Frontier 10K

OUCH!

What the heck was I thinking?!

My husband and I were out on a date night until 2AM the night before the race.  Not smart..but okay..I can deal with that.  I woke up and scrambled to get ready.  Didn't have my normal pre-race breakfast...we were out.  Took some time for me to figure out where I was going. 

When I got there I registered, and got my stuff.

When I headed back to hit the port-a-potty, this was the line:


By the time that I got out of the potty it was 2 minutes till the race started.  I was heading to the starting line when I realized that my hands were too empty.  I had forgotten my water bottle IN the port-a-potty.  I ran back to find it occupied.  So I waited for this gentleman to come out.  I explain what I did and he said he wondered about that.  I grabbed it and ran to the finish line just in time to see them taking off. 

There obviously wasn't very good communication about which race was starting when, because 5K runners started taking off with the 10K runners.  I started out with intervals of 1:15/1:30 run/walk.  That didn't last.  I switched to 1/1:30...but that was too much walking.  So, when I had it in me, I started running 15 seconds before my running interval started.  After a while, I just completely abandoned the intervals and did what I could.

About mile 3, the sun was beating on me and burning my skin.  I just felt really over heated.  I kept hearing "Wells L's" words in my head..."just take it slow....tummy in, good posture!"  That worked pretty well until mile 4. 

OH....MY...LORD!!!!!!!!!

This is about when I started praying for an injury.  Something to take me out of the race.  Something that would save me from the this insanity!  I kept telling myself (sometimes out loud) "You've got this!  You did a 1/2 marathon for Pete sake!"  Yeah, but I trained for that.  It was about at 4.5 mile marker that the unthinkable happened....

Volunteers had left their posts.  I had about 5 people behind me and it had been my goal to keep them there.  They were helping keep my pace.  All of a sudden, the guy in front of me stops and turns around and says "where are those girls going?!"  I turned around and looked.  Sure enough, the group behind me that I was so determined to stay ahead of have turned about a 1/2 mile down the road.  They kept looking at us and the street that they were getting ready to turn on...as if they weren't sure that it was the way.  The guy in front of me says "my wife has done this race before, she must think we were supposed to turn."  This makes total sense know that I think of it.  There weren't any volunteers directing traffic at the last major intersection that I had crossed.  So the guy in front of me and I both turn around and head back.  FAN-FREAKIN'-TASTIC!!!!!!!  I am now in DEAD LAST.  I have NEVER finished last in a race and I was not about to start. 

But...I'm pretty dead on my feat right about now and wouldn't you know it...hills.  Big tall hills.  Thanks.  Awesome.  To top it off, I'm getting scared.  I can't see the group in front of me and there are NO volunteers or police officers around....and I'm running through down town Fort Wayne.  Now I'm fighting tears.  My first race without a partner or cheering squad..and I get lost and last.  So I call the hubs up...choking back tears.  He calms me down and tells me to just push through and catch up with the group in front of me.  This about when a cop pulls up behind me and asks if I'm okay.  I wanted to bawl and just crawl in his car and say "Take me back!"  But I didn't.  I told him I was fine, just upset that there wasn't anyone posted at the last turn to direct us. 

The last mile or so was excruciating!  I walked about the rest of the way.  There was at least 2 more turns missing volunteers and the 6 mile post was no where to be found. 

I didn't finish last...but I DID finish.


I grabbed my food after words and jumped in my car.

(pretty good grub!  A wrap, baked layes, an apple, and water)

It was just a really bad experience for me.  It wasn't necessarily the course, I just wouldn't chose to do it alone.
My time was horrendous...but I didn't quit...and believe me...I WANTED TO!

Ever have a SUCK-TASTIC race?

The 10K approaches!!!!!!

(Cue music) Dum Dum Dumm!!! 

TOMORROW...I'll be running/crawling/walking the Frontier 10K.  My first 10K EVER.  Yikes.  I have butterflies just thinking about it.  SERIOUS butterflies.

Wednesday night our SIT group did some drills and then ran a little less than a mile and a 1/4 (according to walkjogrun.net).  I went home after that and decided to run back to the hospital (been visiting a family member ever day).  So I ran about another mile and a 1/2. 

Got my hair chopped off!  Can't tell that well in this pic, but I'm missing about 8-10 inches.
 Awesome for summer running!


Yesterday, I could feel the effects of the drills in my legs and abs.  Always nice to feel the results of a good workout!  Today, I.AM.SOAR.  I'm doing stretches whenever I can.  Just hope that this doesn't carry over to tomorrow. 

I've layed out my outfit (the absolute cutest one yet!!!) and all my stuff.  I still can't find my pulse watch and it is ticking me off!  Oh well.  I don't know anyone that is doing tomorrow's race, so that has me even more nervous.  It'll be my first race listening to tunes.  I've always had a partner...except my last race I jumped out of the car and took off running without my music.  So this race will be different for me in many ways. 

Doesn't anyone else out there get so nervous about race that you actually feel your stomach turning?!

Isn't this silly?  I did a half marathon for Pete sake!  But...that was 8 months ago...and I trained hard and long for it.  This one...not so much.    :(

I'm having a vision....it's of my future!

Oh dear....

The hurdles of life..

Still fighting a sinus infection.  I skipped the RUN WITH THE KNIGHTS 5K Saturday to rest.  Yesterday I went for a walk.  I did a little over 2 miles.  Not a great distance, but I was picking up a friends child from daycare.  So pushing a stroller and having lungs full of crud made it quite challenging. 
I have my S.I.T. group tomorrow, and we'll be out running this time.  I'm excited for it, but I'll be taking it easy.  I have my first 10K this weekend, and I am in no way prepared for it.  But I know I can go that distance, it just won't be a great time.  Which is okay with me, because my Fort4Fitness time will look all that much better compared to this weekends!  lol  That's my look on it.  My philosophy is that you do what you can do.  The point is that you are out there doing it!  You're not always going to get a PR, so those are the races that you just chalk up to experience and practice that lead to those awesome PR's when you do get them.  Last year was NOT about PR's for me, it was all training for a 1/2 marathon...something that I had on my bucket list and I DID IT!!!  This year, I'm getting out there for my health.  PR's are always a good motivational tool to drive yourself...but are not necessary for me this year.  One day, I'll be fit and fast...running races just for fun and PR's.  :)  One day...

Ever had a day that you wish you could just forget?  That’s what yesterday was like for me.  So many things went wrong….I was physically and emotionally sick.  So today, I’ll be skipping our S.I.T. group so I can go home and rest.  I definitely have a sinus infection, and vomiting might have just been the fact that I had a drink or two when on new meds.  Yeah, I’m really smart huh?  I’m just having one of those days where you want to bury your head in a pillow and let the world drift away.  Yuck….

Yesterday's run with the S.I.T. group went well.  We did the same pace as Saturday's race.  Our ankles were feeling the slope of the river greenway trails. By the end of the run, we definitely felt like we could have gone further.  But our couch wouldn't have that.  So next time, we'll just bump up the speed to 1:15/1:30 intervals and go the same distance. 


You may have seen or heard something about a bunch of trees getting cut down by the Panhandle Pipeline....yeah...that's my neighborhood.  So needless to say, things have been changing and active around our "neck of the woods".  So my husband and I went for a bike ride.  By the end of the evening, I was a sweaty mess and was totally ready for a little R n' R. 


I'd really like to find a jogging stroller this weekend at the city wide garage sale.  I have a little boy that I babysit for twice a week and his daycare isn't far away.  I thought jogging to and from would be a good way to get some miles in.  We'll see.

I got registered for the Fort4Fitness.  It is official, I'm not doing the half marathon...I'll be running the 10K with several others.  I'll be doing it for a PR...which will push me in training.  I've been warned about the Parlor City Trot 1/2, so I'm looking for a 1/2 that is local and on good terrain.  Suggestions?!

So excited for my run with the S.I.T. group tonight!  I saw that a few storm cells were going to be heading through the area, so hopefully we don't get anything crazy that would make us cancel. 

Here's my new favorite addition to my running gear:

The BRITA water bottle! 

I originally bought them for my husband, but decided to try one out.  I got to thinking...how great is this?!  Last year I was out on a long run and stopped at a friends house to fill up.  We used the outdoor garden hose faucet...and all sorts of rust and crud was in it.  It was so bad that I TRIED not to drink it.  With the Brita bottle, you can fill 'er up anywhere and it will be high quality water!  SWEET!!!

On another note....guess who signed up for the DIVA DASH?!?!?!  Yes ma'am...I am registered.  I'm so pumped about it!!  I was devastated I didn't get to go last year.  And then even more so when I heard about how fun it was and all the swag there was.  So this year, I'm in!  And wait until  you see my outfit!!  Oh la la!!!  Can't wait!!!

Saturday was the RUN OVER VIOLENCE 5K.  It was a bombing 46* and windy as all get out.  I must admit, I was unprepared for just how cold it was.  I luckily had brought a hoodie along for after the race.  With 3 layers and ear muffs, I was still cold...so I can't imagine how some of those skinny girls with a T-shirt and wind jacket felt!!

This was my sister-in-law and brother-in-laws first competitive race ever! Yay for them!  My brother-in-law got second in his age group!  He did a 28 minute 5K!  Must be those long legs :).  And my sister-in-law did a 35 minute 5K!  Kudos to both of them!  Due to their speediness, they both missed the rain and sleet.  Lucky them!
  

I am part of a small running group called SPRING INTO TRAINING or S.I.T.  There are classes on racing tips and equipment.  But last Wednesday, we ran in groups according to our pace and style of running.  The 2 girls in my group were a little faster than me, but were sports and matched my pace.  So when I saw them at the race on Saturday, I went up to them and asked what pace they were doing.  That's when they said "Mel needs a partner!".  Wonderful!  I was so excited to have someone to race with!  Come to find out, Mel is in the same running group...we've just managed to miss each other.  I have missed a few training classes and she missed the last one that I actually made it to.  Hooray for new running partners!  That was probably the most I've tried to talk during a race.

We set our intervals for 1/1:30 run/walk.  The course wasn't all flat.  There was one particularly steep hill that absolutely drained us and we opted to walk through an interval to catch our breath.  It's amazing to see how walking through just one interval can put THAT much distance between the you and the people you've kept pace with.  As we were both getting back into the saddle with training, neither one of us was in enough shape to catch back up.  We kept our intervals after that and sprinted in at the finish line.  Did I mention that it sleeted, rained, was windy, hilly, and freezing cold?! 

(Left to right) S.I.T. runner and her girls.  Mel and myself.

Running it in!!!

We finished with a time of 45:10.9!!  A 14:34 minute/mile pace!  SCORE!!!  That's about the same pace I did the Fort4Fit in...and that was my best time ever!!!

This post is to catch everyone up on what I've been up to.

I have been bleeding for the past 7 months after my miscarriage.  I just got diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome...and a couple other things.  PCOS makes you gain weight rapidly and is crazy hard to take off.  Go figure.  Now that I'm medicated properly, I'm hoping  that I'll be able to lose a little more weight running this year than I did last year.

Last Saturday, I ran the Discover Roanoke 5K.

I had only ran once before this race since Fort4Fitness last September.
My lovely husband got us lost.  We couldn't find the town, let alone the starting line.  I showed up over 5 minutes late.  I found someone to grab my bib for me.  A very kind lady asked me if I wanted her to hold my T-shirt for me.  I accepted the offer, thanked her, and took off running!  I caught up with the police car tailing the people at the rear of the race.  I passed 3 girls and started to catch up with another.  If you haven't been to Roanoke before, there is one thing that I can tell you....
CRRAAAAZY hilly!!!  But I loved it.  I ran at the top of each hill and then all the way down, and some of the slighter inclines.  I walked going up the hill and caught my breath during this time. 
My husband and the little boy we were babysitting that day showed up in the middle of the race to cheer me on.  I asked how far I was (since there weren't any signs...yuck...hate that!).  He thought I was about half way.  That sounded good to me...no biggy.  Yeah...it was like 5 minutes later that I was sprinting to the finish line.  It was my worst 5K time...but I hadn't trained....or stretched for that matter...in months.  I was very proud of myself though.  I started late and didn't finish last!!!
On a bad note, I got really sick from dehydration and was stuck on the couch for 2 days.  DUM DUM DUM!!! It's so easy to drink water....can't believe I screwed that one up.  But trust me...it's not worth feeling like crap!!!  Just drink your water BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER the race.

The boys tuckered out after the morning race too.  :)  So cute!

Doing well!

In a few more days, I'll have lost 5% of my weight!  I have gotten back out there and hit the pavement running again...which my body apperently doesn't remember.  lol  If felt good though, to get out there and do it.  I've been running inside on the treadmill...but running out doors is different in so many ways.

I have my first race of the year next Saturday; The Fanny Freezer 5K.  I'm really looking forward to this.  I'm not going for a PR, I really haven't trained enough for that to be my goal.  I'm going for the experience and fun. 

I hope to hit my 10% weight loss goal by the end of the month.....I'll be sure to post when it happends.  :)

Hope everyone out there is doing well and loving this awesome weather!!!

Half Marathon for 2012

http://www.indywomenshalfmarathon.com/

This is the half marathon that I am thinking of doing for this year.  Has anyone done this one before?  What were your thoughts? 

What was your favorite half marathon that you have ever ran?!

Fort4Fitness registration is up for 2012, but I'm thinking I want to mix it up from year to year.

In other news, my husband and I have decided to wait until March to start trying to conceive again.  For the next 3 months, I am on a strict diet and exercise schedule.  I have a weight loss goal and I fully intend to hit it!  My husband has agreed to be my Jillian Michaels and help whip me into shape. 

My incentive......if I want babies, then I have to lose weight.  I want to be a fit and healthy mommy!

Starting all of the pain all over again!

Starting up a training routine again sucks...because you've already lived through the pain once.  It took me about 2 months of training to get through shin splints and ankle pain last time.  So here I am again, going through the same pain.  I'm having all sorts of new pains as well.  My shoulders and knees have been giving me some trouble lately.  It's something I haven't had trouble with before, but I'm just trying to stretch them out more before and after a work out.

I've been hitting the bicycle a lot lately...but I've been having a lot of dreams about running.  I think my conscience is trying to tell me to get my butt in gear!  So tonight....I'm gonna run!

I went to the grocery store last night and got some healthy snacks for the week.  I know that I'm not going to do well on Christmas, so I'm gonna try to be good up until that day.  I have a running schedule planned out and I'm working on a meal plan for the week.  I'm going to portion correctly all week!  I bought some pomegranates, zucchini, carrots, apples, pears, kiwi, a fresh pineapple, and some green bell peppers.  These will be my snacking foods/breakfast foods for the week leading up to Christmas Eve.  I really hate it when people deprive themselves of foods when trying to loose weight.  That's not what it's about.  It's about making better choices and portioning when you treat yourself!  If you know that you're going to eat half a pizza tonight for supper, eat light leading up to it and order a veggie lovers!

Some days I feel like I could kill, just absolutely tackle a person for a snickers bar.....why fight it?!  I get myself my chocolate fix and skip the soda at supper.  Maybe jog an extra interval or two that night if you're really feeling guilty.

Maybe I'm wrong about this and that would explain why I'm as heavy as I am.  I just don't feel that depriving yourself of the occasional treat is the kind of life style that you constantly live!  Not off the bat anyway. 

What's your "I GOTTA HAVE IT" snack?

QUESTIONS......

I'm looking for some input today.

If you live around the Fort Wayne, IN area, what races would you recommend for 2012?  Which do you think are the most fun?

My plan is to get another half marathon in this coming year, so I need suggestions for a good one on that too.  I'm willing to travel for the half marathon!

And last but not least....I'm looking for more running bloggers to follow......which would you recommend to a new runner like me?

A NEW ME.

So, as we all know....New Year's is just around the corner. 

I have a resolution that I am starting early....why wait for New Year's?!

I am currently at my heaviest weight of my life.  I find this hard to believe considering that I just ran a half marathon a few months ago.

I plan to lose 40 lbs. by 2013.

I am on a 1,200 calorie diet with a new training schedule.  My calendar is wide open and I'm looking for new events to run in the upcoming year.

This is going to be a struggle....so help and guidance is much appreciated here!!!!!!!!  And maybe a little support on the side ;)

Monday, 12/5/11 was my first run since the half marathon and my official starting date.  My long-term goal is to be down 4 pant sizes and around 60-70 lbs. lighter.  That's half of a person!!!  I hope to be at my goal weight in 2 years.

The difficult part is not feeling as big as I look in pictures.  I'm annoyed with my weight, but I love food!  The kitchen is honestly my favorite place in the world.  But there are ways to combat these things.

So here it goes....an adventure to a new me!  Wish me luck!!! :D

I'M BACK!!!!

Almost 11 weeks later...

I'll be honest, before this week, I haven't ran.......not once since the 1/2 marathon.  I was so ready for a break from the commitment of the long runs and hours spent on the road!

Come to find out, I was pregnant when I ran my first 1/2!  Nice.
A month later, we lost it/them.
Tack on another month for grieving, drinking, and binge eating....

And boom!...here I am...ready to get back at the running thing.

My awesome husband has purchased a treadmill for me for Christmas.  It arrived last week and I have to say, it feels great to lace up the ol' tennies again! 

 

 

My body is starting from scratch again, but that's to be expected.  Other parts of my body were like "Oh yea!  I remember this!!!"  I'm not sure how far this will all go...especially with trying to conceive.  But for now, I'm going to run until the doctors tell me to quit.  As of now, the doctors are demanding I run to get some weight off.  Yeah...that made my day.  :o/  It actually really ticked me off. Anyway, I'm looking into some races for 2012 and mapping things out.  I have a training schedule in place and I'm ready to hit the ground running!

We're Half Marthoners!!!!!!!!! (Part 3 of 3)

Wow, after 22 weeks of training, Tia and I finally did it! 

A helicopter flew over the stadium to signal the start of the day's events.

Full corrals!

Some wacky outfits out there!!!  This guy was a running fairy!  WOW!

Me the hubs.  : D

We're ready to get this party started!

In our corral getting ready to start our FIRST half marathon!

AND....WE'RE OFF!!! 

 Took us a few minutes to actually get to this point from where we started.

Here we go!!!  This is it...we're DOING IT!!!

Look at all of these PEOPLE!  Can you tell that this year's shirts were BLUE?!

Not sure what was up with the ice cream costume...but I thought it was cruel that they weren't offering any ice cream cones!  lol

Lots of music along the way to give us a boost of energy!

I snapped a pic of my partner.  So she got one of me too...

Not my best side...lol

The pictures sorta stopped once we started getting rained on in the last 3 miles.

Running in for the big finish...no more rain!

Locked arms...and crying!  I can't believe we did it!!!

During the race, Tia and I had decided that finishing this race was probably the 2nd biggest thing that either of us had ever done in our lives.  Aside from Tia having her little girl, and my getting married to the man of my dreams...neither of us graduated from college or went to boot camp...but we DID finish a HALF MARATHON!!!

I never knew I could love a piece of metal SO much!

The feeling was indescribable!!!

 We had a big support crowd that day.  Our cousin Alan and his wife Sadie, with their kids, Evan and Olivia were there.  Our grandparents were there...we were both surprised that our grandpa showed up!  Something neither of us expected.  Tia's parents, sister, and daughter were there; as well as my mother, sister, and husband.  Everyone wore red..which helped us pick them out long before we could even see their faces. 

 Thanks to all of you!  Each time we saw you, it gave us a much needed energy boost!

Prior to the race, we had come up with a game plan.  We had decided to go with the following:
1.  Set our interval pace at 1:05/2:30 walk/jog
2.  We will follow the pack from the start line and then fall into the intervals once the crowd thins out.
3.  Walk through water stations
4.  We are only allowed to walk through 2 intervals if needed...and only after mile 5.
5.  Baby jog the entire baseball field at the finish
6.  High five's at miles 2,4,6,8,10, and 12.
7.  Eat BLOKS at mile 3,6,9, and 11 if needed
8.  April's beeper will be set to intervals, Tia's to stop watch
9.  Our goal is to finish with a 16 min/mile at best...really just want to finish under 4 hours.


Did it work?  Well....yes and no.

At the 5 mile mark, we were doing 14:47!!!  A pace we have NEVER kept.  By mile 10, we were holding a 14:58 min/mile pace!!! WOW!!!  Tia was convinced that I'd been holding out on her. lol  Not likely.  I was definitely pushing myself to the max.  I wanted this...I wanted to finish with a good time...not just for me..but for my partner that I usually hold back.  We picked two ladies out of the sea of blue shirts (one girl was wearing pink and the other white).  We agreed to try to keep pace with these girls after we caught up with them for the 6th time.  That's when we decided we might as well get to know them as well.  We came to know them as the "A team".  Around mile 9 or so..I was feeling it.  I couldn't keep up with Tia on the runs, so I broke a rule.  I started running through our walking intervals..but it was just baby jogs.  I figured if I could keep up a slow and steady jog, then Tia could catch up with me.  Yes, I was doing more work..but it was helping us keep up our time.  I didn't always walk through the water stations like we had planned since I was dragging us behind.  Tia usually caught up with me after she had her cup of water.  I couldn't do the BLOKS like we were supposed to.  I didn't something new (which you aren't really supposed to do on race day).  I tried eating pretzels.  Yeah, it was dry and hard to eat while running and out of breath, but they expanded in my stomach and made me feel like something was in there and kept the water from sloshing around.  I probably only ate 3 or 4 pretzels..but it did the trick.  By mile 10 or 11, I was pooped.  We didn't walk through any intervals until just before we entered the stadium.  We had planned to start running at the 13 mile marker since it was a long way to run from the entrance all the way to the finish.  BUT...when we saw it..we just took off.  I started crying..I just couldn't believe that we had done it..it was over...we'd accomplished something together that was sooo huge for us!  Just before the finish, we crossed arms and ran across the finish line together..arm in arm.  We hugged and then Tia grabbed my arm and said "Let's go get our medals!"  I was GAME for THAT!!  We'd earned it!!  22 weeks of training filled with tears, sweat, and blood!  By golly we earned those medals!!  I really can't describe the joy that filled us...we were just so happy!

We crossed the finish line with a final time of 3:17:31!!!  A 15:05 min/mile pace!  We totally SMOKED our goal!!!
So...to conclude our race re-cap...here's a question that many have been asking.
"Will you guys continue to run?"

HECK YES!!!  We plan to continue to run and return to training for our next half marathon next year!  No idea which one at this time, but our journey will continue.  :D

We're Half Marathoners!!!!!!!!! (Part 2 of 3)

Holy crap!!  The big day is here! 

Finally, after 22 weeks of training (in the hottest summer in years I might add), it's finally time for Tia and I to shine!

I was up and at'em at 5AM.  I had everything layed out, so I decided to make sure I ate breakfast first.  I had 2 bagels and 1/2 a banana.  I quickly got ready and out the door.  My husband surprised me by taking the day off of work (which isn't allowed during the busy season..but his boss is a runner, so he was understanding).  Awesome surprise!  We were at Tia's a little after 6AM and on our way.  When Tia jumped in the car, I realized that she wasn't ready!  I guess we hadn't really talked about our coordinating outfits enough...so we got her ready on the way there.

Here is PINK PANTHER!!!

Her nails read "FIRST (heart) HALF".

I picked out a motivational quote for Tia, and she picked one out for me.  We color coordinated as well. We didn't have our markers with us Friday night, so we had to do them in the car on our way up...LOVELY hand writing ;)  Hers reads "The miracle isn't that you will finish.  The miracle is that you had the courage to START!"

And here I am...BLUE TIGRIS!!!

I did these fabulous nails all by myself!  :)

I wore my tiger socks that were turned into sleeves, so my quote had to go on my hand.  It reads "You don't have to be great to start...you just have to start to be GREAT!"

 

Here we are...bright and early...setting out to do something great!!!

 

Did I mention that it was 46* out that morning?!?!  Yeah...cold!

 My husband dropped us off on the side of the road and we walked up to the stadium while he parked the car.  As we were heading up there, we saw the opening to the stadium...where we'd be running through in less than 5 hours!  It was all very cool to see this early in the morning!

In the stadium, waiting for my husband to find us. 

All set up and ready for the show! 

Just looking at the finish line gave me chills!

We waited around in side of the stadium for a little while.  We saw some of the girls from the night before and wished them all luck.  We used the restroom before heading out to the corrals to look for some of the ladies we had met the night before that were doing the 4 mile.

Our 4 Milers!

To be continued..... 

We're Half Marathoners!!!!!! (Part 1 of 3)

Friday, the day before the BIG race!!!  A group of us girls car pooled up to Fort Wayne for packet pick-up and the health expo.  Our car full was extremely fun...to say the least!  All of our sides were hurting from all of the laughter by the time that we arrived.

By now, I am DEFINITELY nervous...it's officially here!

We're sooo excited!  This is what we've been training for!!

The expo. was a little disappointing to me, I guess it just wasn't what I was expecting.  We all walked around together visiting stations and such.  We checked in and picked up our packets....

This event was VERY well organized...I was very impressed and relieved.

Here is where we'll be entering the baseball field and heading toward the finish line!

We'd be crossing this FINISH in less than 24 hours!

Wells L was our tour guide and gave us all sorts of tips and advice to prep. us for the big race.

Here's our posy!  It was sooo much fun getting to know these girls.  :)

Well, we're all starving now, so it's time to say good night to Parkview Field and head to...

Yummy, yummy food!

 I think the girls are reviewing the coarse map here...always a good thing to do before a race!

Not the best quality picture...(taken on my phone)but here's Emilee and Kristen! 

Two awesome girls.

 

And here's our entire table.

 Wells L is getting her motivational quotes written on her arm by her partner "C".

By the end of the night, I was pooped.  But, I still had to paint my nails and pin my bib on my shirt for the next morning.  I think I got to bed some time around 11 or 12.  It took me a little while to fall asleep, but once I got there, I was out.



 This concludes Friday...pre-race day.