Things That Happened in May

I was a running machine in May.  Perfect weather coupled with some free time means I meet and exceed my goals.  I have this habit of making a cumulative mileage goals every month. In May I was able to power through that goal.  71 miles in the whole month!! 

I also destroyed my 5 miler PR. So maybe not placement wise, but beating my time from 9 years ago meant a lot to me. 

Harpoon 5 Miler 6/4/2005 
1163 (place) 55:35 11:07 509 (place in Division 21-39) 591 (Place in Female div)

Harpoon 5 Miler 5/18/2014

3337 (overall) 52:19 10:28 644 out of 817 (Female 30-39) 

A week later, Memorial Day weekend, Gavin and I decided it would be all about running.  Friday to Monday I ran a total of 18.78 miles. 

Marblehead run

Post Boston Run

Boston Run Revisited

When I was training for my half last year, Gavin agreed to hit the Esplanade in Boston with me.  Honestly I hadn't invested in proper gear at that point. I was still running in old school gym shorts and lets just say there was some friction in an uncomfortable place. I made it 5 miles and I was not a happy camper.

My new favorite site, Gavin and I (Source)

This year my compression capri's have made all the difference in the world. I was always scared to go out in public in tight pants, I have never been one to accentuate my shapes.  They might not be a fashion statement but they really are comfortable.

Running along the Charles River is so nice and there are so many other runners and people out there exercising. People watching and motivation all in wrapped up into one place.

The unfortunate thing about this run is that my watch was low on battery and I went to plug in as soon as it was trying to transfer the information, the watch froze and I lost my data.  I logged in Runkeeper before losing it though, 7.01 Miles in 1:19:55. So far a personal best for that distance.

What's not to love about this view?!?!

Lynn Shore Drive Run

Gavin and I have been exploring new places to run in the area. We try to take advantage the fact that we live so close to the ocean, when we can.

It wasn't my best run, I took a few breaks.  Turns out that they are doing construction on Nahant Beach so the sidewalk ends.  You have to run on the beach and then up a sandy rocky but small hill in order to get to the Tides parking lot. Then Gavin has a brilliant idea of running round Little Nahant... I am alright with slow grade hills, there was nothing slow about this little island and somehow it was all up hill. Doesn't seem possible, but I am almost positive that it was.

Energize the Earth

The third annual Energize the Earth 5K, also our third year running it. I was also my PR 5K and I really wanted to beat it. The weather was cold and rainy, I was bundled up after being freezing at the race in Somerville a month earlier I didn't want to take my chances. Also, my Garmin Forerunner didn't feel like picking up the satellites that day. I had pockets in my jacket so I brought my new phone and tracked the race on my trusty Runkeeper app. Which I forgot about after crossing the finish line.

We had a lot more friends running with us this year, Gavin of course took off at the start.  I hung back and my friend became my carrot, until I caught up with her at about the first mile marker and we ran together for mile 2.  Mile third mile, I took off, hearing the voice cues from the runkeeper lady I had to step up my game or I was not going to beat my PR. I am not going to lie my training hadn't been as diligent as last year, I started about 2 months later. So I was pushing it to finish this one.  Oh and I hadn't mentioned it, I spent 11 hours shooting a wedding the Friday before, which means my body was beaten up

My official time... 33:22 (my PR is still 33:05)

My new Boston Strong Bic Band came in the mail just in time, so that made everything better!

Post Race Photo

Also, I found this relic!! 

Smoothies, Easter and the Marathon, Oh My!

Gavin and I had been talking about smoothies for a while, we were going to hold out and save for the Nutribullet... (Newest version retails $150) A friend of mine at work had just purchased an Oster with the sports bottle attachment and had nothing but good things to say about it. (Retails for about $30) Can you guess which miserly frugal way I decided to go?

And here you have it!

For the money, well worth it.

I also had a coupon at Bed, Bath and Beyond for 20% off my entire purchase, so I picked this bad boy up for around $23.  Don'cha Just Love a Bahgain??

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With our 5K coming up, the one that I need want to beat my PR time, we moved our schedule around to run Sundays instead of Saturdays. Which meant that Easter Sunday was a run day.  With time constraints and getting off to a late start we hit a local rail trail and eeked out a quick 4 miles. 

I might have started out slow but I pushed it in the last couple miles. My Garmin has a virtual partner feature. You set up the time/pace you want to hit and it shows you how far behind or a head of the "runner" you are.  On all of my outside runs, I have never beat my VP, as I have said before I am not a speedy runner.  I set it up to pace me at 10:57 pace... like I said not speedy. 

Look what I did!

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I fear I am burying the lead.  Gavin and I were watching the Boston Marathon last year. We decided that in solidarity to the city that we love we would go back for the same events this year. First the Red Sox game and then out to the streets where the Marathon goes by to watch the runners as they approach the finish line. 

What and amazing day it ended up being. The weather couldn't have been better for runners and spectators and the energy in the air was just all you could ask for on a Marathon Monday. 

Just about 1 Mile to go! 

Look who we met, Carlos!!! He was SOOO nice! 

Walking down the middle of Boylston while they wrap up the race.

Boston Strong and Running On

I am not sure how today will not be an emotional one for years to come, but it is also a day that will remind us all that something broken only grows stronger.  There are so many inspirational stories of victims striving through so much physical and emotional pain, and they are standing strong today. They truly give me motivation to strive harder for that next mile or 10 and make me so thankful for what I have and to live so close to the Best City, Boston.

Although, I had already signed up for my first half marathon 2 days before Marathon Monday 2013, it definitely gave me a push to train and accomplish a goal I had set for myself 3 years prior.

Very excited to be able to attend the Red Sox Game on Patriots Day again this year and as the game empties out onto the Marathon route and watch the runners once again.

Photos from last year...

From our race 4/21/2013

Castle Island Running

Gavin has been very excited about running as much as possible lately. He has discovered how nice it is to run around Castle Island in Southie. So we drive down and run around the loop as many times as possible.

This was my contribution. He of course went around almost 4 times. It is a little over 2 miles each loop.  Running in circles is not usually my thing, but when the ocean is all around you for a majority of the run, it makes up for it. Also, the people watching is never really a disappointment.

A little faster than last week's run, but also a little shorter

My view while streching

Looking forward to seeing leaves on the tree

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 The past few weeks there has been a lot more coverage of Marathon events, memorials, and celebrations of life. It might seem weird since I wasn't at the finish line last year, but it has still been emotional reliving that week of events from Monday to the Friday capture of the bombers. I had a hard time walking past an MIT Police car without getting a bit choked up.

I will say it is inspiring to hear survivor stories and see all the Boston Strong gear in support. Running around Castle Island I can't help but stare at peoples' T-shirts to see what sort of positive message people have put out into the world.

That  being said, I can barely run 13.1 miles at this point and don't know if I will ever have the opportunity to run the illustrious Boston Marathon, but for anyone who might see this here is what the State Police have put out in regards to what the runners should and shouldn't bring with them.

I am hoping to see some runners this year, as I am attending the Red Sox game again.  So excited, but if I can't see a police cruiser without getting emotional. I might need my fannypack full or tissues.

And lastly... 

Look I found Spring!