Tag Archives: Boston

52 Weeks, 52 Runs. No. 23: Runniversary to remember

Posted on May 31, 2012 | 33 comments

It occurred to me halfway through my five-miler at Boston’s Run to Remember on Sunday that it is my one-year runniversary. On May 28, 2011, I ran the Chick fil-A 5K in Newport News, Va., after Hubby signed me up on a whim (there were fuzzy cows involved). Prior to that, I hadn’t run since high school. My sports teacher would likely say I never “ran” at all.

I would like to think that this inaugural 5K sparked in me a deep love and passion for the sport and uncovered an innate athletic talent waiting to be nurtured …

It didn’t do that.

What it did do was plunge me into a brave new world of weekend runcations, early starts, thermal tights, bibs, T-shirts, medals, coconut water, run snobs, compression socks, hills, GPS watches, chia seeds, beer, and weird granola bars. It gave me a physical challenge greater than anything I could have envisioned. It also inspired me to write this blog.

Boston's Run to Remember

Boston’s Run to Remember from above on a glorious Memorial Day weekend. The half-marathoners are coming in on the right.

Running will always be a struggle for me, thanks to my loser asthmatic lungs, but I am getting better. A year ago I could barely run a block. Today I can do 10 kilometers. It’s not pretty, and sometimes (OK all the time) I scowl and swear, and occasionally I want to ditch the whole thing (my 5K to Couch program), but I can do it.

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Posted in 52 Weeks, 52 Runs, Fitness, Humor, Running

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52 Weeks, 52 Runs. No. 19: Strengthening the corps

Posted on May 7, 2012 | 16 comments

Last week, despite my race containing many, many hills (on which I will say no more), I somehow managed to get absurdly close to running a 5K in less than 30 minutes. I am partially convinced the race clock was wrong (seriously, if you had seen me trudging along, cursing the asphalt and the trees and the clouds and … well, everything, really … you’d be doubting the veracity of the timing instruments too). But the official results say I was three seconds away from this milestone, so who am I to argue?

Hell, I thought, If I can do that well in the presence of many, many hills, just think what I can do in their absence. In your face, 30 minutes! Next time you see me I’ll be relaxing with a cold one and basking in the post-race glow …

Which brings me to this week’s run, the Boston Marine Corps Honor Run 5K at Carson Beach, No. 19 in my 52 Weeks, 52 Runs challenge.

Boston Marine Corps Honor Run

Prepping the start.

This run had huge potential. The website said so:

“This is the flattest and fastest course you will find in the Boston area. Perfect for beginner runners or for experienced runners looking for a PR!”

Huge potential. I am not really a beginner, nor am I experienced. Rather, I like to consider myself an experienced beginner. And I was definitely looking for a PR. Perfect …

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Posted in 52 Weeks, 52 Runs, Fitness, Humor, Running

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Blogs and kisses

Posted on April 20, 2012 | 3 comments

Liebster AwardA couple of weeks ago, Emily from Sparrow in the Treetop, a funny, wonderfully written blog on all manner of subjects, nominated me for the Liebster Award. How sweet! She runs; I run. She lives in Canada; I have a Canadian passport. It’s a match made in the blogosphere.

Anyway, when you get blog love, you’re supposed to send it back out into the world by nominating five other blogs you get a kick out of (they are supposed to have fewer than 200 followers, but in most cases it’s impossible to tell; hopefully the shadowy Liebster doesn’t come for me in the middle of the night for having the temerity to flaut this rule).

1. Diary of a Dashinista This UK writer used to be a model, so she knows a thing or two about style – even when she’s doing a marathon. She blogs in fabulous detail about all things running, and her site is gorgeous (naturally).

2. Jogging Jeans Hilarious blog about, well, exactly what it says: people who think it’s wise to run/jog/work-out in denim. Jill and her fans capture unknowing denim-clad runners in the act; and sometimes, the denim aficionados come to her. Priceless.

3. Blonde Bostonian Fun site by a Boston chick who writes about fitness, running and food. Perfect combo. And she lives in my adopted hometown.

4. Cute Dogs and Hugs Great blogger who writes about a range of topics – running, food, weight loss, motivation – and isn’t afraid to try new things. Also, she has the cutest dog ever (OK, except for my family pooches), and posts a picture every Tuesday of him doing something adorable. Things that make you go awwwwwwww.

5. Running Haiku This chick is just too clever for words. Actually, her words are just too clever. She posts a running haiku almost every day. It’s amazing what she can say in 17 syllables. Kudos.

More blog love coming in the next week or so.

These are the “rules” of the Liebster:
1.    Link back to the person who gave it to you and thank them.
2.    Post the award to your blog.
3.    Give the award to 5 bloggers with less than 200 followers that you appreciate and value (it’s a great way to get to word out there about other blogs).
4.    Leave a comment on the 5 blogs to let them know that they have received this award.

Done and done.

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Posted in Fitness, Running

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52 Weeks, 52 Runs. No. 16: Ranting and sweating

Posted on April 18, 2012 | 19 comments

A note to all the compression-socks-wearing, tank-top-and-shorts-sporting, giant-GPS-watch-bearing runners who started way too far back in the pack at the B.A.A. 5K in Boston on the weekend. We know you’re awesome. You know you’re awesome. How about giving those of us who aren’t so awesome a break and not crashing into us as you speed through a 6,000-strong crowd of runners (a moveable beast?) in a misguided attempt to get to the front. Did you spend too much time at Starbucks and forget that the race started at 8am? Or maybe you just wanted the rest of us to see your awesomeness in action. In which case, mission accomplished. This is exactly why compression socks give me the fear.

Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, here’s a photo.

B.A.A. 5K

Crowds gather in the shadow of a couple of Boston landmarks (Trinity Church and the John Hancock Tower) for the B.A.A. 5K.

I always try to find the joy in this running lark. Otherwise what’s the point? But this weekend’s 5K was packed with folks who take the pastime seriously. Very seriously. Which is fine, of course. I am full of admiration, awe, respect, etc., for people who can a) run a marathon; b) run the Boston Marathon; and c) run the Boston Marathon in extreme heat, which is what I know many of the 5Kers were doing the day after this run. So, go ahead, take running as seriously as you like. But do it from the front of the pack.

Wait, am I ranting again? Here’s another photo.

B.A.A. 5K

More milling in front of another Boston landmark: the public library. It’s very old.

I guess I shouldn’t have expected anything different from a 5K put on by the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.), which hosts the world’s oldest and most prestigious marathon. If ever there were going to be a collection of uber-runners in one place, it was this weekend in Boston.

There was a benefit, though. This run was fast. Really fast.

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Posted in 52 Weeks, 52 Runs, Fitness, Humor, Running

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Running in Boston. But not running Boston

Posted on April 14, 2012 | 6 comments

At the risk of the Boston tourism folks hunting me down and beating me with giant Red Sox foam fingers, I think the city can sometimes be a little … sleepy. So it was great to see it spring to life today. Granted, the weather was stunning, but there was also running in the air (I was going to say sweat, but that makes me feel gross).

I thought I’d make a quick swing by the finish line for Monday’s Boston Marathon. I’m going to be running across it tomorrow, at the B.A.A. 5K. When I do, I’ll at least feel as though I ran a marathon, so that will have to do for now.

It was inspiring watching excited runners taking snaps. (I was going to do one of those shots where I pretend to be running across the finish, but thought that would be a bit odd seeing as I was alone.)

This time last year, I wouldn’t have cared too much about the marathon, but all of a sudden I do. Funny how that happened …

Boston Marathon

It's a fine line.

Boston Marathon

Don't look up. OK, look up.

Boston Marathon

We like to watch.

Happy running to all the speedy folk! Stay cool.

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Posted in Fitness, Humor, Running, Sports

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