Spectating the 37th Marine Corps Marathon with a Dinosaur and a Cowbell!

"Run! Run! Run!" "Go! Go! Go!" "Daddy Run-Run!" Nugget yelled as the runners passed by.  We were waiting for DJ Research to come into view as we joined other spectators along the National Mall to cheer for those tackling the 37th Marine Corps Marathon.  "Daddy Run-Run!" was his favorite line, though Daddy was still nowhere in sight.

I made us both dinosaur hoodies for the event (which obviously looks so adorable on Nugget, and absolutely ridiculous on me), and bought a cowbell to top off our costume (because who doesn't love a cowbell-ringing dinosaur?)

His turn to run-run! with cowbell in hand.

The whole family was there to cheer for the runners:

Nugget the Dinosaur
Elmo the Elmo
Elmo the Seal

Nugget and Elmo taking a break from cheering

We caught the DJ's attention as he came into view around mile 17, and he jumped off the course to quickly give Nugget a hug.  He had forgotten his hand-held at home, so I gave it to him and he jumped back into the race.

We saw him again at mile 18ish (just on the other side of the Mall), and then booked it back to Rosslyn so we could catch him at the finish.  Travelling through a crowded metro with a toddler and a jogging stroller and an over-sized umbrella that keeps poking people is neither fun nor easy.  Just sayin'.

As we arrived at the "finisher's fence," I got a text message saying that DJ Research crossed the finish line in 3:34:03.  He had beat his goal time by 57 seconds!  The DJ ran this race hard and it was an emotional reunion when we saw him.  I was so proud that he had done so well!

Congratulations to all the MCM 2012 finishers!!

Did you race this weekend?  What is your proudest race moment?

A Memorable Vacation and a Meh-morable Run

We're back from vacation, but I'm in denial.  We spent the week on the beach with the DJ's family, and it was so totally amazing.  If I could spend the rest of my life on the beach with family, I would.  And considering I'm from Hawai'i, that really could be my reality.  Que sera.

I won't bore you with the minute details of our vacation.  Instead, here are two pictures that sum up the week:

Gorgeous scenery and weather.

Nugget crazy happy to be hanging with his big cousins.

I managed to run a little over 28 miles for the week, which is more than I expected.  This vacation was also great because every run was memorable, or meh-morable, for its own reasons.  Here's the breakdown in reverse order:

4th run - 5 miles
Why it was memorable: 5 miles of randomness (2 miles of fartleks, 2 miles of trails, 1 mile of meandering).  Came upon some unexpected trails and decided to run them.  Almost got lost.  Almost face-planted multiple times.  Regardless, trail running is awesome.

3rd run - 10 miles
Why it was memorable:  10 miles PR (1:29 @ 8:49 m/m).  Great weather, great scenery on a mostly flat course.  It was also the 4th of July, and a PR felt like an appropriate way to celebrate.

2nd run - 7 miles
Why it was memorable:  7 mile family run, which is the longest family run to date.  Nugget seemed to enjoy himself until the last .5 mile when he decided to attempt his escape and tried to climb out.  A quick tightening of the straps, and we finished strong.

1st run - 6 miles
Why it was meh-morable:  THE MOST BORING RUN OF MY LIFE.  The plan was a 6 mile family run around my in-law's neighborhood loop.  I've walked that loop before, and I remember it taking FOREVER.  Or at least, a really long time.  So I was expecting the neighborhood loop to be somewhere between 2-3 miles, meaning we would run 2-3 laps and be done with it.  WRONG.

It was 1/2 a mile.

Which means we had to run 12 laps to complete our 6 mile run.

Also, the loop was not flat.  It was mostly gradual downhill with one steep uphill (we could have run it the other way, but we felt that flying down the steep hill with the stroller wasn't particularly safe).  So we had to run that hill 12 times.

Usually I'm the one to push the stroller on our runs.  I really enjoy it while DJ Research really hates it.  But I wasn't about to push that stroller up that hill 12 times.  We each ran 3 miles pushing Nugget.

The DJ's turn!  Loop 11

We did it.  It was boring as hell but we did it.

I guess its technically like running around a track, which I haven't done since high school.  Even then I hated running in a circle.  Honestly, I would take the dreadmill over the track any day.

How about you?  If you had to choose track or treadmill, which would you choose?

Have you run any meh-morable runs?

Do you celebrate holidays by going for a long run?

RAR!

Marine Corps Historic Half-Marathon Race Recap

Rockstar weekend is over (which means I'm back to doing the dishes, grrr...), but I'm still happy about my performance at the Marine Corps Historic Half-Marathon this past Sunday in Fredericksburg, VA.  I managed a 1:59:02 finish, which is a 12:58 faster PR than my previous HM finish at the Hershey Half last year (2:12:00).  I think I can run faster, though, and I look forward to training harder and trying for another HM PR in the fall.

As evidenced by previous race recaps, its really easy to blog about every. single. detail. of your race, even though it may be oh-so-tedious for your readers to read (or not read, which is probably the case).  Its also really easy to not want to blog about every. single. detail. of your race, because it is oh-so-tedious to type (or not type, as I was sorely tempted to skip this post).  For the sake of brevity, I'm going to adopt a race recap template (which I stole from Banana BuzzBomb, who stole it from RocTheRun) to highlight certain aspects of the race, so that we can all get on with our lives a good night's sleep.  (Not that detailed race reports aren't awesome.  To be honest, if I had the time and energy, I would probably write a novella about each race.  But me wants to sleep!)

Terrain/Route:

This course was all road.  I thought it would be a mostly flat course, with a whopper of a hill at mile 10.  Turns out, its a fairly hilly course, with a whopper junior of a hill at mile 10.

The Weather:

The day started a bit chilly but comfortable with bright blue skies.  It obviously got hotter as the day went on, but I didn't think it was ever too hot.

Low Points:

I started WAY TOO FAST.  I passed the 5K point in 25:58, an 8:21m/m.  Thats awesome, but way too fast for me.  I knew I needed to dial it back, particularly with all the upcoming hills.  Also, I ran the early downhills strong, but a little too strong.  I was pretty winded between miles 4-6.  By the 15K point, I was running 8:50m/m, which is more my speed.  And then I hit Hospital Hill.  It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, but I did walk a portion of it because I knew there was another hill in mile 11.  I also walked a portion of that hill until I realized this was the last hill and I might as well give it all I got at this point!

High Points:

The spectators.  Fredericksburg really knows how to motivate its runners!  People were lined along almost all 13.1 miles, clapping, cheering, waving, handing out tequila jello shots (at mile 4.  I kid you not).  There were church choirs, school bands, real bands, and even a few quartets, plus a few groups dressed in Civil War-era garb.  But I think my favorite spectators were the kids, who eagerly held out their hands to high-five us as we ran by.  I'm a big advocate of thanking those who came out to cheer us, so I waved and clapped and high-fived back.  So fun!

But I think my greatest motivator (besides DJ Research and Nugget, of course) was the announcer at the finish line.  As I'm nearing the end, I hear the announcer yell over the (ridiculously loud) PA system: "RUNNERS!  IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO MAKE IT UNDER 2:00 HOURS!  THREE MINUTES!!  YOU CAN DO IT!"  I had no idea I was so close.  Due to my fuzzy math skills, I thought I had an extra mile to go.  When I realized I was going to make it under 2 hours, tears sprang into my eyes and I started kicking hard.  I wanted to make sure I ABSOLUTELY finished under 2:00.  With 0:58 seconds to spare, I crossed the finish line.  I was so happy, I peed my pants.

PR happy!

The Marine Corps Historic Half-Marathon was fun and festive!  I recommend it as a first time half-marathon (just train for hills) because all the support really pumps you up.  Thank you to all the marines who helped as course marshals and who cheered us on.  And thank you to all the men and women in all branches of the armed forces for your service to our country!

Rockstar Weekend

It was another big, fun weekend for our family unit.  We drove down to Fredericksburg, VA, where I ran the Marine Corps Half-Marathon, and where we all achieved rockstar-status.

• I got my sub-2 hour half-marathon, by 0:58 seconds.  My goal was sub-2:05, but when I realized I was on-course for a sub-2 hour time, I pushed.  I am super happy with my time, and am allowing myself rockstar-status for the rest of the day.  Which basically means I'm not doing the dishes.
• Nugget was a rockstar the whole trip.  He ate well, drank well and slept well, although apparently he did need a little pick-me up this morning.  He also showed me proper stretching technique.

Pouding a cup'o'joe (don't worry, its empty).

'Ama, let me show you proper stretching technique.

• DJ Research was a rockstar trip coordinator, coach, cheerleader and hubby (he's doing laundry as I type!).  As we drove the course the day before the race, he not only advised how to run each uphill and downhill, but also reminded me to run on the flattest portion of the roads (something I would not have thought about).  We also talked about how I would fuel during the race, which was key.  He met me at three different points during the race, and made sure I stretched and hydrated enough post-race.  He was probably the biggest rockstar of the weekend.

It was a great weekend, but I'm exhausted now and want to curl up on the couch with the DJ, have a beer, and watch Unbreakable for the 8th time.  Race recap coming soon.  I just wanted to say: I did it!!