Feeling the drag...

More and more I'm feeling that downward pull that, nine months ago, I never would have considered to be a feeling I would gain an intimate knowledge of.  Tonight I was very aware of the fact that my middle section is making trips to the gym ever more difficult...yet not impossible.  That's a word I don't acknowledge.  (Here is where the voice of my former gymnastics coach, Keith, always rings in my ears..." Did you say can't?  We don't say can't here.  Give me 5 laps.") 

That said, I still managed to put in a couple miles and some strength training before I called it a night.  Let me be honest, it was not an impressive performance.  But I guess as the wind howled outside and the temperatures dropped precipitously, I could have taken the easy way out and just gone home to sit in front of a roaring fire rather than build up a little sweat.

On another note, the strange looks I receive from fellow gym goers as it becomes harder to keep my belly entirely concealed by my running shirts seem to be growing.  I've wondered this several times over the course of the last many months - doctors recommend that pregnant ladies maintain a level of fitness.  It's good for the lady, and its good for the baby.  So why, oh why, do the gyms seems devoid of pregnant ladies?   Where are the pregnant ladies working out?  I haven't seen them running on the road either...

Maybe the ladies are walking briskly through the park.  Perhaps this cold weather will break long enough that I can take my weekend workouts to Quiet Waters this weekend to see if I can find them there.  In the meantime, happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  2.5
Time:  Not yet buddy
Location:  Greater Annapolis Y
Feeling:  Someone call in the heavy lifting tow truck

Running for the hat of it...

I've been chasing this race for four long years.  Yes, the first (and only other) time I ran this race was back in 2009.  I'm reminded of the post I wrote at the beginning of that year, excited to try a new adventure and vowing it would be a one shot deal.  Ha! 

That first adventure didn't end well for me.  The HAT course has a lot of tough hills (at least in my mind) and I left the course after 18 miles in a lot of pain (hamstrings felt like they were tearing), but not so much pain that I followed through on my plan to never run anything like this again.  While I struggled with injury off and on, I've never quite slowed down.  In fact, I just keep coming back for more.

Start of the HAT Run

So, why did it take me four years to hit the HAT run course again?  Well, even though I've run 50ks and marathons in the interim, I was never quite healthy enough or home long enough at the beginning of the year to tackle this one again.  Until this year.  At first I was super sad that the race went to a lottery system for entry.  I was certain it wouldn't be my year....but low and behold I got it! 

Then it was a sprained ankle that I was determined not to sideline my efforts to cross the finish line.  And then it was a very late night at work the night before the race.  But with only 3.5 hours of sleep, I dragged myself to that chilly start line (where I ran into Ron Bowman...who helped me achieve my first 50k finish back in 2009...THANKS RON!).

If you've run HAT before, you know that it starts with a pretty easy 3.6 mile loop before heading out to the main show.  You almost have to have that loop to spread runners out, because the vast majority of the race once you head into the woods is all single track trail.  Not a lot of run to pass people. 

This is a pretty course.  All ups and downs, windy trails that plummet down to the Susquehanna River.  Multiple stream crossings.  Wide open fields with views out to the foot hills of the mountains.  Stone walls.  Oh yeah, and mud.

You also never quite know what you are going to find out on the trail...you may run into that pack of horseback riders out enjoying the semi-dry trails.  You may find your foot connecting with many roots and rocks if you're not careful.  But by and large, the dangers and the joys of the trails should be under foot or in front of you (in the case of the logs you may need to maneuver over). 

You shouldn't have to look up, though, right?  Not usually in my experience at any rate.  Wrong.  After another stream crossing, at mile 19ish, I was heading back up a hill when I started to hear a crack.  By instinct I jumped back about a foot, which is good because that is when a tree limb came down about 3 feet in front of me.  That would have hurt if it had hit my head.  And can you believe it wasn't the only falling tree limb I had to deal with?  I guess mother nature is keeping me on my toes.

Through it all...all 31 miles...I had the best support system you could imagine.  With each aid station I came into and multiple early passes in the beginning, I could always count on my husband and the diva being there to cheer me on.  There's something horribly motivating about your four-year old yelling "run faster mommy" to keep you moving.

If that's not enough, I really do need to thank the two women I ran the final five miles with.  I know your names are Deborah and Diana, I know little else about you, but I appreciate the conversation, the compliments and the company.  Thank you, also Diana, for paying me the greatest compliment I could recieve when telling me I'm setting a good example for my daughter.  And to Deborah for recognizing I have the best cheering section you could ask for.  And then there are the HAT run french fries...lord do I love french fries.

As I neared the finish line (which moved slightly since the last time I was at this race), the race director told me "You can stop running now" and I recall telling him "Oh thank God."  It was a great race, and I was thrilled to accept my new hat for finishing the HAT run.  Will I do this one again?   Maybe, but I can think about that later.  Now I need to worry about putting on a dress and wearing heels to a wedding celebration tonight :)  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  31
Time:   7:06:40 (average pace of 13:45 per mile)
Feeling:  my ankle is in a lot of pain, but that is outweighed by my happiness at conquering this course.

The best intentions...

I had big plans this weekend.  I was in Ohio for a family funeral, with lots of unscheduled time on my hands before the funeral Saturday and Sunday before I planned to return home.  I was going to run 10 or so miles on each day.  Yep, the best of intentions always have a way of turning into the worst executed plans out there.

Saturday I woke up to a light, beautiful snow falling.  If you've read my blog in the past, you know I love running in this type of snow.  I was stoked.  And then I looked at the temperature (much lower than Maryland) and thought to myself - "I can leave earlier Sunday and run super long at home."

Sunday, the diva and I got on the road as planned....which was awesome because I was going to run 15ish miles upon returning home.  All was going well until we hit a little snag at the PA/MD border when the diva got (a) car sick and then (b) played on my sympathies and begged for chocolate milk.  SO...I promised to go to the next McDonald's and buy her a chocolate milk.  Only problem?  The next McDonald's had a big indoor playground and she had been sitting in her carseat quietly for almost 4 hours.  Okay, a few minutes on the playground won't hurt...but 30 minutes later I knew my plans were on the rocks.

Back in the car I cut a deal with the diva.  She could play in her playroom once we got home for as long as it took me to run 10 miles on the treadmill.  She agreed and all was at least sort of on track. 

Then we got home and I told my husband I was running to the commissary and then I'd be back to take Ainsleigh down to the playroom.  Surprise!  He said he would stay with Ainsleigh and play while I shop and then get in a 5 mile run out at Greenbury Point so I only had to do 5 miles on the treadmill.  So I threw on the running clothes and headed out. 

Now, I'm standing at my car, ready to head down to the Greenbury Point trail and the ipod is dead.  Great...can nothing swing in my favor today?  Life goes on.  At least the Garmin wasn't dead...I'm not sure life goes on when that happens.

If you remember this afternoon, you know the temperature was nice (in the upper 30s) and the air was calm.  I basically had the road to myself, well me and a few random die hard golfers out for 18 holes on a brisk winter Sunday who criss crossed the road from hole to hole.  But then it was on my own as I passed the Brigade Sports Complex.  Me, my feet and my thoughts.  A great way to spend an hour.

As I got down near the point and took in the bare masts at the Mill Creek marina, I was hitting my stride.  I know I had a good brainstorm around this time, but for the life of me its gone now.  The best part of the Greenbury Point run, is undoubtedly the bay views.  I love this stretch of landing hugging the shore with the Bay Bridge in the distance.  There's something about it that puts a spring in your step and helps you maintain your pace and motivation when that REALLY nasty head wind hits you on the North heading section of the trail. 

Being a Sunday (with no rain falling from the sky) there were a lot of walkers out on the trail.  I gotta say, the old man with his dog who took the time to say "looking good" as I beared down on the wind and pushed forward, was just the cheering I needed.  It's also great to have a cheering section where you least expect it.

So as I'm headed back toward the car, I look at my watch.  I'm bearing down on about 6 miles if I go straight back, but what the heck?  My legs are good, I've been out for less than an hour and surely the husband and diva can survive another 10-15 minutes without me, so I decide to head up to Providence to put me at a good 7 mile run.  I like the neighborhood.  It's not busy and its got some small hills to stretch and push your legs.  Plus I like the houses. 

Anyway, I hit the 7 mile mark (just over) when I returned to my car and was looking forward to finishing up with only 3 miles to go on the treadmill.  Why do you ask, then, did I not get those last 3 miles in?  Yeah, I was soaked to the bone and could NOT heat back up.  I spent the rest of the night shivering to my skeleton in front of a roaring fire that the diva kept calling "too hot." 

Lesson of the story?  Don't wimp out when the temperature looks uncomfortable and don't stop to wash the salt off your car after you just ran 7 miles in sub-40 degree weather without changing into dry clothes first.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  7.03
Time:   1:02:29 (average pace of 8:53 per mile)
Feeling:  my muscle groups were great, the hamstring insert twinges a bit

New year, some old routines...

When embarking on the new (as in new goals or new adventures), sometimes bringing along parts of the old routine help bridge looking down the tunnel toward the finish line.  It's only the second day of the year, but I'm glad for old routines and old routes to get me through otherwise tough runs. 

The first couple months of running for the yearly goal mileage are always the toughest...early in setting out to meet new goals is the most vulnerable time. It's easy to say "I'm not really too far into this, so I'm not wasting much if I quit now."  Once you've hit, say, the 30% goal, you've just put too much into to stop.  At least that's how it is for me.  Those vulnerable days are when habits and routines help you puch through.

Today was a tough run.  My hamstrings were tight (some old habits and routines - such as not stretching right after a long run like yesterday - are not the good ones to fall back on) and the air was cold and slightly windy.  There was lots to be done and  time is always short.  I could have found a hundred reasons to put off running until I was religated to the treadmill.  Instead I put my big girl panties on and took that first step out the door.

Not fast, not slow, but one foot in front of the other and after a half mile or so I was glad I didn't make an excuse to skip my daily one on one time.  The streets of one of my most regular routes were quiet and comfortable, mucle memory kicked in and - though the hamstring never loosened up...must hit the icy hot tonight - I got it done. 

Tomorrow (or the next day) will feel as awesome as January 1...they can't all feel great.  Happy trails!

Stats -
Miles:  3.81
Time:   33:52 (average pace of 8:53 per mile)
Location:  Capitol Hill, Lincoln Park, Stanton Park
Feeling:  one of these days I will get a hamstring transplant...in the meantime, muscle tightness feels just like old times

Happy turkey day...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hidden gems...

DC is one of those cities that always seems to surprise me. No matter how many times I've walked or jogged the same street, park, open area, I am continually amazed at what I've always managed to miss. Today was no exception. I did deviate slightly from my usual streets during me run this evening and travelled down a little alley near Lincoln Park. This "alley" was paved in nicely tended brick and halfway down I found the most beautiful little park. Just tucked off to the side, it had a nice grassy area and was spotted with great clumps of organized tulips. It also had a couple trees and a bench for enjoying this little haven off the main drag. Had I not been on a mission, I would have stopped for a chance to listen to the birds and smell the flowers. Perhaps next time.

Though the run was quick, I was still able to take in some of my other favorite parts of spring visible on this otherwise cold evening - the smell of fresh cut grass, the snow fall of cherry blossom petals, the crowds of joggers before sunset. I am glad for the ability and opportunity to get out and enjoy these things...even if I'm dripping sweat at the same time. Hopefully tomorrow's forecasted thunderstorm holds off long enough to get in another quick jaunt through the streets.

On another note, I'm quickly approaching the 25% mark in my goal to hit 1000 miles this year. I'll opine more later on the adrenaline rush that comes with achieving a goal that requires consistency, but tonight I'll just let you know that I am dancing in my shoes waiting for the tracking clock to roll over that 250 mile point. Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles: 5.14
Time: 42:07 (average pace of 8:11 per mile)
Location: Lincoln Park, Capitol Hill, cute little alleys
Feeling: The body is holding up well. Can't wait for the metric marathon in less than a month.

The light show...

Well, I find myself with a few extra miles to do tomorrow than planned. Why you ask? Brie and I headed out for a nice long 9-10 mile run this morning. It was sprinkling, but hey, we're tough women. A little rain can't beat us. But....a little lightning can. We were about a mile and a half out from Brie's house when the first flash lit up the sky. Rain, you mess with, lightning? No way. We immediately turned it around to head back.

Now, danger aside, the lightning was actually cool because it was still a pre-dawn sky...meaning pitch black. That meant every flash was brighter than all get out. But, its not safe to run in the lightning, so, as the ran started to fall with greater strength, we pushed our way back to the warmth and safety of the inside. Let me tell you, the hot shower felt really good to my cold to the bones body. It was a good morning, even if we did end about 6 miles short of the goal.

Stats -
Miles: 3.63
Time: 32:35 (average pace of 8:58 per mile)
Location: Admiral Heights and Rowe Blvd
Feeling: A bit wet, but pretty good

Legs. Won't. Work.....

This morning was a bit of an odd morning. At 3am, Jason and my niece arrived from North Carolina, so break in the sleep pattern. I chose to run in the morning, so break in the time of day pattern. It was about 38 degrees outside, so break in the weather pattern. And I wore a newer pair of trail shoes, so break in the footwear pattern. What does all that add up to? A not so top-notch run. My legs usually settle into a running rhythm within the first halfish mile, but it took more than 2 miles today. There were a couple times I nearly threw in the towel.

So why didn't I? All things considered, as soon as I hit the Fernwood Trail, my legs started doig what they are supposed to do...or rather they decided to stop fighting my shoes. Once I hit that soft mud and mulch trail everything clicked, and the scenery I'm sure added to it. The Fernwood Trail runs along a protected wetland area leading to and ending at the Little Magothy River. So I picked up the pace and enjoyed the crisp morning, birds and the steam rising off the river. Next time its either a trail for the duration when wearing trail shoes, or wear the road shoes. Happy trails!

Stats -
Miles: 3.51
Time: 30:48 (average pace of 8:46 per mile)
Location: East College Parkway and Fernwood Trail
Feeling: Been better, but also definitely been worse.

A taste of February....

Thank goodness this arctic blast is moving out this afternoon because today was a bit colder than yesterday. The thermometer reads 30 but the real feel is 20, and there's another good head wind out there. The extra chill made it more difficult to shake the stiffness out of the old legs. Actually, I have to give myself credit for not deciding to take a day off and only go to yoga tonight...that would have been real easy and was very tempting. But, alas, my competitive drive won out and I hit the pavement.

Aside from the weather, today held another challenge - stomach cramps. I try not to eat less than two hours before a run but didn't follow that today since I wasn't sure I would run. Halfway through my run I just wanted to stop. It hurt, I nearly gave up, but, well, that would have left me stranded more than a mile from the office so I decided I might as well run back anyway :)

Tomorrow I will have to take a rest day if I want to put in some longer runs this weekend because I really need to give my legs some regenerating time. See you all on Friday!

Stats-
Miles: 3.13
Time: 26:32 (average pace of 8:28 per mile)
Location: Capitol Hill and Lincoln Park
Feeling: Not good, that's for sure.