Dreaming of a Marathon

My sister called the other day to let me know that she had a dream that her bridesmaids dress for my wedding was white and shear and she discovered this the morning of my wedding. She said I told her to find any dress to wear as long as it fit. She proceeded to go from store to store, with my dad none the less, to find any dress possible and then realized she was late for her hair appointment and it just continued on until she woke up. She said when she woke up she was kinda exhausted from her dream. It's funny how realistic dreams can seem and how we continue to be effected by them even when we are awake.

Little does she know her dress is blue and shiny!

Even though I haven't had one in a little while, I had a couple marathon dreams early on in my training. I have a feeling I'll probably have one or two more before all is said and done. I never sleep well the night before a race anyway. The one dream that stands out the most had me running along and progressing nicely. I got done with the first half and decided to take a break, change my clothes and eat lunch with my family, who had come to watch. Why not stop and smell the roses, right? Well, when I finally got going again I realized I would not finish by the cut off and I wouldn't get a medal, and we all know it is about the medal. I woke up feeling completely defeated, while realizing how stupid and unrealistic the dream was. Now that I am getting closer to the marathon, 21 days to be exact, I am sure I will begin to doubt myself and wonder if I have done enough to prepare.

Tomorrow is my last race before the full and it is the one year anniversary of my very first half marathon. Crazy to think it will be my 6th half marathon, all within the last year! Rob pointed out that it is one every two months. I plan to post my race report by Monday at the latest. Hope you're enjoying this beautiful weekend.

Last year, with my first race medal.

January 19, 2012

Ever remember where you were and what you were doing exactly a year ago? I know we all have significant memories and over time they fade, but if I said what were you doing on 1/19/12 some of you may have the same memory as me! It all started with the photo below.

I'm in the second row, in gray, looking down. 

Now that I look at this photo I see some familiar faces, funny how we didn't know each other then! The photo was taken on December 29, 2011 by Fleet Feet Rochester. This was an info session for their HFM (Half/Full Marathon) training program. I signed up that night to train for my first half marathon!  This info session lead to my memory on January 19th, 2012.

 

It was a Thursday and I was at school teaching away when I got a text message saying my sister had gone into labor! There was a strategic plan that went into place when I got that text message. I think there may have even been an itinerary with phone numbers, addresses, etc. Yea, my sister is organized! As excited as I was about the impending arrival of a new niece or nephew I panicked. You see that night my first group tempo run for HFM was scheduled and this is where we would get our pace for the pace groups we would run in. 

Another FF photo. This was from our first long group run on 1/21/12

According to the plan, depending on when my sister went into labor I would possibly have to care for my nephew Colin, who was three at the time. Because of the timing I needed to pick him up from daycare and bring him home and watch him for the night. Ahhh does FF offer a babysitting service by any chance?! Luckily my mom was coming into town and rather then go to the hospital first, she came and relieved me of my duties so I could go run. She would also bring Colin to the hospital to visit his new sister!

Ainsley Kate was born on 1/19/12

I changed quickly into my running gear and helped Colin change into his "Big Brother" t-shirt my sister had laid out for him to wear to the hospital. My mom came and I headed to Ridgeway for my first tempo run on the "cherry picker" route. As I was driving there, the snow was really coming down. The snow fall and wind was pretty crazy during our entire first run and I remember Ellen or Mike saying that it couldn't get much worse then that for a winter run. Boy were they wrong, but that's a whole other post for February!

 I was feeling so guilty about passing my nephew off and not being able to go visit my new niece, I called the hospital and got permission to visit after visiting hours. I remember walking through the hospital in my winter running gear getting some very strange looks, but I was so glad I got to go and visit the little bird. 

I made myself a little more presentable
when I visited her the next day.

So happy first birthday Ainsely Kate, I will always remember the day you were born! 

What's your favorite running memory?

Were you at Ridgeway on 1/19/12?