Let the Training Begin!

• this week, Jake and I officially began our 18-week marathon training program
• Buenos Aires Marathon: Sunday October 7, 2012 @ 7:30am US$70 www.maratondebuenosaires.com sign up...all the cool kids are doing it!
• Jake's afraid that the weeks of busting through miles upon miles will cause him to waste away...I think he'll just get stronger
• Jake ran his first race ever with me when I returned from Korea in 2008...it was the (first) Nike Human Race 10k in Chicago...although I thought it was fun, I think Jake wanted to kill me afterward
• since that a race, we've done various 5, 10, and 15k's and two half marathons...and Jake has rocked most of them
• Jake said he was willing to at least try one marathon, so why not in Buenos Aires!
• yesterday was our first long run - 8 miles; not TOO crazy, but the fact that we haven't done more than 6 in who knows how long...it was challenging enough
• we ran through the typical parks in Palermo and about 2 miles in, we crossed a suspension bridge that bounces when running across...and bounces more the more people that are on it...
• I continued to feel like I was bouncing for about a mile after and could not knock the jell-o legs and dizzy head...thank goodness we brought along some Sports Beans! After popping a few of those, we were able to complete the 8 miles...our pace was all over the place, but we finished
• this will be my third marathon, but my first using a Garmin watch.  I think using this tool will mostly be a good thing, but always knowing your pace can make you a little crazy
• the plan we're following advises you to run long runs at a slower pace (30-90 seconds slower than race pace)  We would like our race pace to be at or under 8:30 miles, making our long run pace around 9:00 miles...my Garmin said we were at 8:17 then 8:32 then 10:13...9:15....never settling in at 9:00...good grief, I hope my watch figures its s*** out! and hopefully we can trust this program that running SLOWER in fact will make us FASTER on race day!

you're thinking, great...now we get to hear about you marathon training for the next 18 weeks...sorry...please skip over it if you like! ^^

• last weekend we made it to Guido's Bar on Saturday for lunch...this place was recommended by friends and is in our neighborhood...very Italian, hole-in-the wall type of place
• the server kind of brings out whatever he feels like, then charges you a set price, depending on how he feels (NY Times agrees)

• this, along with a bread basket, two slices of cheese pizza, and some sort of lasagna/cornbread bites) was brought out right after we ordered drinks (without seeing a menu, without saying anything)
• Jake thought this was our meal...so he/we ate every last bite

•  then we got this amazing, creamy orecciette pasta

•  and this strozzapreti pasta with red sauce

• and topped it off with this dessert (and the option of coffee)

• the bill was not cheap (~US$30/person before tip), but the experience was totally worth it
• I have a feeling we may be coming here after some long Saturday training runs