Final Stretch!

AHHH Race Day is only days away!  The past week of training was really easy and consisted of three five mile runs.  I can't lie, it's a little nerve wracking reading about how other people were doing their last long runs this past weekend, but I wanted to stick to my game plan and make sure I was resting properly since I've been having a little bit of off and on pain in my shin (I also had a couple of days with some pain on the bottom of my right foot, but that appears to have worked itself out!).  No sense in overworking it before the big day.

It was so nice to have some gorgeous weather to run in last week!  I did one of my runs on the treadmill, but the other two were outside and wonderful.

On Saturday I went to the ZOOMA Kick Off Party at Charm City Run Annapolis.  It was SO nice having some running buddies!  I spent most of my time running with Cynthia from You Signed up for What?!  Guys, she is seriously the nicest person ever.  She even stuck with me when I got the most horrific cramp at the end of our run.  For a girl who never gets side stitches, I sure have been getting a lot the week before my race.  My sides better get themselves in check!  It was a beautiful day and it was fun chatting with some of the other girls there and sipping yummy coffee and mimosas!  I talked with Cynthia and Colleen from Live Free and Run for a while and met Mar from Mar on the Run.  It was fun getting to meet them after following their blogs!  There were so many amazing ladies I wish I had time to get to know them all better!  We got lots of goodies to take with us on our way out.  Another win for ZOOMA!

Maddux and I headed to the park afterwards, but cut our walk there short when I got a text from my nice friend saying that he could explore Great Falls with us!  We quickly headed down to Virginia and had a great (although muddy) afternoon.  I had one tired pup by the end of the day!  

Yes, he sleeps beside his bed.

On Sunday Maddux and I headed to one of my favorite trails and walked for a long time before I headed out for a neighborhood run.  I'm not sure what was going on, but even though it was really nice out I just wasn't feeling this run.  I think I'm just ready for Race Day!  

It's hard to believe that in just a few days it will all be over!  I hope everyone is having a wonderful week!  I have one more 5 miler standing between the race and me!  

Baby, it's Cold Outside!

Ohhhh my goodness.  I'm not sure I'm going to survive this winter.  The weather reporters are calling this nonsense a polar vortex, which makes it sound about a million times worse than if they just said "freakin' cold."

After I snapped the picture, it dropped to 3 degrees.  I think it was mocking me.
Also, I do wear my seatbelt, I was just waiting for the car to warm up.

Driving back home from Alabama I was none too pleased to see the snow and ice piled up alongside the road, but didn't think too much of it.  Then, on Saturday I geared up for my usual 45 minute run.  I didn't feel like dealing with the treadmill because I really didn't have time to wait around if they weren't available (my nice friend and I had a work event to go to that evening) and since the main roads were mostly clear I figured I would just give it a shot outside.  I would have loved to seen what I looked like attempting to run outside as I'm sure it was quite the sight to see!  While my pace was slow, I definitely worked up a sweat trying to stay on non-slippery areas of the road.  Pretty sure I looked like a track star jumping hurtles of ice.

On Sunday I was forced to the treadmill to do my 6x800 workout.  My nice friend and I headed to a trail that has a nice half mile loop, but it was still completely iced over.  Perhaps my repeats would have been faster had I been able to slide the whole way, but we just weren't in the mood to find out.   I was a little disappointed that I had to stay indoors because I was dying to try out my new running pullover I got for Christmas.  It's made for running in colder weather and is super warm.  I actually ended up changing my long sleeve shirt I was wearing out for a tank top because I figured I would probably be roasting after cranking up my speed for my run!  Despite everything, my workout ended up going really well and I felt strong the whole time.  I think it helped a little that I made a brand new workout playlist (new phone = time to mix it up).  10 weeks down without missing a run!  Officially less than 11 weeks until race day!

Thumbholes and a fleecy inside. Sounds perfect for this cold weather!

I have a feeling I will be sticking to the 'mill for the majority of my miles this week, but I am really hoping the trails are clear (and it doesn't feel like negative anything) for my 10 miler on Sunday!  


*PS: If anyone is thinking of registering for ZOOMA Annapolis (or any 2014 ZOOMA race), you can get a free tech tee if you do it before January 17 and enter the code Tee14.  I got the bonus shirt with my registration last year and LOVE it.  Last year's has a nice slim fit and is really comfortable.  I wear it to the gym all the time.

Happy running!

 

Best Running Moments of 2013

It's Friday!  I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!  I have been busy enjoying time with the family, so posting has been lacking a little lately, but I figured I could make time for a quick Friday Five post with Mar, Courtney, and Cynthia!  The year is quickly coming to a close, so I thought an appropriate end to the 2013 Friday Fives would be a look back at some of my best running moments from 2013.

1. Running in San Diego.  I did the Runner's World Summer Running Streak and part of it was while I was on vacation in beautiful San Diego.  Going out there I wasn't sure how running would go.  I knew that we were going to be really busy, but they ended up being some of my best (and fastest) miles yet.  I loved running along the water with the amazing summer temperature.

2. Boordy Vineyards 5k.  I'm so excited that I found this 5k!  Charm City Run puts on a fantastic race and obviously it doesn't hurt that it ends with wine and a bread and cheese platter.  I had a great time running with one of my best friends and can't wait to go back next year!

3.  The Nike Women's Half Marathon.  I'm a little sad I chose to opt out in 2014 because I really loved this race.  In my opinion the course was amazing and what girl doesn't love getting Tiffany's handed to her by a guy dressed to the nines? While it was a little rough getting back into the game after not running for so long, this race helped remind me why I love running.

4.  Zooma Annapolis Kick Off Party.  Ok, this may sound weird, but I really enjoyed the kick off event they had at Charm City Run!  It was fun getting to meet some fellow runners and I had a great time chatting with the ladies during our group run.  The Panera bagels and coffee after we returned was a nice touch, too.  It made me really excited for the race and I am looking forward to doing it all again in 2014!

5. Zoo Zoom.  I loved that my nice friend chose to run this with me as part of my birthday celebration!  Although it was cold, I had a great time at the race and really enjoyed exploring the zoo after.  Since it was so cold it was ALMOST like we had the zoo to ourselves!

I had a fantastic year and am excited to see what 2014 brings!  Happy Friday!

Zooma Annapolis 10k Recap

I can finally say I'm getting in some consistent miles again!  The Runner's World Summer Running Streak started up on Monday so every day I'll be getting in at least a mile until July 4.  The first mile on Monday was ridiculously tough.  I kind of regretted committing since my running has been so subpar lately, but so far the rest of the days have been going really well.

Thanks to Pavement Runner for the pic!  Grab it HERE!

On Friday I headed to Annapolis to pick up my race number.  I hadn't gotten any emails full of information which made me a little nervous.  I know a lot of the emails are completely unnecessary, but I love feeling prepared and like I know every single little detail.  The expo was easy to get to and there was a parking garage a block away.  Picking up my number was simple and they had samples of Luna Bars and Honest Tea.  After giving the volunteer my name she put a number and tech shirt in a cute bag and sent me on my way.  Once again, I got nervous when I found there was no additional information in my bag.  I guess they figured since everything you possibly needed to know was on the website they didn't need to waste paper giving us the same information, which I respect, but the crazy detail obsessed lady in me hated it a little.

When I got home, I had a Racer 5 IPA (the racer part made it seem right), laid out everything I would need for my race, and got ready for an early bed time.  When my alarm went off at 4:45 the next morning I quickly got ready and was out the door by 5:15.  Maddux was not pleased with the wake up call, but seemed to forgive me after I gave him breakfast and let him get back in bed.

I got to the race in plenty of time.  The parking was super easy (yes, parking at a DC area race!  Right next to the start!) and there was a nice long line of porta potties.  There was plenty of time before the race started and I ended up getting to meet a fellow SPA, Lisa!  She was so sweet and has been totally killing it at her races lately.  You can check out her blog here!

Lining up for the race went smoothly.  They didn't have corrals, but had pace per mile signs on the fence so you could line up appropriately.  I couldn't hear the announcements very well, but I did notice that they encouraged walkers to go to the back which was nice.  The race started and wound around the  Navy Stadium.  I was in a weird mood at the start of the race and had a hard time getting into it, but once we got to the downtown part of the race I started thinking about the day date my nice friend and I had back in January.  Remembering our fun day put me in a much better mindset and the miles started flying by.  That is, until the bridge.  At first I was happy to see the bridge because there was a much needed water stop.  Then I realized how uphill and sunny it was.  It was absolutely brutal going up, but going down was glorious.  After a brief struggle right after the bridge I ended up finishing up strong.  The race wasn't a full 10k, but I didn't really have a problem with it since it was rather hot outside.

After crossing the finish line I stood in line to receive my finisher's necklace, water bottle, yoga mat, and snack box (hummus!  Odd post race snack, but delicious!).  Thinking back, I probably should have ran to put stuff in the car before grabbing my snack box since they didn't have anything to keep all the goodies in, but after some readjusting I made it back without dropping everything.  I ended up getting home right before 9 which was awesome and had a nice chill day full of naps with my pup and pool time with my nice friend.

Overall I have mixed feelings about this race.  I loved how it was capped to 4,000.  It was nice being in a smaller setting than most DC area races and you got a lot of amazing stuff with your entry fee.  I think probably most of the indifference toward it comes from my weird mood.  I had a good time, I just wasn't my typical "YEAH RACE DAY!" self.   Who knows.  Congrats to all those who raced Zooma yesterday, ESPECIALLY the half marathoners!  You guys are amazing for rocking it in that heat!

A Weekend Run

This week has been crazy and I didn't make it to the gym once.  I was really looking forward to my group run to kick off the Zooma Annapolis race training this morning!  While I'm not committing to the full training program (the month of April is completely booked and there's no way I would make it to any of the runs), I thought it would be fun to attend the event, meet some new people, and check out a new running store.

The event didn't disappoint!  I arrived a couple of minutes late (neither my GPS or phone were cooperating and since I am navigationally challenged I needed to get at least one of them working!) and ladies were signing in as I arrived. I thought it was nice that they wanted to make sure everyone who left made it back ok!  A couple of minutes later we were out the door of Charm City Run and on our way to run.

There were ladies of all ages and different fitness levels so it was great knowing that I would probably have someone to chat with.  I went on a group run once and everyone there was pretty much a triathlete.  They were nice and slowed down for me, but I liked not having to worry about that this time around!  As we went out the door I noticed someone with a J&A race hoodie on (my favorite race organizers!) and we ended up talking for the duration of the 3.5 mile run.  It was a nice change of pace having someone to keep me company during a run and the time flew by!

When we got back they had Panera bagels, coffee, protein drinks, and mimosas waiting for us along with the option to get fitted for sports bras and some good deals throughout the store.  Everyone was incredibly nice and it was really fun getting to talk to the different runners about different races we had done or had coming up.  I'm really excited about the race and even more so after this event.

Now I'm off to spend some time with my main man before getting ready for a friend's birthday dinner!  Have a happy Saturday!

Random Updates

First of all, I wore SHORTS and a T-SHIRT on my run on Saturday.  It was awesome.  I had anticipated just doing a quick run, but felt so good I ended up doing 5 miles in my neighborhood.  When it feels right ya gotta keep going, you know?  I was excited to use my Garmin again since I've been stuck with the 'mill lately.  When do the days start getting longer again?

I wore this same outfit on my run.  I wish my bro was visiting.

Second piece of news is that I registered for the Zooma 10k.  I connected with Lisa from Lisa Runs for Cupcakes through the Sweat Pink Ambassadors and she offered me a discount code (she's an ambassador for the race!) so I felt like the timing was just right.  

Anyway, I feel like I've been forced into cross training lately.  I know that it's good for me and what not, but when I have it in my head that I'm going to run I want to run.  I'm not always the most patient person when it comes to getting what I want.  Even though the 10 minutes I spent on the elliptical felt like they lasted forever, I think it ended up being a pretty great warm up because I ran my 4 miles in 35:22.  You know how sometimes it takes a little bit to get into your run because your body is getting warmed up?  Well when you elliptical before you run you get all that junky feeling out so that you can rock your run.  I suppose it's a win.  

The rest of January is going to be pretty jammed packed so it will be interesting trying to adjust my schedule (and also working around the new users of the gym--yay resolutions!) around Maddux's new class that's starting up and wedding festivities!  Rock n' Roll DC is coming up fast, so I need to work smart.  

Although he looks like a perfect gentleman, he is headed to Basic Manners soon.

Happy Monday!

Why I Run--Let Me Count the Reasons...

Zooma recently posted this video about why people run.  Now that I'm not specifically training for anything (for a few more weeks at least!) it really got me thinking.  Here are a few of the reasons why I run (drum roll please):

• It keeps me sane.  After a crazy day at work it feels so good to work up a good sweat.  I ALWAYS feel better after a run, even the crappy ones.

• Running clothes are so comfortable.  Oh my gosh.  Does it get any better than running clothes?  My favorite pants ever (other than my high school cross country sweats) are these Champion pants from Target.  I wear mine way too often.  I'm also a big fan of race tees. 

• Cookies taste better after a good run.  I made these pumpkin oatmeal chocolate chip cookies after my run yesterday and they were divine.

• I love Race Day and race expos.  Yes, I get ridiculously nervous before most races, but I think a bigger part of my race day jitters comes from being so freaking excited to run with a bunch of other people who also love to run.  Expos are fun because they have a ton of stuff that really intense runners probably use on a daily basis, but I feel pretty cool buying.  For example, when I was traveling for the Disney race, I couldn't fit my foam roller (ah!) in my luggage, so I purchased this bad boy at the expo:

Not the torture device that the foam roller is, but great for traveling.

• It's a fun way to challenge myself.  I'm really competitive, but when it comes to running, I'm mostly competitive with myself.  I know I'm not an elite runner and that's ok.   I love trying to beat my personal best and get a ridiculous runner's high after particularly good runs.  Remember the Crawlin' Crab Half Marathon?  I still smile thinking about that race because it was so much fun.  Challenging?  Yes.  Amazing?  Definitely.  I rode that runner's high for a good 3 weeks afterward. Ok maybe not that long, but you get the point.

• It's a good way to give back.  I love that so many races benefit good causes.  My birthday party race this weekend benefits injured firemen.  While I donate to a few organizations, some I wouldn't have even heard of had it not been for races.  It's nice to be able to have fun while helping others out, too.

Honestly, I could keep going on about the reasons why I run.  When it all comes down to it, I just love doing it.  If you want to share your reasons, check out the Zooma site and you may even win a prize ;-) 

Happy running!  

Beware of the Frankenstorm

Halloween is my favorite holiday.  I love decorating my apartment and seeing all the "haunted" houses in the neighborhood.  The fact that pumpkin beer comes around this time of year doesn't hurt either!  This weekend I went to the Flying Dog Brewery with my nice friend for their annual Halloween Bash.  It was so much fun dressing up and getting to try some of their seasonal brews.  Plus any opportunity to  let loose a little on the dance floor is a good time in my opinion.

Things have been a little weird now that I'm not training for anything.  October has been a really low mileage month, but it's been nice being able to do other workouts and not feel like I should be running. Today Mad Dog and I have been stuck indoors thanks to the Frankenstorm, so I just did my arm workout and a few ab exercises.  Most of the day has been spent catching up on Parks and Rec and eating.  Gotta clean out the fridge in case we lose power ;-)

This is how we've spent most of our time today.

I've also spent a little too much time on Twitter while avoiding the storm and have been setting my sights on a few different upcoming races.  I'm already signed up for Rock n' Roll DC 2013, and my tentative plan is to start training for the race right around Thanksgiving.  The Nike Women's Half Marathon is coming to DC in April, and I'm going to try to get a spot in the race.  It's a raffle system, so there's no guarantee, but how cool would it be to get a Tiffany's necklace when you cross the finish line?  As much as I've loved races geared towards everyone, I've been looking a lot at races designed for women these days.  I think it's awesome that so many races are catering to women and motivating us to get fit.  Running is a great community builder, and it's awesome how people of all shapes, sizes, and walks of life can participate and have a great time.

Registration for the ZOOMA Annapolis race just opened, and as soon as my next credit card statement rolls around you better believe I'm registering for it.  ZOOMA picks out destinations that are perfect for girls' weekends, and I've already recruited a few friends to run with me.  My only concern is that it's a June race, and we all know how well my body handles the warmer races ;-)

So until Thanksgiving, I'll be keeping on with this whole "workout with no real plan" thing and enjoying time with this guy:

I hope everyone stays safe during the storm!  (and that your house has plenty of Halloween candy to tide you over!)

Keeping Busy

This morning has been a little hard for me.  I dropped Maddux off for his next to last heart worm treatment and now I have to find something to do to fill the day until I can pick my boy up this evening.    He was so funny when we got to the vet.  We got there a few minutes early before they were officially open, so he stood at the door wagging his tail and even scratched at the door.  Then, he sat politely until they opened the door.  I know that they will take good care of him (obviously, he LOVES his vet), but my apartment feels so lonely without my favorite guy with me.

LET ME IN!

Yesterday I was busy running errands and just wasn't motivated to run outside.  It was so cloudy and ugly out, and I just wasn't feeling my run.  I hopped on the treadmill, and although it started out ok, my stomach really started to hurt around mile 2.  I toughed it out until I got to 2.5 miles, and then took a quick bathroom break (I know, TMI).  I still felt a little iffy after I started back up and told myself that I only had to finish up the best that I could and tried to relax a little while being very thankful I chose the treadmill after all.  In the end, I finished up semi strong and ended up running 5 miles in 46:19.

Today my quads are feeling a little tight.  I'm planning on giving my apartment a solid cleaning while the pup is out and trying to decide what cross training I want to do.  I have a few interval workouts I've been wanting to try out, but I'm not sure that alternating between running and walking is really considered cross training and will let my muscles recover a little.  Since I have a long (long, really long maybe I'm being dramatic) run coming up this weekend I want to try to give the legs as much help as I can.  

On a random note, ZOOMA has a cool give away on their website.  They are giving out a Bani Band, which is a super cute running head band.  I haven't personally tried them out, but am definitely considering buying a sequined one.  Honestly, I sweat so much that I tend to stick to darker running clothes, and I think it would be nice to have a pop of color/fun on my runs.  They could also be a cute stocking stuffer....it's never too early to start thinking about the holidays ;-)