November 2009
9 posts
As I sat on the 7:30 am ferry to Staton Island last Sunday morning it crossed my mind that, up until four-years ago, I had never left the west coast, much less run a mile. Never in a million years would I have guessed that I could be on a ferry, by myself in New York, mentally preparing to run the New York City Marathon. Unfortunately for my legs, it was not a dream.
I crossed the starting line...
I love this article. I'm pretty sure this lady was... →
I’m still trying to put into words what this whole experience meant to me, but I’m having a difficult time.
Soon, my lovely readers, soon.
Goodbye New York
I finished the marathon yesterday in record time, 5 hours 40 minutes. One hour faster than I ran the Los Angeles Marathon last year.
It was truly one of the best experiences of my life and I would recommend it to anyone.
I have lots of thoughts running through my head right now that I will right down eventually, but the iPhone isn’t the easiest place to form those thoughts into anything...
Done and done!! Sarah absolutely dominated and beat her goal time. She is feeling great and I couldn’t be prouder. I had a great day and saw tons of friends who joined me to cheer Sarah on. Sarah is tired but happy to be done and ready to celebrate. Off we go to dinner and then to watch the Yankees in NYC.
Staton island
I’m here! It’s about 8:50am and I just took a seat upon my black garbage bag on the wet concrete in the green corral.
This has so far been the most organized cattle hearding I’ve ever experienced. I’ve only been slightly clasterphobic, oh like 100 times this morning.
My start time isn’t until 10:20 so I have some time to relax and take it all in.
If you havnt...
October 2009
20 posts
Danny here. I have taken over mobile updates for the weekend so Sarah can focus all her energy on Sunday. We just landed in NYC! So excited! We got up at four this morning in an attempt to combat jetlag. Tonight’s plan is to get settled at the hotel, grab a bite to eat and then hit the sack early to get some solid rest. Lots more to follow in the next few days from this guy
I'm Pretty Sure I'm going to Cry on Sunday →
Just reading this made me teary eyed! I’m so excited!
Is New York Really the Best?
Q. How has the NYC Marathon established itself as the ‘best’ marathon to run in? Many sports commentators and writers pick New York as the Marathon to run – it’s not the fastest, it’s not the most prestigious, but everyone seems to want to run it? PS I ran New York in 2007 wearing a Phillies hat— even...
A Reason To Run →
Here’s a link to a story that my home town newspaper wrote about my run. They did a great job however, my mom passed in 2009, not 2008…I asked them to change it online, but haven’t received a response yet.
5 more days!
I’m obsessed with checking on the weather in NYC.
Please, oh please, weather, stay dry for this poor little California girl.
Athlete Alert- Follow me via Email on race day! →
Hi Hanford!
My alarm clock decided not to go off this morning, so I’m feeling a bit out of sorts. I did however manage to get ready for work in 10-minutes and was only 10-minutes late!
My newspaper article should be running in The Hanford Sentinel this evening. So if anyone from my home town is reading, “Welcome!”.
One week from today I leave for New York City, I can hardly believe the...
Anxiety about the race can itself inhibit... →
This is quite funny actually, this week I’ve been twitching a lot. Like waking myself up in the middle of the night in a full body jerk. I did a little google search this morning and I’m quite certain it is just built up tension in my muscles due to the anxiety I’m having about this run.
Got My Bib Number!
Bib 63348
Wave Name Green Wave#3 Corral#63
Now I just need to get to the Expo to pick it up!
12 more days!
Listening to the Legends of the Marathon →
What a Weekend!
This weekend was emotionally eventful to say the least. I woke up Saturday morning tired (I haven’t slept well all week) but determined. I set out around 8 am in my normal running clothes, and I immediately knew I needed more layers. It was freezing! Just last month I was complaining it was too hot to run!
I wasn’t feeling right from the start, but I wanted to keep going still...
Weather
Somewhere else on the Internet this morning I saw a post about marathon shirts. Then I remembered I need to figure out what to wear to the marathon.
I have the NYC weather report front and center on my iGoogle homepage. It’s kinda chilly and rainy on and off. Um. What am I going to wear? I’ve been training in 90 + degree heat and I may be running in rain. I’m glad it’s...
One day I will be normal →
The Bloggess is one of my favorite people on the Internet to read.
She’s just funny.
I was surprised to read this post today -which was not funny at all- where she openly discusses her anxiety and depression problems. She does a a really good job of describing an anxiety attack. I think it’s important for people to admit when they have these problems…just in reading the...
This Week in Training
Monday- 12 miles
Tuesday- Rest
Wednesday- 3 miles
Thursday- x-training
Friday- 3 miles
Saturday- Rest
Sunday 20-miles
Yesterday
I got my 12-miles in yesterday. I woke up originally thinking I would go for 16- ha! I’ve never said I was an overachiever.
Three more training weekends until THE weekend! I’m super excited!
I’ve promised myself to be on the “Straight and Narrow” the rest of this month. That means no skipping runs, doing proper cross-training, and getting proper nutrition. Also,...
Change in Schedule
I was just informed I needed to take another furlough day next week, so I’m taking Monday off which works perfectly. Now I don’t need to run tonight. Well, I don’t need to run 12-miles tonight. I’m just going to go for 2 or 3. For some reason I am utterly exhausted. I really wasn’t sure how I was going to pull off a 12-mile run after work today. Now I’m going to...
September 2009
12 posts
The long run is the most important component of... →
Update!
Hello! I have just returned from a weekend in Palm Springs where I didn’t do a hint of running. I actually think it may be illegal to run when it’s 170-million degrees outside and if it isn’t, it should be.
I completed an 8-mile long run last Wednesday night. I plan on doing a 12-miler this Thursday (I have guests in town this weekend, so can’t do it then) and then next...
8 miles tonight!
Sorry folks, I have been seriously neglecting this blog. I have wedding brain right now, and since the last two weeks have been step down weeks, I’ve been coasting through.
This weekend I’m heading out of town, so tonight I plan on running 8 miles.
Piece. Of. Cake.
Well, except that it’s really super hot today. Luckily the sun has been setting earlier and earlier so the...
Long Run Tomorrow!
I’m running 12 miles tomorrow, which seems easy compared to what I did on Sunday.
See, I told you this is more mental than physical.
Then Danny and I are off for a relaxing weekend in Santa Barabara to celebrate our negative 1 year anniversary!
This Week in Training
Monday- Rest Day
Tuesday- Hills with Danny
Wednesday- 2 miles
Thursday- 2 miles
Friday- 12 miles
Saturday- Rest
Sunday- 3 miles
I’m going easy this week to let me body recover from the 20-miler.
The weekend of 20
I was serious about waking up at 4am Saturday morning to get started on my 20 mile run at 5am. So serious I took some sleep aide early Friday evening.
Ha! That was a dumb idea. I didn’t wake up at 4am, I ended up passed out until 7am, but I thought ‘what the heck’ let’s try this anyway.
I made it 4 miles before calling Danny to come pick me up. If I’m having a hard...
A change in plans
I had originally scheduled a 20-miler for this weekend, then I decided to go to Hanford and visit my family and only do 12 on Friday before I left.
Then Danny got called out of town for work next weekend (when I was planning the make-up 20-miler). So I have decided to stay home and run my 20-miler this Saturday (again, back to my original plan).
This is me being safe. I don’t want to be...
“Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve...”
– RT @zappos
This Week in Training
I had such a fun weekend! But, back to reality….
Yesterday- 2 miles (first time running outside since the fires started)
Today- 3 miles
Wednesday- Hill Training
Thursday- x-training 60 min.
Friday- 12 mile long run
Saturday- Rest (going home to visit family)
Sunday- 3 miles
I’m also writing thank you notes today, so those of you that have dontated and have not recieved a...
ADAA Fundraising
I’ve currently raised $6,396.20 for ADAA in memory of my mom. All I can say is THANK YOU a million times over again to each and every donor. I’m so very happy that I’ve been able to reach out to not only people that suffer from anxiety (and their children), but also other marathon trainees going through the same trials and tribulations. We may live miles -and sometimes...
Plan B
The air is still too unhealthy to run outside.
I think I’ve decided to try a long run on the treadmill tomorrow. I’m not sure I can get 18 miles in, but if I can manage to stay on for 10, I’ll call it a WIN.
This will require a major entertainment download to the iPhone. I’m thinking a movie.
In other news, I just wanted to give an Internet thanks to my friend Erin...
August 2009
24 posts
Messages for my friends - Get out there and do... →
I can’t believe I haven’t posted all week. This one slipped away from me!
Well, I’m scheduled to run 18-miles tomorrow morning, but the mountains outside my home are on fire and there’s no wind. This is good for the firefighters and bad for everyone in the valley that needs to breath.
So we’ve all been advised to not do any strenuous activity indoors or out....
I have my 16 miler tomorrow!
I’m feeling much better this week and have had two successful evening runs, so hopefully tomorrow will be a piece of cake!
Wish me luck!
Online Competition to Radically Rethink Mental...
I’m slowly but surely taking the necessary steps to get my masters degree in Occupational Therapy. If all goes well, I should be able to start school in 2010 or 11.
While there are so many populations that I can work, the mental health field is close to my heart. The research is still being tested on how OT can help mental health patients and my goal is to get in on the ground floor and...
Guest Post by, Kathryn Tristan
It isn’t so easy to find your way out of the dark woods of anxiety. I know. I suffered for most of my adult life. At times it seemed mild, at others it awoke with the fury of a snarling bear. I began to try ‘not’ to feel anxiety. When I did so, I found my world shrinking. Avoiding things meant confirming that they were scary (even though they were not). I eventually could not...
Speaking About Depression- John and Patricia... →