Run the Journey

16/12/2023

Early morning miles & then my sidekick coach wanted a turn!

19/11/2023

And just like that, another training cycle done, and ready to conquer another 26.2 mile jaunt around a new city. No stress, no pressure, best feeling ever 🙌🏽

you got me here, we got this 🫶🏼 LFG!

06/11/2023

2 weeks until the 😬 which is #11 for me.
I’ve trained so hard, put in countless miles, and endless effort. Marathon training is no joke, it takes dedication, discipline, and a lot of grit to get through. And I will always believe it changes a person, each time for the better.

I am so looking forward to a nice getaway with & .sooliya 🩷 it’s much needed & well deserved!

Todays workout felt perfect 👌🏽 lately, trying to hit my goal paces has felt so hard. But, today it clicked and I needed that!
5 miles total
1 mi up
8x45 sec @ 7:48 w/ 2 sec recovery jog (NAILED THESE)5 down

Philly, and a PR here I come 🔥

02/10/2023

02/10/2023

FIRST FEMALE FINISHER 🥳
Never in my 17 years of running have I ever broken tape at a race. This has always seemed like a far fetched goal for me, but today, it somehow came true. If I was going to do this, I’m so happy it was at this race, the Footrace for the Fallen. As a former dispatcher and knowing a lot of police officers, how much they risk each day, I am even more proud of today.

Huge congrats to for placing second in her age group! So proud of you!

I’ll be riding this high for a while!

I was using this course as a 5K PR, 21:23 was the goal. Per usual, I set up my watch to split at 1/4 miles (I wrote my paces on my hand). I was so nervous, but I was going for it. Why not?
After mile 1.5, where I normally hit my wall I didn’t have my usual need to stop which made me think I wasn’t pushing, but I felt like I was. My legs just wouldn’t turn over into the speeds later in the race as I wanted them to.

To be honest, I could care less about my time today. At first it was disappointing, all of us runners who go out with a time goal know how that feels. But, looking at the bigger picture and what told me, I was the fastest female out on that course today! Which is better than any PR I have gotten!

I had no idea I was first female (I pulled a 😆). I checked my watch when it beeped, so I wasn’t really paying attention until I rounded the corner and then saw the blue tape. I thought it was a mistake or for someone else, until I realized they were yelling my name as first female finisher. You can see my look and then the realization in the video (thanks !)

My hard work is paying off, and it’s showing. So, I’m going to sit in this and revel because I fu***ng earned it!! I’m coming for that 5K PR!

Always shoot for the moon, even if you don’t quite reach it, that’s ok. It continues to drive you to reach it and then set another goal. That’s how we get better! Keep pushing for everything you want, it’s achievable if you put your mind to it!

16/09/2023

Long run ✅
17 mile workout, and we threw in a local race, the Greenfield Half Marathon. Weather was PERFECT 👌🏽
2nd place female & 6th overall.
My wife killed this, and took 1st female. We led the race for the first 4 miles which felt really good!

This was an extremely tough course. At about mile 4 into it I knew it was going to be tough. That’s ok, though, if it were easy it wouldn’t be worth it!

3 mile warm up

4 mi @ MP 8:08
1 mi recovery
3 mi @ MP 7:38
1 mi recovery
2 mi @ MP 7:48 (didn’t quite hit these, but the effort was there)
1 mi recovery (course was not well marked at all, I took a wrong turn here)
1 mi @ threshold 7:28

1 mi cool down

I felt great the entire time. Normal leg soreness, but for a hilly and tough half on mostly dirt roads, I am very proud of this half and the whole run!

I pushed through a lot of exhaustion, and discomfort this week with my new job. It’s a whole new world for me. As scared as I was last week and even had the thought of ‘maybe I should just stay where I am’…it wasn’t as scary as I thought and I even felt relief after. Who would have thunk.

Keep pushing!

09/07/2023

First open water swim ever! 🏊🏽‍♀️

I was terrified to do this, I normally don’t like not seeing beneath me in water. The pool is safe, and comfortable.
I knew I had to get in some open water swims before the triathlon to get the nerves out, and work out some kinks. Im happy I did!
It wasn’t pretty, lots of stopping, irrational fear (which prob made me swim faster), and poor form (thanks to not wanting to put my face in the water 😂). But I knew pushing past that will help me attain my goal. We must become comfortable in the discomfort, and be able to face fear head on!

Thanks .eric for swimming with me, my pink float thing which is now my blankey in the water 😆 and giving me some swimming tips!

3. More. Weeks. LFG!
🏊🏽‍♀️🚴🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️

11/06/2023

5K PR BABY!!!!!!

Hollis fast 5K with some of my favorite people this last Thursday! There’s a bonus episode from you should check out!

had me set my watch to 1/4 mi increments like at the Boston 5K, this works incredibly well for me and my mentality when I run 5Ks. Focused on the shorter pieces versus the whole mile.
It was such a busy and stressful week I didn’t really think much about the race which was good because I didn’t stress about it! Not even on the actual day.

I wrote the paces on my hand because I wasn’t going to remember what Nicole had written for me 😂
1:44-1:46 for the first mile (in 1/4 mi ~ 6:55 pace)
1:39-1:441 mi 2 ~ 6:35-6:45
Mile 3 all out

First two miles were on target! I hit my paces well, I was a little hungrier than I would have preferred at the start but I felt good & my legs enjoyed the downward motion. It was a bit difficult to breathe and my lungs were hurting but a lot of people didn’t enjoy the poor air quality.
I’ve realized the third mile is my absolute weak point in the 5K, so I think I need to take it back a little in the first two miles the next one I race and see if that helps make a difference on my energy levels.
Mile 3 was also a gradual incline, and my energy levels were low. But as badly as I wanted to stop (and I did) I pushed. Even if it meant slowing down a tad. My legs kicked in when I saw that finish and then…

A 21:24 finish time 💃🏽🥳🔥👏🏽
Keep pushing on, even if it hurts and you want to stop!

I am so damn happy! Not to mention I got to celebrate with my coach in person since she ran too!
I know some people don’t count this race as a PR course but I sure do! I worked (and continue to) my ass off to get my legs faster for these shorter distances. THIS IS WELL EFFIN DESERVED!!!!!

PS - I still prefer marathons over 5Ks.

06/06/2023

Go give it a listen!

20/05/2023

Back to a running/workout schedule this week after taking a full week off after Providence, much needed.

6 easy in 75% humidity, ugh. But at least the sun wasn’t beaming down & pants were def a bad choice! 😅

Focused on triathlon training for the next two months. This will be my first, I’m excited to try it. Something new and different, so there’s no real pressure. Just gonna have fun with the training and on that day! If you don’t try or take risks, how will you ever know you can do it?!Let’s just hope I don’t drown 😂