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Will work for swag: tales from behind the scenes of a race

November 20, 2019 by MCM Mama 1 Comment

Will work for swag: tales from behind the scenes of a race

Two years ago I took a leap of faith and signed on with ZOOMA Women's Race Series. Originally I was managing the ambassador program, but Sarah invited me to travel to the Texas race in March of 2018. It's been a wild and crazy ride since then, but somehow earlier this month, I took the lead in producing our second Texas race of the year. I know! I don't quite know how I got here, but I'm couldn't be happier. As Sarah said to me one night at midnight as we unpacked boxes, "This is so much fun." So true. I have never had so much fun while working so hard in my life. I thought I'd share some of the crazy, unusual, and "oh shit" moments of this past race season. Random statistics Things I stuffed in my running bra: my phone, my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: running, Zooma

Runfessions of a frustrated runner

August 30, 2019 by MCM Mama 5 Comments

Runfessions of a frustrated runner

How is it the end of August? Wasn't the beginning of the summer just yesterday? Back in June I thought that this summer would be a laid back, time to get things done, plenty of time to run summer. Somehow it wasn't, which has definitely lead to some runfessions for August. I'm heading into the runfessional with Marcia right now. I must runfess that I planned to do a lot of running before and after my Minnesota Ragnar. That's my usual training method and I know it works for me. Instead, I managed to scratch my eye the weekend before, which meant no contacts. In my world, that means little to no running. So, I took three days off before Ragnar and then ran one 3 mile run without being able to actually see where I was going. Not … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: 50k training, runfessions, running

March Coffee Date – Lion or Lamb

March 3, 2019 by MCM Mama 5 Comments

March Coffee Date – Lion or Lamb

Here we are, one month closer to being done with winter. I generally don't mind winter, but this has been one of the rainiest that I can remember and I'm pretty much over that. But I've had a lot going on, so grab a big cuppa and we'll chat with Deb and Coco‘s and catch up on things. If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that last week was one heck of a roller coaster. There were just so many things up in the air. On the bright side, we got tickets to Savor again, Jones got accepted to something he really wanted, and I got into MCM 50k. That's right! I'll be running my first 50k this fall instead of the Marine Corps Marathon. And Beer Geek didn't believe me when I told him I would not be running the marathon. If we were … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: coffee date, running, ultramarathon

Tips for Staying Fit in your 40s

January 21, 2019 by MCM Mama 1 Comment

Tips for Staying Fit in your 40s

Confession: I'm nearer to the end of my 40s than the beginning of my 40s. In fact, it won't be long and I'll be talking about fitness in my 50s. Gulp. But I have a goal of still running races in my 80s, or maybe even my 90s, so I need to focus now on setting the framework for that. I want to make sure my body is as strong as it can be now, so that fewer injuries happen later. Here's what I'm going to create a functionally fit and healthy body heading into my 50s. Use those muscles - In our 40s, we start losing muscle mass. There are plenty of studies showing this loss, but there are also studies that show that it is possible to maintain or even regain some muscle mass as you age. The key? Weights.  I'm not a trainer, so I'm not going to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: Faster Way to Fat Loss, fitness after 40, running

2018 in Pictures

December 30, 2018 by MCM Mama 2 Comments

2018 in Pictures

I love to write this post every year. It gives me a chance to look back and reminds me that even if the year was not perfect, that there was a lot of good in the year. This was a crazy busy year! I traveled for work more than I ever have, but I guess that's what happens when you work for a race organization that has races around the country. So, here we go... January January was a quiet month for me on the racing front, but that's ok as I was concentrating on building strength and getting in shape for the year to come. I got invited back to the Altra Red Team and I spent a lot of time in my workout room. I also made some predictions for 2018. (Spoiler: I was spot on LOL) February February started with being invited back as a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: review, running, Skirt Sports, travel, year in review

MCM Mama’s Year in Running – 2018

December 23, 2018 by MCM Mama 3 Comments

MCM Mama’s Year in Running – 2018

Yes, it's that time of year again. Time to recap all the running fun I've had this year. I've been doing the Year in Running post for several years now. I've done it in 2017, 2016, 2015,  2014,  2013 and 2012, so I'm thankful that Courtney has continued to host it. I write this post for myself, but I hope you enjoy reading it as well.  Best Race Experience: By far my favorite race this year was the Ragnar Pennsylvania race. While the race itself had some issues, I had the most amazing team and I discovered that running Ragnar as an ultra is truly the most awesome way to experience Ragnar. I'm currently getting ready to register an ultra team for Ragnar Minnesota this coming summer. Best … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: running, year in review

So, how’d November treat you?

November 26, 2018 by MCM Mama 10 Comments

So, how’d November treat you?

My November was a nice respite after the craziness that was September and October. Don't get me wrong. I love working for ZOOMA and going to each of the races is a high point of the job, but between my travel schedule, Beer Geek's travel schedule, and the Marine Corps Marathon, I was ready for a quieter month. And since I spent the first half of the month recovering from running a marathon way undertrained, I was happy to have a quiet month. I wasn't even jealous that Beer Geek went to Germany for a week for work and I couldn't go with him. That's not to say I didn't have any thing going on. Some highlights from the month: My parents came to visit and we did a whole bunch of projects on the house that needed doing. After living in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: running, Tuesdays on the Run, volunteering

Run Local, Buy Local, Wear Local

March 16, 2018 by MCM Mama 7 Comments

Run Local, Buy Local, Wear Local

I've lived in the DC area for more than 20 years. While sometimes I still wonder how that happened (I grew up as a military brat and moved all the time), this area has become my hometown. And with 16 years of running under my belt, I've run most races and run all over the DMV. So, when Lisa from District Line Co told me about her new design, I was all over it. (Yes, I'm getting a free t-shirt, but I also have bought several shirts she's designed for MRTT.) When Lisa McLaughlin founded District Line Co in 2014, she had a mission: to promote the love of local with shirts that feel like home. Her designs have captured iconic skylines and the hearts of the people who live beneath them. She’s based in Arlington, Virginia and she sources her … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: Friday Five, MRTT, running, Virginia

2018 Predictions: Certainties and Uncertainties

January 15, 2018 by MCM Mama 11 Comments

2018 Predictions: Certainties and Uncertainties

Here we are, two weeks into 2018, and I guess what? I have no idea what the year will bring. At this point in time, I've registered for 1! race - the Frederick Half Marathon. I've bought no plane tickets and made no travel plans. While I am far from a type A personality, I usually at least have things planned and I feel like most of my life, including my running, is like nailing down jello right now. Since the topic for today's Tuesdays on the Run is "2018 Predictions", I'm going to read the lines in my palm and tell you what I see (or something like that...) Things I see as definites: Somehow I WILL manage to run (or at least finish) the 2018 Marine Corps Marathon. I know that I have options to get in, so somehow I'll get in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: half marathons, running, Zooma

The highs and lows of summer 2017

September 11, 2017 by MCM Mama 16 Comments

Summer is over. Normally, summer hangs on until it is no longer officially summer, but for some reason this year, summer decided to leave when the kids went to school. We've had perfect running weather nearly every day for the last couple of weeks. I've actually even managed to go out for some runs without taking water in the last few days. I know, crazy for this time of year. I am very thankful, especially considering what much of the rest of the country is going through. Today on Tuesdays on the Run, we are taking a look back at summer and sharing our highs and lows. I was lucky - our summer was mostly highs! High I got to meet Marcia finally! Low I didn't get to meet Susie or Wendy on this trip to Chicago. High I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: running, summer, travel

Beer and Running: a match made in heaven

April 6, 2017 by MCM Mama 9 Comments

Beer and Running: a match made in heaven

You all know I love craft beer about as much as I love running. OK, maybe even more than I love running. When I get the chance to combine the two, I'm a happy camper. And lately the opportunities to run and drink beer in t he DC area are growing and growing. The number of breweries and brewpubs has exploded in recent years. Conveniently, many of them are near local running trails and many of them are hosting run clubs, which is basically code for run and drink beer. Since today's Friday Five 2.0 topic with Running on Happy and Fairytales and Fitness is beverages, I'm going to give you five reasons to run for beer (aka run with a beer related run club). Running with friends is always better. OK, maybe a beer run won't be your best … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: beer, Friday Five, Mad Fox, running

Tips for running in the wind

March 3, 2017 by MCM Mama 21 Comments

Tips for running in the wind

I confess: I did not run outside yesterday, solely due to the wind. Generally speaking, I'm not a fair weather runner. As one of my friends always says "There's no such thing as bad weather. There are only poor clothing choices." While I may not agree to that 100%, I do usually put on my big girl panties and go out for a run in most weather. So, here are my tips for running in the wind, even if I didn't follow them this week. Dress appropriately. There's a reason that the weatherman always mentions wind chill - wind makes it feel colder if the temps are at all cool. I tend to dress appropriately for the "feels like" weather, but I make sure I always have a zipper top. Why? Because I never run a straight out and back and I find … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: running, tips, wind

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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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