TwentySixPointWhat?

This past Sunday was a local 5k during which I decided to start training seriously again. As we were warming up the thought occurred to me that it was two summers ago that I began to train for my first marathon. Bear in mind that I knew nothing about training or the level of commitment required to run a marathon but, as with most things in my life, I jumped in feet first and asked questions later. The past couple of weeks have been an experiment in cross-training; swimming, biking, and running. Body feels good - now to throw some speed work and hills back into the mix, along with more mileage per week. . . and we're good to go.

Once again I’ve decided to participate in the Marine Corps Marathon with Fisher House. Two years ago I began running to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the accident in which I fractured both of my femurs, ankle, and wrist, and which left me on life support with questionable odds for recovery. There is at least one Fisher House at every major military medical center to assist families in need and to ensure that they are provided with the comforts of home in a supportive environment. Annually, the Fisher House program serves more than 12k families. This year, we will honor the memory of LCpl Chance Phelps. In conjunction with the Chance Phelps Foundation, the 2009 team will "Run4Chance" and build a Fisher House in Salt Lake City. This is why I run in support of Fisher House. http://www.active.com/donate/FisherHouse2009MCM/1HBisbee

Providence Marathon 2009 Race Report I really had no business running this marathon which, I suspect, is exactly why I ran it. It all started with Vicky and I organizing our weekend plans; specifically scheduling for Saturday. Our conversation went something like this: VICKY: So what time is the wedding? ME: 4:00, downtown Providence. VICKY: What time do you think you want to be at the church? ME: Somewhere around 3:45. VICKY: Okay, well I need to go into Providence to pick up my bib for my race in the morning. ME: Can I come along? VICKY: Sure. ME: Which race is this? VICKY: The Providence ½ marathon but there’s also a 5k and marathon. ME: hmmm. I could run the marathon. VICKY: Do you want to? ME: Yeah, I think I do. I need RI. And that is how it all came to fruition. Fast forward to race morning. . . Vicky wakes me up around 0600. After deciding that Vaseline is just as good as Body Glide, that Cliff Shots are just as good as Powerbar gummy things (I still don’t know their proper nam...

Shamrock 2009 Race Report Writing this because everyone keeps asking how it went so will start at the beginning. Sometime in December I remember sending out an email inquiring who was running Shamrock. Not many people responded but enough did to convince me to try running it again in 2009 because 2008 literally sucked (even if it was a marathon PR for me). On Saturday, my friend Trina drove us down to Virginia Beach; made the expo just in the nick of time to pick up my race packet and then jetted over to ‘Pi’zzeria for dinner with Jamie and Becky. Becky was running her first ½ marathon and Jamie was running it with her. While we waited for our table we got to talking, and drinking and talking and somehow convinced Trina to run the ½ marathon with absolutely no training. Fast forward-hotel was too warm, bar next door was boom, booming until 0200 so had a very restless night. Was also very worried about what we’d talked Trina into. Race morning 0600, alarm goes off. Wake up, get dressed,...

My quads are still a mess. They're like a rubber band that won't release. This makes me feel really stupid and vulnerable, especially walking around work today. It's an unusual feeling to be forced to walk slow, hold onto the hand railing on the stairs, and take them one at a time until the muscles release. Ugh. Is this a characteristic of age or a result of a marathon with too many hills?

Bare Bones Race Report: 0730: Leave home 0735: get gas 0736: Merge onto I-95 0845: take wrong exit on I-395 0850: use Google Maps to reroute 0930: arrive in Greenbelt 0945: Pick up race packet, shirt, number 1000: Run into Jennifer 1015: Walk w/ J- to race start 1031: Marathon Starts Mile 1: Bottom of big ass hill Mile 2: Between Mile 1 & Mile 2 hear someone in a car calling my name. What? oh, McGee!!! YES!! Mile 3: Strip off my long sleeve and pass off to McGee. (she's a lifesaver) Mile 4: Decide to walk for 1 minute at every mile marker (and walk hills when I feel my hear rate going up) Don't know how many times I got asked this question but I got tired of replying. . 'Aren't you cold?' (granted I was in a singlet and running skirt when most everyone else still had hats and glove on. .. but I'm from New York) Mile 7: We've just come down through the intersection if I remember correctly, I'm running strong and passing a bunch of other runners on ...

It's another beautiful day; now that I've taken to running when I want to run instead of on someone else's schedule I'm much happier. Ended up running into a friend towards the end of my run and was once again reminded of how crazy I am and seem to others. Heck yeah I ran an 8-hour ATR last weekend and am running a marathon tomorrow. What else is there for me to do? Now I need to go eat some pasta, hydrate and get to sleep.