This will most definitely be long but hopefully I can make it compelling so you don’t zonk out before you finish reading. And you should know I’ve cued up my DVR to watch the elite race as I type this. 🙂 It’s such a different race for them as it is for the turtles like me! I’m going to put my race tips in bold woven throughout this so if you’re just here for that you can find the pertinent info easily. #yourwelcome But if you like to hear my dramatic diary of tales from the day read the unbold stuff too 🙂
Keri, Jane, Claire, Anne and me. My first time meeting Claire and Anne but I know it won’t be my last. Hope to see all these gals again for any of my Jersey and Philly races in 2016.
So first, I have to say that my morning started off a little different than my 2011, and 2013 NYC Marathons. I wasn’t driving to the start alone! My friend Jane and her Princeton, New Jersey crew came to my house to hang for a bit and then I drove us all to the start. The best thing about living ON Staten Island is having the luxury of literally driving just a few blocks from the start village and knowing about the “secret” start village back entrance. It’s not that secret in that it appears on the map but most people arrive via the ferry/shuttle buses which use the other entrance.
our secret entrance in the back.
So we leisurely strolled through the security checkpoint and took some silly photos before I dropped my bag at gear check and then we went to hang out.
Strong women. Meanwhile in hindsight probably wasn’t so smart that Anne screamed “Everyone: put up your guns!” right by the security checkpoint. LOL!
Hey there. Happy Monday. I wanted to just let you all know I finished the 2015 NYC Marathon and I’ll have a full recap up later this week. This one was challenging. But hey, marathons shouldn’t be easy right? So many fun things to tell you about too. I can’t wait to tell you more than you could possibly ever want or need to know about my experience. =)
the struggle was real
I met Goal C which was to finish before my slowest marathon time of 5:28 and I did it barely by coming in at 5:23:55. And honestly that’s only because Lisa found me and we ran the last 3 miles together. Otherwise I’m fairly certain I would have walked those entire 3 miles.
Happy finishers
But a finish is a finish and I’m taking my medal to bed with me every night this week. #kiddingnotkidding
On my bedside table! I earned this one for not giving up when clearly my mind and my body were not on board with that notion
Thanks for all the well wishes. I’ll have that recap up later this week.
Hope you’re enjoying the weekend and Happy Halloween!
Thursday, on my lunch break I went to REI to get the Garmin Forerunner 220 but ended up getting the 25 instead. It was $30 cheaper and had everything I needed so I opted to use the difference to purchase membership to REI. It is a one time cost of $20 and you get 10% off everything in the store and online forever. Seemed like a win-win. I used money that I got from my folks for my birthday.
still in birthday celebration mode
Oh and while I was on my lunch break this bus passed me by…
Time to get my amazing on apparently
Then after work I stopped at Dicks Sporting Goods in search of a light colored v-neck tech tee that I could put my name on for the marathon.
My view on my commute home Thursday night.
I know they say not to wear anything new on race day so I plan on wearing it over another shirt. I found this day glow yellow Nike shirt and it was on sale for $10! SCORE. Then I went to the craft store to buy some iron-on letters. They’re black with sparkles in them. I put my name on the front and some special tribute initials on the back.
Say my name!
Abbie Z: an angel running with me
The initials are of a beautiful young girl who’s life ended earlier this year as a result of a tragic accident. She was crossing the street with her friend when they were struck by a car. I went to high school with her dad and learned through Facebook about her passing. While I never met her I can’t stop thinking about her. I’m heartbroken for her family. I see photos of her with the biggest smile you could imagine. I can’t bring her physical life back and I can’t heal her family’s grief but I wanted to remember her in a special way. I always choose to make my marathon miles as meaningful as possible. Abbie Z: You’ll be my wings tomorrow.Â
So many people to remember during this 26.2.
Aside from Abbie, I will be thinking of Meggan Janota who has been gone exactly 1 year (10/30/14). I met her during the Dicks Sporting Goods Every Runner Has a Reason photo shoot in South Carolina that I got to be a part of back in February of 2013. I also met Leah there too. And yesterday, I got to see her again at the NYC Marathon Expo!
me and leah and a cool and inspiring backdrop
Her guy is running on Sunday and she’s here to support him. She’s in the process of some major knee repair so if you can keep her in your thoughts and send her some well wishes I’m sure she’d be thrilled.
Then there’s my friend Susan’s mom, Elaine’s mom, Tara’s dad, Elvia’s mom, and a former coworker Louise.
There’s no better way to change my mindset in those later miles when I feel I’m hitting a wall than to remind myself how lucky I am to be able to run. It’s a privilege.
I didn’t really stay too long at the expo. Once I got my number and shirt and spent a few minutes talking with Leah and her guy I left and headed home.
The woman I asked to take this pic said i should pose like that. It’s kinda weird but hey I listen to directions =)
Today I took Duncan to the woods for a little walk and photo shoot. I was in the middle of snapping away when he saw a squirrel and started chasing it. There was a creek but so many leaves had fallen on the water that he must have not realized it was water and he fell in. Poor boy had to swim back out and was so embarrased. He’s not a fan of getting wet.
Before falling in the creek
and after….Ma!!!! I got wet.
some of the gorgeous foliage in the woods today
After coming home and bathing the doodle I went for a short 2 miler just to test my new watch and phone pouch. All systems go!
Then it was off to Panera Bread to buy dinner for tonight and for tomorrow night when I finally get home from the marathon.
2 steak and cheese panini sandwiches, 1 chicken salad sandwich, some creamy tomato soup and lots of bread and chips. Plus my FREE birthday cookie! I’m all ready for the RUNger post race =)
So I’ve laid out all my gear and now I’m just going to hydrate and watch the World Series until bed time. Let’s Go Mets!
Breaking news. My sinus infection is G.O.N.E! I’m finally feeling better and so relieved.
Mr. SOTSS and I spent a few days in Chicago to celebrate my birthday.
It was so much fun and jam-packed with activities! Plus, aside from some rain on Saturday morning, the weather was perfectly crisp and Autumn-like with temps in the high 50s and 60s. Have I mentioned how much I love the fall? Have I mentioned how my I love my boyfriend?!!!
We stayed at the Hotel Chicago which is right in the center of the city and so accessible to everything.
There was a bottle of wine and some cheese and crackers in the room to welcome us thanks to Mr. SOTSS. He’s so sweet. He did the same thing when we went to Cape Cod last year for my birthday weekend. Hmmm, setting a precedent. Boyfriend, if you’re reading I hope you’re taking note ;).
I ran on my actual birthday (Sunday) along the Chicago Riverwalk and the lakefront trail (along Lake Michigan) and covered about 7 slow miles but boy was it nice to have some new scenery. Newsflash: Chicago and Garmin = no bueno. I had to transfer my data to Runkeeper and adjust the map. All the tall buildings in the city made the Garmin struggle to locate the satelite and it basically showed that I went berserk in the river. LOL! Actually to be fair, Mr. SOTSS used Runkeeper and it was also just as berserk. But the map is editable so that’s how we got our routes and mileage correct finally.
Happy Birthday to me!
I tried to take a panoramic shot with my phone.
And I also ran about 3.5 miles yesterday before we headed to the airport to catch our flight home.
Hotel room selfie before I set out.
The foliage!
Mr SOTSS ran twice too. I love that we both enjoy going for solo runs while vacationing together.
We ate so much! From stuffed pizza at Giordano’s to filet mignon at Chicago Cut Steakhouse to BBQ Ribs at Weber Grill restaurant. And then there was my birthday hot fudge sundae.
No candles but Mr. SOTSS sang Happy Birthday to me and then I made a wish!
The cook all the food on Weber grills right in the restaurant!
That is pizza perfection right there.
two crusts with the cheese melted in between like a real PIE and then the sauce goes on top of the upper crust.
If you go to Chicago GO HERE!
We walked along the Magnificent Mile and boy was I excited to see they had a Garmin store.
I asked when the Garmin 235 that was announced would be available and they said probably another 2-4 weeks. So now I’m trying to decide if I should just get the 220 before the NYC Marathon on Sunday. I only have the Garmin 10 at the moment and it has a 5 hour battery life and I’m pretty much 100% sure I won’t be crossing that finish line sub 5 this year.
Some other fun things we did in ChiTown…
Took in a Chicago Blackhawks game
The time it takes me in photoshop to protect Mr. SOTSS’ identity with these smiley faces…..he’s worth it.
Went on an architectural river cruise to see and learn about some of the well known, and not so well known buildings in the city. It poured on us for the first 10 minutes of the cruise but we stayed mostly dry thanks to our well spent $2 for ponchos.
my favorite building just for the reflection
As we were going down the river they had to open this particular bridge for a larger boat. I just loved the compositing. So angular and really cool.
They call these the Corn Cob Condos. People live on the top half and their cars (and public parking) are on the lower half. So crazy.
We took the train out to the suburbs of Oak Park where we took a tour of some Frank Lloyd Wright homes including the first home he ever designed and lived in.
Different than the NYC subway in that most of their trains travel above ground
An odd detail on the roof of one of the homes Frank Lloyd Wright designed
Another Frank Lloyd Wright house behind us
Frank Lloyd Wright was known for his lead glass designs.
I scored while we were in Oak Park because we found a Fleet Feet store and I bought a new pouch to put my phone in while running the marathon. I needed sommething big enough to fit the iPhone 5 in the Mophie battery case so I’ll be sure to have enough juice for all those hours.
We also went to Millenium Park and saw the famous Bean sculpture.
Bean selfie!
My feet are so sore because we’ve walked more in the last 3 days than I have in my life a while. About 25,000 steps daily. And that’s not counting the running! We’re both exhausted and will have to rally for sure to get through the rest of the week.Â
taking a power nap at gate B8
Another trip in the books with my favorite travel life companion.
happiness is…
I’m hoping to get one or two super short and easy runs in this week. And then it’s Expo time…And then it’s GO time…AHHHHH! Starting to panic.
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