Last night I started packing for the trip. No, we don't leave for a few days, but I need to be making progress. For the last 7 years, we haven't gone on a vacation that didn't involve at least a few nights at a house or condo with a washer and dryer. (I'm kind of in love with Vacation Rentals By Owner.) I prefer packing light and doing a couple of loads of laundry on vacation. This trip we will be at a different location every night. Since I'm not a fan of putting my running clothes in the dryer (and I'm not going to have an easy place to hang dry), I went with the new outfit each day option. Also, I can't risk losing my shoes, so I'm taking a good sized carry on. This is not the norm for me either. First thing in: my Brooks … [Read more...]
Four Courts Four Non-race Report
Every once in a while I make a smart running decision. Not often. Given a choice, I usually choose to run. But given my A goal is 8 days away, I decided not to run Four Courts Four Miler this year, even though it's one of my favorite races. Why? Well, if you are local, you know it starts with a wicked downhill and ends with a wicked uphill. I'm not know for my ability to hold back on the downhill and the uphill sucks even if you are "running easy" instead of racing. I decided it just wasn't worth risking an injury. So, I volunteered instead. I love Pacers Events: the races, the people, the fun. I've been one of their Ambassadors since they started the program and I even work for them on occasion (for example, the Nike Women's … [Read more...]
DNSing Love the Run 5k
AKA "Did not start". This weekend was a good weekend, but it was not a good running weekend. When last we "chatted", I'd just finished a hard half marathon that included two+ miles of pain in my foot + a wicked bad blister on my heel. Not knowing what caused those issues and a cold rainy day led me to choose the treadmill on Friday. Unfortunately, thanks to the blister, my 11 miler became 6.1. Not to worry, I'd run on Saturday instead. I had the brilliant (not) idea to run to packet pick up for the Love the Run 5k that I was running the next day. It was a 6 mile run and I figured I could add on some distance in the neighborhood near the store and get 11 miles in. Beer Geek said he'd pick me up in the store when I was … [Read more...]
Clarendon Day 5k + busy weekend
I've run or volunteered at the Clarendon Day race every year since it started. Most years I run and volunteer and this year was not exception. The race starts at the top of a big long hill and ends about a mile and a quarter away at the bottom. Depending on which distance you run, you go out on a flat to rolling hills section at the bottom of the big hill before heading to the finish line. Those who are brave (crazy?) enough can run the 5k, get back up the hill, and run the 10k. I started my weekend with a volunteer stint at packet pickup. I always love the questions about how you are supposed to get back up the hill. Umm, it's just over a mile, how 'bout you walk? (To Pacers credit, they provide metro cards at the finish line so … [Read more...]
