Moving forward, but in a different direction

Coming back to look at my blog, it's hard to believe I haven't posted here in nearly 6 months, but when I confront the hard truths, it all makes sense.

I've stopped running.  Maybe not forever, but certainly for the near future.

Hard as it is to read that, it's been a hard journey towards even being able to write that statement down, as it required confronting certain hard truths.  After having run 2 marathons in 2012, I began 2013 with a foot injury that I suffered running a 10K on New Year's Day.  In spite of that, I tried to work around it to be able to run my 4th marathon over Memorial Day weekend.  Showed up for that marathon drastically unprepared and suffered through one of my worst running experiences.  I tried to continue to run through the rest of 2013, but my heart wasn't in it anymore.  Combining that with my foot injury, and everything started to pile up.  By the time 2014 started, I had hopes but not much else to go on.  It's hard for me to believe that only 2 years ago, I was getting my marathon PR at Hartford....seems like it was another life.

And yet, I'm not standing still.

After enjoying an epic summer, highlighted by an amazing family vacation traveling through the Southwest (NV, AZ, CO, NM), I faced up to how the change in my activity level had impacted almost every facet of my life.  Let's just say that I didn't feel as good about myself as I should.  The previous two school years had been very stressful and while I still loved what I do, I didn't quite love it as much as I used to.  A new school year would give me the opportunity to hit the "reset" button and re-discover my passion for teaching.  The weight I'd gained over the past 2 years would come off, but I needed to become mindful again about what I was putting into my body.  And without running being a realistic option, I needed to pursue another outlet for physical activity.

Enter Crossfit............yep, you read that right.....Crossfit.

I've long had gym memberships, but have never really achieved any meaningful results, so I was looking for something new and different.  At age 52, I refuse to believe that my best years are behind me, but I knew I had weight to lose and strength to both regain and gain for the first time.  I had vague memories of having seen the Crossfit Games on ESPN and marveling at the strength and conditioning the athletes displayed, but it never registered with me that I would one day find myself even considering Crossfit as something for me....

As summer ended, I started doing research.  Crossfit has seen a dramatic increase in both visibility and popularity, but with that has come some controversy and concerns.  The possibilty for injury exists in ANY physical activity and Crossfit is no different.  I went to the Internet and found no shortage of viewpoints on either side, and also read a great book ("Learning To Breathe Fire" by J.C. Herz), but the true selling point was personal connections with Crossfitters....so right around Labor Day, I girded my loins, checked my ego, and went to discover for myself if this Crossfit thing would work for me....

Showing up at Crossfit Cut (Walpole, MA) that first time, I had no idea what lie in store, other than I would be working with co-owner/trainer Alicia.  The box (it's not a gym.....many Crossfit locations are in industrial spaces, and the look is decidedly spartan....no video monitors.....no hot tubs....no treadmills....just barbells, squat racks, climbing ropes, hanging rings, rowing machines, a few Schwinn Airdyne machines, and chalk.) was a little intimidating at first, but Alicia was very friendly, which put me at ease.  After taking me through a warm-up (air squats, situps, pushups, scissor kicks) with was rigorous all by itself, she then got me started on my first WOD (Crossfit is all about acronyms....WOD stands for Workout Of the Day)......3 rounds of 3 different exercises (kettlebell deadlifts, jumping pullups, and wallball throws), 15, then 12, then 9 reps.  The WOD probably only took about 15 minutes to complete, but I was drenched with sweat and completely wiped out!  Constant motion and high intensity work......"functional fitness".   I walked/limped out to my car and drove home in a fog.....heart still pounding in my chest.  I had only worked out for a very short period, but I had NEVER worked out so hard in my life!  I was already sore all over and knew that the worst was yet to come.  Indeed, when I tried to get out of bed the next morning, I could barely move.  I think even my eyelids hurt....but somehow I got myself moving and went to school.  As the day wore on, I began to come to grips with a crucial choice.....do I, or do I not go back? 

I went back, fully knowing that if I didn't go back the following day, I'd never go back.   It wasn't easy....in fact, I'm pretty sure it's never going to be easy, but the constant and varied nature of the challenge posed by the WOD is amazing.  It's a HARD workout, but it's fast-paced, individually oriented, and NEVER boring.  While I'm stronger now than I was before I started, I have a long way to go......you really have to check your ego at the door each time you step inside the box, and I'm getting better at that.  I still cannot do a pullup, but that will change in time....in fact, my ability to perform most every functional movement that constitutes Crossfit is increasing every time I go.  More and more, I find it's mental toughness that's being developed, perhaps even more than physical strength.  I've already lost 7 pounds, my clothes are fitting better, and every day I'm feeling better about myself.

So the page has been turned........and I'm moving again, but not in the manner in which I used to.  Will I one day return to running?  Perhaps........I honestly don't know.  During my time as a runner, I was injured several times, so I'm not sure it would be a viable, long-term option, but only time will tell.  I'm enjoying the rush I get from Crossfit........working harder than I ever have before, and enjoying the community of the box.  I'm encouraged by the gains I've made so far and am truly curious to see just how far I can go......a feeling that's unfamiliar not because I've never felt it before, but unfamiliar in that it hasn't been felt in ages.

I think this blog will continue, but the posts are going to look different.  My "destination" hasn't changed, as I'm still trying to stave off decrepitude, but the means I'm using to get there is different.

The journey continues.......stick with me!

Spirit renewed

Was it really just 2 years ago that I was in my kitchen in the predawn darkness, pinning on my bib (#22243 - Wave 3, Corral 5) and then heading into Boston to meet up with the rest of my charity team to board our bus out to Hopkinton to start the Boston Marathon?

As I was greeting the runners getting off the buses at the Middle School yesterday morning, it brought me right back to when I was one of those runners......I remembered the enthusiastic volunteers who guided us into the Athlete's Village that warm morning and I did my best to pay that back.  Our "job" as Entrance Marshals was to have runners show us their bibs and to then direct them into the Village.  There were probably 10 of us out in front of the entrance, but I'm pretty sure my voice was the one the runners heard.  Many of my fellow volunteers did a great job, but I guess I took it upon myself to go a bit beyond......shouting out my greeting, encouraging the runners to show off their bibs ("They don't give those things away....you EARNED them!"), trying to greet runners from overseas ("Viva Italia!") or out-of-state or any local runners, all with the goal of seeing them smile.  I'm sure some of my fellow volunteers found my enthusiasm amusing (or worse), but I remember how encouraging the support of volunteers and spectators along the course made that extremely hard day so magical.

There are so many things that make the Boston Marathon special, but I think the people are what really set it apart.  From the runners who come from all over the globe to run, to the volunteers who give up their time, to all of the spectators who cheer on perfect strangers as if they're family, it truly is a wonderful display of civic pride.  I've only run 4 marathons so far, and while they were all special in their own right, Boston stands apart.  There are definitely parts of the course that are "quieter" than others, but there is virtually no part of the course where there aren't spectators cheering.....well, there is that awful 128 overpass as you head out of Newton Lower Falls, but there always seems to be someone on the side of the road cheering.  In other marathons, there can be LONG stretches with nobody there.....I'll just say that more people cheering = more FUN!

Yesterday was a magical day here in New England.......and it has renewed my spirit.  I'm not going to go over the litany of difficulties I've had since last year, but the injury bug is still biting me a bit.  I was encouraged by my ability to run more consistently during February and March, but as the calendar flipped to April, the heel pain I was stuggling with last year jumped from my right heel to my left.  It may force me to take some time off from running, but I'm not going to be stopped.  I have to revamp my diet, as I'm convinced the pains are due entirely to the extra weight I'm carrying.  I've gained 30 pounds since I ran Boston in 2012, and while part of that is due to my reduced running, a large part of it is due to my own lack of discipline in what goes into my mouth.  That ends now......

I've only got a few 5K's on the schedule between now and the end of my school year, but I'm hoping to target a half marathon for the fall.  If I'm able to start training again with some consistency and IF I'm able to run a half marathon in the fall, then I'll seriously consider trying to run Boston next year as a charity runner.  Seeing all the runners living out their dreams on our streets yesterday left me feeling envious and, for a moment, a little melancholy, as I believe that I find myself in the condition I'm in based on my own bad decisions......but at the same time, I have the ability to make the necessary changes to turn this thing around, and in that spirit, that's what I'm going to commit myself to doing.  The future begins NOW!

See you all out there on the road, chasing our dreams!

Small victories.......

At this point in my life, I'm always looking to celebrate small victories.......day to day stuff that, while small and seemingly insignificant, still deserves to be noted and celebrated....

When my son cleans his room.....

When the morning paper is actually at the end of the driveway when I get up at 5:30......

When my students have their homework done and are ready for class.........

When the temperature outside goes above 15 degrees..........

you know......the little things!

Well, I had a small victory last week and I feel like celebrating......and sharing it with the blog-reading world:

I ran 3 times...........and I'm not feeling any pain!

Yep, that's right.......after a 2013 campaign which was an abject disaster, including my slowest marathon yet, along with nagging foot pain which then morphed into knee pain.........I was able to run 3 times and not fall down afterwards.

In fact, my mileage total for the week (14.8) was greater than my combined mileage for the months of November AND December 2013.  What was actually (by my normal amounts) a slightly sub-par week ended up greater than 2 entire months.  Which speaks VOLUMES about just how badly my year ended.

So now, I'm going to officially declare the comeback is in effect........it's still too damn cold/snowy/icy outside for me to get my runs in outdoors, particularly with no long-term race goals on the table.  My only goal now is to build back all the fitness I lost in 2013......and to burn off all of the weight I put on as result.  Eventually, I'll come up with some race goals to shoot for, but that's way off in the distance.

For right now, I'm just going to celebrate my first small running victory in 2014.......the first of what will be MANY!

See you all out there on the road (eventually.....when the polar vortex goes away!)

"Don't Look Back"

Way back in the Dark Ages (1970's), yours truly was a middle school student just discovering his love for playing the drums......music was EVERYTHING to me (clearly the beginning of a life-long passion).  My favorite band was Boston....a bunch of local dudes who created an iconic sound with their self-titled debut album in 1975.  I played that thing ENDLESSLY.....practically wore it out......and learned all of the drum parts to every song.  We all figured the follow-up would come out quickly.....but we waited.......and waited.......and waited..........and waited........until finally, in late summer 1978, they came out with their second album......titled "Don't Look Back".





2013 was the worst year of my running life...............I'm pretty sure I started the year not fully recovered from running the Hartford Marathon in October 2012, which then led to on-going injuries throughout the year to follow.  My right foot was in such a painful state back in March that I had to basically shut down my training for the Vermont City Marathon in May. I still tried to run it, but that was pretty much the end of my year.  Yes, I "ran" a few 5K's toward the end of the summer/early fall, but my times were the slowest of my life.  Now, my feet are fine, but my right knee is in nearly constant pain, causing me to shut it down again and potentially seek out a medical solution.

So where does it leave me as I look forward to 2014?

I'm not going to look back........as the view SUCKS!

I'm only going to look forward to better things in 2014........not going to be foolish and make ANY predictions, as I truly have no idea of what I'll be able to do and when I'll be able to do it....all I think I'm going to do is try to maintain a positive outlook and try to just get myself started again.  That's all.....

Here's to a great year ahead!

It's been a while.......

Yeah, it's not as if I've had much to write about over the last few months......

Look, this year has turned disastrous for me.....running-wise, that is.  Professionally, things have never been better.  As bad as last school year was, I'm probably having more fun now teaching than I ever have in my 9 years in the classroom.  Personally, all is well with my family.......

But this is a running blog, and the mere fact that I haven't posted anything since June is telling.  I "ran" today for the first time in LITERALLY a month, and I can honestly say that I have no idea what is going on.  After having a lot of heel pain starting in January and running through the summer, my mileage had been way off, forcing me to cut short my training for my last marathon.....well, the heel pain has gone away, but it was replaced by knee pain in my right knee.  It almost felt as if I'd hyper-extended it, as the pain registered behind the kneecap, as well as just above the kneecap in front.  After my last attempt at a 5K in September, I shut it down, figuring that rest would either help it, or make it go away altogether.

Finally, after not running at all since October 5th, I felt I needed to have an easy test to see how my body would feel.  In spite of trying to do some cardio at the gym (stationary bike, elliptical, etc...), I'm pretty sure we can all agree that the best way to stay in running shape is by running.  I knew my aerobic fitness would be nearly non-existent, and I was right.  I set myself up one of the dreadmills at Planet Fitness, hit 30 minutes on the timer, and set off using a Galloway-esqe 3/1 ratio (run for 90 seconds, walk for 30 seconds).  I felt some discomfort behind my right knee through the first few minutes, but that seemed to subside as I got warmer.  I managed to get through the 30 minutes, vowing to myself that every journey starts with a single step and that if I'm to still be a runner, then I'm going to have to work my way out of this hole......

Now, as I get ready for bed, I'm feeling that familiar discomfort in my right knee.....perhaps I'll wake up in the morning and it'll be fine.......or maybe it won't be.  I'm trying to remain hopeful, but I'm awfully frustrated. 

Anyway, thanks for lending your sympathetic virtual ears.....it helps to vent!

See you all (hopefully) out there on the road!

What a difference a year makes.....

As it's my birthday today, I was just waxing nostalgic.......looking at posts I made last June, when I was starting to train for the Hartford Marathon.  Looking back now, it was probably the last time I felt "right" with my running......no injuries to deal with........no school-year stresses to deal with.........just a wonderful, restful summer to look forward to.

Here I sit, a year later.........and I haven't run since the Vermont City Marathon over Memorial Day weekend.....still dealing with occasional foot pain.........and dealing with an extra week of school due to all of the snow days we had this winter.   I would've started running again last week, but I was chaperoning our 8th grade trip to Washington, DC and didn't have a minute to spare.  Since I started running back in 2008, I haven't ever taken this long off.......

So once I start back running, it's almost as if I'm going back to the start.........and that's going to be a good thing.  I've kinda lost some of my enthusiasm for it, and I'm going to have to find it again.  My hope is that I'll be able to use this summer break as an opportunity to really hit the "reset" button, hit the gym with regularity to work on core strength and flexibility, while making the time to build back my running in a logical, systematic manner.  I look forward to having the opportunity to rediscover my love for running again........

Father's Day was really nice.......as it nearly coincides with my birthday, we went to my Dad's house and celebrated both together........my family got me a shiny new Kindle Fire!  It was completely unexpected....totally "off list"......and something I'm definitely going to love using!   I hope all of my running Dads had a great Father's Day, too!

That's all for now.........see you all out there on the road.

25th Anniversary Vermont City Marathon recap

Is it indicative of my feelings that it's taken me nearly two weeks to post a recap of my most recent marathon?   Yeah, I think it is......when we have great races, we can't wait to tell everyone within earshot (or, with our fellow bloggers, "eyeshot").......and even though I knew going in this marathon was going to test my limits, it still took me this long to sit at the keyboard to relive it all again....

Barb and I had planned to make a full weekend out of the trip up to Vermont, so after dropping Ben off at his friend's house, we hit the road for the nearly 4-hour drive to Burlington.  As we drove out of Massachusetts and into New Hampshire, the rain and wind started up.....as expected.  I hadn't really been obsessing about the weather like I might have normally, but I'd still been holding out hope that things MIGHT improve......nope!  The further north we went, the more rain and wind we encountered.  What normally would have been a lovely scenic drive was more of a slog, but before too long, we were in the Green Mountain State and getting off the highway to check into the hotel.  As the Sheraton was also the site for the Expo, the parking lot was jammed, but we successfully checked in and found our way to our room.  We made a quick run through the expo, where I picked up my bib and Barb and I did a little shopping (adding another hoodie to my collection!).  Ben even scored a cool RunVermont shirt with a cow on the front.

finished at the expo...looking to put my feet up!

After dropping our stuff off back in the room, Barb and I headed into downtown Burlington to grab a late lunch.  We love the "college town" vibe of Burlington (it's the home of the University of Vermont) and quickly found ourselves at the Vermont Pub and Brewery.  While I didn't partake of a micro-brew (in hindsight, I probably should have!), we enjoyed the pubgrub and relaxed ambiance.  Prior to returning to the hotel, we ordered a pizza from American Flatbreads to eat back in the room.

Barb and I ducking out of the rain...chilly but happy!

We returned to the hotel, and while washing down bites of pizza with Gatorade, I pinned my bib to my race shirt and started to get my mind right with what I had ahead of me in the morning.  As you all know from what I've already written, I had gotten injured sometime in January and was simply unable to really train for this marathon.  Well, now it was only little more than 12 hours away, so it was time to try to push the doubts out of my mind.  Hard as I would try, they wouldn't leave, so I just started reminding myself that I'm stronger than I think I am and that I know I can make the distance.  My sincere goal was to finish the race, and hopefully enjoy the experience.  Looking at the rain and wind just outside the window, I knew that "enjoy" was going to be hard to come by.......

I actually slept pretty well for a few hours.....and then it seemed as if I was napping off and on for the next few hours, but around 5:30, I got out of bed for good.....took a look outside and here's what I saw:

race morning...42 degrees w/rain and 20-25 mph winds....my kind of marathon weather!

I knew what the weather was going to be, but I had been hopeful.....no luck.  It was going to be cold, rainy and windy.  Barb had gone down to the lobby and gotten me some bagels with peanut butter and some coffee, so as I got dressed, I tried to eat.  I decided I would go with a long-sleeve shirt underneath my race shirt, figuring on the conditions not improving too much over the course of the day.  As it turned out, while the rain did stop eventually, the cold and wind didn't, so I made the right choice.  Just before I left, Barb took a picture of her intrepid runner:

 

smiling.....clearly the overly hopeful "before" picture!

And then I walked towards the lobby.....seeing other runners bundling up and using trash bags as makeshift ponchos.  I opted to just go with what I had on, figuring the rain/cold/wind wouldn't be too bad and I'd be running soon.  I had a bottle of Gatorade and a plastic baggie filled with Swedish Fish, so I was good to go......had 5 GU's on me (3 in the back pocket of my shorts, 2 in the "bag" attached to my handheld bottle), as well as lightweight fleece gloves and my handheld bottle.  As I boarded the yellow school bus to go to the starting area, I reminded myself that I was as ready as I was going to be and that it was time to prove the point........that I was stronger than the conditions......that I was stronger than I thought I could be.........and that even despite the lack of training, I'd still be able to get out there and give it my best.........that no matter what the time said, I AM a marathoner!

The bus wound it's way downtown, until we suddenly stopped near Battery Park along the Lake Champlain waterfront.......and we shuffled off the bus and out into the conditions.  Instantly, I was cold and wet.....again, as mentally prepared you might be for it, the reality is always just a little bit harsher.  As it was only around 7:20am and the race wouldn't start until 8am, I looked for a place to try to stay out of the rain (if possible) that wasn't too far from the port-o-lets.  Luckily, I found a tree to stand under, along with lots of other people.  The race organizers had Bart Yasso, Bill Rodgers, Frank Shorter, and Jeff Galloway speaking over the PA, encouraging the assembled masses to enjoy the weather.  HA HA HA!  I actually was shivering....teeth chattering........wondering just how much it was taking out of my limited physical abilities..

Soon enough, it was time to head over to the start corrals........the mood was subdued, befitting the crappy weather.  I could hear the count-off and then the horn sounded......I wasn't nervous......I just wanted to get started so that I could warm up.  The field was small enough that I was actually running before I hit the start line.  The first 3-4 miles were run around and through downtown Burlington, and the crowd support was terrific....even in the cold and rain, the locals turned out.  An early highlight was running through the downtown shopping area (Church Street), where about all I really remember is the drag queen that was leading the cheers.  My splits (10:39, 10;20, 11:00, 10:19) reflected the terrain (generally flat) and my desire to run conservatively.

And then, things started to change........and not for the better.

The next 5 miles were run on the Northern Connector (called "The Beltline" by locals), a divided highway closed only once a year for this race.  The race website says you'll "enjoy beautiful views of the Green Mountains and get a chance to see the leaders and your friends as you cross paths".  Well, the views might be enjoyable on a clear day, but there wasn't much to see beyond the road beneath our feet.  I've always found "out and back" sections to be a tad demoralizing, as it's more visual evidence of my general slowness, and this day was no different.  Add to that the gentle, continuous downhill on the out, and the gentle, continuous uphill on the back, and by mile 9, I was starting to get a little cranky.  Additionally, I had a VERY hard time finding a flat area to run on, as it seemed to me that the road surface was tilted.....a lot of the roads I run on here are similarly tilted, but you can usually find a flat area for at least some of the time......but I never really found it on the Beltline.  My splits for this section (11:13, 11:09, 11:08, 12:02, 12:10) show that out/back difference.  The course then ran back through Burlington and out through some residential neighborhoods......by Mile 10, I was already ready to quit the race.  This marathon was also being run as a relay, and there were buses at the exchange points to drop off and return runners.........kept telling myself that the next time I saw a bus, I was getting on.  

This was serious......never before had I EVER entertained thoughts of quitting a race.  Splits for miles 10-13 (11:08, 12:07, 12:57, 12:25) show the effect the mental struggle was having on my race.  As I neared the halfway point, the mental dialogue continued.....you made it halfway....you've been injured.....you're undertrained......people will understand.......but somehow, I dug down and found the resolve to continue.  I reminded myself that I had long ago thrown out any real race plan and decided I'd be running this marathon with a goal of just finishing, so as I headed towards mile 14, I relaxed and shifted into more of a "survival" mode......which was a good thing, because the next 2 miles would be run mostly alongside Lake Champlain.  On a normal late spring day, I'd imagine this would be a beautiful stretch to run, but on this raw, windy day, it was miserable.  The wind was whipping the water, and the low clouds were obscuring any pretty views there might have been of the mountains surrounding the lake.  Once again, my splits (14:47, 13:15) reflected how I was feeling.  Before too long, the route swung off the lake to hit the most serious hill on the course.....Battery Street.......the well-named "Assault on Battery".  It's only 6 blocks long, but the way I felt by the time I looked up to find the top of the hill, it looked like it was 6 miles long!  The race organizers had arranged for the Burlington Taiko Drummers to be situated at the start of the climb, blasting out a solid rhythm for the runners........it didn't help me at all, as I half-ran, half-walked my way up the hill. 

The wheels were starting to come off the wagon at this point (13:59, 14:19), but I wasn't going to give up.....by now, I was thinking about what it might feel like to finish last in a marathon.  Mile 18 went by in 17:36, but that was due to a lengthy potty stop.  There really wasn't much to mention about mile 19 (13:01) and 20 (13:53), as they were run through residential neighborhoods which were mostly pretty quiet.  By this point, I was really starting to hurt....my hips were feeling very tight, and my heel pain was growing......but I wasn't quitting......not now......NO WAY!

Still, the wheels were falling off.......Mile 21 (14:50) and 22 (14:07).....difficult doesn't even describe it, but I wasn't quitting.  By Mile 23, we were back on the tree-lined bikepath alongside the lake, but now we were heading back into Burlington and the finish was looming.  Too much walking (15:26) and then I noticed my nipples were bleeding (another first.....great!).  Miles 24 (14:52) and 25 (13:30) went by in a bit of a blur, but I powered through.  During Mile 26 (14:09), the path opened up and the finishing area started to come into view.  Suddenly, I could see the beer tents on my left, and being one of the "later" finishers, the tents were FULL of runners.......needless to say, they cheered for us VERY enthusiastically, and that, along with the realization that the sweet feeling of finishing was just ahead spurred me on.  

The final 100+ meters of the marathon takes place on a stretch of grass, which must be nice on a normal (sunny) spring day, but after 5+ hours in the rain, it was a muddy slippery mess.  I turned for home and started picking my way through the muck.........when I saw my wife about halfway up on the railing along the left-hand side.  She usually manages to find a way to see me finish and this one was no exception.  I made a beeline towards her for a quick hug and kiss and then turned to finish my race.  One of the nice things about finishing so late is that the finish line announcer was able to announce my finish........and then I crossed the line.

After getting my medal, space blanket, and a chocolate milk, I turned the corner and found Barb........I collapsed into her arms and started crying.......tears of relief, pride, and frustration.  I hadn't quit, but it was my slowest marathon ever.  

10K:    1:07:09
10 M:  1:51:55
13.1:    2:31:04
20 M:  4:11:36
26.2:   5:41:07

relief....frustration......but PURE FORTITUDE.  I haven't yet realized they've given me the wrong medal.

We went back to the hotel and, after hobbling back to the room, I realized very quickly that I had been given the wrong medal!  I'd gotten a 2-person relay medal.........after I showered and dressed, Barb and I headed out to have some dinner and then catch a movie.  We'd wanted to see the new Star Trek movie, so we looked for a place to eat near the theater.  As we were no longer near downtown Burlington, the choices were a little limited, but we hit the Ninety-Nine restaurant.......I totally enjoyed my marinated steak tips!  We had a little time before the movie, so Barb and I walked (slowly) through the mall and then headed to the theater.  The movie was terrific, but all of my post-race hydration took it's toll......after my 3rd trip to the men's room, we moved down to seats closer to the exit so that I wouldn't have to keep walking over people.  After the movie, we headed back to the hotel for a well-earned sleep.

The next morning, we checked out of the hotel and headed back into Burlington for breakfast.  After a lovely meal at Henry's Diner (as we were having breakfast, the RunVermont people issued a statement regarding the medal mixup....small consolation I wasn't the only one who received the wrong medal...they've actually had to order more marathon medals and we should get them sometime in July!), we walked around through the shopping district, enjoying the ironic sunshine......oh yeah, did I mention that the day after the marathon, the skies cleared and temps jumped back up to a more seasonally correct 70?   Yeah, it was a BEAUTIFUL day!!!

downtown Burlington, VT......simply beautiful!

So that was that.........I'd signed up.......gotten injured.......wasn't able to train.........but still we went for a weekend away and I proved to myself that I'm a marathoner.  I'll never be fast, but that's not the point.  I knew it was going to be difficult......I knew it was going to be slow......I knew I would have a hard time looking at my time without cringing.........but I did it anyway. 

It's been nearly 2 weeks, and I haven't yet run......I'll be chaperoning my 8th grade students on our annual class trip to Washington, DC this week (leaving Tuesday, back on Friday), so it's going to be at least another week until I get out on the road, but that's not a bad thing.  I'm still hurting, but I think that's more from the effort I put into my chorus rehearsal Thursday night than any lingering issues from the marathon.  I'm actually feeling pretty good, overall, and am starting to look forward to getting back on the road.  I do think I'm done with marathons for a while.......certainly for 2013.  I might shift my focus to the 13.1 distance for a while.....I think I can train for and run half-marathons without injury, and that might be the way to go for a while........we'll see.

That's all for now, my friends.......thanks for all of your encouragement and support.  I look forward to reading about all of your adventures and hope to add some of my own along the way.

See you all out there on the road!