Training Update Week 14

With just under a month away I'm feeling nervous for the marathon. I'm feeling like I'm letting myself down or something. I do not like the marathon distance. It is a job on it's own and it doesn't pay me so it takes the backseat. I want to love it, but I just don't. It actually makes me dislike running. As I say this, I know that I will finish this marathon. I actually read earlier today that May ran the NYC Marathon in 2011. I saw her finish time was just under 7 hours, like 6:59. Now my Disney Marathon was 6:50:03. So I know that I can do it. This will be a test, but I know that I'll be okay. I'm not promising my training has been great, but I'm doing what I can. That's the best that I can do. So let's look at last week.

Monday: 4.69 miles walk/hike in the White Mountains

Tuesday: Rest

Wednesday: Rest

Thursday: 4.51 miles on treadmill, 15 minute stretching

Friday: Rest

Saturday: 4.64 miles

Sunday: Upper body work

On Monday I went up to New Hampshire with my friend Carrick to Flume Gorge. We've never been so it was a good adventure for the both of us. We had a good time up in New Hampshire. I would run up the hills which he did not approve of, but I always waited at the top. (I'm pretty sure after this picture was taken I ran back up to the trail.)

A covered bridge!

On Saturday I had a fundraising event so I didn't really go out to run. I relaxed before hand and walked a little bit. (Hey, going to Target counts as walking right?) My sister sells Thirty-One bags and so we held a fundraiser. If you'd like to order anything you can by clicking the link above. It will direct you into my party. You can start Christmas shopping early while helping kids in need!

My upper body workout consisted of what you may ask? I spent my entire shift at work getting shipments ready. Yes 8 full hours of moving boxes here to there and back over here. It's a lot I promise. If I didn't take a lunch break, I probably would have been there for 9 hours prepping for Monday. 

I've done a few things this week that are fun, but I'll talk about it next week!

Until then, I'm anxiously awaiting the BAA Half. This is my third race for the Distance Medley. I can hope for a PR, but I'm okay just finishing. That will always be my number goal for any distance I run, finishing. 

I'm coming back for round 2!

I ran this race last year at 2:33:21, maybe I'll do a little better this year? Who knows. Finishing is staying #1.

After this half I have a 5k coming up on October 19th, the Cause 4 Paws 5k!

This will be the 3rd time doing this 5k. It's a nice run with a bitch of a hill in the middle. I just have to remember, what goes up must come down! This 5k currently holds my 5k PR. I want to break 30 minutes so bad, but I'm not expecting it right now. Someday it will happen, it is not the time. 

With the NYC Marathon coming up quickly (like 24 days), remember why I'm running! If you could donate any amount you can do so here!

A Concert and a Run

Saturday night I went to the House of Blues to see Phantogram with a few friends. I have never seen them before and was pretty excited to see them. They were amazing. I'm glad I got to go and hang out with some friends outside of work.

On Sunday morning I was back in Boston for the B.A.A. 10k. Heading into the run I had the plan of doing better than the 10k 2 weeks ago. Little did I know things would change. As soon as I got in the parking garage I knew I was going to be sick. I tried to find a bathroom, but I couldn't. Then it was too late. I sent a text to my friend Kevin saying I didn't think I was going to be running that day. I knew that if I could just clean up that I could run, but I didn't think that was going to be an option. I wasn't upset that I was going to have my first Did Not Start (DNS), but more that I was missing my second of three races with the B.A.A. I actually found a bathroom and cleaned up. I walked back to my car disappointed, but ended up finding something else that I could wear in my trunk. (Guess it's good that I haven't donated those clothes still.) I changed and ended up at the starting line. At the 5k mark I saw a proposal. (Why at the 5k? You knew that photographer was there?) It was warm. There were plenty of water stops along the way so that helped. All the volunteers along the course were awesome. Then I was at the finish. After I finished Kevin came up to me, made fun of my outfit, and walked with me to get my shirt. 

This may have been quite the morning for me, but I finished. In October I will go on to run the half and requirements for the Distance Medley. I also did PR for my 10k. I didn't do it by much or got the time I went in planning on, but I finished. Sometimes you have to change your goals. For me sometimes I need to remember that I just want to finish.

Race Season Has Begun!

On Saturday I ran in the BAA 5k. This is the first race of the Distance Medley that I signed up for back in February. The next race will be in June for the BAA 10k. This will be my first official 10k. I've done a 5 mile run (last Thanksgiving) and I'll be doing a 7 mile run next weekend (I'm running for the cows!), but never an official 10k. So be on the lookout for all of that!

Monday was the Boston Marathon. I got to see my friend finish finally! The weather was beautiful…unless you were running. My friend was telling me how hot it was. I decided to let him know about my experience in Disney and what hot really was! I'm a freak, I love the heat. The hotter, the better. It was very fitting that an American won the Marathon too. I was really routing for Shalane Flanagan to win for the woman. Even though she didn't, she sure kicked some ass.

On Easter I got to go with my friend Tony to see Christina Perri. (I may or may not have checked out the Boston Marathon Expo on my way over to the House of Blues.) Birdie opened for CP and was amazing. I have a song or two of hers on my iPod, but haven't really listened to her. I actually think she sounds better live than on her record. CP came on and she was amazing. There was a proposal and dancing and tears. She's super cute and I love her even more now. If you aren't familiar with her, go get familiar with her here!

I'm currently on a train to DC for the Nike Women's Half Marathon. Instead of going home to pack and get my life situated I decided to go see Iggy Azalea right from work last night. Once again I was at the House of Blues seeing a show. Iggy is a rapper/model from Australia. She is great. I'm glad I finally got to see her!

If you creeped on my Races page you may have noticed I updated it with 2015. I have officially lost my mind and signed up for the Dopey Challenge during the Disney World Marathon Weekend. The Dopey Challenge consists of a 5k on Thursday, a 10k on Friday, the half marathon on Saturday, ending with the marathon on Sunday. This weekend also will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Goofy Challenge (the half and the full marathon only). I will earn 6 medals over these 4 days (one for each race, one for the Goofy Challenge, and one for the Dopey Challenge). I say will because I don't care if I need to crawl over those finish lines, I'm going to finish.

48.6 miles. 4 days. Jesus take the wheel.

Hello There

I've been a little out of the loop lately. Seems to happen a lot.

First things first,

The B.A.A. 5k is on Saturday! This will be my first time doing this race and I'm really excited. I have a couple of friends who are also running this. One of whom is running the Marathon on Monday!

Yesterday was a year since last year's Marathon and the awful events that happened. I ran the last stage of the One Run for Boston 2 on Sunday to show support for everyone who was effected by those events and the city of Boston as a whole. I did get a little teary eyed during the run, but I'm happy I was part of such a great relay.

Next Monday I will be at the Marathon to cheer on everyone who is running. I've been asked if I'm nervous to go in or told they don't understand why I'm going in, but I will go support my friends and fellow runners. I can't wait to see my friend cross the finish line!

 Some of my TNT teammates are holding a virtual 5k to help them raise money for LLS. They are running the Marathon and set up this run up to help show support to LLS as well as the city of Boston. If you want to sign up you can do so here. It's $26.20 that is well worth it.

Next week I'll also head to DC to participate in the Nike Women's Half Marathon. I was able to participate in the inaugural run last year as a part of TNT. I had a wonderful time and I can't wait to go back and see more of DC.





I also signed up for the Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon during Memorial Day weekend. This half is to remember fallen law enforcement. I've always heard good things about this run.

Hello, Is You I'm Looking For?

I have a few updates.

I signed up to run the last leg of the One Run For Boston. What is the One Run For Boston? How did it start? Read it from them.

I signed up to run the last leg in April. This is something that is important for me to be part of. The Marathon will always hold a piece of my heart. I know that after running a piece of this relay, it will also make it's way into my heart. You may not run or may not feel like you can help, but you can. The great thing about this relay is that you can raise money that will go directly to the One Fund. If you'd like to support this amazing cause you can donate here!

I've also signed up for the B.A.A. Distance Medley!

In October I ran the B.A.A. Half and this year I felt like I wanted to run the 5k, 10k, and the half. So here I am signed up for all three races! If you sign up for all three races you get a special medal for finishing after the half in October.

I've also signed up to run 14 in 2014. (You can too here!) It does not matter the distance of a race. It can be a virtual run as well. I look forward to pushing myself a little bit throughout this year.

I kind of "gave up" on the picture a day thing. I don't want to say gave up fully because I still take pictures everyday, but they aren't exciting or have to do with something at work. How boring is that! If I get a good picture I'll share it.

How Could I Forget!?!

After I finished the Rock 'n' Roll Half 2 weeks ago I officially became a Half Fanatic. I'm #5050! That is a lot of people running a lot of half marathons. By doing the Disneyland Half, the AllState Half, & the Rock 'n' Roll Half qualified me for the Neptune level.

Yesterday I ran the B.A.A. Half. The course was hilly, but I expected worse so it wasn't that bad.

You run along the Emerald Necklace in Boston than back into Franklin Park. You ran through the zoo which was different. There was an emu running along side us. I saw a camel. I almost got hit by an acorn, but I live! My knee felt okay with using KT Tape. My hip flexor is tight, but I survived.

I have a 5k on Sunday & another fun run coming up, but I'm going to get my knee checked out so for right now I'm on a half marathon hiatus.

It's Wednesday

People seem irritated today. Like sorry? I can't solve the world's problems. I will work on that.

Someone told me to blog about something yesterday. I wish I remembered what it was about.

It's gorgeous out. Some say "hot" I say "crank the heat!"

CJ is back at the hospital. He is causing a ruckus there. 

I signed up for the B.A.A. Half Marathon today. It sold out in 12 minutes. Good thing I was ready at 10:00 am on the dot. 

I don't really have anything more to say. 

Things Are Different Today

Yesterday.

Yesterday happened. It doesn't seem real.

Going into Boston to cheer on friends & remember the moment I decided to run 4 years ago. That was the plan. It started out that way. I was checking my updates on my friends. I was so proud of them. Seeing Christopher finish was amazing! Not only was I there when he got notified he got in, but I got to see him cross the finish line. Looking at my friends & saying "Today is the perfect day for running. It's sunny, but there's a nice breeze. Not too cold. Not too warm." Things changed shortly after that.

Meeting up with a couple other people & not wanting to wait 2 hours for a table meant we went to a bar. I left to meet up with Christopher & give him a cupcake I got him. I walked back down the route to the bar & talked to my mom. Being in the bar for about 3 minutes & hearing 2 booms was crazy. I mean as much as you tell me it was something else, deep down we all knew what it really was. People were running & crying.

Being away from the news with the exception of the Internet was probably good. Seeing the first video footage made my friend & I say "Holy shit! We were right there! That's where we yelled & cheered for Christopher!"

It was until today that it felt partially real. It still doesn't feel completely real.

Thankfully everyone I know is safe. That's not the case for everyone. What if I had stayed & talked to Christopher for another few minutes? What if MB didn't buy me a drink? I know I would have been standing at the finish line waiting for Kevin to finish. I would have been hurt. I wouldn't have the opportunity to go & run today. Run for everyone yesterday. For the people who never will again. I didn't run for my today. I ran for the people who got hurt. The people who died. The people who went into the danger, not away from it.

I don't know how to fully feel. I don't know what tomorrow will be like. Or what it will be like running in a race again. What I do know is that we will be okay. That we will get through this. That you can't break a runner. We overcome breaking every step we take.

Be thankful today. Forget the petty shit we all worry about. Be thankful for living. For being healthy. Get off the phone /computer/etc & go outside. Be thankful you can do that. Even if it is just for a moment.