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Confessions of a wannabe ultrarunner

October 24, 2019 by MCM Mama 9 Comments

Confessions of a wannabe ultrarunner

We are two days out from the Marine Corps Marathon and the first MCM 50K. As you might guess, it's the primary thing on my mind. Nevermind that I have one more ZOOMA race to get ready for and my kid still has one more application to get done. All I want to do is think about the 50k, which means these runfessions may be a bit single topic. Thanks to Marcia for the chance to runfess. I must runfess I'm really not excited about the current weather predictions. Rainy AND unseasonably warm? Yeah, I'm not doing cartwheels over here. I did buy a big pack of ponchos on Amazon. I was planning on picking one up from a friend in Crystal City because I hate being cold post race, but if the temps keep going up, I won't have to worry about … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: 50k training, Marine Corps Marathon, MCM 50K, runfessions

And that’s a wrap! Bring on fall running!

September 2, 2019 by MCM Mama 3 Comments

And that’s a wrap! Bring on fall running!

It's hard to believe that tomorrow the kids go back to school (never mind that most other schools are already back in session.) It feels like just yesterday that we were celebrating the end of another school year. But we had a good summer and this is a huge year here - Jones (who was 7 when I started this blog!) is a senior this year and Shoo is in his last year of middle school. Seriously, where did my babies go? We managed to pack a lot into this summer! Jones and I visited 7 colleges, 2 zoos, an aquarium, an ornithology lab, and an aviary. Shoo got to visit Beer Geek's family, got bitten by a salamander, built his own road bike, and has gone on a few double digit mileage bike rides. On the running front, I got to run a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: 50Ktraining, Marine Corps Marathon, ragnar, travel, Zooma

Tips for a successful long run in the summer

July 2, 2019 by MCM Mama 2 Comments

Tips for a successful long run in the summer

Every spring, my FOMO overrides my common sense and I end up signing up for the Marine Corps Marathon. It's kind of like having babies - you conveniently forget the bad parts and only remember that cute squishy baby you ended up with. This year, FOMO REALLY got the best of me and I ended up signing up for the Marine Corps 50K. Know what that means? It means I'm already up to 16 mile long runs. (For those playing along at home, I usually use Hansons Marathon Method, which means 16 miles is my longest marathon training run. Yeah.) So, for the first time in years, I'm running some really long runs during the hottest months of the year. Yes, we are talking 80+ degrees with matching humidity. Running when the air feels like you are breathing … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: 50k training, long runs, marathon training, Marine Corps Marathon, tips

I Hate Summer Training: June Runfessions

June 28, 2019 by MCM Mama 9 Comments

I Hate Summer Training: June Runfessions

Temperature wise, we are in full on summer. This week has been in the high 80s/low 90s all week, sometimes with matching humidity.`Welcome to Virginia in the summer! But mentally, we are barely there. School just ended last week. This week Jones has been in a full time training for the work he'll be doing this summer. Shoo has been lazing, but also just joined his summer activity. While I'm excited for both of them to be doing the cool programs that they are doing, the schedules will be erratic, so I'll be juggling a lot this summer. Which leads me to Marcia's runfessional... I must runfess that I hate having a training plan in the summer. Our schedule during the school season is pretty consistent, but we are all over the board … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: 50 States, 50k training, half marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, Zooma

Marine Corps Marathon 50K Training

April 30, 2019 by MCM Mama 6 Comments

Marine Corps Marathon 50K Training

According to various training plans I've been looking at, it's nearing time to get this party started. I've done some crazy things in the past, including 7 half marathons in 7 days and two marathons in the same weekend. I've created training plans in the past to accommodate these antics, so now it's time to take all the plans I've been looking at and put them together in a perfect plan for me. I won't be sharing it here - I've designed one that works for MY body and its strengths and weaknesses - but here are some elements I plan to use to be successful in October Incorporate one or two full marathons as training runs. I've already identified a few options in September and early October. Most of the plans I've looked at … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: Marine Corps Marathon, ultramarathon

Registering during Marine Corps Marathon Rush Registration

March 18, 2019 by MCM Mama 2 Comments

Registering during Marine Corps Marathon Rush Registration

Running the Marine Corps Marathon is on many people's bucket list. And once you've run it once, it grabs you by the heart strings and you want to run it again. (Even if you claim you don't. Not that I'd know anything about that.) But getting into the race requires a little bit of luck. In recent years, in addition to the other options, MCM has offered a rush registration. This is a 20 minute window to register that will allow up to 7,000 runners to register before the lottery opens. It starts at noon - usually on a day in mid-march. Here's how the process goes: Set an alarm on your phone so you don't forget. Ok, maybe set 2 or 3. Actual number dependent on your level of OCD. Dress in your lucky MCM registering clothes. If … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, MCM

Finalizing my 2019 race plans

March 12, 2019 by MCM Mama 1 Comment

Finalizing my 2019 race plans

I can't believe it's March and I'm just now figuring out my race plans. Everything hinged on getting into the new Marine Corps Marathon 50k. If I had not, I'd have upended everything to find another race. So, here we go... March 17 - Four Courts Four - I run or volunteer at this race as often as possible (sometimes both.) It starts with a wicked fast downhill, but what goes down must come up, so it ends with a painful uphill. Luckily it also ends with beer. Guinness to be exact. March 24 - Mike to Mike Half Marathon (All American Marathon) - This race goes from downtown Fayetteville to Fort Bragg. I'm pretty excited about this race because a number of Skirt Sports ambassadors will be there. I'm less excited about the fact that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: half marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, race schedule

Put your oxygen mask on first

February 11, 2019 by MCM Mama 3 Comments

Put your oxygen mask on first

Last week was a hard week. I was dealing with a couple of really stressful things, as well as just having a lot going on. And I responded poorly. I skipped a few workouts and I ate my feelings. (And then I went to Costco and bought ALL the carbs so I could continue eating my feelings. Lesson learned: don't go to Costco when you are stressed.) By Friday evening, I was just done. Unfortunately, despite going to bed early, I had a rough night (Jones had the ACT on Saturday morning. I've discovered that if I have anything that makes me get up earlier than usual, that I don't sleep well. I need to fix this.) Saturday, after I dropped Jones at his test, I decided I needed to just stop. I needed to find a way to get my head on straight - I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: brewpub, Faster Way to Fat Loss, Marine Corps Marathon, self care

If nothing else, February is shorter

February 1, 2019 by MCM Mama 13 Comments

If nothing else, February is shorter

January is over. It seriously may have been 9,354,200 days long. Or just 31 of the longest days ever. My kids barely attended school even though we really didn't have that much snow. In fact, with today's late start, we now have an entire week where they did not go a single full day. Last week, I think they had one full day. Oy. But, since we are starting off February with another late start, I actually have time for coffee (and I'm all caught up on sleep as I've slept in until 8 am 4 of the last 7 days...) I’m joining Deb and Coco‘s virtual coffee date and sharing what I'd chat about over coffee. If we were having coffee, I'd tell you I'm super excited to be a Skirt Sports Ambassador again this year! I love so … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: Coffe Date, Faster Way to Fat Loss, Marine Corps Marathon, Skirt Sports

Marine Corps Marathon 2018 Race Recap

October 29, 2018 by MCM Mama 13 Comments

Marine Corps Marathon 2018 Race Recap

This past Sunday I finished my 5th Marine Corps Marathon. Going in I knew it was going to be a challenging race. Thanks to my heel, I was undertrained. Not only had I not done much in the way of long runs, I had completely lost my strong base that I've had for the last few years. But I wanted this race and I was pretty sure I could finish if my heel cooperated. I admit I was feeling a little bit bitter about the near perfect weather and the fact that I was not in shape to run a PR. But I was given the opportunity to run to honor a fallen soldier and that pretty much led to an instant attitude change. After that, everything else was just the small stuff. Marine Corps Marathon 2018 October 28, 2018 5:39:15 Temp: 48 at the start, low 60s … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: Marine Corps Marathon, race recap

Marine Corps Marathon Runfessions

October 25, 2018 by MCM Mama 9 Comments

Marine Corps Marathon Runfessions

I'm not sitting here counting down the hours until the Marine Corps Marathon. OK, maybe I am. I haven't been this nervous about actually finishing a marathon since my very first MCM in 2008. And then I was nervous because it was my first, not because I was undertrained. This weekend should be... interesting. I mostly have to make my self stick to my goal of doing it slow. If my ego gets in the way and I push at the start, my race is going to suck. So feel free to send me "stick to the plan" vibes. And maybe a few, "hang in there, heel" vibes. I must runfess that the only reason I want to run this year is to get into Runner's Club. I know life is just going to get crazier for the next few years between ZOOMA and the kids getting … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: Marine Corps Marathon, runfessions

Race views and ZOOMA challenges

October 15, 2018 by MCM Mama 10 Comments

Race views and ZOOMA challenges

Today's topic for Tuesdays on the Run is "Best things seen at a race". I've seen some pretty amusing things: guys running only in thongs, jogglers, dribblers (literally a guy dribbling a basket ball the whole race), awesome costumes, awful costumes, etc. But, despite running with my phone, I pretty much never take pictures and I have the memory of a gnat, so I leave you with this... Moving right along.. Here are our upcoming topics: 10/23 – Standout Post-Race Food 10/30 – Halloween! 11/6 – Racing Mistakes 11/13 – The Best City I Ever Ran In Is… 11/20 – Black Friday And October 16 at 10am EST, ZOOMA opens its winter challenges. You can join us for the Holiday Challenge - a movement and self care challenge for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: challenges, Marine Corps Marathon, Tuesdays on the Run, Zooma

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Who is MCM Mama?
A slightly obnoxious mom and wife who loves good beer and running, who struggles a bit with depression especially in the winter and when running isn’t allowed, who’d rather go on a fun vacation than upgrade the kitchen or add a master bath, and has a minor addiction to the Marine Corps Marathon.

Recent Posts

  • Half Marathon #85: Appalachian Series – South Carolina
  • Half Marathon #84: Appalachian Series – Georgia
  • Coffee with a side of rain
  • Half Marathon #83:Appalachian Series – Alabama
  • Hotel Coffee is better than no coffee…
  • Training for Back to Back to Back Half Marathons
  • Runfessions of a Really Cold Runner
  • Kicking off the year with coffee!

Archives

A slightly obnoxious mom and wife who loves good beer and running, who struggles a bit with depression especially in the winter and when running isn’t allowed, who’d rather go on a fun vacation than upgrade the kitchen or add a master bath. Read More…

Half Marathon #85: Appalachian Series – South Carolina

Half Marathon #85: Appalachian Series – South Carolina

Mainly Marathons Appalachian Series – South CarolinaMarch 27, 20222:47:45 What I wore: hat, tank top, long sleeve quarter zip, capris, and Altra Rivera Location: Seneca, SC (State #41!) Let’s just start out with the truth – this race was the hardest of the races and pretty much sucked. I chose to do the early start […]

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