The Marathon Bug Bit--#2 here I come!

I got bit by that bug my running friends warned me about. . . I have signed up for another marathon. I new I would want to do another as soon as I was done with Burlington (hopefully this not a sign that I didn't run hard enough). I have even set my sights on the possibility of grand plans for my approaching 30th birthday next June--3 marathons by 30? I think this would be an amazing goal and accomplishment for me. While I wait to figure that out--I registered for the Indianapolis Monumental marathon in November in Indiana. The plane ticket is purchased and the first week of training was this week! For this marathon, I also signed up for a marathon training group in Salem. For 12 weeks I'll have a real coach and track practice once a week with group runs on Saturday mornings at 7 am for our "long runs." I think this will help mix it up a bit and give me new routes to run and good people to train with (I loved training with my last partner for the record).

Here is the website if you want to join me or just check out the marathon info: Indianapolis Monumental Marathon Link.

Back on the Blog

I am disappointed in myself that my last blog was June 1--this is after all about more than running and I haven't updated the blog since just after the marathon. So, here is what I have been up to and what is to come in the near future. Soon after the marathon, my husband turned 30. I threw him a surprise weekend where his mom flew in (he thought he was going somewhere: packed a suitcase, went to the airport, walked to the check in counter, and then saw his mom!), we had a great seafood dinner, we rented a sailboat and we had a party with close friends.

Then, my little sister proved to me that we are both getting older by getting married. I flew back to Indiana for a week to host a shower for her, help prepare for the event, and spend some time with family. The wedding was a beautiful country themed wedding held outside at one of her friend's homes. She really pulled a lot of different ideas together and it worked. In the photos below, my paternal randmother (the big sewer) quickly determined the blue ties on sis' dress would be prettier if we. . . and then three perfect bows appeared. Man I love that she continues to teach me amazing skills (yes, like Martha Stewart I appreciate a perfect bow). After her wedding, my maternal grandfather had surgery and I wanted to be there. It was nice getting to visit with him and ask advice of him like I have always done.

In late June, one of my friends and I threw another friend a bachelorette party in Boston. We made a girls day of it rather than being raunchy or anything: nails, cocktails, dinner and drinks at one poshy bar with dancing at another. I wish her the best for her Irish wedding and regret that we won't be attending in person.

I spent the next few weeks recovering from all the business early summer brought and getting the piles of to do's taken care of that accumulate when you are busy with life. These to do's include taking Otis to the Ocean where he learned to swim. Of course, activities also included sewing!! I mostly dabled in hemming pants and minor repairs (a snagged favorite sweater, a torn hem on some blouses, making some older and larger summer tops fit my slimmer runners physique (hehe)). I am hoping to get to some larger projects soon.

Sewing and Running

The sewing and running combo is back. Today--post-marathon run #2 was successful. My husband joined me for a really nice 4 mile run around the cemetary again after work. I must be getting faster because he decided to run with me the whole way despite my encouragement to feel free to leave me. It felt good. We had a great post-run dinner of chicken sausage and roasted bell pepper pasta with beer from Burlington.

And, some sewing. I have a rather large pile of pants that need altered for myself, a neighbor, and my huband. I think it is about 8 pairs. So, the marking and seam ripper in hand, I at least got started. Plus, in 10 minutes I was able to reduce my marathon t-shirt by at least a size taking 1.5 inches off each side. At least it doesn't look like a night shirt now:)

There Goes Another One

Hmm, looks like the rain and pounding on my poor toes during the marathon has resulted in two black toenails. Not uncommon and yes, this has happened before, but does not help the arguement that running makes you better all over--not quite from your head all the way to your feet:) So, solution. . . paint the toes the darkest red I can find and wait a month or two for new toenails. These will probably come off within an month and then look like what I guess alien toenails look like for a bit. Sorry readers--no photos for this post:)

A Week Later

The first week after the marathon went about as I expected. I was definitely sore on Monday and a little on Tuesday, but quickly learned that moving around was my best friend. I went back to work on Tuesday, but each hour I got up and walked around which helped keep me from getting stiff. Wednesday, I even worked out for 25 minutes at lunch pedaling on a stationary bike which did wear me out. I also found that I was generally worn out each day and requiring more sleep than usual--almost like when you are coming down with something or just getting over a bug.

Saturday was my first "run" post marathon. I went out for a run with my husband and ran with him for a mile "warm up" before he set out for slightly faster speeds and I continued slowly around our favorite cemetery. As a side note, the cemetery is a beautiful place to run--the pathways are asphalt, the grounds are well managed, there is a pond and tons of shade, and it is quiet with very little traffic. I managed to continue on for 45 minutes traveling a little over 4 miles (I even made it up and down a couple of small hills). Slow, but not bad. My body felt good and it was so nice to get the legs moving again. Ahh, nap time!

Official Marathon Photos Available Online

The photos from the professional photographers at the marathon are now available for perusing. Check out my photos (note the finish line time is 4:18, but this does not account for the time it took me to get to the start line--my chip time was 4:16).

http://www.asiorders.com/go.asp?53717144

Marathon Memoir Part 3--After the Marathon

I plunge myself into an ice bath before heading to the hotel pool for some shallow-end walking. As enticing as the hot tub looked, I avoided it knowing the cold water was much better for me. Then, a long hot shower. My husband asked if I felt different after the race. I noted that my quads were increasingly sore. . . not apparently what he meant. I didn’t feel like a different person or anything, still same old me. But I did admit to feeling strong and proud of myself. Then, in the suitcase on top of the wonderful dry clothes I reached for, was a jewelry box that wasn’t there before. Seemed the support group has not ended and I opened a beautiful necklace from my husband. We laughed about the what ifs: what if I hadn’t finished? He told me I deserved it and I realized that it represented the real medal for finishing the marathon—the medal of support and will act as a reminder of the ring of support I had around me throughout the race and to get to the race. Even when I couldn’t see them, I knew that support team was there. Support, as I have noted before, comes in so many different forms, but on this day and at this race—my friends supported me by getting up early, riding a school bus, standing in the rain for hours, clapping, and taking photos. Other friends supported me by thinking of me and through congrats afterwards. But for my support group in Burlington—I will never be able to tell you what it meant to see you, and to know I would see you, in so many places along my route. Just like in the months leading up to the marathon—my support team was there when I needed them!

After a break, we ate the most amazing pizza I have ever tasted at Flatbread pizza. We walked along and watched the sunset along the boardwalk where I had crossed the finish line hours earlier. A prom was taking place and we laughed about old times and dresses we now wouldn’t let “our kids” leave the house wearing. We saw dogs and even ran into our friends and took a photo. Then, of course, off to Ben and Jerry’s where I shared a LARGE and TASTY sundae with my training partner—she deserved it too!



Monday, we went out for breakfast, visited the Magic Hat Brewery where my husband had some fun too, and stopped at the Vermont Teddy Bear Company where I got my last congrats hug before leaving town. . .



After cuddles with Otis and time on the couch, it was an early night to bed for me Monday night and back to work on Tuesday.