Marathon Day Video

Some video of me and Lisa running NY. Our sister Sue shot the footage as she was helping Bob with the TFK video - thanks!

Lisa & Amy at the 2006 NYC Marathon

3:54:20

The countdown has begun

Only 6 more days to go! I can't wait for Sunday to be here...and then be over! I have no idea how I am going to do, so instead of thinking about it I just want to go out and run it. The weather forecast is looking really good...much better than the last two years when it was too hot for me (70 and sunny), though perfect for watching.


Today was the Poland Spring marathon kick off race in the park. Just a five mile race but it was packed. There were lots of costumes out. I decided to skip the costume this morning, my tourist outfit from last night didn't really seem all that exciting to run in. The fanny pack might have got in the way, and well I definitely couldn't run in those birkenstocks. Sonia and I ran together and trailed behind Pete's entourage for the race. He was dressed at Lance Armstrong complete with the yellow shirt, body guard, two camera men and some bike handlebars. It was funny to run behind and see people's reactions to Adam yelling "Lance coming through!"


There will probably be very little running done in this last week but I still have to do some fundraising to do...and then there is the marathon expo, TFK party friday night, and the arrival of some of my family on Saturday! If anyone has not donated yet and still would like to please click on the link to the right!

Time to Taper!!

On Saturday I ran 23 miles... and I actually felt great (or as great as one can running 23 miles)!! We started on West 72nd street on the river - ran up to 105th, turned around and continued all the way down and around the bottom of Manhattan and up to East 25th street, where we then turned around and ran all the way back to West 72nd. So essentially we ran around Manhattan and back!

We were supposed to maintain a slower than normal pace and just get the miles in without worrying about time. I didn't push myself much at all on pace and ended up running just over 9 minute pace, which was much faster than I would have thought had I not been keeping track on my watch.

So now only 3 weeks (20 days to be exact) until race day. I am finally getting a bit excited. I needed that 23 to go well and now that it did I have a bit more confidence for marathon day. Other than some usual soreness on Saturday and Sunday I felt great.

Today I went to the Team for Kids shoe clinic and got some new Asics... all set for November 5th now!!

Getting Close

Less than 4 weeks until November 5th! The weekend after the 20 mile run I did 16 miles and felt good for the first time in a while on a long run. We ran 3 miles before the Greta's Gallop Half Marathon in the Park. It pretty much poured the whole time - which I preferred over the heat of the week before! I ran the first 3 at a 9:30 pace and then for the half I ran with Anna from TFK and we averaged 8:48 for the 13. Not even close to my best half ever but I was happy to feel strong through the whole 16 miles.

This past Sunday I ran 13 on my own as I was at my sister's house in Massachusetts. I was trying to push myself but I really am not very self-motivating when it comes to speed on my own. So it did not turn out to be the race that everyone else ran this weekend in Westchester. I probably averaged 9 minute miles. Last year I ran the Westchester half this weekend and ran my best race ever - a 1:41 half which equates to about a 7:45 pace!

This weekend we run 23!! I am determined to run it relaxed and just get the miles in without worrying too much about my time. After the 23 it's pretty much just tapering until marathon day.

Thanks for all the support!

I'm very grateful to everyone who has been supportive of both my fundraising and my running these past few years. While I believe Team For Kids is a very worthy cause, I was a little worried about asking everyone to donate to the cause for a second year. But it turns out I had little need to worry - I'm already halfway to my fundraising goal thanks to the many who've donated for a first or second time!

I'm also looking forward to marathon day (yes really) - the past two years I've had a great group of both friends and family come out and cheer me on. It really did make a difference to look forward to seeing them out there when running for hours upon hours. Here are a few of my friends last year - this was the second year that they made tshirts and they managed a laugh out of me when I saw them at mile 24!

20 Miles...well not exactly 20

I ran with Team For Kids this morning. Here you can see the route we did - we started on 168th street ran up a few blocks and over the GW bridge, did most of the miles in Palisades park in NJ, and then turned around and came back. The route doesn't look so bad right?? Well, it was quite possibly (okay definitely) the worst run I've ever had.

I still don't know what happened exactly but I slowed down considerably after mile 6 and then pretty much lost it all by mile 12. I ended up walking quite a bit of the way back after that - and even had to take breaks from walking to just lean over! I felt a nauseous, could barely lift my legs and my back was severely hurting for the second half of the run. It actually hurt more when I walked then when I ran. Overall it was a disaster and I had really been looking for the run to go smoothly and be a confidence booster. Oh well. It was one of those days where I continually asked myself - why do I do this? Is it really supposed to be enjoyable? And then I kept telling myself - I'm never running a marathon again! Okay, I'm going to run NY, I know that, but I sure hope I feel a lot better that day.

I was somewhat comforted to hear that almost everyone had had a really tough time out there... it was a combination of hot, humid, and really hilly. I don't do well at all with any of those, and especially not the hills. Once I get behind on a hill I find it hard to catch up to my group and then I get frustrated. I think for the 23 miler I might move back a group, so I get at least get one solid long run in and have some company.

I hate to say it but I dont think there is anyway I'm going to meet my original goal for the marathon of 3:40. Now I'm more focused on just breaking that 4 hour barrier again, by the way I've been running even that might be tough! 6 more weeks until marathon day, I need to get busy!!