A brick for Bruce

So, I registered for the race back in February, but they sent me a brochure anyway. Out of curiosity I flipped through it to see if there was anything new. Apparently there is a park at Broad St. and Somerville Ave. that is being revitalized.

The sidewalk on the Broad St. Run side of the park will be repaved using the bricks and will be designed to highlight the “ten miles” of the Broad St. Run course. The first bricks purchased will be installed starting at “mile one” near Somerville Ave. (http://www.broadstreetrun.com/Commemorative_Bricks.htm - Please excuse the citation; it comes from all of you top-notch Council Rock educators.)

Anyway, Kelly and I will be purchasing a brick for Bruce. I'm not sure what it will say yet, but we have six lines of 20 characters we can fill, any suggestions?
So before next years race we'll have to walk down and find Bruce's brick.

Workouts for Weeks 12 and 13 are posted!!! Race day is less than 5 weeks away!!!

Keep up the work and if you have been slacking... Get your butt in Gear!!! We have a crew of team stans members that will be also on hand at the Team Stans after party tent! This is going to be an awesome event for obviously a great cause. Lets keep working hard and know that Bruce is cheering us on from start to finish!

Can't believe it

After a therapeutic 4 mile run with Joann on Friday I was ready for a lovely little run today after the rain let up. At mile 5 round NE high school I was assaulted by a squirrel. Now I'm 90% sure that the squirrel did not have rabies but I used my lightening fast side step to dodge the squirrel as it began to hurl nuts at me. (I don't make this up) At that point I thought about giving up. Instead, and if I didn't gmap it, I wouldn't believe it, I ran 8.3 in an hour and 40 minutes. (That's why it's now hailing.)

Definitely 8 Miles!

We definitely ran 8 miles, thanks to Ronny biking the route for us. We felt every inch of every mile....not one of us seemed to enjoy the process very much, but it felt good to be done and to now know we can handle Broad Street without fail. There seemed to be a fugitive on the loose in the park as we were joined by helicopters, police, rescue squads and Ron on his bike. Perhaps someone will have more info on the down low when we return on Monday. There was the hope that it was a mad killer who would pop out of the woods and put us out of our misery - I know that's what I was wishing around the third hill. The picture does not show the agony of the run - I'm certain because it was over!

Leprechaun Run 2009

Along with over 1100 others, several of us ran the 2009 Leprechaun Run along West River Drive. Wendy, Heather, Elizabeth, Lisa, her cousin-in-law Megan, and I set out during the wee hours of the morning on Saturday, Match 14th. Not as wee an hour as Broad Street will be, but wee enough for 7 weeks prior! Believe me when I say that we saw all types...a guy that ran the whole thing while juggling, an Irish chick who ran with a huge Guiness cardboard shamrock on her back, as well as others wearing their tiaras and tutus. Personally, I plan on doing it again...next time with a pair of Shamrock tights, a green feather boa or maybe even a green curly wig.

Despite the 5 miles of sideways-slanted pavement, I think we were all rather pleased with our performances and had a pretty good time! The breakfast we had after was pretty tasty too!

pre-race

post-race

a gorgeous day to be in the city!

Absolutely 8 Miles!!!

7.8, 8.3, a cool 8...whatever!!! As far as I am concerned it was 8 in Tyler with FIVE hills and that means we are all ready for Broad Street with a heck of a lot of time remaining! Way to go gang! See...I told you all - the long run on Friday is the way to go. Don't you feel great now? You can rest clear and easy for the next two days. Enjoy it, because it starts up again on Monday!

Workouts are up!

I apoligize for the delay but workouts are up for the remainder of this week and into next week. I was away on vacation over the weekend and realized yesterday afternoon that the workouts were not posted for this week... OOPS. Lets keep updating our accomplishments, photos, etc!!! This is the time where we need to stay tough and push through our training... Any extra boost or motivation you can give each other will go a long way!
Way to Go Team Stans... Keep it up!
Joe

Did I ever mention...

Have I ever mentioned that I hate running? With a little over 5 weeks to go I've finally decided to post something on the blog. A few weeks ago when I was separated from my teammates on Kelley Drive, soaked, in pain and my foot drenched in blood; I never thought I'd be running over 7 miles before break. That's peer pressure for you! Two big thumbs up for TEAM STANS!

Sat. April 11, 8 miler

Hi runners,

Not to change your long run schedule, but if anyone's interested, Mark Klein, my friend Fiona (if she's in country) and I will be doing a timed, flat 8 on the Canal towpath from Washington's Crossing, PA--Yardley on Sat., 4/11 (the day before Easter). It's 4 to Yardley and 4 back. I think it will be a good chance to get a gauge of where you are with 3 weeks to go. I've done this run coutless times and it's pretty and the path's good.

We'll probably meet at 9:30 in the little parking lot just after where rte. 532 crosses Taylorsville Rd.

Think about it and let me know and don't worry about pace. We can have a few packs. However, with the way people are improving we may all be together anyway.

Another 8 Miles!

I think I'm officially ready for Broad Street. As I chugged along this afternoon, Seal and I were singing Bring It On! I took each mile... one at a time, especially since I've been battling a cold, and I bagged my long run with my running buddies this morning. I needed to take the pressure off and give myself the flexibility to run two miles, 4 miles or whatever my body felt like doing. So, I hit the mile loop at Mondock Park in Upper Dublin. I needed the security of knowing water and my car were only a mile a way. I kept telling myself, "just one more mile..." and before I knew it, I had run another 8!

Ron, you'll have to help me figure out my per mile pace. I was always better with words than numbers. And where's the latest installment of the Rear view?

7 weeks to go! It's all down hill from here : )

Signed, Sealed, Delivered!

I registered for the Leprechaun Run and Broad Street yesterday! Feels good! Ron and I are planning to go down the Saturday before Broad Street to pick up our packets and anyone else's who needs their paperwork picked up. The plan is to go the LINC, pick up the registration, shop a bit (Ron won't, but I will! There are vendors selling stuff...a sport's bra with a pocket in the front to hold things - how cool!) and then grab a bite in South Philly. Aahhh....a cheesteak the day before a long run - nothing better!

Overdue Updates

Catching up after a few weeks of chaos...met up with Wendy on a rainy Sunday morning for a 5.6 miler through Warminster Park. Last week, Joanne and I made it 8.5 along the drives. It felt good...especially, after it was finished!

Planning on staying local this weekend, as it is the hubby's birthday. If anyone is interested in meeting up at Peace Valley Park (Chalfont/New Britain area), I believe it is a little more 7 miles around Lake Galena. Not totally flat, but I don't think it's Tyler Park hilly.

Great Job Everybody!

Team,

I have been nothing but impressed with how hard our training groups have been working. I am even more impressed with the consistency of training and how each group has been doing an excellent job progressing through the various training regiments. As of Sunday, we are 8 weeks away from kicking asphalt down Broad Street! If your training has been consistent or close to consistent (being that weather has been terrible), keep it up these next few weeks. If you training has been lacking consistency, DO NOT PANIC! If you can get back on the training horse this week and into next week, you will be more than prepared come May 3rd.
3 key tips for the remainder of your training:
1. Staying healthy is our ultimate goal (injury-free, illness-free). Make sure you are getting as much sleep as possible (the goal is always 8-9 hours- I know our teammates that have infants are rolling on the floor at this request... Be sure to be incorporating a decent diet in your daily eating schedule (Plenty of water and juice, fruit, vegetables and protein (chicken/red meat/fish)... WELL BALANCED DIET!
2. If you happen to have a lapse in your training due to busy schedule/illness/etc, Do not play the "Make it all up in a week game." continue on with your schedule or even back track a week so you are not ramping up your long run too drastically. This can be ok if the jump is not too extreme (5 to 7 miles for example). Jumping up in 1 week to get back to speed with everyone else will wind up getting you injured or fatigued in the weeks coming up.
3. Step back and reflect on where you were at the start of the program and where you are now. I know many came to me in the first few weeks of training and were concerned that they could not do 2 miles comfortably, let alone a 10 mile race months down the road. Bruce is looking down with a big smile. Every clapping step your feet make on the ground is really Bruce cheering you on to keep on going!!!
I have been receiving feedback from individuals saying they just ran a 6 miler without any problem or an 8 miler and felt they could continue on to the 10 miles that same day. This is why endurance sports are the oldest and purest of all sports/activities. It is an undesirable endeavor during the hard times (example: 7 miles in 25 degree temperatures!), but no other sport or activity can give you the unbelievable satisfaction that comes with crossing that finish line when the goal race day is upon us. Keep up the great work and I guarantee that come the afternoon of May 3rd, it will all be worth it!!!