In 3 days I'll be hitting the start line of Ragnar Pennsylvania on an ultra team. What's an ultra team? It's a team of 6 instead of 12 - which means you pretty much never have down time and you run twice the number of miles. It seemed like a good idea back when I signed up. And my usual method of running races as training runs was going well. Until it wasn't. I'm honestly still not sure what is going on with my foot and ankle. I've managed to run 7 miles in the last 3 weeks. Seven. I missed 100 miles for the month of May by more than 45 miles and so far in June I've run a 5K. A pain free 5K, thankfully, but only a 5K. I only have to run ten times that between Friday morning and Saturday afternoon - … [Read more...]
Global Running Day 2018
Global Running Day occurs every year on the first Wednesday in June. That means that Global Running Day is tomorrow and it looks like I may be celebrating with a run. Yep, I ran a 5K in Colorado this weekend at the Skirt Sports 13er with minimal pain, Whoop! I'll also be celebrating by hosting a group run at one of my favorite brewpubs, sponsored by RockNRoll Marathon Series. We'll be going for a short run and then returning to the pub for beer and snacks at happy hour prices. What makes this run "Global Running Day" special??? I have cool swag from RNR and the race director of RNR DC is attending. That's right - here's your chance to ask questions about next year's course, while having a beer and getting swag. If you are … [Read more...]
How do you rate a roller coaster month?
May was... interesting. It's a challenging month to rate as it has had some good and some not so good things. Good things: I ran my 75th half marathon. I celebrated my 10th anniversary of blogging. Beer Geek and I celebrated 23 years of marriage. I'm in Colorado on vacation, hiking and drinking craft beer. Not so good things: My 75th half marathon pretty much sucked. My ankle still hurts and does not seem to be moving towards healing, despite several visits with my chiro and two weeks of not running. This has made the hiking a challenge. We got caught in the craziest hailstorm I've ever seen! We were being pelted by softball sized hail! Thankfully, we were not on the highway, having pulled off … [Read more...]
You might be Mother Runner if… (Part 2)
Today's topic for Tuesdays on the Run with Marcia and Patty is "Mother's Day". I became a runner when I became a mom, so the two are closely linked together in my mind. This post is a continuation of a last year's post... you've ever checked a breast pump at gear check at a race. you paid more for your running stroller than your first car. you've ever picked up a kid from school in sweaty running clothes. you've ever had to run back to your car before you could pick up a sick kid from school. you get excited when your kids get bigger than you because every sweatshirt they outgrow is a potential race throwaway. you make your child get all of his service hours for middle school by volunteering at races. you've ever … [Read more...]
Rating April: #oopsanotherrace
At the beginning of the year, I set up one big scary goal: Take each day as it comes. Roll with the punches and keep on moving forward with a smile on my face. I've struggled with accepting that. The planner in me wanted everything on paper (yes, I still use a bullet journal - writing things by hand works for me), but I have so many balls in the air that I had to pencil it all in. And I'm glad I did. Life had some ups and downs and twists and turns this month, but if it could not have worked out better if I'd planned it in January. The month started with some wacky weather that threw us all into a tizzy. I was going to run RNR Raleigh, but there were too many unknowns and Beer Geek cancelled his trip, so we all ended up staying … [Read more...]
The year without a spring
After a long winter, there's nothing I love more than the first few runs of spring where a skirt and tank top are the perfect clothing. That time when it's warm enough to not need layers, but not so warm that you feel like you are melting at the end of the run. Yeah, we aren't going to get that weather this year. I know that Virginia is lucky - we aren't getting the snow and cold that states farther north are, but I'm so over being cold. And I'm even more over the temperature swings. One day it's too hot to run outside because it's in the high 80s and I'm not acclimated to it. The next day I'm pulling out my Toasty Cheeks Tights again. I think I've worn my gloves on runs more in April than I did in February. And to add insult … [Read more...]
Training Plan: Run all the races
Word on the street is that it's spring. I'm not really sure I believe that since I ran a half marathon this past weekend wearing all the layers. All.of.them. But supposedly it's here. Which means it's time for our Tuesdays on the Run discussion of how your spring training is going. Do you have an "A" race coming up? My "A" race this year is Ragnar Pennsylvania. I know that you are thinking "but you run Ragnar every year, how does this require training?" Well, I'm running my first Ultra Ragnar. Yep - half the runners, twice the miles. Now I'm the mini miler on the team, so my mileage may not be more than some runners have in a regular Ragnar, but I don't know the plan yet. So I need to train to run about 30 miles over the course of 36 … [Read more...]
Who knew running could bring me luck?
I didn't choose running. Running chose me. And in choosing me, it made one of the luckiest girls around. Today on Tuesdays on the Run, we are talking about luck and running. Are you a lucky runner? I know that I am. When I started running, it served one purpose. And I'll talk about that on Thursday when I write a throwback piece about why I run. But running really brought so much more to my life than I ever expected. It's brought me friends. Oh, so many friends. I can't even imagine what my life would look like without the amazing runners I've met. Its brought me so many opportunities: Ambassadorships with many cool companies. A trip to IMG Academy with Gatorade. Managing packet pick up for the Nike … [Read more...]
Confessions of a Treadmill Addict
That's right. Somehow over the last 3 months, I've run more miles on the treadmill than I have outside. And I've come to accept that. I've had a treadmill for 12 or so years. I don't remember exactly when we bought one, but it was sometime right before or after Shoo (who is now 12) was born. I know this because I remember putting him down for a nap on the bed next to the treadmill and running while he slept. That treadmill was my lifeline when he was little because he refused to nap in a stroller. (Jones, on the other hand, used to nap for HOURS as long as the stroller or the car was moving...) So, I'd drop Jones at preschool, get Shoo down for a nap, and run for as long as he'd sleep. But once the kids got older, I only used … [Read more...]
February: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Post may contain affiliate links. It's that time again - Tuesdays on the Run and "rate your month." Join Marcia, Patty, Sarah, and myself as we talk about how the shortest month of the year went. That shortest month of the year thing? Yeah, that's really messed with me. I *think* I'm going to eek out 100 miles this month, but as I write this, I have 9.9 miles left to run and two days of running left. Oops. I did make running a bit more of a priority than last month, but 3 days fewer is messing with my running statistics. #firstworldproblems Of course, the fact that I haven't manage a run longer than 8 miles isn't helping either. Planning last week's long run on a record warm day for February did not do me any favors, … [Read more...]
Love Letter to a Skirt
In honor of Valentine's Day and Tuesdays on the Run, I thought I'd write a love poem. I've waxed poetic in the past about my love affair with running, including one from my pre-Skirt days. So, today, you get to be amazed by my poetic prowess as I swoon over my favorite skirt. Ode to my Happy Girl, Oh, how I love thee! Let me count the ways. I love thee for the length That provides me with a pleasing appearance And a chafe free run. I love thee for the patterns. Oh, the many, many patterns you tempt me with. I love thee in Tantrum, Escape, and Psyched. And Aberdeen, Paradise, and Snake Charmer. But I love thee for so much more. Each season I love thee for the new prints. And the unicorns I search for on ebay. But … [Read more...]
Marine Corps Marathon, I just can’t quit you…
It's almost that time of year again. Time to start sorting out my registration for the Marine Corps Marathon. Do I try to get online and sign up for 17.75? And then run one of the hardest races in the area for the pleasure of handing over my credit card to pay for my guaranteed entry? Or do I take my chances and enter the lottery? Or is it time to give back and fundraise for a worthy cause (there are so many, I'm not sure who I'd even pick). Regardless of what method I decide to use to enter the Marine Corps Marathon, one thing is certain: I will be running it again this year. I didn't mean to fall in love with the Marine Corps Marathon. I truly believed I would be one and done. Even after I returned to the world of marathoning, I … [Read more...]
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