Lions, and Tigers, and Bears! Oh, My!

Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge- Snapped During My Run

I decided to go into Boston yesterday to get my weekly longer run in.  I figured that I would take advantage of the very slight window of warmth to run outdoors knowing that I would probably be forced indoors this coming week due to the return of the arctic express.  The forecast was mid 20's and overcast with gusty winds and snow showers starting very early afternoon.  Early morning run it was!  I learned quickly that the forecast should have been gusty winds very very early.  Running West into the wind on the Cambridge side along the Charles River kicked my butt.  It felt like I was running into the exhaust of a jumbo jet (without the roar of the engine and that nasty smell of jet fuel).  The only thing that I was thinking was the return route going East on the Boston side.  I would make up all of the time, and then some, that I had lost running against the wind! I would be effortlessly pushed along the path.  Nice!

The wind quickly became more and more intense towards the end of the run.  I felt like I was going to be swept off my feet and transformed into Dorothy.  Caught up in a twister like in the Wizard of Oz.  I could watch the cow float by while it is chewing cud out in the pasture.  I could waive to the men rowing the boat past my window as I look on in delight.  Miss Gultch on her bicycle pedaling like there is no tomorrow and then swapping her stuffy old clothes for that flowing witch outfit and trading in her bike for that more efficient broom stick.  "I"ll get you my pretty..."  Sorry, I digress.  It was pretty darn blustery at the end but it was worth dealing with it to be outdoors.  No houses landed on anyone so it was a great day for a run when all was said and done.  I guess I should have remembered to just click my running shoes and repeat: "There's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home".

Until next time, keep on runnin'!

B.A.A. Distance Medley

My race schedule this year is starting to take shape. Three more races on tap courtesy of the B.A.A. Distance Medley (5K, 10K & 1/2 marathon).  Registration opened Wednesday of this week at 10:00 AM sharp. I was online at 9:55 AM to check things out. Testing out my browser and making sure that everything was in order to ensure, that come 10:00:01 AM, I would be able to get my spot in this great series.  The Web page was loaded.  Mouse and keyboard were in fine working order.  I completed a couple of finger exercises to ensure ultimate dexterity and to eliminate any potential for my fingers cramping up at the wrong moment.  I felt so giddy, like I was getting ready to buy tickets for a Depeche Mode concert from TicketMaster (yes, Depeche Mode!).  The time had come.  10:00:01 AM.  Registration was open.  My heart was pounding (well, maybe not pounding, but beating at a pretty good clip at any rate).  I answered all of the usual registration questions, entered my expected race finish times and clicked "Submit".  Yes!  Loge 12 Row 7 Seats 5 & 6!  I got tickets.  Oh wait, I mean I got registered for the Medley!  Yes!

I ran the B.A.A. half marathon this past October and enjoyed it so much, that I decided right after that race, that I wanted to run the medley this year.  It truly was the best run race that I've ever participated in.  The B.A.A. definitely has every detail covered in their races and make it such a good experience for the participants and spectators.  I can't wait to see how well they handle the marathon knowing how well they did the half.  I only have 86 more days to find out.

Until next time, keep on runnin'!

Thank You.

The Boston Marathon is only 89 days away!

I want to send a heartfelt "Thank You" to everyone who has offered words of encouragement about my training and to those who have donated so generously to my fundraising goal of $5,000 for the Curley K-8 School (list of donors are listed to the right under "Recent Donors").  Thanks to the generosity of each of the donors, I am half way to my fundraising goal.  I appreciate each and every one of you for thinking of me and supporting me in my adventure.  If you would like to make a tax deductible donation (501(c)3 Number 22-2514422), whether small, large or somewhere in between, please click on the "Donate" button located on the right side of this page.

Thank you again to everyone for your support.

Until next time, keep on runnin'!

Outdoors Again.

I absolutely LOVE running in the city.  I know that I probably sound like a broken record.  Let's say a broken 45 of Loverboy's "Working for the weekend"?  I'll even include the yellow spindle adapter just in case you want to try and give it a spin.  I digress, but I really do love running outdoors in Boston so much because it is so motivating and there are so many places to explore. 

I had the day off today so I decided to go into the city to get one last long run in before the arctic blast and snow hits New England tomorrow.  Luckily, I had some extra time to devote to my run today so ended up extending it to 16.5 exciting, invigorating, wonderful, stupendous, gratifying, amazing, kick-butt miles.  Did I mention that it was a pretty good run?  It could have been the new re-fueling gels that I tried (I'll start posting later this week about all of the different gels that I have been trying) or maybe it was the fantastic weather at 36°, feeling like 27° with 13 mph SW winds.  Oh, I just felt like an official weatherman there for a second.  OK, it was my Garmin that gave me the stats.  Stratus clouds formed from the SSW, barometric pressure fell and the humidity was at 55% (thank you again Garmin for the humidity info- I made up the type of clouds and barometric pressure- I have no idea what they were). 

It was wonderful in the great outdoors today.  Looks like it is going to be back to the gym this week though since 10" of snow and frigid temperatures are forecast starting tomorrow.  Hopefully the weatherman will be wrong again, and won't be "tryin' to get it right, get it right" (Everybody's workin' for the weekend...).

Until next time, keep on runnin'!

Good Intentions.

The last time I checked Saturday's weather on Friday, it was supposed to be in the low 40's and a chance of rain later in the day.  Perfect.  I'll get up early, go into the city and get a run in before the rain made its way in.  That was the plan anyway.  I went to bed early Friday nigh and woke up bright and early Saturday to the sound of dripping water in the gutter outside my window.  I laid there staring at the ceiling contemplating whether that was really rain drops or maybe just fog that had condensed on the roof and was finding its way to the conveniently located gutter.  Drip.  Drip.  Drip.  Nope, it was rain.  Crud monkeys.  Yes, that is correct.  Crud monkeys (don't ask).  I turned on the Weather Channel hoping that it was just a passing "stray" shower that just had lost its way.  Nope, it was part of a swath of precip engulfing the region and then some.  I have to say that the color patterns on the radar map, which were made up of the varying degrees of intensity of rain/snow, were exquisite.  Something that could be framed and hung in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.  An absolute masterpiece. 

The forecast now was for rain/snow for the entire day.  Not quite the conditions that I wanted to partake in.  "The gym it is", I exclaimed!  I quickly had to change my mindset from excited and invigorated outdoor running to humdrum indoor treadmill running lacking any sense of vigor.  OK, it wasn't that bad (it seemed like it while in the midst of it though).  I made the most of it and ended up with 7.5 miles while focusing on speed work.  All of this while having the option of watching Dora the Explora, sports highlights from the night before on ESPN or a variety of local news shows with the same stories and breaking news on the large screen TVs.  Wait, how could I forget the other option for my viewing pleasure?  The Weather Channel with continuous coverage of the rain and the magnificent precipitation radar map.  Decisions, decisions.  Hmmm...

Until next time, keep on runnin'!

Pasty Legs.

Wow, do I need a suntan or what?  Holy moly!  Like, seriously.  I think that I overheard a woman walking down Mass Ave. with her her friend yesterday morning saying something like "Did you just see something go by?".  I'm pretty sure that I heard the friend reply "yeah, it looked like a ghost, wicked pissah!"  Well, it didn't really go down quite like that but it certainly could have.

This is my first winter running outdoors in the cold weather of New England so I'm learning as I go along on how to strike the right balance of clothing to wear.  What can I say, I'm used to running in spring/summer/fall.  When it is nice and warm.  I started out feeling like Randy (Ralphie's brother) from A Christmas Story.  I can't put my arms down!  Bundled up with every piece of obligatory winter garb that I could get my hands on.  OK, it wasn't that bad but it sure felt like it.

The weather for yesterday's early morning 10.5 mile run was forecast to be 40 and windy.  This was going to be the day for my new mantra: "More is Less".  That is right.  Shorts, long sleeve tech shirt, new windbreaker and Nike cap (New Gear post).  That is it.  I can put my arms down!  Yeah.  Forget you Ralphie.  I don't need you anymore.  It definitely was cold at first but soon become very comfortable once I got into my race pace.  It was so much more comfortable running with less.  I think that is the way that I'm going to go from now on unless it is very cold out.  Even if it means that I scare a few people with my pasty legs.  Maybe I should look into self-tanners?

Until next time, keep on runnin'!

Following Made Easy.

Want to see what is new on my blog but don't feel like having to check back every few days?  Yes, you say (I would not blame you at all)?  Alrighty then (I love that line- thanks Jim Carrey!).  I've added "Follow by Email" to the right hand side of my blog just under the Curley K-8 School logo.  Just enter your email in the box and select the Submit button.  That is it.  You'll get any new posts sent directly to your email.  I've also added a "Subscribe To" option, also on the right hand side, just under the "Follow by Email" box.  This will allow you to subscribe to an RSS feed of the posts from my blog.  As the Church Lady (from the SNL skit Church Chat) always said, "Well, isn't that special?"  Hopefully it is my friends, hopefully it is.

Until next time, keep on runnin'!