Jenn

Posts Tagged ‘Marathon’

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Why I run

In Bucket Goals on September 21, 2012 at 9:02 pm

I am an organizer for a marathon/half marathon training program. As we near the end of the season, I sometimes struggle to find the right topic that is relevant and motivational.  This week I seemed to touch the right nerve in myself and a few others. I received the most positive comments about the newsletter. So I thought I would post it out here for posterity.  Note, it was written with small kiddos jumping all over me, preparing for school/work and participating in their normal am shenanigans.  But somehow with its imperfections in grammar and punctuation, it came out perfect.  Given the chance to re-read and correct, I may never have hit send.

Race day swag

Why I Run – USA Fit Albany Newsletter for September 21, 2012
“Race season is here! As you can see by the photo above, I have expanded our closet. The Palio does not pass out medals (which I knew about ahead of time), but it reminds me of the topic of the week..”why we run”.

I am a big medal junkie! I myself just booked a whirlwind last minute trip to run in the Nike Women’s Half marathon. Nike magically opened up bibs on Monday and after 5+ years of trying I got it. It is a dream event for me for several reasons, one of which is that the medals are necklaces packaged in perfect Tiffany boxes and handed out by fire fighters in tuxedos on silver platters. But as I was frantically booking my dream running trip across the country it sort of hit me, “why is this a dream to me”.  Anyone who knows me, knows I would run 100 miles for a one of a kind designer item.  And I run even harder and farther for an event that supports the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (like this one does). But that is not why I started running. I did not start running for the medals.  After all, it would be cheaper for me to drive to Tiffany’s in NYC and buy my own necklace. I did not set my goals for a marathon or half marathon for the swag.

I have my own personal reasons why I run, why I keep going, why I sign up for event after event.  The medals are great, but they are all sitting in my basement collecting dust.  I run for me. I run to be healthier, to keep my sanity living with three males, to have a goal, to do something others most others have not, to do something hard, to constantly improve,  I run because I want to see what my body can do (instead of what it can’t), to help others, to see things in the world others will miss, to enjoy the fresh air, to tell my children and grandchildren stories of accomplishment, to be me.”

So remember as you approach your event, to have fun and run for your reasons. It is your own two feet. Your event may or may not go the way you want it to. But remember, you have done the hard work. As Jenika said this week the “hard part is over, now its fun, what would you tell that person you were back in April who was not sure they could do x”.  We think there will be a lot of positive things you can say. We think you would tell them,  you will accomplish so much, GREAT JOB!”

❤ Jennie

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Nike Women’s Marathon – I am in!!!!

In Bucket Goals on September 19, 2012 at 8:34 am

I am not even exaggerating when I say I have tried for 5 years…5 long years to have the opportunity to run the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco.  It is on my top 10 bucket list of races to finish. I have tried the lottery several times, I even registered with Team in Training one year when much to my disappointment I had to switch to a local event when our schedule just would not permit it.  Every year, I submitted for the lottery. Every year I received a rejection email.

So you can you can guess my blind excitement when my friend calls, texts, calls again to say “Register now!”. Apparently, excitement from their 50,000 likes on facebook prompted Nike to open up additional spots on-line to Nike+ members. No lottery, just straight registration. How was I supposed to book a flight, hotel, transporation all with four weeks notice? I had no clue! All I saw were Tiffany blue boxes, firefighters in tuxedos and a shiny Tiffany necklace dancing in my head. Plus, this event benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and if you have not already heard, I am a big fan of this charity.

My fingers went to manic work andafter 4 pages of registration questions I received the confirmation! I am officially signed up for their half marathon 🙂

Nike Women’s Marathon Event

 Now…to find the perfect running outfit to match those pretty Tiffany boxes 😉

❤ Jennie

 

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Snooze alarm quick draw

In Exercise can't be this fun! on August 8, 2012 at 1:56 pm

Dear Future Grandchildren,

This is your grandmother at the age of 38. If you wonder why I get up naturally at 4:30 in the morning, there is good reason. I once slept in until 10 am where my only marathon was the Real World marathon playing on MTV on Saturdays.  Getting up early then was 7:15 to make it to work by 8 am.  Then I had children, worked full-time, picked up real marathons as a sport, organized a running group and had to start getting up at 4:30 am in the morning to get it all in.  I became the fastest snooze alarm pusher in the east to savor that extra few seconds of sleep. I used my legs to run charity races and I raised thousands of dollars in charity over the years while raising your dad and uncle. After years of pre-sunrise wake up alarms I am assuming by the time you get to know me, I will have permanently ruined my capacity to sleep in.   Hopefully, I am still running…

 Love your future grandmother,

Jennie ❤

Donate to Team in Training (any amount counts)

Honor a Hero ($39 donation = 1 dedicated mile)

39.3 Miles Goofy I am Doing It

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My Marathon Bucket List – My Top 10 Must Do Marathons

In I thought they said "rum" on January 18, 2012 at 1:17 pm

My husband completed the NYC marathon twice.  He loves that race and it was on his bucket list.  I am a serial half marathoner. I like to be finished, clean and drinking a beer watching the runners trickle in. But something about a marathon sounds quite impressive. Plus, you can only qualify for Boston if you run a full marathon (and can run like a maniac!). But running like a maniac, whittling myself down to a stealth running weight and permanently tatooing a Boston Marathon shamrock on my body just sound appealing. Not to mention the better schwag, higher prestige and pure out stamina sets one apart from the crowd.  So here is my bucket list in no particular order.

Map of the Paris Marathon

  1. Boston Marathon – This marathon is held in Boston, MA every April. Only the fastest even have the opportunity to compete. Even if you do gain a spot to register, you may not get in. This may not get checked off until I am 100 and happen to be the only person registered in my age group but if you have a goal you need to reach for the stars.
  2. Great Wall of China Marathon – Running one of the wonders of the world in a foreign country? Count me in. Oh, and yes…because I am a little crazy.
  3. Nike Women’s Marathon – This marathon is developed for Team in Training that supports the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, my favorite running cause. Not only do you help wipe out blood cancers but this is a girls only race with a Tiffany box on a silver platter held by a fire fighter in a tux waiting at the end. There is not much I would not do for a  Tiffany blue box.
  4. Disney Goofy Challenge – This aptly named two-day event includes completing a half marathon on a Saturday and a full marathon on a Sunday. Its Disney, you get three awesome medals and the prestige of completing 39.3 miles in two days. My goal is to complete this in my 39th year. Thirty-nine miles for 39 years proving once again I am a little goofy.
  5. San Francisco Marathon – While the Nike Women’s Marathon is also hosted in San Francisco, the San Francisco Marathon’s course takes you running across the Golden Gate bridge. I lived in the Bay Area and never once ran across my favorite bridge, so this one makes my must-do list.

    The Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco, CA a...

    The Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco, CA at sunset taken from the Marin Headlands (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

  6. Maui Marathon – Well, first it is Hawaii. This is also the last big vacation my husband and I too before children so its also nostalgic. Finally, the spa’s on the island are some of the best in the world! A day filled with running, oceans and spas sounds like a perfect event!
  7. Bermuda Traingle Challenge – Complete three events in three days and receive four medals. I am a medal junkie so the more the merrier. In this event you run a mile on Friday, a 10k on Saturday and then you choose between a half marathon or full marathon on Sunday.
  8. New York City Marathon – I for some reason do not have the most incredible desire to run this marathon but I live 2 hours from the city and I am told its the one to do. What is appealing is that it is difficult to get in, has outstanding crowd support and you get to see NYC in a unique way.
  9. Jungfrau Marathon – This marathon that runs into the Swiss Alps is deemed by some to be the most beautiful marathon in the world.
  10. Paris Marathon – While not as popular as the London Marathon this race is chock full of sites through Paris.  This marathon omits the miles of desolation and takes you by Paris’s best tourist attractions.

Time to start saving and training!

❤ Jennie

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