Reston 10 miler and That Damn Juggler!

Yesterday I ran the Reston 10 miler with Megan and Sandy.  It was a run that I really thought that was not going to happen.  Or maybe it was a run that was just one big mess.  I got my stuff ready the night before.  I took a shower so I could sleep in a bit and not have to worry about much.  Well I guess I didn't worry about much.  As I was driving to Megan's I realized I forgot my music.  Oh well that is not that big of a deal.  When I got to Megan's and was about to hop in her car I suddenly realized what else I forgot...my bib!  In all of my races that I have ran I have never forgotten my bib- ever.   Well I can't say that anymore.

We were off and we missed the exit for the race and then almost turned onto the wrong exit at the next one..yeah it wasn't looking like this was going to be a great race for me.  We got to the race and there was no parking at the high school so I jumped out of the car to find a bib while Megan went off to find parking.  Ugh..was this really how the day was going to go?  I headed into the high school thinking that the packet pick up would be there.  Nope.  I did find super long bathroom lines though.  Great!  Doesn't look like I will be able to use the bathroom before the race either.  I made my way down to the track to see about a bib.  Luckily the high school student was able to hook me up with a new bib after I filled out some paperwork.  Yes!  

Both of my bibs!

I then started running towards the start.  No time for the portapotty.  So I am running thinking I hate running before a race.  I don't want to be running to the race and then run a race!  But no way around it.  I ran into Sandy and she was nice enough to put my sunglasses in her car.  I normally would just run with my hand held water bottle, but I also took my phone so that I could find Megan.  So my hands were going to be  full as I ran.  I look down at my Garmin and shocker! It is frozen!  Yep that is the way my day is going.  Oh well.  Lets see how this race goes.  Not sure it could go much worse.   We found Megan and we were standing chatting when I saw HIM.  That damn juggler was at the race too!

Well of course the Damn Juggler would be here!  Why wouldn't he?  

Before the race Megan mentioned that there are probably no portapotties on course.  She ran the course a few months ago with the same group that was running this race.  Great!  I need to use the bathroom, the lines are long and there are no portapotties!  She did mention that there was a lovely 7-eleven around mile 3.  I filed that information under good to know and then we were off.  

The race was pretty hilly.  I haven't really been running much more than 4 miles so I didn't really know how today was going to go.  Based solely off of everything that happened prior to the race I would not be shocked if I was hating life during this race.  As we were running I had a great conversation about hatred for a certain Hot Chocolate Race.  It is amazing that the race was over two years ago, but when you see someone wearing that damn jacket a bunch of strangers start complaining about how horrible that freaking race was.  After chatting about how we all hated the Hot Chocolate Race I went off looking for somewhere to use the bathroom.  There were trees but not very thick.  Not stopping there.  I saw some sort of nature place, I checked to see if there was a bathroom..nope.  Soon I came up to the 7-eleven.  I saw a women head off course and I was right behind her.  The 7-eleven worker was super nice.  She unlocked the bathroom for both of us.  Bless you!  There was no way I as going to be able to run another 7 miles when I was dancing while waiting for the person in front of me.

The bathroom was not really out of order. 

While in the 7-eleven bathroom it was the perfect time to take off my long sleeve shirt under my short sleeved shirt.  It started in the upper thirties and later in the day it was supposed to hit the 60's!  Then Monday we are getting winter storm Titan and temps will be in the 20's.  Talk about crazy weather...anyway back to the race.  I was sweating like crazy so perfect time to take off the long sleeve.  Ah..so much better.  Now I didn't have to keep thinking about bathrooms and how hot I was.  It took maybe five minutes to head off course and boy was it worth it!  

As I said it was pretty hilly.  I did pretty good at running up the hills considering how much I hate hills.  I did walk some up the hills but I usually would run at least some.  I was feeling pretty good with my running.  

Mile 6 was a great mile!  I wish my Garmin was working because I would love to know my pace.  It was one of those miles that you just felt like you were flying!  Now the next mile not so much, but that is ok, every mile can not feel like you have sprouted wings!

I headed into the last mile thinking that I was feeling pretty good considering that I didn't really train.  I am so glad I ran this race because in a few weeks I have my first half marathon of 2014.  I headed towards the finish on the track.  I was thinking that we were going run the track, but no the finish was not that far from the track entrance.  I did a pretty good job of sprinting the last few.  Looking at my time if I didn't stop for the bathroom I would have PR'd!  What?!  But it was so hilly!  Yeah I woulds say it turned into a pretty good race!

I found Megan laying on the track stretching or sleeping..I am not sure which.  We also found Sandy.  We got some pictures and then headed out for some breakfast.

Next up:  A St. Patty's 8K next weekend.

Happy Veteran's Day and a PR!

Hope everyone is having a great Veteran's Day!  Thank you to all who have served and currently serving! 

*Update*  My gym did not move.  I thought it did move, that is why I have not visited it since forever, but turns out they did not move. Who would have thought that the gym would be in the exact same location that it was 6 plus months ago!  lol   I also went to the gym two days in a row last week.  :)  I will continue to head over to the gym more often since I now know where it is located

Today I ran a Veteran's Day 10K with Megan, Glen and Lee (new guy at run club).  I realized I hate running this time of year.  I can never tell what type of clothes to wear.  I did notice when we were trying to park that people either looked like they were running in the summer or waiting for the snow to fall.  I dressed for 40 degree weather in the morning when I left..when we go there I soon realized that it was going to be closer to 50 while we were running.  Yeah I should have worn a short sleeve shirt.  Turned out my half zip wasn't too bad to run in, but I would have liked my short sleeved better. I figure this running weather out before the snow falls. 

The 10K took us through Haines Point which is the horrible lonely part of the Cherry Blossom 10 miler.  So Megan and I knew what we were going to see on this run.  Very flat and not a lot of people.  We got there just in time to bag check and jump in line to start running.  I tried to jump in towards the back since I am a slowpoke and didn't want to try to keep up with the pack, but run my own run.  Turns out I made a wise decision.  I felt pretty good running considering I really didn't run much in October.  I bet those two days at the gym really helped me with my stamina ;)  I kept my own pace and felt really good.  I hit my 5K point faster than I have been lately, so I was pretty happy and was hoping I could keep it up to the 5 mile mark.  At the 5 mile mark I was ahead of my normal 5 miles.  Yes!  On to the finish..I knocked off 6 miles from my 10K time!!  Yeah me!!  So happy! Love a PR! 

After we met up with Gary to get our picture for run club.  He was running the 10K but we didn't have a chance to meet up before the race because of the bag check line. 

After the run we headed over to enjoy some yummy french toast.  A race would not be complete without a plate of french toast! 

Overall it was a beautiful day for a run.

Four Courts Four Miler

So I was looking forward to today's four miler race.  Last night I came  home and took a nap followed by  making some pasta and back to bed at 9 pm.  Yeah not my normal Friday night.  I think I'm fighting a head cold.  I just feel sluggish and blah..yeah that's what you want to feel like before running four miles.  I did take some Advil Cold so I'm hoping that helps me out this morning. 

Next weekend is the Rock n Roll DC half marathon.  Fingers crossed that I don't die! lol  I haven't been putting in the miles that I should.  So if I die mid run I guess I have nobody to blame but myself.  The good thing about the half is it is the first of three..a few weeks go by and I have the Cherry Blossom 10 miler and then a few more weeks and another  half followed by a few more weeks and my final half mid May.  So I'm hoping that my time gets better has the weeks go on :) (well if I survive next week that is). 

Good Luck to all running this weekend!

9/11 run

For the past 3 years I have ran the 9/11 run in Arlington, Va.  This year was no different.  If you are not familiar with this run, it is a really great run to participate in.  It is a very family friendly run.  People are running with kids, dogs and lots of strollers.  The run begins at 6pm.  This is great if you like to sleep in and hate getting up early for a race.  The downside of this run is if it has been hot all day long, it bakes the pavement.  The last portion of the run is around the Pentagon parking lot.  That parking lot is really hot!

That parking lot gets the best of me every year!  I always tell myself I am going to run the entire thing and I always end up walking parts of the parking lot.  You can just feel the heat coming off of the pavement.  It just kills me mentally every year.  Next year I will run that parking lot!There are usually some bagpipe players towards the end of the race too.  Usually they hang out under the overpass, this year they moved.  It was great seeing them run in and cross the finish line at the end of the race too. 

I did notice that there were less emergency personnel running the race.  Usually you see a bunch of firefighters, police officers and military running this race.  I think because of the heightened security around DC that most of the regular emergency people were on call or working. 

Great race and it was extra fun because we met some friends from run club.  It was great cheering them on and having some beer and pizza afterwards.  Then we all decided to head to Shirlington for some more beers.  Next on the racing schedule is the Army 10 miler in October.  10 miles here I come!