The Perfect Day to Run

A week has passed since I crossed the finish line in Boston. Life is settling back in and my muscles have finally relieved me of their aching. The day was, all in all, surreal. Everything about April 21^st was exactly how it needed to be. The sun shone on our city and the crowds were as expected, large and loud and happy to be a part of our story.

The moment our bus left the Westin in the morning the sun was rising over the city. As we descended down the mass pike towards Hopkinton, the image of the city waking up could not have been more perfect.

Given that private buses needed to be in Hopkinton by 7am and most of us didn’t cross the start line until 11am, we had a lot of time to kill. I was the first person to use the bus bathroom and subsequently got blamed for being the one to break it. A viscous rumor given that when I walked in, it did not flush and the door did not lock (which I naturally found out as I was pulling up my pants when it swung open). Nevertheless, the hours zipped by as our nervous energy continued to mount. The sun got warmer and as I got more restless, I began to dance around. Totally natural given my background. Several videos of these shenanigans made it online including one entitled “The Bathroom Breaker Dance.”

Before I knew it, we were called to the starting line and walking in a tightly compact group down the streets of Hopkinton. The energy of the crowd was alive even before we crossed the starting line. Soon enough, we were off and headed down the steep hills from Hopkinton to Ashland. At 2 miles when we passed TJ’s I think I nearly lost it with excitement at how rowdy the crowds were. Looking back, those first miles flew by in a blink. What started out as a group of 6 eventually became just myself and my running buddy, Katie. By mile 8, we knew our families would be in sight soon and were elated to grab hugs and kisses from our loved ones.

At mile 12, when we could hold it no longer, we hopped over the train tracks to pop a squat in unison and were applauded by the crowds when we jumped up the hill and back into the race. This was shortly followed by the screaming tunnel of Wellesley College girls. I may not have gotten any kisses but I sure did benefit from their energy.

By this point, we were on to the stretch of the course we know best, from Wellesley to Newton where we trained all year. Heading down the hill into Lower Falls I ran by my boyfriend’s family. With the encouragement of “Hey, go faster!” from Brian’s dad, we made our way to the Newton hills. So many runners dread this stretch of the course but I have come to love it. Heading up the first hill I was pushing encouragement to Katie who wasn’t feeling too hot. I knew that once we crested that hill our Alzheimer’s cheering squad would be there to greet us.

After we turned the corner onto Commonwealth Ave and began to ascend the second hill, I saw my camp friends who captured perhaps my favorite picture of the day. Still smiling at mile 18.

 

Shortly after the second hill Katie had to drop back and I knew I would be tackling the rest of the course on my own. As crazy as it sounds, I was praying for uphills. The downhill was putting tremendous pressure on my ailing knee and my only relief came in the uphills. Climbing heartbreak after seeing my family, my mantra was “There is no wall. There is no wall.” And I believed it. While many around me were walking, I was running and still smiling. Unfortunately the wall came on, you guessed it, the downhills. The last 3 miles of the course were more difficult than the first 23 together. If it hadn’t been for my friends who had fashioned large posters of my face, those last few miles would have been downright treacherous.

Nevertheless, I pressed on with my goal in sight. I didn’t realize how strong my emotions would hit once I finally reached Boylston but turning onto Hereford and then onto my last stretch I began crying. The feeling was pure joy. To see so many people in the crowd, to feel the strength of my city and the strength of everything I have overcome as an individual to get to this point, was unbelievable. I crossed the finish line ecstatic with my result and overwhelmed with happiness.

This year was something special. Every person on my team is a true gift, devoting their time and energy to a most worthy cause. Their compassion has helped push me through this year and I am so proud to be a member of such an amazing team. We have joined our city in proving just how strong Boston can be.

See you again next year Boston.

A Reflection on the Boston Marathon

Oftentimes, you don’t quite realize how something is going to affect you until you’re in the midst of it. Today is one of those days. A day of remembrance. A day to honor those we have lost and those who have fought to survive. Each day across the world terrible tragedies happen. Acts of terror that go beyond the comprehension of most of the world’s citizens. We are a fortunate group to be sheltered from most of the chaos that goes on outside our borders. But we are not immune, which was evident one year ago today.

I remember it as a slightly cool and partly sunny April morning, the perfect weather for a marathon. I arose with excitement to participate as a spectator in the 2013 Boston Marathon. I had no regrets that I chose not to run that year. If it hadn’t been for that healing period, I would have likely had to give up running entirely. My dear friend Kimie was in town and together with my roommate Ashley, we set out to enjoy the day. We were headed for the finish line, to cheer on countless friends and my Alzheimer’s teammates participating. I am grateful every day that we never made it that far.

We had reached the area surrounding mile 25 when everything blurred. An endless stream of phone calls and text messages and very little understanding of what was actually going on. I had lost my friends in the crowd just before the bombs went off. My initial reaction was to run towards the finish line, knowing 2 of my friends had just crossed and others were only yards away. I wanted to help, I wanted to do something. I remember standing on Beacon St. with tears smearing my face and staring into the faces of runners who were unaware of what had happened. I imagine they look back at that moment and understand.

The following week saw a tremendous outpouring of support and strength not only within the city but across the nation and the world. I knew that nothing would stop me from taking to the starting line in Hopkinton the following year. I have never trained so hard and poured my heart and soul into something of this caliber until now. As we draw near the end, I am overcome with emotion from anxious excitement to somber reflection. I may not have been a runner last year, I may not have been at the finish line, but the events of April 15, 2013 profoundly shaped my future. I am so grateful to be able to call myself one of the 36,000 participants in this year’s Boston Marathon next to my amazing and resilient teammates. I will wake up in 6 days ready to do my part in the final stage of the healing process for this city that I call home. We all run together and we are all Boston Strong.

The Value of the Occasional Solo Long Run

I may be a runner but I am not a RUNNER. For me, 16 miles will always be a long run. So when I set out Sunday morning alone to put in my weekly miles, I knew it would be more challenging. Due to a series of unfortunate circumstances including some foot pain, a late night flight, and near zero temps, I decided to postpone my run by one day. That meant that not only would I not have the water support needed to keep going, but I wouldn’t have my training buddies. It’s amazing how easy it is to forget how far you’re running when you are engulfed in interesting conversation.

As hard as it may be to train alone, it teaches you something about yourself. You can no longer rely on the support of others to push yourself to the end. At some point, you have to reach inside of yourself and find the will to make it on your own. It is easy to give up when no one is there to witness it. But at the same time, the reward of knowing you finished for no one but yourself is worth it. The time alone allows you to learn something about yourself and what drives you. When I drove by the masses of people running the course this Saturday and felt the pang of jealousy that I wasn’t yet out there, I knew nothing would stop me from finishing Sunday.

I always say that it’s during my weekday training runs that I get my best ideas. I guess it’s during those few long runs by myself that I gain my strength.

What about you? What do you think about when you run alone? Where do you gain your strength?

Side note: I just got the final design for my SUPER AWESOME fundraising poster. I had one made 2 years ago when I ran and I decided to do it again. Check it out!

My 2012 Marathon Story as Shared on BostonLog

A few weeks ago I was asked to tell my marathon story as part of a larger collection of Boston Marathon stories for BostonLog. I decide to share both my 2012 and 2014 running experiences and today they posted my 2012 story. It was a rough year as I’ve admitted in the past. If you want to read more marathon stories or submit your own visit http://bostonlog.blogspot.com/. 

April 16, 2012 – Dancer in a Heat Wave: Pain, Agony, and Distress on the Road to Boston (OK, the title made it seem a bit rough. Hey! I still had fun!)

 When I first set out with the intention of running the Boston Marathon for the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of my dear grandfather, I had some idea of the challenges I would face in my training and fundraising. Some, but not all.

Let’s just say the next time a dancer tells you she wants to run a marathon, you should give her a hearty chuckle, accompanied by a very sarcastic “Well, good luck!” While many running enthusiasts regard routine stretching as a necessity for maintaining a functioning body, hypermobility (as they so kindly diagnosed me) is just about as detrimental as not stretching at all.Without giving you the full rundown of ailments I acquired as part of my training for my first marathon, I’ll leave you with this image of former dancer turned long distance runner:

However, during my preparation, what I could not possibly imagine is that I would be setting out to run in the second hottest temperatures in Boston Marathon history. While physical therapy and a hefty amount of mental training prepared me to suffer through any injury that might crop up, nothing could have prepared me for the oppressive heat I had to endure in order to reach that fabled finish line.

The first few miles went swimmingly, running along with some of my Alzheimer’s Association teammates at just a hint slower than my intended pace. Much to my dismay, I hit “The Wall” at roughly Mile Eight. Side note: this happened to be when I was at the hottest recorded point of the race at the hottest recorded time of the day, with no shade and no clouds. Luckily, one of my teammates had heart enough to hang back with me while the others pressed on. It was ugly, but with the help of a few of my fans along the way and a pair of pantyhose stocked with ice (yes, pantyhose; it was a lifesaver), I pushed through and before I knew it I was coming up on Mile 16!

For the first few miles I had to hold the lifesaving pantyhose because they bounced around too much.

On to the glorious Newton Hills! During training, when I had confidently tackled each of those climbs countless times (including a 21-mile run when the hills were saved for the very end), “glorious” was an apt adjective to describe them. Today, with the temperature of the pavement at Heartbreak Hill reaching a daunting 103 degrees, runners were using a more colorful vocabulary. Needless to say today the Newton Hills were…slow!

Once we hit Newton we caught up to my teammate Nicolle Renick, with whom I had run the entire training season. We stayed together, stride for painful stride, all the way to the end, barely missing a finish in the top 20K runners…

Finally, onto my favorite part of the course (or at least is was until today, of course): Kenmore Square, where I had paraded for four years as a drunken college kid shouting indecipherable encouragements(?) at runners (and yes, I got my share of these along the way).

I’m not even entirely sure of what I was doing. Delirium had set in and seeing some friendly faces made me slightly psychotic.

Borrowing a term we used during my days of old with the BU Dance Team, Mile 25 was “Struggle City.” What they always tell you, but you just don’t believe until you have to do it yourself, is that when you turn left onto Boylston Street and gaze in the distance at the finish line, you realize you have SO FAR TO GO. Nicolle got the somewhat lethargic crowd going with a few pumps of her arms and we managed to kick it into gear to the finish line (that’s code phrase for a “less snail-like jog”).

As I had promised, I got to the finish line and struck a pose that channeled my inner Tim Tebow. At the end of a long, long, hot day, I still managed to feel cool for the briefest of moments.

A bit of running and a few thoughts…

It was another cold one this week! First training run of the season on the earlier miles of the Boston Marathon course. Also the first time I’ve ever done this loop! We started our run at Ashland Middle School (mile 3) and went reverse on the course (read: very uphill) to the starting line in Hopkinton. Luckily, a rough warm up lead to a nice downhill for the next 3 miles back to Ashland. While most of my teammates completed this loop again to round out a solid 12 mile taper run, a few of my regular running buddies and I headed out towards Framingham for the next 6 miles. This was a welcome change because the next few miles are nice and flat. It was a good run overall. I only regret not telling my mom (who lives in the area) to do an impromptu water stop for us at our ninth mile. Next time momma!

Post run. Looking good…

I get some of my best ideas while on my weekday runs. There is plenty of time for reflection when I run on my own and oftentimes I regret not writing down what it is I thought of that is clever, inspirational, or just plain funny. I’ve been collecting a series of “thoughts” as I run and I’d like to share a few of them with you this week. I imagine there will be more as the season progresses.

Thoughts on running in the dark: Don’t look in the woods. You’re bound to believe you see something.

Thoughts on running in the cold: Good gloves are an invaluable piece of gear.

Thoughts on nutrition during training: A slice of pizza with your post-meal omelet is alright…maybe.

Thoughts on foam rolling: The best pain ever.

Thoughts on running in the heat: Never again without ice-filled pantyhose

Let’s Talk About Aqua Jogging for a Second

The funny thing about training for a marathon is every week is different. Every day is different. A few weeks ago I ran a 10 miler with hip pain and the next week I flew through 11 miles without so much as a twinge. This past week I was halted by some foot pain I’ll attribute to walking around in my wonderful leather boots that I’ll be purchasing some insoles for. Instead of pushing my limits and going out for my run I made the decision to take my training indoors to the pool for 2 hours of solid aqua jogging.

Now, I was lifeguard at my university pool all throughout college and often questioned the sanity of the aqua joggers. Maybe it’s just me but the idea of pruning up as I chug along in circles without my iPod sounded treacherous. Nevertheless, I donned my bathing suit and swim cap and hit the water. Side note: the lifeguard thought I must have been a college runner which gave me a little confidence. “These guns travel well,” as my old pal “Jumbo Calves Jim” would say.

If you can’t find Jim in this picture, well….

As an aqua jogging beginner, it took a solid 15 minutes before I could get into a rhythm. I found myself mimicking the woman next to me who clearly had it all down. I decided to spend some time near the end of my workout swimming some laps, one of my favorite exercises save for the fact that I haven’t had regular access to a pool. I didn’t realize the effort I had been expounding until I got out and walked to the other side in a gait that resembled that of a camel.

At the end of the day, I’m happy with my decision as my foot is already feeling better. Believe it or not, I enjoyed my time in the pool. I’ll be getting a membership so I can take advantage of this new exercise when it’s not the right day to run.

Ps. Adidas released their official 2014 B.A.A Boston Marathon gear. Orange again. Not my color but you know I will be buying this jacket!

Resolutions…yea, I’ve got some.

Happy Holidays!!

This past week has been a wonderful time to catch up with family and friends as it always is. And as always, the food was aplenty. Naturally at this time of year we all start to think about our New Year’s resolutions and I begin to dread going to the gym. Usually it’s my happy place but the month of January is a ZOO. For my fellow avid gym goers, you know what I’m talking about. As much as I hope people will stick to their new healthy lifestyles, I look forward to February when the gym gets backs to normal. Luckily, I’ll be spending more days running outside so I can avoid some of the craziness.

Last Saturday, my long runs hit the 10 mile mark, the first of many milestones of the season. I was astonished at the crowd that came out just days before Christmas to run. And as promised, there was peppermint hot chocolate at the top of Heartbreak Hill! I decided to get a jump start on my resolutions by starting now instead of waiting for the first of the year.

Clearly I was very prepared for this photo.

Here’s a crack at my ongoing list of resolutions:

1. Eat healthy. Well, duh. The fact is that most of the time I do eat healthy. This year, the focus is on eating to train better, stronger, and faster. No more “I just burned 1600 calories so yes I’ll have a double cheeseburger.” Eat clean, train mean.
2. Train smart. I’m no longer a rookie so I can train with a keen awareness to what my body can and cannot handle. Injuries happen but you can do your absolute best to prevent them at all costs. My orthopedist is a nice lady but I’d prefer not to see her this year.
3. Reach farther. Two years ago all I wanted to do was cross the finish line and that’s what I did. Well, to be fair, I stopped and Tebowed at the finish line and then struggled to stand. This year, equipped with my brand new GPS watch (Hooray for awesome Christmas gifts!), I want to be more accountable for achieving my time goals.

What are your resolutions for 2014?

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.”
-Abraham Lincoln

Baby It’s Cold Outside

Last week’s run was an adventure. A lesson learned. Perhaps I was too spoiled during training season 2 years ago with unseasonably warm weather. Last Saturday was a test of my body’s capacity to withstand temperatures near zero. The lesson; I will not be running outside when the temperature is 2 degrees with wind chill anymore. I set out on the morning of December 14^th with alacrity to take on what would be the coldest training run yet. Many thanks to Brady Hoover for the motivational video he sent out to the team the night before.

Disregarding my low circulation disease (now, I’ve done this before and it didn’t turn out well that time either), I set out with little concern. Typically it takes about 2 miles before I’m fully warmed up with feeling back in my fingers and toes. Much to my dismay, this never happened during the entire 8 mile run. Now, I’ve been running for a few years now and understand the importance of warm winter training gear yet there wouldn’t be much that could’ve saved me from what happened next.

It wasn’t until I got home and popped in the shower that I noticed half my foot looked so purple it was almost black. The pain that ensues once the blood is finally circulating in my feet can only be described as akin to standing in flames.

It was at that point that I decided, as much as I hate the “dreadmill,” that I might be spending those few frigid Saturdays when it nears zero in the good old gym.

This week’s run is the annual “Holiday Dash,” complete with somewhat warmer weather, peppermint hot chocolate and Santa cookies. I’ve already got my elf hat on, though no one at my office can take me seriously.

The Mental Hurdle

I’ve had my fair share of physical injuries, been to my physical therapist for everything from the waist down, and yet, this is never my biggest fear going into race day. The biggest challenge by far is the mental hurdle of accepting the distance I will be running not only on April 21^st but every Saturday before that. Even though I’ve run each distance before, the daunting thought that I will be pushing myself that much farther each week has me nearly falling apart at the seams.

I’ve battled with what I’ve deemed my own version of performance anxiety for most of my life. Whether it was a dance competition or a track meet, my nerves nearly kept me from going through with each event. I would time and time again find some reason why I could not possibly perform the task successfully. Even on an everyday run if I happen to glance up and notice a hill getting closer, my body shuts down for fear that I won’t make it up.

In all my endeavors I have yet to fail and so the question remains…why am I still so shaken up?!

This year’s goal, among others, is to go into each run with a clear mind not worrying about how I will feel 4, 8, 16 miles in. This week’s long run is the last that will take place on the flat grounds of the Charles River. Then it’s off to the hills of Newton to tackle the marathon course from all angles for four solid months. While it certainly helps to have my running buddies along the way (you know who you are!), I’ll be working individually to temper the voice in my head saying “ain’t nobody got time for that!”

“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.”
-Henry Ford 

Why on earth would you run a marathon?

Why on earth would you run a marathon?

A fair question. I get it, especially since this year the question is why would you run ANOTHER marathon? Especially given the circumstances. Two years ago, I completed my very first marathon in 90 degree heat. I’ll admit for the first time to the entire public that it took me a whopping 5 hours and 40 minutes to get to the finish line on Boylston Street, an hour and 20 minutes more than I anticipated. It went down in the books as my most challenging day ever.

I had decided to take last year off due to physical ailments and instead devoted my Saturday mornings to supplying water to the runners on my charity team, the Alzheimer’s Association.  As expected, the applicant turnout was a record high for this year’s team and with only 14 numbers available, I managed to make my way back onto the team. Each year, at the first team meeting as you get to know the new runners and reunite with the returning members the question always comes up, so why do you run for the Alzheimer’s Association? My answer, I’ve found, has changed since I first joined the team. If you’ve followed my training at all you would know that my grandfather passed away 3 years ago after a long battle with the disease. We had a special connection and watching his mind and his body wither away was one of the most emotionally taxing experiences I have ever faced.

While our story remains forever close to my heart, my connection to the Alzheimer’s Association and the wonderful people I run and volunteer alongside have changed my life. I run for them, for their stories, and for the family we have all become a part of. There have been many times I have attended an event with the association and the speaker has been someone living with the disease. Their speeches are incredibly moving and as I look around the room with tears filling my eyes and see those I know and love having the same reaction, I know we are all in this together. Each one of us has our own unique story to tell about loved ones who are living with or have passed away from this disease. What’s so special about this team is that each and every person knows the marathon is far more than just an accomplishment for them as an individual. I’m blessed to be able to run alongside them again this year.

This year, I’ve decided to blog at least once a week (I hope) about my training. You learn a lot about your teammates and yourself during these long and arduous runs. I hope you’ll join me as I make my way towards the start line in Hopkinton in 5 short months. If you are interested in donating to support my run, visit my donation page at: http://alz.kintera.org/boston2014/katestanton.

“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”
– Mother Teresa