Renewed Sense of Purpose

Last Monday, I spent an hour glued to the tv after work watching the horror in Boston play over and over again. I was shocked and a little angry that someone would try to hurt my people. As a a passionate New Englander with family in Boston and as a runner, I just couldn't understand why. The more media coverage I watched, the more overwhelmed I felt. When I just couldn't take it anymore, I turned off the tv and just sat in the quiet of my apartment for a few minutes. Not knowing what else to do, I put on my running clothes. My legs were still tired from the More/Fitness Half the day before but I just needed to get outside.

That day I ran a loop of the reservoir at a 9:36 min/mile pace. Now this is average for most people or even slow for many of the incredible bloggers I read but having run the half the day before at and 11 min/mile, this was huge!

Fueled by emotion, I wasn't thinking about running as I watched the skyline change on my way around the loop. Instead, I was focused on what had happened in Boston. The overwhelming thought was that it occurred at a time when my family would have been at the finish line waiting for me. While I know it's selfish to think of myself, I just couldn't imagine having family there supporting you and then this happening. My heart breaks for those who will carry this experience with them forever.

I didn't check my watched when I finished and in fact, didn't see the time until I turned on my watch Tuesday night for my next run. My first thought was that it was a fluke. There's no way I could sustain a two minute drop in pace that occurred in just a day. I set out for my run and decided to go just a bit longer than the day before. I again was thinking of Boston during my run and of how desperately I want runners to feel safe. I glanced down at my watch after my second mile and saw that I was right at a 9:20 pace. Again I thought this was cool but that it wouldn't last. Finishing up my third and final mile for the night, I was curious. Did I actually do it again? Sure enough, 9:26. Huh, maybe I can really hang on to this.

A week later and I've run a variety of distances, from 1.6 to 6.5 miles, all in the mid 9s. I want to see those low numbers more than even and I'm ready for them. I have the drive to work for it. I may never qualify for Boston but I'm going to I will continue to run for the victims and will work hard to push that pace even lower. This past week has given me a renewed sense of purpose and I will hold on as along as I can.

Let's all use this tragedy to renew our own strength not only in running but in all aspects of our lives.

The countdown is on

I can't wait to get on a plane on Thursday and cruise on down to Nashville for the Country Music Marathon. Nashville is a city that has certainly found a special place in my heart. I had been there once on a family vacation when I was younger, well we all got to tag along on one of my dad's business trips. I didn't particularly care for the city then as it seem like the entire city was under construction.
My love began years later when I accompanied my sister on a interview at Vanderbilt. It was her very first interview after graduating from college so she wasn't comfortable traveling and getting ready for her interview by herself. Neither of us knew much about the city so we booked a hotel right by Vanderbilt which ended up working out perfectly as they had a fantastic shuttle that would take you anywhere in the city.
That interview was in 2010 and I am happy to say this weekend marks my sixth trip back! She absolutely loves everything about the city and has managed to show me new and exciting things every time I visit. So much so that every few months I find myself contemplating making a move to Nashville myself. I mean, a girl can dream especially when home are so much less expensive than nyc or tahoe.
This weekend's race will be a bit different than the previous two as temperatures will be much below the usual 85 and humid. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I saw the ten day was predicting mid fifties however I'm quickly getting nervous as it also says thunder storms and rain all weekend :(
No matter what the weather turns out to be, I know it will be an amazing weekend!
Nashville here I come!

More about my plans for the race to come...