This weekend was crazy: crazy fun, crazy cold, crazy stressful, crazy busy. No boring here this weekend. I’m linking up with Tara over at Running ‘n’ Reading for my weekend recap.
I started my weekend on Thursday with a trip to the RNR DC expo. I liked this year’s location at the Convention Center much better than the usual Armory location. It was a much faster metro trip and the facility is just a lot nicer. I got there just as it was opening and the line was crazy long, but I was in and through the bib and t-shirt pick up in less than 15 minutes. Then I had a little shopping fun.
I picked up some new Altra Intuition (affiliate link):
I also bought a new pair of sunglasses (review soon), a new hat (that I wore in the race), and two shirts. (It was only after the fact that I realized the one t-shirt looks like a Pabst label. Not sure I can actually wear it now LOL)
I hopped the metro home and was back in my house well before the kids got out of school. I hope this location sticks!
Friday was the big day for me. Yeah, I had RNR DC half on Saturday, but I needed to run 18 miles on Friday. I’ll admit, I find anything over 13 miles intimidating. It’s just such a long time to be out there running. But, the day was beautiful and my iPod was charged and I had new shoes to wear. Yes, I did run an 18 mile run with brand new shoes. And they weren’t just brand new of something I’d already worn. Nope, these were a new model. Surprisingly, that was not a problem.
I learned a few things during the run:
- My county is hella hilly.
- Hitting one of the biggest hills at 15.5 miles is poor planning.
- Air Supply’s Lost in Love coming on at mile 16 sucked. (I need to purge the iPod LOL)
- I’m stronger than I was the last time I trained for a marathon.
- I can run a sub-10 minute mile at mile 18 if I run the rest of the miles at the appropriate long run speed.
All in all, it was a great run. Only two more super long runs before the races.
Saturday morning dawned all too early. (OK, it was still pitch black at 4:30am when I got up.) Beer Geek dropped me at the metro at 5:30 am and I had a smooth trip downtown. I opted not to wear my Brooks jacket and instead just took a sweatshirt to drop in my drop bag. Big mistake! With almost two hours to kill, I wandered around, used the Brooks VIP potties a couple of times (I’d scored a sticker from a friend on Friday and it was awesome!), ran into Cynthia, and then dropped my sweatshirt at gear drop.
I’ll do a race report later this week, but here are two tidbits: I wore a space blanket tied around my shoulders for the entire race and it took me so long to get from the finish line to my house that I had to pick up Jones from school wearing my wet running clothes and my medal. Neither of these were part of my race plan.
Sunday, I woke up (after 11 hours of sleep) and thought, “oh, this is going to hurt.” But I rolled over and out of bed and… nothing hurt. I have two toenails that are bruised and yesterday my quads were tired, but I had zero soreness. ZERO. This is huge!
Why?
Because I’m running a marathon on May 2. I am also running a marathon on May 3. And then I’m running Ragnar Cape Cod on May 8. Yes, I am crazy. Why do you ask?
Yesterday evening, we celebrated St.Patrick’s Day with a vertical tasting of Alaskan Smoked Porter and a yummy Irish dinner of corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes. We finished it up with a Guinness cake with a Godiva liquor glaze. (I used the same recipe as the Sweet Baby Jesus cupcakes, but subbed Guinness Extra Stout as the beer.)
What an awesome way to end an amazing weekend!
[Tweet “My weekend included a long run, a race, and a beer dinner. How was your weekend? #rocknblog #rnrdc”]
(And then the reality of my life returned when Shoo woke me at 1:45 am, having puked all over his bed. Yeah, my life is truly glamorous.)
Now don’t turn your nose up at PBR! I spent many a Friday taking a “brewery tour” there…it was so close to the Marquette campus (where I went to college). Plus it’s a hipster beer now….
I can’t believe that you had Air Supply on your iPod. That’s all.
Uhhhhh ZERO soreness? I think that means you are superwoman and can handle anything!!
Wow, lady! That’s a serious mileage weekend! And perfect for what you have coming up in May. Congrats!
All I can say is, ooo pink shoes!
Okay, I have some questionable music choices for running playlists but Air Supply beats ALL of them…I would probably take out the next person I saw if I were at mile 16 and heard Air Supply – hahaha!!! This is great! Also, the fact that you ran 18 miles, in new shoes, and then raced a half marathon the next day definitely makes you my hero!! Woo hoo! That is incredible! Can’t wait to hear about your race; sounds like y’all had some pretty crappy conditions and congratulations on getting it done! Thanks so much for linking up with the blog; hope you have a great day!
too bad it rained. I hate that!
Girl, you’re amazing!! 18 miles followed by 13.1 and no soreness?! How awesome! And can we talk for a second about 2 marathons in a row followed by a Ragnar?! Who ARE you!?
Congrats on a great race, I have no idea how you ran with that blanket tied around you, kind of like superwoman! I really want to do the RNR DC but I am kinda glad I didn’t this year after reading everyone’s wet recaps.
Omg. two marathons and a ragner within a week?! That’s awesome. Insane but SERIOUSLY AWESOME.
Wow! You got some impressive mileage in!
Zero soreness is amazing! That beer sounds delicious…I love dark beers like stouts & porters. 🙂
Yes you are totally crazy but it makes you much more interesting to be friends with! Glad to hear you had a good race. 🙂
holy crap…. 2 marathons in 2 days??? that’s just wow. Go you! congrats on your weekend of successful running!
Air Supply? And here I thought I was pathetic with Barry Manilow. Ok I am. Nice mileage. Kudos to your bod for tolerating all that, and new shoes too!
Ugh, I keep seeing pictures on IG of the race adn what awful conditions 🙁
An 18 miler followed by a half?! That’s amazing! And back to back marathons in May?! also amazing!! 🙂
I’m a teensy bit crazy…
Good grief that is some crazy mileage and awesome that you had no soreness. I’m not even sure what to say about Air Supply….That Guinness cake sounds awesome – I must try!
your training has been spectacular! can’t wait for your race recap!
Sounds like a great weekend thanks so much for sharing
Mr PugRunner likes PBR. Not my thing, but I guess not that awful?
Sounds like RNR DC was an adventure. I’m looking forward to your race recap.
Hope everyone is feeling better. Tummy troubles are never fun.
I am completely amazed by your incredible mileage this past weekend! Way to go!
glamorous it is!! Holy Batman on the miles!! Amazing!!!
I love RnR race expos. Glad you didn’t have to wait too long in the line and looks like your shopping was a big success ! Fun weekend.
It must have been so encouraging to wake up the next day without pain. Especially seeing your schedule. And yes, it is crazy but you’ll do it.
Awwww poor baby – middle of the night vomiting is NOT good. Sounds like you had a killer weekend and you are right it was PITCH black at 4:30 am b/c I was up. LOLOL!!! You love you some beer. I guess the carbs really help with the running eh? 🙂
Seriously, you are insane and I absolutely love it and am so incredibly jealous because I know my husband would never support me doing that. LOL. Bummed I missed you at RnR DC!!
Could you possibly be even crazier than me? I would be crawling through my half had I run 18 miles the previous day. You are awesome!!
That is a lot of running, girl!! Congrats on your race! I’ve never heard of that model of shoes before…I’d love a full review when you’ve worn them a littel more.
That’s some amazing mileage! Hope you’ve warmed up from Saturday — I think I JUST did!
It took a lot – I actually ended up taking two hot baths…
Wow was it wet at #RnRDC marathon – I think Malinda has finally dried off. 😉 Looking forward to your recap!
wow 18 miler then the half? Awesome! So I’m guessing you liked the Altras? I’ve never tried them. I’m actually about to go shoe shopping today!
I have always wanted to try Altra. Sadly, they aren’t available in my neck of the woods. One day.
I am still in disbelief that you did your long run then ran a half marathon. Crazy and awesome! Great to see you on Saturday morning at the race in the pouring rain!
Your running inspires me! I’m not even surprised by your multiple May races. You’re a machine!
I can’t even imagine getting close to the mileage you must do each week! RnR DC looks like it was a wet mess but congrats on getting it done!
Wow!! You are amazing!! Congrats on RnR DC! Pretty cool you ran your 18 miles in new kicks without any issues!
Way to rock the huge miles! You have some big races coming up! How exciting! RNR DC even though it was rainy looked like a great race!
OMG! You are really crazy, crazy inspirational! Can’t wait for your review of the shoes, they look lovely! Keep rocking!
Thanks and the shoes totally rock!
Why, why, why LOL. Have you had a bone density check? Extreme running can lead to less dense bones. #wowlinkup