One week from today

Seems hard to believe that my "blogging" is winding down. A week from today, I'll be on the plane en route to Cali!! I can't believe how fast these four months have gone. Seems like just yesterday when I started training. And now, here I am, less than two weeks from race day. I am enjoying my taper time, although I will admit, it is making me a bit ancy. It's so weird to do thses little 4 mile runs during the week. Around miles 4 and 5 on my long runs is when I start to warm up and feel loose. I ran 4 miles this morning before it got too hot. Glad to have it out of the way. I'll be running 8 on Sunday and then that's pretty much it. I'll be doing very little next week up to race day!! The real countdown is on...

Number 27396

I got my number yesterday, I guess it's official. I'm number 27396. Looks like there's supposed to be close to 30000 runners! Holy Cow! I don't think I have ever run with that many people. Between all the people and the bands at every mile marker, there should be plenty of adrenaline pumping to keep me going. If you'd like to keep tabs on me during the race you can sign up to receive updates as to where I am along the course on race day via text messages to your phone. Just visit this website to register: www.competitorwireless.com. Pretty cool. Tonight we have our "Send-Off" party at the Atlantic Beer Garden in Boston. We will be picking up our packets for race weekend and receiving our singlets. Exciting stuff. My runs for the last two weeks are pretty minimal. It's "taper time." I ran 4 miles yesterday, I'll run 4 tomorrow and 12 on Sunday. Before I know it, I'll be "leaving on a jet plane..."

Marblehead to Wakefield

Well, the longest of the long runs is over. I ran 18 miles on Saturday! I started out on the neck in Marblehead and ran to Wakefield. It was such a beautiful day and the course I ran was great. I started about 6am and finished a little after 9. My dad was with me every step of the way. What a great guy for getting up so early on a Saturday! He followed me along with water and made sure I was ok the entire way. He has been so instrumental in this process, I don't think I would've made it this far without him. Hard to believe that 3 weeks from today it will all be over. It's been a crazy ride but I am looking forward to that finish line. It's taper time now, so for the next two weeks, I'll be taking it "easy" just doing some shorter runs and light cross training.

12 miles...piece of cake...

Never thought I would actually look forward to a 12 mile run as a "break" but that's what it felt like yesterday. I ran 12 miles and compared to the 16 I ran last weekend, it felt like nothing. I never thought I'd see the day that I'd say 12 miles wasn't that bad. Hard to believe how far I've come in 3 months. The team run was actually cancelled on Saturday due to thunder and lightning so I didn't miss running with them after all. Joe came to support me on the course yesterday. He was there to give me water and GU when I needed it. He even ran out and met me to run the last two miles with me. It was nice having him with me. My back started feeling sore again and he was there for support to keep me going to the end. Thank you to him for getting me to the finish both mentally and physically. Not sure I could've done it without him there. Had a nice afternoon post-run. I treated myself to some steak tips on the grill and a glass of wine. YUM! It was delicious. Now, back to business. Lots of cross training and minimal running this week as I prepare for my last "long run" before the marathon...20 miles Saturday. WOOHOO! They will be dropping us off in Marblehead and we'll be running back to Wakefield...God help me!!

Let the Countdown Begin...

Seems hard to believe that I will be running my first marathon a month from today. Feels like just yesterday that I began this journey. Today is also Gina's "chemo graduation" day; she is receiving her last chemo treatment today. I can't believe how quickly the time goes. This week's training is going well so far. I cross trained Monday and Tuesday and got in a nice 5 mile run yesterday morning. I'm going to do some yoga after work today and another morning run tomorrow. This week I will be doing my long run on Sunday on my own. I have to work Saturday so I am not able to run with the team. I think Joe and my dad will be out there on the course with me giving me water and gu. I'll be running 12 miles this week and then the biggie next weekend...20 miles!

Go the Distance

I just realized that I haven't posted anything since our team 10K last Sunday. Must've been because I was so busy training last week that I forgot to report in on how things were going. So, first things first...I had a great week of training, I got in a couple runs, did some interval and hill work and some cross training as well. All in all, it was a pretty good week of training. Yesterday we had our weekly team long run. The schedule called for us to run 18 miles or 3 hours. I ran for 3 hours and covered about 16 miles. That's the farthest I have EVER ran in my whole life!! While I was a little hard on myself for not completing the 18, I was able to look back on the run and feel an extreme sense of accomplishment. The course wasn't easy! We had hills in the beginning(to simulate how the course will be in San Diego) and then we ran through Breakheart Reservation again. The hills in there were definitely challenging but easier than the last time I attempted to run them a few weeks ago. My lower back got pretty sore toward the end of the run but I kept going and powered through to get to that 3 hour mark. Andy(my coach) taught me some good stretching and strength training exercises for my lower back that I am going to try this week. Hopefully they'll help. I got through the run blister free and even treated myself to a very relaxing pedicure after. It was great!! I can't believe the marathon is 5 weeks from today. It's getting so close. Looking forward to a week of great weather and being able to do all my runs outside. Our long run next week is 12 miles and then the big one on the 15th....20 miles!! YIKES!!

Team 10K

In place of our long run this week, we did a team 10K in Swampscott, MA (Gold Star Run for Honor). It was to honor a fallen Swampscott soldier, Jared Raymond, who was killed at war in 2006. Brandi and Steve (B & S Fitness) were the race organizers so it was nice to see them as well as many other familiar faces. The course wasn't too bad, a little warm and a few hills but nothing too tough. I was happy with both my time and the way I felt during and after the race. Definitely a MUCH better week than last week. It was fun to do a race as a team and get a feeling of what things would be like on our respective race days. I can't believe that the marathon is only 6 weeks from today. It's coming so fast. Next week we are doing 18 miles!! God help me...