Marine Corp Half Marathon

There about a million and one reasons why the marine corp half is one of my favorite races.  The atmosphere is pretty incredible.  How often do you get to run with those who serve your country each and every day? I also love that it's a local race so there's no hotel cost, no extra planning, and most importantly, no interference with work.

The weather was beautiful - a slight breeze (making it chilly at 6AM) but it felt amazing throughout the whole race.  The course wasn't too bad except of course hospital hill was BRUTAL but what's worse is the hill afterwards on Cowan Blvd.  All complaints aside, it was a gorgeous race and I even finished another one in under 2 hours.

So 5 races, 4 months, 3 states, 2 PRs, and 1 very very happy runner girl.  What a fabulous racing season.  So far, 2014 has trumped any expectations I've had so far in the running world.

Best part is I've gotten to do so many races with friends! For instance I saw Shannon, her hubby, and some friends from my running club along the way.

Now off to the lake to let these legs rest after a 9 mile long run and 1 mile training run for Riley.

Happy Memorial Day

Never too late...

Seriously, it's never too late to start something new or make a change.  And after being stuck at the same weight for the past few months despite a crazy running schedule and ridiculously crazy workout schedule, I need a change.

So even though it's something dumb, I've decided I'm doing a whole month of no alcohol.  Who needs all of the extra sugar anyway? And I've also decided to eat at least one fruit or one vegetable at every meal/snack.  I'm also toying with the idea of getting a trainer/nutritionist because the eating aspect is what I'm having the most trouble with.  By the time I get home, make dinner, and eat it's around 7:00 or 8:00. So by the time I go to bed at 10:30, I need a snack.  And then it just continues.  And all the hard work that I've done all day is a waste.

It's so frustrating.  So I'm hoping the no alcohol thing will help kick start me in the right direction... we'll see.  Kind of hard when you love to run, but run for beer too...

You had me at fanatic

I just joined Half Fanatics. It's just as crazy as it sounds.  Seriously.  Half fanatics is an elite (I wish), online group for runners who have met certain criteria - usually a ridiculous amount of running to take pride and show the world who they are.

So basically you had me at fanatic.  And since I've completed 4 half marathons in 64 days and not to mention I have one more in the next three weeks, it only seems right that I join.  Apparently, at races if you have fanatic gear people take you seriously as a runner and yadda yadda yadda.  I don't know about all of that, but hey.  If it's the name of running, you can be sure I want my name associated with it.

So now I'm a member.  And of course I bought the sweaty band, the magnet, and the hoodie.  But hey, I work hard to log the miles I run, so why the hell not??

In other news, this week at the gym was good.  My running schedule got a little rearranged due to my vacation and also the rain so I ended up running yesterday instead of Wednesday.  Which is interesting because you would think as an occupational therapist, flexibility would be my middle name.  But No, it's not. So this for me was a big step.  And believe it or not, 4 miles at an 8:30 pace.  Not my fastest, but pretty freaking awesome for running a half on Sunday (not gonna lie, I love telling people that I just ran a half nonchalantly).

In fact, my boss even complemented me saying that I don't give myself enough running credit - which of course means he hasn't seen my running wall.  "There are just so many medals" - inside joke for Kim.

Anyways, it's Friday and time to do what runners do best - drink.
Until next time.