Post Boston Marathon

Where do I begin? I waited a whole year for the 118th running of the Boston Marathon. In that year of waiting, I had to deal with the demons of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. I am very fortunate because on April 15, 2013, an angel put her wings around me and shielded me from the second bombing on Boylston Street. Thankfully, on that day, my family and friends where no where near the finish. I will never forget that day. A day that started out prefect ended in such tragedy. My heart goes out to each and every person affected by the events of that day. But, our day would come. We (the runners and spectators) would take back our Boston Marathon finish line.

Wow, I had been waiting so long for marathon weekend in Boston. And it had finally arrived. How could I feel so excited and sad at the same time? There was no turning back. I was there to finish what I had started over a year ago. Not just for me, but for so many others. Nothing was going to get in my way. Everyone that knows me knows that I will physically and mentally fight to the end. 

My husband and girls were with me on that special weekend. We headed out to the expo and, to my surprise, I felt calm. I picked up my bib and did a little shoping. Then we headed out to Boylston St. My husband wanted me to point out where I had been last year. As we neared the site of the second bombing, my heart sank. But I didn't lose my composure. There was something about seeing all those people on Boylston St. There was life on that street. It gave me some inner strength. I was back in Boston with a whole new purpose. I was going to be a part of the healing process... not only for myself, but for others and the city of Boston.

At the Expo

Reading a note left @ 2nd bomb site

Marathon Monday began at 6am. I awoke and stuck with my marathon morning ritual of two hard boiled eggs, oatmeal and a cup of coffee. Before 8am, I was on a shuttle from the hotel in Natick to the State Park in Hopkinton. From the state park, all the runners were searched with a metal wand before boarding an official B.A.A bus to the marathoners village. I arrived at the village at about 8:30am. My start time wasn't until 11am. Let the waiting game begin. I did manage to kill one hour waiting in line to use the porta-potty. By that time, it was 10am and I was getting anxious. In the sea of runners, I bumped into a running friend, Kim. The chances were slim to none that I would bump into anyone I knew. So, it was a nice treat to see a familiar face.

Waiting to start

Finally, at about 1035am, my wave and corral were announced to begin walking to the starting line. The people of Hopkinton were all out cheering, clapping and holding up signs. The race had not even started yet. It was a little after 11am when I began my journey. 

The day I had been waiting for was finally here. I wasn't half way into my first mile when I heard someone yell SHEILA! I looked over my left shoulder and to my surprise it was Anastasia - one of the girls I had meet last year at the marathon who was also running for Dana Farber. We hugged and chatted for a bit. Then I took off. At about the 5k mark, another runner approached me and asked, "are you from Albany?" "Yes," I said. Her name was Audrey and she began telling me how she remembered me from the Mohawk Hudson Marathon a few years ago. She recognized me by the tattoo on my arm. We got to chatting and realized that we were soul sisters in so many ways.

At 6 miles, I began to look for my husband and girls. There was nothing better than seeing familiar faces along the way. I found them, we exchanged kisses and took pictures then I was off again with my soul sister. We ran together for a while, but then I lost Audrey sometime before the half-way mark. 

At mile 6 w/ my soul sista

Running into mile 13, I got ready to experience the screaming tunnel. The girls of Wellesley College were off the charts with the screaming. I was still feeling pretty good, but I also knew what was up ahead. The Newton hills were coming. Miles 18, 19, and 20 (heartbreak hill) were going to be torture. But, before I got to the Newton Hills, I had another running friend to look for. 

At about mile 17, I found my friend Judy. What excitement and joy I felt to see another familiar face along the way. I stopped, gave her a big hug and continued on my journey. At that point, I felt my left gluteus and hamstring start to nag me. So, I decided I would start walking through the water stations. I would be able to take in the full amount of water in the cup and second to be able to stretch my hamstrings. The stretching helped; the tightness never shortened my stride. As I went through the Newton hills, there was something a bit different from last year. The college kids were out cheering for us, but they were no longer running out on the course along side the runners. There were metal barricades preventing them from spilling out onto the course. Just another reminder of how tight security was that day. Throughout the course, police presence was high. There were local police, military police, ATF agents, MA State Police and I'm pretty sure I saw some plain clothes police officers roaming around, as well. I felt safe. Finally, I made it to the top of heartbreak hill. Which also meant I was just about to complete 20 miles. 

With just 6.2 miles to go, I broke the race down mile by mile. I expected to see my husband and girls at the 25 mile marker. Knowing that I would see their faces again kept me moving forward. I fueled for the last time at mile 22 and I made sure to stretch the hamstring again. Once I saw my family at mile 25, I had no intentions of stopping until I reached the finish line. As I approached the 25 mile marker, I began to walk. The crowd was so thick... I didn't want to miss my family. I walked the length of the the bridge but could not find them. For some strange reason, I gravitated to the left side of the road and... to my surprise... my friends Amy and Deb were waiting for me. Wow!!! They went all that way to cheer me on. How lucky was I to see family and friends on the course cheering for me? And, l can't forget all those spectators. What a big time boost that was. And I was off again to finish the race. 

I took a right turned onto Hereford St and I could feel the energy from the crowd steadily grow. My heart was pounding out of my chest. I knew once I turned on to Boylston St., the crowds would be the deepest. And, I also didn't know how I was going to react. Would I be scared or have flash backs? I wasn't sure. And, there it was... the last turn. Left on Boylston St, and the crowd's roar was unlike anything I've ever heard. YES, there it was, the finish line. "Go get it, it's your's" my inner self told me. So with excitement in my heart and for the whole world to hear, I raced to the finish line. I did it!!! I finished the Boston Marathon. I crossed that finish line happy and with beautiful memories of that day and weekend. A week later, I am still smiling about my experience. The feeling of crossing the Boston Marathon finish line was like no other marathon I have ran.

Hugs and kisses after my finish

Thank you for stopping by,

Sheila

Under a Month Until The Boston Marathon

In less then a month, I will be in the town of Hopkinton awaiting the start of the 118th running of the Boston Marathon. Wow! Did I just say in less then a MONTH?! I can't believe it is just around the corner. I am so excited for the physical and mental challenge of 26.2 miles. I know I can handle the challenges of completing a marathon. But, this year's mental challenge will be different. 

As April 21st quickly approaches, I've been playing over and over in my head how am I going to manage my emotions. I still have no clue. I get all choked up when I talk about it to people. Hell, the images of what I witnessed last year are still so vivid. Like it was yesterday. I know I will finish the .1 mile that was taken from me last year. How I'm going to hold myself together is a totally different story. 

On another note, my training is going well. I will soon be tapering my runs. I've been nursing a tight left gluteus/ hamstring muscle. Sometimes it feels great and other times, well, it just a big pain in the ass! 

I have set some pretty big goals for this year and Boston is at the top of my list. I'm looking forward to checking it off as done. 

Thanks for taking the time,

Sheila

#MiamiFamous

Miami was like a dream come true for me. I had been daydreaming of running Miami for about a year now. And on February 2nd, I did just that. I flew out on Friday evening, arriving late to the warmth of Miami. Despite not falling asleep until after 1am, I woke up bright and early Saturday morning. I was eager to meet up with my Strong Running Mama friends Elisa and Gail. We went to the expo together to pick up our packets and do a little shopping.

Elisa, Gail, Me

While at the expo, I decided to sign up for the 3:55 pace group. Signing up with this particular pace group wasn't about finishing the race in the given time. It was more about pacing myself at what I felt would be a comfortable pace and making adjustments along the way. Every marathon is different. You just don't know what's you're going to get along the way.

After spending a few hours at the expo, we headed out to the 11th St Diner to have lunch. We spent most of the afternoon walking around South Beach. It was an absolutely beautiful day. But I was done and ready to call it a day by 5:30pm. I was in bed by 8:30pm and set my alarm for 3am.

To my surprise, I slept pretty well. At 3am, I sprung out of bed to the sound of the alarm. I ate some raisin bread, a banana, and drank some water. I put on my running gear and was out the door by 4:45am.  I met up with Elisa and Gail. We were all excited for the race. It was going to be a warm cloudy morning. GREAT! We took some pre-race pictures and headed to our individual corrals.

SRM

As I was waiting in the corral, something felt terribly wrong with my stomach. I didn't have time to run back out of the corral to use the port-a-potty, so I decided to start the race and stop along the way. The race began at 6:15am and I crossed the starting line at about 6:24am. The first few miles of the course took us across the MacArthur Causeway bridge. As I crossed the bridge, in the distance I could see the mammoth cruise ships that were docked at the port of Miami. What a breath taking site. At mile 3, I had to stop and take care of business. Well that really sucked! There was no way I would catch up with 3:55 pace group... but I was ok with it. I continued on my journey through the streets of beautiful Miami.

I was at about 3.5 miles when I failed to see a dip in the road. I lost my footing and slid across the pavement. Shit, really, I can't believe I fell. Two runners came to my aid. Luckily, it was nothing more than scrapes to my right knee, thigh, elbow and hands. There is no whining in running. So, I dusted myself off and continued forward.

As I forged ahead, I took in the sites. Miami is simply beautiful, and humid. Boilermaker 15k humid. Thankfully, it was partly sunny. So the sun wasn't constantly beating on me. 

At about mile 6, I started doubting my ability to finish. "This can't be happening," I thought to myself. Thoughts like these usually don't come around until about mile 16 or 17. I starting seeing people to the side of the road receiving medical attention. Oh no, please don't let that be me. 

At about the half way mark, my left gluteus muscle started to tighten up. At this point I was walking through the water stations and stretching periodically. I continued forward. 

At about mile 15, the tightening in my gluteus muscles subsided. I got a little boost and my pace became a bit quicker. 

I was completely soaked in sweat. Between mile 18-20, I could see the dark rain cloud and then I felt the cool breeze. Yes! A little relief was coming my way. And then the rain came down. Thank you, Lord.

I had never been so happy to see that 20 mile marker. EVER.

With a 10k left, I broke down the rest of the race 1 mile at a time. As I got closer to the finish line, I felt stronger. In the last 3 miles, the crowds were thicker. Everyone was cheering for me. "GO SHEILA!" "You're almost there!" "Looking strong!" I was on my way to finishing my 6th marathon. "The finish line is around that last turn," yelled a spectator. I made my last left turn and there it was, waiting for me. Also waiting for me at the finish line were Elisa and Gail. Boy was I thankful to see their faces. I crossed the finish line and my 6th marathon was in the history books. 

Finish line

Every marathon has it's own distinct challenges. At first, I feared 26.2 miles. I guess I feared the unknown. But, on the flip side of being fearful, I am your typical Alpha bitch. I don't give up easily. Now I know to always expect the unexpected. When I run a marathon, it's about overcoming the different challenges that present themselves to me. Marathoning is about getting from point A to point B and being able to adjust to any situation. In so many ways, life is like a marathon. We are always adjusting to different situations in life. It's how we handle and overcome those challenges that allow us to accomplish our goals.

THANK YOU for stoping by,

Sheila AKA #MiamiFamous

My running year in review

My running year began with the Boston Marathon in April. I was so proud to be participating in the 117th running of the oldest marathon. What was suppose to be one of the happies and proudest  days in my life, turned into tragedy for so many. I was and forever will be greatful to have been spared from the physical scars of that day. The events of this one day has forever change security measures for all major races. I drew some of my strength from that single day and continued to lace up the rest of the year.

Boston 

My second race took me back to Boston to run the Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon. It was a very emotional return to Boston for me. I took all of those feelings from the events that occurred at the Boston Marathon and left them on the pavement. I earned a new PR (1:45:49) and a 3rd place finish in the female law enforcement category.

Run to Remember

In July, I ran the very hot Boilermaker 15k. The Boilermaker is always hot and humid or just plain HOT! The weather slowed me down this year during the race. I finished in 1:22:47. Not my best but I finished and that's what counts most times.

My next big race was the Adirondack Marathon in September. I had about 6 weeks to prepare for this race. But, I felt great. I felt as if I had a solid base built up. The one thing that concerned me and always has, was the tendonitis in my right ankle. Without any warning, it would creep up on me and sideline me from running during training. So during my preparation for the marathon, I decided to adopt a paleo lifestyle of eating. My hopes were to gain some control over the inflammation in my right ankle. After 30 days of eating no grains, dairy, or sugar, my systemic inflammation was down. Hence, the tendonitis in my right ankle has been gone to date. 

2nd marathon of the Year

The Adirondack Marathon was one of the most challenging marathons I had ever ran. My garmin registered the total elevation at 1,347ft. The hills were so steep, I felt as if I were running backwards at times. But, I got it done and finished in 4:19:21. This was my second of three marathons for the year.

Next, we move on to the Mohawk Hudson Half Marathon in October. I was look for a new half marathon PR. Unfortunately, something didn't feel right in the two weeks prior to the race. My right knee was achey. During the race I felt the ache in my knee grow. But, I was in it to the finish. So, finish, I did. I didn't get a PR but still came in under 2 hours.

MHH

With 6 weeks left until the Philadelphia Marathon. I rehabbed myself from IT Band Syndrome. At the high end, I ran a 12 miler. I also decided to throw in a few more races before philly. I ran the stockade athon 15k and a Veteran's Day 5k. Hey, I figure if a week before the

Philly marathon I couldn't run a 9.3 and 3.1 mile race, there was no way in hell I would make it to philly. I ran those races slow and with very little pain. 

 I made it to the Philadelphia Marathon! The race had the options for marathoners to call it quits at the half way point. Hell no that wasn't an option for me. I went to philly to run a marathon not a half. I made it to the 18 mile marker before I lost pace. I fought to the finish and got it done. I completed my 3rd marathon of the year and my 5th overall. 

For the love of Running

Finally, I finish my running year with the Troy Turkey Trot 10k and 5k. This was my very first 10k. So, I had an automatic PR of 51:55. I raced the 10k and used the 5k as a cool down. 

My running year was such a roller coaster. Full of tears of joy and sorrow. I ran my second world majors marathon. I saw history unfold. History, which has changed so many things for so many people. It's made me more passionate about my run. I run because I can and won't let anyone or anything take that ability from me. I LOVE TO RUN!
 I can't say it enough... How greatful I am for the ability to put one foot in front of the other. To my husband, family, friends, and supporters, THANK YOU! You have all made my 2013 running journey very special. 

And, THANK YOU for taking the time to read.

Sheila  

Post Philadelphia Marathon

Before I recap the Philly marathon, let me take you back to six weeks ago, when I ran the the Mohawk Hudson Half. I wanted so badly to get a new PR at the MHH. But during the two weeks prior, my right knee was achey. I knew that my hopes for a PR at MH were not going to happen. I also knew that I was going to give it my all and that the ache I felt in my right knee would probably turn into an injury. Sure enough, as soon as I crossed the finish line at the MH half, my knee was throbbing. For two days after the half, it hurt to walk. All I kept thinking about was how to recover from what ever this was, so that I could make it to the start of the Philadelphia Marathon. Silly, isn't it?

After two days, the ache was totally gone. I did a little research and discovered that I most likely had IT Band Syndrome. The ITBS didn't happen from a lack of stretching or foam rolling. I was just over-trained. Since December 25th, 2012, I had been training for races. First, it was the Boston Marathon in April. Then, Boston's Run to Remember half-marathon in May. The Boilermaker 15k in July, Adirondack Marathon in September, Mohawk Hudson Half  in October, and finally the Philadelphia Marathon in November. I took very little time in between to recover from each race.

Pump fist to the finish of MHH

                                                                           
So with six weeks until the Philadelphia Marathon, I did EVERYTHING imaginable to get my ass to the start of the Philly marathon. I took three weeks off from running. It was a tough time. How could I squat and lunge and feel no pain but not run? WTF?! After three weeks of no running, and with a little assistance from a compression strap, I was able to run 12 miles for a long run.  While I was recovering, I decided to sign up for the Stockade athon 15k.

 I ran the Stockade athon without any issues. The day after the Stockade athon, I ran a 5k with the kids from the PAL Running Club that I had trained for six weeks. I felt good, and this was a great thing. I knew then that I would make it to the start of the Philadelphia Marathon.

PAL Running Club

I traveled down to Philadelphia with my husband and girls. Early Saturday afternoon, I headed out to the expo to pick up my bib. I was excited and nervous. I knew I'd toe the starting line and that I had at least a half marathon in me. But could I run another 13.1 miles? Hell yeah! I was going to do everything I could to complete the 26.2 miles. After exploring the expo, my family and I did a bit of site seeing. It was a warm Saturday and perfect for taking in some of Philly's history.

Washington Square

             

The view from the famous Rocky steps

My watch alarm was set for 4am, but I awoke at 2:30am and could not fall back to sleep. I got out of bed at 3:30am and did my morning ritual before any big race. I left the hotel room at 5am and met up with Rachel and three of her (and my new) running friends. Running creates a special bond between runners. The early morning air was warm. This would be an awesome day.

Me, Rachel, Stacey, Brandi, and Rebecca

We made our way to the starting line. On the way, I was happy to shake a police officer's hand and thank him for his service. There were 30,000 runners waiting to start their race.

The run started at 7am, but I didn't cross for another 20 minutes or so. The crowds were dense in the first few miles of the race. I was running with Rebecca. We ran in the middle of the road because it made me more comfortable since Boston. As the miles passed, I became more and more comfortable.

Rebecca and I chatted away for 18 miles. This was about the time that I started to fade. Not because of lack of fuel or knee pain. My left hamstring and gluteus muscles started to get tight. So my strides started to get shorter. I could no longer keep pace. I told Rebecca I was fading and that she should keep forging ahead. It was time to dig deep and fight.

From the start of the race, I walked through the water stations. This was most welcomed at this point in the race. The spectators were awesome. Everybody was cheering for me. My name on the front of my bib was the best thing ever. To hear a random stranger cheer me on and tell me to keep going and that I could do this was just what I needed to keep fighting forward. I was so relieved to see the 20 mile marker.

With 6.2 miles to go I knew I would make it. I chipped away at the 6.2 miles, one mile at a time. By the time I reached the 26 mile marker, the crowds were very dense once again. A flood of emotions ran through my body. I stayed focused and concentrated on my breathing. I ran as fast as I could and finished my journey. I did it! I made it to the start and finish of the Philadelphia Marathon. I wasn't 100% healthy and didn't put in the proper training for this race. All I had was 100% passion for the run.  It gave me the determination to start and complete 26.2 miles. Now it's time for a long rest.

The Bling

P.S. My knee held up through the entire race.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ,

Sheila

Post Adirondack Marathon

Running the Adirondack Marathon was a perfect way to start the fall season. The weather was ideal. It was in the low 60's, the sun made an appearance and the rain held off. This was my second of three marathons this year and my fourth overall. I'm beginning to feel confident at the distance. I hung out at the starting line with a very inspirational person, Mary Signorelli. The Adirondack Marathon was Mary's 77th marathon! So, it was great to chat with her about everything marathon-related. It was also nice to see Ludo, the pace setter that guided me to my PR performance at the Mohawk Hudson Marathon last year.

                                                 

Mary and Me

Every 26.2 is created differently. You have to respect that kind of milage or it will chew you up, spit you out and leave you on the side of the road. I knew this would be a tough course. The hills that I encountered during the first half of the course made the hills of the Boston Marathon look flat in comparison. From mile 4 to mile 12, I ran up the steepest hills ever! At times, I felt as if I was pulling a sled with weights behind me. Other times, I felt as if i was running in place.  But, I put one foot in front of the other and refused to walk up the hills. Sometimes my pace would slow down, but I did not stop. The hills didn't matter. My surroundings were peaceful and beautiful. I took it all in.

I reached the half-way point in 2 hours and 24 seconds. It was then that I fueled on a Lara Bar. I did not fuel after that. If I could have held my pace, I would have finished between 4hrs- 4:15. The course went down hill and leveled for four miles before it turned up onto route 9. Finally, a bit of relief from the hills. But, I knew once I turned north onto Route 9, I had rolling hills to contend with. And so the fight began. The fight between my body and my mind. I remember at mile 16 my Garmin read 2:28 and at mile 20 I was at 3:08. My hips were sore. The rolling hills were adding to the punishment I already had experienced in the first 13.1 miles. As I completed mile 24, I walked through the water station. I knew it would take a lot of inner-strength to start running again. As I cleared the water station, I began to run again. Every step I took was just pure pain, but I refused to walk to and through the finish line. I stopped three additional times between miles 24 and 25. With just 1.2 miles to go, I sucked it up. Every painful step got me closer and closer to the finish. I heard the drums and then I saw them. I was almost there. I saw the 26 mile marker. I took a right turn onto Leland. Then I could see the finish line. With .2 miles left, I stretched my legs and went into a full sprint toward the finish line. DONE! My fourth marathon was in the history books. Completed in 4:19:21.

Boy, that was tough! Total elevation was 1347ft! The hills in the first half were brutal. But, I am proud of myself for running this marathon. If I can finish a hilly course such as this one, well then I can finish any marathon.  Some of my fastest miles were in the first half. I'm still having a little trouble with pacing myself. Learning to pace is a work in progress. I'll get better at it, but it will take time and practice. Next stop will be the Mohawk Hudson Half in October and The Philly Marathon in November.

The Bling

Thank you for stopping by,

Sheila

My whole30 experience

I did it! On August 15th, I completed 30 days on the whole30 program. Whole30 is a strict paleo lifestyle. I hate calling it a diet. I began by reading the book "It Starts with Food" by Melissa and Dallas Hartwig. Then I cleaned out the cabinets and fridge of most of the junk foods I ate. I didn't get rid of everything because I was/am the only person in the house going strict paleo. Strict paleo consist of no grains, dairy, and added sugar. Not even pure forms of sugar, such as honey and maple syrup. The only things I consumed for 30 days were lean meats, fish, vegetables, healthy fats, a bit of fruit, some nuts and dry fruit, occasionally. I kept my eating simple and clean.

I decided to give the whole30 program a try because I was having stomach issues. Mainly bloating, cramps and pain. After reading the book, I thought... "maybe this way of eating will help my systemic inflammation, too." Hence, I could maybe gain some control over the tendonitis and pain in my right ankle. Any other benefits from committing to and completing the whole30 program would be a bonus.

The first thing I noticed after just 3 days on the whole30 program was that the bloating in my stomach was gone. My gut was feeling pretty good. And no more cramps or pain. Second, the pain from the tendonitis and calcium deposits in my right ankle/heel area were subsiding. YES! Finally, I felt like the food I was eating was starting to make me feel better.

So after 30 days on the program, I feel Fabulous! I wake up every morning energized. Ready to start my day with a hearty breakfast and then a run or a workout. Did I mention that I gave up coffee? Yup, I have not had coffee for 30 days. I gave up coffee because I gave up sugar and I realized that I didn't need it to wake me up. My gut feels healthy. I have no pain in my ankle or heel. I can actually run back to back days and feel no pain.  My recovery time after my long runs on the weekend is short. Basically, after 24 hours, I am ready for a hard hill or speed interval workout. I ran two 16-milers and one 20 miler without fueling during the runs. My body is slowly learning how to burn fat for fuel. Still, I listen to my body and if it needs fuel, I do bring it and have it available. My runs have not suffered from not eating grains. I get enough carbs from vegetables and fruits.

I am so happy that I stuck with the whole30 program and it gave me the results I was looking for. As a bonus, my skin is more clear. And, I lost three pounds. I know three pounds doesn't seem like a lot but it's three pounds more than I've lost in about a year. I will take losing three pounds of FAT in four weeks versus losing five pounds of water weight in a week. My waist is smaller and my abs look tighter. My legs look leaner. I can actually start to see the shape of my quads and hamstring muscles.

After 30 days, I will continue to follow the whole30 program with an occasional cheat day. But I won't stray too far because not having stomach issues and pain in my ankle are far more important than eating junk food. Funny thing is I don't miss one specific food or foods. I do miss chewing gum the most. One of the many things that I love about this lifestyle is that I don't have to count calories. When I'm hungry, I eat until I'm satisfied. I'm absolutely hooked and love it. I am hopeful that this way of eating will continue to have a positive affect on my body.

Please feel to message me with any questions. I would love to help you change your life. But first, I have to recommend you read "It Starts with Food" by Melissa and Dallas Hartwig.

Thank you for stopping by,

Sheila