Cherry blossom 9.39 race

Last Sunday I headed into DC for the cherry blossom ten miler. It was perfect weather AND the cherry blossoms were actually in bloom! This is the sixth time running this race and I think this was the first time I've ran it with blossoms on the trees!  

(Packet pickup at the building museum on Saturday)

Megan, Jen and I headed to the metro bright and early. We met new run club friend Ric at the metro with no problems. As some of you may remember, I do not love this race. It is really crowded and I always end up with the leftover nasty bananas that nobody wants. I head into this year knowing that the food is not that great and the chance of a pr is slim. 

As we are checking our bags we hear that there has been an accident earlier in the morning on the race course and the police have a section blocked while they investigate. Due to this accident they have altered the course between mile 5 to 7.  We later learned that a pedestrian was hit by a motorcycle around 5:45 am and taken to the hospital. From what I have read the person was alive and I have not heard of a cherry blossom race day death, so that is always a good thing. The race director did a great job of rerouting  the course on such short notice. The elite women started on time about an hour after the accident. 

At the time I thought I heard that the race with the reroute was still ten miles. Later I would realize that it was a bit short. Last Tuesday they told us the official distance was 9.38 miles.  I'm thinking everyone pr'd this race since there are not too many 9.38 mile races out there.  

Megan and I headed to the portapotties and then quickly headed to our corals. There was not much of a wait before we were off. I did see that damn juggler before I hit the starting mat. He was dressed as Alex Ovechkin from the Capitals and juggling mini hockey sticks. I wish I had my camera on me to take pictures of the damn juggler. The good news is he never passed me!  

The race was crowded as usual. I kept my head down for most of the race in order to not trip on pot holes. I was feeling pretty good. I had no idea of my pace or mileage because I forgot my garmin  at home.  When I passed a time clock I would then do the math to try and figure my time and miles. It helped keep my mind off of running. At one point we were running an area of DC known as Hains Point, beside the Potomac river, and you just saw row after row of cherry blossom trees. It was very beautiful. At mile 8 I started to hate running. At mile 9, Jen passed me. I just kept trucking hoping to finish under two hours for a pr. 

As we were coming up the final hill towards the Washington monument I spotted brad. He came to cheer on us girls. I love when we have friends cheering us on!  

I finished well under two hours. I then found out it was a shorter course. Jen finished just in front of me and shared her pace number with me. I couldn't be too far off of her pace soooo.

Guess who got a pr and would have gotten a pr for the ten mile course too?  

Yep, this girl!!

This whole training thing and actually running may just work!  

We met up with everyone. 

Brunch turned out to not be very easy. We headed to Eastern Market and encountered a 2.5 hour wait!  We waited a bit then people started to get hangry so people just split up. Megan, Chris and I gave up and headed over to falls church for some yummy French toast. 

All in all it was a great day to run. 

Stay tuned for this weekends recap of the Petersburg half 

A PR with a Lesson...

Sunday morning came really early.  Hard to believe that I can get up at 4:45 for a race but not to run around my place on weekends.  I headed up to pick up Glen while Becky and Megan were driving to the metro to meet us there.  No problems this morning.  We headed over to the Washington Monument to try and find Gary for a run club picture.  Well looks like his tracking device still works because 30,000 people and we found him.

After that Megan headed for bag check and we secured the line for the bathroom.  Lots more portapotties this year.  The line didn't take that much time and we were all headed for a corral.  Glen was running the 5K since his foot was bothering him and he didn't want to temp the running gods by running 10 miles.  

We made it to the start and I didn't think it was nearly as crowded as it normally was.  I had my lovely homemade arm warmers on.  Which didn't last past mile one.  It was a bit windy and cool this morning.  The cherry blossoms were not yet bloomed.  I feel bad for the people who were in town hoping to see the blossoms during their run.  

I ran with Becky until just after the 5k mark.  She was running really strong.  I was keeping up with her instead of running my own race.  I know I do so much better if I run my own run, but sometimes I just forget.  It was Becky's first 10 miles and she did great!  Because I started out too fast I think I had problems keeping the pace up for the rest of the run.  My legs felt like lead at some points.  Could it be from the lack of sleep the night before?  Could it be that I have just be exhausted all week long?  Who knows.  I do know that I didn't feel this run like I felt the Rock n Roll USA Half run a few weeks ago.  Oh well..never know what you are going to run on race day.  

The miles were going by..I normally run a pretty steady pace, today I felt like the last half I was just dragging..I didn't have the same group of people around me..or I wasn't paying attention to who was running near me..but I just felt like I was running ok then slow and then back to ok pace wise.  I did see the beer and oreo people at mile 8.  They were out of beer and oreos.  lol  I also saw 3 people just bite the dust on the course.  One girl tripped over a garbage bag.  You could hear her hit the pavement.  One of my favorite signs was "Blisters are braille for Awesome!" I did not see the juggler.  I know he irritates me..but I sort of missed him.  

I crossed the finish with a sprint.  I heard someone yell out " way to spint to the end!"  I didn't get my sub 2..but I did knock of 3 mins from my old PR last year.  So hello 2:02  Just wasn't my day for a sub 2 I guess.  

Megan..a.k.a Kristi ran with my friend Kristi's bib since she couldn't make it to the race.  'Kristi" had lots of cheers on the course.

Becky did a great job on her first 10 miler!  She rocked it!  So proud of her!  

We met up with Jeff and Marie afterwards and of course we had to have some french toast.  Nothing says race day more than french toast!  

Who PR'd?  These two girls!!

Cherry Blossom is my least favorite race...this year I think I am ok with the Cherry Blossom.  They had water after I finished.  The bananas were looking good and I didn't have an old lady try to give me a black eye because were were running so close and her elbows were all over the place.  So I think that makes for a good Cherry Blossom.  I will never call it my favorite race, but I will say that I might have just changed my mind a bit about Cherry Blossom 10 miler.  

I"m now questioning if the fast start was the sole reason for my dragging legs for the other 7 miles.  I came home and my stomach has been horrible all afternoon.  Maybe I am just fighting something and today wasn't my day for a sub 2.  But I still got a PR so I will take it :)  

Next up..The Color Run with the nieces...should be fun.

Five things Friday

1.  Cherry Blossom expo is finished..I picked up five bibs and didn't purchase a thing at the expo.  I did do some window shopping though...

2.  Warmer weather..today was a beautiful day..Sunday looks to be the same..hope it doesn't end up being too warm.  (seems like I am never happy with the temps..complaining with the cold and now begins the complaining with the warmer temps..gesh...)  Wonder if the Cherry Blossoms will be out??  I guess I will find out on Sunday.

3.  Short run tomorrow and some cleaning followed by a prerace dinner with friends.  Can a Saturday get any better than that?  There is just something about a racing weekend.

4.  I am craving some ice cream lately..doesn't worry me too much I go in phases where I don't have ice cream for months and then all of the sudden I can't get enough.. choco chocolate chip is my current flavor.

5.  Catching up with old friends.  I talked to one of my old college roommates for a bit the other day.  Ah the fun times we had together.  Always great hearing an old friend's voice.  I love the fact that it has been months since we last spoke and we can just pick up like we see each other all of the time.  Love my old roommates :)

Aww look how young we were!

Cherry Blossom coming right up

This weekend is the Cherry Blossom 10 miler.  If you have been reading my blog for awhile you will already know that this is my least favorite race ever!  I'm sure that after Sunday I will have a list of why I do not care for the Cherry Blossom race, but right now I am trying not to think about it.  I am just concentrating on the fact that I will be running with friends!  That is always fun!

I just heard, while driving home, that the weather is supposed to be in the 70's!  That sounds good!  I'm sure it won't be that warm in the morning, but always something to look forward to.  It was soo cold today and I was hoping that it wasn't going to be like this on Sunday.  I also hope that the weather is starting to warm up so that the cherry blossoms will be in full bloom this year.  Last year they had an early bloom so no blossoms left while we ran.  Afterwards we are heading to to get some french toast.  I think I may be addicted to french toast after a run.

I'm hoping that I sub 2:00 on Sunday..and if that doesn't happen I hope I feel good during the race.  This Tuesday when I was running at run club, my legs felt like they had lead in them.  At one point I didn't think I was really running.  I hope since that happened this week that on Sunday it will be smooth sailing.  I know usually with the excitement of race morning how can you have legs of lead?

Tomorrow I'm heading up to packet pickup to pick up everyone's bibs.  I'm hoping that it is not too busy.  Normally when you go on Saturday you can end up standing in line for hours to pick up the packet.  Hopefully a Friday pick up will help me love the Cherry Blossom race just a little bit.

looking back on my running

I know it sounds like a New Year's post..but sometimes you just realize how far you have come from that first time you started running.  Today was yet another snow day!  Yippy!!  Today I realized I needed to get out and run.  If I sat anymore on my couch I think my a$$ would turn into a couch.  I decided to explore a new neighborhood.  I knew what would happen if I went in my hood (a one mile circle) I would be able to stop and head back to my couch at some point after each mile..not what I needed to happen.  So I headed to a new neighborhood hoping that it wasn't super hilly.  Turned out it wasn't bad..some hills..ended up running 7 miles.  Very nice day for a run..50 degrees outside...the only down side was some puddles from all of the snow melting.

   

Look! I do not look really miserable after my 7 miles!

After my run I got to thinking how far I have come with running...lets take a little walk down memory lane...

I remember last week at the beginning of my running journey hating to run 3 miles.  How was I going to run longer distances?  Ok I am sure I didn't really think of running longer distances, just not really enjoying running on my own.  I have always loved running on race day though.

Then I was talked into running my first Cherry Blossom 10 miler!  The first time I ran the Cherry Blossom I didn't train properly.  I had ran 4 miles before running 10 (smart I know!)  Ugh!  After the race I didn't know if I wanted a banana..to throw up to sit down or needed to walk..I was so disoriented!

The back of this shirt says it all..  I'm only doing this to post the pictures on Facebook!  

I remember feeling horrible after this race.  Running 10 miles after running your longest of 4 miles is not the smartest thing to do.  I wasn't sure what my knee would be able to do..but I hope it would allow me to run 10 miles.  I didn't know about gu chomps yet..or wicking fabric.  That lovely cotton shirt that we made weighed a ton after soaking up all of my sweat.  Ugh..never again!  

After that first 10 miler I started running more races.  I loved race day!  I still love race day.  Most of my races were 5k with a few 10K's thrown in. Since then I learned that you do have to run longer than 4 miles..it does make a difference which shoe you run in.  Wicking fabrics are my friend!  I also slowly started to read more about running and runner's blogs. Somewhere along the way I purchased my first subscription to Runner's World. I love when that magazine shows up at my door!  

don't I look happy in this Cherry Blossom picture?  Much better the second year!

My second Cherry Blossom was not nearly as bad as the first.  I actually ran more than 4 miles and discovered that gu chomps work for me. ( I still have issues with staying with my training calendar)  I found out that the gu chomps help to make sure that I am not dizzy after the race and I don't feel nearly as bad as I did after that first 10 mile race.  I felt so much better that second year that my friend Kristen and I decided to sign up for our first half marathon!  Yeah we were a bit crazy.  

My first RnR Philly race was a disaster!  We both must have picked up something from the hotel because we were both sick as a dog after the race.  Ugh...so disappointing because I actually had my best training runs prior to that race!  Now I don't know if I could ever run Philly again because of that one experience.  I think it took me a month to realize that I wanted to attempt another half.  Philly left an awful taste in my mouth and I needed another race to get rid of the bad after taste.  The Flying Pirate turned out to be the perfect follow up!  

Why was I taking a walk down memory lane today?  Well I had a pretty good run.  3 years ago I don't know if I would go out to run a 7 mile run and come back home and still be able to function.  My feet are a bit tired, but other than that I am feeling pretty good.  Amazing how far I have come since those first few races...and I still have lots more to learn.  Bring it!

Cherry Blossom 10 miler..no blossoms but lots of runners

I have been up since the a.c.o.d. (the a$$ crack of dawn).  Actually before the a.c.o.d. I met Megan at the lot to head up to the Cherry Blossom run.  Parked and Becca and Zack pulled in front of us..it was as if the time gods were on our side.  We headed to the metro and ended up on the front car with not a lot of people and we could sit.  When we got to the race we headed straight for the portapotties.  Once again time was on our side and not that bad on the line.  Checked our bag and headed to our corrals.

 

Once in my corral with Becca and Zack I look over my shoulder and there he was..

the juggler!! 

I just saw him in my half in March..I was hoping not to see him during this race.  I feel like he mocks me and the fact that 10 miles is so easy to him that he has to juggle to make it challenging..Curses juggler!!!  Although it took him til mile 7 to pass me..so I guess that is good.  Although I knew when he was behind me because there was a school of rock singing and the lead singer sort of stopped and went "oh my god, look at that"..yeah juggler..grrr...

Enough of the juggler..as you know I have not been logging the needed miles.  So today I was running, just to run.  No garmin, no time worries.  Just run.  Well turns out I had a pretty good run.  This is one of the few runs that I can say I started off on my own pace..not trying to pass or keep up with anyone.  I held a pretty steady pace too.  Slow, but steady. I was pretty pleased with my run.  I did not see the beer and oreo guy at mile 8.  I think he ran out by the time I arrived.  He was on the course, I just didn't run fast enough to see him.  The run was great.  The day was great, a bit overcast so I didn't have to worry about sun.  I tossed my long sleeve shirt before mile 1 and was comfortable the entire run.  At mile 9 I had a cramp in my quad.  Really?!  Mile 9..you couldn't hold out another mile Mr. Quad??    I ran up the last hill to the finish (which is a big deal..I hate hills) and ended up PR'ing by a minute.  Not bad for a race I was just running and wasn't keeping track of time. 

Thanks Cherry Blossom...this will be my final run with you and you gave me a pretty good run. :)

Is it still called the Cherry Blossom 10 miler if there are no Cherry Blossoms?

So tomorrow is the Cherry Blossom ten miler.  This will officially be the last Cherry Blossom race I run.  I'm moving on from the Cherry Blossoms and the crowds and the beer and oreo guy at around mile 8.  We've had a pretty good run Cherry Blossom, but there are other races that I must run.  And honestly I have never really enjoyed you.

I was torn on whether to sign up for this year's Cherry Blossom ten miler.  I talked myself into it to run with friends.  I truly didn't think we would make it in the lottery since this will be my third or fourth Cherry Blossom race.  But we made it and I'm  running  tomorrow.

A look back at my first Cherry Blossom ten miler:

The Cherry Blossom race was my first long race.  The problem was that prior to the day of the race I had only ever ran 4 miles.  Well you know what they say, if you can run four you can run ten.  So I ran/walked ten.  I had watch issues and I was worried that my friends were going to leave me b/c it was past the meeting time and I was still running.  Somehow I fast forwarded time on my watch.  Lesson on don't wear a watch for the first time to a race..learn to use it first.  Then I ran up to everyone in a panic and didn't know what I wanted to do..throw up...sit down...eat something..I don't know...Then off to lunch and I was having trouble walking.  It took me days to be able to walk up and down steps pain free.  Just goes to show you that you should run more than 4 miles before race day. :)

Tomorrow I have not ran the mileage I should have..so once again I am just running to finish.  I look forward to seeing the beer and oreo guy.  I don't look forward to seeing that damn juggler running by me..mocking me with his "this is so easy I can juggle while I do this".  I look forward as always to some yummy french toast after the run with some great friends.  It is the french toast tradition!

Hopefully tomorrow stays in the fifty's and I'm not cold during the race. 

Cherry Blossom 10 miler next week..say what!?!

I just finished the RnR DC half and now it looks like Cherry Blossom 10 miler is on the horizon.  Since I really didn't run much for RnR DC..I'm hoping for an ok, run for Cherry Blossom.  My plan is to run 8 miles this weekend.  (it is supposed to rain all weekend, so I'm hoping to squeeze in 8 outside on Sunday..if not hello dreadmill).  Then run some 4 or 5 mile runs throughout the week and hopefully I will be ready by next weekend for 10 miles. 

no cherry blossoms for this year's picture

Why oh why did they accept our entry into the Cherry Blossom? The Cherry Blossom 10 miler is probably my least favorite run.  The only reason I sign up for it is to run with friends.  I hate the crowds and feeling like I am running on top of people at the start of the race.  When I get to Haines Point I dread the fact that I am running for miles without much crowd support.  I do look forward to seeing the random guy sitting with free beer and oreos at around mile 8 (I somehow missed him last year).  The cherry blossom will probably be all gone by race day too.   I love the brunch afterwards, hanging out with friends.  I just find I don't enjoy the race.  This will probably be my last Cherry Blossom 10 miler that I run.  I prefer the Army 10 miler over the Cherry Blossom (even with the uphill climb towards the finish line). 

Cherry Blossom Race Recap

So if you couldn't figure it out from my lack of running posts, I didn't really train that well for the Cherry Blossom 10 miler this past weekend.  Three years ago I ran my first Cherry Blossom 10 miler (first 10 miler ever) and I ran 4 miles in training and then went out and ran 10 miles the day of...yeah I thought I was going to die.  Well fast forward to this year and you can add an extra mile to the 4 and you've got my longest run (and yes I know I have a half marathon next weekend!)  So I was a bit worried.  The only thing that helped was I had a really good 5 mile run earlier in the week and I at least was familiar with the race course.  Last year I had a pretty good training schedule and followed it and ran it in 2:05 (just call me speedy Gonzalez)  I was originally shooting for 2 hours or less...well with my fabulous training I think that goal was pretty much scrapped.  Now I am hoping to finish, not get picked up by the slow bus, not want to get picked up by the slow bus, and to run more than I walk. 

The morning of, I get up and everything seems to be going well.  I was a little stressed over the outfit.  I sweat a lot and hate to be hot when I run.  But I didn't want to be cold during most of the run either, so I settled on a cheap champion performance long sleeve under my t-shirt.  I figured it was cheap enough I could take it off and leave it behind if I really get hot.  It never came off, but the option was there.  My friend texts me as I head out the door and into DC to catch the metro that she missed her alarm and will probably be late so she will meet us at the race.  Not a good way to start the race for Megan.  So we all meet up at the metro (nobody is really late, shocker) and head off.  Then we end up in the longest portapotty line ever!  By the time we were done almost all the waves were through.  Kristen was running to the start as they were calling 2 mins left until the gates are closed..wow! 

The beginning of the race was super packed.  I almost got a black eye from some lady who was throwing some mean elbows.  I was trying to think of what I did to her to make her want to give me a black eye. 

It slowly started to loosen up as we headed over the bridge towards Arlington.  I ran into my friend Grab at the first water stop.  So that was nice.  She is faster and has longer legs than I do, so I knew there was no keeping up with her.  I slowly hit the 5k and next thing you know I see the 5 mile mark.  Yeah half over!!  I hit 5 miles in 1 hour.  Hey if I keep the same pace up I can make my 2 hour goal! :)  I am feeling pretty good.  It is perfect weather for running...not too cold and not too hot.

Mile 4 or 5 the running juggler past me.  Really why do you have to mock me by juggling as you run.  I know you are such a good runner that you have to throw something else in there to make it more of a sport. grrr..either run or join a circus...but please don't do both.  I see the juggler every year at Cherry Blossom and I saw him at the RnR Philly Half marathon this past September....ugh stop the insanity!!  I also saw a guy around mile 9 who was jump roping as he ran...and not jump roping with the rope going forward, but with the rope going backward...again please do not mock us slow runners! 

I ended up running more than I did last year (just a bit slower)  I didn't make my 2:00 time but I did run it in 2:10 which is fine considering I didn't really train for the run.  I am sad I missed the guy who was giving away free beer and oreos somewhere between mile 7 and 8.  My friend Dennis went back for the beer after he figured he wasn't going to make his goal lol.. 

It was a great day..I did think I was going to be sick after the run as we were in the metro..but as normal once I got some food in me I was fine.  I just saw some of the pictures from the race and I might actually purchase a few...finally a picture that doesn't look completely horrid!! 

Cherry Blossom here I come

So I dropped my mom and step dad off in Baltimore to catch their ship headed south.  (What a nice daughter huh lol)  I'll then pick them up the day after my half marathon.  So now I think I am going to rest up for the Cherry Blossom 10 mile run tomorrow.  I stopped at Borders and picked up some reading material (but I am feeling very sleepy so we will see how much reading is done today)  Then I have a nice steak in the frig for and early dinner. 

I am a bit worried about the weather tomorrow morning.  I think the rain should not be a problem.  The problem is that I am not sure what exactly I should wear.  I have a fun homemade shirt to run in but it is short sleeved.  I don't really want to wear a long sleeve under my shirt b/c I get hot pretty quickly while I run.  But I don't want to be cold while running for most of the run either..what to do, what to do...I did buy a cheap champion jacket at Target (clearance 7.49..winning!)  and I bought a cheep long sleeved shirt for around the same price.  So I guess I have options.  But I don't want the jacket to cover up the back of my shirt.  Here is what the back reads: 

This year's shirt is black (well actually it worked out that everyone had whatever color shirt they felt like using..but we were supposed to get black)

This shirt was great!  Everyone thought is was funny.  People were giving me high fives and thumbs up during the entire run.  It really helped me finish...so this year why mess with a good shirt?  So I don't really want to block the back of the shirt.  I also bought some funky knee hi socks and might cut the foot part and make some super cheap arm sleeves that I can just discard as I start to warm up.  Well lots of options we will see what turns out to be the outfit :)

Good luck to everyone running tomorrow!

8 miles here I come (I hope)

So the girls Run with Pride had to run with pride in the small gym.  We did some laps (pacing is going to be an issue) and then some cross training stations.  Then the parents pick them up and you would swear I have never said when the 5K run is going to be.  Ugh!  So I am keeping my fingers crossed that the girls are signed up in advance (if not I guess they can pay the 30 dollars day of). 

So I am off for an 8 mile run before the 10 miler on Sunday.  Fingers crossed, I have not been doing well on long runs..grrr...On a good note, looks like the rain will be done by Sunday.  I was dreading a 10 mile rainy run.  I am such a wimp with rain.  Before the long run tonight I have to stop off and get some iron-on t-shirt transfers.  The shirt color this year for the cherry blossom run is black :)  So I will be a ninja runner...muahhhaaaa

1 week till death

So Cherry Blossom is one week from today!  Yikes!  My training has been a bit lacking which is a bit concerning to me...yikes!  Heading to the gym today to run 8.  Then 2 weeks from today will be my 2nd half marathon, double yikes!  I have had the oddest running experience since my previous half marathon in September.  This is the first time I can honestly say I just didn't want to workout or run.  I thought it was just a small case of burn out from all the training for the race in September, but if it was it was the longest case of the workout blahs I have ever experienced.  I have been working out a bit more than I was back in November but that really doesn't say much.  I have been having small panic attacks because of my lack of running, I hope I don't die next Sunday.  The only thing I have going into it, was that a few years ago I ran 4 miles (my longest run) before running the cherry blossom 10 miler and lived to tell the tale.  But my legs hurt for days after.  Last year I had a great run and felt great afterwards.  Fingers crossed that I feel great next Sunday. 

Monday is my first Girls run with Pride training.  One of my 4th grade girls came in and she was practically bouncing off the wall she was so excited to start on Monday.  :)  She told me she was already running around the neighborhood.  So hopefully if I do die next Sunday somebody will take over the girls run club so they can have a great 5K run in May :) 

2 weeks till the 10 miler and 3 till the 1/2 marathon..should I start running now??

So the kids at school gave me my first bout of strep.  Yeah me!  I know hard to believe I work with kids and it has taken me this long to contract strep...what can I say I am a pink eye sort of girl ;)  So needless to say I haven't been running.  I thought I had the flu on Thursday night (exhausted, headache, sore throat and fever) and the sore throat just didn't clear up over the weekend, so it took me till Sunday to go to the doctor to find out that I had strep..looks like another sick day on Monday. 

So with such a short time before I run the cherry blossom 10 miler and then the next weekend the Flying Pirate 1/2 marathon in OBX.  I think I might have to cancel running club this evening....grrr...I really like running club.  I figure this will get me to bed early (This will be the first day back to work and I have been taking lots of naps and getting up really late for the last 5 days).  I also figure that I can attempt a 6 mile run tonight and then come home and go to bed.  Then 4 or 5 miles on Wed...Zumba on Thursday and long run either Friday after work or Saturday morning before Kristi and the my favorite nieces come to visit on Saturday.  Then next week some 5 mile runs with a 9 mile run next weekend...Hopefully that will get me on some sort of track before all the races.  At this point with all of training lack of running I am hoping to finish alive.

Well looks like I am off to work.  Hope everyone has a great day :)

7 mile run...Fail....3 mile run completed

So my plan was to run 7...failed!

It was a nice day for a run.  All I could think about was I didn't want to run and it is going to be really nice later in the week.  I mean so nice that I would be really really sad if I used up my 7 mile run on a nice day and didn't save it for a really nice day.  So I am saving it for a really nice day this week.  I then finished my 5k run.  Which I guess is fine.  But really I need to run 7 miles this week.  I am 3 weeks out from the Cherry Blossom 10 miler and 4 weeks from the Flying Pirate Half...not good times to be skimping on the training runs. 

As payment for not completing my long run I will give Riley a bath tonight.  Poor Riley he is probably going to be asking himself what he did to deserve a bath. :(

Love the Run You're With

So I ran a Valentine's race with Megan this morning.  It was supposed to get up to 50 today but with no sun and the wind...it felt cold this morning.  Once I got running and sweating it was fine though.  Right at the beginning was a huge hill which was no fun at all.  So I walked up most of it b/c the people around me were all walking and there was no going around them...and really who am I kidding...I HATE hills!  Got to see some of the Shirlington Running club handing out water at the half way point, so that was nice :)  Always fun when someone shouts out your name and says Go Pam Go! I did realize that I need to step up my half marathon training.  I have been way too lax.  So I am going to attack the running.  I want a good 10 mile run time for Cherry Blossom and I want a good 1/2 marathon time the after Cherry Blossom.  So this is it. :) 

Cherry Blossoms in December...

Well I signed up for the lottery to run the Cherry Blossom 10 miler again.   We have 10 people so we are signing up as a group.  I guess it is now all for one, one for all.  We either all get in or none of us will run.  The Cherry Blossom run in DC is not my favorite run.  Last year I ran it and after I was done they ran out of bananas and water by the time I was done running.  Who runs out of water on a ten mile run?  There are over 13,000 people running the race and you can't provide enough water for the slow pokes at the end of the run?  For those of you wondering how I judge my favorite runs I like a run with some yummy food at the end or some fun door prizes. :)  This run has neither.  I keep asking myself why I keep signing up for the run...running with friends is fun.  And this works out to be a perfect race for my half marathon the next weekend.  So I guess fingers crossed that we get in. 



My first Cherry Blossom run..I had previously ran 4 miles before running my 10.  I thought I was going to die.



Hot Sweaty mess on the metro.  Had a great run and felt great.  Amazing how much better you feel the second time around.

I went to the running club again last night.  My friend Megan  won a free RUN glass from the local running store.  I love when people get to win random prizes :)  Megan is going to run her first Cherry Blossom 10 miler with us too.  She told me last year that she wouldn't run across the street let alone run a race.  Well since then she sponsored a girls on the run girl, she is training with some girls on the run girls, she has joined the running club and has turned down the school Christmas party because "Tuesdays are saved for running".  Yeah Megan is turning into a runner :)  Cracks me up!