Ringing in the new year...

Let's be honest, 2012 rocked and I'm determined to make 2013 even better!  But before we get to goal setting for 2013, I've got some recapping to do in order to close the books, once and for all, on 2012.

First, let's talk about December.  I haven't blogged in December. Not once.  It's not because I didn't run.  In fact I'll get to that in a second.  It's because my blog served the purpose I set out for it in January of 2012 - to log my running goal to hitting 1000 miles.  Anything beyond that was just icing on the cake.  So tonight I'm writing one last post to recap the year and set the stage for 2013 when I will launch back into blogging with gusto and new goals to track.

As far as running goes December was a bit of a rest month.  Over the course of the past year I've pushed off giving my body a real break to heal injuries and refocus my mind.  So that's what I've been doing.  While running a few miles in the process - almost 46 to be exact (low mileage, I know).  

Though low in numbers, the December miles came with a few high points.  It started with a great run with friends through Annapolis to see our Christmas tree all decorated for the holidays and to spend some quality time on the playground with kids and the camera.

December also was great for getting out and viewing the Christmas decorations all around Washington, specifically Capitol Hill.  I fancied myself a judge of sorts, looking for the best decorated houses - or at least good decorating features.  I found a few that were good enough to stop and take a photo of.  Some gave me new ideas for my own decorating and others gave me ideas of what to avoid.

Then came the real icing on the cake...a new 5 mile PR at the 2012 Celtic Solstice 5 mile run in Baltimore.  My previous PR was 42:19 set in November 2011.  Now I'll be chasing 40:38 for the next year!  I wouldn't have been able to have hit that time without my CS sidekick - Sophia - who prefaced the race with "I'm not feeling great today...so we'll have to go slow."  I think we both really surprised ourselves when the race finally started and it just felt right.  There's nothing you can't do when you've got motivation and good friends.

Who can complain finishing off a year that way?  Not this lady. 

So here's how 2012 went...I set out to run 1000 miles (check in the box November 2012), to complete my second master's degree (check in the box April 2012) and sell one of my two rental properties (didn't happen...just too much going on to put the necessary effort into it...so I'll roll that one over to 2013).  Not just icing....but cherries (GREAT BIG CHERRIES)...was a goal I didn't set at the beginning of the year because you can't predict these things...but I became the mother of a gorgeous, smart little girl from China (a journey we've been working on since 2007).  She's been running with me since August, and I think she'll be a big part of my running in 2013. 

Now to looking forward....here's what I want to reach for in 2013:

• I will run 1245 miles in 2013...this is 200 more than 2012, and I believe well within my reach.
• I will reach new time goals for myself - 4:30:00 marathon, 1:50:00 half marathon, 1:22:00 ten miler, 39:30 five miler.
• I will pay more attention to strength training and aim to do more than 3600 push-ups, 3600 squats and 12,000 sit-ups in 2013.
• I will try to unload one of my other properties in 2013.
• I will become a RRCA certified running coach in 2013.
• As a family, we will seek out and try one new family-friendly activity for the diva in our area each month in 2013.
• As a family, we will learn about and incorporate at least one Chinese tradition into our family traditions in 2013.

One last entry on the ticker - check out those miles - before resetting it in 2013!!!

Spiking the football...

My end zone dance looks a bit like Ickey Woods, but who the heck cares...I hit 1000 miles today!  Slam dunk!  Goal!  Move over second rate college quarterbacks, I'm taking home the Heisman this year.  Did I get a little too carried away?  I don't think so, after all I took down my new year's resolution a whole month early.

It wasn't easy today, that's for sure.  Due to a crazy work schedule, I lost two days of running this week.  Getting home from work after midnight and getting back up at 5am meant I was tired to begin with.  It took a lot of drive to get out the door and put in enough miles to cross the finish line, but the pull to claim victory over one month earlier than I calculated as doable last January was greater than the exhaustion...and the blisters forming on my feet.

It seems fitting to put to bed the goal around the city that has played such an influential role in many running firsts for me...Though several years ago, it's still the first city in which I ran a 10 miler and a marathon...several since both those.  It's also provided me with the routes to shed my stress through running when life becomes too much.  On this particular run I headed for some familiar sites and some new pavement.  From Stanton Park, to Lincoln Park, to RFK Stadium, to Eastern Market, past many Smithsonian museums - dodging a gazillion tourists - to the Washington Monument and finishing up near the US Capitol, it was a beautiful day, beautiful weather, and the run felt awesome.  To cap it off, I finished while Colbie Caillat's "Brighter than the Sun" was blasting through the ipod....kindof perfect.

As I was running, and knowing I was going to pass this milestone, I began thinking about what I learned over the past 11 months of pushing myself out the door on days I couldn't wait to run, and days I needed a bit more motivation than seemed to be available to me.  This really was a journey of self-discovery.  Here are just some of things I learned this year, the good, the bad and the ones that need more work:

• I am capable.  Capable of setting a goal and figuring out what I needed to do to finish it.
• I am strong.  Strong enough in body to muscle through the weak days and strong enough in mind to push myself when necessary.
• I am committed.  Committed to making sure I know the value of goals.  Committed to keeping myself fit in mind and body.  Committed to setting a positive example for my family and friends, but most importantly my daughter.
• I am crazy.  Yes, I am willing to do some things that others deem crazy - crazy distances, crazy times of day for runs, crazy to get up and go out for a jog in a blizzard.  I am crazy to ignore injuries in pursuit of goals, when those injuries could become so much worse.
• I am sensitive, but bullet proof.  I am sensitive enough to get my back up when people flippantly say to me "1000 miles?  I bet I've done that.  That's pretty easy."  But bullet proof because I've learned to let the silly comments of others roll off.
• I am self-conscious.  I have body image issues and I recognize it.  It's hard to listen when a friend tells me I look strong, when inside I'm telling myself I need to lose 15 more pounds and tone up this and that muscle group.
• I am thankful.  Thankful for my own perseverence.  Thankful for all those who helped me throughout the year by putting in the miles with me and always willing to provide moral support.
• I am blessed.  Blessed with good health.  Blessed with great friends and blessed with great family.
• I am awesome.

Who knows what I'll be able to achieve in the next month, but I'm looking forward to it. Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  11.02
Time:   1:39:46 (average pace of 9:03 per mile)
Location:  all about the greater Capitol Hill neighborhood
Feeling:  VICTORY!!!

Jingle all the way...

US Botanical Gardens all lit up for the holidays

NOTE:  There were no live jingle bells engaged in this evenings activities...that will wait for closer to Christmas.

There is something special about that first evening run after the Christmas lights begin to deck the halls - or the outside facades - of the homes and building around Capitol Hill.  It's fun, festive and provides new interest while circling the streets in my mad pursuit for miles and fitness. 

Tonight was that night.  First of all, I had to run tonight.  Just absolutely had to.  It's a super busy week, which means my runs because that much more important to break up the stress.  Today I didn't get a lunch break, so by 3pm I was emailing my husband saying I was going to go insane if I didn't run after work...would he be okay with the diva.  Check.  Not sure what I would have done if the answer had been no.

After I finally broke the chains from my desk, I headed out across the East front of the Capitol.  It was cold and I was stiff, so it was a slow start (and end if I'm honest).  Since it was dark and (a) we've established I'm clumsy after dark and (b) you don't want to head into the darker neighborhoods...just in case...I decided to stick very close to the Capitol and engage in circles.  Really more like a figure eight.  I'm glad I did.  My first circle took me around to the West front of the Capitol building and the lovely view of the Botanical Gardens all lit up for the holiday.  It's strange, I've been in DC for more than a dozen year but never visited the Botanical Gardens.  The lights make me want to go, and I bet the diva would love it.

My second loop came back across the East front and then headed down Independence Avenue toward 3rd Street SE, up East Capitol toward Lincoln Park, back down East Capitol and across the front of the Capitol building back to where my car was snuggly parked behind the Russell Building.  Thank you to the festive residents along East Capitol.  I love your style and spirit and hope more will join you.  While none of you sported the grotesque displays of blow up figures or plastic Christmas lawn ornaments (thank you and thank you), your lights provided a delightful tour of an otherwise too familiar route at this point.

I never quite warmed up enough to greally get moving on this run.  That's okay, it was about stress rather than speed or other training accomplishments.  It was also fun to see the first of the holiday decorations and I can't wait to see more.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  3.35
Time:   32:38 (average pace of 9:44 per mile)
Location:  Capitol Hill
Feeling:  holiday cheery

Racing the falling dusk...

Today I had every intention of running in the morning...before spending the day in appointments at Johns Hopkins for the diva.  Out the door by 6:45am and I could have clocked 10 miles.  That would have helped big time in pushing toward my mini-goal for the week.  Alas, the diva was awake and the spouse wasn't, so no morning run for me.

Instead, I wasn't able to lace up my shoes until about 3:30pm, hitting the B&A Trail by about 3:45pm.  Is it just me or is night coming earlier and earlier?  Yeah, the sun was already well below the trees at 3:45, so I knew I needed to run like the dickens just to clock sevenish miles before 4:45pm (or roughly when it becomes too dark to be out on a trail alone). 

So I did just that...took off at a high speed (high at least for a training run...initially I was hitting 8:10 miles or so) heading north on the trail from the Arnold Station shopping center, determined to go out 3.5 miles and get back before the witching hour.  It was a lonely night on the trail, compared to normal.  Few bikers and even fewer runners taking advantage of the opportunity to get in some exercise just before night.

I'm glad everything felt good and that I had just charged my ipod.  A run with no distraction and something nagging would have made for super boredom....except running past the horse farms.  Those always provide a needed distraction and I still love watching horses do just about anything.

Just as I was coming to the 3.5 mile mark up in Severna Park, I passed a boy pushing his girlfriend on a skateboard and thought to myself, girlfriend, motor yourself.  But I'm too polite to make such comments.

The 3.5 miles back was a bit slower (and I started feeling the hard push on the way out) but was still as strong as the opening miles.  When I returned to my starting point I still had a bit of light left in the air, so grabbed an extra mile before calling it quits and heading to McDonald's for an ice cream cone (I deserved that, right?).

So it wasn't 10 miles, but it wasn't the effort of a slacker either.  With the schedule this week it's going to be tough to hit my mini-goal (hitting 1000 a month early), but I'll find a way to do it, come hell or high water.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  8.12
Time:   1:09:09 (average pace of 8:30 per mile)
Location:  B&A Trail north from Arnold Station
Feeling:  physically good, mentally wish I could have logged 10 miles today

Happy turkey day...

This morning was fantastic! (...too bad my health went down hill from there, but that is another story)  Why was it fantastic?  Well, I had one heck of an awesome turkey trot at Advanced Rehabilitation and Health Specialists (ARHS) in Mantua.

First off, let me tell you why I love ARHS.  About fourteen years ago I was having major health issues (not like the minor seasonal cold type issues I alluded to above)...we're talking the type the doctors had a difficult time pinning down.  It had to do with my head.  I had severe headaches and other issues that caused me to have blurry vision, imbalance, sometimes an inability to stand or walk.  I couldn't focus and the pain was intense...all the time. After MRIs, blood tests and other tests, it was finally determined that I had severe tension in the muscle group that ran from the shoulders up to the top of my head.  Let's just say I carry my stress in my shoulders and neck...to the extreme.  This is where ARHS came in...they were the physical therapist group I spent several months with, a couple times a week, receiving muscle massage (the painful kind) to release the tension and learning new exercises to help me keep the stress damage in that area minimized once I was back on an even keel.  It was, quite literally, life altering and probably the reason I am devoted to running today.  Remember how I'm always saying running is my yoga...my stress reliever?...yep, exactly.

So when I (a) found out I was going to be in Garrettsvill for Thanksgiving and (b) looking for a turkey trot to replace my Annapolis event and (c) discovered there was one at ARHS, it was an easy choice...run the one at ARHS.  Bonus, it was being run on the Headwaters Trail that was nothing more than large stones on an old railroad bed the last time I was on it.  Today it is a smooth surface trail that runs through the beautiful forest and fields I spent the first 22 years old my life around.

The turkey trot kicked off at 8am and was a simple 30 minutes out on the trail, turn around and come back for another 30 minutes.  No specific distance.  Do it at your own pace.  This is what I call a fantastic event. 

So I took off.  For about the first mile I had a small seven or eight year old boy running just slightly ahead of me (and any time he started to slow down and fall behind me he would sprint ahead again).  He soon became way too tired to play at the charade of keeping up and started walking.  Soon I was out on my own, just me and the trail, and the second from the front of the pack heading out.  It provided me the ability to take in my surroundings.

Because my legs and lungs were feeling good, I was keeping a decent training pace.  I got 3.5 miles out when I hit the 30 minute mark.  That was almost to the route 700 crossing, which is where I used to pick the trail up when it only consisted of the 700 - Garrettsville section.  Then I turned it around and headed back.    I've decided I really like this trail.  It's much like the NCR trail I ran the twenty miler on earlier this year with Lara.  Smooth, relatively flat, and very fast.  It's also runs through pretty farm country, which I sometimes miss in Annapolis and Washington.

When I crossed back over the start line, I logged exactly 7 miles on the nose....7 miles and nearly 900 calories burned (which means more calories to eat great pie and potatoes at the dinner table).  As a fun, added incentive ARHS also gave out random door prizes that were more funny than serious.  Yes, and sentimental.  They gave out many Hostess prizes (how much are twinkies going for on ebay these days?) and I won the Hostess cupcakes.  So maybe I didn't have quite so many calories left by the time I got to the dinner table.

Of the turkey trots I've run over the past several years I have to say this was one of my favorites.  There were no prizes for who finished first, no one asked what your time was and you were only accountable to yourself.  Sometimes that is the way it should be in a "race."  Happy thanksgiving and happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  7.0
Time:   1:00:12 (average pace of 8:35 per mile)
Location:  Headwaters Trail, Portage County Ohio
Feeling:  one of my favorite runs this year (though I ended up with a head cold by the end of the day)

Only in Washington, right?....

Thanksgiving is an interesting time of year, but the week is even more interesting when you get outside the office for a run through the streets of Washington, DC.  That's right...today provided plenty to look at but I'll focus on three interesting things.

So we're experiencing a bit of warm up, but not so much to get back into the summer running clothes.  I split the kitty by wearing one of my favorite pairs of red running shorts and a long sleeve black Brooks running shirt that was a Celtic Solstice 5 miler premium from four or five years ago.  Not my most stylish running apparel.  Why is this important?  Well, because I got to play a small role in an on location shoot at the Capitol building as I ran across the East front of the building.  For the life of me I have no idea why a news crew was shooting in front of the Capitol on perhaps that second most dead week of the year for Congress...but anyway they caught me in all my stylish and swift glory.

Second, on this still chilly but slightly warmer day as I'm cruising along enjoying a nice cleansing run, I almost trip over a a bag piper in full regalia walking along.  Really?  Umm, don't these guys travel in packs and generally have an obvious reason for being in a specific place?  I couldn't figure out what he could possibly be doing where he was at that time, alone and looking cold....don't they go pantiless? 

Third, if you've been through DC lately you know the Supreme Court has been in the process of getting a bit of a face lift.  Nothing unusual in a town of historic buildings for sure.  I've watched the scaffolding rise up and envelop the building as I've run over the past few months.  What caught my eye today - as I was really attempting to keep my eye on the real prize of laying down a speedy run - was the fact that apparently the Supreme Court is concerned with appearances.  Oh yeah, while the scaffolding is up they apparently didn't want to deprive our great tourists of seeing the facade, so they had a life size canvas facade of the front of the building hung to hide the scaffolding.  Hello, we know that isn't real...

In all, I really enjoyed my run today.  My legs are really feeling great, my speed is picking back up, and I found plenty to be amused by.  Thanks DC for keeping it lively.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  4.25
Time:   36:06 (average pace of 8:29 per mile)
Location:  Capitol Hill, Stanton Park, Lincoln Park
Feeling:  better than I have in a couple months and loving it

Prepping for turkey...

Oh cold snap...its starting to get chilly out and today required a bit heavier clothing for my run.  Luckily I enjoy running in cooler weather and am totally prepared for the onset of winter.  Here's my rule of thumb when dressing to run in cooler temps...add 15 - 20 degrees to the actual temperature and that's what the run will feel like a mile or so into it.  So, if its 30 degrees, your core will think its 45 - 50 degrees and so on.  I've found this keeps me from over or under dressing too badly.

Today was about 40 - 45 degrees, so no hat for me (those come out around 30 degrees), but I did sport the running capris and long sleeve half zip with a shirt underneath.  It was comfortable and kept me appropriately toasty throughout my jaunt. 

And for my jaunt?  I'm really trying to hit the 1000 mile mark before the end of November without overdoing it on my body.  In fact, its quite obvious I've actually scaled back over the past couple weeks quite a bit.  My current plan is to hit my mark while still going into the 2013 running season healthy as a horse. 

This week I'm starting out small to save some miles for turkey day (gotta earn the pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes).  So today was a nice, easy, uneventful cruise through my usual areas around DC.  The cooler temperatures mean I'm alone on the streets...er sidewalks...and it was completely quiet.  Just me and my shoes slapping the pavement.  I'm delighted to not have any injuries nagging me right now and so I am finally starting to stretch back into my pace a bit.  Score.  I ended the run sweaty and feeling great.

God willing my speed will be up and ready for the Celtic Solstice 5 miler in December. In the meantime, I'll just keep working and adding up the miles.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  4.1
Time:   35:41 (average pace of 8:42 per mile)
Location:  Capitol Hill, Stanton Park, Lincoln Park
Feeling:  putting it back together to close the year on a high note

Trotting for the turkey...

Ah, the holiday season is upon us.  Eating, drinking, being merry, and eating some more, possibly drinking some more.  Yes, I mark the beginning of this season with the first turkey trot I run and don't look back until ringing in the new year.  Today is that day and I'll be starting the season with the Naval Support Activity Annapolis MWR Turkey Trot 5k...it also marks the first time running with Brie since the end of September.

I headed over to Greenbury Point a little early to get in a couple extra miles (trying to tick away at that goal as much as possible).  Eh, hold on, first I had to turn around (I was only a mile from home) and head back home to grab the tire pump (really just grabbed the whole running stroller) because Brie's was't working.  Then I headed to Greenbury Point.

I was surprised to see the number of runners already gathering when I arrived around 8:20am.  Usually these races are very small so I am happy they are finally getting the word out, though that doesn't help me in my quest to finally win one of their great door prizes.  But I disgress....since I was a little later than intentioned, I decided I would just run a mile and a half or so.  I tend to forget how long the Greenbury Point trail is. 

So, at 8:30ish, I hit the trail at a nice clip...my nicest clip all week, almost back to normal.  And settled in for a pounding warm up against the head winds coming off the bay.  Yowzer, were they something.  As I approached the "short cut" route, I looked at my watch and realized that if I wanted to catch up with Brie before the run, that I couldn't take the whole path.  So I headed back and screeched into the parking lot at about 8:45am in time to see Brie just getting the jogging stroller out of her vehicle. 

We pumped up her tires, with a little help from her little one, made a last trip to the restroom and headed to the starting line.  Sort of.  We actually missed the start, but who cares, its a fun run.  Once we had the jogging stroller situated, we headed out onto the course.  Since we missed the start, we didn't feel compelled to back track that .05 miles to the actual starting line and just began from where we were.

While catching up on the latest and greatest news, we noticed that runners were already doubling back toward the starting line which would mean these guys were super super (like world record) fast unless they changed up the 5k course some.  And yes, they did.  Rather than going all the way up Greenbury Point Road and turning around at Kincaid, we looped back to the trail and finished up there.  The wind was still brisk, but it was a beautiful day out on the bay...and I love the Bay Bridge.  We even passed a few runners. 

All was good until we rounded to the finish line.  Brie's little one wanted to race the last little bit, so we stopped, got him out of the stroller and waited for him to say "go."  Not five feet after the last little burst, the poor guy trip, fell and broke open his lip on the pavement.  He's a tough one though and we were soon eating the turkey sandwiches, waiting to learn that once again we didn't win the random prize drawings.

In all, it was another fun event, with great folks and the opportunity to exercise.  Who can complain about that?  It also meant a great start to a fun filled day of volunteering, tailgating and Navy football.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  4.93
Time:   48:23 (average pace of 9:49)
Location:  NSA Annapolis, Greenbury Point
Feeling:  finally getting back on track

Recovering in the dark...

Running in the dark?  Isn't that against my rules?  Well, yeah, but it was the best I could come up with for a busy Friday.  Actually, it was still dusk when I hit the streets, so technically it became full dark after I started...and I was wearing the vizipro so folks could clearly see me coming from several miles away. 

Now that doesn't save me from my own two clumsy feet on uneven sidewalks, so I hit the most crooked, pocked sidewalks on the front end of the run when there was still a smidgen of light in the sky.  I made certain, knowing my own ability to trip over my rather large feet, that I was cruising down Pennsylvania Avenue and the Capitol complex when the last of the light disappeared.

It was a good, longish run.  Still sorting out the stiffness from Wednesday.  I'm really convinced that is from lack of use and I just need to put more miles on my legs.  Sound logic right?  Ha, anyway, as I'm getting closer and closer to putting to bed my resolution for the year (not that I will stop running once I hit it of course), I started thinking about what targets to set for next year.  Six miles gives you plenty of time to think about things like this.  I've got a few ideas stewing, but feel free to provide advice.

All good things must come to an end, of course, and so after crossing the East front of the Capitol all lights ablaze (a very awesome image if you haven't seen it in person), I headed back toward the car, and, low and behold ran into one of my Capitol Hill favorites!  After catching up on his personal life, the inner workings of Capitol Hill and exchanging sundry pleasantries, I finished up my last half-mile and packed it in for the day....gotta save something for my run tomorrow with Brie and Bryson.

Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  6.02
Time:   55:32 (average pace of 9:13 per mile)
Location:  Capitol Hill, Stanton Park, Lincoln Park
Feeling:  easy going, but still a little stiff

 

Stttrreettcchh.....

It's been a couple or three days since the 50K.  Honestly my body feels really great.  There is no soreness, perhaps a little stiffness but I can't tell if that is race or lack of movement during my self-imposed three day rest period.  It's been tough to slow down and give myself some time to recover rather than run this week. Grrr....

So today I could sit still no longer and headed out for a short, muscle stretching jog to loosen up anything that collected around my joints and start getting back in my groove.  Wow is something stiff in there.  I could not find any speed whatsoever.  I felt like I was working hard, but any time I checked my pace I was woefully short of where I usually am on your average Wednesday.  Actually, I could feel a little reluctance to open up in my hip flexors and as the hamstring inserts at the back of my knees.

All that aside, it was a pleasant day for a jaunt around Capitol Hill.  Me, the dog walkers and the nanny brigade all jostling for sidewalk space...never fear, I forced no babies into the busy streets of Washington, DC. 

Here's to hoping this whole body thing works itself out soon (I can't take these slower runs too much).  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  3.2
Time:   28:52 (average pace of 9:01 per mile)
Location:  Capitol Hill, Stanton Park, Lincoln Park
Feeling:  stiff and slow

Round and round the mulberry bush...

Traditional pre-race photo

Or rather, round and round Rosaryville State Park...three times.  That's how I reached my private goal to finish a 50k (31 miles) this year and finally put my back injury behind me for good (it wasn't an official resolution because I just couldn't be certain I was healthy enough to do this distance in one fell swoop).  It's been more than two years - two very long years - since I felt healthy enough to mosey up to the starting line for this distance.  It's been a long journey, but the result was very satisfying.



Mosey up to that starting line I did.  It was a cold, crisp fall morning with promises to be absolutely amazing by the end of ten miles.  The setting was beautiful, with just enough colored fall leaves hanging onto the trees to remind you winter is still a ways off.  The race field was reasonable for a narrow trail - 130ish runners started.  And the race committee was enthusiastic enough to rev up even the most reluctant runner attempting the distance.  What shocked me most, however, during the course briefing (standard for trail runs since there are many, many miles of unmanned areas) was that about half the field were first time ultramarathoners.  How's that for motivating?!?

So off we went.  Loop one was the most congested, obviously, but really with a smaller field, we all got some dance space around us to avoid tripping over each other (there were enough tree roots for that...we didn't need people adding to that mix).  Loop one was swift.  I wanted to settle in at around 12 minutes per mile, which would give me enough speed to hit a decent start without blowing too much energy and allow me the flexibility to slow down to a 14 minute pace in the third loop.  Well, too bad, I hit a 9-10 minute pace and just kept cruising.  The trail was much as I remember during my training run for North Face earlier this year, except that the leaf cover was pretty thick, which masked the trail in many areas.  My legs felt great, my morale was high and all was going well.  Except the roots which had it out for me...especially that one that really just about caused a face plant about 500m from the end of the first loop.

The second loop started getting a little lonely.  I was mostly running by myself at this point.  While I had my ipod and minispeaker in my camelbak ready to provide me endless entertainment, I never turned it on.  Don't ask me why....it would have saved me 75 or more repetitions of "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt" (blast the toddler cds in my car) that kept running through my head over and over.  After that, it was the more appropriate "She'll be coming round the mountain."  Next time?  Bust out the ipod and minispeaker...sanity is worth it.

By the third loop, let's admit, I was tired.  The roots were getting the best of me and I had already tripped no less than six times.  Should it have been a surprise then that I did finally face plant at about mile 21?  Oh no...no surprise there.  Luckily it was not as bad as it could have been.  I went down on my knees (now those did hurt for the rest of the race), but there were no external injuries, and since it was on a flat section, I avoided the possibility of breaking something.  It did slow me down though.  I can't complain, however, because I was still hitting my target pace...a little under in many cases.  I was able to keep a 13-14 minute pace between mile 21 and mile 31.  The slow down also gave me a little more time to pay attention to what was around me.  Now, I know I already ran this loop twice, so things shouldn't be any different in appearance, but I swear that image up there - doll head on a stake with a toaster hanging out in the background - was not there during the first two loops.  Prankster?  Forest goblins?  Who knows.  At least it was sunny and daylight hours.  If you came upon that at dusk it could really freak you out.

Throughout the race, I was texting with my husband...mostly while at aid stations to let him know about my progress.  When I was about 4 miles from the finish he texted to let me know I had a visitor waiting at the final water stop, just less than a mile before the finish.  Its motivating.  I want to set a good example for my daughter to let her know that women can achieve whatever goal they want...and that fitness is something you should engage in your whole life.

Finally, 6 hours, 15 minutes and 42 seconds after I started, I crossed the finish line.  Not only was this a personal triumph over injury, it was a huge new Personal Record (PR).  The last time I completed this distance was in 2009.  At that time it took me more than 8 hours to finish the North Face Endurance Challenge 50k.  It felt good crossing that finish line.  Thank you to all the volunteers who gave up their Saturdays to support this event and the Annapolis Striders.  You really do help push runners to meet and exceed new goals by being on the course providing motivation.

My performance ended with the diva placing my finishers medal around my neck and then her providing entertainment to a pavilion full of recovering runners.  While I didn't make it to the finish in time to get any of the post-race food catered by Chevy's (dang those early runners must have been really hungry....the several dozen folks still behind me didn't get any either), I did instead earn every last one of the seasoned curly fries I downed at Arby's on the way home.  I likely won't be running this race next year because Brie wants to do the Richmond Marathon (same weekend...and I will be doing my 50K earlier in the year), but it was a fun one.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  31
Time:  6:15:42 (average pace of 12:07 per mile)
Location:  Rosaryville State Park
Feeling:  Aside from the knees (darn roots), everything else worked amazingly

Running for office...

Oh no, not me, at least not today.  While I run for fitness and to achieve personal goals, though, there were some minor elections occurring today in the US (said with a bit of understatement).  Since today is kind of a big day, I decided to shake it up a bit and take my run through Washington, DC for a little bit of a lesson in elections.

First and foremost, I will preface this post with the fact that I work in politics.  That's right, if you didn't already know or hadn't figured it out, I work in the Senate so I've watched these elections up close and personal for the past decade.  Therefore, you may get a little coloring throughout this lesson. 

So, from my starting point on Capitol Hill, I took off toward the National Mall (yes, I set aside my personal dislike for running the Mall in order to bring you today's post) to capture a shot of the memorial to the man who won the first election....You got it.  The Washington Monument.  This man declined to be the King of the newly independent United States (well it was a few years later, but you get the idea) and so launched the legacy of an elected head of state and government.  Thank you George for ensuring we didn't have a system based on hereditary succession or dictatorship.

Next on the run is the great house where that fine document establishing our system of government, the powers of the three co-equal branches of government (the President forgets this part quite regularly), and the Bill of Rights resides permanently - The Archives of the United States.  If you haven't been there, you should make a point of it once in your life.  It is a sight to behold putting your own eyes on the guiding document of modern democracy and the system for which so many fight today.

So onto the real meat of it....on the front of many minds are what will happen to the White House.  Obviously, this House is up for grabs. There are really only two primary candidates duking it out to lay their heads on the pillows in the President's bedroom (which incidentally is housed on the second - or residential floor).  Here's a bit of trivia for you...did you know that there is also a Queen's bedroom in the White House?  Yep, and its on the very opposite end of the hall from the President's bedroom.  Today there were no snipers on the roof, meaning the President isn't in residence.

After squeezing through the slew of tourists all lollygagging in front of the White House hoping they'll get a view of the man who isn't there, I turned back up the National Mall towards Capitol Hill (which really is on a hill that tends to kick my butt, especially on the back end of a run).  Next stop, the House that isn't up for grabs today....the illustrious Capitol building.  While earlier this year control over the two Houses of Congress looked to be in the works, we don't really anticipate any changes when it all shakes out tonight....or rather over the next several days (God willing it won't take months like one unnamed Senate election in 2008).  Most of the same folks with the plum offices in this building, will still be residing in those offices come January leading the same majority and minority...albeit somewhat tighter margins.

So what was my take away from today's run?  Well, I got a great workout with no pain, and I learned that you can run through all the important National Mall sites with a Park Ranger free of charge.  Isn't that cool?  Maybe I'll try it out in the Spring if its still going on by then.  I don't really need a tour guide down there after twelve years of roaming this town, but it seems like a great program to take advantage of.  Who doesn't like learning history while burning calories?  Well, maybe only a sliver of America, but I'll take what I can get.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -

Miles:  5.65

Time:   49:07 (average pace of 8:41 per mile)

Location:  Capitol Hill, the Elipse, Stanton Park, National Mall

Feeling:  all the muscles, bones and tendons are feeling pretty good...the rest has helped

Political trees....

It's only a few days before the election, so of course that's what occupies the mind at the strangest times, right?  Perhaps only if you are me...and running through Washington DC where elections mean everything.  That being the case, it should come as no surprise that I saw politics in the most mundane of things.  That's right...even the trees are political. 


Check out this Republican tree..or is it a Democratic tree?  I guess it depends on your perspective...like much of the country.  At any rate, about the only thing truly productive about this run (aside from my brain clearly needing a break from campaigns), is that I logged a few more miles.

Here's to get beyond the elections...happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  4.16
Time:   36:58 (average pace of 8:53 per mile)
Location:  Capitol Hill, Stanton Park, Lincoln Park
Feeling:  A little shin pain but nothing untolerable

Rules violations...

Tonight I ran the Fleet Feet Annapolis Pumpkin Fun Run.  Thank you Fleet Feet, it was a great event!  Sadly, I did not find one of the three pumpkins hidden on the path that meant fame, glory and treasure (okay...maybe not fame and glory, but you did get a prize if you found one), but I did find some commaraderie for a dark, misty run through the streets of Annapolis.  Unfortunately, the fun doesn't completely make up for the rules violations that occured during this run.

First and foremost, I again broke my own rule to not run after dark.  Granted, I was clothed in my Saucony vizipro top that only a blind person would not be able to see, so I had that covered.  But if you know Annapolis, you know how treacherous night running is for the clumsy folk (aka me).  Uneven brick pavement and no light to see where it's uneven - let's be honest - sucks.  It would be super easy to end up seriously injured and out of commission.  So why did I do it?  Well, it sounded fun and I was originally going to be running it with my co-race director for the Anniversary Run 15K.

My rules violation, however, pales in comparison to the woman who was dressed almost entirely in black (with a muted splash of color added by her tulle tutu) and running in the road rather than on the sidewalk.  Under no circumstances - racing on a monitored/closed course or during a halloween fun run - is it ever okay to run after dark in dark clothing without a reflective belt at the very least.  On the success to fail scale, this lady gets a MAJOR FAIL for runner safety.  She's also one of the legitimate complaints from non-runner drivers.  Please lady, next time don't give Annapolitans a legitimate reason to complain about our great running community.

Rules violations - and potential for injury aside - I liked the event.  It was a slow easy pace and the dark, for some reason or another, causes one to feel as if they have not run nearly as far as the Garmin shows in the end.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  3.15
Time:   30:14 (average pace of 9:35 per mile)
Location:  Eastport through downtown Annapolis
Feeling:  No real strong pain in the shin, all in all not bad

Recapping 900...

Sandy's rolling out and, aside from massive cabin fever, we fared the storm really well.  That cabin fever, though, drove me out into the chilly sprinkles to stretch my legs and breath some fresh air this evening.

First off, on Saturday I passed the 900 mile mark.  Why didn't I talk about this on Saturday?  Because I crossed the mark while participating in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Light the Night.  Saturday was about the survivors, the fighters and the families grieving.  Actually, hitting the 90% mark on my goal during that event really brought so much more meaning to it than just hitting 900 on an average jaunt around Capitol Hill or down Bay Head Road.  Nothing wrong with those...every mile counts...but it just seemed more meaningful. 

So now I'm truly "running" the home stretch and am actually targeting a finish one full month ahead schedule, so long as my shin hangs in there. 

Today was not a record breaking day, or even noteworthy in the grand scheme of the past year.  It was merely a short run to stretch the legs as the diva slept in the car with my husband after a great afternoon of playing at the indoor playground in the mall. (whew...that was quite a sentence) It was a couple miles to cement my October achievement and to test my shin.

What was noteworthy about the run is that, in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, you can't take for granted those sunny days where running is easy....and you shouldn't discount the value of having a treadmill in the basement to provide moments of sanity when stuck inside (perhaps I should finally consider making the investment).  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  2.53
Time:   22:03 (average pace of 8:43 per mile)
Location:  Bay Head
Feeling:  my shin is a little painful, but bearable

Lighting the night...

Earlier this year one of our neighbors, Kaitlyn, lost the fight against a lymphoma.  Around the same time, our next door neighbor's 7-year old granddaughter, Sophia, was diagnosed with leukemia.  Whether you've been touched by someone affected by the diseases or not, its hard not to wish for the discovery of a cure for these cancers, particularly for the victims whose time ends far too soon. 

That's why, when our neighbors invited us to join them for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Light the Night Walk we absolutely said yes.  Yes, we would walk with Team Kaitlyn.  Even the diva went out to walk in support of the Dzurneys and in memory of Kaitlyn (she also got a balloon...which she loves).

The walk started at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and snaked down toward city dock before returning to the stadium.  While a somber occasion, it also was a great and joyful coming together of families and communities to raise money for research.  The atmosphere was celebratory, and a bit raucous if you were close to that large group of younger children. 

Above all, it was inspirational.  The rainbow of ballons told the story.  Gold stood for the courage of the grieving families.  Red stood for the strength of the survivors and white stood for the hope displayed by the patients currently battling cancer. There was no sense of defeat in the crowd...only a great commitment to find a cure.

 

Thank you to the Dzurney family for inviting us to join you in walking in Kaitlyn's memory.  She was a strong force that made a real impact in such a short period of time. 

Stats -
Miles:  4.3 (plus 2.75 for the Light the Night Walk for Leukemia and Lymphoma)
Time:   38:32 (average pace of 8:38 per mile..no time on the second half)
Location:  Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and Downtown Annapolis
Feeling:  there's nothing more humbling than running for a cure

Getting my Army Ten Miler on...

Today I hit the pavement for my sixth or seventh running of the Army Ten Miler.  (I'm still trying to figure this one out....through all the runnings under other names, I've truly lost count.  But I like this race!  It's one of the few races I will venture into DC for time and time again.  It celebrates the heroes, it celebrates the survivors, it celebrates running and it celebrates achievement.  Who wouldn't want to be a part of that?


The start of the race was slightly different from previous years.  The race coordinators doubled the number of corral starts, which I think was a good idea.  If you've run this race, you know that there is a tendency toward a crowded course, jockeying just to maintain a reasonable pace.  With the added corrals, it was a little better.  Folks still ran with faster corrals, but they were few and far between.  It was easy to hit my pace and maintain it.

Let me backtrack....I didn't hit my pace, really, until the second mile.  Why?  Well shortly after the start, I ran into Patty Schloesser walking on behalf of the Fisher House Foundation.  Who, might you ask it Patty?  Only one of my favorite wife's of a former commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell.  I had the great pleasure of working with Patty for a couple of years while her husband was the commander.  I've rarely known a milspouse to work so tirelessly and take more of the stress of the military families on her own shoulders than Patty.  So of course I had to walk with her for a little bit to catch up.  That was awesome.

That was probably the high point of the race.  Much of the remainder was typical Army Ten Miler.  Bands at regular intervals, people with their motivational signs spread throughout the course, lots of water stops.  There was a funny new jiggle on Capitol Hill.  It was rather sad not to run in front of the Capitol building for the first time on this course, not sure why the change.  But it did make up for it by stretching the distance on the other side of the bridge to regain motivation after the life sucking bridge crossing.

Another strange occurance....in my humble opinion....the crowd seemed quiet.  This is usually a loud race with spectators pushing you through even the toughest sections.  Not the case this year.  Usually roaring sections were so quiet you may have been able to hear a pin drop.  It wasn't too quiet to break concentration, but still notable.

Anyway, when the finish line finally appeared, I pushed forward and dug deep to find the burst that would get me across the finish line for a new ten miler PR. So what were the results?  Overall I finished 6536 out of 21,912 runners.  Among all women, I finished 1436 out of 9747 runners and within women age 35-39, I finished 249 out of 1806.  My best Army Ten Miler finish yet.  I can't wait to make it even better next year.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  10.11
Time:   1:26:58 (average pace of 8:35 per mile)
Location:  throughout Washington DC, Pentagon
Feeling:  everything worked well, no pain

Countdown and pain...

Tomorrow morning the diva and I leave for Florida.  It will be her first trip to Disney World - and first race period - and my third Disney race in the past two years.  Today is about putting miles on the log and not making my shin any worse than it already is.  Too bad that isn't really going to happen.

I knew the second I hit the pavement that this was going to be one painful run.  Not 100 meters in I was already feeling the pain radiating up my shin.  Why oh why?  I can't figure what I could have done to cause this.  Hmmm, or maybe its the shoes.  They are rather overworn at this point.  I've been meaning to buy a new pair for a while, but have just been lazy.  Running shoes should be changed out every 400-500 miles...these have more like 600 or so miles on them.  Or maybe my leg just can't bear the weight any longer?  Nah, I'm going with the shoes. 

Note to self - scour the race expo for a good sale on New Balance 1080v and just buy them.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  4.17
Time:   35:59 (average pace of 8:37 per mile)
Location:  Capitol Hill, Lincoln Park, Stanton Park
Feeling:  ouch...my shin hurts

A glutton for punishment...

Alright, I'm going to share a secret.  I'm not fantastic at taking a break when I need to.  What?  You already knew that?  Huh...I thought I hid it well.  Today was one of those days I needed to take it easy, but I'm racing this weekend in Florida, and I've not been putting in the number of miles I usually shoot for as a minimum.  So I laced up the shoes to head out for a lunch time run.

Washington is Washington.  The nanny brigade walks the children through the park for the afternoon fresh air, the dog walkers ply there trade throughout the side streets and the suits look important as the hurry toward whatever important meeting they have with important people.  And I just keep on running.

What's interesting about today, however, is not the scenery or the goings on around the Capitol, its the change in my physical condition.  My hamstring has bothered me, well, basically since college.  So when it is tight or screaming, it doesn't mean a whole lot except provide me with a reminder to replace the empty tube of Icy Hot (yes, I swear by that stuff...it should be in every gym bag).  That said, my hamstring actually feels decent today.  Instead I have intense pain radiating up my shin.  Shin splints?  Stress fracture?  Totally random?  Who knows.  All I know is I have no time for this and will just have to push through for the foreseeable future.

Minor injuries don't get me down, but I'll have to watch this one.  After all, the back injury a couple years ago that sidelined me for most of 2011 started out as just a minor injury.  I'm not about to go there again.  Happy trails!

Stats -
Miles:  4.03
Time:   34:09 (average pace of 8:28 per mile)
Location:  Capitol Hill, Lincoln Park, Stanton Park
Feeling:  my hamstring is okay, but I've got pain radiating up my shin

Ducks and goals...

I love Sunday mornings.  Especially Sunday mornings that begin with a friend who enjoys the same things I do...stretching the legs and spending time with our kids.  This morning Brie and I started bright and early with the kids in tow...rather in the lead resting comfortably in their respective jogging strollers.  The plan?  Head down to city dock, feed the ducks and return in time to get a shower and drive to Sunday School.

It was chilly, there's no denying that.  But it was a nice change.  That crisp morning air just lends a little something to the aura of Annapolis in the early hours before the whole city wakes up and tourists flood the streets.  The quiet is also conducive to sharing all the gossip that must be shared.

The run downtown was kind of slow (umm, yeah, actually the whole run was kind of slow).  Both Brie and I are aching...her knee my hamstring.  But we are bad ass and just keep going.    And somewhere along this path I hit the 800 mile mark.  That's right folks, 80% of the way towards logging 1000 miles this year.   That just feels awesome.

When we got down to city dock and Brie pulled the bread out from under her stroller the kids were ecstatic.  I don't remember ducks being so thrillling when I was three, but they must have been.  Ducks fed, we continued down city dock, alternately racing the kids and carrying them (well me carrying the diva).  Brie also spent time telling B what was special about the Bear and the Bull, two almost ancient sailboats that are still in operation.  All in all it was a success...and then we had to hightail it back to Brie's so the diva and I didn't miss Sunday School.

I thank every opportunity to run with friends, particularly my BRB.  It makes the solo runs and the races easier later on.  In particular, its made my goals easier to envision this year.  All's well.  Happy trails!

Stats -
Miles:  5.42 (plus 2.34 walk with the diva to get her ready for her first race)
Time:   1:05:48 (average pace of 12:08 per mile)
Location:  Annapolis, City Dock
Feeling:  hamstring is pinching again