Sunday, October 12, 2014

Running Update:
9/28/2014
13.5 mi
2:11:19
10/1/2014
4.9 mi
46:17
10/3/2014
5.1 mi
43:10
10/5/2014
7.6 mi
1:08:33
10/8/2014
3.2 mi
31:18
10/11/2014
26.2 mi
4:12:18

Another Hartford Marathon done!  It was 50 degrees and rained the entire morning, but I managed to finish the Hartford Marathon in 4 hrs 12 minutes.  Not my best time, but at least I have proven to myself that I can still run marathons!  The demons of Boston (and my sub-optimal finish there this spring) have been laid to rest.  Yay!

I’d never run a race in rain before.  Heat and humidity, yes.  Below freezing, yes.  And certainly I’ve trained in the rain before, but had never actually been unfortunate enough to run an entire 4+ hours in it.  The temperature actually would have been ideal for running, but it is remarkable how chilled I got from being wet that whole time.  Curiously, my legs weren’t the problem—it was my arms and hands that were distractingly, painfully cold.  (At least until I hit the wall at mile 24—then it was all about leg pain!)  Lesson learned—I’ll be wearing gloves next time.

My completed training plan (stains and all)
Approaching the finish
Crossing the finish line!
Greeting the girls after receiving my medal

Hartford Marathon 2014
For non-locals, this represents the State Capitol building (left) where the race starts, and the Soldiers and Sailor Memorial Arch in Bushnell Park (right) where the race finishes.

A few words of thanks:  to Neil, my virtual running partner, who qualified for Boston again yesterday; his wife, Marcia, who is our one-woman marathon support crew; my mother and aunt, who are my tireless cheerleaders; my kids, for putting up with spectating another road race, in the rain this time; and to my husband, Todd, who helped make it all possible <3

I’ll take a break from running for a week or two, but then hope to finish out the year with 1000 miles of running.  I’m at 863.9 for 2014 so far :)

NF Update:
With the marathon over, another fundraising season is coming to a close!  As I write we have $18981 in donations logged on our website for 2014.  I know of at least another $835 yet to be processed (the NFE offices have been closed for renovations), so altogether we’ve raised
$19,816
for the Children’s Tumor Foundation this year!!  Thank you, everyone!
PS  It’s never too late to donate!  I’d love to see us top $20,000 this year!  Here’s the link:

Jane Update:
Back to Bethesda tomorrow!  Jane has been having monthly check-ups and blood work here at home since July, but this month we have to make an appearance at NIH.  Just a quick overnight trip to have blood drawn and to meet with our team of caregivers.  Hopefully uneventful!

3 comments:

  1. Gloves indeed, when running marathons in the rain, girlfriend! (Hadn't realized until I looked at the pictures a second time that you weren't even wearing long sleeves!) I'm glad you're pleased with your time--certainly sounds impressive to us "only ever run a half" folks!--and the 1K miles in 2014 will be another helluva achievement.

    In fact, put me down as *quite impressed* with the whole Marathons for My Daughter project. The way you are bringing together activism (both fundraising and your fierce commitment to getting the best possible treatment for Jane); parenting, and mother-love, and all that good stuff; and self-expression via the writing as well as the running. Just basking in your glow from a distance is life-affirming. :)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Alice! That means an awful lot to me--especially coming from a *real* writer like yourself. I truly appreciate your support <3

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    2. A "real writer" is someone who really writes. We both qualify!

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