Running on empty...

Well, not really, but almost. Today was the big day - what I had been training for since November - Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon. I was super nervous yesterday and today, but I successfully completed it and gained a lot of confidence in myself. My official time was:

2:19.33!

I was really excited. Thanks to everyone who came out and those who sent well wishes, they carried me though. Tomorrow I'm taking my medal to get engraved with my time and go to Under Armour to get a t-shirt that says "Athletes Run", since Katie says I'm now officially a member of the club.



Hooray!

hooray!

I had a big morning, it was my last training long run before the half marathon (14 days away...yikes), and it was the longest I'd done so far, 12 miles. I went bed early last night after having a good dinner, and got up early tonight, had a packed of energy beans, some cereal and a banana and then set off to the MOS to park and run along the Charles. I decided that I was going to do 2 BU/MOS loops, and I successfully finished in.....

2:03.38!

I was PUMPED, I felt pretty good (thanks to the energy beans and hydrating) and gained a whole lot of confidence...there were exactly 2 times I stopped to walk, when I had to cross the Bay State Rd footbridge to cross Storrow Drive - I was really proud of that!

Only have to add 1.1 more miles and I'll be golden, and if I do as well as I did today, I'll definitely come in under my goal time...huzzah!

30:00

The title of today's post comes from my official time at the B.A.A. 5K this morning...30 minutes flat. It's good, but I was super pumped because I thought that I had broken 30, and my watch said 29:58...there were 2 blue mat things we crossed at the starting line to activate the timing chip that were about 15 feet apart, and I started my watch at the 2nd mat, and I guess that the timing started at the 1st one. The race was pretty cool, we ran through Beacon Hill/Back Bay. Check it:


There were a lot of people there, and there were some people that we walking, which was ok and frustrating at the same time, trying to get around them sometimes proved to be problematic. The last turn of the race, as so nicely illustrated by the map above, was onto Boylston. Once I got to Exeter, I looked at my watch and it said 28:39 and I thought "I can totally break 30 if I push myself" so I sprinted to the finish line and stopped my watch just as I crossed and my time read 29:58. I had done it! Or so I thought...After the race, we got a sweet medal and a t-shirt. See evidence at left. There was also this really sweet continental breakfast, bagels, bananas, and these really awesome PowerBar fruit gummie things that gave you energy. I wish I didn't toss the package because I want to get some for the half marathon in May. Once I got back to Somerville, I ran another 6 miles (actually, 5.9 miles since I had already run 3.1) because I had to have a training run of 9 miles today. I didn't want to do it, but I find that once I get out there and get moving, it's not so bad. Today was a little different because I was trying to break 30, but I'm normally at a little bit slower pace. Don't get me wrong, I'm not upset with 30 minutes, I'm excited about it, but it was a little bit of a let-down after I thought I had made it in under. Also, it was a little disappointing because I sprinted to the end and didn't really get to enjoy crossing the Marathon finish line...I'm sure my picture they took is gonna be awesome....

The PKP 5K was also yesterday which went pretty well, I don't know my time for that yet, I think they'll be posted sometime this week. I ran/caught up with Kevin Libby, which was really nice. After the race there was a bbq for the alumni, so it was cool to hang out and catch up with everyone. I can't wait to go back in 2 weeks for initiation. Also go to go to Charlies on Friday night, which was great, but for the first time, I felt REALLY old...but, I guess that's what happens when you're 25 and go back to a college bar...hah

The Bruins are on fire during the playoffs and the sox are finally finding their groove, they've taken 3 games so far from the Orioles (sorry dad) and the Patriots Day matinee game tomorrow for the sweep. Also tomorrow is this little thing called THE BOSTON MARATHON! We'll be at BC cheering for Katie (clappy hands and all) and then celebrating with her after at the finish line and the Westin. Good luck, I'm SO proud of you!

That's it for now, I'm a little pooped from the 9 miles today....happy marathon eve!

the night before

this is it friends, my first 5k is tomorrow! training for 6 weeks (somewhat lame, I know) and the first pay-off towards my ultimate half-marathon goal. Katie and I picked up our numbers today at Marathon Sports (my name is on my bib!!), and we'll be running with Nick LaPete and Mike Arnold. Check back tomorrow for a full recap. But here is a preview....

Fruit, Vegetable, or Mineral?

While at lunch today, we were discussing one of my more favorite foods, the avocado.

What, besides being great for dips, omelets, and salad topings, exactly is an avocado? It has a pit, so it could be a fruit, but it's skin/texture makes it seem like it should be a vegetable. If you put the pit/seed in water it will grow roots (like a vegetable), but it grows on a tree, where most fruits grow. I decided to turn to trusty old wikipedia to help me out. Here is what they had to say...

The avocado (Persea americana), also known as palta or aguacate (Spanish), butter pearalligator pear, is a tree native to Mexico, Central American and South America classified in the flowering plant family Lauraceae. The name "avocado" also refers to the fruit (technically a large berry) of the tree that contains a pit (hard seed casing) which may be egg-shaped or spherical. or

Avocados are a commercially valuable crop whose trees and fruit are cultivated in tropical climates throughout the world (and some temperate ones, such as California), producing a green-skinned, pear-shaped fruit that ripens after harvesting. Trees are partially self-pollinating and often are propogated through grafting to maintain a predictable quality and quantity of the fruit. After the seed is planted, it takes about two to six weeks to sprout.

So, fruit it is...thanks wikipedia!

In other news- the half marathon training is going well. I'm running in a 5K this weekend with Nick, Katie and Mike; I'm excited and nervous at the same time. Excited to run in the race, and nervous that I'll end up with a horrific time. Oh well, I guess I don't really care that much since it's my first one. I also bought my first pair of running tights (read: underarmour compression pants) yesterday at Sports Authority so that my legs will stay warm this weekend. I might try them out tonight- I haven't run outside in over a week, and since running on a treadmill isn't quite the same as running outside, I need to practice.

Oh, and, we're supposed to get 8 inches of snow tomorrow. Hooray. I'm secretly hoping that we have a snow day tomorrow (well, not really secret since everyone at the MOS has been openly talking about their desire for it to happen), the DVR needs my attention.

time to start anew!

hello readers!

i know that i said waay back in august that i was starting a new blog to coincide with the new adventure that i was embarking on (moving to somerville), so apologies for not totally following through on that promise. anyways, i decided, since today is oscar nominations eve, my 3rd favorite day of the year after christmas and my birthday, i would do an update, and, naturally, post my predictions for oscar nominations tomorrow. but, before i get to the good stuff, here is a quick update on life.....

....nothing exciting to report, EXCEPT, that i'm training for a half marathon. yes friends, i will be running 13.1 miles on may 24th, 2009 in boston's run to remember half marathon. i've been training since mid-november, and so far things have been going well. i'm up to about 3 miles a day, although it is somewhat frustrating that 3 miles on a treadmill is NOT the same as 3 miles outside. i'm trying to work a schedule so that i run outside at least 2 days a week, but in the winter, that often proves difficult. i will, however, keep you all posted on my progress. i'm running in a 5k next weekend with nick, katie and mike arnold, so i'm sure i'll blog about that. and now, on to what you've been waiting for....








2008 was a fairly good year for films, if i were making a top 10 list, my top films would be: Slumdog Millionaire, Wall-e, Waltz with Bashir, The Dark Knight, In Bruges, The Wrestler, Milk, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Revolutionary Road, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Oscar nominations are tomorrow morning, and the following are my predictions for the top 10 categories;

Best Picture
Slumdog Millionaire
The Dark Knight
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Milk
Frost/Nixon
alt: Wall-e, The Wrestler

Four of those five appear to be locks (Slumdog, TDK, Button and Milk) and I would love to see either Wall-e or The Wrestler sneak in. other potential upsets: Revolutionary Road and The Reader. I'm all in for a Slumdog Millionaire win, it was, in my opinion, hands down the best film of the year. Yes, it had some flaws, but it's been a LONG time since I've been so swept up and taken with a movie.

Best Director
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Gus Van Sant - Milk
Darren Aronofsky - The Wrestler
alt: Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon, Andrew Stanton - Wall-e

it is rare for best pic/director to match 5/5, so this is where I think The Wrestler will be recognized. There usually are a few surprises in the director race, and I think Aronofsky will be it.

Best Actor
Sean Penn - Milk
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
alt: Leonardo DiCaprio - Revolutionary Road, Colin Farrell - In Bruges

I have yet to see The Visitor (I'm going to watch it tonight), but I've heard nothing but good things about Richard Jenkins performance. However, having not seen it, I was inclined to put DiCaprio in the 5th slot, but the lack of precursor love for Revolutionary Road may not help him. Colin Farrell is a no guts, no glory prediction, he was fantastic in In Bruges.

Best Actress
Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
alt: Melissa Leo - Frozen River
In all honesty, this is the category I care least about, as I feel that there are really only 3 deserving nominees, Kate, Meryl and Anne...and I'm going with Kate for the win...next...

Best Supporting Actor
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Dev Patel - Slumdog Millionaire
Josh Brolin - Milk
Phillip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
alt: Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road, James Franco - Milk
This is basically Heath Ledgers award to loose, although no one has won a posthumous Oscar...perhaps this is the year? Robert Downey Jr. is also pretty safe for Tropic Thunder for playing "the dude playin' the dude, disguised as another dude!" and Dev Patel should get swept up in the Slumdog love (although his performance is really leading).

Best Supporting Actress
Kate Winslet - The Reader
Penélope Cruz - Vicky Christina Barcelona
Marissa Tomei - The Wrestler
Viola Davis - Doubt
Amy Adams - Doubt
alt: Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
This is a pretty set category, with Henson possibly getting in over Tomei. For the win- it's between Winslet and Cruz...Cruz should have won in 2006 for her fabulous performance in Volver.

Best Original Screenplay
Milk
The Wrestler
Wall-e
Vicky Christina Barcelona
Waltz with Bashir
alt: In Bruges

Best Adapted Screenplay
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
Slumdog Millionaire
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
alt: Revolutionary Road

Best Animated Feature
Kung Fu Panda
Wall-e
Waltz with Bashir

Best Foreign Language Film
Everlasting Moments (Eviga Ogonblick) - Sweeden
The Baader Meinhof Complex (Der Baader Meinhof Komplex) - Germany
The Class (Entre les Murs) - France
Three Monkeys (Uc Maymun) - Turkey
Waltz with Bashir (Vals Im Bashir) - Israel

Nomination Totals
The Dark Knight and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - 13
Slumdog Millionaire - 9
Milk, Frost/Nixon, Wall-e - 6
The Wrestler - 5

That is it for right now, you can bet I'll be back with an update tomorrow morning to see how well I faired, I doubt I'm going to be able to go 48/48, but we'll see...

and I promise that I will try and be a better blogger and keep my updated more frequent from now on.