Meet the GFR team

Here are the pictures that we took the other day at the YMCA.  It was quite fitting that we did our "photo shoot" there because that is where we all met.  A few years ago we may have exchanged words on the treadmills, in a Spin class, or dropping off kids in tot watch.  We saw each other training on the road, on the bike, and even in Lake Geneva.  We finally joined together to train, share laughs, share tears and share firsts and PRs.

We will further challenge ourselves May 28th at the Bayshore races:
Deirdre: tackling her first marathon
Peg:  getting that coveted BQ that got stolen from her in Chicago
Kim: hoping to get as close to the 4 hour mark and as far away from the 4 1/2 hour mark as she can get!
Dave: our speedy 5Ker looking to finish his first 1/2 marathon without going out too fast
Sara: running the half marathon SUB 2 hours.  come hell or high water.
Zach: after a less than pleasant marathon experience last year, looking to redeem himself in the half
Lisa: busting out a PR 10K OR quickly changing her mind and running the half

6 more weeks.  BRING IT.

(L to R): Dave, Sara, Deirdre, Lisa, Peg, Kim and Zach

look at that amazing form.

I am an addict!!!

So the verdict is in I am an addict with my watch. I thought I would try something new on Thursday night. I told myself "self there will be no looking at the watch, you may peek at it only to see the distance." Off I went down Airport Rd feeling so good. I was focusing on my cadence and mid foot hitting. Then I focused on my hands and arms for a while. I was thinking geez I feel pretty darn good I have to be getting close to 5 miles but I am not looking at the watch. My brain was now focused on my friends...Eminem, Metallica, Journey, Usher you know the normal peeps I run with. Then it was the town hill...where I normally slow down...I thought "lets go bitch" (excuse my language) I honestly knew I need to fatigue my legs and keep my pace up whatever that maybe. So I thought of Mike talking my form to me and boom the town hill was over and I felt like I did not slow down I am sure I did though. I finally peeked at my watch and it said 7.2 I thought ok at 7.5 I am going to stop and stretch for like 30 seconds...so I did! A mile and half to go and I can look at my watch. You can do it dont look at the pace. I ran and ran I got to the end of my driveway and hit stop and looked omg....no way no way an 8:30 pace! I have NEVER EVER ran that fast for 9 miles. I think the moral of this story is I will not be looking at my watch and it really allowed my to think of my form and just run.....sara

too lazy to post twice!

read up about our experience at the Martian 1/2 marathon:

www.justanotherrunningdiva.blogspot.com

did I think about form?  um.  maybe once or twice.  when i was not thinking "omigod.  i am running too fast.  i can't keep this up for 13.1. omigod" or "holy crap.  this course is longer than 13.1.  what the...?".
seriously, i did think about my lean and was more conscious of it when i was tired. once i did lean (at my ankles mind you) i felt more power to press on.

needless to say, 26.2 will be much slower than 13.1.  er, 13.4.

The Martian Half....13.1 no it was 13.52

I ran my hardest I gave it my all and yet again I came in just under 2! On an awesome note it was my fastest one. I new at my 11 I could not do it bc of the distance discrepency. I got a bit upset so I of course was tired and thought "forget it I can do it" and yes I fricken stopped and walked....ugh! I am hating myself this morning. That is where I lost my 1:31 minute. SARA WHAT WERE YOU THINKING??? I feel like my form was good. I will be honest I was not thinking much about the form. I was so flipping focused on my time. Dont go to fast dont go to slow...I would look at it about every half mile. I would be running an 8 and would say slow down sister..then it was a 9:10. I honestly think the problem is the watch....so bye bye watch! I love you but I am obsessed with you. I really want to go to Kalamzoo May 8th and run that one...and of course Bayshore. My legs were spent at my 11 so for the next few weeks my focus is going to be lunges front and back, squats...all sorts of them, leg presses did I mention lunges and squats!!! So yes my focus is to get these legs a bit stronger. I love a half marathon...I love my running friends what more could a girl ask for!