Today.

Hi Friends.  I know it's been a while.  I was busy being off school for 10 weeks.  Don't hate me.

Today I ran 15 miles.  Over the week I ran a total of 14 miles.  All of those miles were ridiculously good.  I am training for the marathon with a straight running pace of 10:30.  I naturally run faster than that, but let's face it...it can be tough to be going running for HOURS.  Last week, running stunk.  This week, running felt great.  Today especially.

After my run, I took an ice bath.  It wasn't too bad, but definitely not comfortable.  However,  I currently feel totally fine and am not sore.  Maybe ice baths are the answer?

Paige and Chili were very interested.

I also treated myself with a new skirt from Lululemon.  I try not to celebrate with food, so this pretty did the trick.

Isn't she pretty?

Don't you love having good days?

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July!  David and I are in Indy seeing and celebrating with family.  It is always nice to be home.  I ran the Freedom Run race that is associated with Carmel Fest this morning with my friend Kathy.  I have ran the race two other times, check out my new PR time!

2009 - 743   62  SARAH PINKUS             FISHERS IN         W 26  14:08  1:03:36.1
2012 - 572   34  SARAH BARNETT            BUFFALO GROVE IL   F 29  11:00    49:31.2
2013 - 682 40 SARAH BARNETT HIGHLAND PARK IL F 30 10:16 46:14.3

Half Marathons

I have ran two half marathons recently and have two more scheduled before the marathon.  The first was in May and I ran it with my good friend Jennifer.  She came for the weekend and we also went to a Blackhawks playoff game.  The race went well even though it was pretty disorganized.

The second half was the weekend after school ended.  I signed up for it because there was a groupon for it.  I hurt myself after only a few miles and ended up taking it easy and just meeting people along the way.  It was not my worst time, but certainly not my best.  I think my pictures that were taken of me along the way sum it up pretty well!

This may be my favorite of all time.  Sorry I'm not sorry.

First Race of the Season

Back in April I ran my first race of the racing season.  It was the CARA (Chicago Area Running Association) Lakefront 10-miler.  Although it was in April, there was snow on the ground!  Crazy Chicago.  It was the weekend after the Boston Marathon, so there were news crews there.  There was definitely an united feeling in the air.  It was a good race and I was happy with my time.  I was glad to start the racing season a little early this year to be prepared for marathon training!

Someone took this for me.  I do not get regular visitors to races anymore. : ( 

No, I did not wear make-up.  Please do not judge me.

Thinking of Boston.

Fun Run?

I am so very much over winter.  I haven't ran for a week and half because I just cant get out there.  We did have a day where it was so nice out and it felt great going for a long run.  I decided to run to the beach.  It was so pretty.  I can not wait for the snow to leave so I can run there in warmth!

MCM - The Crazy Aftermath.

Another blast from the past post...

Getting home from the marathon was insane.  David wanted me to leave the day of the marathon when we heard others were leaving.  He had rented a car the day we got there just in case.  He was able to pick it up that day and thought we should just leave.  My friend Kathy decided to leave that day and we all turned into emotional wrecks.  I just couldn't figure out the best decision.  I could either drive back with David, or wait until I could fly home.  

I decided to drive with David (at least 14 hours) home.  I needed to wait till the day after the race though.  I just couldn't leave that night.  So, we woke up at 5:00 and left.  For anyone who knows me well, they know I do not go on car rides over 5 hours.  So, this was a mentally and emotionally trying time for me.  Surprisingly, I made it though!  My body felt A-W-F-U-L though!!

I decided to stay home one more day of school that Tuesday.  I just was not back emotionally or physically yet and didn't want to go back.  When I did go back, I came into my room to the sweetest signs.  My class was so worried about me.  "High Fives for Mrs. Barnett!"

All in all, the marathon was totally side barred because of the marathon.  I can not wait for a "do-over" with the Chicago marathon in the fall!

I'm in!

It's official.  I signed up for the Chicago Marathon yesterday!  It was a crazy race to get in, but I made it!

I have been really thinking about if I should do this race.  I  have a timeline in my head about how I want my life to go in the coming months/years and a fall race fits in there perfectly.  Although a marathon is so SO hard, I have forgotten all of that and want to try another one.  I wanted to do Chicago because I loved training with my group (the training is geared for the Chicago Marathon) so much.  I also loved the idea of the "hometown" race.  I went back and forth because I wanted family and friends to run with me.  Ultimately, I decided to do what I wanted to do and this was it!

I decided to run as a charity runner this year for Girls on the Run.  I love the organization so much and wanted to do my part to help out.  If you want to donate, please visit my charity website!  

Click here to donate!

Here I go again!

Whoops!

I was so excited to run outside today in "warm" 40 degree weather. I didn't even think about the mud that would result from the rain/snow we have been having! This is the result after a lot of scrapping!

MCM - The Race.

Continuing from yesterday...

Race day came and we got up early.  We picked a hotel that was close to the finish line, but was about a little further from the start.  We decided to walk to the start because we knew the subway would be crazy.  My Dad and Margaret bought little flashlights and they were perfect for walking in the dark.

By the time we got there, the sun was coming up and the nerves were sinking in.  We ended up having to walk pretty far to get to the bag drop.  When we got there we met up with Ashley and walked back to the start.  We tried to find another friend, Abi, but could not!  We were all unsure about what to wear because of the weather (Did I mention there was a hurricane??) but I think I figured it out correctly.  As people were starting to go over the start line, I wanted to make one last trip to the port-a-potty.  So, Jen stayed with me and Kathy and Ashley started.  We didn't see them for the rest of the race!

I had some other really cute pictures of all of us that are too fuzzy to put on here for some reason...

After we crossed the starting line, there was no turning back.  The first part of the race was pretty hilly and we knew that coming into it.  However, it wore me out!  Our 5k (3.1 miles) time was slow, but there were also a ton of people.  We saw David with Kathy's Dad and Sister around mile 2, but did not see them again.

The first 10 miles went pretty quickly.  Jen and I ended up taking a pit stop in the woods...I am pretty sure that everyone saw me.  I think we got to Georgetown somewhere in the teens and that was fun.  By that time the hills were "supposed" to be over and it was a neat scenery.  We ran by Georgetown Cupcakes which I loved.  At this point, I realized by goal of coming in just under 5 hours would be tough.  I was started to lose the drive for finishing quickly.

After Georgetown, we started running back up by the monuments.  We saw Jen's brother and her boyfriend a couple of times which helped.  Life was not easy at this point, I just wanted it to be over!  I knew we would finish, but I just felt like walking!  Thank goodness I had Jen to keep me going.  I remember hurting pretty badly around this area.  There was man that had bio-freeze (crack for runners...numbs your pain!) and I was soo happy to see him.  It gave me a bit of a boost.  There was also a point where we were running downhill and a band was playing "Lean on Me"  That was a highlight!

Miles 20 - 26 were TOUGH.  I didn't even feel like talking.  Jen signaled to me with her fingers the minutes left for our walk/run.  The last .2 was uphill at the monument Iwo Jima.  Jen wanted to run and I just couldn't!!  We did end up crossing the finish line together, and I couldn't have been happier!!

 I made this picture XL because I am proud of me!

MCM - The Trip.

I think I have finally found the time to write about my marathon!

I am loving my break (even though it is almost over...) and am so looking forward to my January - March.  I do not have another grad class until March 7th.  I plan on enjoying my time off and catching up on life! ; )

Okay, the marathon.  David and I flew into DC on Thursday night after school.  We actually sat on the plane for 2 hours before taking off.  David was not a happy camper!  By the time we arrived, David's knee was hurting badly.  Let's just say I knew that wasn't such a great sign! ; )

Friday we decided to tour around DC.  I had never been there before, so I wanted to see the monuments.  We took the subway (not a fan!) to the National Mall and toured around.  We didn't want to wear ourselves out too much, so we took it easy.  David's knee was hurting him and he was not the best travel companion...that ended our touring pretty quickly!  In the evening, we went back to our hotel in the Arlington Courthouse area and ate a great steak dinner.  At this point, I was feeling pretty excited!

On Saturday we decided to take it easy also.  I went out for a short run and was terrified because of the hills.  I have been known to avoid hills at all costs.  I knew there would be hills, but nothing like I saw! After I ran, we met up with Lauren and went to the expo.  We then ate an early dinner with our large group which was fun.

I went to sleep early to be best prepared.  First, I layed out all my gear to be ready to go.  I was surprised at how "un-nervous" I felt.  I knew that I put in the work and I could finish it!

Stay tuned for another post about the actual race!