The Waiting Game

Miles in 2013: 354

Last I posted I had just finished the Sarasota Half Marathon with Jen and was a little over a month away from the Kentucky Derby Marathon.  I ran a few races in between those.  My first 15k, and a 10k.  I had a great time in Louisville with Elie for the Kentucky Derby Marathon. The marathon wasn't easy, the "ring of Hell" that was all hills in the middle of the race was not enjoyable - but, I took off another 40 minutes of my time!  I finished with a 5:43!

Riverside Dash 15k

 



Heart Healthy 10k

PR in Kentucky

 

After the marathon I got back to running quicker than I have in my previous 2 marathons.  I ran a 5k for Lung Cancer, and kept my training in maintenance mode.  Our new season of Marathonfest starts back on Tuesday and I'm ready to get back to training hard.  It already feels like the middle of July, so I have no doubts that this will be a miserably hot and humid summer!  Several of us got the crazy idea to sign up for the Dopey Challenge during Disney Marathon Weekend.  If you thought I was insane for doing the Goofy last year, this is even worse!  4 days, 48.6 Miles, a 5k, a 10k, a Half, and a Marathon!  In addition to training for Dopey I am crossing my fingers that a charity spot for The NEW YORK CITY MARATHON comes through this week!  I didn't get a spot in the lottery, but I emailed in my charity application last Thursday and should hear back this week.  This week was also the 1 year anniversary of Jen being diagnosed with breast cancer.  It's been a rough year, but I can definitely say that this one will be even better!  Her thank you blog to me made me cry like crazy!  I am so happy to say she is doing great, looking great, rocking an adorable hair style and living life to the fullest! 

For now, cross your fingers that I get my charity spot and then be ready for me to start all my fundraising requests!  Jen and I already have flights and a hotel booked for NYC Marathon weekend, I can't wait to hug my friend at the finish line!

Sarasota Half Finishers

Miles in 2013: 182
Days until the Kentucky Derby Marathon: 39

This blog is a special one.  This weekend I went down to Sarasota for the First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon.  I went down and stayed with Jen for the race.  Saturday night Jen and her whole family, me and Kathleen and her husband met for dinner at Pei Wei.  It was great to have two of my favorite cancer survivors (remember Kathleen is a 14 year Lung Cancer survivor) get to finally meet each other.  It was a nice evening sitting outside on the patio talking and enjoying each other's company.  After dinner Jen and I got all our race day stuff together before heading to bed.

The next morning we were up bright and early and headed down to the race start.  Leah and her mom, and Carolyn got there about the same time as us so we all piled in Leah's "batmobile" to keep warm.  Eventually with Kathleen in tow, we headed to the corrals where we eventually met up with Amy.  Jen and I had matching shirts (sorry Leah!) with a little play on Bon Jovi's "Livin on a Prayer" they read "We're 13.1 there... Livin on a prayer.  Take my hand, we'll make it swear!"  which I think was the perfect sentiment for the day.  Jen truly has been "living on a prayer" for 9 months now.

The race started and we took off towards the Ringling Bridge and St. Armand's Circle.  We ran some intervals and walked up the bridge together.  Leah, her mom, and Carolyn took off for a very speedy half, and Kathleen and Amy ran a pretty nice race together.  Jen and I worked our way out to the circle and back.  What was great about this was seeing all the Sarasota runners that she knows, and all of the Orlando runners that I know along this part of the course.

Somewhere along the way we started walking alot, but were keeping a pretty awesome walking pace!  Around mile 9 near Ringling the the 3 1/2 hour pace group leader passed us, but there were still lots of people behind us.  Slowly, those people started to pass us by.  Jen's goal had been not only to finish this race, but also to not be the last finisher, so I promised that I would let her finish in front of me!  By mile 10 or so, we were the end of the race and the pace bus was right behind us.  I had a little chat with the bus driver and informed him that we WOULD be finishing so he needed to not pick us up.  Everyone in the bus (mostly medical staff I think) was great and encouraging and said that they were just there to make sure we were ok and that they would let us finish.  After a quick joke about the driver enjoying his view (I was wearing some pretty sweet Nike tights), Jen and I kept walking.  There were some emotional moments along the way, and I do remember saying to her "You have been to Hell and back this year - what's a few more miles?"  Around mile 11, two of Jen's friends came and walked with us for a half mile or so.  At mile 12 girls from my training pace group started to slowly meet us with us.  First Leah and her mom, then Kathleen, then Amy, Chris, and Patrick, and then Carolyn.  I am tearing up right now just thinking about how I spend hours and hours of my life with some of the greatest and most supportive people.  These ladies had already run 13.1 miles of their own, and walked a mile back to support me and my best friend that they barely knew.  I cannot begin to say just how wonderful they are and how I am forever grateful to them for that final mile.

Finally, we turned the corner and saw the finish line.  Jen's husband, kids, and parents were there waiting for us.  All my friends sort of drifted away, I took Jen's hand and we ran in the last tenth of a mile.  We crossed the finish line together, hand in hand, and a minute and a half before the time limit of the race.  After crossing the finish line panels Jen turned and asked if we were really done or if we had to go any further.  I assured her that yes, we were done and we had a big hug and some tears.  Later we checked the results, and although we may have crossed that finish line last, 2 girls must have started the race before us because their chip times were slower than ours, so Jen's goal is technically achieved - we weren't totally last!  This was no easy accomplishment for Jen.  It hurt, and she was (and still is!) sore.  I am amazed at her strength and determination to attempt this race and be able to finish it.  She's only 4 1/2 months out of chemo and 3 months out of radiation.  Before yesterday she'd only ever been able to run 3 miles.  I hope as the pain and soreness goes away she looks back fondly and with a very proud heart.  I love her and am so incredibly proud to call her my best friend.

Bon Jovi, Birthday, and Blisters

Miles in 2013: 168.5
Days until the Kentucky Derby Marathon: 47

I've been busy since my last race!  Jen messaged me and asked if I would meet her in Tampa to go see her favorite band, Bon Jovi, perform.  Even though it meant that I'd be getting not many hours of sleep before my weekend training run I said yes without hesitation!  After a dinner at The Cheesecake Factory we headed to the Tampa Bay Times Forum for several hours of Bon Jovi.  Jen had also ditched her wig and is owning her new super cute short 'do!

 

The next morning on about an hour and a half of sleep I met up with the group to run 18 miles.  None of us thought that sounded remotely fun so instead we muscled through 12 miles and called it a day.  Somewhere between my watch and my computer my run disappeared.  Runners who live for their Garmin results know if it doesn't show in Garmin Connect it never happened - but I PROMISE you I did twelve!  Tuesday was Jen's 32nd birthday and I am so thankful that she was able to see this birthday, be feeling and looking good and celebrate!  Here's a little photo montage of 13 or so years of friendship.

Saturday we decided to make up for skipping the 18 miler the weekend before and torture ourselves with 18 miles in the hills of Apopka.  I know I needed to do it (I mean Kentucky isn't what we'd call flat and I DO have a marathon there in less than two months) but I sure felt like they were trying to kill me.  I guess I can thank Dennis for torturing me and keeping me running through the 18 miles and a not so leisurely mile cool down.  He was nice enough to point out that we ran the 19 miles in under a 6 hour marathon pace.  So hopefully the weather will cooperate with me and I'll be able to go under 6 hours in Kentucky!  I have had a blister ever since the Goofy that will almost heal only to get a new one right under it.  Apopka made a whole new nasty blister under it.  I thankfully had a mani/pedi already scheduled at Vida Wellness in Winter Park.  I appologized to the pedicure girl for my feet being such a gross hot mess, if you're in the area I would totally reccomend going there for some spa treatments!

That's right - 19 miles!

Leah and I cute as ever in matching Nike

This thing hurts

 

Thanks Vida!

Coming up this weekend is the First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon.  Jen and I signed up for this almost a year ago, before she had her last baby, before cancer, and chemo, and masetcomies, and radiation.  It's been ugly, but I am so proud to say that my beautiful friend will be joining me on St. Patty's Day as we trug through 13.1 miles together.  It will be my 13th half marathon, and her first, but I can guarantee you it will be the best one I've ever done.  We have some cute Bon Jovi inspired shirts to wear thanks to Big Frog Orlando.  Jen was also chosen to be the inspirational story for the race and will featured in the Sarasota Observer on Thursday and the Sarasota local ABC News 7 at noon!  Be sure to check back next week for a recap of that race!

I'm a Disney Princess

Miles in 2013: 131.72

This was a busy week!  On Friday I went to the Disney Princess Expo to pick up Leah and mine's packets for the Disney Princess Half Marathon.  I was also lucky enough to be featured in an Orlando Sentinel article about the race.

Sentinel Article

Back in October I won my race entry to both the Family 5k and the Princess Half Marathon at the Track Shack ladies night event, and the money went to a local breast cancer charity.  I was the only one in our group doing the Royal Family 5k, so I wound up running it by myself and even managed to get a 7 second PR!

5k PR and Medalion

The next morning I met up with the girls to run the 5th Anniversary Princess Half Marathon.  Gloria had made skirts for Leah and I.  I'm pretty sure that we pulled off a running version of Ariel and Rapunzel.  Gloria will always be the best Fairy Godmother a girl could ask for!  We took the race easy and just enjoyed being out there.  A highlight of the run was around mile 4 when Sean Astin (that's right Mikey from the Goonies, or you may know him as RUDY! or even Samwise from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy) came up from behind me and told me he liked my Yellow Submarine tattoo.  We chatted for a quarter mile or so before I couldn't keep up anymore.  By mile 8 Leah and I took it even easier and walked most of the last 5 miles, we still finished right at the 3 hour mark though, so in all it was a pretty good 12th half marathon!

Corral B!

Rapunzel, the Fairy Godmother, and Ariel

Chatting up Sean Astin

 

 

This weekend I have an 18 miler to get ready for the Kentucky Derby Marathon.  I also get to meet up with Jen to see Bon Jovi (her favorite) perform.  I'm also proud to report that she has offically packed away her wig and is sporting the cutest little cropped pixie hairdo!  Only 3 more weekends until I head to Sarasota to run her first half with her.  I am so excited to run that race and get their GIANT finisher's medal, and to see my friend realize an amazing accomplishment.

26.2 With Donna

Miles in 2013: 112.3

This weekend I went to Jacksonville to run the half marathon at the 26.2 With Donna race.  The race is the one of the largest races that 100% of the proceeds go to Breast Cancer research.  When Jen was diagnosed in June, I had a gut reaction and signed up for this race.  I went to the expo and walked around with Gloria and Betty, two of my favorite breast cancer survivors.  At the expo I got a sweet deal on a "vintage Donna" shirt and signed Jen's name on a big board with the word "love" on it.  Gloria and Betty signed one that says "finish."  I didn't know what they were for but I did see them later.

See "Jen" in a heart to the left of the "L"?

Betty and Gloria signing

Race morning was really cold and windy in Jacksonville.  Leah and I thought we might try and PR and tried to run with the 2:10 pace group.  About 2 miles into the race we realized that was not going to happen for us.  Leah and I split up not long after that and I ran a little ways ahead of her.  Around mile 6 we hit the beach and ran the "memorial mile"  - There were those signs again!  Somewhere along this mile was a man holding a sign that simply said "Jen"  I snapped a photo of just the sign and kept running.  About 100 yards up the beach I turned around, ran back to him and asked to take a picture holding his sign.  I'm sure this detour added a few extra minutes to my overall time, but the photo was worth it.  When I finished he said "I hope your Jen is ok."  I assured him that she was, thanked him and went on my way.  Back in about the same spot I was in when I turned around I started to think about Jen and cried.  Yes, she was ok, and I was so thankful for that.  I started thinking about everything we do together, the calls, the texts, the funny emails, the Ross shopping trips, and so many other things, and realized just how thankful I was that I still have her here.  On my race day outfit I had 2 patches, one read "I RUN FOR JEN" and the other was a heart with the name Jess in angel wings.  One my running friends lost her sister a week or so before this race, Jess was also 31, but wasn't as lucky as Jen.  It put a lot into perspective for me, I am so grateful that my friend is ok, and so terribly sad for my friend losing her baby sister.  There is no rhyme or reason to this disease and that is the scariest part.  I know wearing a patch in a race really isn't enough to commemorate her life, but it was the first thing I could think of to honor her.

The photo I went back for

Race day tributes and my bling

After I left the memorial mile, I got it together, stopped crying and kept on running.  I met some lovely strangers along the way, and some members of our marathonfest training group.  Overall I finished the race in 2:40 which really wasn't a terrible time all things considered.  I am so glad that I was able to be a part of this event, and really run for a reason.

After the race with my bling and sweet Nike outfit!

So Many Things to be Thankful For

Miles in 2013: 92

In the midst of all of this running I still found time to celebrate many great things!

Jen and I got to see each other at one of our college friend's (who actually lived with each of us at one point) wedding. I was a bridesmaid and it was great to get to spend time with Jen at all of the wedding events.  She is looking so healthy, skinny and amazing!

 

Then a few weekends later Jen threw a big "Celebration of Being Cancer Free Party"  It was a perfect purple party (Breast Cancer or not - no pink for that girl!) I'm so glad that I could make it down to celebrate with her!

 

Then we had the chance to celebrate Sarah being one year heart attack free with a photo scavenger hunt all over Orlando.  Our team won a sweet trophy and bragging rights!

 

Today was the Marathonfest Victory Breakfast.  This gives us a chance to show off all of our bling and celebrate a year's worth of accomplishments.  I was awarded the top Marathonfest honor the "miJ"award.  Named after the founder of Marathonfest who passed away - it recognizes someone who has given invaluable service to the program as whole and to their pace group during the training season.  It was truly an honor and I am so thankful for the recognition.  Today was also a milestone and day of celebration for Jen, it was the first time since she started chemo that she went out in public without her wig.  She's still unsure of it, but I guarantee you - she looked beautiful without it!  I am so proud of her for having the guts to ditch the wig and rock what she's got.  I admire and love her so much!

 

Leah and I racked up some bling!

With my miJ award

 

 

On the horizon I have 3 half marathons and a 5k coming up in the next month along with training for marathon #3 - the Kentucky Derby Marathon!  In that group of half marathons is the Sarasota Half Marathon which I am happy to report Jen is training for and going to run!  Expect my finisher photo to have me sobbing like a baby!  There is so much to be thankful for.  My goal this year is still to get a charity spot for the NYC marathon, I swear I check their website every day to sign up and cinch my spot the minute one opens!  Cross your fingers that the 2012 cancellation doesn't affect my chances too much!



 

 

 

 







Long time no Blog - Race Recap

Miles in 2013: 92

Ok, so I haven't posted in quite some time!  In November, December, and January I ran A LOT of races.  5 Half Marathons, a 10 mile race, a beer run 4k, a 5k, and a Marathon to be exact.  Plus all the mileage for the Goofy training!  So needless to say, the blogging got put on the back burner.  I promise to be better now!

First some shots from all those races:

Lady Speed Stick Half Marathon Antics

 

Deland Thanksgiving 10 Miler

 

Space Coast - With Bart at the finish line and a shot of my Half Marathon PR!

 

OUC Orlando Half - On the course with my girl Gloria!  At the Finish with my pace group,

 

Santa Hustle Half on Daytona Beach

 

 Tap N Run Beer 4k!

 

The GOOFY

 

Our shirt design to wear during the Marathon