Boston Marathon

It's been awhile since my last post, I know. I know. I've been meaning to write. That sounds like such a cheesy line an ex-lover would say when you awkwardly bump into them on the street: "I've been meaning to call you..." uncomfortable silence. Except there's no ex to blame the writing hiatus on. Only me. I've been running. I even ran my first 5 mile race on April 3, which is a major deal, considering I've been injured since October. But, I did it. And then my favorite day of the year (well, top three, anyway) just happened: Marathon Monday. The entire city of Boston basically shuts down and is taken over by runners decked out in every bright shade of rainbow. It's like someone got on a skyscraper and poured a giant skittles bag over the entire city. It's intoxicating.

Also, it's beyond inspiring. Especially this year. I spent the Sunday before MM with my step-mom; we volunteered the day before and then went to the Expo together. Being around thousands of excited runners gives you this charge of energy that's unlike any other rush. You literally want to run forever. The actual MM day I spent with my friend Alex. I woke her up bright and early and took her out for her first ever 4 mile jog. It was wonderful being able to share in someone else's "I did that" elation. I've been there many times and feeling proud in yourself is a feeling that'll never get old, I'm sure. After our run, and coffee reward, we watched the entire 26.2 elite race on her TV in Beacon Hill, and I cried like a baby when the world record was won. And watching the women sprint to the finish.

And of course, I cried watching Kara Goucher come in top-5. She's one of the most amazing runners. Watching her just gives me chills. I told myself I'd qualify for Boston, somehow, for next year. I'll be 25 and it'll be the 116th Boston Marathon (16 being my favorite number). I'm not sure if it's at all possible, especially since it hasn't even been a week and my confidence is already dissipating. But deep down, I am determined. I'll find a way. There's something about running that has my heart. Maybe because it requires a consistent effort on my part. It's essentially entirely up to me. There's something so liberating, and terrifying, in knowing that. But this year, I'm set on letting the liberating aspect win over the terrifying.

And knowing that, I know I can do it.

I did that

I just got back to my desk from my lunch break. I'll be more specific. I just got back to my desk from the gym, where I ran a 5k on the treadmill. The machine I've been terrified to even walk by ever since I got injured back in October from over-use. I woke up this morning really frustrated. I procrastinated and didn't go to the gym, even though I got up at 5:30 and had enough time to go. I got to work and my gym-going friend, Giselle, said she wasn't going to make it to the gym with me today. "Okay," I said, "I don't really have to go." And that's true, I didn't have to go. But a small part of me wanted to. That small part of me felt ready to test my knee. "Just one mile," my stepmom cautioned. "Don't push it." But I felt ready. I felt scared, but I felt ready. After changing into my gym clothes, I entered the gym, willing my body to head straight to the treadmills, not letting myself even glace toward the more body-friendly elliptical. With a sigh, and perhaps a deathwish, I started to run. One mile later, I felt more confidant. Two miles later, I was smiling. 3 miles in, I was giggling to myself. The "I can do this" attitude adjusted to the new "I did that" attitude. Granted, it was a 5k which is nothing compared to the 1/2 marathon I did this past summer. Well, at least not distance-wise. But mentally, it's the same. Getting over that hill, getting to that finish line, learning to find the confidence within yourself, that all comes from the same place, no matter the distance, no matter if it's at the gym, outside, or in a race. Sometimes the biggest reward is just proving yourself right; sometimes it's just saying "I did that."

I'm coming for you, Lance

I haven't been able to run consistently since October due to my annoying bout of "runner's knee;" but that hasn't stopped me from trying other forms of cardio. I recently went to a spinning class with my parents and followed it up with a run through snow covered hills. While I discovered running through snow on a bum knee isn't the most fun in the world, spinning is incredibly wonderful. I absolutely fell in love with the class and have actively been looking for a spinning class near my apartment. There was something so supportive about working out in a class-setting where enthusiastic shouts were encouraged while you're being told to pretend you're racing Lance Armstrong through a night club, on a bike. It's encouraging, it's motivating, it's an awesome sweat-inducing good time. Biking in general has become a great amount of fun for me, lately. This weekend I biked 44 miles, split between two days, and this morning I did a 15 mile bike/hill workout before heading into work. While at heart I will forever be a runner, cross-training has made me a stronger runner, a better runner, and a happier runner. And hey, now I have the best of both worlds!

The Upside to Injury

Over Thanksgiving break I discovered the problem to why my knee has been bothering me so much lately: I have chondromalacia. Or, in simpler terms, "runner's knee." I'm supposed to be taking it easy on the running, and doing a lot more stationary bike workouts and yoga, to strengthen and loosen my muscles around the knee, giving it a rest. But, I am allowed to run once or twice a week, if my knee isn't hurting that badly. Today was my running day. It didn't matter that it's the week before finals or that I've been working overtime or that it was 34 degrees this morning when I woke up at 5:45. Nothing was going to keep me from my running day. I told myself I wasn't going to push myself and just run an easy 5k. But, once I was out there, I couldn't stop. I was singing along to my music, I was saying hello to every runner I saw, I was smiling at everyone and everything. At one point I even started laughing. I probably looked insane, but I couldn't help it. I was in love with running this morning! While I know being injured is never fun, it's helped me to really love running again. I don't get to run that much lately, so when I finally get to my running day, I'm wanting it. I'm craving it. I'm needing it. The upside to being injured is that you stop taking your body, and your sport, for granted. You learn a new respect for both, and in turn, once you heal, you have a new-found respect, desire and devotion to both running and yourself.

Giving Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I love to eat, and I really, really love to eat Thanksgiving food. My dad is an absolutely incredible cook, so the massive feast he prepares for today is simply outstanding. Last year my stepmom and I participated in a Turkey Trot 5k road race, but today we're making up our own tradition. Instead of joining the masses and running in a race, we're heading to the trails behind the house, with the dogs, for our own leisurely run. I absolutely love running with my stepmom and the dogs (or the "racing team," as we've dubbed our group). There's no music, or roads, or crowds. It's just us and our four-footed friends, running through beautiful woods, and talking. It's the only time where it's just the two of us, and through running together, we've formed a bond that's unlike any other we've had previously. We've become the other's confidant, therapist, comedian, and friend. Today, I give thanks for my stepmom, Michelle. She gave me the confidence to run, the desire to keep going, and the companionship on the trails. She's entirely changed my life for the better, and I couldn't be luckier than to have her in my life.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and remember to give thanks to those special people in your life.

Overcoming Obstacles

I was watching one of my favorite shows the other day, and there was this fantastic line that really stuck with me: "Life is going to kick you down more times than you can count. Don't kick yourself down." This past month has been really hard for me, personally. It's basically been one big month of suck. But, through it all and feeling at my lowest, I was determined to not let life entirely drag me down. I threw myself even more into work and school, oftentimes being out of the house for 16 hours a day. I worked weekends, I applied (and got!) a part-time internship. But what really kept me feeling mostly okay, was running.
Getting up at 5:30am after going to bed at 1am isn't fun. And it's even less fun to go run outside, or walk to the gym, in 30 degree weather. But once I'm running, everything else stops existing. I can be free from heartbreak and stress and anxiety every day, even if just for a 5k. And that attitude, that freedom, stays with me longer and longer as the days go by. I'm not yet getting through an entire day without feeling life trying to kick me down, but I'm getting there. Life may be really, really hard at times and be determined to kick me down to my lowest of lows, but I have the choice to go down or not. I have the ability to keep going, to keep my head up, and to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Because, really, that's how I'm going to make myself okay. If you just keep moving, eventually everything will all make sense again. And running supplies that; the more you realize that you have the ability to overcome physical obstacles, you realize you have the ability to overcome emotional obstacles, as well.

Gloucester 7 Miler

Yesterday, my friend, stepmom and I all ran in the Gloucester 7 Miler race. It was the most beautiful course I've run on yet; right along the beach and throughout the absolutely adorable and picturesque town. I've been worked up (obviously) about the race for the past week or two because I've been having trouble lately getting past 2-3 miles. After a lot of advice, I believe I might be lactose intolerant. So, while this is slightly depressing considering my love affair with cheese, it was also really positive; I avoided all dairy 24 hours before the race and was able to do the 7 miles sans problems. Well, minus the normal wear and tear :)

The three of us did really well in the race! My stepmom said she even "took it slow" so she could look at the course. Granted, for her, taking it slow was running 6:50's and coming in second in her age group. Did I mention that the world record holder for the female 10k ran this race? And won, naturally. They flew in some of the fastest Kenyans to participate in this inaugural event. It was so exciting, being able to run the same course as these world class athletes. My dad made an excellent point: "Running is the only sport where the professional athletes compete with everyone else." You don't see Red Sox fans allowed on the field to play along with the pros. It's true. Running is a sport for everyone, because everyone and anyone can do it. It was extremely inspirational to see these world record holders crossing the same finish line as you, albeit even if they did it in half the time ;)