Day 9: The Professionals

9 days to 26.2! Tomorrow I head into NYC and run the last 10 miles of the marathon. That will be my last long run, it still feels a bit like a dream. There is absolutely no way I would be where I am today with out the help of 3 really amazing people. This blog is dedicated to them.

At 8am this morning, I hugged my personal trainer Matt Fink and cried. This morning was my last appointment with Matt until after the marathon and after I take a little time off. Matt has been with me through everything this year. I have showed up at his front door crying, only to turn around and have to leave. I have sat and cried in between workout circuits and I have called him from my car outside his house crying. Matt’s knowledge of strength and agility training is only outdone by his sincerity and huge heart. He has helped me to improve my overall strength exponentially this year; pushing me when I needed to be pushed and laying off when he knew I needed it. I just can’t say enough about this amazing man and I can’t wait to get back to training with him after my time off. https://www.bestrongernow.com/

Those of you that have been following my journey know about my 14 mile run in August that was a completely grueling and painful experience. Right after that run, I decided to engage with a nutritionist because I knew I needed help fueling my body better and preparing better for my long runs. I sought the help of Katie Diehl and I absolutely could not be happier with how she has turned things around for me. I have never again hit a wall (knock on wood) since working with Katie. Like Matt, she has a heart of gold and sincerely cares about my overall well-being, not just my nutritional health. If I don’t check in with her after my long runs, she is checking in with me, making sure I am ok. Katie has not just been my nutritionist but she’s been a superfan. Like Matt, I intend to keep working with Katie beyond the marathon. https://www.diehlnutrition.com/

No disrespect to Matt or Katie, but I saved the best for last and that is my running coach Amy Kvilhaug. I would not have even attempted marathon training if it were not for her. Amy and I were softball teammates in college at Providence College (Go Friars!) and have remained good friends for 25 years. Everything Amy does is with the determination and grit of a true athlete. She was Big East Rookie of the Year and Pitcher of the Year leading our team to a Big East Championship by pitching 21 innings in 1 day. She is the first ever softball player to be inducted into the Providence College Athletic Hall of Fame, she was Big East coach of the year at St Johns, turning that team into Big East Champions and creating a coaching staff that won Big East Coaching Staff of the Year honors. Needless to say, everything Amy touches turns to gold, but only because of her relentless dedication and hard work to everything she does….and I was no exception. It became so obvious to me why Amy was such a successful softball coach and when I saw how she coached me through this marathon prep. She expected nothing less than excellence, but also knew when I just needed a break. She knew how to get the best out of me and inspire me to do the best I could possibly do. When I told Amy I wanted to do a marathon but I was scared of starting it and not being able to finish she simply said to me, “Lynn, I will be there with you every step of the way,” and she has been. Going through this journey with Amy by my side as been one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I can never truly thank her for all that she has done to get me to where I am. Amy is an amazing coach but more importantly, she is an incredible friend.

If you want to donate to my charity for the NYC Marathon, please click here: https://www.crowdrise.com/donate/project/sandy-hook-promise-foundation-nyc-2019/lynnsouza1