Philly Half Marathon done!

CRIPES! I'm sore!  I seriously don't remember feeling like this last year.  Finish time of 2:26:42 = 10 minutes faster over last year.  That kinda disappoints me since I had to make a couple of potty stops (ahem...it was THAT time - BLEAH!) this year & NONE last year. So I'm pretty sure my time would have been even better without Mother Nature's interference.

Up to Mile 9 I was feeling pretty good - then it went downhill...actually UPhill is more accurate.  I realize now that I needed more fuel.  I felt like I was eating enough shot blocks but found out I only had about one package - should have had at least two packs of them. And it just wasn't Disney. No happy characters. No running through the parks. No spectators with signs like "Chuck Norris never ran a marathon." Or "Hello Perfect stranger.. I am proud of you."  I saw both of these signs at the Disney marathon last year & they still make me tear up.

And so, I hereby declare I am done with these Philly races (the rock n roll bands give me a headache anyway).  I'll run at Disney but that's probably about it.  The bling is nicer & the races are a LOT more fun!  I registered for the Donald at this weekend's Expo.  I think I'm skipping the Mickey this year - next year is a new medal with the 20th anniversary.  And I like the Donald medal. And I want something different.  I may do the 5K as well. The medal is the Three Caballeros, but I want to wait & see the medal first.

 

Three amazing students.

Well, in all honesty all of my students are amazing.  Yeah, they HATE keeping these blogs but I like learning more about each of them. Some are hilarious, some are inspiring, some are fascinating.

And of course, with me being a Mom, some of them freak me out. 

• Ronnie, who goes running at 10PM, to stay in top shape for baseball season.  He is SUPER dedicated to baseball.  I admire his perseverance.
• Nicole who "got" to go to catholic school (while I think I "had" to go) & who has been to Italy FIVE TIMES!  She realizes how lucky she is in her life and is very thankful. I admire her honesty & love for her family.
• Steve is probably the one student who really blew my mind.  His openness about his struggles were incredible (not easy for guys to express themselves - ask Neil).  O.K., I joked that his blog was super long, but it was very inspiring.  Steve hit "rock bottom" & instead of reaching for a drug to help him, he helped himself.  He has come so far in such a short time. I am so excited for him & his future! And I am so grateful he had the courage to share his story.

I am thankful for all of my students. They make me laugh, they teach me new things and they let me into their lives.  I am super lucky to have an AWESOME group of students who are succeeding & realizing their dreams.

September 11 - What would you do in the last hour of your life?

 All weekend I've been watching repeats of the attacks, words of the survivors & images of the heroes of that day.  My heart still hurts & tears still fill my eyes even after 10 years. Can it really be that long ago?  On the Disboards this morning a member posted this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwWzjjbIISw&feature=share

I am so thankful there are human beings like this gentleman in our world & yet I am saddened that we lost so many good people on this day.  I am so grateful for our soldiers for all that they do & have done, our firefighters who run in when everyone else is running out & to be an American - where I can be free to be anyone I choose to be.  To have the opportunities to dream & achieve those dreams.  To be able to raise my daughter in a land where she can & will graduate from graduate school & pursue her own dreams.

What would I do in the last hour of my life?  I'd want to let as many people know how much I love them & how much of an impact they've had on my life.  I have so very much to be grateful for.  I am so very blessed in my life: my healthy & happy daughter, my husband who greets me with "hello, my beautiful wife" every day, my home, my ability to go to Disney World a few times a year, my health, my car, my ability to run, my job, my co-workers & my students.  I wonder if these people know how much they mean to me?

So on this day, I'll start with my husband Bryan. I've known him for 10 years now.  Ironically our first date was August, 2001. One month prior to that horrible day in September. Why start with him you may ask? He's a firefighter.  He's the one who jumps up out of bed or up from the dinner table to go help someone else - most likely a stranger. He's the 6'4", 350+ guy who cries when a child has been killed, when a brother firefighter has died & who would help anyone @ anytime.  He's the one person in my life who will have the hardest time getting through today.  I saw a few tears roll down his cheeks this morning as we watched the news cover the attacks.  For all you do & more as a firefighter, husband & father....thank you & I love you.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF3f79-UX0c&feature=related

A run like Philadelphia

Some parts pretty, some parts downright ugly. 

But all in all, 10 miles were completed this afternoon under a cloudy sky at an average pace of 10:38 = not bad considering I took 3 extended walk breaks.

Here are some things I learned today on my run:

• My husband really loves me (he called in sick today so I could run & have a break). 
• I get sunburn regardless of the amount of clouds in the sky.
• Clif Shot Bloks & Sport Beans DO NOT MIX WELL TOGETHER.
• It's really hard to find 10 miles of safe roadway in Glassboro.
• REALLY prefer Powerade Zero over water in my Camelbak.
• I really suck at hydration.
• Fiber One bars are yummy, but NOT on running days.
• I have GOT to use the Foam Roller every night....my knee is killing me now.

O.K., sorry about the Debbie Downer post today.  I'm tired & need to get some sleep.  Only two weeks til the Philly half marathon. I'll definitely finish...just may not be the prettiest ending.  Maybe I WILL just do the Donald in January...it's a new medal...but feel like a wus if I don't do the full marathon.

A GOOD but short run

Five miles @ 9:51 pace, low humidity & bright sunshine.  

Nice & easy five miles - should have been 10 according to my plan.  Just two weeks left til the half marathons so we'll need to make some revisions to the plan. Bryan is working today & all weekend, so there goes any other running days. Don't get me wrong...I LOVE LOVE LOVE my munchkin, but following a program is very difficult when hubby works 7-7, Maddy starts bedtime @ 7 (guess with whom - ME), plus working full-time, 90 minute commute & grad school. WHEW!  Plus we had a hurricane on Saturday/Sunday then me & the munchkin got colds. 

So only one run this week @ a piddly five miles.

That's O.K., next week we'll do 9-10 (depending on how I'm feeling)on Monday, 5 on Wednesday & 5 on Friday. Then the next Sunday we'll do 10-11 & then taper the rest of the week.  It's only the Philly Half, so no big deal.  DISNEY IS THE MAIN FOCUS! 

This video gets me so excited: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HcC6Y_ZLrI

YAY for lifting...FINALLY!

I've forgotten how good it feels to lift...and how stinky I get too.  Maybe THIS will help my endurance (well, once I get on a regular schedule that is)  Let's run down the list shall we?

• Walking lunges
• Bicep curls
• Smith Press Squats
• Tricep push down
• Lat pull down
• Calf raises (gotten strengthen those Achilles)
• Leg Press
• Frontal & Lateral Raises
• Leg Extensions

Not bad.  Have a little sniffle & sore throat, but I AM HEALTHY.  I AM feeling fine & I AM ROCKIN my run tomorrow morning!!!! 

Irene wasn't so bad, but my run sure was!

Still feel SUPER disappointed in myself.  They were right...most of this is MENTAL.  I psyched myself out before I started yesterday (again).  Hurricane Irene was threatening to hit Jersey around midnight last night, but it was all I could think about heading out at 8:30AM.  I made it 1.5 miles & felt lousy...then it just got worse.  A few miles in there were O.K., but most were pathetic...with extended walk breaks.  No energy, no motivation, sprinkles of rain led to mile 6 & I just quit altogether.  I walked strolled the last few miles leading to OVER 16 minute miles.  UGH!  Overall my 7.8 miles pace was 13:18.  Yes, you read that correctly. I didn't even do my scheduled 9 miles.

No excuse...it was all mental (maybe a tad nutritional deficient, but I had my Shot Blocks, Sport Beans, & PowerAde - didn't touch the Beans, but I finished the other two & it still didn't help). But physically I was perfectly fine. Was it this tough last year?  I don't remember it being like this. Last week I did 8 miles easy! 

I need some words of wisdom & motivation. Three weeks til the half.  I KNOW I can do it. I KNOW it will be easier with the crowd, but CRIPES this "training" is annoying right now. 

Lifting tomorrow - not sure if we even have class due to the flooding in Philly.  Feel like I should cancel class since students will just be moving in tomorrow & run, but SO TIRED right now and been just non-stop eating.