Chris and I signed up to be mentors for the fall season's Team In Training participants. This means we'll check in with our assigned runners weekly, attend all their group runs to either run with them or set up water stops, help with their fundraising, etc. We won't give out running advice or anything; that's the coach's job, and we're not qualified to do that. We'll just be there to offer support and share our experiences and help out how we can.
I'm pretty pumped about it. I think this will be a great way to stay involved with Team In Training for a while. It's such a cool organization and I hope I'll be as good of a mentor as Kate and Erika. (Hi gals!) :-D
So, if anyone from the South Shore reading this wants to be on our team and be mentored by me, Chris, or our teammate Christine, the marathons (and half-marathons) for the fall season are listed here: http://www.teamintraining.org/ma/firsttimehere/teamintrainingevents/
I'm planning on running the Maine half-marathon on October 4.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Acoustic Recap & Tenth Group Run
Acoustic for a Cure was a great time! After expenses, we raised $870 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! The performers were all fantastic, and Chris and I are so grateful to all of them for donating their time! We’re especially indebted to the one and only Nicholas Lavallee for bringing his sound equipment and really just taking control of the show. We really could not have done it without him! Did I mention he was sick AND came all the way from Manchester, NH to participate? His attitude was that his friend who died of Leukemia still came to school when he was sick, so doing what he could at Acoustic for a Cure was the least he could do. I wanted to cry when he told me that! It was such a reminder of why we’re doing all of this fundraising in the first place.
Anyway, thanks are also due to everyone who came and bought raffle tickets and made the night a success! You guys are all going to heaven.
The one thing we learned after hosting our first fundraiser was that it’s really important to get an accurate head count. We had a great turnout, but we were expecting even more, so we ordered more food so that no one would go hungry! And of course, they don’t let you take home any leftovers, so anything that wasn’t eaten was just a waste. You live, you learn!
I took a couple of pictures during the night but sadly, none that came out great. I was busy manning the raffle table, or chatting, or listening to the music, that I mostly forgot to even take many. Oh well! Rest assured, we bought purple balloons and streamers and hung Team In Training banners all over the place!
When the party was over at 11pm, we were sad to have to shut it down, but the bartenders needed to break down the room. We would have liked to party longer!
The next morning though, Chris and I were glad we didn’t. When the alarm went off, we were both miserable. So tired and so NOT ready to run! We both stayed in bed a little too late, and didn’t have breakfast. We were running in Quincy that day, from our apartment, so we got a few extra minutes in bed because we didn’t have to drive anywhere, so that was nice.
Then Kristen, Erika and Lorri showed up. And only Kristen, Erika, and Lorri! Everyone else was unable to come that morning. We hadn’t realized that. Also, Lorri only came to help Erika with the water stops, since she’d done her run on her own the day before! Now that’s what I call nice- getting up early on a Saturday just to support the team! But that meant it was just me and Chris running with Kristen.
We ran up to Hough’s Neck and it was a gorgeous, gorgeous, warm day. I love running in Quincy because you can just stick to the water, and it’s so pretty! We were tired though, and starving, so our 14 mile run turned into an 8.5 mile run. Kristen said she wasn’t worried about us since we still have two months until our race, so running the full amount every single time isn’t that crucial yet.
One quick anecdote from this run I must share: Kristen and I were waiting for Chris to catch up to us at one point. As he approached, we both noticed there was something on his white shirt. At the same time, we shrieked! It was blood. Lots of it. Coming from his nipple. HIS NIPPLE. I can’t imagine the amount of chafing necessary to make a nipple bleed so much. He ended up just running shirtless for the last leg of the run. Thank the good lord for sports bras, or we gals might get to experience that special pain.
I’ll just let you to think about that for a while.
Anyway, thanks are also due to everyone who came and bought raffle tickets and made the night a success! You guys are all going to heaven.
The one thing we learned after hosting our first fundraiser was that it’s really important to get an accurate head count. We had a great turnout, but we were expecting even more, so we ordered more food so that no one would go hungry! And of course, they don’t let you take home any leftovers, so anything that wasn’t eaten was just a waste. You live, you learn!
I took a couple of pictures during the night but sadly, none that came out great. I was busy manning the raffle table, or chatting, or listening to the music, that I mostly forgot to even take many. Oh well! Rest assured, we bought purple balloons and streamers and hung Team In Training banners all over the place!
When the party was over at 11pm, we were sad to have to shut it down, but the bartenders needed to break down the room. We would have liked to party longer!
The next morning though, Chris and I were glad we didn’t. When the alarm went off, we were both miserable. So tired and so NOT ready to run! We both stayed in bed a little too late, and didn’t have breakfast. We were running in Quincy that day, from our apartment, so we got a few extra minutes in bed because we didn’t have to drive anywhere, so that was nice.
Then Kristen, Erika and Lorri showed up. And only Kristen, Erika, and Lorri! Everyone else was unable to come that morning. We hadn’t realized that. Also, Lorri only came to help Erika with the water stops, since she’d done her run on her own the day before! Now that’s what I call nice- getting up early on a Saturday just to support the team! But that meant it was just me and Chris running with Kristen.
We ran up to Hough’s Neck and it was a gorgeous, gorgeous, warm day. I love running in Quincy because you can just stick to the water, and it’s so pretty! We were tired though, and starving, so our 14 mile run turned into an 8.5 mile run. Kristen said she wasn’t worried about us since we still have two months until our race, so running the full amount every single time isn’t that crucial yet.
One quick anecdote from this run I must share: Kristen and I were waiting for Chris to catch up to us at one point. As he approached, we both noticed there was something on his white shirt. At the same time, we shrieked! It was blood. Lots of it. Coming from his nipple. HIS NIPPLE. I can’t imagine the amount of chafing necessary to make a nipple bleed so much. He ended up just running shirtless for the last leg of the run. Thank the good lord for sports bras, or we gals might get to experience that special pain.
I’ll just let you to think about that for a while.
Friday, April 24, 2009
STASERA!
Acoustic for a Cure: Unplugged at the Fours is TONIGHT!
I just got my teeth cleaned, picked up some decorations at iParty, and had some yummy Boston Market (BoMar) for lunch. Now to organize the raffle prizes, get myself gussied up, and go set up at The Fours! I can't wait - tonight will be a blast!
If you want to come, but haven't bought a ticket, fear not- You can buy a ticket at the door!
(Oh, one thing: I lied before about the bacon-wrapped scallops. Instead, there will be seafood-stuffed mushrooms.)
That is all! Hope to see you tonight!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Lame Training Week
Like I said, I skipped running on Monday AND Tuesday, opting instead to sit on my butt and shove food into my face.
Well, at least I went to the gym last night. Pilates was tough and I loved it. as usual. After Pilates though, I tried running on the treadmill for the first time in ages... and I HATED it. I was so bored immediately! I couldn't even do it. I ran about 2.5 miles and gave up. Music wasn't helping. Knowing I should get in a longer run wasn't helping. Making myself feel guilty wasn't helping!
I never used to have that problem. I know a lot of people do, but usually I can just zone out and listen to my tunes and power through (even if it's not that much fun and I get in fights with the treadmill in my head because I think it's lying to me). The boredom last night was so intense, it was making me ANGRY to be on that thing! I guess I've really become accustomed to running outside only.
Tonight I went on a nice 5.75 mile outdoor run, and felt like myself again, thank goodness. At least I got one respectable run in this week.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Slump
I was supposed to go for a run on Monday night, and I didn't. My excuses were paltry, but many: It was cold and rainy and my shin hurt and I was sleepy and hungry. So I put on PJ's and watched TV instead.
I was supposed to go for a run last night. But it was pouring. So I put on PJ's and watched TV instead.
I really think the recent weather has drained my motivation this week. Even though I still have a gym membership, and could have just gone to the gym to run on the treadmill to avoid the rain, I couldn't even get myself to do that. Tonight I'm determined to go though! There's a Pilates class on Wednesday nights that I try to go to whenever I can, so I can just stay afterwards and run on the mill. I haven't been on one of those things in a while, and I haven't missed it, so we'll see how it goes.
Oh me, oh my. Just as a reminder (read: another shameless promotion), this Friday is the night of Acoustic for a Cure! I'm getting psyched and nervous. Why nervous? I don't know. Everything is just about taken care of and there's not much left to do! I think it's because I've never co-hosted a fundraiser before. Its going to be tons of fun, of course. If you're planning on coming, save room for apps! We're having cheese & crackers, meatballs marinara, chicken tenders, and bacon-wrapped scallops. (Sorry, vegetarians... there weren't many meatless options!) There are also going to be some last-minute raffle prizes added to the list of goodies.
I was supposed to go for a run last night. But it was pouring. So I put on PJ's and watched TV instead.
I really think the recent weather has drained my motivation this week. Even though I still have a gym membership, and could have just gone to the gym to run on the treadmill to avoid the rain, I couldn't even get myself to do that. Tonight I'm determined to go though! There's a Pilates class on Wednesday nights that I try to go to whenever I can, so I can just stay afterwards and run on the mill. I haven't been on one of those things in a while, and I haven't missed it, so we'll see how it goes.
Oh me, oh my. Just as a reminder (read: another shameless promotion), this Friday is the night of Acoustic for a Cure! I'm getting psyched and nervous. Why nervous? I don't know. Everything is just about taken care of and there's not much left to do! I think it's because I've never co-hosted a fundraiser before. Its going to be tons of fun, of course. If you're planning on coming, save room for apps! We're having cheese & crackers, meatballs marinara, chicken tenders, and bacon-wrapped scallops. (Sorry, vegetarians... there weren't many meatless options!) There are also going to be some last-minute raffle prizes added to the list of goodies.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Ninth Group Run
Yesterday morning we met in Hull instead of Hingham. Our teammate Lorri lives in Hull and was nice enough to let us use her house, even thought she wasn't there yesterday! So, we got to have a great change of scenery. The route was nice because we got to run along the water almost the entire time, and it was beautiful out, for the most part. The day started out warm and sunny, then gradually got cloudy and cool, but luckily the rain held off, aside from a few drops here and there.
13 miles wasn't as bad for me as I thought it was going to be. Actually, I felt (and still feel) quite good! I did, however, work up and INSANE appetite by the end. Chris brought along some PowerBar gels, which he said tasted just like chocolate frosting. He wasn't particularly fond of them. I brought along nothing, which I now know I can't do anymore! When the run was over, I ate not one, but two bagels with cream cheese that our fantastic mentors brought for us.
Also, we stopped a few times for water and stuff during the run, and I found it harder than usual to stop and then start again. My legs and knees thought they were getting to stop, and let me know that were not happy to be moving again!
Chris is having really bad knee pain now. He's thinking of going to see a specialist. I really, really, really hope it helps!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Spa Gift Basket
When ZuZu's Sisters donated the softest, prettiest bathrobe ever, I was so excited! When we went to pick it up, they'd put the gorgeous pink and white robe in green tissue paper, and it looked so good, we were going to just raffle it off that way. But then I couldn't resist buying some extra goodies to go with it, and making a luxurious spa gift basket!
Not too shabby, if I do say so myself! I really want to keep it all. Maybe I'll buy some raffle tickets and give it a go at Acoustic for a Cure next week, where this will be one of the prizes! Here's a pic of the bathrobe that I found online... Once I got it in that gift basket, there was no taking it out. It's in there until the lucky winner takes it home!
In other news, one of my Team In Training teammates, Christine, was featured in the Pembroke Express!
Go Christine!
In OTHER other news, I'm supposed to run 13 miles tomorrow. Because of the insane rain and wind last week, I only ran 8. The week before that, I also ran 8, because I wanted to "rest up" for my 10k the next day. SO, the most I have run is 10 miles. I really don't feel ready for 13!
Oh well. The Red Sox just tied up the game, so I have to go watch that now. Good thing, since this entry is officially all over the place.
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