Week #12

If you can't tell from the picture above I am glazing at the start line. 21.5 Miles is a long time to run - ohhhh man.
Mile 21 - I am looking a lot happier

This week went great. All that rest paid off. During the week I did some swimming, 2 spin classes, a little running and on Saturday I completed my second to last long training run. This weekend the Alz. team met at B.C. drove out in a van to Hopkinton (that is a long ride) and ran from the start line of the marathon course back to B.C. In the end I ran 21.5 miles in a time that I was not expecting. I did better than I planned but I am still not setting myself up for any goal time on race day. Finishing the marathon itself is still an accomplishment for me. Now I am preparing for my last long training run which will be next Saturday!

Week #11

So as you can see from my post below my thoughts and attention were not on running this week. I did manage to keep up with my running routine during the week but when it came down to the weekend and my long run I just couldn't pull it together. The events which occured during the week finally caught up to me and my body needed rest. I am hoping this will just leave me with more motivation to finish my last 2 long run which are coming up this weekend and next weekend.

Fundraising: I am up to $1,900. Feel free to be the one to push me over the $2,000 point. Keep posted for ticket details for the "Bowling Battle of the Charities" event.

Why We Really Run, "In Memory of Papa Sokolow"

I got word when I was on my way to work on Tuesday that my grandfather had passed away in his sleep. As many of you may recall I lost both my grandparents on my dad's side this past summer (my grandfather had Alzheimer's and my grandmother was his care taker) and now this is my grandfather on my mom's side. My grandfather was the caretaker of my grandmother, Elizabeth Sokolow who is in the middle stages of Alzheimer's. From this past year's experiences I have learned that Alzheimer's doesn't just destroy those that have the disease but also those that take upon the caretaker position. This year's Boston marathon certainly will be different. The past three years I stood at the start line with all four of my grandparents living, this year I will head to the start line with only one still alive. This horrible disease has taken a lot from my family this year and I plan on fighting back by attacking the Boston Marathon stronger than ever.

Week 10

The countdown is on, only five weeks to go. Five weeks till the marathon totals out to about 150 miles to run, 1 1/2 marathon in New Bedford to run, six birthday celebrations to celebrate (Kim, Kaylin, Jim, Mrs. Cullen, Keri and mine!!!), 3 Holiday celebrations (St. Patricks Day, Easter & Passover) to pig out at, 1/4 of a semester to study and write, 1 Team pancake celebration and banquet to attend, 1 marathon expo to pick my number up at, 1 "Battle of the Charities" bowling event to raise lots of money, 20 GU packs to eat up and one start /finish line to make it to!

I mixed things up a little bit this weekend by adding skiing into my workout. I took the first weekend off from running since late December. It felt great! I mentally prepared myself for not running over the weekend by pushing myself really hard over the week. It all paid off. Starting next week I will be in the final push of training!