Marathon Crasher

This morning was the first Ann Arbor Marathon. I had originally wanted to volunteer/check it out in some capacity, but with this past week being so crazy, it just wasn't feasible. I had forgotten about it until last night, and when I set out on my run this morning, I wondered if I would cross paths with the course at any point. A favorite run of mine is through the Arboretum, which is just .5 miles from my apartment, and I learned quickly after I set out that it served as the first leg of the second half of the marathon. WOOF.

Now, this totals THREE races that I have crashed, but the other two were more intentional. Two years ago, I happened to run the course of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, which was amazing (and not obvious - there were thousands of runners jammed into those streets!). Several months later, I had the honor of running one of the last miles of the NYC Marathon with Sindy. It was so many things, but one of them was guilt ridden. Knowing what I look like after 13 miles, I can't even imagine what mile 24 would look like (think uncanny side-by-side between me and the crypt keeper?), so I felt terrible when sideliners were telling me to "keep it up!" and that I "look great!" (because yes, I take those things very personally when I am running a race and people say them to me!). It was such a cool experience to run with my running guru, especially on such a milestone run for her, but I felt deceitful that these people thought I had run 24 miles!

Anyway, today was quite a challenge (I use that word verrryyyy generously). I just couldn't win! When I gave encouragement to another runner actually running in the marathon, I felt like a jerk for breezing past them. When I ran past the water stations because it wasn't for me, I looked cocky for not needing water on a hot and humid day (I was saved a teeny bit on this one because I had my own water bottle - phew!). At the top of a hill, three volunteers were cheering me on and I finally had to come clean to someone, because I felt like a fake! Yes I did look good...I had been running for 10 minutes. Yes I could keep it up, because 1.5 miles = halfway.

If nothing else, it reminded me of how fun and exciting races are and that I don't need to just wait for 13.1 miles to run them.

FOUR DAYS!

In four days, we will run for the kids. For all the nerves I was feeling last week, I'm not feeling twice as much excitement and just plain 'ol excitement - I can't wait!!

Today's final long run was through a bunch of new places, since I went running while waiting for my oil to get changed. It was a pretty excuse to check out some new places, all of which looked AWESOME with a beautiful covering of snow. That being said, a few of the parks (and a nature center!) that I ran through gave me an extra kick in the butt as I had to work extra hard to not slip and fall on the snowy paths.

HUGE thank you to the lovely Amanda Emmerling for such a thoughtful note/pre-HE package, which included directional socks (!) and wild shorts, in honor of the running tights Hope Express has graced me with (pictures of them next week!). The socks rocked and I loved them when I tested them out the other night. I'm sad that the shorts will not be able to bring them along this weekend...I guess two years of spring weather in February would be getting a little greedy :O). THANK YOU HANSELL!

weather you like it or not...

...the weather will change. I've really been enjoying it. Don't be fooled into thinking this picture was taken too recently, but I realized I had forgotten to post it! I had taken it to capture the change of season and to acknowledge how appreciative I am for the fact that running allows me to really notice these beautiful changes. It's been warmer than I believe is typical for this time of year, but I have welcomed the 30's with open arms and have really enjoyed the fresh feel of the this (not too!) cold, particularly with a dusting of snow on the ground (which we've had a few times). Fingers crossed that this appreciation continues! If you don't hear from me about by mid-January, I've probably frozen mid-stride.

Sunriseeee, Sunset. Sunriseeee, Sunset.

So contrary to fairly popular belief, Michigan is part the Eastern Time Zone!

Because it just barely skirted into the (second) biggest and baddest time zone, there is a significant difference in sunrise/sunset times as compared with Philadelphia. We noticed it pretty quickly when we got here and I've especially noticed it, as I've been given an extra half hour of light for me to squeeze my runs in after work. I don't mind dark running, especially when I'm with a running buddy (Always thinking about safety MOM!!!), but it's really, really hard to get motivated to first begin a run in the dark.

In other sun/rotation/revolution news, winter is upon us! Based on the info below, it looks like we're on par with friends back east, but from what I hear, that's only as of very recently. We have been in the 30's for about two weeks now, and I surprisingly enough haven't cried/melted yet! It's been really refreshing and I've really enjoyed my cold weather runs (of course, I postponed today's run by a few hours when I woke up to the tune of 19 degrees...but I think being flexible is a positive quality!). I took my new headband out for a spin today and it kept my ears nice and toasty (I even had to shed it towards the end...I was hottt!).

Ann Arbor:

Philadelphia:

Gallup Park

So today I decided to check out a run a little further from home (a 5 minute drive down the street...) and I LOVED IT! I really enjoyed this run, and just like in Philly, there are so many little runs along a longer path/trail that can be connected to make new and different runs. I like that. I can work with that.

It's really neat to map a route in a place I have never been and then to run it out...it's so nice to be able to see my new home this way. What's super cool about this run was that it looped around not one, but TWO (itty bitty) bodies of water! Lots of bridges. A few islands. Many, many benches (not too significant to running, but worth noting..right?).

I liked this tree a lot (mostly because it reminded me of Fern Gully)!

Philadelphia LOVE

One year ago today, I ran my FIRST HALF-MARATHON!!!! I think above all, it makes me nostalgic for Philly and so thrilled that I chose to run my first big race there. Philadelphia will always possess a large piece of my heart and the half-marathon being today along with Penn State playing at the Linc yesterday/ESPN's beautiful shots of the city...sigh. Melts my heart.

On this afternoon's run, I thought a lot about all the running I did in Philadelphia and the different perspective it gave me. I certainly fell in love with a different part of the city when I explored it on foot. The first time Ryan and I ran here together, we ran alongside of a river we live right next by and he commented on how it smelled just like running on the Schuylkill did. It was such a small thing, but was a nice reminder of hours spent on the Tow Path. Most of my runs in Manayunk were over the same streets and paths, again and again, and now, given the distance, what was once almost too familiar, I realize now was so nice to have. Runs in the overwhelming heat and through the snow, in the morning before the sun lit the day and in the black of the night. Alone with my thoughts and almost needing to stop to catch my breath from laughing so hard with friends. Until now, I didn't realize what an impact running had on my time living in Philadelphia, but I am so thankful to have that. Looking back now, it's so nice to have so many wonderful memories, made almost accidentally on my path to the half.

Along the path in Nichols Arboretum

Lots of Water!

There are so many new things here to see, and strategically planning my runs is an excellent way to explore! I had wanted to start taking more mid-run pictures (an idea I thought of AFTER running throughout all of New Orleans...argh!). The first isn't a run, but it was a big day, because I finally mustered up enough courage to try out the lap lanes at the pool..and it was awesome! I'm really excited about it and am looking forward to something else to mix it up! It's also worth noting that these pictures were taking days apart, but it was 90 degrees in the first and low 60's in the last....burrrr!

Public pool near our apartment

Taken on a little bridge (that looked like I shouldn't be crossing) over the Huron River, right across from our apartment

Summer 2011 in Review

ek! I hate that I have been MIA, but I'd like to think it has been with good reason. I haven't been able to write in a little while since I haven't written in a little while, so I want to cut to the chase and break the dry spell! Here it goes (A LOT happened...so I'll try to stick to what's relevant, as dictated by my iPhoto account):

Over 4th of July weekend, I enjoyed some wonderful group runs, including a visit to Central Park.

(I think this was: Gold star to you for running! Sindy is a marathoner, so she was not as excited/didn't feel as impressed with herself as we were...)

Penn State Roommate Weekend = Lots of dancing and running in place to up Amanda's step-counter numbers.

In honor of becoming a Master, Lani and I went to celebrate Christmas in July (as well as in 100 degrees) with the Phillies and I FINALLY met the man of my dreams, the Philly Phanatic. Dreams DO come true!

Trips to Whirled Peace required some walking...and lots of spoon lifting.

I don't have any pictures of my AM runs with LB, but they were the glue to my summer. Oh...and we accomplished our long-time dream of running to Conshohocken!

And I moved to Michigan....

Pictures from one of my first runs in Ann Arbor with Ryan's dad, Rege. Ann Arbor is FILLED with parks (157 to be exact), so it makes for beautiful runs...and hopefully more frequent posts.