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.

Love the Run You're With 5K

So a few weeks ago I ran Love the Run You're With 5k.  I ran while some run clubbers manned the water station.  We then met up afterwards at a bar for some mimosa's and food.  The run starts out with a lovely hill.  I knew there was no hope of a PR because of the fact that the day before I had my 5K PR and  the stupid hill that goes straight up really is not great for a PR.  Which is fine.

Now you can't run a Valentine's Run with out some love.  I had the Love Bug wings and heart headband. It works. :)

People loved the wings!  The best Halloween purchase ever!  I've had those wings for two years and have never taken them

Well this winter has been a rough one.  Last week was only the second week that we were in school for a five day work week.  Monday we are expecting a big storm.  This winter has not helped my running and training.  Tomorrow I have a 10 miler.  It should be interesting since I haven't really been running much.  I foresee a painful ten miles.  The good thing is the storm is not supposed to start until after dinner time.

The last year in my 30s..

Today I had a lovely Happy Birthday lunch with Megan and Bill.  Bill brought me flowers and balloons.  How nice!

I bought some great clearance shoes at DSW.  You can't turn down a birthday buy on a new pair of flats!

I did head to the gym.  I found that working out when your 39 is soo much more difficult than it was when I was 38.  Just amazing the difference a year makes :) My bones also ache more than they did yesterday.

I came home to more flowers from my friends Becca and Zack.

There was also a lovely note attached.  The note read:  You are not really old until next year.  Nothing says happy birthday like a note telling you that you are almost old.  Love my friends!

I also finally checked my mailbox.  I haven't ventured through the snow piles to get the mail since Thursday.  I got my shirt to run the Pittsburgh Half Marathon in!  It will go great with my Steeler shorts!

running love

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

I started thinking today about when I developed a love for running.  It is Valentine's day you know..the day to think about your love.  I'm not really sure when I developed a love for running.  I know that the winter of 2008 we had a crazy workout competition at work.  You got points for every 30 mins of activity.  The person with the most points in April won a bunch of money.  I didn't win..but I tried.  I was working out like crazy.  One of my neighbor was commenting on how much I was walking and giving me the crazy look.  The gym was my second home.  During that time I wasn't running on the treadmill or outside for that matter, but I was working out a lot.  I did a lot of elliptical work too.  One day my friend Kristen asked if I wanted to run a 5K and I thought why not.  So I signed up, Kristen signed up and my friend Becca signed up.  I ran my first 5K with a dad behind me telling his son that he wasn't allowed to stop until he finished.  There is no stopping in a 5K!  So I felt like I couldn't walk and just kept going.  I finished the race and enjoyed it.  Not loved it, but I had fun.

I signed up for another local race with some friends and had a good time too.  Next thing I know I'm running races here and there.  I don't remember if I really trained for much.  I am sure I ran here and there, but not much more than that.  I ran a few 8K's and soon Kristen asked if I wanted to sign up for the Cherry Blossom 10 miler lottery.  There was a good chance we would not get in. Well if the chances are good that we will not make it sign me up! And of course we got in.   I am sure I could actually train for a race.  What? They pick up on the slow bus if you are not going at least 14 min. per mile.  Well here's hoping I don't end up on the slow bus.

We did get into  the Cherry Blossom 10 miler and I trained by running my longest run (4 miles) before running the race.  Needless to say that was a very hard race.  For those wanting my training plan, please do not run 4 miles and then go and run 10..it is not fun!  I felt like throwing up after that race.  I felt dizzy and just horrible.

 So what do I do?  Sign up for it again the next year.  Yeah I think I have a death wish.  We got into the race and I had a different training plan.  I actually trained!  Go figure!  Two days after that race I convinced Kristen we should run our first half marathon.  If we can run 10 miles we can run 13.1.  We signed up for the RnR Philadelphia race in 2010.  We both ended up getting sick and I ended up throwing up the entire ride home form Philly to Virginia.  I do not think I can ever run a race in Philly because of that experience.  I am blaming the hotel for getting us sick.

Well after Philly I wanted to redo my half marathon experience.  There is no way I could judge that race distance since I was sick while I ran it.  So Kristen and I signed up for the Flying Pirate in 2011.  It was a great race!  I loved the support for all of the runners.  I loved the small town feel of the race.  I definitely had the bug!

I doubled my races in 2011 to 11 races including my favorite ten mile race..Army Ten Miler.  There is just something about race day that I love.  The excitement.  Running with a group of strangers and sometimes chatting while you run.  Trying to hit whatever goal you have for that day's race.


 I also started to go to run club.  I think making new running friends really helped my love for running too. Because of run club there are few local races that I run that I do not bump into someone that I know.

So somewhere between my first 5K in 2008 and now I fell in love with running.  It has definitely been a fun journey.

Tuck and roll...a.k.a. Cupid 5K

This morning Megan and I ran the Cupid 5K.  I have never ran this race and it was pretty good for a small race in February.  There were families running and people all decked out in Valentines wear.  We each got a lovely heart headband to wear.  I broke out the tutu for this run. There is only a few runs that you can justify a tutu and Valentine's Day runs are one of those that scream for a tutu.

We started out and if you got behind people that were slow there was not a lot of room to run around them.  The race was on a lot of sidewalks.  I did pass some people and got stuck behind some more people.  Around the half way point I almost had to leap frog over a kid who dropped his glove and stopped to pick it up.  Luckily I have reflexes like a cat and I was able to go around him in the grass.  Unfortunately I do not always have control of my running shoes.  Five feet after my reflexes saved a small child I ended up biting the dust.  I am not sure what happened.  I was being pretty careful with uneven sidewalks.  I am not even sure if the sidewalk that I suddenly was rolling over was uneven.  All I know is I went down pretty quickly.  But my cat like reflexes were there and I was able to roll out of the runners way.  Tuck and roll people!  The nice dad to the kid I just  barely missed helped me up and I was off and running in a few seconds.  No blood.  My hand hurt a bit where it made contact with the sidewalk but no harm done.  I was like a ninja with my moves though. I am sure that the dad was impressed with my quickness and my ability to shake it off.

We were almost to the end and someone else bit the dust right behind me.  I turned around to make sure she was alright.  Looked like she might have jammed her shoulder or arm because that is what she was holding. I picked up her keys and there were about five of us asking if she needed help.  Her friend was with her and looked like things were under control so I continued on my way.  Someone must have said something to a volunteer because he was walking towards the fallen runner when I turned the corner.

I finished and enjoyed some hot chocolate after the race.  Megan and I had to find some place for some post race french toast.  This one had pecans and strawberries on it.  Yummm!!!  Turns out that I PR'd today!  I took one second off of my best time (which happens to be my very first 5K in 2008!  Yeah you can see how I work on improving my 5K time :)  I am sure it would have been a better PR if I didn't fall or head back to help the other fallen runner.  Pretty happy since I didn't even think I had PR'd in the first place!

We noticed that there seemed to be some sort of camping event going on near the race. Turns out Nike was realeasing some new shoes. 

A small store selling the newly release Nike shoes were letting in a few people in at a time.  I don't think there are any shoes that I would camp out for..I know there are no shoes I would camp out in the winter for!  Well I hope everyone was able to find the shoe they wanted in their size.

Running at run club? Say What?!

Last night I ran at run club..I haven't done that in quite some time.  Yesterday it was probably in the high 30's when we ran.  A perfect night for a run.  I was questioning my clothing choice.  Everyone looked like they were ready for a winter storm.  I had on capri's and a long sleeve shirt..oh and to look like one of the cool kids I added ear warmers that I found in my running bag.   Yeah the ear warmer headband will keep me warm.  Those ear warmers didn't last long..Turns out my outfit was perfect.  I was a bit chilly on the return run because of how the wind was hitting us but I was pretty comfortable.  When you haven't ran outside in some time it is hard to figure out how many layers make for a comfortable run.  I sweat.  I sweat in 100 degrees and I sweat in 30 degree weather.  So I am never quite sure how many layers to go with.  Last night it was the perfect amount.  I also will say that I felt pretty good during my run.  I could have ran a bit faster too, but I was staying with Jen.  You do not want to leave someone to run by themselves in the dark.  And it is always nice to chat while friends while you run.

Next up: I have two 5K's this weekend.  Both Valentine's Day runs.  

Where's The Young and the Restless when you need them?

Well I did it! I completed a pretty good run on the treadmill..with the help of Young and the Restless!  Thank's Y&R!  I headed to the gym on Wednesday since we didn't have school.  I really need to have a few week days off from work so I can head to the gym in the afternoon.  Did you know that you have your pick of machines during the afternoon of a random weekday?!  I know I had no idea!  Now I just need to figure out how to get to the gym during the school day.  Anyone want to volunteer throwing a bunch of snow around the superintendent's  house so he thinks a blizzard has happened once a week??  I'm sure his will not catch on to this trick.

Anyway..back to the gym..I headed over during my surprise snow day to attempt to get in a run on the treadmill.  I figured I would mess with the speed to keep things interesting.  Since it works for lots of you all, I figured I would try it.  Well I got on and realized that Y&R was on.

So I decided that I would unplug my music and see what was happening with Nicki and friends.  I think it was a great idea!  I was able to get in almost 5 miles on the treadmill.  Thank you Y&R!

On Thursday I headed out with some friends to listen to a band.  We claimed we were ushering out the January birthdays (KP's) and welcoming in the February birthdays (Jen's and mine).  But really it was just an excuse to hang out without sweaty clothes and listen to music.  As always it was a good time hanging out with running friends.  

No we didn't go skiing.. Those goggles were made for bars.

Always fun hanging out with running friends :)