Tedy’s Team Group Run – 6 Miles

12 degrees. 16 degrees. 17 degrees. Freakin' cold. All temperatures I saw forecasted for the first Tedy's Team group run of the 2014 Boston Marathon training season.

Ummm ... Yay?

I know I know. I live in Boston. I do this to myself. Yes I know that, but I like to delay the cold weather for as long as possible.

Every charity team conducts their training runs differently.

Tedy's Team has an amazing coach, John Furey, who helps with the long group runs on Saturday morning and also offers any running advice we need. Let me tell you this guy was a HUGE help to me when I saw him at Mile 20 of the Boston Marathon in April and experiencing immense right heel pain. If I didn't see him at Mile 20, get a pep talk and some swedish fish, I'm not sure how the last 10k of the race would have gone.

This year our group runs would start at Joint Ventures Physical Therapy and Fitness in Kenmore Square. It is a great deal since they have an area for us to store gear, a place to stretch, foam rollers to borrow and a place to call base camp after the run. The one benefit of moving where the group runs are being held is the avoidance of the hill on Beacon St. This was only a .3-mile long hill, but it was brutal to see at the end of a 10-,12- or even 18-miler. Now we can avoid that. Yay! Tiny victory. :P

It was GREAT seeing everyone this morning - lots of hugs and smiles.

Special thanks to my teammate Meg and her husband Josh were able to give me a ride in since the T would've taken over an hour on a Saturday morning. We made sure to meet the group in time for the 8am kickoff.

Since I usually train alone, I look forward to these Saturday runs with folks that have become great friends over the last year.

The mileage options for today were 6, 8 or 10 miles and I opted for the 6, which was perfect for today. :)

Meg, Cristina, Nancy and I headed out and it was like no time had passed since our last group run together back in April. We fell right into conversation and it was awesome. Thankfully Facebook has kept us connected since the Marathon.

I was looking to keep the pace light and at Mile 1 my Garmin pinged - 9:00 on the money. Perfect. It was just what I wanted to see. At that point, I flipped the Garmin over so the face was on the inside of my arm and tuned it out.

This run was about the people and the experience.

It was great seeing so many other charity teams taking to the streets of Boston as well. Many familiar faces from the year before.

Having run with Tedy's Team last year, it was great being back on familiar territory. Like coming home.

As we ran, we all chatted about the holidays and the impending snow storm. You know the usual winter topics in New England.

Mile 2: 9:20. Fine by me. As we hit Mile 2, you hit a more pedestrian area with more stopping/starting with street lights. But again, not about pace.

We hit Coolidge Corner and Meg and I were back in stride. We had done a majority of the training runs together last year. She is a faster runner than I am so I enjoyed being pushed by her each week. Plus the conversations were always great.

Mile 3: 8:59. And the turnaround. We hit Coolidge Corner and were ready to make our way back to base camp. For only 1/2 a second I thought about pushing it to the 8 then decided 6 was good. I have another run tomorrow so it is okay. :)

When we turned around we hit a bit of a downhill, which was lovely. Also the turnaround gave a great time for high-fives and waves to other teammates. I love the running community and high-fives.

Tedy's Team is awesome enough to also have a water stop (or more depending on distance) during the run which you can hit multiple times on the down-and-back course we run. So I need to thank John (coach) and Margaret for hanging out there in the freezing weather. We heated up as we ran - they didn't while they stood there. So thanks guys! Can't wait to see you each week. :)

Mile 4: 8:24. Here is where the old groove came back. We got caught up in conversation about the Marathon Bombings and our experiences and the legs did what they wanted. Around this time we met up with our teammate Carly who joined us for the remainder of the run.

Talk of how frozen our body parts were became topic. I just kept thinking about how it will only get colder folks. ;)

Mile 5: 8:00. Hello downhill. You were a glorious addition to Mile 5. I was the only one wearing a Garmin in our group - hey I gotta keep this mileage total accurate - so I was letting the ladies know that we only had a mile left before we could be inside.

It was odd not having the large Beacon St Hill looming in front of us for the final bit of the run, but I can say I didn't miss it one bit. :P We ended up finishing with a final mile of 8:13.

Not too shabby at all. My foot was sore the whole time, but nothing unbearable. I was hoping for an average pace around 8:45 before getting to the run this morning and was happy with an 8:39. I enjoy running with more skilled runners than I am as it is the push I need. Also, it is easier to push yourself when running with people.

We didn't waste time getting indoors once the run ended. It is nice to have a place to stretch and foam roll after a run. And you can catch up with everyone else to see how their runs went. The great thing about group runs is the range of paces and mileage being OWNED.

I tried to get a sneaky pic of the room/group. I will get better about taking pics with teammates over the course of the season. I love sharing other people's stories about why they are taking part.

But, in the end, no matter your pace or mileage, we are all there for one reason: charity. Each person is helping to raise awareness for and to fight either Stroke or whatever other cause they are running for. That bonds people together.

Until next week's run...

***

Week 1 Workouts:

Sunday, December 8: 55 min Zumba class and 3.9 mile run

Monday, December 9: 3 mile run and 47 min Spin class

Tuesday, December 10: 4 mile run

Wednesday, December 11: 5 mile run

Thursday, December 12: 2 mile run

Friday, December 13: 4 mile run

Saturday, December 14: 6 mile group run and gym date with a friend

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Looking To Donate

Are you interested in helping to fight Stroke? Please feel free to click on the link HERE to share a donation. Wondering how much? How about $6 in honor of the 6 miles I ran today with Tedy's Team?

Dopey Challenge Update

One month. One month until I take on the biggest challenge of my running career.

That's right.

The Dopey Challenge begins one month from today.

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How time flies! I announced on April 9 that "I'm Dopey!"

And now the final decisions and training gets done.

Trip - January 7-14.

Flights - booked.

Hotel - reserved. We got into Pop Century after our original hotel fell through.

Park Tickets - bought.

Magicbands - secured.

Race Retreat - registered.

Meetup - set.

WDWRaceTweetUp (1)

Make sure you join Kat (@KatrinaElleP), Linzie (@SeeSharpRun) & I at Downtown Disney on January 9 at 1pm for a sweet TweetUp. There will be fun, friends and prizes!!  Stay tuned for a list of the awesome prizes we will be giving away that day!

Costumes - decided.

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5k - Minnie Mouse

10k - Tinker Bell

Half - Jessie from Toy Story

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Yes I am reusing costume from the Disney Half in January 2013! It was a winner! :)

Full - Snow White

Training - ummmm....

So here's where the plan goes a tad awry. I was rocking a great training plan until September 22nd when everything changed.

Enter metatarsalgia.

I think you can see how it has affected my training:

August: 129.00

September: 128.90

October: 65.40

November: 54.50

Ouch!

So where do I stand today? My longest run since I started Dopey Training in August has been a half marathon. I haven't run that far since October 27 when I took on the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Los Angeles.

At this point in time, I should be knocking out a 20-mile training run every weekend in December. But that won't be happening.

My goal now is to build as good of a base as I can. I am taking part in the #RWRunStreak and have put in at least 1 mile every day since Thanksgiving.

I am going to try to get in at least one 20-miler before I head to Disney if possible. If I don't, it will be okay. I know I will finish the Dopey Challenge.

I am not participating in the Dopey Challenge for time, but for fun! You can bet I will be taking pictures with as many characters as possible and sharing laughs with friends.

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I am actually running the 10k with Krissy, possibly the Half with Kat and maybe the Full with my friend Kitty. Now if only I can find a friend for the 5k. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? ;)

Did that sound desperate?

:)

No matter what I will complete those 48.6 magical miles and these 6 glorious medals will be mine.

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And I will enjoy every single second of the journey!

***

Are you also taking on the Dopey Challenge? How is your training coming along?

Dani Dishes 12-9-13

On this episode of Dani Dishes, I am reclaiming my mojo with the help of family and puppies!! Check out what I did this week! :)

My Recent Running Finds

New toys. New shiny things. New running clothes. I love finding new gadgets or clothing to improve my running/gym experiences.

Here are a few things that I have found through the interwebs.

1) Cory Vines 

Cory Vines is a clothing company out of Montreal, Canada. I had the honor of speaking with their founder Daniel over the phone a couple of weeks back. Their products are available online only, which helps with cost, and are all about the buyers' needs.

We aren’t trying to sell 10,000 items. We only make things we are really excited about. Our goal is to keep it simple by providing a seamless shopping experience. We produce everything you need and nothing that you don't.

I sampled the Essential Long Sleeve in Sunset (pictured above), which retails for $35 USD. The fabric is soft, light and extremely breathable. Not only did it serve as a great base layer for my run it also is soft enough to wear while lounging on the couch watching movies.

Don't you love a versatile and functional piece of clothing?

2) KT Tape

I have been using KT Tape on my knee for all of my big races, especially since many of the bigger races have KT Tape booths at the expo so you can try it for free.

But as my body took a beating during marathon training for The Boston Marathon in April 2013, I needed support more often. I finally got the courage to try applying KT Tape myself rather than letting the experts do it at a race expo. :)

KT Tape has instructional videos on their website that make it easy enough for someone like me to correctly apply the tape.

I use it on my knee on almost a daily basis for stabilization during my runs/workouts. After injuring my wrist during an obstacle race this past summer, I needed something to help stabilize my wrist while strength training and KT Tape came to the rescue.

After seeing my friend Heather post on Instagram about KT Tape helping her ball-of-foot pain, I had to give it a try. I was diagnosed with Metatarsalgia last month and the metatarsal pad wasn't helping my pain in the slightest so I turned to KT Tape to help relieve some of the pain. I was skeptical at first because how could tape help relieve the pressure, but it has really helped. More so than the metatarsal pad. Now the pain isn't 100% disappearing, but it is making running bearable. I've even been able to participate in the #RWRunStreak thanks to KT Tape.

3) Armpocket

I was contacted to test out Armpocket and I am so happy they reached out! I had never heard of this product before.

The Armpocket (this model valued at $29.95) can hold your phone, ID, credit cards, train pass, money for a post-run low-fat chocolate milk or coffee ;) and more. And by more I mean I could fit my ENERGYBits, my natural running energy boost, in the armband so I wouldn't have to bring an extra bag to a race when traveling solo.

Traveling to races or long runs solo is always nerve-wracking to me. Where will I bag check or stash my stuff along the way. But Armpocket can actually hold all of my essentials in one place, while keeping them dry (it's water resistant), being lightweight on my arm and keeping me fueled throughout the run.

The Armpocket offers different colors and different models to match all smart phones!

4) Zensah Smart Running Gloves

How many times have you tried to change a song on your iPod during a run only to have your glove fail at "swiping" the smart phone screen?

Enter the Zensah Smart Running Gloves (retail $29.99).

The gloves not only keep your hands warm, but they also allow you to finally change the songs on your iPod or text a friend without having to take your gloves off. Let me tell you as someone that runs in the unbearable cold temperatures of the Boston winter I am psyched for these beauties. They are going to come in pretty handy while training for the 2014 Boston Marathon.

The gloves in action setting up my Runkeeper for my latest run. Look ma gloves on and I can still work my phone! :)

5) ACTIVE Accessories

Active Accessories’ On-The-Go Accessory Pouch is a versatile, sporty clutch designed for people of all ages who are always “on the go”. Designed to fill the reoccurring need of a “fun and athletic looking” accessory holder to put jewelry in when going from work to the gym or running outside. Never lose an earring again!

Since I usually head to the gym from home, I haven't had to use it to hold my jewelry accessories (as the owner of Active Accessories, Nancy, does) but instead as a way to bring my essentials on walk with a friend to get coffee or a trip to the gym. This cute clutch (value $9.99) can hold my ID, credit card, cash, keys and my iPhone while I am out and about. This is a HUGE help since I usually jam all of that stuff in my pockets, which isn't the most secure way to do it, or I leave everything on top of the piece of the exercise equipment I am using and inevitably fall of mid-workout. So now all of my valuables are in one safe spot.

Plus, I can rock this on a daily basis while running errands as well. Talk about getting your $10 worth.

But, I like where Nancy was going when inventing this product. When I had to go straight from work to the gym or vice versa, I would just shove my jewelry in the side pocket of my gym bag, which wasn't a safe way to hold my valuables or a way to keep my necklaces from tangling with my earrings.

6) 1BandID

I am one forgetful person when it comes to heading out for my run or leaving the house on the norm. So when I found 1BandID I got excited that I could now attach my information (which every runner should have on them whenever they are out hitting the pavement) to my Garmin. I never run/walk without my Garmin so having my info attached to the Garmin itself seems genius.

I was sold after reading their website:

What Makes 1BandID Different

• It attaches to your watch, GPS or Heart Rate Monitor band, the one thing triathletes, runners and most cyclists wear most often. It simplifies safety and helps make ID unforgettable.
• Patented design that minimizes bulk and weight. It's an identification tag that is so light and comfortable you won't even know it's there until you need it the most. So while you're checking your heart rate, distance or time, or clocking another lap at the track, 1BandID has your back. 
• Neoprene instead of nylon so it doesn't absorb water. It's ID that is built to withstand countless hours in the pool or any weather mother nature throws at you on the road or trail.
• Nearly indestructible stainless steel tag holds up to 6 lines of crystal clear contact and medical information. Because seconds count in an emergency, the most important information is plainly visible on the front of the tag.
• Available in lots of colors so you can accessorize your race kit, show off your mood or just pick your favorite.
• Made in the USA and proudly shared around the world.

All of that for $19.99. Seems like a no-brainer to me!

***

There are just a few of the new products that I've discovered and enjoyed using on my runs/trips to the gym recently!

I hope some of these can help you! :)

2013 Road Races

January 1 - 1st Run 5k - 23:07 (7:27 min/mile) - RECAP

January 12 - Walt Disney World Half Marathon - 1:48:09 (8:15 min/mile) - RECAP

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February 3 - Super Sunday 5 - 38:34 (7:43 min/mile) - RECAP

February 24 - Half At The Hamptons - CANCELLED (we made our own virtual run)

February 24 - *VIRTUAL* Half At The Hamptons - 1:58:04 (9:01 min/mile) - RECAP

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March 10 - Half Of Quincy - CANCELLED (rescheduled for May 5)

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April 14 - B.A.A. (Boston Athletic Association) 5k - 27:35 (8:54 min/mile) - RECAP

April 15 - 117th Boston Marathon - 4:04:08 (9:19 min/mile) - RECAP

April 27 - 26.2 Challenge Team Relay - Team: 3:04:57 ... Me: 31:18 (7:11 min/mile) - RECAP

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May 5 - Half of Quincy - 1:44:30 (7:59 min/mile) - RECAP

May 12 - MOM's Run 5k - 23:31 (7:35 min/mile) - RECAP

May 26 - Boston's Run To Remember (Half Marathon) - 1:53:00 (8:38 min/mile) - RECAP

May 26 - Freedom Run 5k - 24:57 (8:02 min/mile) - RECAP

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June 15 - Ruckus Boston - 47:33 (11:53 min/mile) - RECAP

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July 14 - VERT - Sasqautch Trail Race - 19:15 (8:12 min/mile) - RECAP

July 27 - Urban RAID Boston - 36:03 (11:35 min/mile) - RECAP

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August 4 - Boston Triathlon - 1:24:58.6 - RECAP

August 18 - Race To The Row 5k - PR 21:59.2 (7:05 min/mile) - RECAP

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September 8 - Women's Triathlon - 1:25:48 - RECAP

September 15 - Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon - PR 1:44:12 (7:58 min/mile) - RECAP

September 16 - The Dani Ryan Holmes-Kirk 2nd Annual 30th Birthday 5k Run-Walk Ramble - 26:40 (8:36 min/mile) - RECAP

September 21 - VERT - Big Bad Wolf Trail Race (5 miles) - 40:38 (8:08 min/mile) - RECAP

September 28 - ZOOMA Cape Cod Half Marathon - 1:47:35 (8:13 min/mile) - RECAP

September 29 - Rock 'n' Roll Providence Half Marathon - 1:57:22 (8:44 min/mile) - RECAP

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October 4 - Electric Run 5k - untimed - RECAP

October 6 - Oktoberfest 5k - 23:20 (7:31 min/mile) - RECAP

October 12 - Rock 'n' Roll Brooklyn 10k - 50:30 (8:08 min/mile) - RECAP

October 26 - Haunted Trails of the Night 10k - 1:20:54 (13:03 min/mile) - RECAP

October 27 - Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon - 1:53:19 (8:39 min/mile) - RECAP

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November 3 - FBC Autumn Trail Race (4+ Miles) - 1:00:26 - RECAP

November 28 - Gobble Gobble Gobble 4-Miler - 38:55 (9:44 min/mile) - RECAP

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December 1 - Yulefest 5k - 24:47 (7:59 min/mile) - RECAP

December 7 - Jolly Jaunt 5k - 23:56 (7:42 min/mile) - RECAP

Boston's Jolly Jaunt 5k 2013

It's the FINAL countdown... da da da daaaaa! After finishing Yulefest 5k on December 1st, I knew I needed to add one more race to my race calendar for 2013. Why? Well Yulefest marked my 30th race of the year and seeing as how I turned 31 in September I thought it would be fitting to complete 31 races the year I turned 31.

Was I really just finding an excuse to sign up for one more race? Maybe.

But let me live in my own little world here. Okay? Thanks.

I turned to Twitter, Facebook and the rest of the interwebs to find one more race supporting a great cause.

And there was the Jolly Jaunt 5k on Saturday, December 7th in Boston Common in support of the Special Olympics of Massachusetts.

BINGO!

On Friday, December 6th, I got a ride in town to pick up my bib at New Balance on Boylston Street. As we drove down Boylston, we drove over the Boston Marathon Finish Line. I tried to act cool, but like usual I started tearing up. Someday I am sure I won't start crying when I am in that area of Boston but for now I let my body and heart feel whatever emotions it needs to.

The bib pick-up was easy peasy and I was in out and in about 3 minutes. Score!

I love the long-sleeved t-shirt - a nice benefit of running winter races in New England.

The race kicked off at 10am on Saturday, which meant I could sleep in a little. It would be my last Saturday to sleep in since Boston Marathon training with Tedy's Team starts December 14th.

My wife dropped me off at 9:30am. I wandered around Boston Common looking for the two people I knew running, but unfortunately never connected with them. I did, however, find the awesome folks of ENERGYBits so I was able to catch up with them.

(Note: If you are looking to try ENERGYBits, you can use discount code WeightOffMyShoulders for 25% off your order!)

Before I knew it it was time to line up. Yes recently at races I have gotten so caught up in chatting with folks that the whole "race" thing sneaks up on me. ;)

The race had just under 1,000 participants on hand - running and walking - and most of the field were rocking some amazingly festive outfits. I loved the buzz before the Start. There were so many families participating and lots of kids getting ready to beat me run fast. ;)

After the police gave the A-okay, the race was on. Pretty much right on time - I love a prompt Start.

I decided to leave my music at home and just take in the atmosphere. I also went into the race without any expectations. I just wanted to go out feeling happy and healthy.

My right foot felt better than it had at Yulefest and I noticed a slightly quicker pace on my Garmin. I knew I wouldn't PR, but I made sure to give the race my 100%.

The number of spectators were small since it was supposed to be very cold temps, but the ones along the course were sure vocal! :) I got distracted by all the costumes around me that I didn't realize we were already at the half way mark.

As we made the turn at the half way mark to head back to Boston Commons, we actually merged on to a portion of the Boston Marathon course. I got lost in my thoughts and transported back to Marathon Monday - the last time I had run this part of the city. I allowed only the happy memories to flood into my brain.

It gave me the little boost in my step that I needed.

I checked in on the Garmin and saw I had just 1/2 a mile to go. My Santa socks were slipping down and my headband was starting to slip back on my head, but I was tuning that stuff out.

I looked to my right as we turned on to Arlington St and there was my stoop. It was the stoop I sat on with my friend Robin after the Boston Marathon where I waited for my family. Every time I pass that stoop I start to tear up and I could feel myself doing it again. So I turned back in front of me and focused on getting to the Finish.

I needed a distraction.

So I found a person in front of me and made it my goal to beat them. I got a little deeper into my form and pulled any extra speed I had from inside.

The Finish Line was buzzing with supporters, families and racers who had already finished.

Race #31 was in the books. It turned out to be a beautiful sunny day, a fun race and great awareness raised for one amazing organization.

Despite my bum right foot (damn that metatarsalgia), I posted a 23:56 finish time. Wow! I was definitely happy with those results.

I am missing my speed from earlier in the year, but I know that it is out of my control right now. I know I will get in back in due time.

But I need to thank New Balance and the Special Olympics of Massachusetts for a great race. I will be back next year for sure!

For now, I will continue planning my 2014 racing schedule as 2013 has officially come to a close.

I think. ;)

***

Do you have any more races in 2013?

Yulefest 5k with Team Slumbrew

My favorite race of the Cambridge 5k series is the last one: the Yulefest 5k in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Ma.

Feel free to read the 2012 race recap HERE.

Yulefest 2012

Yulefest was my second to last race in 2012 and would also prove to be my second to last race in 2013. Interesting.

I had the honor of running with Team Slumbrew for the second year in a row.

Note: I did NOT run the race holding the tree! ;0)

The 2013 team would be even more special than the 2012 team. Why? Because one of Slumbrew's founders, Caitlin, would be making her first race appearance. Yay! :) I love seeing new runners born.

I wanted to allow plenty of time for members of the Slumbrew team to pick up our SWEET team jackets that I set up shop in front of City Sports in Harvard at 8:30am.

Aren't they amazing?

After handing out jackets to our 37-person team, it was time to get my wristband so that I could enjoy the post-race party! Eddie (Cambridge 5k race director) did a great job having plenty of staff on hand checking IDs and handing out wristbands. It took me about a minute to get myself all hooked up.

Before I knew it it was 9:15am and time to head over to the Yulefest starting line. It was the same course as last year, which was comforting. I have been nursing the ball-of-foot pain in my right foot so it was nice to know what to expect over the 3.1 mile race. I knew I wouldn't be putting up a PR, but as always I would be giving it my 100%.

I need to send a HUGE thanks to my girl Kim (friend and fellow Slumbrew runner) for hanging back and running the race with me. I knew I was slowing her down, but it was great to catch up and chat. Kim and I had run the Boston's Run To Remember Half and Freedom Run 5k together in May. If you don't remember she got hurt during the half, but pushed through and finished the Half and then finished the 5k about an hour later. One of my heroes and good friends. :)

But I digress...

I knew my foot felt off from the beginning so I wanted to run conservatively. It would be a steady run through the streets of Cambridge. Kim is also running the Boston Marathon in 2014 so it was great to talk strategy and fundraising ideas while we ran.

Eddie is an amazing race director and has fostered a great following in the local running community so I ended up seeing a bunch of people I knew along the course. A great way to stay motivated over the three miles. I cheered on fellow Slumbrew teammates, high-fived folks in some outstanding costumes and just enjoyed the atmosphere. Plus, I knew there was some yummy Slumbrew beer waiting for me at the Finish Line. :)

As we approached the final 1/4 mile, I told Kim to run ahead. I thought she could still make a PR, but I messed up the pacing math in my head. Oops. It was great to see her speed off in front of me.

I ended up posting a 24:47, good for a 7:59 min/mile pace. I finished 327th out of 1,467 overall. I will happily take top 23% with a bum foot.

The frustrating thing about facing this foot injury is that the rest of my body feels amazing. You know what I mean? It is tough to tell my head and the rest of my body to slow it down and to reel it back in all because of my stupid right foot.

But, I have to think in the long term and the races I have in the future so it is OKAY to sacrifice a time in the present for my long-term racing/running career.

And hey I can't be upset that as my running has progressed my "this feel comfortable" pace is around an 8 min/mile pace. The me that started with a 12 min/mile pace is doing cartwheels over this fact.

Now again I love running with team because as I came to the Finish and crossed there were a small group of Slumbrew-ers there yelling my name.

As more folks crossed, we decided to move ourselves to a spot just before the Finish so we could cheer on the rest of our teammates, especially the folks finishing their first ever race.

Thanks Jamie for this photo!

Gosh I LOVE cheering people on at races. It just makes me so happy. I love seeing people push themselves and accomplish things they never thought possible.

After we finished cheering on all of our runners/walkers, it was time to head to the post-race party and celebrate!! Plus stretch for the always epic post-race dance off, a Cambridge 5k series tradition.

Isn't that one sexy team? I am so proud to be a part of it.

It really has been a great experience being part of a team like this - meeting new people and sharing a love of running and beer.

Amy and I post-race

I was just a little excited over Caitlin finishing her first race!

Since it is December and it was getting chilly, the wife and I headed to Davis Square (Somerville) for lunch at Joshua Tree. Joshua Tree happened to have Slumbrew Porter Square Porter in bottles so I kept the theme of the day going. ;)

The Cambridge 5k series has quickly become one of my favorite local Boston running series and you can bet I'll be back for 2014.

***

Have you run a Cambridge 5k race? Do you love to celebrate a race with a nice local brew after?

Gobble Gobble Gobble 4-Miler

The day before Thanksgiving when most people are cooking, shopping for appetizers for Thanksgiving or meeting up with friends at bars, I was freakin' out because I didn't have an outfit picked out for the following day's Gobble Gobble Gobble 4-Miler ($28) in Davis Square (Somerville, MA).

I headed to Target, Kohl's, Party City and KMart with no luck at finding anything that could pass as a Thanksgiving-themed hat. I was feeling deflated. One of my favorite parts of races is finding an appropriate costume to rock! ;)

I had lost hope, but I wasn't ready to give up. After picking my wife up from the train station later that day, I gave it one last shot - Christmas Tree Shops. I mean that store usually has everything...

... and they came through in the clutch! :)

I found this beauty for $5!!!!

Amazing, right? The store had three different options (yay!) and this seemed like the one that would actually stay on my head while running.

Once I had my headgear set, I could sleep soundly. It is the little things with me apparently.

Thankfully my friend/fellow Weight Watchers Leader Heather would be running the race as well so she offered to give me a lift. I had already made up my mind that I would run the race with her, but hadn't shared the news with her yet. I was going to surprise her when we got to the race. :)

Heather is new to running - she started in 2012 - so she likes to get to races with plenty of time to spare. A lady after my own heart.

Her husband dropped us off in Davis Square and we went in search of a warm place to hide out until it was time to line up for the race. We decided to step into a Starbucks. After about 5 minutes in the shop, I realized I was wearing a shirt that said "Friends Don't Let Friends Drink Starbucks."

Ummmm oops! :P

I can think on my feet so I used my awesome hat to cover my shirt. As we approached the 9:00am start, we ducked into the local Boston Sports Club so I could use my membership to use the nice bathroom instead of the port-o-potties. Score!

Just as we hit the Start Line my dad showed up! Yay! We had a fan at the Start AND someone to snap our pic.

I told Heather that I would be running with her for the race and she was surprised and excited. Phew! She was pushing for a sub-40 4-mile race and I was going to make that happen! :)

When we checked out the weather report in the days leading up to the Thanksgiving Day race, there was nothing but COLD COLD COLD temperatures being reported. But thankfully New England being New England actually had better weather than predicted. I didn't need the scarf, but forgot to toss it to my dad before we started.

It was nice to get so many compliments about my Sparkle Athletic skirt. People wanted to know where they could one for themselves. I love sharing the sparkle.

The gun sounded and we were off.

Being from Somerville and doing countless races in the Davis Square area, I knew the lay of the lands without needing to look at a course map so I could prep Heather as we ran.

I had a great time chatting with Heather the whole race. She was OWNING it. We had a bit of a clog at the start of the race, but I love the 4-mile distance because it really spreads out the paces. I find some 5ks are congested the whole time since so many people have similar 5k paces. I don't know if it is fact or just in my head, but after we hit Mile 1 - we had plenty of space to get into a zone.

We were chatting about my upcoming Dopey Challenge and how Heather is currently training for her first half marathon (I'm wicked proud). She is going to take on her first Disney race in 2015 - Princess Half. As we were talking Dopey Challenge costumes, a girl next to us chimed in about her experience doing a Run Disney race.

I LOVE chatting with other runners during races. Not all of them like to talk back, but that's okay. I was glad this girl did. :)

As we hit Mile 2, I let Heather know that she was doing awesome and that we were rocking a 9:45 min/mile pace. She was rocking it.

I knew the second half of the race would be a tad hillier.

When running with others, I never know if they want encouragement throughout the race, if they want to know when hills are approaching, etc. So I made sure to keep checking in with Heather to make sure I wasn't taking her out of the zone. We were on the same page.

We headed up one of the bigger hills and reminded Heather that we could slow down whenever she needed it. Slow and steady up the hill and use the downhill to recover.

We took the final turn and almost immediately hit the Mile 3 marker. It was a straight shot to the Finish from there. We would head up one more small incline and then it was downhill all the way to the Finish line. I love that part of the course back into Davis Square.

I counted down the last 1/2 mile or so for Heather in case she wanted to give it a final push to the end.

AND SHE DID IT!

Heather's official time was 38:54 and mine was 38:55 - both good for a 9:44 min/mile pace.

Ah-may-zing! And my dad was right there at the Finish Line cheering for us both!!

I was so proud of her and happy we were able to enjoy the race together.

And my outfit got some great shoutouts during the race! Yay!

Of course I had to celebrate another race completed with a Dunkin' Donuts Iced Coffee. The folks working at the Dunkins I went to appreciated the shirt. ;) If only it scored me a free coffee - maybe next time.

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Did you participate in a Thanksgiving Day race? Rock a costume?

Dani Dishes 12-2-13

On this episode of Dani Dishes, I'm talking about what is really going on in my brain and how I want to enter 2014 - why has my confidence taken a hit lately? injury? sick? Seasons changing?  

Tedy's Team, Raffle Basket & 5 Months 'til Boston Marathon!

Thank you to everyone that donated to Tedy's Team. This fundraiser raised $630!! Woo!! Congratulations to Abby K for winning the raffle basket!!!

Winner selected from Random.org.

How crazy is it that it picked 54 - Tedy Bruschi's jersey # with the Patriots. *Destiny*

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Tedy's Team.

I am honored to be on a team with such amazing, dedicated, smart, athletic and kind people.

Tedy's Team was founded by Former Patriot Tedy Bruschi, who suffered a stroke in February 2005 at the age of 31. The Stroke happened "just weeks after winning his third Super Bowl and days after returning from playing in the Pro Bowl in Hawaii.  As he recovered, Tedy committed himself to being an advocate, spokesperson, and inspiration for stroke survivors in our area."

So where do the runners come in?

Tedy asked the American Stroke Association to work with him to create “Tedy’s Team,” a group of runners raising money for the American Stroke Association and training to complete the Boston Marathon® and the Falmouth Road Race.  Their participation supports Tedy Bruschi’s fight against stroke and honors both the survivors and the loved ones lost to America’s No. 4 leading cause of death.

When I decided in 2013 that I wanted to run the Boston Marathon as a charity runner, I knew it had to be with Tedy's Team .

Why?

Because I have a very personal connection to Strokes. Both of my grandparents are Stroke Survivors, as well as, my wife's father.

I got the acceptance call from Zack, Senior Director of Tedy's Team, in October 2012 and was psyched! I was ready to help in the fight against Stroke and take part in one of the most historic events in the world, the Boston Marathon.

I had an amazing experience training for the Boston Marathon, meeting teammates and helping the American Stroke Association one dollar at a time. But during the training, I had an unexpected loss. My Grampa passed away two days after Christmas. It was a tough tough time.

But when I needed a push to go out in the snow and run 18 miles or a reminder why I was taking on this endeavor to begin with, I thought of him. I even wrote Grampa in the Sparkly Soul headband I wore at every Tedy's Team training run and during the Boston Marathon itself.

The 2013 Boston Marathon is something no one will forget. For those that don't know, I crossed the Finish Line about a minute before the explosions happened. My wife and dad were right near them, but thankfully we all came out unharmed. Here is my recap of that experience.

When asked after that day if I would run the Boston Marathon in 2014, I would say no. I was one and done.

But, things change.

On April 22, Tedy's Team reconvened to have the post-marathon party we didn't have on April 15. There Tedy and Heidi (his wife) posed with all the runners...

and Tedy announced that he would be running in 2014 and that all 2013 runners would be welcomed back to the team for 2014.

AND in that moment the decision was easy, HELL YEAH I would be back in 2014!!

I looked at my "Grampa" Sparkly Soul headband on my wrist, started tearing up, looked at my family and we all knew - I had to run again.

So here I sit, 5 months away from the 2014 Boston Marathon, which will be taking place on April 21, 2014, and while the training hasn't started yet the fundraising has. :) :)

To have the honor of wearing the Tedy's Team singlet again, I have committed to raising at least $5,000 ... and you can help!

In September, I did the 2nd annual 30th Birthday Run-Walk Ramble and once again raised $1000. Since then I have been reaching out to friends and families to start planting the fundraising seed.

At this moment, I have raised $2,950 out of the $5,000 fundraising minimum.

Which brings me to my latest fundraising effort: a raffle basket with amazing prizes - valued over $350!!

The Raffle Basket includes:

*1BandID (value $20)

*ENERGYBits Sample Pack (value $10)

*Got Chocolate Milk Team Refuel visor (value $16)

*Humana Gear Pedometer g1.0 (value $15)

*KT Tape Pro (value $20)

*Nike + iPod Sensor (value $20)

*Omron Pulse Monitor HR-500U (value $172)

*SONY 2GB W Series Walkman MP3 Player (value $70)

*The Biggest Loser: The Weight-Loss Program to Transform Your Body, Health, and Life (value $22)

 

Not Pictured: 1BandID and Team Refuel Visor

Here's how to enter: for every $10 you donate between now and Wednesday, November 27th at 5pm ET, you will get one chance to win the raffle basket. So $30 donated to Tedy's Team = 3 chances to win the basket, etc.

So where do you donate?? Click on this lovely link to get started ---- DONATE HERE!!

Let's Get To Fightin' Stroke!!