Off to Hawaii and then its race day. Pray for on time travels and good weather.
You can track me race day at www.chicagomarathon.com :)
Meredith Payne
Bib #17582
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Final Long Run Sunday
With mixed emotions... today was my last "long run" before the big race in two weeks. I am happy because the torture is almost over. I am excited because I can't wait to get to my favorite city and have all my training pay off. I am also nervous because now I have two weeks to second guess all my preparation, just like in school with test anxiety.
My crew is set...Dad and Linda will be tracking me via phone. Steph has to make sure I carbo load the night before, get up the next morning, and then stumble out of her apartment and bring me pizza.
For the next two weeks my focus is to get rid of this chect congestion, stay injury free, run to keep muscles lose, eat and sleep in Hawaii.
My final thought before I sign off is actually a BIG THANK YOU!
Many thanks go out to the Pasadena Snails for coaching, pushing and encouraging me. Everyone that has ever taken a step with me has made an impact in some way.
A very SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR PATTI & ELLEN!
Ellen has been my shining star and weekday partner. Thanks for forcing me to run when I didnt want to and making me faster.
Patti is the best long run buddy. Never thought a trojan and cal bear would get along so well. Thanks for the Sunday "strolls" the good, the bad and the UGLY. Most important thanks for my care package that will travel to Chi-Town and for always waiting for me during my pee-breaks.
Cheers for now...next entry will probably be from a marathon finisher!
My crew is set...Dad and Linda will be tracking me via phone. Steph has to make sure I carbo load the night before, get up the next morning, and then stumble out of her apartment and bring me pizza.
For the next two weeks my focus is to get rid of this chect congestion, stay injury free, run to keep muscles lose, eat and sleep in Hawaii.
My final thought before I sign off is actually a BIG THANK YOU!
Many thanks go out to the Pasadena Snails for coaching, pushing and encouraging me. Everyone that has ever taken a step with me has made an impact in some way.
A very SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR PATTI & ELLEN!
Ellen has been my shining star and weekday partner. Thanks for forcing me to run when I didnt want to and making me faster.
Patti is the best long run buddy. Never thought a trojan and cal bear would get along so well. Thanks for the Sunday "strolls" the good, the bad and the UGLY. Most important thanks for my care package that will travel to Chi-Town and for always waiting for me during my pee-breaks.
Cheers for now...next entry will probably be from a marathon finisher!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Double Duty!
This past Sunday I challenged myself by running two races in one day. YES I actually signed up and paid on purpose. I had always known I wanted to do the Disneyland Half Marathon...hello its Disney! Then the concept of the Nike Human Race came about. Fun Monday runs with free dinner, 25 host cities all racing continuously for charity...hey it is an olympics year. Then I began to think about my original goal for 2008 - Merri's Triple Crown.
Merri's Triple Crown was supposed to be LA Marathon(March), Disney 1/2 (September), Chicago Marathon (October).
Well thanks to Merri's Rock 12/30/07 that took care of my quest for LA. Disney and Chicago are still goals but I needed something to celebrate the third facet of my life Los Angeles and USC.
So the Nike Human Race (10K or 6 miles) started and ended on the grounds of the Los Angeles Coliseum and ran through my old ghetto...the USC neighborhood.
There you have it...after I cross the finish line October 12th in Chicago my quest for Merri's Triple Crown will be complete with a minor revision. :)
Merri's Triple Crown was supposed to be LA Marathon(March), Disney 1/2 (September), Chicago Marathon (October).
Well thanks to Merri's Rock 12/30/07 that took care of my quest for LA. Disney and Chicago are still goals but I needed something to celebrate the third facet of my life Los Angeles and USC.
So the Nike Human Race (10K or 6 miles) started and ended on the grounds of the Los Angeles Coliseum and ran through my old ghetto...the USC neighborhood.
There you have it...after I cross the finish line October 12th in Chicago my quest for Merri's Triple Crown will be complete with a minor revision. :)
Sunday, August 17, 2008
8 week countdown!
First I am so proud to announce I have made it through the 20mile hurdle!!!
Since my last post I have mentally prepared myself for the race. I know I can do it at this point it is just a matter of perfecting the nutrtion, losing the last 5lbs and making sure I stay injury free.
I know now that I have come a long way in my training by reading this blog. In many ways I wish the race was next week so I can be done. But here is the remaining training schedule...
August 31 I am running the Disneyland 1/2 Marathon (time to beat is 2:19) that same day about 10hrs later I am doing the NIKE Human Race (10K). This may be the closest I get to my original plan of Merri's Triple Crown. (Disneyland and USC in one day and finishing with my actual marathon in Chicago).
September I will go out and do 1 or 2 more 20+ weekend runs.
October is taper off to Hawaii and then rest up and FINISH my marathon.
OH I forgot to mention one last detail...you may know me a "marathon merri" but my running partners know me as Egg McMerri Peebreak. :)
Since my last post I have mentally prepared myself for the race. I know I can do it at this point it is just a matter of perfecting the nutrtion, losing the last 5lbs and making sure I stay injury free.
I know now that I have come a long way in my training by reading this blog. In many ways I wish the race was next week so I can be done. But here is the remaining training schedule...
August 31 I am running the Disneyland 1/2 Marathon (time to beat is 2:19) that same day about 10hrs later I am doing the NIKE Human Race (10K). This may be the closest I get to my original plan of Merri's Triple Crown. (Disneyland and USC in one day and finishing with my actual marathon in Chicago).
September I will go out and do 1 or 2 more 20+ weekend runs.
October is taper off to Hawaii and then rest up and FINISH my marathon.
OH I forgot to mention one last detail...you may know me a "marathon merri" but my running partners know me as Egg McMerri Peebreak. :)
Sunday, June 29, 2008
100+
That could be the temperature outside but it is also 104 days til my marathon.
Notice in the main photo I look happy and I am wearing a jacket...how things change in a short period of time.
I am officially heat training. IT SUCKS! My mileage is up to 17 and I think I am going to die every Sunday after my long runs. Thank goodness for my camelback investment and runner partner Pati for keeping me company.
Since my last post I have raced for watermelons (a fun run in Long Beach) and "Ran Like A Girl" a fun 8K race that was miserable due to heat.
I completed 17 today in 3:30 so I guess I am still on track to finish a sub 5hr marathon.
I am going to start praying for cool midwest weather and I made a pact with Linda not to die at the finish line so I will keep on training.
Until next post...happy trails!
Notice in the main photo I look happy and I am wearing a jacket...how things change in a short period of time.
I am officially heat training. IT SUCKS! My mileage is up to 17 and I think I am going to die every Sunday after my long runs. Thank goodness for my camelback investment and runner partner Pati for keeping me company.
Since my last post I have raced for watermelons (a fun run in Long Beach) and "Ran Like A Girl" a fun 8K race that was miserable due to heat.
I completed 17 today in 3:30 so I guess I am still on track to finish a sub 5hr marathon.
I am going to start praying for cool midwest weather and I made a pact with Linda not to die at the finish line so I will keep on training.
Until next post...happy trails!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Training with Critters!
It has been about two weeks since I posted last. I recovered from the blistering fun run, did some altitude training in Denver (Cherry Creek), and most exciting was this past week...
Not only did I sucessfully increase my distance to 12.5 but Monday I ran up El Prieto with Ellen. 2.5 miles up the steep-single track-trail in about 38 minutes when I, the leader, came across my first snake! Only took me about 13 minutes to get down the mountain!
Wednesday was my first attempt up Brown Mt. Thought I would have learned my lesson not to lead after Monday but this time it wasn't a snake that stopped me in my tracks...it was a tarantula! Did even know we had those in California!
After a leasure club run Thursday (no critters on the streets) I rested and geared up for my long run with Patty on Sunday. My "perfect" run was fueled by a mini cliff bar and a vanilla cappuchino from a gas station. I had my special potion of 1/2 water, 1/2 vitamin power C drink for the run. It was awesome weather and we ran Linda Vista to Descano Gardens and back to the bowl. Thanks to my full blatter for adding on the additional 2.5 miles on a trail to the bathroom and back to the car.
A little sore in my hips but ready to take on the run again next weekend.
Not only did I sucessfully increase my distance to 12.5 but Monday I ran up El Prieto with Ellen. 2.5 miles up the steep-single track-trail in about 38 minutes when I, the leader, came across my first snake! Only took me about 13 minutes to get down the mountain!
Wednesday was my first attempt up Brown Mt. Thought I would have learned my lesson not to lead after Monday but this time it wasn't a snake that stopped me in my tracks...it was a tarantula! Did even know we had those in California!
After a leasure club run Thursday (no critters on the streets) I rested and geared up for my long run with Patty on Sunday. My "perfect" run was fueled by a mini cliff bar and a vanilla cappuchino from a gas station. I had my special potion of 1/2 water, 1/2 vitamin power C drink for the run. It was awesome weather and we ran Linda Vista to Descano Gardens and back to the bowl. Thanks to my full blatter for adding on the additional 2.5 miles on a trail to the bathroom and back to the car.
A little sore in my hips but ready to take on the run again next weekend.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Me + 44,999 Friends
5 MONTHS TO RACE DAY!
Did you know October 12th is officially "Day of the Race" a holiday in Mexico?
(at least thats whats on my timeplanner)
The Chicago Marathon is officially sold out with 45,000 entries. So this means I will be relying on some good friends to travel and support me since none of my club members made the entry. I am still crossing my fingers to see if Joe pulls an entry last minute.
I have decided to enter in a few local races just to boost some confidence in my running since I have been struggling mentally with my distance. Although, yesterday I did a "fun run" from Del Mar Train Station (Pasadena) to Olvera Street in Los Angeles. For those interested in a map...
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1849375
I think my motivation was yummy mexican food and sangria at the end because I really did enjoy this ten mile run. It gave me a sense of what I might experience in Chicago since we ran through neighborhoods and places I would never go on my own. (even ran a few miles through the "not so nice" part of LA known as Highland Park and to some as the Ghetto) It made me sad to see some of the conditions and made me second guess running the LA Marathon next year.
I am going to try and boost my mileage to 12 this week since I have to get on a more regular schedule. Time for the goal assesment...
20 weeks til race + 16 more training miles = 1.25 mile increase per week
Did you know October 12th is officially "Day of the Race" a holiday in Mexico?
(at least thats whats on my timeplanner)
The Chicago Marathon is officially sold out with 45,000 entries. So this means I will be relying on some good friends to travel and support me since none of my club members made the entry. I am still crossing my fingers to see if Joe pulls an entry last minute.
I have decided to enter in a few local races just to boost some confidence in my running since I have been struggling mentally with my distance. Although, yesterday I did a "fun run" from Del Mar Train Station (Pasadena) to Olvera Street in Los Angeles. For those interested in a map...
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1849375
I think my motivation was yummy mexican food and sangria at the end because I really did enjoy this ten mile run. It gave me a sense of what I might experience in Chicago since we ran through neighborhoods and places I would never go on my own. (even ran a few miles through the "not so nice" part of LA known as Highland Park and to some as the Ghetto) It made me sad to see some of the conditions and made me second guess running the LA Marathon next year.
I am going to try and boost my mileage to 12 this week since I have to get on a more regular schedule. Time for the goal assesment...
20 weeks til race + 16 more training miles = 1.25 mile increase per week
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