Final marathon tips

For what it's worth, I put together a few tips with the help of some marathon veteran friends of mine. Do with them what you will!

1. Drink and/or eat something at EVERY water stop, even if you don't feel thirsty. This is probably the single most important tip.
2. Carry enough Gu, cliff blocks, etc to last you until the end. It is really helpful to keep your cliff blocks in a plastic baggy and stuff them in a pocket for easy access during the race. After the halfway point, I like to alternate water, gatorade, and cliff blocks at each stop because I feel like it keeps my body guessing.
3. Mentally break up the race into small sections. For example, it seems way more managable if you break it up into 4 mile intervals after 12. You have conquered so many 4 mile loops in your training, and that makes it easier to keep going when it's hurting.
4. Tell your fans which side of the road you will be running on so they can spot you more easily.
5. BODY GLIDE!!!! You just can't apply enough of that stuff!
6. Don't go out too hard during the first half. Find a comfortable pace so you are feeling good at halfway, and you can gradually turn it on during the back half. I have made this mistake before and it made for a very ugly finish.
7. Have a few topics in mind that can take your mind off the race during a particularly difficult stretch. Since we'll be in our nation's capital, maybe name all of the U.S. presidents (that may only work for those that were in choir at Clay Junior High). How about thinking of names for baby Kersey?
8. I don't care if you are an Olympic marathoner or a first-timer, EVERYONE hits a wall at some point during the race. Usually it happens during the last 6 miles, so if you know it's coming you can find the mental strength to push through it. You have trained so hard to get here and you have the physical ability to finish, so don't let your mind get the best of you! There is no shame in walking, just make sure you cross that finish line!
9. This race is supposed to have some of the best fans of any marathon, and they all will be cheering for you (especially with your name on the front of your shirt)! Take the time to look around at all of the beautiful sites and really enjoy your big moment.
10. With all we have been through together after 10 years of the Cobras and 17 years of friendship, this marathon is really a piece of cake! May the sweet sound of Gloria Estefan be running through your mind as you make it across that finish line.

Thank you all for giving me a reason to run again.
I LOVE YOU GIRLS SO MUCH!!!
Ali

Hey girls,

Can't believe you're headed to DC this weekend for the much anticipated BIG DAY! I know you'll all do great, and I can't wait to hear all about it! Please be sure to take tons of pictures so I can photoshop myself into them. I would also love it you sign up for the Facebook updates so I can check in on splits and times for all of you. That way I can be with you in spirit. I have missed partaking in this experience, but know that Baby Kersey and I are rooting for you! Have a fantastic time!

xoxo,

Fabs

MCM details

The following email is from my friend Chris, who ran the MCM a few years ago.

You are going to LOVE Marine Corps! It is my favorite marathon I have run!!! I don't know if people have told you its hilly, but I actually thought people made it out to be worse than it is... there are hills, but they are pretty concentrated at the beginning - once you are through Georgetown (I think about Mile 9), you are through the worst of it, so at least they are not at the end!!!! And the Marines who work and run the event are AWESOME and INSPIRING!!!


As for your parents, my parents bought an all-day subway pass and used that to get around. They were able to see me at least 4 times using the subways. I can't remember exactly where I saw them - would have to find a subway pass. I'm pretty sure the first sighting was around mile 4 before you head over the bridge to Georgetown. Georgetown is a good place to watch. Also, by the monuments - you circle the Mall by the Washington Monument and Capital... so, I saw my parents twice in there in a pretty short period of time. Thing that's around Mile 20.


Oh, and be warned.... the last .2 miles - literally - is a massive uphill! But at that point, you are so ready to be done, you just tackle it! And it's pretty cool b/c it makes you finish right at the Iwa Jima Marine Memorial in Arlington. But it is a tough last .2!!!! Oh, I'm so excited for you, I seriously loved it!!!!!

I still don't know why people do this all the time.

Yea! 20 down on Saturday. I was able to complete it in 3.5 hours and I had anticipated about 4, so I was pretty happy with an average 10 min/mile pace. Although when I got done and sat down on my parent's kitchen floor I told my mom that I think I could walk the last 6 and be fine with it. I'm hoping I feel all that adrenaline on the day of the race that you are talking about Ali and that it will help. My calf did start cramping at mile 18 though, so I also did some walk/running home. Don't worry Shay, I started walk/running a little before that as well from boredom and a weak mentality running by myself. One of the biggest things keeping me going was that this was the biggest run and then to tapering.

MB, you'll have to scout out a nice little route to run when you get to DC. I'm going to want to go for short ones thursday and saturday.

I have to say, I am very excited to be done with all of this crazy running in 3 weeks. And to say that I have done a marathon. I only would have done this with you girls! Love you!

Twenty-one and onto the taper!

WOO HOO! The big run is in the books, and believe me when I say the next three weeks will be so glorious! I was lucky enough to get to do my "training" run during the Chicago marathon with my friend Emily, so I feel like I had it the easiest of all of us. There were water and gatorade stations every mile, thousands upon thousands of fans cheering us on, music, food...I could go on. I ended up doing 21 with her because her boyfriend took over from there. It got me so excited for our marathon because I know it will be just as awesome but with a lot more meaning because we will be doing it together and will be in our nation's capital. I'm predicting a few tears will be shed by the end of the race.
MB, I talked to my friend's mom who has run DC, and she said that it was by far her favorite marathon, and although it is a little hilly, she really didn't notice the hills at the end because it was such a neat experience finishing by Arlington cemetary and the war memorial. The last 6.2 is a lot of adrenaline, but it is also so mental and requires you to keep telling yourself you can do it...because you can! Shay Shay, don't let this run get you down. I hope the taper does wonders for your IT band, and I have full confidence in your ability to kill it on marathon day.

The Dreaded 20

The 20 miles didn't go so well for me. :( I did the first 11 and felt really good and was looking forward to the trip back home; minus the rain. But my I T Bands were really acting up. I could barely continue my stride, so needless to say the trip home was miserable. I did a walk/run the rest of the way. I was so mad because my mind and the rest of my body just wanted to continue running home. P.S. Amber, the Cliff Shot Blocks were delicious! Glad I picked some up.

We do not have Dick's here in Orlando so I will just need to know the brand and color of the shirt we pick if we don't go with the one Amber suggested.

Well, that is all for now! Can't wait!!

-Shay

20 miles!!

Well it is officially done! When I started my run it was 52 degrees, and throughout the course of the run the temperature rose 20 degrees! I think that was probably the hardest part of the run because extra mileage didn't feel great but neither did the sun! It took me a while to get going on my run, but I tried to be okay with it knowing that I had a long way to go! It was a little depressing knowing that I would still have 6.2 miles to go after I finished, but hopefully adrenaline will take care of it In my head though, I keep saying that's a long distance for adrenaline... :)

When getting my "food" for the run, the man there said that the last 0.2 of the run is to Iwo Jima which sounds pretty cool, but it is uphill. I guess we need to keep a little gas in us to make it up at the end. He said the road has people cheering 5 or 6 people deep, and that it's pretty surreal. I'm hoping that feeling is still in me at the end!

Ali - I know you were doing yours during the Chicago marathon today with a friend...how was it?

Shay - did you get yours in today without rain?

Henk - saw your brother's comment, hope it was great!

Megs - hope you enjoyed the Bach. party last night

Oh yea...no more "long" runs until the big day!!! Cheers to shorter workouts and refreshed bodies in the next few weeks!

Unfortunately they only come in men's sizes. As you can see in my modelling picture, they do fit pretty close though. One down side is that the sleeves are pretty long. They are light and soft with no tags, so I felt like they were very comfortable. I have run in it, and didn't notice any rubbing. Like I said, I have a medium and I feel like that would fit everyone pretty well. I might actually alter my sleeves a little bit and just sew the ends up so that they are midway up my bicep. If we want them, I probably need to know by this weekend. If not, that is fine, we can either buy our own shirts or we can look at Dicks or something, but those might be a bit more expensive.

If we do want them, we need to figure out color/colors, sizes, names.

Shirts

I love the design, color, and concept behind these shirts Henk (not to mention the model shot), and I love that they are dri-fit. My only concern is they are men's fit, and I would be worried about it rubbing too much during the race. Have you worn the shirt on a run? Do they come in women's sizes as well? If the fit is right, I am in for sure! Thanks for taking the lead on this!

Shirts

Here is a pic of the yellow shirt I have (medium size). Also, here is the link to see them online. For some reason, the yellow one is listed as safety green. Not sure why, because it looks pretty yellow to me.

http://www.hanes.com/clothing/men/tshirts/short-sleeve-t-shirts/hanes-mens-cool-dri-tagless-reg%3B-t-shirt

I was also thinking a design something like what I attached. Give me your thoughts.