Merry Christmas Eve!

It's 8:32 in the morning, and I'm all packed, fed, dressed, and ready to go. Our flight is at 11 this morning, and will hopefully remain that way without a delay. In just a few hours we'll land in sunny, warm Key West and begin our relaxing week of vacation! I can't wait! I'll try to post while I'm down there, but I might be super busy relaxing that I forget :)

Don't worry, though, I won't forget to run. I packed all my running gear, and I've even mapped out a 10 mile run for the weekend. For some reason running ten miles in Key West sounds so much better than running ten miles on the "dreadmill" like I did last weekend.

Until next time...

Winter Wonderland

The snow is STILL falling...now we have maybe a foot and a half out there. It looks pretty right now, but the weather is supposed to get ugly and wet tonight. Then we'll welcome freezing temperatures, which will turn everything to ice. Good thing we're leaving for Florida in three days! I can't wait!

In the meantime, this weather has temporarily halted my outdoor running until, well probably until I get back from Florida. Speaking of running, I bet you are wondering how I did on my long run yesterday. Hmmm...I contemplated leaving that out of my blog since I am not too proud of it, but you read my blog to get the truth (the two or three of you that read my blog). Well, I HATED every second of my time on the treadmill. I didn't quite complete the 11 miles I should have; I only did 10. And boy was that 10 hard. I rarely (if ever) stop during a run, and I probably stopped 5 or 6 times yesterday. I told you I wasn't proud. Thankfully David was there doing 10 right next to me, but he's faster than me and finished first. But he stayed on the treadmill for most of the time I had left and told me I could do it...and I did it (finally). Anyway,
I hope I don't have to do too many of my long runs on a treadmill because I'll cry.

Well that's all for now. Oh, one more thing: GO PATS!

Here goes nothing...

Remember that last post about the snow? Well, it's here for real this time. We have about 8 inches or so (I have no concept of measurement...so I could be way off) out there and it's still snowing. I've run in the snow in the past, and actually it's kind of fun but not at all productive. I usually run a good 30-45 seconds slower per mile and spend most of my time dodging icy spots and searching for plowed or shoveled areas to run on. To run a long run out there would be insane and would take up the better part of today. So I decided that the treadmill will be my best bet today. Wish me luck as I try to bang out 11 miles on a treadmill! I'll post later this weekend to share my jubilation that I will be finished...as for now, I dread that hour and a half more than you know.

I spent the weekend starting (and almost finishing) my Christmas shopping! I can't believe it took me so long to get to the stores and start my list, but I really think this year feels different. It doesn't feel like Christmas is almost here. Maybe it's because I am going to be in warm, sunny Florida for the holidays or maybe it's because the weather has been pretty mild. I'm not sure. Anyway, I was glad to cross off most of my list this weekend.

Running is going well. I did my first team long run on Saturday morning, which was fun other than the bitter cold. We did 10 miles and didn't get lost; although, Deb and I did almost take a wrong turn ;) I know some people have been wanting to see the courses I am running, so I am going to work on embedding my run from mapmyrun.com...if anyone knows how to do that, please let me know!!!

I'll try to post later this week, so stay tuned!

Here's a quick update on my running: On Saturday I clocked in another long run at 9 miles. It went much better than last weekend; I felt good and my knees didn't feel like they were going to give out on me. Our course was pretty simple--Deb and I ran through Wellesley and back up and down the Comm Ave Heartbreak Hills. Still chuggin' along...

Let's take a minute to talk about the weather. Today was the first snowfall, which is exciting if you like that sort of thing. But for me, it marks the beginning of the worst months in the entire year. I hate cleaning my car off in the morning. I hate shoveling my driveway just have a stupid plow push a foot of snow right on top of what I just cleared. And I really hate when every school is cancelled except for the one I work at. So seeing the snow today was not on top of my list for what made my weekend fun. I don't mean to sound like a downer, because really I'm not. I do love Christmas lights, the smell of freshly cut trees, peppermint mochas, and buying gifts. Oh wait, I have a vague memory of myself last winter making snow angels on the front lawn. Maybe winter isn't all that bad.

It's too early to be stuck, but I am...

Yesterday we had a runner's meeting for the DFMC team. Although it was certainly helpful to hear the speakers talk about fundraising and neat to meet fellow teammates, it was also quite a wake up call to me. I am SO behind in my fundraising!! I only have $220 dollars, which is $6,280 short of my goal. I have been focusing too much on the running aspect that I have lost sight of the larger goal, which is to help raise money for cancer research. At the meeting someone called us "fundraisers with a running problem," and I think I've been a "runner with a fundraising problem." I have to refocus, regroup, and rethink...

Any ideas?

I've been running, I swear!

I just have not been vigilant in updating my blog. So here are some of the latest "highlights" in my training:

1. TUESDAY 11/25
I ran 6.5 miles on the treadmill at the gym! The longest I've ever stayed on a treadmill and ran the whole time!!! I get bored easily. It wasn't bad though. I started out at 9:40 pace and then moved into 8:15 by the end...it felt good!

2. THURSDAY 11/27 Turkey Day!!
I ran the annual Turkey Trot with the fam. This year our family had an even bigger turn-out than usual. Not only did David, my dad and I run, but my mom, two aunts, and my cousin walked it. Although it was cold, we still had fun. I love Thanksgiving! We get to eat good food, hang out with family, and eat more food. My grandpa makes the BEST turkey and stuffing, and this year my mom successfully replicated his recipe so we had TWO good batches of stuffing...yum. Oh but we're here about running...yes, I did fine in the trot. David and I ran 25 minutes for the 5k. Not terrible, but not the best.

3. FRIDAY 11/28
It was a BEAUTIFUL DAY outside, and David and I ran by the beach in Milford. We mapped a 4 mile run up through Silver Sands. It was very relaxing. Took it nice and easy.

4. SUNDAY 11/30 Long Run
Today we ran 10.07 miles (it is exact thanks to mapmyrun.com!). I actually didn't feel the best. I have a sore throat and a cough, so my breathing was labored. On top of that it was hailing out, so we were pelted with chunks of ice for an hour and a half. Not what I would call a nice long run. But we did it anyway. I have to send a thank you out to David who ran my pace the whole time and only looked semi-bored with my turtle pace. He did entertain me by hurdling over trashcans and bags of leaves. Clearly he had more energy than I did;)

So this week's training was a success. I am right on schedule with the weekly mileage, and I am working in cross training so as to not over do it and to give my muscles a break.

I hope everyone had great Thanksgivings with family:) Thanks for reading!

My first "long" run!

So yesterday I ran almost 8 miles (7.8), which for right now I am categorizing as a long run. Although, in a few months, those 8 mile runs will seem like a gift after doing an 18 or 19 mile run. BUT...Let's focus on the present for now. The run went very well, considering I didn't cramp up or feel like I "hit the wall." Actually, I didn't even feel like I ran that far. I do have to give some credit to my teammate Deb who rallied to run with me. We met at the gym, bundled as many layers as we could fit on our bodies, and ran out the door, literally. We were greeted by gusts of icy wind and bitter cold...not really what I would call good running weather. But we have a schedule to follow, and it says 6-8 miles. I know you are probably thinking, wait, but you met at the gym...aren't there treadmills in there?! Isn't it a heated gym?! And you would be correct. I can't exactly justify the minds of runners nor can I explain why I chose to layer a short sleeve shirt, a long sleeve shirt, another long sleeve, a fleece, and a windbreaker on my top and two pairs of pants on my legs, gloves, an ear band, and thermal running socks, when I could have put on a t-shirt and shorts to run at the gym. It just happened...

So we left the gym and warmth behind, ran up Washington Street to Comm Ave to get a taste of the infamous Heartbreak Hills, and then turned onto Chestnut Street. So far, the wind was mainly at our backs and we just chatted through our first three miles or so. Another hill greeted us as we turned onto Beacon Street, but we pushed up it. I didn't actually feel cold by this time; I even had to periodically take my gloves off to cool off my hands. Apparently I dressed right for the occasion! We kept up our pace through the stretch of Beacon and hit another gradual hill that led us to Center Street. From Center we turned left on Comm Ave and ran down Heartbreak which would have been great if it wasn't for the strong headwind. Turned right on Walnut through another wind tunnel and back onto Washington for the finish.

Our time was 1:08, which turns out to be 8:50 per mile pace...which neither of us believe because we felt so good. But that's what mapmyrun.com says.

Overall, I'm happy to have the first long run down, but it doesn't give me solace to know I have 20 more long runs to go and none of them are as short as 8 miles...

Hey, wanna run 7 miles tomorrow morning?

The daunting task that lies ahead...

So today I downloaded the marathon training schedule from the DFMC website! Although I am very excited to begin my long runs and build up the miles, at the same time I am nervous. In two weeks I should be running a long run on Saturday of 10 miles...yikes! My dad would tell me to think about the little train that could. So I will.

I think I can...I think I can...I think I can...

Welcome!

Hi everyone, thanks for visiting my new blog site! As most of you know, I am training with the Dana Farber Cancer Institute to run the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2009. I am reaching out to everyone I know for support not only for my own endeavor, but for the larger cause that I am running for--a cure for Cancer. Follow along as I journey through miles and miles of twists and turns, hills and blisters as I prepare to complete the infamous 26.2 miles through Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, and finally Boston!