Welcome Pippa to our family! She is just 3 months old and still so little!
Welcome Pippa
Author: melisajohnson
Lovely town
I sometimes forget how lovely our little town is. I took a walk this morning to post a package and went for a cup of tea. The city decorates for Christmas (and most holidays) and hosts all sorts of events.
Then I took a walk around a little lake. Everyone I walked said good morning, even the school kids walking to school.
I walked past an older gentleman walking and he asked about my marathon jacket. We chatted for quite a bit about his marathon experiences when he was younger.
Just reminds me how luck we are when I needed it.
Happy Birthday
We spent the 10th of December celebrating Richard!
Disney Cast 5k
We went down to Animal Kingdom for a 5k. I really do not like the 2:30 am wake up required to get to the start line for a 5k… but that is a Disney race. What they do have is excellent race photographers!
Speed work
I am starting a 6-week program to work on increasing my marathon speed and today was my first workout… I think I am in for a few weeks of hard work, but it will all be worth it!
Quick trip to Garden City
We made a quick trip out to see Cecil and Francis last weekend. Cecil was celebrating his 96th birthday!
We also got to meet my sisters new kittens and I almost took Moon home with me!
New York City Marathon
I ran the 2002 NYC Marathon, something I never imagined I would be able to complete a few years ago. It is amazing what you can do when you believe in yourself! There was a poster at the expo that I thought was interesting and after completing the marathon it was so true.
The race started late for me at 11:30. In order to get to the start line in time I had to leave the hotel at 7:00, so it was a journey just to get to the start line. First a bus to the ferry dock, then a ferry to Staten Island and then a bus to the start area. With over 50,000 runners it was such a large race that they have three “villages”, each village was a complete start area. The amazing thing with my village is that I never waited for a portable potty, which is a first in a race for me. They had hot tea and plenty of water and places to hang out until your wave was called.
The race started great the first mile was the biggest incline, the Verrazzano bridge. I learned it is the largest suspension bridge in the world and is almost 1 mile of incline to the center! Due to the number of runners they had us on both sides and on the bottom lanes of the bridge. It would not be until mile 8 that all the runners joined together. The race was going great even with the record temperatures for the run at 74 degrees. Unfortunately at the mile 10 aid station they ran out of cups and this continued at 6 of the next 7 aid stations so I got pretty dehydrated, started having some cramping and getting light headed. Then I took on too much water and got sick on the course. I thought about quitting and was going to just walk the last few miles, but I had a temporary tattoo that said “If not now, then when” so I decided to finish running. It was definitely an emotional finish and I am so proud of myself for completing the race.
Race highlights were running through Brooklyn, the crowds were so much fun! It was like running through a block party for miles, and then you ran into 2 blocks of silence. Everyone on the streets looks at you like you are crazy. I found out later it is the largest Hasidic community in the world. Finishing in Central Park would have been a bit better if it would have been light out, but starting at 11:30 and with daylight savings time that wasn’t going to be an option for me.
We finished the day with a long walk back to the hotel, but did stop off for some pizza and a nice beer!
Berlin Marathon
This marathon was tough. The start line was fun but after the first 5k I was just done and bored… I didn’t really want to be there, but we had come all the way to Berlin, so I didn’t want to quit.
I don’t know why I struggled so much mentally on the run. It was definitely a lonely run with the other participants not offering much support. I thought a lot about why I run, it is not about improving my health (as all this running is maybe not the best for your). Maybe it is about having control over something in your life and to defeat those that say you can’t do it? All thoughts I had during the middle 30k, but the last 7k I started to enjoy the race.
How did I feel at the finish- alone. The finish line was exciting, but after that it was a long walk to get out to see your family and friends. I finished 30 minutes faster than my first marathon, but probably the best thing was I was not sore the next day.
The best thing about this race was that is prepared me for the NYC Marathon. I am working on some running meditation and more prepared for the crowds.
Clermont run
This morning I switched my run up and drove over to Clermont at 4am. It was nice having a change of scene for a long run and after my run I was able to watch Ted complete the Olympic distance triathlon.
Berlin Marathon
In September I will be running my first major marathon in Berlin. It is definitely not something I ever thought I would be doing. It has taken hard work and discipline to get here and I have another 12 weeks of work before the race.
Yesterday started with my first long training run of 15 miles. I didn’t sleep well the night before and I wasn’t looking forward to running in the heat.. but I went out and completed the run. I was a mess when I finished!
The Johnsons 