So, who's bright idea was it to run last night? DIANNA!!! When I arrived at the trail head it was sprinkling- not bad, right? I hooked up my fancy gadget on my shoe and arm and we were off. 1st mile marker was right on- yeah fancy gadget is working! Well, somewhere around mile 2 the rain began to fall heavier and heavier. the turn around point was a little off on the Mp3 Run according to calculations in last weeks run. Over all the run was fun watching for slippery leaves and stumps, jumping puddles, oh and wet tree branches! I must have slapped myself in the face 3 or 4 times. My hat was too low over my eyes and I was unable to see them coming. When we arrived back at the car we were wet!!! Soaked. I got into my hubby's car :) and drove home trying not to get everything in the car soaking wet. I came in the house to my 2yr old holding a towel saying "get out of those wet clothes mom!" Hubby had warm pjs on the bed and I headed directly into the shower.
Great fun on the run. Now if I could just get my Mp3 Run to work more accurately. If it would stop raining I could head to the track to calibrate it.
4.51 miles
time uncertain

The RBF at the New Haven 20k. Michelle, April-Anne, Dianna, Annalisa, and my friend Jenny.

Mom and I before the Boston Susan Komen Race for the Cure 

This past weekend was my husband's Going Away party. It was a great party with an even greater turn out. A fun time was had by all but I have to say I'm glad it's over. Not only was it physically exhausting but mentally and emotionally. Today we found out that his deployment date has been moved up and he is now leaving on Oct. 25th. One month!!!
I have been running trying to keep my head clear. Dianna has been a great sounding board for all my stories worries and concerns. Saturday morning before the chaos of the party we were able to get out and I did part of her 12 mile run. The 7 miles went quick-( a little quicker than my usual pace). We had fun being distracted by telling old stories of our college days and wondering why my new expensive gadget was not keeping the correct mileage. I think I have to make a special trip to the track and recalibrate it before our next long run.
Last week:
Tues: 5.5 I think?
Thurs. 4.511
Sat. 7
Weeks total: 17 miles

This weeks goal: to come up with a marathon training program for the Disney Marathon coming up in Jan.

It's been quite awhile since my last blog. Life as I knew it is no longer. My husband is busy gearing up for deployment while I am holding down the fort trying to maintain some sense of order. As a result my blogging and running has been pushed to the back burner.
On Sept. 12 I ran the Race for the Cure in Boston. It was a beautiful day sky was a beautiful shade of blue and there were only a couple of puffy clouds floating by. Before the start they had a survivor dedication that was quite touching especially when my mom, who also raced (walked)that day, joined the 300 other survivors on stage. We then headed over to the start line with the other 3,000 participants and jockeyed for position. The slow was extremely slow and even after I crossed over the start it was several more minutes before I was in the groove. The first mile was a slow 9.30 but over all I finished the race in 25.22 so I made up time after breaking away from the "pack".
I then joined my cheerleading daughter and my mom's husband to wait for my mom to cross. At 47 minutes and change mom came "sprinting" down the stretch!!! Maggie did her best, "GO NANA!" Mom finished the race and we quickly left the city to go home and get ready for the Jimmy Buffett concert at Fenway Park later that night.
Other than that I've been doing 3 miles here and 4 there but nothing consistent.
After my husbands good bye party this weekend I will be back to running taking it one step at a time!

After Fridays 9 mile 9:00 pace I felt pretty confident for Monday's race. Went camping with the family and kept everything pretty low key over the weekend. Sunday night I got into bed early about 9:15. After a restless night sleep, the alarm went off at 5:30 and I got up and showered to get that fresh feeling for the big race. Met April-Anne at the Baker's Dozen at 6:30 am and headed off to New Haven. We found parking with out too much difficulty and made our way over to the Green. After finding the pre registration booth we waited in line for our numbers and then met up with Dianna and AnnaLisa. We headed to the portopotties where we stood in line again-checking our watches to make sure we weren't late to the start. Jenny found me in line and then it was off to the start line. Found John S. and made our way to the back of the pack. When the gun went off it took almost 2 minutes to get to the start we quickly found our pace and were off.
The time passes quickly as Jenny and I chitchatted and played tag with John. At mile 10 I was at 1hr 30min and change and felt great this is when I put it into high gear to make up ground. John had gotten away from Jenny and I and I had to reel him back in. I am proud to say I caught him 5 steps before the finish line and we crossed together! My foot landed on the mat first as the official results were:
1523 BOLDUC MICHELLE Chaplin CT 30 F3039 146/248 1:53:48 1:52:06 0:57:51 9:10 1170
1524 STAPELFELD JOHN Hudson MA 63 M6064 30/ 51 1:53:48 1:52:06 0:57:41 9:10 166

After the race I found the husband and baby and enjoyed after race snacks and water and finally a cold draft beer. We went to IKEA and walked through quickly as it was a mob scene and I was in desperate need of a shower. On the ride home I caught a few winks When I got home more napping. When I woke up I had a terrible headache that turned quickly into nausea and the rest of the night was spent in and out of the bathroom and in bed. I'm still not sure what happened if I was dehydrated or ate something that didn't agree with me but it was a bad night. It was too bad really because I had such a great race and the night was ruined.
I'm feeling better today, still a little weak. Maybe I'll get out for a light jog tomorrow.

Jenny, myself, John and Terry after the Old Orchard Beach Breakaway 5k. No weather report necessary! Pouring Rain!!!! 

Yesterday, I enjoyed a day at the beach. I considered my cross training to be chasing my daughter in and out of the surf and up and down the beach! I had a great dinner salmon, summer squash and twice baked potato. Then I treated myself to Black raspberry chocolate chip ice cream before I went to bed to fill up my moderate glycemic index for my 9 miler with Dianna. Dianna was doing 18 so I jumped in for half- what a friend!!!
It was actually chilly this morning and I started the run with a long sleeve shirt. a couple miles in and it started to warm up. After the 1st mile we were right on target with a 8:40 pace. A little fast for me but it all averages out in the end. Around 7 1/2 my hips started to bother me and I had to stay focused on finishing the run and keeping pace as not to bring Dianna down. We finished or at least I finished in 82 min. Right on 9 min mile pace! Curious to see how Dianna made out on the second half of the run!
Tonight, I have to work waitressing so I'm putting on a few more miles to these legs but tomorrow- REST! Gearing up for the 12.4 on Monday am.

Tuesday night I went to dinner at my Dad's before dinner I was able to go out for a quick 3 mile run. Not so quick when you have to wait 2. 45 to cross the street! A couple of weeks ago I was singing the praises of running in the city but I guess I had a lesson in "the grass isn't always greener". I had a great run, the weather was perfect, no humidity, blue sky and cool temps. The conditions were perfect after I crossed the street. Finished up in 26.39.
Wednesday night caught up with Dianna and April-Anne and did the 4 and some trail run. There is one hill that is in the loop. Well, there is actually more than 1 hill but this one imparticularly KILLS me! Not to mention that I always go to the wrong side and step in horse poop! :( I wasn't able to finish the entire run. I had to run home to sign papers on our refinancing so I departed from the girls and finished the run along side Peter Cottontail that was playfully running in front of me in and out of the bushes. 39.03 was the finishing time.
Today, I picked up a bike I am borrowing from a very pregnant friend. I'm hoping to be more faithful to the cross training in my training schedule. First, I have to remember how to ride!;)
9 miles tomorrow!!!