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

 

Sights and smells of spring...

What do I love about today? 65 degrees and daffodils (crocuses, flowering trees, etc.) everywhere! The flowers were in abundance (and boy do my allergies feel it), nannies could be seen on every corner with their young wards, and time seemed to be moving slower. Spring has been sprouting for a couple weeks now, but today I truly felt it. There are many things in this world that make me smile, but I truly love the first flowers of spring. So, I was overjoyed to cruise through the neighborhoods of Capitol Hill on a "garden tour" while getting in a couple mile leg stretcher. What a fantastic way to spend the lunch break - exercise, fresh air and a clear mind.

Everything seemed brighter, fresher, and while my run wasn't spectacular (or long...just stretching the legs) it would have been a real shame to miss a day like today. I've also been lagging behind a little bit in reaching my goal for the year, but I'm very glad that we are "scheduled" to have several more days like this in the next week. That should help motivate me to rack up the miles. It makes running that much easier and that much more enjoyable. Next up - cherry blossom season in DC. Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles: 2.65
Time: 22:38 (average pace of 8:32 per mile)
Location: Capitol Hill
Feeling: elated for the spring, but the back is still hurting

Tick tock, tick tock...

That's the sound of the countdown clock. It is less than 12 hours before I head south to get my bling on at the Disney Princess Half Marathon. What am I most looking forward to? Another run through Cinderella's Castle as dawn breaks over its turrets :) Truly, this race is worth getting up and in your starting corral by 5am.

But turning to more immediate matters - today was GORGEOUS!!!! (Yes I meant to use that many exclamation points) I absolutely could not let a day like this pass me by, so I did not one but two runs this afternoon. While I've combined the stats below, my first run was a little leg stretcher over my lunch break. It was so nice to cruise through the Capitol Hill neighborhoods and see the daffodils poking through the ground and all the colorful spinning pinwheels. It kind of puts an added spring in your step and smile in your heart...though not in the hearts of DC drivers apparently since I was neary hit by three or four while in crosswalks (DC law says a car is supposed to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk, but many ignore the law). So this little venture was an added bonus to the day.

My real run came after work when I could really get out and move around for a while. As I stated on Monday, my goal for the week is 28 miles, in part to make up for a very slow February start. To stay on target I really needed to put in 10 miles today if I want to be able to relax Friday and Saturday and just play in Orlando pre-race. Alas, I'm 1.5 miles behind and will take in a leisurely jog to loosen my legs tomorrow or Saturday to fill that gap. But back to today, the afterwork run looked a bit like a traffic jam on the sidewalks with so many runners taking in the great weather. It's rather inspiring to see so many folks enjoying the weather in running shoes. Here's to many more wonderful weather days this February :) (or at least 6 more since that's all standing between us and March). Happy trails!

Stats-
Miles: 8.54
Time: 1:13:30 (average pace of 8:36 per mile...though my first run average was actually 8:19 per mile)
Location: All over Capitol Hill
Feeling: Fantastic! Great leg stretch before the half marathon