The 5k and 10k is done.

The 5k was Thursday.

The 10k was Friday.

Saturday is the Half and Sunday is the Full.

Both races went well.   The past two days were spent mostly kicking back at the hotel.

However, I was able to see Running Legend Jeff Galloway at the expo.

I am determined to save my energy for the Half and Full Marathon. The weather is expected to be hot for both races.

Disney World is getting more crowded now, probably because of the bigger races.

I had a nice Italian dinner at Trattoria Al Forno.

I have my energy snacks for the Half Marathon and I am ready to run.

Shout out to Izzy who is watching my dogs back in Massachusetts.

Carrie …. allowing my spouse to get away as you hold down the fort at A Plus Warehouse. Good Job!!!!

 

Marathon weekend begins ……Dopey Challenge.  5k, 10k, Half Marathon and Full Marathon,  Bib pick up, shirt pick up …lots of running ahead.

Today I went to the running  expo.

Thursday is the 5k.

I am thrilled the forecast will be warm. I prefer warm weather running.   Frigid, cold temperatures can be an asthma trigger and just plain miserable.

Time to enjoy the moment… I will keep you posted…

 

Enjoying a Strawberry Daiquiri  and chips at a Mexican Restaurant

Done …..

Last Dopey Simulation.  Time to Taper!!!

3 miles on Saturday

6 miles on Sunday

11.5 miles on Monday

22 miles on Tuesday.

Walt Disney World …. I will see you in 3 weeks!

Total 42.5 miles

Dopey Challenge is 48.6 miles

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and were able to spend time being thankful for all life’s blessings.  I had a nice holiday.

One of our Thanksgiving traditions is to pre-game a fancy early breakfast at the Ritz Carlton in Boston before our family’s Thanksgiving Dinner held at our home.

We always enjoy stuffing ourselves with pancakes, eggs, waffles, bacon, bagels, fruit, etc…before “Turkey Time”.    It is very enjoyable and amusing chowing down.  Yes. I love pigging out.  Later in the evening, our kids and family enjoyed a nice dinner.

………….

My Dopey Challenge Training

The  event is NOW less than 6 weeks away.  The event begins on January 9 2020.

(The Dopey Challenge is a 4-day series 48.6 miles (5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon)

My training is going well. However, this challenge scares the heck out of me. This is my first Dopey!

I am pushing myself harder, covering more distance than I am used to, but I will survive.

I am also pleased that I was able to squeeze in another practice Dopey Simulation.

Saturday ….3 miles 5k

Sunday …..6 miles 10k

Monday …13 miles Half Marathon

Tuesday  18  miles

Total 40 miles

……….

More news…

We recently purchased a Golden Retriever.  He is now 3 months old. We have 4 dogs total.  We have a black, yellow , chocolate and now our new Golden. Many people think I am “nuts” but I LOVE DOGS!

This week New England had our first snow storm.   We had about 8 inches. Our new dog was thrilled to see snow for the first time  My dogs love the  snow.

This week I practiced a “Mini Dopey Challenge simulation” to mimic the real one in January. I scheduled 4 days in a row of running to model the Dopey Challenge.  I ran 37 miles, which included a 20-mile-long run. Dopey is coming up in January and that will be 48.6 miles in 4 day. I think I’m making good progress.

Saturday November 16th …3… miles

Sunday November 17^th……  4 miles

Monday November 18^th ……  10 miles

Tuesday November 19^th ……20 miles

Other than running, my husband Ed and I had a good double date with our oldest daughter and her husband at a Mexican restaurant.

We also enjoyed watching the Patriots win again. That never gets old.

Wednesday night the Country Music Association Awards were on television. My husband and I love country music, so, it is always nice to watch our favorite singers receive a nominee for a potential award or win.

 

Dopey Challenge  …4 days series ( 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon)

Mileage is increasing. My body is screaming at me …. more fuel…I’m tired … I’m sore …this sucks….

This being said, I really do want to succeed at this challenge!

Monday …This week my long run was 19 miles.

To tackle the long run, I mentally broke it up in chunks (4 miles 4 times) +3 miles. I listened to Disney music while running and when I got tired I kept on playing Disney’s Hercules Go the Distance.

And I won’t look back,

I can go the distance

And I’ll stay on track,

no I won’t accept defeat

It’s an uphill slope

But I won’t loose hope,

’till I go the distance

I was well rested and energized, due to the fact I did very little running Halloween week.   Too much candy, pigging out at restaurants, lack of motivation, and sleeping in. This made it very hard to get out the door and run.

But that’s ok with me. It resulted in an excellent long run. And that’s a good thing

Tuesday 8.5 miles

Thursday 3 miles

Saturday 3 miles

Total this week …33.5 miles

Besides running, I am  having fun decorating my home for Thanksgiving.  I love the beauty of Autumn in New England.

Last Sunday, I visited my youngest daughter at U Mass Amherst. She loves college life.

My oldest daughter is happily married  for 6 month and is doing well.

 

 

I love Autumn!  Best time for running.

I am gradually increasing my mileage and my body is responding well!  I am so proud of myself.

My running training program has been very successful.  I follow the Jeff Galloway Program.

https://www.rundisney.com/running-training-programs/

Monday 7 miles……Rebook Women 10k Boston   + 1 mile in the evening

Tuesday 17 miles! (SEVENTEEN)………My long run was done on the trails of Marblehead and Salem.  I kept it a nice and easy pace.   My mile splits were consistent all 17 miles.  My feet were sore but my energy was good due to good fueling.  I had two performance energy wafer bars and a combination of water/ Gatorade throughout the run

Wednesday 3 miles

Sunday   3 miles

Beautiful Fall

To end the holiday weekend, I participated in the Reebok Boston 10k For Women. Women Power !   Approximately 4000  women !

The event was very organized, plenty of water stations and food.

I enjoyed running through Boston.  It is an out and back course. The race started on Charles Street near the Boston Common/Public Gardens and ran down Beacon Street, and then across the Massachusetts Ave Bridge. Mile three and four were on Memorial Drive along the Charles River. The last 2 miles were heading up Commonwealth Ave toward the Boston Common/Public Gardens where the finish line was located.

It was a great day. Low 60s partially sunny.

 

 

Last week, I ran a long run of 15 miles, 5.5 miles, 5k and 3 miles before Yom Kippur.  I am training for the Dopey Challenge in January.       The Disney’s Dopey Challenge is a race series that consists of four events: a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, and Full Marathon on four consecutive morning culminating in 48.6 miles.  I am following the Galloway training program.   https://www.rundisney.com/

My endurance is improving and my body is getting used to the increased miles.  Overall, I feel good.

I need to focus on nutrition more.  I love eating; however, I need to add more protein to my diet and iron.  My doctor said my iron is a bit low.  (Females athletes who are perimenopause are at higher risk for iron deficiency due to menstruation.  So , I will pig out more on steak, burgers and peanut butter.

………………………..

Monday, I rested to prepare for the holiest day of the Year, Yom Kippur.

Yom Kippur is a day of atonement.

Should I be writing a blog post a day before Yom Kippur?   It is the most somber day of the Jewish year.

This Yom Kippur, I wonder, if my decease loved ones are extremely proud of the woman that I am becoming.  Especially, the Grandparents, Great Aunts, Great Uncles and other members of my family that have passed.

Below are the questions, I would ask them.

Are you proud of my running?   I have run 16 Boston Marathons on behalf of the Liver Foundation. Running has been good for my heart.  Physically, I have good cardiac heart health. Mentally, I am a happier, confident, joyful woman.

Are you proud of me for being an excellent wife, and mom?

Are you aware of the two nice young adults my kids have grown into?

Are you proud that I am living a full life, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually?

……………………………………

So, this Yom Kippur, I am blessed and grateful that my family is thriving,

I am honored to be surrounded by people that care for me as much as I care for them.  I am thankful, they are in my life and able to “do life together”.

What will next year bring?

g’mar chatima tovah “a good final sealing.” In the book of life

 

 

 

 

 

 

First of all, let me wish you a Happy Rosh Hashanah and a fruitful New Year.  Prior to the holiday, I spent some quiet time on self-reflection and repentance.

This New-year, I am grateful for all the blessings I have in my life. I am blessed to have a loving family, friends, good health and happiness.

However, I do have my challenges that test my emotional wellbeing. I can be over sensitive and a bit clingy. I have very little tolerance or patience for annoying people, or toxic people. Negative Nancies bother the heck out of me.  I do not handle life’s unfairness, or disappointments well. However, running has helped me with that.

I always love getting up early in the morning for a race to be with like-minded people who know the benefits of a good run and share my passion for the sport.  Running is my therapy.

So today….

I participated in the Middlemiss Big Heart 5k charity run held in Dracut Ma. The purpose of the race is to raise funds for pediatric cardiomyopathy research and support pediatric cardiac conditions.  The Charity was established in memory of a 6-year-old boy who lost his life due to cardiomyopathy.

It was a warm morning for late September in Dracut Ma.  It was in the 70’s.

I enjoyed the run completely. Approximately 900 runners showed up at the event and the energy throughout the race was amazing.  There was live music and drinks throughout the course.  The race was hilly; plus, there were many bystanders cheering us on during the race.  Thirty-five minutes later, I finished the race.

By the time I got home, it was almost noon.   It was time for my second breakfast.  When I walked in the house, my spouse handed me my favorite Cinnamon Coffee roll  and a donut from Dunkin’ Donuts. I love having the luxury of being able to indulgence in something sweet. Life’s simple pleasures. SUGAR!

As I sat at our kitchen table, eating my delicious Dunkin’ snack with my spouse next to me, I felt a deeper sense of happiness.

On this Rosh Hashanah, I am truly blessed. I am so thankful for all life’s daily simple pleasures, my significant other, family and all spiritual gifts from G-d.

Happy Rosh Hashanah “Shanah tovah”