Tag Archives | running

Capitol Hill Classic 10k

By on May 19, 2013 in running

Hi there!

Long time no blog. Life has been chugging along and shows no signs of slowing down. Since I last checked in I spent a lovely weekend in PA with my parents for Mother’s Day, sat in many traffic jams, renewed my love for yoga, and worked a lot. :)

This morning my plus one and I woke up at the crack of dawn to participate in the Capitol Hill Classic 10k, a local race supporting the DC Capitol Hill Cluster School. This was my guy’s first race EVER so I was very excited to be able to share this with him.

We arrived early to pick up our bibs and ended up having time to spare. So we went in search of caffeine. Turns out that no coffee shops in the District are open prior to 8AM save for one lone Starbucks in the center of Union Station. I was happy to take a little walk since I just ordered a Fitbit and was eager to test it out!

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I wore it all through the race (clipped to my sports bra) and I must say that I am a big fan! I love all of the data it provides.

Anyways, back to the race. We lined up around 8:15 for an anticipated 8:30 start. At 8:45 I ran over to the finish line food table for a banana because I was officially starving and tired of waiting. We finally took off a few minutes before 9 but I must say it is really frustrating when races do not start on time. There is just too much waiting around!

We lost one another within the first mile, as he is much taller and therefore faster than I. So I turned up my music and decided to keep a comfortable pace. I didn’t wear my Polar or Garmin as I wanted to see what pace I naturally run without trying to pace myself with a watch. (Does that make any sense?!)

The first three miles were flat with a net downhill. Around the fourth mile we climbed a hill for a while which pushed me into the uncomfortable zone. I tried to continue running while bringing my heart rate down at the same time but it was just not happening so I took a brief walking break.

Around this time a nice little mist starting falling which helped cool me down and push me to keep running, as I am not keen on soaking my iPhone in a downpour.

The end came soon enough and I sprinted to the end finishing in 1:02 or a 10:05 pace. My guy finished just ahead of me in 1:01 or a 9:57 pace. Not bad for two people who seriously contemplated sleeping in. :)

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The post race logistics were not great. There was a lot of chaos around the finish line as no one was directing runners to leave the area. Also, there was no TP in the port-potties which is a major oversight. That said, I am SO glad we did the race together and I am so grateful to have a new running buddy!

Question: What is your favorite distance to race?

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Saturday Long Run + ZOOMA Meetup in Georgetown!

By on April 27, 2013 in long run, running

It is a positively beautiful day in the District. I awoke to the sound of birds chirping and sun beating through the window. My plus one and I had big plans for the morning so I am grateful for the nice weather. On the agenda, another PDR for him and speed work for me.

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(My plus one’s tree in front of his home. Isn’t it beautiful?)
We fueled up for our run and hit the Mt. Vernon trail a little after 9AM.
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It was definitely crowded (as it tends to be on nice days) but I think we caught a bit of a break since the Nike Women’s Half Marathon is tomorrow. We headed toward the District on the Virginia side and looped up and over the Key Bridge to make our way to Georgetown.
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It was there that we split up. As I have mentioned previously, I am serving as a race ambassador for the ZOOMA Annapolis Half Marathon on June 1st. So I stopped by to chat with the lovely founder, Brae, and chat with runners that were stopping by. I didn’t really know what to expect but it ended up being a great time and definitely got me excited for the race!
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I also randomly bumped into my BFF blogging buddy Amanda who found me hanging out in the Georgetown Lululemon storefront. ‘Twas a lovely reunion.
After hanging out for a while I snuck off to get a couple more miles in and rounded out the morning with 8 miles in around 1:22. Not too shabby! Then we grabbed a cab home, grabbed some food, and now have big plans to do a whole lot of nothing.
I hope you are having a great weekend!
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Easy Weeknight Dinner: Homemade Pizza!

By on April 25, 2013 in running, ZOOMA

One of my favorite things to do during the week is to sit down to a home cooked meal after a day spent eating out of tupperware and snacking. Although I don’t love putting in a ton of time and effort into my meals, taking 20-30 minutes to do something with my hands and dirty up the kitchen a bit leaves me feeling relaxed and rewarded. Many weeks I prep big batches of salads, soups, and roasted vegetables that carry me through the week, but last night I was in the mood for pizza.

Here’s how to go from dough to plate in 30 minutes (cooking time included!).

Upon walking in the door I pull the dough out of the fridge to let it come to room temperature and simultaneously let the oven heat to 400 degrees. Letting the dough set isn’t necessary but I have found that it makes the dough easier to work with.

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Stretch and roll your dough into the desired thickness. Since pizza dough is pretty calorie dense I make mine on the thinner side as that helps control portions and leaves you with leftovers (always thinking!).

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Chop any desired toppings. I recommend using a bunch of spinach as it wilts down to a minimal amount and packs a nutritional punch.

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Top with cheese for the traditional eaters, nutritional yeast for the eclectic, and spices for all. I’ve found that an italian blend, red pepper flakes, and a bit of S&P makes for a tasty combination.

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Bake on a cookie sheet drizzled with olive oil for 18-24 minutes at 400 degrees.

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And viola, a legitimate weeknight meal without a ton of effort!

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My all time favorite crust is the garlic and herb variety from Trader Joe’s (seen here) but any will work!

P.S. On a different note, this weekend ZOOMA is hosting a meetup at the Lululemon in Georgetown!

“For locals and out-of-towners alike, this is an opportunity to grab some swag, talk running, and hang out with fellow ZOOMA lovers. Check out giveaways from Muscle Milk Light, ZOOMA, Lululemon, and possibly more!”

More details here.

Question: What is your favorite weeknight meal?

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Boston Marathon Monday

By on April 16, 2013 in running, running partner

I am not sure what to say. Speechless would be the appropriate term, I think. Above and beyond what everyone else has shared…the feelings of sadness, mourning, anger, and shock.

I didn’t know what to do last night when I got home. Watching the endless replay of the events made me sick to my stomach so I got out of the house and I ran. Not far, not fast, but enough miles to remember that I am so very lucky to be able to participate in a community that is so strongly grounded together.

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The trails were quiet last night. I imagine the events of Boston had a lot to do with that. But the few runners I did see looked at me with acknowledgment that we were out there running for the same reason. Perhaps it is in my head, but I think not.

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Today we wake up to a world that is different than yesterday. I look around and I don’t feel safe. I’m not sure how we have come to this place but it is no where we want to be. I’m not sure how we resolve these problems, I’m not sure how we rebuild, or even how to directly help those who have been hurt. The only thing I do know is the importance of doing right by others. So that is what I am going to carry with me through the day.

I am praying for those lives that were forever changed yesterday.

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Marathons n’ Things

By on April 10, 2013 in announcement, Disney Marathon, Disney World, running, running mistakes, running partner

If you have been reading this blog for a while, first off thank you (!), but also you may remember that I once started and stopped marathon training. It was one of the biggest athletic setbacks I have had to date. I came to a place where something in life had to give, and my dreams of running 26.2 were on the chopping block.

So I procrastinated. I stopped running for a while and then started up again just for fun. But somewhere in the back of my mind the thought lingered. Running a marathon is on my bucket list. Even if I only ever do one I want to go through the experience.

Which leads me to this:

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I am trying again. Despite the hefty price tag, the knowledge of what I am going to put my body through, and the challenges that lay ahead, I am going for it.

This time around circumstances are different. My support system is in place. I will have my running buddy, Bridget, along side me the whole 26.2 miles (she is doing the Dopey Challenge so we are going to take it easy). Furthermore, my plus one decided to join in on the adventure. He is new to running and decided to go all in. So we’re doing it together.

Formal training won’t start for a while. In the meantime my activity level will remain much the same. There will be plenty of time for long AM runs in the future. I am SO excited about this endeavor and I just know that 2014 is my year. No looking back.

Question: What is the furthest distance you have ever run?

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Cherry Blossom 10 Miler Recap

By on April 8, 2013 in D.C., running
What a perfect weekend. Filled with good friends, food, perfect weather, and a nice long run.
I started off Saturday with an early morning trip to the gym. Nothing crazy, just some light cardio to shake out my legs and upper body weights. Afterward, I threw on every bit of Syracuse gear I own and headed to Eastern Market with my roommate.
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We spent a few hours wandering through the different vendors, enjoying lemonade and picking up ingredients for my pre-race meal of choice.
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I made fresh mussels in a white wine sauce with a fresh baguette for dipping. It was divine and kept me full all night. Good thing to, because we headed into the city to watch the Orangemen put up a good fight.
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I had one and a half beers over the course of the night and dipped out a little early to catch some shut eye. Syracuse certainly had a good run this year and it’s a shame they couldn’t pull through and beat Michigan. Try again next year. :/
Sunday morning I awoke before the sun and headed back into DC for the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler.
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I had a lot of nervous butterflies going into this race. I am not really sure why. Perhaps it’s because my only real runs as of late happen on the weekend. And we all know that 1 decent run a week does not a PR make.
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Anyways, I got to the race with plenty of time to spare so I walked around a bit to take in the sights. I was SO glad I grabbed a throwaway sweatshirt as I was walking out the door because it was COLD in the early AM hours.
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Soon enough the crowds appeared and we were underway. As for the race itself I found the course to be boring. I am not sure if it is because I run the same roads on my own or what but by mile 2 I was looking for something to keep my mind occupied. My running was kind of all over the place and I am not proud of my time. I finished in 1:44 which is a 10:26 pace. The most frustrating part is that I know I had a better time in me. I was averaging a 10:08 pace for the first 6 miles and then I bonked. It was part mental and part physical. I think my shoes have seen their last run because my kneecaps certainly felt each step. But as with all things, the race eventually ended and I finished with a smile knowing my guy was waiting at the end.
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We headed back to my place so I could have a quick shower and then immediately headed out for lunch.
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I find that on long run days I am either not hungry at all or famished. Yesterday was certainly the latter. I took down a decent amount of hummus and a delicious greek chicken salad. We even got a little celebratory lunch desert in the form of baklava.
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The rest of the day was spent grocery shopping, napping, and cooking.
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I enjoyed an early dinner and called it an even earlier night.
Now I am in a place where I can’t decide if I am over running or I want to prove to myself that I am better than how I performed yesterday. Since I still have the ZOOMA half-marathon in June to look forward to I am going to go with the latter for now. Here’s hoping I can keep it together!

Questions: Did you run a race yesterday? If so, how did it go? How do you handle a bad race?

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