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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
My “undertrained” MCM training plan
I am currently 14 weeks out from my 5th Marine Corps Marathon. I've done Hal Higdon's training plan twice and attempted Hansons training plan twice. I say attempted because it's a really hard plan and I've never been able to hit all of the mileage at all the right paces. Last year was closer than the previous year and I went into the race feeling strong and ready and planning to gun for a PR. And completely fell apart at mile 16. I know some of that was the ridiculous heat and some was poor fueling choices on my part, but the race felt hard from the first step. And it never improved. The first mistake I made was not admitting it was not my day and slowing down after mile 2 or 3 or 4 or... (Mile 1 might lie, but you'd think I'd listen … [Read more...]
Marine Corps 17.75 2018 Race Recap
Marine Corps 17.75 March 24, 2018 2:00:29 Temp: low 30s What I wore: beanie, tank top, half zip top, Ragnar jacket, Happy Girl skirt, Toasty Cheeks tights, and Altra Escalante I have a love/hate relationship with this race. I love the course, despite it being one of the hardest races I run each year. I hate having to drive down 95 on Friday to get my bib. I hate even more having to get up by 3:45am so I can leave my house by 4:45am to drive down 95 for the race. But I'm also way too cheap to get a hotel room and I'd have to leave DC around noon on Friday to get there in time to make it worthwhile. But I've still done it in 2015, 2016, 2017, and now 2018. Saturday morning came way too early, but I hadn't slept much at all, due to … [Read more...]
Tips for running the Marine Corps 17.75
Saturday morning I will be running my 4th Marine Corps 17.75. Every year I debate signing up for this race. It's a challenging course at a time of year when weather in this area is iffy, but the Golden Ticket is a huge incentive. This year I got into the Marine Corps Marathon through the Rush Registration (which I only used because of the crazy weather.) So, I don't have to run it if I don't want to. But I'll be there. Probably overdressed because I've been a total weather wimp this winter. And I'll love every minute of what is likely to be a freezing cold and muddy race. Because it's just that awesome. Get there early. There is no parking at the start/finish and the shuttle lines get longer the closer you are to start time. Catch … [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...]
Marine Corps Marathon 2017 Race Recap
This past Sunday I finished my 4th Marine Corps Marathon. It wasn't my fastest and it wasn't my slowest. It did, however, have one of the lowest points I've had in a race in a very long time. My recap is super long, in part because I don't want to forget any of it. If you don't feel like reading the whole thing, my Facebook status from after the race pretty much covers it: "At mile 13.1, I was on pace for my goal race. At mile 15, I considered DNFing. At mile 16, I drank all the Gatorade and realized I could walk 10 miles if I needed to. In the end, it wasn't my worst race. 4:57 and change." Grab a coffee or a beer and come along for the ride... Marine Corps Marathon 2017 October 22, 2017 4:57:17 Temp: 55ish at the start, 75+ at … [Read more...]
