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