2nd half marathon

Mid-September
I made the trek to my parents house
in NY
I was running a half marathon
in my home-town
It started at my high school
I started it with 3 others girls
At about mile 4
I fell a little bit behind them
but then caught up around mile 7
A half mile later I fell back from 2 of them
I was feeling good
at a pace almost a minute faster
than the half marathon last month!
At mile 11 there is a run out & back loop
And I passed the 2 girls in front of me
on my way out there
That along with seeing my family & friends
just prior
and knowing
I was about 20 minutes from finishing
helped get me going
Mile 12.5 to the end were rough
I was just about to hit "the wall"
There was a grassy patch along the road
And a part of me just wanted to
stop
go to it
sit down
and CRY
Just then
A guy came up from behind me
And I hear him say
"Come on, beat me"
I just laughed & said
"YEA...right!!"
His response was
"No seriously..
you are going to beat me"
Ok.. let's go
We had about 1/4 mile stretch to go
We passed one guy and then
I picked it up a little bit
I hear guy next to me
"you go girl"
and just then
I saw my cousin who
already finished
"Go Chelsea, go Chelsea!"
Well..here goes nothing
I ran faster than I have ever ran before
Well.. not really
It turns out I was running a 9 minute pace
But at the 13th mile
I felt like I was sprinting a 5 minute pace!
I cross the finish line
Turn around
and give the guy
a huge high five
Finished 8 minutes PR!

My "nice and nephew"
their Mom
My grandma
My Mom
My sisters
and other family friends
were all there at the finish
I felt great and was proud of myself

Went to my cousins for some
Sunday Football party time

My body felt like I was 90 years old

The drive back to Boston sucked
due to feeling stiff and sore
But I felt pretty good the next day!

Next up:
Bay State Half Marathon in October

September Trip to NY

My last trip
back to my hometown
until Thanksgiving
until the day after my Marathon

But this was a fun packed weekend

home late Friday night
up at 6am Saturday
for an 18 mile run with my cousin
well.. 16
we made it 16 and ended
and begged my sister to pick us up
She was hurting more than I was
but it was a great run
We made friends with
59 year old Lynne
She ran up behind us
and heard us talking about
our upcoming marathon
She asked if she could run with us
of course we loved the company
She told us about her
3 times in the NYC marathon
and how she loves running
but is more of a half marathoner
(I think that'll be me!)
She then tells us how she is a 10 year
breast cancer
survivor
That voice inside my head
at that point
..about mile 9..
told me to MOVE
STOP BITCHING
and just GO!
If she is 59
and survived breast cancer
Oh.. and continued running
after her running partner
passed out and died
while they were running together
Then I can make it through
a 3 hour run!

She left us as she was at mile 14
and we were at mile 13

We made it 3 more
but then went home
and ice bathed

After that
Dad
sister
and I
went to the local greek fest
only for some gyro's
well..and beer!

Then we went home
and got ready
for my other sisters event
at her college
The Culinary Institute of America
her last project before graduation

It was a $90 event
with food and alcohol all included

It was delicious
Duck
Fish
Oysters
So many neat beers
Had a blast

My cousin and I
went to a local bar
We were going to meet 2 friends
and then my sisters and their boyfriends
but everyone was running late
or not coming
and we were tired
So after one drink
We asked mama to pick us up ;)
I love being "home" and having Mom be my cabbie!

The next morning
Mom made me my favorite breakfast
French toast and bacon

Then we met up with our friends
my "niece and nephew"
for brunch
I just had fries and gravy
since we already ate
But I really was there to see the kiddos!
Growing up so fast
Rachael is so smart and James is ALL over the place
Sitting up on his own
And Mama F said he is army crawling!!

After that we went to my Cousins for
Football Sunday
food
food
food
beer
oh and football ;)

Then I drove home
..end of a busy weekend

Be back in 2 months!