Chip Time Corrected

Here's the final chip time on my marathon. I guess there was a glitch that they since corrected...

I'm Ready to Rock!!

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!

I'll be running my second Marathon, the PF Chang's Rock N' Roll Marathon in Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale. Track my progress at http://www.liveraceresults.com/liveelite/Default.aspx

I'm bib # 8567

You can also track my friends, if you know 'em, or if you don't and just enjoy stalking people...

Allen Cook - #8648
Ryan Burke (half marathon) - #29530
@zstruck - #7027

Last year my pace was 13 min miles (ugh!) and finished in 5:42. Let's see if I can set a PR (Personal Record). I'm hoping to be all done before the Cardinals and Eagles Kick off.

GO CARDS!!!!!! Go all my buddies running tomorrow!!! Go me! :P

I may also be live tweeting at http://twitter.com/jainz57 (maybe...)

Heath & Fitness Expo

Tonight, before I head off to the Suns game, I'll be taking my Final Confirmation Sheet to the Health and Fitness expo in Downtown Phoenix to pick up my Race Number.

This is it, people! Can I PR???? I've got the same mantra as I had last year. "Beat Katie Holmes." Her NY Marathon time was 5:25. I couldn't do it last year, with a time of 5:46:44. Can I really shave off 21 minutes?

You can follow my progress here using my race number 8567 http://www.liveraceresults.com/mobile/

Wish me luck!

Time to Taper

And the countdown begins.
12 more days until the PF Chang's marathon. My schedule calls for a 4, 3, 4 and 8 mile week. I feel like I have so much time on my hands that I don't know what to do. This leaves me with way too much time to think. Too much time to think about the challenge ahead and what mistakes I made at last years marathon. Then, how am I going to over come those mistakes this year.

My stream of conscientiousness.
I can't believe the minutia that flows through my head during this time. "What am I going to eat for breakfast before the race...I better not drink too much coffee or I'll have to take too many bathroom breaks...I wonder if they make adult diapers for marathon runners...they make them for astronauts...what should I wear...what should I eat the night before...why am I doing this again..."

I'm running how far?
I know, it's far, but what really bugs me is the elevation gain. I remember running up Indian School Road last year and thinking, when is this hill ever going to end??? So, today I decided to look at my elevation profile from my 20 miler and compare it to the race elevation profile.



I gain a maximum of 200 ft in elevation over the course of 2.25 miles. The actual race has a 130 ft elevation gain over 7 miles. I guess it's not much of a gain, but over 7 miles!! No wonder I felt like the hill never ended.



I know, I know, all you experienced racers are laughing at me. Compared to other marathons, Phoenix is fairly flat. But a hill is a hill. Doing this little analysis will help me get it through my head that I'm ready.

I am ready...right?

Ice baths, yay or n-n-n-no way?

I've heard it from both ends. Runner's World articles quote the benefits of ice baths from doctors that run ultramarathons and swear by them, while a blog on Complete Running shows that scientific studies have not proven any benefits from them.

The theory of the ice bath is that the cold constricts all the blood vessels to the muscles, decreasing swelling and tissue break down after a hard work out. Then when you get out of the bath and your muscles start warming up, increased blood flow to the muscles aide in recovery. Those that suffer through the ice bath actually feel they recover quicker, or are not as sore on the days following a hard work out.

As for me, I say "Yay!" Last year, as I was training for the PF Chang's marathon in January, my Ironman neighbor told me I should try standing in my swimming pool. Mind you, my pool is not heated and it was late December, so probably at 55 F. After my 20 miler last year, I tried it. Sure enough, I was not as sore the days following as I was after the 18 mile run I did a couple weeks earlier. I did this again after the marathon and I didn't even have to walk downstairs backwards the next day! The cold was unbearable for my toes, so I got smart and wore my neoprene booties.

Here's my ice bath ritual now. I fill up my tub with cold water and throw in a 2 Liter pitcher of ice. I set up a portable heater in the room, shut the door, put on the neoprene booties and wrap a towel around my shoulders (for warmth, hahah!).

Today, after the first 2 liters of ice melted, I called to my husband to get me another pitcher of ice. He threw them in, but then left the door open, letting all my warm air out of the room. I yelled out "Hey! Why'd you leave the door open?"

He answered, "So, I can hear you if you need me."

"Well, can you close it? It's kind of chilly!"

He yelled back "Of course it's chilly! You ARE sitting in a tub of ICE!!!"

(NOTE: Ice bath image from Far Gone Greetings - Greeting Cards for the addicted)