Our Training Schedule December 28, 2009
Check out our training schedule created for us by a friend of Angie’s who runs 5 marathons a year. We’ve been following this schedule for the final 11 weeks of our training. Who says we won’t be ready by February 28th?! We’re heading into the big weeks and the high mileage – we’re gonna rock it 
Our Training Schedule – Click Here!
Many thanks to our many “coaches” for helping us through this journey 
A real pain in the glute… December 22, 2009
This past Thursday when I headed out for a nice, easy 4-miler I didn’t know the run would turn out to be such a pain in the hiney. Right around mile 2, a sharp pain from my lower back shot down through my left derriere and hamstring. I’ve gotten these occasional bursts of pain since I began training and usually attribute it to the fact that my body is taking quite a hit running more mileage than it ever has in my 25 years. I stopped, stretched, and kept going. But no stretch seemed to rid me of the pain, and my steady run began to turn into a steady limp. Ouch! Well with no phone in tow and 2 miles to my front door I kept going. Run walk limp, run walk limp, all the way home.
For the next two days the pain lingered, and I just assumed I must have pulled the good old gluteus maximus. While that thing my mamma gave me (I get “JLO” and “Kim Kardashian” a lot…) has both done me good at times and made me want to remove all mirrors from my home at others – it has never caused me so much pain! Oh, culo, why must you hurt me so?
I took a rest for two days and the tush started to feel normal again. I went back at it this morning bright and early at 4:30 AM, ready to finally break that 10 miles. I was pumped! I hardly ran 50 feet before the sharp pain returned. After lots of back and forth, I decided that before I do any more damage to my posterior maybe I ought to educate my self about common runners’ ailments of the gluteus maximus. Well I Googled and searched from Wikipedia to WebMD. I kept finding the same thing. Piriformis Syndrome. Oh…syndrome? That does not sound good…
The piriformis muscle is one that is located in the gluteal region. It is located not so much on the surface but a little deeper within the area, near the pelvic cavity and the sciatic. It aids in the external rotation, abduction and extension of the hip. This would explain why the glute and hammy stretches I was doing weren’t helping. With all this information in mind, I took my symptoms to a co worker of mine who has run in 6 marathons (one of them in 3:12:00!) and has been coaching me along the way. Without even mentioning the information I had found, he brought up the piriformis, and promptly returned to me with information about stretching and treatment.
He said, “With everything I’ve read, it sounds like it is something that isn’t easy to get rid of,” With the thought of reaching that tenth mile looming in my mind, I asked him if I should, gulp, take a break from the running.
“No, you have to keep running!” he said. ”Get some Ibuprofin and some IcyHot and load up. Keep running.”
And I knew he was right. ”I once ran a whole marathon in pain,” he told me.
And so at lunch I bought the Ibuprofin and the IcyHot, and right after work I put on my running gear and ran 6 miles. It hurt, but I did it. I am still disappointed I didn’t do the 10. But I got out there and pushed through the pain.
I’m planning on doing some cross-training this week to take some strain off of the tush. [A note about cross-training: According to my current bible, The Non-runner's Marathon Trainer, Elliptical and step machines are the most comparable to running - bikes are the least, and instead of focusing on the distance, you must instead focus on the time. If you run 5 miles in 50 minutes, then you do 50 minutes on the elliptical, ignore the mileage.] Shortening your stride and focusing less on speed are also recommended. Hopefully I can work on making my badonkadonk stronger, so this piriformis syndrome can take a hike and kiss my tail!
-Alaina
Chasing Pavements… and big dreams December 15, 2009
Just got back from a nice outdoor run – something that may not be possible much longer if the temperature keeps dropping! The weatherman and I are not good friends these days. But I have to say there is nothing like a nice run outside. It might take a lot of willpower to get on your running shoes and bundle up to brave the cold for an hour or so – but once you do you’ll be so glad you did. You might think you don’t have the time, or its too cold, or you’re too tired. But suck it up. It WILL be worth it! Too busy you say? Well when is the last time you could honestly be alone with your thoughts?
I am no Hercules woman who hasn’t any trouble getting herself out for a multi-mile run in the dead of winter – trust me. Today I struggled with the idea. My nose is running, my head kind of hurts, I just worked for seven hours in a room filled with 21 five-year-olds (hence the headache)…..AND its about 30 degrees outside – every time I step outside my nose stings, my eyes water and my entire body shudders. Seems like the PERFECT time to go running! Well funny enough…I think it was. At a time when you’re not feeling so hot and life is stressful – its the perfect medicine. Out on that road its just you and the pavement. There is no one to bother you with work, or anything to remind you that you should be doing your holiday shopping or laundry or any other chores that may continually nag you. You even get some fresh air while you’re at it! And if you run long enough, that road might just find you some peace of mind.
While this whole marathon thing is certainly a personal challenge of ours, the real goal is raising money for pediatric cancer research.
“Pediatric cancer” seems as though it should be an oxymoron – two words that don’t belong together. Today I found myself talking to a co worker whose 12-year-old son’s best friend has been battling brain cancer for four years. We started talking about Alex’s Lemonade Stand and then about this young boy who has been suffering endlessly for the last four years but never complains. We thought, a child suffering – it just seems so wrong, no matter which way you put it. As if Alexandra Scott’s story couldn’t get me out to run today, seeing the look in my co worker’s eyes as she talked about this boy who calls her a “second mother” certainly did. Because, yes, to say “I ran a marathon” would be great, but saying “I ran a marathon to do my part so no child ever had to suffer from cancer again” is something that will keep me running no matter how cold it is, how busy I am or how lousy I’ll feel. Its going to keep me running 26.2 miles all the way to that finish line…and on to the next one… and the next one…
~Alaina
Panera Ponderisms December 3, 2009
Yummy soup, good looking gentleman, determined youth serving up paninis- just another typical Wednesday at Panera Bread…. Just so you all know, three cousins have taken over a booth and have been maxing out our brain power thinking of ideas and fundraisers (only one blonde in attendance, we got a lot done!)… you’ve got a lot to look forward to- themed pub crawls (obviously), sporting events/family activities, i.e. tubing/ice skating nights., hearing our lovely voices bright and early on your drive to work on your local radio shows… we are going to fundraise the lemonade right outta ourselves for these kiddies… so look out for more soon
Updates:
We ran the 10k Troy Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning and all completed the race, feeling great and barely breaking a sweat!
Saratoga Pub Crawl- THANK YOU to all of the participating bars and drinkers!!! We raised a ton of moolah!
Happy Veterans’ Day / Happy Hump Day!!! November 11, 2009
So, I ran the SUNY loop bright and early. As a UA alumni, I’ve spent my fair share of time on campus…and having a major phobia of the chunk, I’ve run my booty around that loop many times. Today I seemed to be in a very pensive/nostalgic mood- thinking about the last few years… Overall, I feel like we learn to take the good with the bad and move on- and hopefully do great things. That’s why I’m proud of us (my cousins and I) because we’ve always done exactly that and we’ve always stuck together… and to be able to do this marathon is yet another experience we’ll have shared. And yes, some skeptics say it’s just a cover so that we can go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans- but in reality- we actually do care and want to do good for others because we know how very lucky we are… so stop drinkin’ the haterade and embrace our do-gooder insanity!!!
Final thoughts at the end of my run, you ask? I love my girls, I love my fam, I love my friends… I love my life- ’nuff said ~Naunie~
~Naunie~Red, Red Wine………. November 5, 2009
I have to say I woke up a little disappointed in myself this morning. Aside from being a Mets fan that cheered for the Yanks last night (Sorry David Wright- I still want to marry you;-), I am also a runner in training that consumed a little too much of the vino rojo and am definitely feeling its effects today. I am not so much bothered by the fact that I’m totally useless at work right now or that I look like I’m wearing the same clothes from the night before (oh wait, I am. Oops!) but more by the fact that my run yesterday, in a way was canceled out by my four glasses of wine before bed.
Naunie and I did the SUNY loop yesterday; a 3.3 mile run on U Albany’s uptown campus. It was a good run with one of my bests that I completely blew by downing a bottle of one of nature’s best……geesh Pinot Noir, why do you have to taste so good? So after beating myself up all morning over my lack of self control, I’ve decided to stop looking at the bottle as half empty- it’s completely empty because I drank it and according to this 60 Minutes special, that’s okay! Not only is it okay but it is going to help me live longer and look younger…… as if I needed another excuse to over indulge in the smooth texture and elusive aromas of Pinot Noir!
According to the scientists interviewed, the substance resveratrol, found in red wine can significantly extend your life and prevent age related illnesses when consumed in high quantities. Red wine, a fountain of youth? If so, fill up the bath tub baby because I’m going for a swim!
And because I am not above blatant self promotion, for all of you readers motivated by this post and ready to slow down the aging process with a few glasses of the good stuff, stop into DP’s tonight and help me, help you reverse the clock on aging with a little dose of vino. Don’t worry, if you can’t make it tonight, I am there every Thursday night making people look and feel younger one glass at a time!
Attn: all meathead muscle men/ skeptics that argue running is bad for the bod! Read below. November 2, 2009
Can’t fight evolution, Baby… get educated on what your body was built to do
Week 3… nada=naunie October 31, 2009
Ok! So I slacked this week in the training category- BUT I was quite productive in other areas of my life… 1) I started a new job, 2) we put the finishing touches on the Saratoga fundraiser, 3) made a penguin costume for NYC Halloween festivities, 4) watched in disbelief as the Phillies beat the Yanks in Game 1, 5) duked it out with those greedy fools at Verizon over my bill- basically, I owe them my first born child, 6) celebrated my Goddaughter’s 6th Birthday and sang in chinese, 7) Aggressively celebrated the Yanks Game 2 win amongst friends and sang karaoke in a basement with a side ponytail, 8) showed up to my new job extremely fatigued and a little confused abt the side pony from the night before… All in all, it was a busy week and I only trained one time- but I made a mental note to make up for it next week, of course… However, I think running around like a mad woman in 3 inch heels all week made up for whatever I didn’t get to.
I also want to say a big thank you to Arthur from the Saratoga Journal for writing a great story & helping us promote our event!
Hope to see you all tomorrow at 10:30am at the Saratoga Fall Festival!!!
~Naunie
