Obviously if you are going to run for a charity it needs to be important to you and connected to your why. So, why the Boston Public Library Fund? Here’s what I said on my application for the team:
Application: Why do you want to run for Team PBL?
Answer: To say that I’ve spent my life hopping from library to library is an understatement. I have deep memories that date back to my elementary school days of volunteering in the school library. I can clearly picture the librarian, Mrs. Breakstone- the card catalog system the comfort of being surrounded by books. I have similar memories in Junior High and Senior HS. One constant regardless of the school was that I was volunteering in the library. I imagine it’s my love of books that had me in the library as a student. The love of books has continued and been passed down to my children, ages 10 and 12. As I type this it seems really evident that I should most definitely have become a librarian. But I was fixated on becoming a lawyer, which I did and also involved a lot of time in a library! But after having children, I was drawn to education and back to the library. During the onset of Covid I became a substitute teacher to help bridge the gap during in person learning. Any guesses about where I was stationed…correct the library.
Running a race for charity has to be highly personal. You have to believe deeply in the cause and the mission to ask other people for money. When things get tough you have to draw on that sense of purpose of why you are doing something. While I do not live in Boston, I know the importance of the library to the community and the broad depth of the programming that you offer. I serve on a local library board, so I feel a connection to the importance of public libraries and what they contribute to the community.
Whenever I finish a race- my boys ask “which marathon are WE running next?” I always chuckle about the we part because I’m the one doing all the running. The answer has always been the same…BOSTON. They even got me the Run Boston hat as a reminder. The reality is that while they aren’t doing the running- they have always been part of the process. From chatting to me on the treadmill during my early morning training runs, to brainstorming ways to raise dollars for charity, to being out on the course with my husband to support me. As much as books are an integral part of our every day I can’t imagine how excited they would be to hear that we are going to fundraise for the BPL.(Read about their response below). For them and me it would be a dream come true to combine my passion of running and reading while accomplishing the unicorn marathon.
Application: Please tell us something interesting about yourself.
Answer: I’m a mom to two boys, who pivoted her entire professional life when they were born. While I don’t regret getting a law degree (truly got to have my dream job!), as it provides me a foundation for much of my work as it relates to critical thinking and putting systems into place for our independent day school- I’ve thought more than once about going back to school to obtain my library science degree. I feel blessed to be able to work at the same place my children go to school.
In the mean time I share my love of reading and book in general in other ways- like blogging about them or sharing on social media. My blog website is literally- runreadrepeat.com. I started a book club at work. We have been meeting for nearly two years. Each month the group comes up with a genre and I put together 5-6 books for everyone to consider. Then we vote- so we all have ownership over the book. Some have been winners- others less so but it has really helped build a sense of community among a group of us who know that we all enjoy reading.
I also enjoy meeting authors and attending author events, especially those presented as public library fundraisers. My best friend from college and I plan our annual get together around traveling to an author event. I’m so excited because this coming week I’m taking my ten year old to a local event featuring Jeff Kinney. He’s literally been counting down the days until he gets to see meet his first author in real life.
So how did the boys respond to the news? You know how there’s just something about kids- where their emotions and responses are so genuine? There was so much PURE JOY when I shared the news. The wheels were already turning for them about how much fun it would be to incorporate our love of reading/books and running into this adventure.
I think it’s clear me + books + running = Boston Public Library Fund 2026 Boston Marathon team!! Let’s go!
As I was jumping for joy (literally) about being selected for the Boston Public Library Fund team to run the Boston Marathon in April 2026 my friend asked that important question- why do you run marathons? I paused for a moment and responded “because I can.” I wasn’t being flip, I was being serious. I know that at some point in my life I will not be able to run (may that be a VERY long time from now), but for now I can and I do. This morning I got a reminder that our time is finite. Susan Hurley, the founder of Charity Teams (who organizes the teams to run for charity for the Boston Marathon) died at the age of 61 of ovarian cancer. Live for today because tomorrow isn’t promised. So I stand by- I run because I can!
My marathon running journey started as a way to cope with my father’s advancing Alzheimer’s. He had early onset Alzheimer’s and ultimately succumbed to the terrible disease at the age of 64. Running has always been my time and space for thinking and decompressing, so it seemed logically to run for charity. All but one of my marathon runs has been for charity. It takes on extra meaning to not only train, but to train with a purpose of raising dollars for awareness for an organization.
So back to the why do you run marathons question? For several days after being asked, I continued to really think about why on earth do I train for twelve weeks to go through the grueling challenge of running 26.2 miles?? The training process is hard. It’s hard to balance along with work and two sons with full and active schedules. It takes careful planning, early mornings and LOTS of time on my Landice treadmill. LOTS! Yes, I do all my training on the treadmill, but that’s a different story for another day. So yes, just getting ready for toeing the line is a lot of work and preparation. But, I thrive on schedule. I’ve followed the same training plan for each of my previous four marathons. I know what I’m supposed to do when, I make a plan and I stick to it. Making the time is easier said than done, but fortunately my husband is incredibly supportive and I apparently don’t mind getting up when it’s dark outside.
I’ve been struggling for days to think of how to explain the amazement of race day. It’s knowing that you have literally done everything possible to get to that moment and that you have to trust that it’s enough to get you from the start to the finish. It’s wondering if your nutrition is going to work. Have you fueled enough? Is the weather going to cooperate? Is your mind going to go the distance? While running is very obviously a physical activity, when you hit the wall of fatigue it becomes just as much mental as physical. It would be super easy to be like- I’m out, no need to finish. I’m reminded of my 2021 NYC Marathon experience- I had just entered Central Park with 2-3 miles to go. EVERYTHING hurt. I accidentally called my sister and thought that she had called me…there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to finish, but seriously I was delirious. I might be delusional, but I have never once thought that I wasn’t going to finish a race…even a marathon. Crazy, right? May my streak continue and allow me to finish in April.
Back to race day- there is so much excitement and so many people who come out just to cheer on all the “crazy” runners. When you are questioning humanity- you should definitely go to a race. That’s where you see people doing really hard things and total strangers cheering their heads off in support. I learned early on to make sure I wear my name on my person. It’s literally like magic- people know when you need it and they call out- “Kelly, you’ve got this.” And you keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Crossing the finish line is magical. It’s a holy cow- I did that moment. It’s all the emotions- exhaustion- tears, always tears, and absolute pure joy. The closely thing I can think to compare it to is giving birth. Similar in a lot of way- months of hard physical preparation to push your body to go the distance. Back to NYC 2021- the boys were young. We were just “coming out of Covid.” They weren’t even vaccinated yet. Jeffrey and the boys, ages 8 and 6 were in the grandstand in Central Park for HOURS. For sense of timing- as I stood on the Verrazano Bridge preparing to start Jeff texted to say they were in the grandstand. Yikes- it was going to be a minute until I got there. But the boys saw all the professionals finish. Fortunately, they didn’t count how many people finished in front of me. They were patient and they literally got to see me finish one of the largest marathons in the world. Seeing the three of them there for me is a memory that I will not soon forget. Jeffrey got a truly remarkable photo of the boys from behind with cowbells- and me right in between- signature arms in the air finishing. Priceless!
So, while I run for all of these reason- I run for me and that I can- I run for the amazing experience- I run to raise awareness and dollars for amazing organizations like the Boston Public Library Fund– I also run because I know the boys are watching. They watched my disappointment in 2020 when the NYC Marathon got postponed. They watched as I said screw it, I’ll run my first marathon solo in my neighborhood because I didn’t think my dad would make it to 2021 (he didn’t) and because I had set my brain on running that year. They watched as I was unjustifiably disappointed with my time in 2021, so I signed up for the Chicago Marathon on the way home. They watched as I ran Chicago not focused on time but for the experience. They watched when I took a break from running and racing. They watched when I didn’t get selected for the Boston Marathon when I applied to run for charity in 2024. There were tears- but then I found another marathon and ran that instead. They watched when I applied again and got selected. This whole process is a metaphor for life- there are ups and downs. There are times you have to dust yourself off and try again. There are time you have to give yourself grace and recognize that you are enough.
The boys knew I was applying again this year. They knew how important running the Boston Marathon was to me. And they too, had total joy when I announced we are going to Boston. Somehow something so individual as running a marathon has become a family affair. On Patriot’s Day I know my three biggest fans will be cheering me on. They won’t care how long it takes- they will just care that I do my best!
That was the response I got from more than one person after running the Rocky Run in Philadelphia, November 12. Oh, just a little half marathon?! I literally hadn’t said much about it and quite honestly wasn’t even sure I was going to run. Following the Chicago Marathon I was exhausted. While my body felt well enough to run, I was super busy at work and filled in my mornings with extra work rather than running. Not to mention, I just really didn’t feel like running…at all. So from October 9, the Chicago Marathon and November 12 the Rocky Run I ran a total of 19 miles. 19. Eek. While I was seriously wondering how I was going to run 13.1 miles after basically not training, I wasn’t alone. In the car on our way up to Philly my nine year old who doesn’t miss a thing, asked me how exactly I thought I was going to run a half marathon after not running so much for the last month. Very good question, son- very good question!!
Truth be told if our friends weren’t also heading to Philly I would have totally bailed on the race. However, I’m glad that we kept our plans as scheduled. I should note it wasn’t a typical half marathon. It was, what I’m convinced my dad would have called a half marathon the hard way. A 5k followed by a short break and then 10 miles. My plan was to take it easy on the 5k so as to not use up too much energy before the 10 miles. But, it was too hard not to race the 5k. I haven’t run a 5k in years. I still kept it somewhat under control, but certainly went out harder than I had intended. I ran the 5k in 26:00. Not a PR, but certainly not “slow.” After a fifteen minute or so break it was time to start the 10 miler. I should note that it was unseasonably warm in Philadelphia for November. It was practically 70 degrees with 80% humidity. Who would have thought?? Far from ideal race conditions as far as my body is concerned.
Over the years I’ve learned to pay more attention to my heart rate. I have breathing tricks to help regulate it when I know it’s higher than I would like. Nothing was doing the trick during the 10 miler. My heart rate was high and even my tricks weren’t really bringing it down. It would be at a time when you are worried about not feeling 100% that you realize the medical personnel were few and far between along the course. The course itself was relatively flat and enjoyable. But there was little to no crowd support so it was a touch boring. So glad I brought my headphones and I enjoyed music along the way.
I literally had no expectations going into the race. The plan was to finish and have an enjoyable day exploring Philly with our friends. And alas that’s exactly what I did. I still managed a sub two hour half- 1:57:12. My 5k clearly being the faster portion of my race, but the 10 miles still at a respectable pace. We all know I’m all about the stats. How did things shake out??
In the 5K there were 5823 runners. I placed 643rd. Not too shabby. There were 2874 female runners. I placed 122nd. In my age group of 40-44 there were 389 runners and I placed 15th. Well that was better than expected. In the 10 mile there were 3217 and I placed 751st. There were 1427 women runners and I placed 215. In my age group there were 188 and I was 26th. So overall a nice showing. How about for the combined effort?? There were a total of 2008 who thought it would be a good idea to run a half marathon in two races. Of those 2008 I came in 421st. There were 806 women and I was 85th. Finally, in my age category there were 128 and I came in 12th. Considering I have only been running for less than 4 years and I ran a marathon just last month. I’ll take those numbers. More importantly I finished strong and felt well enough to enjoy exploring the city following the race.
So what’s next…well for the first time in several years I have no races scheduled. None. Zero. I’m not sure what my running plan is going to be. Running and I might need a break…just for a bit…in the back of my mind is the idea of running Boston for the Alzheimer’s Association in April of 2024. There is something about the feeling of crossing the finish line in a race that I will certainly miss. So I don’t think I’m totally done with racing. I think I’ve just hit the pause button. I welcomed a Peloton bike into my fitness life this month and I think I’ll be spinning and lifting…lifting and spinning. I haven’t lifted consistently since April…eek! Remember when I said was going to be better about that, well apparently I was not. I’m doubling down on lifting and spinning for the foreseeable future and then I’ll see where running and I shake out in the Spring. I want to wake up excited to run and I haven’t felt that way for a while. I look forward to finding that spark again. Until then you can find me @runreadridemom over on Peloton spinning until my heart is content.
Marathon training is time consuming. A fall marathon, combined with the start of school, a busy fall for work and the Jewish Holidays…exhausting. Literally in the week leading up to race day I was more concerned about getting everything done and less concerned about actually running the marathon. Well that and whether we could all stay healthy to travel to Chicago. Crazy, right??
Unlike New York, I am not as familiar with the city of Chicago. Jeffrey and I had been to visit for a long weekend, but that was more than ten years ago. The boys were excited to do some sightseeing- the Willis Tower and the Bean. Jeffrey and I were excited for dinner at the Chop House. We were able to accomplish all of those things on Friday and Saturday. Race day was Sunday morning. While each race stands on its own, I would be remiss if I didn’t do a little comparing and contrasting the two experiences. NY is unique in the fact that everyone who is running needs to get to Staten Island before the race starts. That makes for an extra early morning and a lot of sitting around waiting to start! While I didn’t realize it at the time, it caused me to really under eat breakfast in 2021 and I was cognizant of that going into Chicago in 2022.
While I ran for the Alzheimer’s Association both times, in 2021 we were not quite “out of Covid” yet. So many of the perks of running for a team weren’t present. In Chicago it was amazing to be part of the team. We had a team lunch the day before. It really helped build a sense of community. Additionally, the Alzheimer’s Association had a hospitality suite directly across from the start/finish area of the marathon. This is a HUGE amenity. It meant staying inside, eating my hot oatmeal until about 45 minutes before I had to be in my corral to start the race vs. 5 hours in the cold in Staten Island. To start the race I was more fresh- Jeff and the boys had a home base to start from and return to as well. This in and of itself was a huge game changer in the experience.
As I eluded to above, I was BUSY leading up to race day. So much so, that I did’t mind the taper like I normally do because it gave me more time to work. Being busy was apparently a good distraction. Overall throughout the training process I stayed healthy. No major complaints of pain, other than my one calf, which corrected itself with a little rest. All this to say, while tired I was feeling physically up to the challenge of running 26.2 miles. I was mentally prepared to go the distance as well. While I kept saying, this was going to be my last marathon…the pressure of training feeling like a lot…I also registered for the London lottery before going to Chicago. No way of making sense of that logic other than if it’s meant to be it’s meant to be.
Similar to in NY, Jeffrey, the boys and I walked the finish line area as best we could the day before. Having a visual is helpful to me. I was so pleased to see that where I would exit Grant Park was right across the street from the Alzheimer’s hotel. That I would have the ability to decompress, change and then walk the mile or so to our hotel. A difference from NY and Chicago- Jeff and the boys were going to be on the course at mile 20.5. After mile twenty it’s tough. Truth be told, in NY it was before mile 20 that got tough for me. So I thought it would be great to have them there to give me a push for the last six miles or so.
The weather was perfect on race day. Cool. Dry. It was in the 40s to get started. My favorite running temperature. I kept repeating to myself…do no go out too hard…do not go out too hard. I honestly tried my very best not to do it. But with the cooler temperatures and feeling so good, I went out a little aggressive. Not as aggressive as I did in NY but aggressive nonetheless. I was pacing for 4:10 for the first 18-20 miles. The miles felt like they were flying by. That was even with a bathroom stop at mile 5. I was feeling good….until I like so many others hit the walk right around mile 21. I didn’t realize how much seeing Jeffrey and the boys was motivating me. Then once I saw them it as like the wheels kind of came off the cart. My stomach was also not feeling the best. I don’t think it was the Maurten gels, because I trained with them. I think it was the Gatorade, which I also trained with but somehow the combination wasn’t sitting so well with me. It’s possible I was taking in too much fluid? I’m not quite sure. But I stopped taking Gatorade and only took water. I started walking the water stops. I knew I was going to finish, but I also knew I needed to be real about the time it was going to take me, enjoy the experience and realize that I was running a damn marathon.
Patiently waiting!Best high fives!!
Anyone remember when I went to run NYC me saying I was a one and done marathoner? I just wanted to run NY and I was going to be happy. I ran NY in 4:18:55. I was chasing 4:00. I was delusional. 1) It’s a hilly course and 2) my 4:07:29 virtual marathon wasn’t really 4:07 it was 4:26:27. 4:07:29 was my moving time. I stopped my watch when I refreshed my water or stopped for the restroom. I was’t thinking about the 4:26:27 elapsed time, I was just thinking about the 4:07 time. So 4:00 would have been stretch- but mentally that wasn’t what I was thinking. Mentally, I was beating myself up, when in reality my 4:18:55 was a marathon PR on a very difficult course. I let my frustration take away from the fun of the experience, which is what led me to register for Chicago on the way home. I felt like I had to prove something to myself…but it wasn’t getting a particular time…it was that I could run the race and make the most of the experience no matter what the time. I vacillated in the days leading up to Chicago about pacing. Did I want to pace for a 4:20 or a 4:10? If I paced for 4:10 was I setting myself up for frustration like last year. I train solo. While I enjoyed running with a pace group last year for the first half of the race, did it cause me to push myself too much too soon? I had read all about how my GPS would be all confused to start Chicago so would I even know what pace I was running if I paced myself?? These were all real and actual thoughts as I got my head in the game. So what was the answer?? There was no 4:10 or 4:20 pace group in my corral. Options?? I change corrals or I pace myself. I’m not big on changing flights or plans. I was in a particular corral for a reason and that was where I was going to run. So yes, I was going to pace myself. There were temporary tattoos at the expo with the pace times. I had 4:10 on my left arm and 4:20 on my right arm. For the majority of the race I was pacing 4:10. Too aggressive? Maybe, but I felt good. And when I started to fell less good this time around it wasn’t nearly as bad as NY nor was it for nearly as long. I consider that a huge improvement.
Mentally, I was running MY race. While there was incredible crowd support, I listened to music the whole time. I was focused internally on feeling my best and not getting caught up in expectations. Yes, I hit the wall. I started doing a little run, walk, run walk for a mile or two between 22 and 25. But I knew I was going to finish. Funny thing, I texted the whole race with Jeffrey. In the beginning as a distraction to try to slow myself down. Then for logistics on where to find them specifically on the course so I didn’t miss them. Then as they made their way back to the start/finish area. All the time, he was offering positive reinforcement. Telling me at the end I was moving too quickly for them to see me another time. I felt like I was moving anything but fast. Why do I share all this, because who texts during a marathon?? Apparently, I do. And it made the experience that much better. The reminder that I had it. The reinforcement of I was running a marathon and ultimately the time I crossed the line was secondary. The encouragement to just enjoy the experience. The support throughout the entire process that he provides is amazing. I am truly blessed.
Time for the finish. I knew I was a bit slower than my NY time. I didn’t yet realize that I was faster than my virtual marathon time. I had enough in the tank to pick things up for the final mile. To relish the fact that I was about to finish my second World Major Marathon in less than a year, while working full time and having two kids. I ran hard to the finish- huge smile on my face because I knew I had done it! Whether this is my last marathon…or not I know I did the best I could do. And I was so happy to cross the finish line!
Looks like the face of someone who isn’t done running marathons. Just saying.
I made my way to Alzheimer’s hospitality area where I was greeted with big hugs and kisses. My gang was so proud of me! I was proud of me. I took advantage of a sports massage, changing out of my shoes and a moment to collect myself before we made the walk back to the hotel. Another important point of comparison- it was only 12:30. We had the entire rest of the day. My wave in Chicago started at 8:00 a.m. allowing me to be done by midday. In NY I didn’t start until 10:40. By the time I got back to the hotel it was dinner time. This also made a huge difference. Plus this time I got a break before heading back to the hotel and got to walk with Jeffrey and the boys. Overall, I was sore, but it was manageable. Heck, the boys little legs had gone 9 miles that day and they were tired too.
The days after the marathon are a process of mentally decompressing from the anticipation of running and the exertion on the body. Other than my quads feeling particularly sore, I felt great. By midweek steps were no longer a challenge and by Thursday I had marathon amnesia and was thinking that wasn’t so bad, I could do that again. All kidding aside, I’m truly amazed at the body’s ability to push itself so hard and to recover. I thought for sure, I would totally crash afterwards, but my immune system must be at peek performance because I managed to stay healthy. I’m truly grateful for all who supported this journey, listened to me talk about the training and the race itself. What’s next? Time will tell. But Jackson did want to known “so what marathon are WE doing next?” Love how marathon running has become a family affair.
Holy cow- how is it time to start marathon training again?? Truth be told I’m much happier when I’m in a training cycle. I enjoy the structure. This comes as no surprise to anyone who knows me since I’m pretty regimented and particular. I haven’t really been in a training cycle since I trained for NYC. While I ran a few other races in the Spring I didn’t formally train. So here we go- Marathon training cycle number 3. Three summer/early fall training cycles at what starts as the quiet part of the year and as the miles build up becomes one of the craziest, busiest times of the year. Back to school, holidays, birthdays and for the last two cycles balancing a full time job. I’m so fortunate to have the support of my husband along the way to encourage me and help cover the boys especially when the training runs get longer- but there’s also their enthusiasm that keeps me going. Goal- stay healthy and injury free. Less focus on time, more focus on enjoying the experience and finishing the race.
Week 1- July 18-24
I have followed my friend Suzy Goodwin’s training plan with each and every race that I have run. When you have a flexible system that works- you do it! I love the flexibility of having one key run and a mileage goal for the week. It means that I can get the miles done any way that works best for me. And that was certainly the case with this first week of training. This week was my youngest’s birthday and we were leaving extra early on Sunday morning to go to Legoland with the boys. So I had a birthday, birthday party and one morning I knew I couldn’t run to negotiate around. Additionally, while I had been building my mileage back up, I haven’t hit 24 miles in a week in quite some time. The beginning of the week (M-W) I ran 3.5 or so miles each morning. Nothing fantabulous. On Thursday morning, I thought I had enough time to inflate the birthday banner and run. I was wrong. So it turned into a rest day. I had some flexibility on time on Friday because my husband could drop the boys off at camp and I took advantage of it. I ran 10 miles on Friday in 3 chunks. 20 minute Peloton on demand class. Breakfast with the boys. 20 minute live Peloton class. Boys off to camp. Followed by an hour Peloton class on demand. See…that flexibility enabled me to get my key run a 10K and a chunk oof miles done on Friday. Allowing me to only run 3.35 on Saturday and have Sunday off. First week in the books. Feeling good.
Week 2- July 25-31
Week two coming in hot. Monday we were still in Legoland. The indoor fitness center left a bit to be desired and there wasn’t really anywhere to get any solid miles in. That and the four hour drive and eight hours in the park the day before might have left me a little tired. But again, flexibility in the training plan allowed me to not freak out about missing a day. The key run for week two is 8 miles with 24 overall miles. Again, as I was still easing into increased miles I kept my runs doing the week to a 5K each morning Tuesday-Friday. Saturday morning I ran 8.64 miles. Checking off my key run and inching me closer to my overall mileage. Alas, I finished the week at 21.14 miles a bit short of the 24 but overall I felt good and knowing I’m hitting the longer runs I’m not concerned about not quite hitting 24 miles for the week.
Week 3 August 1-7
Weekly mileage increases this week…and at the end of the week we are leaving for vacation. Translation- if I’m gong to run on Saturday. It’s going to have to be early and it’s not going to be more than three miles or so. I’m starting to feel much stronger in my runs. Yay!! I hoped that would come as I was consistently running more miles, but you never know. Key effort this week is speed work (800 x 4) with overall mileage of 26. PS camp is also over so I’m working some days at home to be home with the boys. Lots of things happening all at the same time. Monday and Tuesday 3.11 miles each. Wednesday I was able to take a live Peloton class early in the morning and get my key run done. Speed work is my least favorite. I can do it. But it’s not my cup of tea and it generally makes my body sore. This is the case every training cycle. I get through some of the weeks with speed work before I have to drop the spadework and just focus on the miles. But I crushed my spadework this week. The next day I was a little bit sore, but manageable. As is always the case my right hip is starting to be a bit tender. I really need to get back to strength and core training to help keep everything in alignment. But, that pesky hand injury has been preventing me from lifting. Wednesday and Thursday saw 4.5 miles. Friday I pushed to get 6.13 miles done, leaving 3.15 miles and live Peloton class at 6:00 a.m. before leaving for vacation. Yup, I’m crazy. So I finished the week with 24.57 miles. You’ll notice that’s about 1.5 miles short of the 26 mile goal…but I’ll take it. Speed work done. Feeling good. Miles increasing. Week three is in the books!
Week 4- August 8-14
While vacation brings more potential time for running it is also a bit harder because I just want to spend time with my family and feel bad carving out that time for running. That and if I don’t have to get up extra early for a week it feels like a blessing. Sunday was a rest day- well because it was a rest day and I enjoyed a little extra sleep. Monday should have been a run day. But we were horseback riding that morning and I just wasn’t motivated to run beforehand. Key run this week is 10 miles and 26 overall miles. Tuesday was a good day for a longer run because we didn’t have an activity until 11:00. I wasn’t quite sure what I was planning for mileage wise when I hit the treadmill. I knew I would start with 45 minutes and go from there. After two days of rest I was feeling solid so I ran for 75 minutes and 8 miles. Not quite 10 but if you can run 8, you can run 10. Wednesday, I didn’t have quite as much time but got in 45 minutes and another 5 miles. Thursday was for kayaking so I didn’t run. Friday morning, back at it for 45 minutes and another 5 miles. Saturday was a travel day. Yes, I could have gotten 3 or so miles in that morning, but I could also sleep a little bit later and I opted for sleep. I knew that meant I would have 8 miles on Sunday morning to get my mileage goal. I started with 45 minutes and 5 miles and then added another 30 adding a total of 8.08 to my overall mileage. So I met my mileage goal, but you say I didn’t run a 10 miler. Eight is close enough. This week I was more focused on hitting the miles, while still enjoying vacation. It was a win. Still no major complaints. I actually felt really strong this week. I imagine a little extra sleep and vacation will do that! First month of training— DONE!
Why do I blog about my training weeks? I learn something from each training cycle and it allows me to look back to see if I’ve felt the same way at the same time in other cycles. Each time I know I need to strength train more, so hopefully this will be the time I actually do it. Eight more weeks to go before I run Chicago in an effort to ENDALZ!
Three months…90 days until I run my next marathon. I’m really starting to believe that running a marathon is like having a child. Allow me to explain. You find out you are pregnant and you have nervous excitement. The equivalent to I just finished a marathon and I signed up for another on the way home. Nervous excitement. Then there’s some waiting. Similar to a pregnancy there comes that moment of oh wow, this is getting real. That would be today for me. Things are real and rather than start nesting it’s time to get my butt in gear!
So over the last few weeks my running has been really inconsistent. Quite honestly, I was just plain tired. I’ve been sick off and on and gave my body some grace. What started out as giving my body grace turned into a lack of routine, which translated to a lack of consistency, which made it easier to skip another day. Another pregnancy similarity- it’s like I just excited the first trimester and feeling good. Please note this is not some subliminal pregnancy reveal- I just really love the parallelism better the two journeys. Pregnancy is hard on your body and you get an amazing child at the end of the journey. Training and running a marathon is hard on your body- but rewarding in so many ways.
While marathon training doesn’t start until July 18 I had a solid build up week this week. I’ve been running long enough to know if I go from 10-12 mile running weeks to 24 miles I’m going to be sore and run the risk of injury. So after some seriously low mileage weeks I ran just shy of 17 miles this week. Next week I’ll run 20 miles over the course of the week and then I’ll be ready for that first week of training which calls for 24 miles.
Another way marathon training and pregnancy are similar…you need to eat better and get more sleep. While I’ve been keeping my water at 100 or so ounces a day, which if you know me is a major accomplishment. Huge! But overall my eating has been, shall we say- whatever the heck I want. As I sit here sipping my protein shake (thanks Kerry for the push to get back on the shake train!) I know that fueling my body is critical for the added miles and strength training coming my way. There will also be less Prosecco in my future. (See another pregnancy similarity!). But notice, I didn’t say none, just less so I guess it’s a little different. And I just need to get some more sleep. Basically, if I’m going to expect my body to perform and hold up to training cycle and marathon, I need to give it the things it needs- sleep and better nutrition.
This will be my third marathon training cycle. First was during COVID, when I ran a virtual marathon. Feels crazier and crazier every time I think about it. I had the gift of all the time in the world during most of that training cycle because we weren’t going anywhere or doing anything. Second training cycle started right after my Dad died. I had the extra emotional push of channeling my why and the fact that after so much anticipation I was running the NYC Marathon. But that was combined with having gone back to work full time. So far less time for training- but I got it done!! As I contemplate training cycle number three my why remains the same. I run in memory of my Dad and to #endalz. In some respects it is hard to believe that he’s gone nearly a year. The emotion is still raw, but in other ways because of Alzheimer’s I truly lost my Dad, years before. Not that it makes it any easier to fully lose him, but the disease robbed us of quality time together. So when I’m tired or trying to figure out when I’m going to get my next training run in, I did deep and channel my why. While it won’t bring my dad back, it might save another daughter from having to watch the effects of Alzheimer’s on their mom or dad.
Please consider joining me in the effort to end Alzheimer’s….no you don’t have to run…even though I’m trying to put together a running group at work. You can join me by making a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association in support of my Chicago Marathon run. Together we can end Alzheimer’s!
Stay tuned- a training cycle means more posts. I love keeping track of how I’m feeling during the process so I have something to compare it to next time. That said, I keep sayin Chicago is going to be my last marathon- so maybe the training updates will just be for prosperity?! Time will tell.
Interesting thing about the school year and my race schedule- I ran a race the Saturday after the first and the last week of school. Needless to say I was a bit more fresh for the first week of school than the last. Not to mention the fact that May 2022 was my lowest mileage month in more than two years. Between being busy at work and under the weather my routine was completely thrown off and I was totally inconsistent. So in hindsight, I really had a lot of nerve showing up to run 10 miles completely undertrained. But I can do hard things!! And it’s a privilege to be able to run!!
Up until the day before I wasn’t really sure I was going to race. It meant getting everyone up at 5:00 a.m. to head downtown. The weather had been super hot and humid. Well, and there was the thought in the back of mind that I haven’t run 10 miles or more since November- so in more than 6 months. All this to say it was really a game time decision. The weather looked like it wasn’t going to be unbearable and I really felt the need to get another race under my belt testing my new nutrition before October. Now that it’s summer months here in Maryland there will not be many more racing opportunities. While I hope to run the Charles Street 12 in September as it’s one of my favorites, we may have a conflict. As I’m typing, I’m realizing this might really be my only race before my next marathon. Eek.
Let’s get to it. The race started at 7:00 a.m. Temperatures were moderate considering it was the beginning of June. I ate a good breakfast. Planned out my Maurten nutrition and all things considered was excited to have a race opportunity. Mentally, I knew I should shoot for a 9 minute a mile pace given the lack of consistency over the last month and the fact that I haven’t run this far in half a year. Spoiler alert- I went out too hard. I’m notorious for going out too hard. If I could just train myself to negative splits…I’ll keep trying. I was feeling good and the sun hadn’t really come up yet. Had this been a 10K I would have been golden. First six mile splits 8:17, 8:37, 8:28, 8:31, 8:41 and 8:53. Solid, right? I certainly didn’t think I had that many 8 minute miles in the tank. When I transitioned to marathon training my focus was more on going the distance and so my paces were closer to 9/9:30 a mile. After mile 6 the sun was blazing and my heart rate was high. There was no way around it, I just couldn’t bring my heart rate down to a place that was appropriate. So I dialed the pace way down. The other piece to this puzzle was the fact that I knew there were about 300 feet of elevation gain in the last three miles or so. Ugh- high heart rate, overheated and elevation gain. Quite the trifecta. But I also knew that I could certainly finish the race. So much of running is mental. So many of my conversations with the boys lately have been about the fact that you need to listen to your body and there might come a time that I can’t finish a race because it’s dangerous to do so. That there are professional runners who don’t finish races from time to time. Racing and running have been full of life lessons not only for myself but for the boys. So back to the last third of the race. It was rough. I’m truly a cooler weather runner and these June races really aren’t in my wheelhouse. Hearing about some other athletes having serious health consequences after running too hard has me a little worried. Fingers crossed that it’s not unseasonably warm in Chicago in October.
Every race I’ve run I’ve felt like the time mattered. Even when I said it didn’t, the time always mattered to me. I mentally beat myself up for the last 6 or so miles in NYC because I was so disappointed I wasn’t go sub 4 hours. In hindsight, this is completely crazy. 4:18:55 seconds for the NYC marathon- my first in person marathon is something to be proud about and I’ve come to realize that over the last few months. Hoping I can take this new mindset to Chicago with me.
Back to yesterday- I’m always chasing a goal or a PR. Yesterday, it just didn’t matter. Yesterday was all about a chance to race and finishing. Having that change in mindset really helped with the latter part of the race when I would have probably overdone it to come in at a particular time. But instead, I listened to my body- still got it done and crossed the finish line smiling with my husband and boys cheering me in. They didn’t care what time was on the clock. Quite honestly the opposite. Every time I texted updates to my husband, his response was “take your time.” So we both knew I wasn’t chasing a PR and would just be happy with a finish.
Lessons learned- training matters- but I have a good base that allowed me to pull out a ten mile run after months of running shorter distances. Maurten will be my nutrition for Chicago. Now I need to incorporate the drink component the day before and morning of into my training. Nothing new on race day!! The other question is how many races am I going to do a year. Things have changed since I started racing. Back to work. Busier schedule. I don’t have quite as much time to commit to training and it’s a huge time commitment for my family. Chicago will be my next big training effort starting in July. I have about 5 more weeks to keep my running casual before I need to get my head in the game and body in gear to go the distance! Then who knows. Maybe I’ll pick two races a year. Maybe I’ll just be a casual runner and add the Peloton bike into rotation. Time will tell. Either way- moving my body for 30 minutes a day will be part of the equation- it’s just a question of how that movement will happen. I feel truly fortunate to be able to exercise and the opportunities that racing has brought along the way. The running community is special. I’m happy to be a part of it!
Stay tuned- marathon training starts the week of July 18. I think running a marathon is a bit like having a child- you kind of block out the hard and difficult parts and only remember the highlights.
Six months from today I will toe the line for my second World Major Marathon and third marathon in two years. When I started running again in February of 2019 I did not see marathons on the horizon. I just saw the chance to go back to something I had enjoyed doing some twenty years prior. My running snowballed quickly and before I knew it marathon running was the answer!n Running has been the right thing, at the right time for me!
Like many runners we register for a new race as soon as we finish a race. For me, on the ride home from the NYC Marathon in November of 2021 I was already planning what was going to be next in my marathon journey. There are plenty of marathons to choose from. It’s not as though the only marathons are the World Majors. But the major marathons allow me to run for the Alzheimer’s Association. They allow each and every training run and the 26.2 miles to be for more than me. I run for those who can’t! I also run because I am blessed to be able to.
Who are the miles for? The miles are for my dad, who lost this fight with Alzheimer’s in August of 2021. But they are also for each and every other family who will hear an Alzheimer’s diagnosis- who will watch a loved one suffer -for every person who yearns for a cure and works toward one every day- for everyone who loses someone to this terrible disease. Making the miles matter is what helps me dig deep on the harder runs and when the going get tough during the course of 26.2 miles. When I reflect back to my NYC Marathon run- I for some reason never doubted that I would finish the marathon. It wasn’t overconfidence- It was more the fact that I had set the goal and I had come to do it. So maybe I was overconfident or maybe I was just being me and doing what I set my mind to do. I kid you not, running a marathon is not a walk in the park. The first half was magical. Around mile 16 things started to get harder. By mile 18 I was kind of questioning my sanity. But with each mile I pushed along. With each mile not only did I know closer to the finish, I knew if I had to I could walk to get to the end. There was a point in the Central Park (probably 2-3 miles to go) when I accidentally called my sister. I actually asked her if she had called me because I didn’t even realize I had called her. My hamstrings hurt so badly and I started to cry because those last miles seemed really LONG! But I can do hard things!! And my pain was temporary. For those with Alzheimer’s there is no finish line. There is no end in sight. So I run through the pain and sometimes the tears…because I can! I will keep running until we find a cure.
At the start of this week I knew the six month mark to marathon day was coming and I began reflecting on what the process would mean this time around. It’s an amazing opportunity to talk about not only doing something but giving financially as well. What I didn’t count on was my eight year old bringing up the conversation with me. His class is participating in The Giving Square. He is learning at school different ways that you can be philanthropic. He was explaining how you can be philanthropic with different parts of your body, i.e. feet, hands, heart. They are taking the idea of doing for others and making it age appropriate so the kids can think about ways they can give back to their communities. He started brainstorming ideas of ways he can be engaged in the community. For example, helping at the farm at school that donates food to the Maryland Food Bank. But the conversation then shifted to how you can combine giving of dollars with doing something. He’s participating in a charity 5K with me in a few weeks. So we were able to talk about how you can fundraise for a charity, while getting out there and doing something like running. Lightbulb moment, he says “like the marathon.” Yes, son just like the marathon. The marathon is more than miles. It’s more than early morning long runs. It’s a giant life lesson on so many levels from being active, to “using your feet to help others” to raising money and giving money to an organization that is meaningful and important.
While I’m doing the running, as a family we are participating and learning from the journey. The boys are already looking forward to going to Chicago. Jeffrey and I are looking forward to taking them to a new city to create memories. I’m looking forward to what will be a flatter 26.2. But I’m also looking to take what I learned in NYC and my training over the next few months to run strong with the ALZ Stars! And to use my son’s lesson from school- I’ll be using my feet and heart to raise awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association!
Have you ever found yourself basically just going through the motions? You are sticking to your routine- still getting your workout done, but really kind of ho hum?? Welcome to my post NYC Marathon world. I kept up with my runs. I had gotten into the routine of fairly easy miles while catching up on my shows on my iPad. I became lax about Saturday runs, which used to be my favorites because I didn’t have as much time pressure. The reality is my body deserved some easy miles after a marathon training cycle and running the marathon. Let’s be real- if I’m being truly honest- my mind and body needed a little respite. I went back to work full time in July after being home for nearly 8 years. My dad died in August. I started marathon training the week after. We are still negotiating a pandemic. So seriously- if I take a moment maybe I would give myself some grace. But instead, I’ll admit I was in a funk!!
January rolled around and I went back to being committed to adding strength training into the mix. I’m convinced my hamstring pain during the marathon came from my lack of focus on core strength work during my last training cycle so I’m doubling down on my efforts. All this to say- I was still kind of in an overall workout funk. I was looking for more flexibility than my current online program offered along with more runner specific strength training.
Lightbulb moment came at the end of January when I remembered that the health insurance at work included a year free of the Peloton app. Clearly the Peloton App is not something new, but somehow it was new to me. I have plenty of friends who use the app and own the bike, yet I had never given it any serious thought. No harm in giving it a try. Let’s just say that I quickly became addicted to the app. I could now schedule my various workouts to keep a balance of the activities that I’m trying to achieve. I literally laugh each time I pick a run. Why? Because I swore up and down I didn’t need someone “telling me how to run” when I was running. Clearly, I was wrong. Whether it’s reevaluating my breathing or cadence the guided runs have been helpful. Not only that, my treadmill has seen inclines that I didn’t even know were possible. I’m mixing up my paces, inclines and types of runs. I’m pushing myself again, while at the same time not overdoing it. In thinking about my form and cadence, I’m working towards a more effective running style. I feel stronger and refocused on not only my running but my strength training.
I really love the opportunity to participate in Live classes. Live classes have been particularly helpful on Saturday mornings when I’m tired from the week! 8:30 Live classes with Becs Gentry have been my Saturday morning go to. Even my family is now planning around my 8:30s with Becs. It sounds so simple, but adding that little bit of accountability can make all the difference when you are feeling lazy after a long week.
Susie Chan has helped me take my runs to a whole new level. Incline and speeds- pushing me outside of my comfort zone and reminding me why I’m on the treadmill. Not only that she’s super responsive on Instagram. Translation she responds when I tag her after a run. Again, having this extra cheerleader is so valuable in pushing past the ho hum and moving towards strength and inspiration in your miles. Susie in London so I have yet to make a live class until today!! I’ve been in my workout clothes all morning anxiously awaiting her 2:30 ET 45 minute pops run. Truth be told my left knee has been a little funky, but I can’t miss out on this spring break opportunity to catch a live class with her!!
Why do I share my new love of the Peloton app? Maybe you are like me and trying to negotiate life getting back to “normal” post pandemic, with kids and work and all the other things that come with life and you need a little inspiration with your workout. So I’m here to say- don’t be afraid to try new things. While not every new thing is going to work out- there is that chance that you could stumble upon something great and make it a part of your life!
Why not?? When I registered to run the NYC Marathon in March of 2020 I really had no expectations of what it would mean going forward. I planned to run NYC and hadn’t really given any thought to what would come next. Then what should have been a eight month time period to fundraise for the Alzheimer’s Association and train for my first marathon really became twenty months. In those twenty months a lot changed. Covid hit- the things we or I should say I took for granted changed and we found ourselves enjoying the smaller pleasures in life. The simple things if you will. Quieter times at home with family and/or our pod family. Running took on new meaning. But man, living in pandemic times can be exhausting. Somewhere along the way my running outlet started to feel a little bit like work. The uncertainty of training for races that wouldn’t happen became frustrating. Then my Dad died. And I dug deep to remember why I was running and that it was for more than myself. While I’m reaping the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and setting a good example for my boys, I’m really running for those who can’t and recognize that there will be a day when I can’t so I run while I can.
Training for a marathon takes a lot of time. It’s not so much the weeks of training as it is the hours each week as the mileage really builds. Finding the time when we were still somewhat limited in what we were doing because of Covid was much easier. Come 2021 with work, kids being back to school and a little more “normal” it was a little harder to find the time to train. For me the process is also emotional. I find it truly amazing what we can push our bodies to endure. November of 2021 marked my second full Marathon and first “real” marathon that happened to be one of the major marathons. Go big or go home, right?? I truly had no appreciation for what it mean to run a Major race as my first in person marathon. But once I did I had a whole new appreciation for the fan/crowd support that comes a long with it.
So it would be fitting that on the way home from NY I would start considering what was going to be next. I still had a combination of runner’s high mixed with exhausted body so maybe I should have given myself a little bit of time. But I liken it to giving birth and then immediately saying, sure I can do that again. Maybe it means more because I was still sore and was like I want to do this again! I also felt like I had learned so much from the experience that I had to do it again. I needed to take what I had learned and improve upon it!! My marathon experiences are tied to fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Association. So my first email was to the contact in Chicago to see if I could run with their team in 2022. I got an immediate response with all the details and began the process. There is something special about running as part of a team. Seeing other in their singlet on race day and knowing that not only do you have the same goal of running 26.2 but also ending Alzheimer’s adds to the camaraderie and excitement of the experience.
Sure, I could run a marathon anywhere- but since this has become a family affair why not take the boys to another fun city?! Will I run another marathon after Chicago? I have no idea. Will I continue to run to #endalz? Most definitely for as long as my body will allow me. And even when I can’t run, I’ll continue to raise awareness and dollars for this important cause.
