tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74184719187725766532024-03-18T01:17:51.064-04:00Frickin' Fabulous at 40Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.comBlogger252125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-40271322671685739132017-02-14T07:56:00.001-05:002017-02-14T07:56:49.137-05:00What's Happening?January was filled with sickness for me. I am usually the last one in my house to catch what's going around, <i>IF </i>I even get sick at all. Well, I had worked with the photography company for a few days, two of them being with pre-schoolers, and two days after that I was hit with the stomach bug. I. Do. Not. Vomit. So, I was awoken with intense stomach pain at 5 am on a Saturday and then suffered the rest of the day in bed, fighting the urge to throw up. I know. I know. I would have felt better had I let it out. I WILL NEVER KNOW!<br />
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Due to the stomach virus I took in very few calories. I even made Charlie go out and get Popsicles, because that's all I could think of tolerating. There were several days of slowly increasing my solid foods as my stomach could handle them. And then days after that I got a horrible cold. After about a week I went to the doctor to make sure it wasn't strep throat or bronchitis or pneumonia. I babysit my niece's kids and I didn't want to pass anything on to them. All the tests were negative.<br />
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So, all that was a good jump start to my weight loss goals! But seriously, being sick isn't fun. I am down 7 pounds since January 2nd. And since being cleared to do anything I want after 16 weeks off I've been doing <i>a lot</i> of walking. I still haven't renewed my gym membership so I am pretty limited to what I can do. My daughter has started a healthy lifestyle change, as well, and we've been walking together as much as possible. I bought her a Fitbit so she can easily track both her diet and exercise and she loves it so much more than lugging her phone with her everywhere. I am involved in my local running store's February Miles challenge, where the minimum goal is to walk or run a mile a day (bronze level). 13 days in and I'm still at it, even after having some really horrible weather here and having to walk between my house and my neighbors house in my snow boots about 100 times. I don't think I'll hit the silver level of the challenge. That's a minimum of 75 miles. It was only 2.68 miles averaged a day, but the weather and my new job hasn't cooperated with that.<br />
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Oh, yeah, I got a new job! Or another job, if I can squeeze the photo job in with this part time job. This past year the bills have just piled up with two kids in college now and having a seasonal job with a seasonal salary I could never count on was really part of the problem. I wanted to take some of the stress and burden off of Charlie's shoulders, even though he never complained to me. I knew the library would be hiring because my son recently got a promotion from one department to another and they would need to fill his position. I applied right before New Year's Day, interviewed on January 3rd, had a second interview a couple of weeks later and started working on the February 3rd! I'm a page in the Reference and Adult Services department, which entails shelving materials, covering the copy/fax room and DVD room, setting up classrooms for programs, etc. So far I'm covering the easy stuff, like shelving, and as I progress they will add more tasks and responsibilities. So far, so good. And the library offers their employees so many benefits, like paying into a pension, different investment programs and insurances. One of the best perks is that when the library closes due to inclement weather and you were scheduled to work, you get paid for your shift! I got paid to shovel my driveway on Thursday!! WOO HOO!<br />
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I think it will work out well. I have always loved being at the library, borrowing books, printing things for free (up to 5 free prints!), using the computers... My kids spent hour upon hour at children's programs, summer after summer, when they were small. And I know so many people that work there. Having grown up right in the community, I've either worked with co-workers in the past, or they're my kids' friends or their friends' parents! So very strange! I saw my son in the break room and I said to him "This is weird," and he replied "No, it's not!" I think I had to pick my jaw up off the floor! And to hear my superiors compliment me on raising my son well, what "a delight he is to work with" and how annoyed they are that he defected to another department! LOL I can't hear enough good things about him. I guess I can take credit for that, along with Dad, right? Hope I make him as proud as he makes me.Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-20493734832254921042017-01-31T11:18:00.003-05:002017-01-31T11:18:55.383-05:00Moving On<span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">16 weeks. I was prohibited from running for 16 whole weeks. That frigging changed yesterday. I went to the doctor and I was cleared to do whatever the hell I want. My break is healed and now I just have to be careful. If I experience any pain I need to back off and see him.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">So, yesterday I went to the high school track with my daughter and planned on a quarter mile walk warm-up and then run the straits until we hit 1.75 miles and then a cool down with another quarter mile walk. It was just so weird to run again. It was extremely cold and windy at the track so my eyes and nose were running and my lungs were burning, since I'm still getting over a virus. My ankles were feeling it and occasionally my feet and knees let me know I hadn't done this in quite some time. But, I felt so good that I managed to run a <i>FULL</i> lap after several times around the oval.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12:40 pace for a quarter mile!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I'm sore today, but I sore I've sadly missed for far too long!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I am nearly 40 pounds heavier than my lowest weight ever (I think I got off the scale that day and immediately gained 5 pounds) and 30 pounds heavier than what I was when we ran our Ragnar 4 years ago; that's 8 pounds a year. In those 4 years I've had knee surgery and broke my foot. I've also ran a marathon and 7 half marathons as well as several 10ks, 5ks, one milers, etc. Both of my kids have graduated high school and are continuing their academic success in college. My husband and I are still loving life together and enjoyed a trip to Nashville for the premiere of the documentary. Life goes on and great things happen. Do I feel better weighing less? Absolutely, but my happiness can't hinge on what the scale or the tags on my clothes say. I am actively trying to change those things. I'm still going to run and eat better and be better at my health, because that's what really matters- being healthy to continue to enjoy these momentous events. The scale will follow.</span>Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-80304511079085436022016-12-05T10:51:00.001-05:002016-12-05T10:51:17.294-05:00One More Week?So, today it has been 8 weeks since I went to the ER and was put in a boot. I was non weight bearing for SEVEN whole weeks. At 5 weeks I was sentenced to two more weeks non weight bearing and I broke down and cried in the exam room. I cried the whole way home. I was so done with bearing all my weight on my left foot, quad, hip, glute... but I had no frigging choice. It put me in a funk that didn't help me keep my mind focused on eating well and doing the physical activity I could while out of the game.<br />
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Two weeks ago I was prescribed and qualified for 100% financial coverage of the Exogen ultrasound bone healing system. It's an ultrasound device that you use 20 minutes a day to help promote blood flow to the area of the injury, which has been found to accelerate healing by up to 38%. I was a bit peeved that I hadn't received the device earlier, but, according to my doctor, that's the insurance companies fault. "They" don't like covering them before 90 days with non healing, so he was shocked I had one <i>already</i>. I've been using it regularly and I am hoping it's doing its job. (The device is mine to keep, so I think I'll start using it on my left foot, since it's been angry with all the hopping I had to do for 7 weeks, even with the knee scooter and walker.)<br />
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Finally, last week I got the good news from my doctor that allowed me to start walking in the boot. I see him again next Monday and we'll see what the x-rays say, again. I'm surprised I haven't grown a sixth toe, it's been radiated so damn much. My foot hurt the first day of walking on it. It was the 1st time I experienced any pain since I broke it, so it made me really nervous. The pain subsided, thank goodness, but I'm still experiencing major soreness in my hips and now in my left foot. Everything is out of alignment because the boot is just so tall. My stability sneaker is still not high enough to keep my hips parallel to each other. And yet I hear there is no physical therapy prescribed after this injury. Huh.<br />
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When I was able to stand on both feet I weighed myself and I am up 7 pounds. That sure will help my running and any pain I might experience when I am finally permitted to exercise again. Not. Doc said no exercise, not even the recumbent bike, last week. I was surprised by that and bummed out, thinking how bad could <i>that</i> be?!? Apparently enough to jeopardize my healing.<br />
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7 more days, then what? I have no idea where my fitness will be. I have no idea what kind of pain I will experience. The uncertainties scare me. NYC Half Marathon on March 19th and the Philadelphia 15k on April 1st. 14 weeks to go from 0 to 13.1 miles. Terrifying.Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-49703495027257599432016-10-27T13:53:00.002-04:002016-10-27T13:53:50.188-04:00Two More Weeks, PlusSo, on the 24th I went back to the foot doctor after two weeks in the boot. He did new x-rays and decided I would be in the boot, non-weight-bearing, an additional <i><b>three</b></i> weeks, with another recheck on November 14th. <b>THREE MORE WEEKS!!!</b> He said two weeks ago I could walk in the boot and drive after just four weeks off of the foot. He's a filthy liar!!<br />
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Doc said I'm healing, but because it's a small bone with a weak blood supply he's being cautious. Just wonderful right? He also prescribed a suped up Vitamin D supplement to aid in the healing process. 50,000 IU, to be exact, to be taken once a week for four weeks. I asked him if there would be any nasty side effects with such a high dosage. He assured me there would not. If I get the shits from this and can't make it to the bathroom in time because I'm hobbling one foot there will be hell to pay!<br />
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Just a couple days hopping on crutches was torture to my upper body, especially my pits. My mom had a walker that has a seat, basket and convenient cup holder so my dad dropped it off for me to get around the house. It has been a life saver. I have reading materials in the basket and I'll put stuff in there to throw out or move from room to room. I'm able to perform household chores like cook, sweep, mop etc. It fits perfectly in my bathroom, which is just a tad bigger than a port o potty!<br />
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My sister lent me a portable commode for my bedroom upstairs. I have a bathroom upstairs but 1). we don't use it and 2). I also just wouldn't want to maneuver around near the stairs in the middle of the night, multiple times. Having to just hop out of bed to pee is very convenient! I may not return it! LOL Charlie would certainly stop emptying it, that's for sure.<br />
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Without being able to stand on two feet, I also needed a shower chair! Since my brother and father have had both of their hips replaced we have one of those in the family as well. That's one less task poor Charlie has to do although he *does* have to lug the thing into the bathtub for me. Poor guy.<br />
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Yesterday I received a text from my sister asking if I was home. Frigging wise ass. Anyway, she managed to get her hands on a knee scooter. It's definitely way kinder to my right hip since I don't have to lift it onto the walker seat if I want to scoot rather than hop all over the place, but it's a tad long and fast! I can zip from the front door to the living room doorway without taking out the moulding, but I can't pivot as well with it. Think 6-point turn as opposed to a quick swerve. However, I'm thinking I <i>may</i> be able to take the thing for an actual "walk" outside...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just getting out of the house for something other than a doctor's appt would be nice!</td></tr>
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I think I have just about every product I could possibly need to make life as convenient as possible with this injury. My friends and family have been great, helping with getting my daughter home from class, picking up some groceries when needed, and visiting, texting and calling to keep my spirits up. I've used online grocery shopping sites for big shops. It's so much more convenient and less time consuming walking up and down the aisles of a grocery store! It took me 3 hours to shop twice! It's a necessary evil because I refuse to add another chore to Charlie's already overflowing plate, and I'm glad it's an available service for those who just need it to live.<br />
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Facebook and the boob tube have gotten way too much of my time lately, but what else is there to do? I started reading the first 'The Walking Dead' compendium. I'm interested to see the difference from the show to the book. I'll stop after the second one since I don't want to get ahead of the tv show. I'm trying to keep my house as clean as possible, but I need someone to throw out the garbage and recyclables and put it to the curb. Laundry certainly can't be done alone. And I'm unable to drive, so I'm not working, which stresses me out.<br />
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I'm home all day, every day. I'm trying to stay as active as possible without making my situation worse. I am able to "work out" sitting down, but I would give anything to just take a walk in this great fall weather!! Seeing all my friends post about their fall race schedules makes me pine for a quick jog around the block, let alone a half marathon.<br />
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"Patience grasshopper." I know, I know.<br />
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What would you do with all this time on <i>your</i> hands???<br />
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<br />Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-62298642401587934982016-10-14T20:21:00.002-04:002016-10-14T20:21:29.253-04:00Well *THAT* Sucked!Although I am still up 25 pounds from my running weight in the documentary, <a href="http://www.fromfattofinish.com/">From Fat To Finish Line</a>, I am still enjoying running and racing with my good friends. This year was full of big races. Since we had the goal of gaining entry into the NYC Half Marathon in 2017, we had to run 4 of the 6 select races. I was lucky enough to gain entry into this year's NYC Half via lottery, so I was aiming to complete the entire 5 borough series.<br />
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As you may already know, the NYC Half was on March 20th and it was frigid. I was running it on my own, which is a really odd sensation, not having my husband by my side. I slogged through it. In May, we ran the Brooklyn Half Marathon and that was my best performance in a long distance race this year. The weather was perfect and the course was scenic. All the stars aligned for me that day. And the Queens 10k, although hot, was a pretty good showing for me with a 1:18-ish finish time. Then came the Bronx...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bronx start- photo courtesy of Kim's "long" arms</td></tr>
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September 25, the Bronx 10 Miler. I was so excited to run *only* 10 miles. My longest run prior to this race was the 10k course on the Selden Hills on my 45th birthday, the 13th. I managed to make the Selden Hills leader board in July and August, meeting and surpassing the required 24.8 miles to get on it. So, I was attempting a 3-peat for September. (I did it!) The hill work would come in handy for the Bronx course. Race day was very sunny and slightly warm. I felt pretty good about the day, though, and my first 5 miles were strong. 1:03:08 to be exact, and I was cruising steadily up those hills. Then I started to feel icky. It's the only way to describe it. I thought I was hydrating and fueling well. My body was telling me otherwise.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Game face Media's AWESOME free race photos!!</td></tr>
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And the sun was beating and the day was getting warmer. I started to get queasy and light-headed. I took a gel and it hit my belly like a gut bomb and just sat there. I managed to finish with a second 5 mile split of 1:18:47. I crossed the finish in 2:21:55 and immediately looked for a place to sit and drink some water. I refused to go to the medic tent. I'm an idiot that way. I managed to recover somewhat for the long ride home, but we didn't get to do our usual celebratory meal because of me. I was better when we pulled into my friend's driveway and I vowed that I would hydrate and eat well 2 weeks out from the Staten Island Half.<br />
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I did what I said I would. Along with my usual coffee I was drinking 2-33oz bottles of plain water. I should've just set up camp in the toilet. I have a bladder the size of a Gu Chomp. I ate pretty well and tried to stay away from my crappy treats. I wanted one last good long run before the half, one run that would boost my confidence, so Kim and I met up in Sayville for a flat 8 miles. NYRR was enforcing a firm 13:45 pace or a 3:00 course limit. I guess Staten Island doesn't have the sidewalks the other courses had for you to move over to if you are slower than that projected pace. That made me nervous.<br />
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I ran 8 in 1:43:48, a 12:59 pace. Not bad! That made me feel a bit better going into the half.<br />
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And then there was the weather report for the 9th. It wasn't <i>horrible</i>, but the forecast can always change on a dime. The Weather Channel was calling for the rain to stop around 9 am, and although the race started at 8:30 am, with the corral we were in, it would take about 30 minutes to plod up to the start mat. We were SO fortunate that our friend's husband drove and we parked in a dry garage with access to bathrooms. The goal was to stay dry for as long as possible.<br />
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Of course there was a .75 mile walk to the start, so we headed out and found a bus stop enclosure to huddle under until it was time for the last pit stop before the corrals. It was getting ugly out. It didn't look like it was about to clear up in an hour. We made our way to the corrals and got to cheer on our friends who were running in the 5k race. It's pretty discouraging to see the elites finish <i>their</i> race before you even <i>start</i> your own.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">waiting for a bus that would never come</td></tr>
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We finally began running at 8:50 am. My first 5 miles, again, were great. They were slower than the Bronx, which is what I was aiming for. I didn't want to blow it all in the first half. I was under a 13:20/3:00 finish pace but not a lot. It was cold. And it was windy. And it was raining a slushy, messy mix. I slowed down in mile 6, but not <i>horribly</i>. My 10k split was 1:21:23. And then we turned to run alongside the upper bay and the wind was pushing us back. And the running stopped. It was miserable race conditions and I was miserable.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JF3u8D8SV8Q/WAFtMVBiMTI/AAAAAAAACbs/_-OUR8__TDc3WvM1QC-QtJiyKmPOsvWsQCLcB/s1600/6%2Bwooo%2Bgo%2Bmom%2Brain%2Brace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JF3u8D8SV8Q/WAFtMVBiMTI/AAAAAAAACbs/_-OUR8__TDc3WvM1QC-QtJiyKmPOsvWsQCLcB/s320/6%2Bwooo%2Bgo%2Bmom%2Brain%2Brace.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">still dry-ish at the start</td></tr>
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The next 5k took me almost an hour... We were trudging up hills and wading through flooded streets. The scenic views of the Verrazano Bridge and the Manhattan skyline were nearly invisible in the fog and we couldn't even try to take it all in because the wind prevented you from picking your head up. And then, in mile 11, I felt a suspicious pop in my right foot. I didn't land hard or oddly. It was a normal footfall. I was walking for God's sake! It felt weird but not horrifically painful. We moved along. (We never saw a sag bus, probably because of the running conditions. We made sure to thank all the volunteers for braving it with us!) The glorious finish at home plate of the Staten Island Yankees was a muddy mess and I can't imagine even attempting running through it if I could. Our friends were cheering us on from the stands and hearing them scream our names made the floodgates open. It was a bad Oprah ugly cry right then. We finished in 3:28.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ewWQ2tcOnuc/WAFtc-ZJezI/AAAAAAAACbw/twAVjb-bVLM4J2dJjXQsa8tAt89MEXFtQCLcB/s1600/4we%2Bshould%2Bsteal%2Bthat%2Blady%2527s%2Bumbrella%2Brain%2Brace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ewWQ2tcOnuc/WAFtc-ZJezI/AAAAAAAACbw/twAVjb-bVLM4J2dJjXQsa8tAt89MEXFtQCLcB/s320/4we%2Bshould%2Bsteal%2Bthat%2Blady%2527s%2Bumbrella%2Brain%2Brace.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on the way to the finish</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IWy0YPSjJZE/WAFygX_Pv7I/AAAAAAAACcQ/HihTPvIEI5w3_szbj4HHkhEXzPl8fHrJgCEw/s1600/13%2Bwhy%2Bdoes%2Bshe%2Blook%2Bso%2Bhappy%2Brain%2Brace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IWy0YPSjJZE/WAFygX_Pv7I/AAAAAAAACcQ/HihTPvIEI5w3_szbj4HHkhEXzPl8fHrJgCEw/s320/13%2Bwhy%2Bdoes%2Bshe%2Blook%2Bso%2Bhappy%2Brain%2Brace.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The smile masks the misery.</td></tr>
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We all cried a bit together then got our shit together for the .75 mile walk back to the parking garage. We all changed into dry clothes and I tossed my saturated pants and hoodie, not caring whether I ever saw them again. Charlie couldn't stop shivering. It was an hour into the long drive home before he stopped. And my foot started to hurt.<br />
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By the time we got back to Long Island and hit an Applebee's to celebrate our accomplishment I couldn't bear any weight on my foot. I needed assistance to walk into the restaurant. I still enjoyed my meal and our reflections on the year. We did it. The Fab Four is running the NYC Half Marathon together.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HIwsqLajYnU/WAFtubL0MXI/AAAAAAAACb0/D91fdn_itqIA8NktqQVx-HMD13aYkLO-wCLcB/s1600/14672792_1529451970404826_742014378_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HIwsqLajYnU/WAFtubL0MXI/AAAAAAAACb0/D91fdn_itqIA8NktqQVx-HMD13aYkLO-wCLcB/s320/14672792_1529451970404826_742014378_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of JS Lit</td></tr>
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When we got home at 5:30 pm I took off my shoe and my foot was swollen and bruised. Not good. I decided to ice it and call my orthopedist in the morning.<br />
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But I couldn't get an appointment until Friday so we went to the local ER for xrays, and this happened...<br />
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I broke my 5th metatarsal. At Mile 11. And I finished with a broken foot. In really shitty weather. It sucked. I finished. And now I'm wearing this. I am ordered to be non-weightbearing for four weeks. I go back for new xrays on the 24th to make sure I'm healing well and then at 4 weeks if all goes well I can bear weight on it with the boot, driving without it. Best case scenario, I am free after an additional 2 weeks. I can't work right now because I'm not quite sure how to figure out the logistics with transportation and the actual work. I'm very thankful I have older kids, a very helpful husband, family and friends, and I never signed up for any other races this year. It pays to procrastinate!<br />
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So the goal is to be the best patient ever and get back to running the end of November. I'll be back to square one. My goal right now is to watch my diet carefully to not pack on any more weight. I'm using my upper body tremendously being on one foot, so I can feel those muscles as well as my core working overtime. I'm doing an aerobics workout from a chair. I have no excuses now <i>not </i>to "work out." I'm afraid to run, but I'm not going to give up. No matter how slow I go, and what other people may think of me, I'm a runner. It doesn't matter how slow I go, as long as I don't stop.<br />
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<br />Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-80000665006734718462016-08-13T11:26:00.000-04:002016-08-13T11:26:05.538-04:0044 and 11 MonthsOne month until the big 4-5. *GULP* Charlie will be 50 exactly one week later. Where the hell did the time go?!? We are together since I am 19! There's no way we've lived 26 years. I mean, my kids keep getting older, but I don't *feel* it! Well, other than the heel pain and the creaking, cracking joints, and the grey roots and crow's feet... I still think I just got out of high school.<br />
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Speaking of getting out of high school- my youngest graduated! Now I have TWO college kids in the house! Boggles my mind! We had her graduation party out which was great. The only stress I had was picking up the cake on a busy Sunday afternoon and decorating the private room at the restaurant. I was relaxing the night before and I was home sitting on the couch watching the Olympics when we got home. Easy Peasy.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So proud of Chelsea and her accomplishments!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrate!</td></tr>
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The Bronx 10 Miler is 6 weeks away and the Staten Island Half is 8 weeks away. I've been working hard. If I am not running I am climbing flights of stairs on the Stairmaster and getting my 10,000+ steps in daily. And when I *am* running at least one of those weekly runs have been in Selden, on the hills. I used to think the people who trained on that course were nuts. Why intentionally do that to yourself when you can run nice and easy on the treadmill or in your own neighborhood? And then you go to any of our umpteen local races and you witness the sea of red shirts flying by, almost every age group award category dominated by a Selden Hills Warrior. Running hills can make you a better runner.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my hills PR splits in September with elevation gains and losses</td></tr>
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My friends and I have found our own little niche out there. We aren't as fast as most of the group, but we're doing what we can, and together, which makes it enjoyable. Just walking the 6.2 miles is a feat. My friend Laurie and I have even attempted the 15k course, (790 ft elevation gain), which we really weren't prepared for. Next time we will bring more water or money for beverages. Our friend Kim was like a mirage in the desert when she pulled up in her car offering ice cold water! It has been incredibly hot and humid here, like most of the country, and I sweat like a mo fo on any regular given day. Add humidity and I become a flipping mess. It was a sad, slow 9.35 miles, but we did it. We may even be crazy enough to attempt it again this week.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This s what pure misery looks like!</td></tr>
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The most exciting news is <a href="http://www.fattofinish.com/">From Fat to Finish Line</a> was released on iTunes and Amazon! And people are loving it! It's been great to hear from family and friends how much they enjoyed it and most importantly were <i>inspired</i> by the message of the film. Hard work and determination can lead you to any finish line you are dreaming of!!<br />
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<br />Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-62403594402654410622016-07-13T16:47:00.000-04:002016-07-13T16:47:12.277-04:00It's Been *HOW* Long?Um... 8 months? After the NYC Marathon, I kinda went into that slump you have after planning a huge party. You know, like a wedding, an all-consuming life event that you get tunnel vision over and nothing else seems to matter? Training for a year, fundraising, planning the marathon weekend with my friend <a href="http://www.seejenroerun.blogspot.com/">Jen</a>, was all I could think about between working and taking care of the family.<br />
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Then it came and went, all that planning and anticipation for a 24 hour day. Now what? Well, I put that 20 pounds I lost before the marathon back on. I think I started overeating the week before the marathon and then the holidays hit... I've been up and down since January. I was doing really well with some challenge groups, but my determination and motivation seemed to fizzle out. Now I am about 9 weeks from my 45th birthday. Frickin' fabulous, right? I'm just gonna keep trying.<br />
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I've raced a lot, for my standards. There was the Rob's Run Cross Country 5k on November 29th and the Run to the Brewery 10 Miler on January 17th.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J6ST73j3BDQ/V4TtRw4L0qI/AAAAAAAACZg/qs57PdRCls8HGfI0Kk706U_e3p9nwtWXgCKgB/s1600/12469353_10206879834129320_826946091723208045_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J6ST73j3BDQ/V4TtRw4L0qI/AAAAAAAACZg/qs57PdRCls8HGfI0Kk706U_e3p9nwtWXgCKgB/s320/12469353_10206879834129320_826946091723208045_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Run to the Brewery</td></tr>
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And then I got into a little race called the NYC Half Marathon through the NYRR lottery. Charlie did not get in and we weren't about to fundraise for him to do it with me. It was VERY strange doing a race and that distance without him. I had to get <i>myself</i> through it. It was extremely cold that day, but I commuted with my friends Alicia, Jen and Jeff, so I wasn't alone and knew I had them waiting at the finish line for me.<br />
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After getting into the NYC Half Marathon my friend Alicia decided to run the 5 Borough Series, where there is a major run in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, da Bronx and Staten Island. AND if you run 4 of 6 qualifying races you are then guaranteed entry into the 2017 NYC Half. <b>THIS</b> was how Charlie was going to get to run that race, with me.<br />
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The next race in the series was the Brooklyn Half Marathon, on May 21st, and it was a warm one, but I did well and enjoyed the day with Charlie and our friend Kim, who was now also running the 4 of 6 races to get into the NYC Half with us.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand Army Plaza on the Brooklyn Half course</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished!</td></tr>
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For fun we ran the inaugural Brooklyn Bridge Memorial Day 5k on 5/29. Since it was the first time this race was put on, we should give the race company the benefit of the doubt, but most of the logistics of this run left a lot to be desired! You start in Manhattan and run over the bridge into Brooklyn. Sounds pretty simple, except the course really wasn't closed and it was as hot as Hades and there was only one sorta <i>self-serve</i> water station at 1.7 miles... I could go on and on. We finished and after getting some post race pics, we all walked back over the bridge back to Penn Station, but before we hopped on a train home we had a phenomenal meal in Brother Jimmy's BBQ. It was a good day spent with Charlie, Kim and our friends Chris and Zorana. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">me, Kim, Charlie, Chris, Zorana and Tana</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sharing the bridge with tourists and cyclists was *not* fun</td></tr>
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On June 18th we ran the Queens 10k in Flushing Meadows Park, home of the 1964 World's Fair. It was a very hot day and I was thanking the good Lord above that we <i>only</i> had to run 6.2 miles. Jeff and Alicia took the 3 of us in and Jeff, again, took awesome race day pics!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3/5 done for me and 2/4 for Charlie! photo courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/JSLsportsphotos/">JSL Sports Photos</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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It's now July 13th. Two months until my 45th birthday. Ten weeks until the Bronx 10 Miler and about 12 weeks until the Staten Island Half Marathon. We are probably doing the Smith Point Bridge 5k on 9/10. It's the 1st race we ran together and we missed it the last 2 years because of my knee injury and marathon training. I'm also thinking we will finish up our race calendar with the Suffolk Half Marathon on 10/30. It's not far from where we live and we did the 1st annual on my birthday last year. Might as well try and keep that streak going!<br />
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I have a lot of work to do to get where I want to be for the SI Half. I'm anticipating a tough course and I really want to get back under the 3:00 cut-off. That's only going to happen by dropping weight and working hard.<br />
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<i><b>WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU.......</b></i> drum roll please....<br />
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<a href="http://www.fattofinish.com/">From Fat To Finish Line</a> is being released on iTunes and Amazon on <b>August 2nd</b>!!! It can be pre-ordered right now! Here's the links to order it on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fat-Finish-Line-Katie-Foster/dp/B01HU7Z4P6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468442632&sr=8-1&keywords=from+fat+to+finish+line">Amazon</a> and on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/from-fat-to-finish-line/id1118557909">iTunes. </a><br />
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After 4+ years it's finally a finished product I will be holding in my hands! I have seen multiple edits and I just love it. I know you all will enjoy it, too. <br />
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Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-4905985512263042642015-11-04T14:35:00.003-05:002015-11-09T18:14:44.309-05:00We ARE Marathoners!The last few days I have been trying to digest what transpired over the weekend. Never have I experienced so many emotions in one period of time. The few weeks before the big day was riddled with anxiety and self-doubt to the point where I was having stomach pain, so I ditched my strong coffee brew and opted for calming tea to help soothe my stomach and my nerves. It helped my stomach.<br />
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Marathon Eve Eve was spent getting our act together. I made my list and checked it thrice. I dyed my hair (marathon photos are forever!) and cleaned the house since my kids were hosting a couple of my sisters and their kids for our traditional Halloween trick-or-treating/pizza party. I had to pack all of our running attire, nutrition, fuel belt and handheld, registration forms, licenses, cash, throwaway clothes for Athlete's Village, Body Glide, and toiletries. I managed to get it all in 1 backpack. (FYI: Rolling clothes takes up less space.) We went to bed knowing how important that night of sleep was for marathon day and managed to doze off somewhere around 11 pm... and then the phone rang...at 2:20 am. I leaped out of bed to get to the phone only for it to stop ringing and not register the call. Your mind always assumes the worst when the phone rings at that time of night! Charlie and I attempted to return to sleep with our hearts in out throats.<br />
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And then it was Saturday. We took the train directly from our town because there was track work being done on our regular LIRR branch. Charlie and I arrived in Manhattan at noon and walked to the expo at the Javits Center.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Get you New York on."</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"It's a big race. Go run it!"</td></tr>
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I had never been to JJC and it is enormous! We were relieved to discover that even though it was the runners' last chance to pick up race bibs it was not as crowded as I had anticipated. We were able to walk right up to our assigned number kiosk, show our IDs and get our bibs. Next we picked up our lovely long sleeved tech marathon shirts and then milled about, trying samples of different nutritional products. The expo was basically the biggest running store in the world. I heeded <a href="http://www.seejenroerun.blogspot.com/">Jen's</a> (my <a href="http://www.fromfattofinish.com/">From Fat to Finish Line</a> team mate) warning and didn't shop for anything. I can do that from the comfort of my own home and not have to wait on a ridiculously long line.<br />
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We took the provided shuttle bus back to Penn to spend the night with Jen and her family in NJ. Even though we live so close we don't get to see each other enough! Jen graciously opened her home to us so we could take the NYRR bus from the Meadowlands to Staten Island marathon morning. While we were there we got to discuss all our worries and concerns about the race, as well as how much fun we were going to have and the memories we were going to make. Since it was Halloween we sat out on the stoop and handed out candy to all the trick or treaters with Jen's adorable son. He was trying to convince Charlie and I with his astounding persuasive abilities to visit the neighbor's haunted garage. He might have managed to get me to eat M&Ms and a piece of Double Bubble, but he was unsuccessful in getting us to that guy's house!<br />
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You never sleep well at a different location than your own bed, let alone the night before your first marathon. Charlie and I were awake well before our 4 am alarm. (The extra hour we had because of Daylight Savings Time was lost on us.) We put on the several layers of clothing required for the outdoor wait and had some breakfast. I attempted to choke down some oatmeal with peanut butter but it just wasn't appealing at all. Jen's husband and son also woke up before the crack of dawn to take us to the bus. I was pleasantly surprised to see many NJ Transit buses waiting for us, again without long lines. The three of us hopped on a bus and enjoyed talking with other runners and the commute went quickly.<br />
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We arrived at Fort Wadsworth around 6 am and walked a while until we found the Green Athlete's Village we were assigned to. It was a great coincidence that Jen, Charlie and myself had signed up for the biggest marathon in the world and wound up with the identical color, wave and corral! So we walked past all the food, Dunkin' Donuts coffee and nutritional supplements offered and found an empty (non-heated) tent to camp out in until we needed to head to the corral at about 10 am.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Verrazano Bridge, start of the marathon</td></tr>
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The tent began to fill up around us and the four hours we sat on the ground went quickly sharing stories with the runners around us. We met Pam from Hungary, Marlo from New Jersey, a German man who spoke little English, and an Adam Levine look alike from Virginia Beach (wish I had gotten his name!). Did you know that liverwurst is a common breakfast in Hungary? Me, neither. I really enjoy talking to people, so I could have spent the entire day there, especially since there was plenty of hot coffee, food and port o potties. Speaking of the john, one trip I made resulted in a somewhat teeter totter bathroom experience and when I opened the door a couple men were waiting to see who came out, so I announced "You need your sea legs when you're in this one!" and they started laughing. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">in our corner of the tent</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to go!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Then we started losing runners to their waves and the tent began to empty. We were the last men standing and then it was our turn. Jen, her two running buddies, Charlie and myself made it to Wave 4, Corral B, and were herded just like cows to the slaughterhouse. With each wave a canon is shot and we were able to watch Wave 3 take off. It was so exciting!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wave 3 moving along!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">at the start</td></tr>
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I can honestly say I was unusually calm. Charlie convinced me that our time did not matter to him. He just wanted us to enjoy the experience and finish. This day was the culmination of more than 6 years of running, losing weight, rehabbing, planning, and fundraising and he wanted it to be a celebration. The fact that Charlie was putting absolutely no pressure on me is why I was even able to breathe at the start line, let alone put one foot in front of the other.<br />
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Our cannon went off and the party started. We were on the lower level of the bridge, so it was warmer with absolutely no wind. We were already realizing we were overdressed. I shed my Pooh jacket on the bridge by mile 2. (Note: all clothes/blankets left behind at the villages and on the course are cleaned and donated to the homeless!) We were able to follow my 2:1 run/walk intervals and things were going well. When we made it onto the Brooklyn side of the bridge Charlie disrobed and threw away his long sleeved shirt.<br />
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My strategy to make the marathon seem more manageable was to break the run into 6 segments, one for each borough plus another for being in Manhattan twice. Staten Island went by quickly, since it was just the Verrazano Bridge. But Brooklyn? Even though the crowd support was like no other race I had ever been to, with people lining both sides of the street, yelling your name (make sure to put your name on the front of your shirt!!), holding up signs, (our favorite was "If you PR, Glenn lives!" a perfect 'The Walking Dead' reference!), it covered 10 miles on the course! While most of the miles had spectators and live bands and little kids high-fiving us galore, Williamsburg, a Hasidic Jewish community towards the end of the Brooklyn segment, was nearly desolate and quiet. The adorable little girls in their uniform dress staring at us from a second floor balcony made us feel like we were an anomaly, something to be studied and almost feared. *crickets*<br />
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Queens was almost an afterthought on the course, covering a mere couple miles before heading over the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan. We were doing well, hitting the 13.1 marker at around 3:20, crossing the Pulaski Street Bridge, when a course marshal bicyclist came by saying the roads would be opening soon, split timing mats would be lifted and we would need to move to the sidewalks. The finish line mat would be open and we would get medals, but we would fall off the radar as far as people being able to track us. This is the moment I broke. I didn't realize this would be a possibility. I never checked the bridge and road closure list with the times those roads would <i>reopen</i>. Panic set in.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the view of the Manhattan skyline </td></tr>
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The Queensboro Bridge was a challenge. We came upon a Spanish gentleman walking with wooden crutches and one leg. With the little Spanish we knew we tried to encourage him to keep moving as we passed. I have no idea if he finished. By the time we came off the bridge I called my parents' house where my kids and siblings would be to let them know although they weren't able to follow us much longer we were still on the course, still moving slowly forward. The tears started to flow as I spoke to my father. He encouraged me to keep going. It was too early to be hitting that wall.<br />
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The "wall of sound" coming into the Black Girls Run and the Mile 16 water station on 1st Avenue in Manhattan was now a dull roar for us back of the packers. It was still great to see them and know I had been there, volunteering with them the year before. I was hoping and praying that my friends Laurie and Cathy would still be waiting to cheer us on, even though we were taking such a long time out there. Well, I couldn't hide my emotions when from about 100 feet away I saw a neon green sign with the words "Linda and Charlie" as the title.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was so very happy and thankful that my friends were still waiting on me! I don't think I have ever sobbed so hard before. I do remember saying to the crowd next to Laurie "This fucking sucks!" (photo courtesy of Laurie)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love seeing Charlie and Laurie high five as I continue to sob on Cathy. (photo courtesy of Laurie)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this is what the sign said!! LOL!!! (photo courtesy of Laurie)</td></tr>
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Seeing Laurie and Cathy helped boost my spirits. We still had the long trudge up 1st Avenue and 10 miles to go. Just 2 miles later, around mile 18, I was thrilled again to see that our friend Kim was waiting, Selden Hills Warrior sign in hand and provisions for at least 10 more runners coming through. She had oranges, bananas, pretzels, GU, ShotBloks, M&Ms and water. Not only was it fantastic to see her, but her supply gave us a shot of energy and much needed water for the miles ahead, since water stations were now being disassembled and trucked away.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more tears (photo courtesy of Kim)</td></tr>
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First Avenue was a long journey into the Bronx. Spectators were dropping like flies, so when we heard cheers along the course we thanked every single person. By now, we were on the sidewalks and weaving through the police cars and the many Penske trucks coming along to break down the water stations. Again, the Bronx was only a couple miles, beginning with the Willis Avenue Bridge and ending with the Madison Avenue Bridge at mile 21.<br />
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It's our second time in Manhattan and the last of the six segments of the marathon. By that time it was dark, dark and desolate. We were sharing the sidewalk with pedestrians; some cheered us on and others seemed annoyed by our presence. We trudged on, hand in hand. Holding Charlie's hand gave me the determination to move forward and not slow down anymore than the 3.25 miles an hour I was moving. Harlem seemed to go on forever and then finally we turned into Central Park at Engineer's Gate and continued down East Drive in the park. It was a gorgeous evening for a stroll in the park. Other than some split mats and water tables being taken down you wouldn't know there was a marathon going on. We bumped into a young guy named Filip once again in the park. He had never done a marathon before and was walking the entire distance. He stopped several times along the last 2 miles and I just kept yelling at him to stop stopping and keep going!!<br />
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The last 1.2 miles were long. I started to kick it up a notch just to be done and we came out onto Central Park South and saw The Plaza Hotel, the place Charlie and I celebrated with champagne after getting engaged on a horse and buggy ride in Central Park, 23 years ago. We were now at the home stretch, turning into Columbus Circle and then back into the park. The grandstands were empty. The .2 miles to the finish were quiet. When the finish line was in sight we started to trot to cross the finish "running." We crossed hand in hand, arms outstretched overhead in victory.<br />
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I said before I was uncertain of how I would feel when we finished. I envisioned it being light out, holding Charlie's hand, turning to kiss him with tears gushing down our faces. However, I could have also been like a deer caught in headlights, numb to what we had been through and the magnitude of what we accomplished. We were spent. Charlie and I had shed so many tears throughout the day, from reading our daughter's texts in Athlete's Village, one saying "Remember, the finish line is only waiting for you. You'll cross it even if you think you can't," to the tears that fell when we saw our friends at miles 16 and 18. The finish line was just the end.<br />
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Just after the finish our medals were donned around our necks. We were handed finisher backpacks with food and water and thankfully our post-race ponchos were not even a block after that. NYRR didn't make the stragglers head up the additional umpteen blocks to get our ponchos and get <i>out</i> of the park. Now it was time to figure out how to get a cab and get back to Penn Station for the journey home. Because of the road closures and one way streets we wound up at Lincoln Center on Columbus Avenue to finally hail a cab. That was the best $11 (with tip) we have ever spent. No stairs necessary for a subway ride and when we were dropped at our stop, the LIRR has a blessed escalator.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the long ride home</td></tr>
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The next train home was over an hour wait, so we refueled with some pizza and checked texts and got a congratulatory phone call from our friend Colleen, who became a marathoner at the Marine Corps Marathon just a week before. We arrived home at about 11 pm, and I was greeted by balloons, a card and gift from the kids and Charlie.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my first Alex and Ani bracelet for my first marathon</td></tr>
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What have I learned from this journey that began back in 2009 with Charlie stating that if I ever considered running a marathon he would do it with me? I realized how very fortunate I am to have such loving and caring family and friends. I have such a dedicated and adoring husband, who, no matter slow the pace was, never left my side. Going through my Facebook posts took me several hours on Monday. The tears flowed yet again. I may not have the best marathon time, I have more than any running coach, gear or plan can give me. What matters is not <i>what</i> you have but <i>who </i>you have in life. Priceless.<br />
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<br />Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-11709689336878329122015-10-29T21:50:00.000-04:002015-10-29T21:50:16.811-04:00Sunday Sunday<span data-offset-key="2ja8-0-0" data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0.0">A
dream 6 years in the making for Charlie and I will come to reality on
Sunday. Three of those years were consumed by entering the harsh
marathon lottery, countless hours at the computer waiting for that
glorious golden ticket saying "You have been accepted," suffering a knee
injury and enduring surgery, physical therapy and the long road back to
running long distance, and then taking on the daunting task of
fundraising for a charity for the privilege to run the NYC Marathon. I
am hoping to make him and myself proud and have many fond memories of
the crowds, the course and the friends I will see along the way. And I
am very excited to share this dream come true with <a href="http://www.seejenroerun.blogspot.com/">Jennifer</a>, my great friend I met through our <a href="http://www.fattofinish.com/">From Fat to Finish Line</a>! I *know* NYC will not disappoint us!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-offset-key="2ja8-0-0" data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0.0"></span></span><span data-offset-key="2ja8-0-0" data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0.0">I
could have run more, further, faster, harder, lost more weight
(hovering at 170), cross trained more. I can't change any of that now.
All I can focus on is the reality that Sunday will be one of the best
days of our lives. I am so fortunate to have such a supportive and
caring spouse, and he will be by my side every step of those 26.2 miles,
no matter how slow I may go. The dream is to cross together, holding
hands, tears most likely rolling down our cheeks. It will take us more
than 6 hours. I am resigned to the fact that it could be more like 7
hours, or even 8, but that's just more time to soak in the atmosphere
that is NYC and the biggest marathon in the world. Chills and goosebumps
will be immeasurable as we crowd into our Green Wave 4, Corral B 11 am
start. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-offset-key="2ja8-0-0" data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0.0">It's
hard to believe it's finally almost here. This day has been built up in
my mind for so very long. Friends have shared their experiences with
the course that takes you through all 5 boroughs of the greatest city in
the world, in my opinion, but nothing can prepare you for the real thing.
Visualizing that finish line is overwhelming. I will either be sobbing,
unable to catch my breath, or just numb, stunned like a deer in
headlights. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tBmAmgo9XEs/VjDqSeV2UjI/AAAAAAAACRc/I-Vh3AVPPbg/s1600/59950_1471619189384_5394914_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tBmAmgo9XEs/VjDqSeV2UjI/AAAAAAAACRc/I-Vh3AVPPbg/s320/59950_1471619189384_5394914_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first race together, the Smith Point Bridge 5k, 9/11/10</td></tr>
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<br />
<span data-offset-key="2ja8-0-0" data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0.0">We've
come a long way from the denim shorts (yes, I ran in denim shorts my
1st 5k, 6/5/10) and cotton tees. We have spent countless dollars on race
registrations, travel expenses, running gear and nutrition. I can't
even conceive of the hours we have spent running. And Charlie has
sacrificed his only day off of the week to get the training done. To say
he is dedicated to this dream would be an understatement. So, when I say I am a "one and done" marathon runner, I really believe it. It has consumed our lives this year. If we aren't running we are talking about running, hanging out with our runner friends, fundraising for it, etc. I feel like I hardly see my kids and they haven't seen a "Big Sunday Breakfast" since probably March. There's been a lot of muffins in this house the last several months. This lady needs some bacon and eggs! The kids would like some French Toast and a breakfast sausage! If we were ever to do another marathon, it would have to be big, like Hawaii or Italy big. That is NOT happening any time soon.</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="2ja8-0-0" data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0.0"><br /></span></span>
<span data-offset-key="2ja8-0-0" data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0.0">I have just one more day to get together all the things necessary to run 26.2- two sets of running clothes, hydration bottles, Sports Beans, Gatorade Chews, Powerbar wafers, Gu, Honey Stinger Waffles, registration forms, Garmin, camera, Gymboss timer, gum, pain meds, visor, mittens, throwaway jackets and Bodyglide. Saturday we take the LIRR into the city for the expo to get our bibs and then we head to New Jersey to stay overnight with Jen and her hysterical husband Marty and adorable son. Then it's up with the roosters Sunday morning to get on a bus from the Meadowlands to Staten Island to wait, wait and then wait some more. The anticipation might just kill me before the marathon ever gets a hand on me!</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="2ja8-0-0" data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0.0"><br /></span></span>
<span data-offset-key="2ja8-0-0" data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0.0">And then we <i>finally </i>toe the start line in our corral. Hopefully Frank Sinatra's 'New York, New York' will be playing for us as we put one foot in front of the other, heading over the Verrazano Bridge, leaving one of the 5 New York City boroughs *quickly* behind. I am excited to see all my friends along the way. I look forward to the live bands, the fun signs and spectators lining the course. I can't wait to see sights of the city I have not already seen! But I eagerly await the moment we turn off Columbus Circle and into Central Park to finish the biggest marathon in the world and have that glorious medal wrapped around my neck, beside my Charlie, my biggest fan and supporter. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uciB9_6rQog/VjLMUV_bVKI/AAAAAAAACR4/jcCf31Igx6g/s1600/1025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uciB9_6rQog/VjLMUV_bVKI/AAAAAAAACR4/jcCf31Igx6g/s320/1025.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our last long run- a 10 miler on 10/25</td></tr>
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<span data-offset-key="2ja8-0-0" data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0.0"><br /></span></span>
<span data-offset-key="2ja8-0-0" data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0.0"><br /></span></span>
<span data-offset-key="2ja8-0-0" data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0.0"><br /></span></span>Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-31904963207777778702015-10-28T11:40:00.003-04:002015-10-28T11:40:47.150-04:0020 Miles<span data-offset-key="2ja8-0-0" data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0.0">Our 20 miler took place on October 11th, and I surprised Charlie by creating a Facebook event and inviting my friends who were able to join us along our run's course. I wanted to make it a celebration of all the hours of training we had endured for this dream race of ours. We started at Laurie's house and she was only able to do the first 4 miles with us before heading off to work. Danielle ran alongside us for the first 6 and Deb helped us finish the last 7 after doing a Selden hilly 12 herself, but my friends Jennifer and Kris were with us for the entire 20 miles. Jennifer finished the Marine Corps Marathon strong this past Sunday, so it was her last long run as well. However, Kris is running NYC and for the same charity, as well. I spent a lot of time getting those 20 miles in, 5:40 to be exact, (not stopping the Garmin for any of our breaks, which was 20 minutes!!) and the last 2 were painful, but I did it. We did it. We even did some tailgating in front of Laurie's with some celebratory Apple-Ahh-Ritas and chocolate chip cookies! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KDrLQ7t0v9g/VjDoEIPz_BI/AAAAAAAACRE/8o9YpXu8o_8/s1600/12113359_10206316913375498_3033345332204408543_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KDrLQ7t0v9g/VjDoEIPz_BI/AAAAAAAACRE/8o9YpXu8o_8/s320/12113359_10206316913375498_3033345332204408543_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our 20 mile starters...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wdMhUThEQCo/VjDokpKbTmI/AAAAAAAACRI/B3sd0GhP2wY/s1600/IMG_1506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wdMhUThEQCo/VjDokpKbTmI/AAAAAAAACRI/B3sd0GhP2wY/s320/IMG_1506.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and finishers, enjoying some DD thanks to Laurie!</td></tr>
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<br /><span data-offset-key="2ja8-0-0" data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0.0">Now to tack a little 10k onto the end...</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="2ja8-0-0" data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0"><span data-reactid=".3n.1:6.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$2ja8.0:$2ja8-0-0.0"><br /></span></span>Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-63214307518548127212015-10-17T17:29:00.000-04:002015-10-17T21:41:32.662-04:00Taper TimeI can NOT believe we are a mere 14 days until the big event! I am trying to keep my nerves in check and focus more on how exciting the entire marathon weekend will be. We've done a few long runs since my last post. The most memorable ones are the 18 mile marathon tune-up run on September 20th and last Sunday's 20 mile celebratory long run.<br />
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On September 20th we were up at 2 am to prepare for the journey into Manhattan. We took the 3:45 am train from Ronkonkoma to Penn Station. From Penn we took a cab up to race day registration, which was on the east side of Central Park, all the way up at 102nd Street and 5th Avenue. We managed to arrive before the NYRR volunteers were ready for us! So we waited a little while, got our bibs and t-shirts then headed to baggage drop-off, which wasn't ready for us, either. I was already prepared by having our clothes and such in clear race bags so I could just slip them out of our backpacks for inspection. After that line we headed to our 'H' corral (which was the last corral) and waited some more (on huge rock formations) for the 7:00 am start.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAWbaVMV9N8/ViKwVMKhXZI/AAAAAAAACO4/68PWAbEMUAU/s1600/IMG_1371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAWbaVMV9N8/ViKwVMKhXZI/AAAAAAAACO4/68PWAbEMUAU/s320/IMG_1371.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sun's coming up!</td></tr>
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The run consisted of 3 6-mile loops of Central Park. The first loop went phenomenally. The goal was to stay under a 15:00 mile, since the course cut-off was 4 hours and 30 minutes. I was a full 15 minutes ahead of that pace after the first loop. And then the rolling hills of Harlem and the park in general were getting to me. I started walking a heck of a lot more. Charlie was fully aware of our pace since there were pace clocks at each mile and he was concerned we would slow down too early and not make the cut-off. I started to really bonk at only mile 7. Getting through that second loop was nothing short of a miracle. Passing the finish chute in order to go out for the third and final loop was a major test of will!<br />
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The last loop had to be 12 miles. It seriously felt like it! I made sure to run every downhill there was, but I walked a ton and in mile 16 or 17 not only did my left calf start to seize but that hammie started crying out for mercy as well! I never experienced that before! I even stopped and rubbed them both a bit, but I knew if I stopped moving too long, every <i>other</i> part of my body was going to throw in the towel as well. So we pushed on. The "Make Cat Hill your bitch" sign was the funniest thing about the entire course. And we finished. 4:22:08. 8 minutes to spare and it brought us both to tears.<br />
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We had a 2:00 pm reservation at Tavern On The Green for brunch to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary, and by the time we finished running and got our backpacks and wits about us it was about noon. That meant we had 2 full hours to change clothes and make our way to the west side of the park. We passed the restaurant <b>THREE</b> times on the course and would you believe we could not make our way over there? As lovely as the park is, there is no walking path that just cuts across directly from east to west. So we meandered our way around for a full hour and a half until we just broke down and asked a kind nanny for directions. Our sight-seeing helped kill all that extra time and worked up the appetite I always lose after a long run!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sUbdMRDBKhA/ViKyIKlSUwI/AAAAAAAACPQ/sBwMVdnmgVM/s1600/IMG_1377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sUbdMRDBKhA/ViKyIKlSUwI/AAAAAAAACPQ/sBwMVdnmgVM/s320/IMG_1377.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a view of The Eldorado on the other side of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RqdVJhylPsM/ViKyHzJkTfI/AAAAAAAACPc/D9Zf65zXlAA/s1600/IMG_1379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RqdVJhylPsM/ViKyHzJkTfI/AAAAAAAACPc/D9Zf65zXlAA/s320/IMG_1379.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greywacke Arch</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rq4drd2rQ0U/ViKyGyhFX1I/AAAAAAAACPM/03K30NuDXpQ/s1600/IMG_1378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rq4drd2rQ0U/ViKyGyhFX1I/AAAAAAAACPM/03K30NuDXpQ/s320/IMG_1378.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cleopatra's Needle</td></tr>
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So, when we were within sight of the restaurant we stopped and changed in the restrooms at Le Pain Quotidien, a little bakery in the park. (I pissed some ladies off for taking too long as one of them made an announcement that "there was a long line.") I surprised Charlie by wearing a new little Vera Wang dress and cute slide sandals I found on clearance at Kohl's. It's a surprise because I rarely wear dresses and Charlie likes me in them. This one was incredibly comfy with pockets and I felt nice in it. We were dressed in our "smart casual" wear as per the restaurant's dress code and for a celebratory dinner of our truly blessed 20 years together.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SjELQABxbGo/ViK0arQNusI/AAAAAAAACPk/QN_VKFt9sD8/s1600/IMG_1391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SjELQABxbGo/ViK0arQNusI/AAAAAAAACPk/QN_VKFt9sD8/s320/IMG_1391.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Tavern On The Green was just beautiful. I requested we sit in the Central Park room which had beautiful cream colored furniture and a glass wall with a view of the al fresco dining right on the park. It was a gorgeous day and the room was filled with sunshine and romance.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-skBRZOZp4L8/ViK3je_c-XI/AAAAAAAACPw/j0qBQ2V3ikE/s1600/taverntable.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="119" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-skBRZOZp4L8/ViK3je_c-XI/AAAAAAAACPw/j0qBQ2V3ikE/s320/taverntable.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a screenshot from the restaurant's website of our table, right next to that side table. It was a much prettier scene the day we were there!</td></tr>
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<br />
We started our meal off with a great apple ale:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hit the spot!!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />
For brunch we split two entrees, the Tavern Burger and the "chicken" and waffles, which was duck confit instead of fried chicken. <b><i>Perfection!!!</i></b> I couldn't believe how ravenous I was after that run, but every bite was amazing. To finish off the dining experience...<br />
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...cake to celebrate my love's 49th birthday. Every aspect of the restaurant was just impeccable and worth every penny. Maybe it was the fact that we had just covered 20+ miles (remember, we got "lost") and that's why the food tasted so damn good? Maybe it was celebrating our love enduring 20 years of life's ups and downs that made the ambiance so romantic? I don't really care. That afternoon will go down as one of our top ten days of our lives.<br />
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But the fun and celebrating didn't end there! We had one night booked at the La Quinta downtown near Penn Station. The Tavern doorman walked a block over to Central Park West to hail us a cab so we wouldn't have to walk another step on our already sore legs. Such service!! The room was probably the smallest we've stayed in but the hotel has recently been renovated and it was beautiful. It had everything we needed. ;)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TO1XxnQ-0Ks/ViK6TLGB0ZI/AAAAAAAACQQ/DSS_n7URNQo/s1600/IMG_1394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TO1XxnQ-0Ks/ViK6TLGB0ZI/AAAAAAAACQQ/DSS_n7URNQo/s320/IMG_1394.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture was taken from the room's entrance!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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A great feature of this hotel was its location. It was a short walk to a sweet Irish pub called Foley's with a literal ton of baseball and sports memorabilia. AND it had a phenomenal view of the Empire State Building from the rooftop bar!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wcij_yLkA3A/ViK7E7QQzxI/AAAAAAAACQY/Q39Ql8F7fbQ/s1600/IMG_1397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wcij_yLkA3A/ViK7E7QQzxI/AAAAAAAACQY/Q39Ql8F7fbQ/s320/IMG_1397.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lit up with blue and white pinstripes in honor of the subway series between the Yankees and the Mets</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wcli3wT1V6o/ViK8jS_bJLI/AAAAAAAACQk/znAluomlvx0/s1600/IMG_1401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wcli3wT1V6o/ViK8jS_bJLI/AAAAAAAACQk/znAluomlvx0/s320/IMG_1401.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">up on the roof</td></tr>
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We slept like logs that night. I really need one of those 'thermapedic' fancy mattresses!! The next morning we had the complimentary breakfast in the hotel then walked around Koreatown and window shopped. I didn't get Charlie to try kimchi. We should have had the kimchi dumplings instead of the chicken fingers in the pub! Oh well. Next time.<br />
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<br />Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-75820937212881404572015-09-04T09:02:00.000-04:002015-09-04T09:02:38.781-04:00Left You Hanging!16 miles<br />
Four 4-mile runs<br />
Course plotted<br />
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Two 10 oz bottles of Powerade<br />
Honey Stinger Waffles<br />
Gatorade Chews<br />
Frozen Powerade and Powerbar Wafers in the car.<br />
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Before:<br />
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After:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sohY7pvYoWA/VemP5cwGUPI/AAAAAAAACOc/ucec8SvEBj8/s1600/IMG_1349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sohY7pvYoWA/VemP5cwGUPI/AAAAAAAACOc/ucec8SvEBj8/s320/IMG_1349.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the best beverage after a long run, besides iced coffee!</td></tr>
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<br />
Done. We ran 16 miles in 4:02:37. I ran when I felt I could. I walked when I needed to. Charlie estimates we walked 50%. I feel like I ran more than that. Envisioning the miles as four separate runs helped tremendously. The last two miles were hard, but in that last mile I still had several short run intervals. I would just call out a mailbox or telephone pole or stop sign and get myself to it. I didn't feel like death warmed over at the end. I could have even walked another mile. It would have been slow, but I could have dragged my ass the distance. Our total moving time was about one minute less than 4 hours, which means we managed the 15 minute pace we need to keep for the 18 miler on the 20th. I am worried about the hilly course of Central Park, but I will just try my best to do it.<br />
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It's hard to believe that after running 16 miles, there will <i><b>still</b></i> be 10 more miles to go on marathon day. That's going to take more physical and mental work. I decided we're running the Inaugural Suffolk County Half Marathon on my 44th birthday, which is a week before the Central Park run. Scheduling these races were a good idea to make me get the miles done. After the 18, I want to do the requisite 20 miler and a 23 miler. Galloway's plan calls for a 26 miler 3 weeks before the big day. I am not sure that's something I want to do. It will take a huge toll on my body and I also want to leave a couple miles to stretch for in NYC. What do <i>you</i> think?Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-34621166363190640312015-08-29T15:09:00.000-04:002015-08-29T15:09:20.641-04:00Four 4-Mile RunsSo it was absolutely perfect timing that in my Facebook feed this morning, Women's Running magazine posted a link to an article about <a href="http://womensrunning.competitor.com/2015/05/mile-posts/mental-tricks-for-long-runs_39114">Mental Tricks For Long Runs</a>. Thinking about running 16 miles gives me the excited "butterflies in your stomach" feeling, but it also scares the bejeezus out of me at the same time. In the article, the author breaks her long runs up into manageable distances. She took her 20 mile training run and divided it up into four 5-mile runs. You <i><b>only</b></i> concern yourself with the section of the run you are in. You do not think about the one you ran, nor the runs you still have left to do.<br />
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A 16 miler becomes four "easy peasy" 4-mile runs<i>. </i>After reading the post, I plotted our course. It's basically the half marathon course we've been doing. I am <i>still</i> hoping for those ocean breezes to make the run more pleasant. We will park in the same spot, run a 4 mile loop south, out over the bridge, around the beach and back to the car. From there, we will run 4 miles north to the Dunkin Donuts (using it only as a mile marker <i>hopefully</i>), zig zagging a bit through one development. The third 4 mile leg will be the reverse of the second, back to the car to refuel, and finally repeat the first leg out and around the beach for our final four miles.<br />
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When you take such a daunting task and nibble at it in human bites, it no longer seems that scary. I mean, I can't eat an entire layer cake in one bite, but if I take a forkful at a time, it will eventually make its way to my stomach, right? ;)<br />
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Here's the course:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qJkmEvMlKBw/VeICP2dvnHI/AAAAAAAACN4/SsxgT03IkRU/s1600/8-30route.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="151" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qJkmEvMlKBw/VeICP2dvnHI/AAAAAAAACN4/SsxgT03IkRU/s320/8-30route.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gonna have to figure out how to get rid of the extra .08 miles! Ain't nobody got time for that!!</td></tr>
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I truly am hoping this technique will do the trick. Why did it take so long to think of it this way, though? How do <i><b>you</b></i> get through long-ass runs?Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-15389446370163488782015-08-23T19:03:00.001-04:002015-08-23T19:03:35.689-04:006 Equals 16, Right? I am sure with that new fangled common core math I can make that equation work out, but when it comes to long runs, it ain't happening. I have a bad tooth. I have ignored it. And it's my own damn fault. Just another result of my old bad habits of eating sugary crappy food late into the night without taking care of my teeth. Last night this toothache was a pain like no other.<br />
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I took two extra strength Tylenol at 9 pm, just before bed. I was up at 1:30 am and just could not shake the pain. I wound up propping up all my pillows to try and sleep upright. I ran through 'The Four Seasons' three times on the DVD player. I held an ice pack to my jaw. I didn't want to take more meds or something stronger because I want them to work when I really need them. DUH. That time was LAST NIGHT!<br />
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When the alarm went off at 6 am all I could think was "F*CK THAT!" I went downstairs and informed my husband of the night I had (We <i>mostly </i>sleep separately. Don't worry. It works for us since Charlie worked nights for the first 10 years we were married and I just need the WHOLE bed.). I managed to prop myself up on the couch and sleep. I slept TWO whole hours. The pain goes away during the day and when I am upright. Doesn't make sense, right? I am completely pain free right now, and I haven't had a pill since 11 am. Things that make you go "<i>hmmmmm</i>".<br />
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So I suggested we run at the gym, side by side, on treadmills. I honestly didn't have any intentions of doing 16 on a treadmill. Can't imagine that at my gym. The TVs are preset on certain channels and there is no playlist long enough or fun enough to keep me going <i>that</i> long. After my great run on Friday I decided I would top that. I set the walk interval speed at 3.7 mph, set the run interval speed at 5.2 mph (a tenth of a mile slower than the last run) and after a 5 minute warm up at 3.0 mph (cool down was the same) I had at it. I did a one minute walk at 3.7 mph, a <b>35 minute </b>run, two minute walk, 15 minute run, two minute walk and a 9 minute run to finish 5.5 miles in 1:04:42!! I only walked 5 minutes in a 65 minute run. That's an 11:46 pace!! I know my last run was at an 11:36 pace, but that run was two miles shorter. I'm gonna kill the first five miles of the marathon! And then it will kill me!<br />
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Next week's agenda.... 16 miles.Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-49208602336367931672015-08-22T17:57:00.000-04:002015-08-22T17:57:01.027-04:00Anxious AnticipationIt's Saturday afternoon, which means I am about 14 hours away from my long run for the week. Tomorrow's distance? 16 miles. I am both excited to take on the task and worried about all the things that could happen simultaneously. The last two weeks of runs have been pretty good, in my opinion. My last longish run wound up being the last training run for the Suffolk County Marathon on the 13th. It was supposed to be two 5 mile loops in the town of Babylon, along the bay, but for some reason it was changed to the 10k trail course of Southard Pond Park. Charlie switched his late night so he could run with me and our friends Laurie and Kim. It was a tough course, lots of gravel and horse manure to maneuver around. We managed to do 7.45 miles in 1:46:53. The best part was the BOGO drinks after the run at Mary Carroll's. I'm not a drinker, but that Angry Orchard hard cider was one of the best I have tasted!!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HKyG58PUiAc/Vdjspyp7RNI/AAAAAAAACNI/apAFD9_5AK0/s1600/11882334_10205967397757826_8283229754876006520_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HKyG58PUiAc/Vdjspyp7RNI/AAAAAAAACNI/apAFD9_5AK0/s320/11882334_10205967397757826_8283229754876006520_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laurie, Kim, Charlie and me (PIC courtesy of Laurie!)</td></tr>
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The morning of the 16th I ran a 10k on the treadmill in 1:17:01. That's a 12:24 mile. Then after another treadmil1 run on Tuesday, yesterday I managed to do something I haven't done in what feels like forever. After a 5 minute warm up walk at 3.0 mph, I set the jog interval speed to 3.7 mph and the run speed to 5.3 mph. I walked for 1 minute at 3.7 and then ran for 25 minutes STRAIGHT at 5.3 mph. I then took a 2 minute walk break at 3.7 and finished my 40 minute run with 12 minutes at 5.3. That's only 3 minutes of walking in a 40 minute period, if you're doing the math! I did 3.45 miles in those 40 minutes and managed to average an 11:36 pace!<br />
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That's a major improvement for me and something I need to transfer to the streets when we are out on our long runs. Of course there is a difference between treadmill and outdoor running AND sustaining a pace for 5 miles versus 15, but I feel if I can improve those initial 5 miles, miles 15 and 16 won't seem so bad. If I can continue to push myself on my weekday runs, then eventually the first 10 miles will be stronger, and the marathon possibly won't drag on forever! The reason I am most concerned about this is that damn 4:30 course limit on the 18 mile marathon tune up run we have coming up on September 20th. With that being said, my 16 miler needs to be done under 4:00!!Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-43325811495401055332015-08-12T14:15:00.001-04:002015-08-12T14:15:41.307-04:00Third Time's The Charm!Sunday was a great day for a long run, even with the sun blaring down on us. I decided Charlie and I would run the Hope Runs Here Half course and then add a bit more to hit my 14 mile mark. We parked at my niece's house, which is on the course, and headed out to William Floyd Parkway from there. Thankfully my Garmin found a satellite rather quickly and our warm-up walk was included in our total distance.<br />
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At 7:45 am we got going, starting at about the bottom left of that rectangle, under mile marker 4. We then went up that block and headed south towards the beach and over the bridge. The ocean breezes were absolutely mahvelous and exactly the opposite of what the conditions were on that half day! I just ran as far as I could and then would walk a bit. I wasn't using my Gymboss with the 2:1 interval. Charlie said he thinks I am running further without it since all I seem to do is anticipate the beeps of the timer to start and stop. It made the run more enjoyable without all that noise!<br />
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The incline of the bridge seemed like nothing compared to the hills we've been running on in <a href="http://www.seldenhillswarriortraining.com/">Selden.</a> We were able to run up it both going into and out of the beach. We ran passed the TWA Flight 800 International Memorial and out along the perimeter of the parking lot. We continued out, back over the bridge, up WFP and made our left, heading back past the car (I should have stocked it with cold drinks!!), along Grandview and the beautiful Great South Bay. Once we were back on the highway we made another left turn into the neighborhood just south of mine.<br />
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Unfortunately, the street we turned onto borders the Wertheim Wildlife Refuge and the biting bugs were out in full force, just like the first time we attempted a 14 miler! We got away from that area as quickly as we could and headed into the Smith Point Estates, where the streets are nice and wide and lined with gorgeous homes to ooh and aah over. The best part about a nice neighborhood like that? SPRINKLER SYSTEMS!!! We ran through them as often as possible.<br />
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I had an idea of what our mileage was from knowing the course, so I did not look at my watch AT ALL. It was hard for me, but I wanted to be far enough along on the run to know I *would* get it done. We wound up burning through our beverages pretty quickly so we decided to make a pit stop at Dunkin Donuts and get that really refreshing unsweetened iced tea lemonade. We were only about a mile from the house at this point, and my plan was to run up to the house for more fluids, but I know me. It might have taken too much effort to leave the front door <i>again</i>. We filled up our bottles and I dumped some ice in my sports bra. HIGHLY SUGGESTED! And my watch was at nearly 8 miles at that point, in under 1:50, with the stop.<br />
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So back on the road, heading south on WFP and we decided to veer off the half course and start zig zagging up and down the blocks in order to rack up the miles. I slowed down some. The next 4 miles were done in a bit over an hour. My goal was to get the 14 miles done in the same time it took us to do the half marathon, which was 3:25:17. We hit mile 12 at 2:57 and my left calf started cramping, we were out of fluids, again, and it was now almost 11 am, full sun in effect. So we stopped at 7-11 and I got a Vitamin Water and we walked the last two miles, slowly. We got to the car at about mile 13 and just kept walking up and down the block, passing it four times.<br />
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Finish time of 3:39:03, but with the two pit stops we had a moving time of 3:35:36.<br />
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I need to work on both my endurance for the runs and my walking speed to hold a 15:00 mile and under for the TCS NYC Marathon 18 Tune-Up run on September 20th, which has a 4:30 course limit. It will hopefully be cooler but because it's in Central Park, it will be 3 hilly 6 mile loops. I am concerned but we'll be back to the hills course on Sunday for more hill training. I am going to attempt to get there once a week until that race and at least every other week until the marathon.<br />
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For now I am celebrating the fact that I made it through that mental blockade of going past the half marathon distance. I may possibly have more road blocks on future runs, but I need to remind myself of how far I have come since my knee injury and who I am doing this for- both myself and the EJ Autism Foundation.<br />
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Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-76592634128815584432015-07-27T15:48:00.001-04:002015-07-27T15:48:47.484-04:00Mental Road BlockI don't know what it is but going past the 13.1 half marathon distance just scares the ever loving shit out of me, and so instead of just doing it and getting it over with, I pussy foot around it. Two weeks ago, 14 miles was on the Galloway schedule. We went to the refuge and chaos ensued. The bugs got the best of us and we called it a day after 5+ torturous miles. Last Sunday we didn't run long at all because Charlie was recovering from a fall at work and a nice gash to his head. 14 had to get done yesterday.<br />
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So I hemmed and hawed over the best way to tackle 14 miles. I conferred with Charlie and my friend Laurie. OPTION 1: Run a 7 mile out and back run westward on Montauk Highway? That's kind of boring, a bit dangerous and I wasn't quite sure of the availability of restrooms and convenience stores along the route. OPTION 2: Head to the Selden Hills course, run the 10k course then a flat-ish 4 mile out and back course on Bicycle Path. Advantages to this plan of attack were running with others on the course and using the car as home base for fuel replenishment, but I still don't know about the bathroom situation, and would I even want to run a mile let alone 8 after the hills?... or OPTION 3: Run my local neighborhood for as many miles I can get and then go out onto Montauk Hwy for the last few out and back.<br />
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I chose door #3.<br />
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The benefit of running local is if I feel like death warmed over I would be close to home and all the comforts of it (read: TOILET!). Another advantage was most of the side streets by me have been repaved, so running is more pleasurable and less treacherous not having to dodge this winter's potholes. Instead of using my Gymboss and the 2:1 run/walk intervals, I decided to run the length of the side streets, which is about half a mile, then walk the cross streets. This method worked pretty well for the first 6 miles. I managed to get them done under 1:30 and then 8 under 2:00. I had a couple Gatorade chews and experienced my first Honey Stinger Waffle. We stopped several times to enjoy many of the neighbors sprinkler systems. It was going well and I was pretty proud of myself.<br />
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Then the overwhelming desire to drink something COLD and refreshing came over me and I needed water, with ice, and a straw. So we headed back towards home and Dunkin' Donuts. We got a large lemonade iced tea and walked. I was ready to call it quits at 10 miles, but I was feeling great, actually <i>enjoying</i> myself and Charlie's company. I turn into a happy camper while walking. We agreed we weren't going to attempt to run after walking so much and with fluid-filled bellies. I managed to get us home at 12.05 miles. I felt good enough to continue, but with our stops along the way (chatted with a friend and cousins) we were already out for 3+ hours, so we called it a day.<br />
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Am I looking back on the run and wishing I just did the 14 miles? Of course. I might have been able to run another 2 miles, zig zagging my way back to DD at maybe 10 miles, then walking the 4 additional miles. Charlie just asks "How much are you planning to do today?" and sets it in his mind to do it. I bargain and finagle my way out of it. And I am the only one who suffers for it. I SO wanted to be able to write the post "I DID IT! MY FURTHEST DISTANCE EVER!!" But that will be for another day. Next Sunday is our son's birthday, so we're going to head back to the hills for that challenging 10k course, knowing it won't take us forever and a day AND will be great preparation for the bridges and Central Park hills of the NYC Marathon course. So August 9th it must be.<br />
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TAKEAWAYS:<br />
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Mistake #1: I rested the entire day on Saturday, but I went to the gym on Friday and got on the rowing machine for 15 minutes. I haven't rowed in a while and although I loved it, my hip flexors and shins were pissed at me. They were still tight yesterday morning.<br />
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Lesson: Don't do anything new a few days before long run day.<br />
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Mistake #2: July is hot and humid on Long Island. And guess what? It gets <b>hotter</b> the later in the day it is! *GASP*<br />
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Lesson: Try your damndest to get out before 7:45 am.<br />
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Mistake #3: Got all my gear together and filled my two 10 oz hydration belt bottles full to the brim with Gatorade. 20 oz of piss warm Gatorade is not enough fluid for 3+ hours of activity in said hot and humid weather.<br />
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Lesson: Either create a loop course to make pit stops at home to refill fluids or plant a stocked cooler on the course or make a <b><i>quick</i></b> pitstop on the course.<br />
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<br />Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-17439777951732864932015-07-22T19:54:00.002-04:002015-07-22T19:54:48.628-04:00101 DaysGulp. Double gulp. 101 days until the NYC Marathon. Training? This shit is hard! Now I know why only 1% of the population has finished a marathon. If it was easy we'd all be doing it. So far my longest run was the half we did on June 14th. That was a challenge to say the least. Running a fall marathon means training in the Long Island heat and humidity. I don't want to turn into a whiny bitch, but my 5' 175 lb body was NOT made for running in those conditions! I melt like the Wicked Witch of the West out there!<br />
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Since the half, my longest run/walks have been 10.65 miles (in 3:02) on 6/28, a 10k (in 1:30) on the Selden Hills course on 7/5 and 7.85 miles (in 1:47) on 7/16 with my running buddy Laurie. The 6/28 run involved <i>a lot</i> of walking, but the 10k and 8 miler were pretty strong runs. It was my 2nd 10k on the hills and Charlie's 1st. That course is no joke, and I think running slow and steady shorter distances on it will prove to be better training than trying to go long on the flat area around my neighborhood. The huge hills are a mental challenge that I really need to stay engaged and NOT talk myself out of getting it done. Plus, the course is about a 20 minute ride from our house and a gaggle of people are always out doing their runs, so it's a lot like the atmosphere of a race, without the entry fee! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We're Hillbillies!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My buddy Laurie and I doing the Suffolk County Marathon 8 mile training run in Sayville</td></tr>
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According to Galloway's plan I am behind, which really helps add to the stress of all this. Last Sunday we attempted a 14 miler in Wertheim Wildlife Refuge only a few blocks from our house. We were nearly abducted by the multitude of insects inhabiting the hot and humid woods along Carman's River. It was really funny at first since Charlie was bombarded pretty much the moment we got on the trail. And then they started attacking me. Not so funny. We tried our hardest to get the hell out of there and the 1.5 mile loop somehow turned into 4 miles. It was like being in the hedge maze of 'The Shining.' That run felt like the biggest waste of time, but we got out there and did 5.5 miles in about 1:30. I don't know exactly because somehow my Garmin didn't shut off and it managed to add 1.7 miles to my distance while sitting on the kitchen counter???<br />
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We didn't even attempt a long run this past Sunday because Charlie had a little mishap at work the Tuesday before. Apparently he was stocking a warehouse shelf and fell about 10 feet off the ladder, knocking his head either on the ladder or the concrete floor. He had a really nice gash in his left eyebrow and was gushing blood. He refused medical treatment or a ride home. I got the pleasure of observing him for signs of a concussion and watched him sleep when it was time for bed. And the next morning he had the perfect purple eyeliner on his upper lid. Now it's a complete shiner, reminiscent of Petey from 'The Little Rascals.' He was forced by his boss to see a doctor on Thursday before he was permitted to return to work. Other than a horrific scar, he's going to be okay.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VA8PhPhGUkI/VbAo4ynb4KI/AAAAAAAACLQ/C15ns93VMOo/s1600/petey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VA8PhPhGUkI/VbAo4ynb4KI/AAAAAAAACLQ/C15ns93VMOo/s1600/petey.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm Spanky!</td></tr>
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I've been pretty consistent with getting to the gym to either do a short run or cross train. I <3 the adaptive motion trainer. It's a combination of a stepper, elliptical and arc trainer that gives my hips a great stretch and continues to strengthen my legs without any impact whatsoever. If I'm not on that, I'll put in some time on the arc trainer or elliptical. The silver lining through all of this is I've lost about 18 pounds since February 16th. Of course those were pounds I found with inactivity and overeating during my year hiatus from running. This truly is a never-ending journey! I want to be down another 10 pounds on marathon day, which is about 3 pounds a month. Doable. No- DONE! No excuses. Please hound me on My Fitness Pal- my screen name is lindak71.<br />
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Today I signed us both up for the 18 mile Marathon Tune-Up run on September 20th (Charlie's 49th birthday) in Central Park. The course is 3 six mile loops complete with aid stations. The course limit is 4 hours and 30 minutes. That's a 15 minute mile average. Sounds doable, but I need to step it up the next two months to get there. My first 5 or 6 miles are strong and consistent, and then I start listening to that nagging voice in my head, screaming at me "THIS IS HARD!" "I FEEL LIKE SHIT!" "MY LEFT CALF IS ABOUT TO START CRAMPING!" "HOW AM I GOING TO DO THIS FOR 26.2 MILES??!!??"<br />
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My friends who have completed the NYC Marathon previously continue to tell me that the palpable energy of the city and the 2,000,000 spectators will get me through it when I don't think I can. I pray they are right. And when I don't think I <i>can</i> do it, I need to put one foot in front of the other for all the people who <i>WISH</i> they could, including all of the kids that the <a href="http://www.ejautismfoundation.org/">EJ Autism Foundation</a>, the charity I am running for, helps support here on Long Island. The <b><i>BEST</i></b> news I have to share with you all? Due to the tremendous turn out I had for the paint night/raffle event I hosted this past Friday, I ACHIEVED MY GOAL!!!! My friend Geri with <a href="http://www.letspartyartsy.com/">Let's Party 'Artsy</a> is a great painting instructor, and 28 friends and family members came to support my cause, painting a beautiful red sunflower, as well as purchased hundreds of dollars worth of raffle tickets for prizes donated by RoadID, Albionfit, Fusion Life Brand, Tupperware, The Pampered Chef, Bulu Box, Martha Clara Vineyards, Sayville Running Company, Kay Cameron Jewelers, Unique Fitness (my gym!) and Vanity Hair Salon. I am SO grateful to everyone who wants to help kids diagnosed on the autism spectrum as well as help me realize my dream of running the NYC Marathon with Charlie. I need to remember each and every one of you who helped while I am out there pounding the pavement. I shall not squander this opportunity and your generosity!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All my friends and family's masterpieces!</td></tr>
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I continue to fundraise.... <a href="https://www.crowdrise.com/EJAutismNYC2015/fundraiser/lindakuil">My NYC Marathon Fundraising Page</a>Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-16649764421349528522015-06-23T13:47:00.001-04:002015-06-23T13:47:25.012-04:00Slow and SteadyCan I say I am thrilled I am running my dream race as my first marathon? The NYC Marathon just has something about it that draws me to it. Maybe it's the opportunity to run with 50,000 other runners through the streets of all 5 boroughs. Maybe because NYC, specifically Manhattan, is probably my favorite place on earth and the finish is in glorious Central Park. Most likely, however, it's probably because it will be my first and ONLY marathon. I know a lot of people say they are "one and done" and then get the marathon itch desperately needed to be scratched... I just don't think this body can take much more!<br />
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Following Jeff Galloway's run/walk plan has helped mentally, somewhat. When running, I can feel better knowing I only have to run for two minutes. I can handle that! But holy sh*t, that 1 minute walk break goes by 4 times as fast!! My short runs during the week have been great. I hit the treadmill at the gym and the runners around me really keep me going, like I am proving something. I'm a runner, dang it! Yesterday I managed to start off walking 1 minute, then ran the next 11 minutes to complete my first mile. I would have managed the 2nd mile the same way if I hadn't had the bladder of a frigging hummingbird! How does one sweat buckets, take in only 16 oz of water and *still* need to pee? First 1.8 miles in 21:30, (insert bathroom break), then another 2 miles in 25 minutes. So close to 4 miles. The right hip and the left heel are feeling it, though. Came home and iced the hip and rolled the feet on a frozen water bottle. Feeling much better this morning.<br />
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A major milestone last Sunday for Charlie and I was running our first half, Hope Runs Here, since the shit-show Festival of Lights Half Marathon in Brooklyn, November 2013. We went from one extreme to the other! 22* with a windchill of 'colder than a witch's tit' to 75*, God-knows what humidity, running 13.1 on the surface of the sun. The saving grace was that it was in MY town, 5 minutes from my house, running many of the roads of our regular route. We got to pass my niece's house where my 8 month old great nephew "cheered" me on, and since my cousin wasn't out (when I TOLD him to be) I harassed him from the street. The furthest we ran up until the half was 10.45 miles, and I had to walk much of the last 2 because my left big toe locked up on me. Never experienced that before. So, the plan the week before the half was TONS of water and a daily banana. <br />
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I really ate well and hydrated the week before. I stuck to the plan. I worked a race with the timing company the day before and that really helped lift my racing spirit. I just couldn't plan for that heat. We started out well, under a 13:00 mile the first 2 miles, and then hit the port-o-potty. I thought that was going to be a sign of things to come, but the bladder held up after that, however, the brain slowed down. After passing Keri's house at almost mile 4, along the bay, where there is usually nice wind gusts, the air was still, and hot. Did I mention it was hot? No shade? No wind? Humid? I knew we were at the back of the pack and I am SO okay with that now. It can't be about time for me right now. It's about getting out there and finishing. Just after that we met a 68 year old woman named Louise and chatted with her through the beautiful Smith Point Estates. Such an inspiring woman!<br />
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We walked a lot with Louise. Then she found another friend and we were able to start our run/walks again (like it was Louise's fault...). This course had phenomenal race support! Water at every mile, EMTs riding the course, ambulances every few miles... they were certain to take care of anyone in need. I was asked several times if I was okay, maybe because I was melting right before their eyes.We plodded along. Slower, but feeling good. I started to notice a twinge in the left calf but willed it away, <i>maybe</i> with a little more walking. After turning down Pinetop and being showered by several hoses and sprinklers, I was only 2 short blocks from my house, but heading home wasn't an option. I needed to get this run done to prove I could do it again, even if it was almost an hour slower.<br />
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There was a course limit of 3 hours and 15 minutes. Under cooler circumstances I may have made it. By mile 11.5, on William Floyd Parkway, a police officer was telling the back of the pack they should not turn off and instead head to the marina and the finish line to beat the clock. There was no guarantee I would beat the clock if I <i>did</i> short the course, but on top of not making the limit I would feel guilty about short-changing <i>myself</i>. Charlie and I decided to stay on course and grind it out. All finishers got a medal, whether they were timed or not. My medal needed to mean something more than just race bling. It had to prove I could do that half mary again. It is half way to a marathon, which is only a little more than 4 months away. A few of us pushed on.<br />
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I am sad to say we didn't beat the clock. We had a finish time for a split second and I managed to get a screen shot before the timing company amended the race results. I managed a "sprint" at the end and Charlie and I crossed the finish line hand in hand. There is no picture of that because the race photographer must have punched out. But I finished, 13.1, and I wasn't hurting. I didn't start sweating profusely, feeling the need to both regurgitate and defecate at the same time. My system wasn't in shock. I was able to receive all of my friends' congratulations and love for getting back out there and making it count. I am very thankful they stuck around for us!!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I even enjoyed a post-race beer and I NEVER drink beer!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our truly earned race bling</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">race results- not dead last (like Brooklyn!)!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the best picture but the gang is ALL here!</td></tr>
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We got to enjoy a post-race party and socialize. There was no hour long commute ahead of us! I could only imagine how I would have looked getting out of the car after a ride like that! The 5 minutes nearly did me in! <i>Maybe</i> that was because we stupidly (sorry Gigi, Jan and Laurie) parked at my niece's house which was over a mile away! I believe I walked that mile at 1.0 mph. I was begging a couple of kids to go get a ride for us. <br />
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Since we did the half, we are ahead of the marathon training plan. There will definitely be some schedule adjusting of long runs. For example, I am not too sure I will be doing a 17 miler on my son's birthday on 8/2 or the 23 miler on my birthday in September, especially since we have tentative plans to run the NYRR 18 mile marathon tune-up on 9/20, Charlie's 49th birthday. It's three 6 mile loops in Central Park. There's a 4.5 hour time limit on that. Definitely need to pick up the pace.<br />
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I am doing all of this to for the <a href="http://www.ejautismfoundation.org/">EJ Autism Foundation</a>. I'm still <a href="https://www.crowdrise.com/EJAutismNYC2015/fundraiser/lindakuil">fundraising</a> and am <i>just</i> over half way to my $2,500 goal. I have a big paint night/raffle event coming up in July, and if I get a big enough crowd, I might just hit my goal a few months early! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GULP!!</td></tr>
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<br />Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-44490562911901379082015-05-11T11:26:00.002-04:002015-05-11T11:26:33.086-04:00Life Is BeautifulApril was a good month. That's a bit of an understatement. The premiere of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FatToFinish?fref=ts">From Fat to Finish Line</a> happened at the Nashville Film Festival! It was a whirlwind trip for Charlie and I. We landed Saturday at noon and left Tuesday, same time, but we made the most of every minute we were there! Mark, team mate Lealah's other half, picked us up from the airport and we had a mini reunion with Allison, Lealah, Rik and Cynthia. Meredith and Dave were napping after the 5k the team had run that morning, so I didn't get to catch up with them before Allison generously drove us to our hotel across town.<br />
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I purposely picked the Hampton Inn Green Hills, the closest hotel to the premiere location, the Regal Cinemas Green Hills 16. We could see the entrance to the venue from our window, a very short walk for people who didn't rent a car! The festival site mentioned a different food truck would be on site every day, and I spied the big red truck from that window. We ran down and each got a Sonoran dog from The Rolling Feast (delish) and bumped into Brian, one of the talented cameramen who worked on the documentary. We went back to our room and while snacking I was texting Jen (<a href="http://www.seejenroerun.blogspot.com/">From Fat to Finish Line</a>, Jersey Jen, Runner #7, awesome chick) and I was trying to figure out where she was staying. Well, turns out, we were in room 504 and she was in 502! I jumped up and ran to knock on her door, only to think, "Maybe I should have asked first..." She wasn't *quite* ready, but after getting to finally meet her talented, sweet husband Marty I got to give her a big squeeze.<br />
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Pried myself away from Jen so we could get ready for the pre-premiere red carpet activities, which included photos in front of a step and repeat on an actual red carpet and several interviews of both the cast and the team from Media Meld Studios, the production company that developed the doc. We finally got to meet up with John and his husband Ric, Meredith and Dave, Angela and her Dave, and those Charlie and I saw after the airport. It wasn't quite right being there, just the 7 FFtFLers. For different reasons, Katie, Andrea, Ada, and Jen couldn't make the premiere and Carly was going to the second screening the following Friday. It was definitely a bittersweet celebration.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlie and I before the premiere</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">red carpet photo shoot</td></tr>
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So, we've seen a few rough cuts of the film before the premiere to give our 2 cents as to what we think is perfect or could be improved. Nothing can compare to seeing it on that huge screen with the sound system that a theater has!! This was the probably the 6th time I have seen the film and I *still* needed tissues, which Cynthia graciously shared with me! Hearing the other 11 stories of their fight against obesity and their breaking points is heart wrenching. I could see a piece of me in every scenario told. There were definitely many, many funny moments throughout the race captured on film, but seriously somber ones as well. The film pretty much embodied the roller coaster of events and emotions one goes through on his/her weight loss journey. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the q&a session after the screening</td></tr>
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The word surreal doesn't even come close to describing what this night was like. All I can say is that I am so grateful I was able to experience it and that Charlie was there to share it with me. We are looking forward to the film possibly screening a lot closer to home so our kids can see it on the big screen as well as all my family and running friends.<br />
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The rest of the trip was spent reconnecting with my team mates, talking and laughing, A LOT!! There was a lot of good food and drinks added into the mix. We didn't see much of Nashville and I am okay with that. I know there are must see attractions, like the Grand Ole Opry, but country music isn't my thing, so it just didn't have the pull for me to take time away from my friends to visit. Unfortunately, John and Ric left first thing Sunday morning, Lealah and Mark that afternoon, and Rik and Cynthia Monday morn, so we didn't get enough time with them. Monday we had a great breakfast with those that remained.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and then there were four...</td></tr>
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I have to thank Michelle, a From Fat to Finish Line Facebook group member, for coming all the way from Pennsylvania to be at the premiere and hang out with us! She has a great success story of her own and is a triathlete. The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/FatToFinish/">From Fat to Finish Line FB group</a> is a great place to find inspiration and support for your own fitness/health journey. Athletes of all sizes and capabilities post and comment on what they are achieving on a day to day basis. Since I am training for my first marathon, I find the information and opinions of others a great help in figuring this whole thing out. More on that to follow...<br />
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<br /> Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-51899511851525866642015-04-10T21:52:00.000-04:002015-04-10T21:52:01.912-04:00Big ThingsToo much time has gone by without an update. I get in a funk and the last thing I want to do is write about *said* funk. But things are looking up my friends. I entered, yet again, the NYC Marathon lottery back in February. Third time's the charm, right? Not. Lottery day came and went and I got the sad notice I was rejected, dejected, not even picked LAST for the team! Well, since Charlie gained acceptance last year through the lottery and we deferred his registration to this year since I just could NOT attempt 26.2 miles after knee surgery and rehab, I decided to guarantee myself a spot by running for a charity. I am honored to be running for the <a href="http://www.ejautismfoundation.org/">EJ Autism Foundation</a>, a local charity that helps support school and day hab programs right here on Long Island. It's a daunting task, raising $2,500, but I've got some fun ideas for girls' nights and then there's the letter campaign. If you are looking to support a great cause and would like to help my fundraising goal you can find my page <a href="http://www.crowdrise.com/EJAutismNYC2015/fundraiser/lindakuil">here</a>.<br />
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So, Charlie and I will be following the Jeff Galloway run/walk interval marathon training program and it actually started this past Sunday! We're running two minutes, walking one minute and managed three miles in 37 minutes. This is a long, gradual program that leaves a lot of wiggle room for unforeseen circumstances and maybe second and third attempts at a long run. The actual marathon falls on week 30 with two weeks of recovery runs after the marathon. Should be an interesting, long and hopefully gratifying journey!<br />
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With the thought of becoming a marathoner floating through my mind, we got the amazing news that our <a href="http://www.fattofinish.com/">From Fat to Finish Line</a> documentary was accepted into the Nashville Film Festival this month! In just over one week we'll be sitting in the Regal Cinemas Green Hills watching our stories being told on the big screen! I didn't think we would ever be able to afford the trip, and in all honestly, money has been very tight, but this is a once on a lifetime moment. Charlie wouldn't let me pass it up. When I found a $215 plane fare from NYC to Nashville, we realized it wasn't horrifically expensive and that Charlie should come along. He has been my biggest cheer leader, my running mate, my best friend. He went with me to Miami to be there for me when I ran in the Ragnar Relay and the filming unfolded. It is only right that he be with me to share in this. The word "surreal" doesn't even begin to describe what this feels like.<br />
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If you're in or around Nashville on April 18th around 6 pm or Friday the 24th, come and see the premiere of the documentary with us!Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-10375942829992959892014-11-24T06:54:00.002-05:002014-11-24T06:54:38.666-05:00Honesty = Best Policy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are a lot of factors that play into that number. Pain, knee surgery, inactivity due to pain and knee surgery, overeating, overeating crap, more inactivity, more pain from weight gain and inactivity, working two part-time jobs which amounted to a full-time job the last two months, stress from never having enough money... all valid excuses, but excuses none the less. So, no more hiding. Major reality check. I am weighing in 42 pounds over my lowest weight (I believe I was there long enough to take a photo of the scale in August 2011) and 34 pounds over my From Fat to Finish Line before/after shot. Time to grow up and do the things I know I am supposed to do more importantly for my *health*, not the number on the scale. I feel like crap, my joints ache, I look like Shamu when I roll out of bed in the morning and my sweats are tight. My SWEATS are tight, people.<br />
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No more excuses. No more whining. Time to work again and make "me time" a priority. NYC Marathon in 342 days.<br />
<br />Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-45351650825499039022014-05-09T12:08:00.000-04:002014-05-09T12:08:11.859-04:00Bad ThingsIt's been a rough winter and an unfriendly spring for me. The harsh weather made it nearly impossible to run outside, and I didn't renew my gym membership in February because it just wasn't doing it for me. I love my Fitbit still and wear it religiously, but nothing compares to being out for a run. Well, in April my knee pain made me hit my breaking point. I couldn't even run a tenth of a mile without acute pain. I knew something was very wrong. I made an appointment to see an orthopedist.<br />
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At the appointment, the in-office x-rays didn't show any fractures, and then my insurance initially denied an MRI. After submitting it again, for a stress fracture, it was approved. On April 16th I had the MRI and on the 22nd I discovered I not only had a tibial stress fracture, but a meniscus and MCL tear. The stress fracture can take 6-9 months to heal completely and the tears require surgery. Now I just have to decide WHEN to have surgery so I don't lose out on work with the photo studio. I believe July will be our slow period and I'll have 2-3 weeks to recuperate.<br />
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Because of the stress fracture, I'm not even allowed to walk for exercise. I can use an elliptical but I don't have the gym membership nor the money for one at the moment. I feel like I'm sinking fast. As of today, I am 25 pounds heavier than that Ragnar Relay <a href="http://www.fromfattofinish.com/">From Fat To Finish Line</a> magnet that adorned both vans on our 200 mile journey in January of 2013.<br />
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I'm struggling with food and I'm sad about my situation, which makes me turn to food for comfort, which in turn causes me to gain weight. I'm caught in that vicious cycle. Seeing all my friends running race after race is a bit frustrating to witness, knowing I might not be taking my first running steps until sometime this fall, if that. What makes my situation even more depressing?<br />
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Charlie was selected in the NYC Marathon lottery drawing. I was not. However, after <b>A LOT</b> of research, I found a local charity to run for. It would mean raising $2,500 in order to earn my spot, and the founder assured me I would achieve that with her help, as well as all my family and great Island Girls Running friends' support. And then I had my MRI and got the results, so I had to inform her that I was not going to accept the invitation to run for her this year. I assured her that whether I get picked through the lottery or not, I will be raising money for her foundation next year. Charlie can defer his registration to 2015, after paying for both this year and next year, and I will hopefully be in amazing form to cover those 26.2 miles.<br />
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I'm trying to keep busy while I'm home. I have a list a mile long of things I need to get done around the house to make it presentable for both Chelsea's Sweet 16 Sleepover and Charlie's high school graduation party. I managed to rake the front yard in 3 days and am SO close to getting the entire back yard cleaned up for the first time probably ever. I've been taking it very easy and moving so slowly to make sure I don't further injure myself, so not to worry. The crappy weather recently has been conducive to window washing, so I only have a few rooms left to complete. I've washed and rehung curtains, as well. Things are getting crossed off, making me feel accomplished.<br />
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There is some good news in all this gloominess. I have another 8 days of work this month with the photo studio, and tomorrow is my 2nd race working for the timing company. It was a real eye-opener, seeing what the timing company does to catch every runner that crosses the finish line. A piece of advice- make sure you pin your bib on your front and don't obscure it with anything! The antennas sometimes can't read the chip on the back of the bib if it's covered. If you run a race, you want it to count!<br />
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How are you all doing with your fitness and health goals? I need some inspiration and motivation ASAP.<br />
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<br />Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-24717679823750013072014-03-05T09:36:00.000-05:002014-03-05T09:36:16.512-05:00Making It WorkIt's amazing what a difference a few days make. Instead of wallowing in my misery, I decided to do something. Change comes from action, right? I had accumulated a ton of points from Christmas shopping through My Points, and I decided I was going to cash them in for Amazon gift cards and get myself a Fitbit. Because I am home so much since it's the slow season for school photography, I've been sitting around, A LOT, playing Candy Crush and watching marathons of just about anything on Bravo. Inactivity does not help with the process of weight loss, nor the funky gray cloud that seemed to envelop me. A Fitbit would help motivate me to move and be active.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With my gift cards, I also got a Jackie Warner exercise DVD, a box of Atkins protein bars and 8 boxes of South Beach protein bars. All for just $14 of MY money!!!</td></tr>
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I reached out to friends who I knew had a Fitbit, as well. Having a partner in an endeavor keeps me honest and inspired. A little friendly competition helps get my engine going, as well! I asked Meredith, my team mate from <a href="http://www.fromfattofinish.com/">From Fat To Finish Line</a> about her experience with the device and she suggested 10,000 steps a day for me and 15,000 for her. Since I mentioned how excited I was about getting the Fitbit, my friend and team mate <a href="http://www.carlyshrinks.com/">Carly</a> has also jumped on board!! Let me tell you, 10,000 steps is a lot. A solid hour of walking/running, getting me through 4+ miles, isn't equal to 10,000 steps! So, suffice it to say, being home, accumulating steps has been keeping my house clean! Any excuse and tactic needed to get some steps in, I'm doing it. I have plenty of spare time, so taking several trips to get the laundry up and down the stairs and away in drawers/closets is not a big deal. It may seem crazy to an outsider looking in, but they don't have to get on the scale for me or wear my jeans!<br />
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So I've had my Fitbit Zip ($51.99 on Amazon!) since the 27th, and I've hit my 10,000 step goal every day and two days I've managed to surpass 15,000! To achieve that yesterday, I walked in my neighborhood fast for 55 minutes and took Molly for a half hour walk (a slow 1.3 miles with her sniffing every pile of poop and blade of grass she could get to), along with my regular activity of the day. Not terribly taxing to achieve it, but on Sunday, after pacing for an hour while watching the Oscars to hit 15k, my legs felt like I ran a half marathon!<br />
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The Fitbit website is motivating as well. You receive badges for hitting goals in 5,000 step increments. It has graphs and charts and it ranks your friends 1st through 10th place in steps for the week. For those of you that like to keep track of everything, the Fitbit will fulfill your needs. There is even a version of the Fitbit that tracks your sleep and stair climbing total. Gee, this sounds like a review! I'm just excited about it! Let me know if you have one and we can support each other! I'm either Linda Kuil or Linda K. on the website.Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7418471918772576653.post-37179765411292559502014-02-26T08:56:00.001-05:002014-02-26T08:56:29.575-05:00FlounderingSo, November's race had me down. Finishing last hit hard. Then the holidays hit me even harder. Oh, and then winter had to sucker punch me when I was down. I know it's been insane across the country, but I've only lived on Long Island (except for attending college in Upstate NY) and I have never EVER experienced a worse winter! It's not only been frigid, but we've had umpteen snow storms to boot. Last year we had one major storm that hit the day after Christmas, while everyone was on vacation. This year my kids have used FOUR snow days, along with a couple late arrivals and early dismissals.<br />
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I've only run 2 races since the half. Charlie, my daughter and myself did a 5k toy trot that was a lot of fun. It was Chelsea's first race and she did great for only having run 1 time before. It was fun to dress up and get together with my Island Running Girls.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lw_OuzjE5Ng/Uw3oojyNiaI/AAAAAAAACDA/dgsDe6W1jv8/s1600/1474482_10201919047836748_772828383_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lw_OuzjE5Ng/Uw3oojyNiaI/AAAAAAAACDA/dgsDe6W1jv8/s1600/1474482_10201919047836748_772828383_n.jpg" height="320" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Her first race mile!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wj3E9wounLQ/Uw3oq5uB35I/AAAAAAAACDI/nP6mGScOgDQ/s1600/1476520_10201919047876749_1704017161_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wj3E9wounLQ/Uw3oq5uB35I/AAAAAAAACDI/nP6mGScOgDQ/s1600/1476520_10201919047876749_1704017161_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">such CUTE mile markers!</td></tr>
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The other race was a 4 mile prediction run put on by my running store, Sayville Running Company, on December 14th. So with a prediction run, you figure out how long it would take you to finish the course and write it down on a slip of paper. You run tech-free and your finishing place is determined by how close your prediction came to your time. The course was side streets that were covered in some ice and snow, so I took it slow, and I finished last, again. That didn't bother me. My knee didn't hurt while I was running and I didn't fall on my fat ass in those conditions, so in my opinion it was a WIN! AND I came in 9th place, so I won a prize! I'll definitely do another prediction run. It was just fun and a good time hanging out at the store with other runners.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-71LdyQBHSF8/Uw3qg0QJlUI/AAAAAAAACDU/puU3cpW6KqA/s1600/922534_10153598839370790_542858850_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-71LdyQBHSF8/Uw3qg0QJlUI/AAAAAAAACDU/puU3cpW6KqA/s1600/922534_10153598839370790_542858850_o.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My FIRST snow run!</td></tr>
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A hard winter, over eating during the holidays and a bummish knee has my weight up. I'm in such a funk. On the last Sunday in January I did a treadmill run at the gym that just did my knee in. I took off almost 4 weeks. I've run/walked a couple of times in the last week and I'm so discouraged. I'm so slow. I'm running about a half a mile at a time to ease myself in. There's no pain during my runs, but a tightness afterwards. I definitely have to get my ass back to the store for new shoes. I have $175 in gift cards from Christmas burning a hole in my pocket, but I just haven't got there. I feel like I can't get out of my own way, running or otherwise.<br />
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At the beginning of this month my gym membership was up. I've scoped out a couple other gyms. One had such an amazing deal of $6.95/month I just HAD to check it out. The one perk to this gym was that it offered classes, which my gym did not. Would you believe that that $7 got you a total of 10 hours a week to workout? Yeah. I could go from 11 am to 4 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays every week, ONLY. I actually guffawed! There were other more inclusive offers with two and three year contracts, which just wasn't for me.<br />
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Without the gym, I'm struggling to formulate a plan. I have a plethora of workout DVDs (including Insanity!) to choose from and I also got a kettle bell for Christmas. There's no excuse to not workout an hour a day, especially since I have no work at this time, which kind of piled more onto my <i>already</i> full funk plate. Money is tight.<br />
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Winging it really isn't working. I need to get a calendar <i>just</i> for my workouts and plot the thing out. With gift cards from all of my shopping through My Points, I have a Fitbit Zip coming tomorrow (!) along with a Jackie Warner exercise DVD. February is almost over and I can not WAIT to turn the page and get my mojo back for March. 22 more days until <b>SPRING</b>!!!!<br />
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QUESTION: Has this winter weather crap hit <b>YOU</b> as hard?Frickin' Fabulous at 40http://www.blogger.com/profile/14853674225662132643noreply@blogger.com7