FYI – It is NOT “So Nice Out” When it is 94 Degrees. It Sucks Balls.

We have a saying in New England – “If you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes.” Ba-DUM-bah.  I know, so funny and original.  Too bad it’s also pretty much true.

I am obsessed with the weather.  I don’t know if it’s being from New England or because I am a runner but the very first thing I do when I open my eyes in the morning is to turn on the local news. WCVB in Boston, to be precise.  I believe they have the most accurate weather.  But since nobody watches local news anymore, I know that I am in the minority.  How can you not start your day watching traffic and weather?

Our temperatures in December and January were warm and we got virtually no snow.  Then in February we actually even hit 70 degrees for a few days!  We even started to get little plants coming through!

Then came March.  Cold.  Snow.  Wind.  Full-on winter.  Then lots of rain in April.  And last week, in mid-May, we were treated to our first 90 degree days.  This is me, just over a mile into my 3 miler, at 5:45 am:

I hate the hot weather, I really do.  I hate the heat.  But I keep signing up for fall marathons. Why? Who the hell knows???  In any event, I’ve gotten a couple of good weeks in a row and we are slowly increasing our mileage.  Did 14 total miles two weeks ago, 15 last week and on track for 18 or so this week.  Starting to feel better physically and lucky to have a solid group of running support friends.

We are in a rough part of training.  Started to build the mileage, working out all the stupid little aches and pains and working on our diets.  Not drinking wine during the week is really, really hard. I mean, don’t you people know that I like my wine?  But I’m trying to think of food as fuel and blah, blah, blah and all that jazz.  But if I’m not careful I’m going to turn into a stupid salad with grilled chicken or a protein shake pretty soon.

But I will tell you why I am doing it.  During our last marathon training, for Baltimore, my father died suddenly.  Our training had been going well and Billy and I were both looking to have a great race.  But then my world was shattered and I wasn’t even sure I wanted to continue to train and do the race.  But we did.  My time was not what I wanted, but I finished.  I am still looking for that race, though.  And NYC means so much to me that I want it to be that race.  So I guess I better go order those TB12 meals to get my butt in gear!

Thank you for your support!!  Below are our donation links.  Since I have a bigger network than Billy, I would ask that if you are going to donate to see which of us needs the money more and donate there.  It’s all the same cause and will help us to keep our minimum.

Shannon:  https://www.crowdrise.com/the-degregorio-family-foundation-nyc-2017/fundraiser/shannondowney3

Billy:  https://www.crowdrise.com/the-degregorio-family-foundation-nyc-2017/fundraiser/billyhutchinson