I Only Run When Chased

Week Review And Looking Ahead

2010-08-14T21:07:00.005-04:00

Week of Aug 8-Aug 14

Sunday: No run. (Hike)

Monday: No run.

Tuesday: 12 miles

Wednesday: 3.3 miles

Thursday: 6.5 miles

Friday: 8.7 miles

Saturday: 4.9 miles

Weekly Total: 35 miles

I've been feeling really good the past few weeks. I've been feeling strong, which is exactly what I want to feel going into preseason. I've got a lot of good things going on! The past four weeks I've put in between 34-35 miles/week, even with taking 2 days off a few of the weeks. 35 miles a week may not seem like anything too impressive, but I'm happy with where I'm at because it feels comfortable and easy. I've gradually been increasing my mileage and making my long runs longer, and I'm not getting caught up in thinking about pace or total mileage. I'm just running by feel and adjusting my schedule as I go. I'd like to keep increasing my weekly mileage into the season (slowly of course) and try to work up to averaging 40-45 mi/wk. I'll see how it goes and how my body adjusts and handles more miles per week, but I think if I do it gradually like I've been doing it'll be no problem.

I've also noticed that I feel better doing longer runs. In the past, my normal training runs have mostly been between 3-5 miles, but that just isn't doing it for me anymore. I feel better doing between 6-8 miles instead. My high school coach told me she thought I was a marathoner at heart. At that point in high school the longest run I'd done was probably 7 (tough, grueling) miles, and I was like "Psshhht absolutely no way. Marathoner? I don't even like 5Ks!" But now I can definitely see it happening. I'm in no way ready to run a marathon right now, but I can see myself really loving the longer distances in the future... since it's already happening!

My PR last week was a huge confidence booster for me, and I'm so excited to get back to school for preseason. It's only one week away! Preseason is quite possibly my favorite two weeks of the year. I get to move back to beautiful Newton, live and hang out with all my friends/teammates, run and workout everyday, NOT have any classes to go to... it is so fantastic. Not to mention all the team bonding activities when we aren't practicing... tie dye, movie nights, frisbee, Boston trips, etc. I can't wait! This week leading up to preseason I'm taking extremely easy, probably only running 20-25 miles total and helping out with Noelle's camp.

2010-08-07T23:58:00.004-04:00

“It takes patience to become the best runner you can be. Top athletes realize that running is a long-term sport. It is set up for people who value delayed gratification and who like hard-earned success.”

-Anthony Famiglietti

Good Times 5k Series Bikini Run and a PR!

2010-08-04T22:12:00.006-04:00

New 5k PR - 21:20

Photo courtesy of Ted Tyler

Yesterday I ran the Bikini 5k, which is part of the Good Times series in Lowell. Steph came up for the night so we could run the race and then do the first loop of the Baystate Half Marathon course today. Unfortunately, I chickened out and didn't run in my bikini last night, but I DID run a PR!

It was a pretty hot night, but there is always a nice breeze along the river. I was very relaxed going into the race, and I think that played a part in helping me to a PR. Also, the miles weren't marked as well as I thought they would be, so I missed my first mile split completely and it was probably good that I wasn't so concerned with pace. I felt great for most of the race. I felt really strong. Once I could see the finish I saw the clock read just about 21 minutes, so I knew it'd be close to my best time and I was beastin' til the end. I crossed the line at 21:20, a 6 second PR for me!

Photo courtesy of Ted Tyler

I'm really thrilled with my time. The past two weeks I've kind of stepped up my training a little bit, and I think just having that faith and trust in my fitness was important for my mentality going into the race. My past two weeks of training have been important not in that I am running a lot more or faster, but that I am feeling strong. I feel like my body can handle a lot more than previous summers, and I am hoping it's because I am going to have a "break out" season. I have steadily improved since my senior year of high school, but not by any huge margins. My senior year of high school and freshman year of college I averaged low 22-minute 5ks, and this past sophomore year of college I averaged high 21's. I feel like I've been stuck in that range for quite a while... 3 years to be exact. There's no doubt I have improved - in more ways than just lowering my times - but now I feel I have the base and the strength to go much farther and faster.

I am really excited for the upcoming cross country season! This PR is a big confidence booster, and something I think I really needed. It's awesome to feel like hard work pays off, even if it comes slowly!

Camp Week Two

2010-07-31T10:21:00.006-04:00

Here are the kids stretching. Balancing can be hard.

This is my favorite kid, Finn. He is a bit of a free spirit.

Please note Finn on the ground.

Group shot!

Camp was great last week! We had 13 great kids, and it was tons of fun, although a tad crazy at times. These kids are FAST. All 13 kids did the 1.2 mile course in under 14 minutes, with the first boy coming in at 10:04. Pretty impressive considering none were older than 7th grade, and the majority of the kids were 3rd-5th grade. There is one more session of camp in August, the week before I go back for preseason (Aug 16-20). It's probably going to be our biggest week, and I'm looking forward to it!

2010-07-24T23:37:00.001-04:00

“There are a lot of guys out there now who know they are not working as hard as other people. I can’t fathom how they think.”
–Alberto Salazar

Running Camp

2010-07-18T21:55:00.006-04:00

This past week I helped out at a youth running camp. It was a lot of fun, and I'll be volunteering the two remaining weeks of the program as well. The camp was started by my friend Noelle, who was a very good runner for my high school and went on to run a year at UNC Charlotte and a year at UConn. She is a couple years older than me and this is her fourth summer doing the camp. It is for middle school aged kids, and they can sign up for one week, two weeks, or all three!

Week One crew!

This past week was the first session, and we only had four kids. The turnout was a little disappointing, but Noelle says that the last weeks always get the most kids, with an estimate of about 20 kids. I'm really excited to be helping out this year, because it combines two of my favorite things: running and working with children!

Playing Drip Drip Drop, a wetter version of Duck Duck Goose.

The camp is only two hours each day for five days. We're working with middle schoolers, so it is not too strenuous for them. A typical day starts with a warmup lap and stretching/drills, then the main run, then we stretch again and do some type of strength training (pushups, crunches, etc). After that we play a game or two, or have a relay. Lots of water breaks in between to break it up as well. Each day of the week has a different focus. Monday we do some things to figure out each kids' fitness and ability, Tuesday is a distance run, Wednesday is a track day (hurdles/sprints), Thursday is an easy pre-meet day, and Friday is race day. I think the camp is great. It's not too much or too little, and it encourages kids to start running young! I wish there was a program like this when I was younger.

Wheelbarrow Relay!

As for an update of my summer training.... yeah. Honestly I haven't been getting in all that much running the past two or three weeks. But I'm staying active with the kids, and I'm itching to run. The heat can't hold me back that long! Now if I could just wake up early...

2010-06-27T18:42:00.000-04:00

"Our sport becomes not just what we do but an integral symbol-on all levels-of who we are."
-Gloria Averbuch

Run Like A Kenyan

2010-06-23T16:14:00.004-04:00

I recently stumbled upon a great article on Runningwarehouse.com entitled Trade Secrets of the Kenyans. Written by Scott Douglas, the article details some of the training strategies he observed and used when training in Kenya in 2004. There is a lot of insightful information in the article and I am looking to put a few of them into practice. In particular, here are three points found interesting and I liked a lot:

"Start Slow, Finish Fast" Douglas basically says that every run he did with his Kenyan training partners started at a crawl, progressively picked up as the run went on, and would end at a much faster pace. This helps the body warmup and ease into the run, and it can help train your body what it feels like to run negative splits. I think for most people it is really hard to start a run at sloth pace. I know for me location-wise I can't avoid starting my runs on busy streets, and the combination of fast-moving cars and not wanting my neighbors to think I'm slow makes me start my runs faster than I probably should.
"Run Diagonally" Apparently in Kenya most runners do sessions called "Diagonals." Diagonals are workouts run from the different corners of a field and they alternate easy running and quick, controlled strides. Runners do anywhere from 30-60 minutes, and the purpose of the workout is to improve form when running at top speeds and to enhance your finishing kick. I like the concept of this workout because I used to do similar drills when I played lacrosse (although for a much shorter period of time). I also have an extremely weak finishing kick, so I definitely want to try some diagonals this summer

"Do Drills" Drills, drills, drills. Douglas states that nearly every Kenyan's run is followed by 10+ minutes of drills focusing on flexibility, range-of-motion, and form which is key to the seemingly effortless Kenyan stride. My high school coach used to make me do drills after almost every practice, and I think it me helped a lot. Since college I've been out of practice, but I'd like to start making them a regular part of my routine again.

Douglas's article is very insightful and I definitely recommend reading through it for the other points and more detailed descriptions of the points above. Article found here.

2010-06-19T20:34:00.002-04:00

"I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a Champion.' "

-Muhammad Ali

Louise Rossetti 5k 2010

2010-06-18T16:58:00.006-04:00

This past Wednesday I competed in the Louise Rossetti 5k, an all women's event in Beverly, MA. I ran this race last year and I improved my time by about 20 seconds, finishing with 21:46. Here's a breakdown of the miles:

1: 6:45

2: 14:10 (7:25 mile)

3.1: 21:46 (7:36 last 1.1 miles)

I felt really good running. I hadn't raced since the winter and it felt great to go fast! I placed 15th overall and 5th in my age group, which earned me a nice little trophy. Last year I was 22nd overall and 3rd in my age group (although a different age group, 14-19). My friends Steph, Christina, and Lauren all raced as well.

Lauren is a Lasell cross country alum, and she did amazing at the race. She came in 14th with a time of 21:30. I think that her post-Lasell efforts are very inspiring. She was a decent runner for the team when I was a freshman and she was a senior, but nowhere near as fast as she's gotten. I remember her running in the 23's for 5Ks, but now she is running solid mid-21's.

Above is Christina, me, Lauren, and Steph. The top photo is courtesy of Ted Tyler.

Overall I am very pleased with how I raced, and I am optimistic about summer training and future races. I am really excited to race again. The Lowell Good Times Series starts in a week, so I'll probably do a few of those this summer.

2010-06-15T22:58:00.002-04:00

"I was pushed by myself because I have my own rule, and that is that every day I run faster, and try harder."
-Wilson Kipketer

Update On My (Running) Life

2010-06-14T20:20:00.006-04:00

The Louise Rosetti 5k is fast approaching! I'm really looking forward to it, but I also fear what my time will be. This past week I've had some difficulty fitting in a run, and I feel like in general I haven't been putting in the miles I ought to be putting in. Besides the anxiety, I am excited for my first 5k race of the summer. Steph, Christina, and Lauren are all running it as well, so I can't wait to see them!

In other news, I sent out an email to the team about summer training, working hard, and dailymile.com. Did I mention I was appointed captain? I don't think I have written about that yet! James let me know before school got out, and I am very excited about it. I really love our team, and I want us to succeed! I also recently found out about our incoming freshmen, and I couldn't be happier. It looks like we've got a bunch of speedy frosh joining the team! I honestly cannot convey my excitement for next season.... :)

That's all I've got for now, but look for a race report later this week!

Why Do You Run?

2010-06-02T13:01:00.005-04:00

"Because you're wondering if your grandchildren will too. Because its raining. Because you can, and others can't. Because its faster than walking. Because that shaky-leg-thing is all about nervous energy. Because you can't fly. Because you can fly. Because your personal best is just that, yours. Because the pain of a blister is nothing compared to the pain of stopping. Because you like the resistance the wind gives you. Because you like the resistance you give the wind. Just Because."

-NYC Marathon Ad

An Inspiration

2010-06-01T15:02:00.006-04:00

I draw inspiration from a lot of different places. One of the people I find to be a big inspiration is recently graduated Westfield State runner Kerry Arouca. I've never met her, don't know much about her, but her progression as a runner throughout 4 years of college is truly amazing and inspiring. She went from a 22-minute 5K runner as a freshman to a 5-time All American, 17-minute 5K runner. She started college as an extraordinarily average DIII runner, and now she is a nationally recognized force to be reckoned with in the 5k and the steeplechase.

Arouca's development as a runner is especially inspring to me because similarly I was "nothing special in high school," and yet I'm still running at the collegiate level while some (if not most) of the DI and competitive DII caliber runners from my high school haven't stuck with it. In my opinion, Arouca is the transcendent representation of hard work and perseverance beating out talent. She is my own personal validation that someone like me can "make it."

Kerry Arouca is more inspiring to me than any world record breaker, DI collegiate standout, or young high school prodigy runner. She is what I aspire to be, and proof that hard work and dedication is more important than a person's perceived capability and talent level.

Article about Kerry: Kerry Arouca Finds Her Stride

Progression of times, taken from DirectAthletics:

Top Performances of Indoor/Outdoor Seasons 2007-2010:

Summer Training 2010

2010-06-01T14:20:00.006-04:00

It's June 1. You know what that means? OFFICIAL start to cross country summer training. I could honestly start whenever, but the way my mind likes to organize things, I really would like to start on the first of a month. Coach James should be sending out his "suggested" aka "strongly recommended" summer training plan this week. I'm anxious to look that over and see what he wants and expects from us. It will be his first year as head coach, after many years of assisting under Coach Sull. It's sad and strange that Coach Sull won't be coaching xc next year, but I'm excited to see what James has planned. He is very knowledgeable about running, and I especially like his approach to cross/strength training.

I've already got a few races lined up for the summer. I'm signed up for the Louise Rosetti 5k in Beverly, MA on June 16. I ran this race last year and got third place in my age group, bringing home some nice hardware for the shelf. I am also planning on doing a few of the Good Times 5k races. They are run every Tuesday night during the summer in my hometown, Lowell, MA. The past few years this race series has been drawing a good sized (and competitive) field of runners. I'm most looking forward to the Good Times Bikini 5k! It's always a good time ;)

As always, I have some lofty goals for this summer and for cross country season in the fall. After just missing GNAC All-Conference last fall, I'm more determined than ever to completely annihilate anyone and everyone who crosses my racing path next fall. I can already tell it's going to be a great summer!

Mount Monadnock

2010-05-18T20:14:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I hiked up Mount Monadnock with Steph, Christina, and Megan! It was a really great day for it, too. We went up the White Dot Trail to where it meets Cascade Link and we took the Red Spot up the rest of the way to the summit. I was a tough hike, but it felt really great to be doing something physically challenging other than running. When we got to the top we had a picnic, and enjoyed the awesome view. Then we took the White Cross trail on the way down, which is much quicker and easier. It was a great day!

The Long-Awaited, Constantly-Dreaded Hyannis Half Summary

2010-05-04T17:18:00.003-04:00

Soooooooo..... I'm finally getting around to writing about my first half marathon experience, the Hyannis Half Marathon on February 28, 2010. It's taken me this long to actually acknowledge my poor performance for a more than a second, and I don't know how long it will take for me to completely get over it. I'm sure Hyannis will haunt me until I run another half marathon, and I am able to avenge myself.

The weekend itself was a great experience. I went down the Cape the Saturday before the race with Steph, Christina, Dave, and Johnson. We stayed at a trashy little hotel that didn't process our online reservations, so for about five minutes we thought we were without a place to stay and panic mode set in. Luckily, the hotel had 2 open rooms - a non-smoking, king-sized room which the girls took, and an unfortunate smoking, queen-sized room that Dave and Johnson got stuck with.

After getting settled at the hotel we went to the Marathon Expo to check in and get our bib numbers. It was a cool expo, with lots of running clothes for cheap/reasonable prices, unlike the booths and tents at the Boston Marathon Expo. I bought a pair of running tights and tried every flavor of Cabot's cheese sample I could get my hands on. Following the expo we all went out to dinner at Olive Garden, which was fantastic. In the spirit of Olive Garden's motto "When you're here, you're family," we took a few enthusiastically "candid" pictures to serve as a memento of the great time we were having. After becoming an official family at Olive Garden, we went back to the hotel and chilled for a while before going to bed.

Next morning was race day, and somewhere along the line all of my previous training had become obsolete. I woke up ready to go and energized, but my regular go-with-the-flow self was overtaken by Anxious Control Freak Meghan. This is where I went wrong. I was really concrned about getting a stomach ache during the 13.1 miles, so I barely ate anything that morning. All I had was a handful of cheerios and half of a plain, untoasted bagel. whatWhatWHAT was I thinking? That is clearly not enough fuel for a half. In addition to making a poor breakfast decision, I became concerned with having to go to the bathroom during the race. So Control Freak Meghan made the decision to drink only half a water bottle that morning. Not eating well and not hydrating well are recipe for a half marathon diaster.

At the starting line I was still feeling pretty good and excited and ready. We lost Christina in the hustle and bustle of the start, so it was just Steph and I together on the line. I was feeling pretty good in the beginning miles, but I could tell something was off. Steph and I ran around an 8:30 pace for the first 5 or 6 miles, and around that point my back started hurting. This was a bit alarming for me because I never have back issues, and it's not like I was running any faster than usual. I think in the back of my mind I knew that I wasn't going to be going any faster that day. I can't remember exactly, but I believe it was around mile 8 that Steph started to pull away from me, and I lost her. After that I felt defeated. I wanted to go faster, but my body just wasn't having it. I got water at mile 10, and not long after that I saw Christina breezing by me, which was another blow to my ego. I tried to keep up with her, but failed. With about a mile left I picked up my pace a little, but not by much. I finally finished, clocking in at 1:58:04, a 9:01 pace. Despite being extremely upset with my time, I got a little boost from hearing my name annouced as I crossed the finish line, and I was overall relieved that I had finished my first half marathon and did it in under 2 hours.

While I remain upset about my race, I am very happy I did the half marathon. It's something I can check off my list, and it's given me more fuel for the fire. Literally the day after the race I contemplated registering for the Run to Remember Half Marathon which is held at the end of May. I really wanted to redeem myself, but I'm glad I held off. I'm still itching to run another half, but I think holding off for a while is a good thing because I'm sure it'll make the huge PR I plan on obtaining that much sweeter!

Official Hyannis Half Marathon Race Results

10 Mile Boston Night Run

2010-05-01T01:12:00.004-04:00

Hey guys, I'm back! It's been quite a while since I've posted anything, and believe me, I've had lots to write about. I'll try to catch up with a few posts.

Tonight me and Steph ran up Comm Ave all the way to the Boston Common! 10 miles. It was so awesome. It was a night run, so the awesomeness was doubled. We took the T back to campus afterward. It was a perfect night for it too - so warm.

We had a really good rhythm going. We ran an 8:27 pace, which I was thrilled about. If we had done 3 more miles at even a 10 minute pace, it would have been faster than my time for the Hyannis Half Marathon. Sad. Obviously I was NOT happy with my Hyannis race, but I'll leave that for another post.

Here is a picture of Steph and I pre-run. Note Steph's badass reflector vest. Note my badass FuelBelt. Note both of our longsleeves tied 90's style around our waists. Too much Awesome for one photo? Quite Possibly.

No Stopping Monday: Marathon Monday 2010

2010-04-21T20:54:00.000-04:00

Marathon Monday, one of the best holidays of the year! On Sunday Steph and Christina and I went into Boston to watch the Elite Invitational Mile and go to the Marathon Expo. It was a great day, despite the rainy conditions. It is always awesome to see elite runners up close and personal, just absolutely beastin' there way down the road. Notably, I got to see Sara Hall and Darren Brown run the road mile, and I saw Grete Waitz at the expo signing autographs, but I didn't stay to get one, although I would have loved to.

The road miles were fun to watch. First they did the high school races, then the mens and womens professional miles. We watched from the corner of Boylston and Exeter, right near a big screen that showed info about the runners, and live footage of the race for when they were out of sight. Before the women's race the screen put a little blurb of the runners accomplishments and other notable things like championships, olympic efforts, and first place finishes. Poor Sara Hall had under her name "wife of American marathoner Ryan Hall." Seriously? Sara is elite as well, they definitely could have put up a different fact about her. I mean, it was funny, but come on...

The expo was great. It's always great to go home with a goodie bag of free things! Although I tried a few too many energy drinks and bars for one day. Best Freebies: Tiara from the Disney Princess Half Marathon booth, Success Rice, and 2010 Boston Marathon poster.

Marathon Monday was a good time too. Got up early and met some of the cross country/track team at Coach's office and we had muffins and bagels and juice. Normally we meet up and watch the start of the marathon on TV, but the TV is no longer in the office, so we all just hung out there instead. We headed out to the streets to see the first wheelchairs come by and await the elite men and women. It's a really exciting atmosphere. Going to school along the course, in particular a key turning point along the course (Newton Firehouse), is really awesome. The entire school is out there on the streets, mostly drunk, but always enthusiastic. I love being out there cheering people on right before they turn onto Comm Ave, because I feel like that's one of the places that they really need it.

My heart races when the elites come by. It's really cool to watch the little specks in a pack off in the distance formulate into people as they get closer and closer. It's amazing how FAST they are. I can't even fathom how they keep that pace for 26.2 miles. USA had a great showing by Hall and Meb. Neither grabbed first place, but that just means that they'll be back next year for more!

2010-01-07T17:02:00.004-05:00

"If you’re not pushing yourself beyond the comfort zone, if you’re not constantly demanding more from yourself (expanding and learning as you go) you’re choosing a numb existence. You’re denying yourself an extraordinary trip."
-Dean Karnazes

Newsies

2009-12-22T19:10:00.004-05:00

Well helloooo after a long hiatus! I will try to update the races I haven't written about yet, which includes GNACs, NCAA Regional, and my first indoor track meet of the season, but first I have some exciting news!

My friend Steph and I are all set and registered for the Hyannis Half Marathon on February 28, 2010! I'm really really excited about it! My roommate Christina and a couple of the other girls on the team may run it as well, and DWalsh and Johnson are running the full marathon, so it'll be a fun weekend for sure. This will be the longest race I've done, a whooping 13.1 miles in the biting cold of February. The longest I've ever run is somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 miles, so I'm looking forward to pumping up the miles and doing some loooooonnggg runs.

The problem right now is that I'm home for winter break, so Steph and I can't train together for a whole month. The other problem is that I hate every single route I could possibly do from my house. I really dislike running in Lowell. Newton is a much better running community, and you can literally go out in endless directions. Lowell is more constraining because its a busy city and a lot of the streets are set in a grid form and the river kind of breaks things up into weird sections. Ugh. On top of that, it's winter, meaning SNOW and ICE and WIND and BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES. Not my style. I don't mind getting bundled up because I'm a pro at layering, but when the sidewalks are not cleared and there is ice and snow everywhere it makes it hard to get in a decent run.

That being said, I'm considering getting a one month membership to a gym if possible. I hate treadmills, but I feel like it might be necessary this break. I want to try to do most of my runs outside, but it would be clutch to have the option of a treadmill if running on the roads becomes too dangerous or we have crazy snowstorms that prevent me from getting out.

Saints Invitational

2009-10-25T13:06:00.005-04:00

21:51. Tough race, biting cold. I am not satisfied... I was expecting to do much better. The second mile is really what killed me. I have two weeks to get ready for the conference meet, and I really want to do well and hopefully make all-conference top 10.

Mile 1- 6:36

Mile 2- 13:56 (7:20 mile)

Mile 3.1- 21:51 (7:55 for 1.1)

I definitely need to have a more even pace for GNAC's. It's hard not to go out fast at Franklin Park because everyone goes out fast, and it can be hard to make up ground it you choose to go out a little slower. The anticipation is building for GNAC's, I really can't wait but at the same time the nerves are building up!

Running Monks Invitational

2009-10-25T13:03:00.004-04:00

22:47. Really tough course. It was my third time running at St. Joe's and I did get my best time for the course, but I wasn't thrilled with my race. I came in 11th out of 70. Everyone else did well, helping women's LCXC to get 3rd place overall, earning a nice shiny plaque! Way to go girls!

Gordon College Meet or "Now That's What I Call Cross Country"

2009-10-05T10:46:00.007-04:00

This past Saturday was our meet at Gordon College, which is my favorite course! It's a fast course, and it is a really big race with about 300 runners. The weather was nasty and miserable. It was raining all day and very windy, so the whole course was underwater basically. I ran straight through the middle of every ankle-deep puddle. It was the sport of cross country at it's finest!

My time was 21:26, a new PR for me! I'm really happy with this result, especially considering the weather conditions. If I can run a PR in extremely crappy weather, then I most certainly can run faster in better conditions. I was 60th out of 290 girls.

Next week we go to St. Joe's in Maine, and I'm looking forward to a good meet!

Roger Williams Meet and Rivier Invite

2009-10-05T10:38:00.004-04:00

Sorry I haven't been as consistent with my updates lately! Now that I'm back at school and the season is in full swing I haven't had as much time. Here is an update on my past two races...

Roger Williams Meet: 22:26. Decent race. I didn't do quite as well as I wanted to, but I'm trying not to feel upset about it because it was only the first race of the season. I definitely wanted to average under 7 minute miles, but my body just wasn't responding today. I think the whole "day before the day before" rule is right, because I didn't get a lot of sleep the Thursday before, but I did Friday night and still felt tired today. It was a good effort, by everyone on the team!

Rivier Invite: 21:51. I came in 3rd overall, and I led the race for a ways of it. I've never led a race before! I was trying very hard NOT to lead, but I couldn't sit back any longer. I was passed in the last 100 meters or so, and that kind of sucked, but I'm very happy with my effort!

Preseason! And Our First "Meet"

2009-09-05T20:40:00.003-04:00

I've been pretty busy lately moving in at school and spending every waking moment with my team, so sorry for the long break in posts. I moved in to my dorm two weeks ago for preseason and it's been great! Both our women's and men's teams look really promising at this point. If we can keep everyone uninjured, that is. Our girls team is very small this year. Only eight of us all together! But quality is more important than quantity, and I feel like we are all around the same level and have been doing some great pack running.

Today was our first "meet." It was more of a scrimmage-type meet. We ran at Fresh Pond in Cambridge against Lesley College. It was very friendly and casual. No uniforms or racing shoes or anything. Women did one lap around the pond for 2.5 miles, while the men did 2 laps, for 5. I came in 2nd place for the women and was the first Lasell women to finish. I was very happy with my race, and I felt really good throughout the whole race. My time was 16:58, a 6:47 pace.

I'm excited for our first official meet next weekend at Roger Williams. It should be a good race. I can't wait to be in full uniform and racing spikes and running on grass/trail.

300

2009-08-14T14:27:00.004-04:00

I just totaled up my mileage for the summer and I've logged a real solid 244 miles! I'm pretty happy with that! I kind of hit a rough bump in July, but lately I feel like I'm getting back into a rhythm with running. Lately it's been my favorite part of the day and I can't wait to get out the door to run. I even woke up at 6:20am a few days ago and ran before work. I'm probably just psyched for preseason!

So with 9 days left until I move back to school for preseason, I'm going to try to log 300 miles for the summer! It's going to be hard, but it's definitely doable. I will have to average about 5-6 miles a day, but I will have two "LSD" days before I leave, so that helps a lot. Wish me luck ;)

Bikini Run!

2009-08-06T16:42:00.002-04:00

Yes, you read that right! This past Tuesday I participated in the Good Times 5k series annual "Bikini Run." It was a blast! Anne and I were going to do it together, but something came up last minute for her, so instead I went with my friend Johannah. My time wasn't fabulous, but heck, I was in a bikini top! That must count for something, right?

My time was 23:55. I'm glad I was under 24, that was my goal going into it because I had a pain in my stomach before and during the race. But I sucked it up and had fun. I don't know any specific mile splits because I didn't know where the mile markers were. I liked the course a lot. Its a really flat course and run almost entirely on the Riverwalk along the Merrimack River. Very Pretty! Here is a picture of me, courtesy of Jim Rhoades.

2009-07-28T18:07:00.001-04:00

"Somewhere in the world someone is training when you are not. When you race him, he will win."

-Tom Fleming

Only A Tad Obsessed.

2009-07-22T19:54:00.006-04:00

Lately I've been trying to win myself a pair of Nike Lunarglide+ sneakers. Nike is doing a promotional thing on Twitter and giving away 50 pairs in 10 days. All you have to do to win is follow @lunarglide on Twitter and then post an "@reply" with the hint of the day in it, and winners are then selected randomly each day.

Today's "hint" was to watch a Lunarglide video featuring Kara Goucher and then post how many miles per week she runs(115) and another fact about her(she is a super awesome dancer). Anyway, I absolutely LOVE Kara, so I thought I'd share the link to the video:

Nike Lunarglide+ "Kara's Story"

I will watch any video with Kara in it. Or read any article/blurb of a statement concerning Kara. She is one of my idols, so I really loved this video because she shows a lot of her personally in it and it shows she is a "real" person too. Well, you know... a "real" person who runs 115 miles/week and has superhuman speed and endurance and good looks. But yeah, she is amazing.

Not-So-Lonesome Runner

2009-07-12T21:31:00.004-04:00

Lately I've had the urge to run by myself. I run almost everyday with a partner, but I really just want to run alone lately. Some days I run twice, but I still can't get away from buddy-run on the second run because I will go with Anne in the morning and then later in the evening Kerri will call to run. Neither of them are training for anything specific, so I can't always get in the kind of quality run I want to. I'm specifically training for my cross country season and I just want to train by myself for most days of the week. I want to be able to go my own route, my own pace, my own distance, but I can't when I'm running with a partner everyday. I really need to be putting in more distance, but I'm finding it hard to do. I just can't say no to people.

I do need to somehow break away from the buddies, because now that I'm getting into mid-July I should be upping the mileage quite a bit. My goal for June was mostly just to maintain my fitness, but I can't stick with only doing 25-30 miles per week. Any suggestions for telling my pals I'm craving some solo runs?

Great Legs 5k

2009-07-10T16:20:00.007-04:00

Yesterday I ran the "Great Legs" 5k in my city. It actually starts right across from my house and runs through my neighborhood. My soon-to-be roommate came up and ran, along with her stepmom. It was fun, but I'm not thrilled with my time. I came through in 23:42, which is about a 7:40 pace. I wanted to be under 23 minutes, but I guess I did alright considering I've had a couple of blah weeks of training due to Florida and torrential downpours and general laziness.

I was fairly consistent though. My first mile was around a 7:30, and I went through mile 2 in 15:03. The last mile was tough though. I ran this race last year and did much worse, so at least I improved my time. The course is advertised as "flat" but hell-to-the-freaking-no it isn't.

Something I realized right when I got home from school for the summer is that I absolutely HATE running anywhere within a 3-5 mile radius of my house. I can't wait to get back to Newton at the end of August because I have so many more options for routes, and I pretty much like all of them. 43 days 'til preseason.

Photo courtesy of Ted Tyler

2009-07-01T23:01:00.005-04:00

"It's my own space, my own time, when I'm just out there letting my thoughts go. It's a part of my day like eating, and it's one of my favorite parts."

-Louise Kent

I'm back!

2009-06-29T16:16:00.002-04:00

I got back from Florida late Saturday afternoon. It was a great trip! Got to see my little bro play baseball at Disney's Wide World of Sports, went to Disney and Universal, and it was an overall great time. I only ran once during my time away - a mere 2.3 miles. Boy was it hot! Even waking up at 6am to run I was still dying from the humidity! I'm glad I'm back home to run... if it ever stops raining that is.

My knee started acting up a couple of days before I left for Florida, so that's part of the reason I didn't get much in. I decided it wouldn't be a bad thing to rest it for a week. I've never been injured and I'd like to keep it that way! The weird thing about my knee is that it doesn't hurt when I'm running. I only notice the pain when I've been sitting or standing for a long time or if I'm going up and down stairs or inclines. It doesn't usually feel like much of a pain either; it's more just a bothersome kink. I'm icing it and watching it closely though.

I ran today and it was fine. Tomorrow I'm running one of the "Good Times 5k" races downtown with my friend Anne. I know I probably shouldn't go too hard because of my knee, but if I am feeling good I'm just going to go with it.

I've been reading up on "Runner's Knee" and I think it's probably what's going on with my knee. CoolRunning.com says runner's knee is a pain around or behind the knee cap and it is "one of the most common injuries among runners, runner's knee most often strikes as runners approach forty miles per week for the first time." I'm not quite at forty miles per week, but I have been increasing my mileage a lot this summer. Just before I left for Florida I did 34 miles for one week, which I probably haven't done since cross country. I doesn't help that I'm just about due for a new pair of sneakers. I honestly don't think it's anything serious. I'm just going to continue icing it and hold back on increasing my mileage for a few weeks. That is going to kill me, but I really don't want to injure myself before (or during) the season.

Louise Rossetti 5k 2009

2009-06-18T19:00:00.007-04:00

Yesterday I ran the Louise Rossetti 5k in Beverly, MA. It was a really great race, lots of fun. My time was 22:08 and I came in 22nd overall and 3rd in my age group. I'm really happy with my time. I don't consider myself in "racing shape" by any means because I haven't done any speed/track or tempo workouts since the winter. I'm excited to see how I do this cross country season because last fall I was running high 21s/low 22s on average during my peak of XC season.

I went out way faster than I meant to. I wanted to go out pretty easy in the first mile... like between 7-7:30, but instead I went out in 6:40 for the first mile. I paid for it and had a tough 2nd mile coming through in 14:18, or around a 7:38 mile. I made up a lot of ground in the last mile though, coming through the last 1.1 in 7:50, which is about a 7:07 mile. Next race I do (which will most likely be June 30th) I'll be way more conservative going out for the first mile. I'm hoping that going out in a 7:00 mile will feel slow, or much slower than race pace should feel.

I got a medal for being a top 50 finisher and a trophy for coming in 3rd for my age group! I had a nice cheering section of my mom, grandmother, aunt, and cousin, which was nice.

I'll be in Florida in 1 day! Probably won't update while I'm gone, but I'll be back the 27th.

Quick Update

2009-06-15T19:52:00.003-04:00

So it's been a while since I updated last. I don't have a lot to say right now, but I will give a quick update:

Wednesday, June 17 is my first road race of the summer! It's an all-women's race in Beverly, and I'm looking to get a decent time. I'm really curious to see where I'm at since I haven't raced since the winter. I will also have a cheering section all to myself consisting of my grandparents, aunt, little cousin, and my mom. Ha!

I'll be in Florida in 5 days! I don't how my running will go while I'm away. My dad doesn't even want me running in the streets of Florida. I told him I'd do short boring loops near where we're staying over and over while carrying my phone and some cash just in case, and he'll hear nothing of it! My brother is in a baseball tournament at Disney's Wild World of Sports, so I'm going to try to see if the track there is open for public use. It probably isn't, though. Maybe I'll just try to swim a lot?

Speaking of swimming, I've been investigating pool options for this summer. I really want to do some swimming! I'm looking into the YMCA to see if they have a summer membership or a college discount. I am also trying to find out what the UML open pool hours are, and who is allowed at "open pool."

2009-06-04T23:04:00.008-04:00

"We make choices. I hate to say 'sacrifices.' When I speak to younger groups, to colleges and other younger athletes, I say 'we don't make sacrifices. If we truly love this sport and we have these goals and dreams in the sport, the classroom, or in life, they're not sacrifices. They're choices that we make to fulfill these goals and dreams.' Sacrifices makes it sound like 'oh, poor me, I have to do this in order to get to this,' and I don't really like that word. It was just really the choice to take care of myself and live a proper lifestyle. In doing that, I feel like a healthier person, I feel focused in everything, not just in my running. In following this one dream, I feel like I became an even more well-rounded person."
-Deena Kastor

Summer Runnnnin'

2009-06-03T22:33:00.006-04:00

My summer training is going well. For the most part I am sticking to my training plan, but also making day-to-day adjustments based on how I feel. I've been running nearly everyday with my friend Anne, and some days with my friend Kerri. A couple of days I've run twice - once with each of them. Kerri is hoping to do the Baystate Marathon in the fall, so I'm helping her build up her mileage again.

Here is a general look at what I'm aiming to do this summer:

JUNE: Maintenance mostly. Keep up my fitness like I've been doing this spring, but build up more of a base of higher miles/week. By the end of June I should be up to about 35 miles/week, give or take. Abs and pushups regularly.

JULY: Continue to increase mileage. My main focus for the month is to add in Brian's strength program 2-4 times a week. I don't have access to a weight room so I'll be using a resistance band for a lot of the exercises. There are also some core workouts and jump roping along with it, which I'm all about. I'm not a weightlifting person, so I really like this program Brian sent me, and I think I'll be more willing to keep it up.

mid-JULY/AUGUST: Continue with increasing mileage and Brian's strength program. Add in a tempo run once a week. I'm not sure when I want to start this. I'm thinking mid-July because then I'd get more in before preseason than if I start in August. I'm not planning on doing any type of hardcore speed/track work, I just want to get in a few harder efforts (but not all-out) before the season. By the end of August I want to be doing between 45-50 miles/week.

I will also have a few road or trail races thrown in there. I've found quite a few free ones, so those would be good for testing my fitness or as a tempo run. I'm also doing a couple of road races that I'm going to take a little more seriously because the cost is somewhat higher and the competition is good!

I'm really looking forward to this summer. Now all I have to worry about is getting a job. :/ Please just somebody call me back, dammit!

National Running Day

2009-06-03T22:20:00.006-04:00

Happy National Running Day! Did you get your run in today? ;)

http://www.runningday.org/

The artist in me really loves the designs and logo for the event.

Did you?

2009-05-29T15:40:00.004-04:00

"When your memories are greater than your dreams, you are already beginning to die."
-Ryan Hall, via twitter @ryanhall3

Registered.

2009-05-27T13:19:00.004-04:00

I just registered for the Louise Rossetti Women's 5k on June 17. I'm actually really excited about this race. I haven't raced since February... or maybe even January, I don't know, it's been a long time. Plus Beverly is gorgeous so the course is probably really nice!

Processing fees, wtf?

Oh, I also found THIS. A trail race series in Nashua! I'm definitely doing a couple of these, at least. They have 5k and 5 mile races.

Summer Road Races

2009-05-25T11:16:00.004-04:00

I've started to look up some road races for the summer. I'd like to do at least 3 or 4, but I'm looking for CHEAP or FREE races, considering I am a Poor College Student. I've found a few promising ones.

Road Race Series:

Good Times 5k Race Series - Lowell, MA. Every Tuesday at 7pm, $10/race

Westford Academy Summer Series - Westford, MA. Every Thursday at 6:30pm, $5/race. This one isn't a 5k. It's a random 3.6 miles, which I don't understand. It is close to a 6k though, which would be good practice for the NCAA DIII meet.

Danvers 5k Series - Danvers, MA. Every Wednesday at 7pm, FREE. Super flat course, and when they say every Wednesday, they mean every freaking Wednesday, 52 weeks a year.

Single Road Races:

The Granby's Charter's Day 10k - Granby, MA. Saturday, June 13 at 9am, $20 entry fee. I want to do a 10k race, and this is completely equipped with festivities all day afterwards.

Louise Rossetti Women's 5k - Beverly, MA. Wednesday June 17 at 6:30pm, $15 student entry fee. I think I'm definitely doing this one. It starts and ends at Lynch Park, a blast from the past of my childhood. I have a lot of family in that area.

Berna's Great Legs Women's 5k - Lowell, MA. Thursday, July 9 at 6pm, $20 entry fee. This is a no brainer because it starts across from my house and 100% of the entry fee goes to the House of Hope in Lowell. Ran it last year.

Sara Hall Form Drills

2009-05-20T16:20:00.005-04:00

I found this on Ryan and Sara Hall's website. I used to do similar drills after practice in high school, but since starting college I haven't done many drill-type things. I'm going to start doing these again after some of my runs.

My form is one of my biggest concerns. I don't think I have bad form - I actually think my form is pretty good - but I'm always trying to improve it. Better form leads to more "efficient" running, or doing more with less energy. It's similar to the difference between running "hard" and running "fast" that was described in Weldon Johnson's article.

Classic Running Quote

2009-05-15T11:25:00.004-04:00

Image found here.

Success

2009-05-11T16:42:00.001-04:00

2009-05-10T21:57:00.004-04:00

"When you have the enthusiasm and the passion, you end up figuring how to excel."
-Deena Kastor

Great Article

2009-05-09T15:12:00.015-04:00

Wejo Speaks: Why I Sucked in College by Weldon Johnson

The article above is one I found by chance, but it's one of the best articles I've read in a while. Weldon Johnson was a self-described "mediocre" runner in college, but has improved a lot since then and is now running a ridiculous 28:06 10k. In the article he reflects on why he was not as successful in college, and the changes he's made since to become such a great competitive runner. I found many of his ideas useful. I especially liked this part:

"...there are not bonus points for running "hard." The point is to run fast. There is a difference. Don't forget that. Too many people confuse "hard" with fast. The next time you see Bernard Lagat running, tell me how "hard" it looks like he's running. And if you are running "hard" on all your runs and all your intervals, you will never teach your body to relax while running fast which is the key to running even faster."

I feel like lately I've been a lot more concerned with my pace than I have been in the past. I feel like if I'm not training consistently at a certain pace then I'm not going to get any faster, which is completely the opposite of what Johnson is saying in the article. His argument is that because running is primarily an aerobic activity, the longer (in terms of distance) and the more consistently (in terms of time - months/years/etc) we run, the faster we get over time. I like and support this idea, because I often feel like the excess speedwork my high school coach had me do wasn't really helping me to improve. I felt like I got so much more out of the longer distance runs we'd do.

I'm curious to see where I go with my summer running, in relation to the advice in this article. I know I want to up the mileage, in a reasonable way, of course. I'm excited for summer training, but more so for next cross country season. I'm going to miss all my running buddies while I'm home for the summer! Who will I run to get ice cream with? Play "yellow car" with? Memorize street names, make TOP 3 lists, and collect strange items with? It's no fun by myself...

Prefontaine

2009-05-04T12:45:00.004-04:00

I just finished my sports psychology final paper, and I wrote about Pre. It was the easiest paper I've ever written! While I was writing it I found this page on the University of Oregon Athletics website. It's just a small biography of Pre and lists all of his records, but what I liked about it was all the pictures! I've seen a lot of Pre pictures, but there are some great ones I'd never seen before.

I love the one of Pre and Bowerman together. Both pictures from the GoDucks.com site.

Ryan Hall First Run Since Boston

2009-04-30T08:53:00.002-04:00

9-miler

2009-04-28T22:42:00.003-04:00

Today me, Steph, and Ari did 9 miles, which is the longest run we've done since cross country season. We ran up Comm Ave to the end of the cemetery after the BC gates, and it was a good run.

It actually felt surprisingly easy for me. We were trying to go slow, but ended up with about a 9:15 pace, and even that felt slow to me. It was blazin' hot out - nearly 90 degrees, and Steph wanted to go no faster than 10 minute miles. Well, so much for that plan! I think I am in much better shape than I initially thought. This run and the "fun run" are two recent indicators of my fitness. Neither run killed me. I find it ironic that we tried so hard to go slow today, but still ended up with a decent pace. Not fast by any means, but faster than I thought we were going.

That said, I'm really psyched for summer training and more importantly XC '09! I really want this to be a break out season for me. I finally feel like I have a few good years of solid, consistent training under my belt to really push my limits. I only started cross country my junior year of high school, and a lot of people I know have been running since middle school. I think it definitely makes a difference in how I think of and approach the sport. I've slowly been overtaken by the love of running, and I keep finding new things I love about it. I'm not burnt out by running 3 seasons of track for all 4 years of high school like some people are once they get to college. Running is fresh and new to me lately, and I can see my mindset towards it changing.

Fun Run Recap

2009-04-26T20:14:00.007-04:00

Saturday was the first annual "Lasell College Fun Run/Walk." It was a 2.8 mile course consisting of two loops around campus. It was mostly cross country kids who came, but there were quite a few people there who weren't. I won it, with a time of 20:40, which scored me a $50 gift card! Ari came in second, and Lauren in third. Me and Ari were quite a bit ahead of everyone else, so it was a pretty easy victory. It was crazy hot out, though!

I'm really happy with that time. It averages out to around a 7:18 pace, which I wasn't expecting at all. It didn't seem like we were going that fast at all! Maybe I'm in better shape than I thought! My average race pace during this past xc season was about a 7 minute mile. I wasn't seriously racing yesterday, so I'm excited to keep it up and see where I'm at next season. Me and Ari were talking comfortably for the first 2 miles, and it was in the 80s for temperature on an all uphill course. These things tell me that next season is going to be a good one for me, if I keep up my fitness this summer.

We made tie dye shirts for the race. The front says "Tramps like us" and the back says "baby we were born to run" from Bruce Springsteen's song. We got some strange looks from people who only saw the front or didn't know the song, but the airbrush tattoo artist that was there for spring carnival appreciated our shirts! Please note pirate tattoos. Intimidation factor boost.

"Race" On Saturday

2009-04-22T19:40:00.003-04:00

I'm going to win this on Saturday:

I'd be completely ashamed of myself if I don't.

Marathon Monday

2009-04-22T11:24:00.002-04:00

Marathon Monday was such a fantastic day. I got up around 8:00 and me and Meagan went over to Coach Sull's office around 8:30. It was perfect timing, because right when we got there Coach had arrived with fresh bagels from Bruegger's. We turned on the Marathon coverage on TV, and once the rest of the team started getting there we had them sign the signs we made for Dave. We watched the start of the women and men, and headed out to Washington St. around 10:30. I find it extremely funny/annoying that the announcers on TV described the first miles of the women's race as "pedestrian pace" as if any old person could run sub-6 minute miles for 26 miles. I'd be happy if I did their pace for 1 mile!

So we headed out to the streets to claim a good spot and waited anxiously for the elite leaders to come by. I couldn't stand still waiting for them, it was kind of surreal. I had chills when Kara and the other women ran by.... I admire them so much! The first men came by soon after and I didn't see Ryan Hall with the lead pack, so I got really nervous. He was probably about 6-8 men back when he passed us at mile 17.6, so I wish I had seen the rest of his race to see him come back and snag third! I honestly can't even describe the feeling of being so close to these runners that I admire so much. Watching them run in person was just beautiful.

The rest of the day was fun, too. It was great cheering on all these people I don't know. So many people had their names on their shirts, and it was a great feeling to cheer for them and have them look over with a huge smile on their face! We saw Dave go by, and he looked strong. I missed my old lacrosse coach run by though, which was disappointing. It was just a great day overall, and I'm so glad my school is right on the marathon route. I can't wait for next year! Hopefully Ryan runs it again, but I read in Runner's World that Kara is hoping to have a baby now so she can still have time to train and compete in the 2012 Olympics. Makes sense, but I want to keep watching her run!

Love.

2009-04-19T15:01:00.002-04:00

Ryan Hall Boston Blog

I love reading runner's blogs. I'm SO pumped for tomorrow!

Ice Cream Run!

2009-04-17T21:43:00.007-04:00

VICTORY.

Destination: JP Licks

Saluting the Ice Cream Gods

Crew

Johnny Kelly giving me a high five for a job well done.

Warrior Wounds

2009-04-13T19:33:00.005-04:00

Tried out a new trail today. It's not even one of the ones listed in the Newton trail guide I got, but it's pretty cool. It's right along the Charles River. I ran it with Ari, and we both thought it was a cool little trail. Definitely added to my run routes. I may have run into a really aggressive branch though, but it's not a big deal...

I've just been telling people I slayed a dragon instead.... I mean, we did pass a tower:

Photo from here.

2009-04-10T23:39:00.002-04:00

"Bid me run, and I will strive with things impossible."
-Shakespeare, Julius Caesar

Exploration

2009-04-08T13:10:00.007-04:00

One of my favorite things about running is that it can take you anywhere. I mean, clearly there are limitations depending on the distances a person can run, but it really is something that you can do to explore places. It wasn't until living in Newton and running here that I became somewhat of an "exploration runner," and I want to keep exploring! A few of the boys on the team like to go out and discover new trails. I think they basically run down random roads and look for woods. I want to do more runs like that, because the same old routes get boring.

Dave was telling me about the "Echo Bridge" run, where you can stop underneath Echo Bridge and yell and it has a really cool echo. Then there are some trails surrounding it. Its not far from campus, but I'd never heard of it. So it got me thinking that there are probably tons of cool places all around Newton and the nearby towns that I don't know about. I've decided I'm going to find all of them. :)

That is Echo Bridge up above. I also found this website: Newton Conservators. It lists all the parks and trails around the Newton area. There are some I know about, and some I don't, but I ordered a trail guide anyway. I want to know every inch of the area!

Fun Run!

2009-04-06T11:22:00.006-04:00

Since (supposedly) the weather is going to start getting nice, I'm ready for some super fun runs. We have a growing "Nice Weather To Do List" that we've been adding to all winter. A lot of it isn't running related stuff... like kayaking, tie dye, Mission: Robinhood (which I will get into another time...), etc. But we also have a list of "fun runs" we want to do. At the top of the list is an Ice Cream Run, which consists of running into Newton Centre to get ice cream at J.P. Licks, then walking home! Other runs I want to do:

Midnight Run
Boston Run (either running all the way up Comm Ave into Boston then taking the T home, or taking the T into Boston to run, then jumping back on the T home)
Yard Sale Run (run until you find a yard sale/stop at every yard sale you pass)
THIS and it's rules

I'm sure there are more I can't think of right now, but I'm excited for these to happen once the weather gets really nice!

Those Darn Trackies...

2009-04-06T11:20:00.000-04:00

Are You Suggesting Coconuts Migrate?

2009-04-04T19:18:00.008-04:00

Yesterday was an eventful run. Me, Steph, and Meagan were running up Comm Ave when we came upon a random coconut. It was the most random thing ever, and it rose many questions... Where did it come from? Why of all places is it in the middle of Comm Ave? Who drew a face on it? Yes, a FACE.

Naturally, we took it. It's sort of like a running game within our team to see who can bring back the best "souvenir." It's not like we go out looking for random things to take, but if we find some interesting item abandoned in the streets we take it and bring it back. It started when a few of the boys brought back these flag signs that read "Caution: Runners On Road." Since then we've collected some good stuff! Danny brought back a stolen MBTA cone, Christina found a broken toy truck. My favorite though is Chris, who found a speed limit sign in the grass on the side of a street. He took it and ran all the way back with it! Speed limit signs are NOT SMALL.... I don't even know how he carried it all the way back with him.

So, here is the most recent token of awesomeness we've recovered:

His name is Hubert. We decided to leave him on coach's desk with a note.

Um, What?

2009-03-31T21:18:00.004-04:00

I don't know where this came from, but I felt the need to share it. I just have no words for it.... just.... awe.

Busy Busy Busy!

2009-03-30T11:15:00.002-04:00

I've been very busy this past week! I didn't get in as much running as I wanted to, but that's okay. Spring XC starts Wednesday! I'm really excited for it. Also, this past Saturday Lasell had an accepted students day, so I got to meet some possible future teammates! My friend Karoline was accepted so she spent the night Friday and said that she'd definitely run if she came here. I hope she does, she fits right in with our quirky team. There was only one other girl that came to the XC table, but the boys attracted quite a few promising guys. I'm already counting down the days until preseason!

I'm starting to look up some road races in the area. This Saturday is "The Local 3" 5k in Newton. It's not far from the school, so I'm thinking about it. The only problem is I'm working the women's lacrosse game at 2:30, so it might be cutting it close. We'll see!

My friend Cate asked if I wanted to do the James Joyce Ramble 10k in Dedham, and I'm definitely down for that one. The longest race I've done is a 6k for the NCAA DIII Regional meet, so I'm excited for a longer race. My high school coach always told me the longer the better for me.

2009-03-20T18:39:00.001-04:00

"Some people dream of success, others wake up and work hard at it."
-unknown

True, Very True

2009-03-18T18:47:00.000-04:00

Amazing Race

2009-03-17T13:53:00.004-04:00

2009 IC4A Indoor Track and Field Championships, M 4x800 Final

http://www.flotrack.org/videos/coverage/view_video/234769/160259-m-4x800-final

Fastest 4x800m time in the world in 2009 and the fastest collegiate time since 1993. Seventh fastest 4x800 run by an American team.

Sick race. I may be a little bit biased because one of the runners - Gagnon (anchor) - is from my hometown, but regardless, that was one awesome race.

I'm Falling Apart, Dammit!

2009-03-16T22:07:00.003-04:00

These past two weeks haven't been very great for me running-wise. I've been feeling under the weather, and it's definitely effected my running. My sinuses are killing me and I have a cough that won't go away. I took it easy on the mileage last week and didn't really do anything over 3 miles. I still felt terrible though, so I took three days off. I felt much better today and got out and ran, but that may have been a mistake. It was tough breathing and my body felt so tired. Now my cough has returned and I'm wiped out.

It's so frustrating because I was putting in some solid miles once indoor track ended, and now that spring cross country is starting in a week I'm falling apart and barely doing anything. It sucks!

Thank You For Not Jogging

2009-03-14T15:58:00.002-04:00

hahahaha

2009-03-10T21:23:00.006-04:00

"Badass weighs more than muscle."
-D.Walsh, LCXC

2009-03-08T19:42:00.006-04:00

"You have to wonder at times what you're doing out there. Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement."
-Steve Prefontaine

Stalk Me!

2009-03-05T10:39:00.000-05:00

Err... I mean, follow me.

Oh, Dilbert

2009-03-03T19:36:00.004-05:00

www.dilbert.com

Speaking of Music...

2009-02-25T20:13:00.005-05:00

Here is what I've been jammin' to during my super-intense-hardcore ab workouts....

Universal Mind Control - Common

What A World - Common

Next To Me - Parker House & Theory

Little Bird - Annie Lennox

Wild Wild West - Will Smith

Wonderlust King - Gogol Bordello

Seven Nation Army - White Stripes

Do the Panic - Phantom Planet

American Boy - Estelle f. Kanye West

Grippo - Saul Williams

List Of Demands - Saul Williams

Don't Stop - Innerpartysystem

Sometimes I just put my entire library of Parker House & Theory on shuffle, because all of their stuff is ridiculously good! Listen

Running With Music

2009-02-25T16:41:00.004-05:00

There was recently a question on the DailyMile Forums about whether you prefer to run with or without music, and I figured I'd elaborate on my opinion a little bit.

I personally don't run with music. I have never even tried it. I don't do it for safety reasons at all, though that's a perfectly valid reason, I just think it would be distracting in a way to have something in my ear. The other reason is that I just don't need music when I run, so why mess with a good thing?

I actually don't understand when people say they can't run without music. Why can't you? Are you physically unable unless you are hooked up to headphones? Do you run on an iPod battery charger? Sarcasm aside, I wonder if these people have ever tried running without music. It's a great thing to kind of go out and "get loss" in a run. I was at a meet earlier in this winter and they had music blasting during all the events. Someone on my team wondered if it would be a distraction when we raced, but I honestly didn't notice it at all. I ran the 800 and a leg of the distance medley, and I can not for the life of me remember what songs were playing during my races. I completely zoned out and couldn't hear it! I feel like this would be the case if I tried running with my iPod. It just wouldn't work. It would have no effect, or possibly a negative effect on my running. That is just my take on it.

Music during ab workouts is another thing! I feel weird doing abs alone in my quiet room with no music playing. I used to think If I were to run with music, what songs would I put on the playlist? But it was pointless because I don't run with music. So now I just put those songs on my ab workout mix, and I feel the burnnnn.

Happy National Pancake Day!

2009-02-24T12:03:00.010-05:00

Greatest Thing Ever.

Apparently IHOP is serving free pancakes today?! Too bad I can't make it to an IHOP.... dammit! It is also Mardi Gras so eat up whether or not you make it out to IHOP or not. Check out my totally hip Mardi Gras tattoo... its a saxophone.... see it?

I'm no contortionist, people.

2009-02-22T18:34:00.002-05:00

"Life is in the struggle, and I never feel more alive than when I'm struggling."
-Dean Karnazes

Apparently I Chicken-Wing It

2009-02-20T19:40:00.002-05:00

The other day we had to go return our uniforms, and we ended up staying and talking to James for a good 2 hours. It was great, because I love talking about running. I forget how it came up but I asked him if he could critique my form off the top of his head. He was all over that like a hobo on a ham and cheese sandwich. He said I tend to run "chicken-winged" when I get tired - I tense up my shoulders and my elbows wing out causing me to twist my torso a bit. I was surprised he could go into such detail about it, and now I'm wondering why I didn't ask sooner.

Everyone started jumping in after that, wanting to know what they could improve in their form. He mentioned to someone (I think Steph) that she looks down when she runs. I piped up and said "Oh, I know I do that too" because my high school coach always told me to look straight ahead. James was actually surprised and said "Nahh, not so much." He then said that I must be correcting it when I catch myself doing it, because he never noticed a tendency for me to look down when running. That was a boost. It's good to know my form has improved since high school. I was feeling like my form had almost deteriorated a bit since high school, but maybe I've just become more observant and critical of my own running.

Tomorrow we have a recruit girl coming to visit and spend the night. From what I hear she is really good. That is an intimidating thing to know, but I think this will motivate me to train harder. With Kayla graduating, I would be the number one runner for Lasell XC next year, which is also kind of an intimidating thought. I don't want a freshman to come in and beat me. It'll definitely be good for me because I'm generally not a super competitive person, but this is getting me excited.

Hoping to put in some good miles in the next few weeks before spring cross country starts. I haven't been doing anything too intense lately, so I want to increase the intensity a little bit.

2009-02-18T23:43:00.004-05:00

"Don't waste your life. No one chooses mediocrity but many settle for it. NEVER SETTLE."
-unknown

Only 60 Days...

2009-02-18T13:38:00.005-05:00

I have been so hyped up for the Boston Marathon lately. I'm not running it or anything, but I'm just really excited for it. My school is on the marathon route and apparently it gets pretty crazy. I want to know who is going to be running it! I know Ryan Hall and Kara Goucher are both in it, so I can't wait to see them come by! It's going to be such a fun day. Hopefully it's nice weather, that would be key.

On a side note, wouldn't it be awesome to have KILLER ABS like Kara Goucher?! Look at those abs! I seriously love her, she's so cute! Not to mention she's a bomb nasty runner.

Yes, yes I did just say bomb nasty...

2009-02-16T16:22:00.002-05:00

"I've always taken the philosophy that you have to dream a little in this sport, if you stay in your comfort zone, you're not going to do anything special."
-Deena Kastor

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T16:17:00.004-05:00

New Sneaks

2009-02-10T13:55:00.011-05:00

New sneakers! Not a new model, though - Asics GT2120. I've been rockin these babies for months now. I've gone through 4 pairs of them, all with different color schemes. I tend to like the men's colors better, so I buy men's size 6. A men's 6 is supposed to be equal to a women's 8, but I feel like the men's size fits better and is a tad more snug on my foot.

This model is one of Asics' "structured cushioning" shoes, which are designed for people with a neutral or slight over-pronation in the foot. Pronation has to do with your foot-strike and the motion of your foot rolling from the outer edge to the inner edge. I tend to over-pronate, which means I roll more significantly inward, and therefore need more support on the inside edge of the sneaker.

Lori, our XC team's trainer, once examined my feet and said that I have a really good, prominent arch when she looks at my feet while I sit, but then when I stand up, my arch virtually disappears. I am not flat-footed by any means, but I tend to run as if I am, which has to do with me over-pronating. It is surprising that I haven't had more pain in my shins, so I am sticking with this sneaker until it is retired. Which is pretty much happening now, as Asics recently released the 2140... hopefully I can still find another pair or two before I switch it up.

Magic Asics Alliance all the way!!

2009-02-09T21:07:00.003-05:00

"Good things come slow - especially in distance running."
-Bill Dellinger

Season Review

2009-02-08T16:02:00.002-05:00

Saturday was my last track meet of the season. Since we are only a club track team we only had 4 meets total. It wasn't an awesome season for me. I mostly ran the 800 and I ran the 3000 one meet. It makes me sad that my best 800 of the season was the first meet which was before winter break. I feel like I'm in better shape than I was then, so I'm upset about it, but then again I prefer much longer distances. Hopefully next year I can focus more on the mile or the 3000 instead. And hopefully next year we can be an official varsity sport!

Five weeks until Non-traditional Season aka "Spring Cross Country" starts. Can't wait.

Sport Psychology

2009-02-04T18:54:00.002-05:00

I'm thinking about doing my Honors Component in my Sport Psychology class. Basically since I am in the Honors Programs I need to complete in one class a year an "extra" project/essay/presentation that goes into more depth about the subject. It's really not supposed to be extra I guess, but just more in depth and detailed, etc.

So I'm thinking about doing it in my Sport Psychology class. I think it would be cool to relate what I'm learning in class to my own experiences as a runner. Like I could reflect on the topics in a way that relates to me and set certain goals with my running that pertain to sport psych. Of course it needs to be something more concrete, but I'm working on coming up with the idea for it. I'd probably want to write an essay about what I find and I could keep a training journal (similar to what I do here and on Dailymile.com), but with more details of my mental processes during the workout or whatever. I'll let you know more about it when I have it approved. Should be interesting though.

2009-02-04T18:12:00.001-05:00

"The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare."
-Juma Ikangaa

In the day we sweat it out in the streets of a runaway american dream...

2009-02-02T14:40:00.004-05:00

Bruce Springsteen is so freaking good. The superbowl halftime show was great! I really want to see him in concert, it would make my life haha. He is amazing! I've heard that at his shows he just jams on stage for like 3 hours straight... so awesome.

"Tramps like us, baby we were born to run."
-Bruce Springsteen

Team Unity ♥

2009-02-02T11:16:00.007-05:00

I few XC pictures from the season (not taken by me). I lovelovelove our team.

Week In Review

2009-01-30T18:00:00.001-05:00

This week has been excessively light/easy. Today I only ran a mile, at a very easy pace. It is a pre-meet day, but I wish I put in another mile at least because I don't feel prepared enough for tomorrow. Hopefully I do well though.... Roger Bannister didn't run for 5 days before the sub-four minute mile. I'm running an 800 and the 1200 leg of the DMR.

Lame.

2009-01-30T13:07:00.003-05:00

I'm glad I ran early in the afternoon yesterday, even though it wasn't a very significant run. On Monday and Thursday nights we practice at the Brandeis indoor track, but last night we weren't able to because of a scheduling conflict. I guess the softball team was practicing in there and we didn't get the memo so we showed up ready to run. And then we weren't allowed to. They weren't even using the track, they were on the infield! Lame. Since it was so late, practice was called off all together because we don't have any indoor facility to practice in. Instead we did an ab workout in the stretching room when we got back. So yeah, I'm glad I got in a light 3 miles earlier in the day.

Those Crazy Runner Types... Yeesh

2009-01-29T13:28:00.009-05:00

X-Country Runner Nails It

So if you follow the little link above then you'll get an article about a boy who ran the last 2 miles of an 8k race with a nail in his foot. Yup, a NAIL. Ouch! I cringe just thinking about it! Apparently he thought it was a pebble in his spike. No big deal.

It happened a few months ago during cross country season, and the reason I'm posting it is because I actually know the kid. I went to high school with him, and this little episode doesn't surprise me one bit. He didn't even really "get into" running until senior year, and he is a great runner especially now that it's his life revolves around it, haha.

But anyway, this is why I love the sport. Everyone has crazy running stories to swap with one another, because most runners (at least the ones I know) are pretty crazy themselves. People I know ask why on Earth I run as much and as often as I do, and I feel like it's kind of a secret. Someone once told us the cross country team is like a cult. And it kind of is, because running so much freaks people out. I am crazy and I am proud!

2009-01-29T10:53:00.004-05:00

"Dream barriers look very high until someone climbs them. Then they are not barriers anymore."
-Lasse Viren

Boo Snow!

2009-01-27T21:38:00.004-05:00

I ran twice today. Once in the morning after my first class, and then at my regular practice. It was only about 7 miles total, but yesterday was a tough workout on the track. I felt like I needed to get out for two runs today since I probably won't have a chance to run at all tomorrow. Snow. All day. Ughhh. I wish we had an indoor track! It would be so much easier!

2009-01-27T18:47:00.003-05:00

“Everybody wants to know what I’m on. What am I on? I’m on my bike busting my ass six hours a day. What are you on? ”
-Lance Armstrong

2009-01-26T13:37:00.006-05:00

"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?' "
-Peter Maher

Terrible-ness

2009-01-26T11:48:00.005-05:00

I had a meet at Brandeis on Saturday. It was not good at all. I ran the 3000 meters and my time for it was slower than my high school PR in the 2 mile. I was seeded a whole minute faster than my actual time. So I'm not happy. I don't really know what happened. I had a headache before the race, but I don't know if that effected me to the point of completely bombing the race. I'm running at Wheaton in a week, so hopefully I can come back with a much better race.

I don't consider myself a track person at all. I'm all about cross country. Lasell doesn't even have an "official" track team, it's just a club team. It's basically all of the cross country runners from the fall because that is an actual varsity sport at the school. I want to start running more road races in the spring. My friend from the team said she might be doing the Providence Half Marathon, so I was thinking of doing that with her, or at least training with her.

Interesting Article

2009-01-26T11:45:00.002-05:00

Can Under Armour Broaden Its Appeal Without Losing Devotees? - Protecting This Brand While Running Ahead...

Interesting article about Under Armour introducing a line of running shoes. The new "Athletes Run" ad that goes along with it is pretty sweet, and the Schoolhouse Rock song "Verb, That's What's Going On" (covered by Moby) is the background music.

2009-01-25T21:52:00.003-05:00

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift."
-Steve Prefontaine

Bloggin' Like A Champ

2009-01-25T21:00:00.000-05:00

So yeah, I'm starting a blog. The Earth should probably stop spinning and the sky should shatter, because this is ground-breaking stuff. Or maybe not. Well anyway I'm Meghan and I decided to create this blog because I like to share things. A lot of times those things are running-related, but sometimes not.

The title of this blog is a bold-faced lie. I don't only run when being chased. I actually run quite a lot, or at least a lot more than the average person. I run mostly everyday, not always, but it's kinda a routine thing now. I compete for Lasell College, a tiny school just outside of Boston where I major in graphic design. I'm not necessarily good but I'm always looking to improve. More to come soon.

Tallyho!