Hips Don't Lie...

Greetings from week 18 of my 18-week marathon training plan. I am in the middle of an unheard-of resting phase, the goal being to rest my hip to the point where I can successfully complete this Sunday's New York City marathon.

Yes, it's here....already.

It seems like only yesterday that I was starting the cycle again of training, yoga, swimming, weight lifting, oh and yes, running. All was going really well until it wasn't. All the additional training, hill days, sprint days, double sessions - were going according to plan, until a poorly-executed yoga move left me with a whole new schedule - one that included ice baths, heating pads, KT tape, acupuncture, chiropractic and lots more swimming.

I'm confident that I am over the hurdle, but my so-called "marathon plan" has had to be adjusted slightly. When I last left you in August, I had lofty goals of finishing before sundown while feeling like I could lift a small building above my head.

I will be extremely grateful if I can finish this Sunday. I will, as they say, "eat the elephant one bite at a time", meaning that I will mentally run the course in small, manageable increments (I don't actually eat elephant, by the way).

I will post next week sometime - in the meantime, wish  me well and send me all the good vibes and love that you possibly can.

Donations are still graciously being accepted - here! http://mskcc.convio.net/site/TR/FredsTeamEvents/FredsTeam?px=2654113&pg=personal&fr_id=2721

Peace and Love,

Paula
xo

Third Time's the Charm

So - here we are, at it again! Running, training, fundraising and blogging, in no particular order. I left you last year at around this time, promising that I would report back on a semi-regular basis, trying to do a better job with the blogging business than the year before.

Sorry!

There's so much to say, again! Last year was my second go-round at the TCS NYC Marathon, fundraising and running for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's charity fundraising team, Fred's Team. Last year, our team of four called ourselves team Carpe Divas and succeeded in raising $18,500 for cancer research. The marathon was easier and less scary, albeit not without a dramatic late-in-the-day (mile 22!) visit to the medical tent by yours truly. Fortunately, the wizards who inhabit this tent I speak of fixed me up, got rid of my leg spasm and sent me on my merry way, a mere additional 4.2 miles, to collect my medal at the finish line.

You live and learn, they say....which brings me to this year. Yes, I just can't stay away. Strangely, this marathon bug has really taken hold of my now almost 56-year-old brain and body, and I spend inordinate amounts of time researching better, more efficient ways to train and accomplish my goal. High on my list this year is the book, "Older, Faster, Stronger" by Margaret Webb, chock full of advice on training, diet and so forth. So what's new this year? More yoga, of course, more strength training, and the addition of speed and hill training days. Previously, I was content to just get the miles in but now am hoping that these changes and adjustments might get me across the finish line a teeny bit quicker and feeling a bit more strong. Also "timed carbs" and twice-a-day workouts during the shorter-run days. We'll see how that goes. It's all fun and games until my work schedule resumes on August 31.

Also new is our team name - the Carpe Divas have become Philip's Angels, in honor of a dear friend, Philip Gray, who was lost to cancer this past June. His is just one of too many stories that so many of us have experienced, and we run to honor him and to continue to fund research and provide hope to cancer patients and their families. You can read a bit more about Philip on my fundraising page, which is right here - http://mskcc.convio.net/site/TR?px=2654113&pg=personal&fr_id=2721

The third time's the charm, they say. I think the first two times were pretty darn charming in their own right, but that's just me. I will keep you posted!

Thanks and much love and gratitude as always,

Paula
xoxo