Race Week is FINALLY here!

I can’t believe it is finally here… Only 5 more days until the Marine Corps Marathon! It definitely seemed like a better idea 11 months ago but oh well I committed to this.

There have been plenty of ups and downs along the way. There have been times when it seemed absolutely impossible to go that extra mile. The training program has forced me to push my body to extremes but it has also been a tough mental test. This is an experience I will certainly never forget!

It all comes down to Sunday at 8:00am. The delightful carbo load will begin on Thursday. Lavana and the babies will arrive on Friday followed by Momma Davis on Saturday. I can’t wait for everyone to get here and get the weekend started.

20 Mile Run

Sunday was a BIG day in my training program. I completed my longest run to date. I used Sunday's run as a dress rehearsal for the marathon. I got up early, ate breakfast and prepared for the run.

I started the run at 7:58am. I ran the first two miles at a super slow pace. I wanted to make sure I would complete the run without any problems. The MLK Memorial dedication took place on Sunday which forced me to change my usual route. I started at my apartment and made my way down the mall towards the White House. From the White House, I ran into Georgetown, around the Kennedy Center and over the Memorial Bridge. Once I reached the Memorial Bridge I decided to run to the Marine Corps Memorial. It was definitely my favorite part of my run. It gave me the motivation to finish the run and also got me pumped up for the marathon. After I ran the loop around the USMC memorial, I ran the Mount Vernon Trail to Reagan National Airport. I made the turn at 12.79 miles back towards my apartment. I started to struggle when I reached the 14th Street bridge back into DC. The temperature had increased and my legs where starting ache. I pushed through the pain and made my way up towards the Capitol. The incline of Capitol Hill felt like Everest. I hit the 20 mile mark in 4 hours. It was a great feeling. However, my legs were shot. Climbing the stairs up to my apartment was the biggest accomplishment of the day.

The Marine Corps Marathon is just 13 days away. I can't believe it is almost here. I am excited to see the family and experience this with them. I know running the marathon is not going to be easy but I definitely think it will be worth all of the hard work in the end! 

Army 10 miler

On October 9th, my friends and I took part in the annual Army 10 Miler race. It was a great experience. The morning of the race was a little difficult.Laura, Lex and I had taken part in Olive Garden's Never Ending Pasta Bowl the night before the race. It was delicious. However, we had trouble moving afterwards. We spent the night before the race watching Elf in our stretchy sweatpants. It was definitely a sight.

The race was a lot of fun. We all made the agreement to take it easy and just have fun with it. We ran most of the course and walked when needed. We weren't allowed to carry phones or cameras along the course so the only photos we have were taken before and after the race. Here are some photos taken just before we made our way to the starting line:

 

After the race we went over to a local sports bar where we ordered a large amount of food. The wings and crab dip were a must! 

 

Sunday night we decided to wear our comfy Army 10 miler T-shirts and head over to the White House for some pictures.  It was a great way to finish out the weekend.