I Choose Option # 3

So I can finally say I’m past that point of feeling like I got hit by a bus after a November Project (NP) workout… that in itself I feel is a triumph… now it’s beating those weekly times I keep getting. I've noticed my per mile pace has started to improve and I'm feeling better when I am out on the road running. But everyday I’m reminded that I’m not quite there yet… 

I have a l.o.n.g. road ahead of me in this training. 

And sometimes when I think about it, it can be concerning, but then I take a deep breath and remember... 

The feeling at the finish line is a feeling comparable to no other feeling.

I haven’t missed a NP workout since I first started attending. 

Have I had my mornings where I thought my bed was a better place? Sure. 

But I still got out of bed, either put on some reflectors and carried my keys ready to be used as a weapon on those Monday mornings [hey, I live in Southie, which hasn't had the best crime history as of recently], or hopped in my car and made my way to Harvard Stadium at 5am [with my fashion statement of glow sticks], or got my ass over to Summit Avenue to conquer some hills.

Speaking of Summit Avenue… that’s where I’ll be headed first thing tomorrow morning. 

Something about that hill haunts me, but in a good way [if that exists]. 

My body hates the uphill and any regular NP go’er probably recognizes how I’m pretty fast going down the hill [obvious statement I know] but then when it comes to going uphill, my little waddle and short steps quickly turns into a speed walk [as much as one can speed walk up a hill]. 

My ongoing joke with myself and to some of my friends is that I go at turtle speed, and I have to keep reminding me that it’s at least a speed. 

Last week I was able to run the entire little “cross country” course set up on the grassy hill at the top of Summit Avenue, and then down the hill and back up to the second street. But then I would walk… I’d get the stride back to a run towards the top and try to continue that pattern. 

I’m determined to get to a point where I can:

1) do an entire loop without walking; and then 

2) do it multiple times.

That’s the thing about this group… I’m surrounded by all levels of fitness. 

Where I fit in? I’m not really sure.

But I watch some of the other female runners, and the motivation builds up in me [after of course I get some mental bashing from the devil on my shoulder criticizing me why I’m not there now; I try to say shut up and keep working]. 

We all have those little voices in our heads, and I’m working like hell to shut mine up.  

But half the time I don’t even have to do that, other NP tribe members are right there with a high five and an encouraging word. 

I knew there was more than an ass kicking that kept me coming every time.

I mean look how much fun we're having?

I find lately I’m glued to pinterest.com for different fitness tricks, and I’ve decided to attempt one of those month challenges for the month of October and see how it works out for me [hold me to that please]. 

(I’m looking for one with abs/arms for toning/definition without the bulkiness. I’ll most likely resort to getting back in the Bar Method DVD’s on my off days from NP.) 

But when you try on a bridesmaid dress for a wedding that’s in November, that fit you perfectly last winter, and it’s not quite fitting so perfectly now… clearly something needs to change. 

Achem. Me. I know. I’m working on it.

My seventh half marathon is coming up October 13^th, and I’m determined to break that 2 hour mark… or at least PR. 

My best to date is 2:02 and my most recent one back in May was 2:09. [I ran track in high school so I know shaving time off of these things is not an easy feat... but I am trying]

The course is the B.A.A. and per usual includes one helluva hill… the last 6 miles is all up in elevation. 

This is the third B.A.A. Half Marathon I have done, and the second time doing this exact route [they use to do it the opposite way, but clearly they wanted to challenge us more with ending on an uphill and not a downhill… although I do love finishing the final 200 yards on a track… because it forces me to spring it :) ] 

so I know what I’m in for… I’m only hoping I've got my body on the right track of preparation.

I already started the PR breaking yesterday at Harvard Stadium by crushing my previous full tour of 1:02 down to 54 minutes… and I’d love to see that number only go down. 

I know it’s possible because I pretty much finish behind everyone, so I just need to start passing people and/or keeping up with them. 

I need to train my mind to forget that my body aches and just push through it… because we all know those aches aren't anything serious… it’s just my body being a wimp, and I’m not a fan of that scenario…

I’m off this weekend to cheer on some friends in their half marathon in Providence and I can only hope my mind gets the racing bug going and helps make the next couple weeks before my own half that much more motivating! 

Good Luck friends and I’ll be cheering you on from the sidelines!

“you've only got three choices in life: 

give up, 

give in, 

or give it all you've got”

And I choose option #3.   

I Don't Feel Like Coming Down...

Finally… I’m finally getting back into stride as I was with my training last February. I may be a little impatient for I know what my body is capable of, and not being right back where I was, is to say the least, frustrating. I wanted to immediately be back at my racing pace, and have an excellent run; every run.  But through my training and past races over the years, I've learned one key element… you will have bad days of running, your pace will be slower, your body won’t be feeling good, and you just have to accept it.  

While I may accept it… I can still be frustrated by it.

I just finished my 11^th time going to November Project this morning, and the “feeling” from it has not faded at all.  

The energy of this group amazes me every time I show up. 

It’s 5:30am or 6:30am and everyone is smiling and ready to kick our own asses. And when we finish the workout, you can’t find anyone without a smile and a high five waiting for you. Your fitness level doesn't matter… you showed up. You got your butt out of bed, and you showed up.

I’m finally starting to recognize some faces and have slowly been trying to get more people involved. Even through my friend Paige, just email introducing me to a friend, Allie, of hers who was interested, I now have another familiar face at every workout. I also have gotten my friend Kathryn on board, and it’s so much fun to bring people from other parts of my world, into that of the November Project. [although Matt will always be my main accountability partner.. sorry Matt you're stuck haha] 

I don’t even question or worry anymore if they’ll like it. Because I already know the answer… they will. 

[even cooler is that Kathryn and Matt are running the same half-marathon coming up, so I can rock some sweet signs to cheer them on J]

November Project this past week had a couple theme days, which only added to the community of it all. You don’t even question dressing the part, you just know that every other person will be in full gear from head to toe to play the role. 

I use to hate when there would be a theme for something, and only a couple people would dress up… not with this group… not with this tribe… 

It’s the opposite, you’re looked at differently if you don’t participate!

We had TennisDeck for our Destination Monday, due to the location being on a tennis court, where we went all out with burpees/pushups/V-Ups/Mountain Climbers…

The Ladies decked out in Tennis Gear [Steph, me, Allie]

Accountability [Matt and myself]

And Wednesday we all paid tribute to another city’s tribe leaders father who passed away suddenly... so we rocked purple and sweet moustaches… or in Matt’s case… a creep’stache J

[Allie, Matt, myself, and Kathryn]

The feeling of getting in some long runs recently has been awesome. I was able to do a slow and steady 8 miler last Sunday morning, and it couldn't have started the day out any better. 

The weather was near perfect and it was just me and the other runners gracing the city at 8am on a Sunday. 

There’s a quiet sense of community in those early morning moments… as if we all share something, even if only that one thing being running early on a Sunday morning, while the rest of the world is recovering from the night before.

So last night… looking at my 100 mile challenge with Matt on the T ride home, and seeing myself a good 12 miles behind him… I decided I needed to go for a really good, longer, run. 

I got home, changed into a comfortable running outfit and set off into the city. 

Once clear of the Massachusetts Avenue scene near the hospitals, I was able to really get in the mindset of this run. 

I decided to go along the same route as my prior 8 miles, but I would just go a mile further.

Let me tell you… running over the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge, with a soft breeze and a city all lit up… It’s almost breathtaking.  

Looking over at Harvard Stadium at my halfway point

As the mileage kept adding up, my pace felt steadier and steadier… at least for the first 7 miles [I did start to feel it a little after that]. 

I wasn’t having to walk as much, and I was lucking out with the shuffle for my music. 

Eminem “I’m not Afraid” came on twice, and something about that song really pushes me to run. 

A couple lyrics in particular always stand out to me:

“When I say I'ma do something I do it… I don't give a d*** what you think… I'm doing this for me”

“Cause I'm raising the bar….. I'd shoot for the moon but I'm too busy gazing at stars…. I feel amazing”

Running has always been “my thing” since I started to really get into it back in late 2008 early 2009, so it’s important to me to never lose that drive with it… which is probably why I sign up for so many 5ks, 10ks, and now half marathons [and one full marathon ;) ]

I feel accomplished in something every time I finish a run, whether in a race format or not. 

It’s one of the few aspects in life that I have complete control over, so I seek that reward, and know I’m the only one that can give that to myself.

So when I arrived home last night, drenched in sweat, body aching a little… 

I felt accomplished. 

I just finished 10 miles. Although I’m not up to the marathon training mileage yet… I’m slowly getting back to that point. The cross training of November Project is starting to show its benefits, and I’m excited to continue down this path.

Because right now, I’m on a natural high… and I don’t feel like coming down. 

Well... Here I Go... [again]

Thinking back to the morning of April 15, 2013... I thought I was within reach of crossing that beloved Boston Marathon Finish Line. I had made it over Heartbreak Hill and was ready for the last leg... I had dreamed about what it would be like to take that corner onto Boylston Street, be surrounded by cheering people who came to watch, and meeting up with my family after, with a Boston Marathon Medal around my neck.

Seeing my Family on Heartbreak Hill

We all know that ending didn't happen... and we all know what did happen.

My ending consisted of meeting my parents on a side street in the Seaport District by my friends hotel with tears/hugs/and thankfulness that we were all unharmed [physically].

When I knew the Finish Line wasn't an option anymore...

Fast forward. 

August 19, 2013... at 7pm... I received my confirmation of entry into the 2014 Boston Marathon.

Not only will the special-ness and nationwide meaning of this marathon motivate me, but I've got more than 10 weeks to train this time around and dammit if I don't take advantage of that. My 'projected' finish time set out by the B.A.A. is not where I wanted to finish, and I'm going to do everything I can to improve that time; so when my name gets published as an "official" finisher I can be happy with the time next to it.

It's taken a lot of self reflection to look at what my weaknesses and my strengths were in running those 24.5 miles to figure out what I need to do differently this training-go-round.

One thing I know I didn't do enough of was... Training.With.Hills... Running around the flatness of Southie did not prepare me for that course... especially Heartbreak Hill... that Heartbreak Hill literally broke my heart. It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't at miles 17-21 of the race, but good god did those 5 miles hurt. [note: your heart gets put back together times 1,000 when you reach the top though].

Recently, I've made a major change to my workout regiment and I don't know the full on effects of my actual running yet, but the mentality of it all has improved ten fold.

I'd heard about "The November Project" over a year ago, and had always been somewhat intrigued, but never had the guts to go by myself, nor could I seem to convince any of my friends to wake up for a 6:30am workout three days a week.

Insert my friend Matt.

My friend Matt had recently gotten into road races and tough mudders and is running his first half marathon at the end of September. Our conversations as of recently have pretty much revolved around running and fitness [we had just signed up for a Neon Color Run in October]. I mentioned to him in passing conversation the concept behind the November Project and he was intrigued. I had thought maybe we would start the following week, but his response was exactly the attitude I've come to find of all November Project Tribe Members... "so we start tomorrow?" he asked... with my response being an intimidated, "tomorrow?!"

and here comes the punch...
"what's our excuse?"

The truth was... I had zero excuse to not start the following day.

So we did. 

We carpooled and made our way to Harvard Stadium for 6:30am. The entire car ride over questioning if we were completely insane. The simple answer being yes; but an awesome yes.

We were immediately forced to interact with those around us.. give some high fives... learn some names... and bear hug those around us. The next thing I knew I was tackling the sections of the Harvard Stadium. By the time I reached Section 19 with all the other "newbies" I knew I would be back every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until for some reason I couldn't. We were hooked.

Loving November Project

I don't know what it is exactly... or maybe I know exactly what it is.

I'm surrounded by people from all over Boston, coming together at the crack of dawn, to kick our own asses. We cheer each other on... we encourage each other to keep going... we share the common goal of wanting to finish the workouts set out for us.

And I can't quite explain, but for something I'm paying zero dollars for, and have no direct relationship with the two people telling me what to do for a workout...

I've never worked harder.

Monday Destination Deck Workout 

I've also never been as sore after a workout before. If you think you're in shape... come to November Project and tell me if you still think that after your first couple workouts with them.

Mondays we meet in varying locations around the city for a deck of cards/circuit workout, and if you live closer than 6 miles, you're expected to run there. Can't say I ever thought I'd play Sharks and Minnows at this age, with people my age, but I did, and I love it.

Wednesday we meet at Harvard Stadium and climb up and down each section. When you're short like me, climbing the seats part is quite the challenge, but the surrounding people motivate you to just keep going. Even when you don't think you can possibly do another section, someone is reaching out for a high five, or coming in for a sweaty hug. The power of people is amazing.

Fridays we run Summit Avenue in Brookline.. I use to avoid this hill like the plague when I lived near it. I would legit walk an extra half mile around it to avoid it...

Now? Now it's the weekly challenge.

I'm an amazing downhill runner [hmm imagine that] but it's the uphill that gets me. Right now I putter in a slow, tiny step, jog for the first part of the uphill and then I have to walk... my body just isn't there yet...keyword: yet.

Summit Avenue Hills Workout #EarnYourWeekend

[Read more about November Project Here]

I learned through my previous training that I need to listen to my body, and rest it when it needs rest. But to also know the difference between my body needing rest and me just making up excuses.

That's the best part of this whole November Project... Matt's become my accountability. We both know the other is going to show up, and we both aren't going to let the other person down by not being there. It's a motivation I haven't had before.

I've also somehow managed to get into a 100 mile challenge with Matt through Nike+  [what's wrong with us?] so this is added motivation on those days in between to get out and get some straight mileage in... He's currently beating me, but give me time... I'll catch up!

I'm hoping with this mix of cross training to really build my endurance, which is something I have always lacked with long distance running. So it'll be interesting to see how it all plays out.

You're probably going to get sick of reading about my natural highs of November Project stuff... but my response is simply going to be, I don't care. Or... just come out and try it yourself, and I'm almost positive you'll get hooked.

I'm going to do as I did in my last blog, and keep you posted on the ups and downs, pains and strains, emotional and physical highs and lows of my training.

The Boston Marathon is still a long ways away, but in the same mind set... it's around the corner.

I hope you'll keep on me, on keeping up with this blog as you did the last.
My motivation levels are at an all time high so I'd like to ride this train as long as possible. :)

~Stephanie

Upcoming Events:
October 4th- Neon Run 5k
October 13th- B.A.A. Half Marathon
October 26th- Blacklight Run 5k