Farts, Burps, Chaffing, Snots and Blisters.

What a combination?  Nobody said that distance running was a glorious sport.  It is mentally/physically challenging and comes along with the aforementioned "things".  But you know what?  I love it.  I love it because it also gives such a sense of accomplishment and allows me to push and challenge myself all the while becoming a better and more skilled athlete.  Oh yeah, if you're lucky, you get the infamous "runner's high" too.  All these positives completely out way the negatives and helps to fuel my desire to run.  What's a blister here or chaffing there anyway?  Well, I guess it depends on where the chaffing occurs right?  Nah. 

Our longest team training run of 21 miles from the starting line in Hopkinton to the top of Heartbreak Hill took place yesterday.  The bus ride out to Hopkinton along the Mass Pike kind of put everything into perspective.  How?  Well, as the miles kept passing by and we were getting farther and farther away from our meeting place at Boston College, I realized how far we had to run.  A lot different than the out and back runs that we typically do on Saturday mornings.

OK, yes, I'll admit it.  I farted, burped, had a bit of chaffing, blew snots and got a blister or two throughout the run yesterday.  I'm human, and I'm a runner so who cares in the end?  But, even with all of that, it was an absolutely amazing and awesome run.  Nothing about it was glorious.  Nothing at all.  It was snowing, sleeting, cold, windy and wet.  A gritty run to say the least.  To be honest, that was all perfectly fine with me.  I think that this was one of my best runs at that distance.  It kept me on my toes and helped to keep my mind in the game.  Making slight adjustments to my overall plan as I the miles increased along the rolling hills on the course.  It was a great opportunity to, as our coaches put it, make this run a "dress rehearsal".  Which it truly was. 

I have tweaked and finalized my running plan based on yesterday's run.  I think that biggest thing that I'm going to do differently than in previous runs is to ditch the music.  Yes, I cannot believe that I am even saying that but I am.  The second thing is to not look at my GPS watch that often during the run.  Both of these changes are going to allow me to just enjoy and take in everything that is the Boston Marathon.  I have nothing to prove to anyone and everything to gain from the experience.  I want to take it all in and not be caught zoning out in la la land with my music.  Did I just say "la la land"?  Crap, I guess that I did.  I'm going to let my body and how it is feeling dictate my pace.  Not some arbitrary number that I just came up with when someone asked "What time are you shooting for?" or some number that I want to beat myself up to obtain.  Just enjoy all 26.2 glorious fart, burp, chaffed, snotty and blistered filled mile.

Until next time, keep on runnin'!

Emotions "Running" High.

15 weeks of training in the rear view mirror and the emotional rollercoaster has started to leave the station.  The attendant already checked my lap belt and restraint bar.  I've listened to the pre-recorded safety message about keeping my hands in the ride at all times, not to stand up during the ride and to wait until the car has come to a complete stop before I exit the ride upon returning to the station.   It really is starting to all sink in now as to what I'm doing and how much of an impact it has on me.  There was a bit of carefree excitement at the beginning of training way back in early December.  At that time there was 20 weeks to go.  Plenty of time to focus on other things going on in my life which were a distraction of sorts.  As the weeks have gone by, the juggling act of training, family life, fundraising and work have all increased in step with the weekly miles.  I think that it really struck me while driving to the team long run last week.  An energetic song with a high BPM (beat per minute)came on the radio.  It is one that I also have on my running playlist so it already had the potential to invoke some kind of response.  Boy, did it ever.  I lost it.  Tears were flowing like Niagara Falls.  I just needed to flash some colored lights in my eyes and it would have been like the illumination that happens every night at the Falls.  It is quite something to see.  The real Falls at night that is.  Luckily I was going 70 (yes, I was speeding) so people couldn't really see me carrying on with my box of Kleenex. 

I think that most non-runners, understandably, don't fully know the extent of the commitment (physical and emotional) that it takes to take on something like this.  Yes, people know that it is a lot of hard work and training.  But they really don't know how much it takes and how much day to day pressure there is along with the swings of highs and lows.  To me, that is OK because they didn't sign up to do this.  I did and I have to say that I kind of really like it.  It helps me to be a better, more focused person and a stronger and smarter athlete.  Kleenex and all.

Speaking of emotions, Boston Children's Hospital held a special event for us team runners and our guests recently at their main campus in Boston.  Queue the Kleenex please.  What an emotional and inspirational event.  Executives from the hospital spoke about how the funds that we are raising will be used and one of our fellow teammates spoke about his experiences with the marathon.  We were also able to take a tour of the newer sections of the hospital that were recently renovated so that we could see how previous funds were spent that directly impact patients and their families.  An absolutely fantastic event put on by BCH for us and something that I will never forget.

Until next time, keep on runnin'!

Lucky Ones.

It's so easy, don't even have to try
You're the winner, you can take the prize
It's a dream come true, which one will it be
It's a dream come true, we'll just wait and see

Only the lucky ones, get to steal the show
Only the lucky ones, really get to know
Only the lucky
Only the lucky ones, get lucky

I certainly could not have put it any better.  Thank you Loverboy for that 1981 classic hit.  Haven't you always wanted to be a "Lucky One"?  Well now is your chance!  I'm holding a "Chance to Win" starting today Sunday, March 15th through Sunday, April 5th.  If you would like a chance to win one of five prizes just make a donation to my Boston Marathon fundraiser benefiting Boston Children's Hospital.  You will receive an entry for each $5 that you donate (ex. For a $50 donation you will receive 10 chances).

 Now for the prizes: 

Prize 1: 2GB iPod Shuffle*:

Prize 2: 2GB iPod Shuffle*:

Prize 3: Texas Roadhouse Gift Basket* (Contains 1 $30 dinner for two certificate, 1 6.88 oz. rib seasoning, 1 7.20 oz. sirloin seasoning, 1 glass boot drinking glass, 1 7 oz. package of peanuts and 1 Texas shaped basket)

Prize 4: $50 Trader Joe's Gift Certificate:

Prize 5: 12" X 12" Instagram Canvas Print (your choice of a picture from my personal Instagram gallery: https://instagram.com/runner716/):

How to enter:

1. Go to my Boston Children's Hospital fundraising page: http://fundraise.childrenshospital.org/goto/runner716
2. Click on the big green "Give Now" button located in the gray "Please Support Me" section on the right side of my fundraising page.
3. Enter a donation amount for the number of chances that you would like to receive (I will send you an e-mail once I assign a ticket number for each $5 of your donation).
4. Fill in the rest of the form and be sure to include in the "Personal Note" field which prize you would like a chance at winning.  If no designation is made, one will be randomly selected for you.  If you would like to try and win multiple prizes note which ones and the number of tickets for each.
5. Click "Next" and fill out the "Billing and Payment Information" sections and then click "Next".
6. Review your information and then submit the form.

Winners will be announced Monday, April 6th on this blog as well as being personally notified via e-mail.  Good luck and thank you for your support.

 

*A special thank you to both Matt Labkon, who provided the 2 iPod Shuffles and Matt Frohne (managing partner of Texas Roadhouse in Brockton, MA), who provided the Texas Roadhouse gift basket.  I greatly appreciate their generosity in providing these items which will help to raise money for my fundraiser. 

Only the lucky ones, really get to know
Only the lucky
Only the lucky ones, ahh
 

Until next time, keep on runnin'!



18 And Life.

Ricky was a young boy
He had a heart of stone
Lived 9 to 5 and worked his
Fingers to the bone

Thank you Skid Row for that 1989 classic "18 and life"!  But, what the heck does this have to do with running?  Absolutely nothing at all except for the number "18". It is the only song that I could think of that referenced the number "18".

 

This past Sunday concluded lucky week 13 which included a team long run of 18 miles on Saturday.  It has been great to train on the marathon course every week as it becomes more and more comfortable and relaxing every time. It has afforded me the opportunity to make slight tweaks to my strategy every week. A fine tuning of sorts. Back off on my pace on this hill but take that one a bit faster. Really concentrate on breathing through this this section.  Begin fueling at that point. The course has become second nature with all of its twists and turns. Heartbreak Hill is becoming like a good friend now. Something that I truly look forward to each week. It is no longer what was an insurmountable "thing" in the way of getting to the finish line. It has helped me become a much more disciplined runner by forcing me to stay focused on the fundamentals during these long runs.

18 and life you got it
18 and life you know
Your crime is time and it's
18 and life to go 

Wow, did that song really come out in 1989?  26 years ago?!  Running by all accounts is looked at by most as just a physical sport. However, as most runners will tell you, it is just as much mental as it is physical.  You're mind can really challenge you especially on long runs with a lot of miles.  There is plenty of time for your head to really start playing games.  That is why I focus on both the physical and mental aspects on the long runs.

This week's long run tomorrow is going to be 19 sloshy and drenched, but glorious miles in the rain.  I guess that I should start thinking of songs to sing during the run.  Maybe "Singing in the Rain"?  or "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head"? or how about "Purple Rain"?

Until next time, keep on runnin'!

Brookline.

Brookline, MA.  According to the city's official Web site, they describe their city as "an unusual urban and suburban enclave surrounded by the City of Boston, just minutes from Back Bay, downtown, and other parts of the city".  For me, Brookline, MA represents 88% of my goal of raising $7,000 for Boston Children's Hospital.  I started this fundraising effort back on the starting line in Hopkinton, MA with .07% raised.  Now, I'm at 88% of my goal which is represented by reaching somewhere along Route 30 (marathon course) within Brookline as shown in the graphic below. 

Thank you to each and every person who has donated to my fundraising effort thus far (listed under "Donors" to the right).  Without your support I would have never made it to this point.  I am truly grateful for your generosity.  I would like to say a special "Thank You" to two recent donors who made very generous donations.  The first is Lynn Turgeon who made a $500 donation.  She supported my fundraising efforts last year as well so I'm truly grateful for her continued generosity and dedication to the children who are being helped by the fundraisers.

The second is Dianne Byrne who donated $1,000 from the proceeds of winning the Brown Rudnick Center for the Public Interest M. Robert Dushman Community Service Award.  As a recipient of this award, Dianne directed Brown Rudnick LLP to make a donation on her behalf to my Boston Children's Hospital Miles for Miracles Boston Marathon fundraiser as well as a donation to the St. Vincent DePaul Society in Dorchester, MA with which she is a very active member.  This is the second year that the Center has been directed to make a donation to my fundraisers as part of the M. Robert Dushman Community Service Award.  I am very grateful to Dianne and the Center for the very kind and generous donations.

The Boston Marathon is only 43 days away.  If you had previously thought about donating to my fundraiser but haven't had a chance yet, you're in luck as you still have time!  If you have already made a donation and want to donate further, you're in luck too.  Please help me complete the last 12% of my goal.  While Brookline is a very nice community, I would really love to reach Boston and the finish line.  I can only do that with your help.  Please consider making a 100% tax deductible donation today: http://fundraise.childrenshospital.org/goto/runner716

I will be announcing a "chance to win" opportunity later this week to help raise additional funds for my Boston Children's Hospital Miles for Miracles fundraiser.  Keep your sneakers tied up, the Gatorade cold and your GPS watch connected to the closest orbiting satellite for more information to come.

Until next time, keep on runnin'!
 

Potpourri.

This past Sunday wrapped up week 12 of training and it is pretty amazing to think how fast the time has gone by. Luckily the weather cooperated and we were able to get our 17 mile long run in this past Saturday.  It was our usual along the marathon route in Wellesley and Newton. This time though we went a bit farther and entered the beautiful city limits of Brighton, MA.  It is nice getting to explore new areas each week when we tack on additional mileage.  Kind of feel like Jacques Cousteau but on land.  I don't have a red knit cap and glasses though.  I digress.  The little red line outlining the path of the training run doesn't look that impressive below does it?  Geez, 17.1 miles and just that short little red line.  Oh well.

Next ingredient in my fragrant potpourri.  No, it is not flower petals or spices.  My last post I talked about change being good.  Well, I did find a time when it isn't good this past week.  Our coaches let us know that they did not want us to use headphones while on the long run because of the unsafe conditions in spots along the route.  Especially in the sections where we have to run in the road.  I have run in the past without music but I have always gone back to it as it helps me get into that happy place when running.  However, safety first so I ran without music.  Did I already mention that change is not good sometimes?  Running 17 miles without music made it very long.  I found myself not focusing as much on my breathing and technique like I do when I am listening to music.  I know, that sounds pretty backwards but what can I say.  I also noticed that I was paying way too much attention to every twitch and ache.  Way too much.  But, in the end, it was worth not having the music so that I could be safe.

Now for an update on my recent post "Get In My Belly".  I really really love the Jelly Belly Sport beans.  I've tried two new varieties since the original post including "Assorted" and "Juicy Pear".  Both are phenomenal.  The "Assorted" is nice because it gives you a sampling of the different flavors that they have.  It comes in the standard version as well as "Extreme" which contains caffeine.  The flavor "Juicy Pear".  What can I say.  I'm not a big pear fan but the flavor of these beans is delicious.  I think that I have finalized my refueling for the marathon.  I'm going to alternate between "Cherry" (Extreme) and "Assorted" (regular).  Yum.  Yum.

 I have been wearing my Boston Children's Hospital Miles for Miracles singlet the past few weeks on our team long runs.  A couple of simple words really made me think during this past Saturday's training run.  "Thank you for running for Children's".  These words were uttered three separate times by three random women along the course.  That really made me stop and reflect on why I am doing this and justified everything that I have put into it.  It made me feel very proud to be part of such a great effort and very thankful to those three women for yelling out those simple but impactful words to me.  It really meant a lot.

The last piece of my fragrant potpourri? Getting outdoors to run again means opportunities to take pictures again and posting to Instragram.  It is almost therapeutic in a way.  It can be a bit of a pain too though.  Run a bit.  Stop and take a picture.  Run a bit.  Stop and take a picture.  Run a bit.  You get the picture.  Oh, that was an unintended pun right there!

Until next time, keep on runnin'!