Thursday, January 26, 2012

quote

Don't put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get!

Cherry Blossom 10 Miler 2010

Coming up in March is the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler in Washington, D.C. I ran this race 2 years ago so I figured it's time to blog about it. First off, it's a lottery entry because it is so popular and I was so excited when I got picked. Being somewhat still new to running I thought I wouldn't make it, I still have no idea how I did, but I am so glad that I did because it was so worth it. Although, I doubt I will ever do it again. Never say never!


C and I went up Saturday morning and stayed with my sorority sister Amber. We took the metro into the city and picked up our packets with race bibs and t-shirts and then walked around the Mall area and the Washington Monument. It was pretty windy so there were a lot of people flying kites on the Mall including one guy who had a kite that looked like a snake and it was about 30 feet long. The head was way up in the air and the tail was smacking people in the heads who were walking by. We walked through this sculpture garden and that was pretty cool too. Sculpture is still an art form that I don't fully understand. I think anything large and made of metal can be passed as a sculpture. When we were getting ready to leave the city, we walked through a street festival. Festivals had been going on all week since it was the Cherry Blossom Festival and the trees were in bloom. I got a really pretty shirt with blossoms on it and of course a tote bag with blossoms on it. The bag actually came in handy during the race.

Sunday morning we had to get up at 5 AM! This is WAY early for C and I. Neither of us are morning people. But I actually felt pretty peppy for it being so early. C...not so much, but he was a good sport. We got to the Metro station at 6:15, hopped on and were at the race by 7AM. Our other sorority sister Shalynn met us there and came out to watch us run. Before long Amber and I were in our corrals and ready to go. Waiting in the corral was boring. I was glad to get going.


EARLY Metro ride!


Pre Race photo...before we were all hot, sweaty and gross.



Being herded in a corral like cattle is great...


This race was the most crowded race I have ever run in. Usually once you get out of the corrals the crowd kind of thins out as everyone finds their pace and you have room to run. This did not happen until we got to about mile 7. It was 7 miles of pretty much shoulder to shoulder running. At one point some lady yelled at me to move if I was going to walk...I don't know how she missed the fact that at that point we were all crowded up like sardines and that there was a person in front of me, and in front of them, and in front of them....you get the point. It was a solid line of shuffling. I was not walking, I was shuffling. That lady kind of ticked me off...The course looped on itself a lot and was a lot of out and back. Here is a link to the map: http://www.cherryblossom.org/images/10images/10-10MCourseMap022210.pdf

It was fun running around the nation's capitol. I really liked running down this one hill towards the Lincoln Memorial and then out across the Memorial Bridge and back. I think that was my favorite part. As I was running mile 1, the winner passed us on the other side...he ran 4 minute miles...sick! I will never be that fast, and that's just fine with me!
I was NOT a fan of the loop around the tidal basin. It was long and kinda boring and my knees were really hurting at that point. But it was where the Japanese cherry trees were located and we got a nice breeze coming off the river. Oh and this race was HOT! It was cold when the race started but after that it got hot quick. My mind started to wander near the end and I started to get choked up just thinking about my races and other life events that have come to pass in the last 2 years and the ones that are still to come. It gave me a cramp in my chest and made it really hard to breathe. I had to keep telling myself to think of other things so I wouldn't cry. And the last quarter mile was mostly UPHILL!! Who plans an uphill finish?! I don't think I have ever been so happy to cross a finish line. I definitly had a few tears slip out after I crossed it. Its hard not to. The longer races are really emotional for me.


"Thank you for being here. Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for believing in me."


D-O-N-E!


I am proud to say I ran almost the entire race. I walked about 4 times total: 2 at the water stops, once to eat some energy gel and another just because I had to, and they each only lasted about 20 seconds so I ran almost the whole 10 miles. When I was training for the half marathon, my 10 mile time was 2 hours on the nose. So my goal today was 2 hours. I finished in 1 hour 52 minutes. Once again, I beat my goal :-)


This is my medal from this race. I love it. Its the prettiest one I have so far.

This was a race that I would suggest doing at least once. Don't worry about your time though, it's so crowded it makes it really hard to go all out as fast as you can. Do it just to enjoy the scenery and the fact that it is spring!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

a few unwanted days off

Whoa it's been a long few days.

First off, I was SO PROUD of myself last week! I did really well on working out and logging my workouts. I mixed it up and did something different almost every day. Here's what my week looked like:

Sunday 1/15-Power Yoga/60 mins
Monday 1/16-Spin/45 mins *we had the day off so I got to go in the morning, love working out in the AM instead of the PM :-)
Tuesday 1/17-Rest
Wednesday 1/18-2 mile run
Thursday 1/19-Spin/60 mins
Friday-Rest
Saturday-Rest

Saturday was supposed to be a long run day, but that's when I started to feel like I had the flu. Ick. I was hoping it would go away quickley but it's now Wednesday and I am still suffering. I feel better today than I did the last three days so hopefully it is going away. I am going back to work tomorrow because my body is actually starting to ache from just laying around the house. These muscles need to move again!

This is also not good because smart me, I signed up for a 14k on February 11th and I am totally not ready for it. I'm going to run as much as I can between now and then and hope for the best. Sometimes that's all you can do I guess.


Yea, that's what the last few days have looked like from my point of view. Being home and blogging is more fun when you are not sick and can get out and do other things beside read blogs and drink hot chai tea while blowing tons of snot out of your face. ;-) I'm ready to go back to work, for sure.

Although, the last few days have gotten me rather excited about running again. While trying to pass time, I have read several Runner's World magazines that I haven't been reading these past few months and I discovered some new races. I am seriously considering running the Diva Half Marathon in Myrtle Beach, SC in May. It's a Sunday race, so it's do-able, just have to sell the hubs on it.

I also discovered that Boston has a half marathon in October. I don't know what it is about Boston but I just put those races up on a pedestal. Plus my hubby's best friend lives there and his apartment is right near the turn around for the half. The down side of this race is that you have to finish in 2:30 or you don't finish. I just got my time down to under 2:30 so I would have to do some serious training for that race and hawl ass out there. I think I am up to the challenge for sure, but I am going to give it a few more years before I try. Still pretty excited though.

What's your dream race? Do you think you will ever run it?

Thursday, January 19, 2012

looking for a little inspiration

The last couple of days I have been checking out some other blogs by women runners. I want to improve my blog and get some new readers, so I figured I should see what others are doing. In my "research" I have found some really great blogs and some amazing women that I can only aspire to be like. I wish I had the time/effort/money to run some of these races that they do...well let's be honest, I wish running was my full time job, but it's not, unless you count chasing elementary age children around all day making sure they have done their artwork correctly, cleaned up after themselves, aren't bickering over something...who I am kidding, I run marathons every day at work! For the most part I enjoy my job but there are days I wish I could trade in my Danskos for my Sauconys.

Like this morning.

I stopped at Starbucks on my way to work. I don't drink coffee, but I have a lot of gift cards and I was craving some OJ. On a side note, I really need to learn to go grocery shopping once a week and plan out our dinners! Anyways, as I headed out the door with my Classic Coffee Cake (no joke) and OJ, I spotted this guy sitting in one of the comfy chairs in the corner, headphones in, laptop on. For a brief moment I was pretty jealous. Now, I have no idea what this guy was doing, but I immediately thought of my blog. Oh I wanted to plop down in the chair next to him, whip out the iPad and start blogging right then and there.
But wait, I'm a teacher. No can do.

I have a great job, I really do, there are just some days that I really just want to wake up late, go for a run and come home and blog about it. Or read blogs. While I drink hot chai out of my new Keurig. Mmm...dreams...oh wait I call those Saturdays.

But then I remember things like this.

Students with their Chinese dragon masks!

And it makes it more worth it.

Anyways I am not quite sure how I got off on a tangent about work. Like I was saying, I found a few blogs that I really liked and was inspired by.

Shut Up And Run-So. Freaking. Funny. Seriously, she makes me almost pee my pants when I read it.


Runninghood-Amanda has some really great posts and a beautiful writing style. Her writing makes me want to make my writing better. And I love her view on life.

Skinny Runner-Whether you are a skinny runner or a normal jogger, you'll like this blog. I fall under the latter category.

Twenty-Six and Then Some-Page followed her dreams. I am totally inspired by her, and wish that someday I could be like that. Just drop it all and go for it. And live it. Yea, that would be awesome.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

How many miles is that?

Ever seen a race you've wanted to run and wondered, How many miles is that? Here's the breakdown:


5K-3.1 miles 

8K-4.97 miles

10K-6.2 miles

14K-8.7 miles

15K-9.3 miles

Half Marathon-13.1 miles

Marathon-26.2 miles

Sunday, January 15, 2012

2 new classes

This past week was a crazy one for me, but I did manage to try two new workouts.

The first was a barre class at Local Barre. A girl I work with teaches classes there on the side and they just opened about a month or two ago. A group of us from work went and I actually REALLY enjoyed it. It is a fusion of ballet, pilates and yoga. It really targeted areas that seem to be a problem for women and I was sore in some crazy spots the next day! The classes are a little pricey, but I am hoping that they do another Living Social deal soon or I can take a few here or there. I know that if I could do them on a regular basis, like twice a week, I could really make some improvements to myself that I want to make, but I can't really justify a gym membership and a membership there. But I do recommend it and I do want to go back!

The other class I tried out this morning was power yoga at the Y. Whoa. I have done pilates plenty of times before but never yoga, and this was pretty fast paced and tough. I think that this is definitely going to become part of the weekly routine, but maybe just the 45 minute classes. In the middle of it, my hip popped (I have an old hip injury) and it got a lot harder for me after that. When I say that my hip popped, I mean that it feels like when you crack your knuckles, but its painful. If only I hadn't slipped on those stairs 3 years ago...

Anyways, Yoga just might become my Sunday thing :-)

This week is cooooold, but tomorrow will be gym time again and hopefully an afternoon run since I won't be at work! Yay! Love the random days off!

Keep moving!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Out with the old, in with the new

First off, I can't get over this weather!!! It feels like it shoud be mid October, not January! I could really get used to this...I'm liking the idea of flying south for the winter more and more...I know, I'm already in the south, but I'm talking South Florida south. Yea, I could totally do that. Got out for a 3 mile run today and it felt SO good! I hope some of you are getting out too!

I am sad to say that my blue iPod shuffle has been lost. The last I saw it was after the half marathon and I haven't seen it since. Honestly this is why I haven't really been running as much. I have one running jacket that I can put my old second generation iPod in the sleeve and its been too warm out for that. I can't stand running without music, so I just haven't been going unless I could wear that jacket. I hate armbands and I also lost my earbuds with the shuffle (the ones with the longer cord). After searching the house about 3 times, I finally just bit the bullet and bought a new one. I have to say I am pretty happy with it. You can put playlists on the new model and I couldn't do that on my one from 2008. So I'm pretty happy with it. Got some new purple earbuds too. Oh yea, and the main thing I love about this little shuffle is that you can clip it to yourself so its always ready to go no matter what I am wearing. No sweaty, gross armbands here! I opted for pink this go round...mostly because it was that or green...I really liked the silver one with the black circle button, but everything was out of stock everywhere. I'm cool with pink though.

Pretty in pink!

I'm pretty proud of myself this week. I went to spin class on Tuesday and Thursday and ran today. Next week I am spinning on Tuesday, taking a barre class on Thursday (more on that later) and going to try and squeeze in one or two more runs if the weather stays decent. Also have the idea bouncing around in my head to run the Shamrock 8K again this year...last year I did the 8K on Saturday and the half marathon on Sunday...but the half sold out already and I am taking it easy on races for personal reasons. But I thought that the 8K could be fun again, and its on my birthday, so I could spend the weekend at the beach with friends. We'll see.

Also the Monument Avenue 10K is coming!!!! I have not signed up yet, but I will soon, I swear. If you're near Richmond you've got to do it! Soooo fun!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand I get to order my iPhone tomorrow!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited. I should really start covering my car in those white apple stickers...I have enough of them now.

Keep moving friends!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Sweet Potato Muffins

It's 2012 and I have officially been a runner for 4 years now. My, time does FLY! It's been an awesome four years so I really can't complain. With these 4 years I have also had a subscription to Runner's World for about the same amount of time. This magazine is seriously my saving grace some days. While sitting on the couch I read it and get inspired to lace up and run. It's full of tons of great information and inspiring stories to keep you running.
A few weeks ago I found a recipe for sweet potato muffins. I finally got around to making them the other night and they turned out fantastic! I decided to try my hand at adapting the recipe to make them vegan and it worked out really well. Not sure how "healthy" they are exactly but hey, its a step in the right direction.

Ooooo look at the pretty muffins! yummmm....

Here is the recipe after I made it vegan:

Dry ingredients:
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 cups sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt (I used sea salt cause I had it laying around and it worked well)

Wet ingredients:
1/4 cup Earth Balance (unsalted butter, margarine works too)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 mashed sweet potato
1 flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flax, 4 tablespoons warm water)
1/2 cup almond milk

Heat oven to 375F. Grease muffin tin or use liners. Mix your flax egg and set aside so it can thicken. Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix the wet ingredients in another. Fold the wet into the dry. Fill the muffin tin and bake for about 25 minutes.
I also added pecans to my dry ingredients and sprinkled some brown sugar on top before I threw them in the oven. It really added something to the muffins, but be careful because the brown sugar starts to burn after too long.


Enjoy!

Monday, January 2, 2012

New Year, New Layout

Time to make some changes, and I started with the design of this blog. Just a few things different, but overall I like the look. 

Today I went back to work after winter break. Eek. I was nearly asleep in bed when I decided to jump out and work on my blog instead. Sleep is so overrated anyways, right?

Yesterday I wrote about how I don't make New Year resolutions but I wanted to live healthier. I think I did pretty good so far. I went for a run yesterday and last night I made sweet potato muffins from a recipe I found in Runner's World. I also adapted it to make it vegan! They turned out pretty tasty, I'm looking forward to making them again since I have two more sweet potatos laying around that need something to do. Pictures and recipe coming tomorrow because its late and I am a teacher and I really am tired.

Tomorrow is spin class. I guess I should have called to sign up, but I forgot...I hope there is room! If not, I'll hit the road for a run. Keep moving. I guess those are the two words that can sum up my 2012 goal.


Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year! We stayed home and ate steak :-)

I'm not really one to make New Year's resolutions because I never stick to them...but this year I have a few bouncing around in my head. One is to keep up better with this blog and another is try to live healthier in general. I started my morning with a run, something I haven't done in about 15 days and I want to keep running 2-3 times a week and going to spin class at least twice a week. Later today I am going to start eating healthier by making some healthy muffins to have for breakfast this week. I will let you know how that goes.

I am also going to work on my photographry. My husband and I ran around RVA yesterday taking pictures. It was a lot of fun and I hope this is something I can do at least once a month.



I played around with them on my iPad last night...yea NYE!
Time to get the day started, I'm off!