Arizona...downhill from here?

Arizona, a state of gorgeous sunsets, warm winters, and flat, fast race courses. This race was a lot of fun, mainly because I finally reached my goal of finishing a marathon under 4 hours. 3:59:15 was my official time! Jen also had a personal best in the half-marathon, and blew her initial 3 hour goal out of the water, finishing in 2:39:51. Awesome job Jen! We are attributing our success to our matching cute Lululemon shirts, $5 Wal-Mart sunglasses and head bands (made by Jen.) Or maybe it was my good luck hoodie, a $5 Miley Cyrus pink one from Wal-Mart, purchased the night before (along with our awesome sporty sunglasses), which kept me warm both before and after the race. (Anyone ever go to Wal-Mart on a Saturday night? Well, don't)

Of course it didn't hurt that the course was flat as Kate Hudson's chest. And maybe it didn't hurt that I had been training like Rocky in the dead of winter like he did in the one where he beats that Russian guy. Funny how much faster you can run when you're not slipping on snow and ice. But now Jen and I both face the question of whether our finish times go downhill from here when we run courses that maybe aren't so flat.

Not probably one of the most scenic courses, but this one still wasn't too bad. Although, from comparing notes with Jen, I think the marathon course was probably more scenic than the 1/2 marathon course. The marathon course took us by Camelback Mountain, and through the Old Town area of Scottsdale. Both courses started downtown Phoenix and ended up on ASU's campus in Tempe. This being a Rock-n-Roll series marathon, there were several bands along the route, and it seems that every high school cheerleading or spirit squad came out to cheer the runners along, all dressed to various themes of course. One of my favorites were the rocked out Appetite for Destruction girls. Over all, it was well organized, with lots of aid stations, and there were very few spots on the course that were void of spectators. Even the homeless people were cheering us on (and picking up discarded t-shirts and sweatshirts).

And of course, the weather conditions were absolutely perfect. Remind me again why I live in Chicago? This race also had a pretty cool medal, with a sparkly cactus and everything. Although it doesn't top the great card I got from Mackenzie, who came out with her mom and brother Jack to congratulate me on my finish. (Sorry Nicole I didn't get to spend more than a few minutes with you! Thank you SO much for coming out, though, you're awesome!) Jen and I are trying to complete 3 Rock-n-Roll marathons this year, so we can be in the "Heavy Medal Club" and score ourselves a Triple Crown medal. I'm already signed up for the Rock-n-Roll New Orleans marathon next month, I think Jen's shooting for San Diego in June, and we both are hoping to do the Rock-n-Roll in Savannah, GA in November. That medal is all but ours!

To be honest, though, I'm not sure how I ended up doing so well. I skipped a 20 mile run during my training, I haven't been running fast, and I feel like my motivation to train has been minimal this winter. But, to get a little sentimental here... For those of you who are close to me, you know that over the past year, my self-esteem and confidence have taken a few hits. Maybe one of the things that keeps me running is that when I finish a race or a long run, I can feel good about myself for accomplishing that, despite what other crap is going on in my life. I remember at one point of this race seeing a sign made by some cute cheerleading squad, among the other "You Rock" and "Go Runners" signs; one that simply said, "You are amazing." It made me think to myself, "You know, I am amazing." So forget all those other factors that have me doubting myself. I can finish this race, and darn it, I will finish it under 4 hours, no matter how much it hurts. So what if my legs are tired? I can sit down when I'm done, and the sooner I'm done, the sooner I can sit down!

And sit down I did. Jen and I enjoyed a nice soak in the hot tub at the resort where her mom works. Thank you Jane and your employer for all your hospitality! I hope Murphy has recovered from being terrorized by the 3 little monsters, Dean, Kash and Kaya. Yes, Dean joined me for this trip as well. He had a chance to run outside in the warm sun with his sister Kaya and her adopted brother Kash! He is still tired from all the activity!

So, with Arizona done, I've only got 44 more to go. 44...wait a minute, that sounds like a lot. What have I gotten myself into?

Old Man Winter....

Oh how I hate thee...let me count the ways. I've had my fill of long winter runs. But in theory, don't they sound nice? A quiet run, with snow softly falling, and that winter silence except for the sound of your feet crunching on the snow and ice. In reality, it's windy, slippery, and that falling snow eventually soaks you to the bone. The winter weather has deterred me from only one long weekend run so far, which was last weekend when the "feels like" temperature was 2 degrees. Sorry, I just can't do that. But I've been pretty impressed with myself that I've actually been out there in snow, several inches deep, trying to stay in training mode for my next couple of races. Of course, I do not train and suffer in silence. I complain about it every chance I get! Like now, for example.

So tomorrow, I hope to take on my last long winter run before the Rock-n-Roll Marathon in Phoenix, AZ next Sunday. And boy am I excited to run in the sun...a high of 71 race day! I'm going to be that crazy person in Arizona who's sitting by the pool, while the locals are wearing sweaters and wool coats. I can't wait! (If you want to track me, sign up at www.competitorwireless.com for text messages updates.)

But after that, it's back to running in the snow since I have to keep up the ole' endurance for my next race in New Orleans on Feb. 13th. Summer can't come soon enough. Of course then, I'll complain about how hot it is. ; )

To remind you all why I'm doing this, it's to raise awareness for some great charities, Don't Bully My Breed and Hospitals for Humanity. DBMB is in need of donations to help shelter those dogs that have been rescued from the cold. And HFH has a full year of medical missions to help those around the world that don't get the most basic medical care. Please join the Don't Bully My Breed page on facebook to keep up to date on what great things they are doing for our four-legged friends, and check out the RUS page on www.hospitalsforhumanity.org.

Thanks and Happy 2011!

This seemed like a good idea....

when it was summer. But this idea to run a marathon in every state, which requires you to run and train in the winter, might not have been such a good one. What were we thinking? I went for a 13 mile run Saturday, and for those of you in the Chicago area, you know it was a winter wonderland. It was snowing the entire time I was out there. And while I was warm for the majority of the run, two hours in snow fall can only result in eventually being incredibly wet and cold. I think this was the first time I may have had snow and ice actually collect on my eyelashes. Unfortunately, I think this may have resulted in me coming down with a horrible sore throat. Gee, I'm really looking forward to more and longer runs out in the snow and ice! Only 6 weeks until my next race in Arizona, though, so taking the winter off doesn't seem like much of an option. So please make my frozen fingers and eyelashes mean something, and take a few moments to make those 2010 tax-deductible donations to Don't Bully My Breed, at http://thegreenvillethree.chipin.com/50-state-marathon, or Hospitals for Humanity, at http://hospitalsforhumanity.org/index.php/the-race-within-us/. Thanks and happy holidays to our blog followers!

Alaska....I mean Indiana

Sorry, I got confused on where I ran my latest marathon. For a couple of reasons, the first being the chilly temperatures and snow I got to enjoy and the second being the very politically conservative signs and billboards I saw in that area. I now know that "Hell is Real" thanks to a very welcoming billboard along I-65.

The Indianapolis Monumental Marathon started bright (and by bright I mean it was still dark) and early at 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning. It was a chilly 27 degrees when the start gun went off. You know what that means, right? Lots of men in tights. Yikes! I tried to bundle up as much as I could, but the chill remained through most of the race, although it did get up to the 40s and was sunny once the sun decided to come up. Despite that, the course was great and surprisingly scenic, starting near the Indianapolis capital building, running past the stadium where the Colts play, through some historic district that had some very quaint houses, and through Butler University's campus. It was family weekend at Butler where my colleague's daughter attends, so right around mile 17, she, her sister and her daughter were waiting to cheer me on. It's always nice to see an unexpected friendly face when you're tired and cold! Thanks Linda! And another friendly face was waiting for me at the finish. My friend Chris was there with his buddy Titus (a rambunctious German Shepard puppy who I saw video proof of running on a treadmill) to cheer me on those last few blocks. Thanks to Chris and Titus!

Of course, after finishing, I was sweaty and accordingly twice as cold. It took me a good 20 minutes sitting in the car with the heat on full blast to recover feeling in my hands. Not my favorite part of this race. No personal bests for me this race, although I had hoped for that since it was a flat and fast course. It was my second fastest though, and I'm not going to beat myself up too much since I just ran in Maine 3 weeks prior. Plus, I was apparently well hydrated since I stopped 3 times to use the port-o-potties in the first half. Darn you bladder! I will say that the race was very well organized, with LOTS of water stations and bathroom areas. And the people of Indianapolis were very supportive and cheering the runners on for most of the course. This race also has a 1/2 marathon option and a 5K if you don't want to take on a full marathon. I would give this race two frozen thumbs up!

Next up, Arizona on January 16th. It better not snow.....

4 Hours and 7 Minutes for SoleMates

On Sunday, Mark and I each ran the ING New York City Marathon. I don't want to speak for him, so I'll leave it to him to share his experience with the event... but I would like to take some time to share my own.

The NYC Marathon course runs through all five boroughs of New York City: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan. Race day started with the journey to Staten Island. I walked to the subway before sunrise and arrived at Manhattan's Staten Island Ferry Terminal as the sun was rising, around 6:30 am. On Marathon morning, the Ferry takes the vast majority of the 43,000+ runners to Staten Island (others travel by bus, car, or happen to live in Staten Island). Runners then wait until their assigned start time (there are three "Waves" that start 30 minutes apart) in color coded Start Villages determined by your color assignment. I was assigned to Orange Wave 2. While traveling from the Upper East Side of Manhattan to my Start Village, I met a lot of runners from other cities and countries. I am looking forward to catching up with some of my new friends soon!

While the comaraderie in Staten Island was wonderful, the outside temperature was not - it was COLD! When I finally lined up at the start line with my fellow Orange Wave 2 runners, my toes were numb. I hoped that they would warm up during the first two miles, and thankfully, they did. I should note that the NYC Marathon has several notorious hills on the course, the first one being the Verazzano Bridge that spans the first mile and 1/2 of the course. What a way to start!

After you cross the bridge into Brooklyn, you remain in the borough for about the next ten miles. But, wow, Brooklynites make sure you have all the support you could want. People line nearly the entire Brooklyn stretch of the course cheering, holding up signs, and handing out water, fruit and snacks between aid stations.

In Queens (miles 13 - 16), I got to see my parents and aunt cheering me on. That energized me into the mile-long Queensboro Bridge. The Queensboro Bridge is another notorious hill, as well as the longest stretch of course that is nearly devoid of any spectators, which gives it a quiet, eerie feeling that finally gives way to a cavernous roar when you exit the bridge onto Manhattan's First Avenue where crowds tend to be so thick the police set up barriers to hold them back. In fact, the crowds were so large I unfortunately did not see many friends and family cheering for me (thanks for being out there anyway!).

My friend Betty met me near mile 18 and ran with me through the Bronx and upper Manhattan until we reached the entrance to Central Park between Mile 23 and 24. Thanks for keeping me company through the those late, tough miles, Betty!

Betty took this photo of me somewhere around Mile 22... somehow, I'm still smiling!

When I finally hit the final mile at the south end of Central Park, I knew I would finish with a personal best time by far. I crossed the finish line in 4:07:24, more than 21 minutes faster than when I ran the marathon last year. I was so excited! And I have raised nearly $2,000 (just $81 shy) for Girls on the Run SoleMates during my training for Sunday's big run. Thanks to all who donated!

If you're in New York, I'm having a post-marathon celebration at Katwalk Bar on West 35th Street. I'll be guest bartending from 7 - 10 pm and Katwalk will donate money to GOTR for every drink I make. So if you've ever had a desire to order me around, come buy a drink or two or more and socialize with fellow runners and supporters!

Three RUS Runners & Two Races Next Week!

Next weekend the RUS team members will be very busy covering 78.6 miles of road to raise awareness and support for Hospitals for Humanity, Don't Bully My Breed, Girls on the Run, and Jamal Place.

Kristine, fresh off her amazing run at the Mount Desert Island Marathon in Bar Harbor, Maine (read about it here), will be running the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon on Saturday, November 6 as her Indiana race. As always, she is running to support Don't Bully My Breed, which you can donate to here, in addition to Hospitals for Humanity.

The next day, Sunday, November 7, Mark and I will run the ING New York City Marathon. The NYC Marathon course passes through all five boroughs of New York City: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Manhattan, with the famous finish line on the west side of Manhattan's Central Park. This will be Mark's debut in the NYC Marathon. As for me, this will be my second appearance in the event, having run it last year for the first time. Last year, I was nervous about covering 26.2 miles for the first time ever. But the crowd of 2 million spectators, as well as the 40,000 fellow runners, helped fuel my determination to get across the finish line.

This year, I'm running as part of the Girls on the Run charity run team, SoleMates. If you haven't yet and would like to support GOTR SoleMates with a donation in support of my run in the NYC Marathon, you can do so here.

Mark is running the NYC Marathon in support of Jamal Place. If you would like to recognize his marathon run with a donation to Jamal Place, you can do so using this link.

Most Scenic = Most Hilly

Well, Miri was right, the Mount Desert Island (MDI) Marathon was incredibly scenic, as you can see by some of the attached photos, which don't do the course justice. It was also incredibly hilly. Phew, am I glad that's over. Miles 22-25ish seemed to be all uphill (which is after 22 miles of rolling hills) but fortunately the last 1.5 miles were downhill. I felt like I should have been saying"weeeee!!!" but let's be honest, it still hurt.

So to make this also a bit of a travel blog...I started by flying into Boston Wednesday with my travel companion, Dean, hopped in our rental car and we were off to Maine. Our first stop (aside from the Visitors Station in New Hampshire for Dean to make a pit stop) was Kennebunkport, ME. (I hear the Bush's have a place there). We walked on a nice quiet beach where Dean of course tried to get every sea gull he saw. We then had lunch at the alleged tourist trap The Clam Shack. It was truly a shack, and I attempted to have the clam chowder, which ironically they were out of. Apparently it was a chowder kind of day. Instead we had some fried haddock which was still delicious. After wandering a bit, we hit the road and headed to our hotel in Portland, ME, the Inn at St. John's. The self-proclaimed description of European charm was accurate, and I was lucky enough to have my own, attached bathroom. Uphill from the Inn was Portland's Historic District, which we wandered through and I was amazed by how gorgeous the houses were. I felt like I was walking in the New England edition of Better Homes & Gardens. Dean was equally amazed by the historic squirrels. After some down time, I had dinner at a place called Fore Street. Seated next to me at the bar was a woman named Aimee, who became increasingly drunk, but also increasingly friendly. Neither of us were overly hungry so we shared the bartender's recommendation of spit-roasted wild boar. It was beyond amazing, and if you are ever in Portland, you MUST eat at this place, and order the boar if you can.

After Portland, Dean and I made our way north on Hwy 1. (We avoided interstates the entire way to Bar Harbor.) We did some walking through Winslow State Park, also beautiful. I'm pretty sure Maine is the epitome of all that is autumn. We also did some shopping at the outlet stores in Freeport, ME where my niece was the benefactor of our trip there. We had some lunch at Jameson Tavern which has been dubbed "the Birthplace of Maine." It was built in 1779 and originally run as a tavern in 1801. After Freeport, we headed to our next stop, Rockland, Maine. We stayed at the Old Granite Inn where Zach, the owner's spaniel, greeted us at the porch. Also a touch of European charm, but without the attached bathroom. I had my own, but it was down the hall. Fortunately they provided robes, as I was not prepared for a streak from bathroom to bedroom. I found two things people must do in Rockland based on some local business; ship building and quilt making. Those crazy Rocklanders. I tried to have dinner at a place recommended and visited by Anthony Bourdain, but when I walked to where it was supposed to be, there really wasn't anything there. So I ended up eating sushi, which was still good. I ended my night with some wine at Lily's bistro, and although I did not eat there, the food looked and smelled delicious.

I was greeted Friday morning by 40mph winds and rain coming off the sea, winds so strong that it made it difficult to open the door to get in or out of the Granite Inn. I believe locals refer to this as a Nor'easter. I had hoped to stop in Camden on my way north, but the rain detered me from that. So I headed onto Bar Harbor to the race expo, as I had some shopping to do. I noticed while in Rockland, that I had, in fact packed two different running shoes. Not 2 different pairs, but 2 different shoes. A right and a left shoe, fortunately, but different still. I hoped the expo would have some good discounts on my brand of shoes, which they did and I bought a new pair for Sunday's race. The rain had let up a bit, so after lunch, Dean and I headed to Acadia National Park, on Mount Desert Island. I tried to get some scenic pics from a rocky, cliff area, but instead fell flat on my arse on the wet rock, just as a huge swell from a wave came splashing up in the air. I decided to not pursue this venture further and returned to my car to drive the scenic Park Loop Rd. We did get out again and tried some super easy hiking on the Jordan Pond Nature Trail, although Dean declined to go very far into the woods because he was either cold or sensed "danger." It was a little creepy out there since there really seemed to no one else around, and we were in the middle of a dense evergreen forest. Peaceful, yet creepy if you let your imagination go.

Friday night, I had my first taste of Maine lobster, and had the Lazyman's Lobster at Rupunini. It was appropriately sitting in a pool of garlic butter and was delicious. I also enjoyed some local Bar Harbor brews, the Real Ale and the Loggers Lager (try to say that, it's harder than you think). Saturday, it was still a bit rainy, but I decided to try some more trails in Acadia. We walked one called Wonderland, and it really was. You start out in evergreens, then it changes to small, bright fiery red bushes and moss covered rocks, and ends with it opening to a rocky beach. It was awesome. We did another trail, called Ship Harbor which did a loop around, and was also a mix of mossy, evergreen forests and rocky cliffs on the sea side. We ended our outdoor activities at the Bass Harbor Lighthouse which I really expected to be bigger. For some reason I pictured that one in the movie, Pete's Dragon, but it was still cool, as I don't think I've ever seen a lighthouse other than in pictures. Satuday night I had dinner at a place called Havana's which was recommended by Aimee in Portland. The Obama's also had date night there this summer. It was worth the recommendation, if only to be served by a bartender with a long white beard.

Sunday, the big day. My plan was to just run it nice and easy, since I knew it was hilly. I finished in 4 hours, 20 minutes and 23 seconds. I think I may have done a negative split, but I'm not really certain. I didn't wear any timing device, other than my race chip, which shows you how concerned I was about running this race fast. It was about 10:14 a.m. when I hit the halfway point, the race starting around 8:00 a.m. So maybe. I can't adequately describe the course and how beautiful it was. I recommend this race, and they do have a relay option available if you don't want to do a full marathon. Although, if you're someone who needs a lot of crowd support the whole course, maybe not a race for you. Much of it is quiet, and serene, running through the forest and coast line. It was really incredible though, and I'm so glad I did it.

I replenished my burned calories with some local mussels and beer at McKay's Public House, and met a few other runners there, as they were offering $1 Guiness to marathoners. The bartender thought that an Australian man and I who both sat down at the bar at the same time were there together. I asked if he was going to take care of the bill, and he said as long as I kept him laughing he would. Well, apparently I'm not that funny, because I paid my own bill. ; )

So, my nutshell. Traveling alone gives you a chance to meet new interesting people, since you're forced to talk to others, unless you don't mind looking crazy talking to yourself. It also gives you lots of time to do whatever you want, and think a whole heck of a lot. After 5 days with myself, I'm pretty much tired of thinking and pretty much tired of myself. I'm glad to be back to my friends, family, and everyday distractions. Dean is glad to be back to his routine of all-day napping.

Thanks for reading!

The Most Scenic Route

I am quite jealous of Kristine right now. She's in Bar Harbor, Maine getting ready to run the Mount Desert Island Marathon. If you are wondering why I am jealous of her running 26.2 miles on Sunday, it's because I will be running a 20 mile training run tomorrow - but my run will be in Queens, NY. Kristine's run through Maine will be infinitely more scenic and tranquil. In fact, the Mount Desert Island Marathon was named by Runners World Magazine as the Most Scenic and Best Overall Marathon event in the country. I hope to run it next year! In the meantime, Kristine will have the company of her well-trained running buddy - her dog Dino. Let's all wish Kristine and Dino a good run!

A view of the Mount Desert Island Marathon course, above left. This isn't Kristine and Dino, below, but if someone brings a camera along on Sunday, they'd look like a bit like this on the course.

Divas on the Run!

On Sunday morning, I ran the Divas Half Marathon in Eisenhower Park, Long Island. It turned out to be a pretty cold morning, barely 50 degrees, so there were a lot of Divas, myself included, huddling up with groups of friends, warming up along the sidewalks leading up to the startline, or staying in their warm cars until very close to race time. Despite the cold (what a quick transition from summer to fall running!), the course was a good one, mostly flat, that stretched through Eisenhower Park, as well as some of the surrounding roads in the town of Uniondale.

The 5K set off first. There were 310 finishers crossing the finish line smiling. The Half Marathon started next, with just over 2,800 finishers (including 2 - yes 2 - men). As always, I was running to support Girls on the Run SoleMates. The Divas Half Marathon allowed entrants to personalize their race bib with their name or personal message. In honor of my participation with Girls on the Run, I had my race bib proclaim that I am a "Diva on the Run"!

Before Sunday, my Personal Record (PR) for the half marathon had been 1:59:41. I set that PR in August at the Madison Mini Marathon in Madison, Wisconsin, which you might have read about here. My goal Sunday morning had been to achieve a PR around the 1:57 mark. When I started out, the first mile felt okay, but I didn't have that "yeah, this is my day!" feeling. Staying optimistic, I pushed myself through miles 4 and 5, which felt difficult because we were running into a strong, cold headwind. After that, my nerves about hitting a PR fell away. I felt great - and confident that I could do it. And boy, did I! I crossed the finish line in 1:51:42, dropping 8 minutes off my previous PR. You can bet I celebrated like a Diva at the post-race party! Special thanks to my Diva friend Shari Klarfeld, who ran 1:37:34 and quickly exited the finish area to wait along the last stretch of course to cheer me through the finish. Seeing Shari and her husband, Guy, cheering for me through the finish area gave me a little boost of energy to kick in across the finish line feeling strong.

At the finish line, Shari and I of course had to show off our Diva accessories - a "bling medal" with faux diamond and a Diva tiara (we passed on the feather boas that were also on offer)...

Calling all Divas!

Last week, the Wall Street Journal published this article about men who enter women's road races, in some cases to finish closer to or at the front of the pack, in some cases to run with a female loved one, and in other cases to try to get a date somewhere along the course.

This coming weekend is the Divas Half Marathon on Long Island, New York, which features a half marathon and a 5K race. It is part of the Women's National Running Series that encourages women to celebrate their strengths, both on the road and in life. The Divas Half Marathon does not forbid men from entering it's events, but deeply discourages men from entering the half marathon. This day will be all about the women! Their mantra? "You know who you are: you are beautiful, strong, inspiring, and you can do anything you set your mind to do."

The Women's Running Series, and races like the Divas Half Marathon, remind me of how important programs like Girls on the Run are to the development of self-confidence, self-respect, and a sense of ambition in young girls. In fact, that mantra from the Women's National Running Series is very similar to the overarching lesson we teach the girls who participate in Girls on the Run. The fall season of GOTR starts this week, and I can't wait to start showing my girls that they are capable of meeting whatever goals they set for themselves, regardless of the pressures or obstacles they face.

As a tribute to the new GOTR coaching season, I'll be running in the Divas Half Marathon on Sunday morning wearing a race bib proclaiming that I'm a "Diva on the Run". (And as always, I'm running to support the GOTR programs through my participation in SoleMates.) There's still time to sign up, if you'd like to run with me! Or just come and cheer for me and the other 5,000 amazing women entrants as we take to the streets of Long Island to show off how proud we are to be both women and runners.

Fall is off and running - Almost!

On Monday, September 27 - one week from today - my fellow coaches and I will be kicking off the first coaching session for the Girls on the Run fall season at Harlem Village Academy of Leadership, a charter school in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan. We'll be meeting with the GOTR participants twice a week to coach them through running workouts and lessons on healthy lifestyles, self respect and respect for others, teamwork, and community values.

As you may know from prior posts, I'm also running on the GOTR SoleMates charity team. I've already raised nearly $1,500! But, of course, every bit helps towards ensuring that the GOTR program is able to reach as many young girls as possible without having to turn any away. If you haven't yet supported GOTR and would like to, you can do so using this link.

Here are some photos from the spring season's 5K fun run and season-ending party. Enjoy! And stay tuned for updates about our season in the coming weeks!

Guilt-free....almost

Ok, so I finished my 20 mile run, heading south on Chicago's lake front path for a bit of a change. I accidentally ended up running 20.4 because I couldn't see the street sign where I planned on turning around from the lakefront path because of the Chicago Half Marathon that was going on at the same time. Oops!

I will admit it may have not been such a great idea to run down past Solider Field since it was the Bears' opener yesterday (Bears win!) and the smell of tailgaters cooking made it really hard to not stop and beg them for a hot dog or burger. (Note to self, eat before running 3+ hours). Not to worry, though! I made up for it afterward by engaging in what many refer to as "Sunday Funday" with my roommate and friends. I did reward myself by eating some poutine fries from a place called the Rocking Horse. If you're unfamiliar with them, basically, as you can see from the photo, they are fries covered in cheese and gravy. I'm pretty sure I ended up adding back on every calorie I burned and then some. If you've ever had them, while you feel disgusting after you eat them, you know it is completely worth ever bit of food-guilt. But after working hard running those 20 miles, I ate them guilt-free. Well, almost.

Tough as Manicured Nails

Yesterday, I ran the Fitness Mind, Body + Spirit Games 4-mile women's run in Central Park. The event featured a 4-mile men's race, 4-mile women's race and kids' races for kids of all ages. We had beautiful weather in NY yesterday - sunny, but not too hot - a perfect day for a road race!

Rocco DiSpirito kicked us off with a pep talk about the importance of fitting fitness into his, and our, daily routines. Until he spoke, I had no idea that he competes in triathlons! We also got to hear great words of motivation from my friend, Queens run buddy, and Fitness Editor-in-chief Betty Wong Ortiz: no matter what our fitness goals are, we should strive to achieve them fearlessly, but we should also never forget to have fun along the way. And she also reminded us that "sweat is sexy!" Oh yeah! We were all ready to work up a sexy sweat racing through the roads of Central Park!


Rocco and Betty, left, ready to welcome us across the finish line! (This photo and others from the event are available at New York Road Runners)

Taking advantage of the fantastic conditions in the park and the energy through the crowd of women around me (the men ran their race separately an hour before us), I had an awesome run - my fastest race in years. Finishing 4 miles in 31:34, I averaged 7:53 per mile. I could barely believe it when I saw the results, but I also knew I had run a fast run. How exciting!

My next race will be October 3 in Eisenhower Park, Long Island, NY. It's the Divas Half Marathon and 5K. I'm looking forward to tackling that course for a new personal best in the half marathon. Come cheer me on! Or, show off your inner Diva by running the half marathon or 5K, too! (The half marathon is open only to women; the 5K is co-ed.)

After the Divas Half Marathon, my next race will be my official New York event for Race Within US: the ING New York City Marathon.
Me, right, proudly showing off my first-time accomplishment at the finish line of the 2009 NYC Marathon. I can't wait to take on the course as a seasoned second-timer!

At this very moment, the Timex Countdown clock on the marathon website says we're just 55 days, 18 hours, 15 minutes and 51, 50, 49... seconds away from the start line! RUSer Mark is coming in town to run, too, as is my friend Heather, who chose NYC as her first ever long distance road race. Way to go, Heather! As a Girls on the Run SoleMates team member, you'll find me on the course in support of the programs of GOTR. I'll also have already kicked off the fall season of GOTR coaching by then, so I hope to show the girls I'll be coaching that it is possible to achieve a significant fitness goal with some dedication, training and enthusiasm. The support you've all given me while I strive to reach my goals is truly appreciated! And if you would like to support GOTR's work, they would so appreciate the assistance as well!

Wendy Whiner takes on 20 miles.

Ok, it's been a while since I've posted something here on the blog, so I'm taking this urge to whine as an opportunity. : ) So I'm supposed to run 20 miles this Sunday in preparation for my next marathon in Bar Harbor, Maine on October 17, 2010. But I don't wanna! I wish I were looking forward to it more than I am, but to be honest, I'm a little bored with the scenery around here. I do love the lakefront, which covering 20 miles allows me to run through lots of neighborhoods, like Logan Square, Roscoe Village, Uptown, Ravenswood as well as hit the lakefront path for several miles. But after running 17 and 18 mile runs in the past few weeks, I just want to run somewhere different. I cannot wait to run in Maine though, where everything will be beautiful, scenic and most importantly, different! I hear the foliage is great in October. (And I will be accompanied by my favorite running partner, my dog Dean. I hope there are lots of squirrels to entertain him!)

I keep reminding myself that I'm doing this for a good cause, i.e. to raise money for Hospitals for Humanity and Don't Bully my Breed. However, I need your help in actually raising those funds! HFH is still taking monthly trips to Haiti to help those who are left without medical care due to January's earthquake. And DBMB is always in need of donations to help provide food and vet care to the sweet dogs that just can't seem to find permanent homes. Every little bit helps, even if you can only donate $5. Please check out the links to make your donation.

Thanks to everyone for your support and encouragement! Also, if anyone is interested in joining me in Indianapolis, I've registered for the Monumental Marathon in Indy on November 6th. There is also a 1/2 marathon and 5K option to suit all levels of runners. I hate to travel alone!

A Nice Long Weekend for a Good Long Run

The coming month is pretty quiet for me, race-wise. I actually don't have any races planned for the first time in perhaps this entire year!

But I do have a lot planned for October and November, including running the Divas Half Marathon in Long Island, NY on October 3, the ING New York City Marathon on November 7, and the Philadelphia Half Marathon on November 21. I also might add in the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon in South Carolina on October 24, if my schedule allows. Fellow RUS-er Mark is coming in from Chicago to check off NY alongside me in the NYC Marathon. And my great friends from the Red Dress Run for Women in Hartford, Connecticut (read about our fun run here) are joining me at the Divas Half Marathon. They're running in the 5K event that morning, so if you'd like to join a strong, energetic group of women for 3.1 miles of fun, send us a note and meet us there... you can join us for a post-race party, too!

But with no races planned for the next 4 weeks, I'm looking forward to focusing on training, rather than racing. How refreshing! I do need to step up the miles now as I get ready for the NYC Marathon. This weekend, I'll take advantage of the three-day Labor Day weekend to fit in a 15 mile run. Anyone want to join me?

If high mileage runs aren't your way of enjoying a holiday weekend, try to do something else outside. In a few weeks as the weather turns colder, you'll be glad you took the time to enjoy some outdoor activities!

Fun, fun, fun at the MMM

Saturday was the Madison Mini Marathon in Madison, Wisconsin, and - wow! - it was such a great day. There was a half marathon and a 5K run simultaneously through the center of Madison. Nearly 5,000 people participated!

I was so excited to get to meet the amazing women and supporters of Girls on the Run of Dane County. We were able get together before the run to introduce ourselves and take a group photo. Then we ran and cheered each other on. In fact, I crossed the finish line beside a fellow SoleMates runner... we helped each other finish strong through the last half mile of the course to achieve a sub-2:00:00 finish, a PR for me! Seeing my cousins Scott, Christina and baby Sam cheering me on a few blocks from the finish line also helped me earn my PR goal. Thanks for the support!!!

My fabulous cousin Christina also ran her first 5K - in an awesome 31 minutes! Welcome to the runner community, Christina!

After the running events, there was a big post-race party at the UW Madison campus student union terrace. We were able to enjoy live music, food, drinks and a fun, laid back atmosphere alongside Lake Mendota. It was a perfect way to celebrate a great run... that and a pint of Spotted Cow beer and Wisconsin-specialty cheese curds!

Dane County GOTR - I hope you'll come visit us in NY sometime! :)

Of Bears, Beer and Cheese... and Running of Course!

I just spent the weekend in Vernon, New Jersey with some old girl friends that I grew up with. Since we were staying at a mountain resort that had several miles of low-trafficked roads, as well as peaceful trails, I was excited to pack my running gear and explore the wooded property. On Saturday, late afternoon, I laced up my sneakers, turned on my iPod Shuffle, and headed out. After about a half mile, I stopped dead in my tracks.... A big, black grizzly bear was standing in front of me across the street! My instinct was to run but I've heard somewhere that you shouldn't try to outrun a bear, even if you're a decently-fast distance runner like me. So I waited in place until a car passed by and scared it back into the woods.

The bear I saw didn't look at innocently competitive as this road running bear, right.

I was reminded of the start of the Poconos Wurst 5K. For some reason, the announcement that there had been a bear on that course earlier in the morning didn't phase me. Coming face-to-face with a bear armed only with a tiny music player this weekend made me realize that trail running perhaps requires a little more preparation and understanding of your environment. Anyone have tips about their favorite running accessory, especially for trail running?

Also, I'd like to remind everyone that this weekend is the Madison Mini Marathon. I'll be in good ol' Wisconsin from Friday to Monday. If you're a midwesterner, it's not too late to join the half marathon or the 5K event - or just come and cheer and then enjoy the post-race party! There will be beer and cheese and other Wisconsin culinary specialties, as well as local bands providing entertainment. And, I'll be there with my cousin Christina and the Girls on the Run of Dane County. We'd love your support as a cheering spectator, a GOTR volunteer with your local chapter, or with a donation though this link or through your local GOTR chapter's fundraising page.

Of course, while I love sharing my experiences running around the country in support of meaningful charities that are near to my heart, I also want to encourage all of you to actively engage within your community. Whether you go out for a road run and discover a new place in town, or you volunteer to help a local non-profit for a day, do something active - it will make you feel great! We'd love to hear from you if you have a project or charity or even a great local road run you'd like to tell us about!

The important stuff first. I've decided that my RUS charity will be Jamal Place, a group home for troubled boys and young men on Chicago's west side. Jamal Place makes positive changes in the lives of boys and young men through superior residential care, individual therapeutic programs, quality educational opportunities and extended family resources. Jamal Place helps young men become caring and responsible citizens. (I admit borrowing all that from JP's website.) Anyways, I was previously involved with Jamal Place, primarily as a donor, and got to know its founder and Executive Director, Ann Deuel. She's incredible and may be the most dogged and indefatigable person I know. She has no agenda other then to do what is in the best interests of the boys and young men at Jamal Place. She's in a constant battle to find funding to keep Jamal Place open, especially these days. My goal is to help as much as I can through the generosity of my friends, family and anyone I can harangue in to donating money. I encourage you to visit Jamal Place's website to learn more about it and make a donation.... pretty please! http://www.jamalplace.org.

On to the other stuff... last weekend I did the "Whirlpool Ironman 70.3 Steelhead Triathlon presented by Pizza Hut" in Benton Harbor, Michigan. That's the actual, official title. Guess they've got to keep the corporate sponsors happy, altho I have no idea what the "Steelhead" part means. The 70.3 part comes from 1.2 miles swim + 56 mile bike + 13.1 mile run = 70.3 miles. That means it is really a 1/2 Ironman. The real Ironman is 2.4 + 112 + 26.2 = 140.6. The company that owns the "Ironman" brand created the 70.3 series a few years back. Kind of a smart move because they can put the Ironman logo (the infamous M dot above) on races that are 1/2 the distance of a full Ironman. Why go 140.6 when you can go 70.3 and still get the same cool finisher shirt?

As for the race itself, it was great. It was well organized. The course was fast. Lots of spectators. It was my friend's first triathlon in 9 years so going slow and pacing ourselves was the theme of the day. We also didn't train too seriously, so it was just a matter of finishing. We endured a downpour for the first hour, some bike breakdowns (why do I keep getting flats!), intestinal issues that led to potty stops, and the usual unexpected issues to deal with, but we finished strong. I'm a happy camper.

Next up, the NYC marathon.

Later!

The MMM

If you can't guess from the image, my next state run will be... Wisconsin! (Yes, that is a running cheese.) I'll be running the Madison Mini Marathon (aka "the MMM") on August 21. This half marathon loops through the University of Wisconsin, Madison campus, the Henry Vilas Zoo, Wisconsin Arboretum and along Lake Mendota and University Bay.

I am really excited to share with you that I've connected with the Girls on the Run Dane County for this event. I'll be meeting a group of Dane County GOTR coaches, volunteers and supporters at the start line so we can introduce ourselves, have a photo op and encourage each other through the 13.1 mile run. Of course, we'll be wearing our GOTR and GOTR SoleMates shirts... if you spot us on the course, please cheer us on! And if you'd like to support GOTR's running programs for girls ages 8 to 13 that foster a healthy lifestyle, self-confidence and build positive relationships, you can always do so here.

If you're a Mid-Westerner (Chicagoans, I hear you're only about 2 hours away, hint, hint!), there is still time to sign up for the MMM! There is a 5K event for anyone interested in taking part in the MMM but not yet ready for a half marathon. My amazing cousin Christina, a new mommy, will be running the 5K - and then we'll celebrate our finishes at the big post-race party at Memorial Union Terrace. This being Wisconsin, there will be lots of Spotted Cow beer, Wisconsin cheese curds, brats of every kind, and fresh fruit available for post-run nourishment. If that sounds good to you, but you don't want to run, you can cheer at a spectator area and join the post-race party after cheering on the runners.

See you in Madison!

GOTR Pocono Wurst 5K Update

I hope you enjoyed reading about my recent experience in the adventurous Wurst 5K trail run with the Pocono Girls on the Run. I have a wonderful update to share... thanks to the support of the local Pocono community, the Pocono Area Runners Club and all event participants, the Pocono Wurst 5K raised more than $2,500 for the Pocono GOTR program!

Here are a couple of pictures from the event - all photos are posted on the Shawnee Mountain event photo page.


That's me about to cross the finish line with my buddy, Tori!


The whole Pocono GOTR gang... they're strong and enthusiastic runners!

Thank you to all the great supporters out there for making these programs possible!!!