Alli Grace - 8/15/09

ZAP life is pretty chill right now. Everyone is pretty much on a break, or getting in base mileage. Two of our newest athletes are here settling in, and our third new zapster is on her way in a few weeks. Besides working camps and getting situated for the upcoming year, I am getting ready for the longest race of my life. Actually….over two and half times the longest race of my career.

 

After racing two successful races at US Track Nationals in Eugene, OR, I decided to hit the roads before I took some downtime. I raced the Peachtree 10k in Atlanta, GA, finishing 14^th overall (3^rd American), and tying my track 10k PR in a time of 33:12. It was a fun race and I would enjoy racing it again. The following weekend, I raced Crazy 8’s in Kingsport, TN. It was damn humid that night, but I raced well, finishing 6^th overall. The best part of that race was the amazing music being played throughout the course. Once I heard Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel,” my personal favorite, I had some fun (I almost wore one glove during the race in memory of MJ). My season was completed, and it was now time for a mini break. I took a few days down, and began my cycle of two days on, one day off for the next two weeks.  

 

                 After the second week, I began ramping into my marathon training cycle. It took me the first week and a half to feel somewhat normal again. Let’s just say that first week was horrific, and I felt like I was running with weights strapped around my ankles. I have been feeling gradually better each week of the cycle. I ran my longest run ever, 19.1 miles!! It was a relief and an achievement all in one run. I was a little tentative about marathon training to be honest…because I had not run anything longer than 15-16 miles, so I was unsure how I would feel running for that long at a faster pace.  I was excited about the possibility of challenging myself and completing the long run. It went well…and my doubts almost completely disappeared.

 

                It is still early in training, and I have a long way to go. I am looking forward to the next few months and seeing what I can do. I am more excited about the race than the training, but I will get more excited once the race day gets closer. For now, I will shut my brain off, like I always do and run one day at a time, and enjoy the experience and excitement of something new.