The Rundown- Photo Style

Below is my marathon experience told through pictures. Enjoy!

Here I am with my dad and brother, walking to the start line. It was a long cold journey to the start. Walk, metro, walk, walk, bathroom stop, walk. My parents, grandparents, sister, and brother were quite the troopers.

Pre-race, post first Goo. A very sunny morning. Can you tell I am excited?

The Start. I am somewhere in this mass of people. I didn't even hear the gun go off. Things were quite confusing, since there were two waves, one at 8:15am and one at 8:45am, and the 8k start in between. I was in the second wave. I had to ask two women if I was in the right place. (Like there was another marathon going on down the road). I was nervous and jittery.

More Start pictures. I think I walked and half-jogged for the first mile because of all the runners, which I appreciated since I didn't have a great warm-up. The first 3 miles of the race were hilly, but we were going at such a slow pace it wasn't that bad. I remember cheering for the wheel chair competitors as they struggled up the hills, hand over hand. What an amazing and encouraging sight!

Spectators walking from the start line across the Memorial Bridge to the 10-mile marker near the Lincoln Memorial.

Runners on Constitution Avenue. You can tell from this picture that the sun was shining and the weather was rather warm. I would have liked it if the temperature was about 5 degrees cooler.

This is actually pretty funny. It was getting hot and I was making really good time, about 9 minute miles. I had not stopped yet, and this is around mile 11. I needed to take my long sleeve shirt off, but I had accidentaly pinned it to my tank top. My entire family pitched in to help me, and my mom and grandmother pinned my bib back on.

My first water break at mile 11. This is the one thing that I would have done differently. I felt so good at the beginning that I neglected to walk through the water breaks, rest my legs, and take a sip of Powerade for the first 11 miles. By mile 20 I was kicking myself and wishing I had taken it a little easier at the beginning.

Race-day glitter.

Water break. You can see the Marines who handed out water, Powerade, and food to the runners. They were so encouraging. When a Marine is shouting at you to keep running you listen.

Cynda jumped in and ran with me around mile 14. She got me passed mile 15. It was perfect timing for her to jump in. The wind was picking up and my spirits were starting to fade. I saw my family somewhere around there as well and took two more Advil.

This is me after the last ten miles and finish line. There is a gap in pictures. The last ten miles were hard. There was a lack of spectators, shade, and still air. It became extremely windy. I walked through every water station. I ate 3 more Goos. And I kept running. It was tempting to stop. People were passing out and getting sick all around me. My knees and ankles were aching. My stomach was nauseous. But I kept running. I was determined to finish, and to finish running.
After the finish line, which was at the top of a hill (very cruel!) I found my family and immediately collapsed to the ground. I rested there for several minutes, drinking water (in hopes of flushing out the yucky Goo) and eating pretzels. It was so crowded and hot. I think my family was scared I was going to pass out.

I finally touched base with my training partner on the phone. We congratulated eachother and then headed home.

Mission Accomplished

I have finished my first marathon. Final time was 4 hours 17 minutes. My toenails are black and blue, and one is falling off. My knees hurt and my left ankle is awful sore. My family is still in shock by everything they witnessed on the course (Tim got a bunch on tape, but I am not sure if "what happens during a race stays in the race" is proper etiquette) I am trying to reconnect with friends who were at that race, they even made a sign, but completely missed me (I feel awful).

But I am completely thrilled to be done the marathon. I enjoyed it, but not as much as the beer afterwards.

I couldn't have done it without my husband, family, and friends (Cynda even jumped in and ran with me...well so did James and Tim but that is for later) who sacrificed sleeping-in, church, and their Sunday morning to be with me at the start, middle, and finish of the race. I love you!

And I couldn't have been more prepared if it weren't for all the wonderful running bloggers who ran before me, and gave me so many words of encouragement. Thank you!!!

I will post more later, my sister got some great shots!

I want to aplogize to everyone for the lack of posts recently, and for the blandness of my posts. I also apologize for boring people with my running updates.

My first marathon is this coming Sunday, and therefore it is all I can think about. My stomach has been in a ball of knots since last week. My sleep has been un-even, uncomfortable, and somewhat more tiring.

I told my brother-in-law last night that this has been one of the weirdest emotional journeys I have ever been on. It is weird what your body goes through, and therefore what thoughts pass through your mind. I have learned a lot about myself through all the training, and have had a lot of time to think and pray on my long 20-plus mile runs.

Thanks for sticking with me, and post-Sunday I hope to be back to normal.

Marathon Status Report..Nerves and Excitement

Recently, I go back and forth from being really nervous to really excited. AHHHHHH. I find myself praying that God just gives me the strength to finish the marathon.

I went for a run on Monday night that was supposed to be 6 miles but it started to get really dark and I started to get stitches all over my body. I felt sick from the get-go. I only had fruit and nuts for lunch, a big mistake. I had to work overtime to fight the wind. Then my adrenaline started plummeting. I only did about 4.5 miles. I thought, " I can't do this. Am I crazy? What was I thinking signing up for a marathon? I am going to embarass myself in front of my family and friends."
NERVES.

Then yesterday I ran 6.3 miles in 50 minutes, including a bathroom break. That is an average mile pace of around 8 minutes. I ran hard and my legs still felt great. My thoughts were much different, "Wow, this is going to be really exciting running with 30,000 people. I wonder if the music will be good? Will there be bands playing? What will the weather be like? Whatever it is I am ready to kick some butt. I wonder if I will break my goal?"
EXCITEMENT.

Only a week and a day to go...If nothing else this has been a roller-coaster ride.

The Barnes

This past weekend, my mother and I visited the Barnes Foundation. It is a jewel in the middle of Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania.

"Dr. Albert C. Barnes established The Barnes Foundation in 1922 to 'promote the advancement of education and the appreciation of the fine arts.' " This mission is displayed throughout the entire property.

The Barnes Foundation, which is just as Dr. Barnes left it before he died in 1951, includes a gallery and arboretum. Dr. Barnes had a very unique way of displaying his art. Because he believed that all people regardless of race, socio-economic status, age, and gender should be able to enjoy art, he displayed his art in an educational way that sparks discussion. Why did he put these two paintings next to each other? What can we learn from this? Unlike most art museums which display one painting on a wall with a description next to it, Barnes places Monet, Cezanne, Renoir, Rousseau, and Modigliani all together on one wall, without any description. This forces the observer to figure out what Barnes was thinking when he hung the paintings, how the paintings tie together, and how the images and colors speak to one another.

Dr. Barnes had an appreciation for all types of art, not only paintings but intricate hinges, Hope Chests, functional African art, sculptures from the tops of cathedrals, everyday furniture, and even pottery crafted by a little child.



Paul Cezzane once said, "The day is coming when a single carrot, freshly observed, will set off a revolution." I think that Barnes believed that observation could evoke emotions and set off a revolution in the way we see art. He brought paintings to his factories so that the workers too could observe and learn. He valued the opinion of children and what they thought of Van Gogh and Monet. He hangs a Matisse next to an old ornamental chair that is weighted down by an African pot. He forces you to think beyond the strokes, to the wall color, to the furniture in the room, and over to the metal used on the door hinge. When on the Barnes property, it is hard to ignore that Dr. Barnes did start a revolution how one looks at art.

The Arboretum at Barnes

The Arboretum at Barnes

The Barnes Property

this is for you Patty

This is a goofy picture...

Call Me Crazy

So, I was hoping that posting on my must-do training would hold me accountable. I even thought about Jank's comment about running 24-26 miles. I can do this I thought.

However, the elements were not in my favor yesterday. I woke up to torrential downpours. "I'll put running off until tomorrow," I said. But by mid morning,after my fifth cup of coffee and second time flipping through CookingLight, I was antsy. I needed to get out. Except the rain was coming down sooo hard.

I remembered that my friend (MER) once told me about her friend who trained for a marathon entirely on a treadmill. While atthe time this sounded completely insane, it was my only option yesterday.

So I headed down to our fitness center. Yes,I live on top of my fitness center. I walk on its ceiling, it isdirectly below me. You can imagine that this is both good and bad. Good: at 5:30 in the morning, when I don't get home from work until 8:30 at night, for days like yesterday. Bad: when all you want to dois curl-up on the couch and eat chocolate, but feel guilty about not going to the gym which is soooo close.

At 1pm I started my run on the treadmill. It was the longest 11 miles of my life. My i-pod for some reason kept playing the same songs over and over. I tried to watch football while running, but even the game was not keeping me motivated. It was hot, stuffy, and did I mention incredibly boring?

That was it, I had it with the treadmill. I went back upstairs to my apartment,ate half of a powerbar and headed outside. My husband looked at me like I was crazy. I thought, "I have run in the rain before, it can't be that bad."

There were three things that I realized as I made my way down the National Mall for a 7 mile loop. 1. The rain I had run in before was a gentle spring shower, not torrential downpours. 2. The wind(which I obviously had not noticed from my apartment window) was powerful. 3. When it rains for two days straight, grass becomes muddy, sidewalks become washed out, and puddles become lakes.

Therefore,not only was I dodging tourists who were staring at me, I was dodging sinking mud, huge puddles of rain, and the spray from cars.

I also came to the realization around the fourth miles that maybe I WAS crazy. People in DC do things to the extreme. They work hard and play hard. And they are exercise fanatics. On any given night you can find hundreds of people running on the National Mall. How many people did I pass running yesterday? 3. And I think one of them was just running from one Smithsonian to the other to dodge the rain, not for exercise.

Needless to point out I didn't get in my 24 miles, I didn't really even get in 20. I think I ran about 18-19 miles. It was frustrating. I missed my running partner Anna. I missed the great feeling you get at the end of a long run. Instead I just wanted a warm shower and big mug of hot chocolate.

Good Luck to everyone who is running this weekend! I know your training will pay off and you all will do great. I look forward to your post-race posts.

I, on the other hand, am still training. I am scheduled to do my 24-26 mile run this weekend before tappering off. However, the forecast looks like rain, rain, and more rain. I don't mind running in the rain, but downpours?

I heard that when you start tappering, your body can become depressed. After thriving on long runs for so long, your body becomes sluggish. However, the tappering, while seemingly harmful at first begins to rejuvinate your body in time for the marathon. This is all very interesting to me as I work towards my first marathon.

Dreaming of Mums and Pumpkins

reds, oranges, deep greens. hot cider, apple crisp, stews, and butternut squash. running in the crisp evenings. sleeping with the windows open. long pants, sweaters, and flip-flops. roasted pumpkin seeds. football games. bright blue skies and brilliant sun. fallen leaves.

Tim and I just returned from a relaxing 24 hours in Fishing Creek, Pennsylvania. Our friends wedding brought us to this stunning piece of land outside of Harrisburg, and it was incredibly hard to leave. As we pulled up to our lodge the first thing we noticed was the silence. The air was crisp, clean, and refreshing. We woke up early this morning to play golf...the course was deserted, allowing us to take in the scenery as we took our time playing the immaculate course.



I didn't get much running in this weekend. Only a short run yesterday, but I have definitely been rejuvinated in other ways. (I also got to see old old friends from Maine yesterday! It was a very joyful reunion!)

Mazel Tov!!!!!

A Weekend with Family at Great Falls, Maryland

The Great House at Great Falls, Maryland



Overlooking the Falls

Our weekend visitors

Baby Cate loves dogs

The Falls short on water during a dry spell


Bonding outdoors


.FUN.

What Was It?

"There are clubs you can't belong to, neighborhoods you can't live in, schools you can't get into, but the roads are always open." - Nike

What was it that first got you hooked? that gave you the itch? that made you want to be out there, on the road, on the trails, running? What was it that turned you from a tomboy into an athlete?

For me, it was this quote by Nike. It hung above my bed scripted across a poster of a girl running by a white church on a golden evening. There were no hills, there were no roads, just the girl, her legs, thistles of grass, and the open territory.

For me, I envisioned myself being that girl. I envisioned myself running quietly through the open fields using the muscles and strength that God gave me. She looked so calm, so collected, and so strong.

Though, I am pretty sure I got the itch many years before I got the poster. My dad used to time us running around our house. Unfortunately I was always behind my sisters. Sally and Abigail would power through, lift their elbows, and block me out. They were sprinters. It wasn't until much later that I realized I was a long distance runner.

Running and athletics has always been a large part of my life, and a way for my family to bond with eachother. When my family gets together, we still find the time to run, bike, throw the lacrosse ball, hit the tennis ball, or just go for an evening walk. Now it is less about competition, and more about spending time with eachother.

But that is how I got my itch, and my family is what helps me to keep scratching it. They will be there to welcome me at the finish line of the marathon. Hopefully my dad will still be timing me.

From my training tip today:

"At times, you may not progress as fast as you expected. We Americans are traditionally hyperactive and impatient. When we plant a seed, we not only want it to grow, we want it to become a tree by next week. We want results. When you start, you want to see physical and psychological benefits. But if you push too hard, you can tire yourself out and end up quitting in frustration."

I am trying to take the above advice in stride. Despite enjoying my long run this past weekend (enough to go out for a short run with my friend Cynda a couple hours after the 20-miler), and then a 3-mile run the next day...I am ready for the marathon to be over. I have pushed hard all summer, and I am ready to put my training to the test. Training is more time consuming than I thought, and I am starting to get impatient...I want to be done with the training, I want to see if it worked, and I want to know that I can finish a marathon without doubling over. It is four weeks away...not close enough.

20-mile run, and then some

This weekend I ran farther than I have ever run before. Anna and I were to meet up at 6:15am. Early enough for us to get in our run, and then wash up before having a slew of Saturday shopping, chores, etc. to do. However, it seemed to have slipped our minds that the sun does not rise until around 6:45/7:00am. So as soon as we felt comfortable to run with adequate light, we took to the streets. They were still, very quiet, and almost haunting. We kept a great pace and after two miles of chatting, we popped on our i-pods. Cruising along the trails past Falls Church, and then the beltway, we made it to the ten mile marker. We both looked at eachother and smiled. We had never been this far on the trail. As we turned around, our pace quickened. We knew we could do this and it was a great feeling.

Soreness in the knees, ankles, and shins set in around mile 16, but we continued to cruise. It was the perfect running weather. 70s and overcast. We made it to the end of the trails, and the end of our run. We added on an extra mile and a half of walking to stretch out our legs.

With the marathon only a little over a month away, it was very encouraging to finish this run. I have been in a slump since the middle of August, but this weekend put me back on track.

Evening Run

Last night, after getting home from work rather late, I hit the streets of DC for a run. I had been pinned to my desk all day, and my body was itching to get out into the mild weather.

The evening was peaceful against our audacious Capitol.

Running on our National Mall can be quite comforting. As you make your way down the Senate side of the Capitol you have patchy views of the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. After reaching the Washington Monument, turning around, you are hit with the greatness and power of the Capitol..with the lights still on and bodies still moving inside.

I always sprint up the House side of the Capitol, getting a thrill as I pass our Representatives walking across Independence Avenue from their offices to the House floor to vote. I always smile at them. Are they thinking of their families back home? Would they rather be running?

The cool down past the Library of Congress and Supreme Court, weaving through the Senate Office Buildings, then to my doorstep. It is a quick run, 3.5 miles, but filled with views of consequence and significance.

In Scotland, a new game was invented. It was entitled “Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden”. . . and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language...

Ahhh, my how times have changed...golf lessons have started

As a city dweller, I enjoy spending my weekends on the golf course... looking up and not seeing any planes or helicopters. I covet the four to five hours without sirens, cars, or horns.

Therefore, to improve my golf game, to give me confidence to play with firends, and to hopefully enjoy the game even more I have started taking golf lessons.

I forgot how much I enjoyed practicing a sport. Much like throwing the lacrosse ball against the wall for hours on end to get better, my golf lessons consist mainly of instruction followed by practice, practice, and more practice.

The more I practice and the better I get, the more I can convince my husband that I need the cute outfits and snazzy shoes.

Running Route

For the last couple of days, I have been running or biking the same route around Hains Point in Washington, DC. It is a 3.14 mile picturesque loop that juts out into the Potomac by the Jefferson Memorial. I don't know if I like it because I feel like a true DC insider when I run it, or if I like watching all the people on their boats, people playing golf, people taking pictures of The Awakening, or planes taking off from Reagan National Airport. But when I run this loop I feel peaceful and calm. I can look across to the busy streets of DC...but only look. For the time that I am moving my legs I am not a part of that rapid lifestyle.



These pictures are from Wednesday night, my first time running the loop. The sun was going down, and the leaves were catching some last minute rays. Tim was riding while I was trying to keep up with him. I was able to do two laps running to his four on the bike.

Change

This week came fast with a thud.

Work has picked up. New interns moved into the dorm. Traffic is back in DC. Congress is back to the grindstone...emotions are again on the rise. Helicopters circle above as I type marking Renquist's move from the Supreme Court to the Capitol. Emails splatter onto my screen.

Even the sun seems stunned...on Tuesday the sun began its slow journey to winter, creeping in later and later, making it harder to get up early for a run, or even to make coffee for that matter. Did that much really change over the Labor Day weekend?

I do however welcome the gorgeous humidity-free weather, abundant blue skies, and crisp mornings.

"Change comes like a little wind that ruffles the curtains at dawn, and it comes like the stealthy perfume of wildflowers hidden in the grass."

John Steinbeck