Boston goals

I used to write a post before each race laying out my goals for how I'd like to finish, etc.  Going into my training for Boston I had definite goals.  Big picture I wanted to make this my best marathon ever.  My previous marathons I had raced well, but as soon as I finished I knew I had more to give. That I could run faster, push harder, do better.  So what better race to leave it all out there than Boston.

My previous marathon personal best was 3:29:50.  I wanted to run faster than that.  With basic training I firmly believed that I could drop that down to 3:20 no problem.  With really good, consistent training I thought I'd be able to drop that even more & run closer to 3 hours.

I indicated in a previous post that my training started to fall off course about 6 weeks ago.  I knew my 3 hour goal was slipping away.  There was still plenty of room for a completely awesome run.  However once I hurt my foot I had to reassess everything.  I began to focus on just being able to finish.

I'll admit that I've had a few moments of questioning if I'd really be able to finish Boston.  While my break could've been much worse, it's not something I've ever dealt with before.  And regardless of the brave face I was putting on my foot really REALLY hurt.  A lot.  I'd like to believe that nothing could stop me from one of my top passions, but I do realize that I am also human & flawed & have some kind of breaking point.  And sometimes God has other plans that I just don't understand.

In the almost 3 weeks since I injured my foot I've been very very good at taking care of my foot. Maybe to a point of overkill, but I didn't care.  If I truly was not going to be able to finish the Boston marathon it was not going to happen without a fight. I did see an orthopedic doctor to get some good, solid professional input on my injury.  In a nutshell, if I can withstand running for 26 miles then good luck.  Hearing that was the nod I needed to press on.  I did add in some running.  Basically some very slow easy miles.  

Things have slowly, but surely been improving.  I'm not back to 100%, but I wasn't expecting to.  My goal remains the same & that is to finish.  Yeah, it's a bummer that my perfect, ideal marathon won't happen.  But I've been able to still fully experience this special achievement.  And in a few days I plan to be able to say, I finished & that's all that matters!!

Keeping tabs on me!!

I've been asked many times about giving updates while I'm running the Boston marathon.  While I will have my phone on me and you know I'm one to put it all out there on social media, I may be limited with timely or effectively posting all the details.  However, there are many ways in which you can get up-to-date information on not only me, but any other athlete you may want to track.

First off a few details.  I thought these were no brainer facts, but I've been asked several times these questions & many people don't actually know them.  Which makes sense. I mean in my brain that revolves around running, and for the last 7 months Boston, this stuff is etched into my brain for life.  I could probably recite them in my sleep.  But for the rest of the human race they just don't know and ask these questions with best of intentions of wanting to know.  Here are the highlights of the Boston Marathon:

DATE:  Monday, April 20, 2015

WHERE: Boston, MA

TIME:  While there are some earlier start times for the mobility impaired (8:50), push rim wheelchair (9:17), and hand cycle (9:22) the first wave of elite women runners starts at 9:32 a.m.  (No, I will not be in this group.  Yes, people ask me this all the time.)  At 10:00 a.m. the elite men will start followed by the first wave of runners.  I am in the 3rd wave of runners to be released and in the 1st corral.  So I should be starting at 10:50 a.m. EST

Once I am running there are a few ways you can follow my progress and/or have updates sent to your phone or email.

You can sign up & receive email updates:  Continue to the registration page for the AT&T Athlete Alerts on the race website. Sign-up using your mobile phone number for SMS text message updates, or by entering an email address for email updates. Click HERE to sign up now.

You can sign up & receive texts directly to your phone:  Simply text the athlete's Bib Number to 234567 using your US mobile phone. You will then receive an sms text response with instructions on how to submit a runner’s bib number. You will receive up to 6 texts per bib number.  

Or you can download the Boston Marathon app & track my every move.  Simply search "Boston Marathon," or update the 2014 version on your mobile device.  This year, fans will be able to get six AT&T Athlete Alerts on up to 10 people on race day. 

MY BIB NUMBER IS: 16665

You can watch television footage of the race which will be broadcast on the Universal Sports Networrk.  I don't know what channel that is on and more than likely you won't see me on television anyway, but you can have fun trying anyway.  You just never know!!

So there are plenty of opportunities for keeping track of me on race day!  I can fill in the gaps with my Instagram account and facebook.  I don't know what the day will bring and it doesn't matter if you're following me via text or just thinking about me during the process.  I'm excited to take you along with me on my adventure!! 

Plot Twist

Since the beginning of this year I've had one goal in sight:  The Boston Marathon

For the most part my training has gone really well.  At the beginning of March I began having problems with getting my speed/interval workouts done.  This is my hardest area of training.  My weakest too.  I'm way too guilty of just wanting to run and not put a lot of effort into targeting a very specific pace.  I naturally run an ok pace (depending on who you ask or compare me to), but I'm ok with how my pace falls.  It's fast enough to be competitive in almost any race I run, but not necessarily enough to be in the top.  I can almost always place in my age group in larger races.  In smaller local races I often win.

I see many areas where it would be easy to improve my pace.  I see a lot of potential within myself.  Not that it's going to do a whole lot, other than give me more personal satisfaction.  But I'm a pretty competitive person by nature and I have yet to run certain races giving 100% and knowing I've done my absolute personal best.  I usually finished feeling like I had more to give.  I want to change that!

Eventually my training fell off of pace.  Or rather my pace training fell apart.  All of my other training was going well.  Long runs were happening every weekend, hill workouts were taking place (Heartbreak Hill has nothing on me!) & plenty of other conversational pace runs were happening without much effort. I was still very optimistic about how things were going to play out for finishing Boston.  I had little doubt that I would go and run my personal best.

And then....well, I'm not 100% sure what happened.  There was no hole, no crack, no stick or rock.....nothing, as far as I know caused my foot/ankle to give out.  I didn't fall.  That's exactly what I was trying to prevent because I was running toward traffic and a truck was coming at me.  So instead of falling or even stumbling a little bit I snapped my foot back up in one quick motion and immediately I was feeling pain.  This (my foot/ankle buckling and me maneuvering to prevent a complete fall or injury) has happened plenty of times, probably once a week or at least a few times a month.  Normally I shake it off, take a few more steps then get back into my pace.  But this time was different.  I did keep running, trying to "shake it off", but I quickly realized this was no pain like I've ever felt.  I walked a little bit and tried to run again, but with no luck.  I walked back to where my van was in complete pain.

In case you've forgotten, I could write a book on any given subject.  I love to hash out all the details.  But, long story short.....I broke my foot.  Which was not listed anywhere in my training plan for a successful Boston!!

I've been left to just deal with this plot twist that has been thrown at me.  I've been completely blindsided with this turn of events.  There are worse things that could happen & yes, I believe, even worse timing that it could happen.  So I'm choosing to see the bright side of things and continue to be optimistic.  It's been a process though as I've had plenty of moments of frustration & doubt.  But I still keep coming back to being positive.

Big picture, I'm still going to be able to run Boston.  Yes, with a broken bone in my foot.  I have a pretty high pain tolerance and have really come too far and *this close* to Boston to not run.  Of course, my doctor has advised me not to run.  Once I made it known that I was running no matter what he gave me some tips of how to lessen the pain or any potential damage and then wished me good luck.  He seemed very skeptical that I'd be able to endure to pain & discomfort for 26 miles.  He apparently doesn't know me very well!!

It is what it is

I've had this post in my mind for a very long time.  I've written it in my head a million times over.  I just don't sit down and pound all those thoughts into this keyboard for you all of you to read.  It's not like hundreds of you even realize I've been MIA, but even if it's only a few of you I feel bad for not keeping things updated on this blog.

Recently I've told a few people about my blog.  Mostly to explain why I'm so attached to using #sherunseverywhere so much.  And then I realize.....eek!  what? I have a blog?!?!?!  Which is true, but why tell anyone about it if I don't keep it updated??

Well, I didn't plan to stop updating le blog.  I just kind of happened.  On the running front things have been moving along nicely.  Well, until last week, but that is a whole other post!!.  But the rest of my life has been cra-a-a-a-a-zy!  Which is no news flash, my life always has been.  I think a lot of it came down to my job as well.  My job, that I dearly love, has kept me SO busy & I spend a lot of time on the computer doing that job.  Leaving me with no desire to come home and be on the computer even more.  I literally go days & don't touch my home computer.  Now I did install the blogger app on my phone, but that can be a little tedious to use for posts.  And, I, no doubt, already spend plenty of time on my phone, why add to that too?

So, it is what is it.  I have a blog.  But at this point I'm just not updating it very much.  Although that might change in the next week or so.  And last for about a week or so.  Because the Boston marathon is in 11 days & boy do I have so much to keep you all informed & posted on.  Take it for what it is for now.  It might last a week, maybe longer.  Either way, I'm still a blogger & hanging on full force to She Runs Everywhere!!

Run Your Ice Off 5k

I have about 15 minutes left before I officially ring in 2015.  We had some friends over earlier this evening.  Nothing big & fancy.  We had plenty of snacks & played games.  

Earlier today I ran the Run Your Ice Off 5k in Kewanee, IL.  I've lost track, but I'm pretty sure this is my 6th year running this race.  It's become a favorite standard race that I look forward to running each year.

(My friends that went with me)

I went into this race knowing full well that it would not be a pr or anything super fast.  I fully realize I've done ZERO speed work this year.  In fact, overall it's been a down year with my running (and I don't mean that in a negative way).  But I was still planning to race & put it all out there.

(My bib number & the race sweatshirt)

The thing about this race is that every year the weather is something completely different.  There have been years with ice & snow on the ground.  Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot.  One year it was so warm I ran in a skirt & a single layer shirt.  This year it was cold & windy.  The windchill was -1.  Going out the wind was to our  backs & it didn't feel too bad.  Coming back though it was a nice brisk slap in the  face that, for me, made it very hard to breath.  Add in me running at a pace that was too fast for what I'm trained for & it was a tough race.  But I was able to pull off being 3rd female overall & had a time off 21:40.  Not too shabby & nothing to complain about.

Well, it's officially a new year.  I'm more than ready to say good bye to 2014 & ready to welcome 2015!

I can't wait to see what awaits me this year!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!