So I figured out how to import these entries into the free WordPress site, and I’ve relocated my blog there. Please update your bookmarks to reflect my new home: http://sprintingarounddc.wordpress.com/.
Yeah, my blog is neglected. I’ve been thinking about it. A lot. Just don’t have time to blog lately. Bad, bad blogger!
That said, I am probably going to be relocating this little beauty to a new location. When I purchased a domain name I had these grand visions of developing this kick-ass website, but that hasn’t materialized. And with all the wonderful free blogging sites out there, it seems quite silly to be paying good money for a domain name that hosts only this blog.
First I have to figure out how to import the posts from here into my new blog, and then I’ll most likely be migrating over there. Stay tuned for more!
It’s been quite a while since I’ve blogged, I know. I don’t have a good excuse so I won’t make up a bad one.
This season has been going very well, I’ve found a few wonderful ladies to run with and we’ve been keeping to a steady pace, not overtraining like I’m known to do.
Right now I’m in Virginia Beach, sitting on my friend Shari’s couch relaxing. I headed down a few days early to get together with some friends. Spent last night at Shari’s house and we’re hanging out today until Caitlin gets out of work. Then I’ll head over to her place and we’ll go to the Expo. Tomorrow evening we have the TNT Pasta Party. Or Inspiration Dinner, whatever they are calling it this year.
I’m really looking forward to Sunday’s race. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather–NOT TOO HUMID!!! I’m not expecting to set any records, Erin and I are going to meet up at the start line and just have fun. She’s a TNT Mentor too but she’s doing this race on her own. And yes, I remembered two socks this time, unlike Shamrock…
Until after the race… ciao!
The season is in full swing and it’s going very well so far. Training has been a lot of fun, I’ve found a great running buddy (Erin, our Mission Captain) and we’re working on our pacing with the goal of finishing the Marine Corps Marathon in 5 hours 30 minutes or less. She’s really good at keeping me to a slower pace when we’re together, when I run on my own I have a tendency to go too fast and then I wear myself out after only a few miles. I need to work on that.
This morning we had our Team In Training Fall 2009 Kick-Off in Bethesda. It was an awesome time, and I’ve found that as I meet more and more TNT people who come back season after season, it’s really wonderful to see them walk into the room at a TNT event. I spent a good 25 minutes running around hugging and saying hello to past teammates and it really energized and inspired me for this upcoming season! There’s something special about people who all share the same devotion to a cause, and then when you throw in training for and completing an endurance event (something that not even 1% of people will ever attempt), well it doesn’t matter how you’re different, that bond will exist forever.
I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth since the Shamrock Marathon. I completed the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon in Fredericksburg, VA this morning. It rained almost the entire time, at times REALLY hard, but it was a great time. I didn’t train nearly as much as I should have, and there were a LOT of hills, so my time wasn’t great but I was under 3 hours and there were more than 1100 people behind me (out of 5100) so I’m very happy. I got my medal and my finisher’s coin. 
Here’s the link to my official race pictures! I hope to be able to post the full-size pics next week after I get paid and can order the downloads.
http://www.brightroom.com/go.asp?51279371
Enjoy!
I hit Mile 13.1 feeling pretty good all things considered. The half marathoners and the first marathon finishers were heading towards their finish lines, and it was fun to cheer for them knowing that I was now more than halfway done. A man and a woman were running behind Mike and me, and the man was obviously having trouble. They were walking, and the woman was berating the man, saying that his training runs must not have gone as well as he said they had. And she wasn’t saying it in a joking manner either. She was downright nasty to him and he fired back at her that he HAD run 20 miles but he was having difficulty today. A little while later I heard them again, and at this point the man was saying he didn’t think his legs would be able to get running again. He probably had time to finish even if he walked the rest of the way, but that’s an agonizing way to complete a marathon. I’ve been there. The woman was (very nastily) telling him that if his legs were tired now he was never going to finish, and he replied that he didn’t think he could make it. I felt bad for him, but more than that it made me SO glad for all of our wonderful TNT Coaches who try to encourage us to work through our injuries and difficult moments rather than berate us for being human.
So I’ve finally found the time and energy to write my race report from Sunday’s race. I arrived in Virginia Beach on Friday around noon, after an amazingly traffic-free drive. It didn’t even take me 3 1/2 hours to get there! I met Shari at her house and after she finished sending off an e-mail we headed out to PF Chang’s for lunch. Shari had never been there before so she got to experience the wonder that is the Lettuce Wraps and Banana Spring Rolls for the first time. We had a great lunch and then headed back to Shari’s house where I waited until Caitlin was home from work. Shari and I had a wonderful chat while we waited for Caitlin’s call and it was very nice to spend time with her!
I am going to hopefully get a full race report posted tonight, but for those of you who are wondering, yes, I crossed the finish line of the Shamrock Marathon on Sunday. My time was 1 minute over my Marine Corps Marathon time, which I am VERY happy with. Stay tuned for all the gory details!
