Category Archives: Alzheimer’s Team

Weekend Update (of the last month)

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A little, well not very little since I haven’t blogged in over a month, weekend update here. It’s been a busy last month or so and I really missed writing periodically. I decided this week that I really need to commit to finding time to share some of my thoughts (because you really wouldn’t want to read everything that goes on in my head in a given day) and activities here. In many ways, my blog has been a bit of a brain dump primarily focused on running and it feels good to have an outlet. So here’s to hopefully blogging more!

–It’s been pretty busy at work. As I might have mentioned here before, I work part-time for Fleet Feet Sports Hoboken managing their events and marketing. I’m fortunate in that I can do most of my work from home and not on a set schedule. We’ve had a number of big events in the last couple of weeks and that has kept me pretty busy! We hosted a fun run on Global Running Day called The Big Run (in conjunction with Fleet Feet and Brooks Running) and it was so much fun! I loved meeting so many runners from all over the area.

–We took a trip to Florida to visit Josh’s family at the end of May. Charlotte’s already been on 6 plane rides and she’s not even one yet. I have a feeling she will be quite the jetsetter like her parents. She had many firsts while in Florida including trips to Costco, Walmart, the pool and the library. As you can tell we don’t make it out much!

–I am excited to announce that I am running the NYC Marathon with CaringKind’s Athletes to End Alzheimer’s team. This will be my fifth year involved with the team. It was a no-brainer when I decided to run the NYC Marathon again this year that I wanted to support CaringKind. CaringKind is formerly the Alzheimer’s Association, NYC Chapter and while the organization has undergone some changes in recent years, finding a cure and bringing awareness to Alzheimer’s Disease is still a cause very near and dear to my heart. Every bit helps, so if you’d like (and I’d be so greatly appreciative) to support CaringKind, you can donate on my race page. THANK YOU!

–I brilliantly signed up for race a every weekend in the month of June. I don’t know what I was thinking. Between that and Charlotte’s swim lessons, I’m constantly on the go.  I ran the Retro 5-Miler, New York Mini 10K, Queens 10K and was supposed to run this weekend’s Front Runners New York LGBT Pride 5-Miler (but I chickened out with the morning rain storm). It has been nice to get out there have a race for motivation every weekend but I am extremely sleepy once evening rolls around.

–I also decided to work with a coach for my fall marathons. I coach occasionally from sprint triathlons to 5Ks, 10Ks, half and full marathons but after my attempt to “coach” myself for the LA Marathon this past winter, I knew that I needed a little more accountability and guidance. As a coach, at least in my opinion, it’s easier to coach others than yourself. I find that I am usually too critical or not critical enough of myself but with others I can be more objective and motivating. So far I’m three weeks into training for the Berlin and NYC Marathons with Jess at Race Pace Wellness. I’m really enjoying working with Jess. I can take my mind off of worrying about my workout for the day and just trust what she has prescribed for me. While I have had to move workouts around on a given day, knowing that I need to report back has really helped keep me motivated and accountable. I look forward to sharing how my training goes in the next couple of months.

And with that is my weekend update of the last month or so!

Now your turn, tell me how you’re doing and any fall marathon plans?

2015: Year in Review

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Wow, what a year 2015 was! I know I say this about every year but each year keeps getting better and better.

On the running front, 2015 was the year of many milestones.

IMG_0320—I ran my first international marathon (and race)! I ran the Virgin Money London Marathon in April 2015 and while the race was not what I had hoped it to be, it was an incredible experience. My sentiments post-race helped me find my love for running all over again. I also fundraised over $1,800 for AgeUK for the race.

—I completed 15 races ranging from 1-mile to marathon. Last year I was excited for all the PRs and while it proved hard to beat, I managed to pull out a couple of course PRs this year.

DSC00521—I’m most excited for my running milestones this year. I just started distance running three years ago and in that time I have completed 8 marathons, 10 half marathons, and over 4,300 miles! To say I am addicted is an understatement.

—I will end this year with over 1,300 miles under my belt which tops last year’s record! 1,300+ miles for me is over 212 hours of running, almost 300+ miles further than the distance from NYC to Orlando and almost 4 times the distance from NYC to Montreal.

—In July, I officially became a Road Runners Club of America coach. I am excited for my certification and to help others achieve their running goals.

IMG_3418.JPG—This year, I also helped coach the Athletes to End Alzheimer’s NYC Marathon team. It was definitely a different and rewarding experience from the other side and I am fortunate for this experience. By assisting the team, I ran the NYC Marathon this year with a very different perspective and enjoyed every minute of it.

For as much as I love running, I love traveling just as much. I wish I could travel as much as I run but I appreciate every chance I get to run while on vacation. 2014 was certainly the year of travel and in 2015, we were still jet setting every opportunity we had.

—This year, I logged miles in every city/country we visited: St. Maarten, Pittsburgh, London, Athens, Santorini, Hartford, Block Island, Orlando (twice), Bermuda, and Montreal.

We’re fortunate to have so many opportunities to travel for ourselves, for marathons, and to travel to spend time with family and friends.

IMG_3106This year we also sold our apartment and moved from Hoboken to Stamford for my new job. This is by far one of the hardest decisions and changes we made in recent years. I still look back on the last couple of months wondering how we made all of this happen so quickly and my heart still swells thinking about our time in Hoboken. However, we’re looking forward to what 2016 brings in our new adventure in Connecticut!

Without a doubt, I am fortunate for the best friends, family, and husband a girl could have. I know all of this running, traveling, and changing jobs/moving would not be possible without everyone’s support and love and I am forever grateful.

Thank you for a wonderful 2015 and an even better 2016!