Hi everyone!
Another week in the books! This week’s reason has been on my mind a lot: nature. It sounds silly, but honestly since I started running a few years ago I’ve gotten a lot more appreciation for my surroundings when outdoors. Instead of whining about how cold it is outside, I tell myself I might break a PR because I won’t be spending any excess energy sweating. When it’s super hot out, I feel good knowing that at least my muscles will be nice and loose. When it’s spring, I feel like I really do get to stop and smell the roses unlike most people; when it’s fall, there’s nothing like the look and smell of leaves changing and falling from the trees. It’s really nice being a front seat spectator to Mother Nature. That being said, of course winter can bring some obstacles to marathon training. My long run yesterday in heavy, slushy snow (unpredicted by the weather forecasters) created a personal record for SLOWEST PACE OF MY LIFE, largely because I was skidding and tiptoeing around, trying not to slip and slide onto my butt. Great news: that only happened once (and I was fine). Regardless, I do have to admit that running in falling snow is absolutely beautiful; the Charles was so peaceful yesterday and the only other people I saw were fellow runners. There’s a nice solidarity in that.
For a training update, like I said, I have been pretty slow lately. It’s partly the weather and partly just rebuilding my strength after being sick a few weeks ago; I also need to trim off a few pounds in order to really get back to top form. Hello again, my old friend Weight Watchers! But overall I’m happy I was able to run almost nine miles yesterday; I technically should be up to about 12 by now but I’ve been able to increase my mileage slowly and steadily each week, so I think I should be back on track in just a few weeks. Fingers crossed that good old Mother Nature doesn’t foil my plans with another blizzard; if she does, I’d only request that it not occur on a Saturday when I do my long runs. ;)
Fundraising update: I officially surpassed 25% of my goal this week, largely thanks to some great donations from my big huge family! Thank you to so many of my cousins and aunts and uncles who have donated to my page, benefiting pediatric hematology/oncology at Mass General; it’s so early in the fundraising process and we have plenty of time, but these early donors are really helping to build my confidence that I will be able to hit (and maybe surpass??) my goal. Thank you thank you thank you. For those who haven’t donated, like I said, we have plenty of time, but please feel free to make a gift of any amount by clicking on the button at the top of this page. Thank you so much for your support!
Until next week,
Meg
Another week in the books! This week’s reason has been on my mind a lot: nature. It sounds silly, but honestly since I started running a few years ago I’ve gotten a lot more appreciation for my surroundings when outdoors. Instead of whining about how cold it is outside, I tell myself I might break a PR because I won’t be spending any excess energy sweating. When it’s super hot out, I feel good knowing that at least my muscles will be nice and loose. When it’s spring, I feel like I really do get to stop and smell the roses unlike most people; when it’s fall, there’s nothing like the look and smell of leaves changing and falling from the trees. It’s really nice being a front seat spectator to Mother Nature. That being said, of course winter can bring some obstacles to marathon training. My long run yesterday in heavy, slushy snow (unpredicted by the weather forecasters) created a personal record for SLOWEST PACE OF MY LIFE, largely because I was skidding and tiptoeing around, trying not to slip and slide onto my butt. Great news: that only happened once (and I was fine). Regardless, I do have to admit that running in falling snow is absolutely beautiful; the Charles was so peaceful yesterday and the only other people I saw were fellow runners. There’s a nice solidarity in that.
For a training update, like I said, I have been pretty slow lately. It’s partly the weather and partly just rebuilding my strength after being sick a few weeks ago; I also need to trim off a few pounds in order to really get back to top form. Hello again, my old friend Weight Watchers! But overall I’m happy I was able to run almost nine miles yesterday; I technically should be up to about 12 by now but I’ve been able to increase my mileage slowly and steadily each week, so I think I should be back on track in just a few weeks. Fingers crossed that good old Mother Nature doesn’t foil my plans with another blizzard; if she does, I’d only request that it not occur on a Saturday when I do my long runs. ;)
Fundraising update: I officially surpassed 25% of my goal this week, largely thanks to some great donations from my big huge family! Thank you to so many of my cousins and aunts and uncles who have donated to my page, benefiting pediatric hematology/oncology at Mass General; it’s so early in the fundraising process and we have plenty of time, but these early donors are really helping to build my confidence that I will be able to hit (and maybe surpass??) my goal. Thank you thank you thank you. For those who haven’t donated, like I said, we have plenty of time, but please feel free to make a gift of any amount by clicking on the button at the top of this page. Thank you so much for your support!
Until next week,
Meg