Identical Twins Run Together To Remember

Leah & Malinda are identical twins but opposite runners.

Malinda is the "go with the flow" slower 1/2 who prefers to tweet, instagram & run marathons (4:00:57).



Leah is the "garmin obsessed" faster 1/2 who prefers to run as many races as possible while qualifying for the 2013 Boston Marathon (3:35:36).

Michael, Leah's brother-in-law, was diagnosed with cancer as a child. Michael kept fighting cancer with his inspiring Irish spirit, so it was very bittersweet when he died on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2003.

The twins' grandmother, affectionately know as GG, was diagnosed with cancer on Friday, July 13, 2012 and died on Monday, July 16, 2012. The twins are still grieving her sudden and unexpected death, but they find solace in running in her memory.

TWINS RUN 2GETHER in memory of Michael & GG, fighting childhood cancer, one race at a time!

No donation is 2 small 2 fight childhood cancer with Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation!

Can you donate $2? Donate online: www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/91404

Or, text LEMONADE91404 to 85944 to donate $10.

Thanks for your support!

20th Anniversary Walt Disney World Marathon

One week until the runDisney 20th Anniversary Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend! We're so excited to run Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge with Runner's World Challenge. Malinda completed her 1st Goofy Challenge in 2010 and Leah completer her 1st Goofy Challenge in 2012. We'll run our 2nd Goofy Challenge together for the 1st time on January 12 and 13. We're running together with Team Lemon to support Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer in memory of Michael and GG.

The 20th Anniversary Walt Disney World Marathon will be Malinda's 20th runDisney race and 10th Marathon. The #WDWMarathon will be Leah's 20th marathon and 20th runDisney race, too!

Malinda will #TweetAndRun 39.3 miles!

Leah will run fast!

We'll run 2gether 2 raise $393 2 fight childhood cancer!
Can you donate $2 online?

www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/91402

Or, text "LEMONADE E91402" to 85944 to donate $10!

Thank you so much for your support!

Fighting childhood cancer, one race at a time!

Will you runDisney?

Will you run for a cause?

Let us know so we can support you, too!

2013 Boston Marathon Acceptance

Happy Twins Run 2sDay!

BQ Faster 1/2 @LeahCville is IN!

Slower 1/2 @MalindaAnnHill will CHEER!

Are you following @TwinsRun?

Have you liked our TWINS RUN Facebook Page?

2013 Boston Marathon Application Process

BAA - WTH?

I would literally pay someone, anyone at B.A.A. $50 to get my acceptance e-mail by 10 a.m. Monday. This waiting for official acceptance into the 2013 Boston Marathon is pure torture for anyone with an anxiety disorder! It does not matter that the rational minds of friends, and the B.A.A. itself, have assured me, I'll get in, not to worry, my place is held in the race pending verification. ("For some applicants, this process can take anywhere from a week to two weeks.")

I registered at 10:05 a.m. on Friday and got my confirmation email immediately. Wow! I was so excited!

That runner-registration-high lasted about two hours. Than panic started to set in.

I waited and waited. I could have ran another BQ marathon (3:38:04) and still waited. Then I could have ran my longest marathon (7:11:46) after running my fastest marathon and still nothing.

My race was in drop down list on the registration form (Charlottesville) and the only thing that might be an issue is that the results has my state listed as Vi instead of VA. Could that really be what's holding this up?!?

I know that I should be "IN" (-6:55), but I panic that they've decided not to accept my race for whatever reason.

When there are people who get acceptance within an hour and others waiting days you are breeding an environment for paranoia overload!

I wonder if they ever considered waiting to notify everyone in each group (-20, -10, -5) simultaneously rather than sending them out sporadically to ease this confusion about why someone got acceptance in an hr and someone else waited a week. I would have felt better if I knew everyone had to wait 2 weeks and we are guaranteed to hear on that date.

Wondering if and when I could get the email is the worst. I waited 5 months from race day to registration day and every hour I don't get to see my name on that list of entrants is one less hour I can feel like I really "made it" to Boston.

I would love to go to the Chicago Marathon in 3 weeks knowing I'm headed to Boston in 2013.

Well, to be honest, I'm going there regardless because I have nonrefundable airline tickets and a hotel reservation. Ha!

PEPSI 10K

"You ain't gonna get out of the race pain-free so you gotta pick the pain — the pain of the race or the pain of regret."- Dr. Stan Beecham

I tried to keep that thought in my mind on Saturday as I ran the Pepsi 10K. I wanted to finish the race without any regrets, but when I saw the clock hit 45:00 within spitting distance of the finish line, the expletives started flying. Even though I knew I'd still earn a new 10K PR, it wasn't quite good enough because I didn't break 45 (which is really stupid because I hadn't even thought running 44:59 was a realistic goal that morning). So I wonder, if I had the energy to sware like I were on an episode of the Real Housewives, maybe I didn't leave everything on the course. Maybe I could have run two seconds faster?! Yet, if I had, wouldn't I have just found another reason to question my performance? Somehow, my best is never quite good enough. Ugh! Is that what most athletes struggle with or is it just me?!

After the MP3 fail at the Women's Four Miler two weeks ago (my SanDisk clip died 1/2 mile into the race, the horror!), I decided to run with my iPhone for this race. I had my speaker on full volume so others running a 7:15 pace could enjoy some tunes as well. I love using shuffle because you never know if the right song will pop up when you need it. Somehow iTunes was in sync with my brain.

THE PLAYLIST

After running in a cool breeze under the shade of trees, we hit a long patch of pure sun which really raised the temperatures. At that point, "Hot In Here" started to play. Perfect! I wish I could have taken my clothes off. I was definitely HOT! :)

Around mile 4, when I was trying to pass a couple healthy looking college-aged guys, "Sure Shot" started blaring. 'Cause you can't, you won't and you don't stop... 'Cause you can't, you won't and you don't stop" ... I didn't stop! I ran right past them and kept going strong!

Mile 5: Pitbull sang, "Give me everything tonight, For all we know we might not get tomorrow." I thought about the pain of regret, and maybe this will be the last chance I'll run this race since I'll be moving to Wichita next summer, and I pushed through some unpleasantness up a hill.

The last mile's soundtrack was "Magic".... and I tried to focus on the thrill and delight of running fast."Magic. Magic. Magic. I got the magic in me." I didn't look at my Garmin that often during the race. For the first two or three miles I ran along with a couple guys who I knew would keep me on an even and honest pace. When they started breaking away, I thought, just keep going, maintain the pace, don't push, but don't slow down too much. Every time I did look at my watch I only saw the overall pace (usually 7:17) and not the overall time, so I had no clue if a PR was within reach. As I turned into the parking lot, I was sure the clock would already say 45 something, but it didn't. Oh SH*T. I knew I didn't have the sprint speed to make it before the clock ticked pasted 44:59. Too bad my coach, my running doctor, and a fellow CTC board member had to witness the barrage of profanities. My apologies to anyone else within earshot. I'll try to keep it PG at the next finish line! :)

So here are the stats. I ran 10 seconds faster overall than last year. My first mile was 6 seconds slower than the previous year, but still was probably 10-12 seconds too fast. I definitely slowed in the 2nd half of the race as I did before, but it was less significant this year. I also was able to sprint a little faster the final .2 mile.

Once again, the best part about racing in Charlottesville is seeing all my friends along the course and after the race. I've already converted two of them into Team Sparkle gals!

One last tidbit... I have only run about ten 10Ks in my entire life and I'm pretty sure my first road race was that distance. I ran the 1998 Georgetown Classic 10K as a 27 year old non-runner and finished 58:19 (9:23 pace). Fourteen years later, I'm now running over 2 minutes a mile faster. Imagine that! :)

Tweet and Run

@MalindaAnnHill (slower 1/2 of @TwinsRun) doesn't follow Mark Remy's "The Runner's Rule Book." Tweeting while running isn't for everyone, but it can be a fun way to share your progress and receive encouragement during your training, running or racing.

Thanks for all the tweets and RTs during the Philadelphia Rock N Roll Half Marathon.. Thanks again to Philly.com Sports for including @TwinsRun in the article, Runners gearing up for Sunday's Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon.

I was reluctant to purchase an iPhone. But after the Broad Street Run, I knew I needed to have one. My iPhone is now a running essential!

I can't run unless I can use my Nike Plus running app!

On May 26, I ran and tweeted my way through the Oddyssey Half Marathon dressed as the Queen of Hearts!

I've been practicing my tweeting skills during my training runs. I've been using the hashtags #Irun4GG (I run in memory of my grandma GG), #GGplaylist (Random Shuffle + Grief + Gratitude) and #TweetAndRun.  

After honing my skills at cutting, pasting, cropping and typing while running, I think I'm ready to tweet and run my way to a PR during the Rock N Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon on Sunday, September 16! The official Rock N Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon hashtag is #RnRPhilly.

Now, the question is, which unique hashtag should I use while I tweet and race? Thoughts/suggestions are greatly appreciated! Here are some of my hashtag ideas: #RunTweet, #TweetAndRun, #TweetAndRace, #TweetNRun, #TweetNRace, #TNR, #RnRPhillyTweet. Follow @MalindaAnnHill on Twitter & instagram!

Below are links to my posts re: tweeting & running!

My #RnRPhilly #TweetAndRun Tweets!

Sep 18, 2012

#TweetAndRun. My #RnRPhilly #TweetAndRun Tweets!

#RnRPhilly #TweetAndRun RT

Sep 18, 2012

#RnRPhilly #RunHappy #TeamLemon #TwinsRun

Finding Solace in Running in Memory of GG

Sep 10, 2012

Random Shufflle = #GGplaylist. Each song has special meaning. I hope to write more about why. In the meantime, here are the songs. I just had to run 7.8 miles. Grateful to see 567.8 miles! We run with Team Lemon.

TWINS RUN IN Dunkin' - by Leah Connor

Sep 07, 2012

Edited by Malinda Ann Hill ;-). Is you Dunkin' Cup... Half full? Half empty? Don't be 1/2 of anything... Except 1/2 of TWINS RUN! TWINS are TWICE the FUN! Leah is faster twin (that's me!) (BQ = Boston Qualifier). Malinda is ...

Twins RUN IN Dunkin' - by Malinda Ann Hill

Sep 05, 2012

Malinda ran in 1995 & she ran 6 more! Leah ran in 2007, 2008 & 2009. If only one twin can win, which one? Each twin has her own unique characteristics. Malinda, is the "go with the flow" slow(er) 1/2. Malinda prefers to run in costume...

Twin Powers Activate on @TwinsRun ...

Aug 28, 2012

TWIN POWERS ACTIVATE! Can you donate $2 on @TwinsRun 2sDay? http://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/81058 · THANKS for your support! Malinda Runs 2 #GGPlaylist! Random Shuffle = Grief & Gratitude

Gastroparesis & Grief

Aug 19, 2012

The pain of grief and gastroparesis has been intense... Each day can be a struggle, but I keep on running... I find solace in running and I'm grateful for every mile... In 7 weeks we'll run the Chicago Marathon... 

#GGplaylist (Grandma's Songs & Signs)

Jul 27, 2012

#GGplaylist (Grandma's Songs & Signs). We pause this run in memory of GG... To find comfort in a Caramel Soy Misto... #GGplaylist = random shuffle + grief + gratitude. 

Random Shuffle + Grief + Graditude = #GGPlaylist - TWINS RUN in ...

Jul 25, 2012

Random Shuffle + Grief + Graditude = #GGPlaylist (July 24). Random Shuffle on iPhone = #GGplaylist. Grief + Gratitude <--> Great + Grandma. Follow #GGplaylist on Twitter & Instagram!

Blue Monday & #GGPlaylist

Jul 23, 2012

A week ago, on Monday, July 16, our grandma "GG" died from cancer. We are still grieving her loss, but we keep running in her honor and in her memory. She always had great sense of humor & her spirit is still with me on my ...

ODDyssey Half Marathon Race Retweet

May 27, 2012

RUN --> TWEET--> INSTAGRAM --> REPEAT. 13.1 miles in 2:20:50. I'd never thought I'd say this. ... My first tweets before the race... Reverse chronological order tweets... Sitting on MegaBus with medal (bottle opener) & Team ...

Malinda's 2012 Broad Street Run Race Recap

May 08, 2012

If you aren't a Seinfeld fan, you may miss the point of this quote. In this episode, a marathoner retells the story of how he slept through Olympics. It wasn't the snooze but a separate knob for alarm and radio volume! ;-) 

Malinda Answers Another Mother Runner's 10 Running-Related Questions

Love this post by Another Mother Runner's
@SBSontherun
@Dimityontherun

10 Running-Related Personal Questions

@MalindaAnnHill's Answers

1. Best run ever: 

My 1st Marathon

1995 Marine Corps Marathon

2. Three words that describe my running: 

Slowly Seeking Solace

3. My go-to running outfit is:
(Training) 

Brooks Addiction Shoes
Sevaris Sleeves

Running Skirt
Sports Bra Tank

Team Sparkle Skirts (races)

Costumes (runDisney races)

4. Quirky habit while running:
#TweetAndRun

5. Morning, midday, evening:
Early Morning

6. I won’t run outside when it’s:
Snowy or icy

7. Worst injury—and how I got over it: 

Tilted kneecap w/ physical therapy

8. I felt most like a bada** mother runner when: 

Running with Daughter

Running with Gastroparesis

9. Next race is: 

Philly Rock N Roll 1/2 Marathon

10. Potential running goal for 2013:  

Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge

Princess Half Marathon

Are you a #MotherRunner?
We'd love to see your answers!
If you blog, send us your link!

Will TWIN(s) run IN Dunkin'?

We've submitted our applications to the MCM Contest.
Malinda entered 1st, although she usually comes in 2nd
Leah entered 2nd, although she usually comes in 1st.

Our 10th most popular post: TWINS RUN IN Dunkin'!

We don't know when the winner be announced.

All we can do now is wait with a cup of Dunkin'!

Will TWIN(s) WIN IT to be IN IT?

If you had to choose one twin, which twin should win?

Cast your vote in the comments section!

Special thanks to @DisneyLeigh for all her support!

She is Admin of Pacebook Running Club,
runDisney Blogger & Owner of Mousekeplanner.

Seeking Solace in Running in Memory of GG

Have you read "The Fall of Freddie the Leaf" by Leo Buscaglia?



Ever since I was a child, I found comfort in the book.

It's been 8 weeks since our grandma "GG" died.

Our hearts still ache & the pain is intense.

We will continued to run in her memory.



Our grandma was my mom's stepmom

She was only 9 years older than our mom.

She was the age I was when my daughter was born.

She was more like a 2nd mom than a grandmother.



I find solace in running in her memory.

Today it felt like Fall and a beautiful day to run.



I ran 560 miles since June 23,

before I started my run today.



I run to random shuffle on my iPhone.

Random Shufflle = #GGplaylist

Each song has special meaning.

I hope to write more about why.

In the meantime, here are the songs.





































I just had to run 7.8 miles.

Grateful to see 567.8 miles!



We run with Team Lemon.

Running together to support Alex's Lemonade.



We're on the path to the Chicago Marathon.



Do you run in memory of a loved one?

Do you find solace in running?

What path are you on?