5k and more!

October 23, 2016 by That Pretty Runner

Dear Runner Lovers,

This weekend was Monktoberfest, a classic Oktoberfest with a monk twist. My college mascot is a monk or sometimes a friendly sea monster, so no one is afraid of the costume! There were all sorts of events on campus. I tie-dyed a shirt, listened to live music all day, and ate delicious foods with friends. The day started out with a 5k and ended with an awesome new glass!

I finished the Monks Fall Fest 5k! There were several girls from the Outdoor Adventure Club running, I go hiking with all the time. Pretty cool! It was rainy outside and parts of the trail were flooded, nevertheless we did it! Crossed the finish-line smiling too!

This is a picture of my friend and I after running the 5k. We are very excited, not just because we finished this very rainy race... In December, us girls will be joining volunteers from our college with Partners in Development for a service trip to Haiti.

While in Haiti, we will be working in a clinical setting and building houses. In total, we should have approximately 30 volunteers from school on this trip to Haiti. I feel that it is so important to embrace this opportunity to complete service work in Haiti, especially after the devastating hurricane.

The Mother Teresa quote that inspires and motivates me is, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” Serving, loving, learning and growing. All of the work we do on this trip will hopefully make a positive impact. I am very much looking forward to volunteering in Haiti, it will be a very meaningful experience.

I just found out two other friends will be on the same service trip to Haiti this December. We went to New Rochelle on a Habitat for Humanity trip, my freshman year. On that trip we lived together for a week building houses in NY, really bonded and became close. It is nice to know a core group of people going on the same trip. We will all be sticking together in Haiti! This will be a great group of people from school to work with!! Everyone is so nice, we just had a meeting last week. I am looking forward to making new friends in Haiti, too.

Found this gem!  Mary Rose, Taylor, Me! — Found this gem! Mary Rose, Taylor, Me!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday.

Happy Running,

That Pretty Runner

Gregory Emerson Fighting Parkinson's Disease

October 21, 2016 by That Pretty Runner

Dear Runner Lovers,

On the Mount Desert Island (MDI) Marathon facebook page, they shared a very inspirational story about Gregory Emerson. Gregory is on a mission of Outrunning Parkinson's Disease. Last weekend, Gregory finished the Mount Desert Island Marathon very strongly, and his goal is to keep fighting Parkinson's Disease by running marathons. Gregory's accomplishments are AMAZING. Below, I have posted Gregory's inspirational and motivational speech as well as the video of his MDI Marathon finish. Please watch these videos to learn more about Gregory Emerson, and consider making a contribution to fight Parkinson's Disease with the Michael J Fox Foundation. http://www2.michaeljfox.org/site/TR/TeamFox/TeamFox…

If you would like to make a donation and help fight Parkinson's Disease, please click this link:

http://www2.michaeljfox.org/site/TR/TeamFox/TeamFox…

Happy Running,

That Pretty Runner

Friday Run

October 21, 2016 by That Pretty Runner

Dear Runner Lovers,

It was quite the foggy day today, but still runnable! I went running for about five miles after getting out of my last class. I love my St. Jude Hero shirt, I wore today. Even though my marathon fundraiser is over, I will still be running for St. Jude using the app Charity Miles!

Here are some beautiful fall foliage pictures! If you click on a smaller picture, it will enlarge in this slide-show!

I absolutely adore running by the water! Here is another slideshow!

Look at all this fog!

These sneakers are so comfortable on roads and trails!

Love this red tree!

My MDI Marathon glass is awesome! Love love love... I have it in blue too!

I hope everyone had a fabulous Friday!

Happy Running!

That Pretty Runner

First Run Since Marathon Day

October 20, 2016 by That Pretty Runner

Dear Runner Lovers,

Today, I went running for the first time since my marathon! It was gorgeous outside and I did a 7 mile run along the lake. Even when I think I am running hills, it will still be nothing compared to the marathon on Sunday. My mind is still blown, from running through mountains! Nevertheless, it feels good to have my legs moving and grooving again!

Last night, I went to the first meeting for my winter break service trip. I will be going to Haiti with my college to work in a clinical-setting and build houses with Partners in Development. There will be about 30 of us volunteers going to Haiti total, we will be meeting up every few weeks in preparation. This will be a very meaningful experience.

Next weekend, I am taking my GRE. Fingers crossed everything goes well. I will be studying... and that's about everything in terms of my school and running update.

Here are some pictures of my running adventure this evening!

I am totally in love with the fall foliage!

I love my marathon medal so much! I cannot stop staring at my golden lobster claw, such a fantastic design! Too cool!

I hope everyone has an absolutely wonderful rest of the week!

Happy Running,

That Pretty Runner

26.2

October 18, 2016 by That Pretty Runner

Dear Runner Lovers,

I have to tell you all about my marathon experience! I still cannot believe that I finished. This was the most difficult and gorgeous marathon I have ever run.

Honestly, I did not anticipate the degree of mountainous elevation changes in this race. No amount of typical hill repeats could have prepared me for this. Once I started running a few miles, I became very intimidated by the level of difficulty on this course and a little dubious about finishing. I took a deep breath and went through all my layers of goals, down to the #1 goal of finishing. I wanted that medal! Running for something bigger than yourself is very motivating. Running for St. Jude seriously pushed me to the finish line.

In my moment of panic, actually crying, I needed to put my time goals aside because these hills were just too ginormous and out of my comfort zone for a 26.2 mile run. Ultimately, I made the decision to enjoy the absolutely gorgeous landscape, embrace this once in a lifetime opportunity to run all of Mount Desert Island in the peak fall season, run for St. Jude, and keep my realistic goal of finishing with a smile on my face.

So after all that panic happened at mile six, I ate one of my five blueberry/pomegranate GU and started to enjoy the Mount Desert Island. That sugar/caffeine hit significantly helped, the flavor made me smile.

Look at these hills! I still have no idea how I did this entire marathon....

http://www.runmdi.org/

The perfect amount of people were running. I never felt too far away from the pack or too clustered. One great thing about running marathons is that I always meet very interesting people along the course. There were runners from all over the country and world, which was very cool. I met a lawyer, running couples, girls running for St. Jude too, different clubs, people in costumes/ tutus, boys, and all sorts of runners from all over. Marathons are awesome for finding your inner social butterfly.

I really loved running right along the water looking over Seal Harbor, and the Cranberry Isles. This was at about mile ten! In the water, there were a group of guys out on their ship cheering everyone on; with the ship horn and bell, waving huge. The view was so gorgeous with all the fall foliage reflecting on the water that looked like glass. Coolest experience ever.

Those rugged Maine rocks along the coast are beautiful to run along. Cliffs are too cool. The paths are so awesome, there was pink granite! Pink is my favorite color. About half-way through the marathon we were running the Atlantic coast. My mind is still blown by the incredible views!

From the half-way point on, it was really all uphill! That is literally not an exaggeration. At mile 18, St. Jude had the most spectacular cheer station ever. They actually painted the St. Jude icon all over, there were red balloons, a huge support crew, and DJ. The DJ announced my name, and high fived me! I felt like a celebrity, high fiving everyone, listening to so many people cheering and shouting my name. Wow!! I will always remember that moment, best mile 18 ever.

My parents were with my grandmother taking all these pictures of me! Hahah, its hard to model for my parents 20 miles into a race! I suppose everyone feels in the same boat, regarding marathon pictures. The camera pressure makes me really focus on my stride, keep springing!

At mile 20/21, I looked at the woman running next to me and said, " How are we running up this ginormous hill this far into our marathon?!" We laughed and a little, and kept making our way up the ascent to mile 25! Running up a mountain is a good way to make new friends, its a special kind of bond. The important thing is we made it all the way up. Once I could see the Acadia National Park sign, I felt so relieved because I knew exactly where we were. The idea of the finish-line being right around the corner felt awesome. I never ran up a five mile hill before... So proud of all us runners!

My mom was on a sidewalk corner with her camera, so excited to see me. I smiled and waved. Those final .2 miles felt like pure exhilaration, I had a little kick at the end going towards that finish line. I crossed the finish line, smiling bigger than ever before in my life. A very sweet volunteer said, "Good job Madeleine!" placed the gorgeous gold lobster claw medal on my neck, and it felt so so so AMAZING. All of my hard work was worth it.

Finishing the Mount Desert Island Marathon felt like the biggest accomplishment of my life, even though it was not a PR. The challenge of finishing this 26.2 was immense, but the feeling afterwards was pure joy. Being there and taking in the mountainous fall views was just an incredible once in a lifetime experience. It is outstanding, what the human body is capable of accomplishing. I am still very surprised I could run up all those hills! WOW!

My dad found me at the finish line, with water and chocolate milk. We had a little photoshoot and made our way back to the car with mom and gramma a mile away. We went out for lunch at this adorable restaurant in Bar Harbor. The owner noticed my medal and really wanted to meet me. She said that so many people drop out of the marathon and it is impressive to finish. That made me feel good, to be congratulated. My sautéed lobster roll was very delicious and just what I needed after all that running.

The drive home was gorgeous through all those mountains in the peak of fall!

Happy Running,

That Pretty Runner

Mount Desert Island Marathon

October 17, 2016 by That Pretty Runner

Dear Runner Lovers,

On Sunday 16 October 2016, I finished the Mount Desert Island Marathon!!

My mom and dad took so many pictures of race day. It was very exciting!

We left the hotel at 7:15, and found the starting line at 7:30. My parents found the most adorable coffee shop in Bar Harbor while we were waiting for everything to start. I loved looking in the windows of all the galleries and artistic shops. Bar Harbor is such a fantastic destination.

The weather was perfect for marathon weekend. There were so many runners, I met a bunch of girls running for St. Jude too!

Around 8:00 I found my coral, put my hand over my heart for the National Anthem, waved to my parents and all us runners started our 26.2 mile adventure through Mount Desert Island.

Here are some pictures of the starting line. Look at everyone running!!

My parents were there, taking pictures of me! I stopped for just a second to change into pants because my legs were bleeding.... too funny.

At mile 18 there was a St. Jude Fundraiser Cheer Station! It was very cool! They announced my name and everyone was cheering. I high-fived the DJ! I was so happy because everyone around me was happy!

I was so happy crossing the finish line! There were so many people cheering all of us marathoners on! Love it so much, I could not stop smiling! Running the Mount Desert Marathon for St. Jude was really something special.

I absolutely love love love my gold lobster-claw marathon finisher medal!!

That Pretty Runner

All About Jackie!

October 14, 2016 by That Pretty Runner

Dear Runner Lovers,

I just did an interview with my friend Jackie Epp! We grew up together, right across the street from each other! Jackie has been running her entire life and her family loves to run too! Over the summer she trained in Colorado for her first half-marathon. We talked about everything from college to finishing the Turning Stone Half Marathon. I hope you enjoy!

http://www.thatprettyrunner.com/new-blog/2016/10/14/ijsexrpxhckcny14vv8t0lz663xhn8

Happy Running,

That Pretty Runner

Run!

October 11, 2016 by That Pretty Runner

Dear Runner Lovers,

Today, I ran 10 miles. I did a 3 mile warm up 4 miles fast and 3 mile cool down. This is my favorite workout, because I have been doing such a long time as my go-to.