michelle my belle: Running

I'll start with the Mail Goodness. I received this delightful package in the mail from my friend in Norway! I literally squealed when I got it. I just loved the envelope Janne stamped, I'm sure, with her own handmade stamp. Some other goodies she included: some Norway brochures (including one on cycling), a mouse pad with Indian pillows made from a photo she took, handmade paper and a card with a self portrait stenciled on it. Janne is so broadly talented artistically! She sews, takes fantastic pics, paints, designs costumes for stage, digitally designs, acts, and i think she sings too?!

I'm trying to get focused on new designs but I've been having so much trouble with my email, I've been out of my mind! We switched servers and for some reason I'm getting some emails and not others. SO, all this to say, I'm sorry if you've commented and I haven't gotten back to you!!! :(

I've been on a bit of a runner's high after the marathon. Thinking about what and when my next marathon will be. Boston isn't until April 2010, I'm not sure if I want to wait that long. hmmm.

I did find some VERY INSPIRING RUNNING BLOGS these last few days:

Heather Daniel, who placed 4th at the Eugene Marathon with a time of 3:07:55 after running Boston only one year ago with a time of 3:37:40!

Run Denise Run

A Girl Just Wants To Run (and have fun)!!

Racing Stripes

Thank you for all your cheers on my marathon! I've hoped I haven't been boring you to death with the running portion of this blog!

ttfn, xoxo

michelle

(in my journal/self portrait)

Sunday was the Eugene Marathon! It was time to see how well the 16 week training program worked.

Through the week leading up Katy (a running partner and my graphic designer) gave me little gifts with encouraging notes and quotes like:

"You must do that which you THINK you cannot do" -Eleanor Roosevelt

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how FAR they can go." -T.S. Eliot

We drove down the day before to pick up the race packet and drive a bit of the course. These Honey Buckets were just getting loaded into the Start/Finish area. A marathon MUST!!! Plenty of potties!

At this point I'm getting a little nervous. Tapering (not running but a few miles) this past week I don't even feel like a runner, let alone being able to run a 3:45:00/8:36 per mile average to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I'm regretting not doing the speedwork portion of the training program, bumming that my friend Stacey got sick and had to drop out, kicking myself for not losing that 8-10 extra lbs. and trying not to stress myself out and be the headcase that my husband is saying that I am! :)

Oh, and let's not forget about the fact that it's POURING down rain!

Praise God it stopped raining just in time for the start. A little rain during but not bad at all.

I'm in the starting corral, telling myself that I'll be happy if I can just break 4 hours. I gotta have those back up goals JIC. BUT, I'm going to go out and give it everything I got.

I started with the 3:40 group (there was no 3:45) and figured I could always drop back a bit if it felt too hard. I felt great, stayed with the group till Mile 14 and even started pulling away from them a little. Much to my surprise!

Here I am at Mile 17 still feeling quite good....

Then came Mile 18/19.

Katy had just joined me to run the last 8.2 miles with me. And WHAM, I really hit the wall. Those last 7 miles I had to just keep telling myself to "keep running, one mile at a time". I was hurting so bad, but at this point I had already switched my goal from a 3:45 to a sub 3:40. WHAT was I thinking!!! Not to mention that Katy and Brandon had driven all the way down for her to run with me. It really took EVERYTHING in me to keep running.

I slowed down from a 8:15-ish pace to a 8:45 pace the last couple miles. I didn't even tell Katy that I had switched my goal, she knew, she kept looking back to see if the 3:40 pace group was catching us. .2 miles to the finish she told me they were right behind us.

When I crossed the finish line the clock read 3:40:18. I was a little disappointed. Katy high fived me and said something to the effect that I broke 3:40... I had totally forgotten the fact that I didn't cross the start line until after the clock had started!

I finished in a time of 3:39:09! 8:22 average pace for 26.2 miles!

Here is the best part of it all! My unbelievable support group! My parents, my friends-Amy, Stacey, Tammy, Dave, Brandon and Katy. My friend September who ran her first 1/2 marathon! Let's not forget about my AMAZING husband and kids who have been UBER supportive and encouraging over the past 4 months. Thank you! You all make my heart so warm!