Tag: MLtravels

Pounding Pavement DC Style Now & Then

I will post about my DC/Baltimore Roadtrip a little later, but I’ll just jump into the race itself. I will also post how last year’s race went in italics. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!

I was a good girl Saturday and only had 3 Strongbows with lunch the rest of the day I only drank water. Last year while in DC my friend Kelly and I thought day drinking would be okay if we stopped at night, however day drinking leads to night drinking and we went to bed late and drunk.

I went to bed around 11pm in my comfy hotel bed and woke up at 6:30am. We crashed at our friend Josh’s place and I drunkenly slept on a futon and then while trying to snooze my alarm I shut it off and didn’t get up until like 7:30am.

I took my time getting ready (I already had all my stuff laid out), I wore dri fit clothes, compression socks, and my brooks. I also stretched, ate oatmeal and walked about a mile with W to the race. I was hung over, running late, grabbing things like a crazy person, I also wore a cotton race tshirt that was too big and new yoga pants that were very long. I also ate like a quarter of a burned bagel with cream cheese while trying to chug water. My friend Josh drove us and dropped us off.

Headed straight for packet pick up to get my number, chip and shirt. I put on my number and chip before stalking down David Cook. We picked up our race stuff the day before, but had no idea how the chip worked nor a good technique to pin on our bibs. I was too busy stalking David Cook to care about specifics of the race.

I made my way to the starting line near the front (about 10 people in) where I sipped on some water (I generally run with a water bottle these days). We lined up towards the back of the runners and before the walkers. I was thirsty already.

Once the race started I took off and really didn’t have to dodge many people. I felt good, I felt confident. The race started and we didn’t even get moving for a little but until our wave crossed. At that point there were SO many people. I must have been dodging people for a mile. the whole race I was in a swarm of people.

Within the first half mile I spot David Cook running a little a head of me. I tweak. Do I slow down and keep pace with him? I REALLY thought about it, but I wanted to SMASH my time last year. I was serious about speed training and I knew I had it in me to kick this ass’s race. So as I come upon David Cook I touch his arm and smile/give him a thumbs up (I think – I was too busy nearly dying of excitement). He gives me a warm smile back. I soak it in before taking off and blowing past him. Touching him and having him smile at me added more fuel to my running fire.

Because my nike+ is broken I was concerned about pace/speed – so when I crossed the start I turned on the stopwatch on my Ipod to try and monitor my time. They race had Kilo and Mile signs. My 1K time was like 4:30ish (DAYUM) my time at 1M was (7:55). I was focused on running as hard and fast as I could. I pretty much only ran among a small group of runners for most of the race. I really got to enjoy the course and where I was running. It was a very cool route. I RAN HARD the whole time. I tried to ease back a touch in the middle of mile 2 because I wanted to end strong. Around Mile 2 I saw I was around 19 minutes. As soon as I saw the finish line in the distance I gave it all I had. My veins were literally pumping battery acid at that point (my friends as the watched a few meters before the finish line said I looked miserable running and it made them not want to run ever – I was just focused and intense). I was pissed the last tenth of a mile a dad with a running stroller goes flying past me – talk about an ego blow. Either was I saw the clock at 26 minutes and I was in AWE. As soon as I crossed that finish line I felt no pain. I announced how great I felt and how awesome the race was (which my friends didn’t believe because of how red/purple, sweaty and miserable I looked to them while running). I swear I could have ran the 5K again. I felt on top of the world. I hoped to run the whole thing, but I just couldn’t I need a bunch of walking breaks. There were so many people and I was dehydrated. I also only saw Kilo signs and when I saw the 3K sign – I thought it was 3 miles and got really excited and ran hard only to then realize when I saw 4K that the race was will far from over. I was happy I finished the race, but I felt terrible, I wasn’t happy with my time and most of all I was disappointed in myself and my lack of preparing properly for the race like I knew I should have.

Official Race Time – 26:28 (8:31 pace). Official Race Time 33:29 (10:46 pace).

So on the first anniversary of my first race ever on the same course – I knocked 7 minutes and 1 second off my 5K time. I also was so much more prepared and knowledable about preparation, training and the race itself. I hope to run this race every year. It means a lot to me and it raises money to find a cure for brain cancer (David Cook lost his brother to it 3 years ago). If you’re interested in still donating visit my site.

Travel Hell

I’m home in Alabama after a 14 HOUR travel day, that really was like a 20 hour nightmare day.

I was supposed to fly from New York to Atlanta yesterday afternoon. I got an automated call at 6:45am saying my flight was cancelled. I wouldn’t be able to get to Atlanta until New Years Eve at 4pm. (ummm NO I have NYE plans in Nashville with the boyfriend). I think quickly and ask about flights to Birmingham. I get one with a layover in Miami – a ONE HOUR layover (which makes me anxious). I’m excited, but stressed. The boyfriend is near Birmingham and can get me, but MY CAR is in a parking lot in Atlanta. I made a few options, slightly stressed, but happy to get back.

My mom and I (and Freddie my Pomeranian – I shouldn’t forget him, he kept me sane) leave for the airport at 12:30PM. Actually have little trouble getting through check in, security etc. We are at our and they are about start boarding when they said they have to wait for one of her flight attendedants to get to the gate – her other plane had landed, but she isn’t here. So we wait and wait. for 40 MINUTES. I’m already starting to panic about my connecting flight in Miami. We get on the plane and the pilot says we can make time up in the air so we’ll only be 10-15 minutes late. OK.

So on this flight I’m in good spirits and read one of my books I got for Christmas – Rachel Toor’s Personal Record: A Love Affair With Running. I read the WHOLE book. It was a 3 hour flight and the book was 163 pages. It was great. It had 26.2 chapters and she wrote the chapters to mimic the rhymthm of running a marathon (short bursts, long hauls, emotions, joy etc. This book was just the kick in the ass I needed to get focused and get running after taking 2 weeks to be effin lazy.

So we land in Miami only 10 minutes late and we sit and we sit. Our gate has another plane there. We waited 40 minutes on the runway – I grew more and more stressed as the minutes ticked by. My flight started BOARDING at 7:00 with a 7:30 departure time. We don’t start deplaning until 7:10 and of course I’m in on the last rows since I had gotten on that flight last minute. Freddie and I make a run for it. We’re at gate 17 and we need to get to 60. I weight my options and take the airtrain and then make a Home Alone-esque run for it. 

I missed it. I got to the gate at 7:34. There are no flights to Birmingham until tomorrow. I have a hysterical breakdown. I tell the airline agent I need to get home – altanta, birmingham, columbus, montgomery anywhere and I can get home. I get a 9:30 flight to Atlanta and she gives me a $10 dollar meal voucher. In hindsight it was a good option, but I was still hysterical. Oh and my luggage was still going to Birmingham on tomorrow’s flight. GREAT.

Freddie and I wander looking for a Dunkin Donuts for coffee – it was closed, FAIL. I use my meal voucher on a Nathan’s hotdog meal and share it with Freddie. I go towards my Atlanta gate and see the flight has been delayed until 10:30. I am ON EDGE. I am terrified I am not going to get out tonight. I have an Uncle in North Miami and a friend in South Beach, but I wanted to be home so bad. 

Finally at 10:00 we start boarding. Everyone is on board and we are ready, but our captain says we are waiting for our new co-captain because they took the other co-captain off this flight (and hence the delay). I’m pretty sure this co-captain like came from his HOUSE to come and fly this plane. Whatever, I’m thankful. We take off and finally I feel slightly better. I slept for about half the flight on and off. We land in Atlanta at 12:20 AM (12 hours since I first left for the airport). I worry about sitting on the runway like we did in Miami. Lucky we got to our gate and I headed to go pick up my shuttle to get my car. Well before I got to my car Freddie and I stopped at the fabulous little dog park in the Atlanta Airport and I let him frolic and potty for a bit. We was cooped up for a loooong time. 

So I get to the shuttle, get to my car – I had stress about my car too, but all was good. However It was 1:00 AM and I still have an hour and half to drive home. Thanks for coffee, music, cold air and people to talk to on the phone at this ungodly hour I made it to my house at 2:45AM.

Last night was the best 8 hours of sleep I EVER had. 

Today I’m off to Birmingham to spend the weekend with the boyfriend which includes picking up my luggage at the airport and going to Nashville for NYE.

Happy 2011 to all of you!

(A)Live from New York

I have been a waste of life lately.

I both love and loathe not having a schedule. 

I have not run in almost a week.

I did walk 60+ blocks yesterday in NYC.

I’m having major concerns about being marathon ready in March – for a few reasons.

Life is moving both at rapid speed and it’s at a standstill. 

I’m planning on recapping my 2010 this week because it has been a year of fresh starts and new beginnings.

2011 is going to be a BIG YEAR, with even more changes in my life, I’m really scared and really excited at the same time.

I love and miss you all, I wish I had better internet at my mom’s to be catching up with what is going on with all of you. xoxo

NYC & New England Fitblrs

Just wanted you to mark your calendars. I will be on the Island of Long aka “Lawnguyland” from 12/20-12/29. I have some plans to be in CT on Dec 23/24, but right now I’m pretty open outside of the rest of the 24/25th.

I’d love to meet up with some of you that are around! Send me a message and we’ll figure something out. Maybe you can plan a follow up NYC fitblr meet up at ths week’s NYC fitblr meet up for while I’m in town!

Multi State 10K

I had myself a nice little multi-state 10K. I prob did about a mile of it in Illinois, it wasn’t very exciting – mostly highways and casinos. Went back over the bridge and then out and about downtown St. Louis including running around Busch Stadium where the Cardinals play.

The weather was so crisp and the leaves are beautiful right now. I’m hoping to get in another run tomorrow morning before our closing banquet!

2 New States to Run in…

I am currently in St. Louis for a work conference an have a FANTASTIC view of the arch from my room. Tomorrow I plan on running around the arch, along the riverfront, and also crossing the Mississippi River to run in Illinois. I’m hoping for a 6 mile run, but It may take more to cross into Illinois we shall see. So pumped and the weather is crisp as could be!

I added a “states I’ve run in” page to my tumblr. I’m excited about continuing to add to this list!

Half Marathon Part Duex Recap

Since I forgot to weigh myself this morning I figured clog your dash with a recap of my most recent race.

Friday – hit the road at 5pm with my friend Melissa for the 5.5 hour drive to New Orleans. Stopped halfway for a quick dinner with a friend in south Alabama – I specifically picked a place I have eaten at before and get a club sandwich with a mac and cheese side because I don’t want to try anything new the night before a race. Get to NOLA around 11pm. We are staying at charming/old/creepy/cute bed and breakfast in the Garden District. Settle into the room, lay out race stuff, sync my playlist to my ipod. The last thing I do before trying to fall asleep is “remove” my ipod from syncing/charging. I remove the ipod when it’s safe to remove and I look to make sure the playlist was added and the charging screen is FROZEN. FROZEN. I nearly lose my shit. I’m like I can’t run without music etc. I try a few things to try and make it work, then I go to the mac troubleshooting website and through a few weird toggling of buttons I get it unfrozen. So now at 1am after this near heart attack I’m supposed to fall asleep? Yeah right. I laid in back awake for at least 2 hours. Then maybe slept an hour or two before waking up at 4:30. I laid in bed until 5:45 when my alarm went off.

Saturday – Despite not really sleeping I feel pretty good. Make a peanut butter and banana sandwich thin and get ready. Thank goodness Melissa is from outside NOLA because my GPS was tweaking out trying to get to the race location. So we get to one of the race parking lots and see a TON of people there waiting to pre-pay in the lot. It’s $10 despite it saying it was $4 for race people – either way I only have a twenty and no debit card. STRESS. The race is supposed to start in 20 minutes so we leave the car unpaid and Melissa says she’ll get change for my $20 and pay for it after the race starts. The starting line was not organized by pace or anything. It was elite runners in the front and then a free-for-all in the back, I tried to get towards the front 1/3 of the group. It was all very cramped and there was roughly 3,500 runners.

I should also mention I executive decision to wear my compression shorts OVER my compression tights. My compression shorts have a back pocket that I needed for my gels, but I thought it’d be too chilly to not wear tights. I was nervous about trying something new for race day, but I had to roll with it.

Race starts – its PACKED. And running with men is very different than an all women’s race. Men seemed pushier. I end up breaking away from the street and head toward the sidewalk with others to try and get past all the congestion. Within the first mile or two a lady next to falls over a groove in the road that I saw. I was so shocked I couldn’t even react – luckily she had 2 others with her that helped her up. I then focus on the ground (let me tell you New Orleans does NOT have the best roads). I was (always am) worried about falling or twisting an ankle. The lady that fell got up and kept going, personally I don’t know if I could come right back from that.

First mile I ran it 9:12 min. I was both excited and anxious. I figured my time may have been fast because I was trying to get away from people so much at the start. Mile 2 – 9:04 min. I think okay well maybe I can work up a sweat on these first few miles despite it being chilly out which hopefully will keep me from having to pee. Mile 3 – 8:54 min. I saw 8 and I was not happy. I actively trying to slow down to a 10 minute pace with in the next 2 miles. By the 10K split my time was 1:06:00ish. I was over the moon. I was like okay I’m hoping for 2:10 so now I just need to keep close to the pace I’m at and I’ll even get a NEGATIVE split.

The race route was essentially run 6 miles out to Audubon park – run the park and run 6 miles back on the other side of the street. So I was feeling great UNTIL I’m in the park and the wind is blowing and some tree debris gets in my eye. So I’m like rubbing and trying to like cry it out whilst running. I should also mention I kinda felt like I had to pee at this point, but since it was later in the race as opposed to my other half when I had to pee since almost the beginning I thought I could wait it out/sweat it out. Well my stomach as a whole suddenly feels funky and I begrudgingly decide to stop at the port-a-pottys. There are 2 people waiting. Well WHOEVER THE EFF WAS IN BOTH STALLS TOOK SO DAMN LONG both people in front me leave the line. So I go in and barely pee. WTF. I’m not mentally prepared/willing to do anything else in a port-a-potty besides pee so I hope for the best.

After a ¼ mile or so I’m out of the park and now on the loop back when I was get overcome with despair. I bathroom break took too damn long and didn’t even make me feel better. I don’t know what to do. I walk for 2 minutes to gather my thoughts and try and psych myself back up. Also while walking it gives me time to acknowledge how bad my feet hurt (I’ve been struggling with foot strain for 2 weeks). I hurt and I’m down, but I AM NOT OUT. I REFUSE TO BE.

The 6 miles back were hard for all the reasons I mentioned AND the sun was in my eyes. I spent most of the race back with my head down. I didn’t want to be blinded, I wanted to focus on not tripping on shitty roads and I didn’t want to see all the people passing me. I don’t really look at or focus on my pace. It ranged from 11-12:30 min/mile I’m sure. The last few miles dragged. I am thankful there were so many people throughout the race cheering and acting a fool – it kept my spirits up.

The last 5K of the race was hard because I knew I wasn’t going to hit or come close to my goal time. It was more of a matter of just how far from it I was going to be. I really debated running full gusto the last few miles knowing I still wouldn’t hit my goal time, but I KNEW that if I did that I would be down for the rest of the weekend. I had a choice: time or enjoy my weekend. I chose my weekend and I don’t regret it.

My unofficial time I kept on my ipod and paused during my bathroom break was 2:16:00ish. My official chip time was 2:19:00 (on the nose!) which put me at an average pace of 10:37 min/mile. Really it’s not too shabby at all considering everything.

Halloween 2011

imagetheroadtoslimcity replied to your photoset: Apparently I didn’t take too many pictures this…

#1) next year, I’m coming with you. Its not an option, I’ll just be there on your doorstep on Halloween, k? great. #2) I want that dress. with the belt. now. thanks. 3) You look freakin fantastic!!!!

Ummm, YES and YES to #1.

#2. Got the dress and belt (and shoes) at the consignment store that I’m obsessed with. Dress was like $12, belt was like $5 and shoes were $6. The most expensive part of my outfit was my makeup and eyelashes!

#3. Thanks love!

I actually am having a Halloween 2011 dilemma. The Dublin Marathon is next Halloween, HOWEVER an annual work conference (which I leave for on Friday that’s in St. Louis) will be in NEW ORLEANS OVER HALLOWEEN next year! NOLA was so crazy and I really want to rip it up next year for real. PLUS work would be paying for the hotel. Perhaps Dublin 2012 since I’m 100% gonna run a full marathon in March – training starts soon (but I’ll post on that later).