Imperfectly Welcoming 2012

Hello again!  I apologize for the longer-than-I-liked hiatus in posts.  Life got crazy and some things, well, just had to give.  Unfortunately, since no ones pays me to write this blog, I had to set it aside for a bit (however, if you know someone who would pay me...let's talk!)

I did keep running however.  You didn't miss too much - a great 6.6 miler Halloween weekend, a few mildly disappointing 5Ks and most recently a few successful long runs.  Oh, and all this is leading up to the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Arizona in 2 weeks.  But more to come on that.

One thing I realized about not writing the last few months was part of the motivation for my New Year's resolution.  You might remember my resolution last year was to sleep more.  Er, let's just hope this resolution lasts a bit longer...

My resolution for 2012 is to not let the inability to do something perfectly keep me from doing, or trying to do it perfectly at all.  I have a problem with this.  I'm not perfect nor was this a giant revelation.  But sometimes I set high standards for myself and rather than fail trying to reach my goals and learn from the process, I sometimes just shut off completely.  For example, please let me know if any of the following reasons will keep you from reading this blog:
1) My blog design has not been updated.
2) A post it too short.
3) The post comes later than I would have liked to write it.

Dealbreakers?  Probably not?  But in part, why I have waited almost 3 months to write again.  I bet I would have enjoyed writing short, late posts on my outdated blog, but I didn't think it was what my blog should look like, so I waited.  And waited.  I started this blog because I like writing and as result of my perfection obsession, instead of writing a little and enjoying it, I haven't been writing at all.

And it's not just writing.  I started working on this with my running a few weeks ago and it also led me to translate it to life in general.  As for running, I'm trying to learn from the process of training or races, rather than have the outcome of any one run or race determine what I think of myself as a runner.  And that means missing the mark sometimes.

As 2012 is only a few hours away, I can't help but think of the year ahead.  I wish you a very happy and healthy new year and I hope you'll keep reading in 2012.  I'm looking forward to it and sticking to this resolution/experiment.  I'm sure I'll do so...imperfectly.

Happy Anniversary!

Distance running and I celebrated our 10th anniversary when I ran the BAA Half Marathon this morning.  In the summer of 2001, a coworker told me about this new half marathon in Boston that would take place Columbus Day weekend.  I had been running a bit and decided training for this would be a good goal.  Mind you, I had never run more than 7 or 8 miles before.  But, why not?

Since then, my relationship with running has been one of the most consistent things in my life.  We've had some rough patches - a stress fracture in my foot in 2007 and the torn labrum in my hip that had us together and apart for over a year and a half.  But we have survived.

And there have been plenty of good times too - now 3 fantastic Reach the Beach relays, the 2008 Boston Marathon PR and last year's return to racing at the 2010 BAA Half Marathon to name a few.  Running has also introduced me to many great friends and has shaped many important memories from the last 10 years for me.  We spend more time together every week than I do with just about anyone else on a regular basis, except maybe my office mate, Maya, who gets to see me for the better part of 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.

Recalling this anniversary has also helped me get over a bit of a disappointing race today.  I had trained and felt pretty well prepared to run what I hoped would be a PR today.  I started off feeling good, running my goal pace comfortably for the first 6 miles.  I'm not sure what happened at mile 7, but I started to slip and slowly lost a bit of time with each subsequent mile.  I hung in there but just could not pick it up enough, for a long enough stretch of time, to get me closer to my goal.  I finished 3 seconds slower than last year, and over 3 minutes slower than I had been hoping for this year's race.

I'm still frustrated and need to think over a bit more what I could have done differently and what I need to work on going forward.  But, I did realize as I sat down to write tonight that in my first 1/2 marathon, 10 years ago, my goal was to finish, and secondly to try to finish in 2 hours.  I ran that race in 2:01.

This afternoon, I sat on the couch and questioned myself and whether or not I was meant to run any faster than I had this morning...maybe today's race was a accurate reflection of all I have.  Ten years ago I never could have imagined I would run a half marathon at a sub-8 minute/mile pace.  While I couldn't do it today, I did accomplish this earlier this year.  It was a reminder that with motivation and preparation, I have made it this far.  I'm not ready to be satisfied with my time today as the best I can do.  I'm pretty sure I have some motivation and preparation left in me to show myself I don't have to be.

My belated Reach the Beach post

It's shocking, I know, but sleeping 3 hours in a van last Friday REALLY hit me hard this week.  I have not been so tired, maybe ever.  Really.  I just could not get going at all.  I tried every night to get to bed as early as I possibly could (which was never that early given other commitments),and sadly, I just could not manage to make the time to write.

But aside from the sleep deprivation...what an amazing weekend!  As I mentioned briefly in my last post, Reach the Beach, is an approximately 200 mile team relay race.  Between 6-12 teammates run 36 consecutive, predetermined  legs.  For my team of 12, that meant running 3 times over the course of what would end up being approximately 28 hours.  It means running through the night with headlamps, sleeping on van seats and sealing my sweaty clothes in zip lock bags to keep the rest of my gear dry and odor-free.  I have been fortunate enough to run the race with many of the same people from the Run for the Memory program the previous 2 times I have participated.  We also use the event as a fundraiser.  (You can still make a donation by clicking here!)

This year, I was excited to have Brenna, Laura, Dale, Dale and Scott in my van.  I have shared a van with "the Dales" for all 3 of my RTBs and I couldn't imagine it any other way.  Dale Bob implemented a rule years ago that each runner has to do push ups after completing his/her leg.  And we're all crazy enough to oblige.  Do you get the idea of what our van was like?

I was a bit disappointed earlier in the week to learn Hurricane Irene made part of the course un-runnable and the re-routing cut my first leg of the run by over 6 miles.  My cumulative total for the race which was supposed to be just under 16 miles, would instead be just under 9.  As she has many times, Laura came to my rescue.  She was looking to shorten her run for the weekend and volunteered to trade legs.  I was pleased to now be running 15.8 miles for the race, but upon looking at the elevation maps for my legs, reassessed my excitement.  Ah well, the entire course is hilly.  It's not really possible to escape a few good climbs, and plus it makes all the regular hills I run at home seem like speed bumps.

Our team took off just before 10:00am on Friday morning.  I have never left Cannon Mountain for the start of this race while the sun was shining and this year was no different, alternating between rain and mist.  I was runner #4 and had some time to prep before it was my turn.  My first run was 3.8 miles.  The first 3 were fine, some hills, but nothing ridiculous.  The last .8 was the exact opposite.  Short, steep climbs that I could not see because they were around corners.  And on grass.  Wet grass.  That last .8 was considerably slower than the rest of my run. Still, I passed 2 people.

My second leg began at 11:00pm.  Wearing my fancy new headlamp, I still hate running in the middle of the night.  But it makes me run faster (the dark, not the headlamp).  I guess that's good because this was also my hilliest run.  6.5 miles with 2 hills approximately a mile long and steep with some smaller hills in between.  I knew they were coming though and got through them.  It was by far my slowest run, but not bad given even mountain goats were having trouble with the course.  Passed 6, passed by 1. 

Leg 3 was by far my favorite.  Yes, it was mostly downhill, but after 20+ hours in the van, I was stiff, tired and recovering from an earlier unhappy stomach.  But somehow, I felt great as I left the starting area at about 10:00am.  5.5 miles and I was actually running, not jogging or shuffling!  I finished with my fastest pace, passing 8 along the way and getting passed twice. After my van finished running, we drove to Hampton Beach to meet our final runner from Van 2, Nicolle as she scorched the sand and crossed the finish line together as a team.

While the weekend may sound crazy, even to me, it continues to be, by far one of the most fun events in which I take part.  I continue to laugh at the jokes that took place in the van and along the sides of the road, and shared in a few follow up emails among my teammates this past week.  Maybe I miss the team sports I participated in all through high school and college.  Or maybe I just am lucky to be stuck in a van for 28 hours with some really great folks,doing what we love and making a few more great memories along the way.

A+ Training week

I'm not one to brag, but this week was probably the best training week I have had, maybe ever.  Really.  I think the holiday last Monday put things off to a good start.  It all began with a track workout where I managed to hit all my splits, despite dancing around an unusually large number of geese who periodically wandered off the infield and onto the track.  I ran home only to take a quick shower, that was pretty pointless and go sweat it out a bit at yoga.  It was a nice treat to make it to the 9:30 class led by my favorite omgal, Rebecca.

After some cross training on Tuesday, Wednesday's plan was for a 6 mile fartlek workout.  Pressed for time and with rain pouring outside, I admit I did this workout on the treadmill.  It was no less painful, I promise.  But 48 minutes later, I had done it.  I stuck to my paces and did not get thrown from the treadmill trying.  Success!  I also identified my new least favorite workout.

Thursday was an easy 6 miler.  I'm sad our days are so much shorter now.  Seeing the darkness outside my window when my alarm goes off makes it a bit tougher to get up now.  But I made it, and to my pleasant surprise, it had stopped raining.  Or so I thought.  By the end of my first mile it was drizzling and by the end of 2, it was full out raining.  By mile 4, I'd call it pouring.  But it was actually kind of fun, and at that point, I really didn't have much choice but to run home.  Later that night, I was fortunate to be able to make it home in time for my second yoga class of the week that night, stretching out all that was still tight and sore from that darn fartlek run.

Saturday was a short long run with the last 8 at my half marathon race pace.  Running with pal Brenna, we changed up all our usual routes, starting in Cambridge, heading to the Charles and then running up Comm Ave, through the Boston Common and back.  It was quite a pretty run, and not nearly as crowded along the sidewalks as I would have imagined.  My legs felt really heavy to start, and never felt great, but I hit my 8 miles at race pace much more comfortably than I had run 6 miles at this pace a few weeks back.

The BAA Half Marathon is now less than 4 weeks away.  This week was a huge confidence builder that I can run this race well and I'm really looking forward to it.  Before that though is Reach the Beach next weekend, where I'll run approximately 15 miles over 28 or so hours, fueled by peanut butter and jelly and little to no sleep.  Once again, I'll be running with a team of friends from the Run for the Memory program, and raising money and awareness for the Alzheimer's Association.  My goal is to raise $400 for this event, and if you'd like to help me reach this goal, you can donate here.

Hello old friend, it's been a while...

Today, I decided to run my long run on the hills of Newton along Comm Ave and Washington Street in Newton/Wellesley. I'm pretty sure I have not run these hills since the marathon. However, with the BAA Half Marathon and its rolling hills just 5 weeks away, it was time to stop running flatter courses.

I'm not sure why I decided today was a good day to come back to the hills. I had a 10 mile run with 6 miles at 10K pace in the middle. Sure, I'll run hills for the first time in months and it will be fine to run them harder than my typical long run pace. Good idea.

Actually, it wasn't so bad. It helped tremendously that the weather was um, awesome. Sunny, but a nice breeze that made even a headwind feel nice. It didn't stop me from sweating like a running faucet though.

Slightly intimidated by the tempo portion of my run, I did plan my route so that my first fast miles were down hill. Smart decision or not, I'm not sure. I felt great the first mile and good miles 2 and 3. Mile 4 was more difficult and Mile 5 landed me running up not-called-Grossman's-Hill-anymore hill.* I won't lie, I did not hit my split for that mile. But I'm glad I ran it because a) I have a pace to beat next time and b) I then got to run down it for my last fast mile.

I coasted back to my car for my last 2 miles at a very comfortable pace. I was happy to be done, sweaty, but not dead tired. This possibly means I could have run those middle miles a bit harder. But nonetheless, I ran the 10 miles faster than I would have for a training run, hopefully preparing me for the half in a few weeks.

While I may have needed a little space following the marathon, I think the hills and I can be friends again. See you next week, pal.

*Not-called-Grossman's-Hill-anymore hill is a .4 mile hill in Wellesley/Newton Lower Falls along Washington Street where Grossman's Lumber used to be. I've been corrected for still referring to it as Grossman's hill, but as it is still the way I identify that hill, I have altered it's name slightly until the construction of the new store in that location is completed.

Just breathe

If I can think of one good thing to say about winter, it's that it is better to get sick in the winter than the summer. OK, Christmas is pretty good too.

This week, I was hit with the dreadful "summer cold". It started with a tickle in my throat Monday night and by Wednesday I was at CVS stocking up on decongestants and cough drops. So it was unfortunate for me that I had the 4th Charles River summer series race Thursday night. I'd had a few good runs in a row earlier that week and was hopeful the race would go well.

As I've been having some issues with my Garmin recently, when it started to drizzle during my warm up, I decided to make a quick switch to my regular watch before the race began. In the past, when my Garmin has gotten wet, it has on occasion taken on a mind of its own, showing me the screens it wants, and often not the ones I want to see. So I opted for the sure thing. The miles aren't marked in this race, so I tried to listen for the sounds of Garmins around me to know when I hit approximately each mile.

Mile 1 went ok and I felt fine. Slowly, however, my breathing became labored and I felt like I was working harder, but running slower. My legs wanted to run faster, but I was sucking wind at the pace I was running. So I finished about a minute slower than last month, running 31:57 (which is somewhat debatable, given the back up of folks at the finish line). A bit disappointing, but without making excuses, I knew I didn't feel great that night.

Saturday was my next run. My schedule called for 14 miles - easy for the first 12 and then hard the last 2. I had started feeling better Friday night, so I hoped the cold was working its way out. But after 4 miles, I was feeling winded and I was running slower than I usually do. I made it through my easy 12. The last 2 miles were definitely difficult, but unfortunately, not because I was running all that fast. I still ran those last 2 miles about 1 minute/mile faster than the first 12, but my effort felt like I should have been running a lot faster. About 1/2 hour after my run, my legs did not feel very sore or tired at all, and I knew I could have run faster.

Sunday, hurricane/tropical storm Irene encouraged me to take a much needed couch day to recover from this cold and a busy few weeks in general. By the way, if you have not read Tina Fey's book, Bossypants, it is laugh-out-loud funny and part of the reason I stayed on the couch so long on Sunday. This morning I woke up and had a great run. I'm still a little "stuffy", but hopefully on my way to breathing through my nose again soon! I guess this week I needed to stop and catch my breath.

Right…so that’s what training feels like again…

I finally did it. It took me about 3 ½ months after training for Boston to feel ready to be on a real training schedule again. But last week I took the plunge and started back at it. The BAA Half Marathon on October 9 is my next long race and I’d rather be ready for it than not. So here we go again.

Hills, track workouts, goal pace runs. How did I feel this week? Well, tired, sore, frustrated, hungry, oh, and really sweaty during all these workouts. But also really proud after each one. I figured the first 2-3 weeks are going to be tough. OK, the next 7 weeks are going to be tough, who am I kidding. I’ve become really comfortable with my nice 8:20 pace. And that would be great if I was training for a marathon with a goal of running 3:40:00 this fall. But I’m not. And while it has been nice to run when and how I have wanted the last few months, I’m also getting a little bored.

Jumping right into runs with miles at 35-75 seconds faster than those previous runs takes some physical and mental adjustments. So I tried to cut myself some slack for not being where I want to be, while also pushing through each workout this week. And to be honest, for the most part, I met the goals of each run. Where I didn’t, I have something to aim for in the upcoming weeks.

Tonight was 6 miles with 12x400 on the track. Just the number 12 frightened me, never mind that it was to be run at 5K pace. I procrastinated starting my workout. I reset my alarm after it went off this morning, convincing myself that I'd run better in the evening, and I should get some extra sleep. I eventually made it out. The track is different at 6:30pm versus 6:30am. I dodged several scooters, dogs and footballs that made their way across the infield and onto the track. However, despite a bit of a slow warm-up, I actually did my 12x400, and a bit better than I had expected.

Last Wednesday, I also began a run club at the Whole Foods in Newtonville. As they prepare for their 5K on September 18, several mix1 has partnered with several Whole Foods locations to help folks train, or just find a new place and group to run with. Although the group was small, it was nice to run with some folks I have not seen in a while. A big thanks to Ellen and Amy for joining the run. I’m hoping over the next few Wednesdays a few more folks will be tempted to join me, either for the new route, good company, free mix1 or great prepared foods section at Whole Foods for a post-run dinner.

A good head on my shoulders

The suspense is a killer. You're dying to know...How did she do at Falmouth this weekend?

Well, not great, but not bad. I finished in 55:55, according to my watch and I'm pretty sure the race clock was not more than 16 seconds off. So I can say pretty confidently, at least unofficially, I did not beat my time from 2008.

The not great: I have felt really good the last 2 weeks and just expected I would feel good again yesterday. But even during my warm up, I felt a bit sluggish. I was just missing a "bounce" that I was hoping my excitement for the race itself would have helped foster. As a result, I just could not get my legs moving any faster than they were.

The not bad: Although it was not my fastest day, my race was not a total loss. The start was way more crowded than I had remembered and despite that I ran a 7:50 first mile. 7:48 was Mile 2 and I started to slow after that. After running 8:07 for Mile 5, I decided there was still time to salvage the race. Rather than throw in the towel, I picked it back up for 7:58 and 7:52 in the last 2 miles. My mid-run dip is always my challenge and so despite not having the legs I wanted yesterday, at least my head was there.

The good: The Run for the Memory Program is a charity partner with the New Balance Falmouth Road Race and we had 18 teammates running in purple singlets yesterday. I did not fundraise for the event, but those who did have raised almost $30,000 so far.

It was also great to see a few RaceMenu teammates, Greg at the start and Tyler at mile 6. And I swear the final "go Chrissy!" from Kathleen and Shannon just before the finish propelled me to run the last 1/10 of a mile at 6:08 pace (where were those legs earlier?!)

So I'm not super girl, and I can't run a PR every race this summer, just because I'm generally in better shape than a few years ago. But I'm working out those kinks. If in the meantime, I can also keep my head in the race when I need to, I'm achieving some new kinds of personal bests.

Perhaps it's time for a new watch

Saturday morning, like most other Saturday mornings that I run, I woke up, made some coffee and oatmeal and turned new to catch the weather. I got dressed and as I was putting the last few items into my bag, a dry t shirt and towel that came in very handy, I grabbed my Garmin off its charger. As I tossed it in my bag, I happened to notice the screen was blank. Apparently it died while on the charger overnight. With less than 15 minutes to meet my friend Erika, there was nothing I could do to revive my lately not-so-trusty running watch.

As luck would have it, the day I didn't have my Garmin, I ran the furthest I have run since the marathon in April. Fortunately Erika did. So for the first 10.25 miles of my run, she clocked our mileage. We ran a loop from Fresh Pond to the Mass Ave bridge along the Charles and back. When we arrived back at Fresh Pond, Erika took off for home and I stayed to run with the run club at Whole Foods.

In a few weeks, I'll be leading a run club from the Whole Foods in Newtonville, so I wanted to check this one out and see what to expect and to be supportive. Whole Foods is sponsoring a 5K on Sept 18 and mix1 is sponsoring these run clubs to help raise some excitement for the race. The turnout at the run club was modest, but the people were super nice. Group leader Chris did a great job making sure everyone knew where they were going and were having a good time. I was taking notes.

My plan to do one loop around Fresh Pond for about 3 more miles, somehow turned into 2 loops. The loops are ~2.5 miles, but with the back and forth from the parking lot, I'm not really sure what the total distance was. The inaccuracy of my mileage and not knowing my pace would bother me on any day, but because this was a new route and a longer than usual run, it's killing me that I don't know! I'm chalking it up to 15+ miles and will just have to run the route again sometime if I really need to know.

Up ahead is the Falmouth Road Race next Sunday, August 14. This is another of my repeat races from the summer of 2008. That year I ran the race in 55:39, 7:57 pace. The goal next week is to run faster than that. Stay tuned...

Room to grow

I've had a rough time running lately. I'd like to blame it on the heat. And in part, I will. I feel like I've been enjoying running this summer, but as part of that, not really training particularly hard. As a result, I've kind of hit a plateau. I half joked before the Thursday night Charles River race this past week that I was expecting my pace for the 4 mile race would be about the same as my 12 mile run last Saturday. I guess that's the trade-off; I have not dreaded speed work or mid-week tempo runs (because I haven't been doing them) but as a result, I haven't gotten much faster this summer either.

For the record, I did run the race last Thursday faster than the previous 2 of the series by about 7 seconds per mile. But it has got me reconsidering my summer non-training plans...

Recent running performance aside, I squeaked in an 8-mile run on Saturday, but otherwise took a small break from running this weekend. I exchanged my regular weekend miles for holes on the golf course. While home in NY, I went golfing with my dad for a belated birthday present. I admitted to taking lessons before the big event, but I failed to tell him I had never actually hit a real golf ball. Fortunately, my dad is the most positive man in the world and was extremely patient as I suffered through the first 2 holes.

It's been a long time since I have learned something new. Learning is fun, but putting it into practice can be frustrating! I don't assume at all I should be good immediately, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to be. Golf is a sport, and I can't help but want to win.

But it got better. So much so that I agreed to play again today. We played a slightly longer 9 hole course. I shot one stroke better than yesterday and overall played much more consistently. Progress.

I'm leaving NY tomorrow well-rested and a bit rejuvenated. Home does that. I'm ready to go back to Boston and play some more golf as well as start thinking about some upcoming races and how I want to prepare for them. My new endeavor and my old favorite...there's still plenty of room to grow in both of these sports.

Running again with an old friend and Happy Birthday DAD!!

Despite some warm weather and a busy schedule, I was able to log 30 quality miles this week. Following my 5 miler along the Jersey shore last Sunday, I was tricked into a treadmill run on Wednesday. While I much rather would have been outside, the sheets of rain falling in Kenmore Square and a 7:00 dinner date with my visiting mom left me resigned to the treadmill for 6 miles of speedwork. Somehow, it wasn't torturous and I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner, and the company, at East Coast Grill afterwards.

Friday morning I ran again. Usually Friday mornings runs are not my best and I try to avoid them. Perhaps my legs felt refreshed after yoga Thursday night, or perhaps it was a fluke, but I was cruising. And sweating. And apparently Garmin doesn't like sweat. So while I know I ran well, I was disappointed when I could not turn my watch off for several minutes after I finished, leaving me to only guess what a good Friday morning run I really had.

But the icing on the cake was today's long run. I made it 13.5 miles up and down the Charles, with a detour into Boston. But the best part was the 4.5 miles I ran with my old running pal, Brenna. Although we trained hours together each week before the marathon, we have only run together once since. So it was a real treat. And she always pushes me a bit (even when she says she feels like crap), so I ran a bit better than usual as well.

Finally, I want to wish a big Happy Birthday to my Dad! I've been secretly planning his birthday present for weeks and his email to thank me this week made my day. I could see him smiling as I read it. Although I have never swung a golf club (excluding putters on courses with windmills), my dad consistently asks me to golf with him. I always decline, insisting it would be no fun for me or those behind us, if I were to attempt to play. So in June, I decided my gift to him (and maybe partly to me too) would be to go golfing with him. I officially added a new sport to my resume and I signed up for lessons (And look who made the website!).

I'm heading home at the end of the month and the plan is to play together then. I'm off to the driving range a few more times before then and while I don't think it will be pretty, I'm at least ready to try. Plus, if my dad is half as happy golfing together as he sounded when I told him, then it's all worth it.

Not quite a vacation from running

This weekend I traded my long run for a longer drive. Friday night, I headed south for the Jersey Shore to reunite with 5 college pals. I packed my running stuff, but had already decided I would gladly bypass running this weekend if the plans of the group did not really allow room for it. I was on "vacation" for the weekend, and that meant staying up late, sleeping in, relaxing in the sun and indulging in a delicious menu (that had been decided days ago).

After 6 hours of mild traffic and rain, I arrived! I ate the plate of dinner that had been saved for me and sat around the kitchen table catching up until well after my bedtime. As we made plans for breakfast, I was asked if I was going to run in the morning. Maybe. Saturday morning, there would be no alarm.

I slept past 10:30 on Saturday morning. And it felt amazing. But after a delicious breakfast of fruit, yogurt and bagels and some time to digest, I was eager to check out the boardwalk - in running shoes. So I got dressed and headed out.

I sort of knew what I was setting myself up for, heading out to run at noon in the middle of July. I had no intention of making this a regular "long" run. The goal was just over 7, and while it would be my longest run of the week, it would only be by 1/10 of a mile. As expected, it was hot. But there was a great breeze from the ocean and for the most part, I was so preoccupied taking in the beauty of the beach and people watching, that I didn't really feel so bad until about mile 5. The last 2 miles were hot, but by then, I was almost done and back at the house, the pool was just waiting for me to jump in.

Again this morning I had no intention of running. I woke up before most of the rest of the house and decided to actually go for a walk. When I returned home after about 2 miles and everyone was still asleep, I traded my flip flops for running shoes and decided to take advantage one the beautiful scenery one more time. This time, I ran a 5 mile loop that took me through the neighborhood, up to the boardwalk and then back home. Just in time for breakfast.

On my 6 hour drive home today, I had some time to think about what a great weekend this was. I love my running routes and routines here in Boston, but it was really fun to trade in a few miles for a new place to run. What a treat to have such a beautiful weekend, with great friends...and still squeak in a few runs!

33 for 33

I'm not sure why, but this week, to celebrate my 33rd birthday, I decided I would run 33 miles. I guess I felt I wanted to celebrate being healthy and able to enjoy another year of one of my favorite activities. I modified the practice of Boston Marathon race director Dave McGillivray who at 56, still runs his age on his birthday. While I wasn't up for all those miles at once, I decided across the course of the week was good enough.

It wasn't that far of a stretch from my usual weekly running schedule, as I've been averaging around 28 miles per week for the last month or so. But with a few birthday celebrations this week, it was a little tougher than I thought to squeeze in those extra miles.

But I did. After almost deciding to bag the idea on Friday when I was further behind schedule than I had hoped, I was motivated by some friendly teasing from Arizona. So I set out for a long run on Saturday, hoping that would take away a large portion of my remaining mileage. And it did. I ran 14 miles, the longest I have run since the marathon in April.

With 6.9 miles remaining, I set out this morning to meet my goal. I ran a bit over 4 miles on my own before meeting up with my old college roommate. Before I enjoyed running, Jackie and I would force ourselves to run to prepare for our respective pre-seasons (hers was soccer, mine, volleyball). I still don't understand why we never realized 3:00pm, in June/July, in Baltimore was an awful time to run. Perhaps that is partly why we hated it. Anyway, with humidity reminiscent of those Baltimore days, we set of for about 3 miles. The company and conversation was outstanding; a great finish to my 33 miles. And a great start to a new year.

One sweaty weekend

Summer is coming. We haven't gotten there yet, but Saturday, I had my first really sweaty run, and it was barely 80 degrees when I finished. But despite feeling like I had been running in the rain again, it turned out to be a great morning to run.

I set out for about 12 miles along the Charles. All my regular running buddies were unavailable this weekend, so I took off solo. Running for almost 2 hours alone can be intimidating, but as I started, I found the first 5 miles passed really quickly and had no doubt I'd finish all 12 just fine. Lucky for me, I didn't have to. I ran into Tommy M. on my turnaround at the Mass Ave Bridge and he was nice enough to join me for the next 6.5 miles of my run. And I thought those first 5 miles went fast! I ended up finishing with 13 miles and very salty.

Today, I was excited to finally take a yoga class with my favorite instructor, omgal, Rebecca Pacheco. I've missed her class for 2 weeks and it was the one thing on my to do list today I was not skipping.

In case I thought yesterday's run was a hot one, this class put things in perspective. The temperature outside plus the heat in the studio led to one very soggy yogi (me). I swear other people were not sweating as much! It always makes me laugh when I bend forward in a stretch and see not just drops of sweat falling from my skin, but an actual stream. Hot. Literally. But the class was awesome and just what I needed.

I'm sipping my third glass of water - after a bottle of vitamin water and a glass of Crystal Light lemonade. No dehydration here. Bring it on summer, I'm ready.

Singin', er, runnin' in the rain

My trust in the weather predictions has been weak, at best, lately. All week, the forecast talked about near-100 degree temperatures on Thursday and I woke up to a downpour. So this morning, with grey skies, I really didn't believe it would do more than drizzle as I headed out for a longish run. Ten minutes into my run, it started to rain.

It started out as a misty drizzle, but slowly the rain increased in volume and intensity to the point where it was flat out "raining". Funny thing is, while I could see the water drip off the rim of my hat and see the rain hitting the water along the Charles, it never felt that bad. While it wasn't really hot today, the rain was cooling, though not cold. And while I saw my grey t-shirt getting greyer, my shoes were still dry, so I was in good shape, apparel-wise. In fact, it wasn't until I stopped to meet friends half way through my run that I noticed my shorts were sticking to my legs.

I'm not training for anything specific right now. But I decided last night I was going to run 12 miles today, and "weather" or not I was doing it was not a question. By the time I met my friends, it had pretty much stopped raining - lucky them. Good company and poor calculations on my part led me to run 13.5 miles, a little further than intended and my longest run since the marathon. But it felt great. I don't know it it was the temperature or the cup of coffee I drank before I ran (I usually save that for after), but the whole run felt smooth and easy. I finished with an overall pace of 8:20, about 10 seconds/mile faster than my long runs have been in previous weeks. And the best part was my last mile clocked in at a sub-8 minute pace.

I'm still not ready to pick a race to train for seriously right now. I like running when, how and how far I want right now. But if I could guarantee every long run would feel this good, ok, even most long runs, I could be convinced.

The most wonderful time of the year

Every year there is the "morning". It's the morning I wake up and it's light out already at 5:00ish. The temperature is perfect for shorts and a tee shirt, around 60 degrees. I'm sleepy, as usual, but I'm happy to get up and get outside to run.

Today was that morning.

If I could put this morning in a bottle and save it all year, I would. I went out for just under 6 miles. I forgot my Garmin, but I know my usual routes well enough to estimate pretty closely by now. The run flew by. I didn't think at all really about how long I had been running, just what was around me. I forgot how tired I felt when my alarm went off and how sore my legs were from my workout yesterday. The sun was bright, but the air was cool enough that I never got too sweaty. I even ran around the block as I approached home, just to stay out a bit longer.

The last 2 springs, I didn't really get to run all that much, first figuring out what was wrong with my hip and then recovering from the surgery to fix it. I appreciated these days, but it wasn't the same. I knew what I was missing then, and couldn't wait until I had the chance to enjoy it again.

Yes, I know it's a little silly, but these days don't come around all that often, so when they do, they need to be embraced. And by Thursday, I'm sure I'll be whining about the humidity anyway...

It's cool to run in the pool

Wednesdays are my day off from running. I don't know why, but for about the last 10 months, my schedule has left Wednesdays for cross training. Thinking practically, it's probably a good mid-week break and the pattern has stuck.

But today, Wednesday, is National Running Day and I felt obligated to participate. However, today I did not run around my neighborhood, along the Charles or even on a treadmill. I ran in the pool.

Pool running, or "aqua jogging" is actually a great way to cross train. It makes use of same muscles used to run without the impact. I became quite familiar with pool running and many of the pools available in the Boston area when I was injured the last 2 years. I own my own Aqua Jogging belt, and I admit I even own the shoes. I actually had "workouts" I designed for myself in the pool and even logged a personal record 3 hour pool run with my then-injured pal Shannon last spring.

Unfortunately, one of the things I love most about running is how simple it is. 1) Put on a decent pair of running shoes; 2) open the door; 3) go. Pool running...not so simple. It requires finding a facility with a pool - preferably with sections deeper than 5 feet so my feet don't hit the bottom, ensuring the pool hours work with my schedule, commuting to the pool (in today's case, 40 minutes to travel 4 miles - thanks Red Sox), changing into a swimsuit and water belt (and sometime shoes), showering and then actually getting in the pool to begin my workout.

However, it was a great option when I had no choice and it remains a great option to keep my joints healthy, when I choose to take advantage of it. I probably won't do it consistently, especially when the weather is nice, but today, it was cool to run in the pool.

The other side

Today I participated in Boston's Run to Remember. But not as a runner. For the second year in a row, I volunteered with the Alzheimer's Association at the water stop just past Mile 1 on the course. With Memorial Day weekend plans up in the air until mid-week, I only decided Friday to volunteer, and of course, I'm glad I did.

I'm not up for racing 13.1 miles yet and didn't feel like paying a race registration fee to just run the distance. I did have a great 12 mile run yesterday and I am psyched to just be loving running again right now. But it was still great to feel a part of the event, see my friends running and help out one of my favorite causes.

I think all runners should volunteer at a race from time to time. While it is not to same as running a race, it is a great way to be a part of an event. It also helps one gain a little appreciation for those involved behind the scenes. Since I volunteered for my first race, I have now made it a point to thank each volunteer who hands me a cup of water of places a medal around my neck at the finish line. While it may not be as physically taxing as running the race itself, many volunteers are at the race early in the morning, on their feet in whatever weather presents itself for hours, perhaps getting water thrown at their feet (if they are lucky), and staying well after the last runners cross the finish line. I'd say that's worth the extra breath to say thanks as I run by.

Starting up again

This weekend I ran my first and second races since the marathon. Seeing as I have barely developed a consistent running schedule in last 5 weeks, it should not be surprising that I have not done much along the lines of speed work during this time as well. So expectations were low this weekend.

Thursday night was the first of the Charles River Summer Series - a 4.2 mile loop around the Charles. I was eager to run Thursday, but not much in the mood for the race. The rain had held off most of the day and then started with on and off showers as I got dressed to leave the house. But running in the rain in May is not nearly as bad as running in the rain in January, so I was headed out. Miles 1 and 2 went fairly well, maintaining about a 7:25 pace - reasonable for this race for me. While I didn't feel tired, miles 3 and 4 were just slower. I couldn't pick up the pace. While the race results say I finished with a 7:26 pace, I'd argue I was a bit closer to 7:35. Still faster than I would have run if I had just gone out on my own.

Today was the Harpoon 5 Miler. I have missed this race the last 2 summers while injured and was excited to be back. After Thursday's performance, I still did not expect much, but hoped I could finish under 39:00. Starting out I felt pretty good. After I finished Mile 2 in 6:13, I knew I wasn't feeling that good and the mile marker was off. Mile 3 took me 9:43 and although I realized it made up for the short Mile 2, I was still a bit disheartened. I didn't think my effort felt that easy, but that meant I had slowed to about an 8+ minute per mile pace. It felt like the second half of Thursday's race all over again.

So, screw it. I decided to just run the rest of the race, pushing myself but not obsessing over my watch. I finished running hard, but feeling good. 37:36 - 7:32 pace. Better than the low expectations I had set for myself and 16 seconds per mile faster than I had run this race last time in 2008.

Most of all, racing this weekend made me want to run more again. And fast. No promises that I'll keep a consistent training schedule this summer, but I will be more inclined to start up some speed workouts again. I've got a few more PRs from the summer of 2008 I plan to break.

Running Rx

Sometimes I wish I could run forever. Out on a run might be the only time I can be alone, but not lonely. I can be my most physically active, while my mind is at rest. My run can relieve stress or celebrate good times. Why wouldn't I want to be able to do that forever?

Despite running 10 miles on Saturday, I decided I needed to run yesterday. Last week was a rough week. As I sat a bit deflated on my couch for most of Sunday afternoon, I realized HGTV was not making me feel better.

So I convinced myself to go out for a run. Supposedly it was going to be a 4-5 mile run, just enough to get some endorphins pumping. But once I started, I didn't want to stop. In an uncharacteristically undisciplined moment, I ran just shy of 8 miles. It was not ridiculous to run the distance. The best idea? Well, maybe not. Worth it? Totally.

There's probably a bunch of psychology one can apply to this situation, but I will argue it just felt good. In fact, it was the best run I've had since the marathon.

As a good friend often quotes,"a bad run is better than a good day at work." Well, then just imagine when a good run replaces a bad day!

A weekend sans running

Well, it wasn't exactly supposed to happen, but I can accept it. More so now anyway than a few weeks ago. This weekend, for the first weekend in I don't know how long, I didn't get out to run at all. Partly by choice and partly by circumstance. Circumstances that included the nasty allergies that have left me breathing solely through my mouth for the last 24 hours. Running just did not seem like it would be fun today.

It was sort of the final step in a week that brought me back to several activities left behind during marathon training. Sure I would have loved to include them in my training schedule, but those darn 8-9 hours a day at work, kept bumping them out. Swimming, yoga, lifting...I even went for a 7 + mile walk and caught up on over a month of news with my friend Amy. I'm actually quite sore today as well. But in a good way. Waking up some muscles that have been overlooked for the last 4 months is probably a good thing.

But I will say, despite my gloomy posts the last 2 weeks, I am starting to get the running bug again. No marathon registrations in my immediate future but I am looking forward to waking up tomorrow for an easy 5 miler.

With the help of my fabulous sister, I also decided to capture the memories of the marathon with a little video. Even if the day wasn't perfect, it was still worth remembering. Check it out :)

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=163680873692149&comments

I get by with a little help from my friends

I have been on a running and blogging hiatus for the last week. Since writing last Tuesday after the race, I needed to stop running, thinking about running, thinking my marathon. It was a good break. I spent a wonderful, totally atypical day this past Saturday in my pajamas. That's right, all day. I slept in, watched movies and took a nap. Pretty much the antithesis of the last 20 Saturdays.

I won't lie; the sting from Monday is still here. I still don't know what went wrong and why all my training flew out the window at the moment I needed it most. I'm sure I will continue to think about it for a while. I'm still disappointed and frustrated and the silver linings are not exactly shining in my face at the moment.

I sat down to write tonight not knowing exactly what was going to come out. Until a few minutes ago, I had not seen all the comments written in response to my last post. (I can't believe 9 people even read my blog!) I've received a bunch of emails and Facebook messages. As if Jason and Molly were not great enough on race day, they've both checked in on me to see how I've been feeling this week. When asked the inevitable question "So how was the marathon?", I have had friends interrupt my less-than-enthusiastic response with "She did great!".

I'm touched. I shouldn't be surprised because I know I have amazing friends and family. I've always been my toughest critic and I always will be. But it has been an incredible comfort to hear from so many friends who believe in me a bit more than I have believed in myself recently. While I don't need a crappy marathon to know what great people surround me, it has felt really good to have them around the last few days. Thank you.

Sometimes, that's just the way the cookie crumbles

I started running after college to fill the void of no longer playing competitive teams sports. A volleyball player thought high school and college, I kind of thrive on a training schedule, competition and athletic goals. For the same reasons, I think I have come to love running - both the activity itself and the training for races. And what greater race to train for than a marathon.

The difference though is that in volleyball, one bad game could be rectified with 20+ possible other opportunities in a given season. Training for a marathon is all about one day. And if the day doesn't go as planned, the next opportunity is a bit further away than right around the corner.

Such was my experience yesterday at the 115th Boston Marathon. All signs pointed to a great race. My training was stronger than it had ever been and I felt great on Monday morning. I wasn't nervous, but just excited and happy to be running the race. I was running with my friend Jason, who had given up his spot in corral #2 to pace me to my marathon goal, and couldn't have been happier about having such a great running partner.

Things started out well. One of the challenges of being a non-qualified runner for Boston is starting in the way back with the other non-qualified runners. The first 4-5 miles were very congested. Several times being stopped in my tracks by a wall of runners quite a bit slower in front of me. But despite that, I was on pace after the first 5 miles. Miles 5-10 opened up a bit and I ran comfortably, again hitting my goal pace as of Mile 10. Miles 10-15 started out well too and I crossed the 1/2 way point about 20 seconds under pace.

But around Mile 14 I started to feel a little off. I noticed my hip (THE hip) was starting to ache a bit. I have to say, of any body part, that's the one I am super tuned into these days, so I started to drop my pace a little and paid attention to how things were feeling. Slowly though, things got worse instead of better. By mile 18, I hardly noticed my hip because my quads and calves had started cramping pretty bad. I made an effort to drink more as I chugged away up the hills. I found a short burst of energy when I saw friends at the top of Heartbreak Hill and hoped I could sustain it, but by the waterstop at Mile 21, I was walking trying to shake out the cramps that were now really slowing me down.

Only 5 miles to go. But these 5 felt like 500. I wanted so badly to run faster but my legs disagreed. I started cramping in my feet - my feet! That has NEVER happened before on a run. So I just plodded along. Walking through waterstops to try to down fluids that might ease the cramping (it didn't). I had visualized running strong through Kenmore Square so many times as this race approached. I was supposed to be smiling and having fun, ignoring the inevitable aches, knowing I was on my way to my best marathon ever. Unfortunately, my trip through Kenmore was a bit different yesterday. Head down and focused on just getting the damn race over with. I didn't even want to see if anyone was there cheering for me. I just wanted it to end.

Right on Hereford, left on Boylston and I could see the finish line. We moved to the left so I could see my parents who had been camped out there all day waiting for me. The night before, my mom told me that whatever happened on race day, I was not allowed to cry unless my leg was falling off. Seeing as it was not that bad, I waved and smiled as I passed by my folks. With the finish ahead, I noticed my watch said 3:59:25. It was a long shot, but I was going to try to at least stay under 4 hours. I picked up the pace and ran what felt like a sprint for the last tenth of a mile. Jason grabbed my hand for an arms raised crossing of the finish line (it's good for the photos :) as we crossed at 4:00:19.

Yesterday was definitely not the day I had envisioned through out 4 months of training. I'm definitely disappointed and frustrated that my hard work did not end with the result I had worked so hard to achieve. However, even if I am not ready to embrace it yet, I also realize that what happened yesterday is still an accomplishment, if in a slightly different way. I still ran a marathon 51 weeks after having hip surgery. And I still finished that marathon, despite wanting to cut my legs off at mile 22. Oh, and I have raised almost $5000 for the Alzheimer's Association in the process.

If I could have had it my way, I would have wrote the ending to my Boston Marathon story a bit differently. But it is what it is and instead will do my best to learn for the experience. It's still my goal to run a 3:40 marathon. Yesterday was just not the day and sometimes, that's just the way the cookie crumbles. I'll just have to figure out another way to make it happen.

The home stretch

Next week at this time, I will be hopefully crawling into bed, anticipating a 4:00am wake up that will begin the day I have been working towards for the last several months. It seems crazy that once upon a time I was counting weeks, and even months until the marathon and now it is just days away. So few days away, that the weather can even be (somewhat) predicted already. High of 57 with a 40% chance of showers, in case you were wondering. Promising.

After what seemed like the longest January ever, I can hardly believe it is April 10th today. Saturday I completed my last long training run. 12 miles. Despite an upset stomach, I ran comfortably, hitting my pace goals, and a bit faster even. Now I just need to keep myself healthy. Thanks to my physical therapist, Dave, and massage therapist, Chris, at Joint Ventures Physical Therapy and Fitness I've managed to keep possible running injuries under control. I have learned a lot about how to listen to my body in the last year as well, but seriously, these guys are the best, and have helped me keep the "tweaks" to just that and better.

I just realized this weekend though that it's not just running injuries I need to think about this week. Over the last few days I have become hyper aware of several friends and coworkers fighting stomach bugs and colds. Now I just need to make it 7 days without an illness or freak accident. Fingers crossed. The countdown is on.

Fundraising efforts are also in the home stretch. Saturday night was our 80s party to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association. Brenna and I departed from our usual all-black running gear with some neon for the occasion. Donations are still being accepted. Please visit http://alz.kintera.org/boston2011/chrissyrunsagain

Some rest and reflection

Following last week's 23 miler, I packed a suitcase full of shorts, tank tops and swim suits and boarded a plane at 6:00am Sunday morning that would lead me to the Caribbean for a sunny, 6-day vacation. The trip was everything I hoped it would be - warm, sunny and relaxing. I woke up each morning without an alarm. I read books. I snorkeled. I took mid-afternoon naps.

And I ran.

Each morning, I made my way to the fitness center before logging my beach time. I would like to say I enjoyed the sun while I ran, but the low temps never made it much below 75, and so upon an 8:00am wake up, with temps already approaching 80 most mornings, I opted for the barely air-conditioned, windowless fitness center to get in my workout. I think I ran faster just so I could get out of there sooner.

As much as I would have preferred a few extra hours in the sun (or heck, under an umbrella would have been nice too), I am glad I stuck to my training schedule while I was away. After arriving back in Boston at 9:35 last night, I woke up this morning and ran did my long run with the RFTM team. Despite a challenging last 4 miles, uphill and into a headwind, the 16 mile run went a lot better than I had hoped. And that's always a good thing.

Following my run, I learned about a challenging time a friend is having with her loved one who has Alzheimer's. The conversation got me thinking about why I am running this race in 2 weeks. I had hip surgery 49 weeks ago. I could have waited a little longer to give a marathon a try. I could have attempted a flatter course if my goal is to really run a qualifying time for a future Boston Marathon. I could have saved myself the stress of fundraising and just run the race like most marathon registrants do.

But I want to run THIS race. I want to be a part of the team that made this race so special to me. I want to honor my grandparents, my uncle's mother and all the loved ones of friends I have learned about over the last 5 years who have suffered and dealt with Alzheimer's disease. I want to raise awareness that there are resources out there to help, if you are unfortunate enough to have to deal with it. Even if that resource is a running buddy with understanding and compassion.

All my running goals still stand. Maybe I even want them a little more now. And I am glad I was reminded of why I will really be out there in 15 days.

Dress Rehearsal

Today's long run was the closest to a dress rehearsal for Boston as I am going to get. I met the members of the Run for the Memory team at the top of Heartbreak Hill and drove out to Hopkinton. The plan was to run 23 miles today.

An extra bonus was the surprise visit from my marathon pace buddy from Arizona. I found out last week he was coming to town and would run with us this morning. I somehow managed to convince him months ago to give up his sweet starting position in corral #2 (he ran a 3:04 last year to qualify for Boston) and start in corral #25 with me and help me stay on pace for the marathon. And take some pictures along the way.

The morning was a little chilly, but with a strong sun out, it didn't feel as cold as the temperature indicated. And by mile 3, I was totally comfortable. My goal was to start out easy, perhaps around 8:35 pace and pick it up to 8:20 in miles 16-21, inconveniently located on all 4 Newton hills. We started out a little fast with the first 2 miles around 8:05 and I was immediately nervous. My pace buddy reassured me that we weren't going that fast and the downhills were partly responsible. We'd run what felt good.

The Run for the Memory team had awesome volunteers providing water stops about every 3 miles. Mile after mile and water stop after water stop ticked by. We still hovered around an 8:20 pace, and I still worried I was going to blow up on the hills. Mile 16 finished at 8:27 pace. Slower than I would have liked, but I wasn't spent. I just needed to pick it up. And that we did. The next 4 miles hovered around 8:15 and I totally hit the 8:20 goal for those 5 miles. We stopped for water and high fives from the RFTM volunteers at the top of Heartbreak Hill and then punched out 2 more miles.

Today's run was a great confidence builder and test of physical and mental preparation for the marathon. We finished the run at 8:21 pace. My pace buddy put it in perspective - If I run the first 23 miles of the marathon at this pace, I will have 37 minutes to run the last 4.2. That's about a 9 minute mile to achieve my goal. I like those odds.

Not a dirty 4 letter word

Writing this blog has been fun, but so has my training recently. It is not a coincidence that the 2 year gap from my first attempt at a blog to this time around coincided with an injury that had me in and out of running, and definitely not running marathons. So after the adrenaline from Sunday's race wore off, and the hip that had sidelined me for those 2 years started feeling sore, I debated whether or not to write about it. Partially because I didn't want my #1 fan (thanks Mom!) to worry, and partially because I didn't want to admit anything was wrong.

Anywhere else, my hamstrings, calves, shins, and I would brush it off as tired muscles, normal aches and pains of being 3+ weeks from the marathon. But not my stupid hip. I could not get up to pee in the middle of the night without evaluating how it felt with every step.

So I did what most runners hate to do. Rest. I tweaked my training plan for this week and cross-trained when I was supposed to run and rested when I was supposed to cross-train. I also squeaked in a massage last night as well. My plan was to test it out tonight with our usual Thursday night run from Woodland to Crossroads.

Well, it seems to have worked. I felt awesome from the start of my run. It could have been the new shoes, but I had a spring in my legs that made me feel light and quick, not lumbering like the past few weeks. I even decided to include a bunch of 30 second pick ups in the second half of my run. Better yet, it has been several hours since I finished my run and all still feels great.

I run with a training plan because I am good at following instructions when given to me. And while it pains me to deviate from that plan (Type A much?), this week's adaptation could have been the best thing I have done for myself in my training this year.

23 days to go and 23 miles this weekend. I am far from done. The psychological boost I got from running well today was huge. But the reminder that resting when my body needs it, even when it's not on the schedule may be what gets me to my goal on race day.

Running Report Card

It's been 3 years since I have run the New Bedford Half Marathon. It's odd that I would at all miss it these last few years, but I have. My introduction to this race in 2007 was a cold and WINDY day...the kind of day that now serves as the gold standard of windy races and has never been matched. I hated New Bedford after that first race.

But absence make the heart grow fonder, I guess. I was actually excited to run this year. And nervous. My last few runs have been just plain difficult. As I have described to my running partner, I just feel like I've been dragging something behind me. Something heavy, like those World's Strongest Man competitions when they have to pull an airplane. Yeah, that difficult.

I thought today could go 2 ways. The week could continue and the 13.1 miles might feel like a full marathon or I could go out and have a great day. Turns out, there is a 3rd option which fell somewhere in between.

I definitely felt better today than I have been feeling the last 2 weeks...for most of my race. Miles 1-7 were good, averaging a 7:50 pace. But at mile 8, the rhythm ended. For 2 miles it felt like I had cement in my quads. I don't know what caused the change, but it was not fun.

This whole training season has been a learning experience though and here was a chance for a new lesson. Yippee. This past week at our Run for the Memory team meeting, I had actually asked a very related question to our guest speaker, Assistant BAA coach, Terry Shea.

"How do you keep a not-great race from turning into a terrible race?"

His advice was to have a A, B, and C goal at the beginning of the race. "A" being a perfect day, "B" being what you are realistically prepared for and "C" being the day something's just a little off. So I went into today with my goals - A: 7:45 pace; B: 7:50 pace and C: 1/2 marathon PR. Even if by 1 second, I wanted to achieve this goal.

I'll give today a B-/C+. I ran a half marathon PR by almost 2 minutes and beat my course PR by over 5 minutes! My pace was a tad slower than I had hoped, but I cracked the 8:00 barrier for the first time (also a goal of mine)!! It was also great practice to get through the tough miles and choose not to give up. After Miles 8-10, I bounced back with 2 good miles, before the cement legs returned on the course's final hill.

1:43:51. 7:56 pace. New 1/2 Marathon PR.

My race could have ended at Mile 8, and I didn't let it. I didn't give up, and it paid off. That was my lesson learned today. Bring on next week's 23 miler!

The 20 mile hump

This morning I ran my first 20 miler of the training season. Actually I was schedule for 21 miles. No easing over this mental hump - we are diving right in! I haven't run this far since Nov 2, 2008. I was anxious, nervous and excited all at the same time. Anxious that I wouldn't finish strong; nervous I would feel like crap the entire run, as I did last week; excited to reach this distance for the first time...again.

It has become a tradition on the Run for the Memory team schedule. Today's run was from Natick to the finish line in Boston. Like last week, a point to point run is so much easier to mentally get through. Brenna and I were running the furthest of the group and got dropped off first at the 8K mark on the course - right at the Ashland/Framingham town lines. It occurred to me then how much closer we were to the starting line than the finish at that point. And like it or not, we were running east!

From the first mile, I knew this week was going to be better than last week. And the fact that I did not need to look at my watch to see how close we were to the first water stop, confirmed that.

We ran the first half of the run at about an 8:20-8:25 pace. I felt good, but knew it was a little faster than I should be running today. At about mile 10, I decided to slow it down a tad. I let Brenna take off ahead of me - she's going to have a great marathon this year - and joined another teammate and her friend for what ended up being the rest of the run. We averaged about 8:35 pace. Not significantly slower, but just enough so that I felt comfortable.

I finished with 21.35 miles at 8:30 pace. Over the hump and exactly where I wanted to land today.

17 miles and a little perspective

Today's 17 miler was not my best run. It is unfortunate too, as it was great running weather and one of my favorite training routes; we drove out to Hopkinton and ran in to Mile 17 in Newton. It's so nice to run a point-to-point route. I wish my legs had agreed with me. I swear I was carrying an elephant on my back. Or at least a small child.

Every mile was work. The first 12 miles were supposed to be run at a "comfortable" pace. That definition was totally subjective, and reflected in my actual pace. But surprisingly the last 5 were supposed to be run at 8:00-8:10 pace and I hit it! Or my Garmin was just being nice to me.

Actually, this was not my best week. That's an exaggeration. It was my worst week training for this marathon so far. I think I'm still feeling the effects of essentially racing 16.6 miles last weekend. Or at least that's what I'm telling myself.

The amazing thing is, even thought my runs this week have not been as enjoyable as I would like, they are still faster than those runs 2 and 3 years ago. Not to pat myself on the back, but that's pretty amazing. At least I'm amazed.

And not that I'd like to repeat this week again, but if I had to, at least I know what I'm now able to do is still way beyond what I honestly thought I was capable of a few years ago.

Running in Wellesley with Brenna

Ragnar Revival

Last weekend I broke up my regular training with a 200 mile team relay race. In Arizona.

I appreciate the toughness it takes to train in the New England winter. I enjoy the feeling of a hot shower at the end of a cold run and am proud I can describe the differences in ideal layers for running in temperatures 0-10 degrees, 10-20 degrees, 20-30 degrees and 30-40 degrees.

But, man, did it feel good to throw on shorts and a t-shirt and just run last weekend. It was so simple. After an easy 6 mile run Thursday night, before the relay, I threw on a long sleeved t-shirt, just so I "didn't get chilly." That is the life, as far as I'm concerned.

During the nighttime run portion of the relay (my second leg began at ~2:45 am), the temperatures dipped to about 40 degrees. Before complaining, I realized that this would still probably be warmer than the high in Boston that day. Shortly after I finished my run at about 3:30 am, I also realized my friends back home would be waking up any minute to get ready for their weekend long runs.

Over the course of 27 hours, I ran 16.6 miles. The last 5.6 were of course into a head wind and mostly uphill. But as my van mates (5 guys) told me, the third leg is the hardest.

Despite sleeping only 2 hours, in the back seat of a van, Friday night, and 3 hours Sunday night, after flight delays brought me back to Boston at 4:00am, that trip to Arizona was exactly what I needed to break up a long, long winter. And I swear, when I ran this morning, I heard a few birds chirping and it did feel a little warmer out there.

Passing the first test

This weekend I ran the Old Fashioned 10 Miler in Foxboro, MA. I was excited for 2 reasons. 1) It was nice to change the scenery of my weekly long run and not worry about traffic or water support. All was taken care of for me. 2) This race would be a good test of where I am in my training.

My plan was to run the race at a 7:40 pace or better. Slightly intimidating, as my best 5 miler was previously at about 7:39 pace. But that was my first test - believing in myself and staying confident throughout the race that this was a reachable goal. If it was easy, I wouldn't be racing, I'd just be out for a jog.

The race was well organized with good runner support and a nice course of rolling hills. I had run this race a few years back and was curious how "Chrissy in 2011", repaired hip and all, would fare compared to a few years back. My previous time at this race had been 1:22 and change, about an 8:15 pace.

After a comfortable 2.5 mile warm-up with teammate Brian, we got the the starting line and I was excited. Weird, because I'm usually quite nervous at the start of a race. The gun went off and the crowd started moving. Only then did I realize how far back I was, as it took me a good half mile to break through the rows of runners in front of me.

After a too-fast-to-sustain-Mile 2, I fell into a comfortable pace. Each mile I just tried to replicate the effort, and take it one mile at a time. As the miles ticked by, I was still averaging my goal pace. A few seconds faster on some miles, a few seconds slower on others, but still hovering around 7:40.

Now, usually when I get towards the end of the race, I tend to lose focus. Rather than push for my goal, convince myself I will be satisfied with the effort thus far, and whatever happens will be fine. But yesterday I decided that wasn't good enough. I was not going to settle for OK at miles 9 and 10. And I didn't. I picked up the pace at mile 9 and then turned it up again at mile 10, running my second fastest mile of the race to the finish.

1:16:40. 7:40 pace. New PR.

The PR was great and hitting my goal pace was awesome. 7:40 for 10 miles from the girl who ran a 12 minute mile in elementary school (and was sick with anticipation the night before!). But the thing I am most proud of is hanging on during the last 2 miles - having confidence and pushing past the tired legs that wanted to slow down.

This was just the first test though. My eye is on the real prize and I'll have to wait and see how this will all translate at miles 24, 25, and 26 on April 18th.

These little piggies cried wee, wee, wee...

...for the last 2.5 miles of my 8.5 mile run this morning.

I don't know what it is about switching back and forth from the roads to the treadmill, but my poor feet are torn up. I hadn't had a blister in months and since early January, I can't seem to not have at least one. I asked some running friends if they were facing the same issue with more treadmill runs this winter, and they did not share my pain.

I've tried to stop it. I changed my socks, changed my shoes, cover my feet in Body Glide before each run. The only thing it has changed is which toe is the lucky winner.

Between bruised and missing toenails and blisters...well, let's just say I won't be doing any foot modelling anytime soon. I'm even too embarrassed to get a pedicure right now. If things don't improve, I fear I will be enjoying the beaches of Turks and Caicos in a few weeks with socks on.

For everyone's sake, let's just hope the snow stays away and I can get back to the roads on a full time basis.

February is for Fundraising!

While getting back to marathon training has been fantastic, the other piece to this particular marathon is that I am not just running it for me. I am running this marathon with over 30 other individuals from the Run for the Memory Team, running on behalf of their friends and family members who have or had Alzheimer's disease. I started running with this team to honor my grandfather, who passed away in 2005. This year I'm also running for my uncle's mother, Josephine Piraneo, and the many parents and grandparents of friends I have met in my 6 years of involvement with this group.

Alzheimer's disease affects over 5 million Americans and currently, has no cure. While I cannot work in the lab, developing drugs to slow, stop or prevent Alzheimer's disease, I can help raise money to fund those who can as well as the programs and resources to support the patients and families already affected.

So I push my shyness aside for a bit. I ask everyone from my parents to my dentist to consider making a donation. I ask them to donate to help stop Alzheimer's disease from affecting more people or donate to support me as I tackle my 8th marathon. Either way, the Alzheimer's Association benefits.

To date I have raised $2,680!! However, that's only a bit over 1/3 of the way to reaching my goal of $7,500. It still seems a long way away, but then again, so does the finish line during Mile 8 of the marathon. Yet, each time, I've managed to make it to the end. I don't see why this time will be any different.

To donate, please visit http://alz.kintera.org/boston2011/chrissyrunsagain