RACING WITH BABES: last long run ...

Monday, March 21, 2011

last long run ...

Yesterday morning, I ran my last long run of this training cycle. G, IronJ, KC, 3L, SpeeDee, A, R and I met up at West Creek for two six mile loops. When I arrived, I heard G talking about how she felt that it was a cheetah kind of day. And I knew, before I even saw her, that our ESP was in full force. We had somehow managed to show up in essentially the same outfit.

I look seriously ginormous next to G. I'm like a foot taller than her. It's insane.

Enough digression. Back to the run. We set out with an easy pace.

G is still recovering from an ankle injury and her pace is supposed to be "controlled." Yeah, about that. The four miles that she joined us for clocked in at 9:47, 9:11, 9:03, and 9:14 - not exactly controlled. But, I swear, I tried to slow us down.

At mile six, we picked up G (now on her bike), 3L and KC (who came directly from an overnight shift). Again, we said we were going to "take it easy." But, it seems that whenever you get us together and talking, we switch into autopilot and the miles tick away. Our last six miles were 9:11, 8:59, 8:56, 8:57, 8:48, and 8:48. It was effortless and the perfect way to end an awesome training cycle.

Now, just 9 miles and 5 days stand between me and the start line of the National Marathon. I don't think I could be any more excited ...

27 comments:

gba_gf said...: Still laughing about the psychic cheetah/black sock moment... makes me long for the days at Twickory when we matched more often than we didn't... oh... yea, that was like 3 weeks ago. Time seems to move slower when you're wearing a "BOOT".

I am so excited to be at mile 22/23 of National, I can't. even. tell. you.; March 21, 2011 at 6:59 AM
Rene' said...: i love running/friend bestie ESP! and National get ready 'cause here you come!!! Good luck on your tapering:); March 21, 2011 at 7:50 AM
kat said...: Awesome run, you both looked very cute in your matching outfits.; March 21, 2011 at 7:58 AM
Running Ricig said...: gotta love getting in great miles without even noticing. I need more friends that run!; March 21, 2011 at 8:31 AM
amy said...: Race week is always the hardest for me. It's hard to "only" do something like 9 miles. As our coach likes to remind us though, the hay is in the barn!; March 21, 2011 at 8:56 AM
Jen said...: Ya'll are too cute. And I Do NOT have a cheetah skirt.... working on my National outfit, though.; March 21, 2011 at 8:59 AM
Unknown said...: You guys look great! I will be at the 1/2 on Saturday. good luck with 26.2!!!!!!; March 21, 2011 at 9:02 AM
Anonymous said...: Love your skirt!! Wow you are tall! Good luck runner girl!; March 21, 2011 at 9:16 AM
Katie said...: i am so pumped for you and this race!!; March 21, 2011 at 9:24 AM
Marlene said...: Awesome final long run to wrap thinks up. I am SOOOO excited for you!; March 21, 2011 at 9:37 AM
fancy nancy said...: Sounds like a great run!!!! You are going to ROCK National!!!!! So excited for you!; March 21, 2011 at 9:45 AM
Anne said...: So excited for your marathon! I just know you are going to rock that PR!!! It's been a long time coming...and you so deserve to do well! Have a blast T!; March 21, 2011 at 9:56 AM
Jill said...: You guys are fun. I'm going to start running now to meet you guys and hope to be there in a couple of weeks. I will pick up a cheetah skirt on my way so we can all match!

Great run! So nice to have a group of gals to run with! Love the outfits.; March 21, 2011 at 10:57 AM
Emily said...: im so excited for you!!! yayyy marathon week!; March 21, 2011 at 11:07 AM
Unknown said...: I'm really looking forward to your race report. National has a half, right? I would love to run it in the next couple of years.; March 21, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Runners Fuel said...: Looks like a great long last run!; March 21, 2011 at 12:09 PM
Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...: What a GREAT way to end your training cycle! You are going to have the run of a life time. I don't think your training could be more spot on.
Enjoy the final prep days, distract yourself with loads of family fun and tear it up on race day!; March 21, 2011 at 12:12 PM
SupermomE13 said...: You guys look awesome and it is such a great confidence booster to have a great last long run. Good job!! Enjoy the week and take it as easy as a mom can. :); March 21, 2011 at 12:15 PM
Anonymous said...: You are going to rock the race - and you look so cute in that cheetah skirt!!; March 21, 2011 at 12:49 PM
Samantha said...: Oh, man you all are some hot cheetas! I need to get myself a snazzy skirt. So excited for National...I'll be doing the half. Good luck with your marathon!; March 21, 2011 at 1:33 PM
Kittee said...: Love the Cheetah movement...

Good Luck in your Marathon. I am sure you will rock it!; March 21, 2011 at 3:16 PM
Stefanie D. said...: Nice job on your times. I am totally jealous of your running pack. They are pretty much the awesome-est bunch ever.; March 21, 2011 at 4:31 PM
Julie D. said...: nice long run! so excited for you...you are going to PR by more than 30, I'm sure!! Get after it!; March 21, 2011 at 4:52 PM
Carly said...: Love how you travel with your posse. And I am excited to see how awesome you do this weekend.; March 21, 2011 at 8:06 PM
Anne said...: BTW Tonia, please switch to follow my new blog and delete the old one, there were serious problems with it. Here's the new link :)

http://www.anne-asthmaandthegiftofrunning.blogspot.com/; March 21, 2011 at 8:42 PM
Mel -Tall Mom on the Run said...: Love it!! You me and G could be a T-Mobile sign..

you will ROCK!!; March 21, 2011 at 11:15 PM
Unknown said...: You girls look so cute - I'm so jealous of you having great running partners (I mean, my hubby is great, but I'd love some gals to run with).

Hope you have a blast this weekend! Rock it girl!; March 23, 2011 at 2:28 PM