New Shoes & Lovely (but COOOLLLLLDDDD) Runs

I can't believe I forgot to show the world my awesome new running shoes!

They are the Brooks Defyance 3 -  not the Adrenaline, which is what I originally thought they were. 
Two notes on that:
1) I couldn't get a hold of my Aunt Shelley, so my 13 year old cousin had to tell me what shoes I run in, sad day.
2) Erin, as it turns out you do not have the old Adrenaline since I don't have the new version, I have a different shoe.
Anyway, I love them.  A word on shoes - FIND THE PERFECT SHOE and REPLACE THEM WHEN THEY NEED REPLACING.  Sadly, these won't be the shoes I will run the marathon in as they will need replacing.  If you are in Michigan and are looking to replace your running shoes, I highly recommend getting in touch with Alan at http://runningcircles.com/  He's my aunt's shoe man and he rocks!

This past weekend was a very special one for me, no not because of Christmas, but because of what happened on Christmas Day.  December 25, 2009 marked the longest run of my life - 9 miles.  I know that I have a lot longer to go, but just about every Saturday from here on out will be a level of running that I have never faced.  Yikes.

9 miles went pretty well.  The last mile was tough.  Perhaps it was because I had been eating cookies for breakfast for two days, or maybe because it was 34 degrees, or it could have been due to the hills in Newton.  All I know is I came home cold, tired, sore, and hungry for Chuck the goose.  Chuck, you tasted good my friend.

I also ran on Thursday, Christmas Eve (I know, running 2 days in a row, not good).  It was beautiful outside and I tried to snap a few photos, but they're pretty dark.  I'll post them anyway!

This is around the Chesnut Hill Reservoir - the dark area in the center is the frozen water.  Very, very pretty.

This is the sidewalk I was running on... SNOWY!










I had happily returned to Washington Square at this point (only to find Gimbels closed....grrr, actually in retrospect probably a good thing).



Hope you enjoy the pics - someday I'll take some when it isn't dark outside!





This Saturday: 10 miles with hills in Grafton!!!  Wahooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Miles Run: 90

DOUBLE!

Update from Jim Laudisio, Operations Manager at Boston Partners:
So far, the 2010 Marathon Team has raised DOUBLE the amount of money raised at this time last year!
Congrats to us!

Awesome people of the week:
Jessey Erath
Jim & Meredith Laudisio
Judy Harrington

Thank you for your donation - you rock!

I don't have to tell you dollars raised anymore... check out my first giving widget on the left!  Woo hoo!
Miles Run: 86

Next post:
My beautiful runs on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
New shoes

Catching up!

1)  EA Active Personal Trainer was fun and surprisingly difficult.  A few too many lunges and squats at the gym the evening prior made my video game crosstraining quite a challenge! 

2)  Boston has received its first real snowstorm... and it has been COLD.  Last Thursday morning, during my 4-mile run it was 16 degrees, feels like 0 with 20 mph winds woo hoo (there was no snow quite yet).  Saturday, Erin and I went for 8 miles before the storm, it turned out to be an adventure to Wellesley, but one without snow!  Soon enough I will have to put on those spikes and run through the snow/slush. 

3)  This Saturday, it's official - it will be the longest run of my life.  9 miles.  Here we go...

4)  I have a thank you that I don't think I have mentioned in my blog yet: Pamela Civins, Executive Director.  She not only supported my fundraising efforts, not only the BPE staff's efforts, but the entire BPE Marathon team.  Thank you for your incredibly generous donation to all of us!

5)  At the Young Boston Partners Holiday Event last Thursday, I put myself on the auction block - as a personal bartender.  A big thank you to Brendan Mullen who will (hopefully soon) be throwing a fabulous house party where I can show off my bartending skills.

6)  A special shout out to Laurelin who has been training through a sore leg.  Show her some love everyone!

Miles run:  66
Funds raised: $920   (very soon will be $1,035)

Update

Hello all,

This won't be the most exciting update, but an update none the less.  I hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving filled with turkey, stuffing, potatoes, etc.  It was wonderful to be in Michigan.  I went for a couple runs with my fantastic Aunt Shelley (ran Chicago, twice) and one with Laurelin (http://laurelinruns.blogspot.com/).  It was great.

The past couple weeks of training have gone very well.  Although the lunges and wall sits I added to my post running Tuesday work out will make tonight's run very interesting... OUCH.

Next Wednesday we have a very interesting cross training opportunity.  A video game personal trainer... I will certainly let you know how that goes!  I mean, check out this lady - she looks so happy.  Let's hope we will enjoy it just as much.

Tonight - 3 miles!

Miles run: 30
Funds raised: $900