Icing and Stretching are Just as Important as Running.

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The GFRC champagne run was cancelled. The plan was to run from house to house and cheer to 2009 at five different locations with 5 miles of running. How amazing does that sound? A dream come true... really! Ohhh well, I tried to make the New Year's Eve dream happen at Planet Fitness with 5 miles on the treadmill. I ran the 5 miles, but it was FAR from enjoyable or dreamy. The pain of training for a marathon is felt at Planet Fitness on snow storm days. I welcome the long runs in the beautiful outdoors. I also invite you to check back to see my reaction after these long runs! ha!

Onto the important Icing topic. It's a fact of training, right? Well, I wish that the psychological mess that I'm going through was not. In the last week, I've had two twisted knees, achilles heel soreness, quad pain and other muscles that I've had to check with WebMD on their proper name. On Tuesday night, I dreamed that my gluteus maximus was in sore. I sat in a bucket of ice and then fell in. The dream isn't far from reality, but all the so-called injuries fade within a day or so. I might be a hypochondriac now!

Anyway, the Achilles heel soreness is no laughing matter. I am taking the proper measures to stay in good health. My coaches recommended icing in a bucket of water and no stretching.
I like to use my time efficiently so as I email or look over the Endo lab objectives, I can freeze my foot as well.

Thank goodness for Gyrus ACMI and their committment to recycling! The barrels are clean, fresh and the perfect size!

I love to stretch -it's really important too! Stetching prevents injury! ALthough you can stretch incorrectly...please read on!! Anyway, I strech a lot. Yesterday, while standing in the office, talking with Deb, Tim and Theresa, I leaned over to stretch my calf muscle. I'm still listening and adding to the conversation, but no one appreciated my display of athletic ability in the halls of the office. In fact, it might have offended them, but they laughed and poked fun until they were over it. In all the laughter, Tim attempted to poke fun at quad stretching. If nothing else, Tim Lynch, Deb Adams and Theresa Hebert now know how to properly strecth their quadriceps. I'm certain that I heard sounds of relief and excitement with their new found knowledge. You must grab your opposite foot - try it both ways and you'll feel the difference! I only learned this important difference this past Sunday! Phew, no one wants to be down for the count because of improper quad stretching.

Happy New Year everyone! Have fun out there and be careful. Strech with a friend!

Updates & Great Interview Video

Hi Folks,

Tuesday, December 30th is a rest day. I'm not a fan, but I've heard my muscles need the recovery time and I'll do whatever it takes to get across the finish line!

Please check out the following link to watch Greg Johnson, the Executive Director of Bottom Line explain the mission of BL, how they're helping students, and the growth & future of Bottom Line.


!!! CHECK OUT THE VIDEO !!!! Fox Boston - Bottom Line Interview

Enjoy! And please consider making your Year end donation to my Bottom Line Marathon fund!

The Starting Line!!!!!

I traveled a few minutes down the road and instantly became a tourist! I took a billion pictures, but only a few can be posted on the blog. The BOSTON MARATHON starting line is pictured below. The cars wouldn't stop for me. I really wanted to take a photo of myself kneeling for the "gun" start.

This morning I had the pleasure to learn the art of running downhill. Paul Serafini, a fellow GFRC member and also training for the marathon mentioned that the first six miles of the marathon are all downhill and no one knows how to race them. I like to run up hills, but I had no idea how useful the downhills could be. If done correctly, it's like falling and a nice recovery! I dragged Paul out to the Hopkinton area. Since Paul is the "fastest downhill runner", who else would be better to help coach me on the downhill running art? Paul has run Boston twice before and has tons of nutrition advice to offer. He's also going to help me work through my training schedule later today!! Thanks Paul!!

We ran 3 miles out and then 3 miles back. We ran at about a 7 minute pace out and a little under 8 minute on the way back. Phew, yea it was fast! Look - we're so tired!

Dunkin Donuts in Ashland at mile 3.2 will be my first stop along the Marathon route. I plan to not use porty potties along the route especially with nice facilities like Dunkin Donuts. Although, I hope that I don't need to use the bathroom after only three miles. How many Dunks are along the marathon route?? Is this a really poor idea - leave comments. I appreciate the other views on this subject, although you'll need some strong reasons because comfort is going to be my number one concern on April 20th.

I am so excited. Just a few days until the race...

Merry Christmas!

What a beautiful day! I ran this morning under the bright blue sky with my Santa hat flapping in the breeze. So many people smiled and waved on my little 3 mile loop around Marlborough center. It was quite a fun run - I've never smiled so much while running, although, I have a feeling I might be smiling for the entire marathon route in April. It will be a "intense run" as Jesse Lumb told me on my facebook Marathon event page, but knowing my fundraising and your donations will be helping to provide more mentors for the students of Boston and Worcester will help to push me up and down the rolling hills of the course ... with a smile on my face!


Also this morning, Joe Piedrafite and I discussed a very heated topic that has plagued my marathon training discussions far and wide.

Joe: so I was at my uncles house last night
His neighbors came over and we're friends with them. I told mark and debbie (the neighbors) that I'm training to run a half marathon.
they're HUGE runners
they've each run boston 10 or 12 times
done new york and chicago, etc
so they were very excited and asked, what kind of running shoes do you have?
and I said, uh, just my regular sneakers?
me: haha
Joe: and debbie was like oh, no, no, no, when you're a real runner, you dont have sneakers
you have RUNNING SHOES
me: that's what my friend Tim Lynch from work always says to me when I say I need to grab my sneakers!
Joe: haha well, we will continue to wear our sneakers and refrain from running shoes
me: too funny!
Joe: resist! resist!
me: Yea, because I think my running shoes are interchangeable with other activites. I don't wear them for anything else, but I could!!
Joe: haha

By the way, Santa brought me a gift card for new sneakers! I'm going shopping tomorrow. I hope the store has "my sneakers" in a different color. I can't buy a different type of sneaker, but a different color would be exciting!

I could stay here forever!

I'm visiting my old friend Matt Miceli on the Cape for a few days. I announced before I arrived that we'd be running and extended my warmest invite for him to join me. Matt is home from his first trip out with the Airforce so he is very much in shape and prepared for running, but declined my invite.

This morning I ran down to the ocean for about a 5 or 6 mile run. It was so beautiful! I attempted to capture the view... as seen in below photos. I sat on the bench at Loop Beach and stretched for nearly 20 minutes. I like stretching just as much as I enjoy running. I could have stayed there forever. The sun rising over the ocean, helping to melt all the ice from the roads, and warming me in the 20 degree breezy day.

Look at how many layers I'm wearing. I learned that it was too many, but it was nearly cold enough! It's all worth it though! The training isn't as hard as the challenge of earning a degree on your own! Please support the Bottom Line charity - mentoring helps students succeed! The graduation rate for students in Boston and Worcester is more than double the rate with help from Bottom Line mentors. Guiding students to pick the correct school for their academic and economic status is very helpful. It can be overwhelming for any 18 year old, but with the Bottom Line - students have hope!

Maybe Matt and I will snowshoe tomorrow? Thanks for your support everyone!

Also THANK YOU Mr. Robert Miceli for the BOXES of Shot Bloks! I'm on my way to longer and happier runs!

Snow! Ice! Oh My!

As soon as I walked out my door this morning, I wanted to jump back into my bed and wait until the Spring time to reemerge. The snow and ice add a challenge to my training that I didn't want to recognize as a real problem. I ran outside last winter and it was lovely. This year, I have too much to lose if I take a fall on the ice!

I hate the gym and the treadmill, but today I conquered both! I ran 5 miles on the mill and enjoyed it! My little iPod saved the day, although, it adds a different kind of amusement that you expect. My feet must run in time with whatever song plays on the pod. If say, a certain marching band happens to pump through my earphones, my feet cannot help but attempt to move in double time. I must look ridiculous to anyone that stares long enough in my direction.

I bumped into an old UMass classmate at the gym - Martin Finn. He finished the Urbanathlon a few months ago and trained for the New York marathon last year, but was whacked with a nasty knee injury. I have a running buddy for the treadmill and he gave me lots of good advice for gym workouts!

I'm on my way!

Ohhh yea! I forgot!

The marathon training and fundraising is suppose to be fun!

All day long, I worried about one of the fundraising events than to my delight I realized I like to plan parties and attend them as well! As long as some friends join me at the selected locations, it will be a good time!

Somerville Jingle Bell 5K

Greeetings!

I ran the Somerville Jingle Bell 5K race this morning with Erica Yu, an old Crew friend. It was one of the most delightful races I've ever run! All participants received tshirts and medals! The race was champion chip timed, which puts a smile on every competitve runner that didn't have the muscle to find their way to the starting line. The chip is strapped to a runner's shoelace and captures the individual runner as they cross the starting and finish line. My champion chip time was 21:58 according to Cool Running Result website. Yes, I am mighty pleased with the time!

The warm up area for the race had Christmas music - "All I want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey pumped through the speakers and I knew the day couldn't get any better. I sported a nice Santa hat for my Christmas running spirit. Buddy the Elf, the Ginger Bread man, and several Santas ran the race as well - which had me laughing for the entire thing!

Joe Piedrafite - local Somerville resident and good friend of mine, cheered me on and took evidence, I mean pictures of the race. Joe was nice enough to point out that the day got better - Christina Aguilera's "Candy Man" played over the speakers as I crossed the Finish line. What could be better? Thanks for coming to cheer me on Joe!

Thanks to TBone for making me delicious spicy chili dinner to fuel my 5K performance too!

Training Update
The last week of training went well. I'm slowing down and following the Bottom Line charity program suggestions. My Coors Light pledge is a bust. I'm not giving up, but I am admitting that this past week I followed the pledge less than half of my outings! The important note to offer is that I did not let my drinking slow and stop my running. Is the race result good enough evidence?

Look at my race finish face - it looks like pure agony - it's a good laugh for ya!

Reality Check

Hey Everyone,

Well I have 18.5 weeks until the marathon. A safe marathon-training program started on November 30th. I've been running consistently - about 3 or 4 days a week, but not following an exact plan because I wanted to see what the Bottom Line running coach had to offer.

Being the over competitive, stubborn, high schooool record holding woman that I am, I've been having a difficult time deciding on a program. A beginner program seems too easy and I can't quite accept that I'm running just to complete the marathon. I want to work for a good time too!

Although, now I have realized that last Sunday, I pushed myself too hard and far, which produced a re-injury. The twang has appeared in my Achilles heel again. I will ice and start back at 2 miles of running as listed on the beginner training. Just because I can sprint up mountains and fly down rolling hills for 9 miles does not mean that I should throw a random run of that sort into my week without proper pre-training.

I am a beginner marathon runner. As the CoolRunning website mentioned, I am the average Joe marathoner. I should start acting like one and stop pretending to be an All-Star!

This is going to be Incredible!

This afternoon, Bottom Line hosted the kick-off meeting for our Boston Marathon journey.

I met the other 20 team members. We're a group full of experience, spirit and enthusiasm - I can tell we're going to have fun!

Greg Johnson, the Executive Director spoke for awhile about Bottom Line and how they help students from high school through college graduation and beyond to career placement. We also had the chance to hear two students speak of their challenges in life and experience with Bottom Line. Most all of the students' stories are almost unbelievable. It was inspiring to hear. I was fortunate enough to have a smooth transition and easy road from high school to college and through to a career. As I learned today, Boston high school students are graduating from college at a low rate of 36%! With the help of Bottom Line, their enrolled students graduate at a 76%rate!

We also met our coach, Rick Muhr- who is superman. He's running the marathon with us, which will be his 35th? marathon. He mentioned a lot of running accomplishments. I have no doubt that he'll be the secret weapon to our success. He's very excited to help us cross the finish line. Rick said, "Boston is the Mecca of Running!" He gets it. Boston is the big race and he graciously pointed out, getting the chance to run Boston for a charity is a double win. As coach reiterated a Margaret Mead quote, we all looks around with chills, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." We're going to change the world of the Bottom Line students. What a powerful truth!? We're going to provide hope!

Another important message from Coach Rick, "Nothing significant in life is ever achieved alone." My marathon and fundraising goal will not be my accomplishment alone - the cheers, advice, donations, words of encouragement have meant so much already! Thank you so much for your support! keep it coming!

Framingham, Wednesday night at Bowditch Track - 800 repeats!

Tonight I joined the GFRC at the track for the Wednesday night workouts.

Old friends, Coach Mike and Sue were my workout buddies. I mentioned my marathon aspirations and they never stopped talking for the entire hour. Although, every sentence began with, "Oh and another really important thing is". It was all very helpful and important, I'm just worried that I won't remember it all.