Miles High

Well, what can I say? I am into the busiest part of my marathon training. Last Saturday, I ran from my house down to Jimmy’s on the beach in West Haven. It was a bright and sunny morning. My run was effortless until about the 15th mile, but got pretty tough after that. I found a couple dollars in my water belt and decided to stop at the Walgreens on York Street with 2 miles left. I grabbed a Propel and refilled my water belt, then ran back out onto the sidewalks of downtown New Haven. For the next couple miles, although I was tired and very hungry, I was so happy. As usual on my long runs, I stopped exactly on distance and walked the rest of the way home. This is actually a technique I learned from a Hal Higdon marathon book - after running a great distance, a short walk of a mile or less greatly improves your body’s ability to recover.

Monday was a wonderful day off, which I spent indoors because of my large schoolwork load. Oh, for those of you that don’t know yet, I am a full time student again. Yes, that means working full time, going to school full time and training for a marathon - don’t forget introducing a new dog to the house. Okay, so I am a little busy right now. But, I only chose to take on full time schooling this semester because it means I will graduate in the first week of May. I couldn’t deal with going to school for another summer - it was just too depressing for me this year. So, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The rest of the week, I found it very challenging to get up every morning. This is mainly because my body is having a tough time handling the high mileage of my training. I actually hit 47 miles this week and I am certainly feeling it - my legs are beyond exhausted and even my brain is screaming for a day of rest. To me 47 miles in one week is no longer pleasant. I do my best running about 4 miles per day and lifting weights three days per week. That allows me to fit in a couple Pilates classes and a couple Yoga classes. At this point in my training, weight lifting and Pilates are out and Yoga is only to maintain flexibility in my muscles. One of my friends, Emily, posted a comment on her Facebook wall a couple weeks ago about having reached 70 miles in one week - WAY TO GO, EM! You are incredible…Not sure how your body can handle it, but I am so proud of you.

I interject with an update on my corneal ulcer - I went to the eye doc on Friday and he is very pleased with my progress. The actual hole in my cornea has closed and the inflammation has subsided. I am well on my way back to normal vision, but as the doc says, I “dodged a bullet on this one.” I have to return to the doctor in three weeks when he says that we can discuss the “possibility” of wearing contacts again. Friday afternoon brought a very sad visit for me. A couple weeks ago, my Grandmother had a stroke and has been relocated to a nursing home in Kent for rehab. It was a long ride there on winding back roads, and the whole time all I could think of was how weary I was to see my Grandmother in such a poor state. When I arrived, a pleasant woman at the front desk offered to walk me to the memory ward, and a nice gentleman took me from the locked double doors to the common room where Gram was socializing with some other ladies. She was in good spirits and seemed happy to see me. I had brought my laptop to show her some pictures from Roxanne’s wedding. It was so sad to hear her say that she had no memories at all of being there even though I showed her the picture of her with Roxanne and Jason (which is also framed in her room). But, it was a nice visit and she was so excited to hear all about Sassy. Gram has always loved dogs, and she begged me to bring her down to meet Sassy once she’s out of the nursing home. I’m afraid the trip to Hamden will be too much for her, but I know Sassy will LOVE to ride in the car up to Torrington to meet her Great Grandmother.

I had a twenty mile run scheduled this Saturday. I woke up very early, since I had an extremely busy day. I took the dog for a quick walk, because if she sees me suit up for a run, she gets really jealous and starts to howl if she hasn’t had a walk. As soon as I returned, I gathered my goods and set out in the rain (just a misty sprinkle). The weather was actually perfect for a long run - cool and rainy. The only downside to weather like yesterday’s is that it’s very easy to get dehydrated since you don’t get physically hot. But, I know my body enough to stop every two miles in the early stage of the run, then transition to every 1.5 miles, then to every mile and for the last two miles, every half of a mile. I ran down Whitney Avenue not yet knowing what loop I would take. I decided to head up Dixwell, down into New Haven by Southern CT University and then down to Long Wharf before looping back to Downtown and heading home. Everything was going well, but I got a little adventurous and took a turn off of Whalley Avenue down some residential street. It was a beautiful neighborhood, but within ten minutes, I had no idea where I was. All I knew was that I was running and enjoying the new sites. You would think by now, I would know every inch of New Haven, but the beauty of it is that there is always something new to explore. I have never had a negative thought about moving to the New Haven district - I am close to everything and love the active lifestyle of this area.

I had such a fantastic run yesterday, including a stop at my now favorite Walgreens to fill up on 400 calories worth of PowerAde (I had more money in my water belt than the previous week.) Even though that PowerAde tasted SO good, there were a few downsides. The bottles on my fuel belt only held one of those bottles, so I was forced to carry the other bottle in my hands. Have you ever carried a thirty-ounce bottle of liquid for two miles after already having run 18? Probably not, but I’ll tell you now, it’s not pleasant. That thirty-ounce bottle feels more like thirty gallons. And, sixty ounces of PowerAde in a short period of time is a lot of sugar for your body to digest - just take my word for it, I was feeling it in my stomach all day.

As soon as I walked in the door from my run, Sassy was itching for a walk. All I wanted to do was sleep for the rest of the day, but I knew that wasn’t fair to Sassy, and I had big plans for the rest of the day, anyway. I took Sassy for her walk and then showered up before heading to Southbury for Jess’ baby shower. I am definitely NOT a fan of wedding or baby showers, but ever since Jess told us girls to save the date for her shower, I have been so excited. Maybe because Jess and her husband are such an awesome couple and I am so happy for them, or maybe just because I don’t get to see her often. Regardless, I was so anxious to get there and see Jess (I haven’t seen her in months). Katie and Michelle put together a perfect shower. I got to meet Jess and Steve’s families and see a few wonderful ladies that I hardly ever see (even though we work in the same building). Thanks for inviting me, Katie…I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. And Jess…Best of luck to you and Steve with the new addition. I can’t wait to meet him.

Following Jess’ shower, I rushed home to take the pooch out and then back out to Zahraina’s bachelorette party at the comedy club in New Haven. Driving past Yale was an eerie sight - there were police and security everywhere, including foot patrols, which I have never seen in the area. This all stems from the Yale student who went missing over a week ago. Such a scary situation - I certainly hope they find her.

I woke up this morning wanting so badly to go to my favorite Yoga class, but I knew that my legs couldn’t take it. I haven’t quite learned yet how to back off that much (overachiever), so I would probably go to class, push through the whole hour and then come home and not be able to move for three days. Instead, I took Sassy for a long walk and spent the rest of the day sitting in bed doing schoolwork. I finished around 2:00, and went for a pedicure and to do the grocery shopping. Of course, the day ended with a hike around the lake with Sassy. I was hoping to take her swimming again, but there were too many other dogs, and she’s still learning how to be friendly to others.

Tomorrow brings another week…Recovery week for me - THANK GOODNESS!!! Only five miles tomorrow. With any luck, I will be able to force myself out of bed in the morning for a pre-dawn run.

Good night, all - I will try to catch you up on my progress again soon, but I make no promises with my busy schedule. I thank all of you who read my blog and hope you come back for more!

Pain In The...Foot

I like to give fair warning, so - To anyone who is slightly squeamish, you may want to avoid reading this posting.

Not even a week after running the Hartford Marathon two years ago, I found myself sitting in the chair at the podiatrist's office. I had lost one toe nail during my training and was having the second one (which was only hanging on my a thread) removed. The doc was fairly certain that I would have no problem regrowing my nails, but I was terrified. 'Oh my goodness, what are the ladies going to think when I get a pedicure? I'm a freak, now.' But, in time both nails grew back. However, for about six months, they were not pretty. They grow back extremely thick, uneven and yellow-ish. ICK to say the least!

Yesterday was the first day that I started to notice the unpleasantries going on with my feet. I developed tears, not blisters, actual tears on my heals from my sweaty socks rubbing against them. I also earned a huge blister about twelve layers of skin deep on the lower tip of my right big toe - that one is especially fun. And, operation toenail snag has already begun on the second toe on my right foot.

Here's the root cause of my problem - I have this strange phenomenon with my feet where my second toe is longer than my big toe. This is NOT how things are meant to be and running shoes are certainly not designed for weirdos like me. So, my toe repetitively rubs up against the front of my shoe and slowly pulls the nail away from the nail bed. That sounds really yummy, right? Well, there are many things about running that are far more disgusting. And, I warned you prior to reading that it wasn't going to be pretty.

So, I am not prepared to shorten my toes to avoid this, but I am prepared for the inevitable loss of my precious toenails. More to come on this over the next two months, I'm sure. Oh yes, two months from tomorrow is the race!

Eye Eye Captain

As you are all well aware of by now, we have a new addition to our little family. Sassy is settling in to her new home quite well. She is even learning to walk on a leash without choking herself and wearing out my arm. I must admit that I feel so guilty yanking the leash to pull her back in line. But, I just can't handle walking a completely spastic pooch. I feel so sorry for whatever she went through in her life prior to coming to live here. It's obvious that it's going to take time for her to learn how to be a happy, Sassy dog. But, we will continue to shower her with love and affection, while working on her manners, too.

Speaking of showering her with love and affection...My cousins Ruth and Mark brought their beautiful princess Isabella (my favorite little girl in the world) down on Friday evening to meet Sassy. They came complete with a whole bag full of special goodies for her. She was initially shy and took each toy and ran to her doggie bed, but as soon as she realized how much Ruth and Mark love animals, she opened right up to them and couldn't get enough of their love and attention. She was extremely cautious with Isabella and I am embarrassed to admit that she even showed her teeth at her. But, Matey is not so nice to the princess, either. Perhaps both Matey and Sassy are jealous of how much I adore Isabella. They have nothing to fear, though - I wouldn't give up my two furry babies for the world. It was so nice (to say the least) to spend time with my cousins - time that is precious to me in every way. As I get older, each day my family becomes more and more important to me. Ruth and Mark - Thank you so much for welcoming my new baby to the family...I'm sure she'll bring the whole family many years of joy. And, the next time she sees Isabella, I'm sure they'll become great friends.

Friday morning had brought on great discomfort in my right eye. When I got up early to take the poochie out, I felt this horrible pain in my eye. I immediately removed my contact (to all who don't know, I wear my contacts ALL THE TIME much to the displeasure of my eye doctor. In fact, I usually don't take them out for months at a time - DO NOT try this at home, folks!) So, I wore my glasses throughout the day and had many attacks of shooting pain in my eye accompanied by tears flowing like the Nile River. I had every hope that the pain would be gone Saturday morning so that I could head out on a brief 12-mile recovery run. I woke up Saturday with some pain in the eye, but I thought I could handle it. I took out the dog and then hopped in the car (I had decided to run at the gym due to the threatening storms despite my bad experience last week with 17 miles on the treadmill). As soon as I got to the bottom of the hill, my eyes started to go black and I had a terrible pain in my head. YIKES - I was terrified and had no idea what was going on. I turned around and headed home. I went right to bed and text messaged my friend to call as soon as he woke up "emergency." Somehow, even with my eye about to explode, I drifted back to sleep. Around 8:20 the phone rang - Oh god...the pain got instantaneously worse...I could barely see the phone to see that Ken was calling. Crap - he was in Virginia. Okay, call Marc - no answer. I was now crying hysterically from the stabbing pain in my right eye and I felt like my eye was the size of a soccer ball. I called Mom, but knew it would take her an hour to get to my house and I really wasn't sure I could wait an hour. The stabbing pain had morphed into a hammering pain. As always, Mom came to my rescue. She rushed down to my house - she really is the best Mom ever and I can never thank her enough for everything she does for me. By the time Mom got here, I couldn't open either eye - my eyes had become so sensitive to light that I had to have Mom look up the doc's number on the computer. Looking at the screen was like (here comes my favorite saying) drinking battery acid. Thank goodness the eye doctor was open because I was not looking forward to sitting in the ER for 3 or 4 hours waiting with a bunch of yahoos.

Within two minutes of sitting in the chair the doc knew exactly what was wrong. He gave me the "I told you so" speech and I hung my head low (almost like Sassy does when I yell at her for eating Matey's food). A corneal ulcer dangerously close to my line of sight - a really scary diagnosis. But, the doc dilated my pupils so that I could actually open my eyes without screaming in pain and sent me home with all kinds of antibiotic drops and sticky ointments that I have to put under my eye lid - yes, under my eye lid. Good thing I am not squeamish about putting things in my eye. Mom took me out to lunch, which was actually more painful than enjoyable, despite her wonderful company. I continually covered my eyes and winced as I struggled to keep them open. I spent the rest of the day in the house with all the lights off, which is really boring for me. I NEED to be outside and doing things, but my eye just hurt so bad. I have to admit, the entire day all I could think of, when I wasn't distracted by the hammering in my eye, was that I had missed my run (now, this is what they call OCD). I went to bed early in hopes of waking up completely cured and able to run this morning. Well, I certainly was NOT completely cured, but I was well enough I head out for my twelve miles donning sunglasses and a visor (even though the sun was not even up yet). By the time I got home, the sun had come out and Sassy was itching for a long walk, but I couldn't take the light. I forced her to wait until after lunch, which wasn't any better for me. I tried to stay in the shaded areas, but I still had to squint so badly that I was looking through tiny slits under my visor. A trip to the grocery store this afternoon was not enjoyable - it was so sunny out that my sunglasses did absolutely nothing. Once I got home, I made a point to stay indoors until the sun had dropped. Sassy and I went out for our second walk just at dusk and came home in the dark.

I sit on the bed now (Sassy in her crate and Matey sitting in the doorway staring at her) with disgusting goop in my right eye so that I can really only see out of my left. And, I have learned another lesson...the hard way, which seems to be the only way for me. I now do not take sight for granted as I came very close to permanently ruining my vision in my right eye. And, I am going to try really hard to listen to my doctors when they tell me to do something, or not to do something. All of that medical school must be worth something, right?

Slacker

Calm down - I'm referring to myself as the slacker here. I haven't updated my blog in so long, I almost forgot how!

Where do I even begin - I hate this part...I wait too long to update the blog and then I have so much to write about that I even bore myself with my posting.

Well, I guess the best thing to write about is my trip to Maine. I don't even remember the last time I was in Maine during the summer months. As we were just getting into summer here in Connecticut, Maine had been having beautiful weather.

It was warm and sunny, just as I like it. We spent a couple days on the expansive beaches and of course, did lots of shopping and sightseeing. The towns of Kennebunk, Wells and Ogunquit are just pristine. So many people running early in the morning and walking to all of their destinations throughout the day and night. Mom and I had a wonderful time, and I can't wait to go back again soon.

That Saturday morning, I got up early for my sixteen miles run so that we could get to the beach as quickly as possible. I ran down to Ogunquit and found a trail to explore - WOW - The sights on this trail, which ran along the cliffs in Ogunquit, were just stunning. I was so distracted by the beauty of what I was seeing that I barely noticed how far I had run. I found it so amazing that I dragged Mom there on Sunday morning before we drove back to Connecticut.

I went back to work that next week and continued my training, which is going well, by the way. Then came a MUCH NEEDED week off from the pressures of production. Since I just came back from Maine, I didn't have much planned - Just some R&R at the marina. Saturday started vacation with a seventeen miler on the treadmill - YUCK - Talk about boring. There was a threat of extreme thunderstorms, so I thought I would play it safe and run indoors. Oh goodness - Running seventeen miles on a treadmill is about the most boring thing you can imagine, aside from running twenty miles on a treadmill.

Monday was hot and sunny, perfect for sunbathing at the pool. And, Tuesday was such a perfect day with the perfect guest at the boat. I finished out my marina time on Wednesday, before going to pick up the newest addition to our family! I found Sassy at the Danbury Animal Welfare Society (DAWS). She's a German Shorthaired Pointer/Labrador mix. And, there she is napping on her bed.
I first saw Sassasfras (who was then Millie) online and thought I HAD to go see her. So, last Wednesday, I drove to Bethel during visiting hours. She was just so sweet and gentle - perfect for me and Matey. I put in my adoption application and they called me the next day to say that she was mine! I picked her up Wednesday evening and she has already adjusted so well to her new home. She's shy and terrified of her sister, Matey, and the hose. But, we're working on walking on a leash and obeying simple commands. Overall, she's such a great pooch. Her absolute favorite is riding in the car - It's all she ever wants to do!

I am so excited to start running with her once she's able to walk on her leash without yanking me into the woods. She'll be a great running partner - she might even speed me up a little bit. And, Matey is patiently waiting for her to open up a little so they can be best friends!

Splitting Runs

Some truly great runners swear by splitting their runs up - part in the morning and part in the afternoon. They claim it helps them to burn fat and build more lean muscle.
Yesterday, I had to cut my morning run short for reasons that I will spare you of, so I completed six miles before work and went for another two afterwards. I can't say exactly how it felt, but it certainly didn't feel good. It may have been the Nike Shox, which even though they are ultra cute, are not conducive to running. Or, it may have been the fact that it was one hundred degrees in the gym after work. But, I'm going to play it safe from now on...Finish a run when I start it, not several hours later.

Tomorrow closes out the training week, as well as a hectic week at the office. I am impatiently waiting to arrive on the beach in Maine. A wonderful long weekend of swimming, great food and a little shopping, of course. The weather looks sunny and hot - exactly what I was hoping for. Bags are packed and waiting by the door. Now, this is one of my greatest weaknesses. No matter where I am going or how long I am going for, it can never be just ONE bag, it is always plural. I don't know where I get this need for "stuff" from, but I envy those people who can go somewhere for a week and bring one bag that's smaller than what I bring to work everyday.

A great weekend to everyone - enjoy the summer while it's here.
My next post will include some pictures of the gorgeous scenery on the Maine coast.

Could It Finally Be Summer?

A good evening to all my blog fans.

I think I can say with confidence that summer is really here. Normally, by this time in August we would have had at least one or two heat waves. But, this has been the summer of Noah's Arc. I truly believe that with one more torrential downpour, the earth under my foundation will give way and my house will slide down the hill.

Even though we haven't reached ninety degrees since April, at least we've had a few sunny days the past couple weeks. I cannot tell you how badly I want to hear Scott Haney say "We're looking at the return of those three H's today."

After a few months of extreme busyness, I was ecstatic to be planning an afternoon out on the water kayaking with a very special friend last week. Original plans were scheduled for Wednesday, but cancelled due to inclement weather. Thursday rolled around and the sun was shining - a perfect day for kayaking. Putting that fourteen foot kayak up on the truck is not a fun task and is probably very comical to watch. But, once I had it up on there, I was so excited to get to the marina and start paddling wherever the current took us.

Kayaking is such a wonderful compliment to my usual challenging weight training and long runs. The legs get a rest for once and the upper body does all of the work. But, more than a workout, kayaking is a wonderful release for me. I am enamored with the ocean and all of its wonders. There is no happier place for me than to be on the water. All of the summers that I spent living on the boat created such an amazing experience that I will treasure forever. And now, I take advantage of any opportunity to spend time on the ocean.

We paddled out to Duck Island with the water so smooth and only a few sailboats inside Duck Island Rhodes. It was cool, but still sunny. We beached the kayak and traversed the giant rocks all the way around the back of the island barefoot (perhaps not the smartest thing I have ever done) before heading back in to the marina. A quick dip in the pool to wash away the salt and then back to the boat. Walking down the dock, I could see someone with a dock cart near the boat. A few steps closer and I could see it was Gabby. I haven't seen Gabby and AJ since January and I was so excited. Marisa, John and the kids were unloading the car and getting ready to run out for dinner, so we only got a few minutes with them, but it was wonderful to see them. We then went to Lenny and Squiggies (Lenny and Joe's) for a delicious fish dinner (lots of protein)! What an outstanding afternoon and evening - I didn't want it to end. But, as they say all good things must come to an end. Friday was soon approaching, which meant another day of work. I absolutely love my job, but I have such a hard time walking into that office when I can hear the sunshine and glistening water calling my name.

Friday evening was a bittersweet occasion. We held a going-away happy hour for Young Pat, AKA my twin. Pat got an offer at a Sikorsky subsidiary, Keystone Helicopter, and he and his fiance, Kate (such a wonderful girl), are moving to Pennsylvania this week. I will miss them both, but I look forward to having great friends to meet up with for dinner or drinks any time I travel to Keystone.

Saturday morning I had a ten mile recovery run scheduled. I ran a downtown New Haven route that looped back to Hamden by Southern CT State University. I ran at a good pace, but was exhausted around mile seven. I couldn't wait to get home and shower up. Mom and I were heading to the marina for the afternoon. We spent several hours sitting on the back of the boat chatting with John and Marisa and soaking up the beautiful sunshine. I rested my legs and got my vitamin D at the same time. I'm always sad when it's time to come home from the marina, but I knew I had a great deal of homework waiting for me today.

As the weekend closes and the work week (and training week) approaches, I am a bit nervous for my increase in mileage. My three mile runs become four miles and my seven mile runs become eight. The week will close out with a sixteen miler around the streets of Kennebunkport Saturday morning. I have already noticed that I cannot seem to feed my body enough - my stomach is often bloated because of the amount of food I have to consume to keep my muscles happy. From here it will be a struggle to hold on to my weight training regime. A few weeks ago, I thought this would be my last week, but I think I might be able to maintain it until the end of August.

Less than three months to go until New York. I still have many sunrise runs ahead of me, many days of sore legs and many days of triumph. But, they will all culminate early Sunday morning, November 1st as I stand at the start line and wait to hear that gun go off.

Good night, all.

Return to the cyber world

To all my blogger fans, I apologize for my absence. A crazy week it has been with school and the wedding and everything that comes with it.

Where do I even begin? Well, remember last week when I predicted my misery during my thirteen miles on Friday? Oh yes, was I ever right! Let us learn a few lessons from this...First, for those of us that don't recover as quickly as we would like to - DO NOT try running anything over ten miles without your day of rest before. AND, long runs are not the days to be attempting a rolling hill bonanza. With my sister's wedding on Saturday, I knew I would not be able to fit in my thirteen miles that morning, so I attempted to work it in on Friday - BAD MOVE! I ran seven miles around New Britain, one of the hilliest towns in Connecticut, while the car was being fixed. When I got back to Hamden, I set out for the remainder of my run and barely got out another two miles before my legs gave out. Not a run for the record books by any means.

I went for my manicure and pedicure (ahhhhhhhh - thanks for that gift certificate, Meg!) before heading to the beach, which was cloudy and breezy. I came home to get ready for the rehearsal and accompanying dinner - I had this AMAZING black dress picked out and couldn't wait to wear it! Rehearsal was short and sweet, and dinner was so perfect with lots of family. Not to mention that awesome tortellini dish I had....

Yep, there's that black dress and me with Mom - doesn't she look amazing? Just wait for the wedding pictures. (Note to readers: Blogger is having some technical problems tonight and I wasn't able to upload any more photos, but I will come back later and try it again.)

Saturday started off very early packing my bag for the day and making sure everything was ready to go. Mom and I went to Tara's to have our hair done. Pictures started at the Litchfield Inn before church. Everyone looked great and the photographer was wonderful. I was far less emotional than I expected, until we got out of the limo and Roxy walked up the steps to the church in front of me. We walked into the corridor, I handed her the bouquet and gave her a big hug as tears started to well up in both of our eyes. Church went very smooth (aside from a few tears as she walked down the aisle with one big thing missing - Dad), and it was a gorgeous day for more pictures outdoors at the country club. Another great dinner and then it was time to party. Malibus for everyone - Mark was bringing them back to the table by the tray full. By no means am I supporting consumption of alcohol, but you have to make full use of the open bar. The "whiteness" (lack of rhythm and even poor coordination) that filled the dance floor was comical at best, but we Lents and Sadowskis had a great time. I was waiting for someone to wheel Gram up there and spin her around in her wheelchair. The night came to close with a family dance and a big hug, one we will all remember for a long time. Later, Mom told me that Uncle Chuck (one of my Dad's brothers) said to her that Dad really was there walking Roxy down the aisle - we just couldn't see him. That brings such a huge smile to my face thinking that he'll be there someday for me, too.

Sunday started off with my much-loved YOGA class, but that was the end of my enjoyment for the day. I had to miss out on the family post-wedding brunch because of the immense amount of homework I had. I spent ten hours last Sunday reading, writing and cursing myself for continuing my education.

The week went by in a flash. I bumped my mileage up slightly and took my wonderful rest day on Friday. Friday night out with the boys was entertaining as always. Tom decided that he is not going to drink anymore. We went to see one of our favorite bands and for the first time, he was experiencing what I experience almost every Friday night. After that, I'm not sure his pledge to quit drinking will be long-lived.

Yesterday, I woke up to the sound of the birds (cliche, I know, but it really is true). Stretching and a little pilates warmed me up for a great fourteen miles. I tried a new loop, which took me down to the center of New Haven, over to State Street and following State down into North Haven and back to Hamden via Davis Street. It was a fantastic, flat route, except for the last mile up and over Davis Street. I was so strong up until that last hill. Yesterday was the first time I ran with my water belt and what a difference. Taking a quick drink every mile and a half keeps your body so well hydrated and prevents the muscle cramping that I experienced last week. Okay, so the belt isn't really attractive and it can certainly get irritating as it slips and slides all over the place. But, there are worse things in life.

Something I was thinking about as I was running along that hot, flat route yesterday: When you train for your first marathon, there will come a point, where every weekend, you will run the longest you have ever run, which is pretty amazing if you think about it. One of my good marathoning friends enlightened me to that concept. (Todd - I hope you are still running. I'm waiting to see your name on the Boston results.) So, I ran my first marathon two years ago. That means every Saturday I am running the longest I have run in two years.

I'll leave you on that thought. Good night everyone - it's great to be back in my little cyber world of a runner's blog.

Know the Code

A short post tonight as I REALLY need to be doing school work.

I was so excited today to wake up late (yes, 6:45 is late for me), and enjoy a day off with some sunshine and a sandy beach after my 6 miles. The run was fantastic - I even found a new trail along the river (if you can call it that - it's really more of a brook) in New Haven. It was humid, but not too hot at all. The legs were a little tired and I am definitely not looking forward to my 13 miles tomorrow morning without a rest day (schedule rearranged for the wedding Saturday).

When I got home, I ate a huge bowl of cereal and went out to work on the car a bit. I was unsuccessful trying to repair the lift gate, but was able to dismantle the interior fan and remove the culprit of the obnoxious ticking noise (just a leaf, thank goodness). So, while the car is in the shop tomorrow for the lift gate, I will be trotting around the streets of New Britain for a couple hours.

Even after I finished up with the car, the sun was STILL not out. I have been looking forward to this beach day for weeks now. So, I took to the next best thing - retail therapy.

Now, on to the original reason for my post tonight. This morning, I must have run past thirty other runners, and approximately only fifty percent gave a smile, nod or wave. This is international runner's code here people. It's the same thing as all those people who drive Jeep Wranglers or motorcycles - just a quick wave of acknowledgement. If you're out on the streets or trails and you cross paths with another runner, no matter how tired or cranky you are, give a little sign - we're in it together and no one knows better what your feeling than another runner.

Running In the Rain

I woke up this morning to the sound of rain drops on my windows. Hmmmm, I thought, Six miles in the rain? Yuck! But, after my moment of prisiness, I remembered how many awesome rain runs I had while training for my last marathon. I actually started to get excited as I suited up. My first few steps were a little slippery as the oil was seeping up through the pavement. As I ran down towards Putnam Avenue, I felt the droplets sliding down my face and into my eyes. It may not sound quite as wonderful as it feels. The light rain is enough to keep you extremely cool, even on a sticky summer morning and you forget about any of the pains in your body.

All of these special parts of nature are things that we often forget about or take advantage of. And, the only way to enjoy them is to take it outdoors and think about all of our surroundings.

Whenever you have a chance, head outside. You don't have to run six miles to open your eyes - just take a short walk and breath deeply.

A Beautiful Day

Many marathon training programs are structured in what they call a step-up, step-back format. This means that for two weeks, you build the mileage of your long run and on the third week, you slightly decrease the mileage so that your body has a chance to recover. This week was a step-back week for me, so yesterday's long run was a brief eight miles. Knowing I had a short run, I got up a little later than usual since I wouldn't mind running after the sun began to warm the pavement. Normally, if I have a very long run, I get up and out there as early as possible before it starts to get too steamy. I chose my downtown New Haven route yesterday, which is one of my favorites. My legs felt fantastic, and I probably could have continued running much longer. But, I stuck to the plan. On the way back to the house, I decided to head into Eli Whitney Park to finish the last mile on one of the trails. Trail running is so invigorating and is great for building body awareness and stabilizer muscles. The first time I ran on the trails, I tripped over a ridiculously small rock, ripped my pants and completely banged up my knee. I learned my lesson that day and now every time I run through the woods, I enjoy it more than the previous.

I woke this morning so excited for the upcoming day. Sunday is YOGA day, which always such a treat. But, I also had a reunion to look forward to this afternoon. The first half of class was fast and challenging. And, of course, I forgot my towel on the day that I would be sweating like crazy. But, we eased into some of my favorite poses and ended class on a great note. As always, I walked out of the gym feeling so refreshed.

Schoolwork was calling my name as I walked into the house, but I knew I only had a short time. I did what I could in an hour and then hopped in the car to pick up Colleen on my way to meet Karin for a very long overdue meeting. As I saw Karin walking towards us, I thought "No, she looks WAY too good to have just had a chemo treatment." I'm so proud of her. The weather was absolutely perfect, so we sat out on the patio and got lost in our catch-up. It's been nine years since we have seen each other - way too long. We parted vowing not to let it go so long again. It's so wonderful to see great people who may have drifted out of your life, to hear all of the things they have accomplished and who they have become. Friendship is a very powerful thing that many of us take for granted.

I head off to sleep tonight awaiting my three miles and weight training session tomorrow morning. Weight training will only continue for another month before my body can't take the stress of running high mileage. But, the longer I can continue to lift weights, the better my muscles will be prepared for the big race.

Mountain Sunrise

Have you ever been atop a mountain for a summer sunrise? It's an amazing experience and very motivating. If you haven't tried it, I would highly recommend it.
I set out on my six miler at 5:30 this morning, just as the sun was rising. I stepped out the door and took in a deep breath of that fresh morning air. I hit 'start' on my handy little gps watch and headed down the hill. A few possible routes crossed my mind, before I decided that today I was going to challenge myself. Running hills before really starting to build your mileage can be very beneficial later in your marathon training. I ran onto Whitney Avenue and then turned onto Davis Street. Up I trekked - I turned into East Rock Park and started my climb. It's a little over a mile from the Davis Street clearing to the summit of East Rock Mountain, and I kept a great pace climbing the hill. Though I've run East Rock Mountain many times, I was not prepared for the beauty that I experienced today. The haze was lightly guarding the city and the sun was lifting up into the sky. A light breeze swept my hair as I looked over the edge of the mountain. These things can't really be understood unless you've been there to feel it, and believe me - I am not a nature buff. I was instantly energized, and though I could have stood there for hours taking it all in, I had an amazing urge to sprint down the mountain. I held back and did not sprint due to the immense possibility of tripping and rolling down the mountain with no one in sight to witness. However, I did continue my morning run, with an overwhelming sense of contentment.

Although my legs were tired from a long week of training (tomorrow is my "rest" day), I could have run up that mountain ten more times, knowing the gift that would await my arrival at the peak.

Now, as I rest my legs (and pray that the poison ivy covering them scabs over), I think about my next run - What will I choose to explore? How fast will I move? What will feel great and what will be screaming for me to stop? It's often too easy to listen to the latter, but I always think of my end goal. If I give in to that sore hamstring or tense shoulder just once, it's going to happen again and again - this would affect my performance in New York tremendously. For any non-professional runner, one of the greatest secrets (okay, not a secret anymore) to performing well in a marathon and completing the race injury-free is to walk to the starting line with the confidence of knowing that you are well-trained. To cheat yourself out of training lessens your chances of success greatly.

One important thing that I need to share with everyone - I always have a purpose in a race, a person that I dedicate my run to. I've run in memory of family friends or to honor an aunt that is a breast cancer survivor. One race was dedicated to the memory of my best friend's dad. And, my first marathon was in memory of my good ol' pops. If it weren't for my dad, I probably never would have started running. He was a runner and tried for years to get me out on runs with him. I was Daddy's little girl and did everything else with him (fishing, working on the house or boat, etc.), but I was never able to join him on a run while he was alive. Even so, I know he's with me every time my sneaker hits the pavement. When I crossed the finish line in Hartford two years ago, I swear I felt his arms wrap around me in pride.

This year all of my training will culminate in a tribute to a very special and inspirational friend. When I learned of Karin's cancer diagnosis, I was devastated. Devastated for her, her family, her husband...But, several times a week she updates us all on her progress through her blog, which I must say is far better than mine. After her first chemo treatment, I was blown away by her optimism and strength. She is one for the saints' books. She is a truly amazing woman. Nothing gets her down, nothing. My devastation has morphed into awe and admiration.
Karin - As I eat up the soles of my Nike's plodding through the five boroughs of New York, I will be thinking of you every step of the way. Your light is enough to keep me going for one hundred miles or more. Much love...

Stretch It Out

Until a little over a year ago, I did not understand the importance of stretching and what benefits it could have on my running. I was scheduled to run New York last year, but was stricken with extreme physical pain along with disappointment and sadness when I developed tendinitis in my hip after training for a triathlon (by the way, I would gladly take marathon training over triathlon training any day). Several X-Rays and many visits to the chiropractor later, I could still barely make it up and down the stairs without pain shooting down my leg and up my back. I was in fact unable to run for over a month. That month seemed like a lifetime to me - I was lost. Running is like my best friend; always there when I need comfort, but then, I just couldn't reach it.
When I thought all hope was lost and I would be reduced to an elliptical addict forever, one of my Pilates students urged me to try Kate's Saturday morning YOGA class. "No thanks," I told her, "I've done YOGA several times before, and I really just don't have the patience for it." But, her incessant bragging about this class pushed me over the edge after a few weeks. One Saturday morning, I snuck into the back of the studio at LA Fitness not knowing what was about to hit me. In walked a tiny blond girl with her purple YOGA mat in hand. As she walked up to the front of the room and laid down her mat, I realized this must be Kate. Oh, this is going to be a breeze, I thought. She spoke softly, but fifteen minutes into her class my muscles were screaming. Although I was exhausted and drenched in sweat after that first class, I felt amazing - welcome to YOGAholics anonymous. So, I couldn't help myself - I had to go back the next week, and the next. I overheard one of the other students talking about going to the Sunday morning class. Sunday morning class??? I thought. I'm free Sundays, too. I could definitely make that class. And, the next day I went to Michelle's 8:30 class. How refreshing - very different in style, but equally as amazing. And, so it began...my weekend tradition of attending Kate's class at 11 on Saturday and Michelle's class at 8:30 on Sunday.
After a few weeks, I noticed a difference in the way I was walking. Stairs were no longer a torture chamber and I could sit for an hour without having to fidget every ten minutes to eliminate the tingling in my leg. I self-diagnosed myself - my tendinitis was healing. So, I knew that meant it was time for the next step. I hopped on the treadmill that Monday morning before work and played a game. Starting with a walk - Ok, that feels fine. Then up to a SLOW jog - Wow, I'm really doing it. And, then the real test, full speed ahead - Pain? No, really, no pain!
I was cured by this wonderful thing called YOGA. Now, I've been doing it ever since. I try to get in two classes a week, but with my heavy training on Saturdays, I've been unable to make it to Kate's class, which I do miss terribly. And, if I skip my Sunday morning class because of another commitment, my hamstrings certainly let me know that I made the wrong decision. It was indeed those tight hamstrings that inevitably led to my one month hiatus. I will never let them take over my life like that again. I am in charge here, legs, not you! You just carry me - I tell you when we go, where we go and how fast we get there.
I work so hard every Sunday morning now, standing there in warrior pose with my deep muscular tissue burning, but that tells me it's working, pulling those fibers longer. Holding downward dog, which was once like drinking battery acid for me, is now a welcome rest after a tough flow, where I release all the tension, Ahhhhh. Oh yeah, and remember the girl who couldn't touch her toes from elementary all the way through high school? Yep - I'm not that girl any more.
So, now I run until my next class. And, as a lesson to all of you runners - you are in charge, not your legs. But, you still need to treat them to a little stretching.

Long Runs

Since this is supposed to be a blog about marathon training, let's start with the first real running post.

I got up this morning to get in my pilates and stretching before heading out the door for a quick eleven miles. So much to do this weekend, I needed to get my training out of the way early. I headed out the door and immediately realized it was far sunnier than I expected. Turn around - Grab a visor and back out the door. Now, you must realize that I take my long runs VERY seriously, as they are the key to surviving the marathon in one piece. I gear up with my Garmin GPS watch and my MP3 player, Nike (always Nike) trail runners and a big smile. Nothing gets in my way on long runs, EXCEPT exhaustion. And, today was one of those days. I ran down Dixwell, turned on Skiff and right onto Whitney to head downtown. I made it about 6 miles before I really started feeling that heaviness in my legs. But, because I do take it so seriously, I finished my run, even with a couple stretching stops along the way.

Mental note for this week - more protein and more hydration. I've been slacking in the hydration department lately and it really takes a toll on me.

I spent the rest of the morning having my second fitting for my bridesmaide dress. For those of you that don't know, my sister is getting married two weeks from today.
Now, I am here typing away. But, in about a half hour, I'm going to start the wiring for my new electric fence. My neighbor at work let me borrow his drench digger and I bought a diamond tooth sawblade (for the driveway). Installation will be a VERY interesting adventure. The only thing I'm not sure on is how I am going to test the fence. E-mail me if you have any volunteers.

I'll wake up early again tomorrow, but this time not for a run - it's Sunday morning YOGA class with my favorite instructor to keep my muscles loose so I can run longer and faster.

So long for today and keep running...

Just getting started

In case I decide to post a link to my new blog on my facebook page, I would like to preface the first few postings with the fact that creating a blog was an assignment for my latest class at Boston University. But if I like it, I might just keep it up.

As usual, I am a little late getting started with a new class.

I'm going to be very honest with everyone - just picking out the font for my initial posting was a challenge for me. But, I made it through and now things seem to be moving smoothly.


From my blog title, you can probably guess that I am avid runner. In fact, I am currently training for the New York City Marathon (November 1, 2009). Every Saturday morning, I can be seen running all over New Haven, Hamden and Cheshire, trying to rack up my miles in preparation for the big race. Each week, I step a little closer to my 26.2 mile goal. Smile and wave if you see me running around town!


As much as I love running and living a healthy lifestyle, that's not all there is to "me." I am an engineer at Sikorsky Aircraft.
http://www.sikorsky.com/vgn-ext-templating-SIK/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=709f45d57ef68110VgnVCM1000001382000aRCRD&vgnextchannel=162f45d57ef68110VgnVCM1000001382000aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&provcmid=bfa955f4a9d98110VgnVCM1000001382000aRCRD&mofvcmid=57aaebb600e98110VgnVCM1000001382000aRCRD&mofid=47aaebb600e98110VgnVCM1000001382000a____&movcmid=609669a3a73a8110VgnVCM1000001382000aRCRD&moid=509669a3a73a8110VgnVCM1000001382000a________
For anyone that doesn't know, we make the famous Blackhawk helicopters. I currently work on the latest model of the Blackhawk Medevacs, which just went into production last year. I also moonlight as a personal trainer and Pilates instructor. I love my clients and students and get such a feeling of satisfaction when someone claims their latest milestone, whether that be dropping a dress size, or doing another 20 pushups.


I live in a very quiet neighborhood in Hamden, CT. This is my perfect little house.I live here with my cat, First Mate. Here she is in her favorite spot, under the Christmas Tree.
We're soon adding a German Shorthaired Pointer to our little family (a new running partner for me).


In terms of school, I graduated from UCONN with a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering. I completed my first Masters degree with RPI (MS in Management - Operations), and since United Technologies wants to keep paying for more schooling, I decided to go back for another Masters. Thus, here I am today, creating my first blog for Professor Becker. Hope you enjoy!