Friday, August 8, 2008
It's been a while...
Happy runnings!
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Hot Hot Hot
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
Monday, May 5, 2008
Marathon Time Again
Sunday, April 6, 2008
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
Monday, March 31, 2008
Spring Races
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
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Shoes
Now don't even get me started on how much I spent on compression tights and shorts this month...
Alison
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Whats a Girl to do when She Travels???
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
Okay, I have to say it--Happy Trails!!!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
90 Days
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.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Today's Feat of Strength
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Happy Valentine's Day
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!
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Thoughts on Accomplishments
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:
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:
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Beautiful Weather, Beautiful Running
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.