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 :)

A group of six of us went running yesterday morning--some team members, some other friends. We approached a man running alone, who looked to be a bit older than us. We started to pass him, and we all exchanged hellos. Then a few seconds later he blew past us, saying "no one's passing this old guy today!" Every time we got close to him again, he sped up. He really didn't want to be passed by a pack of girls! I guess we can think of it as helping him interval train.

One Wet Weekend

Two of us met up Saturday morning for a run in the rain. Actually, it stopped raining shortly after we started, but it still was wet and foggy. The trails were too slushy, so we opted for the roads. I think we saw one car the whole time. It was a day where the power of having a running partner shone through. We both said we never would have gone out if we weren't committed to meeting someone there. And while I definitely was the slower gal out there, I pushed myself to keep up, and I felt so good about that when we finished.

I couldn't make it out Sunday morning, but I hear some die-hard moms ran the trail through the mud. What dedication! I'm already looking forward to next weekend's run, hopefully in dryer conditions.

Official Team Meeting!

So we had our first official team meeting last night at the Burke Caribou Coffee. We all got together to meet up, take a team photo and discuss our running goals. Some of us have run marathons, and others, like myself are new to the running scene and are just looking to go longer distance! We are all registering for the Cherry Blossom 10 miler - I think that we ultimately want to run a marathon as a team. Hopefully the Marine Corps Marathon- not just because it is local, but because I served in the USMC :)

I am really looking forward to this - Although we all seem to have different goals, our kids are all different ages and we keep different schedules, one thing that is bringing us together is our love for running and staying in shape.

The team is going to meet on Tues and Thurs mornings at Burke Lake and then on Saturdays for an early run- that is the only time I can make it so hopefully I can keep up!

Post more after the weekend....it is snowing outside now....