Finding the balance...

I'm a mother.  I'm a spouse.  I'm a friend.  I'm a runner.  I'm a volunteer.  I'm an employee.  I'm a lot of things and I often wonder how I keep it all together and not lose my mind.  Some days I do, but most of the time I find ways to keep balanced. 

The two best ways I can find to keep the balance are spending time with my family and running.  Today I did the latter, taking 36 minutes out of a crazy busy day to go into my own thoughts and feel my feet beneath me on the pavement. 

On those days that feel like I'm diving off the deep end, I just remember what keeps me balanced and take a healthy dose.  Happy trails!!!

P.S.  next miles on the blog will be HAT 50k miles....

Stats -
Miles:  4.2
Time:   35:58 (average pace of 8:33  per mile)
Feeling:  the ankle is hanging in there and should be fine Saturday

Taking it in stroll...

I'm taking it mostly easy this week.  I've got less than two weeks before my next 50k and I've got to get my ankle back up to snuff...or at least not injure it more. 

So life handed me the perfect way to keep it low key and spend time with the best running buddy in the world.  Tonight I had to handle daycare pick up for the diva.  Dad was working late.  And now that the sun is staying out until closer to 7, that means if I do pick up, there is time to play outside.

Thank goodness the diva loves watching her mom run...or at least knowing her mom is running.  When I asked her if she wanted to help me on my run tonight, she willingly jumped into warmer clothes and climbed into the jogging stroller with her fruit snacks gripped tightly in her little hands. 

With that, we headed down Bay Head toward the preserve to do the cloverleaf before heading home.  No major mileage today.  A) my ankle hurts with each step.  B) its super windy so the diva was getting a little cold.  And, C) I was hungry and wanted to make dinner.  But, hey, any mile run is a mile you don't regret missing later on. 

We played a bit as we jogged.  The diva likes swerving around and making car noises with the stroller.  I just like watching her smile and enjoy spending time with me this way, so I will do whatever keeps her happy to be strolling along with me.

As we were finishing, the wind kicked up pretty good and we picked up the pace to get back inside.  It wasn't long, it wasn't speedy, it wasn't artistic, but it was a run with my favorite running buddy.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  2.26
Time:   22:22 (average pace of 9:54 per mile)
Feeling:  very sore ankle, will have to sort this one out


  

A morning cup of running...

This morning while most folks were still snuggled into the warm folds of their beds, my buddy Kristen and I were greating the rising sun in an early morning six miles to get the adrenaline pumping.  No crazy hills or turning down the wrong street type of adventure like last time, just a nice paced out and back on the B&A trail.

I'm not a great morning runner, I think I've mentioned that a gazillion times, but there is always something about having someone making the effort beside you to make it all bearable.  In Kristen's case, our kids are roughly the same age, so that provides endless amusement, but I think this time we spent a good half of the run talking about food.

Yes, food.  While running.  After all, running all those miles means you can eat food.  We talked about the best brunches, the best lunches and the best dinners to be had across Annapolis.  Her favorites, my favorites, new ones to try.  What prompted this line of conversation seemingly incompatible with an activity like running?  We both had plans today that revolved around food - mine was brunch with a group of good friends and hers was dinner with her husband.

Talk of food makes the time go by fast and soon enough we were back at the start.  I wish I could have joined Kristen and her friends for the next ten miles of their morning run, but alas, that brunch at Metropolitan was calling my name. 

Because it was yet another fine day, I'm excited to say that I spent the day with my family down at our house in southern Maryland.  We've recently turned it over from a recent set of renters and were taking inventory and deciding how to spend our summer down there.  We introduced the diva to the neighborhood - the beaches, the private airfield, the stables - before coming home.  An exhausting, but thoroughly fulfilling day.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  6.0
Time:   54:45 (average pace of 9:07 per mile)
Feeling:  Good day, but ended the run with a minor sprain to my right ankle...


 

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

Blown away...

Hey dude, don't blow your horn at me if I've got the right of way, like a crosswalk that tells me to cross.  Asshole.  Yep, that's what I yelled at the dude who had the gall to treat me, in the right, like I was holding him up and jaywalking while just getting in my lunchtime run around Capitol Hill.  That was somewhere toward the middle.

Today I did something I don't do much.  I ran on the national mall, for part of my run at least, just before the jerk with the car horn.  I won't bore with yet another retelling of why I don't like running the mall, rather I thought it would be a good opportunity to enjoy some of the great sites because it was massively windy.  Yep, that wind, gusting at 22 mph, stayed with me almost the entire time but kept the tourists from clogging up the paths around the great green expanse of grass stretching from the Capitol to the Washington Monument.  Who doesn't feel inspired by the great symbols of democracy and freedom?

I have to say, I've run in some windy conditions before, but today was really hard.  I think I should get credit for another 15 seconds per mile just because of the extra push I had to make through the wind.  There was no hiding from it and it really pulled on the legs after about 5 miles.  A couple times I had to wonder if I would stick to the ground or blow away.  Wow.

Finishing up, I have to say I was feeling good going into the weekend where I am going to try for two long runs.  Fingers crossed I hold up through Sunday.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  6.73
Time:   58:24 (average pace of 8:30 per mile)
Feeling:  hamstring is still bothering after a few miles

Hill walker hurdling...

Hill walking is a time honored tradition for grassroots advocacy organizations.  Once a year, these organizations invite their membership to Washington, DC for a conference and then, armed with a folder of information, the membership visits their members of Congress walking from one Congressional office on Capitol Hill to another...aka hill walking. 

This tradition usually occurs en force about one month or so after the President submits his budget, so its the busy season.  That means us innocent, health-seeking runners have to squeeze by on the sidewalk in search of a mile or two over lunch time.  In fact, this week the sidewalks are so packed with Hill walkers, it was a veritable obstacle course, weaving from one side of the sidewalk to another, dodging well-meaning advocates....and a slew of Delta Sigma Theta members celebrating one hundred years of existence in their bright red suits.

So, by the time I reached the less crowded sidewalks of Eastern Market, I was finally getting into my groove for a comfortable, quiet backstretch.  The solitude of two laps around Lincoln Park is just what the rhythm doctor ordered.

I finally also seemed to find my speed again, mostly.  It's been a while since I've moved quickly.  Hopefully it lasts.  That said, I'm still feeling some pain where the hamstring joins near the knee.  I would really like this to go away before HAT in a couple weeks.  All I can do is beg the trail running gods to keep me whole until the finish line.  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  5.51
Time:  47:14 (average pace of 8:34 per mile)
Feeling:  it's nice to stretch the legs, but I want my hamstring back and healthy

 

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