Pays to be a vegetarian

In a new tradition, mom has started to send the boys an Easter ham when they are away from home. For me? I got these beautiful chocolates from NY based chocolatier Jacques Torres. Soooo good!

Jacques Torres Chocolates

Had to eat some of the peanut butter chocolate eggs during Stats class. Don't worry, I shared.

Boston Marathon by pictures! 

Pre-race in the runners village, we had woken up at 4:50 am to get on the Tufts buses to get to downtown where all 27,000 runners board the official Boston Athletics Assoc. (BAA) buses out to the starting area in Hopkinton, MA about 45 minutes away. It was a very cool scene to see hundreds and hundreds of school buses going through Boston Commons at 7 AM. Here we are holding our toilet paper in line for the porta potties.

Mile 9 hug from Tufts President and founder of the challenge, President Larry Bacow. At mile 9 I was very relieved to see the Tufts crew. We were able to keep our food and whatever we needed with the folks at mile 9. Here I grabbed my ziploc baggy with chewy chocolate chip cookies. Thankfully I had these as I forgot to pick up my second Shotblock (gatorade in solid form). Yes, I had my headphones- even though many told me not to miss the sites/sounds of the marathon. I must say, being in the third wave, the charity round, it got a little disparate for us 12-13 minute mile pacers so I found it very encouraging to listen to my music. But, when big crowds would emerge I would pull out the earbuds. It was a tremendous honor to be in the charity group. Many people had adorned their jerseys with pictures of those they were running in memory of, or to raise funds for. There were a couple times I teared up as I jogged behind women running with "In memory of mom" on their back or fallen soldiers. It was very moving.

Joe came out to support me the weekend of the run. Thank GOD!!! I was a ball of nerves leading up to the race and Joe and his wonderful gf Christin were rockstars. They did last minute CVS runs, attended the team dinner the night before the run, and then they made multiple stops along the route which was very ambitious given the traffic and race day obstacles. Joe surprised me before the hills on mile 18 and jumped in to tell me that he was going to run the notorious Newton Hills with me. I must say, it made a WORLD of difference. Headphones came off and we rocked it out.  He left at mile 22. Christin was en route via the T to the finish line while we ran.

At mile 24 my Fletcher friends rallied the Fletcher flag and ran with me singing "You are the wind beneath my wings" :-) It was HILARIOUS and JUST what I needed!!!!!!! By this point I was running way on 'E'. The Shotblocks and cookies were gone, and it was like hour 4.5. When I hugged Christine (on the left) I am pretty sure I put all my body weight on her lol as if she could carry me across the finish line. I was also blessed with friends (Katrine- love you!) at mile 10 and Elise (Fletcher buddy) at around mile 21 who were handing out water and Gatorade.

FINALE!!!!!!! and yes, that is a giant hamburger behind me.  They kept ruining my picture perfect moments lol. I forget  what charity it was. Perhaps a restaurant that went to money? Who knows. But look at that smile!! I woke up the next morning with sunlines under my eyes and they were puffy. I can only assume it was because I smiled all 26 miles, appreciating the audience and pulling strength from them. 

Hugging coach Don, an incredible man who has helped coach thousands of Tufts runners after his 30 year career as the coach for the men's swim team. Here is a video in his honor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRyN3laqP9w He made every single physical therapy session for everyone of his 210 runners. Out of 210 runners at the marathon 209 made it through. The one that didn't was dehydrated apparently and doing ok. 

Me, Jacqui, and Annika at the end of our very big accomplishment. Three Fletcher women ready to graduate with a medal around our neck!

Jacqui and Annika in their blankets post run

Day after the run reception. We stood in a circle and shared our experiences of the run. The book on the right is a scrapbook Don put together for Pres. Larry Bacow b/c it is his last year at the school. There were thousands of letters from current and past runners and pictures. It was really cool. 

And BACK TO THE ICE BATH!!! After a day in bed on Tuesday, I got myself to the "beloved" ice bath Wednesday to freeze those muscles back into shape. I finally took a photo so everyone can see what the ice baths look like at the Tufts gym.

brrrrr

surprisingly still have color in those feet. 15 minutes of pain, well really the worst moment is when your feet hit the water and try to adjust, once they go numb, it is all good!

I think more pictures are to come. Joe has some great shots that I am waiting for. Perhaps the coolest news I got about the run was that my friend in DC was following me online/via text messages and turns out she went into LABOR!! She wrote me today to say that it helped her stay distracted during the first part of labor. Talk about cool! Chills. Congrats Marcy on baby Paige. Can't wait to meet the bundle of love.

Boston Marathon Expo

Picked up my official bag, shirt and goodies yesterday!! You can track me tomorrow by signing up online and putting in my race # 25637 for race day athlete tracking and post-race results

http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/participant-information/att-athlete-alert.aspx

goodbye thesis books

goodbye thesis

all printed and ready to turn in on tuesday

hello big box of shoes!!! 

only one fit.. as expected, had to try them all-- love free shipping :)

tehehe

Katie Couric!

Katie Couric came to campus and spoke... she was eloquent and charming. Very bright and inspiring. She was promoting her new book. Fun stuff for a bum Monday.

Marathon Monday- One Week From Today!

In 7 days I will be embarking on the Boston Marathon—26 miles starting in the rural outskirts and weaving its way into downtown Boston. The Tufts team is 200 strong and we are ready to run. The start time is around 10:40 as we are the charity runners we go last—but we’ve been told the 500,000 spectators will stay cheering J I have never, ever run this far but I feel good and know that I am ready to tackle the endeavor with the help of your words of encouragement, pep talks, and generous contributions. I will carry all of this energy with me as I put one foot in front of the other next Monday. Joe & Christin are the designated family photographers and support team. There will be a team dinner the night before the race and then the family and friends get to take a bus to mile 9 and then the finish line. It will be a stupendous day and I am so happy the bro can make it.

Thanks for all your love and support!

Pledge page with pics: http://www.tuftsmarathonchallenge.com/runners/emilyn

The Tufts University President’s Marathon Challenge (PMC) team: This unique opportunity makes me one of 200 Tufts students, staff, faculty, alumni, parents, and friends from around the country, who train to run in the annual Boston Marathon, while raising funds to support nutrition, medical, and fitness programs at Tufts. The good news about running with the Tufts Team is that I do not have to meet the normal qualifying times for the Boston Marathon. In exchange, I am charged with raising money for this very worthy cause. Since its inception in 2003, the team has raised more than $1.9 million for nutrition and obesity research.

Annika and I finishing our 18 miler 2 weeks ago--she was hilariously giddy. I just wanted to collapse (see pic above :)  )

Oh, it's all good!

Well it has been 2 hours since Korey left, and I have already treated myself to "good-bye ice cream". But, as I dive back into papers, I am reflecting on something that he says just about every other phrase- "Oh no, it's all good." Over and over and over, nothing like being around a steady stream of positivity for 48 hours to make you feel like you can cross the finish line!

Korey comes to town!!!

Someone surprised me for the weekend... 

So we celebrated Friday night when I submitted my thesis at 9pm! Dinner at Sportello which was fabulous and then drinks downstairs. Today we had brunch at the Beehive, my all time fave and then Korey helped me figure out what I need for the marathon. Things are pretty darn good!! Have my last run tomorrow morning with the team, and then it is the final taper. (yay :) )

Best April Calendar :)

Friend in Cairo's Comic Rendition of the Revolution

http://act-i-vate.com/126-1-2.comic

The link above is the first part of a comic series my Fletcher friend and his comic friend put together from their time in Egypt. It is pretty clever.

Nick-the-Tornado Nohner storms through Boston

Well, Nick successfully flew out to Boston, wrote a paper for his masters class, enjoyed a night of pizza (tried to bowl but lanes were full) & ice cream, partook in 2 beer tours,  visited the Fletcher School, walked the Freedom Trail History Tour, had a Boston Chowder tasting extravaganza at Quincy Market, indulged in Italian pastry in the North End, met me for an Italian dinner in the North End, voyaged to Plum Island on the coast, ate a lobster roll from Ipswich, MA, watched 2 movies, made banana bread & breakfast, and participated in the Sweet 16 March Madness Beer Bracket. All while his crazy sister tried to not trip over his 6'4 frame in her miniature room. My last in-class test is over, and I am off to relaxation. Nick is off to DC for part deux of his Spring Break 2011 East Coast-mania.

Elspeth, Jacqui, Nick 

Sara, Blake, Jess

Nick, Jacqui, Blake

JP Licks Ice Cream!

After my 9 mile run, Nick and I made the best egg scamble/asparagus/fruit parfait bfast

Nick scores Italian sweets in the North End

Nick in North End

Signage

I never noticed this bell tower- turns out people live in it!! 

Nick at Sam Adams Brewery tour

hopps I assume

Harpoon Brewery Tour-- nick had one of each

March Madness Sweet 16 Beer Bracket

Patrick, Blake, Jill

Hostess Whitney & Nick

Nick on way to the ocean spots turkeys