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!

Trail Running

Today Toni and I did the free running clinic offered by the people who do the Backyard Burn trail running series. It was so cold and windy out, and we sat outside and listened to lecture for close to an hour. At least he told us in advance to bring warm layers for that. The coach talked all about stride and running more efficiently. Then we did some drills to work on efficient foot stroke--making sure we're not too bouncy and no heel striking. We also did some strengthening exercises for legs and core. Then he lectured on trail specific running, and we took a short run on the trails. There were a few stream crossings, and I didn't quite make it over one. Man that was cold! We learned how to navigate roots, rocks, and down trees. The clinic was very helpful for both trail and paved running. I decided I'll join Rita doing race 4 in the 5-miler series. If I like it, I'll be as bold as she is and do the whole series next time around.

Okay, I have to say it--Happy Trails!!!

90 Days

Yes, there are 90 days until the pool opens! (My girls had me count yesterday.) So we're trying a healthy 90 days challenge in our house. I'm trying to get them--and me--eating more healthful snacks, more varied meals, and smaller desserts. We'll see how it goes--my 7-year-old already had a major snack tantrum, and my 4-year-old wanted too many Girl Scout cookies after lunch. At least it was nice enough for them to play outside for a little while today. My kids don't eat perfectly, and they watch TV and play video games, but they do get their exercise and they love to read, so I'm happy.

Me--I'm hoping to lose the belly I put on over the winter. It's not bad, but I don't like that I gained weight. I know it's a rough battle as I get older, but I'm going to do all I can to stay as healthy and fit as I can. So I did Pilates or other core work 4 times this week, plus my other workouts. I only ran 2 miles all week, but hey--a break is good. That 10-miler is coming up in 6 weeks, so I need to start those longer runs soon.

Today's Feat of Strength

Yes, I'm lame, but I'm so proud to say that other than the clothes on our backs, every single item of clothing in our house is clean, folded, and put away! It's extremely rare that this happens! So how did this happen? Instead of running Tuesday or today when both kids were in school and I didn't have to work, I stayed home and did housework. I've been trying to find balance in my life for years, but no luck yet. I've worked part-time since October 2000 when my oldest was six weeks old--both laying out a dental journal and teaching aerobics for a while, then just doing two freelance newsletters and teaching now. I'm pretty proud that I've pulled it off without any major goof-ups though!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to all my running friends! This week I organized our elementary school's Hoops For Heart fundraiser. It was chaotic, stressful, and loud, but I'm glad I did it. More than 80 kids spent 3 hours playing basketball games and drills, and we raised nearly $4,000 for the American Heart Association. It was great to see all those kids playing together and all those grown-ups donating to a healthy heart cause.

Back to running, I got to run with all my great team members last weekend either Saturday or Sunday. It really is wonderful to have this team of women to train with. The Cherry Blossom Ten Miler is only about a month and a half away, so I need to start running longer than 5 miles at a time again. I hope the ice goes away and we can hit the trails this weekend!

Thoughts on Accomplishments

Yesterday I was at a baby shower with a bunch of women who are a good deal older than I am. Many of them are grandmothers already, and the shower was for one woman's daughter. All these women take my step aerobics class. Every week they impress me that they're still doing step as they approach their 60s or even 70s, and the class is not easy. I hope I'm like them when and if I become a grandma some day. When talk at the shower turned to strollers, someone pointed out how I run with my jogger (which I don't do much anymore as my youngest is almost 4), and they were so amazed I could do that. I think what they do is far more impressive, but I guess it's all relative.

If you ever want some real motivation by a super fit older woman, Google Morjorie Newlin. Evidently she's done the whole talk show circuit, but if you missed her like I did, she's an 87-year-old bodybuilding champion. She started lifting weights when she was 72 so she could carry home a big bag of kitty litter without help. One of her interviews ends with this quote:

Linda: That’s some accomplishment. I bet people ask you all the time, how do you stay so young?

Morjorie: I can’t do anything to be young, I don’t wanna be young. I’ve been young. I feel good just the way I am.

Morjorie has joined Sister Madonna Buder (she's a nun in her 70s who does Ironman triathlons) as my inspirations. I hope I can keep up their attitudes as I go through life. One more quote, from Pure and Simple Yoga by Eoin Finn:

It's hard, yes, but the future you thanks the present you.

Beautiful Weather, Beautiful Running

First of all, Rita celebrated her birthday this week. Hope you got to enjoy yourself and had a Happy Birthday!

This week has had the most amazing weather we could ask for in January in Northern Virginia. It even hit the 70s early in the week. It's pretty difficult to find a time for five busy moms to get together to run, plus we had a few sick children this week, so we're meeting in smaller groups when we can. When we did, we had some great runs. Tuesday was just perfect weather for a 5-mile run. Thursday was a little cooler and overcast, but still great for January. Then today, Saturday, was just beautiful and sunny again. A little chilly at our early-morning meeting time, but that just gives us even more reason for a trip to Starbucks after.

We're gearing up for our spring racing. Some of us are doing the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler. At least one of us is doing the Backyard Burn trail series (we'll see if she talks the rest of us into doing it!) One is doing a triathlon in May, and some are doing the Zooma half marathon in June. I hope we get to stay outside through the season, but I'm sure we'll get at least one school-closing ice storm over the next two months.

Here's to good health for us and our families and friends, beautiful running weather, great friendships, and fun for all.

New Year and New Goals-

We had a great turnout for the Burke Lake New Year's Day run. Plenty of jogging strollers, husbands and hot mamas in cold weather gear. Toni, Alison and were there from Fox Force Five- I brought along Alex and Garrick for motivation. Following the run, we all gathered around for a New Year's toast complete with the bubbly! Sparkling Cider of course-

One of the group runners is going to send along her training schedule for the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler and I plan on passing this along to the team. Just joined a gym thanks to teammate Rita. This will keep me on the running kick and keep Alex out of the doctor's office. Treadmill here I come!

FYI- running bonus: while at the after Christmas sale at Banana Republic, I realized the pants I was trying on were too big! Yes, that is right, I am back to my old size- it took exactly 8 months, a Bob Jogger and several miles :)