Up, up and away...

Lining up at the start line near the break of dawn, looking out over the bay, maybe taking a selfie or two, and planning the best strategy for a swift 10k....those are all the characteristics of the beginning to the 2nd Across the Bay 10k.

Many a driver finds the Chesapeake Bay Bridge intimidating.  In fact, it has been called one of the scariest bridges in the world.  Spanning the 4.3 miles across the Bay from the Broadneck Peninsula to the Eastern Shore and soaring 189 feet above the water, even my own mother refuses to drive across this bridge.  So why run over?  Why the heck not?  And now I've done it twice.

First things first, I need to recap the parts of this race that leave a lot to be desired.  I admire the race team's ability to secure the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium for packet pick up, but they don't use the space efficiently.  While you go to one side to pick up your bib (with plenty of blank space left on that side), runners are then directed to the other side of the stadium for the crowded and not very useful expo....then must walk up to the second deck to pick up the race shirt.  Carrying a 21 month old the whole time did not leave me feeling warm fuzzies for the race team.

Then there's race morning.  I get why runners can't park at Northrop Grumman.  There is literally no where to put cars.  That said, if you live just a mile or two from the start (like I do) it is a bit of a pain to have to travel 6 miles in the opposite direction to park at the community college and catch a bus back to the start near my house.

Ok, rant over.

So, beautiful morning, fresh legs, a fantastic day break and thousands of my closest friends gathered for the singing of the Star Spangled Banner and the official start to the race.  Technically I was supposed to run in wave two, but as I arrived, no one was stopping folks from joining wave one.  When the gun went off, I settled in for the 10k run. 

The start is crowded and narrow, so it's hard to hit your pace right of the bat.  But once you clear the Northrup property and reach route 50, it became smooth sailing.  I could choose my path up and over the bridge and happily settled into a swift pace.

I planned to really run this race....see what I had in me at this point in the season.  What I never expected was just how everything worked together to deliver my best 10k ever.  My legs felt strong, my lungs felt open, my muscles were loose, and the temperature was right.  Combine those factors and you've got one hell of a good race ahead of you.

The first mile was smooth, and then came the incline up the bridge beginning at mile two.  That's when I started to feel myself pull back a bit...grrr and why?  I've got no answer.  Perhaps I felt like I didn't have enough to maintain the pace all the way up to the top of the bridge.  Or maybe I just had a mental break in my confidence.  Mile two took me 8:34.

After that, however, just try to stop me.  Something fell into place and I started to see the pace tick lower and lower as I crossed the top span of the bridge (fantastic views....and it barely feels like you're at the top of a bridge).  As we began to pass the Athletes Helping Athletes teams, I felt even stronger for the grit these kids show in just coming out for the event.  I was re-energized every time I passed one of those teams and cheered for the athlete in the jogging stroller.

As the road leveled out on the other side of the bridge, I had to keep my head in the game and maintain pace.  It was a war between one side saying I was slower on a flat stretch and the other side screaming "YOU GOT THIS."  Luckily, the enthusiastic side, and legs that still felt like they had miles in them, won out.

I was cruising into the finish for a 49:10 finish when....whoops, it happened.  I had to turn around and go back to pick up my iphone, which went flying out of the back pocket of my running belt (my fault totally since I had just unzipped it for easier access after crossing the finish).   And hey, wouldn't you know the race photographer caught that delovely race snafu for me to cherish for all eternity :)

Blooper aside, I had an amazing race.  Crossing the finish at 49:17 (averaging 7:56/mile) still put me at my fastest 10k finish ever.  Overall, I finished in the top 6% of all runners and in the top 2.5% of all female runners.  Sorry for the personal back patting, but I've got to be proud of that one.

Now, as I cruise into the Richmond marathon this weekend, my last scheduled race of the season, I've got two new pr's in my pocket (10K and marathon), a good base of training, and one of my best running buds alongside me to look forward to.  Nothing's stopping me from finishing 2015 on a high note and blazing into 2016.  Happy trails!!!

2015 miles to date:  1130.3 miles

Observations: Though my training early this year had fits and starts, getting into a strong rhythm and incorporating a variety of different activities (mostly paddleboarding with the diva and yoga) to take the focus off my running muscles, seems to be the right combination to ensure results.

Chugga Chugga Choo Choo...

The Steamtown Marathon...a race I've been planning for more than a year now, first discovered when I made it my mission to qualify for the Boston Marathon.  Ahh, the hours spent strategizing, planning, training.  And now it's in the books for this year.

Steamtown (so named because it takes place in Scranton, PA...the center of the U.S. for steam locamotives) is a fast, downhill, point-to-point course.  Don't mistake that to mean it is easy - far from it.  It's one of the toughest marathons I've completed.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Before April 2013, I never had any designs on qualifying for Boston.  Not even a consideration.  Then the unthinkable happened.  I finished a half marathon that positioned me as fast enough to qualify for the big show.  Holy.  It changed my outlook and my running goals.  I was looking forward to a fall marathon that year that would cement my space on race day in 2014.  But, a month later I found out I was pregnant and it shelved the previously unreachable goal.

So, I spent the next two years dreaming, thinking, working.  Trying to rebuild the strength and speed I had before Baby K came.  And, earlier this year, I click the magical "register" button for the Steamtown Marathon - known for a field that qualifies 20% of its finishers annually.  I knew early on that this was not going to be the year I qualified on Steamtown, so I simply set my sights on running the course to become familiar with it and understand how to plan my training for the 2016 race.

First off, Scranton was beautiful.  Tucked up in the Poconos, with wildly changing leaves bursting with fall color, the scenery was just what my soul needed.  It relaxed me.  It allowed me to channel strength and happiness into thinking about the race.

On race morning, the temperatures were 10 degrees cooler than the forecast showed.  Brrr.  But I didn't change my clothing plans.  I wouldn't have to go outside until just before the start of the race.

Boarding the buses to the start line at 5:30 am, I sat back and listened to the runners chatting around me for the 45 minute drive up to the start line in Forest City.  I never really listened to the runners around me before.  Probably because I usually get my own ride to the start of the course.  It was 45 minutes of listening to the running credentials of the fifteen people closest to me on the bus.  It's actually pretty annoying.  Please slap me if I do that....I'm not certain these runners were aware of the conversations they found themselves in.

When we arrived at the start, we were greeted by the Forest City high school cheerleaders, handed "good luck runner" ribbons and ushered through the halls to the warm gym to wait for the start.  Walking through the halls, I was emotionally touched by the energy the school put into making us feel welcome on race day.  The bulletin boards were decorated for us, signs were made and posted, the gym hung with banners - all wishing us good luck on our run.

In the gym, I stretched out, attended to my pre-race Port-o-John needs, and managed to find a few other Annapolis Striders among the anxious runners.  Then the time came to head to the start.

The energy at the starting line was phenomenal.  Every runner around me seemed to be walking on air, ready for the starting cannon to boom and send us on our journey back to downtown Scranton.  It was exhilirating.

The boom finally came and we were off.  While my plan was to use the race to become familiar with the course, I still set my sights on a new marathon PR, finishing between 4:00:00 and 4:15:00.  Heading into the first mile, my legs felt ready to take on the world.  Everything clicked into place and I just fell into an unbreakable rhythm.

For mile after mile, my body seemed to float on air.  I took inspiration from the crisp fall air, the masterpiece of vivid colors rushing through the trees, and the endless crowd support lining the course.

I've run races with good crowd support.  This race had AMAZING crowd support.  Every town seemed to come out en mass to support the runners, provide aid, wave their motivating signs and high five you through the streets.  I've never seen anything quite like it.

The course itself was relatively straight forward - down a hill, down another hill, down yet another hill, maybe catch a brief respite at a short up hill, then down another hill and still yet another.  Normally, most of the runners I know relish a good down hill during a race.  I do too, but mostly as a function of making the course interesting and giving my hamstrings a break.  The constant down hill was brutal on the quads.  I knew this coming in and tried to train better for down hill running, but I still wept silent tears of joy when I saw those occasional uphills to give my quads a break.  Who ever thought a runner could miss an uphill so much?

On a marathon course, knowing I would be out there for more than four hours, I normally like to feed my body four or more times with gu or gummies for an infusion of energy.  Because I chose to keep my race day gear minimal, I only had room for two gus/gummies.  I had to ration carefully (and pray that I would find more on the course).  Ultimately, I ate at about miles eight and seventeen and passed up the bananas, oranges and other items provided by the crowds on the course.  But it turned out to work for me.

Have I mentioned yet that I was rocking out an amazing pace?  Not Boston qualifying, but very satisfying. ranging from 8:09 to 9:43.  While I knew I wasn't going to hit the magical 3:45:00, by the middle of the course I knew I could hit the lower end of my race goal.  Like I said, it was all just working.

I believe I also drew inspiration from the soundtrack that randomly played into my ears.  It can't just be coincidence that I heard three different versions of "Defying Gravity" -

I'm through with playing by the rules
Of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap!

It's time to try
Defying gravity
I think I'll try
Defying gravity
And you can't pull me down! 

Not to mention "I've Got Nerve," "Dancing Through Life," "The Warrior," "I'll Stand By You," "True Colors," "Firework," "We Run," "Good Life," "Come on Get Higher," "Don't Stop Believin'," and finally in the home stretch, Taylor Swift's "Changes" - 

Tonight we'll stand, get off our knees
Fight for what we’ve worked for all these years
And the battle was long, it’s the fight of our lives
But we’ll stand up champions tonight

It was the night things changed
Can you see it now?
These walls that they put up to hold us back fell down
This revolution, throw your hands up
'Cause we never gave in
And we'll sing hallelujah, we sang hallelujah
Hallelujah

 

I believe God chose these songs to breathe new life into my tired legs.  He spoke to me about holding onto my dreams, doing this for myself, looking deep inside and seeing what I was made of.  It was about me out there.

So I crossed that finish line...with a big smile, more determination than I started with and crushing my marathon PR.  I finished in 4:00:20...can you believe it?  I can't express with words how it feels to go beyond what you believed you are capable of at any given moment.

Now that I've got the medal, it's time to turn towards the 2016 race and start setting out my training plan.  This racing year is far from finished (I still have one more marathon yet and sundry shorter races), but all along the course I paid attention to how my body felt, what worked, what needed tweaked, where I could make improvements.  Here's my current thinking - lose about 15 pounds and streamline my body (doable), more strength training (doable), more speed workouts (doable) and more down hill practice (doable).

I find no reason to believe that I'll be able to hit my goals next year at Steamtown and land myself a spot at the 2017 starting line in Boston.  Happy trails!!!

2015 miles to date:  1026.8 (I've crossed the magic threshold of 1000 miles so far!  Only 220 left before 2016 rings in.)

Observations:  My training is paying off.  Working hard, keeping at it and choosing discipline over a day off really does get it done.  Not even stiff the day after the marathon.  Now I just need to keep focused as I finish my race season, get rested for next year and hit it harder than ever.

 

Taters and bees....

Fall brings unpredictable - but super fun - racing.  I love it! (settle in...this is a long one)

Potato Stomp 2005

If you're from Northeast Ohio and you've never Potato Stomped, I don't know what you are waiting for.  I first ran this race back in 2005, back when I was so cool (or maybe far more confident is a better way to look at it) I would race in a sports bra.  Evidence to the right.

The beauty of the Mantua Potato Stomp is the beauty of the course.  This is a stunning course through the countryside of Portage County....that is, if you are like me and love farm land.  The course probably passes more cows, horses and goats than there are runners on the course. 

And there are the hills.  I love running hills (insane, yeah, I got it, stop picking on me).  This course rolls for 9 miles.  Flat parts?  Few and far between. 

This year I wanted to return to this race (haven't run it since 2006 or 2007) to do a early fall fitness check.  Basically, I wanted to use a course I was comfortable with (not flat but not excessively hill....my best running conditions) and a race I didn't have much chance in placing in.  My goal - shoot for a solid 8:30 per mile average pace.

It was supposed to be a rainy day.  It was cool (LOVE IT!) and most people hung out inside until race time to keep from turning blue.  I even got caught by the race camera pinning on my number (sorry, I just sort of like this photo for some reason...not your typical race photo).

When it came time to cozy up to the start line, we almost had a false start when the race director noticed that the traditional potato chips hadn't been spread across the start.  Problem solved, we headed out. 

I made two mistakes.  I went out too fast.  My first mile was an 8:02 and my second mile was a 7:44.  I burned too much keeping with the front pack instead of running my race.  I settled down in mile 3 and then just enjoyed the scenery, determined just to focus on my own goal and not what others were doing around me.

My body was feeling great.  I was mentally in the run and felt comfortable just holding a pretty steady pace wavering in the 8:20s.  I was already winning because I was beating my goal.

That's her, back there kicking in....

I played a bit of leap frog with an older lady for much of the course, but was happy to finally put her behind me (she was a bit smelly) around mile 5 or 6.  Coming into the home stretch, I checked the watch, knew I was going to achieve my goal for the race and smiled to myself...happy.

That's when it happened.  I was approaching the finish line, happy with what I accomplished and knowing that there was no reason to push the limits when a women caught me in the last 100 meters.  After all, I had no shot of placing.  Grrr, here's where it's hard to be happy with achieving your goals some times. 

I let that girl pass me and didn't make an effort to hold her off, though I could have.  I crossed that finish line happy as a crow knowing I came out and crushed my goal.  Then, knowing I would at least walk home with the consolation prize for having traveled the farthest for the race, we waited for the awards ceremony. 

We chatted, we read travel literature, we pulled Baby K out of a gazillion mud puddles.  Then the awards began, and disappointment set it. 

Wouldn't you know, that woman who passed me in the final stretch went home with third place in my age group.  Third place.  Though I didn't know it, that was mine for the taking and mine for the losing.  I remained very happy with my performance but that one moment, when the girl who passed me took home the age group award, I started "what if" 'ing myself.  Don't do that.  If you hit your goal, then celebrate and ride the high.

More recently, I took to the NCR Trail in Maryland for the Charm City Run 20-miler....another race and course I really like, though for very different reasons.  My bud Lara introduced me to this one four years ago on a super sweaty, steamy August day.

This year, the race moved a month to the end of September and the weather couldn't have been much better.  It was cool, the rain held off, the leaves were green, and I had my great running buddy Kelly by my side.     

The start line butts up against the Pennsylvania state line, and shoves 350 runners onto a narrow old railroad bed about a quarter mile from the closest parking drop off.  The walk warmed us up a bit and gave us the opportunity to check out who else was among us crazies for this year's jaunt back to Cockeysville.

The trail is a very pretty rail trail (I like running these trails....check out my post from July on the Headwaters Trail in Ohio) cut through the hills of Hunt Valley.  The trail meanders past large, carved boulders, over babbling brooks and past railroad bridges that have seen better days. 

Best of all, it runs right past the gnome hill.  I have no idea what prompted these folks to turn this hill into a village for garden gnomes, but God love them.  Kelly and I decided that next year we'll run with a garden gnome of our own to add to their collection.  It's truly a Kodak photo spot.

It was shortly after (or maybe before...I can't really remember) that we ran through the swarm of bees.  Yep, no Savage Race made up obstacles for us.  Who needs them when mother nature sends you swarming insects to sting you?  Many people got stung (I wasn't one of them....though a good 10-12 bees did swirl around my face for a short period of time.  I feel bad for the woman who got stung five time in the....derriere.  At the next water station (as my husband tells me) she whipped down her running tights with no care for who was watching to ask her friends how bad it was.

The race field was friendly, people were jovial and we had some laughs along the way.  Most of all, it was truly a strong 20-mile effort in advance of the fall marathon season.

I can't wait.  I'm feeling strong, my training has been solid.  I've got two more weeks before my first marathon of the season, but first I'll tackle Ragnar DC and the Metric Marathon this weekend.  Hope my legs stay on.  Happy trails!!!

2015 miles to date:  942.47 miles

Observations:  I'm going into a tough weekend of rainy running with a soleus that is a little sore.  Hopefully I can work that out in the next couple days with shorter, slower shake out runs.  Other than that, my body feels ready.  I can do this and I will. 

Running on the go...

Training and travel are a tough combination.  I've seen even the most dedicated of athletes skip workouts when on the road, often for silly reasons.  But, it doesn't have to be that way.

It's true...I did eat that bowl of goodness.

Yes, I sometimes skip a workout or two when on vacation.  Maybe even on a business trip.  But when that guilty voice in the back of my head reminds me that I opted to finish my dinner with the famous apple streudel at Café Schwarzenberg or that I spent most of the day sitting in conference rooms, I can't help but push myself into the gym even if it means getting in the miles on the dreadmill.

Oh yeah, traveling often means not running outside, either because it's not particularly safe, or I don't want to risk getting lost.  So, I spent two sessions on the dreadmill this week.  That's about all I can take before I have a flair up of my good old buddy - lower back pain...excruciating lower back pain.  And a little bit of boredom, that comes into play too.

But today, what a breath of fresh air.  Sometimes you find that spot on a business trip that gives you the freedom to stretch your legs and catch the sites in a beautiful city after a long day of meetings.  Today I got to run through The Hague - or Den Haag if you're a local.

My hotel offered a decently (we'll get to this in a minute) outlined map of several running routes based on distance.  Though none of them went through the section of town with the Parliament and Prime Minister's offices (some really cool buildings architecturally that sit along a canal as if built into the water...I got to see them during lunch), I did get to cruise through some residential areas and a couple of parks along canals.

Have I mentioned the weather yet?  Oh boy what a treat!  If you've been slogging through a central Maryland summer, you will understand the sigh of relief I released when I walked outside the hotel to run in 60 degree weather (and a slight sprinkle for the first part) with a nice stiff breeze coming in off the North Sea.  It felt like fall already, but with sunlight until 9pm.

While Den Haag isn't the tourist destination that Amsterdam is, it isn't without some pretty cool sites of its own, like a few museums, the OPCW and all the embassies/ambassador's residences.   Though honestly?, I wish the street signs were a bit easier to follow.  Yeah, that map the hotel handed out may have included street by street directions, but the map only included major streets, most streets turn into other streets, the signs aren't in obvious places and often only on one side of the road.  That said, I successfully fumbled my way along the route.

Ultimately, toward the end of my journey, I deviated from the route offered by the hotel so that I could plod along the narrow paths of one of the canals.  The canals provide a pretty break from the buildings and rowhouses, and are soothing in a way I don't have the words to describe.  I'm glad I made the detour to capture some of the spaces tucked away in one of the parks.

In other news that I like to categorize under "awesome," I've finally broken through whatever barrier sat between me and increasing my speed again.  I'm feeling like I'm finding my stride and it's all downhill from here (not really, actually I should say uphill because I'm a better uphill runner).  If this keeps up, I'm on the right path toward achieving one of my big speed goals.  So, I'm going to add today's fun run through Den Haag, to last week's two great races (including pacing the Annapolis 10-miler and conquering the brutal hills at Dreaded Druid) and the fact that I am caught up on my mileage for the first time this year (logged 145 miles running in August) and call it a win.

I'm hoping to ride this tidal wave of great running vibes through the fall racing season and come out on top.  Happy trails!!!

2015 miles to date:   824.77 miles

Observations:  Not to beat my own drum, but I feel like I'm killing it.  Aside from that dreaded back pain as a result of treadmill runs, everything else is holding together.  The added strength training sessions are also paying dividends.  I just may make it out of my overzealous fall racing schedule unscathed.  The one thing I need to do soon is buy new shoes.  I can feel this current pair beginning to give and I'll need time to break in another pair before the race season kicks into high gear.
 

The early run...

That house with a lonely light on at 4am (or earlier)...that's my house.  The stars and the moon still light the sky.  The tree frogs and crickets still make the music in the air.  That's the time of day I become productive.

I'm really more of an afternoon runner.  But heat, humidity and a busy schedule have driven me to change the majority of my training runs to the pre-dawn hours this summer.  Three, four, five days a week you can find me out on the pavement before the sun crests the horizon.  It's at least an hour or more until my family will even think about waking up.

What I'm learning about myself is that I can be very productive as a runner in the early morning hours.  I'm still faster in the afternoon, probably because I'm better fueled at that point in the day.  I'm still more loose.  But in the morning, I'm more focused and alert in the silence.  I'm more in tune with my body.  I love watching the sun begin to peak above the trees or the edges of the water.  I have also found camaraderie in the morning run.  (These things don't seem to exist if you run at night...like after 9pm).

Dare I say, am I becoming that elusive unicorn called the morning runner?

This week, on a couple of early morning runs, I had a number of critter encounters too.  I crossed paths with a family of raccoons, came face to face with a large buck.  Sadly, I didn't see my normal morning friend, the fox that lives in my neighborhood.  I can almost always count on him checking out my run.  Alas, he was absent.  

During the week, my morning runs all radiate from my house, so I have limited options for routes.  I can run to the high school.  I can run to the State Park.  I can go in and out of the neighborhoods skirting the waterfront.

But the weekends, the early mornings on the weekends are for exploring the best spots for sunrise over the Chesapeake Bay or the many rivers and creeks around Annapolis.  Running through Bay Ridge, Greenbury Point, across the Academy Bridge, City Dock...there are so many great options.  If you haven't experienced one of our sunrises, you really should.  

So, if you, like me, are not much of a morning runner, give it a try.  You might learn you actually enjoy the torture of a 4am alarm ringing at your bedside.  Happy trails!!!

2015 miles to date:  753.45 miles

Observations:  My body is currently firing on all cylinders.  I've got now pain, no twinges, nothing.  How long this lasts is the only real question.  This past month I did a 30-day nutritional cleanse that rid my body of all the processed, fatty food I'd been feeding it.  I've even give up caffeine and am feeling more energy and alertness.  As I'm ramping up my mileage toward marathon season, this has been helpful in achieving my goals.  I just need to stay committed to leaving out the coffee, tea and soda, and skipping the easy boxed food for meals I prepare from fresh ingredients.
 

Take me home...

Country roads (and trails)  provide endless inspiration for a good, long run.  I find I can lose myself in the quiet solitude - the slap of my shoes on the pavement underpinned by the chirp of the birds and the babble of brooks - and the miles just melt away.

This past weekend, while on travel that took me briefly through my home town, I hit the Headwaters Rail Trail for my long run.  The Headwaters Rail Trail runs from Garrettsville, OH to Mantua, OH and follows the route of the old Cleveland-Mahoning Railroad line.  Incidentally, the last great train robbery occurred on this line at the depot in Garrettsville in 1935 (#coolhistoryfacts #garrettsvilleismorethanlifesavers #moveoverhartcrane).  The crushed gravel trail is growing in popularity for hikers, cyclists and horseback riders. 

I grew up crossing this trail, which ran between my grandfather's house and the old pony track behind it, when the trail still held railroad tracks and ties.  I remember crossing the railroad, not just on horseback, but also with packs of friends to the creek to hunt newts and crayfish.  So, coming back and running almost the full eight miles out (and then back) felt a bit nostalgic. 

The run was strong...oh boy was it strong. 

There are days you walk out the door, hit your stride and never look back.  Sunday was one of those days.  The first mile was a bit of a drag which wasn't real surprising...it was on roads through town en route to the trail.  Once I hit the trail, though, everything just clicked into place.  The air was cool, the ground was forgiving, my mind was focused and my body was engaged.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't so focused that I couldn't enjoy the scenery around me.  Brilliant green trees, Queen Anne's lace and daisies dotting the edges of the trail, scenic yet functional barns peaking out from the farms, and the occasional sound of water rumbling over rocks just off the side of the trail.  And the silence broken only by the sound of my shoes and the chirping of the birds.  I couldn't have made up a more peaceful environment in a deep daydream.

Now, it wasn't all fun and games.  I would be remiss if I didn't confess to the pain in my rear that ended up being a horse fly biting in and going for a ride.  Yikes that was a bit painful....and now I've succeeded in causing you to imagine that sight.

All this bucolic bliss gave me additional endurance I didn't know I possessed when I slinked out the door earlier that morning.  Rather than the twelve-mile out and back I planned, I pushed out an extra mile...and got stronger on the second half of my run rather than slowing to exhaustion. 

Swept past the old grist mill downtown

.

That is such a great feeling.  When I finish stronger than I start, it gives me confidence that a bad start to a run never has to mean a bad run (though this run didn't have a bad start...it was just a good run that grew great).

I'm so happy to have the opportunity to experience runs like the one on the Headwaters Rail Trail.  Truly, country running helps me find a happy place that settles my training into a comfortable place.  I hope others feel the same about trails like this.  Happy trails!!!

2015 miles to date:  609.12 miles

Observations:  The back pain I was experiencing last week has passed.  I switched to a standing desk at work since it was sitting that increased the pain.  That seemed to help a bit.  I'm still riding the high from Sunday and hope to drive that all the way through to my long run this weekend.

 

Finding luck and beating the hills...

I was raised in small town (farm town) Ohio, surrounded by rolling hills and acres upon acres of pastureland and corn fields.  It can be constricting and inspiring in equal measure...depending on your point of view or mood.  Recently it was inspiring.

This past weekend I found myself back in my hometown for an event at my former high school.  Being Saturday, I was looking for a long run to get in some miles and sweat off the stress of what had turned out to be a very stressful week (filled with long days at work and sick kids at home with a husband on work travel).

I have a usual route that I run when I'm in my hometown, but it's only five miles.  I needed more. 

My mom says to me: "How about going out 82 to Pioneer Trail, looping around Ryder and back...it's about 6 miles.  It does have Hiram hill (read big hill) but otherwise pretty flat."  Sounds good to me.  I'm in.

The morning was perfect.  About 36 degrees, but comfortable, with a start at 1,029 ft above sea level. 

Within my first half mile, I even found some new luck in the shape of a horseshoe, thrown from one of the Amish buggy horses that go up and down the road regularly.  With that kind of start, how could it be anything but a good run!  (And yes, I did pick the shoe up on the return and plan to hang it in my house for luck this whole season).

Running on that high, it didn't occur to me until my watch flashed the first mile complete, that I had been going up since I left my mother's house.  Huh, no biggie.  Small incline and I was going to have the down at Hiram hill. 

But I kept going up....not much.  I hit 1,082 ft above sea level before the downhill.  Doesn't seem like much.  Relatively unnoticeable.  And then I went down. Straight down, to 1,020 ft above sea level.  (I always thought that hill was bigger, at least it always felt that way growing up).

Looking up ahead of me after coming down Hiram hill, I noticed the road climbed again.  And climbed.  And climbed.  Where was this flat route my mother told me about?  And after driving these roads my entire life, why had I never noticed the hills?

Not one to be beat, I kept climbing.  It had to end at some point, and in the meantime I had the farmland to distract my mind.  When I finally stopped climbing, at mile 3.15, I was at 1,328 ft above sea level.  That had been a relatively steady 3 mile climb up hill.  Whew.

It flattened out and then went down hill after that, except for going back up Hiram hill on the return (though I will tell you, Hiram hill was easy and puny after the first 3 miles of road). 

In all, the 6 mile loop with only one hill turned out to be a 7.5 mile loop that was all hills...but it felt great.  My whole body was alive and engaged in the run. I loved the route.  I loved the views.  I loved the fast (for training) pace I was able to maintain.  All cylinders were firing together.

I guess the moral of the story is that sometimes you get more out of the completely unexpected and really enjoy the outcomes.  I'm not much for surprises and I always make sure I've studied course maps and elevation charts before I run.  But this was a great change of pace and I would encourage others to take on an unexpected challenge too.  Happy trails!!!

2015 miles to date:  329.91 (I'm 70 miles in the hole right now, but can catch that back in a short couple months with the right approach.)

Observations:  My body is giving me more that I expected at this point.  It's feeling good, things are working.  I'm still not as fast as I was before baby, but I'm finally feeling like I'll get there.  I even added a second marathon in to my fall schedule because things are just feeling good.  Let's hope that sticks.

Why do it...

I believe I'd have a hard time counting the number of times I've been asked: "Why do you do it?"  "Why do you get up early to run?"  "Why do you run on the weekends instead of resting?"  "Doesn't it hurt your knees?"  Or more simply: "Geez, why do you run?"

I admit, the list of excuses I could come up with for not running is pretty impressive.  "Boy it would be great to sleep in today."  "I'm too exhausted, I'll just workout tomorrow."  "It's been a rough day."  "I've got housework that needs to get done."  "I'd rather go watch my daughter's gymnastics practice."

It's hard to get up early, push through physical and emotional exhaustion, missing some of my kids activities, and watch the cleaning pile up at home.  It's lonely out there by yourself in the dark.  It's cold pushing through the icy winters and hot knocking out those muggy summer miles.

But I've never once actually asked myself (in that tone that implies that I make slightly crazy decisions with my life) "Why do I do it?"  I think I know why.

Running isn't a choice for me, it's part of who I am.  Running helps me relax.  It helps me feel strong and accomplished.  It improves my confidence.  It helps me think clearer.  And, it helps me release the bad in life.

But more importantly, at this stage in my life, is that I do it for my daughter.  Girls need positive role models that are strong, normally sized, hard working and committed to their goals.  It brings me joy to see her smiling face at a finish line cheering for me and waiting with a high five and a "good job Mama."  I'm proud when she asks if she can run with me or asks me if I worked hard when I come home sweaty.  It helps me to know that she will grow up knowing that women are capable. 

Soon, I will also do it for my son.  He's still too young to understand why he waits at a little line at parks waiting for mama to run towards him.  He doesn't know how much hard work or commitment went into completing that race or a tough workout, but someday he will.  I want him to grow up proud that his mother was dedicated to achieving her goals and knowing that women are strong and capable.

So, in the end, the real response to someone asks me "Why do you do it?" is actually "Why don't you?"  Happy trails!!!!

2015 miles to date: 224.58

Observations:  It's been tough ramping up to the weekly mileage I need to maintain my training.  I need to add another day of running per week to get there.  Also, lately, my legs have been feeling a little heavy...need to figure that one out.

Bad ass frozen runner...

The past week or so has been characterized by very, very cold temperatures - by Maryland standards - and it's not even February yet.  I know a lot of people who take their workouts inside to the dreadmill or turn to other types of cross-training to avoid the chill.  Worse, I know people who skip workouts altogether because it's cold. 

So the question I hear most often during the winter months goes something like this: "Are you really going to run in this weather? (insert cold, insert snow, insert ice, insert freezing conditions....whatever you like)"  Regardless, more times than not, my answer is yes.  Why yes I think I will. 


Last week we had it all.  We had snow.  We had ice.  We had sub-zero wind chills.  Yeah, I did it.  I was one of the crazies running in the "feels like 0" weather.  I was one of the crazies running through the cold, over the snow, over the ice, gradually losing feeling in my nose and cheeks. 


Why do it?  My response is, unequivocally, why not?  Why let the weather slow you down or ruin your routine?  You can wear an extra layer (or two).  You can add a hat or ear band.  You can wear gloves or mittens.  You can transition to trail shoes for running in the snow.  There are so many ways to overcome "it's cold," and so many reasons to keep pushing through. 


Personally, there are few conditions I love better than running while snowing.  There is joy in falling snow.  There is quiet in falling snow.  There is magic in falling snow. 


For me anyway.


Recently I got to share that joy with a running partner pushing through her first winter training season.  I kept saying "just wait until you run while it's snowing."  When it started snowing, our cold, concentrating faces turned upward into smiles...and everything else just melts away. 


I also like running in the colder months because I feel I can push myself harder, without my body overheating like I do in the summer, and it pays huge dividends come the spring/summer/fall race seasons. 


Granted, hot or cold a runner is still going to sweat.   That means once you stop it is going to be really cold.  But overcoming some adversity only makes you stronger, right?  And, there's always a Starbucks not too far with coffee to warm you up.  Happy trails!!!


2015 miles to date: 34.83


Observations:  I'll have to keep an eye on my left hip.  After a run, it seems to tighten up a lot more than usual and sometimes cause pain.  Hopefully this is just a tweak that will work itself out and not something more detrimental.


 

May the New Year bring...

...joy, challenge, good running and great memories!

Looking back on 2014 I have to admit to many failures.  On January 1, 2014, I was like that kid at the fancy restaurant for breakfast - I wanted the waffles, pancakes and crepes but didn't have the stomach to eat them all. 

I didn't complete the mileage I set out to hit.  I didn't clock many of the PRs I set out to clock.  I wasn't a very good blogger.  And, I still own two houses.  Perhaps, though, my biggest failing was in setting unachievable goals for a woman who was set to have a baby in the first quarter of the year.  Can we say denial about the impacts of having a baby on your body?


What I did achieve, though, was really awesome. 

• I ran five days before the baby was born and than more than 1000 miles after the baby was born.  I even ran on four continents within four days at one point.  Remaining active kept me sane, healthy, strong and happier. 
• I rejoined the racing community 20 days after Kellen was born with the Royal Family 5k at Walt Disney World.  I normally run the Disney Princess Half Marathon during this particular weekend, but did I mention it was only 3 weeks after having a baby?  
• I recorded a new PR in the marathon (and the metric marathon, incidentally).  It wasn't the Boston qualifier I set out for (remember the stack of pancakes?) but it was respectable and gave me the confidence I needed to set lofty goals for 2015.  It felt so great I'm pretty sure I stopped breathing at the finish line.
• I returned to the 50K distance, 9 months after the baby was born.  Not my fastest time, not my slowest time, but with great company and a beautiful day, I was elated to be able to hit this accomplishment.
• I learned the thrills and challenges of family activities with a family of four. 
• I shared my love of running with my daughter and watched the joy grow on her face as she ran kids races this past year.
• And, among my banner achievements for 2014, I grew my tribe of running friends....not just running friends, but also true friends.  There are few things I would have accomplished this past year without this group of women.  Through tough runs or crappy days, sharing joys and pains smoothed the road to be happy, healthy and a better person.  Thank you to Ann, Leah, Alice Ann, Susan, Kelly, Kathy, Brie and Lara.

It's always fun and interesting to look back and realize you accomplished more and less than you set out to accomplish, but looking forward can be so much more fun and infinitely more interesting (setting new goals and investing in reaching them).  So let's get started:

• I will run 1245 miles in 2015.  Yep, resetting the clock on this one.  Third time's a charm right? 
• I will reach new time goals for myself - 5:55:00 50k, hit a Boston qualifying time in the marathon(3:40:00), 1:45:00 half marathon, 1:20:00 ten miler, 37:30 five miler. Trying this one again too.  While it was unrealistic for 2014, I feel much better about my chances of achieving it in 2015.
• I will continue to build my fitness level, including strength, and along the way I'll work my butt back into my pre-pregnancy suits.
• I will more regularly blog about my running this year.  Got a bit sidelined these past two years, and realized the blogging helps me, personally, in keeping track of where I am and how I'm doing.  I also enjoy looking back on the memories and experiences I had along the way.
• I will unload my other spare house in 2015.  For real this time.  Like do more than just get all the way to signing a contract with the realtor.
• As a family, we will continue to seek out at least one new family-friendly activity per month.
• We will continue to learn about Chinese tradition and incorporate one into our family traditions in 2015 - maybe even add more phrases to our limited Chinese vocabulary.

So let's get going...Happy trails!!!

Strength in numbers....

I'm pretty much a solo runner.  I like to tie on my running shoes, adjust my visor, make sure I've got satellite reception on my Garmin, turn on the ipod and go.  A mile in, I'm in that comfortable bubble where my legs are working in rhythm with my arms and my mind.  I'm not worrying about sticking to a certain route or keeping the group together.

Since May'ish, though, I've learned about life of the other side of the running coin - the strength you can find and grow when you run in numbers.  My recent return in endurance has as much to do with the ladies I'm running with as is does with the actual miles I'm putting on my shoes. 

The comaraderie and the endless interesting conversations make the miles melt away.  Where else can you discuss running commando or the virtues of running with panties, share the challenges of recent health problems, complain about husbands who create more mess than they clean up or get a great recommendation for a painting service?  We have been sharing our joys and our struggles, but most importantly ourselves.  I really love that.  So I raise a glass to those ladies - Ann, Leah, Brie, AliceAnne, Susan, Kathy and Kelly.  I look forward to every run we have together and miss you all when I'm running alone.  You're my rock and my inspiration.

Now on to my personal scolding.  Last night I was reminded that I really enjoy blogging - what I get out of it as a runner - and lament that it has been so long since my last entry.  This hiatus will cause me to forget some of the small, but funny moments of the past couple months.  How I enjoy going back and remembering quirky parts of a course.  So today I'm dedicating this post to Susan for reminding me just how much I enjoy this blog by letting me talk about it during last night's run.  Cheers Susan!

As I continue on my journey this fall (boy have I overextending myself on the race calendar), I hope to be more regular about writing and continue to cement the friendships I've made on the pavement.  Happy trails!!!

**NOTE - Since it's been a while, rather than inserting stats for a specific run, I'm just going to play catch up on totals today.

Stats -

Total miles:  I'm at just under 400 miles for the year so far...not where I need to be, but it's growing.  I also think my tracker is missing some runs and need to comb back through it.
Feeling:   TOTALLY AWESOME!!!!

Feeling dynamite...

Yesterday my energy stores were waning.  I was at about the 10 mile mark and turning into the home stretch of my run when it happened.  You know, that song that boosts your mood when it comes through your headphones when you need it most?  That's what happened.

Back to the beginning....I needed a long run, but my body was a bit battered from hard runs and taking on a bit too much extra weight at barre class.  Exhaustion and achy muscles rarely keep me from getting done what needs to get done, so I headed out early evening for that long run.

Since I was over near Truxton Park, I decided to shake it up a bit and head out from there.  The run started with heavy legs but a determined psyche.  As I headed down into Eastport, around City Dock (what an absolutely amazing afternoon for that view), around the sea wall to Hospital Point and across the Naval Academy bridge to the peninsula I kept my eyes on the prize.  It was on the North side of the bridge that I finally realized how far my tired legs had carried me (7 miles at that point) and that I still had to get back to Truxton Park where my car was.

I cut out the return back through downtown Annapolis to save myself a couple miles and shot across Taylor to Spa Road.  I started wondering at one point if I was going to have to walk a portion of that road back to my car, but my head kept refusing to give in.  Then, just as I was turning off Spa onto Hilltop Dynamite came through my headphones....and the rest is history.

I've come to the conclusion that Taio Cruz's Dynamite is actually all about running.  Let's review why this song is all about one of my greatest passions by taking a look at the lyrics.

I throw my hands up in the air sometimes - This happens at random points throughout my training runs and almost always during a race...especially when there is a camera near by.

 

I wanna celebrate and live my life - Running is my celebration of what I can accomplish with determination and a little effort.

 

I came to dance, dance, dance, dance; I hit the floor 'cause that's my plans, plans, plans, plans - Here he's really talking about the race course and my intention to turn in a good run...I also occasionally dance when running if I'm inspired by a particularly good tune in the playlist.

I'm wearing all my favorite brands, brands, brands, brands - New Balance, Brooks, Asics, Adidas, Nike, Under Armour...you get the picture. 

Give me some space for both my hands, hands, hands, hands - This is my running space, and that's your running space.  Respect the barriers or face the consequences of my flailing elbows or overexcited gestures when I'm chatting during a run.

'Cause I told you once, Now I told you twice, We gon' light it up, Like it's dynamite - This one says I am all about finishing this run/race in a way that will make you remember me.

 

I came to move, move, move, move, Get out the way of me and my crew, crew, crew, crew; I'm in the club so I'm gonna do, do, do, do; Just whatever I came here to do, do, do, do - You don't want to mess with the awesomeness that is me and my posse of running pals because we have goals and nothing is going to get in our way.  And oh by the way, we're going to look amazing doing it.

And there it is.  Taio Cruz was speaking to runners everywhere.  And he managed to speak to me right when I needed it most.  Happy trails!!!

 

Stats -

Miles:  11 miles + 0.5 cool down

Time:   2 hours (average pace of 10:54 per mile)

Location:  just about half of Annapolis

Feeling:  tired but accomplished

A lot of good...

Good weather, good attitude, good partners, good distance.

Today I tried out a new exercise partner.  Enter Baby K.  Though he's too small for the jogging stroller as yet, meaning I can't really run with him in tow, we did get in a nice power walk this afternoon.  So, nestled in to his pram, we headed in the direction of the library. 

Sun, warm temps and a quick pace quickly equated sweat.  Add to that the trees and flowers beginning to bloom and you've got a great workout.  Baby K, however, didn't seem as interested in his surroundings.  He zonked out about 15 seconds after being placed into the pram (with a brief exception when we stopped for a red light...he doesn't like to stop moving) and didn't wake up until 4+ miles later. 

I'm looking forward to more of these walks...at least, that is, until he's ready for the jogging stroller.  Then there will be no stopping us.

This evening, I headed over to the gym for some rare solo time.  With dad responsible for all the kids, there was no pressure to get it done as quickly as possible.  I got in a short run before hitting the weight machines.  I got a great laugh as I started my last set on the row machine.  Was it just coincidence that, as I was thinking about my body transformation journey, "Sexy and I Know It" piped through my earbuds?  I think not...especially as the words "I work out" fit perfectly into the rhythm I was pounding out.  Add to that, I know the perfect animal print running pants I could add to the mix (seen at the Nike Women's Half in DC last April...a big PR day for me).

And now as I sit here relaxing and thinking about what I can squeeze in tomorrow before the rain makes it impossible for Baby K to be loaded into the pram, I'm happy with what I accomplished today.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  3.11 (run), 4.12 power walk
Time:   32:00 (average pace of 10:17), I accidentally forgot to stop the watch after my walk, so the time was off
Location:  Broadneck Peninsula and Greater Annapolis Y
Feeling:  awesome

The long haul...

I have a feeling the road to my previous running self is going to be very long and riddled with numerous obstacles, but I'm in it for the long haul. 

I'm going to make a confession...my body isn't what it was before I became pregnant...shocker, I know.  That body had a few years of hard, consistent endurance training in it.  It was strong.  It had great improvements in speed and consistency.  This body, well, doesn't.

This body is slow and less muscular.  It is cumbersome and out of breath sooner.  It can't go as far.  But it will.

As long as I'm confessing, let me also lay this one on the table...I'm carrying an extra 32 pounds on my frame.  32 pounds that I wasn't carrying last May and need to shed.

None of the obstacles will keep me from clawing my way back to my old running self.  Scratch that...my better running self.  The running self that will come back leaner, faster and stronger.

I'm under no delusions that this will be easy, or that it will happen soon.  It's going to take time, commitment and the support and understanding of my family.  And while I'm on the subject, thank the good Lord for a family who knows how important this is to my physical and emotional well-being.  My family is incredibly supportive of me doing what I need to be awesome.

Why not take this journey with me?  Hold me accountable to what I want to accomplish this year.

So, how have I used the first part of March to reach for my goals?  I've managed to put in four official workouts (though I really believe I should get credit for running up and down all those stairs during the day trying to keep an infant calm). 

The gym workouts and runs are just that - gym workouts and runs.  Nothing to write home about or brag worthy.  They get the job done.  Did I mention my gym provides free childcare while working out?  Priceless for the mom on the run who needs a babysitter to squeeze in that workout.  The gym also has something the road workouts can't bring to the table...weights for strength training.

Of those four official workouts, one was back on the roads of the Broadneck Peninsula.  Friday evening I got to lay down four well-earned miles while watching the colors change across the sky as dusk fell over Annapolis.  Pretty scenery (and an out and back course) keep me motivated to finish the run when my body just wants to walk.  I can't wait to up that mileage and get back on some of my other favorite routes across the area.

I've got a lot coming down the pike in the next several months - more endurance improvement, more races and new challenges (I signed up for a barre class at my gym) - and I'm looking forward to every sweaty moment (Diva now equates sweat with working hard).  I know I'm behind in mileage, but I don't believe in backing down from a challenge.  I still believe I can do this.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  3.1 (3/1/14), 3.12 (3/6/14), 4.04 (3/7/14), 3.0 (3/8/14)
Time:  35:03 (3/1/14), 31:45 (3/6/14), 45:40 (3/7/14), 32:00 (3/8/14)
Location:  Greater Annapolis Y and the Broadneck Peninsula
Feeling:  earning it

Bayootiful....

Credit goes to my buddy Lara for this photo.  I didn't have my
phone with me, but she recently posted a photo from this
particular route through Bay Ridge...beautiful, right?
 

Can a Saturday get better than spending it do all your favorite things?  No.  Especially when the weather is in the 60s and the sun is shining.

After taking the diva to her gymnastics class today I offered to take her for a long run in the jogging stroller so that I could get in a few sunny miles.  My husband counteroffered.  He recommended we go to Quiet Waters Park so the diva could ride her bike and expend vast amounts of energy on the playground while I expended vast amounts of energy pounding the pavement.  Who can argue with that? 

So, dressed with my best "I can't wait for this" smile, I waved as I left them in the parking lot and hit the perimeter trail leading for the front gate to the park.  Oh no, no running in circles around the perimeter trail for me today.  With the sun shining, this running gal was heading out to Bay Ridge to enjoy the sun sparkling on the bay.  Yes, it was a totally zen day for running.

My goals for the day were to see if I could slow my pace down.  Just last night I agreed to volunteer as a pacer for the Zooma Annapolis half marathon in June.  I'll be pacing the 2:10:00 group.  How hard can it be to slow down?  Ummm, a lot harder than you think.  I set off thinking to myself that I was ambling along, only to look down at the Garmin and realize I needed to slow down by about 45 seconds per mile to hit the right pace. 

That's going to take practice, so instead I just decided to slow down a little and enjoy the scenery (I like window shopping the houses in the Bay Ridge neighborhood and imagining myself sitting on my front porch looking out to the Bay Bridge or the eastern shore over my morning cup of coffee) over the next 11 miles...a lot of it stretching out along the bay.  People were out and about prepping lawns for spring, walking their dogs, riding their bikes, enjoying a glass of wine on the picnic tables lining parts of the beach.  It was that kind of day.

I was both happy and sad to turn back toward the park to complete my run.  Happy to play in the sun on the playground with my kid, feeling awesome from my run.  And sad that there wasn't more time in the day to enjoy the serenity of my thoughts and my running shoes.

I reached the park to see a smiling face swinging high above the playground on her swing.  We played a little longer, letting the diva show me her new found rock climbing skills, before heading off to buy preschool safety scissors so she could cut her way through all the construction paper her little heart desired.  Yeah, I could take days like this everyday.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  11.01
Time:   1:43:25 (average pace of 9:23 per mile)
Feeling:  Completely at home

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!!!