Running for your life!

A Guest Post by: Jackie Clark

The more science studies the benefits of exercise, the clearer it becomes how critical regular exercise is to promoting physical fitness and staving off disease. Even when an ailment does occur, if you've been exercising to maintain good health, you might find yourself better equipped to manage and fight it.

Running is one of the simplest, most effective, and least expensive forms of exercise you can do. Making running a part of your regular health routine can bring you a variety of health benefits.



Running, which is a cardiovascular exercise, helps you regulate your blood pressure. This makes your heart stronger, which makes it pump your blood more efficiently. With your heart and blood operating more productively with less effort, you can lower your risk for heart related diseases and blood clots. 



As an aerobic exercise, running may also help improve your lung capacity and help you breath better. Better lung function and breathing can be a great benefit to people suffering from certain diseases like mesothelioma. If you are living with mesothelioma, it can be useful to confer with your doctor as to the level of intensity that best suits you.



Since running is also a weight bearing exercise, it can also strengthen your bones. While this is helpful for everyone, women in particular might realize the benefit of improving their bone density, which can prevent the onset of osteoporosis. This degenerative disease can be especially debilitating to your ability to move around as you age. In essence, you're running to keep good mobility. It's a bit of a "use it or lose it" proposition.

In addition to these specific health improvements, running has also been shown to strengthen the immune system. This is the system that works to fight off disease and infection generally. So any increase in its ability to work can only help you achieve and maintain better health. Once you have that healthier baseline, you'll likely then find you'll have more energy to do all the other things in life you enjoy.



Not only might you have greater energy, but greater enthusiasm as well. Running has been well documented for its ability to release endorphins in your brain. This makes running a valuable treatment for low spirits and stress. In addition to providing physical benefits, these mental and spiritual benefits complete running's hat trick of improving your health.

Jackie Clark joined the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance in 2009 as research assistant after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in fitness and nutrition. Personally, Jackie realized the importance of running in college when she lost 30 pounds after living in Italy for 6 months. Her personal experiences and passions opened the door for Jackie as a technical and medical research assistant in the development of medical content and outreach efforts. Today, Jackie specializes in alternative care, fitness regimes for cancer patients, cancer support programs, and social media campaigns.

If there's something you or someone you know would like to contribute to Mainely Running please contact us at info@mainelyrunning.com. We'd love to hear from you!

And as far as our FITT Club Challenge goes, let us know how this week went!

A little musical help?

Hey guys, I need help! Ok, ok - I know - in a serious way, right?! Ha ha :) We'll get to that later, but right now, I need help with updating my running playlist. The one I've got right now is alright - it was awesome last year, but honestly, it's a little stale right now and definitely needs a breath of new life in it... It's a new running season, and time for some new tunes!


According to a recent study, listening to music can help speed up your post-run recovery. So, really this is for my health :) And hey, if it can do that post run, it's got to help during the run too!  Well, actually there have been studies done showing that listening to music actually reduces your perceived effort by up to 10%.  In my book, that alone definitely makes it worth having a good playlist!

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For running, I'm definitely partial to upbeat, pop-py (not poopy, Greg - my husband doesn't share my taste in running music!) dance-type stuff. It's great to keep me running along (and yes, sometimes even dancing along). I've got training for the Sugarloaf marathon spread out ahead of me this spring and there are bound to be a few runs I have to tackle solo. If I can't have company, there is nothing better than rocking out to some good tunes to help me pass the miles. (And my apologies to the good people of Hampden, who do often get serenaded along the way!) 

Ok, so where do I usually find music?  Well, there are always a few that come from the radio.  There is also the google search for "running mix" or "running playlist";  I'll click through those and occasionally pick up a few there.  I have Group Power (an awesome class at the Bangor Y) to thank for a few parts of my playlist too. There are some great sites out there that categorize music by beats per minute (jogtunes.com/, runningmusicmix.com/) or that even put together free running mixes for you (www.rockmyrun.com)  Plus, I can always count on friends for a few great recommendations too.  That's where you come in!! Maybe we can make a trade, Mainely Running friends?  I'll divulge my playlist (even with the embarrassing I'm-a-13-yr-old-girl songs on it) if you'll share yours?  We may or may not share the same music tastes. If we do, awesome and I can't wait to hear what you're listening to!  And if we don't, well here is your opportunity to school me in a better, more kick-a$$, or just generally more age-appropriate running playlist! 


Here's my current 2012 playlist. I was going to just give you the top 10; you know, the creme de la creme of the bunch. But honestly, we all need more than 10 songs on our playlists and it might be the more obscure songs (if there really are any here) that are the ones you really needed to get you through your runs (you just never had any idea!).  I haven't quite figured out Spotify or those other music sharing sites (whatever they are) but get annoyed when there aren't links to the music (yes, I really am that lazy).  So, I've provided links are over to Amazon for some DRM-free music :)  So, here goes:



Animal - Neon Trees
Baby - Justin Bieber  this is one I KNOW you'll all be downloading ASAP ;)
Brand New Day - Joshua Radin
Break Your Heart - Taio Cruz
Club Can't Handle Me (Feat. David Guetta) - Flo Rida
DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love - Usher featuring Pitbull
Dynamite - Taio Cruz
Eclipse (All Yours) - Metric
Evacuate the Dancefloor  - Cascada
Forever  - Chris Brown   this one always reminds me of this
Good Life - OneRepublic
Higher - Taio Cruz
Hot Mess - Cobra Starship
I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) - Pitbull
Let it Rock - Kevin Rudolf
Like A G6 - Far East Movement
Los Feeling - Visitor
Love Drunk - Boys Like Girls
Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5
Neutron Star Collision (Love is Forever) -  Muse
Not Your Birthday - Allstar Weekend
Ours - The Bravery
Pump It - Black Eyed Peas  Seriously, just try running slow when this song is on - I dare you!
Show Me How You Burlesque (A.R. Remix) - Kyria
Somebody Told Me - The Killers  same goes for this one
Starlight - Muse
Stay The Night - James Blunt  how can you go wrong with jangly guitars and James Blunt?
TiK ToK - Ke$ha
Tonight Tonight - Hot Chelle Rae
Waka Waka (Esto Es Africa) - Shakira featuring Freshlyground
We R Who We R - Ke$ha
What Part Of Forever - Cee Lo Green
What The Hell - Avril Lavigne



So, what tunes get you moving and keep you going? What are your favorite go-to running songs?  What are YOU listening to right now? I'd love to hear some suggestions!!

Wednesday Wisdom: Who cares?

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For those of you, who like me, feel very self-conscious running, keep this in mind!!

What the heck? Why not give it a try?

in the rain at Sugarloaf

Ok, so I'm a pretty cautious person when it comes to most things.  I also like to be comfortable; not that most people don't, but sometimes I feel like I might take it somewhat to the extreme :)  I'm a weather wimp.  I don't enjoy - ok, maybe I need to re-phrase that - I make every effort to avoid running in the rain or other precipitation, extreme cold or extreme heat, or when the roads aren't clear and dry.  That actually worked pretty well for me for a few years.  Most long run days or race days ended up being nice with reasonable weather, and for those that weren't, well, I just headed inside for some QT with the treadmill.  It worked out fine; well, that is, until last year.  For some reason, it seemed like 2011 was not a great year for racing conditions, at least for me:

sweating at the Old Port Half

   

• Race the Runways Half - a couple of feet of snow fell the night prior, leaving crazy driving conditions on the way down and an at least partially icy course.
• Sugarloaf Marathon - it rained pretty much the whole way (and was pretty cold) leading to an nice egg sized blister on the ball of my foot...
• Old Port Half - OMG it was hot and sticky....bleah!
• Maine Marathon Half - and I'd thought it rained hard at Sugarloaf!  Well, what we had at Sugarloaf paled in comparison to the torrential downpours we ran through here in Portland.

On our way to the Maine Marathon Half

Just so you know - it was just the weather that was less than desirable.  These races themselves all rocked with awesome support!  Either way, I certainly didn't have the best track record last year!  

Training for this year's Sugarloaf Marathon started this week and what do you know, a snow storm and some pretty frigid weather arrive too.  But this time, instead of wimping out, I decided (with a gentle nudge from Christine :) ) it might be time to give it a try... What the heck? What's the worst that could happen? I gave myself permission to bail out if it was miserable and set out. 

And, I'm happy to report that I'm so glad I did!  On Friday, I went for my first run on snow covered ground and it was fun! It was definitely a little harder than running on the dry road, and a little slippery in places but it wasn't too bad at all!  It actually felt like a better workout since the unstable surface required a little extra effort to stabilize with each step.  The new snow covering everything was ridiculously beautiful - something I would have missed if I'd been inside on the treadmill.  

a beautiful sub-zero morning!

With success on my first snowy run, I got really crazy and went for my first sub-zero run yesterday morning.  I started getting a little worried when I got into my car and the thermometer was reading -10F, but had friends waiting so it was too late to bail out.  It had warmed up to a balmy -7F by the time I reached our meeting spot, and off we went!  With a hat, scarf, mittens and plenty of layers, it actually wasn't that bad.  We went slowly today, which was good since my legs were a little cold and stiff, but finished our miles and had a great time, complete with ice-encrusted eyelashes!

look at those lashes!

So, you might be thinking, ok Amy, you really are a wimp.  And, to that I'll say, yes, you're right :)  But I hope that you'll also consider trying something that you might have been a little hesitant to do before... You might just be surprised and find out that you like it!  Comment and tell us what you are going to try this year!

ps. don't forget about FITT club checkin!

Digging Deep

After much internal debate, I decided that despite hip pain and lack of training I would complete (and yes, I say complete, not compete) the Naples Daily News Half-Marathon. Much to my surprise...and delight...my soccer playing "I hate long-distance running" husband decided to join me for moral support. Waking up last Sunday knowing that I would not be alone in this race made it that much easier for me.

The Naples Half is known as a flat, fast course. When I first signed up for it many months ago, my hope was to PR. Things change. Life happens. When I started the race that morning, my new aspiration was to finish in the three hour time limit. I competed in the event once before, so at least I knew what to expect. It is quite a pretty course, much of which is through residential neighborhoods that line the coast (read: running by stunning multi-million dollar homes). There was also great course support and volunteers which, at least in my opinion, is essential to a good race.
For the first time ever I alternated between walking and running for the full 13.1 miles. I didn't want to push my body beyond what it was capable. Suffice it to say my hip pain was manageable, but I think I will need further evaluation before I pursue any more long distance runs. At one low point during the race I began to quote Dory from Finding Nemo (Can you tell I have small children?)..."Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim, swim....." I think my husband thought I was nuts. We did finish in under three hours, which made us both very happy. I think I needed that for my mental health more then anything else.

Now it's back to reality! Let's hope I can keep the momentum going. Just keep swimming....

Wednesday Wisdom

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If we write our dreams and goals down, we dramatically increase our odds of realization. If we share them with others, they become potent and alive. 
~ Kristin Armstrong, Full Cup, Mile Markers blog, Runner's world.com


Our sentiments exactly. Let us know what's on your fitness bucket list for 2012. If there's a half marathon or marathon on your list our new Marathon Mentoring program may be just what you need!

Accountability....

Accountability. It's a powerful thing.  It can be the determining factor between a complete success and things going totally awry.  The bigwigs on Wall Street didn't have any and look what happened there.....

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I don't know about you, but I set goals for myself but then often get sidetracked, lose motivation, whatever, and what do you know, the goal is out the window.  I don't usually make any official new year's resolutions, because then I'd invariably tell someone about them... and then I'd be embarrassed if I didn't actually follow through. And  phew, that's a lot of pressure!  But, if I actually really want to get something done, I know for me, the best way to actually make sure I follow through is to go public with it.  If there are other people watching and expecting me to do something, I don't want to let them down or have to tell them that I gave up.  There isn't a lot that will stop me from reaching that goal if I know that there are others watching, or even better, relying on me.  


Contrary to what you might believe, since I'm one of the founders of this group, running is not something that comes easy to me.  Math, yes; running, no!  Sure, I like how I feel after I run and even sometimes during ;), and I like that running is keeping me healthy, and setting a good example for my kids.  It would be so much easier to sleep through the alarm on those early morning runs (and I can't even tell you how tempted I am to do so!), or once the kids are at school, go get coffee with friends instead of lacing up my sneaks.  But, for one crazy reason or another, I've decided to tackle another full marathon, and I've told you guys, so I can't back out now.  I will get my running shoes on and keep logging the miles.  I really don't want to have to tell everyone that I quit (unless I have a REALLY good reason).  I've had a few people tell me that they were inspired to take up or return to running after hearing about how the girls and I started from nothing and are now able to finish marathons, one of those if-you-can-do-it,-I-can-definitely-do-it-type realizations.  I can not tell you how motivating it is to me personally, to know that I've inspired such a change in even just one other person!! It's enough to be the deciding factor that pushes me out the door some days.


What better way to hold yourself accountable and keep yourself moving toward your goals, than to go public with them! We are here to provide you with a forum to do so as a featured Fitness Revolutionary.    Mainely Running is about much more than my own personal running journey, or that of Jen or Christine. It is about people inspired and motivated to test their limits. It is about people with nothing to prove, but everything to gain. It is about you! Join this fitness revolution and we'll share your story here. You can share as little or as much of your story as you'd like, as long as you tell us what you are working toward.  We'll check in with you periodically and you can provide us with updates along the way to let us and the rest of the Mainely Running crowd know how it is going.   Everyone has a story to tell, and some aspect of each of those stories invariably clicks with others out there, inspiring them to get going and make positive changes in their lives.  Knowing that you've inspired others is just an added benefit, and in my mind, another great motivator to keep you on target. 


You've read about some impressive and determined folks we've already featured as Revolutionaries, and trust me, you will want to stay tuned because we have some amazing and inspiring updates to bring you later this year!    Just think, this could soon be you too!


Come on, what have you got to lose? Tell us your story so far, and let us know where you're headed!  If you are interested in becoming one of our Fitness Revolutionaries, let us know here or send an email to info at mainelyrunning.com. We can't wait to hear from you!


ps. FITT Club participants, don't forget to check-in today!

On the Run in January!

It's a new year, and while there may finally be some snow on the ground, it's the perfect time to get out and racing!  You might want to start with the Cabin Fever 5k in Hartland this morning at 9am.  The race is part of the Teachers On the Run series, starts at the Hartland Consolidated School and helps raise money for the construction of a track for the school.  Registration is only $3 (you can't beat that price!!) and is open from 8:00-8:45am.  


If you're looking for something a touch longer (or if you run REALLY fast at Hartland), consider heading down to Belgrade for the 33rd Annual January Thaw 4.5 Mile Road Race, Belgrade, ME. The race starts at 10:00AM at the Belgrade School at 158 Depot Rd.  All our best to Jen B who is tackling this one!!  Go get 'em, girl!

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Stay warm and happy running!


ps. We'll be updating our calendar soon so don't forget to tell us your running plans for 2012!  

Falling off Life's Balance Beam

I have to say that I feel blessed to have such understanding friends in my life as Christine and Amy. They have pulled me through Mainely Running for the past several months without question, as I've struggled to find balance in my life. As I still try to find balance, and pull myself out of this rut I seem to have fallen into.

It started back in early September when I began having hip pain while I ran...or played tennis...or really anything with impact. I usually brush these things off, not necessarily doing anything different to remedy the situation (I know, not the brightest move) but rather push through it, complain about it (of course!) and hope it goes away. At the same time, I went back to work part-time. Not having worked outside the home for almost six years, to say I am a bit unorganized in managing my time would be an understatement. Suddenly I found myself saying, "Well, my hip hurts, I have to work....so I guess I'll just take it easy today". I also have a child who is struggling with various medical issues (nothing life threatening...no worries), but it seemed to add fuel to the already huge fire of excuses that I was using. I now find myself, almost five months later, feeling out of shape and unhappy. To make matters worse, I signed up for a half-marathon that is taking place in two days, and struggle with the decision to run or not. Logic tells me that I am out of my mind for thinking I could possibly run 13 miles without an ounce of training under my belt. On the other hand, I feel like if I don't do it, I am letting the excuses win...and I may never get out of this slump.

So I hope you will have patience with me as I work my way back into Mainely Running. I commend all of you who have managed to maintain that balance in your life that I seemed to have misplaced. I know I can get there...the beam seems to be getting just a bit wider everyday.

Fondly,
Jennifer

Wednesday Wisdom: Make a difference

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This is a good point - that I really need to keep in mind!  Every little bit of effort counts! :)

Get out that bucket list!

Is a half or full marathon on your bucket list? Have you started training only to lose motivation part-way through? Do you run and want to challenge yourself, but get intimidated by anything with the word ‘marathon’ in it? If so, then Mainely Running is here to help with our new mentoring program designed specifically for you: 

Marathon Mentoring

The encouragement and support you need to stay motivated throughout your training and on race day.  

Why Mainely Running Marathon Mentoring?
Because we get it!  We are not naturally athletic. We are regular folks who set our sights on a goal, stuck to a plan and accomplished things we never thought possible. The three of us took on the challenge together and all believe we couldn’t have done it without each others’ support. That is what we want to offer you!

What does the Marathon Mentoring program include?
*help choosing a training plan that is right for you;
*weekly individual check-ins to track your progress, provide tips and tricks relevant to the challenges specific to where you are in your training and answers to your questions;
*help with planning routes and keeping the miles fun;
*accountability; and
*lots of support and encouragement as you work toward accomplishing your goal.  

Do I need to be located in the Bangor area?
No. Not even close! We can do check-ins via the internet or phone so you can be located almost anywhere!

How fit do I need to be?
You should be able to comfortably run 3 miles without stopping at the beginning of the program. As always, please consult your primary care provider before starting any new exercise program.

Training for a marathon must take A LOT of time.  I’m not sure I can do it.
You don’t need hours of training every day to get to a marathon finish line. We’ve finished marathons with three 30-45 minute weekday runs and one longer run on the weekend. And the reality is that once you make the commitment to training you’ll be amazed at how you find or make the time.

Sounds great!  When do I start?
Our half-marathon mentoring program overs 12 weeks and the full marathon mentoring program covers 18 weeks.  The start of your mentoring program depends on the race you choose as your goal. Some of our favorites include:

Half-Marathons:
Race the Runways Half-Marathon, Brunswick, ME:  April 7, 2012
Old Port Half-Marathon, Portland, ME: July 22, 2012
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust MDI YMCA Half-Marathon, Bar Harbor, ME: September 15, 2012
Maine Half-Marathon, Portland, ME: September 30, 2012
Maine-iacs Charities Half-Marathon, Bangor, ME: October 2012 (Date to be determined)

Marathons:
Sugarloaf Marathon: May 20, 2012
Vermont City Marathon, Burlington, VT: May 27, 2012
Maine Marathon, Portland, ME: September 30, 2012
MDI Marathon, Bar Harbor, ME: October 14, 2012

Okay, I’m in! How do I sign up?
Contact us on our site or at info@mainelyrunning.com and we’ll get you started!

Ready, Set, Register!

 

At yesterday's class we talked about filling the MDI Marathon registrant list with as many as Mainely Running teams as possible. Here is the information on how the relay works. Read on, partner up and let's register. There is a cap on the number of teams that can register so let's do it! You'll have a great time. I promise!

 

TEAM RELAY GENERAL REGISTRATION

THE 2-PERSON TEAM RELAY IS OPEN! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP! THE 3-PERSON TEAM RELAY OPEN! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP! 2012 REGISTRATION FEE SCHEDULE (PER INDIVIDUAL TEAMMATE): October 17, 2011 - midnight November 7, 2011: $65 November 7, 2011 - midnight March 1, 2012: $70 March 1, 2012 - midnight June 1, 2012: $75

Online registration will be accepted until midnight June 1st, or until the team participant cap is filled. There is a 20 three-person team cap, and a 50 two-person team cap. NOTE: Registration may close without notice at the race committee's discretion. If you want to participate, we recommend registering early.

 

2- AND 3-PERSON RELAY TEAMS

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The MDI Marathon Team Relay features teams consisting of 2 or 3 competitors each. The relay has been designed using natural topographical features and handoff zones unique to the award-winning course.

The 2-person relay hand-off zone is located at the 13.1 (half marathon) mark in Northeast Harbor.

The first 3-person relay hand-off zone is located at approximately 8.5 miles near Seal Harbor Beach.

The second handoff zone will be located near the end of Butler Road and Route 198, at approximately mile 18.6.

The final runner will carry teams to the finish line located in downtown Southwest Harbor.

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RULES AND INFORMATION

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• The MDI Marathon Team Relay field is limited and registration will close without notice.
• Top 3 teams will be awarded. Awards will be available at the finish line. It is competitors responsibility to check posted results and pick up awards. NO AWARDS WILL BE SHIPPED.
• All relay runners must wear bib numbers in plain sight on the FRONT and BACK of their running clothing. The numbers on back are meant to help full marathoners identify relay teams from individual competitors. Relay teams will be disqualified if all members are not wearing both bib numbers at all times.
• Individual runners may not complete two consecutive legs. i.e. All runners must hand-off after completing one relay leg.
• All team participants will be wearing timing devices. DO NOT approach the finish line before your team finishes! Doing so may cause for an inaccurate finish time.
• It is the individual teams responsibility to have runners in place at the appropriate hand-off zones. Personal transportation is needed in order to participate in the team relay.
• Team vehicles must display the official MDI Marathon Team Relay credentials provided at the pre-race expo on their dashboard in plain sight at all times during the event.
• Carpooling is encouraged to limit the amount of drop and pick-up vehicles. Please use our Facebook page to help coordinate ride sharing.
• The MDI Marathon will provide finish times for each participating team ONLY. Individual leg split times may be kept by individuals who desire them.
• Relay handoff zones will be clearly marked. Teams that hand-off outside of these zones will be disqualified.
• If a relay runner is not in place at the time an incoming team member approaches the exchange point, the incoming runner must stop at the exchange point and wait until the next runner arrives.

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2-PERSON RELAY MAPS

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• 2-Person Team Relay: Leg 1 (13.1 Miles)
  Participant Route
  Driving Route
• 2-Person Team Relay: Leg 2 (13.1 Miles)
  Participant Route
  Driving Route

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3-PERSON RELAY MAPS

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• 3-Person Team Relay: Leg 1 (8.5 Miles)
  Participant Route
  Driving Route
• 3-Person Team Relay: Leg 2 (10.1 Miles)
  Participant Route
  Driving Route
• 3-Person Team Relay: Leg 3 (7.6 Miles)
  Participant Route
  Driving Route

What's on your calendar?

Happy new year, all!  Hope that the new year is treating you all well and that you're feeling refreshed and ready for a great year!  I just switched over to my wonderfully blank 2012 calendar.  I get a little giddy when it's time to switch over- all of the possibility that each of those little blank squares hold... or maybe it's the possibility of not having to run around like crazy?  Who knows? :)  Either way, I'm old school and still use those month-by-month wall calendars with the pretty picture for each month... (Art Wolfe's National Parks this year - quite an improvement from last year's free one from my alma mater) ... but I digress.... I'm not actually here to tell you all about the to tell you all about my calendar and schedule-keeping habits.  Rather, I'm here because we need your help!

It's 2012 and time to start filling our Mainely Running Race Calendar!  As you can see at the right (you might need to scroll down a little), we were following a whole bunch of people through races all over the place last year and we want to do the same this year.  It's a great way to get the word out about your favorite races, and maybe to see if you can connect with some Mainely Running pals at the races.  Plus, we will make every effort to give you a shout-out before the race (either here or on FB) and who couldn't use a little extra support & encouragement?  Especially when you're breaking new ground, running your first 5k, 10k, half or full marathon :)


 So, I'll get the ball rolling here... I haven't actually registered for anything yet but I'm definitely planning on trying to get into Beach to Beacon again and would love to run the Race the Runways half too.  Plus, I'm pretty sure that I'll try for another full marathon too...maybe a repeat of Sugarloaf (hopefully without constant rain this time) or maybe another race?  So, what do you have planned for this year?  Leave a comment or send an email and let us know!!

Wednesday Wisdom

via facebook.com/runtheedge.

A VERY Revolutionary Resolution!

Mainely Running's primary goal is to motivate others to get moving. We firmly believe that if we can do it you can do it. We swear you can and we plan to help you (more on how we plan to do this a little later so stay tuned).

We start this new year with the goals of Candy Grover. This is her story and what she plans to conquer (read will conquer) in 2012. Read on and help us support Candy in working toward her goal! I, for one, can't wait to cheer her on every step of the way!

Candy, center, crossing the finish line of her 1st half marathon last April!

My name is Candy Grover. I first met Christine at the Bangor Y when we were placed on a team together. With her encouragement and competitive spirit, I lost 30 lbs in 3 months! Let’s just say she has been inspiring me ever since. 

I used to run a little when I was younger…okay twenty years ago! When I was starting to first get in shape, Christine announced that she thought our friend John and myself should run a half marathon with her in five months. We thought she was crazy, but those of you who know Christine understand when I say she has a way of “convincing” you that things are a good idea. So, we ran our first half marathon in April 2011. Thanks to Amy, who ran side by side with us throughout the race, John and I actually finished! It was an amazing feeling! My finishing the 13.1 miles with help from the girls of Mainely Running even inspired my husband (who by the way has always said he hates running) to run his first half marathon in October 2011. Not only did he run it, he ran it in less than two hours!

But…eight months after my half marathon triumph, with lots of travel and many absent months from the gym, I am starting over again. Due to a chance encounter with Christine at Target and a few short run/walks with the Mainely Running gang, I am inspired yet again. 

My husband and I are signed up for the Maine Marathon on September 30, 2012. Yes, I said marathon…not half marathon and yes, that is 26.2 miles! We still are curious if Christine put something in my water one day at the gym, but we are going to do it! 

To give you an idea of what this really means, let me just say I cannot run a mile straight right now, can do a half a mile with some serious gasping! We know with some determination and the inspiration of the Mainely Running girls we can complete the marathon!

Training starts January 1, 2012. For anyone who wants to join us and to keep us accountable here are our training goals:

End of January: complete a 5K
End of February: complete a 10K
End of April: complete 10 mile run
End of May: complete half marathon
End of June: complete 15 mile run
End of July: complete a 17 mile run
End of August: complete a 20 mile run
September 30th: complete a marathon

So, if you want to run a marathon or a half marathon or maybe you want to run a 5K by September, set some monthly goals and we can run our goal distances together with the Mainely Running girls! 

We will keep in touch on Mainely Running with updates on our goals! 

Christine, I would love a 26.2 sticker waiting at the finish line! So, thank you for inspiration ladies and I look forward to your assistance in achieving this goal! [You got it, Candy!]

Just keep running…

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Words to live by in 2012!

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Happy New Year!