Wineglass Marathon!!!! I did it!!!

I always wanted to be able to say that I ran a marathon, and now I can! It was an absolutely awesome weekend, details to follow, and I'm not even walking too funny!


My family (my aunt Kathleen, Ivy, Grandma and Grandpa) met Marc and I at the expo on Saturday afternoon. Where Marc and I picked up our numbers and Champagne splits (yummy) and then we had time to kill, so after we made reservations at the world famous Sorge's in downtown Corning, we made our way to the Corning Museum of Glass, which is always pretty interesting, and then off to eat a whole bunch of yummy food and a couple of beers at Sorge's restaurant! We spent the night in Bath at the Super 8, and then it was up early to head down to the Philips Light Company for the start of the race! The temperature was a very chilly 37', but I had brought some light mittens and a hat and some arm covers to keep me warm, things that I didn't mind if I had to lose, but it turns out that it never really warmed up, and I was comfortable in those things for the entire day! Everyone seemed pretty excited to see how the day would unfold!





This is me and Grandpa at the start of the race! His Christmas gift- that he had to wait 10 months for!








As far as the race itself - It went off pretty well, especially for my first marathon (i say that like i'm going to do it again - that can't be a bad sign) Marc and I ran together for a little while, he wanted to run it just to see if he would feel any better from the rochester marathon, and ended up pulling out because he hasn't healed from Rochester, but he found a penny from heaven probably about 6 miles in and gave it to me! Which was excellent, I put it in my pocket and thought about it often! (for those of you who don't know about my pennies from heaven - everytime you find a penny on the ground it was put there from a loved one in heaven who is wishing that they could be there with you) and I got a huge lift from my family waiting at around mile 9, I had to reach out and give them all high fives!


Everyone always says that a marathon can be divided into two equal parts, the first 20, and the last 6.2. I can attest to that. At around 21 miles(granted I just bent over to pick up another penny from heaven which was probably a bad idea, i hadn't stopped running at all until that point, and then putting my head down below my heart was probably a bad idea) but the last 5 miels or so were very challenging, but I kept my head up, and managed to get to Corning!
My sister agreed to run the last quarter of a mile with me! So that was something that I looked forward to for the last 5 miles, just waiting to see my sister - and boy was that a treat! I'm SO glad that she decided to gut it out and run a bit with me! We crossed the finish line together, and she talked me through it - saying - come on Holly, you're almost there, we can see the finish line - etc - what a great little coach she turned out to be!



After the race, I had to show my family the pennies from heaven that I had found, I gave one to Ivy :)

I thought it would be nice to sit down with my sister for awhile, waiting for the awards...but then I couldn't get back up.

My overall stats:
I finished in 3 hours 26 minutes and 12 seconds
I was 100th overall finisher
9th overall woman
and 3rd in my age group
I also qualified for Boston, which I plan to run in the year 2010.

All in all, I loved running the marathon, and I definitely am going to run more of them. i took yesterday off of work, but today I rode my bike in, and I don't feel too bad, I have a little hitch in my giddy up, but nothing to write home about. I definitely will be running the Wineglass next year!

1300 miles, my half marathon and 9 days to go!

I'm a terrible blogger, I admit. I doubt anyone will even get this first blog in almost 3 months!!! I could never keep a diary either, I used to try, when I was Ivy's age. I'd enter in it maybe once or twice and then it would be discovered months later under my bed with dust bunnies all over it, and then the next entery would start with. "I know you haven't heard from me in a while"...

I know you haven't heard from me in awhile...BUT big things have happened and are happening soon!

The 90 miler was a huge success! We had some trials and tribulation as we often do in that race, but I really think that's WHY you do the race!

I also did my first half marathon a week and a half ago. I'm sure many of you heard that the weather was terrible, about 90% humidity and 90 degrees. Despite that - i had a RIOT! It was so much fun, there were so many supporters out and it is most certainly an accomplishment!

As I sit here my running shorts are stinking the place up next to me. Starting in August I've been running to and from work every day, for a plethora of reasons.
1)it kills two birds with one stone, I need to run, and I need to get to work..perfect - its about 4.25 miles to work so that gives me about 8.5 miles a day - and its not an easy 4.25...
2) I HATE U of R parking, so I refuse to buy a parking permit
3) It saves on gas!!!
All that being said, my total miles as of right this very instant is 1281 miles this year! So by the marathon I will be over 1300, which I hope wll be enough!

This Christmas gift is about to be given! The plans have been set- and a week from Saturday Marc and I will drive the course and meet grandma and grandpa at the Wineglass Marathon Expo!!! To tell you the truth - I'm pretty excited!

800 miles!

After the 5 miles I ran today in the sweltering heat, my yearly total is 800miles! wow!

I'm actually feeling very good!

I developed tendonitis in my ankle a few weeks ago, and for awhile I couldn't run on it at all, just a little pressure on it and it felt like someone was stabbing me in the leg! But after a few days off, and taking it easy for a few weeks, I feel almost as good as new!

Last week my cousin Katie came up and paddled and ran with me. She ran a total of 24 miles with me last week! AND entered in her first ever 5k! and...SHE PLACED! She got third in her age group! I'm so proud of her =). It was the fourth of july Firecracker 5k! She sounded very excited to have run the 5k, and said that she would like to do it again! It was a pleasure having her around to hang out with - i even took her to her first baseball game. We went to see the Rochester Red Wings, and had a blast!

The weather hasn't been too agreeable the last two days - it's been a very humid 90 degrees, and sleepy head holly has been sleeping in so I have to run in the heat - YUCK!

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!

Boston! ?

Last night after dinner, Marc very nonchalantly mentioned...he is going to run the Rochester Marathon this year.

Well Jeepers...

I decide to run a marathon and I create this grand hoopla story - make certificates - make a blog.

Marc says, would you pass the salt? oh and by the way I signed up for the Rochester Marathon this year.

So our goal - to qualify for Boston next year! So it looks like - unless there are any major catastrophes - I'm running TWO marathons in the next year! We'll see!

Jeepers am I tired

Well, sorry its been so long since my last update...but since the 70 miler - I've been BUSY!!! I made an eansy beannsy mistake. I didn't think it was a mistake at first...and in the long run, maybe it won't be....but...

I asked my friend Rick Guido -henceforth referred to as Guido - for a little advice on running a marathon.

30 articles, a weekly running log, and detailed schedule later...I'm running my arse off...

Guido is a nationally recognized girls track coach, and he is VERY good at what he does. and VERY THOROUGH.

It's really neat to have direction etc., but I don't know if I was ready for ALL of this...

Well thats really it for now - I'll keep you posted =)

70 Miler

Usually by now I'm suffering from post race let down. You know, that feeling that I just spent the last 5 months training my rear end off for something, that is now over. The realization that things could have gone different, the now what am I supposed to do...the refocusing on the next big event.

Not this year.

Two days post seventy, instead, I'm still feeling like death.

It could have been a lot of things, it could have been the fact that it was hot - probably high 70s low 80s all day, it could have been the fact that the wind was blowing AT US for most of the day, it could have been the fact that it was by far the shallowest 70miler that I've ever attended, it could have been that I've never done the 70 from the bow, which requires a bit more energy. Whatever the reason for me feeling like I've been run over by a train...I have one thing to say-

It was well worth it.

Gloria and I had two non-overlapping goals. To 1. beat all the mixed teams (unprecedented by a womens team) 2. Be in the top 20 (the highest women's finish to date was 25th). To make a long story short. We dominated the mixed field, beating the top mixed team by 9 minutes and finishing 17th place in the men!!! Also, if you account for the 10% time difference that is often associated with top women and top men, we were 10% behind the 1st place team that absolutely dominated the mens field - so it looks like we were definitely at the top of our game and i'm truly proud of the results.

Now if I could just get my head to stop spinning!

Lilac 10k

Well yesterday was the 10k.

And I tell you what, not too shabby.

That's my report. To tell you the truth I was fairly impressed! The last time I did the 10k, my time was approcimately 45 minutes (probably more like 44:30) This time, my adjusted time (when I ACTUALLY made it through the start line) was 42:11) almost two and a half minutes faster this time. It's really a very hard course (very hilly, and the hills are mostly in the last 5k) I ran 6:48 miles, and for the first mile I was fighting my way through the crowd!!! I came in 17th woman, and 107th overall. I think that had I gotten a better starting position I definitely could have broken the top 100 and the top 15 women. Their was a girl that beat me by just a second (she outsprinted me at the end - and I haven't done ANY speed work) is a runner in a Division I school! But at any rate - I am very pumped about that finish - and with a little speedwork who knows what I can do!

I'll see if I can post pictures later=)

Two weeks from now starts real marathon training

This past weekend was Wessels I raced with Gloria, and we did fantastic!!! We finished 1st in womens, beat ALL the mixed teams, and were tenth in the mens by a matter of seconds (we were in a group with two other men who finished 9th and 8th - so we were in a stones throw of 7th. which is fantastic). We are both very excited about our chances of having the best womens finish in the history of the 70! She truly is a pistol - and a joy to be in a boat with!

So the 70 is about a week and a half away. I'm very much looking forward to it, and when thats over I plan to really start training for the marathon. The only canoeing thing that I have left after that that I need to really train for is Nationals - but thats not as intense as training for the 70. No where near as many hours needed. So I'll be able to put in a few long runs to get myself ready!

This weekend is the Lilac 10k, I'm trying to get my sister to run the 5k and maybe my mom!!! I'll let you know how it turns out =)

T minus 5 months

5 months from now I will officially be done with my first marathon, time sure is flying! Actually right now I am procrastinating going for a run by writing a post!

This weekend went swimmingly...minus the swimming! I was the fastest amateur C1 on Saturday (beating all the amateur boys) which I have never done before - I actually won by one and a half minutes! Pretty exciting! it was a lot of fun. Then on Sunday I raced C2 with Jason, and we managed to come in 5th among the men!!! (first mixed) and we did it by beating some very good teams. And just as importantly, Daniel raced the C1 race, which is by far the most technical C1 race there is, and managed to keep him boat upright, and did very well! Caren and Brian also raced C2 on Sunday - and judging by their smiles - I think that they had a great time!

I sent in my registration for the Lilac 10k today, that race is next Sunday (the 18th), I'm very much looking forward to it, I hope to do a lot better than i did a couple years ago when I tried it. This weekend is the lower 35 (the second half of the 70) and I'm racing with Gloria - I'll let you know how I do!!! :)

Happy May Day!!!

Happy May Day!!! You know what that means -19 days til Grandpa's and Seans Birthday - and 28 more days til mine!!!

Ok no, I think it really has something to do with flowers on doorknobs - and kisses or something.

ANYHOW... much to report

Last weekend, I went to Boston and raced with Gloria we were faster than ...insert something witty here. No really, we were super fast - only one mixed team beat us (they started womens and mixed together), and we had a super good race!

On saturday we went and scouted out the course - and Marc said if we had enought time he'd take me to heartbreak hill , but we didn't know exactly how to get there - so we called chacha ; 1-800-2242242 (1-800-2chacha). Its kind of cool - its absolutely free (besides if you have to pay to recieve a text message) and you just call and ask it ANY question, and within a few minutes it will text you the answer!!! So we called chacha, and they gave us the answer -but...alas, we didn't have enough time - so i didn't get to see it! (thats probably for the best).

I passed my qual on monday - although thats another story for another day - I'm not very happy about it at all, BUT...its over with, now I have to decide where to go from here!

Canton is this weekend, I race C1 on Saturday and C2 on Sunday with Jason - I'll be sure to report when I get back!

Boston

Much to update on: Canoe Season has started! Jason and I raced the Upper Susquehanna Peddlers and Paddlers race. We raced against the men, and ended up 6th place, we should have been 5th, but all in all it was a great race!

I thought this picture was SUPER funny, thats me and Jason going for a run before the race!!!

This is us gettin' her done just after the race start!

THis is me getting out of the boat - Duh!

This weekend is Boston's Run of the Charles, its a 26 Mile race with 6 running portages! I'm racing with my partner for the 70 Gloria. I'll have to let you know how I do!

Speaking of Boston...The Boston Marathon was monday. It was actually kind of funny. I was all full of lactic acid on Monday from the canoe race on saturday, so when I ran, I really didn't feel all that well, sometimes the lactic acid gives you a stomach ache. But despite that, and really dogging it the first half of my run, I ran 8 miles in an hour. I was pretty proud of myself. Only to come back to my computer with an email from marc, only quasi joking - hey if we can get you down to a 2hr 25 minute marathon (tranlates to roughlt 5:33 miles - as opposed to the 7:30 miles that I was just going to brag about) you could win $150,000. Talk about short lived excitement. I don't know about that - but I was thinking, maybe, just MAYBE if I qualified for Boston - I'd do it in the next couple of years... (I need a 3hr 40 minute to qualify), but lets just see if I even like running a marathon first ok!!!

Next monday is my qualifying exam, in which I will officially have my Masters degree (or if I fail, I might officially start training for a 2:25...) I'll let you know how Boston, AND the qual turn out!

Love you all! Hol

Less than 6 months to go!

I mean to write on Saturday - the 6 months to go mark. But I've been a busy little beaver, and didn't have time. Speaking of beavers...I've been paddlin' a lot and there have been a LOT of beavers, did you know that they get to be 75 pounds!!! thats like bailey, without legs!

Anyway 6 months to go!!! I bought a new pair of running sneakers my red ball jets - (actually mine are purple)- I try to have 2 that I can switch back and forth with (they suggest that to prevent injuries) - I'm not really sure why - but I know I don't want any injuries.

Marc has been on me to run "his" 7 mile route for about 5 months now - So today was the day, I was scared - 7 miles is 7 miles though right? WRONG. it kicked my butt. Here is the route, but that doesn't mean crap unless you hit the button that says - show elevation. I'm glad the wineglass is relatively flat. I thought the first hill was the worst hill ever, it took forever, and it had a pretty decent incline. But that feeling didn't last long, cuz then I got the the next hill, and that one officially became the worst hill EVER. But I made it - and only a little the worse for wear. I'm really really looking forward to the marathon - heck I might even like it! I have run 35 miles so far this week, I'll probably do 5 tomorrow, making it my first EVER 40 mile week.

In other news, i had to pee in the woods once this week, I saw TWO bald eagles, Bailey got his electric fence installed, I finished my proposal, and my cousins Dan and Katie are coming to paddle this weekend! How exciting. More later :)

Bailey - the hunter

So...yesterday, I took BaileyBoy for awalk, like EVERYDAY. As we got closer to the woods - you know - the ones that we almost got arrested at... he started pulling me bad - he usually doesn't do that. But, also, he only poops in the woods (Dad taught him to only s#$^ in the tall grass) so I thought maybe he just really had to go. Anyway, we got walking (i took him off the leash, I guess I don't learn - someday they'll catch me and I'll have to pay my 100 dollar fine) and he was acting SUPER goofy - sort of protective, and he kept on pointing off into the woods. Then before I knew it, he had sprinted off into the valley - and chased a COYOTE away!!! I couldn't believe it! My dog, the one who gets a kick out of stuffed animals with squeakers in them, and cooked hamburger, could tell the difference between the smell of all of the dogs that frequent the park and a coyote - he was protecting me!!! I thought that was pretty freakin cool! Bailey the coyote chaser - who single handedly emptied the dog park of the coyotes :)

I've caught bronchitits...why me? I've been sick for almost 3 weeks now, but I started antibiotics yesterday, so I started running again today - makes sense right? I randomly got an email from runners' world today that suggested that if you had symptoms below the neck (ie lung inflammation) that you should take a few days off of running - that was a day late and a dollar short! I only took a few days off the last few days - but oh well - what doesn't kill us makes us stronger...

Sending in my application for the 70 miler today!!! All this money that I pay to put myself through H = E = double Hockey sticks!

ITS OFFICIAL

I REGISTERED FOR MY FIRST MARATHON!

I looked online today to see if registration was opened for the 27th annual wineglass marathon, and with the luck of the irish...it was! So I forked over my 60 dollars checked the box that says if I die its not their problem, and registered myself for 26.2 miles of running bliss...well probably more like running purgatory. As my friend Ang just pointed out - thats $2.37 a mile. It'd be cheaper to drive.

I'm signed up, no stopping me now, this thing is in the making...did i mention i'm scared?

I was supposed to run in this weekends Johnny's running of the Green, but I was so stressed form my talk last weekend (which ps went very well) that I came down with a head cold and was up ALL night on Friday coughing, so alas, i chickened out - instead Marc ran it, and gave me his T shirt. But I took the opportunity to introduce Bailey to the big city. Bailey and I and Ang and her golden retriever Annie went down to watch the race. Bailey was so upset that there were all those people there, and that Everyone wouldn't stop and pet him. He wined a lot. And then, when 1,000+ runners just ran on by and he wasn't allowed to go too, he was a little bummed about that too.

Funny thing that happened is, I was waiting towards the finish line for Marc, and I saw the girls that were in the lead, and wondered to myself, gee I wonder if I could beat them, then it dawned on me, well gee holly, you can't beat marc, so, no, they'd beat you. Oh well, maybe someday I'll be a fast girl :).

I've been feeling better, I ran 5 miles on saturday (much slower than the 5 mile race I would have done trust me) and 9 miles on Sunday, and another 4 really slow ones today. I'll be in shape by October, somehow :)

I've set a date for my qualifying exam April 28th, and in other news my cousin Katie has agreed to do women's nationals with me!!! I think thats news, i don't think that i posted it before. BUT VERY EXCITING! It's going to be a great summer!

If you don't like the weather in Western New York, just wait a minute

What a week huh? I'm about to go for a run this morning and thought I'd write a little something. I ran on Sunday in just something light, on Monday I wore something very light (it was 52 when I ran!!!) and then had to bundle up the rest of the week. It was a beautiful morning to walk bailey, a beautiful winter looking sky! I've already ran 19 miles this week, 26 after today. That's a scary thought, that I have run 4 times and ran 26 miles and come october, I have to do that all in one day!

Everything else is happening too! I have to give a talk to my fellow students next monday called a 501. I know it sounds like it should be nothing, but it is really nerve racking! It's an hour long presentation where you present your work and also answer questions. Luckily, my field of study is sort of obscure - so hopefully no one will have tough questions!

I am getting ready to take my qualifying exam, which I think I mentioned before - is my thesis proposal. See if my committee (a group of 4 Drs.) think I'm smart enough to go on. I'm sort of finally getting excited about all of this. Just for giggles -and because I'm a giant dork!- I've posted my abstract - so you can see how silly this profession of mine is:

ABSTRACT

In HIV-associated dementia (HAD) or HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), neurologic disease that occurs during central nervous system (CNS) infection with Human Immunodeficiency Type-1 (HIV-1), neuronal death does not correspond with the degree of neurologic dysfunction, rather loss of neurologic function correlates with simplification of dendritic arbors and defective synaptic transmission. This is an important distinction to make since dendrites are able to undergo profound injury yet still be able to regenerate to form functional synapses. Discovering the mechanisms of injury is important since blocking the injury to the neuron, or removing the causative agent, will prove therapeutic. Using a recently developed technique that utilizes quantum dot (QD) coated coverslips to produce an electrical current; I will be able to generate action potentials in hippocampal neurons. Morphologic and functional integrity of the neuronal processes can be observed after inducing an action potential in the presence of virologic neurotoxins such as gp120 and tat. Using real time imaging, I can observe whether HIV-1 neurotoxins make normal synaptic activity excitotoxic; resulting in irreversible injury to synapses. Using the QD system, I will observe the microglial response to the dendritic injury from electrical stimulation with tat and gp120. It is unclear whether a microglial response to this injury will lead to further synaptic injury or limit synaptic damage. By assessing the response to the injury in the presence and absence of a recombinant Adenoviral vector under an F4/80 promoter containing a siRNA against purinergic receptors responsible for microglial motility, I will determine if microglia are acting in a neuroprotective fashion. Evidence has also suggested that damaged neurons will provide an “eat me” signal which will attract microglia to engulf the synapses. Using neuronal-RFP and glial-GFP mixed cultures, I will observe the RFP presense in microglia, which will imply a role for microglia in synaptic degradation. It is possible that fractalkine (FKN), an enzymatically cleavable chemokine expressed on neurons, and its receptor CX3CR1 expressed on microglia, are mediators in this adhesion process between microglia and neurons and may either enhance or mitigate damage to synapses. Using the QD system I can further elucidate the role of FKN in these interactions. Taken together these experiments will provide insight into the mechanism of neuronal injury in the context of HAD.

:)

Not wind nor snow nor freezing hail will stop poor GG she will prevail!!!!

I don't have much to report.

I've been running - it gets easier and easier...

Well, sort of...

Yesterday I had slept in and had to get to work to do some 'speriments' as Ivy used to call them, so I decided to run later at work. So I just wore my windpants and an underarmor and grabbed some sneakers and put them in my bag and off I went to work. At about 3 I decided to go, grabbed my fully charged Ipod and my gloves and off I went.

First thing, i forgot to put on a windproof coat - so i was just wearing a sweathshirt...but more importantly - i had the wrong pair of gloves they were more like liners than gloves - but OH WELL... not wind nor snow nor freezing hail will stop poor GG she will prevail!!!!

BUT... 2 minutes into my running...my ipod froze. Not in the brr Holly I'm cold kind of froze, but in the hey I'm really just a miniture computer and I don't want to do anything else anymore kind of froze. And to me. there is nothing, I repeat NOTHING, worse than running with a useless piece of equipment.

But then something worse happened, I FROZE, and not the I'm really just a miniature kind of computer froze, but the BRRRR i can't move kind of froze. OH MY GOSH was it cold. I was so not approriately dressed, I hung on for my 6.5 miles, but when I got back there wasn't much movement from the old digits.

Now to back track on the Ipod. My computer, well not so much my computer, my computer's power cord, bit the dust. For $100.00 Dell will furnish me with a new one (how sweet) but it takes a week to get here...and of course i need my computer to reboot my ipod. so I'm ipod less. Which is fine but I'm SO used to running with it, I keep messing with my ears because I think that the headphones aren't working :)

Today I ran 7 miles which puts my weeks total up to 19.5 - I hope to have enough time before the "BIG PARTY" to run around the lake. Or maybe sneak in one with Dan and Kate :) What a busy weekend - my sister turning 13 YIKES, my mom turning...um, another year older...and Grandpa and Grandmas 50th wedding anniversary!!!

2 posts in 3 days!!!

Wow! I'm officially...without a life!

ANYWAY... big news, I had a baby. Errr....I bought a truck.

It was (is) a girl. I named her Tilly!

Originally I named her Tully, as in the town two exits before McGraw on 81. Now the story on that one is that my Ranger is named affectionately "Tug" not really for any reason - I just liked the name, and Tim McGraw the country singers Dad's name was Tug. So...everytime I went by the town McGraw on 81 (which surprisingly I do quite often - as it is on the way to all the susquehanna races) I would think of Tug. I was worried yesterday as I drove down to Philly to get her, that she didn't have a name. Marc wanted me to name her Hope. Which is an OK name, but not for a truck, but then I went by the town Tully - PERFECT, its right after mcgraw...and it sounds like a truck name, until I thought of the phrase dad used to always say...no so affectionately... refering to overweight women as Two ton tillies. So.. after 6 hours of being named Tully, her name done got changed - she is Tilly.

I took marc and Bailey for their first ride with tilly today. Bailey got a new seatbelt that he managed to get all wound up in and whined for the entire ride. I shouldn't have expected anything better...but anyway - nothing to do with running - I ran 5 this morning - just in the nick of time too, as I write this it is 6 out with a windchill of -15 YUCK!

more later - yay for Tilly!

Who says you need a car?

WHAT A DAY!!!

Long story short, I'm getting a new vehicle tomorrow!!! (Yippee) I'm getting my friend Dale's Ford Exlorer Sport Trac tomorrow, and I'm selling Tug to my cousin Daniel, since he is 18 and looking for a vehicle and Tug's in VERY good shape - and I'm happy to help him out. But I decided to take him into the shop to get a power steering leak fixed- and a few other things to make sure Tug's in tiptop shape for his new life in Wanakena (and where ever else Dan goes). Well I made the mistake of telling the mechanics that I was in no rush because I was giving the car to my cousin etc...which they read as...I have another car already.

I don't.

So since Tuesday, I've been carless. Marc has been kind enough to take me to and from work everyday. But today, I took the day off of work, and told Marc that I would take care of myself.

Big mistake.

I talked to the people at the shop yesterday, they said that they'd have it done today - I assumed that meant...well...that they'd have it done today.

So...here is the break down of my day.

6:00 - Bailey and I walked 2 miles
7:30 Went for my 5 mile run up to the resevoir and back
9:30 Walked 1.5 miles to get my hairs cut
10:00 Walked 1.5 miles back
10:30 Ran 2.5 miles to my house (where I assumed that at some point, the shop would call me, at which time I would walk the 1 mile to the shop to get my car - but of course - that wouldn't have made a good story)
1:30 Walked to my buddy Kyle's house - 1 mile
2:00 Walked back - 1 mile
4:30 assumed that I was being stood up by the mechanics at the shop- ran 2.5 miles back to marc's house.

An unanticipated 10 mile day with an additional 7 miles of walking.

This no car stuff is for the birds.

NEW CAR TOMORROW - less traveling by foot.

PS - and at 6:00 - still no word from the shop - oh well - tomorrow it won't matter anyway :)

Happy Groundhogs Day!!!

I don't know if Punxatawney Pete (or is it Phil) saw his shadow or not. But I certainly didn't see mine.

Thanks to wikipedia.org I've got the low down on Punxsutawney Phil (that would be the correct spelling and everything) - apparently he did see his shandow so its 6 more weeks of winter. I also learned that there is a Canadian version...Wiarton Willie. AT ANY RATE...

Today has been a pretty good day. I haven't really been feeling that well this week, so I hadn't been out running. Except for this epic tale:

On Wednesday I had a physical therapy appt at 7:30 am. So Holly, not being the brightest crayon in the box, decided that I would leave my apt at 6:45 and run to my appt (running straight there only takes 10 minutes, so I was going to GO for a run, and then end up there. Well that was the day up here that there was 55 mph winds. And in case you are wondering in a headwind of 55 mph, a 140lb girl will be stopped dead in her tracks. So instead of going for a run...I more went for a forced stomp to PT. I made it on time though! I don't mind the cold, but the wind really sucks...or more accurately ... blows.

So today, after I took the stooge (Bailey) for a walk I went for a 5 mile run up to the reservoir. It was actually really nice, since that is the Police communications they keep it very plowed and maintained.

I'm starting to get some races scheduled out. My first running race this year will be Johnny's Running of the Green. Obviously, its St Patty's day weekend. It's five miles. Marc, Jason Quagliata, (maybe Kyle) and I are going to do it. Jason is a VERY good runner, he ran cross country for U of R in college, his record is a 4:12 mile. He doesn't train much for running anymore because he hurt his ACL. BUT, he still kicks our butts in the races by a landslide. My first canoe race thisyear (USPP, which is April 19th) I will be racing with Jason as well.

In other news...Tug hit 100,000 miles today. I didn't get to see it, go figure, Marc was driving my car and I was driving his... :(

Just when you thought it would be a boring post...

Before I ran this morning, the post was going to read something like this...

I was waiting for something exciting to happen to me this week, but it never did. Pretty boring week of running. I ran 30 miles this week, and had two days off, mostly because I've been fairly busy at work. I have made my committee, and hope to take my qualifying exam (read get my masters) in mid-march. So two days this week I didn't have enough time to run. Today I planned on running 5 miles in the morning by myself, and then another 2 in the afternoon with my dog. I've been thinking about what running/canoeing races that I am going to do this year. Well, I don't really plan on doing a lot of running races, save the lilac 10k (which is right outside my door - so WHY NOT!) plus its a fun thing to do. But I've debated on doing the Rochester half marathon - which is 3 weeks or so before the wineglass - just as something to do. I'll consult coach Gillespie about that one later. Other than that, its been a fairly boring week. Bailey and I didn't get arrested...Peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches for lunch...watching my buddy Zach Ellis wrestle at counties today, we are going to the finals (just got back from the semi's which he dominated). Too cold to paddle...

BUT...While I was running today, and thinking how I should probably write something on this, and how boring it was going to be to read... a man on a UNICYCLE passed me. It is 23 degrees, and a man (I'd say in his late 40's early 50's) in a wool sweater and a little beanie hat, road by me on a unicycle. How cool is that? Really cold I bet. It reminded me of when Gma and Gpa saw the guy playing an acccordian in his car while driving. He even went up and around the reservoir! Its sometimes kind of neat to live in the city.

It's time to take Bailey out for his little run. He's getting pretty fast, faster than me for sure! Maybe HE should run the marathon :)

Have a good rest of the weekend!

To google or not to google.

I've heard through the grapevine that perhaps people were a little upset that I put up pictures of where I run and my name etc. Never fear, I"m not stupid... This website is not available through any search engines etc. The only way someone could randomly end up here is if they for whatever reason typed the correct address by accident. Try it for yourself - even googling canoegalholly or canoegalholly.blogspot.com will not return it.

Not to make anyone scareder...but what would be much more worrysome, if one were want to be a worrier would be: the fact that I run at the same place, at the same time, everyday. But alas - i'm not stupid about it.

I'm not going to stay inside and be scared about things either, life's too short. Have a good few days - I'm sure I'll have more adventures soon.

Wanted Dead or Alive.

Yep, GG and Bailey are now criminals. Wanted suspects. Don't let the cute face fool you, that dog is really el diablo negro. As I said before, Bailey and I go for walks at Washington Grove every morning, which is actually on the east side of the reservoir that I took pictures of last week. On saturday we went for our walk as normal, but there are wooden steps that lead up to the park, they were all iced over. All the dogs walk in the park without leashes even though the sign says that all dogs must be leashed (you can see where this is going) and so does Bailey, you all know that Bailey isn't going to leave my side, he has this fear of being left alone, so he is never farther than a stones throw from me if he can help it. At any rate, I let him off his leash and we went for our little two mile walk. I was thinking to myself as I was walking, what would happen if we got caught. Well I was about to find out. I usually put him on his leash before the wooden steps, but they were super icy (even with my YakTrakkers on, the best 20 dollars I ever spent) So I thought that I would wait til I got to the bottom to put him back on his leash, so he didn't pull me down the ice.

...And of course, the animal control van drives by. I call Bailey and hurriedly put him on his leash, spilling my coffee all over the place. The woman "Ossifer" got out of her vehicle and said, "Ma'am at any time during your walk did your dog get aways from you" No ma'am. "Excuse me?" OK you got me now I'm scared "I know that he was off his leash, but was he away from you at any time during your walk?" No he was right by me the whole time. "Well we got a call from Hillside and there was a black dog on the loose and I'm pretty sure it was yours" Long story short, she read me the riot act, and told me that I COULD NOT DO THAT, and let me go with a warning.

GO FIGURE...this stuff only happens to me.

So, I'm not going to walk Bailey on a leash, I just don't think its necessary, if she gives me a ticket so be it, I'll just be sure to put his leash on him when we get closer to the road, I really don't think that she is going to hunt me down in the woods. HOWEVER, this does not stop me from being the biggest anxious nervous nellie while walking him now!

As for running, I didn't do too much this weekend, usually on the weekends I've been running with Bailey, he must have been shaken up by the police ossifer on saturday, he didn't want to go with me, but on Sunday, Bailey buckled down and ran 5 miles with me. He usually runs about 15-20 miles a week, and he's pretty silly about it, somedays he really wants to go. And when he sees that Marc or I are getting our running sneakers on he won't let us out of his sight. And other days, he will run to his bed and ignore us. So we only take him when he wants to go of course.

We all went paddling on Saturday in our warmest clothes, it wasn't TOO cold on saturday, but it was windy, so windy infact that Jason and I weren't thinking and we untied the canoes and then started taking one of them off and the other two (mine and marcs) flew off the other end. Mine got a few big dents in it, but its just my practice boat so it doesn't matter too much.

On a technical note, I'm not sure how I'm supposed to "respond to comments" so i just commented below your comment? I guess that's what I'm supposed to do.

BRRR its cold out today - keep warm... and Patriots - all the way :)

Cobbs Hill Reservoir

Today is pretty blustery, no lie. As a matter of fact, Bailey and I go for a walk every morning at Washington Grove (a very small "forest" in Rochester) and when we got there this morning, the trees were swaying ALOT and saying I dare you to come in here little girl, so Bailey and I went on our merry way, elsewhere.

I'm pretty tired, I've run a lot this week, so I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to bring the camera along and take a few pictures of where I run most of the time.

I normally run around Cobbs Hill Resevoir, which is about 1.3 miles from my apartment. Their is a walking trail that goes around the reservoir itself, and a one-way road that goes around that. When you turn out of my apartment there is the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School which is a beautiful building, from their I turn right on Highland down to the corner of Highland and Monroe and go up to the top of Cobbs Hill.

This is the path I take to get up to the top of it, and yes, it is as steep as it looks! Marc and the guys at the forge practice for canoeing portages here, because its a lot like running up the side of a dam. The view at the top is worth it (but of course you could just as easily take the road on the other side of the dam).




This is the building at the top. I'm not sure what it is used for presently, I think just storage.


If the mood strikes you, you can do a little Rocky movie antics up the stairs :)


















This is the reservoir, in the summer, they turn the fountain on. It is currently, I believe, Rochester's drinking water and the building on the other side is for communications.


This is said walking path that I run on, you can see on the other side, the other tall hill in Rochester, used for all the radio towers.




And this, is the view from the top, the Rochester skyline, if you look closely (my camera didn't capture it too good, but you can see the new "Freddy Sue Bridge"(Frederick Douglass, Susan B Anthony Memorial Bridge) and the Xerox building, it really is neat to see- almost makes you proud to be a Rochesterean!

I guess thats it for now! Have a great weekend - I'll be checking in again next week!!!

Blog - for me - NO!

Wow, who would have thought! Me, Holly, starting a web-log. But alas, I have given in, and decided that in my quest to do the wineglass marathon on October 5th, 2008, and hopefully turn in a respectable time, I'd start this blog to keep my family (especially Grandpa) up-to-date on my trials and tribulations! This all works out great, since Grandpa and Grandma got their new faster internet connection, they'll be able to keep track of me, and know that i'm working hard on this Christmas present that keeps on giving! More to come - once I've got this "blogging" thing figured out!