Early this Sunday morning, I’ll run 26.2 miles for the first time in my life. I expect it will be wonderful and horrible and gloriously memorable.
And…I’d like to take you with me, in some small way.
Here are 3 easy ways you can be a part of my Ojai mountains to Ventura beach adventure of adventures:
1. Send me a short (or hysterically long) voice memo in MP3 form!
Cheer me on like only you can do. Or perhaps…distract me with a joke, a story, or some freestyle rap. This is super easy to do with your iPhone via the Voice Memo app. Record –> email it away!
I’ll promise not listen to it until race morning, and I’ll mix it into my higher mileage playlist. Based on my training, I’m predicting it’ll get fairly rough starting around mile 19-20. Just email me at freshgreenbeans [at] gmail [dot] com.
2. Send me a fast tempo and slow tempo running mix song suggestion.
I’m stashing quiet, slow-tempo songs into my first 13 miles, and once the half-way point hits, I’m adding in the fast tempo juice. If I can run negative splits for my 1st marathon ever, I’d be the happiest clam in the world. Negative Splits Translation = run the 2nd half of the race faster than the 1st.
3. Tell me how I can pray for you as I run!
I will have plenty of time to talk to Jesus over all those miles.
I’m seriously so excited. I’ve trained and I’ve prepared and I’ve studied how not to get injured. Now it’s time to make this thing happen.
I don’t expect this to be my last marathon, so my main hopes for this first one is to
(a) Enjoy it.
(b) To finish and love running even more (and the many-layered metaphors it brings).
and to
(c) Stay on pace.
Pacing is everything.
Now: send me some MP3 voice memos, people!
[images by LulemonAthletica]
I AM SO PROUD OF YOU AND PUMPED FOR YOU. Sending these along right away!
You go girl!
This is fantastic news! Will there be a follow-up on how it felt to cross the finish?
@Darrelle, @John, @Bethany, Thanks so much for your encouragement. You are all stellar in your own right.
I feel so lucky to have stumbled on your website. This is the first post I’ve read and already have an amazing take away on how to improve my running, my life for that matter. I never thought to pray while running, it seems like such a common sense action now you’ve mentioned it. I just wanted to say thank you thank you. You don’t have to pray for me, I’ve got a lot to me grateful for….. However…. I do plan on attempting a 25mi run this summer and would love to finish if you could put in a good word 😉 haha good luck you’ll do fabulous!!!!
Brittany, your note meant so much to me. Honored that you found this little blog. Let me know how the 25 miler goes this summer!