The Longest Week; Tattoos

This week will be the longest mileage of my training -- 42 miles, ending with Sunday's 20-miler. Ran a chilly 10 today -- started my workday at 5:45 a.m. to fit it in. Got to do a Marcel Marceau routine along the banks of the Charles because the headwind was so bad. Looking back at my running log for encouragement, I realized I've only had 4 non-running weeks in the last year. (2 of those were concussion-related!) Since December, I've done 330 miles of training for Boston.

With the help of that growing list of folks on the right, I've also raised over $5,000 for MBHP. Thanks, everyone! My mom has the best fund raising idea yet. In her own words:

Carolyn said incredulously "You would get a tattoo?! (Yeah, we've all got them, but still...)"

My response is: "Yes, I'll do it for a good cause..." Will y’all rise to the occasion?

Carolyn claims that I can probably handle it since I brought her into the world without drugs!

The tattoo, small, running related and in a discrete location, will happen IF donations made between today, March 23, 2009 and Marathon Day, April 20, 2009 get her to her goal of $6,500.00.

A picture of the completed tattoo will appear as my profile picture on Facebook and will be either emailed or snail-mailed to non Facebook donors. So…get the word out!

My co-worker Rick just read this and donated $25.00!
My running buddy Hal has donated $26.00
And my neighbor Katherine, whose son is a tatoo artist, has contributed $10.00

OK y'all get to work! Make it happen!

Yay, Cindy!

Today, I started my 18-miler at 7:30. At 10:30, I had finished a 15-mile romp through the hills of Arlington & Winchester, and met my family, friend Cindy, and her trainer, Judith at the starting line of the Ras na hEireann in Davis Square. Today was Cindy's first 5-K, and Jesse & I promised that if she registered, we'd run with her, even if we had to "poke her with sharp sticks all the way" (her words). It has been an honor training with her and seeing her progress from running a few seconds at a time to completing a 5-K. She is a true runner, who when her doctor said, "You know, you'd get the same benefit from walking," asked, "Why would I want to do that?!" And, where most of us finish our first race at a new distance thinking, "I don't know if I ever want to do that again..." (and then blessed amnesia kicks in and we do), she called Jesse this afternoon for a list of summer 5-K's to train for. My hero.

Yoni came with us in the running stroller, ringing a cowbell and giving us pep talks in a pirate voice all the way. (If you haven't read How I Became a Pirate, you're never too old to catch up!) He hopped out to run the last 1/10th of a mile, and was very "dis'pointed" that they had run out of medals when he came through the shoot.

Coverage

Jesse was checking email tonight and noticed in the Wicked Local news feed, "Hey, there's somebody with our last name. No, wait. Nobody else has our last name!" Sure enough, there was an article in the Medford Transcript on the Spirit of the Marathon fundraiser. Thanks to Beth for interviewing me and putting together such a nice press release!

Grosser than Gross?

It's T.M.I. time. We're at that point in training where it's gross, I'm tired and hungry all the time, and I've no filter left. You've been warned.

Today, the only time for speedwork was before a morning appointment. When I have to go to the gym and get cleaned up there, I pay a buck and get a towel from the enterprising little juice bar across from the gym. Only I guess I never noticed that they're not open early in the morning. I made this important discovery after I was already yucky from my run, raising the question: which is groser? Skip my shower and put clean clothes on a stinky body? Or shower and towel off using my now-sweaty running clothes? I opted for #2, and tried not to get to close to anyone for the rest of the day.

Also, since we're complaining: Mister man with something to prove, of all the treadmills in the gym, why do you have to pick the one next to me? Aren't you worried you'll get whiplash from your constant turning to check my speed? And don't you realize that no matter how much stinky cologne you wear, you're not going to impress a girl going a couple of miles per hour faster than you?

In Marathon training, no snow holidays - The Boston Globe

In Marathon training, no snow holidays - The Boston Globe

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Citgo Sign Hallucinations

Something is clearly going right with my mental preparation for the marathon. Today I was running on the treadmill, doing 1K and 2K repeats, and I saw it...a red triangle on the tv screen in front of me... and I felt my legs lighten! The Citgo sign! Almost there!

No, wait... sorry, that was actually the upside-down red triangle as CNN's ticker showed the Dow falling.

But it's ok -- I got my motivation back when I saw that John G. (remember him?) had given generously to MBHP, and that I helped him kick off a good fundraiser of his own. Go John!

"Spirit of the Marathon" Screening

Non-runners: If anything can make you understand why we're so crazy, this movie can.

Runners: Get motivated for your next marathon or your first race while raising money to prevent homelessness.

Spirit of the Marathon is an award-winning, feature-length film following six marathoners, from first-timers to pros, as they train for the Chicago Marathon. The good folks who made it are donating all proceeds from the screening to Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership.

Spirit of the Marathon Screening

When: Thursday, March 19, 2009, 6:30-8:30 pm

Where: MBHP, 125 Lincoln St., 5th Floor, Boston, MA

Register now to reserve your spot!

Advance registration required. $10 minimum donation. To pre-pay, include "Film" in the comment field to pay on-line via Firstgiving, or send a check to Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership, 598 A Main St., Medford, MA 02155. Paying at the door? RSVP to speedyima at gmail dot com.

Raffle after the movie! Prizes include a year of Peet's coffee, XBox games, and more!

I Ran to Woburn?!

Yep. When I mapped it, that's what I did. I don't think I even knew where Woburn was a year ago.

It's been snowing all day here, but made for a very pleasant 16 miles, especially compared the the nor'easter we're getting later tonight. Here's the log entry:

Great run! Actively snowing the whole way, and headwind outbound. Yaktrax worked well - no one shoveling yet except in Arlington Ctr. (Mm.. wet brick + yaktrax = running on glass!) Course selection was a good analogue for Boston course -- some long hills w/ 2-3% grade, and a steep downhill to the turn-around, then right back up! Felt good, though quads & knees are tired from supporting on the snowy downhills, and I think my lats will be sore tomorrow from same.

Best moment: Stopped at a pizzeria [Arlington Cafe, formerly Sapori] at mi. 12 for hydration -- no powerade, but they had Nantucket Nectars "Half & Half" (sweet iced tea + lemonade). So good! Had exactly $2 in cash, so the guy spotted me the dime for tax, then when he found how far I was going, offered me pizza, too. :-) I stuck to my chocolate Clif Shot, but did use a wad of napkins to wipe down my face.

In other news - thanks again to everyone who has donated! Comment if you want to reserve your mile of the course! And congrats to my teammate Sean Caron on his rockin' fundraiser last week. I was sadly too sick to go (but will still donate, of course).