Marathon Mom

Five weeks ago I finished my 25th marathon and 3rd Boston Marathon in pain and frustrated after almost 2 year of running that has been plagued with injury. I said enough! I need to stop being a stubborn and stupid runner who takes pride in being able to push through the pain and still mange to finish a race. I want to get back to the days when I was picking off PRs at every distance and knowing I could push even harder! 12 days after Boston I had my appointment with a sports doctor who was confused by me! Pain, exam and tests just don't fit... Good news: No stress fracture, no tears, I can run if it doesn't hurt Bad news: My pelvis is a mess, the joy of being a woman and having post-baby changes! And hip impingement on the right. He sent me to physical therapy which I was sent to find on my own "I want you to find someone who works with high end runners and I don't have anyone here." At least he called me a high end runner. I lucked out and in my frantic...

In my first truly smart injured runner move I decided (in January) that instead of running the half marathon less than 3 weeks after Boston that I'd run it as a relay with my Boston running friend. The race was not only my first relay but our Moms Run This Town group was running to honor a little girl of one of our members who is in the hospital for a new heart condition. Pink and purple ribbons filled our race outfits... Dawn was off with the start and I boarded the bus that decided to wait and wait! We finally got to about Mile 2 and as I sat on the bus I saw her run past looking strong, but me on the bus was starting to worry that I wouldn't make it! We wait more and more...finally getting to the transition at Mile 6.2 to see 1 port-a potty! Yikes, do I have time to even get in line, luckily someone let me go ahead since her runner wasn't expected for awhile. I quickly shed my extra layers dropped our bags just in time to see the neon yellow of my partner coming...

As I sit here enjoying my morning coffee watching O and daddy play Candy Land and puppy sleep next to them I am thankful for my kid(s). I'm going to take a minute to brag about O and our newest kid... Somehow Matt and I, who did not grow up as natural athletes, seem to have a daughter who is one of those kids who catches on and looks so strong at any sport! In the past week she passed to the next level of gymnastics and looks so graceful and strong as she flies through the movements. Then after only 4 weeks of swimming lessons she shocked even the teachers and passed to the next level! My little fish is already starting to swim back stroke and front crawl on her own. She can't wait to do a triathlon like daddy. Then came dance rehearsal and trophy day. After saying she was done with dance class she now wants to continue but informed me she doesn't like tap, a girl after my own heart. I love having a big girl who I can have somewhat grown up conversations with, w...

Sorry, I know I said I'd post this Tuesday but the past few days have been pure chaos! Lots of changes in our house, little sleep and adjusting to it all! Like I mentioned Monday the race was not the weekend highlight and before writing this I had no idea on my splits and only knew my finish because others told me. This winter has been tough for training; brutal cold, lots of snow leading to many indoor treadmill runs plus an injury that made me cut back and slow down. I had a couple great runs that put the thought of a great race in my mind but realistically I had no idea what my body was able to do. After a bad night of sleep thanks to our hotel neighbor I got up at 4:30 grabbed my coffee, figured out what to wear after rethinking it multiple times and finally ate my bagel and banana before meeting my team bus.  Ready to go! And we were off on the way to Hopkinton, ready to run a race with more meaning than most others, many on the bus had run last year, some were stopp...