It's official, I'm in!

Hey ya'll, I am SWAMPED since the event I've been working on since JUNE is this Monday, but I couldn't wait to tell you my news!

NYC Marathon registration status: Accepted

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where are my post marathon blues?

I'd read so many articles about the post-marathon blues, I half expected to get them, but a week out from my big race, I'm feeling GOLDEN.  While I'm no expert, I think these factors have contributed to my post-race glow.

1) It was my first marathon and everyone I've seen this week has congratulated me.  Let's be real folks, the praise for this race is a big part of what makes it worth the AGONIZING PAIN of running 26.2 miles.  I'm more proud that I survived the damn thing than anything else, plus I kept an average 10 min per mile pace which ain't too shabby for a first marathon.  Additionally, a bunch of my running friends have told me how inspired they are to try a marathon or half, so now I can look forward to training with friends for future races! 

2) I'm super busy.  When I decided to run a marathon over the summer I had  a LOT more time than I've had the past few months.  My fall schedule went from packed to INSANE when I put "train for a marathon" into the mix with full time grad student, full time job, teaching an undergrad class and searching for a permanent full time position.  I haven't felt the same empty space that many runners experience when training ends.  I've felt relief.  Enormous amounts of relief, a return to my social life, and can you say 8-9 hours of sleep every night?

3) The holidays.  Thanksgiving was hectic, but it's still great to see friends and family, and the start of the Holiday season is a great distraction from well, anything.  I swapped multi hour runs for christmas music and baking.  Not a bad trade eh?

4) Other forms of fitness.  The last month of my marathon training I was DESPERATE to mix some new fitness routines into my running but I 1) didn't have time to meet my necessary mileage and do other workouts and 2) wanted to avoid injury.  Now that I don't have to hit 35-40 miles a week I can roll a spin class, strength training, yoga and dance back into my life.  Yay!! 

Do you get post-race blues, post race highs or both?

I Survived my First Marathon!!

I haven't blogged in a few weeks, and frankly it's because I was too overwhelmed to articulate all the things I've been doing.  With this morning's race over, one of the biggest challenges is behind me and I feel ready to share again!

So the Marathon.  The First Ever Bucks County Marathon to be specific, consisted of 26.2 miles of trail along the Delaware Canal Tow Path in (where else) Bucks County, PA (this happens to be my homeland).  We kicked off a little after 9am in Yardley and plodded north to New Hope.  Let me just say, this is one of the most beautiful places in the country and I highly recommend a stint in a Bed and Breakfast to rejuvenate your soul. 

I'm in the weirdly short person in the blue hat and purple shirt.  I swear I'm not that small irl.

Miles 1-12 were easy peasy.  I carried along with a pace between 9 and 9:30 min miles and soaked up some lovely views. 

Miles 12-14 got a little bit warm and sunny, but weren't bad, and then 14-16 was golden again...then I started getting tired...and sore...and really, really over running. 

My dad was Captain Camera today... also, told you it was beautiful.

I carried on pretty well until about mile 19.  I stopped, stretched a little and then carried on.  The last 7 miles were a mix of running, walking, and shuffling.  After mile 25, I decided to just power through whatever pain came my way. 

I wasn't thrilled, but I finished strong and crossed the finish line under my goal of 4h30m with a final time of 4h25m38s and promptly found a patch of grass on which to plant my sore bum.

I did it.  I ran my first marathon.  I am a marathoner.  It hasn't all sunk in quite yet, and thanks to a tip from my parents, I took a couple advil right after and I am feeling FRESH right now.  I imagine the crippling soreness tomorrow might help me process the event :).

Thanks a million to my parents, who managed to make it to EVERY spectator spot along the course with signs, cowbells and words of encouragement, to all my friends who've reminded me that this is something to be proud of, to all the AMAZING bloggers whose tips, tricks and recipes I have shamelessly stolen and utilized, and to all you runners out there who inspire me each and every day.  We rock, and we really can accomplish anything. 

Now I'm going to sit on the couch with my purring heating pad :)

What are you proud of this week?

How I Ended Up Training for a Marathon

It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters. ~Epictetus

A year ago today I ran my first half marathon and LOVED it.  In eighth grade I got a B in gym because I refused to run the mile for the Presidential Fitness test (I walked it happily), because I HATED running.  How did I go from someone who absolutely hated pounding the pavement to someone who can't get through the week without a good run? 

I was very athletic growing up, I was on the swim team, rode horses (English-style, jumpers), did gymnastics, danced, and cheered.  In college I was committed to staying fit, and was a total gym rat.  However, this funny thing happened when I graduated college and moved to New York without a job...I was broke.  Like realllllly broke.  I paid my first months rent, convinced my parents to stock my fridge with Costco goods and was left with $90 and stolen internet to find a job (which I did).  With no free campus gym membership in sight I started running up to Prospect Park, doing a few crunches and pushups and running home.  It started as two one mile legs, and eventually became a continuous three miles.  I started working at a local restaurant to supplement my paltry actor's income and the chef was a runner runner (He's like insanely fast).  The idea of distance running sparked my interest and I worked towards building my endurance.  After a year of living in New York I was running about 15 miles a week and actually enjoying it. 

For my 2010 resolution I decided I wanted to run a race...a long one.  The longest distance I could fathom running was a half-marathon, so I signed up for the Rock N Roll Philly Half Marathon in September and started building my mileage.  I started running 20-25 miles a week and have pretty much consistently maintained that ever since.  I completed my first race in 2h10m02s and I was hooked.  Honestly, if you want to get into running, but don't like it, sign up for a race.  You will never go back.

(I totally talked my parents into it.)

Ever the casual goal -setter I decided I wanted to try a marathon....eventually.  I decided that 2012 was the year.  I would run 26.2 miles the year I turned 26.  I'd be done with grad school, have the mental, physical and emotional capacity to handle it, and have plenty of time to prepare.  For 2011, I joined NYRR and decided to run the 9 +1(volunteer) races I'd need for automatic entry into the 2012 NYC Marathon (side note: I live a block away from the NYC marathon course and I LOVE going down to watch it every year).  I was ready.  The plan was set, my life was swimming along brilliantly and I had the mother of all marathons to look forward to when grad school was done.

Then I got dumped...by my boyfriend of three years...who I was pretty sure I was going to spend the rest of my life with.  That SUCKED.  I was pretty devastated (note the sappy and philosophical posts that dominated the middle of the summer).  I needed something to throw myself into, and fast.  When an invitation to run the Inaugural Bucks County Marathon popped into my inbox, I clicked through instinctively.  It was the first ever marathon in my home town.  It was four months away.  Before I could question what I was doing, my credit card was out and I had a receipt from active.com.  I was running a marathon.      

Wooops.  Impulsive much? 

Honestly, I've had my doubts about this decision, but it's brought a lot of positivity into my life over the past few months that I desperately needed.  Marathon training forces to me fuel properly, not get rip roaring drunk, go to bed at a reasonable hour, gives me energy throughout the day, but leaves me exhausted at night so that I sleep like a baby.  On some level, I'm grateful for the heartbreak because it's given me the opportunity to run this race and focus on myself right now.  I'm working on becoming a better person all around and it's something I can be proud of.  It's not the path I would have chosen for myself, but its a path that presented itself, and I'm happy to say I'm enjoying the journey. 

Did a less than favorable situation ever drive you to something good?

Marathon training is my new boyfriend

I met up with some fabulous ladies from one of my former lives yesterday (one of them blogs here).  We met up wayyy downtown for happy hour (mmm sangria), and to take stock of the past few years.  However, one drink in I realized I could not, in fact, have another.  I was buzzzzed.  One drink? Really?

To be fair, I haven't had more than two drinks in a week in....a month?  What happened to my bud light fueled social life!?!?  I go to bed at 10pm on weeknights (sometimes on weekend nights too so I can wake up early the next day for a long run), I get up at 6am on weekdays (I can't sleep past 8am EVER now), and after one drink, I'm eager to go home so as not to upset my new boyfriend: Marathon Training.

He's definitely more of a clinger than I've ever tolerated in a new boyfriend, but I think he's worth it.  When I treat him right, he is sooooo good to me, and when I ignore him or treat him like sh*t, he's a little mopey but comes around.  No matter what I do, he refuses to leave me.  That's a rare bird in this city (am I right ladies?)! 

While it takes sacrifices to be in this relationship, I couldn't be happier about it.  In the face of all the challenges in the rest of my life, it provides a strength and solace that I don't get anywhere else.  However, it has made me decidedly less cool than I used to be ;)

What about you? Ever feel married to your training?