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...]
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...]
5 Reasons to Run ZOOMA Bermuda
Have you heard the news? ZOOMA is going to Bermuda! Mark your calendar for President's Day weekend 2020. Here are the top 5 reasons you should join us... It's a ZOOMA race. All ZOOMA races are women focused weekends. ZOOMA hosts a race (and often challenges with extra races and medals) surrounded by an awesome finish line party and events like yoga. Bermuda will have all that ZOOMA races normally offer and more! And I can guarantee that the medal(s) will be awesome!The weather! The average temp in Bermuda in February is in the 70s. I don't know about where you live, but in February, Virginia is miserable. It's cold and grey and just plain unpleasant. Someplace sunny and warm? Sign me up!Beaches and Forts and Lighthouses. (And … [Read more...]
Runfessing over a cup of coffee
Since Marcia opened the Runfessional late and Deb and Coco are hosting the Ultimate Coffee Date, I've decided to combine the fun into one post. If we were having coffee, I'd runfess that I meant to write this post days ago, but life kept getting in the way. In fact, it took me all day today to actually hit publish. I've been juggling two part time jobs for a while, but recently I started working a regular shift at the library as well as picking up a few other shifts as they need people. I like it and I'm still not working 40 hours a week, but it's taking a bit of adjustment to fit in my non-paid activities now. Speaking of non-paid, if we were having coffee, I'd runfess that I'm nervous about getting in all the miles for … [Read more...]
Runfessions of the shortest month of the year
I have to admit that when I realized today was Runfession Friday, I freaked out a little. I mean, how could it be the end of the February already??? Thankfully we have almost a week left, so I'm not quite as far behind as I thought I was (I just finished sending my tax stuff to my accountant. Pretty sure that's going to be blood bath. Oh well.) So, it's not quite the end of the month, but I'll runfess with Marcia anyways. Because this is how my February has gone... I runfess that I've had a hard time actually committing to any races this spring. I even went so far as to sign up to volunteer for the Reston Half Marathon rather than run it. But last night I got bitten by the race bug and signed up for the local Four Courts race (OMG, … [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...]
ZOOMA Cape Cod in pictures
This past weekend was incredible! It always amazes me that working so hard can be so fun! I got into Providence on Thursday afternoon and met the rest of the ZOOMA crew for the drive to Falmouth. We headed to the Sea Crest where we met to course director for a drive around the course. I was in the way back of the van, so no pictures were taken, but the course was absolutely gorgeous. Then we headed back to the Sea Crest for dinner and a relatively early bedtime. Friday I popped out of bed before my alarm and headed for a short run along the coast. I was lucky because I managed to get out and back before the rains came. Next up was hours of prepping for and then attending the ZOOMA expo. I got to meet a lot of the … [Read more...]
Race Weekend Runfessions
I'm writing this from the hotel room at the Sea Crest in Falmouth. Which is to say, my views are currently amazing! This weekend is ZOOMA Cape Cod and this is likely my last quiet moment before the wild ride begins. No matter how much planning you do, there are always surprises. The trick is to handle those surprises in a way that does not negatively impact a race. But it's nearing Friday and it's runfession week, so here are a few things that are going on in my life. I runfess that when I woke up the morning after the Clarendon Day Double that I was pretty sure I was going to defer Marine Corps Marathon. Everything hurt! But the deferral window had closed (or I was too stupid to figure out how to do it), so that was no longer … [Read more...]
Tap, Tap, Tap – Is this thing on???
Confession: I completely forgot about my blog this past weekend. I had intended to write a Friday Five post, but I got on the plane Thursday morning and my life became all ZOOMA all the time. I have no regrets. I've always loved being involved with races on the production side. I mean, I love to run them, but working them is even more fulfilling. I got my first taste volunteering at water stops at various races in the DC area. Then I got hired to help manage packet pick up for the DC Nike Women's Race. Since then I've managed quite a few water stops at local 5Ks and at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon - the one year that the weather allowed the race to actually happen. At ZOOMA, I get to put together all of my … [Read more...]
This is 48: wrapping up a year
This past weekend, I turned 48. As I get closer and closer to a new big round number, I keep thinking I'll start freaking out about getting old. But I feel better at 48 than I did at 47 (well, except for that pesky ankle/heel issue.) Last year at this time, I was deep in Marine Corps Marathon training with the Hansons plan. I was also recovering from what had been a month long virus - it started with several days of violent stomach upset that led to weeks of reduced appetite and lack of energy. While I would not recommend that weight loss method (I dropped 7 pounds in 7 days and it stayed off), it was the first time in years that I was not packing on extra marathon pounds. It was also the first time in years that my weight had not … [Read more...]
How running took me from depression to a new career
For many years, if you asked me, I would say running was my anti-depressant. And it was (and still is to some extent) a big part of my mental health. But in so many ways, running has changed me AND its role in my life has changed over the years. Since our Tuesdays on the Run topic is "how has running changed me", I'm going to chronicle my relationship with running through my 6 word running memoir. 1. Running off the beer and wine. Yeah, that was my college running. It was all about running on the weekdays so I could drink what I wanted on the weekends. It sort of worked LOL. 2. Running to wear my skinny clothes. Once I was out in the real world, I just wanted to stay in my small suits. I liked the way I looked and I ran purely to … [Read more...]
ZOOMA Texas 2018 Race Weekend
Today's topic for Tuesdays on the Run is "Spring Break running". In theory, I will be running the Marine Corps 17.75, but I'd be lying if I said I was excited about it. Don't get me wrong, I like this course and I want my Golden Ticket, but I'm highly undertrained at this point. My longest run in months was 8 miles several weeks ago. I've apparently lost my run motivation and I'm not signed up for nearly enough races to get trained. I may have to do something about that. Meanwhile, enjoy my race weekend report from the ZOOMA Texas race. ZOOMA Texas 10K March 10, 2018 1:04:17 Temp: too warm and humid for March What I wore:hat, tank top, a Skirt Sports Gym Girl Ultra, and Altra One 2.5. I was on the race staff for this race, which … [Read more...]
