Why Boston will be incredible.... besides the obvious....

Today was a great day for me.  I ran my 20 miler for my marathon training plan.  It may have come a week too late... and after a failed attempt that ended in dissapointment, feeling unable to compete, and frustration.  But it gave me exactly what i needed... the excitement back in my training.

In less than a month I will be running the Boston Marathon.  It will be my first Boston Marathon that I will run and it will be only my second marathon that Ive ever run.  That being said, I have never had the "pleasure" of training for a spring marathon.  Spring marathon training means training in WINTER.  It was terribly to put it mildly.  Not only is it cold, snowy, and dark.... its just so hard to get motivated and my circulation is so bad in my hands that often times they would feel like they were being constantly smashed..... a strange burning feeling.  I never was motivated to go out and run... and when I did it was never for too terribly long or very often.  This winter I suffered two significant injuries as well that kept me out of training for a few weeks straight.

So all this being said... the frsutrations were mounting and I was starting to wonder if i could even run those distances anymore.  But today I did it... and it was awesome.

I wanted to share something about why Boston is not only exciting for the obvious reasons... but far more special for other reasons.

Feb 2009 My PapPap was starting to very much go downhill with his battle with prostate cancer.  He was bed ridden and hospice was in and out helping us care for him.  I would go over to visit with him and my Nanny after work several times a week and spend time with them.  Afterwards I would head to the gym and workout... i was trying to lose weight and it was a good stress relief and got my mind off things.  That april he passed away.
In the beginning of August, Monica told me about a race that her and some friends planned to run... it was a 5k.  I was not a fan of running and rarely stepped foot on a treadmill... i hated to run and always had.  The race was called the great prostate cancer challange and i agreed to run simply because my PapPap died from that and I wanted to contribute to the funds and run in honor of him.  It was POURING DOWN RAIN that day... and we all headed out to run on Sept 11, 2009.  I ran that race and realized that day..... i could really get into running.  and thats where it all began.

Fast foward to today..... I am running the Boston Marathon because of that race.  If I had never signed up for that run with Monica, Pete, and Sarah... I dont know if i ever would have gotten to where I am today because i just had no desire to run.
So what makes Boston SO special to me?  Boston is so special because my PapPap is the reason I started running in the first place... and I will be running a race of a lifetime on April 18th... which is his birthday of all days......

I can hardly wait... im sure he will be thrilled to see me do it.

Spring is peaking at me.... right around the corner! :)

So, things have been going GREAT for me! :)  Dare I say the winter blues are about gone and I am very much back in the swing of things between feeling back to my old self and then my runs being nice and consistent again!

Monday was 10 weeks until Boston!  I am beyond excited, nervous, scared, anxious, and also very much looking forward to getting away for a little bit and being somewhere other than Central PA! The scariest things for me are the fears of maybe not finishing Boston with everyone knowing im going to be running in it and then also the fear of the ridiculous about of people running it and then also the crowds who will be there watching it!  it totally blows my mind!

I got my Boston track jacket in the mail yesterday and it gave me the chills!!! :)  Dan is getting me the official jacket for my birthday I think so that is super exciting...

Been thinking alot lately about future stuff and life in general.  I love my life..... i have it really good and I am so thankful that I found running... it truly makes me a better person.  its also improved my relationships with other people... especially my relationship with Dan... it has done great things in both of our lives.  Brought us together on many levels.... my own personal confidence, lower stress levels, feeling better about how my body looks, feeling accomplished in something, and then also our common love for the sport.

very excited about the next few months to come... should be awesome :)

Bah. Winter has got me down I think....

AGHHHHH!!!  What is wrong with me???  I have been so blase' the last few weeks to say the least.  I feel like such an ass even sayng that.  I have SO MANY great things going for me.  I have a wonderful boyfriend who loves me dearly and makes me laugh every single day, a great new job that I am enjoying, a home to live in, two dogs to enjoy, school coming up in the spring and the Boston Marathon April 18th.  So why am I so down in the dumps?  I dont feel like hanging out with my friends, I really dont want to go much of anywhere, and the worst part is, I dont want to be active.  I do NOT feel like training for boston.  period.  i just dont feel like running.  its cold, snowy, and dark out any time i want to go run and the thought of running on the treadmill makes me cringe.  I also feel lazy and dont feel like driving there.  but why..... I was SO EXCITED to run the marathon....... this past week it even crossed my mind that I just dont care.  It crossed my mind that maybe i just dont even want to run the Boston Marathon. 

This is crazy talk..... it really is.  Boston is a fun big deal... why am I not pumped up? :(


I dont know... its just a big bummer and I wish I was motivated.  I am suppose to be in week 3 of my Boston training..... well...... thats been a bust.



I am at a loss..... I hope this passes quickly.....

2011 GOALS

Notice... they are GOALS not resolutions.  I feel like resolutions are not measureable and I like to know I can accomplish something and then also what my time frame is.

Pay off members1st credit card by April 2011

Take care of all outstanding medical bills by July 2011

Get down to under 20% body fat ( build more muscle lose more fat)

Run Boston Marathon in less than 3:45

Start College by June 2011

Save an average of $350.00 a month.  Put it into a savings account and do not touch it.

Go on a Hot air Balloon ride

Get ALL of my photos into organized albums

Print off my entire race photos and make myself a scrapbook.  This is something I really want to do… this is the year!  Do this by June 30^, 2011

Write in my blog at least once a week.

Average eating out ONLY once a week

Allow myself 2 hours a week of recreational reading of my choice.

STRETCH after every workout.  No exceptions.

Serve in the soup kitchen once a quarter for 2011

Random acts of kindness as often as possible. ( notes of encouragement to a friend, flowers for no reason, bake a cake for someone just because)

Run at least 2 marathons, 3 half marathons, and 10 5k this year

Go camping and leave the cell phone and technology at home for the weekend. ( or off as much as possible)

Become more knowledgeable about my Nikon- also learn how to work the Photoshop software

Host a progressive dinner party

Can you get a brain freeze without drinking anything cold?!?!?!?! If so i have one!!

Yesterday I was feeling so sore and just achy from my race on sunday and then my speedwork monday, that I decided to take the day off and relax.  I don't know what my deal is lately but I have been stressing out big time.....

I mean... well I do know why... and i cant get into details about it right now.... but my face looks like a pizza and I've got 20 things going on at one time.  Its ok though... they are all things that are going to bring changes for the better... and thats what is important.  Been really just trying to let things in God's hands and trust him.  He has blessed me beyond measure lately..... and I cannot be more grateful for that.  I see awesome things come the new year.... i am so excited.  I am also excited to start working on my new years goals!! :)

On another note, back to my training schedule, I ran today over my lunch break.  I wasnt really in the mood to, but i knew by the time i got out of work it would be dark and getting cooler out.... so it was in my best interest if i wanted to stay on target, to make sure i got out there today.  I went out on a route that i ran quite frequently over the summer.  It has at least 3 large hills and its a challange for me... especially when my hamstrings are so tight and my hip was making a pop pop pop as i began to run.  It was a little uncomfortable the first 1.5 miles... but after awhile i fell into rythum and everything was fine.  I ended up going 6 miles today and averaged a 7:55 pace so I am happy with that all things considered.

Other than that, I am feeling pretty optimistic about my training plan.  Ive decided I will combine the furman method with the plan i used to train for steamtown and that will be my best bet.  I hear that furman can cause alot of injuries and that is the last thing i want simply from being too aggressive... so i plan to keep an eye on things the next few weeks.

They are calling for awesome weather the next 3 days so my long run this friday will be in approx 43-46 degree weather!!!! thats warm for dec so bring it on!!

Let's try that again.... Boston Training STARTS NOW take 2 :)

So many things going through my head right now... I seriously cannot even keep my thoughts straight!  Perfect time to blog then right? :)

First, I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas!  I had a wonderful time with my family.  Dan got me alot of great running gear for my training over this winter so that does make me a little more excited to head outside and freeze my buns off lol.  I got some gloves, a long sleeve compression shirt with matching shorts, some smartwool socks, and a new ipod nano touch!  I am super pumped to try that sucker out!  My old shuffle just wasnt cutting it anymore.

So many GREAT GREAT things going on in my little life right now... so exciting.  Things personally, professionally, and actively.  Can't go too much into detail right now... but good things for sure coming my way.

I made a big OOPS last week.  It actually did NOT start my Boston training as i thought!  Funny thing.... i suck at math :)  even basic counting apparently.  Yesterday OFFICIALLY started my 16 week training.  SO- what does this mean?  Only one thing in my eyes- i had to do the week 1 speed work out TWO WEEKS IN A ROW.... and those 3X1600's were gruesome.  I hate speed training.  Ive decided already.  Its miserable!!!!!  AND- my hamstrings hurt worse than they EVER have... i am not sure why though.  I wonder if its just simply a new range of motion?  Its rough though! WOWZA.

Other than that just staying busy and trying to stretch alot.  Tonight is cross training so i am most likely hitting the bike for 45 minutes tonight!

Boston Training starts NOW

Today begins my Boston Marathon training!!! :)  I put a smiley face on here like i am actually genuinely thrilled about this.... but im not so sure about that. The thought of training in the bitter cold is not the least bit appealing!  I HATE cold!  I have printed out my training schedule and I am ready to rock and roll.  I thought I had an extra week before I had to get moving on this... so this is very upsetting to me!!!
SO-
Tonight I will be heading to the gym to put in my very first speed workout EVER.  I have not done this yet even once.... looking forward to it :)


Here starts a long and active 16 weeks