Tag Archives: road running

It’s locked in!

6 Mar

Me and kiddie #3 after my 18 miler! Can you believe it was February were outside... he's in a tee-shirt. We live in the northeast! Crazy.

Well I did it!  Last weekend I did my 18 miler and on Sunday I did my last long run….20 miles baby!  I will do a few short runs over the next 11 days, but I am officially done with my DC Marathon training.  Whoot whoot!  Honestly when I started training back in December I remember thinking “holy crap, I’ll never be able to do this again“.  But yet here we are, T-minus 11 days and counting!  My 18 miler was so smooth, totally enjoyable ((yes I know you think I’m crazy)), almost effortless.  When I headed up to my house I remember thinking to myself  “I could pull out another 8 miles if I had too”.  Marathon running is 1 part training, 2 parts mind-set.  It’s that mental thought of “I know I can do this”.  That is key.  Hence last year my over training.  Each time my plan called for a “long run” I would run longer.  During my training last year for the Napa Valley Marathon, when I was so posed to run 3- 20 milers…instead of sticking to the plan, I ran more. ((Damn that overacheiver, type A gene I have)).  I needed to prove to myself that I could finish come race day.  I wound up doing a 20, 22, and 24 miler before my race.  This basically ruined the actual race day for me.  I was so beat up from my training that race day was a struggle.  I peaked too soon!  This year I hope my approach is better.  I have only run 1- 20 miler.  Even though Sundays run was quite challenging ((which I will explain in a minute)), I came up to my house thinking “Yup I could pull another 6 miles. I wouldn’t break any records but I could get it done”. 

Me and the hubs! Yes he's a hottie!

So what was different about Sundays 20 mile run… Well Saturday night I went to a wonderful dinner auction for our children’s school.  I got to get all gussied up, put on some killer platform heels and dance the night away.  Hey someones gotta do it! When I say killer heels…literally at mile 14 my back was saying “are you crazy lady!”  Yes note to self… “do not wear 5 inch platform heels the night before a long run”. 

So today I succumbed to going to the chiropractor.  Good news…I just spasmed the muscles in my back.  They should recover in plenty of time for DC. Yea! I did however get a small lesson on what wearing platforms does to your back.  :)   Good to know.  It’s always a learning curve!

So there you have it!  The 20 miler in the bank.  I’m ready.

Living Solefully:: day 14

14 Oct

Race jitters…there’s something about the positive energy at a race expo that is infectious! I on the other hand have race jitters . My last race was the Napa Valley Marathon. So tomorrow’s race is pretty big considering I am running the 1/2 after having my full marathon training sidelined by lymes disease in July and August.

But the fun part my kiddies and hubby are coming which is a total treat! My daughter made me a bunch of signs big and small. This is what I found on my race clothes!

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Living Solefully means running through the jitters, stepping out of your comfort zone to live the life you want to LIVE!

Living Solefully:: Day 7 Paying it forward…

7 Oct

In 2009 I ran the 5K for JDNM

Part of being a wife, mother, daughter and friend is sometimes doing things that are categorized as “paying it forward”.  What does that mean?  Well the expression “pay it forward” is used to describe the concept of asking that a good turn be repaid by having it done to others instead.

I am very blessed with a fantastic family, loving supportive husband, a great part-time job gig and friends who cheer me on in all of my crazy endeavors.  But there are somethings in this world we can easily take for granted.  One is how your life can change in an instant when tragedy strikes.  So given that I am healthy and have all of the above, I am trying to pay it forward. 

Next weekend I am running the ING Hartford 1/2 marathon as a runner of Jane Doe No More.  Unlike some charities at running events I did not get a coveted running slot or was even asked to raise money.  This was an endeavor I chose on my own because I feel it is important and necessary.  Every two minutes someone in this country is raped.  It is very likely that someone you know is a victim of sexual assault and does not want to talk about it.  Jane Doe No More is a non-profit organization that provides support  to victims, families as well as educates law enforcement in how to help victims, so they do not feel ashamed.

I have 3 young children, 1 of whom is a little girl.  The likelihood that she will encounter something like this is frightening.  My legs have the ability to take me far.  Both on the race course and off.  This is my way of Living Solefully~ Paying it forward with Jane Doe No More and fight to end the silence of sexual assault.

If you’d like to donate or find out more about Jane Doe No More you can click.

Live Solefully:: day 12~ goals

22 Jun

Many people say “you have to forget your last marathon before you try another”. I do think thats very true. I would relate this to having a baby. Not many of us leave the hospital, ()no matter how happy you are to be holding that little cherub)) and say “Wow, sign me up for this again doc! Pushing a watermelon out of a hole the size of a life saver is fun!”

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Even the recovery time after the marathon is relatable to the first few months postpartum. You can’t even imagine more than one baby when your sleep deprived and feeling like a human cow (nursing). But as the dust settles, you begin to get some sleep, those first smiles from your cherub arrive at the 4 month mark, wheels start turning. Hummm maybe that wasn’t so bad. Labor and delivery seems to be a distant memory and at about month 6-9 you may contemplate another baby. Signing up for another marathon seems to be taking on the same track for me. I know I want to sign up for one. My runs have finally gotten consistent and longer and I am ready to jump in once again. It took me a long time to shake my first pregnancy experience. 3 years to be exact. Lets say it was less than text book perfect. However my first marathon experience was sooooo great. I learned so much about my training, things to do and not to do…and I feel ready to pull the trigger and sign on for round two! So live solefully today by setting a goal. ((God help us all with my next one!)) Here’s the ones that are in the running….for 2012.

Napa Valley CA- march 2012

Big Island – HI march 2012

Rome Italy- march 2012

Washington DC- march 2013

Paris France- April 2014

Big Sur CA- may 2012

((I know Paris & Rome really sound the best…but those are dependent on hubbies work schedule)). So what about the USA ones? Thoughts?

Frank Shorter

“some where someone is training and your not and on race day…they will beat you.”

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