The Ides of March

Ran my 16 miler last Saturday in a rainy, windy Nor'Easter. I don't know what was worse: sloshing repeatedly through 2-3" puddles or getting full-body splashed by cars or the fact that Theo's golf raincoat was only water RESISTANT or that my clothes weighed 10 lbs by the end of the run. Alas, I successfully completed the run, checked it off my training chart and took a 2 hour nap!

Yesterday's 18 miler was in stark contrast to last weekend's run! GORGEOUS! PERFECT! AMAZING! The sky couldn't have been bluer. I honestly think I could have run another mile...which is good since a marathon is 26.2 miles!

I can't believe I have only one more super long run ahead of me before "the big one." As challenging as this training has been, what with the weather and working out the logistics of getting my runs in while taking care of the kids, it has gone by FAST. And has proven to boost my self-confidence yet again.

I will always remember my Mom's unwavering support during a really low point in my life. She couldn't understand why I didn't think I was amazing as she thought I was. I remember one day coming in to my bedroom and she had taped to my mirror a Nike "Just Do It" ad that she had ripped from a magazine. She wrote "You can do it, Amy. Love, Mom." Or something to that effect. I feel like she is smiling at me now.

XO

Chateau Relaxo

Chateau Relaxo. That was my brother Sean's nickname for the maternity ward of Brigham and Women's Hospital. I find that so hilarious that I had to use it as the title of today's blog entry!!! He couldn't get over the room service, the quiet, the nice nurses... I mean, I can't say that Emily, with incisions galore, would agree. But when you are holding that little HENRY BRADY SHIELDS---it does make you want to say, "Ahhhhhhhh...."

I was at my own Chateau Relaxo last week. I went to Rockport, MA SOLO to meet baby Henry---first time away alone in over a year! I went to my favorite Mexican restaurant...drank margaritas...slept until 8 am (which is late for me). I hung out in Regan and Cam's beautiful home on a sunny weekend...CHATEAU RELAXO.

So, training. It has been a challenging few weeks between the stomach bug, the multiple snow storms, and back-to-back weekend trips to Boston (one planned assuming Henry would be here by President's Weekend--which wasn't his plan...and then one to meet the little peanut). HOWEVER, the bright side is that I was able to do my 12 and 14 mile runs along the ocean...nothing like a change of scenery!

16 miles planned for this weekend. Danielle is coming down from NYC so that we can keep each other company for the almost 3 hour run. Should be interesting since the 4th major snow storm of the winter is heading our way tonight...10-15" predicted. UGH!

XO

Herman's Head with lots of shout outs

Remember that show Herman's Head? When people lived in a guys head? Or Being John Malkovich? Consider this my version of that...dedicated to my dear, hilarious friend, Linda Rubin who made the request.

Thoughts during each of my 11 miles today

Mile Marker 1: That school bus almost hit me
Mile Marker 2: My shadow looks life size (refer to earlier blogs about me and my shadow!)
Mile Marker 3: Song--The Reflex by Duran Duran. Made me think of 2 people. First, my old friend Leah Bougere from Kingwood, TX. In 6th grade, she was a HUGE Duran Duran fan. And I thought she was incredibly cool. Also makes me think of my friend Noah Stein. We used to work together at Crane Marketing Communications and would often volunteer to pick up pizza for office lunches. One time, we blasted The Reflex and sang it at the top of our lungs. Lots of laughs with Noah.
Mile Marker 4: I think I am going to give all of the money I earn in April (marathon month) to Dana Farber. Consider this a shout out to my home business: www.amymack.myshaklee.com
Mile Marker 5: Song--Battle Flag by Lo Fidelity All Stars. Love this song...but has the f-word in it so I can't play it at home anymore. Thank you to John Hewlett for helping me figure out the name of this song and actually getting the CD for me! I first heard the song during a "very special episode" (aren't they all??) of ER. The one when John Carter and Kelly Martin were stabbed on Valentine's Day by a patient in the middle of a psychotic episode.
Mile Marker 5.5 (half way mark): Song--Hypnotize by Notorious BIG. Now, I love Biggie. But I also love Eazy E and Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Aren't they all enemies? East Coast/West Coast?
Mile Marker 6: Song--Jessie's Girl. This is the song I played on the way to the hospital to have Declan and Alice. OH! I should knit Sean and Emily's baby-to-be a hat...baby due in 3 days!!!
Mile Marker 7: Heading up a treacherous hill (Gray's Lane from Mill Creek for those in the area). I am going to text Danielle (we ran this together last weekend). Actually, I am going to take a picture of myself with my iPhone and send it to her. AHHAHHAHA! I am texting, taking pictures and running up a hill!
Mile Marker 8: It is getting dark
Mile Marker 9: Haverford College on the horizon... Getting close... What questions do I have for Dr. Offit (pediatrician) for tomorrow--Alice's 1 year well visit.
Mile Marker 10: I hope Desmond is doing OK at home. Desmond is our 15 year old babysitter. Kids LOVE him...but 5:00 can be a tricky time. D--N! I don't have any cash. I am the lamest employer.
Mile Marker 11: DONNNNEEE! Turns out Alice screamed the entire time until Desmond decided to give a nap a try. Good work, Des! And Thank You!

There you have it! Riveting, huh? Wow, 2 blogs in one day!

XO

Negligent Blogger...

Guess who is running on the Dana Farber team with me? The one and only Valerie Bertinelli of One Day at A Time and Jenny Craig fame! I need to do some investigating on how she ended up on the team roster, but I think it is admirable that she is doing this. Training for and running a marathon is HARD WORK and a part time job. If she fundraises (or just donates) like crazy, then good for her! 100% of all money raised from my team goes to innovative cancer research at Dana Farber. That means cutting edge research that has a hard time getting funding from other sources. Maybe she and I can run together? HA! I was running yesterday envisioning running along and noticing her struggling (no handlers or people carrying her water bottle...) and I run up next to her and we pull each other through. HAHAHHA! By the way, If any one is inspired to donate towards my fundraising efforts, visit www.rundfmc.org then "search for a runner". My goal is $10,000+! I could use your support!!!

I had the privilege of running my 10 miler this past weekend with fellow marathon trainee, Danielle Poirier (going for Big Sur in April) AKA my terrific friend and DG little. Love in the Bonds! Much more fun to do long runs with a pal. Wish she were here today for my 11 miler. I don't like that I have to do it on a Thursday at 3:30 pm. I am a creature of habit and prefer to run my long ones on the weekend first thing. But, there is a big snowstorm coming on Friday into Saturday and I don't want to miss a run.

So, I will now address questions from my fans. Well, Linda. But to have questions is exciting!! I will happily address any more that come my way. Oh, to be famous...

1. What is my warm up? My warm up involves running around the house trying to find my iPod, hat, gloves. I walk out the front door as I am starting my Nike Plus running thing on my iPod. As soon as Song #1 (always Blue Monday by New Order) starts, I start running. That's it. I am not great at stretching. I have been trying to do Pilates 1x a week to keep my alignment and flexibility in check.

2. What kind of sneakers do I wear and why? I have been wearing the same style Nike shoe since 2002. It was the Nike Kantara but when that shoe was discontinued, I moved onto it's replacement, the Nike Structure Triax. I was fitted for the Kantara at a running store way back when and as I have said before, I am a creature of habit (thanks, Dad). I typically replace my shoes every 300-500 miles, but lately have been intrigued by the barefoot running movement. I was inspired by reading Born To Run by Christopher McDougall. He did research about why runners have so many injuries to back/knees/feet. There is supposedly a link between the injuries and the super stable, cushiony running shoe industry. That our feet are intended to absorb the shock of running without the bells and whistles. That it actually weakens our feet to have all of the cushion leading to injury. SO, I haven't replaced my shoes in a while. Conflicted on what to do. Any advice?

3. Can I divide my blog into how I feel with each mile. No, Linda. Can't commit to that. However, I will do that for you today. How I feel for every mile of my 11 on a Thursday at 3:30.

4. Do I have to push through the first mile until I get a rhythm? No. Typically, the first mile just goes without me noticing. That is a nice feeling. I have a harder time with the last mile...I know I am almost done. Running is all mental.

Linda, I will take your advice and put She's Crafty by the Beasties on my mix. The whole Licensed to Ill album reminds me of 9th grade at Kingwood High School. Very fun memories. Now that you mention it, I will also add Paul Revere. And So What'cha Want. And then iTunes Genius recommended Going Back to Cali by LL Cool J. So I will add that too! Always taking music requests. The Eminem song maybe too slow. BUT, did you know that Eminem is back together with Kim and she is pregnant?

I, too, think when I run. I am most organized in my head when I am running. Must be all of the endorphins. It's just that my thoughts have a soundtrack!!

OK, enough for now...

Moving through Week 3....

OK, so maybe I won't write after every run. That goal may have been a little ambitious! Week Two of training was bitter, bitter cold. Although, with the right gear, running in the cold isn't that bad. You just get a frozen face. My third week of training has been thwarted by the dreaded stomach bug. If you know me, the simple utterance of those two words sends chills down my spine. Just an example of how having 3 kids can make training a challenge. So, today I set out for my Week 3 long run...7 miler.

Things that I have been thinking about over the past few runs:

Thought #1
You know how you have things in your life that just really boost your confidence? Running does that for me on many levels. I can look down at the ground in front of me and see my shadow. It is like I am watching myself run and I feel proud of that person! Dorky? Maybe...but this is a forum for my uncensored self-expression! I just get a kick out of the fact that I am intensely involved in a sport that has a reputation for being strenuous, tough, and intimidating for many. Growing up, I shied away from sports when they became intense. Quit tennis when everyone started the topspin. Quit softball when the pitchers started that fast pitch. I tended toward dance, drill team, cheerleading and aerobics--which people constantly underestimate for their athleticism, by the way. But if you were to tell me that one day I would have several marathons under my belt, I would never have believed you.

Thought #2
When I am running, I feel really connected to my Mom. This association began long ago, before I joined the Dana-Farber team in her memory. I started running a lot in my early 30s. As a matter of fact, one of my 30th birthday presents to myself was making the decision to run the Marine Corps Marathon. Training for that race was a TOTALLY different experience. I had a job, no kids, lived close to really great running trails. I imagined that Mom was my running partner. I am not sure if running is anything my mom was ever interested in, but I sort of think she would get a kick out of me doing it. I imagine she would be that person on the sidelines with the huge sign that said, "GO AMY!! You are an inspiration!!" She was always my biggest cheerleader. So, I always feel her there with me. Trotting along. I visualize that she pulls me when I am feeling slow or tired. By a rope tied around my waist. I probably sound nutso, but if you have ever lost someone you love, you do anything you can to feel connected to that person.

Joining the Dana-Farber team was just so obvious for me. For those of you unaware, my mom was treated for endometrial (and eventually liver) cancer at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. I was in college during her illness and only made one trip to Dana-Farber and it was a total blur and is really an awful, awful memory.

It was during a long training run for the Philly Marathon in the fall of 2007 that I wondered if I would ever qualify to run in the Boston Marathon (answer: no way!). But while on the Boston Athletic Association website, I noticed two things: a link to the Dana-Farber Marathon program and the date of the 2008 Boston Marathon: April 21. My mom died on April 21, 1994. I HAD to be on that team--it felt like fate! And the rest is history. I ran the race in 2008...took a year off to have Alice and am now BACK.

OK, just got back from my 7 miler. Beautiful day out--endorphins flowing. Song of the run: "Praise You" by Fat Boy Slim. I like to pretend that my mom is singing this to me. "We've come a long, long way together. From the hards times to the good. I want to celebrate you, baby. I want to praise you like I should!" Nice to feel like my mom is proud of me. And this song always just pops up on my iPod at the appropriate times. My second song of this run: "Gotta Get Through This" by Daniel Bettingfield. Nothing like a song to remind one of Sarah Ford modern dancing while dressing in Michelle Brown's Aunt Ro's clothes. AHHAHAHHAHAHHA! And nothing like making yourself laugh when running!

Enough for today...

XO

Run #2

Ran yesterday...very cold. Decided to mix things up and do the Haverford College loop. Glad I did. I am a creature of habit and typically do the same old same old loops around my neighborhood (Haverford to Manoa to Karakung to Beechwood back to Haverford for those of you that are in the know...)

Stats:
36:43 min total
4.02 mi
9:08 min mile pace

Cold the next few days. Snow on Thurs and Fri. Winter training...not so bad as long as you are dressed in layers, wear a hat and gloves and don't slip.

Has anyone read "Born To Run?" I recently read it and am very intrigued by the concept of NOT replacing my running shoes. Thoughts?

Featured running song: Whoomp, There it Is by Tag Team
For those of you that know me well, the appearance of this song on my mix is not a big surprise. I LOVEEEEEEE this song. Loved it so much sophomore year of college (GO BULLETS). Would request it often at TKE...and make my "little" Danielle request it for me when my requests would get ignored. My dear friend Pecks gave me the "single" (on a cassette)! Love her for that!!!!!

OK, 3 miles tomorrow!

XO

Let the training begin!

1 of 64 runs.
3.12 miles
8:29 min mile
26:25 min total

There you have it---the stats from my first official training run. I have the Nike+ thing for my iPod. Highly recommend it--measures all of the above info and then it connects to your computer via iTunes and uploads all of the info to the Nike+ website. Stores all of the information so that you can reference previous runs. AND Nike sponsored athletes chime in to talk to you after your runs---today TIGER WOODS congratulated me on my run. Whatever Tiger.

Featured running song: C'MON N' RIDE IT (THE TRAIN)
This song is an AWESOME running song. And Declan loves it--calls it the Choo Choo Train Song. I want to figure out how to insert a song clip into a blog post. Anyone know how to do this?

I had a marathon stress dream last night (no joke) where the marathon involved all of these tasks that had to be accomplished along the way. Sort of like a reality show. I desperately wanted to beat my 2008 Boston Marathon time and was getting so frustrated by the tasks--they were taking too long and were disorganized. Then it was dark and I couldn't follow the path (this marathon really made no sense...). I had to navigate around snow & ice. Yikes.

When I run, I have a running (no pun intended) stream of consciousness...which I will happily share here on my blog. It runs the gambit from "can running be my 'church'?" when I feel guilty that I don't go to church and would rather run instead, to my latest business plan, to my daily/weekly to do list, to what to have for dinner. No matter what, when I run, I always think of my mom. So, I will share a bit of "mom thoughts" as well. I am always hesitant that others think of these thoughts as "Debbie Downer-ish"...but if you have lost a parent, or someone close to you, you probably know what I mean when you just embrace an opportunity to talk about that person.

Anywhoo...my plan is to write after every run, so consider this the first of 64 blog posts! ENJOY!!!

XO