Why I love the Amity Island Running Club

Reason 1: We laugh. A lot.
Reason 2: We make running fun.
Reason 3: We make each other better runners.
Reason 4: We make filthy jokes that my Aunt Clara would have been proud of.
Reason 5: A post-race beer is a given.
Reason 6: Celine Dion and 90s Hip Hop

We're not now and will never be these people:

We will ALWAYS be these people:

                     

This club isn't about fartleks, or interval training, or ultra marathons. We are about pushing ourselves, doing our damndest, starting races together and meeting up again at the end. We're the kind of people that challenge ourselves and may be upset if we fall short of a race goal but are far from devastated by it. 

This is more about friendship and camaraderie than about running a PR every time we lace up the sneakers. The running is a common denominator, but one of many. The most significant being laughter, music and celebratory 8 am Ragnar beers.

A benefit from all this is that we're each improving our running. A big portion of that is being a part of a group that is loosely focused on running. Other factors include knowing our teammates are counting on us but, more importantly, that our teammates are pulling for us. There is nothing but positive energy with this group. Being a part of this has taken this runner-hater to a place I never thought I'd be, loving running.

Ragnar Cape Cod 2014 - Part 1

What an amazing experience! From attaching a giant shark fin to our rental van in the Walmart parking lot to celebratory 8 am beers after our final legs, Ragnar Cape Cod 2014 was a huge success for the Amity Island Running Club. 

We began our run by arriving at what we believed to be the start with time to spare, only to discover we were actually 20 minutes away from the start. We got to Hull and walked briskly down the boardwalk past all the giant rental vans, towards the tents, flags, and inflatable arch, all indicators that we had arrived at our destination. After trying to sneak out of the safety briefing we all sheepishly returned to the holding pen, avoiding the eyes of the volunteer who now felt he had to keep a closer eye on the Amity Island crew. 

Our team got off to a great start, 15 minutes past our assigned start time, but we started! Amanda had the first leg and we stopped a few times along the route to lend support, a bottle of water, an a high five. We did this during each of our first legs, with the second round? "Van Support" became slowing the van down enough as we drove by to shout "You good?!" and keep rolling to the next transition area. 

We made it through the first 6 legs and settled in a Gallo Ice arena for some rest around 3-4 in the afternoon. A few of us grabbed a little (VERY little) shut eye in the field, surrounded by other runners cocooned up in their sleeping bags fending off the slight chill and blocking out the cloudy afternoon sun. 

Once we got word that van 2 was in the vicinity we herded ourselves over to the start line as Beth Ann came strolling in from her beautiful, albeit steep, run over the Bourne Bridge. Amanda took off down the Cape Cod Canal (which turns 100 this year) bike path towards Sandwich. 

To be continued.....

                                             

Ragnar Cape Cod 2014

Here's a look at my legs in the upcoming Ragnar Cape Cod!

Half Marathon #1 in the books!

Whew! One down, more to come. After a long harsh winter, spring made herself known April 6 and in perfect timing. Newmarket NH was a great little town to experience my first half marathon. I got there early and met a few new friends, one woman who had just run a half marathon the day before and was there to run the 5k. The course went through the great brick building lined main street and out into local neighborhoods before winding through the forest on a hard packed dirt road. The last couple miles involve a heartbreaking (for me) out and back to a subdivision on a peninsula. From there you start back into the main street area, which is just in sight when the volunteers direct you to the right for a small detour and another hill! Once up that last hill (last of many, did I mention that?) it's all downhill to the finish line. At this point I turned to the runner next to me who was kicking it up a notch and said "Nice work, finish strong!" to which he replied "Together?". I nodded and tried to keep pace as we sprinted for the finish, unfortunately this sprint began about 300 meters out and I just didn't have it in me to stay with him so I cheered him on as he sprinted down to the line. We shared a high five and a smile at the end, it was a great day.

At mile 11 I wanted to quit. My lower back was killing me and my legs felt like dead weight. If I came around a bend to another incline, regardless the size, I was cursing in my head. I find it nearly impossible to believe my pace at the end was the same at the beginning but it was. I was able to average 9:07/ miles and finished in 2:02:39. I had secretly been hoping against hope that I could pull it off in 2:00. Then, on the bus ride in the woman in the seat ahead of me replied "oh, it's hilly" when I inquired about the course. At that point I adjusted my goal to 2:20 so I was quite thrilled with my finish.

I had a wonderful time at this race, it was well organized and everyone was courteous and friendly.  There were musicians throughout the course, even a banjo player playing a tune and hula-hooping simultaneously. There was a yard full of red-solo-cup bearing folks cheering us on and such great support throughout the whole race. Best signs? "Keep Going! Keep Going! (That's what she said)" sitting next to "Good Job Random Stranger!". Great day. 

At the Finish Line in 2:02:39   

The Route   

First 5k of the year

This race is one that I have a great memory of from years ago. Every few years the island fire/ems/police get all amped up about fitness. About 5 years ago they made an "emergency services relay" part of this 5k. It was the one and only year this was done and Edgartown entered a team. In a department of over 60 people we could only find 2 to run so we recruited my friend Joel whom I ran track with in HS, he is an assistant coach with the MVRHS team today.  

So we had myself, Joel, and Chris Hargy; Firefighter, EMT, Sheriff's Deputy. Chris was the kind of guy that was always up for something fun like this. Now let me remind you, this is a 5k. 3.1 miles. A relay? Really? Yes. It was ridiculous but we did it. The 3 or 4 teams flew through the course, I was lucky, 3rd leg, all downhill. Chris? 2nd mile, all UPHILL. He was a champ. I remember crossing the finish line and seeing him puking in the woods, he gave 110% that day and for what? bragging rights? Not really. An award? None that I know of. He was just that kind of guy, he gave you his best, and even though he was puking his guts out he still managed to give me a big smile and a high five.

He always had a big smile for everyone. He was a quiet guy in large situations but if you were, say, stationed at the school kitchen cooking bacon and sausage for hours during the annual pancake breakfast at the fire station? He was a blast, especially if his wife, Molly, was there too. Together they could keep a bystander in stitches with their humorous bickering.

Chris left us in august of 2012. One of those losses that leaves us all reeling, questioning, hurting, and wondering why. Cancer SUCKS. 

I don't run because of Chris, I run for other reasons. That being said, whenever I run East Chop, or drive by the park where that race ends, or ride in the ladder truck, or check the ambulance, I think of him and miss him.

Side note: I blew my 5k best time out of the water :) came in 5th for women, 15th overall!

2 months till Ragnar, 2 weeks till Great Bay 1/2 Marathon

The Amity Island Running Club is in full swing! No, not training and doing speed work. We're deciding on logos, what shirts we want and if we order koozies or not. I think we go for the koozies.

I got away from 2-3 milers last week and cranked out a couple 4 mile jaunts. It's starting to feel good to get going a little bit further and although I'm nervous, I am feeling good about the Great Bay 1/2 Marathon next month. 

Hockey is winding down, 4 skates left till the rink closes. After that my running will probably be bumped from 2-3x a week to 3-4x a week with strength training worked in. Having the extra daylight is so refreshing and invigorating! 

I managed to get in a 6 mile run Sunday, the weather was beautiful and I am really enjoying adding to my go-to loop. I've been using Running Map to get an idea of miles and really like the fact that they let you do a hybrid map, showing the satellite view with the roads. I've been using the Old Dump loop (3.75 miles) as a base and adding on to each end. I've noticed, thanks to RunKeeper and listening my own body, that I actually tend to speed up towards the end of my run. It just goes to show that the first mile really is the toughest (for me at least). At the distances I'm currently running, the biggest challenge is mental, the body can handle it, it's just a matter of getting the mind on board.