I'm having a lot of trouble with my motivation to work out and stay in shape lately. In the past, and I'm sure in the future (post-baby-birth in late April), I've been extremely motivated by the little number on my scale every morning. It's one of the reasons I bought a high-priced scale. The accuracy of that number could make or break my day....and also push me to work out on days I might not be feeling it.
But now, my weight is going up regardless of what I do, so the numbers that normally light a fire within me aren't there. I realize I'm growing a human being right now, and that requires a certain amount of additional calories, fluids and consequently, poundage. But, it's hard to stay motivated to work out when I know the scale numbers are just going to go up regardless. Also, as someone who enjoys "pushing herself," it's frustrating to workout when I am not allowed to do that. I have to make sure my heart rate doesn't go too high, and my body isn't overstraining itself. A big hunk of the fun is gone with these limitations.
My races are not motivating me either....Not even the fact that the "Goofy Challenge is ONE WEEK away! I haven't been training properly, and I know, if I finish the marathon, it will be some sort of miraculous occurrence. (Although that hasn't been preventing me from selecting my Disney-themed running attire! Still motivated by race-day fashion. :)) I know there's a large contingent of runners who love running events regardless of their finish time. But, I'm a very competitive person. Not so much with other runners, but with myself. I like to run an event because I like trying to beat my old PR, or get under a certain time. I don't like running races knowing that I won't be able to push myself the way I want to. I enjoy running regardless, but again, it's becoming frustrating when my body won't do what I'm accustomed to making it do.
Running outdoors is hard, because I'm more apprehensive about becoming dehydrated. (and I've needed a LOT of extra water during my normal workouts now.) Also, my workout clothes are becoming more and more uncomfortable, so it's easier to either be on the bike in spin or on my treadmill where, if I need to make a wardrobe adjustment (and/or a quick pit-stop....because I need to pee a lot more often too) I can pretty easily.
As I mentioned, I have the Goofy Challenge coming up in eight days and I am not ready. Usually when I say I'm not ready for a race, I mean I'm a few long runs short of confident. But this time, I really mean it. I'm not ready....I can finish the half. The full the next day will be another story. Not sure exactly what shape I'll be in....especially since, I plan on walking around Disney World all day Thursday and Friday, then racing on Saturday and Sunday....Sunday (& Monday) could both end up being quite brutal. I'm obviously not going to be running the entirety of both races....more like a very slow run/walk combo. I hope to finish both, but that might not be feasible.
These are my last races before my bebe-induced race sabbatical. I'm already excited about running post-bebe, and choosing a "comeback" race afterward! But, in the meantime, I need some tips on how to stay motivated to keep working out. How do you keep yourself motivated? And how do I keep myself going, even though I'm gaining pounds and inches? Any advice will be helpful!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Secrets, secrets are no fun....Secrets, secrets...
....make it VERY difficult to write a blog!
A few weeks ago I got a very nice email from a fellow blogger, and subsequent friend, wondering why I hadn't posted in a couple of months. I've been off the radar, and it was really nice to know that someone was noticing! In theory, I should now have tons of extra time to be writing my blog!--my commute has gone from one hour each way down to 15 minutes round-trip. But I've been sitting on some delicate personal information since August, and I wasn't quite ready to blog about it. Now--finally--I'm ready to put fingertips to keyboard and share some big news: I'm pregnant!
I'm having a baby at the end of April. It was a complete surprise, and I've been very slowly telling people in my life and coming to terms with it myself. When I first found out, I was completely panicked and shocked. I had just moved into my own apartment (sans sibling-roommate) in a new neighborhood, and just started a new job, with a lot of new colleagues....I felt as if my life was on a new and fresh trajectory. To say that motherhood was not in my immediate plans would be a massive understatement. Not to mention that I was signed up for FOUR marathons and one half marathon between October and January. Some of which, like the Goofy Challenge next month, I was/am not willing to compromise on running.
I knew I didn't want a romantic relationship with the baby's father. We had dated briefly last summer, before he accepted a contracting job in Iraq. He left the country and was gone for nine months, during which my romantic feelings for him faded, but his seemed to intensify. He returned to the states in July and was here for just a few weeks before his employer sent him to Texas (for an indefinite period of time.) I knew I really "wasn't that into him" anymore when he came back. But I also knew he had been alone in Iraq for nine months, pining away, and I felt a bit guilty. In hindsight, I realize that sounds pretty ridiculous, but at the time, it made sense. To his dismay, my feelings didn't magically change once I found out I was pregnant.
I seriously weighed my options for a few weeks, but somewhere deep inside me, I knew I couldn't see myself terminating the pregnancy. I'm not against abortion legally, but for myself, I couldn't see that happening. Also, I had spent the summer applying for jobs and interviewing all over the place--everywhere from Jacksonville, FL to Lake Placid, NY, and I ended up accepting a position a mere ten minutes from my family. I also serendipitously rented a 2-bedroom apartment, instead of a 1-bedroom, thinking I could have an office or a spare bedroom or something. So, when I considered my situation, I was actually in the best possible position for something like this to happen. I mean, if I had accepted a position in Lake Placid, and was hundreds of miles away from my family, I might have been less confident with my abilities to handle the situation.
Also, even though I'm not romantically involved with the dad, I know he will be a very loving, generous and participatory father. He wants very much to be involved, and he is extremely frustrated that he is stuck in Texas and can't be close by for doctor's appointments and pregnancy milestones. His family lives in Maryland, and they are also very excited and eager to be involved. So, I feel confident that this baby will have plenty of people to love and care for it, even if I will be raising it on my own.
Selfishly, the first things I thought about when I found out were the races I'd signed up for, some of which require travel, and one of which was (and is) the Goofy Challenge in Disney World. I worried I might not be able to participate in or finish some (or any!) of my scheduled races. (Also, being the Disney-phile that I am, I was REALLY upset that I knew I'd be in WDW and unable to ride all of those rides that said " not safe for pregnant women or people prone to seizures."--which means, most of my favorite rides will be out of the question...cry, cry.) I immediately googled pregnant runners to find blogs and first-hand accounts of women completing full and half marathons during their pregnancies. After reading several accounts of pregnant runners, I thought it was pretty obvious that this would be a feasible task. But, the more I talked to people, the more people discouraged me from running long distance races, especially in my first trimester, when I was more prone to a miscarriage.
WebMD.com. Furthermore, I have found just as many medical professionals with opposite opinions. I was really disappointed with her, because, as a first-time pregnant person, I have very little idea of what's completely normal and what is abnormal/what I should worry about.
I talked to my mom, who is a nurse, but not a runner. She had her doctor look at my bloodwork and give me some information more specific to me. She assured me that he would understand my plight, being a runner himself, and also being the father of five girls--hence knowing how difficult and opinionated girls can be. As it turns out, my bloodwork got a big thumbs down. My only race in my first trimester, the Baltimore Marathon was out. The doctor said I could do the half, but that my red blood cell count was too low to be attempting the full. He said he worried about having enough oxygen for both me and my fetus, and was worried that I might have a heart attack. The two words "heart attack" were enough to get me to downgrade to the half for Baltimore. (A race report is forthcoming.)
The next race on my calendar was the Richmond Marathon in Richmond, VA. I decided to not run that at all. That was a bit easier decision, as I was planning on running it & traveling there by myself. It had also been really inexpensive to enter the race, so I didn't feel like I was losing too much of my financial investment. Lastly, I signed up for Richmond specifically so I could get a PR, since it is known as a flat and very fast (and very pretty course.) It was not a "bucket list" race by any means and, if I wasn't going to be at a performance level I was happy with, the point of running the race would be completely missed.
The last two races on my agenda, before ze bebe forces me to take a brief sabbatical, were the Las Vegas Marathon, which I downgraded to a half and ran this weekend (another race report is forthcoming....spoiler: a badly organized event!) and the Goofy Challenge, taking place in under a month. Both of those were/are races that I've been looking forward to for a long time. I know my time won't make me proud, but I still would like to race them this year, as scheduled, and not put them off for another time. My friend Bob will be running the DisneyWorld Half with me...and closely watching me during the Full. Bob is almost as protective of me and ze bebe as my own mom, so I know I'll have a watchful eye on me in FL.
Anyway, so now that the cat is out of the bag, blogging will be much easier. (It's so difficult to stop writing, because now I feel like I have TOO much information to share in one post!) I was kicking myself for not having posted pre-race poetry for the past two races! (I still might have to...I can't help myself! :))
A few weeks ago I got a very nice email from a fellow blogger, and subsequent friend, wondering why I hadn't posted in a couple of months. I've been off the radar, and it was really nice to know that someone was noticing! In theory, I should now have tons of extra time to be writing my blog!--my commute has gone from one hour each way down to 15 minutes round-trip. But I've been sitting on some delicate personal information since August, and I wasn't quite ready to blog about it. Now--finally--I'm ready to put fingertips to keyboard and share some big news: I'm pregnant!
I'm having a baby at the end of April. It was a complete surprise, and I've been very slowly telling people in my life and coming to terms with it myself. When I first found out, I was completely panicked and shocked. I had just moved into my own apartment (sans sibling-roommate) in a new neighborhood, and just started a new job, with a lot of new colleagues....I felt as if my life was on a new and fresh trajectory. To say that motherhood was not in my immediate plans would be a massive understatement. Not to mention that I was signed up for FOUR marathons and one half marathon between October and January. Some of which, like the Goofy Challenge next month, I was/am not willing to compromise on running.
I knew I didn't want a romantic relationship with the baby's father. We had dated briefly last summer, before he accepted a contracting job in Iraq. He left the country and was gone for nine months, during which my romantic feelings for him faded, but his seemed to intensify. He returned to the states in July and was here for just a few weeks before his employer sent him to Texas (for an indefinite period of time.) I knew I really "wasn't that into him" anymore when he came back. But I also knew he had been alone in Iraq for nine months, pining away, and I felt a bit guilty. In hindsight, I realize that sounds pretty ridiculous, but at the time, it made sense. To his dismay, my feelings didn't magically change once I found out I was pregnant.
I seriously weighed my options for a few weeks, but somewhere deep inside me, I knew I couldn't see myself terminating the pregnancy. I'm not against abortion legally, but for myself, I couldn't see that happening. Also, I had spent the summer applying for jobs and interviewing all over the place--everywhere from Jacksonville, FL to Lake Placid, NY, and I ended up accepting a position a mere ten minutes from my family. I also serendipitously rented a 2-bedroom apartment, instead of a 1-bedroom, thinking I could have an office or a spare bedroom or something. So, when I considered my situation, I was actually in the best possible position for something like this to happen. I mean, if I had accepted a position in Lake Placid, and was hundreds of miles away from my family, I might have been less confident with my abilities to handle the situation.
Also, even though I'm not romantically involved with the dad, I know he will be a very loving, generous and participatory father. He wants very much to be involved, and he is extremely frustrated that he is stuck in Texas and can't be close by for doctor's appointments and pregnancy milestones. His family lives in Maryland, and they are also very excited and eager to be involved. So, I feel confident that this baby will have plenty of people to love and care for it, even if I will be raising it on my own.
Selfishly, the first things I thought about when I found out were the races I'd signed up for, some of which require travel, and one of which was (and is) the Goofy Challenge in Disney World. I worried I might not be able to participate in or finish some (or any!) of my scheduled races. (Also, being the Disney-phile that I am, I was REALLY upset that I knew I'd be in WDW and unable to ride all of those rides that said " not safe for pregnant women or people prone to seizures."--which means, most of my favorite rides will be out of the question...cry, cry.) I immediately googled pregnant runners to find blogs and first-hand accounts of women completing full and half marathons during their pregnancies. After reading several accounts of pregnant runners, I thought it was pretty obvious that this would be a feasible task. But, the more I talked to people, the more people discouraged me from running long distance races, especially in my first trimester, when I was more prone to a miscarriage.
WebMD.com. Furthermore, I have found just as many medical professionals with opposite opinions. I was really disappointed with her, because, as a first-time pregnant person, I have very little idea of what's completely normal and what is abnormal/what I should worry about.
I talked to my mom, who is a nurse, but not a runner. She had her doctor look at my bloodwork and give me some information more specific to me. She assured me that he would understand my plight, being a runner himself, and also being the father of five girls--hence knowing how difficult and opinionated girls can be. As it turns out, my bloodwork got a big thumbs down. My only race in my first trimester, the Baltimore Marathon was out. The doctor said I could do the half, but that my red blood cell count was too low to be attempting the full. He said he worried about having enough oxygen for both me and my fetus, and was worried that I might have a heart attack. The two words "heart attack" were enough to get me to downgrade to the half for Baltimore. (A race report is forthcoming.)
The next race on my calendar was the Richmond Marathon in Richmond, VA. I decided to not run that at all. That was a bit easier decision, as I was planning on running it & traveling there by myself. It had also been really inexpensive to enter the race, so I didn't feel like I was losing too much of my financial investment. Lastly, I signed up for Richmond specifically so I could get a PR, since it is known as a flat and very fast (and very pretty course.) It was not a "bucket list" race by any means and, if I wasn't going to be at a performance level I was happy with, the point of running the race would be completely missed.
The last two races on my agenda, before ze bebe forces me to take a brief sabbatical, were the Las Vegas Marathon, which I downgraded to a half and ran this weekend (another race report is forthcoming....spoiler: a badly organized event!) and the Goofy Challenge, taking place in under a month. Both of those were/are races that I've been looking forward to for a long time. I know my time won't make me proud, but I still would like to race them this year, as scheduled, and not put them off for another time. My friend Bob will be running the DisneyWorld Half with me...and closely watching me during the Full. Bob is almost as protective of me and ze bebe as my own mom, so I know I'll have a watchful eye on me in FL.
Anyway, so now that the cat is out of the bag, blogging will be much easier. (It's so difficult to stop writing, because now I feel like I have TOO much information to share in one post!) I was kicking myself for not having posted pre-race poetry for the past two races! (I still might have to...I can't help myself! :))
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| Only a few weeks...no bump yet (& even if I did, my amazing Ravens hat would distract the eye from the tummy!) |
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| Oct. 2, 2011 - 8 wks. Clothes are too tight, so these are my "Will my boss notice?" pictures. |
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| Mid-Nov. 2011 - 14 wks. The jig will be up soon. |
Monday, August 22, 2011
Back in the saddle....
....even though the metaphorical saddle might still be a little tight-fitting. My fitness situation is definitely on the upswing. For the past two weeks, I've gotten up before 5:30 am to work out at least three days a week. (and a few of those times, I actually made it to my gym for a class!)
I've also finished a couple of new runs around my neighborhood. Well....the first one, I didn't exactly "finish" per se, because I dropped my directions and got lost....so I ended up running thirty minutes in one direction then turning around and running back--much more boring than the originally run I had planned, but at least I got a solid hour of work in.
My second run was better, at least directionally. The road I now live on goes in one big loop, for about 4.8 miles, so if I stay on that road, then I knew I couldn't possibly get lost. It was a challenging run though. My new neighborhood, I'm finding out, while not mountainous, is quite hilly. I've been running lots of ups and downs....hopefully that will help me get ready for the infamously hilly Baltimore Marathon (in under two months....yikes!) I can tell this running-sabbatical I've been on this summer has really taken a toll on my cardiovascular skills. I still felt good at the end of my run, but I definitely could feel the run being more challenging than I'm used to.
That's one of the problems with stopping a workout regimen and then trying to begin again: I want to be at the same level of performance I was in the early spring, and instead, I'm having to work much harder to get back there. It's slightly frustrating, but I keep trying to tell myself that my muscles remember and they will adapt, I just have to keep plugging away.
The second problem with trying to get back into my routine is the feeling of impending injury. I am by no means a hypochondriac, but I am aware of the dangers of over-training, and of doing "too much, too soon." I've had tendinitis in my knee before, as well as ITBS and some weird foot-issues from running too far before I was ready. Knowing all this makes me acutely aware of any sort of weird or random pains I might be feeling during my runs. I don't want to be a sissy (I mean, I do have to get my butt ready for the marathons I have planned this fall/winter) but at the same time, I don't want to try and "push through" a pain that maybe is significant, or my body trying to tell me something. So far, so good....knock on wood. I've had some minor pain in my calf....but hopefully it will disappear and I'll be able to push through.
Last "growing pain" of getting pack in the saddle: weight gain, even though my diet and my exercise regimen is improving. I hope/know it's probably muscle weight coming back on, but it's still very discouraging to be working hard again, and see the numbers on the scale going UP and not down....Its frustrating.
But, at least it feels good to be back in my routine, and to be working on my fitness goals again. My new job right now is incredibly busy until after Labor Day, but hopefully in September, I can ramp up the effort even more, and prepare as much as possible for my upcoming marathons!
To help motivate me in my preparations, I've picked out my running costume for the Rock & Roll Las Vegas Marathon in December....obviously will need to add sneakers, sports bra, and brunette hair!
I've also finished a couple of new runs around my neighborhood. Well....the first one, I didn't exactly "finish" per se, because I dropped my directions and got lost....so I ended up running thirty minutes in one direction then turning around and running back--much more boring than the originally run I had planned, but at least I got a solid hour of work in.
My second run was better, at least directionally. The road I now live on goes in one big loop, for about 4.8 miles, so if I stay on that road, then I knew I couldn't possibly get lost. It was a challenging run though. My new neighborhood, I'm finding out, while not mountainous, is quite hilly. I've been running lots of ups and downs....hopefully that will help me get ready for the infamously hilly Baltimore Marathon (in under two months....yikes!) I can tell this running-sabbatical I've been on this summer has really taken a toll on my cardiovascular skills. I still felt good at the end of my run, but I definitely could feel the run being more challenging than I'm used to.
That's one of the problems with stopping a workout regimen and then trying to begin again: I want to be at the same level of performance I was in the early spring, and instead, I'm having to work much harder to get back there. It's slightly frustrating, but I keep trying to tell myself that my muscles remember and they will adapt, I just have to keep plugging away.
The second problem with trying to get back into my routine is the feeling of impending injury. I am by no means a hypochondriac, but I am aware of the dangers of over-training, and of doing "too much, too soon." I've had tendinitis in my knee before, as well as ITBS and some weird foot-issues from running too far before I was ready. Knowing all this makes me acutely aware of any sort of weird or random pains I might be feeling during my runs. I don't want to be a sissy (I mean, I do have to get my butt ready for the marathons I have planned this fall/winter) but at the same time, I don't want to try and "push through" a pain that maybe is significant, or my body trying to tell me something. So far, so good....knock on wood. I've had some minor pain in my calf....but hopefully it will disappear and I'll be able to push through.
Last "growing pain" of getting pack in the saddle: weight gain, even though my diet and my exercise regimen is improving. I hope/know it's probably muscle weight coming back on, but it's still very discouraging to be working hard again, and see the numbers on the scale going UP and not down....Its frustrating.
But, at least it feels good to be back in my routine, and to be working on my fitness goals again. My new job right now is incredibly busy until after Labor Day, but hopefully in September, I can ramp up the effort even more, and prepare as much as possible for my upcoming marathons!
To help motivate me in my preparations, I've picked out my running costume for the Rock & Roll Las Vegas Marathon in December....obviously will need to add sneakers, sports bra, and brunette hair!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
How I spent my summer vacation
Hello strangers! Its the middle of August, and I haven't posted since June....so sad. Where have I been? Well, not focusing on fitness, that is for sure!
I always used to say that odd-numbered years were lucky years for me, but I think I need to change that thinking--odd-numbered years are years of transition for me. I was born in an odd year, graduated high school and college, moved out of my parents house into my first apartment, had a devastating break-up with my first serious boyfriend (besides my college bf), bought my condo, changed jobs....all in odd-numbered years. And 2011 did not upset the trend.
Last December, my younger brother Brian, who was also my roommate and co-owner of my condo, mentioned that he would like to move in with his girlfriend Tyler this summer. Tyler is a teacher, so summer was the best time for her to move. Also, it made more sense for her to move into our condo, and for me to move out, then vice versa. It was more emotional than I thought it would be, I must say. As much as having a roommate can be irritating, and having a sibling-roommate can be even moreso, since we actually say what we feel (and yell and argue and bicker), I knew I'd miss having Brian (and Tyler) around every day. I'd grown accustomed to them being there when I got home, and having someone to tell about my day. It was a tough change.
But at the same time, I also saw the move as an opportunity to look for new jobs outside the radius of my condo. My current job had been stifling for a long while. I was barely making enough to pay my bills, and the increases in my (rather pathetic) insurance costs and metro fare outweighed any salary increases I'd received. I did the math, and basically I was losing money every year, with the insurance increases. Aside from the ridiculously large gobs of vacation and sick time my organization dispersed, the benefits were terrible. I worked for a non-profit, for a cause I truly care deeply about, so that I suppose should compensate for a lesser salary than average. Still, I was doing the same exact things I'd done since I started the job in 2007 (odd year). I kept asking to be involved in more projects and to get more responsibility, but ultimately the organization is very bureaucratic, and it was a constant struggle for me to get new projects and then to maintain any sense of responsibility for them. I rarely got a sense of satisfaction from a job-well-done because I hardly had any responsibility or accountability in my position. It wasn't a fool-proof job, but it was easy and it wasn't satisfying, and there was no where for me to go if I stayed.
We had a position open in my department in February that we finally hired for in May (the first mid-level position available since I was hired, and since the economic strife began across the country.) When I was passed over for that, with no real reason, explanation or constructive criticism from my boss, my motivation to do a good job and to try hard really took a hit. I barely wanted to show up at work, let alone do a good job. To add insult to injury, my boss approached me about taking on "extra responsibilities" as a "learning experience." (Basically, he told me I would be "allowed" to do the same work as the girl he hired instead of me, except without a title change or a pay increase. It would be solely for my benefit and for me to gain experience. Having worked with him and for him for almost four years, I felt like this meager offer was too little, too late. My brother called it a "pig in a poke," a Brian-ism that made me laugh.) I wasn't motivated, but at that point, I didn't have another offer on the table, so I agreed, and did my best to take on these duties and find a way to make it work. (After all, if I was stuck there for another 6-8 months, I wanted to say I had the experience, and I actually still wanted to participate in a more hands-on way.) However, the idea of having to stay there after getting rejected definitely motivated me to find another position--as fast as possible. I had been applying for jobs ever since February, since I knew I'd have to move out of my condo in a few months. But, the rejection really lit a fire within me. I applied every day to every job--no matter where--that I was even remotely qualified for. I came home from work every day and immediately started applying for jobs, or researching places I'd have an interview with, or toiling over hand-written thank-you notes. At a point when I felt miserable going to work, I felt like any moment spent NOT applying for jobs or networking or working towards that goal in some way was a moment wasted. I didn't take time off work, even though I had about four weeks of vacation hoarded away, unless I was interviewing.
Second only to finding a new job was the slight panic brewing in my brain over finding a new place to live should I be forced to stay at my current job. Whether or not I got a new job, I would still need to move, and by May the clock was a-tickin'. When I first started looking, I was a little sticker-shocked by the cost of 1-Bedroom apartments in and around DC. I probably shouldn't have been, but my mortgage payment (including HOA
One day, in late May, I took off work to look at apartments and have a phone interview (for a position in very-rural-Wisconsin). After my phone interview in the morning, I spent the day with my mom trolling about DC tracking down apartments. The very last apartment I found that day was The Fleetwood, a beautiful building in a great location in DC for a reasonable price. It was historic (which I adore!) and cheap and--best of all--would not be available until the end of July, buying me some time to make a decision. The only catch was that I had to put down a $1000 security deposit to hold the place for me until August. After much deliberation, I decided to do it. It was an expensive security blanket, but a security blanket nonetheless. I would at least be able to check one "transition to-do" off my list, and knowing it was on hold for me would keep me from worrying about being homeless. As my brother pointed out, if I didn't get the position I'd interviewed for in Wisconsin, this would be something to ease that rejection-feeling a bit and to be excited about. Also, he noted that if I was able to quit, I'd get paid out for vacation time, and that would cover the loss on the security deposit. With those thoughts in mind, i signed the check.
As fate would have it, Wisconsin did call. They flew me out for an all-day interview. While I had some reservations about the weather (snow, snow & more snow), the cost of living was fantastic--especially compared to the ridiculousness of DC! And I could easily live within walking distance of my office and the very-small downtown area, thus eliminating any need to drive in the snow. Also, flights in & out of Milwaukee from Baltimore and DC were amazingly cheap! So, I wasn't worried about getting home, it would be easy and inexpensive. In fact, by my flight home after the interview, I had talked myself into a complete change of lifestyle: Leaving a major metropolitan area in favor of a small, rural, cold-weather midwestern college town.
However, I did not end up making that change. You know how when you're single you never seem to be able to find fun, handsome single men, and then, the minute you start dating someone, all of these fun handsome single men seem to appear out of thin air?? Well, that's exactly how my job search went. The day before I left for Wisconsin for my interview, I got a call for an interview in Reston, VA (a town about 10min from where I was currently living.) The week after my Wisconsin-in-person interview took place, as I was carefully handwriting thank you notes, and continuing to apply for other positions, I got calls for five different interviews, mostly in the mid-atlantic, midwest and northeast. So, I was waiting for a response from Wisconsin, but at the same time I was hoping for a NO, only because I wanted to see what the other opportunities had to offer. Fortunately (at least in hindsight) Wisconsin turned me down, in one of the nicest and most self-esteem boosting rejections I've ever had.
I had mixed emotions, because I was anxious to go on the other interviews, but I was also anxious to have the whole tiring process be over. I hadn't been working out--At all! I had been stressed and tired (interviewing is not physically strenuous, but it's emotionally and mentally draining, and after an all-day interview, it's hard to be motivated to do anything except vegetate on the couch....and emotionally overeat.) Also, I had to keep applying for jobs, and following up with thank-you notes and research for the next interview, etc. It was a strange and stressful July. In one week, I went on four different interviews in four different states (well, fortunately one was in DC, so not technically a state.) I had two rental cars, visited four airports, slept in three hotels and hand wrote 27 thank-you notes. (This was the same week I also ate two big macs in one day. I felt gross afterwards, but it was strangely satisfying. UGH)
I also had to explain to my boss, without lying TOO terribly about why I needed to take off a week all of the sudden. I hate lying, and I'm not exceptionally good at it. I felt like a medical excuse was a bad idea. I wouldn't be knowledgeable about any sort of medical procedure to even attempt to lie about it. I mean, let's face it, if someone has something medical done that requires a week off from work very suddenly, they generally know a lot of details about the problem and the procedure. I ended up saying I had to move out of my apartment, and my sister was moving out of her college apartment, and my dad was moving and I was the only family member with the vacation time to accommodate all the moves. (All of that, in some way, was/is partially true, and is somewhat understandable....at least, it was to me.)
That same week, the week of a four interviews, I got three job offers....THREE JOB OFFERS!! THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I got the call from the first employer, I went bananas. That one, which was actually the one I ended up taking, called me when I was still at work the Friday before. I could barely contain myself. I ran around my building, telling the select few people who knew I was applying/interviewing. I jump up and down, I went to the Starbucks across the street so I could call my mom. I was ecstatic! I was so relieved to have an exit plan for my job. I felt like a million bucks! It made the week of interviewing less stressful, because I already had at least one option--and one I was really excited about. It also made every interview have a stronger sense of urgency, because I needed to let the first place know my final decision. I needed every potential employer to make a decision immediately, if not sooner!
Thankfully, two of them got back to me within the week. I called the third place, after my interview and explained my predicament, and they were very understanding and told me their hiring process has been delayed because of various summer vacations, so I have to withdrawal my name from the running for that one. The last place, I did not hear from in time, but they ended up not hiring anyone and deciding to revamp the position. (So, I was very glad I didn't hold out for that.)
The best moment ever (probably one of my top eleven of 2011) was being able to resign from my job, and tell my boss--who didn't promote me--that I had not only one opportunity, but THREE. He was very kind, and actually offered me some much needed and wanted advice on what he thought the pros and cons of each position would be. It was probably the best time I've had resigning from a job ever. Immensely satisfying is a terrible understatement.
I ended up taking the position in Reston, VA, which if the traffic is good, is still an hour away from the Fleetwood and my beautiful downtown apartment. Although a few people, my old boss included, thought I should consider keeping the apartment and commuting in and out of the city everyday, I was very keen on living close to my new job. I hate commuting with a passion, and in Reston, you get a lot more bang for your buck in the housing. I was able to get a 1000 sq. ft. 2BR apartment for the same price as my one bedroom downtown. I lost my $1K on the security deposit on the beautiful Fleetwood, and my complex now doesn't have nearly as much pizazz, but it's seven minutes from my office, and I have so much space and extra time now that I really don't know what to do with myself!
I started my brand-new job last Monday, and so far it's fantastic! I have responsibility and my boss does not seem to hesitate to give me more, or put me in charge of projects. I've been enjoying it, and I'm excited to see where it takes me. I'm waiting for the other shoes to drop, but hopefully it won't and things will stay fantastic. (Fingers crossed!)
I also started my new workout routine. Throughout the very busy and almost surreal month of July, I did nothing physical aside from lugging a suitcase from interview to interview. Last week, I woke up and made it to the gym at 6 am on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. (Victory!) I hit a few spinning classes and I tried to run in the park by my new apartment, but I quickly found out that the park has no jogging paths....just hiking trails--fun, but not so good for training. Another bit of excitement: I got my treadmill back in apartment! My former roommate-brother, vetoed the treadmill-in-the-living-room decorative scheme at my old place, but now that I live by myself, I've reincorporated it, and I think it's definitely a great addition. I've only run on it twice so far to test it. It doesn't feel (to me) like I'm going to fall through the floor, so I hope it won't bother my downstairs neighbors too much/at all. Should I give a knock before I work out and ask them if it's a terrible racket?
Anyway, all of this is a very long way to explain what's been happening in the past month and a half since I last posted. Tomorrow, August 15, is the start of the two month countdown to my first marathon of the fall. I'm nervous because I feel further behind in training than I would have liked to be. But, at the same time, I had a lot of change going on--accompanied by a lot of emotions. (Both with job changing and with moving--I was surprised how difficult it was for both me and my brother, who usually isn't too emotional, to move apart. It was nice to know we had grown close as roommates, but it was hard to leave, and it still is hard to watch "our house" become "their house.") I'm hoping now, that my commute has been reduced by 45 minutes each way and my gym is in between my home and my office, I'll be able to supercharge my workout, and get back into fighting shape by October 15, and in time for marathon season.
If the rain (and hail?!) holds off, I have a new 6.5 miles run I'd like to try in my new neighborhood....I'll let you know how it goes!! Glad to be back on the blog-o-sphere!
I always used to say that odd-numbered years were lucky years for me, but I think I need to change that thinking--odd-numbered years are years of transition for me. I was born in an odd year, graduated high school and college, moved out of my parents house into my first apartment, had a devastating break-up with my first serious boyfriend (besides my college bf), bought my condo, changed jobs....all in odd-numbered years. And 2011 did not upset the trend.
Last December, my younger brother Brian, who was also my roommate and co-owner of my condo, mentioned that he would like to move in with his girlfriend Tyler this summer. Tyler is a teacher, so summer was the best time for her to move. Also, it made more sense for her to move into our condo, and for me to move out, then vice versa. It was more emotional than I thought it would be, I must say. As much as having a roommate can be irritating, and having a sibling-roommate can be even moreso, since we actually say what we feel (and yell and argue and bicker), I knew I'd miss having Brian (and Tyler) around every day. I'd grown accustomed to them being there when I got home, and having someone to tell about my day. It was a tough change.
But at the same time, I also saw the move as an opportunity to look for new jobs outside the radius of my condo. My current job had been stifling for a long while. I was barely making enough to pay my bills, and the increases in my (rather pathetic) insurance costs and metro fare outweighed any salary increases I'd received. I did the math, and basically I was losing money every year, with the insurance increases. Aside from the ridiculously large gobs of vacation and sick time my organization dispersed, the benefits were terrible. I worked for a non-profit, for a cause I truly care deeply about, so that I suppose should compensate for a lesser salary than average. Still, I was doing the same exact things I'd done since I started the job in 2007 (odd year). I kept asking to be involved in more projects and to get more responsibility, but ultimately the organization is very bureaucratic, and it was a constant struggle for me to get new projects and then to maintain any sense of responsibility for them. I rarely got a sense of satisfaction from a job-well-done because I hardly had any responsibility or accountability in my position. It wasn't a fool-proof job, but it was easy and it wasn't satisfying, and there was no where for me to go if I stayed.
We had a position open in my department in February that we finally hired for in May (the first mid-level position available since I was hired, and since the economic strife began across the country.) When I was passed over for that, with no real reason, explanation or constructive criticism from my boss, my motivation to do a good job and to try hard really took a hit. I barely wanted to show up at work, let alone do a good job. To add insult to injury, my boss approached me about taking on "extra responsibilities" as a "learning experience." (Basically, he told me I would be "allowed" to do the same work as the girl he hired instead of me, except without a title change or a pay increase. It would be solely for my benefit and for me to gain experience. Having worked with him and for him for almost four years, I felt like this meager offer was too little, too late. My brother called it a "pig in a poke," a Brian-ism that made me laugh.) I wasn't motivated, but at that point, I didn't have another offer on the table, so I agreed, and did my best to take on these duties and find a way to make it work. (After all, if I was stuck there for another 6-8 months, I wanted to say I had the experience, and I actually still wanted to participate in a more hands-on way.) However, the idea of having to stay there after getting rejected definitely motivated me to find another position--as fast as possible. I had been applying for jobs ever since February, since I knew I'd have to move out of my condo in a few months. But, the rejection really lit a fire within me. I applied every day to every job--no matter where--that I was even remotely qualified for. I came home from work every day and immediately started applying for jobs, or researching places I'd have an interview with, or toiling over hand-written thank-you notes. At a point when I felt miserable going to work, I felt like any moment spent NOT applying for jobs or networking or working towards that goal in some way was a moment wasted. I didn't take time off work, even though I had about four weeks of vacation hoarded away, unless I was interviewing.
Second only to finding a new job was the slight panic brewing in my brain over finding a new place to live should I be forced to stay at my current job. Whether or not I got a new job, I would still need to move, and by May the clock was a-tickin'. When I first started looking, I was a little sticker-shocked by the cost of 1-Bedroom apartments in and around DC. I probably shouldn't have been, but my mortgage payment (including HOA
As fate would have it, Wisconsin did call. They flew me out for an all-day interview. While I had some reservations about the weather (snow, snow & more snow), the cost of living was fantastic--especially compared to the ridiculousness of DC! And I could easily live within walking distance of my office and the very-small downtown area, thus eliminating any need to drive in the snow. Also, flights in & out of Milwaukee from Baltimore and DC were amazingly cheap! So, I wasn't worried about getting home, it would be easy and inexpensive. In fact, by my flight home after the interview, I had talked myself into a complete change of lifestyle: Leaving a major metropolitan area in favor of a small, rural, cold-weather midwestern college town.
However, I did not end up making that change. You know how when you're single you never seem to be able to find fun, handsome single men, and then, the minute you start dating someone, all of these fun handsome single men seem to appear out of thin air?? Well, that's exactly how my job search went. The day before I left for Wisconsin for my interview, I got a call for an interview in Reston, VA (a town about 10min from where I was currently living.) The week after my Wisconsin-in-person interview took place, as I was carefully handwriting thank you notes, and continuing to apply for other positions, I got calls for five different interviews, mostly in the mid-atlantic, midwest and northeast. So, I was waiting for a response from Wisconsin, but at the same time I was hoping for a NO, only because I wanted to see what the other opportunities had to offer. Fortunately (at least in hindsight) Wisconsin turned me down, in one of the nicest and most self-esteem boosting rejections I've ever had.
I had mixed emotions, because I was anxious to go on the other interviews, but I was also anxious to have the whole tiring process be over. I hadn't been working out--At all! I had been stressed and tired (interviewing is not physically strenuous, but it's emotionally and mentally draining, and after an all-day interview, it's hard to be motivated to do anything except vegetate on the couch....and emotionally overeat.) Also, I had to keep applying for jobs, and following up with thank-you notes and research for the next interview, etc. It was a strange and stressful July. In one week, I went on four different interviews in four different states (well, fortunately one was in DC, so not technically a state.) I had two rental cars, visited four airports, slept in three hotels and hand wrote 27 thank-you notes. (This was the same week I also ate two big macs in one day. I felt gross afterwards, but it was strangely satisfying. UGH)
I also had to explain to my boss, without lying TOO terribly about why I needed to take off a week all of the sudden. I hate lying, and I'm not exceptionally good at it. I felt like a medical excuse was a bad idea. I wouldn't be knowledgeable about any sort of medical procedure to even attempt to lie about it. I mean, let's face it, if someone has something medical done that requires a week off from work very suddenly, they generally know a lot of details about the problem and the procedure. I ended up saying I had to move out of my apartment, and my sister was moving out of her college apartment, and my dad was moving and I was the only family member with the vacation time to accommodate all the moves. (All of that, in some way, was/is partially true, and is somewhat understandable....at least, it was to me.)
That same week, the week of a four interviews, I got three job offers....THREE JOB OFFERS!! THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I got the call from the first employer, I went bananas. That one, which was actually the one I ended up taking, called me when I was still at work the Friday before. I could barely contain myself. I ran around my building, telling the select few people who knew I was applying/interviewing. I jump up and down, I went to the Starbucks across the street so I could call my mom. I was ecstatic! I was so relieved to have an exit plan for my job. I felt like a million bucks! It made the week of interviewing less stressful, because I already had at least one option--and one I was really excited about. It also made every interview have a stronger sense of urgency, because I needed to let the first place know my final decision. I needed every potential employer to make a decision immediately, if not sooner!
Thankfully, two of them got back to me within the week. I called the third place, after my interview and explained my predicament, and they were very understanding and told me their hiring process has been delayed because of various summer vacations, so I have to withdrawal my name from the running for that one. The last place, I did not hear from in time, but they ended up not hiring anyone and deciding to revamp the position. (So, I was very glad I didn't hold out for that.)
The best moment ever (probably one of my top eleven of 2011) was being able to resign from my job, and tell my boss--who didn't promote me--that I had not only one opportunity, but THREE. He was very kind, and actually offered me some much needed and wanted advice on what he thought the pros and cons of each position would be. It was probably the best time I've had resigning from a job ever. Immensely satisfying is a terrible understatement.
I ended up taking the position in Reston, VA, which if the traffic is good, is still an hour away from the Fleetwood and my beautiful downtown apartment. Although a few people, my old boss included, thought I should consider keeping the apartment and commuting in and out of the city everyday, I was very keen on living close to my new job. I hate commuting with a passion, and in Reston, you get a lot more bang for your buck in the housing. I was able to get a 1000 sq. ft. 2BR apartment for the same price as my one bedroom downtown. I lost my $1K on the security deposit on the beautiful Fleetwood, and my complex now doesn't have nearly as much pizazz, but it's seven minutes from my office, and I have so much space and extra time now that I really don't know what to do with myself!
I started my brand-new job last Monday, and so far it's fantastic! I have responsibility and my boss does not seem to hesitate to give me more, or put me in charge of projects. I've been enjoying it, and I'm excited to see where it takes me. I'm waiting for the other shoes to drop, but hopefully it won't and things will stay fantastic. (Fingers crossed!)
I also started my new workout routine. Throughout the very busy and almost surreal month of July, I did nothing physical aside from lugging a suitcase from interview to interview. Last week, I woke up and made it to the gym at 6 am on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. (Victory!) I hit a few spinning classes and I tried to run in the park by my new apartment, but I quickly found out that the park has no jogging paths....just hiking trails--fun, but not so good for training. Another bit of excitement: I got my treadmill back in apartment! My former roommate-brother, vetoed the treadmill-in-the-living-room decorative scheme at my old place, but now that I live by myself, I've reincorporated it, and I think it's definitely a great addition. I've only run on it twice so far to test it. It doesn't feel (to me) like I'm going to fall through the floor, so I hope it won't bother my downstairs neighbors too much/at all. Should I give a knock before I work out and ask them if it's a terrible racket?
Anyway, all of this is a very long way to explain what's been happening in the past month and a half since I last posted. Tomorrow, August 15, is the start of the two month countdown to my first marathon of the fall. I'm nervous because I feel further behind in training than I would have liked to be. But, at the same time, I had a lot of change going on--accompanied by a lot of emotions. (Both with job changing and with moving--I was surprised how difficult it was for both me and my brother, who usually isn't too emotional, to move apart. It was nice to know we had grown close as roommates, but it was hard to leave, and it still is hard to watch "our house" become "their house.") I'm hoping now, that my commute has been reduced by 45 minutes each way and my gym is in between my home and my office, I'll be able to supercharge my workout, and get back into fighting shape by October 15, and in time for marathon season.
If the rain (and hail?!) holds off, I have a new 6.5 miles run I'd like to try in my new neighborhood....I'll let you know how it goes!! Glad to be back on the blog-o-sphere!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Revamping the "Long Run" & some long-run recaps.
When I first started training for my first half marathon back in the summer of 2009, 13.1 miles seemed like a very long distance to run. I was positive something quite horrific would happen during the race, and I'd end up having to walk/limp across the finish line--or worse, be picked up by the paddy-wagon, earning a bright scarlett "DNF."
My longest training run was ten miles. I found this out when I discovered the magical helpful website mapmyrun.com. Despite the excessive and annoying pop-up ads, I could map wherever I ran throughout my community, and also, find some runs of other people. Mapmyrun.com was a fantastic resource, especially since I was not familiar with any good running locations in my neighborhood. My neighborhood has great sidewalks, and good places to run, but I never would have discovered the "Hilly Miller" without mapmyrun.
The Hilly Miller is a 6.82 mile run that I can easily do from my front door. (re: I don't have to drive to a start point.) It's also, as one might assume, very hilly, which helps if one is training for a notoriously hilly race....which I was. (As I've mentioned before, Baltimore has some monstrous hills!) It was a good loop that I could shorten (to as little as four miles) or lengthen (to as much as eight or ten miles) as necessary. Also, it's 60-70% shady, which becomes rather important when you're training in the humid sticky summer months. In short, I love the Hilly Miller. I ran three loops around it during my longest run training for the marathon. In fact, almost any time I set out on a "long run" now, I don't even think about it, and I'll head straight along my old familiar Hilly Miller course.
Here's the problem: The Hilly Miller is getting suspiciously and unfortunately too easy. Though it's just as Hilly as ever, tackling the same hills ever time is becoming the norm. It's not a challenge anymore. It's really not even a "long" run anymore....I probably should be doing it at least two times a week, and then doing an actual LONG run on the weekend. This makes me nervous....uncharted running territory?! (Although, I am moving out of my condo in late July/early August, and thus will be forced to change my routine anyway.)
Here's a quick recap of my last few Hilly-Miller runs:
Run #1. I just bought my first fuel-belt (not a fanny pack, but the kind with the water bottles in it.) My boss just completed a half-ironman, and he swore by them during his training. I hated it. Does anyone run with these? (And enjoy it?) Because I was carrying four bottles around my waist (32oz. total) I didn't drink that much before my run, even though it was a particularly hot and humid day, and I set off bright and early (around noon.) The stupid fuel belt is not adjustable....admittedly something I should have considered before purchasing it, but that I didn't think would matter much. I thought it'd be fine hanging low on my hips, since my fanny pack is fine that way. Wrong. The stupid belt kept shifting around, so I'd always end up running with a bottle in my crotch--Not fun! After a half mile, I was tempted to take it off, but I knew I would be thirsty, and I told myself I could manage it for a 6 mile run. Maybe after a few miles, I'd stop noticing it so much....Wrong again. It continued to annoy me through my entire run. It was frustrating that I had to stop and walk every time I wanted water, and I also needed two hands to fenangle the water bottle back into it's elastic holder after getting a sip. It was not, as I had envisioned, a quick sip-and-keep-moving kind of operation. This was three weeks ago, and it was the first and last time I've run with this cursed belt. It was not an enjoyable or efficient run. It will have to be a pretty sweltering day before I try this silliness again.
Run #2: Clarence Clemmons had just had a stroke and been hospitalized. The run went by easily and quickly, listening to Born to Run, 10th Avenue Freeze Out, and Cadillac Ranch over and over and over....
Only minor discouraging moment was when I passed a high school runner (he had to be on the cross-country team) with 3% body fat, running with a weighted vest. I've contemplated getting a weighted vest from time to time.....I'd probably like that much more that four bottles of water banging around my waist. I think they are pretty expensive, but it'd be an interesting experiment.
Run 3#: Lazy lazy run....the run was good. I ran faster than usual. I felt great! I had no where to be, and I should have just kept running.....but I didn't. Sigh....I cut things off at 7 miles, and headed home. Not a good motivational story....but, at least I got a solid 7 miles in before I crashed on the couch to watch my DVR-ed episodes of "House."
My longest training run was ten miles. I found this out when I discovered the magical helpful website mapmyrun.com. Despite the excessive and annoying pop-up ads, I could map wherever I ran throughout my community, and also, find some runs of other people. Mapmyrun.com was a fantastic resource, especially since I was not familiar with any good running locations in my neighborhood. My neighborhood has great sidewalks, and good places to run, but I never would have discovered the "Hilly Miller" without mapmyrun.
The Hilly Miller is a 6.82 mile run that I can easily do from my front door. (re: I don't have to drive to a start point.) It's also, as one might assume, very hilly, which helps if one is training for a notoriously hilly race....which I was. (As I've mentioned before, Baltimore has some monstrous hills!) It was a good loop that I could shorten (to as little as four miles) or lengthen (to as much as eight or ten miles) as necessary. Also, it's 60-70% shady, which becomes rather important when you're training in the humid sticky summer months. In short, I love the Hilly Miller. I ran three loops around it during my longest run training for the marathon. In fact, almost any time I set out on a "long run" now, I don't even think about it, and I'll head straight along my old familiar Hilly Miller course.
Here's the problem: The Hilly Miller is getting suspiciously and unfortunately too easy. Though it's just as Hilly as ever, tackling the same hills ever time is becoming the norm. It's not a challenge anymore. It's really not even a "long" run anymore....I probably should be doing it at least two times a week, and then doing an actual LONG run on the weekend. This makes me nervous....uncharted running territory?! (Although, I am moving out of my condo in late July/early August, and thus will be forced to change my routine anyway.)
Here's a quick recap of my last few Hilly-Miller runs:
Run #1. I just bought my first fuel-belt (not a fanny pack, but the kind with the water bottles in it.) My boss just completed a half-ironman, and he swore by them during his training. I hated it. Does anyone run with these? (And enjoy it?) Because I was carrying four bottles around my waist (32oz. total) I didn't drink that much before my run, even though it was a particularly hot and humid day, and I set off bright and early (around noon.) The stupid fuel belt is not adjustable....admittedly something I should have considered before purchasing it, but that I didn't think would matter much. I thought it'd be fine hanging low on my hips, since my fanny pack is fine that way. Wrong. The stupid belt kept shifting around, so I'd always end up running with a bottle in my crotch--Not fun! After a half mile, I was tempted to take it off, but I knew I would be thirsty, and I told myself I could manage it for a 6 mile run. Maybe after a few miles, I'd stop noticing it so much....Wrong again. It continued to annoy me through my entire run. It was frustrating that I had to stop and walk every time I wanted water, and I also needed two hands to fenangle the water bottle back into it's elastic holder after getting a sip. It was not, as I had envisioned, a quick sip-and-keep-moving kind of operation. This was three weeks ago, and it was the first and last time I've run with this cursed belt. It was not an enjoyable or efficient run. It will have to be a pretty sweltering day before I try this silliness again.
Run #2: Clarence Clemmons had just had a stroke and been hospitalized. The run went by easily and quickly, listening to Born to Run, 10th Avenue Freeze Out, and Cadillac Ranch over and over and over....
Only minor discouraging moment was when I passed a high school runner (he had to be on the cross-country team) with 3% body fat, running with a weighted vest. I've contemplated getting a weighted vest from time to time.....I'd probably like that much more that four bottles of water banging around my waist. I think they are pretty expensive, but it'd be an interesting experiment.
Run 3#: Lazy lazy run....the run was good. I ran faster than usual. I felt great! I had no where to be, and I should have just kept running.....but I didn't. Sigh....I cut things off at 7 miles, and headed home. Not a good motivational story....but, at least I got a solid 7 miles in before I crashed on the couch to watch my DVR-ed episodes of "House."
Thursday, June 23, 2011
R.I.P. Clarence....
Since I heard about his stroke last Monday, I have been running to the sounds of the E Street band in the background. (I actually already run to the sounds of the E Street band on a regular basis, but this was more intentional.) I am a huge and long time fan. In college, my boyfriend and I were lucky enough to get backstage passes to "The Rising" tour concert in Greensboro, NC, and that was the first time I saw Clarence Clemons in real-life. At 6'4" he was already towering twelve inches over me, but in addition to that, he was walking up a high-incline treadmill, which made him that much taller and intimidating. He nodded hello as we walked past (gaping at him like the awestruck fans that we were) and I almost peed my pants with excitement!
I have seen him perform with the E Street Band twice since then, and both were spectacular shows. It's very sad that he's gone. In a statement following news of Clemons' death, Springsteen said:
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Marathons are for sissies.
I was going to post today about my somewhat miserable run on Sunday. (It's all written, and I'll probably return to my regularly scheduled griping tomorrow.)
But, this morning my uncle sent me a news article about his son, my cousin, which made me feel like a bit of a sniveling baby for even bothering to complain about Sunday's run....Read on. This is a feat I can safely bet I will never attempt, and if I did, would almost undoubtedly fail. But in a little over a week, my cousin Paul will attempt to conquor the "Spartan Death Race."
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/06/12/v-print/2372248/death-race-aboutchallenge-to-ex.html
Occasionally I get to do a good deed with this column. Such is the case today, when I save former combat Marine and current Charlotte resident Paul Habenicht from having to shave off all his body hair.
I have heard a lot of story pitches in my time, but the strangest came recently. Habenicht, 30, is about to compete in the "Spartan Death Race" in rural Vermont, an endurance race unlike any you have ever heard of. Its website is www.YouMayDie.com .
And although the race has never killed anyone and isn't actually supposed to, it features creativity and cruelty in equal doses. You don't know where it starts, you don't know how long it goes, you don't know where it ends and you don't get anything for winning. Only 10-15percent of the contestants finish in any given year.
As part of his prerace requirements, Habenicht either needed to get a story written about him in a local newspaper or come to the race with every bit of his body hair shaved. I know what you're thinking. ... the answer is yes. Every bit of it.
I didn't commit right away. But I did start finding more about the Death Race and Habenicht, who can strike you in a two-minute period as humble, introverted, smart, disciplined and quite confident.
Habenicht served two tours of duty in Afghanistan and one in Iraq as an infantry platoon commander - at one point he directed a sniper platoon and went on nighttime raids in search of "mid-level bad guys," he said. He attributes his survival throughout his 51/2 years as a Marine to the men he led.
But Habenicht, who graduated from the Naval Academy and played four years of lacrosse there, never intended to be a career Marine. He left the Marines in 2007, went to business school at Virginia and took a desk job in Charlotte in 2009 at a boutique mergers and acquisitions firm. He longs for an occasional bit of adventure and danger in his life. Eventually, I thought his story worth telling and his hair worth saving.
'People still hate us'
You never know what you're getting into in a Death Race, which is part of its cult appeal. Habenicht learned of the Death Race's existence after watching a 2009 New York Times online video about it.
One year contestants were told bikes would be essential, which meant many rode hundreds of miles in training and all brought their bikes to Vermont.
Then, when they arrived, contestants had to take the tires and chain off their bikes and carry it for about nine hours on their back through a muddy course. Later, they had to dive into a lake to retrieve their bike chains from zipped plastic bags. Then they had to put the chain and tires back on and ride the bike about 50 yards to show it worked.
"Then we said, 'OK, now you are done with your bikes,'" said race co-founder and co-director Andy Weinberg. "People still hate us for that one."
The race generally lasts close to 48 hours, with one strange task after another. It is part "Survivor," part Monty Python sketch.
Once, contestants had to run up an incredibly steep mountain for a mile, memorize a list of 10 U.S. presidents posted at the top and then come down and recite the list in order. If they missed one, they had to go up the mountain, look at the list and try again.
This year's required "gear list" to pack includes a splitting axe, a saw, a tape measure, a hand drill, a half-inch bit for the drill, some Dixon Ticonderoga No.2 pencils and a live fish.
Sound fun? Habenicht paid $400 to do it. This year's Death Race - the sixth, and by far the biggest - will begin June 24 with about 200 pre-screened contestants.
Said Weinberg, who might not be joking, this one will begin with all the entrants turning in their beloved running shoes and being forced to fashion a wooden pair of shoes using primitive tools. At the finish line, Weinberg said, all contestants will get two things - "a hearty handshake and a bag of manure."
"So in the end, I'm just some idiot guy who signed up for a dumb race," Habenicht said.
He's hardly an idiot - Habenicht has two college degrees and digs the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle. But he is an extremist. He has completed several marathons. He occasionally has been known to finish his regular workday in Charlotte at 2:30a.m. and then go home and work out until 4a.m., often running with a large bag of sand inside his backpack, before collapsing into bed.
If you think it sounds like this guy doesn't have children, you'd be right. If you think it sounds like this guy doesn't have a wife or a life, you'd be wrong.
"I guess I'm just used to it," said Caroline Habenicht, Paul's wife - the two grew up together in Richmond, Va. "This is kind of who Paul is - he doesn't do anything halfway. People say, 'Ohmigosh, that Death Race sounds crazy.' But Paul is drawn to extremes. And at least he's not going to Afghanistan again."
Why did Habenicht enter? I asked this question several times and he seemed to have a hard time expressing it in simple terms. I asked again later via email, and he was positively eloquent.
"I like that the Death Race is just about trying to finish," Habenicht wrote. "I often think back to what my former (and best) boss Lt. Col. James Bright used to say: 'You either can, or you cannot.' That's what I like about the Death Race. No T-shirts. No trophies. No hedging. If I don't finish, no big deal - I wasn't supposed to. If I finish (which the odds say I won't), my name ends up on a website that 99.9percent of the population doesn't care about. I like the fact that the results are binary and, in the grand scheme, insignificant to just about everyone on this planet."
Bypassing the 'easy exit'
Weinberg, the race co-founder, said current and former members of the military historically have fared better in the Death Races than almost anyone else.
"Although we call it the Death Race, it's really about living - about testing yourself in ways you've never done before," said Weinberg, who is a schoolteacher by profession and organizes these races with several partners as a hobby. "The race usually breaks people either physically or mentally. Physically, there's a point where we all break. But mentally, the military guys don't break. It's unbelievable."
Habenicht doesn't really know if he will finish - if both his body and mind will hold out. But he has thought a lot about trying to finish.
"If the guys who set up this race are smart," Habenicht said, "they will make it easy to quit. The ease of exit adds a mental challenge. I know a lot of people in my life who have bypassed the 'easy exits.' I look up to those people. Because that's what life is."
All true and rather profound wisdom from the former Marine who now officially has had his hair saved by me writing this story and you reading it.
But I'm still wondering what the guys in Vermont are going to make him do with that live fish.
But, this morning my uncle sent me a news article about his son, my cousin, which made me feel like a bit of a sniveling baby for even bothering to complain about Sunday's run....Read on. This is a feat I can safely bet I will never attempt, and if I did, would almost undoubtedly fail. But in a little over a week, my cousin Paul will attempt to conquor the "Spartan Death Race."
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/06/12/v-print/2372248/death-race-aboutchallenge-to-ex.html
'Death Race' about challenge to ex-Marine
by Scott Fowler
Occasionally I get to do a good deed with this column. Such is the case today, when I save former combat Marine and current Charlotte resident Paul Habenicht from having to shave off all his body hair.
I have heard a lot of story pitches in my time, but the strangest came recently. Habenicht, 30, is about to compete in the "Spartan Death Race" in rural Vermont, an endurance race unlike any you have ever heard of. Its website is www.YouMayDie.com .
And although the race has never killed anyone and isn't actually supposed to, it features creativity and cruelty in equal doses. You don't know where it starts, you don't know how long it goes, you don't know where it ends and you don't get anything for winning. Only 10-15percent of the contestants finish in any given year.
As part of his prerace requirements, Habenicht either needed to get a story written about him in a local newspaper or come to the race with every bit of his body hair shaved. I know what you're thinking. ... the answer is yes. Every bit of it.
I didn't commit right away. But I did start finding more about the Death Race and Habenicht, who can strike you in a two-minute period as humble, introverted, smart, disciplined and quite confident.
Habenicht served two tours of duty in Afghanistan and one in Iraq as an infantry platoon commander - at one point he directed a sniper platoon and went on nighttime raids in search of "mid-level bad guys," he said. He attributes his survival throughout his 51/2 years as a Marine to the men he led.
But Habenicht, who graduated from the Naval Academy and played four years of lacrosse there, never intended to be a career Marine. He left the Marines in 2007, went to business school at Virginia and took a desk job in Charlotte in 2009 at a boutique mergers and acquisitions firm. He longs for an occasional bit of adventure and danger in his life. Eventually, I thought his story worth telling and his hair worth saving.
'People still hate us'
You never know what you're getting into in a Death Race, which is part of its cult appeal. Habenicht learned of the Death Race's existence after watching a 2009 New York Times online video about it.
One year contestants were told bikes would be essential, which meant many rode hundreds of miles in training and all brought their bikes to Vermont.
Then, when they arrived, contestants had to take the tires and chain off their bikes and carry it for about nine hours on their back through a muddy course. Later, they had to dive into a lake to retrieve their bike chains from zipped plastic bags. Then they had to put the chain and tires back on and ride the bike about 50 yards to show it worked.
"Then we said, 'OK, now you are done with your bikes,'" said race co-founder and co-director Andy Weinberg. "People still hate us for that one."
The race generally lasts close to 48 hours, with one strange task after another. It is part "Survivor," part Monty Python sketch.
Once, contestants had to run up an incredibly steep mountain for a mile, memorize a list of 10 U.S. presidents posted at the top and then come down and recite the list in order. If they missed one, they had to go up the mountain, look at the list and try again.
This year's required "gear list" to pack includes a splitting axe, a saw, a tape measure, a hand drill, a half-inch bit for the drill, some Dixon Ticonderoga No.2 pencils and a live fish.
Sound fun? Habenicht paid $400 to do it. This year's Death Race - the sixth, and by far the biggest - will begin June 24 with about 200 pre-screened contestants.
Said Weinberg, who might not be joking, this one will begin with all the entrants turning in their beloved running shoes and being forced to fashion a wooden pair of shoes using primitive tools. At the finish line, Weinberg said, all contestants will get two things - "a hearty handshake and a bag of manure."
"So in the end, I'm just some idiot guy who signed up for a dumb race," Habenicht said.
He's hardly an idiot - Habenicht has two college degrees and digs the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle. But he is an extremist. He has completed several marathons. He occasionally has been known to finish his regular workday in Charlotte at 2:30a.m. and then go home and work out until 4a.m., often running with a large bag of sand inside his backpack, before collapsing into bed.
If you think it sounds like this guy doesn't have children, you'd be right. If you think it sounds like this guy doesn't have a wife or a life, you'd be wrong.
"I guess I'm just used to it," said Caroline Habenicht, Paul's wife - the two grew up together in Richmond, Va. "This is kind of who Paul is - he doesn't do anything halfway. People say, 'Ohmigosh, that Death Race sounds crazy.' But Paul is drawn to extremes. And at least he's not going to Afghanistan again."
Why did Habenicht enter? I asked this question several times and he seemed to have a hard time expressing it in simple terms. I asked again later via email, and he was positively eloquent.
"I like that the Death Race is just about trying to finish," Habenicht wrote. "I often think back to what my former (and best) boss Lt. Col. James Bright used to say: 'You either can, or you cannot.' That's what I like about the Death Race. No T-shirts. No trophies. No hedging. If I don't finish, no big deal - I wasn't supposed to. If I finish (which the odds say I won't), my name ends up on a website that 99.9percent of the population doesn't care about. I like the fact that the results are binary and, in the grand scheme, insignificant to just about everyone on this planet."
Bypassing the 'easy exit'
Weinberg, the race co-founder, said current and former members of the military historically have fared better in the Death Races than almost anyone else.
"Although we call it the Death Race, it's really about living - about testing yourself in ways you've never done before," said Weinberg, who is a schoolteacher by profession and organizes these races with several partners as a hobby. "The race usually breaks people either physically or mentally. Physically, there's a point where we all break. But mentally, the military guys don't break. It's unbelievable."
Habenicht doesn't really know if he will finish - if both his body and mind will hold out. But he has thought a lot about trying to finish.
"If the guys who set up this race are smart," Habenicht said, "they will make it easy to quit. The ease of exit adds a mental challenge. I know a lot of people in my life who have bypassed the 'easy exits.' I look up to those people. Because that's what life is."
All true and rather profound wisdom from the former Marine who now officially has had his hair saved by me writing this story and you reading it.
But I'm still wondering what the guys in Vermont are going to make him do with that live fish.
Scott Fowler: 704-358-5140; sfowler@charlotteobserver.com
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Confession of a Disney-Running-Nerd
I have been a lover of Walt Disney World since college. I'd never been to Disney World before then, despite multiple pleas as a youngster to my parents. But when I was 19, I was in Cocoa Beach, FL with my then-boyfriend visiting his family, and he suggested that we go to Disney World for a day or two while we were down there. Truthfully, as an adult, I was rather indifferent about the idea. I'd been to Hershey Park as a youngster, how different could it be? But, once I got there, I was utterly and completely captivated.
From the moment Cinderella's castle came into view from my seat on the monorail, I knew it was truly a magical place. I became a loyal fan[atic] from that point on, even working there after I graduated college. I'm now officially one of those annoying people who will without any encouragement supply her friends and loved ones with fun trivia facts about the park as we stroll around. (And, by stroll around, I definitely mean maintain a rigid time-schedule so we can squeeze in as many attractions as possible into a very long day. Fellow fanatics I'm sure know what I mean.)
Whatever marketing guru at the Walt Disney Company cleverly realized that A.) Most Disney World fans are fanatical (Because, seriously, who is paying $13 for a Tinkerbell key chain?!), and B.) Most long-distance runners are fanatical (Because, seriously, who is paying $100 to run for four-five hours, something one can do for free??), thus C.) combining running with the theme parks was a surefire million-dollar idea is truly a genius!! The first WDW Marathon was held almost 20 years ago (1994), and since then it has become a booming business.
Last year, I rather impulsively signed up for the Disney Princess Half Marathon in Orlando. Mainly because I had seen the medal at the Baltimore Marathon Expo and it became my hearts desire. Fortunately for me, the tourism industry was still not quite healthy back then, and a trip to WDW was easily do-able at virtually bargain basement prices.
After earning the insanely fabulous and beautiful princess crown medal last spring, the urge to earn the "Coast-to-Coast" bonus medal crept up on me. I found the cheapest possible hotel, and signed up for the Disneyland Half marathon, possibly one of my very favorite races to date. (Also, fortunately, I had to be in Wyoming for work immediately following the trip, so I only had to pay for my outgoing flight.)
2010 happened to be the 5th year anniversary of the Disneyland Half Marathon, so instead of the magical castle medal (which I desperately wanted) I got a colorful Mickey mouse medal. Even though it wasn't the gigantic gold castle, there's no denying, it's extremely awesome. The beautiful coveted (and magical) medals are one of the reasons crazies like me shell out hundreds of dollars to run these races. I will definitely be envious of any runner who comes home with this year's Disneyland Half medal.
I just found out recently that the 2012 Disney World Half Marathon, which I have signed up to run in January as part of the "Goofy Challenge," is going to be the 15th Annual WDW 1/2 Marathon--which of course means, a SPECIAL medal! Yipee! Oh, what fun colorful trinket will it be?!
If you haven't figured out by now, I've got a decent helping of lunacy when it comes to this subject. I also don't have the budget to go chasing glittery Disney medals across the continent multiple times a year. Thus, I devised a handy-dandy list/schedule for the next several years, so I can stagger out my Disney-related races so they coincide with their anniversary dates. (I know, brilliant, right?)
Here's the schedule:
2012 - 15th Anniversary of the WDW 1/2 Marathon
Inaugural Tinkerbell Half Marathon (I'm not attending this, but I might do the
Disneyland race again, because of the new "D" medal.)
2013 - 5th Anniversary of the WDW Princess Half Marathon
2014 - 20th Anniversary of the WDW Marathon and
5th Anniversary of WDW "Wine-&-Dine" 1/2 Marathon
2015 - 10th Anniversary of the Disneyland 1/2 Marathon
10th Anniversary of the Goofy Challenge
2016 - 5th Anniversary of the Tinkerbell Half Marathon
If I'm still on my feet/able to move my knees after 2016, maybe I'll add some more races to this list. Most likely, Disney Inc. will have added several more races and/or reasons I need to run through Sleeping Beauty's castle!
From the moment Cinderella's castle came into view from my seat on the monorail, I knew it was truly a magical place. I became a loyal fan[atic] from that point on, even working there after I graduated college. I'm now officially one of those annoying people who will without any encouragement supply her friends and loved ones with fun trivia facts about the park as we stroll around. (And, by stroll around, I definitely mean maintain a rigid time-schedule so we can squeeze in as many attractions as possible into a very long day. Fellow fanatics I'm sure know what I mean.)
 |
| My happy place... |
 |
| I had to have it. |
After earning the insanely fabulous and beautiful princess crown medal last spring, the urge to earn the "Coast-to-Coast" bonus medal crept up on me. I found the cheapest possible hotel, and signed up for the Disneyland Half marathon, possibly one of my very favorite races to date. (Also, fortunately, I had to be in Wyoming for work immediately following the trip, so I only had to pay for my outgoing flight.)
2010 happened to be the 5th year anniversary of the Disneyland Half Marathon, so instead of the magical castle medal (which I desperately wanted) I got a colorful Mickey mouse medal. Even though it wasn't the gigantic gold castle, there's no denying, it's extremely awesome. The beautiful coveted (and magical) medals are one of the reasons crazies like me shell out hundreds of dollars to run these races. I will definitely be envious of any runner who comes home with this year's Disneyland Half medal.
 |
| The Coast-to-Coast bling. |
 |
| The OLD Disneyland Medal. Which I will never earn... |
 |
| My FABULOUS Mickey Mouse Medal! |
 |
| The recently unveiled 2011 Medal. I WANT. |
If you haven't figured out by now, I've got a decent helping of lunacy when it comes to this subject. I also don't have the budget to go chasing glittery Disney medals across the continent multiple times a year. Thus, I devised a handy-dandy list/schedule for the next several years, so I can stagger out my Disney-related races so they coincide with their anniversary dates. (I know, brilliant, right?)
Here's the schedule:
2012 - 15th Anniversary of the WDW 1/2 Marathon
Inaugural Tinkerbell Half Marathon (I'm not attending this, but I might do the
Disneyland race again, because of the new "D" medal.)
2013 - 5th Anniversary of the WDW Princess Half Marathon
2014 - 20th Anniversary of the WDW Marathon and
5th Anniversary of WDW "Wine-&-Dine" 1/2 Marathon
2015 - 10th Anniversary of the Disneyland 1/2 Marathon
10th Anniversary of the Goofy Challenge
2016 - 5th Anniversary of the Tinkerbell Half Marathon
If I'm still on my feet/able to move my knees after 2016, maybe I'll add some more races to this list. Most likely, Disney Inc. will have added several more races and/or reasons I need to run through Sleeping Beauty's castle!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Busy busy bee....where's the gym again?
....because I haven't seen the inside of it in quite some time.
My weekend began with a "date" on Friday night. Date is in quotation marks because it was just a drink thing that lasted through the dinner hour. Either my date had already eaten or he's not a big eater, because he nursed 1.5 mojitos for 3+ hours and barely nibbled on some calamari. He had probably only 2% body fat, and I could tell he was very diligent about what he put in his body. (Note to men: Don't drink mojitos, especially pomegranate mojitos, on a first date.) Meanwhile, I had a few beers. Three, I think. I wanted to order more because it was hot and I was thirsty, but I was feeling a bit lushy compared to my date's delicate sipping. I was also starving because I had dashed home, threw on some [relatively] nice clothes and dashed back out to meet him.
(This is the problem with commuting in and out of the city. If my date is in the city, I have to meet him in my work clothes and/or my very stylish "Working Girl" sneakers-with-dress-clothes ensemble. Very sexy. If I meet him by my house, I have to trek all the way home, then psych myself up to go out again--a difficult task in itself--and try to find something nice-ish to wear, then drive to wherever this date is taking place. It always takes longer than expected. Even if I leave work at 5:00pm on the dot, I still work be ready to leave my house again until 6pm at the earliest. It's always a scramble. Especially when it's hot, and I arrive home drippy and sweaty from work. So, I will usually say 7pm, I will definitely be hungry, and I will most likely be late.)
Anyway, my "date" lasted later than expected Friday evening. I had wanted to go to the tailor, the dry cleaners and the pharmacy, but obviously I didn't make it. Instead, I came home very late and very hungry and munched on some hummus, saving my errands for Saturday morning, which sadly meant I missed spinning and bodypump--for the THIRD time that week. Annoying, but necessary, as I was busy all day.
Furthermore, I was leaving town Sunday afternoon on a super-top-secret mission (job interview) and would not be back until late on Monday night. Sunday morning before I left, I did squeeze in a much-needed but brief Ab workout. I was going to do arms too and go for a run, but as the clock ticked on, I started to feel like working out was not the most productive use of my time. (I don't like leaving my house in disarray before I travel, and my house was definitely in a severe state of chaos.) I decided to forgo any further exercising, in favor of packing, cleaning and arriving at the airport on time.
Monday, I was in various job interviews for the majority of the day. Diet-wise, that was advantageous because my nervousness was making my appetite was almost non-existent. But, after the interview, I had far too much time to kill at the airport waiting for my flight home, and I decided to reward myself for finishing the long day with a delicious (& enormous) cheeseburger. It was so tasty, it might have been worth every calorie, but certainly not the wisest of diet-decisions.
Tuesday, I had agreed to go with my friend to an awards cocktail party at House of Sweden. I was pretty tired, and in all honesty, I should have gone home and slept (and unpacked) OR gone to BodyPump and Spinning, as is my traditional Monday evening routine. But, I have been wishing and hoping to get to go to a swanky party at house of Sweden for a long long time. And, I had just bought a fun new dress (& matching fun shoes) that were perfect for the occasion. so, I turned my back on sleep and exercise in favor of an open bar and fancy meatballs on toothpicks. Totally worth it. House of Sweden is amazing, and the weather was gorgeous!
Wednesday was my younger brother (& current roommate's) birthday. It was also a record breaking HOT day in our nation's capital. If you don't live here, you may not know that the metro (subway) system in D.C. frequently malfunctions in hot weather. I had delays both going to and coming home from my office. (Also, you have a chance of getting stuck on an un-air-conditioned car, which is truly disgusting.) It took me over an hour to get from DC to Vienna--a trip that normally takes 20-30 minutes--and then I had to race around town to get some finishing touches for Brian's birthday present (card, etc.) before going home for cake, pizza, and other non-healthy birthday goodies.
Tonight, I was hoping to get a nice run in....either in the 104' temps outside (hey, I just bought a new fuel belt!) or on the trusty ol' treadmill. But a girlfriend of mine who I have not seen in a while requested some quality time. It's overdue and very necessary. So....no run tonight either. Cry,cry.... (On the VERY bright side, this particular girlfriend, who is NOT a runner, just asked me today if I would run a 5K with her! I was ecstatic! And so surprised, I almost fell out of my chair! Now, I need to find a very fun 5K so she'll love it, get the running bug, and want to do more! Hooray!!)
Tomorrow night, I've told my friend I'd attend an event at the Newseumpositiv....e
Anyway, the point of me sharing my oh-so fascinating schedule is to say that my marathon training, which was progressing rather well until about 8-10 days ago, has fallen by the wayside. I need to get myself back in the saddle asap--and before my rear no longer fits in the saddle.
This weekend, I was planning on going to Honfest in Baltimore. It's a wonderful street festival that requires a fabulous costume and a beehive hairdo. (They are technically not "required" per se, but really going to Honfest sans a "Hon" ensemble is a much less-fun experience.) The problem is, that since I live over an hour away, even if we don't go to the festival until 1 or 2pm, I still need to be getting ready at 10am (that beehive takes a little time) so I can be on the road by 11....if people want to be in Baltimore by 11, well...I have to be getting my hair done very early in the morning....and there goes any productivity on Saturday. I may need a weekend at home to regroup. I love Honfest, but if I could eliminate one activity that would de-stress me, Honfest might just be it. And I'd save $60 in gas money, which is no small shakes.
BUT, it is only Thursday, and I've been known to change my mind impulsively when it comes to exciting events. I do love 'dem Hons! What to do?!
My weekend began with a "date" on Friday night. Date is in quotation marks because it was just a drink thing that lasted through the dinner hour. Either my date had already eaten or he's not a big eater, because he nursed 1.5 mojitos for 3+ hours and barely nibbled on some calamari. He had probably only 2% body fat, and I could tell he was very diligent about what he put in his body. (Note to men: Don't drink mojitos, especially pomegranate mojitos, on a first date.) Meanwhile, I had a few beers. Three, I think. I wanted to order more because it was hot and I was thirsty, but I was feeling a bit lushy compared to my date's delicate sipping. I was also starving because I had dashed home, threw on some [relatively] nice clothes and dashed back out to meet him.
(This is the problem with commuting in and out of the city. If my date is in the city, I have to meet him in my work clothes and/or my very stylish "Working Girl" sneakers-with-dress-clothes ensemble. Very sexy. If I meet him by my house, I have to trek all the way home, then psych myself up to go out again--a difficult task in itself--and try to find something nice-ish to wear, then drive to wherever this date is taking place. It always takes longer than expected. Even if I leave work at 5:00pm on the dot, I still work be ready to leave my house again until 6pm at the earliest. It's always a scramble. Especially when it's hot, and I arrive home drippy and sweaty from work. So, I will usually say 7pm, I will definitely be hungry, and I will most likely be late.)
Anyway, my "date" lasted later than expected Friday evening. I had wanted to go to the tailor, the dry cleaners and the pharmacy, but obviously I didn't make it. Instead, I came home very late and very hungry and munched on some hummus, saving my errands for Saturday morning, which sadly meant I missed spinning and bodypump--for the THIRD time that week. Annoying, but necessary, as I was busy all day.
Furthermore, I was leaving town Sunday afternoon on a super-top-secret mission (job interview) and would not be back until late on Monday night. Sunday morning before I left, I did squeeze in a much-needed but brief Ab workout. I was going to do arms too and go for a run, but as the clock ticked on, I started to feel like working out was not the most productive use of my time. (I don't like leaving my house in disarray before I travel, and my house was definitely in a severe state of chaos.) I decided to forgo any further exercising, in favor of packing, cleaning and arriving at the airport on time.
Monday, I was in various job interviews for the majority of the day. Diet-wise, that was advantageous because my nervousness was making my appetite was almost non-existent. But, after the interview, I had far too much time to kill at the airport waiting for my flight home, and I decided to reward myself for finishing the long day with a delicious (& enormous) cheeseburger. It was so tasty, it might have been worth every calorie, but certainly not the wisest of diet-decisions.
Tuesday, I had agreed to go with my friend to an awards cocktail party at House of Sweden. I was pretty tired, and in all honesty, I should have gone home and slept (and unpacked) OR gone to BodyPump and Spinning, as is my traditional Monday evening routine. But, I have been wishing and hoping to get to go to a swanky party at house of Sweden for a long long time. And, I had just bought a fun new dress (& matching fun shoes) that were perfect for the occasion. so, I turned my back on sleep and exercise in favor of an open bar and fancy meatballs on toothpicks. Totally worth it. House of Sweden is amazing, and the weather was gorgeous!
Wednesday was my younger brother (& current roommate's) birthday. It was also a record breaking HOT day in our nation's capital. If you don't live here, you may not know that the metro (subway) system in D.C. frequently malfunctions in hot weather. I had delays both going to and coming home from my office. (Also, you have a chance of getting stuck on an un-air-conditioned car, which is truly disgusting.) It took me over an hour to get from DC to Vienna--a trip that normally takes 20-30 minutes--and then I had to race around town to get some finishing touches for Brian's birthday present (card, etc.) before going home for cake, pizza, and other non-healthy birthday goodies.
Tonight, I was hoping to get a nice run in....either in the 104' temps outside (hey, I just bought a new fuel belt!) or on the trusty ol' treadmill. But a girlfriend of mine who I have not seen in a while requested some quality time. It's overdue and very necessary. So....no run tonight either. Cry,cry.... (On the VERY bright side, this particular girlfriend, who is NOT a runner, just asked me today if I would run a 5K with her! I was ecstatic! And so surprised, I almost fell out of my chair! Now, I need to find a very fun 5K so she'll love it, get the running bug, and want to do more! Hooray!!)
Tomorrow night, I've told my friend I'd attend an event at the Newseumpositiv....e
Anyway, the point of me sharing my oh-so fascinating schedule is to say that my marathon training, which was progressing rather well until about 8-10 days ago, has fallen by the wayside. I need to get myself back in the saddle asap--and before my rear no longer fits in the saddle.
This weekend, I was planning on going to Honfest in Baltimore. It's a wonderful street festival that requires a fabulous costume and a beehive hairdo. (They are technically not "required" per se, but really going to Honfest sans a "Hon" ensemble is a much less-fun experience.) The problem is, that since I live over an hour away, even if we don't go to the festival until 1 or 2pm, I still need to be getting ready at 10am (that beehive takes a little time) so I can be on the road by 11....if people want to be in Baltimore by 11, well...I have to be getting my hair done very early in the morning....and there goes any productivity on Saturday. I may need a weekend at home to regroup. I love Honfest, but if I could eliminate one activity that would de-stress me, Honfest might just be it. And I'd save $60 in gas money, which is no small shakes.
BUT, it is only Thursday, and I've been known to change my mind impulsively when it comes to exciting events. I do love 'dem Hons! What to do?!
 |
| Me & a lot of other "Hons" from Honfest 2010. |
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Happy Running Day!!
http://www.runningday.org/site/
Did you go for a run yesterday to celebrate?? I shamefully did not. Although I did wake up early this morning to get in a belated Running-Day training run before work. (So, technically I only missed NRD by a few hours.)
I also, sadly, did not take advantage of the $13-26 discount on the Rock-and-Roll races that Competitor was offering yesterday. Sad sad....I really wanted to, and I knew it was happening, but scheduling-wise, none of the races seem to be working out this year.
A running acquaintance of mine, who I really like a lot, is organizing a group of local runners (Baltimore-MD-DC) to head to San Antonio, TX for a "destination run" in November. I would have loved to go along! I love San Antonio, and I would really like to go back for the race, but unfortunately, it's the same weekend as the Richmond Marathon, for which I've already registered.
The other Rock-and-Roll races I was considering are Providence and Chicago, but they are both occurring right when I'm supposed to be moving out of my condo. (End of July/beginning of August) Not only is moving typically time consuming and exhausting, but it also seems to generate unforeseen expenses. (yes, moving men and maybe buckets of paint, but also surprises like, "oh, my trashcan doesn't fit here anymore" and "Oops! I've just dropped my TV down the stairs" type expenses.) So, I can't sign up. I know what will probably happen--I'll find out at the last minute that I am free that weekend, but by that point the race(s) will either be completely sold out or top-dollar!
So, I guess you could say I didn't "celebrate" Running Day in any real way per se. BUT, I did take the time to complete this fun "runner's survey" that I hijacked off my girlfriend's blog. (Thanks Cassie!) So, for your reading pleasure....
Q: Do I wear a hat?
A: Not as a rule, but I need to start wearing a visor or something to protect my delicate skin from the signs of aging.
Q: Favorite Post-Race snack?
A: I usually won't have a "snack" unless I know I won't be able to have a full meal for a while, then I'll opt for a banana. Otherwise, the answer is simple: BRUNCH! eggs, biscuits & gravy, french toast, waffles, pancakes....the whole she-bang!
Q: Favorite Race to-date?
A: Tough call. I like so many races for so many different reasons. I liked finishing the National Marathon because it represented such a big accomplishment (finishing a full marathon all alone), but I loved the Princess Half because it was really "magical!" No joke!
Q: Do I use a garmin?
A: No. I use a stopwatch, and I can barely remember to hit it when I start. I worry that a garmin would make me obsess/fret too much over my time. Also, doing the mathematics in my head to figure out my pace makes the time go by faster. ;)
Q: Favorite medal?
A: Probably my Baltimore Marathon medal, from last year. It was my first full marathon. The medal is HUGE, because it was the tenth anniversary of the race, and it has the Maryland flag on it. Very bling!
Q: How long have I been running?
A: I started running on a treadmill in my parents basement when I moved home from Florida in 2004. I was never a runner, but I needed to lose some weight and get in shape. I would run thirty minutes to an hour every day. I actually got chronic tendinitis in 2005 from over doing my running, and not listening to my body. Now, I try to cross train and not work the same leg muscles two days in a row, so the tendinitis doesn't flare up again. I wasn't brave enough to run outside until a year after I started running. The first time I ran outside, not in my basement, I was so self-conscious. But, once I came to the realization that no one is looking at me, everyone's just out enjoying themselves, I grew more confident and came to enjoy running outside.
Q: Do you run with your engagement/wedding ring on?
A: No, because I am very very single. I do sometimes run with post-earrings in though.
Did you go for a run yesterday to celebrate?? I shamefully did not. Although I did wake up early this morning to get in a belated Running-Day training run before work. (So, technically I only missed NRD by a few hours.)
I also, sadly, did not take advantage of the $13-26 discount on the Rock-and-Roll races that Competitor was offering yesterday. Sad sad....I really wanted to, and I knew it was happening, but scheduling-wise, none of the races seem to be working out this year.
A running acquaintance of mine, who I really like a lot, is organizing a group of local runners (Baltimore-MD-DC) to head to San Antonio, TX for a "destination run" in November. I would have loved to go along! I love San Antonio, and I would really like to go back for the race, but unfortunately, it's the same weekend as the Richmond Marathon, for which I've already registered.
The other Rock-and-Roll races I was considering are Providence and Chicago, but they are both occurring right when I'm supposed to be moving out of my condo. (End of July/beginning of August) Not only is moving typically time consuming and exhausting, but it also seems to generate unforeseen expenses. (yes, moving men and maybe buckets of paint, but also surprises like, "oh, my trashcan doesn't fit here anymore" and "Oops! I've just dropped my TV down the stairs" type expenses.) So, I can't sign up. I know what will probably happen--I'll find out at the last minute that I am free that weekend, but by that point the race(s) will either be completely sold out or top-dollar!
So, I guess you could say I didn't "celebrate" Running Day in any real way per se. BUT, I did take the time to complete this fun "runner's survey" that I hijacked off my girlfriend's blog. (Thanks Cassie!) So, for your reading pleasure....
Q: What's your favorite type of cross-training?
A: I love spinning, because I feel like I get a great workout, even though I'm not running. I also like BodyPump (or just regular weight-lifting) in between runs. If I am not doing BodyPump, I am a big fan of Tamilee Webb's "I Want That Body" DVD.
Q: What's your favorite song to listen to while running?
A: Super-tough call! I have so many songs that get me through the rough patches. I never seem to get tired of "I'll work for your love" by Bruce Springsteen. Or "Stacy's Mom" because that's always fun and upbeat.
I also have, oddly enough, two Christmas songs on my running playlist that I never get tired of: "My Only Wish This Year" by the lovely and talented Ms. Britney Spears, and "Last Night I went out with Santa Claus" by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.--good for sprinting.
My favorite NEW song (re: Haven't got sick of it YET) is the remix of "Get Loose" by Quanteisha Benjamin. download it immediately for both running and dance parties. Listen here.
I also have, oddly enough, two Christmas songs on my running playlist that I never get tired of: "My Only Wish This Year" by the lovely and talented Ms. Britney Spears, and "Last Night I went out with Santa Claus" by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.--good for sprinting.
My favorite NEW song (re: Haven't got sick of it YET) is the remix of "Get Loose" by Quanteisha Benjamin. download it immediately for both running and dance parties. Listen here.
Q: Favoritw brand of shoes:
A: Nike, Air Pegasus +27. They feel great and are very cushiony! I'd recommend them for anyone who runs with a slight under-pronation, which I do. The only problem is, I bought them in blue. They are pretty, but had I been aware that they also come in "High Voltage Cherry" I would have bought those!
A: Nike, Air Pegasus +27. They feel great and are very cushiony! I'd recommend them for anyone who runs with a slight under-pronation, which I do. The only problem is, I bought them in blue. They are pretty, but had I been aware that they also come in "High Voltage Cherry" I would have bought those!
Q: Do I wear a hat?
A: Not as a rule, but I need to start wearing a visor or something to protect my delicate skin from the signs of aging.
Q: Favorite Temperature to run in?
A: I like it hot....I love to be really gross and sweaty, but if I want a PR, I need to run in colder temperatures--from 50-the upper 60s.
A: I like it hot....I love to be really gross and sweaty, but if I want a PR, I need to run in colder temperatures--from 50-the upper 60s.
Q: Any big races coming up?
A: My summer is clear of races right now, but that's not by choice. This summer my personal life is more hectic than usual, and I have a lot of tentative non-running things on my calendar. But, this fall, I have the Baltimore Marathon in October, followed by the Richmond Marathon in November, the Las Vegas Marathon in December, and then I kick off 2012 with the Goofy Challenge in Walt Disney World in January...Also, I'm considering, depending on logistics, doing the Cape Cod Marathon over Halloween weekend. They have a "Clam Chowdah Challenge" which is the same as the Goofy Challenge (1/2 of Saturday, Full on Sunday) but it's very small--limited to 250 runners--so I'm not sure I'll be able to decide until after the field is full. We shall see....
A: My summer is clear of races right now, but that's not by choice. This summer my personal life is more hectic than usual, and I have a lot of tentative non-running things on my calendar. But, this fall, I have the Baltimore Marathon in October, followed by the Richmond Marathon in November, the Las Vegas Marathon in December, and then I kick off 2012 with the Goofy Challenge in Walt Disney World in January...Also, I'm considering, depending on logistics, doing the Cape Cod Marathon over Halloween weekend. They have a "Clam Chowdah Challenge" which is the same as the Goofy Challenge (1/2 of Saturday, Full on Sunday) but it's very small--limited to 250 runners--so I'm not sure I'll be able to decide until after the field is full. We shall see....
Q: Favorite Distance?
A: Tie--between half and full. I like the half because it's long enough to feel accomplished, but it doesn't take up my whole day (I can run a half, and still meet someone for brunch afterward.) It's a great length for a "destination race" because I'm still energetic enough afterwards to go sight-seeing, etc. I love the full because it feels like a much bigger accomplishment. But, because of that, it requires a bigger training commitment that I can't always make, and it also wears me out. I've only run two in my life though, so I'm hoping that [by this fall] I can train and prepare myself for a marathon that won't exhausted me quite so completely.
A: Tie--between half and full. I like the half because it's long enough to feel accomplished, but it doesn't take up my whole day (I can run a half, and still meet someone for brunch afterward.) It's a great length for a "destination race" because I'm still energetic enough afterwards to go sight-seeing, etc. I love the full because it feels like a much bigger accomplishment. But, because of that, it requires a bigger training commitment that I can't always make, and it also wears me out. I've only run two in my life though, so I'm hoping that [by this fall] I can train and prepare myself for a marathon that won't exhausted me quite so completely.
Q: Favorite Post-Race snack?
A: I usually won't have a "snack" unless I know I won't be able to have a full meal for a while, then I'll opt for a banana. Otherwise, the answer is simple: BRUNCH! eggs, biscuits & gravy, french toast, waffles, pancakes....the whole she-bang!
Q: Favorite Race to-date?
A: Tough call. I like so many races for so many different reasons. I liked finishing the National Marathon because it represented such a big accomplishment (finishing a full marathon all alone), but I loved the Princess Half because it was really "magical!" No joke!
Q: Do I use a garmin?
A: No. I use a stopwatch, and I can barely remember to hit it when I start. I worry that a garmin would make me obsess/fret too much over my time. Also, doing the mathematics in my head to figure out my pace makes the time go by faster. ;)
Q: Favorite medal?
A: Probably my Baltimore Marathon medal, from last year. It was my first full marathon. The medal is HUGE, because it was the tenth anniversary of the race, and it has the Maryland flag on it. Very bling!
Q: How long have I been running?
A: I started running on a treadmill in my parents basement when I moved home from Florida in 2004. I was never a runner, but I needed to lose some weight and get in shape. I would run thirty minutes to an hour every day. I actually got chronic tendinitis in 2005 from over doing my running, and not listening to my body. Now, I try to cross train and not work the same leg muscles two days in a row, so the tendinitis doesn't flare up again. I wasn't brave enough to run outside until a year after I started running. The first time I ran outside, not in my basement, I was so self-conscious. But, once I came to the realization that no one is looking at me, everyone's just out enjoying themselves, I grew more confident and came to enjoy running outside.
Q: Do you run with your engagement/wedding ring on?
A: No, because I am very very single. I do sometimes run with post-earrings in though.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Race Report: The SWAG-tastic Frederick Running Festival (Part 2)
The Mid-Day 5K
After completing the half-marathon, and picking up our shirts and other various goodies, Cassie and I headed back to her car to meet up with Katie, our resident running super-star who always finishes before any of us. We chatted for a bit about how each of our races went, what we thought of the course, etc. Then we snapped a few pics of ourselves in our snazzy medals. We were going to head toward the infield of the track for the after party, but first I had to take a detour to my car to retrieve sunglasses. The day had gotten very bright! On our way back to the random field, where both Katie and I had parked our cars, we had the brainwave to go try to retrieve our 5K shirts. As I mentioned before, the tables were understaffed, and we walked in the back entrance, bypassing the still-lengthy half-marathon-shirt line. All of the 5K shirts were stacked next to the half-marathon shirts....and all of the bonus "Nut Job Challenge" shirts were stacked next to those...One woman just came up beside us, and took a shirt. We didn't want to do that without alerting the shirt-table staff in some way, so Katie and I found our sizes, grabbed our shirts and then flagged down a poor volunteer (who was swapped with half-finishers) to give him our bib tags. (I'm pretty sure he didn't understand what exactly we were switching, but at least we tried.)
After that, we headed toward the field in search of sunglasses. The fairgrounds was hosting a farm auction along the way....so the there was an interesting combination of runners and farmers wandering around! It was hard after already getting our TWO race shirts to get motivated to run the 5k race. I mean, we had our swag that we came for, right? But, Katie and I decided that we simply could not wear either shirt with pride if we didn't actually complete the 5K stretch....no phoney-bolognas here!
We picked up my sunglasses and headed back into the fairgrounds for the after-party. The party at this race was really great! I felt like it was a smaller version of a Rock-n-Roll race after-party. They had a fun cover-band, Crushing Day, and it was in the in-field of the racetrack, so we had a great view of the finish line and could watch the other runners as they finished the race. Although, most of the half-marathoners had finished, there was a 1 Mile FunRun for kids, and we watched that too. It was super-adorable! If you have children, I highly recommend running this with them. They get their own medal (a nice metal one!) the kids have their own post-race tent, with gatorade and pretzels. And, right next to that, they had a huge moon-bounce slide and the carnival basketball-shooting booths! It looked like a lot of fun, and a great way to get kids involved, if you're a parent that races, or if you're just trying to get your family to be more active. I was impressed. I had one of my four free beers while we watched the fun run and waited for them to set-up for the 5K. (We got 2 beers for the half, and 2 for the 5K. cha-ching!)
Eventually, it was time for Katie and I to reluctantly line-up at the Start line for the 5K (which was also the finish line for the Half.) There was a decent number of people running. Also, I guess a local youth track team was running as well. A bunch of little kids, around seven to nine years old, I assume, all wearing bright florescent orange and yellow shirts that read "Lightning" across the front, lined up in front of all the other runners. When the gun went off, those kids ran--and I mean RAN. I remember when I was a little kid (and I HATED running) and there were always one or two kids in my class who were amazingly fast--faster than anyone else. Well, the Lightning was a collection of all of those kids from every school zooming ahead of us slow-pokey grown-ups. It was humbling.
I took off at a slow pace....I realized about 100 yards out that I'd forgotten my ipod, which given my lack of motivation would have been very helpful and friendly to have had with me. Oh well, at least I had my sunglasses....the weather was nice--still cool when I stopped running, but the sun was blazing in a cloudless sky!
The 5K started out on the racetrack. I thought that was pretty fun--especially considering it was also Kentucky Derby day. Then the course went down a rural road and looped back up. As I ran, some of the Lightning kids were already on their way back.....a lot of them shouted out words of encouragement to us as they passed. It was super cute!!--even though part of me was jealous of them for being so fast and beating me. Humph.
The waterstop, about halfway through the race, played a mean trick by giving runners water in Corona-cups. I thought a refreshing alcoholic beverage might have been coming my way, but they were just teasing me.
After the turn around, I started making my way (back uphill) toward the fairgrounds. I was actually feeling a little more energized on the second half of the race, mainly because I knew it was almost over! As I ran, one lady commented, "So, you didn't get enough running the first race?!" She must have recognized my pink sparkle skirt. I told her, this isn't the smartest decision I'd ever made in my life, but that I do go to great lengths to get a free tee shirt. (Fact.)
Finally, I reentered the fairgrounds, and came back toward the finish line. I saw Cassie and Katie, who had finished long before me, cheering and snapping pictures. They put a smile on my face as I finished the second race of the day. Finally!! I was relieved that that we'd already gotten our swag and I didn't have to wait in the t-shirt line again. I swung by the bathroom then found Cassie and Katie in the infield. I was so excited to be finished! I also felt like I'd accomplished something....because it was really hard to psych myself up for a 5K almost two hours after I'd finished the half marathon, and I felt like I'd met a mental challenge and beat it. I'd finished. I wasn't as fast as I'd have like to have been (33:28) but I wasn't as bad as I was expecting to be. Heck, I run training runs that are slower than that!
We settled in with a round of victory beer, and enjoyed the music and the gorgeous weather. Cassie had been catching up with some of her Half-Fanatic friends when Katie and I were running, and one of the guys she was speaking with had run the Richmond Marathon last year. I'm running it this year, mainly because it was very cheap to register and it's only two hours away. But this guy was absolutely raving about it. He said it was one of the most fun races he's ever run, and he highly recommended it. The got me really excited!!
Overall, the who festival was fantastic and I'm really glad I went! I wish I had trained more so I could have used the flat course to maybe get a new PR, but running with my good friends, and getting ALL my sweet swag made the day worth it. The t-shirt line after the race was long and chaotic, but really that was a pretty minor detail, considering how well-organized and nice the rest of the race was. Also, the after party, the farm auction and the kids race made it a great event to go to with friends or family that might not be into running. Now, time to start training for the Full-in-the-Fall!!
Click here for Part 1.
After completing the half-marathon, and picking up our shirts and other various goodies, Cassie and I headed back to her car to meet up with Katie, our resident running super-star who always finishes before any of us. We chatted for a bit about how each of our races went, what we thought of the course, etc. Then we snapped a few pics of ourselves in our snazzy medals. We were going to head toward the infield of the track for the after party, but first I had to take a detour to my car to retrieve sunglasses. The day had gotten very bright! On our way back to the random field, where both Katie and I had parked our cars, we had the brainwave to go try to retrieve our 5K shirts. As I mentioned before, the tables were understaffed, and we walked in the back entrance, bypassing the still-lengthy half-marathon-shirt line. All of the 5K shirts were stacked next to the half-marathon shirts....and all of the bonus "Nut Job Challenge" shirts were stacked next to those...One woman just came up beside us, and took a shirt. We didn't want to do that without alerting the shirt-table staff in some way, so Katie and I found our sizes, grabbed our shirts and then flagged down a poor volunteer (who was swapped with half-finishers) to give him our bib tags. (I'm pretty sure he didn't understand what exactly we were switching, but at least we tried.)
After that, we headed toward the field in search of sunglasses. The fairgrounds was hosting a farm auction along the way....so the there was an interesting combination of runners and farmers wandering around! It was hard after already getting our TWO race shirts to get motivated to run the 5k race. I mean, we had our swag that we came for, right? But, Katie and I decided that we simply could not wear either shirt with pride if we didn't actually complete the 5K stretch....no phoney-bolognas here!
 |
| Stolen from Cassie |
Eventually, it was time for Katie and I to reluctantly line-up at the Start line for the 5K (which was also the finish line for the Half.) There was a decent number of people running. Also, I guess a local youth track team was running as well. A bunch of little kids, around seven to nine years old, I assume, all wearing bright florescent orange and yellow shirts that read "Lightning" across the front, lined up in front of all the other runners. When the gun went off, those kids ran--and I mean RAN. I remember when I was a little kid (and I HATED running) and there were always one or two kids in my class who were amazingly fast--faster than anyone else. Well, the Lightning was a collection of all of those kids from every school zooming ahead of us slow-pokey grown-ups. It was humbling.
 |
| Lightning Fast!! |
I took off at a slow pace....I realized about 100 yards out that I'd forgotten my ipod, which given my lack of motivation would have been very helpful and friendly to have had with me. Oh well, at least I had my sunglasses....the weather was nice--still cool when I stopped running, but the sun was blazing in a cloudless sky!
The 5K started out on the racetrack. I thought that was pretty fun--especially considering it was also Kentucky Derby day. Then the course went down a rural road and looped back up. As I ran, some of the Lightning kids were already on their way back.....a lot of them shouted out words of encouragement to us as they passed. It was super cute!!--even though part of me was jealous of them for being so fast and beating me. Humph.
The waterstop, about halfway through the race, played a mean trick by giving runners water in Corona-cups. I thought a refreshing alcoholic beverage might have been coming my way, but they were just teasing me.
After the turn around, I started making my way (back uphill) toward the fairgrounds. I was actually feeling a little more energized on the second half of the race, mainly because I knew it was almost over! As I ran, one lady commented, "So, you didn't get enough running the first race?!" She must have recognized my pink sparkle skirt. I told her, this isn't the smartest decision I'd ever made in my life, but that I do go to great lengths to get a free tee shirt. (Fact.)
Finally, I reentered the fairgrounds, and came back toward the finish line. I saw Cassie and Katie, who had finished long before me, cheering and snapping pictures. They put a smile on my face as I finished the second race of the day. Finally!! I was relieved that that we'd already gotten our swag and I didn't have to wait in the t-shirt line again. I swung by the bathroom then found Cassie and Katie in the infield. I was so excited to be finished! I also felt like I'd accomplished something....because it was really hard to psych myself up for a 5K almost two hours after I'd finished the half marathon, and I felt like I'd met a mental challenge and beat it. I'd finished. I wasn't as fast as I'd have like to have been (33:28) but I wasn't as bad as I was expecting to be. Heck, I run training runs that are slower than that!
 |
| long sleeve, medal, short sleeve, & nutjob shirt |
Overall, the who festival was fantastic and I'm really glad I went! I wish I had trained more so I could have used the flat course to maybe get a new PR, but running with my good friends, and getting ALL my sweet swag made the day worth it. The t-shirt line after the race was long and chaotic, but really that was a pretty minor detail, considering how well-organized and nice the rest of the race was. Also, the after party, the farm auction and the kids race made it a great event to go to with friends or family that might not be into running. Now, time to start training for the Full-in-the-Fall!!
Click here for Part 1.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Race Report: The SWAG-tastic Frederick Running Festival! (Part 1)
Subtitle: 1 Half-Marathon, 1 5K, a HUGE medal, 2 tee-shirts, one zip-up, a new gym bag, a Hello Kitty watch, too many free beers, live music, two free McDonald's Frappes, and a partridge in a pear-tree.
Pre-Race:
I have to say, I did not have very high expectations for this race. Were it not for the fact that I got a third medal for running this half marathon in the same calendar year as the Baltimore Marathon, I probably would have skipped it. I had wanted to "Do the Double" last year, since it was the 10th anniversary of Baltimore, but I had a bachelorette party the Saturday beforehand, and I figured (quite correctly) that I would be in no condition to run 13.1 miles after a night of toasting the bride-to-be. (As I recall, I was in no condition to move off the couch for most of that day.)
This year, I initially wasn't too keen on running this. I was not planning on running Baltimore in the fall. I had already done it two years in a row--the Half in 2009 and the Full in 2010, and I was/am anxious to try another race that weekend, since it's one of the most popular marathon weekends of the year. But then, as I realized how much traveling I wanted to do in the Dec 2011/Jan 2012 season--Vegas, Disney World, Miami--and realized that traveling to a "destination marathon" in October might not be the most practical idea. Also, I was looking for a late-springtime race that was convenient, and Frederick actually was perfect as far as its early-May timing and distance from my house. I decided to bite the bullet and sign up for the 2011 MD Double.
I should note that Frederick, MD is not exactly a central hub or an easy-to-get-to place. (Even though I just said it was "convenient" it still took me over an hour to drive there Saturday morning.) A lot of people live there because it's [relatively] close to DC and/or Baltimore, and cheaper than some of the suburban locations closer to the cities. It's a good compromise for families who work in both Baltimore and DC, which a lot of people do, and it's a really pretty town, but it's not a place many would go out of their ways to visit. It's certainly not a tourist destination, aside from maybe a Civil War buff passing through. For that reason, the Frederick Running Festival has struggled to get people to participate.
In previous years, Frederick hosted a Full Marathon as well as a Half Marathon. This year is the first year they decided against hosting a full. The city couldn't get enough support to keep the roads closed long enough for a Full, and participation was always a bit weak.(Even during this half marathon, I ran by people in cars arguing with the policemen who were closing the roads; demanding to get through.) Indeed, part of the reason they've partnered with the Baltimore Marathon to create the marketing ploy of the "Maryland Double" is to get some of thesuckers people like me to sign up for the less-popular Frederick race....People who will go to great lengths for an extra medal or a[nother] t-shirt. (Did someone say "coast-to-coast challenge?")
Another incentive the Frederick Running Festival offers is hosting a convenient bib pick-up in every imaginable location between Alexandria, VA and Baltimore, MD the week before the race. Although runners could not pick up their shirts at the locations, it was easy as pie to get a bib the week before the race. There was a packet pick-up right near my house, but I wasn't able to leave work in time to get there, so I had my girlfriend Cassie pick mine up for me, since she could go on her lunch hour. Because I didn't have to pick up anything, and I never visited an expo, the week leading up to the race didn't feel quite as "racey" as most do to me.
Also, I was feeling very out of shape. I hadn't gone on any long runs since the Cherry Blossom 10 miler, over a month before, and I hadn't done much as far as maintenance runs either. I think after the National Marathon and the Cherry Blossom combo, I took an unplanned brief leave of absence from long-distance running. Mainly to focus on excessive drinking. I wasn't nervous about the half, but I wasn't looking forward to it either. Back in January/February, when I'd signed up, I'd pictured myself getting into great shape for this race; and, since it's a flat course, possibly even getting a new PR. But, alas, my motivation had waned in the weeks leading up to this race, and now I was just not in the mood. As I said, my only motivation to finish this race was the prospect of the third medal. (well, also this medal is a pretty big and shiny piece of bling!)
Oh, almost forgot, the Thursday before the race I had a "date." My date & I initially met up for drinks, and I kept thinking that he was going to suggest getting food at some point. But he never did....and I never did either. We ended up having a [very large] liquid dinner. The conversation was flowing easily, as were the beverages (including a margarita, a bacon-bloody mary and four(?) glasses of wine.) Before I knew it, it was almost midnight (the time at which my DC metro turns back into a pumpkin) and I had to dash home. Hence, "Dehydrated Friday" was the prelude to race day. Add that to my lackadaisical training through the month of April, and this race was off to an ominous start.
Fortunately, I came home on-time Friday evening--Not scrambling to get to packet pick-up on race-day eve was a huge relief!--and had plenty of time to whip up a carbo-licious dinner of tortellini, shower, pack up all of my race gear, and get to bed early. so, even though my alarm went off at 4am, I still got a solid seven hours of sleep....
Race Day:
At the still dark hour of 4:00 am, my alarms went off....all three of them, and I got up to get ready to race. I had almost decided what to wear on race day. It has been a strange spring, weather-wise, and I wasn't sure if I should go with shorts or stick with long pants. I actually bought a pair of capri running pants on my lunch hour Friday, so I'd have them as an option, and I ended up wearing those. After far too much deliberation, I decided on my pink sparkle skirt and a gray Nike tee that had a cheeseburger on it and read "Runners have the best buns!" which, ironically is not currently true of this particular runner. (My buns are looking a bit super-sized at the moment.) Feeling indecisive, I packed a completely different set of running clothes in my car just in case. I also packed a few extra layers because, even after listening intently to the weather reports, I still could not gauge how hot/cool it was going to be.
I got dressed, packed my bags, made a quick to-go breakfast of waffles with peanut butter and my traditional beverage buffet, and set off for the race by 5:15am. The race didn't start until 7:30 am, but it was going to take me a little over an hour to get to Frederick, and then I'd still have to find Cassie and get my race bib. Cassie and I were running, along with our friend Katie, who ran the Cherry Blossom with us, and our friend Jordan, who has run a couple shorter races with us, including the Jingle-all-the-Way 10K. I was looking forward to seeing everyone.
Getting to the race went smoothly. Traffic was backed up getting off the highway and into the parking lot (or, in my case, a large field behind someone's horsebarn). I had a few moments of panic, thinking it might end up as chaotic getting to the start as the National Marathon had been. But luckily, I made it with plenty of time to spare--thank goodness, because an hour of sipping coffee and gatorade in the car had me dashing for the bathroom as soon as I parked!
I found Cassie, who had gotten a great parking spot right near the start, even though she'd only gotten there maybe 20 minutes earlier, and Katie was with her. Jordan was supposed to ride with Cassie, but as I walked up to the car, I noticed she wasn't there. Cassie explained that she had only gotten off work at 3:30am (she's a bartender) and thus was unable to make the 5:00am departure for Frederick. I was so disappointed that she wasn't able to make it, and also really sad that she'd signed up for the double, and now wouldn't be able to get her third medal. Bummer...(Because of Jordan's job, Katie, Cassie and I are planning several "No-Pay 10K's" and longer distances over the summer, to make sure Jordan can train enough to prepare for the Full Marathon in October, which will be her first.)
But for now, it was just the three of us. Ready (or not) to run. I should also mention that Katie and I were both signed up for the "Go Nuts" challenge...which required us to run the Mid-Day 5K after we had finished the half marathon. (If you could have taken my lack of enthusiasm for the half, and multiplied it by a very high number, that's how much I was NOT excited about the mid-day 5K.)
We snapped a few pictures (or rather, Cassie did. I accidentally left my memory card for my camera at home), hit the bathroom one last time, then made our way to the start-line. Katie went to find her pace group (the fast one). Cassie and I joined the crowd around the two-hour pacer, even though I knew today was not going to be a 2-hour pace day for me. Cassie wanted to push toward the front so she could start out at a faster pace and slow down as needed. She had been battling a cold all week so she wanted to start strong and slow down as needed. I don't think I'm built for that strategy. After many races, I like to start slow and gradually find my pace. It usually works well, though admittedly better when I'm in shape. When I start out at a faster pace, I burn out rather than build up and usually get some knee pain. So when the gun went off, Cassie dashed ahead, and I began my slow and steady turtle-esque pace.
The weather was gorgeous, we could not have asked for a better day! It was cool, but cloudless and sunny. As I set off, I felt like a lot of people were passing me. I'm pretty sure I would have had that feeling regardless of where in the pack I'd started, but I felt a little guilty for starting so close to the front when I knew I'd be starting out slow. I felt pretty good for the first three or four miles. Slow, but the scenery was lovely--Frederick is quite picturesque--and I was comfortable in my pace. Around mile four, I heard someone come up behind me and say my name. I turned around to see Rich, a friend of mine from high school. He lives in Frederick, so I wasn't too surprised to see him, but it definitely bolstered my spirits to chat with him for a little while before he jogged ahead. (He said he had agreed to run the race during a drunken St. Patrick's Day bet.)
Miles five through seven were pretty standard. The view was still nice, and the course was flat. As the morning progressed, the sun began beating down a little hard and I could feel my sunscreen wearing off. (Note to self: find better sweatproof face sunscreen.) I saw one guy getting picked up from the EMTs about halfway through the race, and I'm almost positive it was heat/sun-related. The spectators were great and really helped motivate me through a race I was just not feeling. Everyone out to watch the race was so excited to be there, and lots of people cheered for my sparkle-skirt!! (yay!) I know it sounds silly, but when I get singled out from the crowd, it gets me excited and keeps me moving forward. (Possibly because I don't want to embarrass myself in front of cheering onlookers.)
At mile nine, I was starting to fade a bit. I just was not in the mood to race that day. But, then--thankfully--I saw Cassie...she had been forced to slow down because of her lingering cold (and allergies--apparently somebody was mowing their lawn along the race route.) I caught up with her and we ran with each other for most of the remainder of the race. It was great! We had some time to chat and catch up while we ran, since we hadn't seen each other since the Cherry Blossom race. It was super-fun, and we ended up with some fun pics of the two of us running the last mile through Frederick.
What no one ever mentioned to us was that there is a STEEEEEP hill during the last 0.2 miles of the race. It was a little surprise party right at the end of the race. As I ran up I heard runners saying that this hill is "nothing compared to the hills in Baltimore." True, but it's something when you're not expecting it in the last little bit of the race!
After the hill, we dashed toward the finish line (Very cool--on the Fairground's race track!) and picked up our medals. We got our pic taken together at the finish...it was pretty fab! :)
The post-race situation is my one (and, probably only) complaint about this race. Because packet(bib) pick-up had been in so many places the week prior to the race, they did not distribute t-shirts to runners until after the race. Since most of the runners finished around the same time we did, Cassie and I finished in the 2hr-2:30 time frame, we got caught in a huge clogged up line to pick up our shirts. The shirt table was under-staffed--just crazy, chaotic and a mess. Moral: Run faster, wait in a shorter line for the shirt.
On the upside, the post-race food was fabulous! (Wegman's Grocery store sponsored the race, so obviously it was all going to be delicious. I heart Wegmans!) Both the medal, and the shirt were great too. The medal is as big and colorful as my Disneyland Medal (even the Team-Relay medal was huge!) and the shirt was a long sleeve collared shirt that had a half-zip---easily the best race shirt I've ever gotten! (Are you paying attention, National Marathon people?!) Also, while we were waiting in line to pick up our shirts, we were held up at the McDonald's booth. While there, I snagged two coupons for free Fruit-Smoothie Frappes, a Hello Kitty Happy Meal watch, and a really nice new gym bag with the golden arches o the side. I was so excited!! What a haul! I also got to meet Ronald McDonald--yes, THE Ronald McDonald himself! And got to spin a wheel, which I thought my give me an opportunity for more prizes, but it was just a guess-the-calories game. (I failed.)
My final time was 2:17:27, which is better than I was expecting, considering my lack of training. They email it to you, a few hours after the finish, which I think is a really neat idea! Especially if it's a race that I was traveling to and wouldn't have been able to get to a computer for a while. And, though the shirt line was exceptionally long, hectic and understaffed, the beer line after the race was surprisingly short and the beer was plentiful!! Hooray! I was ready to relax, sit in the sun, enjoy the band and the after party.....oh, wait. I still have to run a 5K in an hour....UGH!
To be continued.....
Pre-Race:
I have to say, I did not have very high expectations for this race. Were it not for the fact that I got a third medal for running this half marathon in the same calendar year as the Baltimore Marathon, I probably would have skipped it. I had wanted to "Do the Double" last year, since it was the 10th anniversary of Baltimore, but I had a bachelorette party the Saturday beforehand, and I figured (quite correctly) that I would be in no condition to run 13.1 miles after a night of toasting the bride-to-be. (As I recall, I was in no condition to move off the couch for most of that day.)
This year, I initially wasn't too keen on running this. I was not planning on running Baltimore in the fall. I had already done it two years in a row--the Half in 2009 and the Full in 2010, and I was/am anxious to try another race that weekend, since it's one of the most popular marathon weekends of the year. But then, as I realized how much traveling I wanted to do in the Dec 2011/Jan 2012 season--Vegas, Disney World, Miami--and realized that traveling to a "destination marathon" in October might not be the most practical idea. Also, I was looking for a late-springtime race that was convenient, and Frederick actually was perfect as far as its early-May timing and distance from my house. I decided to bite the bullet and sign up for the 2011 MD Double.
I should note that Frederick, MD is not exactly a central hub or an easy-to-get-to place. (Even though I just said it was "convenient" it still took me over an hour to drive there Saturday morning.) A lot of people live there because it's [relatively] close to DC and/or Baltimore, and cheaper than some of the suburban locations closer to the cities. It's a good compromise for families who work in both Baltimore and DC, which a lot of people do, and it's a really pretty town, but it's not a place many would go out of their ways to visit. It's certainly not a tourist destination, aside from maybe a Civil War buff passing through. For that reason, the Frederick Running Festival has struggled to get people to participate.
In previous years, Frederick hosted a Full Marathon as well as a Half Marathon. This year is the first year they decided against hosting a full. The city couldn't get enough support to keep the roads closed long enough for a Full, and participation was always a bit weak.(Even during this half marathon, I ran by people in cars arguing with the policemen who were closing the roads; demanding to get through.) Indeed, part of the reason they've partnered with the Baltimore Marathon to create the marketing ploy of the "Maryland Double" is to get some of the
Another incentive the Frederick Running Festival offers is hosting a convenient bib pick-up in every imaginable location between Alexandria, VA and Baltimore, MD the week before the race. Although runners could not pick up their shirts at the locations, it was easy as pie to get a bib the week before the race. There was a packet pick-up right near my house, but I wasn't able to leave work in time to get there, so I had my girlfriend Cassie pick mine up for me, since she could go on her lunch hour. Because I didn't have to pick up anything, and I never visited an expo, the week leading up to the race didn't feel quite as "racey" as most do to me.
Also, I was feeling very out of shape. I hadn't gone on any long runs since the Cherry Blossom 10 miler, over a month before, and I hadn't done much as far as maintenance runs either. I think after the National Marathon and the Cherry Blossom combo, I took an unplanned brief leave of absence from long-distance running. Mainly to focus on excessive drinking. I wasn't nervous about the half, but I wasn't looking forward to it either. Back in January/February, when I'd signed up, I'd pictured myself getting into great shape for this race; and, since it's a flat course, possibly even getting a new PR. But, alas, my motivation had waned in the weeks leading up to this race, and now I was just not in the mood. As I said, my only motivation to finish this race was the prospect of the third medal. (well, also this medal is a pretty big and shiny piece of bling!)
Oh, almost forgot, the Thursday before the race I had a "date." My date & I initially met up for drinks, and I kept thinking that he was going to suggest getting food at some point. But he never did....and I never did either. We ended up having a [very large] liquid dinner. The conversation was flowing easily, as were the beverages (including a margarita, a bacon-bloody mary and four(?) glasses of wine.) Before I knew it, it was almost midnight (the time at which my DC metro turns back into a pumpkin) and I had to dash home. Hence, "Dehydrated Friday" was the prelude to race day. Add that to my lackadaisical training through the month of April, and this race was off to an ominous start.
Fortunately, I came home on-time Friday evening--Not scrambling to get to packet pick-up on race-day eve was a huge relief!--and had plenty of time to whip up a carbo-licious dinner of tortellini, shower, pack up all of my race gear, and get to bed early. so, even though my alarm went off at 4am, I still got a solid seven hours of sleep....
Race Day:
At the still dark hour of 4:00 am, my alarms went off....all three of them, and I got up to get ready to race. I had almost decided what to wear on race day. It has been a strange spring, weather-wise, and I wasn't sure if I should go with shorts or stick with long pants. I actually bought a pair of capri running pants on my lunch hour Friday, so I'd have them as an option, and I ended up wearing those. After far too much deliberation, I decided on my pink sparkle skirt and a gray Nike tee that had a cheeseburger on it and read "Runners have the best buns!" which, ironically is not currently true of this particular runner. (My buns are looking a bit super-sized at the moment.) Feeling indecisive, I packed a completely different set of running clothes in my car just in case. I also packed a few extra layers because, even after listening intently to the weather reports, I still could not gauge how hot/cool it was going to be.
I got dressed, packed my bags, made a quick to-go breakfast of waffles with peanut butter and my traditional beverage buffet, and set off for the race by 5:15am. The race didn't start until 7:30 am, but it was going to take me a little over an hour to get to Frederick, and then I'd still have to find Cassie and get my race bib. Cassie and I were running, along with our friend Katie, who ran the Cherry Blossom with us, and our friend Jordan, who has run a couple shorter races with us, including the Jingle-all-the-Way 10K. I was looking forward to seeing everyone.
Getting to the race went smoothly. Traffic was backed up getting off the highway and into the parking lot (or, in my case, a large field behind someone's horsebarn). I had a few moments of panic, thinking it might end up as chaotic getting to the start as the National Marathon had been. But luckily, I made it with plenty of time to spare--thank goodness, because an hour of sipping coffee and gatorade in the car had me dashing for the bathroom as soon as I parked!
I found Cassie, who had gotten a great parking spot right near the start, even though she'd only gotten there maybe 20 minutes earlier, and Katie was with her. Jordan was supposed to ride with Cassie, but as I walked up to the car, I noticed she wasn't there. Cassie explained that she had only gotten off work at 3:30am (she's a bartender) and thus was unable to make the 5:00am departure for Frederick. I was so disappointed that she wasn't able to make it, and also really sad that she'd signed up for the double, and now wouldn't be able to get her third medal. Bummer...(Because of Jordan's job, Katie, Cassie and I are planning several "No-Pay 10K's" and longer distances over the summer, to make sure Jordan can train enough to prepare for the Full Marathon in October, which will be her first.)
But for now, it was just the three of us. Ready (or not) to run. I should also mention that Katie and I were both signed up for the "Go Nuts" challenge...which required us to run the Mid-Day 5K after we had finished the half marathon. (If you could have taken my lack of enthusiasm for the half, and multiplied it by a very high number, that's how much I was NOT excited about the mid-day 5K.)
We snapped a few pictures (or rather, Cassie did. I accidentally left my memory card for my camera at home), hit the bathroom one last time, then made our way to the start-line. Katie went to find her pace group (the fast one). Cassie and I joined the crowd around the two-hour pacer, even though I knew today was not going to be a 2-hour pace day for me. Cassie wanted to push toward the front so she could start out at a faster pace and slow down as needed. She had been battling a cold all week so she wanted to start strong and slow down as needed. I don't think I'm built for that strategy. After many races, I like to start slow and gradually find my pace. It usually works well, though admittedly better when I'm in shape. When I start out at a faster pace, I burn out rather than build up and usually get some knee pain. So when the gun went off, Cassie dashed ahead, and I began my slow and steady turtle-esque pace.
The weather was gorgeous, we could not have asked for a better day! It was cool, but cloudless and sunny. As I set off, I felt like a lot of people were passing me. I'm pretty sure I would have had that feeling regardless of where in the pack I'd started, but I felt a little guilty for starting so close to the front when I knew I'd be starting out slow. I felt pretty good for the first three or four miles. Slow, but the scenery was lovely--Frederick is quite picturesque--and I was comfortable in my pace. Around mile four, I heard someone come up behind me and say my name. I turned around to see Rich, a friend of mine from high school. He lives in Frederick, so I wasn't too surprised to see him, but it definitely bolstered my spirits to chat with him for a little while before he jogged ahead. (He said he had agreed to run the race during a drunken St. Patrick's Day bet.)
Miles five through seven were pretty standard. The view was still nice, and the course was flat. As the morning progressed, the sun began beating down a little hard and I could feel my sunscreen wearing off. (Note to self: find better sweatproof face sunscreen.) I saw one guy getting picked up from the EMTs about halfway through the race, and I'm almost positive it was heat/sun-related. The spectators were great and really helped motivate me through a race I was just not feeling. Everyone out to watch the race was so excited to be there, and lots of people cheered for my sparkle-skirt!! (yay!) I know it sounds silly, but when I get singled out from the crowd, it gets me excited and keeps me moving forward. (Possibly because I don't want to embarrass myself in front of cheering onlookers.)
At mile nine, I was starting to fade a bit. I just was not in the mood to race that day. But, then--thankfully--I saw Cassie...she had been forced to slow down because of her lingering cold (and allergies--apparently somebody was mowing their lawn along the race route.) I caught up with her and we ran with each other for most of the remainder of the race. It was great! We had some time to chat and catch up while we ran, since we hadn't seen each other since the Cherry Blossom race. It was super-fun, and we ended up with some fun pics of the two of us running the last mile through Frederick.
What no one ever mentioned to us was that there is a STEEEEEP hill during the last 0.2 miles of the race. It was a little surprise party right at the end of the race. As I ran up I heard runners saying that this hill is "nothing compared to the hills in Baltimore." True, but it's something when you're not expecting it in the last little bit of the race!
After the hill, we dashed toward the finish line (Very cool--on the Fairground's race track!) and picked up our medals. We got our pic taken together at the finish...it was pretty fab! :)
The post-race situation is my one (and, probably only) complaint about this race. Because packet(bib) pick-up had been in so many places the week prior to the race, they did not distribute t-shirts to runners until after the race. Since most of the runners finished around the same time we did, Cassie and I finished in the 2hr-2:30 time frame, we got caught in a huge clogged up line to pick up our shirts. The shirt table was under-staffed--just crazy, chaotic and a mess. Moral: Run faster, wait in a shorter line for the shirt.
On the upside, the post-race food was fabulous! (Wegman's Grocery store sponsored the race, so obviously it was all going to be delicious. I heart Wegmans!) Both the medal, and the shirt were great too. The medal is as big and colorful as my Disneyland Medal (even the Team-Relay medal was huge!) and the shirt was a long sleeve collared shirt that had a half-zip---easily the best race shirt I've ever gotten! (Are you paying attention, National Marathon people?!) Also, while we were waiting in line to pick up our shirts, we were held up at the McDonald's booth. While there, I snagged two coupons for free Fruit-Smoothie Frappes, a Hello Kitty Happy Meal watch, and a really nice new gym bag with the golden arches o the side. I was so excited!! What a haul! I also got to meet Ronald McDonald--yes, THE Ronald McDonald himself! And got to spin a wheel, which I thought my give me an opportunity for more prizes, but it was just a guess-the-calories game. (I failed.)
My final time was 2:17:27, which is better than I was expecting, considering my lack of training. They email it to you, a few hours after the finish, which I think is a really neat idea! Especially if it's a race that I was traveling to and wouldn't have been able to get to a computer for a while. And, though the shirt line was exceptionally long, hectic and understaffed, the beer line after the race was surprisingly short and the beer was plentiful!! Hooray! I was ready to relax, sit in the sun, enjoy the band and the after party.....oh, wait. I still have to run a 5K in an hour....UGH!
To be continued.....
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