Twas the night before MCM...

So today I ran over to the MCM first thing in the morning to avoid lines.  Ok, I didn't really run..I drove, but you get the picture.  Megan came with me to shop since she had already picked up her bib earlier in the week.

When we got there we were a bit early.  No problem lets hang out in line with the other runners.  When we got in I headed over to get me bib.  I was so excited to have my MCM bib that I guess I wasn't listening to the volunteer.  I was paying attention to Megan as she took my picture.  The volunteer was not as excited about my MCM bib as I was...oh well.  

Then we headed over to Fisher House to pick up some swag.  I also had to exchange my shirt..how I wish I didn't have boobs some days.  

We headed into the expo and found some motivational signs.  Lets hope they come true for me :)  

Here are some of my stuff from the expo.  I got a lovely berry wind jacket and a short sleeved oorah shirt.  I better finish this full or I will not be able to wear my new stuff.  Or worse, I guess I would have to try again next year so I can wear my stuff.  I also got the lovely hot as hell tech mock (which is what they give you as your shirt)..which will probably never see the light of day unless I get stuck in a serious blizzard and lose heat because of the power outage across the region.

We finished our shopping and headed back to the car.  The line for picking up your bib wrapped around the block.  So glad we got there as soon as they opened.  No bad lines for us!  I dropped Megan off at her car and headed towards home.  I was planning on heading to target and the thrift store to pick up something to wear before the race that I could throw away.  A half mile before my exit to head home and 95 is stopped.  Next up a Firetruck and police car come flying up the side of the road.  I can see the lights as they stop in front of us.  Great.  Hope we don't have to wait too long and they let us go by on one side of the road.  Well it wasn't long before I realized we were not going anywhere.  When truck drivers are getting out of their trucks on 95 you know that is not a good sign.  People were making friends along the roadside too.

I saw one woman who was very good at multitasking.  She had some Windex and paper towels and cleaned her windows as she waited.  I wanted to run back and ask her if I could borrow some towels and her Windex.  Luckily I had a book with me so I got some reading done.  Over 1 and 1/2 hours later we were able to start to move.  A tractor trailer knocked down some overhead power lines.  Ugh..  Well that was a great use of my day.  I ended up heading to Panera to get some lunch and then complete my errands.

I have my bag packed, my clothes laid out, my shirt has my name on the front to encourage cheers to help me keep going (I hope the M stays on..it is a bit iffy..I guess I will get cheers for Pam or PA)..I'm now just relaxing and getting nervous..

Next up MCM..

Army ten miler expo

Well I got up early and headed out to get my oil changed this morning. Check off one thing that I have needed to do for awhile. I also head up to the DC Armory for packet pick up for the Army Ten Miler. Lots of people had the same idea as I had...get there when they open.

It wasn't too bad. I jumped into a middle line which nobody really was using and viola!  I was in. I had one purchase in mind at the expo... A spibelt for Marine Corps.  I know don't try anything new on race day.  I want to carry my cell with me for the race and I don't want to carry anything in my hands.  So I will test it out on the ten miler tomorrow.  

Tomorrow's weather should be perfect running weather. This makes me really happy after last weekend. :).

Not much else on the books today. I had some yummy gnocchi for lunch and some steak for dinner..then get my stuff ready for my favorite ten miler. 

VA Beach hates me and that damn juggler is back!

So last weekend I ran Rock n' Roll VA Beach.  Last year was my first time with this race and it kicked my butt!  This year was not much different, except it wasn't nearly as hot.  Don't get me wrong it was still hot and humid, just not as bad as last year.

I was running this with my friend Shawn.  We have decided that this horrible race will be our race to run together.  So we are already registered for next year.  Why did I say this could be our race?! Well I hope next year I kick this b#tches a$$!

I drove down on Saturday morning and headed over to Shawn and Kristi's to pick up Shawn and head to the expo.  Of course who should we run into at the expo?

Why Gary of course!  His teacher radar works well in VA Beach! lol  Doesn't matter what city we are in, or how many people are around, somehow Gary always shows up and can be found.  Or maybe it is Gary can always find me?  Who knows.  

Didn't buy anything at the expo.  You know you have gone to one too many expos when you do not buy anything more than some margarita shot blocks.  

Saturday night I headed to a concert with Kristi and some of her friends in Portsmouth.  The concert was the perfect price..free.  We saw Hank Williams Jr.  Since I spent nothing on this concert I didn't mind the fact that I only knew one or two songs.  It was lots of fun.

After the concert I dropped everyone off and Kristi and I headed home.  I knew I wasn't going to get much sleep since Shawn and I were leaving the house at 5:45, but I wasn't too worried because I don't sleep well the night before a race.  I am always worried that I am going to sleep through my alarm.  

I had no problem getting up, since it didn't feel like I really went to sleep.  Shawn forgot why he set his alarm so early and kept hitting snooze.  Fortunately he remembered and I didn't have to pound down his door to wake him up.  We headed out the door on time and found parking at the Arts Center.  Kristi was going to pick us up at the finish and drive us back to my car.  

We started out at 7 and it was starting to feel a bit warm and humid.  Not nearly as bad as the previous year.  By the first mile I was already sweating.  I was feeling pretty good.  I remember last year feeling horrible from the beginning on.  So hopefully this was going to be a better run since I was feeling better than last year.  I knew the Kristi and the girls were going to be hanging out at mile 6 cheering.  And rumor had it a treat may be there too.  We ran near the boardwalk and then headed over the bridge away from the boardwalk.  The great thing was I just ran most of this area a few weeks ago. Between running the race last year and running part of the course a few weeks ago I was not feeling lost on the course.  Not that you can truly be lost, I just like to feel like I know where and what is coming up on the course.  I headed towards where the girls were and Ali was the first to see me and yell "Aunt Pam!"  Love it!  I need them to be cheer me on every mile :)

They brought me a coke icee.  Yum!  The best drink on the course!  Ali didn't want me to touch her because I was gross and sweaty.  lol  Yeah I know Ali, I am gross and sweaty. It was great seeing everyone but I had to continue on with the race.  I was doing pretty well with my time.  Ah..thinking that is the kiss of death...

Mile 8 and I was starting to fall apart.  I was hot and hating life.  Ugh...here comes the walking/running.  At around mile eight there was a man with a tupperware bowl with ice.  Now normally I would not just dig my hands into a bowl of ice with a bunch of strangers, but hey runners don't care.  That was the best ice I have tasted in  awhile!  I rounded  the corner at mile ten looking forward to some lovely cold sponges..yeah they ran out..grrrr  Around 10 1/2 there was a homemade gatorade stand..a bit of blue gatorade coming up!  And one large ice cube.  I was taking anything and everything cold from the people on the course.  Then I turn and see him...the juggler..it took him 10 1/2 miles until he caught up with me.  For those of you who do not know I do not like the running juggler...

I feel like he is mocking all runners..look it is so easy I have to juggle while running.  Well he was there..but he was feeling the heat and humidity too.  He dropped a ball and I didn't think he was going to pick it up.  It looked like he was hating running and juggling.  He kicked it forward and finally bent down to pick it up.  He wasn't juggling as much either.  Look even the juggler was not enjoying the end of this race.

Right before the bridge there were some people handing out pop ice.  Yum!  Cold flavor-ice pops..how smart!  I was heading up the bridge when a woman told me that I was her hero since I was running with a fake leg.  Umm..it is real...just messed up from a car accident. lol  She made my day!  I headed for the finish and was not feeling great.  I was super hot and hating life.  They ran out of chocolate milk.  I just wanted to lay down and die..

I headed to the letter P to meet up with Shawn.  He wasn't there so I waited in the hot sun.  I was getting really hot and not feeling well.  I should have gone into the ocean, but I couldn't imagine being hot and wet.  I was already wet from every sprinkler.  I couldn't imagine being really wet with salt water and then sand..so I looked around for some shade.  Not much shade on the beach.  I really didn't feel well...did I mention that.  Finally Shawn shows up and I tell him I was debating going to the medic tent because I was so overheated.  Shawn convinced me to go.  They put some ice on the back of my neck.  They also gave me a new cold towel for my face.  Ah...heaven!

One of these days I will conquer VA Beach!  Not this year, but sometime I will come out a head of VA Beach.  Hopefully next year it is cool and  humidity free..who am I kidding..I just hope it is not 100 degrees and feeling like pea soup. :)  

Marine Corps Historic Half expo

Well tomorrow is the Marine Corps Historic Half.  It really is not my favorite half because of all of the hills.  If you haven't figured it out yet I hate hills!  I ran it last  year and hated all of the running up up up!  So hopefully this year since I know what to expect I will not be as crabby to those hills!  The nice thing is that the Marines always put on a great race, so I'm not expecting any horrid things to happen (like long lines for bag check, portapotties or anything of the like)  I do love the people dressed up in ye' old days and doing some colonial dancing in Historic Fredericksburg.   I mean who doesn't love a good colonial dance?  I'm hoping to finish this race with a smile on my face..that is my only goal.  I haven't been the greatest on my running this month...so I will take what I can get out of those hills.  I still have to look up my time from last year but if I recall it was horrible,so I guess I am hoping to beat that time too..we will see..

I headed down to Fredericksburg this morning to pick up my packet.

Drove in under the Finish Line!  

Drove out under the Starting Line!

Packet pickup was super easy and pretty quick.  I purchased a glass since I also got a glass last year and it has turned out to be the favorite for all of my drinks!  I did get some new body glide and some shot blocks.  Can't go wrong with those purchases.  The expo had many charities to see and some races to sign up for.  

I headed out of the expo and went to the mall to look around to see what they had.  Didn't really end up with much.  I got back in my car and headed home.  I before actually getting home I decided to stop at Five Guys to grab a burger.  I love protein the night before a race.  I normally will get a burger or steak for dinner.  Not sure how smart the Five Guys burger was but I guess I will see tomorrow.  I am not normally a greasy Five Guys kinda gal, but I wanted a burger.  

Hopefully the rain holds off for tomorrow and I get to run in semi dry clothes.

Hot Chocolate Race Expo

Saturday is the Hot Chocolate 5K/15K race at National Harbor.  I'm running the 5K, having some brunch and then I am off to PA so I can head to the Steeler game on Sunday. 


I went to the race expo on Wednesday with Megan. 

I figured less traffic on a Wednesday night than a Thursday.  Which then means there has to be an accident on the Wilson Bridge.  Love DC traffic!  We finally made it to the Harbor and decided to park on the street.  We snagged some on street parking with 30 minutes left on the meter!  Score!  Maybe our luck is changing.  We head over to the expo thinking how great can it be??  Well turns out it wasn't that bad!

We picked up some Feeture socks, buy 2 get 1 free!  I love running socks!  I also picked up some Brooks running tights.  Love that they were on sale too!  Can't beat 30 dollars for some tights! 

While Megan was attempting to pay for her bargains, we ran into Jeff from run club!  He had his hands full with some bargains on shoes. 

We finally head back to the car and are greeted with a lovely parking ticket for 15 dollars!  Really?!  And I am guessing you think that is going to make me want to come back to shop and visit?  We were less than 30 minutes and I get a ticket for 15 dollars??  Ugh!! 

Looks like it is going to be a bit cold on Saturday.  I am thinking the wind off of the Potomac may be my enemy on Saturday too.