Deja vu.......Round 2

Well, here we are again in Boston!

We've both trained quite a bit - more than quite a bit for Kevin - and we've run a few races since my last posts from the Sacramento CIM.
Kev came in 1st in his age group at the Trinity river run 5k (what??? A 5k....slacker!) in Dallas. Then we both ran the 15k Gate river run in Jacksonville, FL with my brother Mike in March. PR for me and Kev both! Then we both ran the Rock n Roll half in Dallas first of April. PR for both again and Kev was 5th in his age group and 38th overall. 38th out of around 11000!
And now back in Boston for Kevin's 2nd attempt at this race.
So, we arrived to BEAUTIFUL weather, sailboats on the bay and tourists all around which hints to the 80 degree weather forecast for Monday. I love it! But pretty warm for a marathon...
View from room...sunny skies...


Anyway, had dinner at a favorite sushi place tnite and had a great waitress named Nan. She is from Thailand. Told her that visiting Thailand is on our bucket list. I think we are going to have to find a race there for Kevin to run!
Naan (a fan) and Kevin:



Ok, till tomorrow...

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Reality check

Ok. Kevin got up this morning looking pretty good and ready to represent Team Luke's and hoping to run a sub 3 race today. Looking pretty fit and in good spirits at 4:30am I must say!

Go Kev!!

But OMG! He ran a 2:54:36! Better than what we all were expecting!!  Especially given Kevin's physical state the last few weeks with cracked ribs from a fall and a sore calf and a pulled hamstring....I was really just hoping that he didn't have to pull out of the race myself, but no.....he smashed that sub 3 goal (and hope)  to bits!!!

And Team Luke's did great! Actually they did Awesome! 


Andrew Cook - 2:20:33

Brian Schmidt - 2:43:26
Becky Angeles - 2:44:13 (Olympic Trials Qualification!!)

Michael Agulair - 2:44:16
Stuart White - 2:45:14
Kevin - 2:54:36
Cak Grant - 3:00:58


Here are some photos of Team Luke's. Way to go team!!!

Kev looking very Usane Boltish at mile 10!

Brian gets direction from JC

Becky tearing it up and Michael is on her heels

Looks like a second place age group pace for Stuart

Kevin heeds JC's revelation

California dreamin

Yes...and on such a winter's day!
Kevin is running the California International marathon tomorrow in Sacramento.
We arrived this afternoon and were a bit surprised to see that the winds that were so brutal this week in California seem to still be blowing pretty strong.





However the forecast says they should completely diminish by the morning and the weather looks to be sunny with cold temps...pretty good for runners.
Did I mention, or do I even have to for all those we left behind in Big D, that the weather back home basically sucks. All our friends who are running the white rock half or full marathon, we so feel for you. Hoping that the forecasters get it wrong and that cold front does not come through till after the race. We wish you good luck for a good race!
We just had Thai for dinner. By now you know the food routine I am sure :).




And now Kevin is stretching and getting ready for hopefully a good nights rest. His morning starts at 4:15. Mine....maybe at 6:30. Oh the life of a cheerleader!

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Myth: Running is a non-contact sport

I made plenty of contact with the pavement on my last run!

 

5 miles into my 7 mile run and the sidewalk came up to meet me. But I finished my run and am lucky to have walked away with just a big welp on my shoulder and knee and just a little soreness all around.

Thinking about going back to yoga instead :)

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Half Marathon....check

On Saturday we ran with Dean Karnazas and Bart Yasso at a 5k fun run. Then we went to the expo and got a photo op with Dean. In the line to meet Dean, there was a guy from San Antonio who was right in front of us. He asked if we could take his picture when he got up there and of course we did. Following suit, I turned around and asked the couple behind us if they could take a picture of Kevin and I with Dean when we got up there and of course, they said yes. I should have known, when the older man took the camera and his wife said "A good picture dear, she said a GOOD picture" that maybe, there might be an issue....He took a few for us when we got up there.....this was the best of the bunch! LOL

Hanging loose with Dean

Next day, Sunday, the race was on. The race started at 6am. We got up at 4:20 got ready and Kevin ran the 1.3 miles from our hotel to the start as a warmup.....I took the shuttle...

Everyone at the start was in such a good mood. I mean, if you think about it, they all either live in Hawaii (nice) or they are on vacation here in Hawaii (more nice). The weather was perfect, low 70s.

Start was great and the course was very nice. It was hilly, which is what I had been worried about, but it wasn't too bad. I think I had anticipated it to be so much worse which in the end probably helped me get through it a little easier.

Kevin met me around mile 12.7, very close to the end and snapped some photos. Nice scenary!

Close to the finish!

Bringing it home oceanside

I finished the half in 2:31. Happy to have ran (I mean jogged) the whole way and happy to have finished. BUT....the big winner was Kevin (of course!). He brought it in in 1:27:..! Over all winner in his age group and 13th over all and a new PR for the half! Amazing! Keep it going Kevin! You definitely have it in you!



Rockin the Kauai Half!



Back on track and close to reaching the goal

I was out for 2 weeks with my big toe issue. I couldn't get a running shoe on during that time. After a lot of pain which led to a second visit to the doctor and a second course of antibiotics and antiseptics, the area where she ripped off my big toe nail finally healed and I finally got to run again on Aug 3rd. Thank goodness! Oh, and btw, the flowers Kevin gave me did wilt before my toe got better...lol. (I think I jinxed myself on that one!)

Since then, training has been going pretty well. I signed up with Run On again and have been doing my weekly runs at 5:15 am (in 90 degree weather) and my weekend run at 6am on Sundays. Believe it or not, I now enjoy not listening to music while running, especially in the morning hours when it can be so calm with all the silence and darkness. Kevin, you were right.

Now my race approaches. My half is only days away and I am anxious and excited!



Happier feet



Half marathon training stalled

So, I haven't blogged about my training much since I started but things have been going pretty well. I ran a long 8 miles in Oregon on the beach. I've run 9 miles a couple of times including the 15k race in Dallas, in July, appropriately called "Too Hot To Handle". And I ran 10 miles around White Rock lake just last Saturday!

Then....

I know they are not pretty toes. Even less so now!

My toes that had been giving me quite a few issues and pain just became painful all the time. I went to the foot doctor and she said my right big toe nail had an infection (I know.....soooooo gross) and should come off so that I could have a better chance of pain free training sooner than later. Don't worry, it is suppose to grow back completely......in 9 months!!

So, here I am, all bandaged up, feeling new and different pain, with no running since last Saturday, and uncertain when I'll get back to it. Kevin brought me flowers though which was very sweet. Hopefully I'll be running again before they wilt away.

Knock on wood and cross your fingers (no toes please)....

Thanks honey!

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