Ten years of marathons and miles! Let's see what I accomplish this year trying to qualify for Olympic Trials. Hopefully, I run in NYC, Boston and MDI.😍🥳🤩
To debut in the marathon distance in 2013 was a very powerful experience. Running with the motivation of Olympic Trials in 2016 and 2020 were also very powerful years. Though, my career did not have a cookie cutter outcome with all of my dreams coming true many of them have. I have truly loved all the years of my running career from the mile to marathon distances all around and for my country. In the next year, as I train to toe the line for the 2024 Olympic Trials, I hope to compete in world major marathons and other events on my list. I hope to run for love, to raise funds for my special causes, run to meet standards in my sport, run to wear all the Nike clothes with matching sneakers, run for my country and run for God. Hopefully, there are many American flags waiting for me at my finish lines this year and next year, and I will have enough spring in my step after racing for a victory lap or two. Hopefully, striding towards Olympic Trials 2024 will bring the goals which I have run towards to fulfillment and this blog is to show off my hard work, travels and book. I have loved every stride, breath and moment in my mile to marathon career and honestly believe that the best is yet to come!
I have carved my Halloween pumpkins! Cinderella and Prince Charming, Cinderella's Castle, Tinkerbell, Minnie and Mickey almost kissing, and an enchanted rose. I love Disney. Maybe these pumpkins will give me luck to run the Disney Marathon. Happy Halloween!! Stay Spooky!
My Hat Donation Project
I have knitted and crocheted all of these cute little baby pumpkin and winter hats to donate to Saint Joseph's Hospital this Autumn season. We finally dropped them off today. They were fun to make and so adorable. I used double pointed needles for all the knitted hats. For my preemie size, I use a size two double pointed needles set and for the regular size I use a size four set of double pointed needles. My pattern is fifteen stitches on each of four double pointed needles. The different size needles make the hats become a larger or smaller size with the same amount of stitches, which keeps it simple. After reaching about four to five inches, I decrease one stitch every row on the third stitch. The crocheted hats were half-double crocheted, measured to size by length, and sewn together with yarn. I found burnt orange and bright orange baby yarns that were really nice tones. Now, I am off to making my Santa hats for the Christmas season, because if I start knitting them all after Thanksgiving it would be too late. I sure do love my little craft projects.
The Loop the Lake Marathon
The, Loop The Lake Marathon, course is very different from the Empire State Marathon. The last time when I ran Empire, we started by the baseball stadium, went through Onondaga Park, ran along a road with a turn-around, went back through Onondaga Park past the amphitheater with another turn-around, over the bridge back though Onondaga Park and finished by the baseball stadium. The Empire course was a lot less hilly than the new course of Loop The Lake Marathon, and I missed water stations being every two-miles with sport-teams and clubs dressed in Halloween costumes. In Loop The Lake, we started in the Great New York State Fairgrounds, and were only chip-timed at the start and finish line as far as I could see. After running past the gate of the fairgrounds, we went up, over a bridge, through a parking lot around the half-marathon start/finish line. The half-marathon runners started fifteen minutes post the marathon squad. The layered starts were lucky for us in the full, because they put us in a mood to go the distance by cheering everybody on so loud, proud, and lively. Down a hill descending from the half-marathon start/finish, we started running through Onondaga Park, on the new side with the fabulous bridge. Onondaga Lake, looked very tranquil and lustrous from the sun’s beams glisten. I just love the new trails along Onondaga Lake, it is an incredibly attractive view to run through. Upon exiting Onondaga Park, we were running by the Destiny USA Mall, overlooking Lord&Taylor along the train-tracks. In the park, they have already set up all of the lights for Lights on The Lake, I adore those Christmas lights so much it made me happy happy happy whilst running. The longest part of the race for me, was definitely running to Baldwinsville and back to Onondaga Park. My parents missed the ten mile mark by ten minutes, as my race bib was not time chipped other than the start/finish. Designated spectators predicted estimated times for certain runners to arrive to certain places on the course, and posted them online live throughout the event. So, my parents waited at the ten mile mark to see me later in the event, until I was about twenty or so miles into the course. Going over the bridge and to the amphitheater side of Onondaga Park was a party with lots of volunteers cheering us runners on, which was so nice. Instead of having gels during the marathon, I ate a maple candy every five miles. The race expo did not have vendors selling gels, and I could not find them locally, so I bought tiny bears of honey as well as maple candy leaves for my sports-bra from Oliver’s Produce, and only used the maple candy for my entire race. One summer, I trained with sponge candy instead of gels for 20-22ish miles, but I never imagined running 26.2 with only maple candy! Runners need sugar. I wore my Nike Pegasus 38’s, which were exceedingly cushiony. The race ended soon after reaching the amphitheater, and once again passing by the half-marathon start/finish line. Over the bridge leading back to the Great New York State Fair entry really livened up my spirit with cheering and loud music. The Great New York State Fair entrance to the finish line was exhilarating, there were so many cheering in the crowd, the announcer was very excited and cheering, and I finished my 26.2 miles with a smile on my face! It is really special to be doing something that I love again, enjoying myself with my people, fundraising for charity, running for god, and having my family waiting for me with flowers at the finish made me very very happy.
Hopefully, this is the beginning of training that will lead to a fast half-marathon and full-marathon in the winter/spring!
My official race pics, taken by professional photographers really tell the tale of my 26.2 mile event. Those photographers made me feel like a model. How fun?!
My parents pictures are almost like the angles shot by the professional photographers!
He was a really cool race announcer!
I wore these bows in my hair for my 26.2 miles. The names of some of our family’s loved ones whom are in heaven. I embroidered the names by hand, and tied the bows like bow ties. I thought the satin looked really nice. Papa, Grandma Elly and Grampa Gordy, Sue, Sandy, Ashley…
The after marathon party was so much fun! I really enjoyed drinking my post 26.2 mile run Bud Light whilst listening to the fabulous live band while watching the lovely and fun dancing!
I went to work the next day with a flower in my hair, wearing my medal. I think I will wear my medal all week!
Training
On Tuesday, I did a one hour tempo run. On Wednesday, I did ten miles which was a pretty good workout. Today, it will rain a lot so I will probably spend a while on my treadmill and stationary bike. Friday, I will do a long run. Saturday, I will do a longer long run. Sunday is my 26.2! I feel really ready, because all I want to do this weekend is finish at a comfortable pace and enjoy being with my people doing something that I love. I am hoping that this is just the beginning of running marathons again, because I would love to actually race a half marathon in the coming months and go back to my full marathon time goals. This Sunday is all about running for pleasure, the pure love of the sport, and fundraising!
Here is the link to my St. Jude fundraiser! Thank you so much for your generosity and support.
My Race Outfit
Next Sunday in my marathon, I hope to just wear my St.Jude singlet. However, I have a blue St.Jude hoodie that will match my blue Nike Pegasus sneakers + white shorts just in case it is cold for my fun 26.2. I am so happy to be a marathon runner again!
Cooking & Baking Day!
This weekend while I was not on a run, I was in a cooking and baking of Autumn goodness mood.
I went to Oliver’s Produce and came across this ginormous leak which was perfect for my soup! I chopped this gigantic leak up after soaking it for quite some time and the flavor undertone in my soup was marvelous because of this delicacy.
All these beautiful squash are also from Oliver’s Produce. In my soup I used everything in this picture, but the pumpkin that was for my pie…
carnival squash
2 butternut squash
1 ginormous leak
1 XL White Onion
1 Sweet Pepper
Large carrots and celery (not depicted below)
So basically, I threw all these ingredients on parchment paper face down in my oven on 400, until i could stick a fork through all the squash. Then, I went apple picking at Navarino Orchard for my favorite Empire apples. I love the Empire apple because, they are so tiny and crispy flavorful deliciousness. Upon arriving home after glorious apple picking, I brewed my vegetable stock in my stainless steel pot. My stock was all celery, celery leaves, garlic, onion, and my ginormous leak with twelve cups of water. Once the stock was cooking and good looking, I skinned my roasted squash and carrots before throwing them into my brew. An hour or so later, after sim sim simmering, I took my puree gadget and pureed my soup. I separated a mason jar of the soup. Then, proceeded to pour two cups of heavy cream and a stick of butter into the remaining soup in the stainless steel pot. All in all, my soup was fabulous and no one in my family complained about the favor!
While cooking the soup, I roasted my pie pumpkin in the oven. After roasting this to perfection, and skinning the pumpkin, I added condensed milk with eggs + butter+ and sugar. My crust was a stick of lard, a stick of butter with two and a half cups of flour mixed together in the Kitchen Aide. I love adding cut outs on top of pies, and chose a little ghost for the spooky season.
My favorite dessert of all this weekend were my poppin popcorn balls. I cooked the caramel on the stove, and popped two cups of popcorn. Then, I mix mix mixed the caramel and popcorn together, rubbed my hand with butter and formed these perfect balls! I love popcorn balls, this will not be the last time I throw some together this fall.
