The final group run...

I was completely excited for the final group run this past Saturday for a couple reasons. I was going to be picking up my race shirt and we were doing part of the race route.

We met at 7:45 am at the Starbucks on W 6th St. The meeting spot was perfect I just got a Starbucks gift card for my birthday so I knew exactly where I was getting my post run coffee this time.

Everyone was doing a leisurely 6 miles. Coach Rob announced leisure means slower then race day pace. I started to laugh because anything slower then my race day pace is a walk. Then we started. Now remember Saturday morning had a high wind advisory!!

As we started off we began to cross the bridge over to the flats. WELL….. high gusts of wind plus traffic on the bridge was a disaster for someone running. Dirt and sand and everything you could think of flew into our faces with every gust of wind. But we pushed on. At the end of the Bridge was St Malachi’s where I ran the 5 miles for St. Patrick’s Day. We took a left and ran to the Westside Market and then headed over another bridge back to downtown. I thought to myself “Oh great here we go again.”

This time the wind wasn’t so bad on the bridge. Coach Rob joined Kelli, Amy, and I after we crossed the bridge right in front of Jacob’s Field (it will always be Jacob’s Field to me!!) Then before I knew it we were running past the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Now this is where the run got a little interesting. Running along the shore in approximately 50-60mph winds ended up being more of a workout then I anticipated for a ‘leisurely run’. We ran around the back side of the Brown’s Stadium and literally there were moments where I didn’t feel like I was moving. We had to stop once put our heads down and fight the wind. At this time I was glad I wore my water belt…. No planned water stops were set up for the run. I think Kelli was glad I had my water belt too!!

We ended our 6 miles at the Starbucks and it was official the final group run was over. That sort of made me sad.

This week is going to be a week of strict diets, much rest, and mental prep for the race. I am getting that jittery feeling. Not that I am nervous because I really don’t think I am. I am ready for this …. And if for some reason I am not so be it I have to stop and walk to catch my breath. My time doesn’t matter it is finishing that matters to me. It will be good… I am looking forward to this moment actually changing my life. An accomplishment not many people can say they have