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Wrapping up 2021: a roller coaster year

December 31, 2021 by MCM Mama 17 Comments

Wrapping up 2021: a roller coaster year

It's hard to believe that it's been 2 years since Covid became a virus "of interest". It was a few more weeks before we started hearing about it and a little over two months before the US shutdown, but the growth had already begun. 2020 went from a year with amazing plans to a year of just trying to make things work in a heartbeat. 2021 has been a different sort of challenge - if 2020 was locked in an escape room trying to get out, 2021 was more like riding a roller coaster. At one point, things seemed to be returning to normal, but then Delta. And then we seemed to be getting that under control with vaccines and boosters and then Omicron. In some ways, the ups and downs have been harder than the consistent down that was 2020, but there … [Read more...]

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

More coffee, please!

September 3, 2021 by MCM Mama 9 Comments

More coffee, please!

Apparently my blog has been reduced to a coffee break. Oh well, that's where I am in life right now and I'm just going to own it. I'm joining Deb and Coco for another virtual coffee. Someday I'll get to have coffee with friends again. If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that I have a crazy busy fall ahead. In some ways, it feels almost like we are back to normal, but the receipts for new masks in my email inbox pretty much show that to be a lie. I am looking forward to my first (and maybe only) in person race this fall. I'll be running the 46th Marine Corps Marathon. You can still sign up to join me if you'd like. Heck, you can even sign up to do the races virtually and earn the trifecta coin. I am slower than molasses these days … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: cross training, Marine Corps Marathon, Zooma

Where has the summer gone?

August 8, 2021 by MCM Mama 1 Comment

Where has the summer gone?

I can't believe that the last time I wrote a post was in late May. My older kid was home, having survived a semester away at school but taking online classes, but the younger one was still in the final (painful) weeks of online school. I honestly don't think I'd given that much as a parent since my kids were newborns. Not surprisingly, when something had to fall off my plate, this blog was it. As we head back towards another school year and a life still heavily influenced by Covid, I make no promises that I won't fall silent again. (But follow me on Instagram - I do manage to post there regularly!) Today I'm joining Deb and Coco (who both are local to me but I haven't seen in person since before the pandemic!) for some virtual … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: covid 19, life with kids, Marine Corps Marathon, Zooma

A little coffee with friends

March 7, 2021 by MCM Mama 3 Comments

A little coffee with friends

It's been a long time since I had coffee in person with someone. Even thought it was never a regular thing for me, I miss it. But I'll settle for virtual coffee today with Deb and Coco and my friends inside the computer. If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that I miss my pre-pandemic work life. In some ways, things haven't changed. I've worked from home for 10 years, so working from my dining room or my couch is nothing new. But two big changes have affected my life. 1) Video. Pre-pandemic whenever I had a meeting it was a phone call. I used to walk during calls or ride my exercise bike. Heck, once I even took a call from an ice bath after an 18 mile run. Now I have to sit still and look somewhat presentable. (And let's not … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: coffee date, covid 19, Zooma

Throwing back to ZOOMA Bermuda

February 16, 2021 by MCM Mama 3 Comments

Throwing back to ZOOMA Bermuda

A year ago, we were only just beginning to get inklings of what was to come. Coronavirus was just beginning to make the news and the average American had no idea that the country would basically shut down in a month. In fact, my first real understanding came when some of our ZOOMA Bermuda medals got stuck in China because things were shut down there. Despite that, our race weekend in Bermuda was AMAZING and I can't wait to do it again in 2022. ZOOMA Bermuda officially kicked off with a packet pick up at the Fairmont Southhampton. Like many of our events, it was sponsored by Goslings, who provided gift packets with the makings of Dark and Stormies. So tasty! Next up was a trip to the Crystal Caves. We gathered as a group and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: Bermuda, international travel, race recap, Zooma

Kicking Off 2021 with a Big Ole Cup of Coffee

January 1, 2021 by MCM Mama 6 Comments

Kicking Off 2021 with a Big Ole Cup of Coffee

I'm not one to stay up super late on NYE, but ironically, last night I was up late thanks to insomnia. Thank you 2020 for one last kick in the teeth. So, I'm up a bit later than normal and sucking down caffeine like it's my job. Seems appropriate to hook up with Deb and Coco for a coffee date. If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that normally I spend December wrapping things up here on the blog and setting up my goals for the next year. Last year was so weird that I just couldn't seem to wrap (ha!) my head around it. I'm pretty sure I didn't run a single in person race. I ran a ridiculous number of virtual races, but I never got more than 4 miles from my house in any of those races. I even ran a 50K in 2 mile loops near my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: goals, virtual race, year in review, Zooma

November definitely needs more coffee

November 6, 2020 by MCM Mama 6 Comments

November definitely needs more coffee

6 days into November and I'm about ready to mainline coffee. That's a thing, right? OK, probably not, so I'll just make another big cup to get me through the day while I join Coco and Deborah for a little chit chat. If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that I'm so glad to finally finish the Marine Corps Marathon Trifecta. Who knew that getting that last 10K in was going to be such a challenge? I actually had a good run once I decided to do it, but it took me FOREVER to motivate. If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that I randomly jumped on a Ragnar So Cal virtual team. Thankfully, Ragnar has made all of their virtuals free and teams can be random sizes. The only goal is to run 3 times in two days. Apparently I'm addicted … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: coffee date, Marine Corps Marathon, ragnar, Zooma

September Runfessions: Getting Ready to Run ALL the Miles

September 25, 2020 by MCM Mama 7 Comments

September Runfessions: Getting Ready to Run ALL the Miles

September is usually one of my favorite months (October is my #1 favorite), and this year that holds true, sort of. The weather in Virginia has been awesome, but so many other things have been challenging, that it's hard to appreciate the weather. I'm joining up with Marcia for a few runfessions (and maybe a few "lifefessions" as well.) I must runfess that I've been struggling to increase my mileage. Some of it is physical - I've never completely gotten rid of the upper hamstring issue that started last summer. Some of it is mental - even though I have "races" coming up, they are virtual and I can't get myself to care enough to really stick to a training plan. I even downloaded Hal Higdon's "training for geezers" to at least get sort … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: marathon training, Marine Corps Marathon, virtual race, Zooma

Give me ALL the coffee, please!

September 4, 2020 by MCM Mama 4 Comments

Give me ALL the coffee, please!

I can't believe it's September already. In some ways, it feels like it's been years since life was "normal", but in others, it feels like the year is just flying by! I also can't believe I haven't posted since the last time we had coffee. Gone are the days when I posted 5 days a week. I'm hoping to get back into a rhythm of posting once a week, but we'll see if that actually happens. Anyways, I'm raising a coffee cup with Deb and Coco to kick off September. If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that I'm super thankful that the run across Tennessee is over and that I decided to do a multi-sport team for the Circumpolar Race Around the World (CRAW). I moved my exercise bike into our living room because the kid now has my workout room … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: virtual race, Zooma

It’s too hot for coffee…

August 9, 2020 by MCM Mama 2 Comments

It’s too hot for coffee…

But I'm drinking it anyways. I don't mind iced coffee, but I much prefer the hot stuff. I definitely need a coffee date though, so I'm combining the monthly coffee date with Deb and Coco and weekly run down this week. If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that my hip suddenly decided it was done with all this running. My hips are often cranky, but the severity of this issue came on out of the blue. One day I was running and my hip was having its usually need for post run rolling. The next day I couldn't run with a normal gait. Oh well, I had already decided that I was going to end my run streak soon as a birthday present to myself, so I just ended it a bit early. Two days and a lot of stretching, exercises, and rolling later and I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: coffee date, virtual race, Zooma

Happy Hour is the new Coffee Date

May 1, 2020 by MCM Mama 7 Comments

Happy Hour is the new Coffee Date

Here we are starting a new month in a world where coffee dates and Happy Hours are taking place online. ZOOM is the new cool coffee shop and bar. So I guess Deb and Coco's virtual coffee date was just ahead of its time. If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that I ran every day in the month of April and that I successfully ran the Yeti 24 Hour Challenge. It's the first time since August that I've broken 100 miles for the month. But it was a good running month and a kickoff for my next virtual - The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee. I'll have to up my game to hit 1000k by August 31, but I seem to have plenty of time on my hands. If we were having coffee, I'd tell you that ZOOMA has just opened its own Run Club. What's ZOOMA … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ramblings Tagged With: coffee date, Zooma

Running in the age of Coronavirus / COVID 19

March 13, 2020 by MCM Mama 6 Comments

Running in the age of Coronavirus / COVID 19

I'm gonna just put this out there: I am 100% in favor of social distancing. 100.Percent. I am far from panicked, but I do believe it's a necessary step based on everything I've read and some personal friends who are in the trenches. I may not be a doctor, but I am a research librarian. Long before this blog became a thing, I was trained in how to evaluate sources and how to synthesize information.  So, now that we've got that out there. Let's chat. Today (yesterday?) alone, we saw the cancellation of 100s of races. I saw a lot of sadness, and anger, and disappointment.  All of these are absolutely valid emotional responses. I get it. I don't currently have any races coming up on the calendar (I know, what?) and we managed to put on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: running Tagged With: covid 19, race director, 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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