I did it! 4:44:53 minutes after crossing the start line in Hopkinton I finally reached the finish line!  As I sit here writing this concluding article I can’t piece together words or emotions to sum this experience up. I never thought I could do this. But I did. And finally I can say that I ran the Boston Marathon.    I figure recounting my whole experience won’t be beneficial to you. So I’m sharing some of the most common questions I’ve been asked:  Will I do it again? As I was cramping up after the race I was asked this and I tearfully responded, “No! No sane person does this." However, the…

Two weeks ago I took on the challenge of Stu’s 30K, an 18.6-mile course along the hilly Wachusett Reservoir, what would be the longest run of my training thus far. And when I say hills, the course was filled with them - the most painful was at the last mile. Stu’s was a critical point in my training because my marathon mentors told me that if I could finish Stu’s I definitely would succeed in Boston. So I knew if I finished in under my goal of 3 hours and 30 minutes it would be a testament to the training I have done so far.  Stu’s is known to be a training run for the Boston Marathon. So it …

I can’t believe it’s less than two months until the big day! To update you all on my progress, I’ve been able to get in some great long runs.  I reached my donation goal at my charity fundraiser last weekend, and I started working out with a personal trainer. I knew it was time to enlist the help of a professional when I started getting an unbearable knee pain five miles into every run. I figured I was doing something wrong, and I was. I’ve neglected to work strength-training into my routine. Strength training always made me nervous because I didn’t know what exercises to do and knew that …

I am glad to say that I’m writing to you this week in high spirits. I took advantage of the recent amazing weather and went out for a 12-mile run.   My route included the first three miles of the Boston Marathon course from Hopkinton to Ashland. I got goosebumps when I crossed the worn down blue and yellow start line painted across Ash Street. It has made me really excited for April 18th and it will be here before I know it! The snow has melted and receded back from the street so I feel a lot safer running outside. But with all the melting snow it’s causing some big puddles and constant …

For the first four weeks of my training program, I’ve been on track with my schedule. But this terrible New England weather has sidetracked my progress. Week 5 is coming to an end and I’ll finish with about 19 miles logged. I should be on course for 34. This New England winter has not provided the safest running conditions.  So for the past two weeks I’ve lived on the treadmill struggling to fit in a decent run. I can last about 30 minutes before getting fidgety and finding myself staring aimlessly at the weightlifters across from me.  Saturday I made it my goal to finish 10 miles, an …

With my last undergrad semester approaching, a dietitian internship and a part-time job, many people think I am crazy for adding training for the Boston Marathon to my list.  Little do they know the itch I get every Marathon Monday when I see my town fill to the brim with runners. I get this indescribable jealousy or maybe it is envy of the runners. To say you ran 26.2 miles into Boston is such an admirable feat. Now, I am proud to say that I will be running the 2011 Boston Marathon for the Melanoma Foundation of New England.    See, I did not grow up as a runner, never was a track star, and …