I generally don’t like to wish time away but, I have to say I’m pretty happy it’s Friday and that this week is a wrap!
I’m linking up with Angela of Happy Fit Mama who is currently training for the Mt. Washington Road Race. If you have never heard of this race, it boasts “one hill,” which is awesome, until you find out that “one hill” lasts almost 8 miles with an average grade of 12%. Yeah, she’s pretty badass.
Enough about Angela…let’s talk about what I want to give a big ol’ high five to this week:
1. MARATHON MONDAY
In case you’re not a total running nerd like I am, this coming Monday, April 18 is known as “marathon Monday” in the city of Boston. You may have heard of the race, even if you’re not a running nerd. I have several friends running it this year, including Sarah, Natalie and Sandra and I cannot wait to virtually cheer them on!
I ran Boston on 2007, attended and hold a degree from Boston University, so the city holds a very special place in my heart. I qualified to run Boston this year but, I decided to chase some triathlon dreams instead. Every time I think I don’t want to run another marathon, I think of Boston and how I have some unfinished business there.
The picture below was taken with a real camera, since 2007 was pre-camera phones! It’s of my husband and I, after we were reunited, at the finish line. I spent a little time in the medical tent since there was a nor’easter that day and I was becoming hypothermic.
If you want to read about the top American woman to race Boston on Monday, check this out:
Neely Spence Gracey Will Make Her Marathon Debut in Boston | WomensRunning.com
2. NEW YORK CITY
Moving from one great city to the next! I will not be in Boston this weekend but in New York City where the celebration of my boys turning seven continues. We’re surprising them with tickets to see The Lion King! They are going to poop themselves when we tell them and I cannot wait for the surprise.
Any time I hear this opening song, I get chills. I cannot imagine what it will be like, live on stage!
3. MY NEW AMBASSADORSHIP
I was so happy to announce this week that I am the very first ambassador to the Fleet Feet specialty running store in Longmeadow, Massachusetts!
Me and one of the owners (Jill) at the store on Monday.
Jill (pictured above) was the first one to figure out my shoe issues so I could run the NYC Marathon without the pain I ran the NJ Marathon in. She was the one to introduce me to my now beloved Adidas Boost shoes and I could never thank her enough, even though at the time, I looked at her like she was nuts for suggesting what I thought was a soccer shoe, for running. Obviously she’s a lot smarter than I am.
I’m really looking forward to all that we can do for the local running community and we have already started planning. For all the local peeps, I will let you know when the first event is!
4. RUNNER’S CONNECT ARTICLE
As you may have noticed, I do a little freelance work, and when Tina Muir contacted me to do this piece for Runner’s Connect I was intrigued from the start. The piece started with what seems like a very simple question: Do negative splits produce a faster race time?
Running a “negative split” means running the second half of your race distance faster than the first. It’s advice almost every single runner has both taken and given, for what seems like decades. “Don’t go out too fast” has become a mantra of sorts in the running and racing community, but, Runner’s Connect wanted to know, is there actual evidence to back this up?
I was giddy with the research they provided me and dove head-first into the project. This, sadly, cannot be said about all the topics I cover so I was excited to take this on!
The end result completely blew me away, as well as the surprising answer to the simple question of “Do negative splits produce a faster race?”
See for yourself:
Lastly, I don’t want to speak too soon but, dare I say I don’t think it’s going to snow again around these parts. The weather predicted for the weekend is the best forecast we have had in months and I truly hope we actually reach 70 degrees. It will feel like 100!
Have a great weekend everyone! See you on the other side…
What do you want to high five for Friday?
First off, I really hope your boys do NOT poop themselves about The Lion King. They may be 7 now but you know mom will have to be involved somehow, someway in helping with the clean up. 🙂 hahaha! Have a fantastic weekend and soak up the amazing weather that is coming our way. High 5’s all around!
HAHAHA!! I think they would be WAY more upset than me if they did that 🙂 Thanks Angela! Have a great weekend.
That’s exciting about becoming an ambassador to the Fleetfeet. I think it’s going to be awesome for you to put together some cool events and heck I would even want to travel up there and come!
I hope you video record your sons when you tell them about the tickets. That is going to be awesome.
OMG that would be amazing!! I would love to have you come visit 🙂
Great idea! I will definitely record it! Thanks Hollie. Have a great weekend.
Congrats on that ambassadorship! Well deserved, really.
How about that new Lion King movie? My boys are too big for all that, but I want to see it. Looks amazing.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks Wendy! I really love the store and the owners so it’s a win/win.
Do you mean The Jungle Book?? I want to see it too and my boys are too scared!? I was shocked but, since it’s not really animated I guess they’re afraid. I need to toughen these boys up!
I’m ready for spring/summer too! I know this winter was a mild one in comparison to past years, but the cold still overstayed its welcome lol! I’ve seen the Lion King on Broadway and can attest to its grandeur – especially that first song… you and your boys are going to LOVE it!!!
AMEN! My bike ride was SUPER windy today even though the sun was shining and I’m so over it!!
Cannot wait to see it on stage! Thanks Olive!
Oooooh! I won a pair of Adidas shoes at a race I did last year and the guy told me to pick which style I wanted and he’d mail them to me. I really wanted to try the Energy Boost but for some reason I picked the more minimal shoe for racing. I regret not trying the Energy. I’ve heard so many good things about it.
I’ve worn Asics Nimbus for years which are neutral, but I’m developing problems in my right foot/leg now because my right foot pronates a bit so I’m thinking I need a bit more support. Energy are neutral, right? Or are they like the Ravenna in that they have a little something?
The Boost are amazing but they are more neutral and have less than the Revenna. They are definitely worth a try though!!
I love your “real picture” with your husband post-Boston… those are the best…. I read that Runner’s Connect article, and my goodness there was so much data…. a great piece…. I also saw that Women’s Running tweeted the article to all it’s readers, as I’m sure many other sites are probably doing the same! I’ll high five you… have a great time at Lion King… I’d accuse you of being too good of a mom, but I think that you are going to enjoy the present you are giving them just as much as them if not more, so I won’t;)
Thank you so much Paria! I did not even know about the WR tweet!! I’ll have to go stalk their account now…
I’m definitely going to enjoy this one myself. Who knows? Maybe I can sneak in an early morning Central Park run and channel my inner Paria? I see a jumping photo in my future 🙂
CRAZY exciting about Fleet feet!!!! SO happy and proud of you! You will represent them well. I’m going to message you later, is your show on saturday or sunday? We will be in the city all day saturday. You will love it. It is really one of the most visually stunning shows — and I saw it in high school lol enjoy the 100 degrees!!!
Thank you!!!
Our show is on Saturday! Message me!!
The Lion King is amazing – so excited for you and the boys! I’m sure you know this, but make sure they watch the aisles in the first number, so they can see all the animals close up. Have a great time!
I did NOT know that! I will make sure they are watching. Thanks Dana!
I want to high five you! Fantastic job on the Runner’s Connect article, Allie! Congrats as well on Fleet Feet!
I wanted to see Lion King in London, but we only had so much time. Enjoy the show!
The temperature reached 85 degrees here for one day and it certainly felt 100…and Seattle did not have nearly as cold as you did!
Thanks so much Laura!
I cannot believe 85 degrees already!? Today was one of the first days it was over 50 here. We ate dinner outside 🙂
Lion King is AMAZING!!! I was obsessed with the movie (and was not exactly young when it came out I think I was 13?) and the show is just…breathtaking and chill inducing, and glad Dana above mentioned to watch the aisles. ENJOY!
It was better than I even thought it would be! I would see it again and again and, of course, the boys were just over the moon about it. They had never seen anything like it!!
I hope that you all had a great time at the Lion King!! What a fun surprise for the boys. And congrats on the ambassadorship! That’s awesome. And the Runner’s Connect article was awesome. So much great information. Happy Marathon Monday!
Thanks Christine. It was THE BEST and the weather could not have been any better!!
Hoping all the Boston runners are not too hot today…
Thank you my friend for your support, cheers and words of encouragement!! It meant SO much to me!!! Yep, that heat certainly did come our way on Marathon Monday and boy it was a doozy. Heat and wind = not good marathon conditions, but we did it!! 🙂
Loved your Runner’s Connect article!! Very, very interesting info and a lot to think about. Well done!
Congrats again on your Fleet Feet gig – they are lucky to have you!!
I know your boys must have died with excitement about Lion King – such a fun birthday surprise!! xoxox
I was so inspired by all of you because those conditions were so tough! I seriously do not think anyone I knew who was running came out of that race as planned, but I know you will all be stronger because of it. Way to go Nat!!!
Thank you so much for all your support and encouragement. It means a lot!