Who Would've Thought... Looking Back & Looking Forward

After an incredible month, I am still waiting for someone to pinch me and to realize this was all just a wonderful dream.  Over the past four weeks, I have managed to accomplish goals that I never would have imagined would be possible for me a year ago... or even a month ago.  I've always loved running, starting with cross-country in junior high and completing my first marathon at 18.  But I've always been a mid-to-back of the pack runner and never really had a ton of confidence in my ability to surpass that.  

Then four weeks ago today, I broke my marathon PR by over 16 minutes at the Sugarloaf Marathon, finishing in 4:25:14.  I felt SO strong from the moment I started until I crossed the finish line.  I have never felt more confident in my abilities as a runner, and more importantly, have never had so much fun running 26.2.  

Cheesy grin?  Check!

Beginning with Sugarloaf, I had set a goal to complete three marathons in three days, including two New England Challenge races - the Pine Tree Marathon in Portland, and the Granite State Marathon in Nashua, New Hampshire.  I was slightly terrified about this trio - never having even run two marathons in the same month, let alone three in the same week!   But you know what?  I had the time of my life.  So much so that I added a fourth later that week in western Massachusetts, and then ran the Vermont City Marathon the following week.  

On top of the world after 26.2 x 3!

Looking back, this week of marathons across New England feels somewhat like a dream.  I'm not sure where the endurance, the strength and the determination came from that week, but somehow it all came together.  I crossed the finish line each day with tears in my eyes, feeling like I was capable of anything in that moment, and ready to take on the world.  

Then, flash forward a week after Vermont City.  Based on some overly-optimistic planning, I had registered for two races this weekend - a hilly 10K for my running club's Grand Prix series on Saturday and a local 5K on Sunday.  Once again, I was nervous about running on tired legs on tough courses with some really talented runners.  I resigned myself to taking it easy and just getting it done.

First, Saturday came with the Middleboro YMCA Tispaquin Run.  It was crazy hot and humid, and I could feel the fatigue from Vermont in my legs throughout the hilly course.  I was nervous about the 10K distance, having never quite mastered pacing in between a 5K race pace and the half marathon distance.  So when I finished and realized that I had PR'd my 10K by 8 minutes, finishing in 56:23, I was nothing short of ecstatic. 
 

And then to cap off these totally unreal 4 weeks, I achieved my third PR today at the McGuiggan's Pub 5K in Whitman.  My finish time was 24:52, for a 7:56/mile pace.  Now, if you had told me a few months ago that I would EVER be running sub-8's, I would have thought you were crazy.  Honestly, even prior to today, looking back at my paces, I wouldn't have thought it was possible.  So when I realized that I had won first in my age group, I was pretty much over the moon.  

Matching trophies with my running buddy - so proud!

Needless to say, the past four weeks have been nothing short of incredible.  This month taught me that I am a heck of a lot tougher and stronger than I would have ever thought.  I have learned that my body is capable of persevering through seemingly impossible challenges, and of continuing to get stronger and faster with each passing week.  I have found that when I put the effort in and start to believe in myself, the results truly follow.

But even more, I am completely overwhelmed with gratitude for my running club.  The Colonial Road Runners has become so much more than a club to me - they have become my support system, my running family, and some of the most amazing friends I could ever ask for.  My running friends inspire me every day to continue pushing forward and setting new, seemingly impossible goals for myself.  I continue to learn every day from the wealth of expertise that this group of incredibly accomplished and experienced runners provides.  I am constantly challenged to push myself to keep up with some seriously fast folks.  And just as importantly, they make running SO much fun.  I have never smiled so much and felt as good as I do when I'm surrounded by these amazing runners.  They have taught me to change my default from "there's no way I could ever do that," to "I'd really like to try that."  They have me setting goals for myself that I am starting to believe I can really accomplish.

Colonials represent at the Middleboro YMCA Tispaquin 10K!

So after these four weeks of living in a running dream-world, I am ready to focus and get back to training again.  I have a challenging race schedule ahead of me this fall, and I am determined to push for another marathon PR in September.  And with the support of some incredible people around me and a bit of new-found confidence in myself, I believe I can do it.  So here goes nothing! 

April Showers & Snowstorms... It's a Wrap!

What a dramatic April we have had in New England... 
 
I started the month running the hilliest 15k I have ever encountered in the pouring rain.  If it wasn't for my running club and being too competitive for my own good, it is doubtful I would have toughed this one out.  But I'm glad I did... one of my fastest runs this season at the Frank Nealon Boston Tuneup.
 

Just looking at this again makes me cold!

The following day, because my legs weren't quite dead enough, we had a freak snowstorm in the Boston area, and I ran one of the most miserable 5Ks of my life in about 4 inches of snow and windblown hail.  Check out my race recap of this doozy here... The Shovel Town 5K in Easton, MA was a fun, well-run local race, but I would love it if we could avoid the snow next year... 

April in New England.. why oh why...

A few weeks ago, I did another local race - the Raynham Knights of Columbus 5-Miler.  This was a familiar course for me, with a few rolling hills - and luckily it was a beautiful, sun-shiny day.  I ran in a tank top and shorts... what a contrast to the earlier part of the month.  Best part of this race?  The pancake breakfast at the end, duh! 

What a difference a week makes!

And then last weekend, I took a road trip across the mid-Atlantic, from Philadelphia, to Washington DC, to Virginia, to western Maryland, to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, and then back to Philly again... all in a whirlwind three days!  I checked off my 9th state last weekend running the Coastal Delaware Marathon - one of my all-time new favorite marathons.  I had a wonderfully relaxing weekend on the beach, exploring the boardwalk shops and eating my way around Rehoboth Beach.  Check out my race recap here.

Delaware, blue skies and beaches - I miss you!

So what's in store for May?  Four marathons, that's what!  Starting with the Sugarloaf Marathon in Maine on May 15th, followed the next day by a marathon in Portland, and the day after by a marathon in New Hampshire.  A few months ago, a good running friend convinced me in a moment of weakness to sign up for the New England Challenge - a week of five consecutive marathons across New England.  Yikes!  And then several friends from my running club were registering for the Vermont City Marathon, which I've always wanted to do... and I haven't run a Vermont marathon yet... so suddenly I was running four May marathons!  

I have no idea what to expect, but I am excited for a month of testing my limits, exploring New England and having a blast with good friends.  No doubt I will finish the month stronger - both mentally and physically - and with some memories to last a lifetime.  Can't wait to see what's in store!

I'm linking up with Holly from Hoho Runs and Tricia from MissSippiPiddlin for the Weekly Wrap.

Running for Life: Diagnosed with Crohn's Disease

One of the big driving reasons in my life that I choose to run is because of Crohn's.  At times, Crohn's can deplete me mentally and physically - but when I run, all that fades away.  My body feels strong and healthy, and I know I can overcome any obstacle life puts in my way.  Having Crohn's, that feeling is something I no longer take for granted.

I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease shortly after moving to Massachusetts after college.  I had just started a new "big girl" job in healthcare management, moved far away from my friends and family, and moved into an apartment on my own.  Looking back now, I had been experiencing symptoms for quite some time before that, but then the disease became undeniable.  I lost weight rapidly - down almost 15 pounds in a few weeks - and experienced excruciating abdominal pain.  The more I tried to ignore it, the worse it came back with a vengeance.  Finally I found myself admitted to the hospital with a nasogastric tube and preparing for a colonoscopy - and in the next few days, was officially diagnosed with Crohn's disease. 

Shortly after moving to MA at less than 100 pounds

  The news was devastating.  At the time, I knew nothing about Crohn's, so I did as much research as I could.  I learned that there was no cure for this chronic condition, and that physicians weren't even sure what caused it.  I learned that in addition to abdominal pain and other unpleasant GI symptoms, it could cause fatigue, weight loss, joint pain, mouth ulcers and more.  It explained so much of how I had been feeling.  

As the next few months passed by, I learned that I could help to control these symptoms.  My gastroenterologist tried a number of medications before we found one that worked - an oral medication called azathioprine, which works by suppressing the immune system (and putting patients at higher risk for other diseases, since white blood cell production is suppressed).  I also learned that diet played a huge role in the inflammation and pain I was experiencing.  The foods we traditionally think of as healthy - like whole grains, vegetables, fruit and dairy - wreaked havoc with my GI system.  Over the years, I have learned through trial and error which foods work for me, and which I can tolerate when my disease is flaring versus when my symptoms are in remission.  

Yikes, check out that prednisone puffiness!

 I also found that exercise was critical to help relieve symptoms (as well as, for me, to reduce stress levels - is commonly thought to be a trigger for Crohn's flares).  So although running could not have been harder at the time, as I found myself sometimes doubled over in pain or experiencing crippling joint pain, it felt like one of the very few things I had control over during a very uncertain and scary time.  

When I completed my first marathon after being diagnosed with Crohn's, I knew I had fallen in love with this sport all over again - and felt like nothing could stand in my way.  Running with Crohn's has proven to me that despite the physical and mental challenges of this chronic disease, I am stronger and braver than I sometimes feel.  Crohn's has taught me patience - knowing that there will be days where just getting out of bed is a struggle, and I need to work with what my body gives me on a day-to-day, and even moment-to-moment basis.  And Crohn's has made me grateful for the days that I do have - those incredible runner's high moments where it feels like I could go forever.  I know with this disease that life has no guarantees - but living with Crohn's gives me a reason to push past all that, and to experience every moment of the run. 
 

First marathon post-diagnosis - victory!

 Why am I writing about this now?  Well this week, I received some not-so-great news.  It appears that my miracle drug that has kept my Crohn's in remission for the past five years or so is no longer working for me.  That's not altogether unusual, as the body adapts to a certain class of drugs and requires a more aggressive form of treatment.  However, I was hoping to have at least a few more years on this one.  Now all I can do is wait for more testing to figure out what my body up to now... including my fifth colonoscopy in as many years.  

As unsettling as all the uncertainty is right now, I am doing my best to take each challenge as it comes.  I am focusing on being grateful for how strong my body has become over the years, both as a result of this incredible sport of running and of fighting this disease.  Crohn's has put many obstacles in my path, but for now, I appreciate every moment I have to keep running on.

My Magical Place: Weekly Wrap

I can't wait to fill you in on my amazing week in Orlando!  It was everything I was hoping it would be and more.  I flew down on Saturday at 6 AM (yikes, 3:45 AM wake-up call!) and checked into the Orlando World Center Marriott.  The work conference I was attending was held at this hotel, and when I discovered it was less than a mile from Disney World, I was ecstatic!  The hotel itself did not disappoint.  A wonderful hotel employee scored me a free upgrade to a pool-view room, and when I got upstairs, I was amazed by my view.

Check out that water slide!

Building distance and off to Disney World!

This linkup is hosted by HoHo Runs and MissSippiPiddlin.  The purpose of this linkup is to connect with and support other active women.

I've had a busy couple of weeks since I've last checked in!  I took two "me" days off work and have enjoyed some incredible running adventures and lots of relaxation as well.  Last week, I joined Cycle Life in Whitman, which is a spinning studio close to work. I haven't taken spinning classes in a few years, and I am hoping to improve my cross-training.  The first class I attended was called Happy Hour, and yikes it was tough, but I had a blast! My goal is to attend a class once a week to build endurance and to get some non-running fitness in.
 

Disco lights at spin are trippy!

Hyannis Half Marathon Race Recap

I am excited to be participating for the first time in a link-up by a fellow running blogger at MissSippiPiddlin.  The purpose of this link-up is to connect with and support other active women. 

 
This was my second time running the Hyannis Half Marathon - the first time all the way back in 2010, when I was still living in Maine.  And my how far I've come... I managed to shave nearly 20 minutes off my time.  Not "half" bad!  (Ok, that was really bad...)  But in all seriousness, I enjoyed today's race and am very pleased with my run!