November 23, 2015 - As I'm writing this, I am exactly one week out from my first marathon, and mild panic may be setting in! (Tried to insert about 10 panic-faced emojis here, but they won't show up on the blog.)

This is my last running update before the marathon, but instead of writing about my past week or so of training (or the cortisone shot and heavy anti-inflammatories that now make me feel like I'm a horse being injected and given bute just to get to the show ring...), I really, really want to just take a minute to say a huge THANK YOU to the donors who have helped me reach $1,500+ for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! It seriously means the world to me!

In particular, I have to give a shout out to Phelps Media Group and the fact that I have the best boss in the world!!

One of Phelps Media Group's greatest assets is our awesome equestrian email distribution list/database...so how cool is it that this press release went out to tens of thousands of people!? :

Click here to read the full release!! (It is also super weird and uncomfortable having your own name in press release/not just being the one to write it...I don't even like rereading that...)

My boss, Mason Phelps, is also amazing and is personally donating $500/month now through my last event!! How great is he...seriously!? :

More big thank yous have to go to some of my other biggest supporters: Michelle and Rick Kirby and Bob Kelly (who not only donated to LLS but has been super supportive and the donor of my foam roller, Mophie, etc. ;) ) Thank yous also to Chip and Katie Errigo, James Parker, Don Graf, Nicole Wells, Elizabeth Williams, Anne Whiteley, Erin Donlon, Jeannine MacIntyre and my mom. :)

Lord willing, I'll be updating next Monday with my full race-recap! In the meantime, donations and contributions to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society can still be given through my Team in Training page! 

November 9, 2015 - It’s no secret to those who know me that I have a short attention span, and I really, really struggle with the idea of just doing nothing. (I hate just sitting and watching TV without also working on something; I don’t particularly enjoy going to the movies because it means I have to just sit and watch and can’t do anything else at the same time, etc.)

So do you know how difficult it is to just run!? I can’t imagine just running without my headphones or something to keep me mentality occupied. This past week, I set out on a 20 miler, and I knew that I was going to get super bored just running by myself for hours, so in order to better entertain myself I kept notes on my phone while I ran! Here’s is what followed:

(I started out in Conshohocken, PA and I headed toward Philadelphia on the Schuylkill River Trail.)

Mile 1-2 – This is BEAUTIFUL!! I love fall. I love running. The weather could not be any better!!

Mile 3 –  I’m calling into company conference call. I like this. It makes me feel like I’m being productive while also running. And it keeps my mind occupied. Putting on mute so they can’t hear me running.

Mile 4 – Just had first sip of Gatorade. Just also realized that I accidentally bought low calorie Gatorade. Ughhh. This is a major letdown.

Just tried to talk on the conference call for the first time. I was definitely super heavily running breathing into the phone while I tried to get my thoughts out. #fail Going back on mute. 

Ohhhh FitBit just vibrated telling me that I hit 10,000 steps for the day already. This is going to be a great step day. Think of all the calories I’m burning and all of the things that I can eat.

Mile 5 – The leaves are so pretty. Now seems like a good time to take a Snapchat of my feet in the leaves.

My legs are so pale. I should probably take care of that before the marathon. I would like my legs to be visible in race pictures.

I like that rock. That’s a nice rock. I should take a picture of it.

Mile 6 – I love Pennsylvania and the fall.

I’m going slow. Maintaining 12 minute/mile pace. But maybe that’s good. My goal for marathon is only 12 min/mile to 12:30 min/mile, so I guess I’m on track, and maybe this way I won’t feel like I burnt out after mile 14. Maybe one day I’ll even have negative splits.

Mile 7 – ahh!!! The conference call is over!!! Now what to do…need music. stat!

Ohh I just found turtles!! Must stop and take a quick picture of the turtles.

Ruh roh..things just took a turn for the sketchy…

Mile 8 – Never mind. We’re good. Things are back to normal again.

There’s an Insomnia Cookies just up from the trail!!!!!!! I need my wallet!! Just think how many cookies I could eat after this!!

Well those step things are random. But very cool. I’m impressed.

Wait…now I run through here!?!? This is bad. This is very bad…I just ran right into the Manayunk Brewing Company. You are not supposed to run through restaurants…

Guy at the restaurant doesn’t know how to get back on the trail. This is no good….must re-find the trail….

Mile 9 – I can’t find it. I’m on the streets of Manyunk. I guess I’m almost halfway anyway so might as well turn around now.

I just took a big sip of Gatorade while running. I don’t get how people do that. I have to take a walk step to drink. Now I’m coughing and choking. #SendHelp Just kidding. Recovered fast. Running on…

I found the obvious spot where I messed up the trail…probably should have not run up the ramp that said “restaurant entrance…”

Mile 10 – Speaking of restaurants…I should probably eat a Clif shot block. I usually have one every 4-5 miles, and I haven’t yet!

Shot block eaten. (Cran-raze flavor.) I could eat those things like candy. Except I wish I actually could eat candy instead. I would love to fuel with Swedish Fish.

Mile 11 – Drinking more Gatorade. 20 oz. bottle is now mysteriously almost empty. I’ve been told that I over hydrate, but I can’t help it that I get thirsty! I somehow have even suffered through the low-calorie Gatorade. Except now I really have to pee.

I definitely think a bathroom stop is going to be necessary during my marathon.

I don’t remember seeing any bathrooms or anything on this trail.

I have to stop thinking about it. I’ll just drink more Gatorade, which seems to make sense.

Gatorade’s empty now. So I can stop carrying Gatorade bottle and throw that away.

Mile 12 – But where is a trash can…

Oh goodness. My pace slowed down a bit from the restaurant incident…Now I’m at a 12:15 min/mile pace. One day I’ll learn to go faster. Right now I guess that’s okay. I just want to finish.

At least I’m past the hallway point!! Wooo!! I feel accomplished!

Mile 13 – I remember when I ran the Philadelphia Half-Marathon without training, and I thought I couldn’t go further than 13.1. It’s kinda cool that that’s easy now. It’s amazing the difference training can make. Who woulda thunk it.

Time for a half-marathon point selfie. Just kidding. No one needs to see that. Trying again though. I need some sort of pictures for this blog post.

That’s better. Everything is always better if I just cut off half my face, and in this case the present hair situation.

I should’ve braided my hair. Stays put better that way. I shouldn't have carried a Gatorade AND worn my hydration belt...50 ounces of liquids was probably excessive planning...

My right knee hurts. This right knee is really a pesky bugger. It keeps doing this sore thing. I should’ve worn my knee sleeve. Can’t tell if that helps though.

Mile 14 – Phone battery is down to 12 percent now. Thank goodness Bob bought me a Mophie. Time to turn this thing on. I really don’t know how people run without something to do. They probably just go a lot faster than me.

Mile 15 – Ohh Rebecca sent me a press release to edit…Sending her edits via text while running. Now walking a little bit. It’s tough to edit and run at the same time.

My knee hurts anyway. Actually it really hurts.

Now I don’t feel like typing things anymore. I’m over it.

How am I going to run this far plus 11 MORE MILES in just three weeks!?

I’m panicking. I definitely didn’t train enough. I skipped too many runs while I was traveling. This is not good.

I’m making a phone call. I don’t think I’m going to make it all 20 miles. Or maybe I’ll just walk the last two or three…but that could take awhile. I don’t like walking…

Mile 16 – My right knee is the worst. My cardio feels great since I took it easy. Must figure out what’s going on with this thing.

This has really gone downhill. This was supposed to be a happy, cheery blog about me banging out 20 miles.

 I have to remember to talk to my mom about my knee.

Hi Pete and Wells’ apartment!! While I’m right here, maybe I’ll use your bathroom and sleep on your couch hehe kidding. Miss you guys.

Mile 17 – My knee is officially no longer having it. I’m stopping here at 17 miles. Man I hate quitters. I don’t want to be a quitter. This is going to be attempted again. And at least quitters that run 17 miles still get dessert right!?!

(Also: because I am NOT going to quit on my full marathons and in supporting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, please don't forget to support Team In Training through my team here.)

October 26, 2015 - I'm often very much of the 'go big or go home' mindset (why eat one cookie, when you could eat all of the cookies that you baked!), so when I got an email from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society about something called the 'Trifecta Challenge', I decided that, if I'm going to run one marathon, why not run ALL THE MARATHONS!! :D 

(They just got me with the '3 medals' thing...)

October 19, 2015 -

Long runs before the Florida heat kicks in means an early start:

But so worth it to start the day with an awesome run on beautiful Palm Beach:

Recently, I also got to take advantage of the pretty fall weather in Pennsylvania and some of the really great trail systems surrounding the Philadelphia area:

September 21, 2015 - Reason #1 why Team In Training is awesome? You're raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!! Reason #45862? You get nutrition tips and guidance on properly fueling for distance running along the way!

Prior to joining Team in Training, and even now, I never really classified myself as a "real runner." I don't know why, but I always have the mindset that real runners are faster than I am, run more than I do, etc. I also thought that because I'm not a 'real runner' I don't really need any GUs, energy blocks, etc. I thought 'those are just for people looking to run faster than me.' 'I'm only running 12 miles, not a marathon so I don't need extra fuel.'...

Wrong! Team In Training taught me that that's in fact not the case, and no matter how slowly I'm going proper nutrition obviously is not just for the elites! (Probably a 'duh' moment...)

So with that said, here's what I'm loving to properly fuel my long runs!

Now that I'm back in Florida, my long runs are consistently first thing Saturday morning, so it's important to me to know that I've eaten enough on Friday night...I don't think this counts as a nutrition tip, and I don't think this is what the coaches had in mind...

...but the past two Friday night's I've used "carbo loading" and my long run as an excuse for a cheat meal at BurgerFi...The idea of fast food and fast food burgers completely disgusts me, but I don't classify BurgerFi as fast food...I think it qualifies more as just delicious...and the red velvet milkshakes <3 <3 I have to stop looking at the picture because I want one stat.

Actual nutrition tip #1/pre-run: One of the first thing that was emphasized to me was the importance of breakfast and figuring out what sits well with you prior to the long run. Without fail, I always have a blueberry bagel with strawberry cream cheese about an hour prior to my runs longer than five miles. (On Saturday's this means eating my bagel at 5 a.m. while taking Tucker for a walk!) I've also decided that I'm obsessed with distance running because it gives me an excuse to eat healthy carbs...like I'm actually supposed to eat carbs (whole grains). That's the best thing I've ever heard.

During my long runs: I've found my energy source/fuel of choice, and it is 100 percent the Clif Shot Bloks! I think they're easier than GUs and taste better too! I could just eat a whole pack of them like candy...

It's recommended to have fuel about every 45 minutes, so I usually take one somewhere around every four to five miles, and it's perfect! I also alternate between drinking water and drinking Gatorade during the run (both conveniently located in my Nathan Hydration Belt that's making a little bit of an appearance in the early morning run picture below).

Post run: I used to be guilty of this, but I've learned how important it is to not over eat/overdue your calorie intake! It's so easy to get the mindset of "I just ran 14 miles. I can definitely have a milkshake and two cupcakes today." Nope! Did you know lots of people actually gain weight while training for marathons!? That was crazy to me, but apparently it's because of the increased hunger that comes with intensive training and the thought that because you burned 10,000, etc. you have more freedom to eat whatever you want...not how it works.

After my run, I've been immediately going to Starbucks with our Team In Training coaches and having a banana, which is about all that I'm hungry for right after the run. Then, by the time I drive the 25 minutes or so back home, I have more of an appetite, and I go for something filling. This past weekend I had a giant bowl of broccoli, mushroom and chicken stir-fry over brown rice that I'd made a few nights prior. (Kind of a weird choice at 10:30 a.m., but it does the trick with carbs and protein!)

And that's about it!! Not particularly useful in any way, but I felt like sharing what's been working for me!

Aside from that, I am obsessed with our Saturday morning long runs! (Can't beat those views!) I honestly can't wait to go out again this Saturday! It's so beautiful, and there's something kind of empowering about starting your day running 13+ miles. This past weekend was a three hour run, and this upcoming week is a three hour and 11 minute run (random timing...). I'll be shooting to get 16 miles in on Saturday/in that time. Until then, two more five mile runs and a four-miler on the books for this week! :)

Thanks again to all have supported and continue to support Team In Training!!