197.7 Miles - Here we come!

Nothing like kicking off the month of May with a 197.7 mile relay race from Quincy - Provincetown!

A team of 12 of us will embark on this 2 day overnight race through Massachusetts - we will pass over 80 Dunkin Donuts locations (amazing!) and get a tour of the small coastal towns leading from Quincy to the Sagamore bridge and all the throughout the Cape to Provincetown. 2 Vans of 6 will split up 36 legs of the race - (Van 1 will get the morning legs and the early evening legs while Van 2 gets the afternoon/over night legs)

I can't wait, it's going to be an amazing experience and hopefully kick me back into my training mindset! I will be running 3 legs - 8.9, 3.9 & 7.5 - totaling 20.3 miles for the weekend.

The weather is going to be hot and sunny - not necessarily the best running weather but perfect for tans and our "beach breaks" while the second van is off on their journey.

I'm looking forward to a weekend with Sean, my teammates, and friends Amy & Drew! :)

I'll be sure to write a detailed update when our journey is complete!

Go team dancing elk condors!!

Waking up is hard to do...

I'm not going to lie - running in New York is pretty cool. Every morning I get up, I am guaranteed to see at least 200 people out up at the park running, walking, biking...even in the rain! However, there are mornings (like today) where you just don't want to see anyone!

I'm exhausted - last weekend was the first of many weekends in the next few months that Sean and I will be home in MA - all for great reasons but just thinking about the number of times we have to make that drive wears me out. This past weekend was non stop - rehearsal dinner, the bonzey wedding (woo woo congrats colin & courtney!) sox game, Sean's b-day and a long ride home after the game. Needless to say we didn't get much sleep.

I didn't realize how tired I was until yesterday, it hit me like a brick wall! I had a semi decent workout at the gym, but it didn't rejuvenate me like it typically would. Today was even worse - I dragged myself out of bed at 6:30 (much later then usual) and headed up to the park with Sean for a run.

I must say, there is no need for people to be honking at 6:30am - Sorry NY, you'll get to where you need to be eventually...even if you don't move the second the light turns green! Sometimes all I want is a nice quiet run, and I'm not going to get that here.

When we finally got to the park I was pretty much "sleep running" I felt like I was barely moving - Sean wasn't even in my sights, which isn't typical. Now that it's nice out you spend a majority of your run focusing on not getting hit by a crazy NY biker (they are worse then drivers!) and accidentally bumping into another runner.

I was annoyed and wanted to stop, curl up on the grass and fall asleep. Days like these, when I have a bad run, and all the outside factors get to me really make me miss home. I miss being able to go for a run with Dee, my mom, my sister around Easton and chat the whole time, not worrying about what's going on around us and enjoying the peace and quiet when we want. I even miss the friendly waves from the people out for walks each morning - they'd always say hello! It's a nice feeling.

Yes, running in New York does have it's benefits...it's nice knowing that I am probably more safe going out alone early in the morning here then I would be any other place...but it's no secret - I am looking forward to the day when I'm just visiting NYC and going for a run...not having it be part of my daily routine.

Need some inspiration?

My sister Danielle is currently is training for a May marathon, I know she'll do amazing and I think she should know she's an inspiration for all. Her husband was deployed last July, its been tough for everyone, especially the immediate fam (Robby, Danielle and Madison) - but they are making the most of it (skype is a lifesaver), and Danielle has certainly been keeping busy!

This past fall she had been asking me what spring marathons she could do, I threw out a few ideas but nothing really sparked her interest. On a chilly day in February I headed up to run the Amherst, MA 10 miler with her and we bumped into someone promoting the Inaugural Memorial Day Marathon in the Berkshires. He informed us that a portion of the proceeds would benefit the intrepid fallen hero's fund...She knew right then this was the marathon she was going to do. Not only does it go towards a great cause, but having the added motivation of Robby being overseas would help her through the training and the race itself.

For the past few months she has been working hard as a mother, hair-stylist and runner. She's the only person I know who can push a 2 year old for 12+ miles in a jogging stroller - who does that?? She wakes up early in the mornings on the weekends to get her long run in before work...and will take Madison out at any chance she gets. She is not only getting twice the workout by doing so (and prepping herself for an amazing marathon time) - she is teaching her daughter healthy habits, that exercising is fun and molding her into a little runner (and maybe even a hockey player).

One of the most frustrating things I hear from people is that they "don't have time to exercise." Next time you think that, take a look at the people out there - like Danielle, who have a hundred things going on in their life, yet still have time to exercise. You just need to prioritize your time.

I'm looking forward to being with Danielle and Madison on Memorial Day weekend, cheering her on each mile - and watching her run the last 1/4 mile pushing Madison across that finish line. :)

Springtime in the City...

NYC in the springtime is beautiful -- It seems like overnight the tulips are blooming in the planters under the trees on the streets of the Upper East Side, flowers and leaves begin to fill the barren trees, Central Park becomes full of people jogging, walking, biking, tanning (you name it...)...and I suddenly have allergies??

I noticed it last year when we first moved into Manhattan - I went for a run in the park and felt like I was struggling to breathe! This is not a good feeling at all - and just when everything started to bloom again this year - the allergies were back in full swing.

Sean and I went for a a quick 4 mile run in the park this morning. We started off slow due to the fact that it is Monday - and Sean is still recovering from Colin's (his best friend from High School) bachelor party this past weekend. As soon as we got up to the park, the wheezing began. Sean likes to pick up his pace in the park - he says we aren't allowed to let anyone pass us while we run there (constant competition!) - The faster he got, the faster I tried to get...and my breathing became worse. Before I knew it he was a good 1/4 mile ahead of me and I was just pushing to get a little closer.

Not a terrible run but I am looking forward to the summer when its a little warmer, I can breathe again and don't end the run with a massive sinus headache! I think I can handle the heat more then Sean can...maybe roles will be reversed and he'll be struggling to keep up with me ;)

How It Began - Where I plan on going...

Wednesday April 7th, 2010 - I anxiously sat at in my little grey cube at the office waiting to find out of I was picked for the 2010 NY Marathon lottery. I had heard through an online discussion that they were already charging credit cards before the official "noon selection." I continuted clicking refresh on my Chase Online Banking page over...and over again all morning. My hopes of being able to run this November were quickly taken away: Marathon Registration Status: Not Accepted. You'd think I'd take that as I hint? Perhaps a fall Marathon is just not what I should do this year...Instead I jumped online and registered for the 35th Annual Marine Corp Marathon.

Before I found out about NY - I decided "If I get selected I will write a blog about my progress." - Now I figure, I am not doing NY but might as well still do it. It'll be interesting to take a look back at the progress I make over the next 200 days or so.

The whole running thing started 6 years ago - I was 20 years old, not sure what I wanted to do with my life, working at a candy store and having a very hard time getting through college. I'd start a semester, quit half way through - start over, not go to class. I needed something to focus on. I had gone to see a friend run The Boston Marathon for Boston College, and I caught the bug. At that moment I decided I would do whatever it took to run the marathon the following year.

I had no idea that you had to "qualify to run" Boston - That just didn't seem fair! This was my "hometown" Marathon. I did some research and quickly learned that I could run for a charity...The Boston Marathon has a variety of choices of charities you could raise money for, but the one that seemed the most legitmate, and the most rewarding, was the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge. I applied, I was chosen, I trained with them, met amazing people, and 5 months I completed my first marathon in 4 hours 29 mins.

2 year later I ran the Boston Marathon again, My sister, who had a number, found out she was pregnant and could no longer run it. Let me remind you, this is 2 weeks before the marathon, I had not been training, had only been running a few half marathons. I did it though, and ran my second marathon in 4 hours 20 mins. People thought I was crazy, I took 10 minutes off my time and hadn't even trained! This is when I realized I actually may be good at this.

After completing my second Boston Marathon I decided I would NOT run Boston again until I qualified. A big goal for someone who would need to cut over 40 minutes off her time.

Fast forward a few months - I met my now boyfriend Sean - we connected when we found out his father had been an active runner for Dana Farber - small world! We began dating soon after we met and 9 months later headed out to San Diego so I could run my 3rd Marathon, the Rock and Roll San Diego Marathon. I had never been out to California so I was looking forward to seeing what SD had to offer. The race was beautiful, but I know I went out too fast. The warm sunny weather got me and I was struggling towards the end. I started off pacing a 3:40 marathon and ended in 4:10 - Not terrible, still cut 10 minutes off my time...so I was happy.

Summer of 2008 I packed up my life in Massachusetts, and moved to NYC to be closer to Sean. At the time, I thought it was the best decision I could have made - but quickly realized it was going to be be more difficult then I had imagined. No job, no money, no idea where to run, can really take a toll on a small town girl. I moved a few times while being in the city and due to money, ended up having to move in with Sean and his buddies. Certainly not the best situation but, it was when Sean and I first started living together that he saw me pushing myself out there and running - and he quickly caught on to why I loved it so much. He started running with me and became my running partner.

Fast forward again to Spring 2009 - I get a confirmation e-mail in my gmail account "Congratulations for signing up for the 2009 Hamptons Marathon" - What?? Sean ims me soon after to inform me that he wanted to run a marathon, so he signed us both up for Hamptons and he WILL help me qualify for Boston. I laughed it off , but agreed, it could be fun to train together.

Running with Sean is probably one of the best things I could have started doing. I had been running with my friend Dee for a few years before I moved to NY - but we're both at the same level so it was hard to push ourselves to go any faster. Sean got right out there and had me start running faster. My "fast" 8:40 miles started to go down...8:15, 8:05, 7:50's - I ran my fastest 10K that summer in Sub 8's - I ran my fastest 20 miler in 3 hours 50 minutes. At this point, I knew had a shot.

Hamptons marathon was here - we started the race off with Sean loosing ALL his gu. This is the first marathon I had ever even considered eating these things, I had trained with them and realized "wow this is why people have them huh." - After a brief panic we figured out that it would be ok, they'll have more gus for us at mile 17. We started off strong, and very fast. We were running about 7:30's - 8:00's - I ran my fastest half marathon in 1 hour 43 minutes. We slowed it down at that point. Mile 18 I hit a wall - a tiny hill was in my site and I knew I just could NOT Run up it - I still had 8 miles to go....perhaps going out so fast was not a good idea?

I pushed it though, downed my last gu and tried very very hard not to vomit. I did not feel good at all....mile 19, 20, 21 - Saw the time but it didn't really register. I reached mile 22 - did a quick calculation and realized, I can run 10 minute miles for the remainder of the race and I WILL qualify for Boston - This is probably the most surreal thing....ever. I honestly never thought I would be fast enough, have the endurance, to push my body to do such a thing. 4 miles later I was done. 3 hours 37 minutes - 30 minutes faster then my previous marathon. I qualified...with 3 minutes to spare.

Qualifying was a great feeling but I didn't have the reaction I thought I would have. I was expecting tears and smiles and laughter...In reality, I just stared off into the distance and said wow...I did it. It was amazing but I don't think it will really register until I run Boston in 2011 (the 2010 entry was already full).

I wasn't done though...in January 2009 I had registered for the goofy challenge down in Disney. That's a 1/2 marathon on a Saturday and a full marathon the following day. I was pretty tired from Hamptons but still managed to train throughout the fall, got some long runs in - but nothing major. I felt pretty good, but not overly strong. I knew I wanted to finish the half in sub 2 and the full in sub 4...that's all.

Florida had a colder then usual January this year - the morning of the half marathon it snowed! It was 20 degrees and freezing. I was wearing what I would wear on a typical run in NY in the winter...not what I expected. The run went well though and I finished in a respectable 1:58. The following day was the full - I woke up that morning with the mentality that I would do a sub 4. It was another freezing day in Florida. Sean's brother in law Mark, was also running (after having hip surgery just a few months prior!) - we found trash bags to throw on before the start to keep warm...and then got going.

The Disney Marathon is a very popular marathon, especially for first timers. It was packed, you start running through epcot and you can barely maneuver your way around people. I lost Mark after about 5 miles. Running through the parks was amazing - the characters were all throughout cheering you on, there were more spectactors then I would have ever thought would want to be out at 7 am on a cold cold Sunday morning in Florida. I felt the strongest I've ever felt during a marathon. I never had the urge to walk through the water stops, didn't notice how fast I was going, just enjoyed being out there.

I finished the full marathon in 3 hours 43 minutes. Not bad for running a half marathon the day before.

Since then I've been taking it easy - I haven't run more then 10 miles or so since the race. I'm ready to start training again. Sean will be doing Marine Corp with me in October and now it's HIS turn to qualify. I plan to train hard, and fast. Eat healthy, lift weights - and see what happens. Ideally I'd like to run a 3:30 Marathon but who knows - Marine Corp will be the second hardest marathon I've ever run.

This blog will be our journey, I'll include some of Sean's progress in here as well. Entries will not be nearly as long as this one - its more for my own memory...a look bag at the beginning. How I got to where I am today and where I plan on going...

Stay tuned...