It's Getting Hot Out Here...

It's summertime....well almost summertime.  Who really can tell the difference out here in the desert?  The calendar may still say it's spring, but with temperatures topping 100 degrees more often than not now, I'd say summer is in full swing.  (At least I say that now.  Wait until July and August when it's well over 110 most of the time).

Though it might be tempting, higher temperatures don't mean taking a break from running.  They just mean you have to run smarter.  So, in this post, I thought I'd talk about 4 things I currently love for my summer running.

But first, I want to recap an opportunity to roll with my homie this week - yep, Baby K (not so baby anymore) was back in the jogging stroller for a SW29 workout on Wednesday.  It's so rare that this little one is willing to sit in a stroller for a whole workout anymore, so I took advantage.

For days, Baby K had been asking to stay home from daycare with mama and do what I do during the day (though I'm pretty sure that didn't include wanting to do my work with me).  I finally let him stay home for a day with mama, to include a run, albeit one that was billed as an "endurance run".

So, I packed up the water bottles and snacks to stash in the stroller, put on breathable clothes for both of us, and strolled to the start...on what would be the HOTTEST day of the week (with a high of 105).  After slathering enough sunscreen on for a football team, we headed out for a four mile out and back.  (We were told to cut back to 30 minutes because of the heat, but I really had a bare minimum number of miles I needed for my mental plan).

I will tell you, it was a hot run.  Not only was it hot, I was pushing the jogging stroller for the first time in months.  The route seemed only to go up, and no matter how much water I drank, it didn't seem like enough. 

At the two mile mark, Baby K and I were completely on our own, with everybody else having turned back at least half a mile earlier.  It was a mental challenge to push through the waves of heat rolling over our bodies, oh and also that slight head wind on the way back that seemed to push back against the hood of the stroller creating more resistance. 

We finished, though it wasn't pretty.  Baby K has had his fill of running for a little while.  And, we even found more water to quench our thirst back at the finish.  All in all, it wasn't as bad with hind sight as it was while struggling through it.  That said, I'm going to stick to early morning runs or the treadmill on future days this hot.

Back to the things I'm loving right now (I am receiving no compensation for the rave reviews you'll see below).


Banana Boat Sport CoolZone sunscreen - Out here in the desert, the sun beats down like no where else.  Literally, it can feel like your skin is being seared.  That makes sunscreen an essential, especially with red hair and fair skin.  This sunscreen goes on easy and always cools the skin, so it feels awesome reapplying every 45-60 minutes.

SaltStick Fastchew Tabs in Tart Orange - During the hot summer months, as you're sweating buckets, replenishing electrolytes is almost as important as drinking plenty of water.  I used o take the type of salt or electrolyte tabs that you had to swallow with water.  Then I discovered these little gems.  So easy to take, not chalky, and they don't leave an awkward after taste.  Bonus, shortly after chewing a tab, I tend to feel my energy soar again. 

Fitletic Water Belt - Sure, there are lots of hydration options for every runner type.  For me, for summer runs 5-12 miles, I chose the Fitletic hydration belt.  It holds two water bottles (8 oz each) on parts of the waist that don't interrupt my running form, has loops for your mid-run nutrition, and tabs to hold your race bib.  My favorite part is the flat zipper compartment with a slot for your id and also large enough to hold an iPhone in a case, plus my roll of SaltStick tabs.

Skin Slick - This is a new addition to my running bag.  I've been a devotee of body glide for a long time, going through tubes and tubes every season.  Recently I discover the Skin Slick, which is a newer anti-chafe topical that comes in an aerosol can.  It's easy to apply, and you don't have to touch the skin.  Why is that important?  Well, I'll never forget the night before a race once when a good friend learned that her husband had borrowed her body glide for a race the week before....to glide up his private parts.  Yeah, there are just things that shouldn't be shared.  So, with the Skin Slick, you can share away and not have to worry about what body part was being treated.  Bonus - it seems to work just as well as body glide so far.

What are your summertime gear favorites?

Alright, it's time to prep my gear for tomorrow's long run (early enough in the morning to avoid the nasty heat).  Happy trails!!!

2017 miles to date:  637.48 miles

Observations:  I've still got soreness in my tendon that borders on pain.  It dissipates a bit once I get a mile or so into a run.  I'll be able to focus on healing it after Zooma half next weekend.

Recent Workouts:

Monday:  Easy Run

Tuesday:  mile warm up, 2 strength exercises, treadmill mile (repeat the exercises and treadmill mile for five rotations)

Wednesday:  Stroller Run

Thursday:  the gym was closed so I took the day off from my strength interval routine

Friday:  Stop, Drop & Roll with SW29, a blend of running and strength

Saturday:  Long Run (10 miles planned)

Sunday:  Easy Run

Hills, Hills, Hills....

Hills are the scourge of the running world, a place of private inward pain and challenge where every runner is equal, forced by the incline and their own relative fitness to become a better version of themselves on their journey to the top.                         

 -- Martin Dugard, To Be A Runner

 Many runners love to hate hills.  I have a slightly different relationship with them...give me hills any day.  That doesn't exactly mean I love them, I just don't mind the feel of the strain in my legs during that upward journey. 

"Are you crazy?" you might ask.  Well, yes, but hills aren't the reason why.

Let me tell you something about me and hills.  Hills are a mental game, as much as a physical game.  If your head is in it, the hill just never seems all that bad.  If you go into a hill workout thinking it's going to hurt and not wanting to do it, well, then, the hills may ultimately seem impossible.  Since I like being challenged in my running, the mental game is in the right place.

Also, hills, on the up, require more hamstring than quad.  Down hills require more quad and concentration (especially if the grade is steep).  While I have more frequently injured my hamstrings (usually the left one), they are much stronger than my quads on the average day.  I often find myself powering up a hill and being overly caution on the down.

Funny story...a couple years ago I was running a 10 mile race south of Annapolis.  I kept leap frogging this pair of runners, and it always happened on the hills.  I would gain speed, and distance from them, on the up hills as I powered through.  They would catch, and pass me, on the down hills.  After about 8 miles of this, they both commented on how it was strange to them that a runner could have more speed on the up than the down.

So fast forward to this past week...hill work on the agenda.  YES!  (Well realistically, almost every run on or around this base has some hill work in it because nothing is flat....NOTHING).  But, there's a particular run we do in one of the neighborhoods that involves first climbing up to the "main' street across the neighborhood, then sprinting uphill to each cul de sac off the "main" street and recovering on the down hill and over to the next cul de sac.  This goes on for 30-40 minutes.

"Holy begeezus", you might say.  Many do.  I've seen the social media traffic to that effect.  But, hey, this one is right in my wheelhouse.  I find I run this workout at a much faster pace than relatively flat, fast runs.  Why?  Again, the strength and mental agility that I've built on the ups.  You can gain that too....just start with removing all the hate for hills from your mind, and the rest will come much more easily.

A note about hills - hill workouts are a great effort workout in your training plan (and they really make your glutes look nice come swimsuit season).  Many runners know that they are a staple of a well-trained runner, but not many of them know why.  So, here goes.

If we want to get stronger and faster, we must increase the force requirements of our workout. Tempo runs, time trials and fast reps on the track are good, but they don't generate maximum force. Hills do. 

"Running up hills forces the knees to lift higher, one of the most desirable developments for any runner, because this governs stride speed and length," wrote Lydiard (with Garth Gilmour) in his book Running With Lydiard. "It also develops the muscle fibers, increasing power." 

In fact, we can target all three types of muscle fiber (a "fiber" is what we call a muscle cell) with hill training: slow-twitch (Type I), intermediate fast-twitch (Type IIa) and fast-twitch (Type IIx). Slow-twitch produces the least force of the fiber types, but it works aerobically and takes a long time to fatigue, making it perfect for endurance activities. Intermediate fibers produce more force than slow-twitch, creating the long, powerful strides associated with middle-distance running. Fast-twitch fibers produce the most force of all, but they function anaerobically and are useful only for short bursts.

-- Pete Magill, "Mastering Hill Workouts," Runners World, Dec 6, 2011 

So next time your coach (or the training plan you got from a friend or other resource) calls for a hill workout, dig deep, put on a determined happy face, and tackle that beast with a smile.  You'll be surprised how much better hills make your running overall.  Happy trails!!!

 2017 miles to date: 618.24 miles

Observations:  I'm battling a tendon issue in my lower left leg.  It can be pretty painful, but once I get moving, the pain almost entirely dissipates.  Battling my inner self that says I don't need to have it checked out to make sure it isn't something worse.  Who's going to win this one.

Recent workouts:

Monday - easy run

Tuesday - mile warm up, 2 strength exercises, treadmill mile (repeat the exercises and treadmill mile for four rotations)

Wednesday - hill workout

Thursday - mile warm up, 2 strength exercises, treadmill mile (repeat the exercises and treadmill mile for four rotations)

Friday - easy run

Saturday - rest

Tomorrow - long run (so long as my leg holds out)

Finding ways....

...to get it done may take an extreme amount of determination and a little creativity from time to time.


So, let me set the stage for you - husband is out of town for a couple weeks, which means I've got the kids, work, activities, and running to sort through, schedule and get done with only one set of hands.  No problem.


During the week, much of that is easily accomplished because the kids are in school/daycare.  Come the weekend, however, scheduling the running workouts can be a little more challenging. 


Usually, for me, weekends alone with the kids means getting in my miles on the treadmill in the garage.  I loathe long runs on the treadmill, so I thought I'd be clever and do 5 miles on the treadmill yesterday and 5 miles on the treadmill today instead of all at once.


That plan flew out the window pretty quickly yesterday evening when I went into the garage to get started, only to find out something was wrong with the electrical outlets, so my treadmill had no power.  Triple grrrr.


On to plan B.  Luckily, the base has a nice, rubber-surface track around the pretty turf football field.  And next to that track, even more luckily, is the super-duper playground.  On the down side, though, there is only one thing I hate more than doing a long run on the treadmill - doing a long run on the track.  So I had to cut my miles back today to 5 miles (though the kids wouldn't have allowed any more than that at any rate because they tire quickly on the big playground).


Off to the playground we go. 

Now, as some of you other mama runners know, kids can be very needy at the playground, which ultimately makes track miles next to the playground look more like an interval workout.  Run two laps, push the kids on the swings, run three laps, figure out why one is crying, run three laps, help one reach the monkey bars...you get the idea.

So many times today it would have been easy to just throw in the towel, because, well it was just easier to not do the run than to balance the run and the kids.  Well screw that.  Nothing in life worth having is easy, so this buttercup sucked it up and made it work.

And then, when you least expect it, your kids are standing in front of you on the track right before your last lap, ready to run it with you.  And all you can do is smile and be happy you found the way to make it happen, because the kids are watching and learn more from you pushing through than quitting.

What creative ways do you use to get your workout in when life happens?

Here's to looking forward to the return of my husband next weekend, though I love having my kids to myself sometimes, to share in helping me find ways to keep getting it done.  Happy trails!!!

2017 miles to date: 534.07 miles

Observations:  Two more weekends of kickball, and then I can devote my muscles to running.  The constant change back and forth has caused my training to suffer a bit, since they aren't like sports, but kickball has been a fun extra activity this spring.

BONUS - what exactly does 5 miles on the track, with a couple of trips to the playground throughout, look like?  Here you go!

 

Rain on my parade...

Running in the rain can be wonderful.  Running in freezing rain can be challenging.  Running in freezing rain with wind is a whole new level of something.  Last weekend on the Ragnar DC course, we had all three (and a lucky miss by a hurricane)....which makes my team of running moms all "bad ass mother runners."

Ragnar Relays are a two-day, 200(ish) mile event.  We were running the DC race from Cumberland, MD to Yards Park in Washington, DC.  Teams consist of 12 runners (whatever mix you want) and each runner has three legs of the course. Also, the team is broken up into two vans - runners 1-6 and runners 7-12.  The miles aren't always equally distributed, so enter the lady who can put down marathon+distance miles.  That's me, in van 2 and runner 12, my three legs equaled 29 miles this year.

So, it was soggy.  The drive to our start point was soggy.  The ground was soggy (er, more like muddy).  The air was soggy.  Shortly, our clothes became soggy.  When van 2 arrived at the first point we were to exchange with our van 1, morale was high but hope for dryer times was equally high.

We tried to decorate our van.  That's one of the kitschy fun things about Ragnar....out do the other vans with your decorations or at least be clever with what you put on your van.  Our decorations washed away, very quickly.  We tried, the weather just wasn't with us.  But I do believe our tag line was unique..."12 moms leave 26+ kids in a hurricane."

Moving on, we took the baton from our van 1 runners (or rather the magic neon orange slap bracelet....you know, going 80's style).  Through five legs, we cheered on our soggy runners and had a blast in the van during the down time.  I believe we had a great camaraderie within our group of runners....chemistry isn't a given and it can make or break your Ragnar experience.  After all, it's you, these other runners and a tight space for 30+ hours.

By about 6:45pm on Friday, it was my turn to take the baton. I had the advantage of not only running this course last year, but running it in the 12 spot.  So I already had a familiarity with leg 12.  It starts in Fort Frederick State Park.  This time the sun was only just starting to set, so I got to see parts of the park that were pitch black when I started last year.  It's actually a pretty park and I'd love to come explore the walled Fort grounds some time in the future.

Thanks to modern technology - MapMyRun live tracker - we were able to see just how close our incoming runner was, so I didn't have to guess just how long it was before my exchange was to occur.  Slap bracelet received, I headed out of the park and on to the highway for 7.4 miles.  The first few miles were nice and fast, then came the hills.  Ack.

Shortly after dusk turned to pitch black and from soggy to rainy, the hill went up (like pretty steep up) for almost two miles.  While I was holding my own, the hill still killed my overall pace.  Oh yeah, and it was windy.  Everything was wet (except my rear...can't figure out that one) but I had my tunes and a strong desire to reach the promised hot shower at the high school where my leg was to end.  I also managed 6 kills (Ragnar speak for passing another runner, which isn't easy when 340 teams are spread out over 20-40 miles).

I cruised into the high school on a high.  And ready to run right through the exchange chute for the shower.  That's when I got the bad news.   The school ran out of hot water and were no longer offering the facilities for beating the ice out of the bones.  Moving on.  I still got a plate of spaghetti and into dry, warm clothes.  Then our van was down for rest for 4-5 hours.

We moved on to meet back up with our other van for the next hand off.  Since that exchange is at South Mountain Creamery, you better believe I had to have a milkshake made with chocolate milk and chocolate ice cream....even if it was 10:30 at night.  What else is Ragnar for but doing crazy things with your body and your diet?

It was at this stop that we got some welcome news.  Our runner 11 was down ill, likely from car sickness, and we were struggling to figure out how to cover her last two legs.  That's when we got word that leg 23 (her second leg) would have to be skipped because Sugarloaf Mountain Park was experiencing flooding.  (And, lucky for us she was back in running shape by the time her final leg rolled around...providence? Perhaps)  So onto my second run, leg 24.

Leg 24 kicked off at about 5:00am for me....9.6 miles.  It was rainy, really rainy.  And my last run on this leg had been during daylight hours.  So this was like meeting a new course all over again.

Because the majority of this race is run on rural highways, country roads and trails, when the sun isn't out, it's dark.  Really dark.  Few streetlights.  No house lights.  Just you and your headlamp.  Hmmm, except when the air temp is so cold that you can see your breath, which then becomes thick fog in your headlamp and you become blind.  It was an interesting challenge and more intriguing than frustrating.  I also had difficulties seeing the potholes.  Huh.  Obstacles aside, I had another strong run, my legs were feeling great and my pace was faster than target.  Also clocked another 8 kills.

I handed off to van 1, and then it was time for van 2 to hit the IHOP for breakfast and another 5 hours of rest.

By the time we were back on again, to finish up the race for the team, the course made it's way to Chevy Chase, MD.  Being in the city complicates things a bit.  Suddenly crossing roads means you may have to wait for traffic or stoplights.  This issue affected the final leg for van 1 and then reappeared for my final run, leg 36...12 miles into Yards Park.

By the time my final leg was ready to kick off, 10 of my teammates were celebrating being done with their race.  Hey folks, I'm still here :)  But they never stopped cheering on their team.

Leg 36 started in Crystal City at Long Bridge Park, and traveled up the Mount Vernon Trail to the Key Bridge.  This part was easy.  Though I had  a head wind, the sky was only misting.  Unfortunately, I did experience a casualty with my earbuds on the trail.  They just gave out. Dang.  But, hold on, I just listened to the music without the earbuds.  Issue overcome.

Once across the Key Bridge into Georgetown, that's when things got hard.  It should have been easy.  The course through DC was flat.  That said, it was the last leg of the race, the longest leg of the race and occurred when the body is stiff and tired.  So, between pedestrians and stoplights, I just couldn't find a rhythm.  Stoplights were the worst.  In order to keep my body from tightening up, I needed to keep moving, but it was a 45-60 second stop for each stoplight.  Yikes.

Busting through that challenge, National Stadium came into view and the speed demon in me came out.  I just wanted to be done, have my beer and pizza and find warmth...be it from dry clothes or some perfect stranger willing to share some body heat.  I started cruising like I had fresh legs.

About 100 yards from the finish line, my team joined me and we crossed the finish line with the loudest celebration (that's what the DJ said, so who am I to dispute him).  It was a great feeling....add to that another 15 kills.   Being done and having completed a challenging course with a smile, with teammates I enjoyed and with a beer and my bed in my future.

Ragnar 2015 is in the books.  I enjoyed every soggy mile and felt great about the challenge I put my body through.  Taking on this type of race gives you the opportunity to see what you are made of.  Though your  body is cramped, exhausted from little sleep over two days of running and poorly fed, it pushes your body.  I'm glad I cam out of the back end of it with a smile and a great desire to do it again.

I want to thank the ladies on my team - the Blister Sisters.  At the start of the summer, they had never heard my name and at the start of the race, none of them had spent more than an hour with me.  We got along really well and had some good laughs.  I hope to hit another course with these ladies.  They are inspiring, intelligent and kind.  Special bonus - we came in fourth place in our division!

This weekend, having rested a few days following Ragnar, I head into the Steamtown Marathon in Scranton, PA.  I've got big plans for this race.  Not this year, this year I'm just running to get a feel for the course.  Next year, though, I plan to take this one on to lay down a qualifying time for Boston.  Wish me luck, it's a down hill course which is tough on the quads.  Hopefully my legs don't take too much of a beating.

I can't wait to try out this course and then go home with my post-race notes to start planning the right way to train for next year.  I may even tour a coal mine while I'm here.  Happy trails!!!

2015 miles to date:  990.83 miles (will hit a big milestone on the Steamtown course)

Observations:  I've had some issues with my calf muscle immediately following races recently, but am very happy with the recovery rate of the rest of my body.  The fact that I'm not getting sore and moving straight back into running with ease tells me I've trained well this year.    

  

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!!!

It's what counts...

When you've got a great running community to support you, you can do almost anything.

This morning I mosied up to the start line of the Cherry Pit Ten Miler, my first Striders champ series race of the year (no Iron Man for me this year...I was just out of the hospital with a baby when the Valentine's Day 5K was run).  Last year I ran a 10-mile PR at this race.  A year and a baby make a lot of difference and are very humbling for this maniac runner who just took for granted that I would keep getting better and better when I began my PR streak last year.  As I've said before, I'm looking at a rebuilding year.

Since coming back from pregnancy (it's been nine weeks now),  this was definitely my longest run.  Did I have any business racing 10 miles with only a 7 miler under my belt since November?  Probably not, but oh well.  I didn't really expect much (especially since I did a six mile run and barre class yesterday).

Thanks to the great conversation with Jen Bornemann for the whole run, I actually surprised myself.  I think Jen and I are a good match right now as far as fitness and pace.  We are both rebuilding.  We both wish rebuilding would go a bit faster.  And, we have a lot to talk about.  How often can you go ten miles without a single lull in the conversation? 

Soon, the miles ahead turned into miles behind (though it would be hard to forget every foot of all those hills...my glutes are not happy right now).  And sooner than I expected, the finish line loomed ahead of us.  Jen was awesome and I greatly appreciate the comraderie when I really expected to be running solo today.  Thanks Jen!

And, who can forget to give a shout out to that cheering squad at the finish line?  I love hearing the diva cheering me through the final sprint of a race.  She is so excited and I love it.  Today she was joined by one of her friends, the daughter of my friend Ann, who crossed the finish about 10 minutes ahead of me (proud of you Ann!).

While the rest of the day was slightly less ambitious than the beginning, the race wasn't the end of the exercise.  I got to take the diva for a bike ride and some playground time in the sun.  Then tonight she joined me for my booty blaster workout (my daily activity for the weight loss challenge). 

Wait, I've also got to tell you about this week's nutritional challenge...100 ounces of water daily.  Holy pee time.  I think I may have crossed the 100 ounce threshold a few times in my life, but only when dictated by activity and environment.  Conscientiously thinking about drinking 100 ounces of water is a very different endeavor.  Let's see how I do with it for the rest of the week.

As I head off to get my pre-bedtime muscle rub down from my husband, I'm fastforwarding to tomorrow and am fairly certain that after a 16 mile weekend (33+ mile week!), I'm going to need to take a day of rest from running.  Though I end the week exhausted, I feel motivated and happy with what I've accomplished.  Thanks for the support of my friends, family and running community.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -

Miles:  10.13
Time:  1:50:36 (average pace of 10:55 per mile)
Location:  Edgewater, MD...Cherry Pit Ten course
Feeling:  exhausted but put together

Two months and counting...

How do you celebrate the arrival of spring and your baby reaching two months?  You walk and run of course.  Or at least I do.

After partaking in the growing tradition of taking photos by the month with cute stickers pasted to your baby's belly, Baby K and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful afternoon.  How?  Yeah, we power walked to the library and it couldn't have been a better day to do it.  Well maybe it could, but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

It's been a long winter, so  we were excited to see the daffodils in full bloom and the tulips pushing through the soggy ground after a weekend of rain.  Our trip to the library and back, aside from enjoying the sun, was relatively un eventful.  Frankly I don't mind that.  Better uneventful than, say, getting hit by a school bus that doesn't pay attention to people in crosswalks (that almost happened to me last summer).

Tonight I hit the gym for another run and some strength training.  Remember that pledge to be stronger next time?  I'm serious...this lady is getting her guns in order and it feels good. 

Before bed the diva asked me "mama, how was your workout?"  I love being able to tell her I worked hard and it felt good.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -

Miles:  4.04 power walk, 3.04 run
Time:  1:04:20 (average pace of 15:55 per mile), 31:00 (average pace of 10:12 per mile)
Location:  Broadneck Peninsula, Greater Annapolis Y
Feeling:  happy to be healthy

 

Geese and vultures...

Generally they have very little to do with running, except when that's what you see at nearly every turn along your running path.  Yup, and turkey vulture eyes completely creep me out.  Upside?  They make you run faster...at least momentarily. 

Today I wanted to stretch my legs a bit more and see what I could do.  It's been a while since I've run more than 4-5 miles.  In fact, my last 9-miler was back in November.  So I decided today I was going to take the loop that runs both sides of route 50 out near my house. 

Perhaps it was a bit much after 5.75 miles on Friday night and a barre class yesterday that totally kicked my butt (why do people pay to be tortured?), but when have I been known to shy away from something because it's a bit too much. 

 

 

I chose this route today so that I couldn't bail out when it started getting tough.  How do you get better?  You push beyond your limits until its no longer beyond your limits.  Once I cross the bridge over 50 (which by the way offers an awesome view to the Bay Bridge) there is no going back.  While it's not half way on the loop, it is sort of that mentally half way point.  Like "if I cross to the other side of 50 I'm closer if I keep going up to the next bridge."  It's not true, but it's a good mental trick. 

 

There were many points along the way that I just wanted to stop and walk (except for those darn vultures and their beady eyes I may have considered it for more than a second or two), but there were more reasons to keep pushing.  My mind, my goals, being able to tell my kids that you never give up no matter how hard - even when your legs are mush less than 1/2 mile from your home and you hit the pavement (yep, that happened) - all are reasons I pushed my body through the 7 miles.

 

No the moral to the story...7 miles may not be the smartest thing in the world after the tough arm workout I had at barre yesterday.  My right arm ended up stuck in the running position because it was too sore.  My husband had to bend it back out and then OUCH!  Let me tell you, that hurt like a you know what.  Next time?  Well I plan on being stronger next time, so that hard arm workout won't impact my run in the end.

 

That's my goal for the next year - be stronger next time.  Each next time will add up and then I'll look back on the effort at the end of the year and have something to be proud of...though vulture eyes will still be creepy.  Happy trails!!!

 

Stats -

Miles:  5.75 Friday, 7.02 Sunday

Time:  1:00:00 Friday (average pace of 10:26 minutes per mile), 1:21:35 (average pace of 11:37 per mile)

Location:  Greater Annapolis Y, Broadneck Peninsula

Feeling:  Friday all was good but by Sunday night just about every muscle in my body ached like a mother

 



May the New Year bring...

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

While 2013 was a pretty great year, it ended much differently than it began.  I began the year focused on improving my running, reaching new fitness heights and spending quality time with my family.  I did all those simultaneously for a while, and then God stepped in a decided we were going to have a baby, which slowed things down a bit. 

January through May were banner months for my running.  I got faster, stronger and more courageous.  I ran PRs in the half marathon, 10K, 10 miler and the 1 mile.  I conquered a 50k course that had previously plagued me,  I served as a pacer in a half marathon for the first time.  I finished the Annapolis Striders year "Iron Man," completing all their champ series races for the year.  I trained with some new partners throughout the year.  I directed the Striders Anniversary Run for the fifth year, this time alongside one of my best friends Brie.  I continued racing, and completed a metric marathon 6 months pregnant.  I achieved a lot of what I set out to achieve, but still fell short on the higher goals I set for myself.  Let's recap my running/fitness goals for 2013:

• I will run 1245 miles in 2013...this is 200 more than 2012, and I believe well within my reach. - Baby had a different idea with this goal.  While I continued running throughout the year, I slowed down significantly as my lungs lost real estate and my weight skyrocketed the second half of the year.  I did still hit 1000, which isn't too bad for an overbusy pregnant woman with a family.
• 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 blew out both my half marathon and ten miler goals.  I didn't get in a marathon or five miler before my running started to change due to the pregnancy, so I'll have to roll those goals over.
• 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. - This one was pie in the sky.  While I watched my strength training, tracking to this level of detail wasn't really in my dna.  Perhaps this year I can add some metrics using the FitLinxx system at the Y, but I won't be adding a goal like this again.
• I will try to unload one of my other properties in 2013. - Check! 
• I will become a RRCA certified running coach in 2013. - Check!
• As a family, we will seek out and try one new family-friendly activity for the diva in our area each month in 2013. - Check!  And lots of fun...I think as a family we got to add many new great memories to the books.
• As a family, we will learn about and incorporate at least one Chinese tradition into our family traditions in 2013. - Check!  We celebrated the Diva's 4th birthday in Chinese New Year style and hopefully got to share her heritage with some of her friends in the process.

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 2014.  Yep, resetting the clock on this one.  While my due date is late January, meaning I won't start laying down serious miles until late February, I still believe I can hit this one this year.
• 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.
• I will more regularly blog about my running this year.  Got a bit sidelined last year, and realized the blogging helps me, personally, in keeping track of where I am and how I'm doing.
• I will unload my other spare house in 2014.
• As a family, we will continue to seek out at least one new family-friendly activitiy per month.  (Ought to be interesting with an infant.)
• We will continue to learn about Chinese tradition and incorporate one into our family traditions in 2014.
• We will get to know and enjoy having Baby K in the family beginning late January.

So let's get going...I'm out the door to start the year off with the annual resolution run at City Dock!