Mike's Marathon Blog

11 days since my last post, I know. I apologize. I think people were genuinely upset or at least concerned since many of you contacted me asking why I haven’t posted in so long. To be honest, I haven’t had anything positive to blog about recently, so I just didn’t. There’s no reason to complain around the holidays, especially on a blog! It’s like that old tale about a group of people that throw all their problems in a pot and are allowed to choose different problems. They all end up taking their own problems back.

My friend, who was also on the Children’s Hospital team with me, just got some really bad news. She hurt her leg skiing a few weeks ago and just found out that she needs surgery. I couldn’t believe it when she told me. Now every time I’m about to complain about my ankle or waking up at 6 am, I think of her. I bet she would love to run tomorrow morning at 6. Children’s did honor her number for next year, so she will be running Boston in 2011. Hang in there Meg.

Meg, earmuffs, because I am going to complain about the weather real quick. Last Saturday was cold. This Saturday was amazingly cold! It was 22 degrees when I left my house with a windchill of 15. When a car passed me, my eyes would water like I was watching Game 4 of the 2004 World Series all over again. Renteria grounds to Foulke, Foulke to Mientkiewicz, Foulke and Tek embrace……..I just got the chills. I brought a Clif Bar to eat at mile 5 and when I opened the wrapper, it was frozen solid! I couldn’t even bite into it. I walked a ways while I rubbed the bar between my hands. My hands got so cold from not having gloves on for a few minutes that I pretty much ran all the way home with them in fists inside my gloves. When I got home, they hurt for about 20 minutes.

Even though I ran 9 miles in the frigin cold and was outside with little on (I run in tights, what’s the problem?) for about 90 minutes, I probably could have run for another 2 hours. My mind was racing the entire time, so 90 minutes felt like 9 minutes. I couldn’t even believe that I ran 9 miles. It seriously felt like I went for a quick jog around the block. I obviously wasn’t thinking about the cold, my strides, breathing, etc. My mind was in a million other places and running was the last thing I was thinking about today. I wish I could do that every day! Maybe that’s the secret to all the great long-distance runners? They let their minds go.

I’m glad I ran today since I just saw tonight’s forecast. We are supposed to get 5-8 inches? Hey Andover – please remember to plow the sidewalks! There are a few crazy’s in this town that use them during the winter. Thank you.

Also, last week was my first preg belly, this week was my first time in the same room as a newborn baby! My friends Noel and Jeff had their first baby, Jackson Luke, on Tuesday afternoon. I touched his head. I know that’s weird, but it’s all I could handle at the time. My first baby-hold is right around the corner. Iris – pop that thing out! Let’s go! I am ready to hold my first baby!