This process of training for a marathon means that every day begins with an “Ask”.  Something the day is asking of me.   Week 1 starts easy, and it builds for 18 weeks….taking me to a taper week – and then straight to the Starting Line of Race Day.    The days of the week play out similarly.  Monday starts out lighter (it’s typically a recovery run from the Sunday long run), and the miles build up over the days as the week progresses  – culminating in a long run on Sunday.  This Monday (Actual Day 1 of the whole shooting match) started easy…..3 miles.  Tuesday is a Rest Day (luv, luv, luv).  Wednesday and Thursday were asking for 4 miles.  Each.  Greedy little monsters!  On top of their “Ask”, I was “Asking” myself for more.  Run the miles Diane.  Find out what you are made of.  I believe you are made of “more than walking”.    Go out into the big world….and find out!! Read the rest of this entry →

Remember the old commercials, “When EF Hutton Talks, People Listen”?  Well….my version of this would probably have to be, “When Marathon Brian Talks, I Listen.”  Sheesh Diane, what the heck does that have to do with Valentine’s Day?  Well, it’s a couple of degrees of separation, but I’ll tell ya! Read the rest of this entry →

Eleven Years ago today — I was working in 7 World Trade Center on the 39th floor.  I was working for Citigroup Asset Management at the time, and on Tuesday mornings — we had a global operations call at 7am ET.  By 846am, the day was well underway.  I was in my office, which had a window overlooking the courtyard, with the North Tower right outside my window.

What happened next sounded like a loud, deep, solid thud.  I stood from my chair, walked to the window, and looked out the window, down to the ground — thinking something very large, and very heavy must have been dropped in the street.  It was then that I saw all the paper.  Tiny bits of paper falling from the sky.  Followed by a rush of smoke.  Followed by a ball of fire.  I backed slowly  out of my office,  — looking to the right, I found myself staring at the man in the next office — who had just done the exact same thing.  I said, “Holy Shit, they bombed the building.” Read the rest of this entry →

So today is the day.  Day 1 of my 18 week Marathon Training.   It feels like it has taken forever to get here.  To the Beginning.  I’m not sure why I make such a big deal of it — I suppose it’s because I am a pretty structured, deadline-oriented person.  Just running, for no reason……has been outside of my comfort zone.  I LIKE following a schedule.  I LIKE having a purpose.  Well, starting today, this trait is going to serve me well – because GIRL,  do I know how to follow a schedule!!  And GIRL, have I got a Schedule in front of me!!  18 weeks of daily learning.  18 weeks into the unknown.  18 weeks from the NEW me…to an even NEW-ER me.  K.E.W.L.! Read the rest of this entry →

60 degrees.  Have you ever heard anything sound better?  Well, it felt JUST as good, this morning. Read the rest of this entry →

Overcast skies were overhead as I biked to Weight Watchers this morning.  The temp was glorious.  Ooooh, I am getting excited, anticipating the change of seasons.  Fall, autumn, whatever you are called — come to mama! Read the rest of this entry →

I failed today.  I set out to run 3 miles.  Just 3 measly miles.  As I came down the hill at 1.5 miles….I stopped.  I tried to talk myself out of it.  But it felt like it just happened.  Just like that.  I heard myself say, I’m stopping.  Then I did.  I felt ashamed.  I walked home from there, feeling like a failure.  Doubting my ability to do any of this.  Not 3 miles, and certainly not a Marathon.  I can’t do this.  Turns out — I was right. Read the rest of this entry →

Two miles.  That’s all.  I decided to try to break my habit of looking at my Garmin watch so much.  Two times.  Only two times would I look at it.  At the end of mile 1.  And again at the end of mile 2.  Those were two r.e.a.l.l.y. long miles….LOL Read the rest of this entry →

Waking up to a little bit of rain this morning was a bit of a treat.  It took the heat down a notch — just enough to push my mental strength over the top of the brim, so my cup-runneth-over.  The time had come….it’s time to run the Real HILL.  The RealMcCoy. Oh Baby!  Let’s Do IT! Read the rest of this entry →