Run Forest, Run

I'm sitting here in a hotel room in Pennsylvania trying to get myself to head to bed. A 4:00AM wake up call is in the near future and I really need to get some rest.

BECAUSE

The Philadelphia 1/2 Marathon

is taking place in 10 HOURS!!!
I'm ready, I'm excited and I hope to run like Forest!!

I-pod is charged, running clothes are ready and race time is at 7:00AM!!!

So for now I leave you with...

Run Forest, RUN!!!

Still Running

Yep...

I'm still running!!

I know it has been a while since I have posted anything but life is crazy busy right now and it seems like blogging has taken the third seat back in my life. I will get back to blogging on a regular basis...I promise!

***

What's new might you ask?

Well I am running the Philadelphia 1/2 Marathon next Sunday.

It came up very sudden and I thought about not doing it but here is my chance and I better do it now. What if something happens a year from now and I let this opportunity pass me by. I was planning on going down and back the same day. That would entail leaving at 2-2:30AM to make the start of 7:00AM. A little nutty but that's me! Todd surprised me yesterday and booked a room at a hotel near the King of Prussia Mall.

Whoot!!!

I'll run the race, head back and take a shower and then Mall time!!

So for now, I'll keep on running and breathing that cold fresh air in every morning run. I'll enjoy the 1/2 marathon in a wonderful city of Philly. I may even run up the steps that Rocky ran up...after the 1/2 though! I will keep you all posted and I leave you with...

run girl, run

Morning Run

Running this morning consisted of me, the dark skies and my thoughts. 4:50 the alarm clock rang, I tumbled out of bed, made myself a cup of coffee and got ready. It was warmer than the previous mornings (40 degrees) but still chilly enough to wear running pants, long sleeved shirt, running fleece, hat and gloves. I headed out to my running partners house where I waited for 15 minutes for her to come out. No such luck, I thought maybe she had forgotten or that maybe her husband had to leave earlier than expected to take his mom to the hospital for her knee replacement surgery this morning.

***

Well it was just that...so I headed out by myself into the dark. It was hard to get my breathing down as the air was so cold on my lungs. I started up one of the hills and right in front of me was a shooting star. Very cool indeed. I ran 2.2 miles and then my running partner came bolting out of her house with apologies...no big deal. I had so many different things to think about...planning my day and week, figuring out what to have for dinner, creating some pottery and more. I talked to Kim for a minute and then headed back out for another 1.1 miles. Upon running up the same hill...ANOTHER shooting star.

***

It is truly something special the sights and sounds you get to experience while on your runs.

Thank you nature...

Baltimore Marathon 2009

I DID IT!!!

***

I finished my first marathon and it was simply AMAZING!!

***

It has been a week of rest and recouping for me and I apologize for not completing this blog entry sooner. I have so many memories and thoughts of the marathon that I would like to share with you. First and foremost I would like to thank Todd and Graydon for being there with me from start to finish. It was a long journey of 6 months preparation work to get me through to the end. I also would like to thank my running partner Kim for all your advise and early, early morning runs!!! I would also like to thank all the people who donated money for "Donate Life" the charity that I was running this marathon on behalf. As of right now I do not have a count on the donations as they are still coming in. I will close out the donations by Sunday and then tally all the $.

Stay tuned for that revealing.

***

We headed down to Baltimore on Friday morning and much to our surprise when we got there it was humid and HOT. At least 82 degrees, sunny and I was a little anxious about running in that temp. We checked into our hotel which by the way another BIG Thank You to Ken!! The hotel was literally right across the street from the start line. After checking in, we headed off to the Expo to pick up our running packets and all the goodies that went along with that. The Expo had tons of different vendors set selling merchandise. Afterwards we headed around Camden Yards Baseball Field to check out the scenery. What a nice stadium...we will definitely be heading down there for a game sometime.

***

At dinner time we walked past the inner harbor to check out all the sights and sounds on our way to Little Italy where we had dinner at Sabatino's. We met up with Nancy McGowan and her team members and families. They were running the marathon in relay style. It was nice catching up with Nan and meeting all of her daughters. I had a delicious dinner of homemade fettuccine with butter and bread. It was good...but I didn't dare have any sauce or extras on my pasta.

Just plain old pasta for me!!

***

The marathon morning I woke at around 5:30 to start getting ready. A couple of Facebook feeds, bagel, coffee, oj and a banana and then a warm shower to loosen up. Todd had all my running clothes out for me so I wouldn't have to worry about it!! We headed down to the start with the temps in the high 60's and partly cloudy. I started stretching along a fence and met 2 couples from North of Syracuse. Over 20, 000 people there and I stood next to them...

The first photo above is a pic of the starting line. They had the elite runners staged in the front, you know all the Kenyans and Russians who run faster than I can even dream about. It then went by minute miles...7 minute miles, 8 minute miles etc. I wound my way through the crowd to find the 9-10 minute mile crowd. There were a ton of us all huddled up next to each other.


Upon standing there for a while Todd noticed this guy standing right, I mean RIGHT in front of me. The front of his shirt read DeRosa. Now those of you who know me, know that THAT is my maiden name. RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!! Todd yelled to me, "Hey, the guy in front of you is a DeRosa". I grabbed his shoulder and spun him around and introduced myself to him. We spoke briefly and then the National Anthem was sung. The announcer in a dramatic voice said...Runners take your MARKKKKKKKK, Get SETTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

And off I went with a BIG smile on my face and a lump in my throat. I said a prayer before I left asking God to guide me through the race without injury and then I asked my DAD to help me keep strong and be with me throughout the race. I knew it was a sign when that DeRosa guy was in front of me. Plus there were many more signs to come....

***

We headed up the long hill (one of many, many) and we were out of sight with our loved ones. I felt absolutely GREAT and had GREAT time for the first 5 miles, even 10 miles, even 15 miles. Throughout the miles we went through the projects of Baltimore, around a lake, out in the boonies of Baltimore where the spectators were few and far between. The i-pod kept me focused and calm during some difficult hills and plains. At one part we went over a very broken up street of cobblestone and it took some good concentration not to injure yourself on it. The streets were in OK condition. You really noticed a difference when you headed out of downtown Baltimore. In the project sections that we ran, the streets were very banked and in rough condition. Pot holes, broken up pavement and more roughness of the roads made it tricky to keep going in a straight line. Remember you have tons and tons of people around you....

***

At one point I was running with 2 guys who had Virginia Tech shirts on. Remember I told you about the signs...well there was one for Todd. So during that time of trying to catch the guys I was thinking about Todd and how supportive he has been. I reached the top of a hill and glanced to my left and there were two people walking a dog just like ours, another sign. She is a Catahoula Leopard Dog and they really are a rare sight to see. During that time I kept thinking about our dog Callie and wondering if she was really missing us as this was the first time we left her all alone. Thank you to all of our friends who came and looked after her!! We appreciate it!!! At 9:30 on the mark, a song came on the i-pod that is Graydons...strange though, it was right when he started his Kids Race, another sign. I said out loud "Do good buddy" and a know I got a few strange looks from that! As we wound our way around the city and through the park I saw several spectators that resembled my Dad. It really calmed me in knowing that he was there in spirit with me...another sign. The last of all the signs was a red bandanna laying right in the middle of the road. It was about mile 20 and I was having some inner demons working against me and that red bandanna reminded me of my running partner Kim. She always carries a red bandanna with her when we run. As I ran over it I said out loud "Kim".
I know this all may seem weird or very strange to you people, but talking out loud and thinking about all these signs really helped me get through the race.

***

Throughout the marathon the spectators were incredible!!! They had miles with different things going on for us. The M&T mile had a band and they handed out these blow up clacker things that people were waving and making noise with. They kept cheering us on all they way through these miles. Under Armour had a mile with a DJ playing music, huge flags blowing in the wind, fruit, gatorade, power bards, gu and etc. A couple of schools actually got together for different miles. They had their school bands playing music, they were handing out water and gatorade....such fun!! There was also a gummy bear mile at mile 23, where they gave away over 400lbs of gummy bears. As you ran by they stuck these huge red trays of gummy bears by you so you could grab a handful. For the next 1/2 mile the streets were littered with discarded gummy bears. I was always on the look out for those special areas because you never knew what was coming around the bend.

***

Amongst the many many hills there were, one in particular sticks in my head. At the bottom of this at least mile long hill I looked up and saw the wave of runners and thought to myself...how many more of these hills can I handle. I was feeling really alone (strange as there were tons of people around me), tired and starting to get hungry. I heard some music and at that point I was thinking it was coming from one of the project houses. As I got to the very top of the hill, there are all these neighbors in the street. They were playing LOUD reggae music, dancing and waving their arms in the air. They were cheering us on so wonderful it completely changed the way that I was feeling at that time and I felt like I could take on the world!! The kids were jumping up and down and standing on boxes for us to high five them when we ran by. It was simply AMAZING!!! The support from this little project area of Baltimore...I am so impressed with them!! Also to the guy who was just past this neighborhood who was standing on the roof of his car in a tiger costume with "Eye of the Tiger" playing really loud from his car!

***

At mile 13 as I was heading down the hill in front of the harbor, I saw Todd and Graydon waving frantically for me!! It was such a great sight to see....Graydon with the camcorder and Todd with the huge backpack for me filled with anything and everything I could possibly need. I grabbed a bite of a power bar, took a sip of gatorade, kissed both of them, tossed them my sunglasses and off I went again. The above photo is my coming on the far side of the road.
***

At mile 18 I decided that the next port-a-potty I saw I was going to stop for a quick relief. Unbeknownst to me, my insides had something else planned for me. Unfortunately I threw off my time by 20 minutes at that one and only stop I did. It must have been the adrenalin, gu, gatorade and whatever else was going on inside of me at that time, but it really did a number on my insides!!! I was so upset being in there for so long. I was worried about having my legs cramp up because of not being mobile, getting cold, and trying to make it another 8 miles on a sick stomach. Not good!!! BUT, the skies parted their ways, I opened the door and headed out...into the rain with a good feeling of not being sick anymore! It did rain off and on throughout the race and only one time I could recall that it came down pretty heavy. But overall it was a relief to have that coolness of the rain wash over your skin while your body is working so hard!
***

Around mile 22 I realized that the race was close to being over...and then the i-pod quit on me. At first I was really bummed thinking that I needed that music to get me through but I sucked it up and decided that I would enjoy these last few miles left of this great race. Just at that point there was this African American woman standing to my right on the side of the street. She was clapping her hands and yelling to us "Good job ya'all...but ya'all are CRAZY....and you have a long way to GO". Her friend that was with her hit her and said something to her and she replied "Hey, I'm not gonna LIE to them, they do have a LONG way to go and there are more HILLS and they all are CRAZY". It made me laugh soooo hard I thought I would have to stop and collect myself. From then on I was determined to finish the race STRONG.

***

My toes hurt pretty good from mile 18 on...I knew I was having some issues with them and at one point tried to stop and take my shoe off to reposition my sock. After I slipped the shoe off I looked up to see a woman with a sign...the sign read "PAIN IS TEMPORARILY...PRIDE IS FOREVER". I put my shoe back on a trudged on through the last miles. Strange though...this woman was every where in the race with that sign. I wondered how she got around there so quickly :)
***

Another memory was this guy in a light blue running shirt with light grey hair. I was focused on the road and felt someone running close to me. I looked up and saw this guy with a big smile on his face. He was older than I am and I was a little confused at first because he kept looking, smiling and not saying anything. I said "Hi, how ya doing?", he said "OK but not as good as you". OK WEIRD....and then he kind of drifted back. After the race was over and I was in the runners village and I saw the same guy!! He was walking towards me, saw me, stopped, winked and smiled. I smiled and said good job and we went our separate ways.

I didn't see him again...

Was he real???

After the 22 mile mark I kept on thinking one mile at a time. When I saw that big old 25 mile mark I kicked in the last mile as much as I could and really did finish exactly the way I wanted to...Strong!! Here I am in the middle of the pack right at the end. At the time Todd took this photo it dawned on me that him and Graydon were close by. They had their whistles and I heard them, then I saw them jumping up and down, arms pumping in the air. I passed them with only about 200-300 yards to go and broke down crying while running. I was so happy to see them and so proud that I was finishing and so sad that it was over.

Well...then I couldn't breathe so I told myself to knock it off and finish strong. I sprinted in as fast as my legs could go and crossed that finish line!!!

***

They ushered us into walkway where they handed you the silver blankets to keep warm and your medal. Once that medal was in my hands I started sobbing and couldn't stop. I saw the people from right in the very beginning of the race who were from North of Syracuse...they finished right in front of me. I congratulated them while sobbing and they must have thought I was a loon but I didn't care...I was just so proud!!

***

I worked my way through the crowd to the spot that Todd told me to meet him at. I saw them...went over Kissed and Hugged them and then it was time for some food. They had crab bisque which at first was a little bit of a shock taste because of the saltiness but then it tasted soooo good!! I found bananas and more water and headed out to see Todd and Graydon.

This photo was while I was waiting in line for the soup....

So....that is about it!!

After this pic, we headed to the kids village where there was food and music and commotion. Todd and Graydon got lunch while slipped out of my running sneakers and put on my slides. A much needed relief to the toes. We headed out of the area to where the finish line was and cheered on the runners coming in. At that point I had enough and just wanted a shower....we went off to the hotel where the shower helped loosen my stiff legs!!

One proud chick!!

My shirt that Al & Sherry's printed for me with the charity...

DONATE LIFE!!

Graydon wrote on my arm before the race....it was nice to see it throughout!!

***

The end!!

But not the end of running or racing or marathons!!

Stay tuned for more to come!

RUN GIRL, RUN!!!

2 Days to Go!!

Packed and ready to go!!

A friend of Todds wrote me a nice little note...

***

It says...

***

Start slow...

Head up...

Shoulders back...

Finish strong...

Run like you own the road!

***

Thanks Scott!!

I appreciate your words and will take them with me throughout the marathon!

Also, a special thank you to all the people who sent me well wishes!

I will keep you all posted tomorrow and Saturday!

Stay tuned for photos of Baltimore!

4 Days to Go

OK, the nerves are starting to really hit me...

I know I can do it but when you think about how far 26.2 miles is,

it makes second guess all the training I have done.

Have I done enough running, am I eating OK, how about sleeping....

***

Well, we'll find out!!

run girl, run!!!!!!!!!!!

6 Days Away!!

It is almost here!!

I ran 5 miserable miles this morning and let me tell you why it was miserable. My right hip is killing me. Yesterday I sat through a whole college soccer game on a cold, hard, metal bleacher and I think that's what did it.

I need to call my chiropractor first thing in the morning to see if I can get in for a emergency appointment. I think with that and resting a few days I should be OK for the weekend...

I HOPE!!

rest up girl, rest up!!

The Countdown - 8 Days!

8 days from now I will be leaving for Balitmore to spend the weekend. Friday will consist of having a fun day at The Aquarium. Graydon is so excited for this weekend as well as myself. Friday night we are meeting up with some friends from here who also will be running the marathon. A nice Italian restaurant will be our choice of pickings although I will only be having buttered pasta for my carb-load dinner. Saturday morning the marathon starts at 8:00AM and Todd will be giving live feeds on Facebook. If you would like to know how I am doing throughout the morning and you have a Facebook account, just add me as a friend, or just sign up for a FB account and the same.
***
I am so excited and nervous altogether. It is a HUGE feet for me and I have trained my heart out. I'm ready! On another note, I am running this race to honor one person in particular who has inspired me to run this race. Her name is Trish O'Neill and right around the time of me deciding to start running, she was battling for her life. You see, she was diagnosed with Leukemia last year and by February this year, needed a liver transplant. By the good graces she was able to receive a new liver and a new lease on life and I am proud to say she is living a happy and healthy. This marathon is dedicated to her and her charity DONATE LIFE!
***
DONATE LIFE is a non-profit organization which offers patients a new chance at healthy, productive, normal life and returns them back to their families, friends and communities. You have the power to change someones world by being a donor. Please consider signing the back of your license and also informing your families about your decision to become a donor...IT MATTERS!!!
***
If you could please spare $1, $2, $5 or more to really help turn this marathon into a great fund raising event for me...I would greatly appreciate it. 100% of all proceeds will be given to DONATE LIFE! For more information on this organization, please see www.cdtny.org or www.donatelife.net. Please use the button to your right of this page to make a donation. Also, please email me your address if I don't have it already for a post race information.
***
THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS....

Brrr.....

Wow have I been neglectful with this blog and my other blog, Thistle Farm Arts.

It has been so hard to manage life with training for a marathon. Between work, pottery, family, sports and fitting running in there, I am surprised I have made it this far in my training!

***

The little time clock to the right....is that right??? 9 days!!! Wow, makes my heart speed up slightly. I am ready though. All these months of getting up at the crack of dawn, (well really before the crack of dawn...more like in the pitch black of the night) and running my legs off, have taken me to this point.

***

I'M READY!!!

***

So on that note, I must go get ready for a very cold run this morning at 5:45AM. It is 41 degrees out...time to pull out all the warmer running clothes.

So after this post I promise I will catch you all up on my running life, but for now I leave you with

run girl, RUN!!!

Sundays Run

Today was another long one...16 miles!! The weather was perfect...cool and sunny, a typical fall day which by the way I LOVE!!!

***

Run was good, my feet started bothering me at about 14 miles. They didn't hurt just a little uncomfortable, sort of like tired. Well duh!! After 14 miles I'm sure they are going to be tired.

***

One bad thing thing though...well two actually.

My stomach I think just can't handle the gu. After 3 of them the rolling of the stomach started and after a few minutes it passed. But right now it feels a little yucky!!

***

Needless to say, next Sunday is 18, the following is 20 and then 10, 5 and then the BIG DAY!!!

Yipes, it is right around the corner...

So HAPPY!!

***

I finished my 14 mile run today and I feel GREAT!!! It was a new run today with new sights and very rolly hills. I know I need to get the hills in because mile 16-20 of the marathon is all uphill!!! Ugh!! But I had a great companion (my chiropractor who use to ride serious roadraces)during the whole thing (he biked) who carried my gu and water. Funny thing is he told me that he has never biked so slowly before in his life. By the 1/2 way mark he said out loud "this is regoddamndiculous"!!! I laughed the whole rest of the way - 7 miles!! Sometimes out loud which made him laugh because he knew what I was thinking!

***

I can't believe how much up in mileage I am doing, I really never thought that I would make it this far especially be plagued by injuries. But this much is true...I am loving it!!

run girl, run

Women's Distance Running Festival

Tuesday night was a local 5K race at Ostiningo Park for the Women's Distance Festival. This year marks the 25th anniversary and I was happy to participate in the event. The day was a long one for me, work, heat and humidity and trying to eat right during the day. There was 133 participants and I was happy with my time and place. I came in 63rd and I shaved over 1-1/2 minutes off my previous 5K time.

***

I knew I was in for a good race by looking around and seeing all the female runners. There were some from area high school cross country teams and even the local college x-county team. There were very young girls as well as some older than me. There were a couple of power houses too! We lined up on the starting line and I get the i-pod all ready with a great start song. The person said go and believe me we went...fast. A little too fast for my first mile! I typically take about 2 miles into a run to actually get my groove so when we passed the 1 mile marker and he yelled out the time of 7:16 I was in shock. I really didn't think my body could go that fast anymore. I then slowed a bit during the 2-3 miles and finished like a champ. Up a hill to the finish line I passed 2 people (maybe 3 I can't remember). I was so happy when it was over although I did feel like I could run another 6 miles without a problem.

***

That's the thing about running distance...once you start running past 10 miles your body just wants to continue when you run the short distances.

***

But today I feel guilt...I was suppose to run this morning but I opted not too. My legs are kind of sore from Tuesday nights run as well as my abdomen. I think I might have strained a muscle on the left side. So today I will rest up and tomorrow hit the road for 7 miles. This weekend is a long run of 14 miles and this time I will be taking a friend along on the journey. He will be riding his bike along the way carrying my gu and drinks!! Thanks friend!!

***

so for now I leave you with

rest girl, rest!

Feeling Good!!

Has it really been this long since I blogged about running? I guess time and family and running have really taken over my life.

***

This much is true...I feel great!!

I am up to 12 miles and this weekend will be 14. My running partner has gone on vacation, darn her :), but today I headed out with an i-pod full of great music and did an 8 mile run in really good time. I have noticed that I am eating more and sleeping more. I was a little worried about what I have been consuming lately...but in all I feel like I am getting the adequate amount of food and I have been really careful of what I eat the night before I run. Carbs and protein for me and on top of all that I did weigh myself this morning and in 2-1/2 weeks I have dropped about 8-1/2 pounds. Holy crow!! I did a double take when I saw the number pop up. Although I am not running to loose weight the plus is an advantage.

***

So far I have done a race in Montrose on the 4th of July, another one at the end of July and that one I actually came in 3rd in my age category. I walked by the awards table before the race and thought to myself that i would never get one of those. Surprise I did!!! And to boot, my kid came in 1st in the kids run. He was pretty pleased with himself as I was!!

***

So now I am just trying to run every other day...the knee feels great (knock on wood) and Tuesday night I will be competing in another race all women! Then on to September 12th for a 1/2 marathon in Liverpool, New York.

***

I promise to write more when I do run, maybe a couple of pics to add!

So for now...

run girl, run!!!

1st Race of the Year

Hi all,

After Mondays little tweak of my knee, Tuesday brought no pain at all. Wednesday was a day off from running but Thursday was a great run!!! Especially in the fact that it was a light steady rain and I was running with friends!

***

Tomorrow is the day of my first race. It is just a little 5K that is about 45 minutes away from my home. I have been feeling pretty good this week running which is making me very happy. I'm looking forward into bumping up my mileage and getting ready for the marathon.

***

But for now...I'll be sticking to this little 5K and

I'll let you know how I do.

Happy 4th!!!

***

Race Girl, Race

Tuesday Morning Blues

Here it is Tuesday morning and wondering what tomorrow will bring for me. I ran both yesterday and Sunday, and yesterday during my run, I felt my knee tweak a little. So I stopped running and walked the rest of the way back with my running partner to her house. I immediately went home and iced it off and on all day long. Today it feels a little bit better and I am hopping with the PT visit, it will feel even better.

***

When I got home yesterday I called the doctors office and got right in on Wednesday. I think I will be asking for a cortisone shot which makes my stomach weak just thinking about it. So as a result I will be taking today and possibly tomorrow off from running which makes for a blue Tuesday.

***

For now...

Rest girl, Rest

Hurray!!!

Hurray!!!

I went to the doctors yesterday and he gave me the clean bill of health to start back up running!!

I am sooo extremely happy to be able to run again. For all of you runners out there you know what I mean!

My running partner and I ran 2.2 miles this morning and walked 1.2 miles just to slowly get back into the swing of things! I am so happy I feel like running again but that will have to wait until tomorrow morning for another 2.2 miles.

***

So for now I leave you...

RUN GIRL, RUN!!!

Day 13 of injury

Here it is, day 13 and let me just tell you...I am itching to start running again!

I head to the Nurse Practitioner tomorrow afternoon and you all will hear me whoop it up if he says I can start running again. Please keep you fingers crossed for me!

***

Knee feels great. Really no pain now and I am walking fine on it. It is amazing to me how conscience I am of it, especially when I am sleeping. I am forever fixing the pillow that is between my knees when I sleep. I think that has helped a lot as far as putting pressure on it. Well...let's just hope it continues to feel this way and no more pain when I run. This marathon is getting closer and closer!!

So for now...

Hope girl, hope!

Day 11 of injury

Oh my good golly!!!

My knee feels like it is almost back to normal again! I guess the weekend of rain and rest really helped me out. Maybe the God's purposely decided to let it rain all day on Saturday so I could spend it reading, icing and heating my knee. Maybe that was the trick...to just stay off of it for a day or two completely.

***

Well this chic is going to wait until Friday when I see my physical therapist and nurse practitioner to determine the next step in recovery. I do hope he says that I can slowly start running again. The marathon is creeping up and I need to start back in training.

***

Now I know...not full guns blaring like I usually do but this chic has gotta start running again before I loose my mind.

So for now...

rest girl, rest!

Day 9 of injury

Well today is officially day 9 of hurting my knee and it is somewhat better. I have been going to the physical therapist 2x a week and it seems to be helping. Cortisone (not shots) and ultrasound treatments every time I go...the therapist yesterday asked me when the marathon was and I told him...his reply was "there is always next year". That totally bummed me out.

***

Why did it bumm me out you ask, well I have been working so hard at training and I feel like it is for nothing now. I know it is the health of my knee but I really want to accomplish this before my birthday in October. I need to do this for myself. I can't explain the reason why...it's somewhere deep inside of me, brewing and festering. I have to do this and I think on Friday when I see the Nurse Practitioner, I will be asking for a cortisone injection. That my dear friends will be hell for me as I am a total woose when it comes to needles. Ugh...the thought just makes me sick to my stomach.

***

So any of you out there...if you have any suggestions, please comment!!

Frustrated!

Well here it is...Tuesday and I should be running my heart out but instead I am taking care of my very sore knee. After my post on Thursday my knee just went downhill from there. Constant pain and swelling in the bursa area lead me to the chiropractor who determined that I have incredibly flat feet. This I have known about for a very long time but who would have thought it would do such damage.

***

Since then, I have put some old orthotics in my sneakers until the new ones come in, ice the hell out of my knee and lots of advil. Advil seems to take the edge off the pain but not fully. Each day I wake up I'm not sure what to find...today it still hurts but I can put more pressure on it now.

***

I did go to the orthopedic office and have a visit with a nurse practitioner who determined that it is bursitis and tendinitis. Fixable but at least two weeks out. I want to run so much...I need to run. But in the meantime I start PT tomorrow and more ice for this runner.

ice girl, ice!

I'm just wondering if the God's are against me and my running. First I injure myself several weeks back and now....the knee.

***

After my last blog entry I went for a 6 miler and during the run I saw an amazing site, our resident bald eagle. Throughout the beginning of this run my knee was starting to bother me but by the end I was in full blown pain. And anyone who knows about distance mileage, once you do and out and back...you've gotta finish it. My thought was to call my friend who lives nearby and have her drive me to my car but I really wanted to get the run in. You know after all it is part of my training schedule...

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Well now I did it. I could barely walk after and come to find out that it is bursitis and tendinitis. All of which is thanks to my wonderfully flat feet. Yes. I did say flat feet. Apparently I am not striking the ground properly which is putting pressure on my tendons that run across my thigh which is aggravating my meniscus which is bugging a spot where three tendons meet. Thus....5 days of rest and PT on Wednesday. The doc said I could be back out there in 2 weeks but I am hopping for more like 1-1/2 weeks. I know I don't want to rush something like this but, this girls gotta run!!

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So for now I bid you ice and elevation and lots of Advil!!

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ice, girl, ice

:(

Run entry 1

I have always thought I would keep a written journal to document my accomplishments, weather and just about anything else you can think of. But there is just something about sitting down and handwriting your thoughts onto paper that totally turns me off. Don't get me wrong. I have tried before and I thoroughly enjoy now reading my thoughts but I just do not have the time to hand write anymore...thus the new day and age of computer blogging.

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This blog will be dedicated to one of my dream goals I have always had...running a marathon! Since I can remember I have always been an athletic kid...softball, basketball and swimming consumed my childhood. Enter into 7th grade and cross country/track was introduced to me. A friend on the school bus joined the team and I did not because I had no idea what it entailed, I just knew I was disappointed when she did not ride the bus home with me in the afternoons. 8th Grade came and I decided to join the team. I think it was track that I joined but I'm not sure. I do have a memory of me at an away track meet and my coach put me in a long distance race, 3200m. I had no clue how many times around that was, I just knew to get out there and run my butt off. I did, and came in 2nd place. Now mind you, this is all before puberty hit me and I felt like I could run around the world and back. That summer of 8th going into 9th grade, I entered into a half marathon race and ended up coming in 3rd in my age level. Holy cow I was hooked!!!

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I did run in High School both track and cross country but in track I switch to sprinting rather than long distance. I still enjoyed running but by the time I was a senior, I think I was just burned out. College came and my room mate who never ran before in her life, joined the cross country team and ended up winning States. I did think for an instance that I would join myself, but 20 mile practices totally turned me off. I had enough.

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Now that I am vastly approaching my 40th birthday, I decided to do something all for myself. Something that I have wanted to do forever. I am planning on competing in the

Baltimore Marathon, October 10th.

There it is...out in the open...I finally said it publically!

I want to do this so much that every night I have been dreaming about it.

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I started training in February only to be set back with an injury of 4 weeks. I recently started running again and I truly love it. I think it is because nobody is screaming at me to get up those hills (although sometimes I think I need that). This week so far consisst of running 4 on Tuesday, 6 on Thursday, 5 on Saturday and 7 on Sunday. That is where I am at in my training so far. I know the mileage is going to continue to go up and each time I run, my plan is to document my thoughts on the run, tell what I ate before during and after the runs, what the weather is like, how I felt running, who or what I ran with, occasional photos and etc. I know it may not interest most of you but throughout this journey, I would like to look back and read what I have accomplished.

So, if you care to read...read on. Or if you would like to catch up once in a while, feel free to do so.

For now, I must go and put my 6 miles in!

Run girl, run!