Want to Join Team Race Against CF?

Dear Family & Friends,

Feel like going for a run or walk? Come join us!

As you probably know by now, Liz lost her two sisters to Cystic Fibrosis. Annually, the Mullin Family has been involved with the Lehigh Valley Tennis Auction Ball which raises money for the Northeast Pennsylvania Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In 2007, Liz raised $185 dollars for CF by auctioning off the sponsorship of her race shirt for the Lehigh Valley Half Marathon.

This year we're looking to up the ante. Liz will be leading a team of runners/walkers for the Half Marathon, and Lauren will be leading a 5k team. By auctioning off the race shirt sponsorship for teams of runners/walkers in each race, we believe we can raise even more money to fight CF. We're writing to recruit you to join one of our teams.

Both races are on April 25th. As a team member we'll offer you lodging at the Mullin house, a pasta dinner the night before the race, and a tech-wick race shirt with a logo from the winning bidder. We are only asking that you pay for your registration fee ($55-60 for the half marathon and $35 for the 5K). The race goes through the beautiful Lehigh Valley Parkway, runs through a covered bridge, and finishes with a 600 meter run around the track at J. Birney Crum Stadium. This is a fun, relatively flat course which boasts 13 live musical performances along the route. Racers receive a finisher's medal, and either a technical t-shirt (5K) or an embroidered fleece vest (half marathon). This is a very popular race and will likely sell-out by mid/late January. We hope you decide you take advantage of the fun atmosphere and help us raise money to fight CF!

To register for the race, or get more information, please visit http://www.lehighvalleyhalfmarathon.com/index.html. Please also reply to this email if you'd like to participate so we can order the correct number of shirts.

Thanks for your support,

Liz & Lauren

Sham Rock On!

Sorry it has taken me so long to write my marathon summary. I had planned to write about the race Sunday afternoon, but there is this interesting post-race amnesia that occurs. The best way I can describe it is to liken it to the amnesic happiness displayed by women who have just undergone child birth. Despite child birth birth being a painful experience, the wonder of giving birth to a child overshadows the pain enough for women to essential "forget" the pain and only remember the amazing parts of giving birth (or so I've been told. I don't have any first hand experience.)

For the marathon, I realized how quickly the memories of the painful miles dissapted and how quickly my thoughts revovled around the amazing parts. Let's get the boring stuff out of the way first. I ran a 4:20:39 marathon, which if you've been following my times, it's a 25 minute improvement from my last marathon race. Whoo-hoo! My half marathon time was actually 2 minutes faster than my best half marathon time. And I ran a 1:37 first 10 miles - by far my best 10 mile time. My second half of the marathon definitely decreased in speed. I thought I may have pulled my quad for a few miles and fell victim to being distracted by the pain until I remembered I was carrying advil. 

Onto to the interesting stuff...

I lined up at the start with about 20 minutes til the gun. At Philly, I ended up running with a few people I met at the start line, so I looked around and struck up a few conversations just in case I found someone to keep me company. An older gentleman behind me was wearing a Richmond marathon cap. I've heard and read good things about Richmond and asked him about the race. He started talking about some of his other running experiences...including 2007 Philly. Go figure. The coincidence continued when I found out he lives about 15 minutes from my parents house. Just chatting at the start was huge in distracting me from the nerves that had been piling up during the previous 24 hours. 

Once the fun went off, I ended up running by myself. This actually felt really natural and easier than I thought it would be. During my long runs, I realized that I was able to get into a mindset where time seemed almost irrelevant. Number of miles were irrelevant too. Starting the run was just as good as finishing the run. Once I took the first step in the marathon, there wasn't a doubt in my mind that I would finish the race. 

The highlight of the race came around miles 7 and 8. We ran through Camp Pendleton where National Guardsmen cheered us on. About 50 men and women lined the side of the road and I was able to slap high-five with every single one of them. Many of my family members, including my older brother, were/are members of the military. I have always felt very appreciative of members of the miltary. I seriously have a hard time not thanking every single person in uniform I come acorss - as corny as that sounds. So to have men and women in fatigues cheering ME on was beyond surreal. I suddenly increased in speed, momentum, and general mood. I was smiling for the next few miles. It was absolutely awesome. 

Just after mile 10, Lauren was able to run along with me on the boardwalk. I love running with Lauren! It was nice to get someone to talk to. I was able to share my experience described above with her and get a mental distraction from any fatgiue I felt. My almost 2-year-old nephew, my sister-in-law, and my mother-in-law were all walking around and enjoying the beautiful weather and the race. Erin later told me about how much see got into cheering for the runners. Previously skeptical about spectating for a marathon, she admitted that once she realized that the people passing her still had approximately 16 miles to go, she joined in the cheering and clapping. She rocks!  

My increased pace took my parents a little off guard too. They didn't expect me to pass them at mile 12 when I did and consequently my mother couldn't get her camera out fast enough and my dad missed me all together. (They did get to see me at the finish though!). The second half of the race is much quieter. There were less spectators and almost no music. The best form of entertainment were yard signs with corny jokes on them like, "What does a fish say when he swims into a concrete wall?...Damn!" Yeah - they were THAT bad...but after 16 miles, I will admit I was cracking up a bit. I started to feel some pain in my quad and was concerned I was gonna pull something. I just kept telling myself to keep running until walking was my only option. 

With about 5k to go, I passed two landmarks that gave me some perspective. First I passed the Chapel of St. Theresa, followed by the lighthouse that Susan was proposed to near. Suddenly, I got that second wind that I needed to carry me threw the finish. I was able to pick my speed back up and finish the race strong. The last leg of the marathon was on the boardwalk. I wish I was able to take a few more minutes to run slower and enjoy the water I was running next to...but to be honest I just wanted to cross the finish line as quickly as possible and take off my running sneakers. But it felt so good. I felt so relaxed after the race. It was...beautiful! 

I was able to get those shoes off. My parents and Lauren met me at the finish, along with my mother-in-law and my mom's cousins. I couldn't have asked for better weather to honor my sisters' memories. They were incredible people, helping me every step of the way I'm sure. 

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I want to take a second to give a shout out to my "little sister" Bridget, who had a nasty injury a few days after my marathon. Please send her some good vibes as she words towards recovery in preparation for D-I field hockey this fall! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! I hope you all enjoyed being Irish for the day (whether you are Irish or not for the other 364 days of the year!) 

When people would ask me "what I was..." it was always more of a philosophical question for me than many of my friends. Because I was adopted into my family, I'm not really sure what my ethnic background is. The pale skin and faint freckles (along with the strong Irish Catholic contigency in the Greater Lehigh Valley) there is better chance than not that I am at least a little Irish. But who knows for sure? And so what am I supposed to answer...do I answer that I am Irish because my adopted parents are Irish? Do I say I don't know? Does it warrant this much thought? 

Teresa didn't think so. I think she would say I was Irish because I was a Mullin and that was that. Here's a little known secret - I haven't actually finished my sister's book. I've picked it up and read through a few pages, a chapter, or a few chapters at a time, but the thought of finishing the book with having a million more questions to ask is kind of terrifying. I've been told that while she addresses my birth in the book, she didn't address my adoption. I recently just got to that chapter and even though I knew this - was still shocked at the omission. Why would she not include that I was adopted? While I've posited so many possibilities, the only thing that really makes sense is that it didn't matter. I was her sister (her Irish sister at that), and that was that. So like everyone else, I enjoyed being Irish for a day. And acting Irish today is like acting Irish any other day of the year, because I'm a Mullin daughter and I'm proud of it! 

Just thought I'd share that philosophical query with you. Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

...5 days til the Shamrock Marathon! 

Less Than Two Weeks Til the Marathon!!

As many of you know, in less than 2 weeks I will be running the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach, Va. in memory of my two sisters. I have been training tirelessly to prepare myself for the racing, logging over 400 miles en route to reaching my goal. My second goal was to get 100 people involved. So far, 51 people have joined the fight against CF - will you join them? I'm not looking for much - a donation of $5 or $10 dollars to help battle this chronic lung disease. Considering the distance I am running, you would be making a very efficient dollar per step donation. But while it only takes 1 person to run the marathon, 100 people can help make progress in improving treatments for CF and eventually a cure. 

What Can You Do to Help:

1. Forward this blog link to friends and family who might be interested in joining the fight!

2. Write/email me a message as the marathon nears. I will be fighting some definite jitters! 

3. Make a donation. Donations can be made online (follow the link on my blog), via check (information about sending a check is found using links to donate) or if you happen to run into me, I would be more than happy to take the money off of you. (At this point in the fund-raising, you get a little shameless about asking for money. But this cause means a lot to me!) 

Thank you so much! Check back to the blog to see how the marathon goes! 

Sincerely, 

Liz Mullin

Be One in One Hundred! Give $10 to Fight Cystic Fibrosis as I Race Against CF at the Shamrock Marathon

http://www.raceagainstcf.blogspot.com/

What I've Learned From Runners

I have picked up a lot about how the world works and how to persevere from runners. Perhaps that it why I find the sport so intriguing. Some of the people I will discuss probably wouldn't even consider themselves runners - but that is how I see it. I wouldn't be doing this -- succeeding at training for my second marathon -- if not for these people. 

There is one thing I've learned about myself in the past three years. I am constantly working to impress my older brother and God Father, Ted. He would probably be embaressed to know this. His academic, work, service, and physical acheivements have always amazed me. Ted is probably the first "runner" I met. I remember watching him compete in high school cross-country. Once I even tried to run with him and my father in the pouring rain when I was about 8 years old. I remember hacking up a storm and I probably only got around the block. My father once said the reason Ted was successful as distance running was because he could "clench his teeth and bare it." Ted has completed many marathons. When I sought him out for training advice, I asked him specifically about how to train in the rain. He response: "Wear a hat." My brother's gut it out and get it down perspective has helped in getting my out the door for runs, especially during poor weather.  As soon as I hit the pavement, you might as well log my planned runs for the day because there is no way I'm not completing those miles. You just need to gut it out. 

Lauren would probably not want me to call her a runner, but she has become one. This past summer we trained together to run the Susan G. Komen 5k. Lauren had never run before. During the hottest days of the year, Lauren worked her way from run/walking 3 miles to running all 3 miles. With each increasing milestone she reached, you could see both the excitement and astonishment on her face. She reminded me how fun it is to run and reach new milestones. While the distances I am running aren't new, I am trying new paces, new types of workouts, and smiling (almost) every step of the way. 

During my first marathon, I ran along side a 52 year old women running her 6th marathon. Unbeknownst to me until eight miles into the race, Carol was running this marathon as a way to honor her husband who was fighting brain cancer. Over 20+ miles, you get to know alot about a person. Carol showed so much strength in facing a grim ordeal. At one point she told me how she used running as her own time.  While on the road, she was able to both work through and escape the emotion of her husband's battle. As a constantly busy and stressed out PhD student, having the hours on the road to escape my other responsibilities and slowly chew on whatever situation needs to be chewed on. At times it serves as my own form a therapy. Other times, it is my release. 

My tennis partner from high school has taught me the social benefits of running. Tina and I bested many other doubles teams. In April 2008, we bested the Lehigh Valley Half Marathon, completing the race in 2:07:17. I have a majority of my training alone. Competing together, Tina taught me how depending on another person will motivate you through the roughest of moments. She kept me upbeat despite knee and hip pain. She literally pulled me up the last hill. And she gave me the biggest hug when we finished. Having someone pushing her own limits next to you while you are pushing yours reminds me how friends can be great motivators and great company on the course. 

It is also amazing to me how running has helped create so many friendships. Many of my friends in my graduate program are triathletes or marathoners. Having the shared experience of competing has created a foundation to great friendships. Mary and I had a few classes together but never had much of an opportunity to talk or get to know each other. After more than a few running conversations in Doctoral Seminar (attempting to derail the day's discussion), we had a great run earlier and talked about future runs and races. I have asked countless questions of my triathlete friends and competed in 10ks with them. Running has allowed me to get to know to very intelligent and fantastic people. Heck - I met Bill Rogers while running! (See the Running With Royalty post). 

I originally made this  list while running (of course). It's late and I don't remember all of the people I wanted to include. I plan to add to this list because there is a ton to learning from runners and running. 

I realize that I've learned from non-runners too. My sisters were fantastic people that taught me to recognize the best in others and take the good from all experiences and encounters. Without my sisters, I'm not sure I would have taken the time to learn from others and be thankful for them. I also learned how to fight CF from my sisters. While my battle is drastically different, my perseverence is not. Join me in the battle and be 1 in 100. Give $10 today! 

20 Miles

Twenty miles is kind of a milestone in marathon training...at least it is in my mind. Maybe it is because it's a nice, round number divisable by 10. Maybe it's because last year when I attempted 20 miles during a training session, I pulled out after 10 because my hamstring was really tight and I thought I was going to pull it. So finishing 20 miles this time was a nice mental accomplishment. Maybe it's because when you tell other people  you did 20 miles, they either look at you like you are entirely bonkers or they look at you with a little admiration. More times than not, it's a little of both. 

I ran a half-marathon this fall. Don't get my wrong - it was a ton of fun running through mud and muck for 2.5 hours (see post on Hairy Gorilla Half Marathon), but the training itself was fairly onerous. Completing even a 10 mile run seemed time consuming and even a little tedious. I have to admit, I was a little concerned about how I would mentally handle all of these long runs for a marathon if I was annoyed doing "long" runs for a half marathon. Then one fall morning it hit me - it wasn't the training that left me wanting. It was the lack of a cause.  I didn't have a clear idea of why I was running. I just was. I like doing things for me and all, but I have enough other exercise interests that I don't need to do halves and fulls just for myself. I have made it through these marathon training almost effortlessly from a mental perspective. I enjoyed every single long run. I knew where I was going and why I was going there. I felt centered and that it just another reason for why I run. 

For now...17 days until the marathon. 

One Month Til the Marathon

Hello All,

So yesterday began the one month countdown to 26.2 at the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach. I thought I'd take this opportunity to let you all know how I'm doing. 

Just over a week ago, I ran 10 miles with a friend of mine who is much faster than I am and after falling into a normal running routine, it was nice to be pushed out of my comfort zone by running with someone else. Suddenly, I found myself running outside that comfort zone on my 18 mile run this past weekend, knocking down the miles in 3:12. This was pretty awesome for me and could never have happened without the support of my running friend, my family, and the sponsors who have supported me in this endeavor to raise money to fight Cystic Fibrosis. 

I recently read an article in Slate Magazine about whether you should really feel obligated to support everyone you know who participates in a [insert event here]-a-thon. It's a valid question. It's tough economic times. And a lot of people are involved in causes that are important to them. I find myself struggling with this question all of the time because I know so many other runners who are running for a cause as well. Here's a little what Slate said - and a little why I hope you will support me. 

Is the mission of this organization one I would put on my Top 20 list? If not ... just hug and release. Life is short.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, who will receive the the money from this initiative, spends around 77 cents for research for each fundraising dollar it earns. Based on that factor as well as other efficiency standards, it is commonly ranked as one of the most efficient charity foundations. Don't take my word for it - check out: http://www.charitynavigator.org/

Like I said - everyone has their own causes. CF has touched my life and all I can do is ask to see if you can help. If now is not the time and this is not the cause, words of encouragement, hugs, and forwarding this email onto someone who may be interested in donating are free ways to support me in my race. 

Has this organization demonstrated progress pursuing its mission? f those involved can't answer this question for you, move on.

The CFF has did great things for my sisters while they were still fighting. Significant progress has been made just over the last 30 years. When Teresa was born, the life expectancy for an individual with CF was 12 years old. Currently, the age is will into the 20s with more advances coming all of the time. 

Is the individual asking for the pledge—or the organization arranging the fundraiser—worth supporting? Do you want to encourage their social efforts? Do you want them to represent you and your intentions?.

I have been given so many gifts in my life, the least of which is a healthy body - something my sisters could never say. I can't think of a better way to honor their memory than to show respect for the gifts of healthy lungs, a health heart, and strong legs I've been given. If you are receiving this email from me, it is because you have touched my life. Take a few minutes and join the others who have sponsored me in this race. At the end, hopefully we can all say that we are 100 people determined to change this world for those who battle CF. With a pledge of only 10 dollars, you can join the Race Against CF. 

You can go to my blog http://www.raceagainstcf.blogspot.com/  to read more about my training, preparation, and the other sponsors. 

You can go to http://teresamullin.org/pages/donate  to donate via Paypal directly. 

Thank you!

Liz Mullin

What Are Friends For....

I've written before how racing with my friend Tina upped the ante on our performance. During the Lehigh Valley Half Marathon, we spent the first mile or so catching up on jobs, school, etc., and the rest of the race pushing each other to an awesome 2:07:17 finish. 

I love racing with people. It pushes me out of my comfort zone while simultaneously distracting me from the pain of racing. Thing thing is...I haven't trained with people all that often. When I prepared for my first marathon, I didn't do a single run with another person. Sounds kind of stupid considering I was about to participate in a race with 12,000 other people. Over the summer I had the opportunity to run with my wife, which I loved. However, winter running in New England isn't really her thing. So I tried something new....

A friend of mine in the PhD program, Mary, qualified for the Boston Marathon this past fall after running a blazing sub 3:30 marathon. We were taking a class together at the time and I enjoyed talking about training or gels whenever we could. However, I have to admit, I never expected to actually run with her. I mean...c'mon, her marathon time was over 1:15 faster than mine. She's got a bit of a kick on me. We had been talking a few times this semester about trainining for our respective marathons and somehow, (I don't know what I was thinking) I suggested we go for a run together and I would show her a route in semi-rural South Hadley. I tried to give her an out, reminding her that I really am a lot slower than her - but she took me up on it. And I don't think I could accurately articulate how helpful and fun it was. I didn't know what I was missing by training alone all of the time...

We had some great conversations, everything from running plans, to classes, to her future wedding plans. She got a nice relaxed workout in and I was able to push myself to my best 10-mile time ever. It was so good to get pushed out of my comfort zone a little. And we could not have gotten any luckier with the weather - sunny and in the 50's. I look forward to being able to run with her again. Because really - what else are friends for? 

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I'm getting down to 39 days to the marathon with only 18 sponsors so far. Take a minute to join the 100 and help fight CF. You can't even imagine how much your sponsorship means to me!  

 

I Want to Run Farther

The title of today's post plagued me a little during my last long run. Here's why. Last week in one of my classes we were looking for images in magazines that were representative of motor development. While flipping through these magazines I found a small picture about 2 in wide and 3 in. tall that has mostly a water background and a small sillhouette at the right corner of the picture of a person running. The caption just above the sand reads, "I want to run further." 

It sounds inspirational, right? And it was - don't get me wrong. I put the clipping into the cover of my binder where my training program was. But as I was hitting mile six and trying to pull myself out of a bit of a mental slump, I realize something. It's grammatically incorrect! You don't run further, you run farther. It's a matter of distance, not depth. I know, I know, I'm a loser right. But I spent a good 15 minutes trying to remember whether the clipping said "further" or "farther" and whether it should consequently be mocked. (It should!) Nevertheless, I still have the clipping in my binder. 

Running farther...I've now down 2 of my 6 big runs. It's odd what happens to you over a period of 3 hours or so. I started off the run feeling pretty crummy. I had been waking up in the middle of the night thinking it was Saturday, not Friday, and I was a bit discouraged to find out that it was indeed Friday. A lot of small things hadn't gone my way in the prior 36 hours and a 16 miles run just didn't feel like it was the best way to improve my mood. Go figure - I was wrong. 

Soon after the further/farther debate, the irksome things of the first few miles (my annoying snowspikes/my skimask/my new sports drink flavor) seemed not too important at all. The final 10 miles sorta just flew by. The sun started peaking out of the clouds and by the last 4 miles, it was almost a clear sky. My body went from fatigued and tense to relaxed and strong. For the second week in a row, my strongest miles were my last miles. I know I'm a Sport Psychology student, so I am supposed to say this - but seriously - exercise makes you feel better. Even exercise that takes over 3 hours (even if I could watch 2 movies during that time...thank you, Katie! :-p). The thing is...after training for this long, I don't know what else to do, but to want to run father.  

And for now, 48 days until the Shamrock Marathon...

Random Memories

Yesterday, I was surprised by the random memories triggered of my sisters. I thought I'd share a few. 

Rocky - Okay, Rocky is like my favorite movie EVER. The greatest underdog story ever written featuring a lefty from Philadelphia, has been a Mullin Family must-see all my life. We used to watch it every single New Year. I once watched 4 out of the 5 movies with Susan in 1 day. (I actually finished the 5 sometime in the middle of the night, but she had already fallen asleep.) 

Miss America - I remember sitting and watching Miss America with Susan when I was younger. We would write down our favorite contestants after each "event," cheering our favorites states to the finish. While I spent most of the time mercilessly mocking last night's competition, I was still smiling a little with that childhood memory. 

The U.S. Figure Skating Finals - Following the Miss America Competition, Lauren and I watched Figure Skating. Again, I fell back into the many hours watching Olympic and National competitions in ice skating with Susan. I would put on my slipperiest socks and twirl on the wooden floor. Alyssa Cizney, coached by Brian Boitano  (a favorite of ours), took gold despite a fall in the free skate. Another smile.  

Thank you so much, everyone who has been able to participate in my "One in One Hundred" campaign. We're fighting a good fight. 

16 Miles Later

16 miles does something a little crazy to your head. No kidding. With just under 2 months to go to the marathon, I am hitting the hardest part of my training. Friday's 16 miler was both exhausting and exhilirating! 

(1) It was really nice to be running in a temperature above 35 degrees. You know you're getting cold and desperate when you become jealous of people who own ski masks. So - a "warm" run felt really great! 

(2) As a follow-up to warm temperatures, it was also really exciting not having my water on my fuel belt turn to ice as I ran. When you need to hydrate in 16 degree weather, sucking down ice chips it not the way you want to do it. 

(3) The first 12 miles felt like a normal long run - pounding and tiring. You try not to run too fast because you don't want to burn out too quickly. On the other hand, you do eventually want the run to end -- so taking to really slow isn't an option either. Then I hit the last 4.5 miles or so and suddenly it wasn't my legs pushing me, it was my head. I was making up cheers (really, really dorky cheers.) I was singing "rat-a-tat-tat" to myself in my head in time with my foot steps. I kept convincing myself that I could do it and would do it. It was self-talk at its best. I was not running those last few miles - I was thinking them. And at the end of the run, I let out a gutteral yelp. It was the first time I had done that since the first 5 miler I ran when training for the first marathon. Suddenly I found myself in what some people would describe as a "runner's high." Well - I don't know if it really was or not, but it sure felt like it. 

See - the weird thing is, I am working towards a PhD in Sport Psychology and most often I am usually the last person to remember to use it when working out myself. But it was amazing. Hopefully this week will be as successful, despite a sub-20 degree front moving in for the week. 

For now - 56 days until the Shamrock!  

One in One Hundred

Hello all -- 

Yesterday I found myself running 14 miles in 16 degree weather. Crazy -- yes. But most of you know this already. And those of you who don't will soon find out why...

On March 16th 2009, it will have been 10 years since my sister Susan passed away from Cystic Fibrosis.She played a key role in raising me. She was one of my closest friends and she still is one of my biggest heroes. In memory of her and my older sister Teresa, I will be running the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach (one of the last places Susan lived) on Sunday March, 22nd to both raise awareness and money for those still fighting against CF. 

In honor of this 10 year anniversary, I am hoping you will consider pledging $10. With you and 99 other people, we will be $1,000 closer finding the cure. Join My Race Against CF by reading my training blog, forwarding this email, and keeping up my morale as I trek through the cold temperatures and snowy streets (we just got another 5 inches today!) 

Love, 

Liz  

Running (or not) in the Snow

I'm currently scheduled to run the Shamrock Marathon in Va. Beach in 81 days. I thought this race was a great idea. Susan lived in Virgina Beach for a while after college and I spent multiple weeks down there with her over the summers. I have a niece and nephew in Virgina that I can visit the week preceeding the event because it's my spring break. This all made a lot of sense to me. 

I did not, however, consider the part where I live in Mass. and training all winter will be a necessity. Shoot. Okay...my training hasn't been entirely thrown off course, but pretty close. I threw my normal, carefully crafted excel sheet out the window and learned to improvise. (Improvising a scheduling isn't exactly a strong suit for me - so  I'm doing the best I can.) Here's the plan - if it's not snowing - RUN. If it is snowing - well - that's when it gets tricky.

When I started this whole running thing, I said I wouldn't let the weather get to me. I didn't want to wimp out on a running simple because it's raining. But this - this is too much. I am a crazy runner. I do show signs of withdrawal is I got more than 48 hours without a run. But I figure my knees will thank me in 30 years if I stay out of this. And my wife will just plain not yell at me if I stay out of this today. Oh, for running (or not running) in the snow. 

The Hairy Gorilla Half

It had rained 3.5 inches the night before the race. Typically this would mean wait pavement and a few puddles - nothing to worry yourself too much about. Well - that's if you are not running on the side of a mountain in upstate New York - and I was. 

The Hairy Gorilla Half (HGH) was just about the craziest course I can ever imagine encountering. It was a trail race with the conditions made about 20x more intense. A puddle wasn't just a puddle. It was at least knee deep and 10 - 30 feet long (and FREEZING!) The mud felt like quick sand...literally. For approximately a quater-mile patch in the second half of the race, I was trapsing through 8 inch deep mud that felt like you were running through soft sand. The mud stuck to your shoes. You couldn't get a flat footing. And people were coming in the opposite direction - so you knew that you'd have to do this all over again. 

I spent the racing both laughing hysterically and being ridiculously exhausted. But I couldn't help smiling as I splashed through the water and waded through the mud. I had hoped to give my medal to "Medals for Mettle" but it turns out that the "Gorilla shaped medal" they talked about on the website was actually a 6 inch tall stuffed gorilla with cheap gift ribbon safety pinned to it. But, I earned that stuffed animal, darn it! 

For now...112 days until the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach, VA!

Less Than Two Weeks til 13.1

Running has sort of been a drag recently. Part of it has been knee troubles. I am so sick of the 1 in 4 chance that I am going to go for a run and feel my IT band inflame that even getting out there is pretty intimidating. But I think the burnout I'm feeling has a lot less to do with the injury and more to do with the lack of external motivation. Don't get my wrong, I'm enjoying the health benefits, etc.,. but last year I felt like there was this bigger cause. I better get out there and do my training runs because the race had very little to do with me and had more to do with the cause I was raising money for. I was able to summon strength in the idea that I was working to beat something that my sisters faced down for 20+ years. The half marathon I am doing this fall does not have that same incentive. I'm running for the sake of running...racing for the sake of racing. I'm completing a half marathon that I personally find interesting and exciting...to a degree. But I miss having the external incentive. I wish I had Tina next to me, pushing me to keep going and telling me I'm doing well. (FYI - a shout out to Tina who will be cruising through the Philly Marathon this November!)

So here's the game plan. I'm going to go enjoy this run as much as I can. It's a trail run right during leaf peeper season in Albany, NY. Cool - the sights should be amazing. It will in no way be a PR run, comparing to the 2:07 posted with Tina in Spring '08. But it will hopefully spark the excitement to get me ready to engage in winter training for a spring marathon with the intention to raise money for the CF marathon. So...time to get fired up!

Running with Royalty

This post is a little different that most. Instead of being reflective...it's a note of excitement. Runners, Mass. residents, and general sports fans will all be able to appreciate my experience this weekend.

I rolled out of bed at 5am on Saturday morning, silently cursing myself for signing up to run the Running Psychologists 5K. Barely able to maneuver through the room with only my cellphone to light up my belongings, I couldn't believe that this is really how I had chosen to spend my Saturday morning. (The logistics were a nightmare - but that's another story that I am not ready to revisit just yet.) But an hour later, I had made the drive into Boston to run with other attendees at the 116th Annual American Psychological Association (APA) National Convention in Ray's Race (Note. This race was formally called the "Rats Race"...just a little psychologist humor, I suppose.)

Despite my early morning griping, I was excited to get a quality run in. I had been to lazy and exhausted to run the two previous days and my legs were aching for a good workout. The weather was beautiful. Any if nothing else - it was quite the networking event. But even chatting about goal times with the veterans of Division 47 could not compare to what I was about to experience.

I had been told a number of times how exciting it was that Bill Rogers was going to be the starter for the race. Okay...pause...I have a confession to make here. Until 10 minutes before the race, I didn't even know who Bill Rogers was. I know, I know. It seems somewhat sacrilegious. He may have even being referenced in Parker's "Again to Carthage" that I just finished, but I still didn't place him. Being relatively new to the sport of long distance running, I had not been aware of his accomplishments. However, I was not alone in dropping my jaw when the race coordinator introduced the man (or super human) as the only person to win the New York City Marathon and the Boston Marathon...4 TIMES EACH! Being amidst such running royalty was amazing itself. But wait...there's more.

The race began with a short loop, just under a .5 of a mile. We were told not to get too excited as we passed under the finish line banner, as we were only 3 minutes into the race. We than continued a bigger loop that had us crossing the Charles twice. As I was trying to keep a good pace in attempt to surpass my previous 5K time, I realized that someone had come up next to me and matched my pace. Much to my surprise, THE Bill Rogers turned his head in my direction and without a hint of hard breathing, asked "So...where are you from?" The conversation, albeit somewhat belabored on my part, lasted for a couple of minutes. After some basic conversation on the Holyoke Road Race and other chit-chatting, he said, "I'm just gonna go up there, if that's okay with you." And that was it. For a short period of time I was running step for step with Running Royalty. Later after the race, I went to say goodbye and thank him. Before I opened my mouth, he said, "Hey, Holyoke! How'd the run go?" As my older brother so perfectly put it - it was pretty trippy!

In the Lehigh Valley Marathon this past spring, I had the opportunity to run with Joan Benoit Samulson. Now I've run with Bill Rogers. If anyone hears of a race that Frank Shorter will be competing in - let me know. I feel like I should complete the triad.

On the training front. So - there will be posts to come about my training. In only a few short weeks, Lauren and I will be running in the Susan G. Koman 5K in Boston. Look for information on that race soon. Two weeks later, I plan to travel down to Pennsylvania to participate in the Camelot for Children 5K. I'll round out the fall running season with the Hairy Gorilla Half Marathon in late October. Oh - and tune in for another great story from the APA convention regarding running. Who knew that psychologists were such crazy runners!

Thank you, Tom & Cheryl Roberts!

I would like to introduce and offer my gratitude to Tom and Cheryl Roberts of Harbor Lights Financial Group of the Lehigh Valley. In March of 2008, I offered the opportunity to "sponsor" me in the race at the silent auction at the 2008 Lehigh Valley Tennis Auction Ball. The Roberts, both avid runners and past finishers at the Lehigh Valley Half Marathon, made an extremely generous donation to the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in order to sponsor me.
Luckily, I had the opportunity to meet
Roberts at the finish line as they were sitting in the front row cheering on all of the finishers. I feel truly blessed to know there are generous people like the Roberts who understand and support needed to fight Cystic Fibrosis in any way possible. Every race I run, my sisters are with me. Having my parents, my in-laws, and my siblings attending each race I have run has made me feel so loved and supported in this endeavor. Having the support of two people I had never met before was truly special and an experience I will never forget. Thank you for all of your support!

To read about the race, keep reading below...

A Race To Remember...

The race started out like any other. I was dressed in my racing outfit with sweats on to fend off the early morning cold. My parents kept me company until Tina, my doubles partner in tennis from high school, and I lined up somewhere between the 2:20 and the 2:30 pace teams. We figured coming in under 2:30 would be awesome and definitely achievable. We could do this.
I like to restrain myself during the first mile of a race in order to avoid burn out later. Hitting the first mile marker around 10:30 or 11 would have been just fine. I felt like we were going pretty slow...maybe even a 11:30 until I looked down at my watch and saw that we passed mile 1 in 10:08. Surprised, we kept motoring, but maintained an awareness of our pace. Our pace only got faster. Around mile 4 or 5 we were averaging sub-10 minute miles with still a ways to go. But we were feeling good...or at least that's what we kept telling each other.
As race continued on, up and down a roller coaster of little hills, over the forgiving gravel of the Lehigh Valley Parkway, through the uneven covered bridge, around the lake during the longest mile of my life, and into the stadium...I couldn't help but be amazed by the degree to which we had inspired each other. Two years ago, neither Tina nor I were runners, let alone long distance runners. Then we decided to make a difference. She joined Team in Training and raised money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and I began this race against CF. And there we were, side-by-side (well, actually, she was typically about 1 step ahead of me for most of the race) pounding on the pavement en route to a sub-2:10 finish. And while I was stuck in the world of Exercise Physiology...thinking about heat dissipation and extra mass, wishing I didn't have a 3 lb fanny pack on and that I was taking in more water, Tina just kept telling me, "C'mon, Liz. We've got this. We're almost there. Let's do this." And all of the Sport Psychology techniques that I swear by as a professional were being used, quite successfully, on me. Finally, around mile 11 I forgot the fanny pack and the knee pain and started to focus in on the positive self talk, the imagery of sliding into the finish on an ice luge, and remembering that I had two sisters carrying me to the finish.
Finally, after literally being pulled up the hill into the stadium, we started to take our final lap. It felt victorious because I had beaten back the demons that told me to slow down and give up this pace that we had worked so tirelessly to maintain. And the rush came over me. I don't know if I had communicated it to Tina or not-I can't remember now. But suddenly I took off into a mad dash to the finish as did she. We both crossed at 2:07:17, Tina a well-deserved step ahead of me.
If nothing else, this race taught me that races can be fun, even when pushing your comfort zone. Races are also a lot of fun when you're next to someone who is going to push you to do your best, never let you give up, and stay positive the entire way. Tina - you were amazing this weekend and I look forward to doing many more races with you. We've always been a great pair...just now we're trading in our rackets for running shoes.

As race day nears, I have been enjoying shorter mileage and many more carbohydrates. While I still have that little butterfly in my stomach thinking about maneuvering through the 13.1 miles, the distance does not seem nearly as insurmountable as the marathon did. It reminds me of my first experience with the SATs. Every year I had to take standardized tests at the end of the school year and they always felt like they lasted FOREVER. Then, in 7th grade I had the opportunity to take the SATs. The next time I took the standardized tests, the time didn't feel so painfully long. In fact, it was actually pretty manageable. I have that feeling about the half marathon.

I am excited to have the opportunity to run the race with a friend. Tina and I used to practice tennis while the cross country runners practiced in the hot August weather. I certainly preferred to be hitting tennis balls than dialing up the mileage. Now, only a few years later, we'll be lacing our sneakers, downing our gels, and cross the finish line together. I was so lucky to meet people during the marathon to keep me mentally motivated. At least this time I don't have to count on luck.

If you're curious, you should check out the information for the race. Here's the link: Lehigh Valley Half Marathon. If you're in the area, come to the Lehigh Valley Parkway or J. Birney Crum and cheer us on! Good days ahead! 6 Days to the Lehigh Valley Half Marathon!

Running in the Rain

I don't think there are weather conditions I dislike running in more than rain. Light snow is pretty fun. Heavy snow - well, then I hit the treadmill. Humidity can be controlled by the time of day I decide to kick myself out of bed and run. But rain...it's rarely bad enough for me to run on a treadmill instead. The drops hitting against my legs or my face are irking. I don't really like running in the rain, but it's just one of those things you do when you run.

So...I've been on the running trail, starting up training not soon after I completed the Philadelphia Marathon. In 2 weeks from today I'll be hitting the race course again, running the Lehigh Valley Half Marathon. I will be joined by high school tennis doubles partner, Tina, as we run through the beautiful Lehigh Valley Parkway and bring it home with a stadium finish. It should be exciting.

Right now, I am beginning to taper and enjoy preventative icing. I tweaked my IT Band during my 8 mile run on Wednesday, but it felt good during my run today. I keep telling everyone - my goal is to run the entire race with a smile. I'm not going for a certain time and I have no desire to race 13.2 miles in pain - but I want to enjoy the whole run. If you weren't enjoying it, why else would you do something so crazy?

And for now...14 days until the Half Marathon.