Thanks, all. I’ve decided my main goal for this race is to not be miserable! Last year when I ran this race, some of you might recall, I took my Huma gel out to eat it at the 5 mile aid station and a helpful volunteer screamed, “You better be careful! Those gels can give you DIARRHEA!!!” I was too tired from the hard effort to even respond, and I couldn’t decide whether to laugh or not. It was pretty funny, though. He was serious. Fortunately, I made it through the race without heading off into the bushes!
Sending all the best wishes out to everyone racing this weekend! I’ll be thinking of all of you.
I’m finding myself slightly (very slightly) envious of all the marathoners! I decided years ago that a marathon was not in my future (I got a stress fracture on a 20-mile training run and decided I never wanted to do that again)–but I think it’s amazing that you all are doing one! Good luck this weekend to the racers, no matter the length.
(My next race is a Tofurky Trot on Thanksgiving morning. Why Tofurky? It’s the closest 5K to home. And besides, I love the horror the other participants express when I admit to being an omnivore.)
LOL dmd. You should probably wear a hunting shirt or something.
Sending not good but GREAT vibes to this weekends fitness warriors! Go Get It!!! 
Motivation. Outlook. Sometimes that is what pushes you through. I had two days of traveling. SEVEN hours driving in the car today + two 1.5 hour meetings on my behind. I could have had the outlook of “it’s one day, don’t worry about it - it’s ok to not meet your fitness daily goal”. But MOTIVATION helped me reach it. Not perfectly by any means! I didn’t eat the best. (looking at you Arby’s Roast Beef and Jamocha shake!) But I managed to get a quick, speedy walk in before my the first leg of my day (in the pitch dark!), stopped halfway through a 3 hour drive mid day for a quick 15 minute walk and when I finally got home, took the dog out for a walk and was out running nearby blocks in the freakin dark with the flashlight on my iPhone to get in 2.5 miles - and to meet and exceed my step goal for the day. After all those hours driving and sitting I was THRILLED to move!
It was no heroics, but just a little extra effort and creativity to make things happen.
@abasket - you actually drink apple cider for a cold?
In Cambridge at the moment; back to the beach on Monday. I haven’t really been doing any exercise except for short dog walks and normal urban walking. My “awkward gait” recently seems worse and I’m now feeling some minor aches. (Previously I had no pain at all.) SO, I guess it’s time to give in and see a doc. I honestly don’t know if the issue is muscles or bones. What kind of doctor do I go to? An orthopedist/sports doc? Feeling annoyed and frustrated by the whole thing!
I’m in denial that Thanksgiving is around the corner – although I went to the annual Boston Christmas Festival (huge craft fair) yesterday. I did my best to tune out the holiday music. As usual, I found more things for me than anyone else on my gift list … Also, I’m going on record with my annual fall statement about how much I dislike setting the clocks back …
Good luck to all those racing this weekend.
Hope everyone racing this weekend enjoys the beautiful fall weather. Have fun and revel in your accomplishments!
Yes, a swig of apple cider vinegar - straight or mixed with a tad of water - especially for a sore throat - I believe it makes a quick difference! Gargling with it is suppose to be good too but honestly just downing a quick tablespoon or so is quicker and DONE!
Hasn’t anyone else ever tried apple cider vinegar?
abasket - I loved your post #55484 about motivation. I have found a real difference in my thinking since I committed myself to daily activity. I was always fairly active (lots of walking, etc) but would plan to do something “IF I could fit it in”. Now my thinking is “HOW do I fit this in?”. I plan for fitness.I usually go to early yoga on Tuesday, but I need to vote this week. So I plan to run the mile to my voting place, vote and then run home that morning and then go to yoga in the evening.
I make it happen. One of the things I see on this thread is a whole group of busy people who make it happen.
@Abasket mentions running in the dark with an iPhone flashlight. When I was doing my morning trail running clinic, I needed a running light. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money for a headlamp, but I found this little USB rechargeable magnetic light on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HEYYKLO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 for $20 and figured it couldn’t be that bad. The magnet held it nicely to the front of my pants, it was bright enough to illuminate the trail fifteen feet in front of me, and it worked just fine. I’ve been using it for evening dog walks too.
This group is really good for motivation and inspiration!
My race went pretty well. I woke up at 3am with my usual dread. I really have a mental problem with racing. This race was NOT important, but I still freak out. I ran a minute slower than last year, which was disappointing because at the race I thought I had run the exact same time, but I was a minute off. It was a beautiful day (43-54 or so and clear) and a gorgeous course in the country and nice residential with a couple big hills. Easy to negative split because the first half is hillier with a gradual uphill pull that seems flat but isn’t. You get some good downhills coming back. The field was smaller because there are some big marathons this weekend- besides NY! I sneaked into the big awards with 2nd Grand Master, which isn’t bad for someone in her 60s since usually the 50 year olds get those awards. I got a nice ear band with the race logo on it and a nice coffee cup (insulated with a lid). My daughter had a 30 second PR and was 3rd in her age group, so she was happy. She was 7 minutes faster than me. I ran 1:38:48 for a 9:46 pace. I walked a tiny bit on the 2 big hills, but not a long stretch. I had a little trouble getting my Huma gel open at mile 5, and lost a few seconds.
Two moments of laughter- When my daughter checked in and was picking up her hoodie (nice- red) for the race, the older man handing them out asked her what size. She said Small. He said, “Are you sure. You’re a pretty good sized woman!” She tweeted that before I was even there and I was hysterical! She wears a small (sometimes a medium) and is NOT big at all! Like she said, there were better ways to say that, like “You might want a medium if you want it a little more roomy!” Next funny thing- I was really hauling it to pass a woman at about 8 1/2 miles and we weren’t anywhere near the end. We crossed an intersection and one police officer said to the other “We’re almost done!” Ahhh- the joys of being a slower, older runner!
Went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast afterwards and had French toast with white chocolate and berries. It was SO good. They serve pizza at the race, but pizza at 9:30 am- no thanks.
Good luck to everyone tomorrow!
Nice job by MOWC and HolyChild (hopefully I won’t be struck down for calling her that)!
@abasket, I have Bragg’s ACV with the mother. I mix it with water though - can’t imagine taking it straight!
I went out and had a great run this morning. Only a bit over four miles but it was a beautiful day, cold and sunny. My favorite running weather. C3Baker reminded me that running is supposed to be fun - and today was. It felt really good.
Way to go, MOWC!! Sounds like you did great (2nd Grand Master). So nice your daughter ran with you.
LOL, MOfWC! I bet those cops really wanted to close down so they could hit their favorite donut shop. Congrats to you and your daughter!
Thanks! Well, “run with me” isn’t really what happened- I never saw her after the start! Yep- the cops were smelling those donuts! (sabaray- I’ve been known to call her Reverend B------ on some of her testier days…)
Congrats MOWC and D. You both did great!
Such a happy thread to come here and read. Good job to MOWC and her holier than thou D (that poor girl - what are we doing to her!!!)
I actually have a headlamp - I just was in the mood to throw on some clothes and GO last night and figured that flashlight was on my iPhone for something!!!
But cool lamp you have noted there on Amazon @dmd77 !
Heading out for a long walk after helping my mom in her yard this afternoon. SOOOOO sad that that time changes tonight… 
Great job MOWC & D! People do say some stupid things, don’t they? I remember the track workout I went to where the young fast guy I was partnered with told me “You run fast the same as you run slow”. Thanks - the world is a better place now that you’ve said that. I mean, he was right and all, but it didn’t need to be said out loud!
Today was a really good day. The marathon went well. I had a PR with 3:45:22 (pace was 8:37). My goal was to be under 3:50 so I am really happy with how I did. The weather was great - it was 38 degrees at the start and 54 when I finished. Nice and sunny and the course was very pretty with lots of fall foliage. I had major problems with cramps in my calves starting at about mile 21 (same place I had the same problem last year!). They were really bad at times and twice I had a really weird cramp in my calf that radiated down to my ankle and foot and physically turned my foot under, so I was running on the side of my foot! I only did that for a few steps before I took a walking break until it cleared up and my foot returned to its’ normal position. Anyway, I’m really happy with how the race went although it was really hard and there were definitely times when I was mentally throwing in the towel on my marathon career. I am very tired and sore!
H also had a good race with a PR and improved his time by 6 minutes. Unfortunately he ended up at 3:41:27 and needs to be under 3:40 to qualify for Boston (and really probably more like 3:37 to actually get in). I think he’s happy with how he did, though, but is mentally kicking himself for not pushing it just a little harder. I think he did great and think he has potential to get there. He won’t move up to an older (and slower) age group for another 3 years so he’ll need to work with where he is at but he seems to have a good attitude about it.
I also lament the changing of the clocks and losing the hour of daylight in the evening. But I will say that I’m pretty excited about the extra hour of sleep tonight!
MOWC - great job with your race, especially with your award! Negative splits are awesome! I’m glad your daughter did well and I think the comment about sizing is pretty hilarious. Some people have no tact at all!
Good luck PlantMom and Classof2015 tomorrow!!!
Sending good vibes to Plantmom in Florida who will be waking up in the wee hours to do her first 1/2!