I'm Here, and still running

Kari and I knew that this blogging thing would take a slight back seat once the marathon was over. I am sad that she and I no longer have a common goal, thus, the banter isn't as exciting (at least for those of you who found our road to Paris exciting.)

I finished my last day of work last Friday and promptly hopped into the car headed for Jamestown/Williamsburg, Virginia. Several years back, a very close friend and his family packed up and moved south. This friend of ours was the best man in our wedding and the guitar player in our band for about 15 years. He continues to be my husband's best friend, despite the distance. It was absolutely wonderful to spend time with him and his family. The last time Justin and I were in Virginia visiting our friends, I had not yet rediscovered my passion for running. This time, I was happy to find that our friend's new house was located directly on quite a system of running trails. I knew that last Sunday was going to be very very hot and humid, so I knew I needed to get an early start. Having checked the map the night before, I had a rough idea of where to point my running shoes at 7am. After about 10 minutes of running, I was already off course, but continued anyway. I am sure that I was trespassing, but before I knew it, I ended up on the Colonial Parkway and Jamestown Settlement. (insert US history lesson: Jamestonw was the first successful English Colony in the New World. It is the birthplace of our European-based heritage. Quite an impressive place to visit.) As I was running in the humidity, I was constantly wondering how the early English settlers could have possibly survived the same heat and humidity. Surely, they had to do an awful amount of physical labor to maintain their settlement. While I ran nearly 9 miles, and sweat my ever-loving-ass off, I couldn't get the Jamestown settlers out of my mind. I ran out the Colonial Parkway, until I was certain that I would be able to take a left, left, right and home. It was a good thing that I asked directions from a very nice lady who was running by. If I had continued, I would have plotted the next Jamestown Marathon - no possible way to end up home by taking a left, left and right.....ooopps. So, this lady ran with me until I was sure that I knew my way back. I found the trails behind the house and made my way back to our friend's house. I am so glad that I don't live in that humidity - there would be no marathon training for this marathoner, that is for sure.

Our family said our goodbyes and headed next to Washington, DC. The best part of this trip was watching my two young children experience their first hotel room. They loved our hotel. Again, the humidity was just cripling - I couldn't bring myself to get a run in while we were in DC - I justified it by saying that we got a lot of walking in (Air and Space Museum and the National Zoo.)

Today, I managed a nice 11 mile run but still feel like I've been lagging in my training. I should have been able to do a full 15 miles by this time in my training regimin, but I couldn't imagine going one step farther.

I finally bought a new pair of running shoes. I actually did the whole FLEET FEET fitting, etc. No shocker here that I have been running in shoes that are way too small for me. My usual 9.5 saucony running shoes are officially traded-in for an upgraded size 11 model. My feet will thank me, I am sure. I am only fearful of blisters caused by the larger shoes - I'll let you all know tomorrow. I have to get out and do 9 miles tomorrow (time to play catch-up.)

On a different note, I will be running the 15k Boilermaker in Utica, NY this coming weekend. It is supposed to be the greatest race to a beer tent in the greater New England area. I can't wait to run this with my LimaRuss friend and his contingency of Lima friends (who I had the chance to train with last week.) I have even talked my husband into running the 5k - YAY JUSTIN!!!!!

On that note - I'm outta here. I miss you all and miss our blog. There are good things in store for the two of us (Kari and I) you just have to trust us as we finalize our new plan.......