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.