It's been a while...

So it's been exactly 2 months since we've said anything on this blog. Since that's about how long it's been since school got out, that makes perfect sense. It's been a good summer, and I can't believe there only are 3 weeks left until school starts up again. Which also means 3 weeks until I can run on a normal schedule again. I've managed to run once, sometimes twice a week throughout the summer, but not much more than that. My 3rd marathon is a little less than 3 months away now, and I'm pretty much on track for my long runs but am not doing all the other runs. I finally broke down and bought a GPS watch, which is so cool. I like seeing where I ran on Google Maps.

Happy runnings!

Hot Hot Hot

We haven't had much to say lately--I think the end of the school year is even busier than the December holidays. I did run the Zooma Annapolis half marathon last weekend. It was my first hot and humid run of the year, and the course was pretty hilly at the beginning and the end. But I made it, more than 12 minutes slower than my only other half marathon. It was fun because it was a weekend away with some running friends, good food, and even a rough 13.1 mile run is quite an accomplishment. The finisher bling was pretty cool too.

We've had the craziest weather this week, and now it's extremely hot and humid. I haven't run since the half marathon, but I need to start back this week. I just read in Runner's World that a 16-week training plan for the Marine Corps Marathon should start July 7, which is less than a month away.

Finally, I used a gift card I got to get the Nike+ sport band. We took a walk with it tonight, and the distance was way off. But we stopped and started so many times, as you all know you do when walking with children. Hopefully once I run with it I can callibrate it right. I trained so much better when I knew how fast and how far I was going.

Alison

Marathon Time Again

After lots of internal debate, I decided to sign up for the Marine Corps Marathon again this year. I'd like to try a different one, but the calendar and the checkbook dictate that MCM is my only choice this year. I hope to make another 25 minute improvement this year and break the 4 hour mark. We'll have to see.

Cherry Blossom Ten Miler

First of all, the weather people couldn't have been more wrong! As late as Friday afternoon they were saying rain all day Saturday but partly sunny Sunday. Then it was beautiful all day Saturday, so I knew we were in trouble. So the new forecast said rain all day Saturday night and Sunday. It was pouring when I got up at 5:45. It was pouring when I left to meet Toni at 6:20. When I turned on my car, the song "Fool In The Rain" was on. Right as the rain picked up even more, the line "I run in the rain til I'm breathless, when I'm breathless I run til I drop" came on. All appropriate for the day.

Thankfully Toni's husband was able to drive us downtown. He dropped us off right at the start line at the Washington Monument. We easily checked our bags and used the porta-potties. There were 12,000 racers registered, and surprisingly, a lot showed up in the bad weather. The elite women started at 7:40, then our wave started around 8:00. The rain had let up and the 45ish degrees felt pretty good.

I did the first mile in 9:52, second and third about the same. I lost Toni around the 5K point--the course was very crowded but very nice and pretty even though it was a dreary day. Lots of cherry blossoms on the great new course. They did a wonderful job designing it. As I was entering Hains Point the elite women were leaving it. It was amazing to see them blow by us at their high speed. I crossed the 5-mile point at 47:56. I felt pretty good but was getting hungry. I crossed the 10K point at 58:57, which was a 9:30 pace. We went past the Kennedy Center, came back and crossed the Memorial Bridge. That's where the rain started again. We looped around and came back over the bridge, and the rain got even worse and the wind picked up. At this point (8-1/2 miles) my legs were very tired because I hadn't trained much at that distance. The last 1-1/2 miles were tough in the rain and occasional wind, but I kept going and finally turned the corner to the finish line. I had a tiny bit of a kick but not much.

I finished in 1:33:23, a 9:21 pace. I wanted to do it in 1:30, but all things considered, I'm happy with the day. I got a nasty muffin and water, changed into dry clothes, and found Toni. My only complaint about this race is they always have the worst food options after, especially considering how high profile it is. But the elites get their own tent, so all the good food probably was there. Toni's husband picked us up and it was an easy trip home.

So next weekend is the 5 mile trail race, then 2 weeks after that another 10 miler. Hopefully I can get another long run in there somewhere and have a little more left in the tank for that one. I'm so thankful to have great friends to run all these races with!

Alison

Spring Races

It's finally time for spring races to begin--even though Rita has already done two races. She gets a break from the Backyard Burn this weekend, but the rest of us, as far as I know, are doing the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler on Sunday. It's been really tough to find a time we all can train together, but it's great when any of us can get out there. I'm pretty excited for Sunday. I haven't left suburbia for the city in ages, and those cherry blossoms are so pretty.

I'm much slower than I was last year at this time because I have not been doing any speed work. But a slow 10 miles feels really good now, and hopefully I can do some speed work again someday and set another PR. I originally had a conflict for the other 10-miler this month--the GW Parkway Classic--where I set my 10 miler PR. That event fell through, so I'm doing that race too. Plus a 5-miler in between, so it'll be a busy month of running.

Alison

Shoes

I love shoes. I enjoy shoe shopping and finding the perfect pair, and if it's a bargain, even better. That being said, I don't own a pair of dress shoes more expensive than my running shoes. I don't even remember buying $100+ dress shoes when I worked full time. But here I am spending that much on shoes that I'm going to abuse with heat, mud, and sweat. I'm lucky enough to live across the road from one of our area's many running stores too, so it's easy to replace them. But now I'm tempted to go elsewhere to get a bargain at the many grand opening sales around here--and I still have an unused pair in my closet. This month, we have a new running stores with grand opening sales in Clifton, Balston, Fairfax, and Falls Church, all of which are short drives away. I guess running has gotten so popular that the area can support 4 more stores, but it does seem like a bit much. I hope they all do well!

Now don't even get me started on how much I spent on compression tights and shorts this month...

Alison

Whats a Girl to do when She Travels???

As many of us know it is tough to juggle the work life balance thing- but I think it gets even harder when we hit the road for work! I found myself flying to our corprate office in Texas yet again this month....the clean sheets, wireless internet and company paid hotel movies could not make up for 3 hours of sitting on a plane wishing I was running. So I checked into the Fairmont hotel and decided I would make a quick call to my husband to check in on the little one. By the time I got off the phone and made it to the gym, I had a mere 25 minutes to hit the teadmill before dinner with the executive team. Is it worth it to get all sweaty knowing I needed to be at dinner shortly???? The answer was a resounding yes. Running made me resent traveling less and let me clear my head of all things corporate- even if it was just for 25 minutes.

That being said, if you are struggling to find some peace when you hit the road for work, you might just find it when you lace up your shoes, throw on the iPod, and hit the hotel gym!