T-4 days until the fundraiser!!!

Wow, I can't believe my fundraiser is THIS FRIDAY, 8/20, 6-9PM at the Greatest Bar. And the marathon itself is only 1 month away! Crazy!

I hope you are all planning to make it to my event this week. It should be a great time, with lots of awesome raffle and silent auction prizes!

Great run!

After my tough 16 miler last weekend, I was looking forward to my 12 miler this weekend (both because of the shorter distance and I wanted a good long run!). After an amazing bachelorette party on Friday night and an awesome engagement party for my triathlon buddies on Saturday, I definitely had to mentally pump myself up to get out there on Sunday and run - but I did, and it went great. I took it a little slower than I usually do, but go to the end of the 12 miles with both my mind and legs feeling good!

Tough days can be a good thing...

I did my longest run to date on Sunday, 8/8 – 16.4 miles. It was a tough day for me, both mentally and physically. I felt a bit sick to my stomach during the begining of the run, and then just got tired really quickly. Luckily, I managed to keep myself motivated despite those two factors and finished the run. I definitely had to incorporate a little more walking than normal, but I’m happy I made it through.

One thing my coach told me today that helped: He said to look at this tough day as a good thing. The majority of my long runs have gone quite well, and I haven’t had many days where I’ve really struggled before today. He said it was better to have an off day now and know that you can power through and conquer it during training, than to possibly get to the marathon and have an off day and get super frustrated or potentially give up. This way, if for some reason I get to my event feeling less than 100%, I know I can still do it!! Good lesson learned.

Thank yous

Thank you to Laurie Herschman, Susan Harvey, and Dwight Dewsnap for their recent donations to my marathon fundraising page!

Thank you to the Boston Bruins, TSNY, and Wachusett for their recent donations for raffle/auction items for my fundraising event! Make sure you're there on August 20th at 6PM at The Greatest Bar for your chance to win these awesome prizes!

Proud of my longest run!

Hi all! I did my longest run to date on this past Saturday - 14 miles. I ran from One Beacon Street in downtown Boston all the way down Beacon until past BC, and then back! It was exhausting but felt good and I kept a great pace the entire way. It was nice to have my coach there encouraging me along the way - he is awesome! I've been adding a little more cross training in recently to break up the running - some swims with my triathlon team on Tuesdays and I went to Zumba this past Monday. Fun!

Sorry I've been MIA - lots of news!

An official apology for being so MIA lately - it has been a crazy few weeks! We have been starting a new farmers market project at work this year which is also serving as my practicum for grad school, so I've been a lot busier this summer. Plus, I'm getting ready to move on Sunday - lots to do!

Fundraising news...

Some great news - I'm officially at 30% of my fundraising goal for my marathon! But, this still means I have 70% of my goal to meet in less than 2 months. Please consider making a donation at http://ttes.maui2010.kintera.org/chrissycarroll or attending my fundraiser on August 20th, 2010 to help me raise the remaining $3,425.

Special thanks to Uncle John and Aunt Mug, Ms. Libsch, Donna Harman, Mary Lou Rocher, and Brian LaSusa for their recent donations to my marathon fundraising page!!

And more thank yous to BU Fit Rec, the Boston Red Sox, Spirit Airlines, and TGI Fridays for their donations to the fundraiser raffle/silent auction.

Training news...

Training is going well. I've had some frustrating days since the half marathon, but had a really good 12 mile run last weekend throughout Boston. Ran from downtown all the way out to the reservoir and back!

Other updates...

Unfortunately, a lot of other people who were originally supposed to be on the Maui team have dropped out. This leaves just me and Justine as the sole reps for Train to End Stroke at the Maui marathon! We unfortunately won't have the support our coach or volunteers on the day of (they can't fly everyone down there just for 2 people - understandable) - but we still will receive all their support up until that day!

More pics from the half!

Me, Brooke, and Lisa with our finishers medals!

3 coworkers with Lisa's son Brenton!

Oh my gosh...I did a half marathon!

I finished my first ever half marathon on Sunday, June 27th at the Inaugural 13.1 Boston! My coworkers Brooke and Lisa and my good friend Justine all completed it with me. I finished in 2:41, which was better than my initial time goal of 3 hours - so I was pumped! It's kind of crazy to think that my full marathon is only 2 1/2 months away!

Apparently, mile 10 = miniature baby running steps.

Finish Line!!!


PS - For those of you who are thinking "Is she wearing 1990s style headphones?"

...The answer is yes.

Fundraiser details!

Official details on my fundraiser...

Date: Friday, August 20th 2010
Time: 6-9PM (official time for private room - but we can stay and party with everyone else afterward!)
Location: The Greatest Bar, 262 Friend Street, Boston MA
Getting there: Google directions or use MBTA to North Station (Friend Street is directly across from the Garden)
Parking: Street parking if you can find it, otherwise government center garage is closeby
Details: Food buffet, raffle, silent auction, music, cash bar, and (hopefully - still working on this) karaoke contest!
Raffle/silent auction items (so far!):

• Coach bag
• Weekend night at a luxury suite in the Liberty Hotel
• 2 Roundtrip tickets on Air Tran
• Family 4 pack of tickets to the Franklin Park Zoo
• Tickets to the New England Revolutions 2011 Home Opener
• $100 gift certificate to Metropolis cafe
• Gift cards for massages at Massage Envy
• Victoria Secret gift cards
• And more...

Tickets: $25, includes buffet and 5 raffle tickets - purchase in advance by making a $25 donation at http://ttes.maui2010.kintera.org/chrissycarroll or payable by cash/check at the door.

Bring your friends!! Hope to see you there!

Colds suck!

Hit a minor setback this past week - got a pretty bad cold and my body was wiped out the past few days. I tried running 8 miles yesterday, but was still feeling pretty bad AND it was about 90 degrees outside - not a good combination! I got through 5 miles and had to stop - too dehydrated and my heart just kept racing. I'm feeling better today, so hopefully I'll be able to get in my 2 short runs this week and kick butt at my half marathon on Sunday!!

More news... Massage Envy and Metropolis Cafe have generously donated gift certificates for my upcoming fundraiser! Get ready to enter raffles and bid on silent auction items on August 20th!

Save the Date AND Exciting News!!

Save the date for my marathon fundraiser - Friday, August 20th, 2010! It will be a dress to impress affair, so start planning your outfit now :) More details to come soon.

And....

Just wanted to share the EXCITING news that Air Tran has very generously donated 1 PAIR of coach AIRLINE TICKETS good to anywhere in the US for my marathon fundraiser! Be sure to come for YOUR chance to win these tickets!!

The Runner's Nod

There are not many things I can say I absolutely love about running - who LOVES exhausting themselves multiple times a week?! - but I do really love the runners nod. Basically, I feel as though I'm part of some exclusive runners club when I run by other people and they give me a small smile and nod. I had today off of work (thank you MA for one last year of Bunker Hill Day!) and went for a 5 mile run this morning - got 6 runners nods along the way - yahoo!

Longest run yet!

Hey all! Since I'm working this Saturday (booooo) I decided to do my long run this afternoon. I ran 12 miles today - my longest yet. It was tough and took me a long time (I definitely still have to include bits of walking throughout), but knowing that I could do 12 today gives me confidence that I will be ready for the half marathon I'm doing on June 27th. If you happen to be up early that Sunday, come out to Canton/Milton to cheer me on! 2 of my coworkers, Brooke and Lisa, and my friend Justine (who is also now officially training for Maui 2010!) will be running 13.1 Boston with me.

Check out the 1/2 marathon site here: www.131marathon.com

OK, time for rest! Teaching 3 kindergarten classes + 12 miles = exhausted!

Updates!

Hi all!

Sorry for such a long delay in my blog. As many of you know, I was struggling with apartment hunting the past week. Luckily, I've found a new roommate and will be moving into a new apartment but in my same complex. So happy to have all of this resolved!

In other news...

-I met my training coach for the first time this past Saturday. We had our first group run in Boston (and by first group run I mean I'm the only person who was there). Coach John is awesome and drives to various points along the route to motivate you and bring you water and stuff. I ran my best 8 miles yet through downtown Boston!

-I always see this guy in Quincy running. He SMOKES me - this dude runs like twice as fast as me. Best part - he's got to be pushing 90 years old, possibly 100.

-THANK YOU to Kathy Mancini, Stephanie St Martin, Senora Flanagan, and Mrs. Solomon for their very generous donations!

-Remember that you too can donate to my marathon fundraising journey at http://ttes.maui2010.kintera.org/chrissycarroll. As of today, I still need to raise $4,175!

-If you're in the Boston area, I'm having a yard sale at my friend Lori's in Cambridge on June 19th (129 Magazine Street - by the corner of Magazine and Putman)!! All proceeds from the yard sale will support my fundraising efforts and go to the American Stroke Association. Two ways to support me: donate things you need to get rid of to sell, or come buy my stuff!!

Thanks again for all your good wishes and support!

Chrissy

Yahoooo!

Just wanted to post that I did my longest run (and some walking) yet yesterday morning - 11 miles! I ran a nice route through Quincy and Braintree, and the weather was perfect - high 60s, sunny, cool breeze.

Check out this scenery!

This is a picture from the marathon course - 17 miles of the course is oceanfront!

Running Song of the Day

I just found out there was an Olympic version of Unstoppable by Rascal Flatts - love it! Check it out below....

Ideas?

I'm gearing up to spend some time this weekend planning out my summer fundraiser(s). Start getting excited! There will be some awesome raffle items.....details to be announced soon!

If anyone has any great ideas for a free fundraiser location or would like to offer up your restaurant/bar for a night, feel free to email them along to me - chrissycarroll@gmail.com.

Also, thank you to Matt Munise for your recent donation to my fundraising page!

Remember, anyone can donate to my fundraising webpage anytime at http://ttes.maui2010.kintera.org/chrissycarroll!

Running Song of the Day

Hooked on this one from Three 6 Mafia! For those of you killing time at work by reading my blog, this is the explicit song version.

Thank you!

A very sincere thank you to Jeanne Beres, Sharon Robinson-Byrd, Ms. Lisa & "the green room", and Kristen Farley for their recent donations to my marathon fundraising efforts! You guys are the best!!! I'm so touched by your generosity.

Fun news!

Hi all! Exciting news -I just got my coach's information and training schedule from Train to End Stroke! I'm pretty pumped.

On another note, one of my recent second grade classes decided instead of calling me "Ms. Chrissy", they'd call me "Coach Chrissy". I don't know why, but I LOVE it. It makes me feel very important and marathon-worthy.

And on a third note, as you can see below, apparently I take my running fashion advice from Olivia Newton John circa 1981.

Learn more about Train to End Stroke!

Hi All! I thought it'd be great to show you a little bit more about Train to End Stroke, the program I am participating in through the American Stroke Association. Check out the video below!

A big thank you to Chris Terranova, Jennifer Carroll, June Rickli, Jen & Joe Cassel, and Alexis Cannizzaro for their donations! Remember, you can donate to my fundraising page at http://ttes.maui2010.kintera.org/chrissycarroll.

Shake them dice and roll em...

Just got back from a fantastic 2 night trip to Atlantic City with my awesome running buddy, Justine. We met in Zumba classes last year and I convinced her to sign up for a half marathon I'm doing on June 27th. She is also considering doing a full marathon.

We played lots of slots and roulette, had some cute older guys pick up our drink tab, ate lots of good food - and still managed to fit in a good run! This is us getting ready for a nice run along the Boardwalk yesterday.

Sleepy from some late nights, but still ready to jog!

Great story!

Bill Connors has done the Maui Marathon every single year for the past 33 YEARS! So amazing. On Facebook, he posted some info for us newbies - "First timers, I guarantee that you will absolutely love this course, mostly level, incredible scenery, numerous aid stations staffed with lively and exuberant volunteers, well organized and directed...". Getting very excited!

Running Song of the Day

I LOVE when this song comes on during my runs! I got Jen and Joe hooked on it when I visited them in Albany a few weeks back.

You heard right...I'm running a MARATHON!

OK, it's official - I am participating in Train to End Stroke to complete a MARATHON!

As most of you know, up until about a year ago the extent of my running was if I outside and heard the sound of an ice cream truck. My coworker Angela can attest to the first day I went running with her last summer - I think we had gotten about 1/3 a mile down the road before I was shouting "Slow down! I can't breathe! I think I'm going to vomit!!!!"

Despite my slow start, I built up my running enough so that I was comfortable in that portion of the sprint distance triathlon I completed last year. But now, it's time for a (much) bigger challenge - 26.2 miles! This is not only a personal mission but also for a much bigger cause - to fund stroke research and education.

A few facts you may not know...
Every 45 seconds someone suffers a stroke.
Every 3 minutes someone dies from a stroke.
There are 4.4 million stroke survivors.
29% of people who suffer a stroke are under age 65.

Stoke is the third leading killer of adults in the United States. Please support me with both your positive thoughts, moral support, and generous donations as I bring awareness to this cause. You can visit my fundraising page @ http://ttes.maui2010.kintera.org/chrissycarroll. Please help me meet my goal of $4,900!

I look forward to keeping you all posted on my progress, funny stories, and much more.

-Chrissy

From my sprint tri in September. I realize how attractive spandex biking shorts and a misfitted wife beater look on me. You can be jealous.