What's Next?

I've heard it many times, "life is a marathon not a sprint."  I didn't fully understand that saying until after running my first marathon.

Throughout my training, my coach would tell us, "on any given run you will have your ups and downs, some runs you'll feel great all the way through, some runs you might only feel good for the first mile, and other runs you  will have a mixture of both."  This mental nugget was helpful for me, in a couple of ways.  First, it made me realize I'm not the only one who has great runs and not so great runs sometimes, I'm not alone. Second, I realized that if I can run through a bad patch undoubtedly I will eventually get through to the other side of it.

While I was training to run the Boston Marathon for Tedy's Team and the American Stroke Association, I met my dear friend Melissa.  We ran our first training run together (that's when we met), it was supposed to be six miles but we went the scenic seven and a half.  Any training run after that through to the marathon finish line we were side by side, chatting, listening, laughing, singing, cursing or just running.  It wasn't just Melissa and I though, she and I have the fortune to run the same pace, but there's Nate, together we make up the "Boston Three Party." And to top it off there was, Angela, Jackie, Jenn, Jenn, Johnnie, Matty, Melinda, Nick and Page that was the Saturday crew.  We shared the experience together, the joy, the pain, and heartbreak hill (numerous times)!  My point is, we did it together. It doesn't matter that we all ran difference paces, we all had a common goal and were cheerleaders for each other.

Throughout the five hours eighteen minutes and seven seconds that it took me to run the marathon I ran the gamut of emotions.  It was like being on a roller coaster that I was powering. Sounds fun right?! When I look back on it it was and I'll do it again.  There are some of things that really stick out for me on Marathon Monday.  It was hot.  The water stops on the left side of the road were way less crowded.  For whatever reason, mile 11 is where I remember everything that went wrong did but I could be totally wrong.  At mile 11, Melissa's iPod stopped working so I turned my music off (we always ran with one ear in) , my hip flexor issue kicked in and my blister started.  I think I hate mile 11. When we got to mile 16 it was familiar territory, Woodland, the T-stop in Newton where heartbreak hill commences, that was a boost!  I liked knowing where we were and it meant only four more miles until we saw our coach, John.   After seeing John which was awesome, only one more mile until we reached our families!!  I had a great surprise right before we hit our families, my best friend greeted me with hugs and kisses and waved me on to where David, my mom, her husband, my sister in law, niece and nephew and Melissa's family were.  It was just what the doctor ordered!!  I needed that! I never thought of quitting but I was dreading continuing, I wanted it to be over.  The high from seeing them lasted about three miles for me.  The last two miles were grueling.  Boylston Street has never felt so long in my life.  The team photographer told us plenty of times "look up when you get to the Lenox," I knew if we got to the Lenox we were getting to the finish.  Obviously, we did and it was one of  the greatest feelings of accomplishment.  Almost as great as delivering my babies!

This is what I feel we need in life, people to go through it with, our friends, our family.  The people that will pick you up when you fall, cheer you on through your own personal heartbreak hills, know your flaws and still love you, the people that let you know you're not alone.  I am blessed with wonderful people in my life.  Life is a marathon, there will be ups and downs and I believe the downs make me appreciate the ups.  Sometimes it's grueling and painful but what's happiness having never known pain.  There's a high that comes with hard work, I like that high.  Now the question is, what's next?

Thank you

I feel I need to publicly thank certain people and groups of people that have made my journey to run the Boston Marathon possible.  With only 10 days left until I run, my emotions are running the full emotional spectrum (no pun intended).  One moment I'm nervous, the next I'm excited, then I'm worried, after that there's a bit of disbelief along with everything in between. With that I'm going to start my thank yous.

I must thank my husband, David, for his unwavering support in my quest to run the Boston Marathon.  I know being super-dad every Saturday after a long work week is not easy.  I appreciate that he sees Saturdays as quality dad-LAL time. He's a great man and I probably don't tell him enough.

Needless to say I owe my parents and my sisters a huge thank you.  They've obviously known me from the start and have always supported me in all my endeavors, and there have been quite a few (I'm a jack of all trades).  They help me to believe in myself and remind me I can do anything.

My friends, I have great friends!! Jen, Heather, and Randi, these are some of my closest girlfriends and I don't know what I'd do without them.  Jen ran the show at my Zumba fundraiser, and when I first got the Tedy's Team application email she was behind me 100%, I wan't sure if I could do it. Heather got me organized when I felt like I was in over my head and reminded I could do it.   Randi comes to my house every Monday and Wednesday morning at 7:15 and gets my munchkins ready for the day so I can go on training runs. Amazing!!

Both of my mothers-in-law!  They watch LAL at various points during the week to allow me to run and give me some sanity.  Thank you, Adele and Paula!!

The Y crew!  First, the five instructors that have gotten me in shape to be able to run the marathon. Jodi, my Monday zumba instructor, Ellen, my Tuesdays Sets n Reps instructor, Ellie, my Wednesday yoga instructor, Lynda, my Thursday boot camp a$$ kicker, and last but not least Toni, my Friday Zumba instructor!  A special note about Toni, she's AMAZING, she was kind enough to donate her time and resources for the Zumba fundraiser, she's tireless and can move like nobody's business.  She's such an inspiration.  Next, there are women in each of my classes that keep me coming back, I see them week in and week out and we're striving to be the best us we can be.  Their dedication inspires me.

Next, the FitCorp and Tedy's Team crew!!  When I took on the challenge of running the marathon AND a $5,000 fundraising minimum, I didn't expect to meet the people I have.  Our team director Zack and our coach John, are there no matter what, no matter how ridiculous the question they never judge.  My fellow "Boston Three Party" (that's the name we gave ourselves) members, Melissa and Nate.  I feel like I've known Melissa forever I couldn't do this without her.  I know I have found friends for life in Melissa and Nate.

Last and definitely not least, everyone who has donated in honor of a loved one or support of me. I could not have done this without any of you!!  To date, I have raised $10, 944.80!!!!  Unreal!!
THANK YOU!!
THANK YOU!!!
THANK YOU!!!!

I love you XOXOX