Rock 'n' Roll Dallas

Well, I'm officially running the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Dallas one week from tomorrow.  I had been holding off registering because I wasn't sure I'd be ready to run another half so soon after New Orleans last month.  But if I don't do this one, I won't make my goal of three half marathons before my birthday in June, so Dallas it is!  I'm excited, but also wondering if I'm doing a really dumb thing.  Guess we'll know soon enough.  

It's going to be a really quick trip in and out of Dallas, which is a bummer.  One thing I like about these destination races is the excuse to spend a weekend in another city, but I just couldn't make it work this time. 

I have had a secret goal for a while of running one half marathon a month for a year.  This experience might be a good way to find out just how crazy that idea is.  Stay tuned for more. 

Running for Beads

I've been holding off (to give myself the chance to chicken out!), but I'm officially registered for the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in New Orleans.  I'm excited!  It looks like a really fun race, and I'm looking forward to going to New Orleans for the first time.  Now, if only I can get myself in shape to run 13.1 miles . . .

This race is key toward one of my 35 Before 36 goals, which is to run three halfs before my 36th birthday.  I haven't quite settled on the third one yet, but I need to get something on the calendar.  Time is running out!  If you have any ideas for a big, fun race toward the end of May, please tell me!

New Year's Day 5K

Yesterday, I ran the inaugural New Year's Day 5K in Reston, Virginia.  It was a great way to welcome the new year.

I'm always a little bit skeptical of races that start in suburban shopping centers or office parks because they often end up being a tour of shopping center or office park.  And running past the Gap and FedEx is only so intreresting.  But I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that the bulk of the race was on the Washington and Old Dominion Trail, which is pretty scenic.  It was a little cruel that the first part of the race was largely downhill and, since it was an out-and-back course, that meant the last part of the race was largely uphill, but there's only so much the race organizers can do about the topography.  (They can, however, make sure that there's water on the course, and not having water was a significant flaw of this race.) 

We've been having a warm spell in D.C., so they weather was downright balmy, which was an added bonus.  And the 10am start time was positively genius.  All in all, I was glad I dragged myself out of bed and drove out to Reston.  I feel like I've gotten my 2011 off on the right foot, so to speak. 

Today I Ran To Canada

And back again, underwater.  The Detroit Half Marathon was really fun.  The weather was perfect for running, and the trip across the Ambassador Bridge at sunrise was as thrilling as advertised.  I particularly liked the stretch in Windsor along the river--so beautiful!  I ran a little slower than I usually do, but I felt "good" further into the race than in past half marathons.  Usually, by mile 8, I'm really starting to wonder if I'll make it through the back five, but today miles 7, 8, 9, and 10 flew by.  Mile 11 was even tolerable, which made me really happy!

I'm recovering in my hotel room now, and I fear I'll be feeling all 13.1 of those miles for the next few days, but it was worth it!  And check out that cool medal!

Off to the Race!

I leave today for Sunday's half-marathon in Detroit on Sunday.  I've had a really rough week at work, I'm totally sleep deprived, and I haven't run at all this week.  Doesn't that sound like the recipe for a perfect run?  So I'm more than a little nervous about whether I'll be able to make it through the whole 13.1 miles.  I guess I can always go for a nice long walk, if it comes to that . . .   And I'm super excited about getting to go across the Ambassador Bridge, walking or running!

In any event, I'm looking forward to a nice weekend out of town!  Think good thoughts for me on Sunday!  Hopefully I'll have a good report next week.

Running to Detroit

I've been flip-flopping on whether I want to run the Detroit Half Marathon in October.  My running has been erratic lately, and I wasn't sure that I wanted to commit to the training (on top of an already very busy fall) when running feels like a real chore.  But over the past few weeks, I've had some really good runs, so I was leaning toward doing it.  Sometimes I've even felt like a real athlete while out (literally) pounding the pavement!

Well, now it's official!  I registered last night, so it's a done deal.  Of course, my run this morning was only so-so, so I guess Mr. Murphy is laughing somewhere.

Notwithstanding this morning's crummy run, I'm excited!  I lived in Ann Arbor a few years ago, and it was hard to see the city of Detroit struggling so much.  So I'm glad for the opportunity to participate in an event that celebrates the city.

But what I'm most excited about is that we get to run across the Ambassador Bridge to Canada!  There are a couple of miles in Canada and then the course goes back to Detroit through the tunnel.  How cool is that??

Happy Fourth of July!

The Fourth of July is quickly becoming one of my favorite holidays, probably because I've developed a Fourth of July routine that includes some of my favorite events.

First, I ran the Autism Speaks 5K in Potomac, Maryland.  I've run this race every year for the past five years, and I've watched it grow from a small, community race to a real event.  The course runs through a Potomac neighborhood and, while lovely, is really hilly.  Which means that it kicks my butt every year.  But it's all worth it because the race raises money for a great cause.  And they always have pizza at the finish line.  (Nothing like a slice of pizza at 9am after running three miles!).

After the race, I rushed home to make it in time for the Capitol Hill parade.  The parade is, hands down, my favorite Hill event.  It is not a sophisticated affair (more like festive chaos), but everyone comes out to see the parade and celebrate the holiday.

The Marine Corps band is the most polished part of the parade.  But in my opinion, cheering as the local boys' basketball team does its thing and collecting candy from the Girls Scouts is just as much fun.   To me, the parade epitomizes the community and neighborhood spirit that I love about the Hill.

The parade is not Mr. Bullet's favorite event.  I think the heat and noise and crowds are a little too much for him, but he tolerates it.  And he puts with the American flag and parade beads I make him wear at least through the end of the parade.

Later in the evening, Mr. Bullet and I walked to the Library of Congress to watch the fireworks.  It's a great place to see the fireworks without having to brave the crowds and security checks on the Mall.  I think they were better than ever this year!

Hope you had a happy Fourth as well!

Tim Harmon 5K

This morning I ran the Tim Harmon 5K in Fairfax, Virginia.  My running has been a little off-kilter lately, so in truth I walked much of it with ((very) short) bursts of running interspersed.  At around mile 2, I remembered why there are so few road races in June in the D.C. area, but overall it was a fun time.

This is the second time I've run this race.  It is sponsored by the Alcohol and Drug Services program of the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board to raise awareness of Hepatitis C and substance abuse.  The race honors the memory of Tim Harmon who served as the Director of the Board's Alcohol and Drug Services Residential Services.

I appreciate being able to run road races like this one, but I also think they're important community-building events.  Every time I show up for a race, I'm amazed at the sheer number of people it takes to pull off even a small, neighborhood race.  The race directors and all of the volunteers deserve more recognition than they get.  So if you've ever helped organized and/or volunteered at an event like this--staffed the registration table, handed out water, directed traffic, or just sat by the side of the road and cheered for people you don't know, thank you!!

See you at the next race!

5Ks and Half Marathons and Marathons, Oh My!

I am a terrible runner, by even the most generous standard.  But I like running, and I LOVE races.  Ever since I ran my first 5K--which was a huge deal for me--in Oxford, Mississippi, a little more than five years ago, I've been hooked.  I love the sense of camaraderie and the way runners of all skill levels can compete together. 

One side effect of my obsession with races is that the race T shirts really pile up.  For some runners, the shirts are just tokens, but for me, each one represents a real accomplishment.  Running doesn't come easily to me, so each time I cross the finish line, no matter how slowly, I'm grateful.  I also keep a journal of all of the races, so I can remember anything that's novel or special about any particular race.

To preserve all of those memories, I decided to have the T shirts from my first five years of running made into a quilt.  I did a lot of research into who should make the quilt, and I decided to go with Too Cool T-Shirt Quilts. I like that Andrea at Too Cool T-Shirt Quilts makes the quilt to fit the T shirts, rather than trying to make the T shirts fit the quilt.  That way, she can accommodate designs of vastly different sizes, odd numbers of shirts, and designs on different parts of the shirt.  

This afternoon, I pulled all of my T shirts--46 in all--out of the closest and spread them out on the floor to get a sense of what the quilt will look like.  I wish there were a few more colored shirts; instead most of them are white, but that's what happens when the shirts are free.  But otherwise, I think the quilt is going to look so great.  It's going to be ginormous!  Over the next few days, I hope to get them washed and packed up.  I'm so excited to see how it turns out!