My first Group Run

Marathon training has officially begun.  Well, it officially began back on August 6th but I was on vacation.  When I got back I wanted to get in a few longer runs before the Disneyland half, and the group was only running 5 and 6 miles... apparently I am a running snob.
This past Saturday they ran 8 miles and I was excited to jump right in!  There are probably about 25-30 people in my pace group, and about 6 to 8 different pace groups with the running store I am training with.  There were a ton of runners everywhere.  
Saturday we ran out on Key Biscayne.  Parking at the Miami Seaquarium we headed back into town on the Rickenbacker Causeway and over the big bridge.  I loved the bridge!  After the Beach to Beacon 10K I know how weak my hill skills are, so the burning I felt in my lungs and legs was tolerable because I knew this would make me stronger.  

Rickenbacker Causeway bridge   Source

After running through part of a neighborhood, there was a table set up with water coolers for a quick stop.  Running with a group is pretty fun, it's like a little party.  Very social setting and the miles zip by.  I really hope I still think this when we start running 16, 18, 20 miles.
I had never run with anyone before and I had never run 8 miles without music, but really enjoyed both!
After the water break, we ran another mile before turning around and heading back to the Seaquarium.  We were all done by 7:45am, just about the time the sun was starting to feel hot - nice.
I met a lady from my group who lives in my neighborhood and was looking to run with someone early in the morning during the week.  Count me in!  Running in the dark sounds great to me, so we are going to meet up a couple days a week at 5am to get our weekday runs in.  It was great yesterday to be done running and showered by 6:30am.  
This weekend I am heading to Orlando to run the Miracle Miles 15K with Annnette and then I will be back in Orlando next weekend for the Disney Wine & Dine half marathon with Leah, Annette, Brian and some some people from Leah's work.  I am so, so excited for both weekends in Orlando, but I am a little sad I won't get to run with the group for the next couple of weeks.  Oh well, I am still getting the miles in which is the most important thing.
You may have noticed above that I removed the 'Sweat!' tab.  I hadn't been keeping up with it and just got bored, so it's out.  I know I don't need to write everything down to keep motivated.  The fact I have to go 26.2 miles on January 8th is motivation enough.
If you are bored, check out the updated 'Me & My Blog' tab and the 'Bling!' tab.  Someone had a lot of time on her hands Sunday afternoon :)

Marathon Training

I am all signed up for Marathon Training with TeamFootworks!

It is a 26 week training program for either the Disney Marathon on January 8th (me!) or the ING Miami Marathon on January 29th.  On the 29th I will run the half marathon since it is only two weeks after Disney, but it is also the most beautiful course ever and I do not want to miss out.

TeamFootworks is based out of South Miami and trains hundreds of people a year to run a half or full marathon.  They are expecting 800 people over the course of the fall.  Included in the program are pace groups and team leaders for the Saturday long runs, water stations along the course for our longer runs, clinics on various running topics and the hospitality tent with our own bag check, free massages and food & drink on the day of the ING Miami Marathon & Half Marathon.  They are even planning on running the Miami Beach Halloween Half Marathon as a group, which is perfect because I was planning on running that with my co-worker (Trish we need to sign up!). 

I knew I wanted to join a running group this fall as I train for 26.2 miles.  Motivation will be needed to get through the 18, 20 and 22 mile runs.

I attended the info session last Thursday night and it was endearing to hear the concerns of people in attendance who are running their first half marathon.  Several wanted to make sure they were in the slowest pace groups to ensure they could keep up (you know they are gonna), some wanted to know how to figure out their pace, some had no idea what a singlet was (we get one as part of the group) and some didn't even know you get medals (um, it's all about the medal).  Remember that feeling when you first started running and had absolutely no idea about anything?  It is so sweet... to be that naive again!  It will be nice to see people accomplish something on race day that they never thought was attainable.

Training starts August 6th, but I will be out of town on vacation for the first two weeks of the program.  No worries though, I know I will keep up with my running over vacation because I have the Beach to Beacon 10K and a long run in Maine all planned out for that week.

Can't wait for my first group run on August 20th though... let's get this party started... 26.2 miles I am coming for ya!
P.S. 40 days until the Disneyland Half Marathon... yup I am THAT girl!