HALFWAY THERE...

“When you have completed 95 percent of your journey, you are only HALFWAY there.” –T. Roosevelt

Motivation printed right on the atrium

in Faneuil Hall on my walk to work

everyday!

To be honest, I really have been slacking on this whole blog idea!  Along with lacking extra time in my busy schedule, I am having a hard time keeping these posts creative and entertaining...even if no one reads them 

I attempted an entry 2 or 3 times this week, and again tonight—after a 3-minute stare at the blank Word Doc in front of me I gave up again!  Little did I know, my motivation was waiting for me in my GMAIL inbox:

Dear Elizabeth Nuzzo,

This is to notify you that your entry into the 115th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 18, 2011 has been accepted, provided that the information you submitted is accurate.

SWEET!!  Now onto my babble blog…

I believe it was back in the October, early November time that I made the commitment to run Boston again?  While you may disagree with me, I hope     the next 12 weeks pass a bit SLOWER than the last 12 have!

For the most part, I have stuck with my training plan and hope it prepares me   for the big day!  This past Saturday was a big test of my commitment…

Perfect Sunrise over the city on Saturday morning!

Before going to bed on Friday night, I checked the weather and couldn’t help but CRINGE!  “Bone-chilling” lows across New England will hit early on Saturday morning and will continue through the week.  With that spectacular news, I sent out a text and Facebook message to a fellow MEEI runner, Shawn, “No backing out tomorrow!” and hit the pillow.

Paisley is not a fan of early mornings
either!

NO STOPPING ME!

5:45AM on Saturday came much too quickly!  Shawn and I went back and forth on texts messages trying to make excuses of why we shouldn’t go, but then mutually agreed to get it “done and over with!  We met up at 1 Beacon with75 others for our long run at 7:45AM!  

Through all 15 miles, I never once felt COLD-- I dressed just right with tights, second skin top, tech fleece mock turtleneck, my windbreaker, gloves (two pairs), an ear band, and my Asics!  Back at the gym, Shawn and I exchanged smiles, a high-five, and a “see you next week!”

Two lessons learned on this run that I want to share with you:

Though I thought the cold might not have been a factor for me, I was wrong.  I met Bobby from Team Project Hope around mile 6 by the reservoir at Boston College.  After pacing together for close to an hour, he remembered me from the previous week.  We met each other at the same spot by the reservoir just after a plow truck drove by releasing salt and hit us both in the legs.  Last time it was “ARE YOU OKAY?!?!” and this time it was “Hey!  I know you!  How are you feeling?”—I felt GREAT!!!  No, I had lied.  Everything but my hands felt great—actually I could not feel my hands!  As we were running along to mile 7, Bobby asked me to remove my gloves for a second and I was thankful that he did!!  The tips of my fingers were white-almost clear-He suggested that I take his hand warmers at the next water stop and continue the run keeping my hands unclenched with my fingers out straight.  My hands (and the rest) felt GREAT for mile 7 to 15.  Thanks BOBBY!!!   

 Second, we learned after the run that another runner was hit on his way back around mile 13.  We were and are always safe to follow the rules of running when outside.  Unfortunately, the driver of a car decided to take a right on red before making a complete stop.  She hit the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Runner in our group as he was legally crossing the intersection.  This is a lesson for all of us that drive—be aware of pedestrians (especially at night or during inclement weather)!! And for fellow runners, use extra caution when in the road and always assume the car isn’t going to stop.  

Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog!  I am open to suggestions on what YOU want to hear—anything to keep you coming back!  I know some have mentioned they have been leaving “comments”, and for some reason I can’t get to them—so feel free to email me at elizabeth.p.nuzzo@gmail.com

I have an amazing group of people supporting me and wanted to extend a BIG SPECIAL THANKS to:

Tom Nunn	Jon Kuj and Julie Rob.	Emilie Fouche	Meredith Rowden
Courtney Williams	Angela Fagin	Cynthia Popoli	Ali Bergan and Gabe Russo
The Selmonts	Jess Nuzzo	Kristin Onofrio	Ravi Dengi
Ann Potito	Sree Chakrapani	Sue Demirkaya	The Luzzis
Shikha Dalal	Mom and Dad Nuzzo	Steve Palmer	Auntie Sue
Michelle Santoro	Dave Domenicone	The Martins	Nick Sosnicki
Jeff and Beth	The Blechers