Best Rush After A Speech and Best Packaging of The Year 2009 #best09

December 14 Rush. When did you get your best rush of the year?

I stood up in front of my running group this past summer to do a short, ten minute seminar on visualization during the marathon. The speech went enormously well, and due to the nature of the speech itself demanding 100% of the listeners attention, it was an amazing experience. During the talk, I had everyone take and easy seat and move up close to the stage. I spoke in a hushed, subdued tone and asked them to close their eyes and visualize the feel of the race that was ahead of them. I could feel the energy of fifty people focusing on one thing buzzing around me. I finished my speech and looked out at the crowd sitting just a few feet from me. Everyone was quiet and for an intstant all I could hear was breathing. They were all still basking in the imaginary finish of their marathon. It was a beautiful moment with me being the one of the only people with their eyes open and I could see it in each of their face. I could see the joy and accomplishment in each of their faces as they sat there for that brief moment and watched themselves accomplish a huge goal like the marathon. A rush of pure, sweet, albeit breif happiness and satisfaction washed over me and I exhaled. It was amazing. Then they opened their eyes.

December 15 Best packaging. Did your headphones come in a sweet case? See a bottle of tea in another country that stood off the shelves?

I loved the packaging that my partner's mom used to give us her currently-not-being used margarita glasses, red wine glasses and white wine glasses. Each glass stood up on its own and was protected by foam walls. They are great glasses, too! Great packaging.

Current book I'm reading: "Reading Like A Writer" By Francine Prose

Belated Race Report - From September 20, 2009

Just last month, I did the Burnet TRI Hard Challenge at Inks Lake in Burnet, TX. Last year, I had a blast at this triathlon camping the night before with a few of my favorite racing buddies. This year, we were unable to secure a camping spot and thus had to stay at a local bed and breakfast. The B&B was nice, albiet a bit creepy as we were the only ones staying there. The restuarants in Burnet were empty and much of the historic downtown was deserted and blighted. It was quite sad. To make matters worse, after the tri as we were leaving the B&B, the B&B owner's female bulldog attacked and bit our mini schnauzer several times, drawing blood in a few places. He recovered and I took care of his cuts in the following weeks, but needless to say it was a pretty traumatic trip. Hence, this update is quite late.

PRE-RACE:
I planned to train through this race, and so I did a long run on Saturday morning with my favorite running buddies. The run was tough for me, I felt very tired until about 5 miles in. This 5 mile-feel-better rule happens to me sporadically when I've been training hard. I usually take rest and I feel better on the next long one when this happens. I had the tri on Sunday, though, so rest really wasn't an option. We got to Burnet, took a visit to Inks Lake to pick up our packets and check out the water. The water was like glass, and it was nice and cool. Inks Lake, in my opinion, is one of the best lakes to stage a triathlon swim. It remains to be one of my favorite lakes in which to compete. The out and back course is easy to navigate because the water is fairly flat and the temperature is cool but not too cold. If only Decker Lake would be so cool and easy to navigate.

Anyway, so we get in to the B&B and then proceed to try to find a relatively healthy place to eat in Burnet, TX. The small town offered Tex-Mex, a southern buffet, and Tex-Mex. We went for the southern buffet, as we figured it would be better for finding carbs and easier on the tummy. That restuarant was an experience all its own, and for the first time in my life I found myself being a tad bit picky. Usually I eat everything, but I took it easy at this buffet. My stomach thanked me for it later.

Sleep was hard to come by the night before the tri, and I woke up before the alarm. I was plauged with premonition-type dreams of flat tires and bike maintence issues. That morning, we warmed up oatmeal in the B&B's kitchen and ate quickly. Then we drove off toward Inks Lake. I did not carefully inspect my bike before loading it, and I realized that my back tire was flat. I'm no stranger to flats, and so I attempted to change it, only to find that my brakes were rubbing. I solicted help from a fellow triathlete and went on my way prepping transition. Somehow, I knew that my bike issues would not be few on that day. I turned out to be right.

THE RACE:
The swim went smooth. Smooth as glass. I loved and enjoyed every second. I came up to transition, took some water and got on my bike. Not 5 miles into the bike course, I hear a disheartening "PSSSSSSSSH" of my bake tire deflating. I stop and begin to change it. I blew through my first CO2 cartridge and was working on the second. I began to have thoughts of stopping. I figured my bike split was shot. Then Liz bikes up and offers moral support and help. I get rolling and somehow I find it in me to try to pass everyone that passed me while I was messing with my back tire for 15 minutes. It was a fun game I played and I really felt like I pushed the rest of the bike harder than I ever had in a tri as a result of that flat. My time, of course, does not reflect that, but I know it and that is what matters. I keep focusing on the mantra "You are an athlete that doesn't give up" and it worked well. I was very excited for the run, although my legs were more tired than they normally are going into it. I sped through like only a fast girl can and was only passed once. The guy that passed me was doing more training, he had already finished. I hung with him for a while, and we chatted. He said I was "baking it on the run" and I told him about the tire issue and how I channeled Chrissie Wellington. He said nice job and then dropped me. I ran behind him, keeping him in sight for the second half of the 5K and ended up with a great run split.

Overall the tri was a success because I went from wanting to quit to finding strength in myself and my athlecticism. I ended up still placing 2nd in my age group, though we did not wait around for awards because I figured I was out of the running. The post-race baked potato was the BOMB and I thank the wonderful folks at the Burnet Chamber of Commerce for putting on yet another small, local, extremely fun race.


Current book I'm reading: The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

GIRLS.CAN.CLIMB - Race Report of Jack's Generic Triathlon

"GIRLS.CAN.CLIMB" was the mantra I was using during the bike portion of the triathlon that I completed this past Sunday. It was called Jack's Generic Sprint Tri. The weather was amazing - a few degrees cooler than normal due to a glorious cloud cover. Since I've been training in 100+ degree temps and high humidity, even the slightest lowering of temperature makes me feel like I can fly! And fly I did, I got 6th in my age group!

Pre-race was fun and relaxed because we got there EARLY. I had the opportunity to chat with a few of my favorite volunteers and wish one of my friends a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I can't believe the fact that my friend was out there ON HER BIRTHDAY volunteering and handing out water and Pure Sport to all of us tired athletes. I really appreciated hearing her cheers and I know she had a Happy Birthday!

Before getting in the water, I ran into a girl who I had met through the Nike Running group last summer. Jack's Generic was her first tri. She was, like many of us, scared about the swim. I told her to wait 5 seconds before starting to go and get to the edge of the pack and SIGHT as much as she could. At 8:16 our wave started, my arms felt sore from lifting weights earlier in the week, but I felt stronger than ever on the swim. I actually enjoyed it, despite the strange smell of the water. There wasn't as much silt or muck this time around, and it went by super fast! I was out of the water in less than 10 minutes. I ran up to transition and my birthday girl friend cheered "out of the water in 10 seconds flat...GO MERCEDES!" it was so helpful and motivating. I got on my bike and took off up the hill, passing people like a mad-woman. The first half of the bike I kept switching places with this guy on a tri bike. Every time we passed one another we would say "good job" to one another. I finally got him on the second half of the bike because as the title of this post says GIRLS.CAN.CLIMB! I channeled the energy from my cycling mentor and I pushed it in to the finish of the bike, ready and energized for the run.

I got my running shoes, hat and water bottle on quickly and sprinted out of transition. I tried to be aware of the fact that I always run the first mile fast in triathlon. I get excited to be on the run, my "favorite" part. (I put that "favorite" in quotes now because lately I've been enjoying the bike and the swim A LOT more. I remember thinking in this last tri that I didn't want the bike to end! I wasn't ready for the swim to end, either! I just love the whole thing!) I held back a bit but I was still passing guy after guy after guy on the out portion of the out-and-back run. There were no girls in sight. I maybe saw 2-3 women on the run on the way out. On the back portion after the turn around I saw a lot of women starting out. It made me feel fast to be passing all of these men. I kept my thinking super positive throughout the run. Even though I was hurting, I kept telling myself "the turn around is just ahead, you're almost there see it in the distance, the turn around is just ahead" and I kept pushing. After the turn around I had it in my head that the back portion was shorter than the out portion, I convinced myself of that somehow and I pushed and just made sure I was passing every guy that was in front of me. At the finishing chute this random guy said "there's about 5 more guys ahead of you waiting for you to GET 'EM" it was so inspiring. I felt really strong. A guy on the back portion of the run used my bib number in a cheer and screamed "206 she's in the mix; she's got it!" and that was super helpful too. I saw a couple of friends and caught some high fives. I love this sport and I'm starting to love all of the people in it.

BEST.TRI.EVER!

Post race was definitely enjoyable. I did not get my body worked on but I did work on drinking two of my favorite beers on the planet and a veggie burger. Oh, and an ice cream sandwich. And did I mention the potato chips? Yes, I ate those, too while waiting for my special to finish. After everyone was through we sat and enjoyed the ambiance of Texas Ski Ranch and chatted with some friends. Again, BEST.TRI.EVER! And another conclusion: THEY ARE ONLY GETTING BETTER!

If they are only getting better, I can't imagine how great the Austin Tri is going to be. And the 1/2 Ironman! And the Ironman! I can't wait!!

Current book I'm reading: Old Friend From Far Away

Couples Triathlon - Full Circle

(Photo by Kevin Saunders)

Couples Sprint Triathlon Race Report - Quick 'n' Dirty from the Triathlon Trucker

So I wrote a race report and I honestly don't know what happened to it. So, until I find it, I will post a truncated-this-should suffice report for the sake of keeping track of all this triathlon jazz.

Woke up 4:45 a.m. Had tire pumping up issues on bike(s). Decided it was a wash to try to fix these issues by myself and so I just loaded up the bikes and headed to the tri after eating a yummy breakfast of organic coffee and steel cut oats.

Arrived at Walter E. Long Park at approx 6:05 a.m. I'm quite proud of myself because I did not get lost going out there this time. I think it was a combination of the fact that I was following someone with tri bikes on their car and I've been riding out there at Decker Lake a lot more often and so things are starting to look more and more familiar to me. I can't explain why that area still alludes me after a year of racing and riding out there. Very strange. Hopefully this triathlon marks that day that my penchant to getting lost in this area is through. We'll see.

6:45 a.m. Grab an awesome spot at the end of the line for transition and set most of it up. Then I proceed to plead with the wonderful Sam, a Jack and Adam's mechanic and bike-angel to 1.) recommend a better pump 2.) fix my chain which I had somehow pulled off the previous night while cleaning it 3.) fix a tire for me. And he did. And I probably owe him cookies or something for this great work.

7:15 a.m. Everything is set and my bike got a mini-tuneup thanks to Sam. I'm a little perplexed that my partner is still not there. Transition will soon be closing. I try not to worry and chat with my many wonderful, beautiful, fast and awesome friends who were accompanying me in this tri. Jess A., Becky, Rebecca, Jodi, Jennifer, Sylvia, Jason, Mike P., Joe, Dan M., Lisa S... it was great to see everybody.

7:25 a.m. My partner arrives in the nick of time. I'm quite relieved to hand over the extra cap, goggles and timing chip I had been carrying around. We head down to the swim start to check it out.

We all head down to the start. There is a warmth and an excitement in the air. I keep looking for my girls but I can't find them. My right quad keeps seizing up, I remember thinking it was probably due to the mileage I ran the previous day. I do some drills while standing in place and the warmth helps the soreness/seizing go away.

The gun sounds and a mess of hundreds of women's bodies bubble up around me. This was by far my worst swim start yet, but I remained ever-calm and just kept trucking through the water. It was so crowded. And so warm! I suppose I got used to swimming in the chilly 68 degrees of Barton Springs and so the nuclear-warm waters of Decker were not comfortable for me at all. I could feel myself sweating. Girls were pumping into me left and right. Usually in a tri swim I find my own space and get ahead of the pack. That never happened on this swim. There were girls grabbing all parts of my body - my quads, my butt, my shoulders. I was suffering through the swim but I made it out of the water in a good time. 16:52 or something.

As I slog up the hill to transition I see my buddy David volunteering and cheering. It helps me run faster. I think I see Jennifer's parents. I'm feeling good and ready for the bike.

I make a game-time decision not to put on my bike gloves. It didn't seem necessary on a 11 mile bike. I honestly did not miss them.

I get out near Decker Lane and my newly installed bike computer pops off. I freak out a bit, wondering at first what fell and then seeing the computer missing a little bit too late to stop. I note the surroundings and figure I'll come back after the tri to see if it's still intact. (SIDE NOTE: Fortunately after 20 minutes or so of looking the lovely Liz finds my bike computer on the side of the road after the tri. I was very grateful. And yeh it still works!)

I push the hills on the bike. They are familiar and I felt good throughout the bike. This is a first for me. Usually I feel good on the swim and the run, never the bike. So I know I've been putting in good hours on the bike and it's paying off. My legs were happy. I kept thinking my cycling mentor Rebecca C. would come up on me and push me toward the second half, but that never happened. I came up on Jennifer P. on the big hill near FM 973. I cheer her on as best as I could on the hill. My happy my legs still have it despite me training through this tri.

Transition is smooth. Note to self: get those quick tie laces already. I run out of transition only taking a slight wrong turn and see Carrie B. She cheers me on and I greatly appreciate it. I start out too fast on the run like I always do in tris. Somehow this is never a problem for me in running races but in tris I just get so excited (at first) to run. Somehow I end up with stomach pains during the run. Maybe it was the goo I took at the start of the run, not sure. I am in pain. I feel like the run is a death march. I catch myself in some negative thinking about how hard the 1/2 Ironman is going to be here at this same location. I catch myself thinking "its ok to slow down a little, you're tired." Bad thoughts. I am a fast runner. I know this. But I'm not thinking that way. Not that day. Somehow I find it in myself to push, but I'm in pain. I want to walk on the hills, but I don't. I feel like a tired bull dog. Don't ask me why. I always feel like I run like a bull dog when I'm tired. The sun is beating down on me yet I'm getting chills. Not sure what that means. I try to think positive but there is no positive thing in my head aside from the finish. I try to feed on that and just keep looking ahead. I pull my tired legs up the last mile long hill to the finish. Immediately at the end I feel like I could have put more in. I guess that's what training hard through a tri will feel like at the end.

I turn and see Jennifer P. finishing right behind me. It's nice to have someone there at the finish right when I finish. I love that girl. She's so tough and so motivating to me. I get some Pure Sport for us both and I also see my buddy Mike P. and go chat with him. I ask him what he did the previous day...he says "70" (referring to his bike mileage) but I thought he said "7" (referring to running mileage) I gleefully joke "I beat ya" and hold up eight fingers. He takes this to mean 80 miles on the bike. Cha...I wish!! I figure out my mistake and I congratulate him for his amazing 70 mile ride. I know WILL get there someday. I start to feel better about the tri overall. I know I got a course PR and that alone starts to make me happy. I forget the tough time I had on the run and bask in the joy of the finish.

I cheer in all of my friends and partner into the finish with a huge smile on my face. I drink a Coke (shocker) after all friends were finished and enjoy half of it along with some other bad-for-ya food. I never drink pop so the craving was new to me. I'm going to roll with it. A treat like that once in a while is ok. I get some ART work done and the Dr says I need to be trigger point rolling daily. I cringe at the thought. He says that if I'm truckin', training and racing as much as I am I really need to be on top of the trigger point. I told him I'm a trucker, yes, and I might consider getting on the trigger point regimen. Ack...another thing I need to buy.

Next tri is August 2. I'm ready to truck through that swim, enjoy the bike again and kick some major on the run! Wish this little tri trucker some good luck!

Pre Inspires Me

"Something inside of me just said 'Hey, wait a minute, I want to beat him,' and I just took off." ~Steve Prefontaine

I say that a lot. Inside my head. When I'm racing. It might be obvious that I have a competitive drive. A friend of mine deemed me the most competitive person he knows, but I like to believe he was being facetious. Anyway, I'm excited to train this weekend and do my first solo long run in months tomorrow morning. I plan to do a easy 8 or 9 on Lady Bird Lake. Out to Enfield and back.

And Sunday, its waking up at 7 in the morning to head to my friend's house on Wells Branch. We're doing an out and back on Parmer. Hopefully we'll be early enough that there will not be much holiday related traffic or bad weather. About 6 or 7 people from the RIDE RADAR Newsletter that I send out are going to be very disappointed if the weather doesn't hold up. Currently it's going to be 76 degrees with T-storms 70% chance of precipitation. I guess I'll be wearing my rain slick!

In other news, I need to take some digital photos this weekend of me running in my Austin Fit running gear for the website. I am coaching the summer session again, and I'm really excited. The director of the program requested that I write a running biography and submit a running photo sometime next week. Fortunately I already have the bio written, now I just need to focus on the glam shots. If the photos turn out favorably, perhaps I'll post some of them on here soon.

In any case, wish me luck on yet another successful training weekend! When it's raining on me Sunday morning, I'm just going to say "Pre would have rode (or ran) in the rain!"!!!

Current book I'm reading: The Dogs of Babel and the short story Breakfast at Tiffany's
Races in the immediate future: April 25th Gov-nah's Texas Round-Up 10K. I'm hoping to break 45! :)

Cap 10K PERSONAL BEST!

This past Sunday was a perfect day for running. A slight chill hung in the early spring air as I warmed up alongside of the Austin American-Statesman, anxiously anticipating my first road race of the year. My purple bib number flapped in the air as I jumped up and down to keep warm. Though it was a bit chilly before the start of the race, the sunny, 40 degree temps with no winds were ideal racing weather.

The first mile up Congress was nice and I felt myself warming up just as I was going up the first hill on 11th street. "I love hills" I said, under my breathe as I bounded up. The slew of hills on Enfield felt short to me and I was surprised to find I was not breathing hard as I easily climbed them. I looked down at my watch thinking that I was going slow, but really I think I was going pretty fast. The 3 mile or 5K 1/2 way point came faster than I thought. I think I was at 22 minutes at that point. I still wasn't breathing hard. I realized that meant I had better speed up. And speed up I did to a finish of 45:10. Averaging 7:16 minute miles.

The second half of the race got harder, probably because I was going faster. I began to see some of my Statesman co-workers handing out water and cheering. "Hi friends!" I called to them wistfully as I breezed by and grabbed a cup of water to sip on. I knew I was going fast at that point and I still felt incredible. As we were passing by Austin High School, a very friendly co-worker called to me "just over a mile to go!" and I kicked it in even harder at that point. I remembered that right by Austin High 2 years ago was where I said in my head "I wish I was running the marathon instead of this freakishly fast 10K." Needless to say, I wasn't wishing that I was running a marathon this past Sunday. I was thinking "wow, 10Ks are just like the best distance, the most fun tempo-run ever!" I was 100% happy with my 10K finish. As I crossed the line and looked down at my watch, I saw 45:13. I paused, in shock. Did I really see a 45?!?! 45! The magic number! I did my 10K in 45 minute! "45 FREAKIN' MINUTE!" I called out, to no one in particular. I looked up at the sky, elated, shocked. I had not trained for this. I hardly ran 30 miles per month these past 2 months and my best time came to me. A few happy tears leaked out of my eyes and a huge smile graced my face as I walked through the finishing chute. I saw Des, my idol, talking to some shirtless guy at the finish. It had a feeling she won. I wanted to go up and congratulate her, but I wasn't 100% sure of her win, so I didn't. I walked on and then jogged to the South 1st Street bridge to cool down, cheer on my friends, and stretch.

After collecting my compadres, I headed to the Guaranty Bank Tent to chow on some much needed breakfast tacos, scones and fruit. I chatted with Pam LeBlanc, Tony P, John Bridges and Eddie Burns about their finishes. They all did great!

Later that day I did a 13 mile bike ride. Afterward, someone special treated me to 2 scoops of my favorite Baskin Robbin's ice cream. Peanut Butter 'n' Chocolate. THE BEST ICE CREAM EVER!!! I have decided, I only get to eat that ice cream when I PR. Considering I have been addicted since childhood to this particular flavor, I have a lot of work to do so I can keep getting that Peanut Butter 'n' Chocolate BR in my tummy on a consistent basis.

In other news, this weekend I am doing my first triathlon of the season. It also happens to be my first Quarter Ironman. Sunday, April 5th is the big day for the Galveston Lonestar Quarter (and Half) Ironman. We'll be swimming .6 mile in the bay, 28 miles on the bike, and a 10K plus on the run. Good luck to friends competing in the New Orleans 70.3 and to all of you who are headed to Galveston for the weekend festivities.

Current book I'm reading: The Dogs of Babel

Fresh As A Daisy 5K - PERSONAL RECORD!

This Saturday I raced in the ARC Daisy 5K, the first race in the popular ARC Sprint Series. I used the Sprint Series last year to hone in on my speed, and it definitely helped me have an even faster marathon time come Fall 2009 in San Antonio. I shaved roughly 3 minutes off my marathon PR in 2009. I've long been a believer in garnering speed before you launch into marathon training, and 2009 was a perfect example of how well that method worked for me. I'm hoping it works even better this year and gets me to a personal best and perhaps a Boston Qualifier in my next fall marathon!

I will start training over the summer for my fall marathon. I'm still toying with the idea of doing the Chicago Marathon. There are so many other events I'm interested in around that time, I'm suffering from FOMO (FEAR OF MISSING OUT). There are SO MANY marathons and triathlons out there! So hard to pick just one. In my heart of hearts, I know Chicago is the right one. It's flat, fast, scenic and has lots of support. I just need to come upon that realization for myself and in my own time.

The Daisy 5K went great. I hit a recent PR and I'm very proud of that! My all-time PR was set back in high school when I was only training for 5K - that was a 19:52. That's in the past, though, more recently I haven't been able to break 22 minutes. Saturday, though, I did! I did it, with winds of 30mph pushing forth during the last mile. I pushed really hard into the wind at the end, knowing I had to do it to stay under 22. I felt like I was going to throw it at the finish line, but somehow, when that volunteer handed me my orange daisy, I felt refreshed and wonderful within mere instants.

Now that's what I call FLOWER POWER.

I emerged from the finishing chute, feeling fresh with my daisy, and I ran off to cool down along the last stretch of the race, looking for my friends and cheering them on like nuts. The food and festivities afterward were great, ARC puts on great races, bar none.

After chowing down, I headed to my gym for some hatha yoga. Crazy enough, I ran into a fellow competitor in my age group who beat me by a minute. We chatted about training, triathlon, and running for a long while in the middle of the gym. It was cool to meet her and I'll have you know I'm determined to beat her next time we race. I don't know how fast she is on the bike, but we're both doing the Galveston Lonestar Olympic Tri and if I have anything to say about it I'm going to GET HER!! It's going to be great. So was the Daisy, though. And I have a feeling that if I would have trained more than a measly 20 miles total in the month of February I probably would have been neck and neck with her. But that is all could-a, should-a, would-a, didn't and it doesn't matter anymore. The only thing I can change now is the present. And as far as today goes, I'm off to do a double spin class this afternoon at my gym from 6-8p. Beto first, Zach-attach second at Pure Austin, the little gem of a downtown gym.

Oh and Sunday? I took a jaunt out on Fitzhugh in the late afternoon after the wind had died down. Lance's stomping ground. I pedaled through the hill country with a smile on my face and fire in my heart. It was gorgeous cycling into the sunset and I couldn't help but dream about future half Ironmans and Ironmans. What a way to cap off a Sunday.

Current book I'm reading: The one I wrote.

Neglect Yoga and the IT says HEEEY!!!

So the past couple of weeks my IT band at the hip has been saying "HEEEY" a little too often for my liking.

So much so that I skipped out on two Dripping Springs 30+ milers because I thought it was an injury from cycling with the new shoes/pedals. So much so that I couldn't do my long run last weekend. This is a serious problem if I want to get geared up for the triathlon season. The achy hips screamed after I ran or cycled, I didn't know which to blame. I thought it was running...then I thought it was cycling.

Turns out I was wrong. It was neither.

The IT was just tight because I was neglecting my yoga practice. I realized this upon looking back at my training logs and seeing that I was just running, biking and swimming and then doing nothing else. A few push ups, weights, drills but no yoga. I think my body relies on yoga to keep it loose after all the pounding from running. And now, even more so it relies on it from all the time on the bike.

At the VERY LEAST, I'm doing yoga three times a week. That's at the least. There will not be happy hours scheduled over yoga. Dates and social events can wait, my body NEEDS yoga. It needs the hips stretched out in order to be efficient in racing. My body doesn't like to run if I haven't been to yoga. My body doesn't like to cycle if I haven't been to yoga. My body will swim, but that's a given.

I have realized lately that my cycling and running performance hinge on my yoga practice. No more excuses, I need to GET ME TO YOGA!

...Om...

Current book I'm reading: The Artist's Way

The Marathon is Here. Sunday, February 17, 2008

Mercedes after Austin ATT 2007

The big day that I have been training for over the past year is here. I am not at 100%, but I am still going for that BOSTON QUALIFIER. Not only that, I'm going for an amazing experience, that only a fellow marathoner can really understand. Interested in understanding? Contact me and I'll show you how.

Inspiration for the marathon...wow, click me, click me!


And another thing, I'm going to rock. Here is what will drive me to the finish line. The number one thing would be love, then, each of these affirmations...

Positive Affirmations of Mercedes Orten, marathoner, future Boston Qualifier

I am capable of anything.

My friends and family will love me, support me, and cheer me on no matter what.

I will cheer me on no matter what.

I am fast.

I am strong.

I will endure, I am an endurance athlete.

*I am a runner. I am a marathoner*

I will make it to the finish line and be proud no matter what my finishing time.

I will take my body to this finish line and many more finish lines after this!

I am my own hero and I've seen her in the mirror for the past 24, going on 25 years. I will see her again on Sunday morning, and she will achieve.





Current book I'm reading: The book inside my mind as it goes over 26.2 miles.

Saturday's Run and Happy Birthday Mom!

Austin Fit's yellow group will be running this run on Saturday, October 27th. I'm excited!!



Current book I'm reading: A Million Little Pieces by James Frey and On The Road

Dreaming of the day...

I wish I could be running here right now. Such a sweet stock photograph.

I am currently dreaming of the day that I can be a professional runner like Liz Yelling. Liz Yelling's advice.


She was a teacher and then she went pro a few years ago. Can this be me? Am I good enough? As I ran through the hills of Balcones last night, I felt like maybe, just maybe, I am. Only time will tell.


Current book I'm reading: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers AND On the Road by Jack Kerouac

Captial 10,000 10K Run

Here are the top 10K Race Location Finishers as posted on Statesman.com

The Bolder Boulder, which I have yet to do despite being a resident of Boulder for most of my life, got second place for attendance. The Statesman Captial 10,000 got 5th! Pretty sweet!!

1. Peachtree Road Race Atlanta, Ga. 54,556

2. Celest. Seasonings Bolder Boulder Boulder, Colo. 43,635

3. Cooper River Bridge Run Charleston, S.C. 33,604

4. Ukrop's Monument Avenue Richmond, Va. 16,460

5. Statesman Capitol 10,000 Austin 12,232

6. Thanksgiving Day Race Cincinnati, Ohio 10,569

7. Bellin Run Green Bay, Wis. 8,969

8. Tufts Health Plan 10K for Women Boston 6,043

9. Scotland Run New York City 5,126

10. Rodes City Run Louisville, Ky. 5,088
Current book I'm reading:

Written January 6, 2007 - When I was shocked I could do 16 miles. HA!

So I'm laying here still tired on my bed from the run that took me 3 hours this morning. I began at like 8 or so and ended at 11am. I feel great; just tired. No aches or pains! I'm very proud, this is the furthest distance thus far (this was January 6, 2007, BEFORE THE MARATHON) I have ever ran and I thought you guys might like to check out the route on this awesome road-measuring website called www.gmap-pedometer.com I ate a TON during this run at the three water/food stops that my running group put together. They had bananas, cooked potatoes with lots of salt on them, goo, cliff blocks (which were surprisingly GOOD tasting) gummy bears, and lots and lots of cookies. I preferred the fig newtons!! After the run even though I wasn't hungry I hate MORE. It is so weird not worrying a thing about what I'm eating and just chowing down until I'm packed and too full. I ate out at Guerro's Taco bar with a friend this afternoon at 2:30, it was a good time. This resturant we dined at just happened to be Bill Clinton's favorite haunt when he came to Austin. I ordered "El Presidente" and shared it with my companion. I ate ALL of my share. I need to eat more now to make up for the 2,000 calories I probably burned during this run. Here it is:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=624180

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Current book I'm reading: Who knows. Running for Fiends, probably.

I did it! I am a marathoner.

26.2 miles are mine.

Photos to come!! I am told by my support group that many were taken. I have yet to see them but I am excited to see them!!


Before the marathon with my mom.


During the marathon. This is at mile 23. Look at those legs.


After the marathon with my mom. See that sweet looking silver blanket? Sweet, isn't it? Yes, I felt really damn amazing.


I know that I could not have made it without their support at 4 different locations throughout the marathon! And they had fig newtons!!! Yummy!


I couldn't ask for better parents. They rock. My dad thought mid-race to rent bikes and ride along with me from mile 23-26.2. Needless to say that really helped.

Do a marathon, it will change your life.

Current book I'm reading: The one I'm writing.

carboload - carboload - carboload

Only six days left until the big day, the ATT Austin Marathon. The day that has been stuck in my head for 25 weeks, February 18, 2007. This is a day that I will probably always remember. My first marathon. My first marathon experience.

On Thursday, August 17, 2006, shortly after I began working at the Statesman, I read an article in the paper about how the previous Freescale marathon was changing sponsors. ATT was going to take over the main sponsorship, and the race course might change. I was excited about the 10,000 entrants, which made this marathon the 15th most popoular in the nation. A website for the marathon was tacked on to the end of the short, seemingly inconsequential article. It was certainly the tiny push that I needed to check out the lore around marathon training and running. I began my search that day for a marathon training group. I had decided by the end of that day, August 17, 2006, that I would be training for 25 weeks with AustinFit marathon training group for the marathon that is coming up, now only 6 days away.

That decisive, self-assured move that I made that day, to sign up to run, to join AustinFit, has since changed my life in a huge way. Running long distances like I had never ran before has changed my perspective on my body. I realize now that the human body is capable of so much more than we know. I realize now that the human spirit and mind, specifically my human spirit and mind, is stronger than I ever realized. This realization, which I came upon after a recovering from injury mid-season and after a 22 mile training run just two weeks ago will culminate and consume my mind and body at the end of the race on February 18, 2007. This weekend.

Someone close to me said to me the other day that he "hadn't even seen how strong I was yet" within the duration of our relationship. He then added that on race day, when I complete my 26.2 miles, he was sure that he would see how strong I was. I never thought of it that way, though. I never thought of completing the marathon to show other people how strong I was. I always framed it in terms of proving my strength to myself. And that I will.


See those legs? They will carry me.

Current book I'm reading: The one I'm writing about my life as a runner.
Current song stuck in my head: Peter Gabriel's "Games without Frontiers"

21 days to go and counting...

Twenty one days until the marathon on February 18, 2007!

And I ran 22 miles this weekend with the help of my running group, AustinFit. I love Austin because by the end of the 3hours and 58 minutes of running 22 miles, the sun was shining warm and my body was humming. There is no place I would rather be right now. After running, I protein-loaded with my running group at Freebirds Burritos and then I took a nice, freezing cold healing dip in Barton Springs Pool. There was no one at the pool, and it was 70 degrees outside!

So, today, with 21 days until the marathon, I have begun thinking about my next endeavor. This one is going to take a lot more dedication and a lot more work. Just as I've always wanted to do a marathon, I've also always wanted to do a triathalon.

My friend at work suggested and prodded me just a teeny tiny bit and wants me to try to compete in this one: http://www.captextri.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11&Itemid=12

So, I'm thinking about it. I'd have to buy a nice bike though, and those are like thousands of dollars and I don't know a thing about them! So this will take quite a bit more thought than the marathon goal. As far as that one goes, after 22 miles, I feel like I'm almost there. In fact, I'm only 3.2 miles and 21 days away from there!

Current book I'm reading: Allen Ginsberg's Journals