A Spirited Road to Boston

I am training for the Boston Marathon and couldn’t be any more excited about the opportunity to run those 26.2 miles on April 21st. After crossing the finish line at my first marathon, just over a year ago, I knew my marathon running wouldn’t be over until I ran one in Boston. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of my family watching the runners in Boston together on Marathon Monday. The spirit of Marathon Monday is victory, accomplishment and a reason for celebration. For me, it also represents happy days with my dad, my leader.

My Dad

I am honored to train and run the 2014 Boston Marathon on behalf of the Dick Beardsley Foundation to support, educate & inspire those that fight chemical dependency. Every mile I run is in memory of my father, John J. Hynes, his spirit at the forefront of my mind. At my dad’s wake colleagues and friends shared stories of his leadership and thoughtfulness, but most of all they remembered his spirit. I was overcome with pride that my dad had touched so many.

As I log miles, I realize that sometimes a little spirit is all you ever really need. Marathon training is fun, but at the same time, it’s tiring, time consuming and around here, it’s freaking cold! When you have the best runner friends around you with a smile on their frozen face, encouraging words (maybe with some profanity mixed in) and energy that makes you realize, “we are in this together.” That is some serious team spirit (in a solo sport, nonetheless!!)

At the start line of the Hyannis Half Marathon

Yesterday I ran a half marathon. I felt awful during 10 of the 13 miles. To date, it’s my worst run. I told a runner friend via text last night, his response? “Sometimes the tough races are the most fulfilling when you look back on them.” The race was yesterday, so maybe I haven’t felt it all, yet… BUT, I already learned, he is right. And today I realized that I made it through the run by mustering up some positive energy – thanks to the spirit of my runner friends at the start. They always understand the aches, whine about the stiffness, share an energy pack, discuss the post run bloody mary and are there to trade running gear (because I may have overestimated the New England weather). We may not always run every mile together, but we meet at the start and we meet at the finish and, in spirit, we support each other every step of the way.

There is truly a special spirit among runners. One not easily defined until you lace up those sneakers and join in. It’s that spirit that makes me proud to be a runner. It’s my dad’s spirit that keeps me going, even on the toughest of miles.

My road to Boston is full of spirit. How lucky am I?

With Heart & Sole,

Erin

“A Not So Perfect Start to a Perfect Finish” My Zooma Half Marathon Recap!

PR (personal record) – it’s what I thought about leading up to the Zooma Half Marathon in Cape Cod 2 weekends ago. A year before I broke my 2 hour PR at Zooma’s inaugural race in Cape Cod. This year Zooma was offering a special medal for those that got their “Personal Best” time. Zooma 2012 was one of my favorite races – Cape Cod in the fall, by the beach, with my favorite runner friends… could the conditions be any more perfect? Needless to say I was determined to PR again.

I have never been the competitive type. If you read my last post, “How Many Have YOU Done?” you might have guessed that! Well, running has made me competitive with myself in a very positive way. I push myself to run harder, faster, to do better than I did before. So “let’s talk about a plan… we ARE getting a PR!” I said to Stacia the night before. Nikki, the fastest of us all simply said “run with me, I will pace you.” Nikki has been my motivator. We train together, plan the next race together… UM we even share our Jawbone Up activity to see how many steps each other are taking. She just happens to be faster and I try to keep up! Stacia, the friend that got me to run my first race AND my first marathon, gave me that look that said “are we serious, we have a marathon in two weeks!” Yes! With the three of us pushing each other along, we decided a PR was TOTALLY happening.

A Perfect Scene

The next morning we got to the race and the energy was just right, the crisp fall air was warming up, the sun was coming up and the ocean was calm. Everything at the Zooma start line was pretty perfect. The race started and Nikki, Stacia and I made our way through the crowd to get to a steady pace. Not even a mile in I was greeted with stomach pains, cramps, whatever the heck they were, they were shooting and I was miserable at the 1st mile marker. I tried to focus on the perfect scene around me to forget about the major discomfort I was in. While still going at a great pace, by mile 3, I thought, “There is no way in hell I am getting a PR at this point, I don’t even feel well enough to finish.”

Stacia and Nikki were feeling good. They chatted, I listened. Distractions got me through. I took in the scenery (a beautiful route!), listened to two people that have made a huge contribution to my love for running and thought, “it’s just a few more miles.” The distractions were a blessing.

PR Bling!

Toward the end Nikki kept me on target. She knew I had it, but that last mile was a bitch (I am sorry!  I can’t think of a nicer way to say it)… straight up hill with only one thing on my mind – PR. Sure enough, I got up the hill, crossed the finish and beat my PR by 2 minutes. Now I have some seriously cool bling to prove it!

6 of us ran that day…

1 ran her very first half marathon

1 worried about the half for weeks and killed it

3 got a PR

& 1 was the reason I accomplished my goal

Post Race Party!

Sitting on the beach at the after race party with my friends, in October, sun shining with a pretty new necklace (finishers medal) and a medal that read PR was a picture perfect Saturday. Thanks Zooma Nation for once again delivering a perfect weekend full of achievements, personal goals, sunshine and fun. Yesterday at yoga I was a walking, talking (or stretching may be more appropriate) Zooma Ad with my mat, bag & water bottle. All reminders of my best finish and the perfect fall weekend.

 

With Heart & Sole,

Erin

Truly a Run to Remember

Boston’s Run to Remember, 2013

Sunday I ran one of my best half marathons to date.  I didn’t break a personal record (didn’t even come close), I didn’t feel my best, I was totally unprepared and I knew the route a little too well. So what made it the best race? The reason I ran, the people I ran with, the city I ran through.

On Sunday I ran Boston’s 9th annual Run to Remember, a race to honor fallen heroes, specifically law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. With all that this city has endured, the run seemed like an appropriate way to spend my Memorial Day weekend.  As the weekend approached I became increasingly nervous about this race.  It was the first time I had registered for 2 half marathons 1 month apart from each other.  In the 4 weeks that separated my half in DC (We Ran Dc) and Boston’s Run to Remember, my training plan suffered.  Sure I ran, a few miles here and a few there, but never did I near miles reaching the double digits… and to be honest, I never really had a training plan – I just ran.

Bib Pick-Up

Memorial Day weekend approached and my stomach ached with uneasiness about the approaching half marathon. On our way to pick up our bibs, my friend Lauren and I decided it made perfect sense to drop down to the 5 mile option. So as we made our way in the pouring run to the expo it was settled and my fear was gone. Upon walking in, I was overcome with emotion.  Tributes to our heroes lined the walls. Names of officers no longer with us today stared me in the face. Flashing blue lights from a police car illuminated the room. A bright picture of Officer Sean Collier stole my focus.

As I walked over to pick up my race packet, the thought of switching my race commitment seemed impossible. “Our strength is in their memories…” the quote on the signs were loud and clear.  I know I can run a half marathon – the strength, heart  and endurance – it was all still there, just as it was the month before. I happily accepted a bib signifying I would run 13 miles.

Run to Remember Finishers!

On Sunday morning the Run to Remember start line was beaming with pride for our city and it’s heroes. Dressed in bright yellows & blues, wearing the words Collier Strong or Boston Strong, everyone showed their strength as we gathered to run in tribute for those that dedicate their lives to protect us.  During the race men and women in uniform lined the streets of Boston to cheered the runners on. 13.1 miles later I crossed that finish line feeling stronger than ever.

When and where was your “Run to Remember?” What made it unforgettable?

With Heart & Sole,

Erin

From #WeRunDC to #WeRanDC

I have been looking forward to recapping my Nike Women’s Half Marathon in DC. As I finally sit down to write I regret how much time has gone by since that fabulous weekend. Over three weeks! Three busy weeks and I am pretty sure my weekend in DC gave me the energy and attitude I needed to get through.

All #WeRunDC weekend I was surrounded by runners from all over the world, of all shapes and sizes, of all running abilities all gathered to run for a cause in our nation’s Capitol. Best of all I was there with friends, old and new, and we sure made it a weekend to remember.

The Nike half wasn’t just a run. It was an experience. From the moment I walked in to Nike’s Expotique until I crossed that finish line, Nike delivered a run to remember. Here are 13.1 highlights of the weekend (through pictures!)

1) WeRunDC Wall – my name was on it! (Ok, fine, every runner’s name was on it)

 

 

 

 

2) Sunshine – All weekend in DC. For us Bostonians this was very exciting at the time.

 

 

 

 

3) Personal Records – Crossing the finish with Sara who got a new PR (by 10 minutes!) and shout-out to Nikki who KILLED hers.

 

 

 

 

4) Bling –  A Tiffany Necklace at the finish… On a silver platter.

 

 

 

 

5) Blue & Yellow – We were all so proud to run Boston Strong in DC.

 

 

 

 

6) BRFs – Traveling with some of my best running friends was simply stated, perfection.

 

 

 

 

7) Support – We had the loudest and best cheerleaders.

 

 

 

8) Energy –  There was an incredible spirit that carried through all weekend by every runner, Nike staff member and especially the volunteers.

 

 

9) The Expotique – Inspiration, free stuff, make-up, Nike gear, excitement… you found all that and more at Nike’s Expotique.

 

 

10) #WeRunDC – The buzz leading up to the event delivered everything it promised. (Read 13.1 is my new favorite number for more)

 

 

 

 

11) Mimosas – Post race, of course! We treated ourselves and had way too much fun doing it.

 

 

 

12) Running for a Cause – All proceeds benefited the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. That finish line represented a lot more than just accomplishing 13.1 miles.

 

 

 

 

13) Smiles – They were abundant, all weekend long.

 

 

 

Thank you Nike – not for putting together one of my favorite runs to date, but for creating an experience every girly runner out there deserves. I left that weekend refreshed, motivated & inspired… and I have some Tiffany bling to prove it!

With Heart & Sole,

Erin

13.1 – My New Favorite Number

It’s Friday night at 10:30 and I am ready for bed. Tomorrow morning I will be greeted with an alarm reminding me it’s time to meet for a run. Saturday morning long runs became a ritual during my marathon training. When the marathon was over, so was that routine – but only temporarily. I quickly learned how much the routine grounded me. In fact, the most positive thing that came out of my 1st marathon was the routine of training. Now I am back at it, but this time with 13.1 as my end goal.

Over the past few weeks the Saturday morning training routine picked back up again for 1/2 marathon training. In 23 days I will run the Nike Women’s Half Marathon in DC. There has been something very enjoyable about this training. I have realized that 13.1 miles is a good number – long enough to be a challenge, yet short enough to train for regularly. In fact, I think 1/2 marathon training has become an addiction. I find myself wanting to register for them all! The anticipation, the challenge, the pre-race preparation, the post-race party… what’s not to love about a half-marathon?

Ok – so maybe I am being overly positive at the moment, I have had my running moments when I asked myself, “what the hell are you doing?” (Mile 8 of my first 1/2, I said never, ever again. Mile 12 of the 1/2 I did last May seemed like 3 miles in one.) But, those negative thoughts came and then they went… the moment when I crossed the finish, that’s the memory that stays with me.

As I train and prepare for Nike, I follow their Twitter & Facebook, I take advantage of their training plans and I read & re-read the race weekend info sheet (mostly out of excitement). By the way, I must take this opportunity to applaud the social media team behind Run Nike… they do an excellent job to motivate, excite & inspire their followers to prepare to “crush” the 13.1 miles that lie ahead.

Run Nike is proving why 13.1 should be my new favorite number. Running these races have become a reason for a social event, an excuse for a vacation, a way to challenge myself, a chance to get some new “bling” around my neck and, most importantly, an activity I truly enjoy.

What’s your favorite race number? 3, 5, 7, the full 26.2 – or more? Do you run them for the challenge or exercise or just to be social?

With Heart & Sole,

Erin