Boston Marathon 2014

Today is the 118th Boston Marathon! How Amazing is that! The very first Boston Marathon had only something like 18 people! 2013 had around 26k runners and this year has reached around 36k runners! With the attack on last year, the Marathon and runners around the world are stronger than ever!

As I sit here and watch the beginning, and now the end of the elite runners....I am in awe of them all! I watched as Ernst Van Dyke crossed the finish line in first place for the wheel chairs, then Rita Jeptoo of the womens elite came in 1st and set a Marathon record! Bostons own Shalane Flanagan came in 6th, setting her own PR for the Boston Marathon! Now awaiting the Men's finish!

All in all, they are all working hard, taking pride in this city and in themselves. Not only running for themselves, but for this city! I myself got out there, timing it right to watch all groups start and getting back in time to see them all finish! I cut my run time down because my knees were starting to bother me, and also weird thing was my toes, the middle ones felt like they were going numb.


*Update* Meb Keflezighi finishes for the Mens elite in 2:09!!! woo hoo!! The first American to win since 1983!

It is such a proud moment, no matter what place these runners come in, to see them finish, to see them finish with such pride and smiles on their faces!
I wish I could be out in Boston to watch this, but to be able to watch all aspects of the race at once on tv is better to me, to see them all! Maybe some day, I will be out there to watch. I don't know if I would ever run in the Marathon, if I did it would be in a charity group.

All I have to say is this Boston redemption, Boston strong, Boston free. What an amazing race it must be.

I knew getting out there to run today would boost that pride in me. Wearing blue for Boston, and my Boston "Run Now" bracelet.

How many miles did you run today?
Running Boston strong?

-Stephanie

it's official, 1/2 #3 here I come!

There is no turning back now.
I have 24 days to whip my booty into shape for the Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon in Providence! I am very excited and nervous all at the same time. I went out for a 4mile run today and was able to maintain an average pace under 13 minutes. If I can achieve that during the half, then I should have no problem finishing in 3 hours.

I am still trying to get used to my intervals, and I did my best to stick to it as much as I could today, but there were a few times I either hit pause accidently or I walked early, at the 30 second warning vibration. So now I need to create a schedule and stick to it, and push through it. I need to get back to eating healthier as well!

As you can see Fall is creeping its way in! I am super excited! I wasn't even halfway through my run when I spotted the tree and its slowly changing leaves! It has me very excited! Fall it my favorite, and I definitely feel my training gets better with the fall weather. That said, I really hope I improve as the days get closer and closer to the RnR 1/2.

 

I finally picked up a foam roller as well, which is not only helpful for after runs, but for my back. My chiropractor gave me a set of exercises/stretches to help strengthen my back, and this will help loosen and stretch as well. And I also am getting tired of holding a water bottle, or carrying my 10oz fuelbelt bottle on short runs so I found a Fuel Belt (16oz?) handheld with strap. It was a lot easier, but I still feel like I always have so much to carry/wear for a run. Bonus, I found it at TJMax for $5.99! What a deal!

I shared my picture of my patella band for my knee, well I decided to wear it on my right knee since it seems to be clicking a little more when I am just walking around, but then during my run my left knee was feeling a little sore. So I guess its back to Dicks Sporting Goods for another one. I thought part of the reason to run was to become healthier and improve my body, but I guess its not always that way! haha.

 

So here it goes. I am really looking forward to getting myself immersed into training.

 

What are your must do's when training for your big race?

What has been your favorite mantra/saying to keep youself motivated?

Do you have any race rituals/routines?

 

-Stephanie

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars." -Les Brown

 

Shipyard Old Port Half Marathon

1/2 Marathon #2 in the books! I have to say it was tougher than my first, but I finished and that is what really counts! As much as I feel bad about how I had to complete it, I know I am not alone and that makes me feel better, and I feel good about doing it and don't regret it! I have some thoughts to share and then some pictures I will share!

So once we arrived at the race, it was kind of a race to get to packet pick up and a bag check sort of thing, then to get in line! My friend Ben, who is a faster runner than I, was telling me that we were going to start together in the 9:30 pace group, I then replied by laughing in his face..but then found myself there anyways. I think that could have be a contributing factor to the way I felt...but whatever. So from the start my knee also was bothering me, both of them. Not in pain, but just a weird annoying feeling. Which when I asked the medical tent at the finish they said it was probably my knees spasming..which I have never experienced...at least not constantly for 6 MILES!
The worst was after mile two we began to ascend a huge hill that I will never be a fan of. Instead of walking, it felt more like a climb...



It is hard to tell a bit, but all up the road is only PART of the hill...the rest continues to climb up through that park up ahead.

But I made it up, got to a water stop and continued to walk myself through the fatigue and then run downhill at a point.

We then met up with mile 5, which thank goodness for a port-a-potty! Having to pee affected me a bit, but I didn't really have time when I first got to the race to go, so that didn't help either. While in line, I started talking to two girls who I had seen for a while. They invited me to run a 3min run/2min walk pace with them. I was all for it, but my knees weren't.

So this is where I feel disappointed. At mile 6, after passing the start/finish line area, I decided to walk to mile 7 in hopes of running again. Well...that didn't really pan out. From then on I was A LOT! I couldn't help it, it was so hot...and not having much shade along the course wasn't helpful. I did get to see some pretty sights, but I was feeling down on myself about walking, and tried to run here and there when I felt good enough too, especially if there was any down hill parts...that made things easier.

As I had said in a previous post, I was hoping to finish in 3 hours maximum, but I finished in 3:21:27. I will take it. I wasn't the only one who slowed down. People who normally finish in 90min, finished in 2 hours. I wasn't the only one who pretty much walked the last 4 miles either, which helped me regain some confidence in my wise choice, and I am glad I did and didn't end up being on of the 5+ people who were sent to the hospital for heat exhaustion! So I have to say that I am not disappointed, but only wished that I could have run more of the course than walked! And I am sure I am not alone in that thought!

I would have to say that if it is cooler, I would do it again! Which is a good feeling!

Enjoy the photos!

Laying out the night before!



 

-Stephanie

A Body at Rest

So as I stated in my last post, or at least I think I did...I hurt my back about 2-3 weeks ago at work. Well it really hasn't got any better. I thought I did, but it really hasn't. It has been back and forth, the pain coming and going as it pleases, sometime worse than others. I haven't run since last Friday when I ran a 5k.
I have a 1/2 Marathon coming up in 2 weeks from this Sunday. I have the confidence to know that I can do it, but it still makes me nervous that I cant train for it right now. I made an appointment with a chiropractor for next Wednesday, which is going to make me nervous. It will be my first time, plus there are always good and bad things that you hear about people's experiences with a chiropractor. Luckily my mother has been seeing the same one for many years, so I have confidence in the office she goes to. I really hope it relieves some pain and pressure and I can continue on.

The other tough part is that my sister is moving home from Baltimore this weekend. YIPPEE!! So my parents and one of my cousins and I are flying down on Saturday and helping her to pack it all up in a truck and her car, then drive back to Massachusetts. So I have to be careful when picking up different items, etc. I am not excited for the car ride home or even the flight home, my back tends to hurt more when sitting in the car.

What my mom and I keep reminding myself is that I need to nurse my back in order to be able to do the 1/2 marathon, be able to finish strong and happy! I want to be able to feel good at the end, to end with a smile on my face! So I am trying to stay strong, rest and get myself back to good workings and get back to running.

 

 

 

Both to me can mean two things. One, that you need to work hard and be the best you can, push yourself to get where you want to be. But for my current state, it helps me know that I CAN do the 1/2 marathon, but in order to get the best out of myself, I need to take care of myself first, listen to my body so that I can run the 1/2 marathon instead of sitting and watch as it passes me by because of an injury!

I will rest.

I will get better.

I will be stronger.

I will finish.

I will finish strong.

I will finish with a  smile on my face.

 

-Stephanie