Keeping on keeping on

Whoa.  I have 8 days of running that I have not kept up to speed on here!  I can't even say that I have been super busy...I suppose I have just been keeping on keeping on with the streak.  Rumor has it (within the rumor mill of my head) that this streak will end soon.  I am not sure when that will be, but with marathon training looming ahead for me, and the injuries I had last Fall, everyday running when hitting those big mileage numbers may not be in the cards.  I am at peace with it.  My marathon goals and qualifying for Boston are bigger than this streak.  It's not a matter of IF I can qualify for Boston again...it's when.  I made my Spring marathon commitment...Charlevoix June 21 (guess that is summer).  If it doesn't happen then...well, a Fall marathon may just have to happen.  I can't really say why I am so drawn to running Boston again.  Perhaps its because the whole process was a feeling that I can't quite explain: The hard work of training to qualify, the pay off of actually qualifying, the anxiety of applying to run the race, the anticipation of race day and finally toeing the start line.  

Oh yeah.  And there was the 26.2 miles after that where feeling like a rock star doesn't quite explain it. Then, the emotion of finishing the oldest and most elite running event in the world.  Yeah, I can't wait to do that all over again.

Then, what should have been the biggest party of my life, besides my wedding night (which was a pretty big freaking party), turns into the terrorizing scattered mess that has rocked my being forever. 

You know, I still have my "after party ticket" that they gave everyone when you picked up your bib at the expo.  The party was supposed to be held down by Fenway Park and we were going to drink Sam Adams 26.2 lager until the aches and pains of running 26.2 miles went away.  We were going to rehash the race, every single mile, relishing every little moment from Hopkintown to Boylston Street.

We never did get to that party because it never happened.

I use that ticket now as a bookmark.  It is tattered and wrinkled.  And whether it is 2015, 2016 or 2017, I can't wait to bring that ticket back to Boston and truly have a Post Race Party. Because we all deserve it.

Whoa. Not sure where all that came from but it felt good to get it out.

Well, the streak lives on.  I won't bore you will the details of the past 8 days of running but I can tell you the highlights:

Day 45 I ran my longest distance since NY Marathon!  9.5 miles

Day 47 a run with my pretty friends and snow covered eyelashes 5.25 miles

I hit day 50 with some of my favorite Running 102 friends in class for 4 miles of hillwork

Day 51 brought me inside to the Jenison Fieldhouse at MSU to run with my Master's running team (sounds a lot more fancy than it really is).  Coach Jim pushed us with a speed workout that still has my quads sore!

Day 52 9 miles on the snowy streets in DeWitt with my Boston Marathon buddies.  

Until tomorrow, run happy friends :)

an international affair

i took the running streak international baby.  i couldn't take the cold.  I couldn't do the snow.  I couldn't stand the ice. so off to mexico i go.

day 38 - one more day of snowy cold for 6.5 miles.

day 39- 6am flight to mexico meant waking up at 2:50 am to get my run out of the way.  yes, the younger version of me would have been stumbling into my dorm kitchen, dipping copious amounts of pretzels into a variety of dipping sauces in a drunken stupor.  the 39 year old version of me is hauling her ass into the marriott courtyard fitness center to run 3 miles on a treadmill while watching "Philadelphia" on the treadmill TV. between sobs i finished my early morning run.

day 40-slightly (understatement) hungover from both the mexican sun, humidity and tequila, zach, his friend and i get almost 5 miles in running within the beautiful resort just after sunrise.

day 41- 3 miles on the sugar-sand of maroma beach. quiet solitude. 

day 42-4ish miles on the roads of the resort.  stumbled upon a quiet path that had signs lining the way warning of various animals one may encounter along the way. uhhhh yikes.  needless to say, i did a tempo run back to my room.

day 43- 2 last miles cruising along the beach. well, not really cruising.  just soaking it all in.  literally.  because today i leave to go back into cold cloudy michigan country. and i laid on a bed on the middle of the beach (literally...a bed on the beach!) and was grateful for it all.

day 44-2.5 miles was all i could muster on the treadmill.  home sweet home :)

until tomorrow, run happy friends!

treadmill, dreadmill, treadmill

It makes me throw up a little in my mouth to post this.
I have run 4 days straight on the treadmill.
Our weather has been horribly cold and windy.  No one wants to run outside in that business.
UGH.
Day 34: 3 miles on the treadmill.  Managed to do a little speedwork
Day 35:  3 miles on the treadmill.  Managed to do a little strength training.  And couldn't get up off the toilet  the next day.
Day 36:  3.5 miles on the treadmill.  Managed to motivate my running class a little
Day 37: 2 miles on the treadmill. Managed not to cry.

Don't hate me but Saturday I am going to Mexico.
To.Run.Outside.

Until tomorrow, run happy friends!

Running on the road

The next couple of days brought me running on the road in Salt Lake City, UT. I was there for a buying show. 

Day 31- 3 miles in a city I have never run in. After a few minutes and a few unsure steps, I gained ground and confidence as I toured the downtown area of SLC on foot. I stumbled upon this and stopped in awe (and in true tourism style shot a few pics)

Day 32: I woke up for an early run before our ski adventure with friends from work. 4.5 miles where my friend Maryellen kept me company on the phone (yes. I ran and talked on the phone. Sometimes u need a little motivation). Here was part of the view 

And then I stepped out of my comfort zone and skied:

(No that is not me snow plowing. But so what if it was! Lol!)

Day 33: back home and totally unmotivated to run after a long day of travel. But I laced up and headed into the wind and got 2 miles done. And then ate pizza and drank beer. 

Until tomorrow, run happy friends!

Didn't want to do it...

But I did it!

Day 29-running 102 class and the brave and daring showed up for a 4 mile run of Indians through the snowy and windy streets of Dewitt. -4 was real feel when we left. Did I mention we could be a little off our rockers?

Day 30 brings me to my basement at 3:55 am to run on the 'mill before heading out on an airplane for a work trip to Salt Lake City. I seriously doubted myself here but it really wasn't that bad! I don't think I have ever been up this early to workout in my life! Not even in my Loyola College rowing days!!!

Until tomorrow run happy friends!

i am here! i swear!

the next few weeks are going to be a challenge.  to say the least.
now don't be feeling too sorry for me.  i worked hard last week (#winter sale at playmakers) but still have gotten my runs in.  the rest of this week includes travel to salt lake city and runs (literally) on the road in a strange place on a weird schedule.  the challenge starts tomorrow when i have to get a run in before meeting my co-workers at 5:30am.  i am staged and ready to go.  until then here is a recap of what went on since i last wrote:

Day 26:  a solo peaceful 5ish miles out in dewitt 

Day 27: some more miles (4ish) out and back around town.  i caught the sun peek out at me through the trees.  and then it was gone.

Day 28: forced 2.25 miles on the treadmill.  my only source of entertainment was quizzing Sam on his spelling words and then watching him play Madden on xBox.  yawn.  bore.

And gearing up for a snow windy cold run with my run class in this arctic chill in a few hours. Dual post tomorrow to follow!

Until (early) tomorrow morning run happy and warm friends!

for meg

thinking lots about Meg Cross Menzies,  a wife and mom of 3 kids that was hit by a car on her Monday morning run.  the same Monday morning run lots of us do every week.  except she isn't around to talk about it anymore. she can't complain about the cold.  she can't dread the upcoming long distance.  she can't bitch about her tight IT band, her throbbing knee, or being tired.

it breaks my heart because it could have been any of us.  I can't explain why I am so moved by this. perhaps it is because I imagine myself in Meg's shoes.  literally.  alarm clock blares against the still air of a sleepy house.  stumble to pull up my tights.  lace up my saucanys. slam half a cup of steaming coffee.  strap on obnoxious headlamp. tip toe  in the dark morning, careful not to disturb 2 little boys and 1 big boy. trailed by a silly yellow dog across the wood floors. 

gingerly open and shut the front door.  launch out into the dark.  headlamp illuminates the still frozen road.  feel the chill in the air against my cheeks.  one foot in front of the other.  run.  run.  run.

I don't know if that is how meg started out her run, but that is usually how mine starts. 

but how sad that she didn't get to throw her front door open and kick off her wet, snowy shoes on the door mat after a satisfying 4 mile loop.  how sad that she didn't get to peel off her sweat soaked mittens and her hat, feeling as if steam is coming off her head. 
how sad that she didn't get to be greeted by her silly yellow dog, annoying her for breakfast.  how sad that she couldn't throw her garmin back on it's charger, microwave her leftover coffee, make her kids lunches, and get on with her day.

Meg, I didn't know you, but my heart breaks. 

today we run for you.  5 miles through the retreat center (where else?)  in the snow, sharing stories, laughs and silence.  

 everyday is a gift. until tomorrow, run happy (and grateful) friends.