MCM Training – This is it! (Last long run)

Posted on October 21, 2013 by SoWhatIRun

Well this is it. On so many levels, this is it. Saturday was our last long run before the marathon. I typically write about my long runs within 24 hours, but I was also celebrating my 40^th birthday this weekend. As of yesterday, I am officially in a new age bracket. Everything I do this week will be a first in my 40^th decade. First track workout, first tempo run, first personal training session, first taper (which I’ve been doing since I was 39), and first marathon in a new age bracket. While I’m a little freaked out about 40, I’m actually embracing it too. I’m just not liking the whole “your body falls apart at 40” thing. But anyway, I digress…running…let’s get back to running. Continue reading →

It’s Taper Time! (Alone and Naked at the Track)

Posted on October 15, 2013 by SoWhatIRun

Two weeks before the marathon and I’m now in taper mode. After Saturday’s half marathon, I decided to take off on Sunday and do Yin Yoga. Yesterday, I didn’t do a damn thing. I planned on doing “something,” but it just didn’t happen. Tuesday’s are our normal track workout days, but our training group was having a celebration for all those who ran in the Baltimore Running Festival today. While I wanted to be with my runners, I needed to stay disciplined and stick with the training. So, I went to the track, alone and naked. No, not naked as in not wearing clothes, but naked as in no running belt, no cell phone, no inhaler, no iPod, nothing…oh wait! I had my Garmin, so I guess I was semi-naked. Continue reading →

Baltimore Running Festival Race Recap

Posted on October 12, 2013 by SoWhatIRun

Mother nature was gracious enough to give us great running weather. Overcast, cool, and very slight drizzle here an there. Didn’t need the duct tape on my shoes after all! The Baltimore Running Festival was amazing! This year I did the half marathon race as part of my Marine Corps Marathon training and I had a bast! Coach Marie told us to take it easy as we are in taper mode and to try and not get caught up in the race. It was hard, but we managed. Continue reading →

Week 16 – Long Run (Not Quite 20 Miles, But I’m Good With That)

Posted on October 6, 2013 by SoWhatIRun

Saturday’s long run was the last long run before the Marathon. The day started out beautiful and we had a great first 10 miles, but then the sun, heat, and humidity reared it’s ugly head. By mile 15, we were hating it. We were in Timonium which means hill after hill after hill and twenty miles of hills suck. And they suck worse in 87 degree weather. Continue reading →

Week 15 – Long Run (12 Miles and Killer Acorns and Geese)

Posted on September 28, 2013 by SoWhatIRun

Another strong long run for the books and I’ll take it any time I can get it. I would like to thank Mother Nature for giving us another beautiful day to run. Overcast, no humidity, upper 50’s lower 60’s. But I’d like to ask Mother Nature to keep her acorns and attack geese to herself. I missed getting hit in the head with one and my friend had the unfortunate luck to step on on one and wipe out. It’s a good thing that Carrie’s bad ass because she took the wipe out like a champ, despite spraining her ankle, busting up her knee and elbow, and braking her Garmin <gasp!>. Continue reading →

The Importance of a Recovery Run

Posted on September 24, 2013 by SoWhatIRun

As I sit here with a heating pad on my back, I’m now realizing that no matter how tired I was on Sunday, I should’ve went out for a recovery run. After speaking with my personal trainer/coach, apparently, Saturday’s long run took a harder toll on my body than I thought. And being sedentary on Sunday allowed for my muscles, in particular my back, to stiffen up. Because of this, I will now have to skip tonight’s track workout (partner 800s) and tomorrow’s personal training session. Continue reading →

MCM Training – You Deserve a Break Today

Posted on September 23, 2013 by SoWhatIRun

Some days you just need a break. And I’m not talking about a rest day, but a total break from running, blogging, and whatever is consuming your life. That day was yesterday. Saturday’s 18 miles wasn’t hard on my physically, I mean I had the expected rubbery legs, but I wasn’t gimping back to the car. But for some reason, it wore me out. I don’t if it was navigating on crappy pavement, or navigating through town because we got lost, or the traffic and the constant stop and go at the lights, but whatever it was, it was draining. Weird thing was, I felt fine after the run, but that declined as the day worn on. Continue reading →

MCM Training – Week 14 Long Run (18 Miles with Bad Manners)

Posted on September 21, 2013 by SoWhatIRun

Well, there goes another 18 miles for the books. Today’s run was a practice run on the Baltimore Marathon course. Those doing the Baltimore full had to run 20 miles, while the halfies did 10-12. Since MCM is a little later, our mileage was 18. We decided that we would cut the 20 mile course short and in doing so, we got a little lost and ended up a mile short at the end. No worries…we found the 18th mile. Continue reading →

MCM Training – Week 13 Long run (16 Out of 17 Ain’t Bad)

Posted on September 15, 2013 by SoWhatIRun

This weekend’s mileage for our long run was between 16 – 17 miles, so I had my heart set on 17. Even posted on Facebook that I was running 17, cause you know you MUST do it if you post it. But at 16, I was done and I was fine with it. Well, I wasn’t actually totally fine with it, but fine enough to stop and not whine too much about it. My Garmin had died, my legs were tired, and I wanted brunch. I’m pretty sure I could’ve pushed through to the 17, but after running 4 yesterday, I decided I didn’t need to…brunch was on the brain instead. Continue reading →