Race Recap

We arrived at the starting area in the Fens around 7:30 am. Maggie was there to support Mark and agreed to hold our clothes. This was a great help. I got to keep my sweats and jacket on as long as possible and avoid the cool morning air. We hung around and attempted to stretch. There were LONG lines for the Port-a-Potties so I was really glad I went at home.

My biggest worry before the race started was that all of the runners were supposed to finish in 2 1/2 hours. I was scared that we wouldn't be able to make it that quickly and the course would close.

The Elite Runners started ahead of the rest of the group. It was after 8:05 am by the time we crossed the starting line.

Mile 1
We were stuck in the pack and it was really crowded. I was really surprised when we passed the first mile marker and we had run just under a 10 minute pace.

Mile 2
Jared was darting through the crowd, trying to keep up with Chris. It was too difficult to stay together as a group of 3. Plus it was too early in the race to keep speeding up. I wanted to save my energy and run at a steady pace.


Mile 3
My parents were waiting for us at Mile 3. I think we surprised them. They thought our pace would be a bit slower, but we were running at a good clip. We were still in a big crowd. Sometimes people passed me and sometimes I passed them. But I didn't let anything bother me. I just listened to my music and kept going at a steady pace that felt comfortable.



Mile 4
The race course required runners to turn around and double back. By mile four, we saw the elite runners on their way back to the Fens. It wasn't discouraging to see them sprinting by, heading in the other direction. It was actually inspirational! All of the runners on my side of the road clapped for them. It made me want to keep going and get closer to the finish!

Mile 5
During the fifth mile, I started noticing that all of the comfortable downhills we were running were going to be difficult uphills when we had to turn around. I had taken 1 cup of water a few miles back and I was looking forward to the next water station, and goo for extra energy.

Mile 6
I grabbed a packet of green apple goo and a cup of water just before mile six. During this mile, we entered the Franklin Park Zoo. We ran by sets from the Zoo Keeper movie that's being filmed there. We also saw camels!

Mile 7
Jared and I were high-fiving at each mile marker. At mile seven, I was happy because we were more than halfway done with the race.

Mile 8
My longest training run was eight more mils. Once I hit this mile marker, I reminded Jared that anything we ran after this point was farther than we'd ever run before. Quite an accomplishment!


Mile 9
My parents were waiting at mile nine, camera ready for more action shots. My mom was surprised that we were still smiling.


It was the perfect weather for running. The air was crisp and cool. It wasn't windy. I couldn't have asked for a better day!



Mile 10 and Mile 11
It was a challenge going back uphill as we headed back to Boston. I pushed really hard at each hill and my legs were really tired.

Mile 12
My hips started to get sore and tight. My legs still felt heavy from the hills. Even though I was getting tired, I didn't feel bad. I just listened to more songs on my Marathon playlist and kept putting one foot in front of the other.

Mile 13
We had to circle around the Fens for the last mile of the course. I could hear the crowd at the finish line and that was enough to make me keep going. Jared was breathing heavy and seemed like he was struggling. I kept offering words of encouragement and motivating to keep running for 10 more minutes.

Final 0.1
There were crowds of people along the sides of the road cheering and ringing cowbells. This was really motivating! My legs were tired but I was able to pick up speed and lengthen my stride. I felt great when I crossed the finish line. I was happy I didn't have to run anymore and thrilled that I accomplished a major goal!

My mom was so proud of me for finishing. In elementary school, she helped me run one mile so I could earn a Physical Fitness award.

After getting drinks and snacks, we crowded around the official times to see how everyone had done.

Mark, Jared, Chris, and I successfully completed the BAA Half Marathon!

Boston Half Marathon

My alarm went off at 6 am and I sprang out of bed. Much different from a regular work day. I showered to wake myself up and then chugged a glass of water. I made 2 slices of wheat toast with peanut butter and jelly for breakfast.

It was really chilly this morning, 40 degrees, so I had to add some layers on top of my race attire. Brr! I used my foam roller and stretched for 15 minutes before we left.

I'll write a FULL race recap later on. I ran 13.1 miles in 2:04:56!!! I didn't think I would finish in 2 1/2 hours so I am really proud of myself. My parents cheered us on; we saw them twice along the route. They got some great action shots. Plus after crossing the finish line, I snagged lots of Power Bars and Bear Naked bars to try later in the week. We all walked home from the finish area so that was plenty of time to stretch and shake out my legs.

Friends have started arriving for brunch and the Mimosa is being poured. I'm ready to relax and watch football all afternoon.

Final Five Miles

Well, my 1/2 marathon training is over. Jared and I ran 5 miles tonight, and now it's time to rest until Sunday morning. 5 miles around the streets of Boston was much easier than the 5K cross country course. I missed asphalt!

I have a feeling I'm going to get psyched out when I see all of the "real runners" at the starting line on Sunday morning. I still feel like I'm not legit. Example: I saw another runner go by me tonight and she was wearing a hydrobelt with her bottles in the front. I spent the rest of my run wondering if I was wearing my belt backwards.

I know about the power of positive thinking. Gotta tell myself that I was wearing my belt the way it feels most comfortable for me. So who cares? And more importantly, I can put on a pair of shoes and go for a jog. I am as much of a runner as anyone else. I may not be an elite runner, but that's not what I want to be. Running (well slowly jogging) is fun and it gives me time to think.

From now until Sunday, I just need to keep telling myself that I can do this. 13.1 miles will be a challenge, but I can do it!

Jared and I did a quick grocery shopping at Shaws. I really wanted to make BBQ tofu but Jared was leaving for trivia so I promised not to make it tonight.

I made a veggie burger. I am a big fan of Dr. Praeger's Tex Mex veggie burger, but I've talked to others who don't like them very much. I love the spiciness and the fact that you can see actual veggies (corn, peas, etc.) inside the burger. I ate my burger on whole wheat bread and topped it with cheese, lettuce, pickles, and ketchup. I had tortilla chips and fresh salsa as a side dish. Plus I drank a huge glass of water to rehydrate after my run.

Running Recap

It was like a family reunion at the race. My cousin Becky, Auntie Carol, Jared, Uncle Jon and I ran the Shawn M. Nassaney Memorial Cross Country Race at Bryant University. Running on cross country trails is SO different from running on sidewalks. No one warned me that this is one of the most difficult courses in RI.

I finished the 5K in 27:19. My goal was to finish in under 30 minutes to prove to myself that I can run faster than a 10 minute/mile pace. Yay, goal achieved!

I have more pictures from the race and the BBQ lunch after, but my parents' desktop is way too slow. I'll have to upload everything when I get back to Boston later tonight. We're getting ready for a family dinner and we're trying a few new recipes. Mmm, good smells are wafting from the kitchen!

Great Eight

I wasn't too hungry after my workout but I knew that I needed something to eat. I decided to try a Greens Plus bar.

Wow, that's a lot of information and A LOT of healthy ingredients. I LOVED this bar. The tangy berry flavor was awesome and the yogurt coating was perfect. I liked the texture too. If it didn't cost over $2, I would buy a lot more of these.

I had some yogurt with a sprinkle of granola around 4 pm. Jared had mentioned running after work so I knew I'd need to have something in my stomach. (That's a photo of my grandpa and me. He passed away last Christmas, but I still think about him a lot)

I got home from work and took care of the dog. Jared was running late so I had a bit of my mom's homemade banana bread for a snack. My mom is known for her banana bread. She uses a recipe she cut from the newspaper in the early 1980s. Nothing can top your mom's baking and the childhood memories it conjures.

Jared came home not just ready to run, but also with the news that Mark was running with us. We ran 7.5 miles and then walked the last 3/4 mile home. I felt great! We ran along the Charles. The path was better lit than I had expected. Plus running with 2 guys who are both over 6 feet helps to make things less scary. The views of Cambridge, and then Boston after we crossed the bridge at Cambridge Street, were so pretty! I love the city at night.

Our goal was to run 8 miles but the Map My Run app wasn't working quite right. I can rationalize. If I add the 7.5 run and the 0.75 walk, we definitely reached our goal. Eight feels great!

If anyone has any good running music, let me know. We're planning one more long run before the 1/2 Marathon and I get bored easily!

There was a chilly wind along the Charles. I was really cold when we got home so I knew soup would be the perfect thing to warm me up. Grilled cheese is ideal with soup. And since we didn't have crackers, I had a few French Onion chips.

After such a busy day I am ready to relax on the couch! I'll probably watch Glee and then drag my tired self to bed!

Bills Bar

I used my self-timer for the first time ever! Stretching out before going for my run.

Ok, so I haven't totally figured out the art of self-timer portraits.

It was a little bit muggy and misty, but the running conditions weren't that bad. We ran 3.6 miles at an average pace of 8 minutes, 22 seconds. How do I know this??? Because Jared download the "Map My Run" application on his i-phone. It was really nice to know the exact info instead of planning a route ahead of time and trying to guestimate our pace after factoring in stoplights.

I made a healthy sandwich for lunch: Spinach and artichoke hummus, red peppers, American cheese, and lettuce with some Wheat Thins for crunchiness. It was delicious! I'm craving another one as I type this.

I watched most of the Pats/Falcons football game while cleaning the apartment. I met Jared and Chris at the Harp to watch the Bills/Saints game at 4. The Harp is the home of the Bills Backers, diehard Buffalo Bills fan who live in the Boston area.

I had one Blue Moon and shared some Buffalo Wings and Spinach and Artichoke dip with the guys. Not the healthiest dinner but I didn't eat TOO much. Sometimes it's more important to relax and have fun rather than spend time agonizing over every calorie.

There was a great crowd today. It was disappointing that the Bills couldn't pull off a win. I was happy that the Pats beat the Atlanta, and hopefully Buffalo will do better next week!

Race Registration

I just registered for the Shawn M. Nassaney Memorial Cross Country Race. I'm going to run the 5K race with my aunt and my cousin. It's my cousin Becky's first 5K race. I'm looking forward to running with family!

Weekend Update

My first attempt at stove top oats!!! I didn't know what brand to buy so I just picked a small bag that was fairly inexpensive.

The instructions called for 2 cups of water and 1 cup of oats. That was TOO much for one person. I am going to cut everything in half next time I make this. I'm always hungry for breakfast but I'm never that famished.

List of toppings...

• Cinnamon
• Strawberry jam
• Spoonful of almond butter
• Maple syrup (added after a few bites because I thought it needed something sweet)

We left for Rochester around 12:30 and made a pit stop at the Banana Republic on Newbury so I could get the security tag removed from my sweater. I found the receipt while I was searching for my camera charger so there wasn't an issue. I was hungry so we stopped for lunch at only 30 minutes on the road.

We let Miles play in the dog walk area while we ate wraps from Fresh City. It was difficult to eat while standing up. I made a mess and kept dropping pieces of lettuce all over the ground.

We arrived at Jared's parents' house by 7:30. I was more than ready for dinner. We scrapped the plans for BBQ and headed to an Italian place instead. I started off with a nice green salad and a glass of Zinfandel.

For dinner I inhaled tortellini with chicken. Mmmm!

After dinner, we went back to the house. Two of Jared's friends came over and we all hung out in the hot tub. So relaxing! It was the perfect way to wind down after a super long car ride.

Jared and I had planned on going for a short run on Saturday morning, but sleep was much more important. There was just enough time for bagels and showers before we left for our wine tour around Seneca Lake.

We stopped at so many great vineyards and sampled more wines than I could keep track of. I swear I tried! We came home with 3 bottles of wines we liked best, and I came home with lots of corks to ad to our collection.



Turkey, cheese, and a pumpkin cream cheese spread. I really couldn't taste the pumpkin so I was a little disappointed. The sandwich just seemed spicy. Ohhh well, it was still very tasty!



The weather was absolutely perfect. Not quite fall but you could already feel a slight chill in the air despite the warm sunshine.


After all of the wine, we went back to the house for dinner. Jared's dad grilled some delicious chicken, but the freshly picked corn on the cob seemed to be the favorite!

There was cake to celebrate my birthday! Thank you to Jared, Bob and Kris, Doreen and Roy, and Bryan and Jenna for the great day! I had a lot of fun.

Jared and I RAN 7 miles on Sunday morning. It went much better than I expected. No cramps, no pain, and at the end of the 7, I felt like I could've kept going. Don't worry, I was more than happy that I didn't have to keep going. Instead I iced my knees for 10 minutes and then showered so we could continue with our day.

I was super excited for my chicken salad sandwich. Until I took a bite and something wasn't quite right. The cook made a tuna sandwich by mistake. Gag, spit, shudder! The restaurant was very nice about taking the sandwich back and I ordered something new.

I dove into my open faced chicken cordon bleu sandwich and didn't remember to take a picture until I had finished eating.

After lunch, we "tacked on an Abbott's" while wandering around RIT's campus. It was fun to see where Jared went to school and learn more about his college years. Apparently he's some sort of legend... Haha!

We stopped to buy some pumpkins and apples on the way home. I LOVED the fall themed setup but I couldn't play around for very long. Jared and his dad were eager to get home to watch the Bills game.

Jared and I left at halftime and didn't get back to Boston until after midnight. It was a long drive, but totally worth it for a fun weekend.

Jared's parents ordered a smoothie maker for my birthday. I'm counting down the days til its arrival on October 1st. They also gave me a recipe book with hundreds of options of cold drinks to create. What an awesome birthday weekend!!! I am truly blessed!

7!!!

Jared and I ran SEVEN miles this morning. So now I know I can make it through 50% of a 1/2 Marathon. It took exactly 70 minutes. We've definitely perfected the 10 minute/mile pace. I didn't get any cramps. I had a few moments of knee discomfort but no actual pain.

Now I'm icing my knees just in case. Then I need to shower and get ready to spend the day out and about in Rochester. I think we might go out to lunch and then go apple picking.

4 miles?!?!

I was famished when I got home from work so I made a snack wrap with spinach and artichoke hummus, American cheese, and lots of crunchy lettuce.

Jared and I went for a 4 mile run. We usually do a 10 minute pace. As I kept checking my watch and our current location, I kept thinking we might've been going a bit slower. Well...Jared had tricked me into running 4.5 miles. So we actually ran just under 10 minute miles!

I felt great; I didn't get any cramps and I didn't have any pain after. I'm looking forward to running 6 or 7 over the weekend.

When am I allowed to call myself a runner? I'm not sure if I've earned the title just yet. Always a work in progress!

Jared offered to cook dinner and he made his version of chicken parm. He had to use the last of the American cheese because that's all that was left in the fridge.

Pinot Noir seemed like a good pairing with the meal!

Aww, he worked so hard on the presentation!

I spy an artichoke. Jared doesn't willingly eat a lot of vegetables but he does love artichokes. Whenever it's his turn to make pasta, he usually adds a few into the mix. Such a good dinner! I only ate half of my plate. I saved the rest for lunch tomorrow.