Mothers Day 4-miler "Devotion to Children"

This is a race every year in (practically) my hometown of Reston, Virginia.  It starts and ends at Browns Chapel Park, better known for endless days of sitting in the bleachers watching endless Little League games in cold wind or blistering buggy heat. (That was my life for seven years.)  But the fields are under renovation (meaning there is a big pit of dirt where my kids used to play ball.)  So it was fun to start and end the race there.

This was my first race in 2015.  I had a New Years Day race planned, but a sick child (well, man-child at this point) kept me in the Urgent Care center the morning of the race.  I had been running, but wasn't quite sure what to expect.  Hubby and I got there about 20 minutes before the gun, and he decided to stay at the start/finish line to take pictures.  Here we go...

The run out of the park onto Baron Cameron Avenue was downhill, a great way to start the race.  However, the "stroller-friendly" race course made me nervous as the strollers were all around me going downhill as well.  Until we got onto Baron Cameron and hit BIG UGLY hill #1.  I ran about half of it, and then walked to the top.  Once we turned onto Reston Parkway, I started running again.  I hit Mile #1 at 14:22, excellent for my goal of 15 minute miles.  Running to Mile 2 was fine, some up and down, and I was still on a sub-15 minute pace. I think BIG HILL number 2 was between 2 and 3.  We had turned onto Wiehle Avenue and ran past the dog park.  When I hit Mile 3 I was at 44:00 exactly, a minute ahead of plan.  As I turned onto Baron Cameron to climb the last big hill, I walked a few minutes, then ran down the hill to the park entrance, walked for a minute and got ready for the final climb.  Here I go....

Once I could see the finish line, I had two minutes to cross it... and I turned on the kick.

 I crossed the finish at 58:33 by my watch, 59:xx on the gun clock.  It was a 14'33" pace, and I felt really good.  I was not exhausted by any stretch of the imagination...and I told hubby "The Queen of the 14-minute mile is back!"  It had been awhile since I ran less than 15 minute miles, so I was thrilled. We chatted with a friend who came in second in her age group, then headed home for a shower and coffee before heading to church.  I finally saw my own kids for lunch after church, making this a really great Mother's Day!

Now I have to figure out what to run next!

Did  you run on Mothers Day?

TurkeyDay 5K Race Report: Not bad for my first run after a half-marathon

I ran a half-marathon 12 days ago. After a tough recovery,  I went out once last week - and got lost, turning my 3 mile walk into a 5 mile walk.  I then spent the next 3 days standing on a pool deck as a swimming official.  Where I caught a cold.  So I haven't run since my half-marathon. But I signed up for the TurkeyDay 5K - in Reston, at my kids' (former) high school. I couldn't pass it up.

It snowed yesterday.  We all wondered if the race through the woods would happen.  I was really worried about the big hill at the beginning and end of the course.  But the snow had been cleared.  It was about 37 degrees at the start, well above freezing.

I arrived about 10 minutes before the start, stretched, found my friend Lisa and got ready for the start.  Hubby went to park the car and then came back in time to take pictures.  So thanks, hubby for these pix!

Then the start went off.  We never heard a gun or an announcement,  we just started running.

 Once we left the stadium, the path got really crowded.  I had to keep pace with those around me, or I would be run over by those behind me.  So I went fast down the hill and through the tunnel.  Then I was finally able to settle into my pace.  But the first mile came in really fast.  We went through the second tunnel, followed the course marshalls, and realized that this course was hillier than I remembered. (Every. Single. Time.)  I looked down at my heart rate and it was really high.  I tried to walk more to get my heartrate under control, but it didn't work so well.  I ran/walked the rest of the race, wondering if I could get a time under 40:00.  (spoiler: I didn't.)  The course was a "lollipop" route - out, around a loop and back the way we came.  By the time I was headed through the second tunnel, the race leader (and eventual winner) was coming back.  I walked most of the big hill behind the school, but then decided to just run the rest of the way so I did.

While Hubby was waiting for me, he took some pictures for "best costume":

And this toddler gets an "A" for Adorable!

Finally, I came around the hill back into the stadium:

And crossed the finish line

My official time was 42:24, a 13:41 pace. (Although my Nike watch showed a 13:11 pace).  I am pretty pleased with that, since I've spent a few years struggling to get under 15 minutes.  Hopefully then new fitness level will continue to help me drop time in these races.  AND I came in 387/472 among the women ... many times I remember being last or close to it.  So not last today!  Although I look a little tired, hanging on the fence and talking to Lisa and her family afterwards. 

A Big Thank You to PRRaces for getting a Thanksgiving Day race in Reston.  I've been going to the Life with Cancer race down in Centreville the last few years, and I love running close to home. 

How was your turkey trot?

Thankful Thursday

I've been reflecting on my journey to..and through... the Richmond Half-Marathon last weekend.  I began to write a "Top 10" list of thankfulness, but got stumped, mostly because I am grateful to God, for everything, not just giving me a body that can still move and keeping me here on earth this long. There is NO WAY to put Him in a list.  So thankful to Jesus, the Alpha and the Omega of my life.

Having said that, I am truly thankful for:

8. Running friends - I want to give a big shout-out to everyone who has run with me once or twice, who helped me deal with long runs that didn't work into the training plan, and who cheered me up and encouraged me along the way.  Especially Kristine who walked while I ran the miles in September, and Robert, who signed me up for my first half with TNT.  And Marlesa, Rose and Toly. 

Running buddies, Marlesa and Rose at the Susco 8K 2013

7. Enell - Let's face it.  Big girls like me wouldn't be out there without the "support" of an Enell running bra!  For someone that has trouble finding everyday bras in her size, Enell is a godsend.  I won't run without it.

#noselfie

6. Precision Nutrition (PN) - this past year I've participated in PN's "lean eating for women".  (another blog on that later). I had a lot of information in my head, but it wasn't working for me.  Working with PN's daily lessons and weekly challenges, I've learned so much about what it takes to keep my body and soul running at its best.

5. Reston VA and Fairfax County, VA  I can run because I have a place to run.  For the last half century, people had a vision for Reston that included walking trails, the W&OD trail, sidewalks in my neighborhood, and trails throughout Fairfax County.  All of these trails not only make it possible to run, but they are really pretty places to get outside and reconnect with nature while running.

Lake Thoreau in Reston, one of our favorite trail runs.

4. PR Training Programs -  I showed up for Running 101 in the fall of 2008 unable to run 1/4 mile without stopping.  Somehow I managed to learn to run/walk... and to believe I could call myself a runner.  I am still a back-of-the-pack runner - I am in Wave K, for crying out loud.  But I am out there running a half-marathon, mostly through training with these guys.

3. All the Coaches - I've been through 2 coaches with the Run-to-Coffee ladies - Chip taught me to run, got my form in shape and kept me going.  Joe also gave great insight into my running mechanics and had the magic ability to push me when I needed pushing, and holding me back when I needed to learn control.  Through the years I ran with training groups from Potomac River Running and Team in Training, both are first-class outfits.  Shannon and Meghan and Adam coached this summer and fall.  I remember Caitlyn as my first long-distance coach years ago, who was full of enthusiasm.  But really there are too many to count.

2. Run-to-Coffee Ladies.  This group was named by a former running coach who noticed that for some of us it was more about the coffee afterwards than the run.  But these ladies have run with me, walked with me when I couldn't run, entered races so we could run together, and shared more laughter and tears over coffee than I can name.  Kelly, Linda, and Lisa thank you!  You all are fun to run with.

Lisa, Chris and Linda all bundled up. We missed you Kelly

1. Frank - we could just start and end there.  He is my husband, my partner in life, and my biggest cheerleader.  He (usually) pushes me out of bed on Saturday mornings so I can get to the training group.  He makes me breakfast when I get home.   He doesn't complain when I have more running clothes than "real" clothes.  And he supports any crazy notion I get, like a half-marathon, for example.

I know that I can't do this running thing alone.  I need people around me who are supportive.  I hope to keep running, whatever that looks like.

Who and what are you thankful for today?

I Left it All...and then some...on the Streets of Richmond. American Family Fitness Half Marathon Recap.

This was my "goal race".  I hadn't really planned to run a half-marathon this year, but I was dissappointed that I couldn't run the GW 10-miler in the spring due to a back injury.  When I looked at my fall calendar and cross-referenced between my husband's work schedule, and my travel schedule to see my son at college, this was the race that popped up.  So I jumped in with both feet.

I signed up to train with Potomac River Running's Distance Training Program on Saturdays from the Reston Store.  Unfortunately (and I knew this going in), I only made it to about half of the sessions.  But PRTraining gives you the entire plan on paper (well, in a PDF in an email) so I was able to run on my own on the weeks I missed the group due to my travel schedule or volunteer commitments. I managed to get those runs in this time!  The training plan was great, and I followed it more closely than the other times I've run with the DTP. One disadvantage to the training plan was that it was geared to earlier races, so the long runs became shorter earlier than necessary for my race.  I tried to adjust, but it was too tempting to "slack" and follow the plan for the earlier race.

Two weeks before the race, I had a back spasm.  I just moved funny and boom - could barely stand up.  Fortunately it only lasted a couple of days, and my Running Buddies (the infamous Run To Coffee ladies) were great about just walking with me instead of running.  But I used it as an "extreme taper" - getting less mileage in than I should the last few weeks before a race.  I knew I didn't want to push it.  And that little voice in my head repeated what Coach Caitlyn (of PRR's Cherry Blossom training group a few years back) said "its better to undertrain than to overtrain".

So following the "extreme taper" I was feeling pretty good this week - my legs wanted to run and I felt strong.  I felt my food and hydration were right - and I was hoping for a PR.  Sadly, that didn't happen.

You may have seen the weather for this weekend was COLD.  It was a balmy 26 at the start.  Which meant that I stood outside for an hour in 26 degree weather before running.  The trash bag was warm, but not warm enough.  I had hotties for my hands, but I left them at the hotel. (Note to self: ALWAYS zip all pockets closed before you leave!)  I threw some winter tights in the suitcase at the last minute, and I am SO GLAD I had them!  I had to buy a hat at the expo.

So on to the fun! Of course I was assigned to the Last Wave - in this case, Wave K.  It was five blocks back from the start, and the people were all friendly, if a bit frosted about the weather.  I used my strategy of jumping back out of the corral to use the bathroom at the start.  I was surprised with the long lines at the Porta-potties, but realized they were all full marathoners who hadn't started yet.  However, I made it through the line and back to the start corral well before Wave K crossed the start line.

 So when I got close to the start, I ditched my trash bag coverup. I finally got across the start line, then started running.  I knew Frank was out there on his bike somewhere near the start looking for me.  He found me here:

That was around mile one.  Mile 2 brought this beautiful sign:

Then at the first turn, I found Frank with Susie Austin, a dear friend who lives just off the Half-Marathon route (and on the Marathon Route):

My pace was blistering for the first two miles - I was well ahead of my 14:30-15:00 planned pace, and I was trying to slow down.   Frank and his bike kept showing up throughout the race.  I had some really good miles until I hit about mile 8.  That's when I felt a blister starting on my right foot, I felt tired, my hips hurt and I was feeling the heat in the sun, and the cold wind in the shadows.  About mile 10.5 I dropped my middle layer, but I never felt I had the layering right.

Here are a few photos from Frank:

You can see I have lost most of the crowd.  I like that about the back of the pack.  There is room to run.  Mile 9 was extremely hard.  In fact I tweeted at Mile 10 - Why?  Why am I doing this? 

But once I crossed the Mile 10 marker, I thought "OK, only 5K to go.  I can do this."  By that time the course had joined up with the marathon course so very fast runners were passing me.. and their cheering sections were out there giving me "pity cheers" as well.   Mile 10 also offered one of the more entertaining cheering sections:

And hubby thought this run/walker was especially stylin' in this handmade hat and scarf:

So now I've made it to mile 11, thinking I am almost there and may just make it, but feeling tired and achy.  Who shows up on the sidelines but Chip Hulbert, my first running coach ever, and coaching at Lifetime Fitness now.  He gives me some words of encouragement, a quick hug and sends me off to finish.  

The finish at Richmond is something everyone talks about.  I can't tell you how many times I said "Richmond Half-Marathon" and someone said "downhill finish" in response.  (Kind of like on Easter, we have a call-and-response at church - "He is Risen"  "He is Risen, indeed".  It feels like that to me...."Richmond" "Downhill Finish".)  My Tuesday coach, Joe, cautioned me to be careful about going too fast on the downhill.  Chip cautioned me about going too fast on the downhill right before I started into it. But just like the first mile, from mile 12.5 on, I threw caution to the wind!  I went as fast as I could on the downhill (and my Run To Coffee group will tell you I am really fast downhill!)  When I checked my Nike watch later in the day, that last half-mile was in the 10 minute pace.  I left it all out there! 

So my official time was 3:37:28.  Overall #8337 of 8452 finishers (10,500 "competitors" according to the race website)  In my age group #504 of 511.  So I finished.  Not last.

Afterwards I was completely exhausted.  I got my medal, my hat and my blanket, and headed over to bag pickup where I had a recovery drink waiting in my bag.  I was starving and I think I drank it too fast.  Frank met me and sat with me a few minutes, then decided to ride his bike back to the car and meet me at the start shuttle.  I headed to the pickup point for the shuttles, but had to sit down halfway.  I finally got to the shuttle pickup area and got sick.  Puked all over the streets of Richmond.  I decided to go to the medical tent to get checked out.  They were great, took my vitals and my temperature was 96. Hypothermic, maybe?  Blood pressure was fine.  I just felt weak and dizzy.  I hung out in the medical tent for about  1/2 hour and tried again to get to hubby.  This time I made it.  Back to the hotel for a hot bath and some food.  

We had dinner with the Austins that night, and although I couldn't eat much, I was grateful for the hospitality.  I was literally too sore to sit at the table, When we got home to the hotel, I told Frank, "Don't ever let me sign up for 13.1 again. Just tell me no if I even think about it."  He asked me this morning, "Well, are you thinking about it?"  Yes.

What would it be like to take the Silver Line to Walmart?

This morning was the first rush hour service on Metro's new Silver Line to Reston.  All the media coverage right now is about how the Silver Line will make getting to and from Reston and Tysons easier.  But I am no longer a commuter.  I live in Herndon, just south of Reston, and as a stay-at-home-mom, I tend not to go downtown much, and when I do, it's more practical to drive.

Now that we have Metro in Reston, I wondered, would it change the way I do things?  I grew up in a family that had only one car (and, for awhile, no car) and we managed to get around by bike, bus, metro and taxi. One of the things that attracted my husband and me to the Reston area when we bought our house was its transit-friendly amenities.  We live 3/4 of a mile to the Reston South Park and Ride lot.  We have a Fairfax Connector that goes down our street (every 20 minutes, starting at 5:40 a.m. until rush hour is over.)   I can walk on sidewalks all over my neighborhood, including to the grocery store and Starbucks.  I can bike on paved trails all over Reston.  I've been known to bike to the library, the Town Center, the Trader Joe's... you get the idea.  I look for ways to get out of my car and practice other means of transportation.

 So I wondered, "what would it be like to take metro to Wal-Mart?"  I had noticed the "urban" Wal-Mart that was built at the west end of Tysons a couple of years ago.  I knew the Spring Hill Station was "right there".  So I decided to let that be my destination today, on my first metro ride of the Silver Line.

First of all, I wasn't sure how to get to Metro.  I knew where the station was, but I also knew that the entrance on the south side of the Toll Road (nearest to my house) was for pedestrians and bus riders only.  I am still grumbling about that one.  So I drove up Reston Parkway to Sunset Hills Road hoping that there was still parking available after 10AM on a weekday.  As I passed the Sunset Hills Road Park and Ride lot (the one by the W&OD trail and Wiehle Ave)  I noticed several empty parking spots.  SCORE!  -- it was free parking, even if I had to walk 10 more minutes to get to the metro.  So I parked and walked.  (I don't know if they were empty because all the media parked there earlier and left, or if its because all the swim teams have finished and EVERYONE is on vacation this week, but I don't often see empty spots there on a weekday!)

Once parked, I followed the sidewalk to the metro - It took a few turns, but I got there.  I couldn't figure out how to get to the entrance from the street, so I went into the garage at the Kiss and Ride - bonus opportunity to scope out where to get hubby if he ever comes home on the Silver Line - and took the elevator up to the train level.

FINALLY I got to cross to the station on the pedestrian overpass which we watched get built for the last ?? (seemed like 100) years.  My old SmartTrip card worked just fine.  I waited 10 minutes for a train, and finally boarded.  Interestingly, the westbound train discharged its passengers, "went out of service", and then switched tracks to the eastbound side before allowing passengers on the train.  This is different than the "terminal stations" at all the other Metro lines.

 It took a few minutes to get to the Spring Hill Station, which was the next stop on the Silver Line.  So I got off and looked for Wal-Mart.  What was "right there" when I saw it during construction, turns out to be about two blocks away from the staircase that you take to get off the platform.  The sidewalks were wide and clear. But the drivers turning right from Westwood Center Drive onto Leesburg Pike didn't seem to be aware of a pedestrian with a 'walking man' signal to cross.  Of course, they didn't even stop for a red light.  Why would they stop for a pedestrian? (Right turn on red AFTER STOP, people. Please.)

So it was about a 5 minute walk to WalMart.  I got my small list of purchases, paid at the self-checkout and headed out.  I took a cruise through the rest of the Silver Line to McLean (still wishing that station was closer to church) and then headed back to Reston.  All in all, it was a pleasant trip on the Silver Line.

So it was an interesting trip.  But was it practical?  Can I do Wal-Mart faster and cheaper on the Silver line?  In a word, no.  Here's the breakdown:

Via Metro:
Parking: Free (because I walked, if I had parked in the garage it would be $4.25)
Metro: $6 round trip, off peak
Time:  15 mins to drive to Wiehle, 10 minutes to walk to Metro, 10 minutes to wait for Metro, 10 minute ride to Spring Hill, 5 minute walk to Wal-Mart:  TOTAL TIME: 50 minutes just to get there.

Driving to Tysons Wal-Mart:
MapQuest estimates 12 minutes and $1.38 in fuel costs.  So to get there and back, $2.76 in fuel plus $4 in tolls makes a total of $6.76. (I did not have to go through the main toll plaza to get to wal-mart, or my cost would have almost doubled.) Parking in the Wal-Mart garage is free for the first two hours.

So faster AND cheaper to drive to Wal-Mart, rather than take Metro.  And if I didn't have access to my car for some reason (perhaps boys are home from college) I'd probably just ride my bike to Target, rather than riding it to the Metro.  So definitely not practical for shopping at Wal-Mart.

Great Falls Great Deluge of 2014

Great Falls from the Virginia side 4/23/14

Great Falls from the Virginia Side 5

I RAN DC - Nike Women's DC Half 2013

found my name on the wall...I'm an actual Runner!

What a great race! After running the San Francisco Half (my first half ever) last fall with Team in Training, I knew this would be a great event.  I HAD to run the inaugural race in my hometown.

My training was not what I wanted it to be. At the start of the training cycle (late January),  I had some dizziness during a gym workout. I went to the doctor the next day for a medication adjustment, and he got real worried. He put me on "only yoga" for exercise for two weeks until I had a stress test.  Eventually he cleared me to go train, but by then my pace had dropped to 17-minute miles. The cutoff for the race was 15-minute miles. A month ago, I did not know if I'd be able to finish the race before the finish line closed. But I decided to start the race and then run until someone invited me to leave the course. Here's a picture of our last long run with the PRR Training Programs group:

photo credit: Deborah Brooks

Spoiler alert - I FINISHED THE RACE.

  In fact I finished with over 1,000 people behind me! There were a few things I did right before the race this time... I hydrated well, I rested properly, and I paid attention to my eating. In SF I had too many things that were left up to Team in Training - such as the fabulous inspiration dinner - but it was on their schedule, not mine. I loved the complete control of not traveling and eating my own food. And Hubby cooking for me. Hubby and I decided to drive to the race. We know the city and he could drop me at the start and then go park. It eliminated the need for bag check. Frank then followed me around the course on his bike. So he took fabulous photos. In the Last Wave -- the 14++ corral where I was assigned -- didn't feel crowded to me at all. I felt much more crowded when I ran Cherry Blossom in 2010. So I was pretty happy back there. I was one of the few without a purple TNT shirt on...and I was glad to see them all. But felt a little out of place with my green race bib and blue Tshirt marking me as "just a runner" and not part of TNT. But I did find the pace runner - a great lady named Stephanie - who would run a pace to finish in the goal of 3:20. "If you finish in front of me you are guaranteed to finish." That's all I needed to hear. I was going to keep her in my sights. As the race started, I mentally recounted my race strategy: 2 minute run, 90 second walk. Repeat. Stay in control first 3 miles. And I crossed the start line and headed to the 9th Street tunnel. The road was downhill and there were two drum lines inside the tunnel. I couldn't slow down if I tried. I passed the 3:10 pace runner and found myself near the 3:00 pace runner. Uh-oh. SLOW DOWN. Nope. couldn't do it. I know why the military used to have drummers march with the soldiers - to keep them going. Nike figured this out. Loved all the drumlines, Nike! As we approached mile 3, we crossed Memorial Bridge and straight ahead was Lee Mansion, and Arlington National Cemetery. To the left was the Air Force Memorial. I was within sight of those monuments just 20 days ago when we attended the burial of a dear friend, Mark Scott. I had to stop and snap a photo for Kimberly. Then it was back to the business at hand - getting that necklace. At the other end of the bridge was my first hubby-sighting. He was snapping away on his cell phone. Here's a shot across Memorial Bridge with Lee Mansion in the background.

 

 

As we progressed to mile 4, we ran into another awesome drumline - an all female group with awesome rhythm.  I was still on my run-walk cycle, but feeling a little tired.  I remembered to eat my clif blox at mile 3 - and kept drinking water and everything else they offered me.  We headed toward Hains Point, past the Green Machine

and I was still running... next came Howard University's Pep Band around mile 7, and they were great!  Now we  were into the more quiet, breezy Hain's Point.  It's great because its SO FLAT  down there.  I was happy with my run, but was starting to get really tired.   I knew I was ahead of my schedule - I hit the sign that said "if you arrive here after 9 AM you may take the bus back" at 8:45.  So I decided I had the luxury of a potty stop.  And even if it wasn't a luxury, I am a 47 year old woman with a tiny bladder.  I can't go 3 hours without a potty stop!

After the potty stop, I looked ahead of me and saw the pace-lady Stephanie!  Oh no!  I sprinted to get in front of her... and that probably was a mistake. More shot blox at mile 9, but I began to have calf-cramps.  So I slowed down, tried the Chip Hulbert method of stretch-walking, and kept going.  I was also watching my heartrate not go down during my walk breaks, another sign that I was maximizing my endurance.  I did what I could to keep going, and watched the pace lady pass me a few times.  I'd try to catch up, get a cramp and have to slow down.  I decided about mile 11 to just walk it out. I took my final set of shot blox and drank some water as I watched the pace lady get farther ahead of me... sigh.   Hubby showed up again with the camera..

 

At this point I was walking and my pace looked like 14:30.  I knew I could finish just with a walk. So I race-walked the last two miles, and was thrilled when another runner called out at mile twelve that we had 40 minutes to get through the next mile.  I can do this in 15 minutes, I thought.  I won't be pulled off the course! So here's the last shot of me trying to run at the finish:

 

 

I got across the finish line with a major calf cramp in my right calf.  The medic was right there ready to help me.  He got me to the back of a chair to stretch the calf out and was watching me.  After a minute I realized that I still had to get that necklace!  So I was off.  Unfortunately I didn't get a photo of getting the necklace. :(  But I put it on as soon as I could:

 

 

 

And then it was time to refuel with all the carbs we could find at Pi.  This is one of the few times you'll ever see me with a beer at 11 AM on Sunday morning!  But it was so good. 

 

 

 

All in all, an excellent race.  I PR'd by 35 minutes over San Francisco, and more importantly, I finished the race.  Six weeks ago I wasn't sure I could do it, and had talks with several people about whether or not to even try.  But once again, I learned what I can do if only I will try.  I do want to thank Joe O'Gorman at the Reston Y for training us old runners who are more interested in coffee than running and Wendi and Maura at Potomac River Running for running so slow on Saturdays with our training group.  And a shout-out to Wendi who came in second overall in the race! 

 

 

So that's the view from the back of the pack.  A final time of 3:26.08, placing 13,891.  That means I finished ahead of 1,109 runners (who may or may not have actually finished themselves.)  Who knew!  Next race: Brambleton 10K on Memorial Day.  I own last place in that race...maybe I can get to "not last" this year!