and so it begins

Today starts out the same as it did last week.
The alarm goes off around 5.  Just like last week.
I clear the fog in my head, drink my Starbucks and thumb through FB.  Just like last week.
I lace up my running shoes and put on my Garmin. Just like last week.

The difference is today I run with a heavy heart (and heavy legs).
Last week I set out to run the race of my life.
Three hours and forty nine minutes go by of pure exhilaration, joy, tears, sweat and determination.
I cross the finish line feeling something I can't quite explain.
It was my moment.  It was our moment.

Then in an instant it was taken away from me.  Taken away from all of us.  What gave them the right?

This morning I will run and remember all the runners that couldn't finish the journey they started last Monday morning.  This afternoon we will run and remember the innocent people that were hurt just because they were cheering us on. Their lives forever changed in a way I can not imagine.

I will be back Boston.  Whatever it takes to get there I will do it.
I am strong. We are strong.

Go Runners.  Go Boston.

*when the time feels right, i will tell you the tales of my boston adventure. it is something i'd like to write about because i never want to forget it. i will be back to boston to create new memories. and to honor those that cannot do so.

the last long run

T minus 6 days until the big dance.  The big dance of running, that is...the Boston Marathon.  As I struggle with a myriad of emotions ranging from nervous to downright frightened to confident to skeptical to excited, I try to find ways to occupy my time that I'd otherwise either be a) running, b) obsessing about race day weather, or c) obsessing about everything and anything.

So I blog.

I'd like to share a little pictorial of my last long run before Boston.  This took place on our Spring Break to Washington DC...just me and Siri on my iPhone.

pre run shot in the bathroom at our hotel.  trying not wake up the rest of the family at a stupid early hour, i hung out in here, drinking my coffee, checking facebook, texting friends.  you know, the usual things you do in a hotel bathroom at 6am before a 12 mile run.

mile 3: the capital.  i love how the sun shines on the building. i don't love my shellshocked look here.

mile 4ish: washington monument. there was a freaky homeless guy steps away from me hence the scary looking expression on my face.  ok.  no freaky homeless guy.  just a scary look on my face.

around mile 6-7 I crossed over the Arlington Memorial Bridge to Arlington National Cemetery. Breathtaking. No "joggers" (ahem.  i am a runner) allowed in the Cemetery but I sneaked in to grab this shot of the tombstones in the distance.

just shy of 8 miles I cross back over the bridge to head back to the monuments.  i love looking at all the crew boats (i used to row in college) glide their oars through the Potomac. they all look effortless.  i too feel effortless, graceful...until...

OUCH!

 my collegiate nostalgia abruptly ends as I face plant on the middle of the bridge. and I went down HARD. I am pretty sure part of my elbow skin is tattooed on the ground.  but, it's all good:  my new North Face coat didn't rip, my favorite Nike 3/4 pants are still intact and the blood stains eventually came out of my Smartwool shirt.  Pressing on...

a little sun in my eyes and a bruised ego i hit (not literally thank goodness.  but the way my luck was going...) the Lincoln Memorial around mile 9.

my path back.  reflecting pool and monuments in the background. breathtaking.

and no, i did not fall into the reflecting pool as i looked at the landscape.  smart ass.

white house in the background.  mile 10. homestretch. i wish i could tell you that is obama and michelle  playing football behind me. it would really put this story over the top.

ah.  the piece de resistance. grande americano. please and thank you. 

12 miles down.  26.2 to go.

See you in Beantown friends!

The road to Boston

It's been a journey, really.
Me and the road that lies ahead.
Sometimes that road is smooth sailing.
Other times I can't bear to put one foot in front of the other on it.

2013 marks a significant year for me.
Sure, I have had years that have been more memorable than this year will prove to be, but none of which have really been for myself and controlled by myself:

1992 and 1996: graduated high school and college, respectively. Don't we all do this for our parents?
2001: got married. The beginning of sharing myself with the love of my life
2003 and 2005: had my babies with the love of my life. It has been all about these little beings from this point on.

Last year I proved to myself with hard work (and a little selfishness) I could be the athlete I always saw myself being. And I did it for myself. By myself.

And today, just 3 months shy of fulfilling that dream and running in the Boston Marathon I have only one person to prove myself to: me.

I hope you will join me on my journey to Boston on this blog. I hope to get my iPhone on my training runs, taking shots during my training, attempting to capture as many moments on the road to Boston as I possibly can!
Follow me :)

thirty-eight

it started like any other day.
but then there was a warm hug in my bed by little hands of a 7 year old.
then it was a big hug from a big boy that gets close to be taller than mom each year.

and that made it more special.

then there were texts, calls, and facebook messages from all of you.  friends from near and far.  friends from now and forever friends that will never be lost.  wishing me a happy day.  telling me that you were happy that i was born.  telling me how much you love me.

and that made it even better.

then there were flowers at work from my love.  a visit at work from one of my bestest dearest friends.
a great run and yoga, followed by a beer (or two) in a can with my favorite running class.
topped by a surprise party with some of my favorites (mom and boys) complete with balloons, ice cream cake and homemade goodies (can you say coupon book?!?!).  and then a call from my love to say good night.

and that made it complete.

i used to be sad that i didn't have sisters or brothers.  you know what?  I do.  I have all of you.  Thanks so much for caring and making me feel super special on my special day.  no marathon victory could make me feel the way you all made me feel today.

Hugs!
~Kim
100 years

morning glory

I am not a morning runner.  In fact, I've really never been a morning person.  
Sure, I wake up on my own around 7 am everyday, but it takes me a good hour with my nose stuck in my computer and a mug of steaming coffee until I am ready to face the world.
Ask my mom.  She had to deal with me.

So tell me to set the alarm a whole hour and a half early to climb out of the cozy warm bed to face the elements outside and perform physical activity?  I think not.

I have tried, believe you me.  I lay the clothes out.  I call the morning running friends to meet me. I make the coffee ahead of time. I even vow to run on the treadmill to avoid the cold.

Yes, I know the benefits of getting up before the flipping sun does (that is just WRONG) and getting a run in.  You get it out of the way.  You feel SO energized. You rev up your metabolism.  Blah blah blah.

Why is it the night before the idea of an early morning run sounds SO wonderful?  I am such the ambitious gal as I lay in bed making my early morning run plans: "I will do a route I've never done!  Maybe I'll do speedwork!  1 mile repeats at 6 AM...that sounds awesome! I'll get in 8 miles!"

Then the alarm sounds. I hit snooze and think, "maybe I'll do 5 miles instead of 8".  
The alarm goes off a 2nd time and I jab the snooze button once more: "a 3 mile tempo run may be all the time I have for"
The next time I wake up I think "oh darn!  it is too late for me to do anything.  gotta get ready for work and school".

And here I am.  Drinking my coffee and plinking away on the computer.  Yes, I was supposed to run this morning.  And, no I didn't.  Maybe I'll try again tomorrow...

i can't quite believe it...

i've got quite the little journey ahead of me.
in 2013 i've got 52.4 miles all wrapped up in the East Coast:
April 15th 26.2 miles in a little town called Hopkinton, MA
November 3rd 26.2 miles in a little bit bigger town called New York (f-ing) City, NY

i am pitting out sweat just thinking about it all.

so that's 2 of the 5 "world marathon majors" in one year.  ok, that sounds pretty flipping dorky.  but there are 5 freaking amazing marathons to run in the world...and i will be running 2 of them within 7 months.

perhaps i should do chicago, berlin and london in 2014, the year i turn 40.
just kidding.  or maybe not.

now i think i just peed myself.

anywho, bodily functions aside, i thought i'd put this blog back into play and get away from the old time sucker that is facebook and waste my time a bit more constructively by chronicling my journey to Boston and NY right here.  while i can't promise everyday posts (like you'd really read those anyway), i hope to write regularly enough so i have something to look back upon the week before each race and chuckle.

this could be my little piece of sanity during this crazy @ss journey.
won't you join me?
feel free to follow me on this blog.  would love to have you along for the ride :)

just get me to beantown

i don't know if any of you have heard of it.  it's this little race in this little city.  no big deal.  the boston marathon. april 15 2013.  just a few runners that have ran a few miles to qualify to be there.
and i could be one of them.
(btw-what's with the horse/unicorn looking thing in this logo???)

the anticipation takes my breath away at times. in fact, i keep logging into the results of the martian marathon to make sure that was really me that ran 26.2 miles back in April.
did i truly run a boston qualifying time of 3 hours, 36 minutes and 31 seconds??

and i keep double checking the standards for the boston marathon to make sure they haven't changed. age 35-39...still 3 hours and 40 minutes. last time i did math 3 hours 36 minutes is less than 3 hours and 40 minutes, right?

so this week all the folks that have qualified 20 minutes, 10 minutes or 5 minutes faster (over achievers!  LOL!) will put their request in.

and then i wait until the following week to apply.

and then i wait until Oct. 1st to know if i am accepted.

did i mention that i am extremely impatient?  and a little neurotic?

i'll be waiting...