oh my August!

I have had the great fortune of enjoying a work-free summer...something I haven't done, summer or not, since high school. The second month of freedom somehow became jam packed, and in terms of my training, I've had to think a lot about how I will incorporate running into my travels, since my last long run is scheduled for labor day weekend- AH!! This month is crucial!

Las Vegas!!!
PRO- it's VEGAS baby! I've heard rumors that they pump oxygen into the rooms there to pump you up. Also, the idea of running along the strip seems very entertaining to me, considering how much there is to see, but of course...

CON- The two H's will stand to be my biggest obstacles while in Vegas. They are, of course, HEAT and HANGOVER. Luckily, our hotel has a gym (and while I have to pay some bones to use it, I'm surprisingly okay with that...hopefully it will be a small drop in the bucket of my big WINNINGS), which will allow me to run if and when I am able to roll out of bed, regardless of the time of day (and therefore, the ridiculous three-digit number they call the temperature).


HOLE IN THE WALL GANG CAMP!!
PRO- It's obvious! I'll be at camp! I will be completely surrounded by my reason for running....I can't waittt!!

CON- Schedule is tight, days are long, and sleep is short (or at least it feels that way..). Wake up is early, so sneaking runs in may be tight, but I spoke with the volunteer coordinator and she was very optimistic about it, so I am toooo!


Montreal!! (notice how all places are followed by several !!!.....it's because I'm excited, if you can't tell)
PRO-THE WEATHER! The average temperature in Montreal for the end of August is in the high 60's.....in fact, early AM running may require.....pants! how wacky! I can't wait!

CON-Being in a city I am completely unfamiliar with may make running around a bit of an initial challenge, but I'm excited to see the city this way...and will do my research to help make it as easy as possible!



It's good to have things to look forward to, because it's going to be nearly 80 degrees tomorrow morning before 8AM, and working back up to a long run after taking that week off for my foot is hard enough...I don't need any other obstacles, whether I can see them or not, in my way!

Camp sooo soon!!!

August is going to be a super busy month (not complaining! all GREAT things!), and I'm super stoked for all of them for very different reasons....The second week in August, I have the WONDERFUL privilege of volunteering for a week at the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, the original Hole in the Wall camp. Three years ago, I volunteered at The Painted Turtle, a HITW camp in California, when I flew out there to visit Amanda while she was living in LA. To avoid the cost of a flight, I decided to stick locally and applied to volunteer at the camp in Connecticut.

When I think about the training milestones I have ahead of me, I feel a range of emotions, and a lot of them are not the best ones - nervous, scared, worried, afraid. What if I can't do it? I feel so fortunate to have my week at camp come exactly one month before the half-marathon, the day when I will need to remember so clearly why I decided to take on this challenge in the first place, why I wanted to support the Hole in the Wall camps, and why I felt it so important to run with their mission in my heart. When I think about going to camp, I feel like a kid...I'm a little nervous, but I'm so excited. I'm pumped. I'm stoked. I just know how incredible I felt at The Painted Turtle...I can only imagine how magical it feels for children, which is exactly why I felt so strongly about running to raise money to help give a child that experience.

I can'tttt waittttttttt!

back at it!

I ran today! WOOOOO!!

But first...my foot was feeling a lot better last week. On Saturday, I went to the beach, walked around A LOT considering, and then went out with the girls at night....and proceeded to dance/jump like a maniac when they played "Hey Baby" (although looking back, a good percentage of the bar most likely attended Penn State and is aware of the significance of that song). My foot started to feel a little off after that, which was very ughhh.....Luckily, it felt back to normal after a day, and yesterday I got my results back for my scan - negative! Sooo today I went for a short run just to ease back into things. It had been so long, I didn't even realize I went out without the sensor that attaches to my ipod/tracks my time and distance. I was distraught enough to almost turn back and get it, but I decided just to run for the sake of running. woo.

My hope is to ease back into a routine this week, and be running a long run the end of next. I roughly mapped out the rest of my long runs, and taking into account my funky August schedule, it still looks do-able, and flexible...which helped me breathe easy(-y, +ier).

FOOT

In the effort to make this blog a true portrayal of my training, not just for others to read, but for myself to look back on, I should have written days ago, but I didn't because I wanted to avoiddddd it. On Monday afternoon, my right foot started really hurting, and it was painful to even walk on. It was really uncomfortable and completely out of nowhere. On Tuesday, it felt about the same and I went to see my doctor, who sent me for an x-ray that afternoon. The x-ray came back negative, as she thought it might, so I scheduled a bone scan for Friday morning. Luckily, my foot started to really feel better yesterday. To avoid cabin fever, I went out to (slowly) run an errand and it felt okay to walk around a little on. Today I went to lunch (to see my ADORABLE nephew make a circle on the floor around himself with cereal and pasta) and it felt comfortable to walk more or less normally on it. I'm still going to go for the scan tomorrow; I have it scheduled already, and I want to be cautious, especially in terms of working my body in a way that is still fairly new to me.

It was frustrating not knowing what would happen, especially in regards to my training. I know race day is getting closer and closer, and especially with August being a busy travel month (Vegas! Camp! Montreal!), I know my training is going to be altered. I'm really happy and relieved that I feel better, instead of just the plain 'ol same, and hopefully the scan will come back fine and I can ease back into training next week. Fingers crossed!

As Monica Geller would say...

SEVEN!!! This morning I ran seven miles! My originally scheduled Friday long-run didn't go as well as planned. An uneasy stomach, most likely thanks to an unpredicted late night, most likely thanks to everyone's favorite cover band, told me to cut it way short. So I moved it to today, after a long weekend of eating, eating, some drinking, and more eating during BC beach weekend. My always-encouraging roommate ran the first part with me, which was very much appreciated! We each listened to our music, but it was still nice to be running along with someone. I was just telling her yesterday how I'm surprised at how I've adjusting to running solo. I appreciate running alone, but I enjoy when schedules match up and I can run along with a friend. A win-win situation!

It was definitely a harder run. Not the entire time, but the last mile was a push, so I used it as mental practice...to remind myself that one mile in the "big picture" was something I could easily handle. The weather was really good; it got a little warm, but it didn't feel too sticky (only when I had gu, and then my hands were sticky...). Overall, I feel SO GOOD about crossing over the half-way mark in my distance...! A great way to start the week!

Motivation

After our recent reunion, the gym and I have become very close very fast. You may say this relationship is getting so serious as a result of the RIDICULOUS temperatures that have plagued the Northeast! ek! ew! ugh! I went as far (or, ironically enough, not far at all....) as to run on the treadmill yesterday. Today I went to a class, and let me tell you: I pretty much felt like I was in middle school again. The instructor called out anyone (LOUDLY into his headset microphone!) who couldn't hack it....made fun of! I don't know if I've ever tried to blend in so much. He was hard core...and, I must say, I liked it! Despite his verbal aggression at times, I really liked the class and his insults made me laugh (usually in my head...my abs hurt too much to laugh out loud). At the end of the class, he said he won't be in next week...and I even went as far as to ask if he'll be back after that! I told him I'd see him then, but not before telling him that he peer pressured me into a good majority of the exercises.

Quick shout out to two people who motivate me every singly day: HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my mama, "Janny B," who is my biggest cheerleader in life and who has celebrated all the ups of my training thus far (not without lots of warnings and reminders to be safe though, of course), and my roommate, Lani, who has taught me a lot about dedication, and who always encourages me to in my training....most likely so I get off of and give up the big couch in our living room, which I have had recent dibs on due to my free time. Enjoy your special day ladies (which is most likely not being spent reading this post....I still love you!).

SIX MILES!!!!!

Quick post before I head out to spend the weekend in New York for the annual Glasser gathering of sorts and Marisa and Patrick's wedding....

This morning, I ran my longest distance yet, SIX MILES!! It went SUPER well and I was thrilled afterward....especially considering how nervous I was (like couldn't sleep...THAT nervous). I woke up before my alarm and talked to Alana for a little before she left for class. I had breakfast and a gu and then left at about 8:00AM. My total run was just over an hour. I ran through Manayunk to East Falls, crossed the East Falls Bridge (running over a bridge - a first!), and ran on that side of the river just past the Strawberry Mansion Bridge (which I originally wanted to use to loop for today's run, but because the bridge connects over the road, doing so would have added almost a whole extra mile....save it for later!), and then came back. I also had my first gu during my run...I'm not sure I really needed it, but I decided to go with it. Any advice/suggestions are welcome, as I work to figure out what works best for me!

It's probably the best run I've had all of training. I felt really good and it was an extra bonus that I was able to walk for a few minutes afterward..instead of feeling so badly like I needed to collapse :O). THANK YOU to all those people who encourage me, who support me, and who cheer me on. I appreciate it and am so grateful for your support!!