Virginia is for LOVERS and RUNNERS!

Terms from a Runner’s Glossary:

Carbo-loading The dietary practice of eating (and drinking??) a high carbohydrate diet (approximately 60-70% of total calories) for the three days leading up to a race to maximally fill the glycogen stores

***This was my first time to a Carrabbas.  I highly suggest the Pasta Sostanza, 
Tagliarini with sautéed mushrooms, artichoke hearts and spinach
in tomato basil sauce topped with seasoned breadcrumbs.  

ClimaCool® A high-performance mesh material used in athletic apparel for its ventilation, moisture wicking properties and quick dry time; brand name of Adidas®

***Since it was a “SHAMROCK” themed race, it was only appropriate to wear GREEN.  Lucky for me, the 2011 Boston Marathon ClimaCool Supernova Tee is GREEN this year!  It was the perfect 

Endorphins Chemicals in the brain which create a feeling of euphoria; said to be the cause of the "runner's high"

***My Endorphins didn’t level off until a few days after the Yuengling Half-Marathon!

Half-marathon 13.1 miles; 21.1K

Kick A finishing sprint at the end of a race

Negative Splits Running the second half of a race faster than the first half  

***For a visual of my SLIGHT Negative Split and Kick in my race http://connect.garmin.com/player/74474303

PR Personal Record

SUB 2 Hours Completing a race in less than 2 hours

***Two of my achievements from last weekend when I ran in the Virginia Beach 1/2 Marathon!!!!

I loved everything about this race: the location, the swag, the volunteers, the post-race party with unlimited beer on the beach, the sand sculptures, and the list goes on...

 Looking forward to going back next year!  

¡Yo Quiero Mofongo!

Vacation: a break, a trip, a rest, an escape…

Last week, I allowed myself to take a break from reality—work, marathon training, dog walking, housekeeping, and so many other activities that make up my daily routine in LIFE.   It was hard to do, but I turned my back on it all and escaped to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

    

  


                                        
This was my second journey to the Caribe Hilton (origin of the Pina Colada)– and I couldn’t think of a better place to be!  The mint in the mojitos was fresh, the white sand was warm on my tired feet, 90-degree sunrays melted away my memories of our snowy winter, and time just failed to exist.  Day 1 consisted of nothing more than food, sun, food, a game of setback, happy hour (or hours of happiness), snacks, cultural dinners, and sleep—rinse and repeat for 4 more days!

      

A loosing hand in Setback

Sweet Plantains from El Patio

                                                                  

I just finished my first week back to reality, and it was an intense quick transition!  Luckily, I am mid-air, floating somewhere over DC in a Boeing 717 en route to Virginia Beach to visit the Martin’s  (Hi Amy and Kyle ).  Unlike San Juan, PR, this will be my first visit to the state that “is for Lovers!”  Lucky for me, the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon and Half Marathon falls on the same weekend. 

Training updates:     

• 2 fun runs in Puerto Rico—really too hot to log crazy miles, but I managed to add some island activity to my Garmin 
• Fun Run#1
• Fun Run #2
• Last Saturday, I logged one of my best training runs and shaved more than 30 seconds off my average pace!  
• My PR Training Run
• Last Tuesday, I showed up for hill runs late, but pushed through 10 full hill sprints by myself!  
• 10 Hill Repeat

Mofongo from Raices in Old San Juan

Raspberry Mojitos from El Patio

***Apparently, A week of mojitos and mofongos was all I needed to jump-start my motivation.***

Mass Eye and Ear Supporter:

Joey McIntyre and his son Rhys'

NKOTB's (New Kids on the Block) Joey McIntyre knows that Mass. Eye and Ear has the "right stuff" when it comes to advancing research and treatment of hearing loss. His son Rhys' diagnosis of hearing loss prompted him to lend his support to the hospital.  

“Music is the art of thinking with sounds.”

TRAINING UPDATE:

The past two weeks have been (and continue to be) hectic--I am finding that 24 hours in a day is just not enough time to "get it done".  My outlet for stress and where time does not seem to exist:  pavement. 

The Saturday before last, February 19th, I effortlessly ran just under 19 miles at an average pace of around 9:30 minutes per mile.  2/19 happened to be my best friend of 9 years- Michelle Venezia 's- 29th Birthday! That night I ate about 900 calories in Pizza and drank 900 more calories Allagash White (which is only 3 beers?)...oh wait, I already did a "numbers" posting!

With the weather calling for "storm" winds (gusts 40+mph)—I almost (purposely?) hit the snooze button!  Instead, I forced myself up and out with a playlist that could not be more in sync with the run I was about to face!

Getting started:

5AM? Turn the radio up!
Where's the rock and roll?

(pink-raise your glass)

Wake up in the morning feeling like P Diddy. 

Put my (sun)glasses on, I’m out the door

I’m gonna hit this city!

(kei$ha-tik tok)

How could you (the almost march air) be so cold?
 As the winter wind when it breezes yo

(kanye west-heartless)

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag?  (like the plastic bags I saw floating around BC’s Campus)

Drifting through the wind-wanting to start again...

...Cause baby you're a firework! 

Come on show 'em what you're worth!


Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

(katy perry-firework)

8 Miles down and 8 more to go:

I've been traveling
 on this road to long-Just trying to find
my way back home

Ever had one of dem days
you wish would have stayed home

(justin timberlake &t.i.--dead and gone)

Gotta give you my all


Winter and the Summer my all

(enrique iglesias-tonight)

Dear Marathon training:

Don't wanna leave you really


I've invested too much time

To give you up that easy to the doubts
that complicate MY mind.

(pat benatar-we belong remix)

Meeting new people along the way:

Do you come here much?

I swear I've seen your face before

(timberland-if we ever meet again)

I told her "I love the view from up here (Boston skyline by Star Market in Brookline)

Warm sun and wind in my ear (and at my back!)

(plain white t’s-rhythm of love)

Achieving Goals:

And since I made it here, 
I can make it anywhere…

…There’s nothing you can’t do

Now you’re in BOSTON, these streets will make you feel brand new

(jayz-empire state of mind)

Chase you down until you love me
Papa-paparazzi

(lady gaga-papa(papa)razzi)

And if the wind blows EAST 
would you follow me 


And if the wind blows NORTH 
would you stay your course 


And if the wind blows WEST 
would you second guess 


And if it flows to the SOUTH 
would you cast me out 


And if the sun don’t shine 
would you still be mine 


And if the sky turns grey 
would you walk away ...

...we can make it through the winds of change

(kid rock-lonely road of faith)

Stuck on a roller coaster


Can't get off this ride

(katy perry-hot and cold)

And I need you to remember one thing


I came, I saw, I conquered

(jayz-encore)

CELEBRATING:

I’ve had the time of my life


And I’ve never felt this way before


And I swear this is true


And I owe it all to you!

....DIRTY BIT!

(black eyed peas-the time)

Thank God the week is done


I feel like a zombie gone back to life


Hands up, and suddenly we all got our hands up


No control of my body

(usher-dj got us fallin’ in love)

Fill up my cup (Drink)

MazelTov (Le Haim)

(black eyed peas-i got a feeling)

MASS EYE AND EAR UPDATE:

Early in the training season, I had the pleasure of meeting the adorable Mark Thurrott and his courageous mother, Stephanie.  Mark was just a year old when he contracted bacterial meningitis. After a week battling the life-threatening infection, Mark returned home to recover, but the infection had completely robbed the toddler of his hearing. Mark’s young parents knew little about deafness and had never heard of a cochlear implant until they were referred to Dr. Leila Mankarious at Mass. Eye and Ear. Within weeks, Dr. Mankarious performed surgery giving Mark the first of two cochlear implants.  Now, after eleven years of follow-up audiology appointments and speech therapy, Mark goes to public school and talks to his many friends - using a cell phone!  His mom says, “Cochlear implants gave Mark back what he lost to meningitis, the opportunity to be a kid like any other kid.”

With you SUPPORT Mass Eye and Ear continues to make breakthroughs --- supporting their mission that the deaf may hear and the blind may see!