Proposed Marine Corp Marathon Training Plan.

I need a schedule to keep to.  I have my planned out schedule on miles and long runs but I think I need to keep to a schedule for everything.  Organized, I think so.

If anyone has suggestions, please feel free to throw them out.

On top of all this, I want to really do the 200 sit up program.  I need to build my core. 

Sun.	Mon.	Tues.	Wed.	Thurs.	Fri.	Sat.
Long Run 200 situps	Planned miles - Run	1 hour Spin Class + 2 mile run 200 situps	Rest Day 200 situps	Speed Work & 30 minutes elliptical 200 situps	Planned miles- Run	30 minute swim 200 situps

I do not want to throw in any 5ks or 10ks unless I think they will be super beneficial to my training… like notoriously hilly or a known hard course. I do want to plan for a half marathon before Marine Corps and I am thinking the Nashville Women’s Half.

I knocked out my 2nd swim and it is getting easier!  wahoo!! Hope everyone had a good weekend!!

birthday wish list.

my quarter life crisis is ending soon – not that I really had a quarter life crisis, but i still like to use that phrase. i will be 26 on june 1… 4 years closer to 30, then 10 years closer to 40 … why can’t I be Peter Pan?!   I have decided to let all my blogger friends what I want for my birthday.  And yes, if you want to buy me anything I will provide my address – just do not stalk me and show up at my front door unannounced.  Thanks!

1. I really want a pair of recovery socks.  I see people sporting them all the time post race and I have heard they do wonders.  I have even heard of people running in them, but I feel like my poor legs would get too hot too fast, so I would love to have them in the after race packed bag.  And yes,  I do want Pink.  Duh.
2. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my foam roller. Literally, I use it for every ache and pain – running & non running related.  I probably love it more than my stick and I would love to upgrade to The Grid.  When I was asking around about foam rollers vs. the stick – foam rollers won hands down & 7 out of 10 (I am not sure that stat is legit, it just sounded cool) people recommended The Grid.  Yes, I love my $14.50 Gold’s Gym foam roller from Walmart (my dog thinks it is a toy and likes to protect me from the rolling action by sitting on my legs) but I think I would love the “beat me up” grooves of The Grid.
3. A new pair (err… more pairs) of running shoes (brooks ravenna) size 10 please (yes. i have huge feet).  BUT, they have to be the awesome blue, silver, and lime color.  I know you’re not supposed to pick your running shoe based on color and I am not – it is just that rumor has it this color scheme is being discontinued this month and if I can stock up, it would be great.  If not, I will still run in them in the new colors.
4. Socks to run in! I swear by Wigwam Ironman Pro socks but at $12.00 a pair I do not have nearly enough.  I did have enough when my boyfriend did laundry EVERY Sunday but now it is touch and go.  These socks have the perfect amount of padding on the heels and toes, breathe just right, and I have never ever blistered in these bad boys.  Oh yeah, size medium.
5. Nike Tempo Shorts. Medium. Any color. These are the only shorts I wear when I run (with the exception of the 2 pairs of Under Armor shorts I bought before discovering Tempo Shorts).  I actually wear these just about anywhere I can – the office?  I would if I could!!
6. While we are talking about running attire, I really want these Lululemon shorts (in every color, including the black and white plaid) with a matchy matchy Lululemon tank.  Honestly, a gift card to Lululemon would go a long way since I love that store, but refuse to buy full running outfits due to money.
7. I really need a new pair of headphones for my runs.  My iPod buds work well, but if/when one falls out or I have to take it out to give directions I can never get it back in right.  After reading many blog reviews I want a pair of Yurbuds.  Evidently they stay in your ears and you also do not have to play your music as loudly because, well I do not know why, but that is what I have heard. 
8. Treadmill reading material.  Runners World is my normal long car ride reads and recently I have discovered Women’s Running which I am falling in love with too.  I would love subscriptions to both.

Happy Birthday to Me super super soon!   I will be home in the DC Area for the big day and I have high hopes of running part of the Marine Corps Marathon course.

What is on your runners wish list?!

Marine Corp Marathon – Imma runnin’

Today the registration for the 35th annual Marine Corps Marathon opened up at noon. I rushed back to my office this morning from a sales appointment I had Downtown to get ready to register to run. I had just as many nerves signing up as I do when approaching the start line on actual race day.

Long story short – I am IN!  Evidently, this is a popular race that fills up quick and they were not joking.  Last I heard there was 11,676 people registered (and that was at like 4:00 pm today)  …. 8,550 people registered in the 1st hour… so I guess this is a pretty big deal!!

I think it is funny because after running Disney my mom mentioned that I needed a 26.2 sicker for my car and I told her “nah” since I was never going to run another marathon again.  I proclaimed the same thing on my blog and I was told by many people to rethink it and that they knew I would do another one eventually.  But one person told me something different and I guess I have to take a moment and say Michael B. was 100% right.  He told me (and I quote him): “my prediction? by the end of the year you will have run another marathon. i'm just sayin'” …. well, Michael were right! :o)

206 days till race day!  Time to get running and moving and ready for this!   …Just checking another race off my marathon bucket list.

I dropped the ball.

So. I have recently had this strong urge to run the Chicago Marathon because to me it seemed like this you have to run it at some point type of race and my two friends Clint & Kyle from Chicago were going to run it. SO, I said why the heck not?! Too bad I delayed to register and waited to sign up until payday (the 31st). ...Well yesterday it filled up and closed in record breaking time and I did not get in. Bummer - but there is always next year.

So. I have decided to sign up for The Marine Corps Marathon which is in October too. Registration starts on April 7th and evidently it fills up the very same day so I cannot drop the ball on this one! Marine Corps makes you keep a 14 minute pace at all times. Doable, but I gotta crank up the training and be more consistent if I want to "beat the bridge". Let me know if you're doing Marine Corp ... we can have a pre-race meet up!

Happy running to all!