-
How to Spend THE Perfect Day in Boston
It doesn’t matter if you’re in town for a conference or to run the Marathon, there are things in Boston you DO NOT want to miss on your first trip. Since we’ve been to Bean Town a time or two, let us share with you how to spend THE perfect day in Boston. Preparation is Key Since you’ve only got a maximum of 18 hours of usable time, make sure you’re ready for the adventure in advance. First Stop – Breakfast at Stephanie’s on Newbury Stephanie’s on Newbury is ALWAYS busy. Not because it’s a touristy place but because it’s JUST THAT GOOD. Consider making reservations in advance or you…
-
The Day of the Deer Assault
We were finally adjusted to Japan’s time zone and slept a REGULAR night. (Thank goodness, because 5am mornings when you’re up before 4am can become a bit dull!) This day, we hopped downstairs for our regular breakfast of salad, rice and curry before heading off on our adventure. Join us as we unpack our trips to Miyajima Island and Hiroshima aka the day of the deer assault! Hopping the Ferry Though the ferry looks to be built for cars crossing from Hiroshima to Miyajima, that morning only people were passengers. It was a cold morning, but fortunately the trip was short and the VIEWS were breath taking. Miyajima Island and…
-
The Fastest Train to a Quieter Time
After a quiet evening back at our little hotel, which we now refer to as “the crevice”, we packed up for a new adventure. This time we would be taking the fastest train to a quieter time. Join us as we share all the sites from our first day in Kyoto! 180 mph on the Bullet Train As much as Tokyo is bright lights, modern buildings and LOTS of people, Kyoto is more traditional, well known for their temples and shrines, and has a slower pace. After our long flight and our first two days of 10 mile walks, we thought this might be just the thing to help us…
-
Adventure to the Ueno Zoo
After a good night’s sleep, we were once again up at an unreasonable hour. I think we were awake by 3am and by 7am, we were STARVING. The weather took a breezy turn, making the high for the day barely above 40 degrees. Our original plan included a trip to teamLab Planets, a walk through art installation, that includes ankle deep water and walking bare foot. Not feeling this was still the best plan, we opted for plan B. Here is the story of our second day in Japan – the adventure to the Ueno Zoo. The Fun Before Getting There The Breakfast Buffet As soon as the buffet opened…
-
To Japan Via Delta One
As many of you may know, 2023 is the year Stephen will finish all of the Abbot World Marathon Majors. Because of Covid, the London Marathon was differed to April. And then the race gods decided the he should do Tokyo in March.* Since Stephen will be the first person to accomplish this as a living organ donor, I decided to reach out to Delta Airlines to let them know about it. You never know, right? (Like maybe they’d let him see the cockpit or comp us a few drinks.) Instead, we were given the treat of a lifetime. Here is what it was like to fly to Japan via…
-
Beachy Vibes and Fast Race Times in Jacksonville
Stephen says, 2023 is the “Year of the Marathon”. His crazy race calendar kicked off with the Dopey Challenge in Orlando and it’s looking like it might end with Honolulu in December. Last week, he shared the race report for the DONNA half. This week, I’d love to share with you the rest of the beachy vibes and fast race time in Jacksonville Beach. The Arrival Unlike our typical trip, our flight didn’t leave until 8pm. This led to a rather leisurely trip to the airport and a little extra time in the Delta Lounge. I took advantage of the unstructured time to have a glass of house Rose’ while…
-
The DONNA Race Recap
What a great weekend in Jacksonville Beach with Destination Marathons (DM) for the DONNA Half Marathon. I think Jill is going to write about the trip as a whole next week so today you are stuck with my race recap. Pre-Race Dinner and Auction After our pre-race pasta dinner on Saturday evening at the Four Points Sheraton with DM, filled with laughter and great conversation, Jill and I snuck out with a perfectly executed Irish Exit. With our hotel, The Element by Marriott, being only a one minute drive away, I was able to achieve my first race goal of being in bed by 8 pm and asleep by 9…
-
Diplomatic Immunity
I’m so excited to be traveling down to Jacksonville Beach this weekend to take part in the DONNA Race Weekend as an Ambassador for Destination Marathons. Although diplomatic immunity isn’t one of the perks, it’s exciting to be a part of something that combines two of my favorite things to do, travel and run. The Mission Destination Marathons provides a VIP experience for runners and spectators. They manage all the logistics so guests can focus on the race, build friendships, and create memories. And I will get to witness this in action for the first time! As one who generally does all the planning that goes into a “racecation”, it’s…
-
The Dopey Challenge
Since 2023 is slated to be my last big year of marathon running, I wanted to challenge myself as much as possible. In late November I was able to snag a charity bib for the Dopey Challenge down at Disney in Orlando. This challenge consists of four races over four days: I figured this “Dopey Challenge” was a great way to kick off this crazy year of running and racing. Having never done this race before, I was fortunate to have many experienced, crazy friends who could show me the ropes. Before We Were Dopey Race week kicked off on Wednesday with a quick trip to “ESPN Wide World of…
-
The Great Arizona Escape
Ahhh November…the forecast dipping into near freezing temperatures and snow on the horizon. I decided it was time to look for an opportunity to escape from it all. A few of my friends were doing the Ironman Arizona the coming weekend. I thought it would be fun to show up and support them while they accomplished amazing by things. After some further social media scanning I discovered that I had a completely different group of friends headed do Scottsdale for a Women’s only half marathon. The decision was made, flights were booked and before I knew it I was on my way to sunny and warm Arizona for four days.…
