2010's Walt Disney World's Princess Half Marathon: A very belated race report on a very magical race!

Walt Disney World is hosting their third annual princess-themed half marathon today, and to honor the occasion, and since I cannot attend this year's event, I thought I'd write a race report of last year's race. (March 7, 2010.)

This was one of my most favorite races of all time.  Mainly because it occurs in Disney World--and I LOVE Disney World. (No joke--LOVE--pure and true.)  I did a brief stint there as a food-server in Epcot after college, and being there just makes me happy and turns me into a giddy six year old.  Also, the race took place during the late winter, a time of year when the cold weather has typically driven me to the brink of insanity, and I need a temperate climate to revive my spirits.  Lastly, my younger sister had agreed to run it with me--her first half marathon ever, and my second.  She had also agreed to dress up in Disney-Princess-themed garb for the race which, in my opinion, is absolutely essential to any Disney-related running event. 

I dressed as Snow White and Anne-Elyse dressed as Tinkerbell. (she was going to try to be Belle form Beauty and the Beast, but since I was crafting the race-day outfits myself, I was worried she would just look like a girl who really loves the color yellow. A lot.  This was before I discovered sparkle skirts...if only I'd known.)  For my Snow White outfit, I bought a yellow swim-skirt and hot-glued red fringe and red ribbons and bows to it.  Then I bought a royal blue top and put some white fringe around the neckline and a red ribbon in the center.  I was slightly concerned about the fact that I could not train at all in my race-day outfit (I was not going to run around in the snow in my bright yellow and red swim-skirt!) but thinking back, I actually have never run a race in a training outfit---I always seem to end up in something brand-new and untested.  To alleviate anxiety, I made my collar velcro so I could remove it if it started to irritate me. I made Anne-Elyse a bright lime-green glittery tutu out of tulle, and found a bright green tank top for her to run in.  I brought along wings to complete the ensemble, but we thought running with elastic bands under her armpits might be really irritating, so we left them in the suitcase.  She did wear a green and purple tiara and she carried a magic wand all 13.1 miles--impressive! (And, all my fears were unwarranted.  The weather was cool and sunny, so my outfit was as comfortable as it possibly could have been!)

I didn't have much opportunity to train for long runs because the two months before the race, the DC-Metropolitan region was hit with record-breaking snowfall (The "snowpocalypse," as I'm found of calling it).  I remember trying to do a long run outside and having it become a hike/stomp through mounds of snow and mud.  Often I was clinging to a stop sign or a street post to balance myself as I climbed around the snow-covered sidewalks, and I remember thinking that I would be so terribly upset if I twisted my ankle in the snow and mud the weeks before my race and couldn't run. (Thankfully that didn't happen!)

We left DC on Friday morning.  The race wasn't until Sunday, but this gave us a day to relax, pick up our race packet and wander around before the actual race-day.  This turned out to be a great decision, because apparently the expo was packed with people on Saturday.  (Friday it was busy, but far from crowded.)  Even waiting for our plane at the airport had a tremendous sense of occasion. A lot of women were traveling with us who were also running...some of them were even wearing their tiaras on the plane!  It made me so excited for the race.  Check-in at the hotel was the same way.  Lots of women who were so excited to be there!  (It really IS a magical place!)

Expo at Disney's "Wide World of Sports" complex.

Our packets left a lot to be desired.  The expo was great, with lots to look at and shop for (AE & I presumptuously bought some snazzy "I did it!" tee-shirts.) But the packet was skimpy for the price we paid to run the race.  The shirt was champion and either white or baby-blue (shouldn't a princess shirt be hot-pink or something really vibrant?)  Also, the race was sponsored by sharpie, so you'd think they'd give you a sharpie or something....no.  Not much. The thing I thought was really fun was that the race bibs had our names on them "Princess Mary-Michael" and "Princess Anne-Elyse!"  I loved that!  They also were color coordinated to match with your favorite princess--a small but fun and magical touch!

The night before the race, we ate a light and early dinner at the "Earl of Sandwich" in Downtown Disney, then went back to the room to rest up.  As we were getting ready for bed, Snow White (the full-length movie) was actually on TV!  I took this as a sign that race day would be great--princessy and successful!  I put some finishing touches on our outfits, set at least three alarms, and we fell asleep.  We had to be on the bus heading to the start line before 4:30 a.m. (two hours before the start of the race! Ugh....I don't care how much I love Disney, I still did not welcome Mickey Mouse's cheerful voice calling me at 3:30 am to tell me to get out of bed!)  I probably got about eight hours of sleep, but it was not restful peaceful sleep because I was so worried about missing my alarm.  I kept jolting awake thinking I was late....

4am: The line for the bus outside of our hotel.

A small cross-section of the insanely large crowd!

All too soon, it was actually time to get out of bed and ready to race.  I mixed up some delicious instant oatmeal, and my had usual pre-race banana baby food, and we headed out to join the masses (& I mean masses) outside the lobby of our hotel.  The line just to catch the bus was unbelievably long!  Both runners and spectators were filed in line, waiting to head out to Epcot to the start line.  Since the sun hadn't come up yet, it was a nippy thirty-eight degrees outside...my swim skirt and knee socks were not exactly keeping me warm.  When the bus finally arrived at our hotel to take us to the start, it was a relief to take refuge in the heated bus for a while.  (We were laughing at all of our comrades who were clamoring to get of the bus as soon as it parked.  We stayed put and were the last two people off.) We finally emerged from our warm sanctuary and made our way to bag check and the bathrooms.  We had brought some garbage bags to put over ourselves while we waited for the race to start, but those did very little (nothing) to keep out the cold.  Fortunately, the thousands of runners surrounding us provided a bit of body heat....the crowds were enormous.  I really couldn't believe how many runners were there, and how organized it was.  Disney is great at crowd-control if nothing else!  

Dawn at Epcot. CHILLY!!

Snow White! (& one of the very few male runners!)

A few more spirited male runners: Minnie Mouse & Belle

Cinderella - she must have been freezing.

Trash Bags (did nothing to keep us warm)

There were TONS of wonderful costumes and fun tee-shirts too!  Almost everyone running was channeling their inner-princess---even the rare male runners! I was one out of a sea of hundreds of Snow Whites, each with their own take on the wardrobe.  Anne-Elyse  had lots of tutu-ed companions as well.

Go Time!

The race started with tremendous fanfare. Cinderella's fairy godmother was there at the start, and they set off fireworks at the beginning of each wave.  There were so many runners, it took us almost thirty minutes to actually cross the start line.  (We were in the back because it was Anne-Elyse's first race.  Even though she's a better/faster runner than me, if she couldn't prove her time, she was in the back of the pack.)  It was almost daylight by the time we got started.

The first few miles were mostly spent weaving in and around the walkers. (I quickly realized there are a lot of walkers in the Disney races who are not necessarily avid runners, but very avid Disney fans!) We chatted about boys and life, and pretty soon three miles were already under our belts.  Also fortunately, as the sun came up, and we kept pressing along, we started thawing out a bit and the weather became quite pleasant and nice...perfect running weather!

I had my camera at the ready throughout the whole race so I could snap a photo at a moments notice.  The odd and most frustrating thing about this race (and probably all Disney races) is that there are characters along the course, and lots of opportunities to take picture.  For me, it's a constant mental battle between my inner-competitor, who wants a great time, and my inner-Disney Princess, who wants to pause for every photo opportunity.  Anne-Elyse, being slightly less enthralled with the Princesses and also nervous about her first-ever half marathon, was game to keep moving, only stopping here and there for a quick snapshot. We agreed that we would only stop for characters with short lines.  This meant we missed Belle, Cinderella & Pocahontas.  But we still had time to stop with lots of other characters along the way! (I did say my one exception to this rule was if I saw Snow White, but it was not an issue because she didn't show. Boo-hoo.)

Almost tripped on the downhill sidewalk while snapping this.

makeshift bathroom.

Before long, we were making our way through the gates to the Magic Kingdom parking lot, and Space Mountain loomed on the skyline.  We entered the park from "backstage," not through the main entrance, and there were a few porta-potties lined up before we entered the park.  Unfortunately, for two sisters with small bladders, the lines at the porta-pots were exceptionally long.  (It was a predominantly female race, after all.)  Interestingly, about 200 yards from the porta-pots, a small cluster of shameless (or desperate) women, were dashing off into the bushes to relief themselves.  I've never seen this in a race before or since, but AE & I immediately followed suit.  We veered off course and ran into the woods.  There was a small clearing that had become the makeshift restroom.  We took care of business, had a quick laugh about having just urinated in public in the Magic Kingdom, and started running again.

A few minutes later, we were cruising up Main Street with Cinderella's castle in front of us.  I almost wanted to slow down to prolong the view and the feeling I had--it was an exciting moment, and the sun was rising beautifully above the castle.  We paused very briefly for a picture in front of the castle, and kept going.  Running up to and through the castle were by far, the highlights of the race.  I've walked through the castle dozens, if not hundreds, of times but there was something about running through it during the race with the camera man snapping your picture that was extra-exciting.  those brief fleeting moments made the race worth the price of admission (which, if you're at all familiar with Disney races you know, is not cheap.)

Sadly, after we emerged form the castle, we were ushered out of the theme park pretty fast.  The next few miles, seven through nine, were a bit on the quiet side....there was still entertainment along the way (Thank you, Jack Sparrow!....although the line was too long for a picture with him.)

The last mile and a half was heading back into Epcot, doing one quick lap around "FutureWorld"  then crossing the finish line.  As we had been running at the same leaisurely pace for most of the race, I was expecting more of the same....maybe a few extra pictures of the park and the characters in the last mile.  But, Anne-Elyse turned to me as we passed mile-marker 12 and said, "ok, let's just bang this last mile out." She then started sprinting toward the Finish line!  She's a naturally better runner than me, but also I was not in tip-top shape anyway. I was not sure I'd be able to just "bang that last mile out."  But, I was not going to let AE cross the finish line that far ahead of me! I picked up my pace and started running as fast as I could after her. 

Anne-Elyse heading toward the finish!

Ursula (with Blue Body-Paint)

The park was now officially opened for guests, thankfully, because people started cheering for me as I ran past--definitely a pace (& mood) booster!  Some of the keener spectators actually caught my name on my race-bib, but most just yelled "Go Snow White" as I dashed by.  As we ran around the international gateway, I noticed that the Disney characters got more plentiful and closer together (again, an internal dilemma between my competitive runner brain and my disney-addict brain.) However, I could not stop and snap pictures or take much notice, because I was barely keeping up with AE.  Sorry Evil Stepmother--I'll have to see you later.  Peace Out Mickey & Minnie--we will catch up at the character brunch! 

I ended up rolling across the finish line only a few seconds behind Anne-Elyse.  I didn't catch her, but I didn't lose her either...We were awarded our tiara shaped medals, we grabbed as much free fruit and Luna bars as we could stuff into our arms, then we picked up our bags at the check-in and headed to the Contemporary Hotel for an enormous breakfast buffet.  (Our waitress had done the Goofy Challenge!!) We then headed back to our hotel where we lounged/napped in the sun for a few hours before hitting the parks. 

Doing this race--my first "Disney Race" was amazing.  Also, doing it with my sister was a fabulous time. I'm glad I got to run with her during her first half marathon.  I'm currently trying to convince her to do the Goofy Challenge 2012 with me in January.  She's agreed tocome to Walt Disney World, but I'm not sure if she's game for two days of getting up at 3am to go for an extended run.....not to worry, I have 10 months to change her mind!!

Post-Race (& post-nap) Mini-Golf!

I hope everyone who ran this year's princess-race has just as magical an experience as I did! Good luck runners!!

Mary-Michael's South Beach Diet

Yes, bloggies I'm off to sunny warm Miami, FL--where the days (working days) will be long, the nights will be brief (more like a nap between work-functions), and a diet will be hard to stick with!  Nevertheless, I'm going to give it my best shot....here are some of my guidelines for my trip:

1. No more than 1 alcohol unit per day.  A difficult task, considering both lunch and dinner are served with alcohol, and long cocktail hours are hard to manage without a cocktail, but a necessary one because if I have to work 16 hour days and be alert, alcohol is my enemy.

2. No hotel room munchies. (No, going to CVS to buy snacks to keep in my room and munch on late in the evening.)  This is a hard thing for me, because I eat more when I'm sleepy and I also don't register exactly how much I've eaten when I'm at a large party.  I'm talking and mingling and in the meantime, I've done damage to the bread basket, killed a few glasses of wine, and helped myself to several passed cheese puffs. So, the last thing I should do is go back to my hotel and "relax" (pig-out) on twizzler bites and chocolate-covered pretzels late at night. It's a bad habit.

3.  Limit coffee.  I live on coffee and I'm not sure how well I can do this (which is why I didn't restrict myself numerically)  I like coffee with lots of creamer, and often on trips and in hotels, full-fat cream is all you have as an option. Making six cups of coffee a day really add up. I'm going to try and stick to only tea, which I enjoy black/as-is.  But, I might reach day-five of this trip and succumb.  We shall see....

4. Only eat dessert (or really any of the food) if it looks and subsequently tastes REALLY delicious!! so often I'll eat because I'm bored or tired or it's just placed in front of me, forgetting that I don't really like flourless chocolate cake or custard tarts.  This trip I will be more diligent about what I'm eating and stop if I don't care for it.

I am going to try and workout, but right now I'm so exhausted and I haven't event boarded a plane yet, I'm not sure how I can fit that in....though, my attitude may change with a solid night's sleep tonight. We'll see....access to internet might be spotty, but hopefully I'll manage to post a few times while I'm down there!  **Cross your fingers, for both gym-time and blog-time**

PS - Serendipitous that the "Real Housewives of Miami" premieres tonight?? :)

sweetgreen, inconsistentcy is not so sweet

The great thing about working in DC is the plethora of lunch options available, particularly healthy choices.  Within walking distance of my office are, off the top of my head, at least six custom-made salad places, four Subways (the sandwich shop, obviously, not the metro ) and four vegan restaurants.  My ex-favorite place to eat lunch was a custom-made local salad shop called "Sweetgreen."  It not only made delicious salads, but also has a eco-friendly corporate philosophy: They buy local and organic produce and have mostly biodegradable or recyclable materials.  So, not only could I get a delicious meal, but I also could feel like I was leaving a less heavy carbon-footprint behind.  It's very similar to "Chop't" but so far it's only in DC.  And, in my opinion, it might not be headed for much more. 

You see, about a year ago, I went to sweetgreen to order my standard salad, and found that for no obvious reason, they'd stopped carrying olives.  Just like that, olives (probably one of my top-ten favorite foods) was no longer an option for salad patrons who might crave some mid-day salty kalamata deliciousness!  I was distressed.  I was so distressed in fact that I wrote an email, something I rarely bother to do, to be honest.
Nevertheless, I still went to sweetgreen and ordered olive-less salads & salad wraps.  I found I really enjoyed their spinach-tortillas with which they'd make "salad wraps." (I love salad-wraps, because I feel like I'm having a hearty burrito instead of a light salad.)  Then, a few months later, they stopped the spinach tortillas. gasp! They still have regular tortillas, the same kind Chop't uses, but now nothing to differentiate from Chop't. (and, Chop't still has olives.)

Last fall, I tried something new at sweetgreen: their "crispy spicy kale," baked kale with sea salt and spice that adds the salty goodness my olive-less salads had been lacking.  Also, paired with their seasonal butternut squash, it was a great cold-weather salad. This past week, I went to sweetgreen, hoping to get a delicious kale-filled salad, only to find that now, the kale is only sold separately (as a side dish) for an extra $2.50. (ouch....$2.50 for greens? adding shrimp only costs $0.50 more than that!)  Also, you have to buy the entire container, which is a lot of salt and a lot of kale....too much for a salad.  I just want a bit thrown in my salad like the old days.  I was annoyed, because for the THIRD time now, Sweetgreen has taken something I loved away for no reason.

I know that when I go to Chop't and order the Palm Beach Shrimp Salad-Wrap, with olives, I get the same salad every single time.  Nothing different, nothing missing, always the same.  It got me thinking about restaurants in general.  Good food or bad food, consistency is the most important thing.   After all, there's a reason why millions and millions of people go to McDonald's every day.  It's not because their food is amazing, or the ambiance is fantastic.  It's certainly not a healthy or ecologically responsible choice.  No, people go to McDonald's because they know EXACTLY what they're going to get.  McDonald's Inc. practically invented the franchising of restaurants. It's a business that emphasizes consistency and predictability. Customers know precisely what they're going to get regardless of what particular McDonald's restaurant they visit.  The same is true for any successful restaurant, right?  Subway, Starbucks, Chop't...I know that when I go in, I can order exactly what I want and it will be the same regardless of whether I'm in DC or in Seattle or anywhere! I went to a Starbucks in Paris and it was the same menu as the one by my house. (And, they had sweet-&-low, try finding that anywhere else in Europe!)

So, as of right now, I'm fed up with sweetgreen.  They've disappointed a hungry salad-eater for the last time, at least for now, and there's two Chop't locations I can walk to at lunch...and Chop't so far has stayed tried and true for me, and all of my salady cravings.....

The First Ever "No-Pay 10K"

Saturday morning, my running girlfriends and I finally--FINALLY--did our first ever "No Pay 10K!" I'm happy to report that it was a smashing success--even if it was perhaps not a strict ten kilometers.  (The three of us who ran didn't have a garmin or anything, so it was really just a "Run until we feel like stopping."  nonetheless, I think we went at least 5K...probably more.  The idea was born back in December, after the "Jingle-all-the-way 10K."  That race cost, I think about thirty or forty dollars and the girls I run with and I decided that we should meet regularly for a DIY-race (for free).  Basically it's just an excuse to get together and run, but it's more fun if we call it a "race." :)



Where's Waldo? (Spring 2010)

I usually run races with these three other girls about 3 or 5 times a year, but we all live far away and all have different/hectic schedules, so we don't get to see each other very often outside of these races.  We typically pick an outfit theme for our foursome so we can all match and run together. (for the JATW 10K, we were reindeer and last spring, we were "Where's Waldo?".)  So, we've been trying to convene for our No-Pay 10K since January, and finally did it this weekend.  We met in Baltimore for this first one, because the girl who lives up there had traveled the furthest (my house) last time we got together.  Also, we were going to try to hook-up with a running group that was meeting at the same time and place.  Unfortunately, although we saw lots of runners out and about, no one seemed to be in any sort of formed group, or waiting around for one either.  Maybe everyone felt the hurricane-force winds and decided to stay inside?  Hmmm...
So, it was just us--three out of our foursome--running around Baltimore, in Patterson Park and along the water--beautiful and sunny!  Also, very very windy! We were running against the wind for long stretches and at one point, a mound of sand/dirt from a construction site was blown straight into our face. (painful!)
Other than that, it was a fun run, and a great excuse to get together to chat and catch up. 

Also, I got to test out my new running shoes, and they felt amazing!  I bought two new pairs of running shoes, some Nike's at the official running store that feel like they are made for my feet, and some Brooks online, because they were cute, purple, and on-super-sale.  I tried the Brooks on Saturday for our No-Pay 10K, and I tried the Nikes on Sunday, on the treadmill.  Both, I'm happy to report, are amazing!--Very comfortable and supportive! I'm so excited to have new shoes!!

This was also my first run since my foot-sprain has healed.  It felt great....I didn't feel out of shape or struggling at all. Phew! I'd been worried about that, since I honestly haven't run in almost three weeks.  But, it was not bad at all, and I'm so happy to be getting moving more again. Hopefully I can squeeze in a few runs in Miami this week....Keep your fingers crossed.

The Most Important Pre-Race Decision

Ok team, the National Marathon in DC is a mere five weeks away!  Am I ready?  Training-wise, I hope to be....I was on-track until my stupid, ill-timed foot sprain kept me from running for the past THREE weeks. (UGH....Fortunately, my ten-day doctor-imposed running sabbatical is over TODAY! Yay! And I plan on going to a nice lengthy run-in-the-sun tomorrow morning to celebrate and enjoy this Spring-sneak-preview!)  But, equally as important as proper training is preparing my race-day ensemble....What do I wear on Race Day??

What says Rock & Roll + Chicago??

I love this part of race prep!  I like to theme my running outfit to the theme or location of the race.  For instance, I made a snazzy Blues Brothers shirt for my Chicago Rock-and Roll Half, and I wore an awesome Baltimore Orioles shirt (with the local brewery logo, Natty Boh) for the Baltimore Full. I think that's one of the (many) reasons I love Disney-Races so much: there's the opportunity to don your most flashy and ludicrous running attire and channel your inner princess.


 
So, for the National I'm not sure what to wear quite yet, but I want to to represent DC.  I can't wear any Redskins gear or Nat's gear, since I'm a tried and true Balti-moron (Ravens and Orioles, through and through.) And, I don't think I want anything too political....or touristy.

So, right now, I have three or four choices:

1.) My first choice is my "Riverside Stadium" tee-shirt from Vintage Roadside. 

Vintage Roadside is a organization (company?)  that captures logos, graphics and "mom-and-pop" memorabilia from the 1930s through the early 1960s and puts it on t-shirts.  They only use logos of places that no longer operate.  The Riverside Stadium was a skating rink and stadium in the Foggy Bottom area of DC (where the Kennedy Center now stands).  To read the full-story about the history of the skating rink, please click here.  I own the extremely awesome girl-version of this shirt in maroon, and I think wearing it in the marathon would be a fun way to pay homage to a bygone era and a attraction of DC that's sadly no longer with us--especially paired with a snazzy pair of matching knee-socks!

PROS: I already own this (free!), I love the story, and it's DC but subtle DC (re: not an FBI or CIA sweatshirt.

CONS: It's a little fitted under the arms because it's a girl-shirt (& obviously not meant for running a 26.2 mile jaunt around the city.) Note: I think some weight-loss (I have a month) and an long-sleeve undershirt might remedy this.


2.) My next couple choices are tied for 2nd place (a distant 2nd in my head.):

  a.) A Washington Bullets shirt (the old basketball team, before they changed their name to the "Washington Wizards."  After much browsing, I'm liking this one:

PROS: Vintage DC. Subtle. Red, white and blue.

CONS: I don't own it (costs $$) The coolest looking one is a Men's size (the women's version is white)












b.) A Washington Senators Shirt.  The Senators were the old baseball team in DC, long before the Nationals.  For this shirt, I did lots of shopping and didn't like any of the faux-vintage shirts people had made for the Senators.  (The 1940's logo has a cigar-smoking pitcher....why would you change that?!)  So I'd have to make one myself--either with iron-ons, or a website like zazzle.com.  That's fine, but it requires so much more time and effort than a shirt that's already made. (Major Con.)  Here are the two logos I was thinking about:

PROS: Very cool looking logos!(Cigar Smoking Pitcher? Playing Baseball in front of the Capitol? People still do that, so I like that one too!)

CONS:  I would have to create this shirt myself...not impossible, and I've done it before, but generally that means extra time (& money.) 


 3.) This is probably my least exciting idea, but it would be easy to create: A DC flag shirt.  For those of you that don't live here, the DC flag is 3 red stars over 2 red bars on a white background.  It's based on George Washington's family's coat of arms, dating back to the twelfth century. 

PROS: Very cool, and super-easy to make on a comfortable shirt.  (Also, super-easy to make with excess glitter, which is always a plus!)

 CONS:  Probably the most boring of all of my choices.  And, I'd still have to devote time/effort/cash to craftiness (not necessarily a bad thing though.)

So, those are my choices.  Now, what should I wear?  Is anyone else running this race and thinking of dressing up?  Do you like theming your race-outfit to your race?

The Ugly Truth

I recently read (on someone's blog, I can't find or remember right now) that one big appeal of the online-social community, including the blogging world, is the ability to self-edit.  Online, one is able to portray themselves however they would like: skinny, fat, man, woman, happy, sad, young, old, it's a wide open world-wide-web.  I understand the appeal of this luxury because that's why I started writing my original blog.  I wanted to write about my life experiences, including friends, dates, work, family, etc. without having to attach my name to it.  I wanted to do it anonymously.  This for me was easier said than done.  I found it very difficult to tell stories or talk about situations out on context, and I found the notion of trying to anonymously tackle a topic as broad as "everyday life" was almost impossible.  Who is this character, talking about her job and her dating life?? And why would I care about her?  what does she have in common with me?

I know some people who do this, and they do it very well.  They have an online persona that's very engaging and relate-able, without divulging any specifics about themselves; almost like having an alter-ego or writing as a fictional character. But I believe they must be better writers and communicators than me.  I like using my real name and I like having a specific and more focused subject-matter (fitness/health as opposed to "my life") within which I can frame my blog posts, stories and thoughts.  Yes, some of them are tangential, but that's the main topic.

The blogger who was discussing this, noted that writers could let you into their lives only where they wanted to lead you, and keep you away from parts of themselves they disliked or wanted to keep private.  Regaridng that, she mentioned that [obviously] no woman in her right mind would include their weight on their blog (aside from the gain 3lbs/lost 5lbs type references.)  Hmmmm....oops.  I think my weight in my profile.  A blogging faux pas?  Maybe, but it's honest and it's real and that's what I'm trying to write about.  The last time I weighed myself (Mon or Tues) I was 148 pounds. Gasp! I said it!--although I'm blaming that number on a very salty meal the night before, a particularly bad bout of PMS (or pregnancy) and the fact that I hadn't been able to go to the bathroom in three days (because of aforementioned PMS.)  There's some information you probably did not need to read on my blog! ;)   But there it is.  It happens and it effects my weight, my mood and consequentially, my blog.  

My point is that I want my blog to be real, and to be able to use it as a forum to talk about what's really happening.  I don't want to discuss my personal life in too much detail, because obviously if you're reading this blog, the subject is about fitness and health and wellness and weight loss.  You readers wouldn't/shouldn't venture to my small corner of the blog world to be bombarded with my job-woes, commuting complaints, and romantic follies.  There are other places to find that.  But, even though my mundane life is not the primary topic, real-life-stuff happens all the time that's unexpected or upsetting or bizarre and it effects my diet, exercise and weight-loss.  I'm positive I'm not the only girl to whom these things occur, and I should discuss it because these events must happen to a lot of people.  Events that lead a girl to swerve her car Cruella-DeVil-style into the Giant parking lot so she can pick up an emergency stash of M&M's--a 1 lb bag that will probably be half gone before she even gets to her front door. 

The post that I wrote yesterday was heavily edited.  It wasn't 100% honest.  I wanted to write something, and I wrote that....and I'm not happy with it.  I just wanted something to appear on my blog.  I think the subject matter is still valid, but I need to go more in depth.  Yes, I did go to happy hour with my girlfriend, and no, I was not enthused in the least about it.  I was exhausted from staying up late the night before and then having to be at work early for a morning meeting with the VIPs.  I missed my morning workout, and I wanted to go to the gym and do abs and spin then swing by the library, then be home and in bed early.  (I did weigh in at a personally hefty 148, after all.)  I only went to happy hour because I felt obligated and guilty for skipping out on Valentine's Dinner.  It was nice to see my good friend and catch up, but I know I wasn't the best of companions that evening.  Also, I spent calories and money I would have preferred to conserve.

I was proud that I had the middle eastern platter and not the shrimp mac and cheese, but at the same time, if I want hummus, I can buy a tub of it for $4 at the grocery store.  I don't need to order it at a restaurant....esp a restaurant that serves something as perfectly delicious and heavenly as the shrimp M&C. I probably, in all honesty, would have ordered some M&C were it not that I was tense and my stomach was tied in knots.

Also, I did get an email from my boss on my blackberry.  A few weeks ago, I told my boss that I'm very interested in a position we have open in my department.  He has been nothing but polite about my interest--polite, but not enthusiastic.  I think he already has several candidates in mind that he loves and will likely choose, and I don't think I'm in that pool.  It's making me feel insecure and slightly excluded at work. I know I will have the opportunity to present my case sooner or later, but the waiting and uncertainty is making me very insecure, and this current crisis of confidence has me in a tense and edgy state of mind.  More on edge than my "naturally nervous" personality is anyway. 

Because of this uncertain status as my current job, I have begun, somewhat frantically applying for jobs elsewhere--anywhere in my field.  I know this from previous experience, and I am being reminded now that job-hunting is difficult and discouraging.  I keep filling out applications, writing and re-writing cover letters and agonizing over the correct nouns and verbs to include in my resume to make my employment history sound as impressive as possible.  You send them out into the ether, waiting and hoping for a response and are greeted with silence.  Silence is often worse than outright rejection.  At least then, you have an answer--a definite yes or no, and you can move forward form there.  Silence is agonizing. I don't even know if anyone's read it, or saw it, or who did, or when they might look at it....

To top things off, on the way home, I instigated a discussion with this boy I have been talking to a lot recently and it didn't end well.  Discussion is a poor term though, since it was more me expressing myself and not getting any response.   Again silence.  I've been mentally preparing a conversation with him, in which I tell him how much I care for him and bravely say that I need to know how he feels about me, because I don't want to continue in this casual way anymore.  I haven't had the courage (or any uninterrupted time) to hold this conversation in person, but I've had the talking points composed in my head for a long long time.  Last night he said something that implied he didn't feel the same way. That implied everything I'd been afraid and insecure about for these past few months, everything that's held me back from saying what I have really wanted to say.  I was up late and edgy not only because of the job and my boss, but also because I was finally committing my thoughts and feelings to paper (keyboard) regarding this guy.  I wrote everything down that I felt, put it in an email and hit send, come what may.  Edgy and sleep deprived is an understatement.  Weeping in the candy aisle of the grocery store would be more accurate representation, but again my hormones are having quite the flight of fancy this month. 

The most frustrating thing about all of these occurrences is, I realize, the exact same in all situations: No response.  No conversation. Nothing concrete.  I am waiting for my boss to tell me one way or another about the job--all the while he's having whispered conversations in the next office over, and gleefully interviewing his top candidates on the phone.  My resumes to other positions all go out, get submitted, and
sit....never even read, for all I know.  My sparkling, charming witty cover letters never glanced over.  And, most depressingly, the boy I emailed hasn't spoken to me or contacted me since.  I don't know if he's even read what I sent or anything about what he thinks. Though I hate to think it, in a way, no response is a response sometimes.  Apathy.  Someone has to care to draft a reply. Even care enough to say "No."  But it's just silence...


That's the main reason I was so sleep deprived.  That's the main reason I felt so emotional I wanted to shove M&Ms in my mouth until my teeth rotted.  That's what I should have written about in my last blog post, but wasn't brave enough to write.  Maybe it's too much information.  Maybe that shouldn't be included here.  It certainly doesn't have much to do with running or anything fun that I'd rather talk about.  But sometimes life sucks...in a caloric, sugar-laden, mascara dripping, hormonal kind of way.  and it affects your fitness and diet goals. It affects everything.  If life was a calm placid sea of happiness with perfect schedules, ideal jobs, peaceful roommates, no hangovers, understanding boyfriends, perfect weather and convenient gyms, weight loss wouldn't be half as hard as it is.  That's why it IS super-hard. That's why people read blogs, to help commiserate or to get advice.  That why I'm adding this follow-up to my post yesterday.

Sleep Deprivation - 1, Mary-Michael - 0

It's a generally acknowledged concept that lack of sleep leads to appetite stimulation, which then leads (possibly) to weight gain.  I'm not a scientist and I haven't studied this at all but it makes a lot of sense. The more hours a day you spend awake, the more energy you need, so you naturally want to eat more.  Also, the less sleep you get, the less able you are to deal with stress and situations beyond your control, which might prompt certain personality types (re: mine) to reach for the peanut butter M&M's or the melted cheese dip.

Furthermore, if you are not sleeping enough hours, it seems a million times more difficult to rouse yourself out of bed for a morning workout, let alone rouse yourself up to make a healthy breakfast or get ready for work.  This is precisely what happened to me last night/this morning.  And, what's worse is that it happened immediately after I'd been applauding my very diligent efforts at Happy Hour. 

I should probably have skipped Happy Hour because it had been a long and trying day at work and I was already feeling exhausted.  But, I had cancelled on my girlfriend for Valentine's Day. so I felt a bit obligated, thus my Jenny-Craig-following friend and I met for a few drinks after work.  I was dietarily well behaved and not only limited myself to a mere two glasses of wine, but also I did NOT order the delicious shrimp-macaroni-and-cheese that's half price during Happy Hour and tastes like dairy-perfection.  Skipping this in favor of the Mediterranean platter (olives, hummus and baba ganoush) was nothing short of a miracle. (I mean, hummus is good, but it's just not the same.)

Sadly, my victorious mood was not to last, thanks to that cursed modern device known as a blackberry (re: a convenient way to feel anxious and stressed about work when it's after 5pm and you're doing something in no way work-related.)  I received an evening-email from my boss that was quite discouraging.  Instead of putting it aside and worrying about it today, after a good night's sleep, I got worked up about it, more so than necessary because I was tired and cranky.  On my way home, the more I let my thoughts swirl around in my mind, the more distraught I became.  So, after such a winning happy hour, I stopped at the grocery store for Peanut Butter M&M's and twizzler bites. Whoops....

To make matters worse, I stayed up late being edgy, contemplating my future as a human being, and playing brick-breaker to numb my mind, so I started today even more tired than before.  Not surprisingly I woke up too late for my last bootcamp.  I'm very disappointed I missed it.  I could have gotten up and worked out in my bedroom, but I  made the executive decision to roll over for 45 minutes of extra zzzzz's.

Hopefully tonight I can get myself to bed at a decent hour and finish the week in a more refreshed state! I have my first long run (well, first run at all) since the foot sprain, so I need all my reserves to get through it.

 

The Buddy System?

This past Sunday my younger brother (who is also my current roommate) ran his first ever running race. (Or, race of any kind, most likely.)  He ran a 5K with his girlfriend called "Love the Run You're With." (clever. and cute shirts too. I would run it for the shirt.)  He did it in under thirty minutes, which is impressive. Maybe slightly less so when you consider he's 6'3" and his gangly legs reach up to my elbows, but nonetheless, it's still a great time! And finishing your first race--any race--is a feat in itself.  It takes courage to even sign up for a race, let alone, train, get up early and then actually run one. 

I'm impressed and proud, especially considering that this is the same boy who, less than six months ago, told me famously that he "would only run if someone was chasing him."   He mocked me, and all the running world, who would be foolish enough to actually pay money to get up early and run, when I could much more easily sleep in, get up whenever I wanted and run for free.  He also remarked once, after I mentioned that I was at the gym with a couple who was working out together, and that I thought it was normal--fun even--to work out with your significant other, that, "If a girl ever wanted me to work out with her, I'd dump her."  Of course, that was before he'd met the young lady he's seeing now.  His mind has obviously been changed.  All of the sudden there was whole grain pasta and low-fat soups in our cupboards, Special K protein shakes in our refrigerator, none of which belonged to me.  My brother doesn't have any problem with weight gain, but he has had the typical mid-20's guy problem; when all of the sudden a case of Bud Light and 2 large extra cheese pizza does more damage than it used to.

He started "training" for this race about two months ago, about the time I  started training for the Full Marathon, before my foot laid me up for almost a month. (Almost healed, by the way!)  He would either run on the treadmill, or he and his girlfriend would go running....sort of.  Brian wasn't quite ready to display his running publicly.  So he and his gf would wake up, get dressed, then head outside and run in opposite directions--away from each other.  That way, he wouldn't feel self-conscious but they could still both train for the race. 

This got me thinking about how individualized training and working out actually is.  Almost every fitness guru gives the advice that you should find a workout-partner or a buddy to do stuff with.  I do agree with this, because I think when you hold yourself accountable to someone else, you're more likely to follow through. (For instance, no one is effected except myself if I skip the gym this evening in favor of an impromptu happy hour, except me and my liver, so I'll probably go to happy hour. It seems I've left my willpower at home this morning.)  But I also think everyone has their own path to optimal fitness and health, and sometimes it's a solitary one.  What works for one person will not work for everyone, and it may not work for your best friend.  When I first started running and working out regularly, I ran on the treadmill in my parents basement.  Idid not tell anyone, because I thought they'd make fun of me or discourage me. (I didn't have any friends at the time who were very physically active.)  It really didn't matter how sunny or nice it was outside, I was all-treadmill all the time.  I also worked out in my bedroom doing weights (actually doing the same workout DVD I still use now.)  I didn't go to a gym or run outside.  I was afraid of looking foolish or ridiculous, mainly.  But I also enjoyed the private-ness of my workouts.  My fitness regimen was very solitary and I liked it that way.  I could stop whenever I wanted to get water or to stretch, I could lip sync (or sing) along with my ipod, and I could complete a quick but solid 40 minute workout before dinner.  I liked it so much that when I moved out and could afford it, I eventually bought my own treadmill.

I only joined a gym finally many years later, solely in an effort to be more social.  A few of my colleagues encouraged me to join the gym by my office and I figured it was a healthier, better way to get to spend time with them besides sitting for hours and hours at Happy Hour, pouring wine down my throat and stuffing half-priced appetizers into my mouth.  It worked out fabulously for a while!  Though only one of my card-carrying-gym-member-colleagues actually went with any regularity, she was committed.  Every week, usually 2 or 3 times a week,  we would head to BodyPump and Zumba or Spinning.  We became very close friends because we talked so often outside of the office.  Without her encouragement and attendance, I probably never would have started going to spinning, let alone stay for two classes in a row!  Unfortunately, once she left her job, she also quit my gym, ending my brief stint as a co-worker-outer. Since then, I've tried to encourage other friends and/or co-workers to join (and attend) the gym with me, but it's surprisingly harder than you would think....maybe the majority of people are solitary with their fitness.

One of my very best friends recently joined her local running group in order to motivate herself.  While I like the idea of a group of people who share my interest, I really still often like to run alone.  I would be game for a once-a-month group run, or something similar, but on a frequent and regular basis, I like to sort out my thoughts while I listen to my favorite running songs.  I like to decompress from my day in the evening or get geared up for my day in the morning. Sometimes, especially on longer runs, I like to chat away as I go along, but most days, it's a mental break that the workout is providing.

Tonight, I wish I had a gym buddy waiting for me....because I am heading to Happy Hour at a bar with "delicious" $2.50 wine and half-priced shrimp macaroni and cheese......

Valentine's Day is the best for single girls!!

A few weeks ago, a girlfriend of mine invited me and several other single ladies out for Valentine's Day dinner downtown.  Some fancy restaurant was hosting an "Anti-Valentine's Day" dinner that included a 3 or 4-course meal for $40.  I was less than enthused about this invitation for two big reasons:  1.) The menu didn't look like my cup of tea, and, if I'm spending a lot of money on a fancy meal, or any meal for that matter, I get a bit particular about what I'm being served. And 2.) The last thing I think I would enjoy doing on Valentine's Day is sitting around drinking (and commiserating about past romantic decisions) with the same ladies I drink with at least every other week anyway.  Not that I don't adore these gals or enjoy their company, and I readily admit that this type of romantic holiday can be difficult and trying for even the most contented singleton.  But this year, I would prefer to take advantage of my single-lady status on Valentine's Day and do something completely positive and self-indulgent.

When viewed from a certain perspective, single ladies are actually quite lucky to be spending Valentine's Day without a partner.  For one thing, we have no need to worry about twisting our ankles or ruining our knees from having to jam our feet into sexy high heels to go out to a fancy dinner!  Can't risk [yet another] injury this close to the spring racing season!  For another, we are not clogging up our arteries with unhealthy saturated fats from a delicious rare buttery steak from BLT or Ruth's Chris.  (especially BLT with their amazing and fat-laden popovers.)  Think of all of the calories we're saving, simply by not having to endure this large holiday meal, not to mention boxes of chocolates we would have been sure to have indulged in!  Phew...we have avoided diet disaster, simply by not dating anyone on this tricky holiday.

Instead of wallowing in self-pity, fearing you will be alone forever, why not head to the gym and start (or continue) working on a body that will turn some heads! (Or, if you must, feel free to wallow and listen to lonely-sad-gal tunes as you zip along on the treadmill, melting those calories away.)   It is  "Heart Day"--and it's STILL Ab-Month--and what better way to celebrate than with some cardiovascular fitness? Besides, presumably you will not be working out between the sheets.  Nor will you be burdened with the heavy weight of new jewelry or expensive gemstones, so you will not doubt need to squeeze in some other form of strength training.  Besides, as one hopeless romantic once wrote, "It helps to be in good shape, so you can chase after guys when they runaway from you."  How is that for motivation?  Doesn't that truly capture the real meaning of Valentine's Day? 

In all seriousness, since Cupid's arrow seems to have missed again this year, I really do want to go to spin class on Valentine's Day.  And possibly BodyPump class as well, if time permits. It's a Monday and I'd like to start the week off right (re: not hungover/tired/bloated/etc.)  I have eight days until I leave for Miami and I want to get in a few extra workouts before I leave.  After the gym, I plan to stop by my local sushi restaurant on my way home, order carry-out of my favorite rolls, then have an in-my-condo-picnic-for-one in front of one of my favorite girly movies--either Casablanca or It Happened One Night, I haven't decided yet.  I plan on delighting in the fact that I can watch girly movies (or my DVR full of "My Fair Wedding") without having to worry about annoying (or terrifying) my significant other with my choices.  I also will revel in the fact that I do not have to share any of my meal with a hungry boy. (I'm not the best at sharing sushi and I hate when boys think they get 4 out of 6 pieces of sushi and I'm content with just two.) I'm really looking forward to my healthy(ish) plan.


Maybe next year I will have a Valentine and be subjected to melt-in-my-mouth steak dinner.  Maybe next year, I'll more money and be able to be in New Orleans for the Rock and Roll Mardi Gras Marathon, which I was not able to afford this year. Maybe next year Valentine's Day & Superbowl Sunday will be on the same weekend. (It might happen if the labor talks aren't resolved in a timely fashion...wouldn't that make for a number of either overbooked or disgruntled couples? hmmm....) Who knows?  This year, I'll be content to start my week off healthy and relaxed, with a positive outlook and love for the world.

***By the by, my plank this weekend was over 2 minutes: 2:03:63. Just barely over two minutes, but over! Happy Ab Month!!

Race Recap: High Cloud Snapple Half Marathon

held upright with a tree branch.

On Saturday morning, January 29th, I could have easily (& happily) turned my alarm off, rolled over and fallen back asleep.  This was, I realized, the first race I had ever prepared for both alone and at home.  Every other race I’d done I have either stayed with a friend or at a hotel (also with someone there) or I’ve had my cohorts stay with me.  So there has previously always been a great sense of fanfare in races.  There was a feeling that a big event was about to commence and we had to prepare…it felt exciting!  This morning I did not feel that way.  My good girlfriend Cassie was running as well, but she was carpooling there with a group of runners that all live closer to Baltimore.  This race was maybe 15 minutes from my house and, as I made coffee and got ready in the dark, I felt like I was heading to work than to a physically taxing race through the snow and ice. 

The night before the race, all participants received an email from the race organizer.  The subject line stated in all-caps: “VERY CHALLENGING COURSE!”  It read:

Given the conditions, each runner is asked to carefully consider their own situation and act responsibility.  The towpath is covered with 4 to 6 inches of snow, ice and slush.  It is slippery and wet.  Temperatures will be below freezing at the start of the race and are only forecasted to reach a high in the forties all day.  Our timer ran the entire course this afternoon and it was very challenging.  At the start the hard freeze tonight will make the course slippery but you may be able to run on top of the snow.  Once the temperatures rise the snow will become soft and more challenging.  Watch for the slush bogs especially on the lower part of the course from milepost 6 to the turn around.  There are a few down tree limbs but you can maneuver around them.  BE CAREFUL, if you are not accustomed to this type of course be careful not to turn your ankles in the ruts.  If you like a challenge, come on out.  The course is not for the faint hearted.  Hats, gloves, thermal shirts, and leggings will keep you warm.  Bring dry clothing for after the race.

Sufficiently sparkling and ready to run!

With an ominous warning like this one, I was not at all looking forward to this race.  I actually was very worried I wouldn’t finish it.  But there was a medal and a free tee shirt waiting for me so, dutifully I layered on my winter running wear, stocked my fanny-pack with GU and chapstick, and headed out to the park. 

Despite the warning, there were actually a lot of runners who came to race.  Just under 300 participants finished.  Once I arrived, I stayed sitting in my heated car for as long as I could before I had to finally and reluctantly get out and find Cassie.  Her running group carpool had gotten there earlier than me, and had kindly picked up my race packet.  I introduced myself to this very friendly fun group, pinned my bib on, fastened my clip to my shoe and got in line at the porta-pot for one last pit stop before race time. 



The Start Line

The two ladies in front of me at the bathroom had both run this race last year and were reminiscing about how it had begun on the eve of the Snowpocalypse, the infamous blizzard that completely shut down DC last year.  Apparently, it was so cold that their eyelashes froze and they had to poke through their water with their fingers because the top had frozen over.  (I was hoping that would not be the case today!)  The two men behind me were fretting and worried that they’d miss the start waiting in line at the porta-pot.  I was surprised they were so concerned.  There were only 3 people in front of them with a solid 10 minutes until the start.  In some of the larger races I’ve done, the first waves have already set off while people are still waiting in seemingly never-ending bathroom lines.  Besides, the chip-timing won’t actually start until you cross the start line, so even if you start ten minutes after everyone else, you can still have an accurate time. No need to be nervous gents!

Walking to the start line was quite possibly the most dangerous part of the day, as the whole parking lot and walkway was covered in black ice and more than one of us lost our balance.  We all stood at the start for the singing of The Star-Spangled Banner (sung correctly, I might add!) then we were off.  Right away, I realized this was not going to be an ordinary or an easy race.  The course, as we were forewarned, was either ice (both smooth sheets and craggy) hard snow, soft snow or slush.  All hard to run in/on, but also, since I never knew what to expect, I had to constantly keep our eyes on the ground.  It’s a beautiful course along the C&O canal.  The canal was frozen and the entire scene was quite picturesque.  But, it was nerve racking to look around without walking or completely stopping (which I ended up doing a few times to take pictures, once it became VERY apparent that there was no chance of getting a PR here.) Cassie and I chatted and caught up on our lives, as we usually do as we run, but the miles seemed to inch by at a glacier-like pace. 

Cassie & I trudging along...

I had put some Christmas carols on my ipod for the run, in the hope that the Christmas music would make me appreciate the snowy scene.  But, we ended up talking through almost the entire race, so I didn’t even use my pod at all.  Also, because the ground was so unpredictable and the course was very narrow, it was reassuring not to wear one, so I could hear the sounds of the people around me.  And, the few crazy spectators and volunteers that braved the cold and snow were so excited and supportive.  I got a real boost from hearing all of them cheer!

 

We had to run 6.6 miles down the trail and then turn around and come back.  About 4 miles in, we started seeing the fast and talented runners on their way back and I got hopeful, thinking we were almost at the turnaround…but we still had 2.6 hard grueling miles to go and it felt like it would never end.

We finally—FINALLY—made it to the halfway point, ran around a cone, and then began the long trek back to the finish line.  For some reason, the last half seemed to go by a little faster. Not much, but it was nice to know I was over halfway done and that gave me some motivation.  Also, because it was later in the morning, more casual park-goers were appearing on the route.  They gave me something to look at and sometimes someone to talk to/about.  There was one guy pulling a kayak up the trail.  I joked that he should use the kayak to carry me to the finish.  He didn’t think it was funny...but then again I was probably the 50th runner who made that comment to him.  We also saw a foolish man walking out onto the canal on top of what I have to assume was not sturdy ice.  I kept my eye on him for a while, worried he might fall in, and wondering what we as runners should do if we all witnessed this situation and had to somehow stop our race for a rescue mission.  Fortunately, nothing dramatic happened, but this notion occupied my mind for quite some time.

At times it felt as if I was the only runner (or just dead last!)

I tried to have some GU around mile 7 and it was VERY solid.  It was one big mass in my mouth, which sounds a little gross but it was okay, just took longer to dissolve and swallow.  At least we didn’t have to poke through ice to get a drink of water.  (above 32 degrees, but not by much!) A hot cocoa stop would have been heaven!  One group was handing out peanut-butter filled pretzels, which were a perfect treat.

Towards the end of the race, around mile ten, I did exactly what the race directors had warned us about in the ominous email: I twisted my ankle by landing wrong on an ice rut.  I was growing tired—both physically and tired of concentrating so intently on the terrain—and I could tell that my feet were landing harder than they were at the beginning of the race.  I came down hard and crooked and a stabbing pain went through my left foot.  I wiggled it and it seemed fine, so I kept running.  It hurt as I ran, but it is just one of those race-day things you just deal with and try not to focus on.  (The doctor said later, that it was a good sign I could run on it.  If I weren’t able to put that pressure on it, it would have been a sign that my injury was more severe.)  Instead of slowing down, I picked up the pace, anxious for this race to finally end and ready to sit down to a hearty brunch.

Finally finished! Hooray!!



At last I crossed the finish line—2 hours and 43 minutes after I had started—by far the slowest half marathon I have ever run.  But, I think it’s also one of the races I am most proud of completing. It wasn’t expensive or far away and it would have been easy for me to skip it.  And, when I started the race, I honestly did not think I would or could finish it given the harsh surfaces.  It was one of those empowering achievements that you look back on and have a hard time believing you actually accomplished it.  Other than my annoying foot injury, it was a great race! 

Everyone was in high spirits afterwards.  I think everyone was equally impressed with themselves as I was, and also ecstatic that the race had ended!  I tagged along with Cassie’s running group to a nearby restaurant for brunch.  As we convened in the parking lot, a few people pulled off their shoes, revealing quarter-sized blisters on their feet from where their socks had gotten wet.  I thought they were all very hardcore to keep going with those monsters on their feet. (ick.) Fortunately, my socks were the super-thick wintery kind, so I was blister-free, even though I did hit a few slush bogs along the way! 

Gross, but I had to include it. So tough!

We had a great meal, except the restaurant turned out to be very sophisticated and fancy.   We charged in--a large, underdressed, rowdy, sweaty, smelly group of nine expecting to get out drink on—and were greeted with white tablecloths, tuxedoed waiters and a place setting that involved excessive utensils.  It was quite a funny picture.  I asked the matrie d, half jokingly, where they usually sit the riff-raff, and he pointed me towards the bar without skipping a beat. Har. Har. 

This is the first time I’ve ever hung out with a group of people solely because we all like to run, and it was a really fun experience.  Everyone was so friendly and nice! I wish I could run with them more often, but the majority of them all live at least an hour or more north of D.C. (too far for a weeknight.)

Lastly, Cassie and I exchanged our overdue Christmas presents.  And—wouldn’t you know it—we got each other VERY similar things!  (Great minds think alike!)  Check out our awesome taste:

Cassie gave me this lovely necklace:

And I gave her this lovely necklace from a fantastic Etsy.com store called “Jessica’s Gifts.” Jessica has some great jewelry and fun charms for runners. I highly recommend her site!

If I can afford to, I would really like to run the ING Miami Marathon or Half Marathon next January, but if I were in town, I would do the High Cloud again.

Cassie also wrote a report on this race on her adorable blog!

Race Pros:

Inexpensive

Well-organized

Convenient location

Good time of year of you’re training for a spring marathon

Race Cons:

Course is pretty, but it’s 13.1 miles of the same thing, which can get a little boring.

Swag is minimal & the medal is not high quality, but the entry fee is cheap and most of the money goes to supporting the High Could organization.