6.5 Hours And Counting.....

This has been a wonderful vacation week with Scott, and we've been so busy doing tons of fun family stuff that I haven't had much time to blog. We've spent a lot of time at the beach, which has been fantastic. We actually went on a really cloudy day (Wednesday), and had one of the best beach days ever. It's so great to go when it's cloudy and there's nobody else there. We sat right next to the water and built lots of sand castles and enjoyed the quiet. 

Yesterday it rained pretty much all day, but it was much-needed rain, so we didn't mind too much. And as much as we all love the beach, too many beach days in a row can get really exhausting, so it was probably good that we were forced to take a day off. 

Scott and I enjoyed a dinner out by ourselves on Wednesday night, and last night we went out to eat with the boys at one of our favorite places - Aunt Carrie's. The boys were a little freaked by the lobster I ate - they like looking at them in the tanks at the grocery store, but seeing one on my plate was a whole different story! 

Our new pasttime for car rides is playing "I Spy."  Gabe started playing it the other day, all by himself. We were on our way to the beach, and this is what we heard him saying in the backseat - "Hey - let's play 'I Spy.'  Ok. I spy something green. What is it? It's a tree! Great!  You're good at this game!" 

Now he likes us to play with him. Or, I should say, he likes ME to play with him. For some reason he gets really mad when Scott tries to play. And when I play with him, this is how it usually goes - 

Me: I spy something brown. 

Gabe: Do you spy something brown? What is it?  Um, no, no. I spy something blue. What is it? The ocean! Great! You're good at this! 

The laughs never end. 

As for today, we all went out for breakfast, and ran a few errands, and now I'm going to spend the rest of the day hydrating. 

It's going to be pretty warm for the race tonight, but not brutally hot. Forecast is calling for temps in the low 80s, and thankfully, very low humidity. I wish it was a little cooler, but for the end of July in New England, low 80s and dry is pretty darn good - a lot better than what I was expecting. 

Yesterday was a total rest day, and I'm glad I did that, because I've been working out so much lately, I think a day of rest was really the best thing for me to do. 

I ran on Wednesday morning, though, and it was perfect. Six miles at an 8:35 pace, and I felt absolutely fantastic the entire time.  I really, really hope I feel that good tonight. 

Things I need to remember for tonight - START SLOW and drink plenty of water. I'm aiming to keep at least the first few miles right around the 9-minute mark, and then start to pick it up gradually after mile 5. If I can do that, I feel really confident that I can get the last mile or two close to 8:00. 

I do still have the 1:30 goal in mind, and I hope I can do it, but I'll be happy with anything under 1:35. There's no chip timing (crazy, for a race that has 3,000+ participants!), which will add at least a few minutes to my official time, which bums me out, but that's just the way it is.....

It's sure to be a fun race either way, and I can't wait! 

The evening race definitely has its advantages - no crazy early wakeup, plenty of time to eat and hydrate before the race - but all this waiting around is driving me crazy!!!!!

Comments

[Wes]

Have a great race tonight! You can do sub 1:30.

[SJ Goody]

Your post made me 10 times more excited! Based on your other times, you are going to have NO problem doing sub 1:30!!! I'll keep my eye out for you but... chances are, you are going to be ahead of me! :)

p.s. LOVE Aunt Carries!

[Shawn]

I wish I could be running the blessing...well there is always next year. Good luck and can't wait for a race report! Hope its not to hot out there tonight.