Running | miles of abbie

January 17, 2010

My Challenge For You is…

Filed under: Running — Tags: challenge, Jeff Galloway, Running, Team in Training, triathlon — Abbie Mood @ 6:36 pm

… to complete a race this year. Before you laugh and just leave Miles of Abbie, hear me out.

Inspired by the comments about some of my running posts (Traveling to Runand Athens Marathon Race Re-Cap), I decided that all of you are totally capable of completing a race, whether you believe it or not. I have seen people who couldn’t run a mile on the first day, complete a whole marathon 4 months later. It can be done

I realize that this is quite a challenge for some of you, and I’m prepared to be your #1 Supporter. Find me on Twitter (@MilesofAbbie), Facebook (Abbie Mood), or e-mail (Use the contact form on this site).

Choosing a Race

1. Running

2. Triathlon

3. Century Ride – 161K/100 miles on the bike

How To Get Started

First, check out Runnersworld.com for training plans, tips, and to find races. BeginnerTriathlete.com has the same information for triathlons. If you are interested in learning about the Run/Walk Method (my favorite), go toJeffGalloway.com. UPDATE – Check out Jeff’s post – Getting Started Running.

Second, consider finding a training group in your area. Check outmeetup.com, check out a local running specialty store, or simply google search “running” and “your city”. If you can convince a friend or significant other to train with you, even better!

Third, consider joining one of the many fundraising teams. I’ve trained for a run two marathons with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training, but many organizations are starting to follow the LLS lead and raise money in exchange for training.

With Team in Training, you agree to raise a certain amount of money and in return you become part of a local team that meets at least once per week on the weekends, and sometimes once or twice during the week. You have a coach and a mentor to support you through the training and the fundraising.

Somewhere near the end of the L.A. Marathon,

My Race Plans for 2010

So who’s in????

Photo Credit: L.A. Marathon Photographer

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January 5, 2010

Traveling To Run

Filed under: Misc. Travel, Running — Tags: marathon — Abbie Mood @ 8:00 am

Earlier last week I realized that I actually *might* (just a teeny bit) like running marathons. Maybe it’s the challenge. Maybe it’s working hard to reach a goal.

Or maybe it’s to travel.

Why? Running is one of the most intimate ways to get to know a city, and within 3-5 hours (for most people) you get a pretty good tour of the major attractions, without worrying about traffic. Besides the major attractions, you can usually see some of the lesser known parts of the city or the suburbs, too.

A marathon is a half to full day event, so you might as well make it a weekend trip (or longer). Marathoners burn thousands of calories, so it’s also a great reason to splurge at a new restaurant.

Checking my watch sometime towards the end of the L.A. Marathon

When I run the Marine Corps marathon in October 2010, it will be my 4th marathon. San Diego Rock ‘N Roll was my first marathon in June 2007, followed by the Los Angeles marathon in Spring 2008 (both with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program), and the Athens Marathon in Greece in November 2008.

After finishing the Athens marathon, at the top of the Olympic Stadium with the Parthenon & the Acropolis in the background. Oh and an olive branch in my visor

I haven’t been to Washington D.C. since high school, and don’t remember very much of it. When I run there in October, I’ll get an up close and personal view, and am actually training and running with a couple friends from high school. D.C. is also close to Delaware, where I grew up, so it will be the first time my mom will be at any of my races! Training starts in February

Photo Credits: LA Marathon photographer, and Eric Lang

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November 27, 2008

Athens Marathon Race Re-cap

Filed under: MatadorU, Recaps, Running — Tags: Apostolos Greek Tours, Athens, Greece, Jeff Galloway, marathon — Abbie Mood @ 7:02 pm

Last November, my boyfriend Eric and I traveled to Greece with Paul Samaras and his group, Apostolos Greek Tours so that I could run the original marathon and Eric could do a 10K race.

We had a pasta dinner the night before, and Paul had the hotel set up the breakfast buffet early that morning so we could get something to eat before we left. The race didn’t start until 9 am, so I didn’t have to get up at the crack of dawn like with races in the States. We slept until about 6 a.m. and then got breakfast (mmm Greek yogurt!). I got on the bus to head towards the small town of Marathon around 7. The 10K started near the modern Olympic stadium, which was my finishing point, so Eric’s bus left at 7:30.

Like a virgin… touched for the very first time…

Madonna was blaring over the loudspeaker as runners from several different countries stretched and nervously chatted about the upcoming race. I was standing next to Jeff Galloway, former Olympian and the Run/Walk Method master, who was on the trip with us and was leading a 1 min. run/1 min. walk group with a goal of 5 hours. I looked at the road and there was a faded blue line, from the Olympic marathon in 2004.

After taking an oath that translated to something about having fun and running a fair race, the starting gun popped! Jeff wanted the group to start after everyone else had gone, so for the first time ever in a race, I started dead last. There were a few thousand runners there, putting us about 5 minutes behind clock time. The temperature at race start was 61 degrees with the wind at our back and lots of cloud coverage, practically perfect marathon weather. The wind eventually died down, but luckily the clouds and cool temps stayed with us.

After the first couple miles, we started the loop around the tomb of the Athenian soldiers who fell during the war between the Persians and the Athenians. The next few miles flew by, and the 1/1 run/walk method was part of the reason.

Eric and I had looked at the course map before the trip and I didn’t expect much trouble from the hills. What I forgot to consider was the angle of the road, and by mile 7 my knees started bothering me. I tried to ignore them, after all I was in Greece – no time for knee problems! Nevertheless, they continued to bother me and ended up hurting for 3 weeks after the race.

Running through the countryside brought cheers of “Bravo!” and “Calimera!” (good morning) coming from both sides of the road as we passed people who were outside cheering us on our way to Athens. Around mile 16 we started to get into the suburbs of Athens and see more buildings. This was also about the time that I started to lose the group. After I stopped at a medic tent to get some cream for my knees, I slowed my pace down considerably for the next 3 miles and they pulled away. By now I was really looking forward to seeing Eric at mile 24, who had completed his race and agreed to pace me for the end of mine.

I can do anything for a minute.

Before I fell behind, another member of the group who was starting to struggle as well said, “I can do anything for a minute.” I tried to keep this in mind as my right hamstring started to cramp around mile 20. If I could just run for 1 minute, I would be able to walk for 1 minute.

I came to about mile 23.75 and there was Eric – I had almost made it! I wasn’t crashing, either, which was awesome. Eric was surprised to find me in a good mood, and I was kind of surprised to be in a good mood. Maybe it was the spirit of Phidippides and the olive branches in my visor.

A little after mile 25, both my hamstrings started to cramp and my quads, too. I had never cramped in my legs before, so it was definitely a new and unpleasant experience for me.

As I was “sprinting” to the finish, EVERYTHING cramped, even my left big toe. I glanced over my right shoulder and saw a stray dog jogging in a few feet behind me, which made me laugh and I actually forgot about my cramps for a second…

And then I was done. I was in the white marbled Olympic Stadium with the olympic rings high above the stands (which we hiked up to right after the marathon), the Acropolis and the Parthenon in the distance. One might call it the experience of a lifetime.

And my final time was 5:14, a PR by approx. 5 minutes.

The pictures are in reverse order, so scroll down and back up…

in the stands with the Acropolis in the distance

my medal

first sit down after the marathon

finishing in my pink shirt, cramping and all!

he looks really fast

a little after eric met me, smiling for the first time ever after running 25 miles

statue of Phidippides

Hella Sod in the Athens countryside

the tomb with the mountains in the background

Jeff and Barbara Galloway

the blue line is the marathon course from the 2004 olympics. we followed the exact course.

the start!

freezing with Jeff Galloway before the race.

Photo Credits: Abbie Mood & Eric Lang

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October 19, 2008

El Moro Madness

Filed under: Recaps, Running — Tags: Crystal Cove, El Moro, trail running — Abbie Mood @ 6:45 pm

I planned on running El Moro and practicing my photo skills since that’s almost all I’ll be doing, and talking about how much I like El Moro even though it kicks my butt again and again. So I started my run and took a couple pictures so everyone can see the beauty of the place

view of the ocean from the top of the first hill. the sun was too bright

after the first hill, they continued. for 3 miles. the steeper ones followed the ones above.
the dry view from the ranger station end of the park

mini cactus field
the prettier view from the other end of the park… hard to believe the ocean is only 4 miles away

almost done!

One of the best things about el moro is that it’s across the street from the beach, so you can get an ice bath after a hard run

After a few minutes in the ocean I walked down the street to where my car was parked and started up the PCH on my way home. Then I saw the car pictured below…
1. It’s a Bentley, which isn’t that out of the ordinary in Newport Beach. 2. A gray haired guy with his hair perfectly styled despite the convertible top? Again, not that special. The kicker? 3. He was BLARING “You Shook Me All Night Long”. Maybe I shouldn’t have been that surprised, but hello, mid-life crisis much??

Then later I saw another Bentley, which surprised me because I haven’t seen two in one day before. This one looked more like a Chrysler 500 and was not a convertible.

Then near Fashion Island I was stopped at a light and I saw a person a couple cars up toss a cigarette butt out of her SUV window. Before I could even finish a thought about how I feel about that, a hand pops out the window with ANOTHER cigarette in her hand. Like she literally must have lit the new cigarette with the old one. Can’t get the cancer in you much faster than that!

Photo Credits – Abbie Mood

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March 7, 2008

LA MARATHON

Filed under: Recaps, Running, Volunteering — Tags: LA Marathon, Running, Team in Training — Abbie Mood @ 9:17 pm

Waving2Cropped
I did it My final stats – 5:20:32, which was good for 7676th place out of 17308 overall. I will start by saying I am incredibly happy with this, considering my longest run pre-marathon was 13 miles. And I didn’t get tired until about mile 21, and I didn’t want to quit until mile 23. I’m not quite sure why I can run a sub 2 hour 1/2, but the full marathon drags me down! Ok, full recap…
it all started with the alarm at 4:40 a.m. We had to check in with TNT at 5, so Allison and I got up at 4:40 and quickly got downstairs. I had my bagel and juice and then we waited. When we were ready to get on the bus at 6 a.m., I was ready to go. Then a looong bus ride (some of the back roads were closed so we ended up going back and forth on the freeway a couple times) made me kind of sleepy. Finally we made it and got dropped off. We got in the port-o-potty line which was the slowest ever and then got to the start line a few minutes before the race started. Didn’t really matter because I couldn’t hear the starting gun anyway. We stretched out and then people started cheering so we figured the race had started. I was planning on starting off really slowly and picking it up after the halfway mark if I felt good. So I started off slow, and had to hold myself back a lot. We ran past the Vivid building (I’m sure some of you know what Vivid is) and a little through town. The best part of the race is running through the different communities. Everyone came out to cheer on the runners, offering candy, bread, pretzels, anything they had. It was amazing. I don’t remember much else about the race, except a few things my TNT coach Melissa pointed out (which is usually the case during my races). I know it started to get really hot, probably because the race started at 8:20 a.m. so they turned on hoses and tried to keep us cool. Melissa stayed with me until Mile 21, and right after I started to get really tired. Then I got to mile 23, which was some long bridge, and I really wanted to be done. But seriously how can you quit after 23 miles? And (surprisingly) I wasn’t injured, just really tired, and my left leg was cramping a bit. I made it over that damn bridge and then it was a couple more miles in LA to the finish. The 26 mile marker was right in front of the hotel, but I kept going to finish the last .2 I almost cried when I saw the finish line I was so happy. I really wish this had’ve been my first marathon experience because my first one sucked. This race was fun. I never thought I’d say a marathon was fun, but it was until about mile 20. Part of that was that I was lucky enough to have my TNT coach run much of the race with me to keep my mind off the race. I don’t think I could ever thank her enough!
After the race I had to walk through the chute and everything, I couldn’t just walk back the easy .2 mile to the hotel. I ended up walking far. Like several blocks, including down 4 sets of stairs and through the library. I had to stop and sit down 3 times because I just couldn’t go any farther! Luckily I saw another TNT member and followed them to the hotel. I finally got to the hotel and started to feel nauseous so I had to sit down again. I got upstairs and just laid on the bed and was in heaven.
I would absolutely recommend this marathon to everyone. It was an amazing experience. Part of the experience was doing it with TNT, knowing that I was there for something so much bigger than me. The dinner the night before reminded me of the reason I was there and that I had raised $2000 by myself towards the cause!!!!! http://www.teamintraining.org
I was even more surprised when I could walk the next day! The outside of my left knee was sore and the middle of my right knee. Tuesday my quads were soooo sore! Eric and I went for a bike ride to work it out a little and that helped. Wednesday they were still sore, but we went for an easy 3 miler, which also helped because by Thursday, I felt fine, which is an incredible concept to me considering how my first marathon went.
I ordered the memory stick with all my pictures on it, so when that comes in a couple weeks, I will definitely post some pictures!

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