April 24th, Week 8 - The Half Way Mark

I am completely amazed at the progress I've made, especially when I think back to when I thought walking 3-4 miles deserved a pat on the back... or at least an extra cookie. The Team got together and tackled the hills around Waltham Woods Corporate park on Winter St. Every single one of us, including the walkers, completed the 6.9 miles (mix of wooded trail, paved road along reservoir, and office park roads).

Starting to be able to concentrate on form- tall, slight lean forward, and using the arms on the inclines. The breathing is whole other thing. Most of the other runners can talk the whole time, not me. I'll listen thank you!

The Team Challenge spirit is growing each week with everyone getting to know one another. One of our Mentors, Lauren Remmes, shared her inspiring experience from just having run the Boston Marathon. Another of our mentors, who would much rather be running with us, helped out with a water stop. She's been recuperating from an exacerbation from her illness. So many of our participants are not just running for someone they know but actually have Crohn's or Colitis.

After our run, Coach Jenny invited us over to her studio where she teaches Yoga. About 20 of us went and enjoyed an hour session. Another first for me. Thank goodness for my pilates experience. Although yoga is quite different there are some similarities.

Patriots Day Run

Week 7

Training was AWESOME today! At a chilly 41 degrees with a light mist in the air, we did hill training at Waltham Woods. The morning started with with a Chi clinic by Ryan Miller who works for New Balance. This guy eats, sleeps and breathes running.

Ran a little with Ryan and then with some different Team Challenge participants this morning so learned a few more names. We think we got a little lost because we returned in about 45 minutes so someone decided we'd run down to Winter St. and back....all downhill and then ALL uphill. I learned a new mantra, "Hills can be your friends". Pump those arms...........

Did 70 minutes, not sure of the mileage and I feel GREAT! Went with the old sneakers today so now I'm convinced my bad week is due to the new sneaks. I think the new ones have too much support that I don't need. Going to have to make time to get back to Marathon Sports and see if they'll exchange them for me.

Think someone got some pics? be back later with those...........................

Week 6 was a bummer!

Boy has this been a tough week; been sore most of it. Had trouble with a 3 mile run on Tuesday, after a day off. Decided to take Wednesday off thinking I needed more recovery time. Still feeling it on Thursday so did a 2 mile brisk walk with the dog. Wondering if my new sneakers might not be right for me; after all I've done 5 and 6 mile runs already.

Feel bad because I should've done 2 4 mile runs this week but did do 60 minutes on the elliptical today. Hmmm, think I'll go to training tomorrow in my old sneaks and see how that goes. Starting hill training in Waltham, oh boy!

Week 6

April 11th - Starting week 6 and signed up for The Love of Sports 5 miler. I must have been the 145th person to sign up. Learned how to put on a racing bib on and a time tracking thingy on my new sneaks. It was a little harder than I thought it would be with the wind resistance.













Almost there!














"And here's Darlene Sodano, from Townsend, crossing the finish line" What a riot!

Week 5

April 3rd- Week 5 Team Training at Lexington again. Did 6 miles

Week 3

March 20th - week 3 Team training at Carson Beach, So. Boston
4.5 mile run and a Nutrition/Hydration clinic

Team Challenge Week 1

March 6th- First Team training in Lexington where we met at Boston Running Company. They did a shoe clinic after our run.