Vacation is over!

Had a great vacation but it's over and time for some serious training!  10 mile run on lakefront Friday am and a weekend full of training planned.  Yes...planned...doesn't mean I will actually stick to the plan.  :)  And yes I know Coach Mary Ann... no more changes to YOUR PLAN!

10 Mile run was tough!!  Very hot and wiped out after my run.  Lack of training during vacation week really took it's toll today.

RMHC team runners.  I know we will not look like this AFTER the race :)

Invited to spend the day on a beautiful 48 ft boat during my Naples vacation.   The owners are the nicest couple.  They their first boat a few years ago but are now experienced sailors now.  During our trip we almost bottomed out and spent a bit stuck in one spot.  But the couple worked together, kept their cool and got us out of the jam.  Thank you Jen and Bob for a wonderful day!

I'm looking forward to seeing Jen at the finish line...she is much faster than I am! 

A dolphin played in our wake and I captured it on video.  Gabi loved it!!

"Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love.  It will not lead you astray"
-Rumi


Your friend Newbie

Please donate…it only takes a few minutes and the children of RMHC need your help

Link to my blog

http://newbiemarathoner.blogspot.com/

Link directly to donation page

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Boot camp has turned into Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations

What I thought was going to be a boot camp turned into an actual vacation. :) We didn't run once...or bike...just one short 2 mile walk.   No training updates to report so, I am sharing more pics with you...if you are not interested...feel free to spend your time in another way:)  Boat trip pics coming tomorrow

Gabi collecting shells just like she did as a little girl

With Capt. Zig

One year old alligator

Some of the bday party crew

Wonderful dinner at LaPlaya

Stumbled upon a new website/search engine...called.... StumbleUpon...yes I choose my words carefully.

One of the things I stumbled upon was a list of quotes from Dr Seuss.  I didn't realize Dr Seuss had such interesting quotes in his books.


"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple"
-Dr Seuss



Hope traffic incidents don't happen in three's like celebrity deaths :)  Not ideal to get hit when driving someone else's car...luckily damage is minor and no one was hurt!  Heading back to Chicago and should have lots of time on the plane to work on a more clever post for tomorrow.

Your friend Newbie

Please donate…it only takes a few minutes and the children of RMHC need your help

Link to my blog

http://newbiemarathoner.blogspot.com/

Link directly to donation page

http://teamrmhc.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1008711&supid=359448020

Taking a vacation from training...

Oopps... my coach is reading my blog...hopefully she will not read this post until I return :) Just a short vacation Coach Maryann...

Rain is delaying our boat trip so I have a few minutes to work on my blog.  Just including one pic and a video...no time to work on my collage right now....but stayed tuned...no fear...there will be one :)

Less than 3 months to Marathon!  Thank you RMHC team Coach Charles for donating on my bday!  Your GENEROUS donation put me over $3K :) 

Met a FUN new friend!  Jen is also a Newbie marathon runner.  She is on the RMHC team, lives in Kansas, and was also inspired by Jan.  But she is a "baby" only turning 40 this year. :) We decided this will be our post marathon victory pose! 

More about swamp tour tomorrow...but this video is so adorable....If you are not a fan of raccoons you can probably skip this video...

Your friend Newbie

Please donate…it only takes a few minutes and the children of RMHC need your help

Link to my blog

http://newbiemarathoner.blogspot.com/

Link directly to donation page

http://teamrmhc.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1008711&supid=359448020

Over half way to 90

I recently told a friend I hope to live to be at least 90.  Well...when I woke this morning in Naples...I am officially in the 2nd half of my life :)  Hope it's not an omen that I am in the retirement capital of the US.  I am not ready to hang out with the AARP set yet!!


Started the day with a beautiful sky and rainbow at the beach.  Went for a quick...I mean...short run...not quick at all :)  And then a dip in the pool.  Great way to start my 46th year...actually I think I am starting my 47th year.

I was going to include a funny image of an "old" lady running but then I came across this inspiring story instead.   

Ida Keeling, 95-Year-Old Woman Sets Sprinting Record

The 95-year-old Bronx native set a world record at a track meet in northern Manhattan last week, running 60 meters in 29.86 seconds, according to ABC News. She's the oldest woman to do so.
At 4-foot-6 and 83 lbs Keeling says she has always been the oldest person at her meets. That might be because she didn't even take up running until she was 67. Since then, Keeling has set record after record, becoming one of the world's oldest sprinting legends.  No chance I will be setting any records even at 95!

Morning sky at run time

Rainbow just for me on my bday :)  I'm sure there are NEVER rainbows at the beach in the morning :)

No more time to write...heading to the beach club and then for a swamp tour.  I told Jan I hope I don't get eaten my an alligator on my bday and she said..."don't worry they like fresh young meat"...What a great friend!

Your friend Newbie

Please donate…it only takes a few minutes and the children of RMHC need your help

Link to my blog

http://newbiemarathoner.blogspot.com/

Link directly to donation page

http://teamrmhc.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1008711&supid=359448020

Is everyone else running to eat too?

Survived my 11 mile run this week!  Luckily it was much cooler...11 miles early in the week would have been miserable!  During the 2 hours I had lots of time to think...and observe all the shapes and sizes of people on the trail...and wonder what their motivations are to run/walk/bike.  Is everyone inspired by their desire to overindulge or do they do they have other reasons???

Short post today...just arrived in Naples and too many distractions to write something clever.    I told Gabi I would put this in my blog...when I want her attention she ignores me and when I need to post my blog...she will not stop talking!  :)  Best 15 year old daughter anyone could have :)  She is a character!!

And...going on vacation with my friend Jan is like going to boot camp :)  I'm I will have to use all my negotiation skills to push back our running time to something somewhat reasonable...especially considering Naples is one hour ahead.  Jan... that means when you want to leave at 5:30...that is 4:30 for us...just saying :)

So sharing a couple of pictures and a video today.

Pre 11 mile run...decided not to post after pic :)

Started the day with the 11miler and ended it with a pre-bday celebration dinner with my 2 best college friends, Mark and Shar.  Shar just started an early morning walking routine.  Way to go Shar!!!  Let's sign up for a 5K this fall.  Are you in???

Great friends!

Your friend Newbie

Please donate…it only takes a few minutes and the children of RMHC need your help

Link to my blog

http://newbiemarathoner.blogspot.com/

Link directly to donation page

http://teamrmhc.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1008711&supid=359448020

Did I really take pictures of bathroom graffiti?

As odd and quirky as that may seem.... YES I DID :)  This post has nothing really to do with running or necessarily inspiration but I hope you find it amusing!  Some the most "interesting" bathroom graffiti I have ever seen but the penmanship is horrible.

For those of you who know me I take my phone everywhere...yes...even the bathroom.  It was in my purse and when I saw some of these quotes I knew I had to blog about it. :) 

Had an "easy" training day scheduled for the next day so I decided to indulge and to join a few friends for a night out.  Started the evening at Marigold's and had the BEST Indian food I have ever had.  Then a few doors down to the Green Mill.  This was my first visit to the Green Mill but I will definitely be back.


The Green Mill is a famous jazz club and is the oldest nightclub in Chicago.  Al Capone and his buddies hung out there and supposedly there are tunnels underneath and bullet holes in the wall.  See link below if you want to find out more.


http://www.greenmilljazz.com/history.html

Saw Howard Levy and the Acoustic Express.  Great performance!  Interesting remix of songs you would recognize...including Beethoven...but some you might not (I didn't).  Eclectic and fun crowd. 

From his website:  Multiple Grammy- Award Winner Howard Levy is an acknowledged master of the diatonic harmonica, a superb pianist, innovative composer, recording artist, bandleader, teacher, producer, and Chicago area resident. His musical travels have taken him all over the geographical world and the musical map. Equally at home in Jazz, Classical music, Rock, Folk, Latin, and World Music, he brings a fresh lyrical approach to whatever he plays.

Now for the long awaited graffiti!  Next time I visit the Green Mill I will capture more and might add one of my own :)  I've received lots of feedback on the quotes I have chosen to post.  Glad you are enjoying them and feel free to contribute.

Please donate
Your friend Newbie

Please donate…it only takes a few minutes and the children of RMHC need your help

Link to my blog
http://newbiemarathoner.blogspot.com/

Link directly to donation page

http://teamrmhc.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1008711&supid=359448020

I don't know what the future holds...

I love warm weather but this is getting ridiculous...

Running just 3 miles on Thursday was a killer...what will I do if it is nearly that hot on Marathon Day?? 

I will move my Friday long run to Sunday instead to wait for cooler temps.  11 miles on Sunday... AAUUGH!

I've heard alot about the "wall" that is hit at about 15-20 miles into the run.  You lose all the glucose in your system by that point...I am nervous about that!!!  Doesn't sound pleasant!

In this heat, I am really questioning if I can or should run the marathon. I have to be honest with myself...is this something I should be doing at this point in my life??? 

Despite my doubts...my answer is YES!  Not sure I will ever train for and run a marathon again but I will not let this challenge pass me by.  I am healthy and I am not getting any younger...it might be now or never...I don't know what the future holds... but I know what I need to do right now... I know in my heart this is something I can and should do...

So look in your heart...and act on what you find...


Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.
– Carl Jung

 
Please donate...the donations are trickling in...so if you haven't donated yet...no time like the present :)

Your friend Newbie

Please donate…it only takes a few minutes and the children of RMHC need your help

Link to my blog
http://newbiemarathoner.blogspot.com/

Link directly to donation page

http://teamrmhc.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1008711&supid=359448020