Swim, Brenda, Swim?

I've been hearing for more than a year now what great cross-training swimming is, how it helps your body to naturally flush out the junk that running builds up on your muscles, etc. etc., but never had access to a pool or interest in seeking one out, other than the BSC on Boylston which I'd need a second income to afford.

Fast forward, I recently learned that you don't have to be a student to get a gym membership at MIT, and that you can be "sponsored" by anyone within the MIT network and join as a "Friend of MIT."

Before I commit to joining, however (I haven't yet), I wanted to check out the facility. So on Sunday, after an uninentional week off from working out (sadly, my job got in the way of my fitness), I went for my inaugural visit, bought a day pass and took Noah along as one-part gym buddy, one-part swim instructor and one-part tour guide (he's a member).

If you ask him how my first time swimming since childhood lessons went, he'll tell you I swam about a mile in total, that I pretty much kept up with him lap-for-lap and that my form wasn't too atrocious, once he gave me a few pointers. My own feedback from the swim session is much shorter and a little less glowing, though -- Swimming is exhausting and I think I swallowed half the pool.

Nonetheless, I'm going to join the gym and give up my swanky Healthworks membership. I've invested in a trainer for my bike so I can ride in my living room (woo hoo for Craigslist!) and I'm hoping to not get injured this year, meaning I'll do my marathon training outside. That just means I need to find a place where I can swim and lift - and for the "Friend of MIT" price, which is $20 cheaper a month than what I pay now, I get access to all MIT fitness facilities, easier street parking and a pool. Sold!

Boston 2010: My DFMC three-peat

I mentioned it previously within a larger recap, but now that the BAA Half is behind me, I wanted to give the 2010 Boston Marathon its own special post because, well, it's a special race.

For the third year in a row I'll be running Boston not just toward that beautiful blue and yellow finish line on Boylston Street, but also toward the ultimate finish line - a world without cancer (something far more awesome than even a qualifying time).

Once again, I'll be running in memory of Chris Sawyer, Matt McCue and my grandmother, who all had their lives cut far too short. Once again I'll be running in honor and support of all the people I know or have met who are still fighting the good fight against this awful disease. And once again I'll be running in celebration of all those who have beat it.

And now, dear reader, I invite you to make a donation and help me kick cancer's ass. $10K or bust this year - http://www.runDFMC.org/2010/brendac.

Thanks :)

BAA Half Results

Official Time: 1:51:34
Official Pace: 8:31

Last year's official finish time was 1:52:21, so that's a 47 second PR. Not spectacular by any means, but considering how tired I was in the week leading up to the race and the fact that I was visiting the bathroom every 5 mins in the half hour before I left the house on Sunday morning, I'll take it and be thankful for it.

I had a good race. The air was crisp (I wished I had worn gloves), the sun was shining, my legs felt strong and swift, my butt looked great in my shorts (according to my friend Lindsey) and all the hill training I did over the last few months kept me from ever really struggling. I also need to give a shout-out and huge congrats to Noah, who ran a 1:38:39, setting a 12 minute PR for himself over the last half he ran.

I would have loved to break 1:50, but there's always next year. And I'll post a few pics as soon as I get them from my parents. All in all, a successful race.

Quick and Dirty

This title is a description of the updates to follow***, not the blogger. Then again, anyone who reads this blog knows that I'm not quick, either in wits or running. And awayyyyyyy we go -

Training -- Done and done! "Hay is in the barn" as Jack would say. The last weekend of September coincided with the last weekend of real training before taper and also with Noah's last triathlon of the season. So I did the supportive girlfriend thing and got up at 4:30am, headed down to Duxbury and cheered my little lungs out. My reward for such an act of kindness was a SWEET post-race party at a swanky abode on the water. Before I could indulge in food/beverage, however, I had to get in 12 miles of my own, so I threw on the Garmin and ran willy-nilly around Duxbury. The temperature was perfect, there were plenty of shady long stretches of pavement, just the right amount of inclines and when I finished, there was a hot tub and a cold beer waiting for me. Does life get any better?

This weekend was an uneventful 8 on the marathon course with Noah (for the first 4, anyway). I did whatever the opposite of "negative splits" would be. Positive splits? I went out at Noah's pace, then came back at my own leisure. After all, Heartbreak Hill is nothing anyone should rush running up. I prefer to mosey my way to the top -- the longer it takes to climb it, the more expletives you can mutter under your breath before you're done :)

Pacing -- I'm starting to feel better about the possibility of setting a new PR in the BAA Half, even if it's only a few seconds. I was running pretty comfortably between 8:30 and 8:40 this weekend in training, meaning if the stars align, I can hopefully sustain that sub-8:34 I'm after.

Happy Anniversary, Running! -- This Sunday will be the 2-year anniversary of my first race ever; a day that changed my life. Running and racing have brought me more confidence, happiness, strength, focus and passion than I ever imagined one thing could. It's also led me to an amazing group of friends and a wonderful man, all of whom take that happiness, etc. and make it even greater. Regardless of pace and finish time, October 11 will be a 13.1-mile-long celebration of these things.

2010 Boston Marathon -- Officially on the DFMC roster again! Looking forward to once again using my passion and energy to make a difference in the lives of others. Cancer sucks. Let's help find a cure. 2010 donation link forthcoming...



***Ok, so these updates were neither quick, nor dirty. But hopefully they were meaty enough to sustain you, dear reader, until Sunday's race report.