The funnest part of racing is the not running parts

FIRST - the priority of the day is... SHOES


I've been wearing Saucony's for awhile - Triumph for longer runs, and Genesis for shorter/speed work.

Then I got the Brooks in Seattle, and I've been wearing those mostly for the last month - Glycerine's I wore on my 18 miler a few weeks ago, and the Pure Flow for almost everything else.

I'm a little in love with the Pure Flow, and they are, hands down, the most favorite thing I've put on my feet in forever.

BUUUUUUT. I haven't worn them for a run with any type of length - I think 7 or 8 miles is the max I've put on them at one time.

But they're purple, and match my outfit really well.

I wore the Saucony's for my 9 miles last weekend, and... boo. They're no longer my favorite, and are actually at the bottom of my shoe rotation now - I don't know that I'll wear them again.

WWYD? Chance it in the Pure Flow? Run with the Glycerine's?
These are the things that keep me up at night.
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I AM SO EXCITED to meet up with so many runners this weekend! Seriously. These races are like runner/blogger heaven.

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I was super, super, SUPER EXCITED to spend the weekend in San Francisco with BFF Becka. Sadly, a good friend of her's passed away this week.

I don't really know what to say, because, I'm pretty verbally awkward, and OBVIOUSLY I'd love to see B, but I completely get that her head is somewhere else and understand if she can't make the trip.

Words don't really seem adequate, so in place I texted her a ridiculous picture I saw on the internet machine.

Which is my way of saying, I'm sorry you're hurting, and hope you find the peace you need. And don't feel obligated to me in any way, I'm totally capable of running on my own or finding a new pace friend.

Boo.

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It kind of snuck up on me, but San Francisco Marathon is this weekend!

Did you know? A marathon is still 26+ miles?

And that you have to actually propel yourself on your feet through all of those miles?

Madness.

So, as kind of evidenced by an incredible lack of blogging lately, I'm feeling kind of undertrained and nervous. I haven't run a ton, because July has been pretty busy for me. Also because I'm lazy.

I don't know. I feel like the 5 weeks between Seattle and now was just an awkward amount of time to recover, maintain mileage, and taper, especially when you add in the week in Florida where I boycotted running through the swamp air. Poor planning on my part, but not really, since none of it could be changed. Well, except for the part where I'm lazy and didn't run. I guess that was in my control.

Anyway, needless to say, I don't really have goals for this race as far as finishing at a certain time (except for the 6 hour course limit. THAT is important).

What I'd REALLY like to do, is run a mentally strong race.

In Seattle, my brain shut down and I quit, well before my body gave up. I went in thinking that ANYTHING was possible with my body - who knows what the weather will be like, what if Jerk Shin is wonky, the hip that gave me troubles in Ragnar and PCRF, who knows. It didn't really occur to me that my mental game was going to be the first to give in. I never considered that an option.

But now that I know that it is, in fact, an option.... well, now I know. And hopefully I won't just quit.

So that's my goal - don't quit, and ignore my brain.

I know that the course is tough, and that I'm ill prepared for the hills - and yeah, I have a coach, but it's totally not her fault I sucked at following her carefully laid out plans.

A small PR wouldn't suck, either. But pretty much, if I run ANY of miles 22-26, I should nail that...

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EXCELLENT SHOPPING DEALS

BICBands is supporting Wounded Warrior project right now - and if you buy 2 bands and use code 2ND you'll get free 1st class mail shipping. Score. I ordered 2 already, and hoping the gunmetal minnie is back in stock before the code ends. SHOP HERE.

Aspaeris Pivot Shorts - I swear by my #magicpants. I wore them in Seattle, and had minimal recovery time after. I wear them for almost every long run. Right now, if you buy the RED short (hello, red!), you'll receive a pair of black FREE. Shop here.

{disclaimer, I wasn't asked to blog about either of these - I just actually love the products, and the deals are excellent}

Ridic HTC Jealousy + 18 Internet Strangers + 200ish miles...

Freaking FINALLY!!

Ragnar supplies have taken over a corner of my dining room.

I'm sorry in advance, #SMCOL, for bringing this on board.

I'm still doing laundry. I haven't packed. I have to work tomorrow, then meet up the rest of the 12-chick team for van decorating. It's chaos.

It's just the way I like it.

Team So Much Cooler Online will be...

Outfitted by:

RunningSkirts


BIC Bands


Run Pretty Far

Hydrated by:

Nuun

Compressed by:

Aspaeris Pivot Shorts


Pro Compression Socks

And fueled by:

GU

You guys. 200+ miles.

THAT'S KIND OF FAR.

There have been some last minute changes to our lineup (um, hello, Rose is going to INDIA).

Our line up (with our Twitter handles for your following pleasure)

Van 1
Runner 1: Shannon@hungrygazelle
Runner 2: Becka @squirrelgirl44
Runner 3: ME! @hmgiraffy
Runner 4: Julie @julie16750
Runner 5: Sandy @bicbands
Runner 6: Madison @Borntorun77

Van 2
Runner 7: Ashley @prettyfittie
Runner 8: Linzay @brokerunner
Runner 9: Danica @GTR_Danica
Runner 10: Erica @cajun_runner
Runner 11: Sharon
Runner 12: Elisabeth @ewallerscott


We'll be tweeting up a storm, giving away Nuun at exchanges, and generally being... awesome.

Follow us under #SMCOL

I'm super stoked, in case the obnoxious giant fonts didn't tip you off.

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In less exciting news, I saw a new PT today regarding the lumpy shin, and I'm hopeful she'll get it unlumped. She's a runner, and gave me the green light to run Ragnar and PCRF in 2 weeks (omg 2 weeks), and then, probably take a week or so down time to actually fix the weirdness.

Phew.

Running news: 6 miles easy yesterday, 10:53 pace. Boring, I know.

“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.”

1. As you may have heard, Aspaeris is super awesome, and sponsoring our SoCal Ragnar Teams, So Much Cooler Online. Here's a fancy press release about our ultra ladies.
Aspaeris is ALSO offering a 50% discount on all compression shorts until the end of the month! Use code "cooleronline" at checkout, and you'll snag these fancy pants for only $30 (+ shipping). That is a STEAL. As a sponsored athlete (hahahahhaaaa, I will totally never get to use that again, so I'm going to take full advantage), I'll be wearing some of these during one of my Ragnar legs; but I think I'll order an extra pair as well.

2. I know I've mentioned this, but I'm going to keep mentioning it until I die, or until the end of February, because I think it rocks and I don't want you to forget, and who DOESN'T need headbands?? BIC Bands is donating a portion of their January and February sales to Team Gab and PCRF.

GO, SHOP, be banded!

3. The Team Gab IRL Virtual Run will be this Saturday at Mason Regional Park in Irvine. If you're in SoCal, you're invited to join us! If you're planning on coming, please don't forget to email me so I bring the appropriate amount of delicious things for you!

Mmm. Cake.

Running starts at noon. I will send out an email Friday with the exact location in the park.


4. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to everyone who has donated, commented, blogged, tweeted, smoke signaled Team Gab. We are right now at $2209 raised for pediatric cancer research! Team Gab is only $686 behind first place...

Donation link HERE.