Running the Boston Marathon

It wasn't until I was on the plane ride home with my sleeping child in the seat next to me

that I finally got the chance to think about the weekend that I was departing from.

The 50 new faces who shared their gut-wrenchingly heartfelt stories

and the immediate connection I made with each of them.

The way my heart hiccuped when I noticed that Rick Hoyt had slipped into the room

and knowing that I was about to meet my hero.

The moment I was swept up by 3-time Boston Marathon winner Uta Pippig

and knowing how lucky I was to not only have her as a coach, but as a friend.

And finally, hearing my brother tell me the night before my race that he was proud of me.

I wept like a child.

But perhaps the most exciting part of it all,

and what should come as no surprise at all,

was the 26.2 from Hopkington to Boston.

In what would be revealed as record-setting heat,

the hottest city in America on that day,

on one of the most challenging courses in the world:

Team Hoyt lined up to make our victory lap.

Sweat. 

Good god, lots of sweat.

Tears. 

In my case, uncontrollable sobs.

Pain. 

A jammed toe, two funky knees and cramps.

Dizziness. 

Hydration took on a new definition.

Nausea.

Flooding your body with water, gatorade and Gu mixed in with 90-degree weather = gross.

Fear.

Watching people fall to the ground, rushed by ambulance and unconscious is frightful.

Question.

About 4,000 registered runners deferred this year's race.

But never ever once did I think about quitting.

This was the day I dreamt about for 6 months straight.

The moment I had been waiting for.

This was my victory lap

to celebrate the $10,275 I raised for the Hoyt Foundation,

to remember the 175 aprons I made to pay for my hotel room and plane tickets,

to honor my brother on the 29th anniversary of his accident,

to make my family and friends proud,

and to fulfill my heart to an extent that I didn't know was possible.

Next to childbirth, this was the most difficult and painful thing I've ever endured,

and yet, so incredibly enjoyable. 

The first 13 miles were hard. 

But I had my running partner, Jenny, with me. 

We pushed each other, reminded each other to hydrate.

I checked on her torn glutes, and she made sure my knees were holding up.

But high noon hits hard when on shadeless asphalt,

and running turned to jogging, 

jogging turned to awkward fast-steps,

fast-steps turned to walking.

We had our occasional burst of wind.

Teddy Bruschi.

Boston College.

Running into teammates.

But nothing would give us as much determination 

as when we actually found Dick and Rick on the course. 

Although slowed down to a walking pace,

they were in an extreme mindset. 

We followed. 

Then more teammates found us and joined.

Before we knew it, there was a strong group of 10 of us,

giving Dick and Rick their much deserved space,

but backing them up like an army.

For 6 miles, we walked (in my case limped)

and watched as our heroes marched on to their 30th Boston finish.

But they weren't just our heroes,

the entire crowd was moved, 

or oftentimes were waiting just to see them pass.

I knew how much they meant to me, 

but didn't entirely comprehend how much they meant to the community until that hike.

These two are what the Boston Marathon stands for.

Determination. Perseverance. Inspiration.

We made all made our final hike up to Boylston,

most of us at that point plagued with cramps, exhaustion and pain,

and then something amazing happened.

The other runners parted,  

and without a soul 100 yards in front of behind of us,

we all flew down Boylston to the finish. 

Together as Team Hoyt.

The crowds went wild. 

I crossed the finish line with Dick and Rick Hoyt on their 30th Boston Marathon.

It was a moment that I will never forget and will cherish forever.

Running the Boston Marathon with Team  Hoyt was not a chapter in my life,

it was a stepping stone to a new life.

I will run in my Team singlet in every race I run.

This will be my last blog post.

Until October 2012...when I start training for Boston 2013 as a Team Hoyt entrant.

The weekend in pictures:

A Lesson in Running

If anyone ever attempted to argue that running was easy

I would probably judo-chop their ass.

Today was hard.

Physically.

Mentally.

Hard.

I wasn't feeling top-notch, although I wasn't feeling bad enough to postpone.

Hal Higgy told me to run 9.

Uta advised runners that we should be at 11.

So I did what Kellyn always does: what I wanted.

I felt that I would satisfy Uta and impress Hal with a center 10-miler. 

I hadn't run 10 miles since my half marathon.

I didn't even run 10 miles during my training for the half.

Actually, I told people I did, but it was a complete lie. 

I only did 9.25.

So today's run started in pretty mild spirits: not too pumped, not too much dread:

I was wearing my new running skirt though,

so that helped the mood.

I am also seen wearing my most favorite bandana.

Clearly it has no luck value to it,

because by the time I reached mile 5

I had what I will call a "Runner's Crash."

I haven't any idea if that is a real term, 

or if this even happens to other runners,

but I had to walk. 

I've never walked on a run. 

Even at street lights or to let cars pass, I jog in place.

THIS WAS DEFEAT.

My body was all like, "Slow the hizzle down, girlfriend."

And then I remembered the great phrase:

It's not a sprint, it's a marathon.

SO, I allowed myself 2-1/2 minutes to walk

and I talked myself out of calling husband to pick me up at St. Charles and Audubon.

I regulated my breathing,

did a little strecheroo,

and thought of my brother, Rick and all the others unable to be running a 5th mile

and their LIFE marathons.

I strapped my water bottle thing-a-magig back on my hand,

powered on some Chamillionaire

and I was back in business. 

Now, as some of you are well aware,

the only hill in New Orleans looks like this:

So I've had to take on to parking garages to train.

I say that like I've already done it.

That is another lie.

Today was my first day of parking garages,

so this was a lovely surprise:

Good thing I wasn't jogging.

I was running that piece.

I had this whole plan in my head of the cops chasing me down

and me screaming, 

"Don't stop me, or you will be the reason that there is a heartbreak in Heartbreak Hill!!!"

The good thing about parking garages are this:

Am I not the only one who sees the holy light?

So two parking garages and 3 post miles later,

I arrived home.

I wanted to puke.

I could hardly bend my legs.

I could hardly straighten my legs.

I needed orange Gatorade.

I wanted a massage.

I longed for a nap.

I secretly hoped no one was home 

so I could lay face-first on a cool hardwood floor without being pegged by a Cheezit 

or a Thomas the Train tank engine.

After all of those feelings went away,

I felt awesome.

I immediately called my Dad 

because I've always felt the need to athletically impress him.

I called Husband to let him know that I was alive. 

And then I sat down to write this blog because I didn't want to lose my thoughts.

I wanted to remember this exact post on my next run

and any run to follow.

This isn't a sprint, it's a marathon.

I do not follow that in any way, shape or form in any aspect of my life,

but I feel so refreshed knowing that I can control that in a run.

I worked with my body today: I listened, I pushed, I held back and I learned. 

Somehow my worst-timed run became the most inspirational. 

Now, it's time for a celebratory beer.

Who's buying?

It Is Cold

It's a bitter and frigid day here in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

It's 50 degrees.

Considering I was wearing a tank top and jorts under 48 hours ago,

I find it the least bit strange that this is my attire for a quick and easy 3 mile run today:

I pray

(yes, occasionally I pray)

that the weather gods will be kind to this Florida heart on April 16, 2012. 

2012

I haven't made a solid new years resolution in years.

I don't know if it's because I weirdly mixed it up with Lent,

meaning I could never commit to giving up any of my guilty pleasures

(i.e. McDonald's double cheeseburgers, Coca-Cola classic and cursing),

or if it's my classic scatter brain that couldn't focus on one single resolution...

But this year it's pretty plain and simple,

and oddly enough,

there is nothing plain or simple about it.

Running for Ryan and the Hoyt Foundation wrapped up my 2011.

The last 3 months of that year (weird that it's past-tense already),

were totally dominated by this incredible force that took over my body, mind and soul.

I am so proud to announce that I have already met my team's required fundraising amount.

As of December 28, 2011, Running for Ryan has raised an astounding $5,525 for the Hoyts!!

I nearly fell out of my chair upon receiving a jaw-dropping donation from the SoHo Tavern,

which I had the pleasure of visiting over Christmas break,

to push us over that goal amount.

Some of you may be thinking,

"Thank god. Perhaps the Facebook updates and blog links will end."

Sorry to disappoint, my dears,

but there is truth to the saying to reach for the moon and you'll end up amongst the stars.

I haven't a clue as to how far up the moon is,

and I haven't ended my quest to reach it.

Running for Ryan isn't about reaching a set goal,

as I had my (well, my husband's) credit card on file fully prepared to make that final donation payment;

it's about raising awareness, and we won't stop until we have reached as many souls as possible.

So my new years resolution is:

To plainly and simply do everything I can to be the best member of Team Hoyt that I can possibly be.

I've raised the money,

yes,

but the world has yet to learn how passionately I feel.

You have, since you are here reading this,

but I feel there are others who haven't.

However, there is more to this team than raising awareness and a few thousand George Washingtons...

I have to run a marathon.

That's 26 miles, plus what I feel will be the toughest 285 yards of my life,

with the world's most impressive athletes,

including Dick and Rick Hoyt.

I need to train smarter. 

Eat better.

Budget my time. 

This is my first and it most certainly will be well done. 

I just bought two running skirts to ignite my celebration. 

I received fabulous gifts from my husband, parents and sister-in-law all geared towards running.

I've got all that I need.

It's on like Donkey Kong, ya'll.

So 2012,

I'm ready for you.

You will bring longer runs than I thought possible to run.

A Boston Marathon bib.

A Boston Marathon medal.

More minds thinking about something perhaps they hadn't before.

My family and friends coming together to support a common cause.

More aprons.

Hydration.

Pasta.

Knee braces.

Tears.

Pain.

Stretching.

Blog posts.

New running shoes.

Gu.

Runs in Audubon Park.

Fundraising ideas.

Sponsors.

Love.

Support.

Awareness.

This is going to be a great year.

A year to celebrate.

Cheers to the 2011 happenings that have brought me to 2012.

Runner's Knee

SO - I sort of took last week off...

which just so happened to be my first week of official training....

which made me scared considering I'm the only non-marathon runner on my team.

My knee didn't hurt,

but it most certainly didn't feel good.

A sort of twisted, not-aligned-correctly sort of feel.

But, thanks to a little rest and some great advice from friends and teammates,

I am back up and running.

Literally.

Making decent time, too.

I also invested in a knee band.

I'm a sucker for new accessories, so this was a fun purchase.

A little disappointed of the lack of color choices,

but will gladly take royal blue over knee pain.

(I am also praying to the tan gods...)

Today on my run, I gladly wanted to blame all knee issues on the roads of NOLA.

Observe:

(Look - this one is a big as a person)

I mean, good god, New Orleans.

I would also like to announce that we are finally racking in a solid group of sponsors!

Check 'em out on the side board!

We are happy to welcome:

Renshaw Property Management

SoHo Tavern
Just Cheer!

Cold Storage Craft Brewery

To the rest of you,

we went to see chocolate Santa this weekend,

and he said that the spirit of Christmas was in the spirit of giving.

Merry Christmas to you all from Running for Ryan!
If you want to give a holiday gift to our cause, click here!

Santa is Watching...

Donate! Sponsor! Spread the word! Tell your boss!

Get those donations in before the year ends. 

Write it off on your taxes! 

Feel good about supporting such a fabulous cause!

Rack in some good Karma! 

Santa is watching...

Also, did you all see the new links on the right-side of the page?
Memphis Pedicab - AWESOME
Bella Petrella Sauces - DELICIOUS
Eddie DeBartolo - HOLY MOLY

Help us out: Click here to DONATE! 

And So The Training Begins...

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In exactly 18 weeks I will be de-boarding a bus in Hopkington, 

more than likely freezing my tush off,

and approaching Runner's Village to hang with some of the world's greatest athletes,

anxiously preparing to run the oldest and one of the most challenging marathons

in. the. world:

The Boston flippin' Marathon.

It will be the 29th anniversary of my brother's accident,

the 30th anniversary Boston run for Rick and Dick Hoyt,

and it will be my first 26.2 miles... ever.

My family will be there,

I'll be running with a great team,

and I'm pretty sure that there will be a great deal of friends and supporters

waiting anxiously for a Facebook update...

I can't express the amount of love I feel already,

so I'm positive that I will be a complete wreck of emotions come April 16, 2012.

So today training begins. 

18 weeks.

That's 72 runs. 

18 Sundays of running parking garages (so I don't keel on a hill).

446 miles.
That will all hopefully lead me to the anticipated 26.2 in under 4 hours.

Those numbers don't scare me whatsoever.

(Ok, that's a huge lie)

But I honestly couldn't be happier or more excited.

We've had over 30 donations.

I just finished apron #67 with 26 in the queue.

I have a husband who has learned to tune out the pounding of a sewing machine,

A family who gets just as excited as me for each $1 I get.

 I have three sponsors to date.

And I will hopefully get a running fanny pack for Christmas.

Tis the season to be jolly and grateful.

I'm thankful for all of you!

Those who have donated,

those who have ordered an apron,

those who have spread the word,

and those who thought about us yesterday, today or tomorrow.

You have made this incredible dream a reality!

Help cheer me on as I take the first steps in my training!

Like us on Facebook!

Share our blog!

Donate!

Find sponsors!

Let's get this party started.

No Musica? Que?

It has recently been brought to my attention that iPods are 

"frowned upon"

 in the Boston Marathon.

This is a snapshot of me upon reading this piece of information:

I'm sorry, what? Que pasa? Pardon? 

Somewhere, my husband is reading this and smirking. 

His non-technological, flip-phone self is also an iPodless runner.

No tunes? No jams? No sprinting to Flo Rida?

Perhaps Phidippides wouldn't have keeled over had he been listening to "Rock Lobster."

I know for a fact that the sounds of the B52s increase running stability and speed.

This is all coming from a girl who's iPod died before her run the other day,

and she listened to the ringtones on her phone. 

Which by the way, was entirely hilarious. 

My playlist included:

California Love by 2Pac

96 Tears by ? and the Mysterians

Brown Sugar by D'Angelo (not really sure how that gone on there??)

Electric Feel by MGMT

I Put a Spell on You by CCR

Insane in the Membrane by Cypress Hill

Loser by Beck

Motown Philly by Boyz II Men

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee

among many other completely random and either late-night or slightly-tipsy song choices.

Two of which that totally surprised me as far as pumping me up goes, were:

Blue (Da Ba Dee) by Eifel 65, which is still a completely and weirdly awesome song.

Keep their Heads Ringing by Dr. Dre, which used to be my favorite song in the 5th grade.

I imagine that scared the crap our of Barb. (My mother)

So what's a tune-lovin' gal to do?

Some people love to run music-less to think.

I run to music to not think.

I think all day long. 

I think about work, about aprons, fundraising, about what to make for dinner and all the laundry I have to do, the bills I have to pay, the friends I need to call, how I can't seem to remember to get dog food, tuition cost increases, the cost of peanut butter, how I really need running pants, but would rather spend the money on Red Hot Chili Pepper tickets, and so on. Oh yeah, I work 8-hours a day, too.

What should I do? 

Are they for realsies?

It's not like I'm up for the $800k prize money.

I'm there to pump it up, man.

Regardless, I'm downloading some new jams today.

Are there any requests or dedications? What do you like to run to?

Wait a minute.
Could this finally be my excuse to whip out a walkman?