Final Thoughts

Well folks, the time has arrived. 

Tomorrow morning is THE DAY.

I will be running my first half marathon and, as you all know, I've felt a lot of varying emotions leading up to this point. The best emotion happened today though- EXCITEMENT!!

Chris and I drove to the XL Center to pick up our race packets and walk around the expo (can we say SWAG heaven?!) I snagged a bunch of Gu, a spibelt, some awesome Larabars and tons of other stuff. The whole atmosphere was just intoxicating and I loved every minute of it.

We also drove the race course so we could see what we have in store for us tomorrow. I have to say that the course is gorgeous and it seems like a pretty good race. Not too many drastic inclines, thank goodness! As we were finishing up our drive of the course, my phone rang with some even more exciting news! The amazingly wonderful people at ING had sent out an email a few months ago asking people to submit their stories about why they were running, so I submitted mine. Apparently ING loved the story and got in touch with my local paper who then decided to do a human interest piece on me! SWEET! So, the phone call was from a reporter who did a rather in depth phone interview about myself, my training, my running for my mother, etc etc. Then, they sent a photographer over to my house later in the day to do an hour long photo shoot of myself and my mom. CRAZY!!! So, supposedly the story is going to run tomorrow! I am beyond thrilled! It's so flattering to know that people actually care about what I'm doing, you know? I mean, take all of you readers for example, what would I do without all of your advice and support?! You guys are the best!

Anyway, I had a lengthy conversation with Kurt @ Becoming an Ironman (he's running the full marathon to my half) and we discussed water stations, GU choices, hydration techniques, etc etc. He got me super pumped and I feel a bit better about running tomorrow. I truly feel like it's going to be an amazing experience.

However, in the slight case that I do not cross the finish line, I am leaving my last will and testament here so there should be no questions about who gets what.

Final Will and Testament of Kristin

I, Kristin, do hereby leave all my worldly running belongings as so stated below/.

My various running skirts (sparkly and non-sparkly) to the following people:
Amy @ Pumpkin to Princess
Wells L @ My Story... Chapter 2
Stephanie @ Running to Health

My awesome pink running shoes go to Chelsea (as I know she fully appreciates their awesomeness).

I leave my hefty collection of GU gels, Chomps, and Brews to the following people:
Kurt @ Becomin an Ironman

MrsQ @ A Duck on the Run
Vanessa @ Gourmet Runner

Everyone else can pick over what is left (sunglasses, iPod case, ear buds, compression sleeves, so on and so forth). All I ask is that you please be gentle with my destroyed body as you shove it aside on the road to pass me.

In all seriousness though, I'm psyched for tomorrow and I can't wait to get there and blast this race out of the water! It's going to be amazing! Wish me luck everyone! And good luck to everyone else who has a race this weekend!

Red Dress Run and A MeetUp

I am a superhero!

 Source

I've done something that has NEVER been done before....

I convinced my mother to do a 5k with me!

Remember a while ago (way back when) when I posted about how my mother and her friend had started walking? How proud I was of her because it's a HUGE physical challenge for her (because she has had 4 strokes)? Well, Kristin @RunningtoSomewhere contacted me to do a blogger meet up and run (with some Froyo World goodness afterward hopefully). She suggested doing the Red Dress Run for Women. It's a 5k run/walk through the Hartford/West Hartford area- beginning and ending in Elizabeth Park (which has a GORGEOUS rose garden).

So, I promptly checked my work schedule, saw that I don't have to work until later in the evening that day and decided a 5k run would be fun. As I was going through the website info HERE, my mother asked me what I was up to. I told her all about the race and my blogger plans to meet up and a ginormous light bulb went off in my head! I told my mom that she needed to do this race with me. She has been walking for a while now and I think it's time for her to step it up. She doesn't have to run, but she can most certainly walk the 3.1 miles and cross the finish line. I told her I would even walk with her if she wanted me to. After a few more minutes of convincing, she agreed to do it and I immediately signed us up as a mother/daughter team called "The Pink Ladies" (my favorite color and a musical reference? I rock.)

I'm SO excited! My mom is going to do this with me AND I'm going to do a blogger meet up?! (Of course photos will be taken of the entire day haha) I cannot wait for Saturday the 9th to get here! I don't even care about my time or anything- I'm going to this race to meet a friend, have fun and support women's health and my mom. Then, I fully intend on finding some delicious froyo to enjoy before I have to head to work.