Running for Cover

My Boston Marathon Recap!

2010-05-08T04:37:00.000-07:00

It's been three weeks since the marathon, and I know I've been a HUGE slacker in writing this last post!! The marathon was an amazing experience and I loved every second of it. I was so lucky to have such a great support system - my family came up from Jamestown to calm me down before the race and hug me during it...Shaun's family was there for support... and even my clients were on the route with oranges for me.. I couldn't have done it without any of you!

All in all, I finished the marathon in 4:02, averaging about a 9:15 min/mile pace. I was pretty happy with that, given the late training start in February due to my sprained ankle.

So finally, without further adu, here is my race recap:

My awesome family came up to Boston on Friday night, and I took my parents to the race Expo on Saturday to pick up my race pack. My dad is a marathon runner too, so he loved all the free stuff!
Then, the night before the marathon, Shaun's sister Nicole had an awesome BBQ for everyone - including my family. We brought the pasta salad. =) It was great to have both families there to cheer me on!

I got a great nights sleep (right after my parents air matress broke - woops!!) and woke up the next morning refreshed and ready. Shaun took this pic as I was eating my power breakfast at 5 am on Marathon Monday morning. Clearly, I was distracting myself from race day nerves!

At 6 am, I met a Katie and Ally from the Melanoma Foundation Team, and we loaded the buses to Hopkington. I thought I could avoid the "jump off the bus and pee in the woods" issue from the year before, but I couldn't. About halfway there, the buses were stopped in traffic. Perfect time for a pee break!! The bus driver handed me a tissue and we were back on the road in no time.

We were in Hopkington by about 8:45 - which gave us time to do two more porta-potty stops, chill out on our tarp (ie; my shower curtain), apply sunscreen and move to the starting line by 10:15. It seemed like there were more runners than ever this year!!

My teamate Katie and I ran together for the first 12 miles. We were cranking out a 9min. mile pace - enjoying the crowds and the motivational signs. (Our favorite sign: "Remember why you are doing this.".) The crowds in Boston are enough to keep you going for hours. We felt great. My favorite runner's shirt said " There is a stronger person inside".

But around mile 15 I knew my 9 min mile pace was going to be tough to hold. Mile 15 boasts a huge downhill slope into Wellsley that is a killer on the legs. My quads were burning. I felt a little tendonitis in my knee, but I kept going. I knew my family and Shaun's family were only a mile up ahead.

To my suprise, just before mile 16, one of my clients from Healthworks, Ellen B, sprung out of the crowd with a huge bag of bananas and oranges for ME! That was enough to bring tears to my eyes.

Up and over the hill I went, where I spotted Shaun's brother-in-law snapping pictures. He got this one of me:

I hugged my family and heard my dad yelling "GO GO! YOu are running 9 minute miles, don't stop now!!" So I didn't. The hills were next, and seeing my family was the perfect motivation to push it out.

I've never had a problem on Heartbreak Hill. In fact, I really love it. It was the downhill AFTER that killed me this year. You climb 4 miles of hills and the pound downhill for the last 6. Right around mile 23, I felt that twinge in my knee get stronger as I pounded the pavement down the last 3 miles - through BC and into Boston. I knew I had to slow down, or I could get seriously hurt. I took it down to a 9:15 pace, shortened the stride and tried to take it easy.

At mile 25, my endurance felt great. My knee did not. I tried to push it out, but ended up pulling over to the side of the road to rub my knee because I could barely bend it. Through crowds of people, I looked up at the sky and literally asked Brad to help me. I remember thinking, "C'mon, just one more mile - no limping to the finish line!". He must have carried me through, because I pushed through and was able to bend my knee a bit. Right on Hereford, Left on Boylston. I was home.

Crossing the finish line this year felt great. Mostly because I knew Brad helped me through the entire process - through an ankle injury, two great events, and into marathon day. I know was there and a part of it all. And we raised over $15,000 for the Melanoma Foundation. With his help and yours, it all came together.

The relaxing days after the marathon were much needed. We went to dinner, I took two days off from work to relax (ie' massage and icebaths) and then Shaun took me to Cranwell Resort in Lenox for a Spa weekend.

I felt healthier, happier and more accomplished than I had in months. Especially knowing that we have helped so many suffering from Melanoma with our donations! Thank you all again for your support. It was an amazing experience!!

Pinney's Pubcrawl and Marathon Updates!

2010-04-03T03:48:00.001-07:00

It's been a couple of busy weeks with running and fundraising! Last weekend, we raised over $1500 at Pinney's Pubcrawl, I finished my last 20 mile run , and there are only 2 weeks left until the BIG DAY!! Oh, and did I mention, you have helped us successfully raise $15,000 for the Melanoma Foundation of New England?That is AMAZING!!

Last weekend, the pubcrawl was a blast. We had almost 70 guests - friends, family, friends of friends, who drove in from everywhere around New England. The Wilbraham crew represented, our Vermonters came down, the New Hampshire and Connectictut crews came in. We can't thank everyone enough. It really was a great party.
I remember at one point at the end of the night, I looked around at everyone dancing and laughing and thought "Man, there are a lot of people here to support us!" That is what life is all about..right?

A big thank you to Adirondack Screen Printing for printing our t-shirts, Norma S. for making us a sweet logo, all the bars and everyone who donated!

After 5 hours of drinking (ok,ok, I only had 2 Magners =)), I managed to finish my 20 miles on Sunday morning. It was a tough one, but I actually think I was coming down with a little cold, which may have affected me a bit. I ran in 3 hours - putting me at a 9 minute mile. The hardest part was running it by myself, plus a nagging knee pain towards mile 18. That's the thing about Boston, half of the course is downhill - 10 miles of pounding downhill after a 4 mile climb is never good for the joints. But, I've been icing and resting and everything seems fine. Possibly just a mild tendonitis in the knee, but nothing that will prevent me from running on April 19th!

It's crazy to think about the last 4 months - yes, the training can be overwhelming at times, but what has been more motivating is the support. We've had our friends and family come to two events, and I get emails and comments everyday with encouraging words of support. I am not sure I could've done it this year without that.

So now - 3 weeks of taper - pure relaxation. Ok, not TOTAL relaxation. But my mileage drops considerably in the next few weeks, so it certainly feels like that. I am doing an 8 mile long run today in the sunshine. Next week, I'll do some spinning, some short 3 mile runs, and some yoga...ahhh..I LOVE tapering!

With that said, I guess the next time you'll hear from me...it'll be on race day!! Woo hoo!

Boston Marathon Training: The 18 Mile Road to Recovery!

2010-03-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

I was instructed by Shaun that I better not fluff this week's blog with smiles and lines like "Oh, yes 18 miles done and feeling GREAT!". He mentioned this as I was immobile on the couch with a bottle of gatorade wrapped in my hands like a teddy bear, a bottle of ibuprofin and icy hot strewn about the room. Damn him for calling me out!

So yes, 18 miles DONE. And, let's be clear..it was not an easy 18. However, I AM feeling great and psyched that the marathon is only 4 weeks away!

This weekend, I decided to do the long run on Saturday morning with my friend and client, Kerry, who is also running Boston. I usually run on Sundays, but the forecast did not look good for Sunday and there was no way I was going run in flash flood conditions. Therefore, I woke up Saturday morning at 6 am, lubed up the feet, filled the feul belt and headed to FitCorp. FitCorp organizes group runs every Saturday morning for Boston Charity runners, and on this rainy Saturday, about 50 runners came ready to brave the windy, wet roads.

We started at 8am downtown at One Beacon Street, and ran 9 miles out to Newton and back, hitting Heartbreak Hill on the second half, just in time for the rain to pick up. Kerry and I chatted for the first 10 miles and I was feeling strong until about mile 15. The wind was wipping and we were soaked. The hills rolled on, and although I was running stronger than last week, I could tell my heart was breaking...more mentally than physically (obviously). I was honestly ready to be done with the rain and done with the run.

At one point, I was running alone and feeling the mental pain so much that I literally said outloud to myself "C'mon NAT - GO!". It worked for a while (and so did the Billy Joel song "Second Wind" that randomly started playing on my iPod) until the last few miles. Around mile 16, my hip decided to cease up. I felt like I ran the last leg on one leg (pun intended). But I finished, and Shaun picked me up at 11 am soggy and sweaty, but accomplished.

I know I sound a bit negative, but honestly, I really enjoyed the run despite the part about the rain and the minor hip issue. I LOVED it actually. There is nothing more exhilirating than knowing you're up at the ass crack of dawn to push yourself past your mental and physical limits. Not to mention, doing it for someone I care so much about and a cause like Melanoma makes it all worth it.

So it goes, I spent my entire Saturday afternoon stretching my hip, foam rolling and sleeping. By Saturday night I was feeling great (SEE SHAUN, I was feeling GREAT!!) and we headed out for a delicious dinner at the bar at Chez Henri. After a run like that, the.wine.was.awesome. =)

And thus, Sunday started my road to recovery. I headed to Baptiste Yoga to get some healing heat into my crampy hip. Then, I got a lower body massage from my favorite girl at Healthworks, Michelle B. As a runner, I recommend yoga and massage for anyone doing long distances. Massages used to be considered a luxury for me, but have now turned into a necessity.

I am a feeling great today and happy that I have only one long run (The big 2-O!!) in a few weeks. I can't believe it is almost here. The training has seemed quick, but the running community and support from everyone has made it easier. A big thank you to the people that came out on Saturday and gave us gatorade and jellie bellies on the route - I assume you were much colder and wetter than we were!

Boston Marathon Training: Paranoia Paranoia!

2010-03-07T16:05:00.000-08:00

Those of you who've run long distances before know this is just about the time when race day paranoia sets in. With just over a month to go before the marathon, I need to make sure everything feels ok. So, today, it took me forever to get ready for my 16 mile run. Here's why: (with peak into my psychotic brain):

1. Clothing Catastrophe: "It's 50 degrees -yay!. But, if I wear shorts, I can't wear my ankle brace because then it's going to rub for 2 hours and slash my shins open. But if I wear pants, I'll collapse of heat exhaustion!" Solution: Capri pants, no brace.

2. Ankle Brace Dilema: "If I don't wear my ankle brace, what if I step on a rock and I re-sprain my ankle??!". Solution: Chucked the brace,since I've already been doing short runs without it and I won't want to wear it on race day either..Ankle feels fine!

3. Blister-tastic Trauma: "I should probably rub my feet with a pound of petroleum jelly AND Aquaphor, because it's really hot out." Solution: Took 20 minutes to slather my feet, and still got some blisters. Dang it!

4. Ga Ga for Gu: "Crap, I only have one Gu packet left, and City Sports doesn't open until 11 am!" Solution: Frantically checked 2 stores before asking some runners on the race route for the nearest sports store. Lucky for me, one of the guys had an extra Tri-berry, and hooked me up. How's that for good kharma?

5. Music Mania: "I hate the songs on my ipod. Maybe Shaun will let me use his. Wait, maybe I can just download 10 new ones to get me revved up! Wait, what? iTunes is undergoing an error today?! When does that EVER happen?". SOLUTION: I borrowed Shaun's ipod and asked him what to listen to, specifically something "Cheerful", and he replied easily "Vampire Weekend." Done and done.

All in all, the 16 miles went incredibly well, considering how nervous I was in the morning. I finished at about a 9:00 min mile pace and had no problem with the hills (I thank training in Vermont for this!). The sunshine seemed to melt away my paranoia throughout the run, and the Gu gesture from a fellow runner really made me happy.

However, by mile 14 I was unusually dehydrated and my body ached. Next time, I'm bringing more water in my Fuel Belt... Next week, add "WATER PARANOIA" to the growing list! Oh well, 18, here we come!

ps- One thing NOT to be paranoid about? Raising enough money for the Melanoma foundation! So far, we've raised over $13,000! Let's go for $15,000! Thanks for all of your support =)

Boston Marathon Training: Mardi Gras and Mountain Views

2010-03-01T16:53:00.000-08:00

Here's one awesome thing about running: you can do it anywhere. So I had no promblemo accepting the invite for our annual ladies weekend at Tara's new house in Williston, Vermont! Williston is about 15 minutes from Burlington (which happens to be the healthiest city in the country and one of my favorite places, ever!)..Did I also mention it just so happened to be Mardi Gras weekend in Burlington? Oh, the beauty of marathon training ANYWHERE =)

The ladies started the weekend off with some serious Mimosa's on Saturday morning. And yes, I had one! I am not a big drinker anymore, and tend to take it down during my marathon training, but, one was fine! Especially considering I wouldn't be running 12 miles until Sunday...

One mimosa later, we headed to the Mardis Gras parade dressed in our yellow, green and purple feathered garb. Our favorite float? The Where's Waldo crew. You may not have been able to find Waldo, but you could certainly recognize our crazy crew!

At night, we hit Nectar's, where I enjoyed one Vodka Soda for BP, and then retired to water. Twelve miles never feels good with a hangover!

That's why it was easy to wake up bright and early Sunday morning to run. This week was a lower mileage week, to prep for my 15 miler next week. On this fine day, the sun was shining, the weather was 40 degrees and I had my route all picked out. Williston has some great bike paths, open roads and amazing homes to look at. I was also lucky enough to climb atleast 3 miles of hills and see some sweet mountain views. And just as I rounded the 10 mile mark, panting up one of the hardest hills I've climbed in a while I saw Mt. Mansfield ahead of me and went to grab my camera for your viewing pleasure.. And right there, my camera died. Oh well, I guess you had to be there =)

And of course, what weekend would be complete without the foam roller?

A big thanks to my girls for an awesome weekend, and a yummy pancake breakfast when I got back from my run!! Couldn't have asked for a better weekend <3

The First Annual Brad Pinney Wine Tasting and Silent Auction!

2010-02-21T18:11:00.000-08:00

The weekend finally arrived! On Friday, we headed to Wilbraham to get ready for The First Annual Brad Pinney Wine Tasting and Silent Auction. And, I am proud to say the event went off without a hitch!! We had an amazing night, with 118 guests and over $8,000 raised for the Melanoma Foundation of New England! SO many of Brad's friends and family came out to celebrate his life and support this cause in his honor. With over 20 different wines, samples from Opa Opa Brewing, tons of prizes, awesome food, a delicious cake from Cordis Confections and jazz piano from our good friend Dustin -what could be a better way to spend a Saturday night??

A HUGE Thank You to all of our vendors, donors, guests and friends who helped make the night so special. Thanks to my favorite gals, Ashlee and Jori, for working the door. You girls rocked it!

I think my favorite part of the night was standing back and watching guests and old friends reunite. To see people sipping wine, chatting, laughing and catching up was exactly what Brad would have wanted.

Hosting this event only reinforced how important it is to have a strong support system in life. This was something that Brad was good at and passionate about - creating a community of friends and family for support. It was so nice to have my parents and sister in Wilbraham for the big night. We had a sweet Lasagna dinner (thanks Chris)and for the first time, I felt like my two families were together at once.

So today, as I ran my 14 miles, I snapped the "Entering Wilbraham" sign above. I finally understood why Brad had lived in Wilbraham all his life - the amazing people and the strength of the community. And when I entered the house, exhausted after 2 hours of running, I was greeted by applause from 12 family members having lunch in the living room. Just another reason why I know Brad is definitely around..the support of family! =)

Boston Marathon Training: The Things You Do For Love.

2010-02-14T15:37:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day, all! Yes, it's the day of love and all things cupid, but training must go on! Today, I ran 12 miles out on the Charles, before a delicous Valentines day dinner cooked by Shaun. I finished at a 9 minute mile pace, fighting a relentless wind on the Storrow side. Seriously, the wind literally did not stop blowing for atleast 8 miles. I have pretty sweet wind burn to show for it. Oh, the things you do for love =)

Last week, I got a pretty sweet response to my Breakfast of Champs post,(Quiche recipe below)..and today, I started my morning off with another Power Breakfast: Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal! This is a heavy hitter. Loads of carbs for energy and protien for recovery,so make sure to eat it a few hours before your run. All you have to do is mix 1/2 cup of Quick Oats, 1/2 cup water, 1 smashed banana, and a tablespoon of PB. Microwave for 2 minutes. YUMMMM.. It's my favorite!

As I was getting ready for my long run this morning, I started to realize the effort that really goes into a long run. Here are my top necessities to get the job done:

Petroleum Jelly: I slather it on my feet, arms, wherever to prevent blisters and chaffing. Last year I had a chaffing scar on my neck so huge, that everyone thought it was a hickey. I'm trying to prevent that this year.
Foam Roller: The second love of my life. I roll right before and right after my run to release muscle tension
My Fuel Belt: H2O is critical, so I fill my fuel belt with Nuun, my favorite electrolyte drink. This belt is also wicked fashionable.
My ipod Today I started off with tunes from MGMT, then moved to Jay Z. About halfway through, I thought "I wonder if Beyonce ever gets mad about Jay's old songs.."Girls All Over the World? Hustler?!"...Yup, music is always a good way to kill time.
Gu - Sticky energy, nuff said.
Aquaphor's Eucerin Ointment: I slather this on my feet after every run. This stuff heals any and all blisters, open wounds, the works.

All in all, a solid V-day and a solid run. Next weekend is 14 miles and the big Brad Pinney Wine Tasting & Silent Auction. Get ready for lots of pics!

And lastly, here's last weeks Egg Quiche recipe!
Ingredients
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach
3/4 cup liquid egg substitute (or regular eggs!)
1/2 cup feta cheese
1/4 cup salsa
1/4 cup diced onion
3 drops hot-pepper sauce (optional)
Directions
1.Microwave the spinach for 2 1/2 minutes on high. Drain the excess liquid.
2.Line a 12-cup muffin pan with foil baking cups. Spray the cups with cooking spray.
3.Combine the egg substitute, cheese, salsa, onions, and spinach in a bowl. Mix well. Divide evenly among the muffin cups. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out.

Wishing you all a Happy Valentine's Day. Thanks for reading!

Boston Marathon Training: Breakfast of Champions!

2010-02-07T16:31:00.000-08:00

Happy Superbowl Sunday all! Since my Buffalo Bills or Patriots aren't playing, I'm finding the game pretty anti-climactic. So instead, I've decided to chill out, catch up on writing the blog and cook up some serious fuel food for the week! So what's up in my training these days? Here's the low down:

- Last week, we headed off to Wilbraham to prepare for the big event - the Brad Pinney Wine Tasting and Silent Auction on Feb 20th! Everything went well, even my 8 mile run in 6 degree weather!! Thank goodness for Shaun's mom, who gave me 2 extra layers of clothes to wear and dealt with my early morning neurosis.."Should I run? Should I not run? It's so cold? What do you think? What if my toes fall off? What if I can't move? What if I get lost? I should just suck it up and go. Right? Right?" . Right.

-This weekend, I hit up my favorite run of all - the last 10 miles of the Boston Marathon route. I started at Newton Wellsley Hospital and ended at Marathon Sports on Boylston. I ran about an 8:30 minute mile, so I was psyched. When I finished, I hung out in Marathon sports until Shaun picked me up, deliriously talking to the store clerk about my blister fiasco of 2009 and frantically aplologizing because I smelled.

-Tonight, I made the BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONs! These yummy spinich and egg quiches for the week..Just eggs, spinich, feta and tomatoes, cooked up in muffin tins. They are the perfect "Grab and go" fuel and spinich is a great food for cancer prevention.

All in all, running has been going well, despite an old ankle injury that suprisingly seems to be healing up nicely. And the greatest update of all? I know Brad is with me when I run...protecting me and helping me to push through the tough times. I can just feel it. And that in itself, is worth every mile.

Boston Marathon Training: Learning to Be Flexible

2010-01-24T11:50:00.000-08:00

All in all, another solid training weekend. Shaun and I handled six miles on the Charles today…with minimal ice (thank you New Balance for clearing the ice and snow this year!) and a serious wind kicking up on the Memorial Drive side. We finished strong, running about a 9:30 mile. This was Shaun’s first 6 miles EVER, and he killed it! (He’s passed out right now as I write, but well deserved!). My ankle held up pretty well too. (I’m icing now as I write). So I am psyched to run 8 next week on the roads of Western Mass!

As we were running, I was thinking about what I should blog about, which brought me to My 2 Rules of Flexibility that all runners should abide by:

1)Always remain flexible with your training schedule. This doesn’t mean skip a long run or train without paying attention to mileage, but make sure to listen to your body and your mind. If you’re sick, injured, or just plain exhausted..it ‘s OK to move your long run a day or so to give your body some recovery. Or, if you get impromptu all you can eat “Hungry for Hockey” Bruins tickets for example, doing your long run on Sunday instead of Saturday is fine too (Thanks Laura and Kev! We had lots of carbs before our long run today!!

2)Keep your body loose and Flexible! If you haven’t tried a foam roller and you’re a runner, you’re crazy. This thing massages deep muscle tissue like no other. I finally got my own from City Sports this weekend. I love it more than anything else I own. I love it so much, Shaun is worried.

Also, a big congrats to Nicole Pinney Farrell who just ran her first 4 miles without stopping. These Pinneys are natural born runners!!

Couples who Run Together..Paint Together!

2010-01-17T18:24:00.001-08:00

This Saturday, Shaun and I finally decided to take the plunge...Yup that's right, we FINALLY painted the apartment! After painting a sea of bright green, we had a good hour to kill while the paint dried. Lucky for me, Shaun's been running a few times a week, so we decided to take a gorgeous 4 mile run on the Charles. It took me a while to get my head in the game, since it was the first time running outside since the ankle has rehabed. But it felt great...and running with Shaun was exactly what I needed to push through the nagging "I want to be done with this run" thoughts that crept into my brain on mile two. Not to mention, Shaun kicked my butt, so that was extra motivating! Marathon for Shaun?? Not sure if he'd be into it, but I think he's up for a 6 miler next weekend!!

Also, GREAT news..we are up to $3500 in donations for the Melanoma Foundation! A special thank you to the Hubspot team, who made several donations today!! Even more motivation to keep pushing.

What motivates you??

Run Forever!

2010-01-15T07:56:00.000-08:00

"I have to make funny faces in pictures!" - Bill Rodgers after yesterday's photo shoot ;)

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to hang with Bill Rodgers, 5 time Champion of the Boston Marathon and honorary captain of the Melanoma Foundation's Running for Cover Team. Our team met with Bill and his buddy Roger Park for a lesson in biomechanics of the foot and injury prevention. Let's just say, I was able to have Roger confirm that I have a higher tendancy for ankle sprains and foot pain. I'm a Supinator - only 10% of runners Supinate - or put major pressure on the outside of the foot. Roger Park actually makes custom orthodotics for running legends, like Joan Benoit Samuelson (He kept referring to her as "Joanie"!), so I knew I was in good hands. Biggest lesson for me? I actually need to switch the left and right foot orthodics to get the best support. If you've never been appropriately fitted for your sneakers..do it!

Bill also gave me a signed copy of his book,The Complete Idiot's Guide to Runnning, which will be up for auction in February! He told me modestly that he had no idea why his shoes were sold for $10,000 at an auction once! Ummm Bill...here's why:

He signed the book with his new motto "Run Forever!" and joked that "It used to be "See you on the roads but now I'm getting old..so it's Run Forever!"If anyone has ever met Bill, he's one of the most laid back and inspiring runners I've ever met. He truly LOVES LOVES LOVES to run and he loves helping others get started. Plus, he's oddly hillarious, here's an example from his book:

"At a race in Japan once, I startled all the runners by popping a potato in my mouth just minutes before the start. I had a few stomach problems during the race, but new my opponents were completely psyched out. I won".

haha..maybe I'll try that this year???! Any other suggestions to psych out my competitors???

Make Way for the 1st Annual Brad Pinney Wine Tasting & Silent Auction for Melanoma! plus..frozen corn.

2010-01-07T17:32:00.000-08:00

I have to say, with the new year in place, things are defintely coming together! My ankle is successfully rehabbing after a 3 month-long sprain and I've been cleared to train harder, our fundraising event is gaining steam with tons of local attention and amazing auction items, and we're already at $2100 in donations for the Melanoma Foundation! So far, 2010 is bringing it home!!

A few things to remember:
Save the Date for the First Annual Brad Pinney Wine Tasting and Silent Auction! On February 20th we'll be celebrating Brad's tremendous spirit of giving and raising money for the Melanoma Foundation. The event will be held at the Hampden Country Club in Hampden,Ma. Join us for complimentary wines from over 6 vineyards from across the globe, complimentary beer samples, yummy food and over 20 auction items for bidding. It's going to be a great night! Big thanks to our sponsors and the Pinney family for putting this together! Amazing auction items include: a week long stay at a beautiful Cape House in Truro,MA, a one night weekend stay at the Liberty Hotel Boston, high end jewelry, art, a weekend stay at Sugarbush resort, spa gift certificates and even skis!! Tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets are $50 if purchased before January 30th and $60 if purchased after that date. To purchase tickets, please contact me at natalie.deangelo@gmail.com See you there!

Today's Training Tip? Use organic corn to ice ailments. Organic is better for you. ;)

The 12 Days of Christmas Training (for Boston)

2009-12-24T06:18:00.000-08:00

Here’s what happens when you give me way too much time on a plane and a marathon blog to write. Merry Christmas!!

On the 1st day of Christmas Training, my true love gave to me:
A donation to my marathon fund (Tax Free!)
On the 2nd day of Christmas Training, my true love gave to me:
2 running gloves and
A donation to my marathon fund Tax Free!
On the 3rd day of Christmas Training, my true love gave to me:
3 weeks of taper,
2 running gloves,
And a donation to my marathon fund Tax Free!
(ok, you know how the song goes..here’s the shortened version)
On the 12th day of Christmas Training, my true love gave to me:
12 Kenyans winning!
11 Legs a leaping!
10 spandex ripping!
9 fans a dancing!
8 ankles icing!
7 racers swimming (on off days)!
6 laces fraying!
5 Golden Gu Packs!!
4 heartbreak miles!
3 weeks of taper!
2 running gloves!
An a donation to my marathon fund TAX FREE!

How could you NOT donate after that holiday insanity?!

Who are YOU running for?

2009-12-18T13:56:00.000-08:00

This week in my BURN class, one of my clients came in in a sad mood. (For those of you don't know what BURN is, it is my running interval class at the gym where I work). Anyway, she mentioned her brother in law Dennis, had just been diagnosed with severe thyroid cancer. As we continued to run, we decided to dedicate the run that night to Dennis, and in our own way pay tribute to his life and celebrate our health.

An old running coach of mine told me once that he used to dedicate each run to someone he loved, who had been through or was going through a hard time. That is why I am running Boston for Brad, and why we ran for Dennis on Monday.

I am reading a book now called Born to Run, and it's about the best runners in the world, the Tarahumara, a hidden tribe who can run hundreds of miles without stopping, without fatigue, with a smile on their faces. These runners don't run for time, or medals or money, they run for the pure love of it. They run out of love and kindess an compassion for others (Seriously, read the book). It may be the only way they can run for 100s of miles and not die. They are pretty inspiring to us as Americans, who mostly run to shed a few pounds in vain or to gain some sort of recognition or sponsorship.

We can certainly learn from my old running coach, and from the Tarahumara. Next time you go out on your run, dedicate it to someone special. Run for that person selflessly. It will absolutely make that run seem a lot easier and a heck of a lot more worthwhile.

Until tomorrow,
Nat

A Lasting Legacy...

2009-12-13T15:49:00.000-08:00

I had been dating Shaun Pinney for a few months after he decided to introduce me to his father, Brad. All I remember thinking was,"This is a big deal, I'm meeting the parents!" We met at Fenway Beer Works and in walked Mr. Pinney, a towering man of 6'5". But as soon as he smiled, my intimidation dissapeared. When we finished dinner, I remember going to shake his hand. Instead he gave me a huge hug and we both chuckled, because we were on a "hugging status now." I will never forget that hug.

Although Brad had recently been diagnosed with cancer, his strengh and giving spirit was immediately evident. I soon learned Brad Pinney spent his life going above and beyond for others - whether it be in the line of fire as Captain of the Wilbraham Fire Department, volunteering his time on countless community boards or simply by being a good father, husband, coach and neighbor - he was an example of what it truly means to give 100% to others. When Mr. Pinney passed away, there was a line for hours outside the door, hundreds of people from the community coming to pay respects and thank him for his generosity.

Although I never got to know Brad like his friends and famlly did, I consider myself closer to him than ever before. The Pinney family has welcomed me into their home and I am so grateful for that. Their strength and generosity is clearly a legacy of the love and closeness Mr. Pinney built within his family.

When Nicole Pinney (his daughter) told me they were ready to celebrate her dad's life, we began brainstorming. She is a true reflection of her father in so many ways...always thinking of ways to get involved and genuinely help others. That is what led us to the Melanoma Foundation's Running for Cover Team.

Please donate to our cause by making a donation in honor of Brad. All proceeds will benefit the Melanoma Foundation's programs for early detection and skin cancer prevention.

And please keep following this blog! I'll be posting lots and lots of marathon training pics in the months to come!