It Was A Marathon Weekend

 
April 16 - Good luck to everyone running in the Boston Marathon today! You rock!

The weekend was a whirlwind of running events. On Friday my Crazy Running Partner and I headed to Boston for a running girls night out.

Our first stop was the 2012 Boston Marathon Expo at the Seaport World Trade Center. CRP has finished the Boston Marathon twice and she thought I needed to see this expo. Huge. Loved it. Wish we had more time to hang out.

Cute display, but we kept moving (can't afford to stop there!)

My favorite marathon shirt

Great colors on the running shoes

So many Sweaty Bands!

Thought they had too many, so I took two!

Chatted with the girls at the RNR PROV booth

Then we headed over to Saucony's Evening of Running Inspiration Party at The Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts. The event included keynote speakers sharing their stories of running and life followed by a reception highlighting the new Kinvara 3.

A special tribute to Caballo Blanco (Micah True) the Mythic Hero of Born To Run by Luis Escobar, friend and Ultramarathoner

2012 NFL Superbowl Champion for the New York Giants; Boston College All-American; Cancer Survivor, Mark Herzlich

3X World Triathlon Champion; Ironman Kona Champion, Karen Smyers

4X Winner Boston and NYC Marathons, Bill Rodgers

Q & A with the audience 

(hey Dorothy Beal from Mile Posts - love your #strong)

Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and beverages! 

Mark Herzlich tells us to #FindYourStrong

(We met up with FitFluential Ambassadors: Samantha, Nancy, and Dani

- too dark to take pics with my phone, but you should check out their blogs!)

After the Saucony Party we had a late dinner at Rock Bottom Brewery in the Theater District.

Saturday afternoon hubs and I dusted off the bikes and took our first ride of the warm season; a three mile bike ride to one of our favorite running spots, Scobie Pond (aka Haunted Lake). 

Sunday afternoon we ran a 10K at the 19th Annual Walk & Run for Food & Shelter in Nashua, NH. This was my running goal race for the month of April and my last race until the Cox Rhode Races Half Marathon on May 6.

There was a really good turn out for this race. They offered a 3K walk, 5K and 10K runs. I'm guessing there were over 500 participants in all of the events.

I registered for the 10K. Hubs came along and ran bandit!

We had plenty of time before the race to do the usual stuff...stretch

People watch

Chat with other runners and then ask them to take our picture

The course consisted of two different loops. The first loop was nice and easy, rolling hills and a good breeze. I ran this part with hubs. The 5K and 10K split near the finish line and this is where hubs and I also split. The second loop was much hillier and hotter because the breeze pretty much disappeared. The last half mile was a steady uphill to the finish line. Hate that. My finish time was 1:02:51.

Hubs unofficially finished in 1:14:08

After grabbing as much water and Gatorade as we could carry, we made our way to the food tent. They had apples/bananas, hummus & chips, chocolate chip cookies, and assorted sandwiches. An excellent post-race selection.

It was a beautiful day for a race in NH. Hubs and I had a great time!

Today I will be following the 116th Boston Marathon and cheering for my fellow runners.

Have you ever participated in the Boston Marathon?

Runner, spectator, volunteer?

Last year I spectated from the start line in Hopkinton, MA

Next year I'd like to run the B.A.A 5K