Prior to Race

October 7th: Took my new shoes out for a run. I am back in Asics (what my very first pair of running shoes were) but this time I ended up getting Wide width. My feet are happier. I went for 4.2 mile run in the morning with Jean.

October 11th: Been busy traveling to NY for Kerry's Wedding. Also feeling sick. Sinus problems. I went for about a 2 mile run before feeling like my throat and chest were on fire. That and the darkness setting in caused me to turn around and head home.

October 12th: Missed several runs so trying to get some miles in, in my new shoes. Managed to go 4 miles before dying due to coughing and sinus pressure.

October 13th: Feel like I am getting more sick, but managed to squeeze in a 5 mile run. My legs feel great, I just need my chest, throat, and head to get better.

Decided to take most people (and my body's) advice and take a few days off. I thought it would be better to get healthy now instead of a few more miles.

October 20th: Feeling better, I only have a bit of a cough left. My legs still felt good on my run. I went for 3 miles in 28 minutes. The speed felt good.

October 22nd: Last long run before the race. I did a slower 3.1 mile run just to keep my legs limber.

I am having slightly cramping in my legs. But I am making sure I eat correctly and drink enough fluids.

Race, Wide Foot, Shooting Star

Many things have occurred since my last post.

1. Ran the Army 10 Miler
2. Got a new pair of running shoes :-/
3. Saw a shooting star
4. Logged 46.7 miles

1. I ran in the 25th Anniversary Army 10 Miler on this past Sunday. I had a great cheering crew (Kim, Jim, Jimmy, Jenny, & Annea). The weather was perfect for the run, starting out a little chilly. There was not as much cheering as there will be for the Marathon, but it was still very helpful. The bands playing along the course were wonderful! My initial goal was 1 hr 42 minutes, as this is what I needed to get for my Marathon, and I had been feeling very nervous about it. As I was running I felt pretty good so I decided to go for 1 hr 40 mins. The official results:

Gun / Chip	Overall	Sex	Div	6.5Mi Split	Chip Time	Pace
1:56:35 / 1:39:16	12315 /21289	4156/9566	957/1966	1:06:11	1:39:16	9:55

After the race I was not even completely dead. I am now feeling slightly better about the Marathon in 3 weeks. And I did learn important info: I need different shoes for the Marathon.

2. So tonight (after my run with neighbor John) I headed over to Potomac River Runner to get new shoes. It is annoying because my most recent shoes only have about 50 miles on them and technically I should be able to go another 300 miles. However, the many, very sore blisters convinced me to go get a new pair before the Marathon. So headed over and tried on 7 pairs or so of different shoes before deciding on Asics. (Funny, my first pair of running shoes were Asics as well). The biggest difference between these shoes and prior pairs is the wider width. I am excited about tomorrows morning run (boy I need to go to bed) to try them out.

3 & 4. These past few weeks have been crazy with teaching, graduate school, and life in general. I haven't gotten in as many runs as would have liked. Most have been fairly good, but a few were not. I need to get a long run in this week, maybe Thursday after teaching before heading up to NY for a wedding. On one of my early (read: dark) runs I saw a shottting star.

The 2 things I need to learn how to do a better job of is: 1) stretching after a run and 2) going to bed earlier...(This said as I was falling asleep).