Charlie Brown

Day: 389

Photo taken on Thursday, August 25, 2011 in the HR office at 337pm.


IT'S RAINING SIDEWAYS!



No lunch run for me today.

Route 66

Day: 383

Photo taken on Friday, August 19, 2011 in my office at 430pm.

Just returned from taking my new kicks out for a 3 mile spin. I'm loving these Asics Gel Nimbus 13s! Great new trainers for the upcoming marathon! Thanks Moma!

^_\

Case Against Boobs

Day: 372

Photo taken on Monday, August 8, 2011 before early showertime at 651pm.

No matter what super-duper sports bra I buy into it has to chafe me somewhere. After the three miler today I feel a burning in the middle of my back. Sure enough-when I complain to Steve- he finds the culprit: the clasps that hold this contraption together.

Oh it's going to be so pleasant when the water hits it in two minutes!

Pig Pen

Day: 370

Photo taken on Saturday, August 6, 2011 in the living room at 536pm.

I have been invited to run as Jamie's second coach again, this time for the Marine Corp Marathon in Washington D.C. at the end of October. I join my boys today in the Bethpage trails for a nice 14 Miler and leave with a nice layer of filth attached to my body. Upon returning home a few hours later, Steve orders me to strip off my shoes and socks before coming into the living room to give him a kiss hello. Part of the fun of running in trails is that you don't mind getting dirty and that splashing through the mud is very satisfying, especially when you can actually see the line where your hard work begins and being squeaky clean ends.

That's hot.

Day: Three Hundred and Fifty One

Photo taken on Monday, July 18, 2011 after my shower at 950pm.

So this is a new place to chafe. Wonderful.

Keep On Runnin'

Day: Three Hundred and Eighteen

Photo taken on Wednesday, June 15, 2011 in Bossdad's office after my run at 431pm.

Charlie bought me this Nike sports shirt for my birthday and when I go to sign out today for lunch, Cassandra reads it:

"With a trash talking shirt like that you better pass people when you're running today!"

I didn't even think about that! She's totally right! I have no choice but to run my three miles as fast as I possibly can and luckily I do pass some people. But then there are those that blow by me and I am happy to say, they are running too fast to read my shirt so I am in the clear.

"Collah!"

Day: Two Hundred and Ninety Eight

Photo taken on Thursday, May 26, 2011 in our bedroom at 933pm. (I am in love with the back of my neck at the moment.)

Here it is: the official Boston Marathon 2011 Jacket! I am super excited to get this in the mail and immediately start wearing it everywhere. I'm still flying high from actually completing my first marathon and keep replaying the day's events in my head from time to time. Now I finally can get the 26.2 sticker for the back of my car too!

I never thought I would see the day I could push my achy joints to finish a race that long. When I first started running again I didn't set a marathon as a goal, hell I didn't even think I could do a half either. I just wanted to do Blazin' Trails the following year and not have to walk at all. It has been a wonderful journey full of injuries, sweat, and tears but ultimately happiness.

Currently I am training for two more upcoming marathons in the fall, the first by myself and then running as Jamie's guide again (so excited and honored!). But after that, I might try my hand at triathlons. Problem is, I know NOTHING about biking. Anyone interested in coaching a total beginner?



Born To Run

Day: Two Hundred and Sixty

Photo taken on Monday, April 18, 2011 on Clarendon Street in Boston, MA at 332pm. (Pictured: Me, Jamie, and Allan)

I HAVE COMPLETED MY FIRST MARATHON!

And I could not have done it without out the help and drive of the two I am pictured with.

When Allan and Robyn first toss out the idea of me running as Jamie's second coach, I figure, well why not? I don't have a race planned for that day. Besides, when could I ever qualify for the Boston Marathon? I think my age group has to run it in under lightening speed or something equal to that and everyone knows I'm a turtle compared to other women in my category. They ask if I am interested in doing half of it and I quickly agree but once I start training and make it through that first long run of 17 miles, I am hooked. I am in it for the long haul (that and Allan has taken advantage of the mileage to talk me into it, which honestly he had me at, "what's another 10k after these 19 miles, right?").

So once it is established, I make sure Maeve is going to be around for her birthday weekend and what psyches me up for the event even more is that she wants to take Patriot's Day off and be my cheering section! I am floored! I am so looking forward to having a mini fan club at the biggest race I will probably ever run. Steve even takes a day off without pay because he doesn't want to miss me crossing the line for my first 26.2 miler.

Though I almost don't cross...

Everything starts out wonderful but also very cold. I am glad I make the decision to wear my snowman pj bottoms as throw-away clothes (clothes that you discard before a big race that are then scooped up and donated) because it is windy when waiting for the busses to get us at 5 in the morning. The three of us, plus Alie and his three coaches (Randy, James, and Stephen) get on the slightly warmer bus for a ride that feels way more than 26.2 miles.

I am so stoked when we reach Athletes Village and as I clamber off the bus and see all these runners the nerves start to set in. I start wondering if I have enough body glide on and if I'll be able to hit the bathroom before we start in two hours and if I made a big mistake taking on this challenge.

On the trek to the starting line and the other smaller version of the Athlete's Village, I come across a family that has a whole station of first aid stuff set up for free. I am astounded at the generosity of giving out Band-Aids and what not to strangers you don't even know. They even let me crack open a jar of Vaseline and I thank them profusely as I run to catch up with my party. It is the one of the many many MANY fans that have tables like this set up for the runners and the amount of food and beverages that are passed out along the way is great. (But I don't know this yet when we line up with several other runners that get to start an hour before the first heat.)

We witness the great spirit of the Boston by ourselves for the first 8 miles. The only people to pass us so far are the wheelchair runners who are absolutely amazing so all the cheers have pretty much been directed at us as we pass. One particular bar is already half in the bag but call out to the three of us as we pass and Jamie is loving the attention. He's smiling and laughing and we're just cruising and enjoying the gorgeous day.

Then the elite women pass us and they are a sight of beauty. The lead runner has a stride three times the size of mine and the pack that passes right after her have seriously no fat on their bodies so I can see the muscles working and it's fascinating. Two miles later it's the elite men with Ryan Hall in the lead and then it hits us a little bit later...the massive wall of EVERYONE ELSE. It's definitely nerve wracking and I worry I'll lose sight of Jamie so I stick to him like glue. I'm thinking if I run another marathon as his guide I should definitely put a "guide" sign on my back as well to maybe ward of the people who have squeezed in between us already.

By Mile 15 I'm aching a bit. As Allan and Jamie take a bathroom break I shoot off a text to Steve and my dad that I'm in pain. They cheer me on and Maeve sends me a text telling me where they'll be at the end. By Mile 18 I start to cry. The excruciating pain radiating from my right hip is just wearing me down. I've tried to compensate by favoring my left leg but it's not working. My body is giving out but Allan is hearing none of that. He's pulling out all the stops to convince me to keep going and I feel so incredibly guilty that I'm slowing them down because Jamie has hit a good rhythm and I don't want to mess that up for him. Allan gives me an Advil and tells me to run another mile and then we'll discuss me quitting.

Keep in mind we're in Newton right now, the four mile stretch of straight hills, the hardest four miles I will ever run in my career. On my way to Mile 19 a girl hands me a homemade brownie and it's delicious and I am thankful for it since I haven't eaten a thing since 730. But when it comes to discuss my quitting at mile 19, I am nausceous on top of being in pain. Allan goes into his Spibelt which is doubling as a pharmacy at the moment because he pulls out two ginger candies to help. "Let's get through Heartbreak Hill then we'll figure out what to do."

But as I reach the top of Heartbreak Hill, there's nothing to figure out. I am feeling fantastic! Better than I have felt all day! My second wind carries me through the last 10k with ease and I am pain-free when I round the final corner and see the finish up ahead. I am overcome with emotion and think that when I spot my fan club that I will dissolve into a teary mess though when I reach Lord and Taylor I hear her and instead of tears I smile.

There's Maeve, blonde hair and big sunglasses waving enthusiastically at me, holding up her pink phone to snap my picture. I am so happy I end up going faster and I don't catch Steve but I see Robyn, Randy, and Alie in the stands, cheering for us as we cross at 6:01:45.

This is such a fantastic experience and I consider myself so lucky that I am asked to partake in Jamie's first Boston Marathon (I am sure the twins will do it again in the near future!).

Thank you to Robyn and Allan for including me in their training and for letting me be a part of something really awesome! Thank you everyone for all the well wishes and good lucks throughout my month of training and on the big day. And giant hugs to Maeve and Steve-O who help me celebrate with fatty food and good beer directly after being healthy for 6 hours. Much love to all!

^_\

Thunder Thighs

Day: Two Hundred and Forty Six

Photo taken on Monday, April 4, 2011 in the Surge bathroom at 309pm.

Moma wanted me to come down this past weekend to run the Ukrops Monument Avenue 10k and once I find out you are allowed to participate while wearing a costume I am so totally in. As I put my “Dark Angel” garb in my carry-on Thursday night, I search the apartment for my body glide but it appears the stick has disappeared during the slow-going process of packing up the apartment. I give up after awhile thinking, “it’s just a 10k, how bad can the chaffing between my thighs get?”

Bad actually. Very very bad.

By mile four my stride shortens considerably so the stinging lessens a bit but when I finish, I’m walking like I’ve ridden a horse (or a cowboy) for 15 hours straight. When I hit the showers I am momentarily breathless as the water runs over the raw flesh but luckily it has scabbed over two days later and I can wear jeans comfortably again.

I have to splice the pictures today because trying to get a shot of both my thighs at once looks very pornographic. Even though I am wearing underwear and everything is adequately covered, I still feel it looks like an amateur crotch shot. Plus my underwear selection for today is bordering on embarrassing with its stripes and little pink bows.

Annie Sez

Day: Two Hundred and Thirty Nine

Photo taken on Monday, March 28, 2011 after lunch in Bella Cucina on 87th and Lexington in the city at 203pm.

I love when people get into the selfers; this is totally Annie's idea, basking in the sun like this and we are lovin' it! She looks so peaceful as the light streams in, warming our skin. I am so happy they sit us by the street though we don't even spend a second looking out at the passersby because we are so engrossed in catching up with each other.

As we're talking about love and family and work, we end up talking about a common interest: running. Annie is a very good runner and she does it for the right reason: she loves it. Being that she was a phenomenal race walker in her school days, that drive to feel the adrenaline is still inside of her. I am happy to share my experiences with her and listen to her past stories of hard races (I had no idea she's done an ultra! So cool!) and take with it some advice for my upcoming long runs. Annie is inspiring to me, she is a goddess of health and beauty, and I strive to be more like her in my fitness endeavors.

Sunshine!

Day: Two Hundred and Thirty

Photo taken on Saturday, March 19, 2011 in the bathroom at 748pm.

I'm already sporting a watch tan-line. Looks like summer is around the corner.

That or running 19 miles outside today might be the cause of it.

Home Ec

Day: Two Hundred and Twenty Three

Photo taken on Saturday, March 12, 2011 at Justin's house in Jericho, NY at 458pm.

Heather is the best. Not only is she helping me out with my racing pants at the moment, she is also brave enough to sit next to me when I smell pretty awful.

Today I defy my "pity party" and I prove to myself that I am able to run a 25k and then some. I am currently training to be one of the twins' coaches for the upcoming Boston marathon. I am so honored that I have been asked to be the second coach and look forward to this amazing opportunity. Today, I jump into their training routine and end up running 17.5 miles with them from Bethpage to Massapequa and back. Afterwards, I spend an hour with Jenn, Mike, and Aunt Linda as my cousins make the move from one apartment to another. Then it's off to Justin's to do the Marvel game.

Though instead of the Marvel game we decide to go out for a "couple's dinner" to Mulberry Street in Hicksville, though I need to change out of my spandex pants into fleece pants to be a little more restaurant appropriate. Upon removing my second skin I find a little hole in the butt. I'm visibly upset when I come out of the bathroom. "My Spibelt must have rubbed a hole in this today!" (I'm guessing this one sentence is very bad publicity for Spibelt but I really do love their product despite it ruining my very expensive running pants... Two sentences now?)

Heather lets me know they have a sewing kit and I immediately ask her if she doesn't mind sewing it. Her face falls. Dammit, I am such an ass; she's offering me black thread, not to do it for me. How presumptious of me! I apologize for my blunder but she takes the garment from my hands and sews it back together with ease. I cannot thank her enough for helping me out! Unless the rip is on the seam I can't sew anything back together. Hell, even when it's on a seam it still looks atrocious.

Heather, thank you for mending my pants, today! My butt and everyone who has to see it when I run by appreciates this!

^_\

Date Night

Day: One Hundred and Sixty Three

Photo taken on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 outside of the Farmingdale Multiplex at 951pm.

I coerce Steve into seeing a running documentary tonight with the promise of food and another volume of Bleach. He would have come regardless but I felt I should sweeten the deal since Hood to Coast will really only appeal to me. I figure he'll probably sit there through the entire thing as if I am the one running this race and wish he didn't forget his DS to keep him busy while he waits at the finish to snap my picture. And hopefully, in 2012, he'll be doing just that.

My buddy from college, Scott, posted the trailer to the movie a few weeks ago, asking his fellow runners if they would be interested and for one whole week it is all I can think about. I study the leg breakdowns and try to pick out which one I would do and if I could manage that terrain. As Steve is counting sheep at night, I stare at the ceiling counting months and training programs, trying to space out races and that hopefully I'll have a marathon or two under my belt by then. I think of dieting and running hills, wondering if I can last 24 hours without showering, eating, or going #2. It finally gets to the point I have to email Scott and put myself out there. I tell him how it has been dominating my thoughts and that if he needs an extra runner, I'm totally game.

It's a 197 mile relay race of 12 runners and it can last longer than 24 hours depending on the team's pace. After watching the inspirational film tonight, all I want to do is start training harder. I know eventually the weight will come off and my mileage will increase even more than it has, I just have to be patient. I definitely recommend this movie to anyone looking for motivation to accomplish a goal whether it be running a ridiculous race like this or something less extreme; these people's stories of perseverance will help you keep on going.

The base keep runnin' runnin' and runnin' runnin'.

Day: One Hundred and Thirteen

Photo taken on Monday, November 22, 2010 in the Time Out Room holding my fifth running award of my career at 940pm.

Not only do I beat my 10k time by four minutes I actually place in my age category for once in the Yes Your Energy Shines 10k race on November 7 in Center Moriches. I have no idea I place since they have listed me as 31 years old so when I check my official time days later, I email them the unfortunate mistake. The race directors are very nice and helpful and even send me my award right away!

The last time I have a race this good I am disappointed I do not place, coming in 4th, and Kim tells me I PRed so that should be enough but I can't help feeling like I failed myself. She says I can't always have both and teasingly tells me to stop being selfish and take just the PR. But I guess for this race I'm greedy and you know what? It feels damn good to do both!

Write to me, Sick Sickly

Day: Eighty Four

Photo taken on Sunday, October 24, 2010 on my side of the bed at 853am.

I am not a happy camper in this picture.

I am on the verge of tears as I lie in bed and watch the time tick away, knowing that I'm supposed to be somewhere right now but I don't have the strength to move.

543 I wake with a start. I'm sweating because I'm dreaming about the Blazing Trails race today and in my dream I'm late, close to missing out on participating. I realize my alarm is going to go off for this race in about 20 minutes and by the current state my body is in, I know I can't participate. Steve reassures me it's okay to miss a race and that even though I paid for it the money went for a good cause; I have to think of it that way so I do.

At 630 I jolt awake again and stare at the clock, thinking that if I get up now I can still make it. I sit up and shake my head at my thinking; I can barely stay in this position without slumping forward. I think about being a spectator instead but I honestly know what would happen if I tried that...I'd end up running.

I keep waking up in a panic, keep having dreams about missing various races for various reasons. Every time I look at the clock I think about what I would be doing if actually going to the race: right now we would be picking up Nick, right now I would be throwing my goody bag in the car, right now I would be eating my breakfast, right now I would be warming up with Christina, right now I would be stripping down to my tiny shorts. This goes on even after I find the strength to go get breakfast: right now I'd be three minutes into my first mile, right now I would be on pace to beat my 4 mile PR, right now I would have been done with the race for five minutes.

I so wanted to be there today, for Robyn, Allan, and the boys, to see all my teacher friends from Genesis, to run with Christina, to take a shot at placing in my category. It's truly a wonderful race with a challenging course and for a great cause. I wanted this to be the race that in 20 years I would still be running every October and say, "I've been running this since year one! Haven't missed a race!"

I hope the event had a wonderful turnout and that everyone had a fantastic time running or walking the tough course. You all were in my thoughts today!

E.T.

Day: Sixty Seven

Photo taken on Thursday, October 7, 2010 on the treadmill at 745pm in our community gym.

Because who in their right mind would think 3 days off from running is excessive?

Better Than a Waterbug

Day: Sixty Five

Photo taken on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 815am outside of Tania's office.

It is such a nice surprise to flick on the hallway lights and find a HUGE congratulations poster hanging in my honor this morning. Bossdad made this for me yesterday and hung it on the nurses' board so I would see it when I opened up the Surge the following morning. Thank you so much, Daddio!

I'm a diva!

Day: Sixty Three

Photo taken on Sunday, October 3, 2010 in the living room while icing my knees and enjoying a celebratory Smashed Pumpkins beer from Shipyard.

Today I run my first half marathon.

I use the Hal Higdon half marathon 12 week training schedule in order to prepare myself for my longest run to date. I always find the even weeks to be easier than the odd weeks and there are a few occasions when the schedule causes a minor breakdown and I dissolve into tears on the treadmill in mile 2. Luckily Steve is there for each occurrence to rub my back and talk me down from the ledge. In the three months I train, Moma sends me encouragement cards which I display on the mantel to remind me on days I'm about to throw in the towel to just keep going because I can do it.

And I do!

Kim and Preston decide to drive all the way up here after dropping mom off at the airport because they too want to be there for me and cheer me on during the race. I can't explain to you how incredibly happy and loved this makes me feel to have my sister and nephew joining my parents this morning. To have the support of friends and family is what makes this goal of mine possible to accomplish.

At the start of the race I'm nervous but as usual I converse with other runners and this always puts me at ease. I see my fan club when I head into the first mile then on my way back towards the starting line in mile 3. I catch them again around mile 8 and I'm feeling so fantastic and grateful for 8 pain-free miles. Unfortunately around mile 9.5 my body starts to gradually break down. Stiffness starts in my hip joints and a pain winds its way from the bones down into my quads, limiting my movement a bit. My stride shortens considerably in mile 11 and by mile 12 I'm in so much pain I have to pull off to the side to stretch my lower back. Even with the tiara on my head and the pink boa draped around my neck, I start to doubt that I'll find the energy to cross the finish line. But once I enter Eisenhower Park and hear people cheering in the distance I find a hidden energy reserve and pull through the last half mile. When I cross I seriously cry like a baby as I'm swept up in Steve's arms then passed off to Moma. Even Kim's buddy, Jay, has stayed to congratulate me even though his wife, Erin-Kate, came in almost an hour ago (she's an amazing ultra runner and came in 6th overall). It is such an emotional day for us all so my parents take me and the fan club to a wonderful breakfast at Maureen's Kitchen to celebrate.

Thank you everyone for your advice, support, and love through the past three months! You're the best!

^_\

 (Kim wrote a beautiful piece about her impromptu NY trip here at her BLOG.)

Exhibit A

Day: Sixty

Photo taken on Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 745pm in the kitchen.

There is only one key fob to get into the community gym and I will give you one guess where it is not...

Steve likes to be the keeper of the key fob even though you couldn't pay him enough to use the community gym on his own. I have asked him to put the key fob on a key chain I have provided for him yet he continues to leave it on his set of keys. Normally Steve would be home to escort me to the gym but tonight he is out visiting with Paul. This means no key fob. This also means I cannot complete my training for the night which ultimately means I'm sort of angry.

Never Forget

Day: Forty One

Photo taken on Saturday, September 11th, 2010 around 2pm in Sai as I was driving home from the Preserve in Massepequa, NY.

Today is a difficult day for Americans. To relive what happened that cloudless Tuesday morning is painful and extremely hard to watch the events play out again on our TV screens. I know I couldn't do it this morning when Steve put on Asuma and I heard the names being read. I asked him to change the channel right away, knowing that 9 years later I still can't handle the emotions that bubble to the surface when I think back to that day. I think back to how people in Colorado handled the situation, they were shocked and sad but their lives went on because they weren't affected by it like we were. How terribly alone I felt when I received the call a week later that our family knew someone in the buildings that didn't make it out. Feeling completely helpless that I couldn't comfort my friends and family because I was trapped so far away from my home.

So today I run my 8.5 miler in honor of those we lost and those that were heroes today. I don a flag pin on my running shorts and I think about how much I love this country and how proud I am of those who are fighting for us over in the Middle East. They have my support and utmost respect.

So today we should all remember, and never forget.