New Training Begins!

After my run on Friday, I ended up taking Saturday off, knowing what is coming. I know i need to get ready for this. Today I hit the pool. I'm pretty excited. I got in a full mile today, and faster than I had the other night. I did 31 laps the other night in about an hour and a half. Today I did 36 laps in an hour even. VERY happy with that.

I've written out my training plans. Tomorrow is Halloween. I want to fly home from work before the kids are out. I want to get in a run while its still light out. Tuesday night I'm going to Pilates, then getting back to the pool after that. Wednesday is running again. And Thursday night is swimming. Then Friday off, Saturday I want to do a longer run.

Got the plan... now I need to stick to it and make this work! :)

2012 Here I Come!

Today I received a voice mail. I have been accepted onto the 2012 Team Eye and Ear! I am SO excited. I have so many things to start and things I need to think about. I'm excited and nervous all at once. And this time I actually know a bit of what to expect. This is going to be crazy!

Next week I want to call my doctor and start with physical therapy for my lower back. I don't want to deal with the injuries I had last year and I can still feel something after running. Figure if I'm proactive, it will make a difference. Hopefully anyway.

Starting to get back into the whole routine. Ran on Monday night. Tuesday I went to yoga. I wasn't feeling well on Wednesday and took the night off. Thursday night I was at the pool and swam laps, almost a mile. Then tonight after work I ran a couple miles. I felt really good with it.

I know i need to keep up with everything and keep up the routine and consistency of everything. Tomorrow morning I am going to a bootcamp class. Sunday I am swimming laps again. Then Monday back to running. I need to log my miles, watch what I am eating and keep a record of everything. Plus I think I need to buy new sneakers too.

I'm excited!

I have 3 goals this year.

1. To make it through training and to the marathon without any major injuries.

2. To raise over $7500 for fund raising.

3. To complete the marathon in under 4 1/2 hours.

Here's to success for 2012!

Boston 2012!

I just filled out my application for the 2012 Boston Marathon! I would LOVE to be part of Team Eye and Ear again. Last year was just an amazing experience.

I slacked with running for a while over the summer, but fall tends to be when I build up the most and have big success in running. The weather is just perfect for it. Last week was great at the track with the group, even being there in the dark.

Next weekend I'll be in CT for the ING 1/2 marathon supporting 2 friends who are running. I'll be running in the 5K with another friend. Nice Girls Weekend away. Who would have ever thought a few years ago that my idea of a girls weekend now is going away to run in a race! Talk about coming a long way!

My back was a little sore the past couple of weeks. I called a chiropractor closer to work to start treating again. I want to be a little pro-active this time around and not wait until I'm struggling to walk like last March. That was tough.

I really want to do Boston again and I really want to make my goal of 4 1/2 hours. I know I can do it, as long as I'm injury free. This will be exciting to do it again and this time have a better idea of what I'm expecting. I can't wait!

Long time!

Been forever since I've written here. Life has been busy. Between work, the running group, golf starting, summer being here and my new boyfriend... life has been crazy.

Session 1 of 2011 went great! We had a blast at their graduation run. I was so proud to see so many of them finish. It really was a huge success. I don't who's more proud, me or them! :)

Last Monday we started up session 2 of 2011. I have some returning faces but a whole new group of newbies with the Couch to 5K. They did great for week 1 and I was really proud to see them there. I'm looking forward to starting up week 2 on Monday night.

My back was bothering me again and I totally slacked on my own running. Not sure how this is going to sound, but.... after running in the Boston Marathon and crossing that finish line, what do I have to prove to anyone at this point? If I run or don't run, whatever! If I get in 2 miles here and there... wonderful!

This week I did decide to get back into it more, and basically for health purposes, as long as my back holds out. Since I started dating my boyfriend 2 months ago, I gained weight. Before vacation I was up 5 pounds, then when I was away over 4th of July week I gained another 3 pounds! Really... I was up 8 pounds in 2 months! Not happy with that.

This week I got back on track and starting really watching what I was eating and getting in a lot more exercise. The couch to 5K didn't really count, since I was running with the newbies, doing week 1. Monday morning I got in 2 miles and again on Thursday morning. Plus Monday and Wednesday night after our couch to 5K group, I was at my boyfriends house at his home gym and he REALLY worked me out then. WOW was I sore.

As of Thursday morning, I had lost the 3 from vacation plus a little more. Funny because I had gained an even 8 pounds. I haven't gotten on the scale since Thursday morning, but as of then I only had 3.2 left to get back to where I was mid May. I'm fine with where I am right now, but I just like to have those couple of extra pounds as wiggle room.

SO... back on course, even if I didn't end up getting in a run today. I cleaned and scrubbed my kitchen and bathroom instead and that took a couple of hours. I'll do a great ab workout at home today. As long as I do something, that should be ok.

But I do feel better when I'm running regularly. I liked doing 3-4 miles on Monday and Wednesday nights, 2 slow, easy miles on Tuesday nights, then maybe 4-5 miles on Saturdays. Those were good weeks.

I told some friends I'd do a 1/2 marathon in the fall. They are starting to find some to pick from now. Considering I'm only 2 miles here and there, I really need to get going on training soon! They are going to be kicking my butt. Hopefully Monday morning I can get up again and do another 2. Mornings just seem to be easier for me to get them in with everything else going on in my life.

I've been busy and sort of slacking on this I guess! :(

This was week 6 with the group. We've lost LOTS of members, some were sick, some had schedule changes and others just dropped out. We've been pretty consistent around 20 people at the track. My "core" group from last year has expanded by a few with a couple new runners added into the mix. And they are great too.

Just as last year, I know I'm making great friendships. I really just love this group!

They are doing an amazing job and we have a 5K on Sunday that I'm really looking forward to. Should be lots of fun. I've been really taking it easy the past month and a half with my own running. My back is MUCH better at this point which is GREAT but I haven't been running other than doing the same as the C25K. SO I'm a little nervous about the 5K. At least the weather will be good and I'm just going to go and have fun and see what happens.

Week 4 Day 2

Another night of light rain and another 20 of us showed up at the track. They did such an amazing job. I am so proud of all of them.

I took it slow, did the actual program tonight while chatting it up with a friend at the track. My back is doing ok, so that's good. I haven't really pushed anything so I'm not sure how I'll be doing when I try to get in a few miles at this point.

I love the fitness group and the life it has taken on. I'm just so proud of what it has become in less than 2 years. It has become such a huge part of my life and I LOVE it. I've made great friends through it as well as discovered new activities that I really enjoy.

The feedback I keep getting through the group is amazing & SO cool! I love that people love this and look forward to it. I know I'll continue to make new friends through this, which is so cool too. I'm just happy with how everything has gone. :)

week 3 day 3 and week 4 day 1

I was supposed to meet the group bright an early on Saturday morning but had some car issues (which luckily went away on their own, somehow!!) but I guess 6 or 7 people showed up at the track to run with the group. I was SO proud of them for that!!

Today was raining but 10-15 of us were there. I am really proud of them. They are doing amazingly well and I absolutely LOVE to see the progress with this. It is such a great group and I'm just so happy for all of them. :)

Things are just going well. Too bad I wore 4 inch heels to work today and messed up my back a little. The heating pad now is helping! But at least I got in a mile jog tonight.

Week 3 Day 2

Tonight was another great night at the track. We seem to be down to about 25 or so people but have had the same core group. They are doing such an amazing job! I am so proud of everyone!

After we finished tonight, one of our newer runners... she started her running with us on the first night... gave me high 5's when we were done. She was SO excited! She did the program tonight. Jog 1/2 a lap, walk 1/2 a lap, jog a lap, walk a lap then repeat that. Monday night she couldn't do a full lap of jogging but she did both of them tonight! She was SO proud of herself!! It was really cool to see.

That's why I do this. That's exactly what I love about this group. She did it! She finished the laps! I'm so proud of her and happy for her! I loved getting to remind her that 2 weeks ago she was having a hard time with the 60 seconds of jogging and now, only 2 weeks later, she jogged a full lap twice! That's amazing progress in just 2 weeks.

I can't wait to see how the runners do as we progress in the program. They all can do it. I know they can. I hope they all believe in themselves as much as I do! :)

Week 3 Day 1

I cannot say enough about how proud I am of this running group. They did such an amazing job last night at the track. Most people were nervous about having to "do a whole lap" but at the end I heard a few people say, "that was it? We're done?"

I love how much they are progressing and I love that they see it too! Already they are connecting and chatting and supporting each other. I LOVE it! This is everything I want it to be and more and I am so proud of everyone.

Next week is my favorite week. I cannot WAIT to see them then! :)

Marine Corp Honor Run

We lucked out with the weather which seems to be a theme for me! YAY! :) Sunny and warm and beautiful out. The rain didn't start until after 3:30 which was good.

We had a really good time today. My back did start to bother me a little bit, but I got in more running before I had to walk. I jogged a mile and a half, then walked a mile, then jogged the last bit from 2.5-3.1. At the 2 mile mark my time was 21:45 and considering I had walked a half mile, that's really good! I finished in 35:45 total. Not thrilled with my time overall, but a full mile was walking so that slowed down my pace big time.

Eventually the injuries will stop and I will be ok. I'm not worried about that. But it isn't worth pushing myself just to get a time I want. I don't want to make the injury worse. Finishing the marathon was one thing. Pushing it for a 5K time? Yeah, SO not the same level!

Today the "Mullet Marathon" runners were there. I got a few great pics to post from today. Otherwise, looking forward to yoga tomorrow morning then starting week 3 with the group on Monday night.


My Tshirt from the race.




Our group before the race.




The Mullet Marathon Group with a couple of us.




Me with 2 of the Mullet Marathon team members.

Marathon Pics

I finally figured out how to save pictures off of the photo site... only took about 2 weeks for me to figure it all out, but I have them now and needed to post the 3 I plan on ordering. I can't wait to get actual prints!



Crossing Mile 8 or so maybe?




Crossing the finish line




After getting my finishers medal

W2D2 Success!

Tonight was a bit rainy and ended up pouring when we finished up. We had many people cancel and about a dozen not show up, but still had 16 of us at the track tonight. They did GREAT!

I am SO proud of this group. I love it so much. I love seeing new runners push themselves and finish. I love seeing the pride on their faces at their successes. It is so great!

I'm really looking forward to 2 more weeks. Next week we switch from my stop watch and whistle to distance. Week 3 is jog 1/2 lap, walk 1/2 lap, jog 1 lap, walk 1 lap, repeat. I know they are nervous about a full lap, but I also know that they can ALL do it! All of them! :)

THEN my favorite week of every single one! Week 4. That's when they do Jog 1, walk 1/2, Jog 2, walk 1 and repeat. They get so nervous about having to jog 2 full laps twice and it freaks them out before we start. But they do it and they are so proud when I finish and succeed! THEN I add up the laps they jogged. 1 full + 2 full +1 full + 2 full= 6 full laps jogged, which is a mile and a half!

I love seeing that look come over each runner when they do the math themselves and realize that yeah, they just jogged a mile and a half! It is amazing to see the transformation come over them. They stand a little different. They have a different look in their eyes.

I think that's the day they start to really believe in themselves that they can do it. And I think that is the day that they start to think of themselves as runners. I love that day. That's my favorite one.

Only 2 more weeks.

But for now? I'm SO proud of them for showing up in the rain and getting that training in! They did it!

W2 D1

I'm really excited about how well the fitness group is doing. I can't believe that even with people leaving the group, we still have had membership go from 480 on April 1st to 512 today! That's just CRAZY! One a day? WOW!

And the facebook page is working too! Already 49 people like the page! YAY! Considering I just made the page on Thursday night? That's awesome!

Last night was the 3rd Couch to 5K event and we are maintaining 40-ish people which is amazing!

I think May is going to be a great month overall. I'm looking forward to seeing what else happens. :)

Week 2

Tonight I had another 40 people at the track to start week 2 of training. I'm SO proud of all of them! It is just SO cool that they keep coming back. I love doing it with a group.

Wednesday night is supposed to rain, so we'll see what happens instead. My back was bothering me at the end of the jogging tonight, which isn't good. Yesterday at the 5K it was pretty sore too... I had to walk a bit. I just wish these injuries would just GO AWAY!

Tomorrow night is swimming, so is Thursday night. It'll be a busy week, but I love that. And the track is already working its magic. I had a pretty rough day at work today and just the 1 hour at the track and I felt so much better.

W1 D2 C25K

Tonight was just as good as Monday! We had close to 40 people at the track on a warm and humid night. Everyone did SO well! The group is great and I LOVE it.

I love this group already. It is so hard to really get to know everyone and to even learn name! I'm not that good! It is just too many people too quickly.

But it went well. Everyone did a great job and they are turning out again and again and already looking forward to next week! I can't believe this is how all of this is turning out. The group has over 500 people in it! We have had almost 30 people join in just April alone. I'm just so happy with it.

I love the direction my life took with all of this. 2 years ago I was in such a different place and a completely different person. I was insecure, depressed, run down, and over weight. 2 years later, 40 pounds and a Boston Marathon later.. wow! Look at me now! Damn. I yell out to a group of 40 people at a track to encourage them to start the Couch to 5K!

The weirdest and funniest part... I keep hearing people tell me that I am an inspiration to them. How did that happen? How did I go from insecure, depressed, run down and over weight to being an inspiration for a large number of people?

The fitness group was a HUGE part of all of it. Getting out, meeting people and being active was a really big part of it all. Then being officially diagnosed with ADD and finally being treated, I think that was a huge part too. Having an ability to focus and get rid of the outside noise took away so much anxiety in my life and really helped with any mental and emotional things I was going through. It just made dealing with things so much easier.

And then, running. That was HUGE for me. Getting to the track and pounding it out, lap after lap. Having that runners high. Getting into the zone, the meditative part of it.. WOW. And the exercise, mile after mile, pound after pound.. all 40 of them.

I really have come a long way in the past 2 years. I'm not the same person. My friends are different, my life is different, even my home is different. Everything. There is very little from my life 2 years ago that remains the same at this point.

Can't wait to see what else happens?

And Couch to 5K begins!

Tonight was the first session of the new Couch to 5K with the fitness group. HOLY CRAP! I'm not exactly sure how many people didn't show up that rsvp'd. I'm not exactly sure how many people showed up who didn't rsvp. I think I had somewhere around 40+ at the track tonight.

WOW! Over 40 people showed up to do this running program! And there I am with the stop watch and whistle letting them all know when to switch from jogging to walking. It was incredible! So cool so see that many people show up and be excited to try this out together.

They laughed at me when I said in less than a month they will be looking forward to the nights at the track. I think letting them know that I met some of my closest friends through this group, doing this program, helped.

It was just a REALLY nice night. We had so much fun. Everyone did such a great job. I can't wait to see how this all evolves and how everyone does. I know we'll lose at least 15 people, but it would really nice if we kept a core group of 20-30 people doing this together! I'd LOVE it! :)

I'm just so excited to see how everyone does. Funny.... when did I become this person? Someone said I was a great coach tonight. Me? A coach? I guess organizing this, in a way, yeah.

I'm still considering becoming certified as a group fitness instructor and maybe a yoga instructor. I love the direction this group has brought me and the focus is has given me. I'm looking forward and thinking of new career possibilities as part of it and as a result of it and that is so amazing! I just can't believe HOW much my life has changed in 2 years. INSANE!

Do I keep this?

Now that the marathon passed and I crossed the finish line, do I keep this blog??

Originally I wasn't going to but I started thinking about it a little more. In two days, I start up a whole new session of the Couch to 5K training program with my meetup group. Someone changed their rsvp to a NO after I closed out the rsvp list for new people, so that bumped us down to 49 people.

Yes 49 people want to join the running group! How crazy is that! Last Tuesday alone, I approved 7 new people for the fitness group and so many of them joined just for the running group. We have tennis starting up and the 24 slots in the golf lessons filled up in less than 24 hours, with a wait list! This group is just taking off. :)

SO yes, I think I will keep this blog, but the focus on it will remain running and fitness in general.

On that note, today? I didn't really sleep last night and I've been up for hours. At noon, I am still in my pj's, on the sofa, doing nothing. No exercise, no stretching, no nothing. The weather is horrible, so I wouldn't really be doing outside running right now by choice, but I've just been lazy.

My back, which was amazing for the marathon, started bothering me a little bit yesterday. I have a feeling it might be from the kickboard at the pool. Just arching my back more to keep my head above water while I'm kicking might be putting more stress on my lower back. SO no more 45 minutes of kickboard for me. Sticking with just laps for the next month until the pool closes.

Hopefully when I start running again in 2 days, my back will be ok. I have most of what I need ready to go. I found the 2 stop watches I had with the whistles so I can let people know the 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking and when to switch.

I'm really looking forward to starting it up again. I love having out group this busy and seeing people this excited to get moving and try out fitness. I love watching people's faces when they realize their accomplishments and see the pride come over them! That's the best part!

I have an amazing team of assistant organizers who all have their own thing they are into... golf, tennis, dance lessons, exercise classes, hiking, walks, kayaking. Then me, with swimming, Couch to 5K and road races. Because of the team, we can offer so much to people. Plus the group is very low pressure and just FUN!

Even with today cold, rainy and raw, the warmer weather is coming. The days are getting longer and outdoor activities are starting back up. Everyone is happier in the summer and life is good! :)

I FINISHED!

With my back injury and horrible training over the past 6 weeks, I wasn't even sure if I was going to be able to start in the marathon! Last week my hips were finally aligned correctly and I was finally walking without a limp. But I still wasn't doing much running.

I got up at the crack of dawn on Monday and got ready. After taking the subway into town, I waited at the Boston Common for the parade of buses which came 25 at a time, one group of 25 after another, taking all the runners out to Hopkinton for the start. Once off the bus, as I started walking towards the Athletes Village, I wasn't sure where my Team Eye and Ear building was.... it was tough to figure out where I was on the map they gave me. But I found a bright red T-shirt with Team Eye and Ear greeting us! He directed me where to go.

Once at our building (with heat and BATHROOMS!) I grabbed a banana and wrote my name on my shirt. I did hit that bathroom a couple of times, posed for a few pictures with the team and got myself ready to go.

I headed out with another team member through Athletes Village and we tossed our bags to be checked into the INSANE number of buses lined up by bib #'s which were headed back to Boston, then we started our walk down the streets of Hopkinton. After another port-a-potty stop (26 miles is a LONG way, especially after about 24 ounces of Gatorade that morning!) we made our way to the starting corrals... corral #7 for us!

The starting gun for wave three went off around 10:40am and we were off through Hopkinton making our way along the route. I chatting with so many great people along the way from all over and supporting all different causes (the "qualified" runners were ahead in wave 1 or 2). The energy was absolutely AMAZING!!

SO many different experiences along the way.

Writing my name on my shirt was the best thing I could have done. 26 miles of hearing "GO JULIE" was so incredible!.

Ray Allen's mom ran (the day after he won the game with maybe 2 seconds left and an AMAZING SHOT!) People were calling for "Mama Allen" as she was running. I saw her early, maybe somewhere in mile 3-5.

My friends were spread out ALL along the route. What a great support I had! They were absolutely amazing, planning out their day to support me! I was touched so much more than I can express!!! And more tried to go but just couldn't. They had signs they made and everything! It was just the coolest thing to see them there for me!

I saw a bunch of people I knew who were there for other people, which was nice to have them see me and yell out to me! That was cool too! Someone I used to work with was there just to be there and I heard her yell out, "I KNOW HER!" which was cool! :)

What they say about Wellesley College is true. I heard it before I got there. The girls lined up along the route with signs, screaming and cheering NON STOP! The energy was amazing. I started running so much faster and had tears in my eyes just passing the school. It was absolutely incredible. When I finished passing the school, I remember turning to another runner near me and said, "That was just amazing." There is nothing else I could say. It was just amazing!

Team Eye and Ear had a cheering section at mile 18 which was a great support to see them all calling for me.

Just at the base of Heartbreak, they had another Team Eye and Ear supporter... the same from right when I got off the bus! He was at the base, ran up to me to give me a high 5 and started jogging next to me. He gave me a great little pep talk and let me know what to expect for the rest of the race. Then he turned back and waited for the next runner. That support was just incredible!

The support from the crowd was amazing too! 26 miles of people, people and more people! I got water and Gatorade from the thousands of volunteers at the aid stations at each mile along the route. Then people along the route had water too, and FOOD, oh MY did they have food! I must have had 2 or 3 oranges in total from the number of orange slices I grabbed along the way (ME! The germ-a-phobe! Grabbed sliced oranges out of strangers hands!) I took twizlers, Hersey kisses, a brownie by heartbreak, some Vaseline on a Popsicle stick around mile 15 when my arms were starting to chafe a little around my singlet. It was just amazing how many people were just giving out SO much.

I had great conversations with so many other runners along the route. I saw so many friendly faces really encouraging everyone and hoping the best for all. Restaurants, bars and businesses with microphones and speakers blaring out great music and calling out names of runners and teams they were supporting. Big signs with the Sox score and innings keeping runners updated.

Everything was just incredible. So many different memories. So many small stories. So many great people I met and smiling faces I saw. TOO many people who yelled out "GO JULIE" for me, mile after mile after mile. Those cheers, that real and genuine encouragement from people I didn't know just kept me going.

I would love to do another marathon again, but I honestly don't know if any would come close to comparing to this. I don't know how it could. The crowds were so amazing. I can't see how anywhere else could have that kind of support for 26 miles of roads. There was never a spot where I couldn't see someone along the side of the road, even in the area they warned me about in Brookline. There were STILL people next to that cemetery! Not a lot, but people were still there cheering for the runners.

Doing the Boston Marathon was an unbelievable experience that I will never ever forget. I still can't believe I finished... I walked the final 2+ miles with the only jogging just as I crossed the finish line, but dammit, I crossed that finish line!

My official time, 5:43:36. Originally, before my injury, before I had to basically STOP training, I was hoping for under 4:30, but considering I really didn't run for about 6 weeks and JUST recovered from my injury the week before the marathon? And not only did I finish, but in under 6 hours? DAMN! I'm proud of me! I did this!

I accomplished a goal I set for myself. I finished the Boston Marathon! And you know what? I want to do it again next year!

Marathon Monday

Today is the day! WOW! So nervous. I'm up, I'm awake. It is just after 5:30am. Coffee, shower, then breakfast. Will double check the bag I'm bringing, then head for the T to get to Boston. And I'm already late! The goal was to be up at 5 and out the door at 6. Here I am at 5:35, and still in bed with coffee.

SO scared, but we'll see. How will I do? How will today be? Will I finish? I'm just scared. But this is it. No turning back. Hopkinton to Boston, here I come!

24 hours!!!

I stayed in last night just watching TV and relaxing... and eating carbs! :) Right now it is 10:30am. 24 hours from now I will be in the starting line in Hopkinton. WOW! And in 23 hours and 50 minutes the wave three starting gun will go off and my wave will start the 26.2 mile trek to Boston. HOLY CRAP!

It is almost here. Marathon Monday is tomorrow! OH MY GOD! I am really doing this. I am absolutely terrified for tomorrow. I really don't think I have ever been this scared for anything in my entire life.

I don't know what to expect. I don't know if I am going to make it and I am so scared to fail. I know I am under trained and I don't know if my back is going to hold out. I'm so scared I am going to let so many people down who have been supporting and encouraging me all this time.

Hmm... I really think that's it. The biggest fear is letting other people down and not meeting THEIR expectations of this. What if I don't make it? That really scares me. Everyone has been so unbelievably supportive in this. People I don't know are cheering me on. People I haven't seen or talked to in years and years are encouraging me and wishing me good luck. What if I can't do it? What if I let them all down?

Right now my only goal is to finish. I know there is NO WAY I will be running 26.2 miles. I am so under trained its crazy. I have had such horrible back problems for the past month and a half I have barely gotten in any running at all. The few races I did just showed me how bad my back really was.

I'm scared. I have never been this nervous or scared or unsure about anything in my entire life. I have never tried to take on or tackle anything this big before. What the hell was I thinking?? And here I am, 24 hours from the start. 24 hours from crossing that start line. 24 hours from beginning that long long route to Boston.

24 hours away from many moments I will never ever forget. My first time being at the Boston Marathon, my first time IN the Boston Marathon, my first ever Marathon! Lots of first! And I have so many people coming to support me along the route, to encourage me to keep going and to get to Boston.

I need to think positive and just go forward.

I have a quote at my desk at work. I can't remember the exact wording or even who said it, but it goes something like this.

"Even if you fall flat on your face, you are still moving forward"

SO tomorrow, even if fall, I'm still heading to Boston! Whenever and however I get there... I will make it to Boston and I WILL cross that finish line!