) and he is encouraging and I think he's proud of his peeps. He totally knows his stuff. He's a REAL. RUNNER. For Pete's sake, he's running the Boston Marathon next weekend. Again. And he's already qualified to run it in 2009 too. If you will remember, he says things like "a nice little 15-miler" and "I like hills". He's run 23 some-odd marathons in just 4 years. He. Is. A. Runner. And I'm not. And I'm not trying to say he's totally killing me with this training schedule. Well, maybe that IS what I'm trying to say.

The long and the short of it is, I am going to have to slightly rewrite my training plan to accommodate my body. If I don't, I don't think I will be able to hold up. I didn't enter this challenge as a runner. I didn't enter this challenge to become a runner. I remind all of my faithful readers what my goals are for the marathon: (1) to raise money and awareness for the Leukemia Society, (2) to honor and remember my Daddy, (3) to finish in a vertical position. And at this point, I am on track to do all those things.

And now a message from Coach George

Good Afternoon RNR's:

OK, tomorrow is one of those "step up" weeks, with a total of 15 miles. We will break it down into manageable bite size pieces. Start at the Visitor Center at 7 am. One loop of the Chickasaw Trail, then around the lake, out toward the Agricenter and end at the Shell Station. Replenish and rest rooms, then back - around the lake, another Chickasaw Trail loop, and end at the Visitor Center. I hear that the Germantown Greenway is closed due to flooding, so we will stay on higher ground and make the Chickasaw circuit to get the miles to add up.

At one point, I considered the hills around Walnut Grove Lake as an alternate, but extreme pressure from one of your compatriots gave me the opportunity to rethink this plan. Without naming names, thank
A _ _ _ E ...

Hope to see all of you there.

Looks like the weatherman is going to cooperate fully, with temps and skies perfect for a nice 15 miler!

"Half Marathons for Dummies" by Coach George

Today's post is brought to you by Coach George...

We got an email from him last night with all the info about the Half Marathon. Wow! It was a lot of stuff to think about, but it is really, really great info and I think he did a super job of answering every question we could possibly have about our upcoming endeavor. (He probably also knew that I would be bugging him non-stop for the next 4 days with a million questions so he thought he should just shut me off at the pass!)


I've never even run in a real 5k. I have *NO* 'real' race experience. And my first real race is a HALF MARATHON!?!?!? Regardless, Sunday will be a good chance to just see what it's all about.

It's a long read, but I think you, too, will be enlightened!


OK Half Marathoners ~


Jessica and Nicole and Angie and Wes (I think, please confirm Wes) and yours truly are registered to run the Germantown Half Marathon this Sunday, 7:30 am start time. The info below may be unnecessary, redundant, useless, or not applicable to you. But, I offer it because it generally works well for me, and so I offer it to you to consider or experiment with for the GT Half. They are not necessarily in chronological order.


1) Packet Pickup & Expo - MANDATORY
Saturday March 15th10:00 am to 6:00 pmGreat Hall @ Germantown Athletic ClubEnter from Germantown ParkwayFollow the crowd to pick up your "packet" of stuff. It will likely include some discount coupons (not so important), a half marathon shirt (very important, but not to be worn in the race, details later), a timing chip (super duper important), and bib (also super duper important). There may some other "goodies" too. The packet pickup may involve several different stations, just be sure you visit the ones that have your shirt and timing chip and bib. There will also be some vendor booths with their latest and greatest marathon gear or do dads. Feel free to browse/buy at your leisure.


2) Clothing
If you went out to purchase some new, fancy, colorful clothing for the race, sorry - leave it at home if you have not worn it on 3 or 4 runs. You do not want it to tight, too loose, to rub, to hike up or down, or to chafe. Nothing worse than a irritating shirt when you are out there. You do not want to wear the race t shirt - it will likely be made of cotton (and cotton is rotten for runners) and same reasons, it is not "broken in." Besides, you will want to wear it after you FINISH the race to show off to EVERYONE! Like from Sunday afternoon through Wednesday evening church!Dress in layers, so if you get warm, you can shed a layer, and leave it in a spot for later pickup or tie it around your waist. Temps are predicted in low 40's early morning, up to mid 50's by afternoon. Only 10% chance of precipitation. Perfect for a casual 13.1 miler.


3) Shoes
If you have new shoes, be sure you have at least 10 or 20 miles or more in them. Same rationale as the clothing.

4) Hydration
There will be water and gatorade stops every couple of miles, so no need for you to carry your own unless you just like the added weight and/or flavor. Your call here, but I never carry it during a race, I'd rather use all my energy to move forward. It is not unusual for the water stops to be staged, with water at the front half of the stop and gatorade at back half. This kinda depends on the size of the race. If you drink the water/gatorade from the stops, squeeze the top of the cup to a "V" so it does not slosh all over your fancy running (but broken in) duds. Usually walking thru the water stops is wise. We are in no hurry to get to the finish line.


5) Timing Chip
The timing chip is usually a round plastic doodad about 1 1/2 inch diameter with slots in it. You will receive a cable tie or twist tie with it too, for attaching to your shoe. Attach the chip to your shoelaces, usually at the bottom, not near the part that you lace up and tie. Loop the cable tie thru the slots and shoe lace and then close it. Often the chip envelope will have instructions on how to attach the chip too. I tend to use two (2) cable ties or twist ties, just to be extra safe that it does not come off. The boy scout in me, be prepared. No chip, no time. No time, no record of you having finished!As you cross the start line, there will be a mat with sensors underneath. That is what reads the chip and records the official time that you started - when you cross the mat. There may be one of two other mats along the course, usually one at the half way point which is back behind Houston High School. Be sure to cross the mat here to get your 10 k time recorded. Usually they funnel the runners down so you have to cross the timing mat. Oh yea, be sure to cross the finish line mat too, but you can't miss this one.


6) Bib
You will receive a race "bib" or "number" at packet pick up, usually with 4 safety pins. Attach the bib to the front of your shirt at all 4 corners using the safety pins provided. If you will be wearing several layers, and think you may shed one during the race, attach the bib to the shirt that you expect to finish in. That way, the race officials know you are a registered runner, and more importantly, so the announcer can announce your name correctly as you cross the finish line.


7) Photos
There will be photographers along different parts of the course, especially the finish. SMILE BIG!


8) Foot and Body Chafing / Blister Prevention
To prevent blisters on the toes, I use Body Glide (sport lubricant) first and then a healthy hunk of Vaseline. For me, this is the most vulnerable part of my body for blisters or other painful rubbing. The I put on my socks and shoes. I do not put Vaseline on my heel, as it tends to allow my sock to move up and down if I do. Again if you have chafing issues anywhere, use a lubricant. Body Glide ia available at most running stores. Tere are other products too, I just have been pleased with this one, so have not switched.For us guys, I recommend use of adhesive or foam tape to prevent nipple rubbing and bleeding, from the shirt moving up and down with each step. It is not unusual to see guys finishing a race with blood dripping down their shirt from failure to do this. And ouch, that must really sting! Not sure on the advice for the women and sport bras, I'll let you folks figure that one out.I also use Body Glide along the sides of my trunk under my arms, since the back and forth motion of the arms can rub raw unprotected skin after a bunch of miles. Use like solid deodorant, just lower down along your sides.


9) Porta Potties
There will be plenty at the start, but use early, as the lines will form as you approach race time, and may prevent you from starting with the rest of the runners. Usually they are unisex. There will also be one or two along the course, perhaps every 3 or 4 miles.


10) Race Morning Eating & Hydration
I like to have a bagel with nothing on it to get something in my stomach. Or a Power Bar, or other carbo loaded product. Do not experiment with something you have not tried before a run, as you will want to keep it down. Start drinking water so you have hydrated adequately, but don't overdo it, since there is water on the course. Perhaps 12 or 16 oz max given the temps will be cool. Plus, too much leads to the porta pottie lines.


11) Gu or Power Gel or Hammer Gel
There will probably NOT be any of this provided along the course. If you have come to love the taste and consistency of one of these, by all means bring one or two or three of your favorite flavor. Usually one per hour is a good gauge. Not sure what pace we will take, but if we do 14 minute miles, figure on a gel at hour 1 and hour 2, and no more needed since we will finish at hour 3.


12) Finish
As you cross the finish line, be sure to SMILE BIG. Immediately after someone will place the MEDAL around your neck. Wear this with PRIDE, for as many days or weeks as you wish. Someone else will offer to remove your chip. Let them do so, else pay a fee for missing chip. Someone else may offer you water. Then, there will be tables with water and food. Feel free to partake. But, whatever you do, keep walking for 10 minutes or so after you finish the race. Do not immediately sit down and munch out on everything in sight. If you feel OK to do so, you can munch on everything in site, just keep moving to allow your body to get back in equilibrium. Then some stretching.


13) Post Race
Remind your family and friends that you just completed a Half Marathon, and as such, they are to wait on you hand and foot for the remainder of the day. Take a nap if you wish. Or go shop, or whatever!


14) Lining Up At The Start
The unofficial race rules ask that the fast runners start at the front of the pack, and the slower ones at the back. This allows the least clogging up and tripping and falling over slower runners as possible. We will be near the back. You will find that 99% of the runners will be very polite if they happen to bump into you, or move aside to let you get around them, or just offer a "way to go, looking strong" attabboy.


15) Friday and Saturday
I would take Fri and Sat very easy. Perhaps a 3 mile walk, but no running. Stretch. Save the run for Sunday. Start hydrating with water more than ususal. Eat high carb foods, and ones that will not upset your stomach. You have likely heard of "carbo loading" well, this is the time. Most pre race pasta parties are designed just for this reason. Some folks get excited the night before a race and have trouble sleeping. If you think this may occur, just try to get a good night's sleep on Friday night. Then , even if you have a restless night on Saturday, you will have had enough sleep to not effect your race day performance. And, you are always welcome to make it up via the Sunday afternoon nap (see #14)


16) Experimenting
We are participating in this race as part of our training, to get acclimated to the race environment and atmosphere. We do not care about the time we finish, as we'll focus on LSD - long, slow distance. We're experimenting with longer distances, in what will be very similar conditions as those in San Diego, which allow runners to focus on running, and being catered to by the volunteer staff, and crowd support, all of which makes the running even easier and more enjoyable. We are experimenting with pre race nutrition, hydration, gel, clothing, lubricants, etc. Each of you needs to see what works and doesn't work for you. All in prep for the RNR on June 1.


17) WHERE TO MEET?
I would like for us to meet in one place no later than 7:15 am. We can spend a few minutes stretching if you have not by then. We can start together, but do not have to run or run/walk at the same speed, unless you choose to. In any event, keep it at a comfortable pace.



I think the best place to meet is on the north side of Neshoba Rd at the intersection of Exeter Rd. It will be a block or so from there to the start line, and we'll move to the start line in time for the Mayor's Welcome Speech, etc. Most folks walk to the start line along the middle or south side of Neshoba to the start, so we should be able to meet up quite easily. If I can get a map to attach to a later email, I'll do so.



OK, that's what I can think of for now. If other tips come to mind, I'll shoot them out to you.



SEE YOU SUNDAY 7:15 AM - NORTH SIDE OF NESHOBA RD @ EXETER RD

The Germantown Half Marathon!

An email from George last night....

Rock n Rollers:

Our schedule calls for a slow and easy 12 miler on Saturday March 15. Well, guess what? You can have the day off! Yes, I mean it. Sleep in, eat pancakes, bacon and eggs, hash browns, the works! Here's the "but" . . .

But, Sunday Sunday Sunday . . . happens to be the Germantown Half Marathon, just one point one measly mile more than our twelve miler. So, here is a great opportunity to test out your long distance skills, amongst 700 or so other like minded runners, in a race atmosphere, where there are water stops virtually every mile or so where the folks hand you the water and often thank you for being out there, now how much better can it get? Not to mention porta potties wherever you look, police protection from out of control SUV's trying desperately to catch you, camaraderie, and crowds, crowds, crowds, cheering just for YOU! And to top it off, they even have post race shower facilities at the Germantown Athletic Club!!!!

This is a great opportunity to learn what to do with a "chip" and a "bib" and "body glide" and vaseline", all of which we will review in advance. You will have a chance to experiment with your clothing and shoes and socks, with water and/or gatorade, with gu or power gel or hammergel, all important steps before the biggie on June 1. Find out what works for you and what doesn't in the comfort of your backyard/neighborhood before you get to San Diego.

So, I have signed up! Like George said, if I'm going to run 12 miles on Saturday, why not postpone it a day, add a mile, and call it a half marathon!

And, sweet husband Jodi registered too! He's been following the training schedule along with me, so he's just as ready (probably more) as the rest of us. He actually already runs part of the course anyway during some training for work, so he's been pointing out the tough hills and the more friendly (i.e. flatter) areas. He'll totally finish before me, but we'll be there together at the beginning anyway so that will be nice. Love that guy.

I think I'm excited!!!

Email from George the Coach

Hello Rock n Rollers!

Well, Saturday is the "big one" - our first double digit run! 10 miles, count them ten! Uno dos tres cuatro cinco seis siete ocho nueve diez!

Our route will be Shelby Farms visitor center lower parking lot (8:00 am), cross Walnut Grove at the traffic light, and head out along the paved path and gravel road to the Agricenter. From there, south along the paved path to our well deserved refreshment stop at the gravel parking lot immediately across from Walnut Bend/Shell Station (cooler full of goodies). Rest room at Shell Station if needed.Then, south along Germantown Road, cross the Wolf River, and then we head west on the Germantown Greenway that borders the Wolf River. At the magical mile 5 point, we turn about and head back the same route. Same rest room stop if needed, same refreshment break.

Weather should be picture perfect!

It looks like most of you prefer the 6/2 or 8/2 run/walk strategy, so we will plan to use that routinely in our training now that we are getting into the longer distances. We may also need to dial the pace back a bit, since the key is getting in the miles, and forget the clock. (Easier for me to say than do, as many of you know).

As typical on a Friday night, I have begun to fret about tomorrow's run. I *so* want to be able to run this. I know I probably won't be able to do it all - even with a 6/2 interval. I just have to be ok with that. I have to just do what I'm able to do. And no more. I have to really listen to my body and not get stubborn about this. I really can't push myself. I can't allow myself to think that I'm in better condition than I am. I have to take this ramping back up very slowly. That's the only way that I will be able to get back on the mend and get back in line with my training and really give the marathon a good shot. Tonight, my head is not really playing along with this one. But tomorrow, I'm pretty sure my shins will over-rule.

Who needs candy for Valentine's Day when they've got Gu

To Gu or not to Gu? That is the question.

At this phase of the training, I am learning that it is important to maintain blood sugar levels and replace carbohydrates that are used while running long distances or doing other types of strenuous exercise. This is done by taking carbohydrate supplements before and especially during a long run. These supplements come in several different forms but apparently Gu is the most popular one.

Gu.....Gu is an energy food designed to be quickly and easily digested so it can be eaten during endurance activities, like running. It is a gel that you squirt in your mouth and rinse down with some water. It contains carbohydrates that can be broken down into fuel very quickly.

Gu is called Gu because it's really GOO. I had seen these little 1 ounce flavored packets at the shoe store and read about them in some running research I've done. And now, as we are beginning longer group runs, the topic of Gu is coming up in my training.

I had completely talked myself out of the Gu. I would almost gag just thinking about it. It doesn't even sound appealing. Gu. I was much more interested in checking out the other types of carb supplements like the Shot Blocks (small squares that are kind of like gummy bears) or Jelly Belly Sport Beans (Now we're talking! "Hi I'm training for a marathon and I get to eat jelly beans!!!!")

I expressed my Gu disdain to George the Coach yesterday. He said I needed to try it and he would 'bring the goodies'.

So this morning, George brings in a lovely array of supplements. Happy Valentine's Day! Who needs flowers and chocolates? I've got orange Shot Blocks, fruit punch Sport Beans, and tri-berry Gu. My friend Anne was in my office, so we decided to tackle this taste test together. We both really loved the Jelly Beans - of course. While I was getting up the nerve to eat the Shot Block, she had already halfway devoured hers. Then we both realized that those were totally nasty. Couldn't even swallow those so we spit them in the trash can. Next came the Gu. It was so thick that it wouldn't even drop off the spoon when we turned it upside down. It was less than delicious - a little medicinal.

It is strongly recommended that you train with the same supplements that are provided at the race you are running. At the Rock 'N Roll Marathon, this will be Power Bar Gel (like Gu, just a different brand). George says that I "best get some Power Bar gel so I can grow to love it by June 1." UGH.

The Game Plan

So George the Coach emails last night to see how the 6 miles was. I explained how we did the reverse race and that I only got 3.82 miles in and I was concerned because I thought next Saturday's 7 miles would be challenging. (I still can't believe I said I was a bit disappointed that I didn't RUN SIX MILES -- what's wrong with me!?!?!?) He suggested to change up the game plan a bit and either do a 3+3 this week (3 miles in the AM and 3 miles in the PM on the same day) or, if I was "up to it, a nice gentle 6 miler all at once" today. And then tomorrow would be an off day.

So.....

I put in my six miles this afternoon. Whew! That's a long run. It was a bit over 90 minutes. I did it on the treadmill while I watched "The Game Plan" with the kids. (Looking at Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson for 90 minutes did help a little bit with my motivation!)

Anyway, that's a 6-miler for me. I believe that's almost the equivalent of a 10k. It's 4:00pm and I could go to bed right now.

Silly me

When George originally gave me the training schedule, and I saw that Tuesdays and Fridays were "off" days, I asked him if that really meant "OFF" - like no exercise at all. You see, I explained, I walk on my treadmill every day. I've walked on my treadmill every morning for about four years. I like doing it. I feel good when I do it. It's just what I do and very much a part of my morning routine. I just don't see how I can't do anything. I just cannot have an 'off day'. He said that maybe in the beginning, I would want to still walk on the off days, but once we started getting the longer mile runs in, I would not want to walk. And that I would need the off days to allow my body to recover and rest. I continued to try to explain that I felt like walking every day was something I really wanted, and needed, to do and I would just do it anyway. It would just be walking for goodness sakes. Probably only a mile. Nothing fast or major. Just some simple walking on my beloved treadmill. So the conversation ended there. I was thinking that I would still walk on off days. He was probably thinking that I'll find out the hard way.

Well, here we are at the end of WEEK ONE. And today is an off day. And it was very, very, VERY nice to sleep in this morning and not run. Or walk. George 1 / Angie 0

Progress made:
Fundraising total is $925! WOO-HOO!

Lesson learned:
He who has run 37 marathons knows more about running and training than she who has only run a total of 37 miles in her whole life...