The Trail of Tears...I mean Training

At the clothing and shoe clinic we not only had the opportunity to learn about how to keep ourselves warm, dry, and injury-free, we also got to meet our coaches in person. Kelly and Sarad will be leading us on our metaphorical journey (well, I guess it's not really metaphorical if we will be traveling some fairly long distances, just always ending up where we started) for the next four months. Both my coaches seem very dedicated, inspirational, in shape, and, most importantly, like they know what they are doing. I'm feeling more and more confident that I might actually see the finish line and maybe even while still being able to stand! A few days after the clinic, I received an email from Sarad containing a recap of the clinic for those who couldn't make it and the thing I've been waiting for since I found out I made the team...OUR TRAINING SCHEDULE!

I've included the whole schedule below but I decided to point out some of the highlights (and lowlights...)

Dec 4: 3 miles but more importantly, our Training Kick-off Party!

Dec 25: 8 miles on Christmas morning. At least I won't feel bad eating extra Christmas cookies.

Jan 1: 9 miles on New Years Day. Run off the champagne and hangover from the night before I guess...

Jan 8: Our first double digit run!

Jan 29: First half marathon distance.

Feb 6: Super Bowl Sunday and thankfully just a 4 mile Recovery run.

Mar 26: Our longest single run of training, 20 miles. The adrenaline of race day should carry us through the last 6.2 miles (Really!?! That's a 10K!).

Apr 16-17: Two rest days in a row! That's unheard of! Oh wait, that must mean...

Apr 18: MARATHON MONDAY; 26.2 miles!

Now this training schedule is supposed to be a guide so we can work with our coaches to adjust it as our schedule, fitness level, and goals necessitate. Seeing how packed this is I'm not sure I can get around many of my long runs but at least maybe I can put off the New Year's Day run to Sunday...maybe.

Boston Marathon Mileage Schedule

April 18, 2011

Week Of:	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Nov. 28	Recovery 20 minutes	Rest Day	2 miles	XT 30 minutes	3 miles Easy	XT 30 minutes	3 miles
Dec. 5	Recovery 20 minutes	Rest Day	Track Workout 1	XT 30 minutes	4 miles Easy	XT 30 minutes	4 miles
Dec. 12	Recovery 20 minutes	Rest Day	Track Workout 2	XT 30 minutes	4 miles Pace	XT 30 minutes	6 miles
Dec. 19	3 miles Recovery 30 min	Rest Day	Track Workout 3	XT 40 minutes	4 miles Easy	XT 40 minutes	8 miles
Dec. 26	3 miles Recovery 30 min	Rest Day	Track Workout 4	XT 40 minutes	4 miles Pace	XT 40 minutes	9 miles
Jan. 2	3 miles Recovery 30 min	Rest Day	Hill Workout	XT 40 minutes	4 miles Fartlek	XT 40 minutes	10 miles
Jan. 9	3 miles Recovery 30 min	Rest Day	Track Workout 5	XT 40 minutes	5 miles Pace	XT 40 minutes	11 miles
Jan. 16	4 miles Recovery 40 min	Rest Day	Track Workout 6	XT 50 minutes	5 miles Pace	XT 50 minutes	12 miles
Jan. 23	4 miles Recovery 40 min	Rest Day	Track Workout 5	XT 50 minutes	5 miles Easy	XT 50 minutes	13 miles
Jan. 30	4 miles Recovery 40 min	Rest Day	Hill Workout	XT 50 minutes	5 miles Easy	XT 50 minutes	14 miles
Feb. 3	4 miles Recovery 40 min	Rest Day	Track Workout 2	XT 50 minutes	5 miles Pace	XT 50 minutes	15 miles
Feb. 13	3 miles Recovery 30 min	Rest Day	Track Workout 3	XT 60 minutes	5 miles Easy	XT 30 Minutes	13 miles
Feb. 20	4 miles Recovery 40 min	Rest Day	Track Workout 4	XT 60 minutes	5 miles Pace	XT 30 minutes	16 miles
Feb. 27	3 miles Recovery 30 min	Rest Day	Track Workout 5	XT 60 minutes	5 miles Easy	XT 30 minutes	13 miles
Mar. 6	4 miles Recovery 40 min	Rest Day	Hill Workout	XT 60 Minutes	6 miles Pace	XT 20 minutes	18 miles
Mar. 13	3 miles Recovery 30 min	Rest Day	Track Workout 6	XT 40 minutes	6 miles Easy	XT 30 minutes	13 miles
Mar. 20	4 miles Recovery 40 min	Rest Day	Track Workout 3	XT 30 minutes	6 miles Pace	XT 20 minutes	20 miles
Mar. 27	3 miles Recovery 30 min	Rest Day	Track Workout 2	XT 30 minutes	4 miles Easy	XT 60 Minutes	12 miles
Apr. 3	3 miles Recovery 30 min	Rest Day	Track Workout 1	XT 20 minutes	4 miles Easy	XT 60 Minutes	8 miles
Apr. 10	3 miles Recovery 30 min	Rest Day	Track Workout 7	XT 20 minutes	4 miles Easy	XT 45 Minutes	Off
Apr. 18	MARATHON MONDAY

Burr...It's Cold Out There!

Westchester County, NY, much to my surprise, has no 5K's or Turkey Trots on Thanksgiving morning so my brother and I decided to run our own 5K.

We ran down a one mile path that goes alongside the Tarrytown Lakes Reservoir. The path is pretty much a flat run and can be extended up the North County Trail a further almost 20 miles. The run to get the path, on the other hand, is up and down a couple of fairly steep hills. It might have been my brother making jokes about runner's trots, but judging by how out of breath I was when we got to the top, I think I'm going to have to do a lot more hill work before I take on Heartbreak Hill at Mile 20 in April.

Even more important than my realization about the hills I'll have to face on the marathon course is that I'll be training in the dead of winter and it's going to be a hell of a lot colder than it was yesterday. So today being Black Friday I decided to stock up on some winter running gear.

Luckily, Team In Training had a clinic on choosing the right running shoes and gear lead by Colin Peddie, the founder and owner of Marathon Sports, a Boston-based running company, to make sure we knew how to equip ourselves. You should always dress for weather approximately 10 degrees warmer than the current temp to account for your rise in body temperature as your heart rate increases. I have a pair of capri pants but as I found out on my 4 miles run in 15 degree (9 with the wind chill) Minneapolis weather this past weekend, these won't carry me through my winter training schedule. I picked up a pair of Nike running tights as well as some loose-fitting dry-fit pants. Between the tights and the pants (layered together in the coldest weather) I should be fine in most types of winter weather. Having synthetic materials in key as cotton holds moisture which will make you cold even in mild weather. I also picked up an extra track pull-over but I'd still like to get a fleece vest and/or light windbreaker for colder and windier conditions. Also on my list are some ear warmers (so my hair still looks good in my pony-tail!) and some gloves. Luckily my mother helped me out with the stuff I bought today as a Christmas gift and Macy's was having some amazing sales otherwise all this running gear can get pretty expensive. I guess I'll have to accumulate the rest as I can afford it!

It's Official!

A few weeks ago, I received a voicemail when I got home from work from Team In Training (TNT). I've been accepted to be a part of their Boston Marathon team!! There's no turning back at this point...

So what is Team In Training and what do I have to do to get myself to the starting line on April 18th? Team In Training is a branch of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society which started 1988 in Westchester County, NY when Bruce Cleland and 38 other runners raised over $300K to run the New York Marathon in honor of his daughter Georgia, a leukemia survivor. TNT has complete 16- to 20-month training programs for a variety of endurance programs such as triathlons, hikes, and of course, marathons. As part of the program, I'll have coaches, a mentor, group training runs, and various clinics to make sure I have the proper gear, nutrition, and injury prevention information to get me to the starting line and across the finish line with minimal lasting scars.

The Boston Athletic Association (BAA) sets a fundraising minimum for all charities since registration is limited and the marathon is so popular (regular registration filled up in 9 hours for 2011!). This year, the fundraising minimum is $3,250. It's a daunting task but I think, with the help of my friends and family, I can do it. Visit my fundraising page if you'd like to help!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/ma/boston11/klauro

The Application is in...

Now that marathon season has rolled around I'm picking my blog back up. I'm still determined to run the Boston Marathon which is officially 182 days away. Tomorrow will mark the six months to the day until the marathon kicks off!

The application process for the Boston Marathon opens tomorrow morning and is one of the toughest around. Just to be able to apply you have to have a qualifying time in another pre-approved marathon or half marathon that varies based on sex and age. For women in the 18-34 age group, the qualifying time is 3:40:00. As I'm not quite up to these standards and am short on time to train for and run another marathon, I've decided to make this goal have a dual purpose and run for charity.

On October 6th, I faxed in my application and

donation to run for the Massachusetts Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training. Running for a charity means that I don't need a qualifying time in another marathon. Now I'm just holding my breath and hoping my application is accepted! Until then, I'll give you some background on Team In Training and keep you updated on the training I've been doing for the past six months and everything else to do with running.

This is a binding contract...

I'm running the 2011 Boston Marathon. I'm running the Boston Marathon. I AM RUNNING THE BOSTON MARATHON. Do you believe me yet? Good. You may need to convince ME in a few months when my foot is more blisters than foot.

Six months ago I could barely run more than a few minutes at a time so how did I come up with this unbelievable goal to run 26.2 miles and why do I even think I'm capable of achieving it?

Well I'm not sure I can fully answer the second question because I'm not sure yet that I can. I'm more hoping that telling people I'm doing this and asking them for donations to support me will make me so guilty I'll see my mother's disapproving face every time I push off a training session. Trust me that would move your ass too.

Why did I pick this goal? And why is Boston so important? Any college student in Boston knows that Marathon Monday is the biggest drinking holiday of the year. Everyone looks forward to it every year whether you're in college or not. As a student at Boston University I was no different. I drank and cheered and was hungover by 2pm with the rest of them. The race holds a special place in my heart. But running it? Six months ago it seemed more likely that Rush Limbaugh would become a Democrat than that I would run a marathon. Then I started running...slowly...very slowly. About two weeks ago I ran my first race. It was a 4 miler in Central Park in NYC and the high was amazing. But the icing on the cake cake (or straw that broke the camels back) came on Monday, Marathon Monday 2010 to be exact, when I had to work instead of enjoying the festivities with my friends. I bitterly drove into work and saw school bus, after school bus, after school bus, carrying the runners out the the starting line in Hopkinton, MA. Coming down the straight stretch by the rest stop between exits 12 and 13, all I could see what a row of yellow down the middle lane. And then it hit me...I can do that. Drunkenly cheering didn't need to be my only contribution to the race. I should have my friends out there drunkenly cheering for me. The next day, I was at the airport and there were so many people walking around with their Adidas official Boston Marathon jacket that screamed "Yeah, that's right I'm pretty bad ass. I just ran one of the most challenging marathons in the world." I want that badge of honor. I think I'm strong enough and I should put it to the test. So this is my testament and signed contract committing to the test. Hopefully I'll make it to the finale!