Udine "Telethon" 24-hour relay

The pictures above are from last Saturday's 24-hour relay race in Udine. I was on a 24 person team that took turns running around and around the historic center of the city for an hour at a time. I was on the Rotary team, and our number, 2060, is the number of our Rotary district. For every loop each of us made, the Rotarians in Udine gave 5 euros to the Rotary Polio Plus Foundation. I ran 12 loops, my friend Lorella, who is also in the photos above, ran 13 loops. Her very fast brother-in-law, who is the guy on the left of the first and third photos, did a smokin' 14 times around. My Rotary club decided to match the money as well, so for an hour's worth of running, we were able to raise some nice bucks for charity.

I'm a skort girl - and not ashamed to flaunt it!

I know that it looks like I'm ready to play tennis when I hit the asphalt, but truth be told, I can't even swing a racket! I've endured hours of heckling from some work buddies when I've emerged from the lockerroom headed for the workout room decked out in my running skort. (all in good fun, I'm sure) Truth is - they are awesome to run in. I'm always looking for fun and exciting skorts (not that I ever buy them, of course. I'm a die-hard BLACK skort wearer.) BUT I envision a day when I will break from my black-skort-mold and wear a pair of these - WOW!!!!  or even these - BAM!!!   LOVE LOVE LOVE 'em. (thanks, RunningLaur for helping me find this awesome site.)

There may come a day when I even decide that this look is one I can support - not any time soon, but I like the thought! I don't know if I'd be taken seriously as a runner if I showed up to a race in one but then again, I deal with that in my skort.

Happy Holidays! Get out there and RUN, you know I will.

(on that note, I am planning to run with a few friends this week - trying to get a head start on that anticipated holiday-food-coma-anti-exercise-mood.)

Russ - can't wait to see you hit 1,000 miles for the year!
Amy and Jenn - let's hit the pavement this week (sooner than later)
Everyone else - let's do the virtual mile challenge on the first day of winter (monday) Sign up here.

Let's Race - come on, I'm doing it.

Anyone up for a vitrual mile? Let's run this together  - shall we?

Winter Misery One-Miler!

Neither Rain nor Snow nor Sleet nor Hail Shall keep me from my running (for CHOCOLATE!)

It is no secret - I love chocolate. I love it more than just about anything on the planet. I love it a heck of a lot more than running - (truth.) I've grown to love running (love the friends, love the feeling of being done, love the fact that I can do it....etc...) but I just plain love chocolate.  My friend, Selby, sent me an urgent message via Facebook this afternoon. By URGENT, I mean:

Hey, my son just got home from Belgium and he has a package for you.

That could only mean one thing!!!! CHOCOLATE.  I responded, QUICKLY

I'm just about out the door for a run in your direction. Should I bring a backpack?

(please say yes, please say yes)

Just large pockets - come on over

Out I went in this:

I told you - nothing keeps me away from my chocolate. I ran all the way there, chatted about Belgium for about 15 minutes, put my Cote d'or Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts in my pockets and ran home. I think I deserve a piece or two...... mmmmmm.

God, I really wanted to blog about my plans with my uncle (next on my list of plans for 2010...) more on that next - where did I put that chocolate???

Get out there and run, folks. ENJOY!

.

Always run your home race - or races!

Adding to my previous post on plans for 2010, I shall place this weekend of fun on the schedule.  I know there are a lot of Rochester folk out there reading this blog - anyone interested in kicking off the running season with the Flower City Challenge?

Run the Roc

Tri the Roc

Du the Roc

Time to Motivate - bring on 2010 - JUST SAY YES style!

I hit the road today for an almost 10 mile run. I finally felt great. I distracted myself from my cramping hamstrings by thinking about ways to motivate myself to run a bit more than I am right now. I thought back to the days when I ran because Kari was running and I knew that we were about to run Paris Marathon together. I had to train because I wasn't going to let her leave me in the dust. So, as I ran through my aching ass (cause it was really aching) I began formulating a plan for 2010.  (if for no other reason that to drop the unmentioned amount of lbs that I have gained since April. eh hem...)

I have been in front of the computer screen for the better part of three hours coming up with a 'wish list' for the next year. I want to share with you some of my thoughts.
1 - I want to run as many half marathons as I can. I love the distance, I respect the distance, I'm not scared of the distance, and I am motivated to stay in 'half-marathon-shape' for the year 2010.

2 - I want to run every event/race with someone - I don't ever want to run a distance over 10 miles without a friend to talk to and laugh with .... motivation goes a long way. Running can be a lonely sport (and that isn't always a bad thing) but I want it to be a fun sport for 2010.  I want to make memories with some of my running community friends - we are a fun bunch of people.

To these ends, I have begun to formulate a plan (this is not an ABSOLUTE plan, this is just a starting point.) BUT, the deal is this: if anyone decides to run any of these events with me, the plan will start to take shape.  SO - take a look at the list below and let me know if anyone is ready to register - I'm with you.

JANUARY:

• 1st - Albany, NY - Hangover Half Marathon
• 6th & 20th - Snow Cheap Trail Running Events - Cobbs Hill Park, Rochester, NY

FEBRUARY
    (hard to find many races in February-March in Upstate New York, but here is what I am going to do)

• 3rd & 17th - Snow Cheap Trail Running Events - Cobbs Hill Park, Rochester, NY
• 13th - Valentine's Day 8-mile run - Greece, NY
• 28th - Williamsburg Half Marathon - Williamsburg, VA **alterior motive to see our good friends**

MARCH

• 3rd - Snow Cheap Trail Running Events - Cobbs Hill Park, Rochester, NY

APRIL

• 10th - Garden Spot Village Full/Half/Relay - Lancaster Cty, PA
• 24th/25th - Flower City Challenge - Duathalon/Triathalon/Half-Marathon **doing this with a slew of Rochester Running friends.

MAY

• 8th and 9th - North Face Endurance Challenge **another race with Ms. Fool if I can make it work
• 22nd & 23rd - Black Bear Tri (Relay) - Glassboro, NJ *only if I can find two other relay partners*
• 30th - Buffalo Half Marathon- Buffalo, NY

JUNE

• 13th - Lake Placid Half Marathon - Lake Placid, NY
• 19th - (tentative date) Niagara-on-the-Lake Half Marathon - Ontario, Canada

JULY

• 11th - Boilermaker 15k - Utica, NY *I won't be able to run it this year, but YOU SHOULD!!)

AUGUST

• 22nd - Lake Placid XTERRA Triathalon Relay - Lake Placid, NY *need relay partners*

SEPTEMBER

• 5th - Oakleaf Half Marathon and 5K - Geneseo, NY
• 12th - Rochester Half Marathon - Rochester, NY
• 19th Philadelphia Distance Run Half Marathon - Philly, PA *Ms. Fool and I are already decided, we're doing this one together*

OCTOBER

• 3rd - Wineglass Marathon and Relay - Corning, NY  *this may be my marathon for 2010 because of its mention in Runner's World this month*
• 9th - Canandaigua 50 Mile Ultra Marathon - Relay
• 10th - Chicago Marathon and Relay - Chicago, IL * doubtful* I just know I can't make this happen this year
• 17th - Toronto Half Marathon - Toronto, Canada
• 24th - Niagara Falls Half Marathon - Niagara Falls, USA & Canada **International**

Alright, this is where I stop - I have lost the focus to look to November of next year.  I think that the majority of these are doable as far as cost and running distance. I know I am missing some fun events like the St. Patty's Day races and the Turkey Trots, and the Pumpkins in the Parks, but those will not be missed - I'll run those, too.

Come on, folks. Let's hear what you have to say - WHO'S GOING TO JOIN ME???

Ummm, did that guy have a gun?!?

I am noticing that this year's Thanksgiving holiday has put a sudden, screetching halt to all running blog, twitter, dailymile, etc.... activity.  It is as if the running community, as a whole, knows that they have run their asses off for the past 50 weeks of the year and are entitled to a smidge of glutony...RIGHT???? Let's see, I just polished off the last of the stuffing, turkey is gone, too. As I take inventory the fridge, I see a small bag of sweet potatoes and perhaps a small serving of peas.....ick! The oven has a ham slowly cooking - I really have gotten used to leftovers and think that what my life desperately needs next is a few days of scalloped potatoes and ham. 

My husband has all but pushed me out the door the past few days, telling me that it is just about time that I start running off some of that chocolate-pecan pie. The very last thing I respond to is forceful attempts to get me back in the running routine. "Don't tell ME what to do" - right? (love you, hon :)  )

So, after realizing that I am committed to running a half-marathon on the 1st of the year in Albany, New York, (gulp) I decided that it was just about time to get out there and see if my legs had more that 3.2 miles in them.  (I am so glad that there are people out there who have expressed an interest in running this race with me, because if I were doing it solo, I don't know that I would find the motivation to get out there and train for the darn thing.) I loaded up the ipod and headed out into the GLORIOUS day that western New York has been blessed with today! I finally felt like a runner, again. No stress, no pain, no burning desire to walk, .... ahhhhhhhh.  I love the way running makes me feel. So, I ended up running about 7.5 miles. The only event worthy of note was the somewhat uncomfortable feeling I felt as I turned the corner of a rural road and came nearly face-to-face with a man walking down the street with a rifle slung over his shoulder. WHAT?????? I'm not in Nigeria (reference to Minken, here) - what is up with that? I just kept running, right past his gun-slinging ass. Creepy, RIGHT?  Well, it is deer season here, so I will just chalk it up to that.  I shall live to see another running day, phew. (he did look creepy, though).

As I hit the hard last two miles (seems like the last two mile are always hard) my ipod, set on shuffle, came to this song - I wouldn't classify it as a power song, but it brought a fantastic smile to my face, as it holds such great memories for me. I ran light and happy for the last two miles, and lost myself in many memories of 20 years ago.

Today, I am in love with running and the feeling I have when I am done. I love the idea of being a runner. I love that people look at me while I am running and think "what the hell is she thinking?"  I love it -----at least for today.

For This We Give Thanks

We would like to take a moment to thank everyone who contributed to the ROAD TO PARIS MARATHON PROJECT benefitting the ROTARY FOUNDATION POLIOPLUS FOUNDATION. With the help of lots of people, we were able to raise over $5,000 (an accurate count is impossible, unfortuneately, as not all funds came directly through us, but went instead directly to Rotary District 7120 in our name).  These funds, however, were matched in order to help district 7120 reach their goal of raising $100,000 to go towards the $100 million challenge grant by the Gates foundation. So the little sum we worked so hard to raise, when all is said and done, will become $20,000 to help eradicate polio. Awesome.

OUR FOLLWERS ON THE BLOG:

Ed, Keb, Beck, Bep, Kris, Calsma, Jenn, Minken, Bad Hippie, Jennifer S., Mag, Nenetta, Archaobrain, Baby's Mama, Kim, Gapanz, Aloha Rob, Lucky Begonia, QueenB, rUntoNaAste, Rachel, Beemoosie, KIC,  A Girl Running, Justin, Fabia, Derec, Tom C., Roberto S., Em, Bowerm, Cami C.,  Judester, TP, Tamara, LimaRuss, Bonster, the folks at Rotary International in Evanston, and the others who read but don't comment  - we know you are out there- and you are all over the world. Thank you.

TRAINING:

You helped us invent long routes, came with us on bikes or ran with us, took pictures, gave us food, kept us going with your support. Thank you.

Trieste: Marko, Marzio, Trieste Fiamma running team, Luna, Cristian, Bavisela Saturday morning gang.

LeRoy: Heather and Dan (oranges and water), Steven, Jill, Julie, Lauren, Anika, Byron-Bergen-Elba Track team.

Atalanta - you provided us the motivation day-in-and-day-out to keep putting one foot in front of the other. We slayed 'em thanks to you.

NUTRITION: 

You kept the famous "wall" away from us. Thank you!

Christine "Pooky" "Queen B" Turnberg Volinsky

Jelly-Belly Sports Beans

FELLOW BLOGGERS:

Thank you for your advice and support throughout training, the marathon, and beyond. You are our virtual running club. How would we have made it without you?

Michael B.

Ms. Fool

Simon

Minken

A girl running

Bad Hippie

FUNDRAISING:

Thank you everyone!

Rotary Club Monfalcone-Grado, special thanks to Roberto, Lima Rotary Club, LeRoy Rotary Club - special thanks Loren Wetzel, Rochester Rotary Club, Caledonia Rotary Club, District 7120 and Foundation - Governor Michael Leone, Busy Beaver Buttons, Elba Central School Charity Dodgeball Tournament, Cookie-Lee Jewelry, Elks Club of Webster, Lady Elks of Webster, Rotary Exchange Students in Belgium 1990-91.

CONTRIBUTORS: (in no order - and we are sorry if we have left anyone off - truly!!!)

Glen and Mary Adams, Nancy and Bruce Baker, Lynne Belluscio, Larry and Sherye Boylan, Ken and Linda Capwell, David and Marny Cleere, Frand and Martha Davis, Brian and Kris DeWaters, Carol and David Frost, Chris and Tammy Gamble, Bill and Sandi Haggett, Bob and Katrina Hatch, Keb and Steve Mayer, Bill and Sue Remley, John and Cathy Skivington, Janet and Loren Wetzel, Vicki Shrontz, Brian and Kris DeWaters, Don and Bonnie Williams, Mike Cintorino, Heather and Dan Cote, Paul and Betty Lou Tilly, Joe and Sylvia Schepisi, Malchoff family, Preston Pierce, Harry Blaeser, Hant and Nancy Ralston, Tom and MaryLou Coene, Jim and Jane Holden, Mahandra Shah, Mr. and Mrs. William Pethick, Val and Greg Connor, Amy Connor Stivers, Dan and Susan Roczyka, Lisa and Steve Reese, The Teorema gang, esp. Apo, the Sistemisti and the Developers, Catia, Flavia, Grazia, Fabia, Daria, Vico etc  .... and numerous people who donated by purchasing a shirt or by donating anonymously.

PARIS CREW:

Travel and Lodging: Don and Bonnie, Valérie

Logistics: Joshua, Nikolai, Valérie

Pacers: Christine, Giorgia, Marco (and the Beaujolais Wine Cart)

Escorts to start line: Justin and Cristian

Fans: bands along the way, cute Parisian police/firemen

Morale/advice: Minken & Jewelz

Eiffel Tower pique-nique: Meghan, Renee, and Renate

After party: Joshua, Christine

We are grateful to all of you for your love and support. We are thankful for our reunion after 18 years, for the opportunity to give back, for running, and blogging.

Thank you!

It's Thanksgiving week, and since Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday (besides my and my brother's birthday, which has not been officially proclaimed a holiday yet), I have already started thinking about what I am thankful for.

This morning I ran downtown to the Italian American Association (where I am helping plan Thanksgiving Dinner) in my VFFs. It usually takes me about 30 minutes to get there (compared to a 20-minute bus ride plus up to 10 minutes of waiting for the bus).

Sure, I was thankful for my feet, and my knees, and my vffs, and the cars that let me cross the street, and green stoplights and the running tights I found that I forgot I had, and for the time I have to run, and for the money I save by not taking the bus, etc.

But instead of making that list, I just thanked along with my breathing (two counts out, one count in when I'm going at an easy, steady pace). Thank you, suck in, Thank you, suck in, Thank you, suck in. I did that for most of the way home.

I realized that a lot of people are going through tough times right now (me included), but it felt good to just THANK for everything else.

Wafels and Dinges - (dinde!)

Well, folks. I am just having a crappy week. I am under water at work, and I just hate the feeling. There were two highlights of my weekend, though, AND I JUST HAVE TO SHARE....

1)  ran the 5k turkey trot in my home town yesterday.  I wish I could say that I won, but I didn't. Here's the scoop:  I was eyeing my competition and felt fairly confident in being the 1st female finisher until HER MAJESTY the skinny-beautiful-under 17-running tights wearing-perkey girl showed up. (Damn, kiss my turkey prize goodbye!)  I really can't blame her, though. She ran well. She finished in just over 23 minutes (putting my second place 26 minutes to shame.)  In the end, though, I felt great and I was happy to finish in such a great time, considering the hilly nature of the course. (you are going to have to take my word on this one)

2) spent the entire afternoon and most of this morning working on lesson plans for the Russian Revolution (can you say slow, painful death - not unlike Mr. Rasputin who was poisoned, shot, clubbed, and shot again before he actually ended up drowning) But I digress.....finally just took a moment to search the web for anything mindless and enjoyable. I stumbled upon this blog that made me think of my year in Liege (with my BFF Kari.) Reading it brought a smile to my face and a smell to my nostrils that is undeniable.  Those of you in the NYC area MUST MUST MUST search this cart out and have a few for me....... mmmmmm.

Now, if only they would drive up here and park outside my house, my week would be much better.

Gotta run- and that's the truth!