I woke up this morning and all those wacky aches and pains were gone! It’s a Chanukah Halloween miracle!

I still opted not to even bother running the 3 miles I was scheduled to do. Took the dog for a walk in the woods as my only exercise. It’s so peaceful and serene. My aches and pains might be gone but the nerves are lingering!!! BIG TIME!!

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I’m wearing nature for Halloween!

I’m heading out shortly for some halloween festivities at a friends house. Duncan is going as a pirate.

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Pirate-doodle

I’m going as a nervous runner who forgot to buy herself a costume. 🙂

Speaking of nervous….I better go tackle my long prep list for Sunday. I’ve got watches to charge, playlists to sync, gear bags to pack, and finalization of a few other things I’ll talk to you guys about at some point over the weekend.

Skinnyrunner made a nice list of tips and a packing list for theNYC Marathon in this post. But I noticed she forgot something very important. Toilet paper! Yep! 48,000 runners hanging around for 2-4 hours a piece means TP might very well not be around for that last trip before corral entry. BYOTP!!! Trust me!

If you happen to be spectating or just home watching TV but want to track me, here are the details:

This is what I’ll be wearing:

outfit

I had this shirt made last year. I was part of Team Stupid Cancer. They are an amazing organization providing resources to young adults who have been diagnosed, are undergoing treatment or who have had cancer so they can get busy living. Go check them out here.  Monika from Monikaruns has attended some of their events. She has also completed 20 marathons, 2 while “powered by chemo”. Go check her blog out too. She’s quite an inspiration.

Based on my corral and estimated paces, here’s a chart that shows approximately when I will get to each mile.

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This link will give you a list of ways to track me.

And lastly, my bib # and start info for tracking is:

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Enjoy your halloween and I hope everyone gets treats and no tricks unless of course you’re a magician.

Question: Favorite Halloween candy? Mine is Peanut M&M’s. Anyone running the NYC Marathon too?

Holy freakout!

Yesterday afternoon I went out for a li’l 2.5 mile run.

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I cannot believe the aches and pains that I felt EVERYWHERE! I’m sure it’s mental and just nerves as we’re just days out from the NYC Marathon. First it was my upper quad/groin pain that actually left me altering my gait. (it’s been a mild pain on and off since June but rarely presents itself on anything less than 10 miles.) Then, my metatarsal bone under my middle toe on my left foot started to hurt. Um, really? That hasn’t bothered me since 1999! My left arm is really sore too. I think I lifted a heavy box over the weekend that tweaked it. I wanted this run to feel like the last 2.5 miles of the marathon in my mind. I even started at 3:30pm so I’d be done right around the time I’d be finishing. So I guess it makes sense that i’d be so full of aches and pains 23.7 miles into a marathon right? LOL!

Luckily I had evening plans to distract me. I went to see my friend’s band The Infinite Staircase play at the Starland Ballroom in New Jersey. What a great night! I’ve told you guys about his band and his amazing music before. I’m putting ALL the songs on my playlist for the marathon. Go take a listen to their new album No Amends.

I’ll be posting some details of how to track me for the NYC Marathon later in the week. I have no more running planned until Sunday unless I feel like taking an easy run the day before. We’ll see. Hopefully I don’t have too much “small stuff” to deal with.

 

Question: How do you deal with nerves? Any favorite music you want to share?

Happy Sunday!

First, let me start off by saying if I don’t make complete sentences it’s because i’m so tired! I’ve partied like a rockstar at the new Club 40 (years old) for a few days straight now…

Friday night I met some good friends and former co-workers for a celebratory birthday dinner. We’re closing in on almost 20 years of friendship!

this is what friendship that lasts looks like

this is what friendship that lasts looks like

I stayed out fairly late and didn’t really sleep or prepare much for yesterday morning’s long run. But I pulled it together and met my friends at the base of the Queensboro Bridge where we ran over it into Queens, then back into Manhattan, up 1st Ave into the Bronx and then back down 5th Ave in Manhattan before splitting up at 90th and Central Park West. (basically the last 11 miles of the NYC marathon course).

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peeps!

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I’m coming for you mile 16 next Sunday 2:10pm!!!!

I continued running toward my car on 57th street and although I was shooting to run 12 miles, I stopped at 11.8 because Starbucks had made me a latte (well, technically they didn’t start making it until I went in and ordered it….technically schmecnically)

lots of traffic lights slowed us down

lots of traffic lights slowed us down

I walked an additional block back to my car and then headed home for some last minute packing and prep before heading to my brother’s house for my big party.

Have I mentioned how much I love the fall foliage lately? (probably a dozen times i’m sure)

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Then my party happened:

 

It was such a great night! My cake was made by an amazing cake decorator who took my bib/medal/mums idea and ran with it (get it? see what i did just there?). And my amazing friend, the Rescue Baker made my favorite delicious cookies.

7 heavenly layers of awesomeness

7 heavenly layers of awesomeness

I got so many wonderful gifts, many of which were running inspired…

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tech shirt, running mitten/gloves, It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon” bracelet, and sporting good store gift cards

even these could be running inspired….

refuel and celebrate with candy and booze and sooth sore achy muscles and feet after running

refuel and celebrate with candy and booze and sooth sore achy muscles and feet after running

I am so truly lucky to have great friends and family. So now I’ve caught you up on my birthday weekend. I am going to hibernate for a long time take a nap now and then get myself prepared for the week.

At this time next sunday I’ll have just crossed the finish line of the NYC Marathon! Woo hoo!

Question: What’s the best birthday gift you ever got? How much cake is considered too much cake to eat in a day? 

Morning!

Life is busy. Life is good. It’s my 40th birthday today!!!! I feel like an old lady in the world of blogging. Had one martini last night and I feel like I have a hangover 😉 I’m meeting friends for dinner tonight and plan on these accessories:

accessories

Yesterday I started my morning taking my dad to his mechanic to pick up his car in this really pretty town in NJ. Fall foliage is just in full effect here on the East Coast.

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Then I took the doodle on our favorite mystical magical walk in the woods.

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Then I attempted what I thought would be an easy thing to make….Caramel Apples. I wanted to give them as favors to the guests at my party tomorrow. I went apple picking and (discovered the best cross training ever) last weekend and picked 36 Granny Smiths for the task. Everything started off successful! They were lookin’ good.

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All the elements before the debacle

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The first batch….lookin good!

I even wrapped one to see what the final product would look like

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Short-lived success

But a few hours later, the caramel slid off the apple and I ended up with this…

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pool of caramel with an apple garnish

I managed to salvage about 2 dozen buy melting chocolate and spreading it on the apple with some toffee bits but the rest were a total bomb!

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Saved!

I’m praying that The Rescue Baker saves the day. She mentioned maybe she could make mini cakes for all! After the apple debacle I went for a run because that’s what I do right? I sweat out the small stuff 😉

Duncan sticking his nose into everything as always

Duncan sticking his nose into everything as always

All was good until I got a weird side stitch just before mile 4. It lasted for forever a few minutes and I had to walk. I freaked out! What if that happens to me during the marathon?

Then came my first of many birthday celebrations. Sushi! (and a coconut lychee martini which I drank too fast to photograph)

the heart shaped roll was called the Cupid Roll.

the heart shaped roll was called the Cupid Roll.

I arrived at work today and these lovely gifts were waiting for me…

flowers and cupcakes....works for me!

flowers and cupcakes….works for me!

And now I better get back to work. I’ve got another celebratory dinner tonight and then tomorrow my running peeps and I are running the last 10 miles of the NYC Marathon route in preparation and then in the evening I’ll be partying it up!

Catch ya later.

Question: What’s your favorite tradition on your birthday? I always like to take a walk in the park and enjoy the Autumn leaves.Â