Women's start... by Highmileage

This should be my new blog name....'Nomileage' after 1 whole month of not running, I've forgotten what it's like. I may even get used to this lazy non active lifestyle! I'm surprised that insanity hasn't set in (that I can tell) others may not agree. Today I recieved confirmation of my entry to NY marathon. yikes! I keep telling my Achilles all about it, in hopes of some reconciliation....(wait doesn't that constitute insanity?) At first I recieved an 'Unfortunately you have not been successful in the lottery' email! I thought what? I didn't enter the lottery, oh no! I entered the 'quaranteed' based on time qualifyer entry. what's that about? so, I called the NYRR's. I bloody did, and talked to a very nice 'Katrina' lady (just like the huricane) and it turned out they had not been able to verify my qualifying time/race which I had put as FLM 08. I had to explain, I'm not in the masses results, but in the elite womens results. Which sounds way more impressive then I am, but it happens to be fact, due to the different start time, they have kept those results seperate. I noticed they did not put the National Champion women in that early start at this years race, so I was especially lucky. Fabulous huricane Katrina of NY city found me and waved her magic wand, and just like that I am now confirmed as in . Now to get fighting fit in my fabulous 40 ness by Nov 1........did you hear that Achilles pain in a @$$ tendon, we have a marathon to run, back to work I say!       

Yesterday saw the return of the 'Towpath Weekend Athletic Team' (yes the name is apt) as we decended on Frederick, Maryland (which we more aptly call 'Fredneck' due to it's redneck population) on a rainy Sunday for the marathon relay. If any of you recall our previous marathon relay escapades, you'll know that they are usually somewhat a comedy of errors, and that we as a team are cursed to never break 3 hours, even though ability wise we should. The closest we have come is 3.00.20 (last Feb) where even though I ran the fastest leg, my shoe lace coming untied and taking 20 seconds to tie cost us the goal time ;(. So here we all were in fredneck at 6am ( ish) for a 6.30am start time. ( Yeah crazy early for a marathon start!) We could have got there earlier for the 'sunrise service' but you know. We need more then prayers it seems. Team Captain' Bill' was first to start, with me to follow on the second leg. He told he'd be 45 mins. Having not worked out any of the stats I took him at his word and figured I needed to be at transition shortly before 7.15. It's amazing how time can fly....The gun went off, the three remaining teamsters hit the porta poties and headed to my car for sorting of stuff, bibs, etc. I then left the other two and ran to transition (as the crow flies) about 2.5 miles. Nice warm up. I arrived 7.13. Ok so cutting it a little close. As I said time flies! What happened was there was Bill waiting and had been for a good couple of minutes!!! Apparently ( as we later realised) the course had been modified from last year and his leg shortened and mine a little lengthed. Pants! I heaed off as fast as I could running a 6.40's pace all the way. It started to rain lightly, weather was perfect for running, unlike the heat of last year. Achilles wasn't too painful until the last mile. The rain got harder and harder. Dan took the 3rd leg, and attacked the hills in great form, we were in second coed team position going into the last leg. It was all down to 'Teeny' and she set off on a chase with a good couple minutes between us and first and only 5 miles to do it in. At this point the other three of us who had already run were in the 'team car' but unfortunately traffic prevented us from beating Teeny back to the finish line, although we were able to cheer from the car in a couple of spots along the way. We weren't there to witness the triumph as just like last year Teeny was able to pick off the competition on the home stretch Woohoo! We finished 3.02.37 1st place coed team. We worked out that even without the 'delay' we would not have broken 3 hours by just 12 seconds so the guys seemed to forgive me. I think the trophies helped. We all got very fabulous heavy clear glass awards with etched writing and running shoe with achilles style wings. A good paper weight no less. We are the champions. Now if we could just break 3 !          

Congrats to all of you who ran on sunday. It was exciting to watch. I can't believe it's been a year since I was there to run it myself. This year, I went for a nice easy 6 miler, then came home made some breakfast and a large cuppa joe, and sat on my couch to watch the 2 hour highlight show they had here. Fabulous it was.  I noticed they didn't have the National Championchip women start with the elite womens' early start this year. I'm not surprised if they changed that. However I do feel very lucky that I got to do it, and sorry for those women who didn't. I bet they've been stuck behind the GFA men or something pants like that!  How about that Mara! I thought she looked way better then Irina who was grimacing badly for many miles. I thought Mara was going to win at one point. so exciting. British women rock the marathon

My own racing plans have gotten a little sidelined thanks to my left achilles tendon rearing it's ugly head again! All winter it's been fine, then I was due to race a 10K this past Sunday where I had an excellent chance of the female Masters win ( and $350 prize purse thank you very much) but sure enough out of the blue I'm hobbling around. I can't tell you how frustrating this is. I'm supposed to be racing this weekend too.

Anyhoo that's all that's going on with me. It has been a very long absense, but I am going to try to be back at the blogging, especially now i've just signed up for NEW YORK!!!!! YIPPEEE. The NY marathon is turning 40 this year, and as I also turned 40 this past Feb, I think it's just meant to be. Thankfully i have a few months before training need begin, so it's re-cov-er-y! .

I Know, i know, I fell off the face of the earth, but I'm still around and still running/racing etc.

I just want to wish everyone running FLM the very best of luck for Sunday. I'll be thinking of you all. Run in joy!!! ;))