Happy Thanksgiving!!

Hope everyone has a great holiday!  I'm home in NJ for the week and trying to follow some sort of running schedule.

I'm thankful to be healthy and able to run and for all my family & friends who support me.... Thank you!!!

Happy Hour Success & Running Update

I'll start with letting everyone know how the Happy Hour went for Chris & I on this past Thurs, Nov 20.  It was a big success for us!!  I believe we both needed that to help w/ our fundraising.  Both of our fundraising seemed to plateaued from all the support we were receiving from our friends & family.... so I was trying to look at the Happy Hour as a way for Chris & I to celebrate all of our hard work so far - running and organizing an event together.

It started out slow... Happy Hour began @ 5pm, but as many know lots of ppl are just leaving work at 5pm.  After the first two ppl arrived (Thanks, Jill for being Numero Uno!), it picked up as time went on.  Crystal City Sports Pub provided great drink specials and Half-off Appetizers... plus we had great door prizes from Victoria Secret, Gotta Run, Starbucks, and some cool labeled wines.

So how did we do?  We raised about $900 total!!!  Thanks to everyone that came out and supported Chris & I with running ING Half Marathon for Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA).

So now the running updates....

This past wkend I didn't feel that great, so I didn't want to push myself with the running, but at the same time I was starting to disappoint myself if I didn't get out there and run soon!  Jeremy was off this week... so I didn't have his motivation, but I got out and ran 3 miles on Friday!!  It was so cold & windy!!  But I didn't run alone... and no I didn't replace Jeremy for skipping out all week (Hope his moving to his new home went well btw), but it's pretty nice how I met a friend on Friday.

I had just started my run around the National Mall to the Washington Monument... and I hear, "Rachel, Rachel."  It was my friend, Lisa..... she was like an angel to be there I told her.  We ran together and toughed out the cold winter weather.  We're going to keep in touch and maybe meet up again, since we both don't work too far from the National Mall.

Now for today's DC Team Challenge run meetup.... I woke around 6am and enjoyed my stuffed egg sandwich for breakfast.  I made sure I had on as much blue & orange + my Team Challenge tshirt for the Team Challenge Spirit contest for this meetup.  I'll mention it now though... next time, I'm not running in a heavy sweatshirt.  I don't believe I'm finding excuses for feeling sluggish today, but it really did feel heavy... and I might be tempted to leave my gloves home next time, too.  But all the running I'm doing each time, helps me get ready for Miami!!

We ran about 7 miles today.... which I felt pretty good about.  I know I can run 6 miles comfortably, so it looks like I'm breaking through to 7 now!!!  And Elizabeth & Lynn were great to run with today... I really liked how we looked out for each other this run.  Also, Lynn let us try something new half way through our run... she shared Starburst chew gummies... not sure of exact name, but they gave us a boost/burst of energy!! Thanks, Lynn!

Thanks again for everyone's support and donations.... I've started to count up and organize how many entries everyone has for the $50 Amazon Gift Card.  I don't know yet if there'll be an extension from Dec 1, bc with the Thanksgiving holiday quickly approaching I'm not sure how many ppl will be interested in reading my running blog lol  So I might extend it a couple weeks, but I'll post the official decision on  or before Dec 1.  I want to have the drawing soon enough before the holidays, so the winner can utilize it for holiday shopping.  Oh, and I believe I'm going to do it as an e-certificate, so you'll get it really quick! :-)

Contest Time!! min $5 donation to WIN $50 @ Amazon

Contest Time: Contribute at least $5 to my Run and be entered to WIN a $50 Amazon gift certificate!! Between now and December 1st, receive one entry in a drawing for every $5 to win a $50 Amazon gift certificate. I'll coordinate with ABC, FOX and CBS to tape the drawing and so you won't miss it, I'll post it here... so you'll know when you WIN!!!

And THANK YOU all so much for your support. I'm up to running at least 6 miles with no problem... so only 7.1 miles to go and Miami here I come!! :-)

I'll cross the finish line with your support... and more importantly we'll find a cure!!

Click here to Donate OR 

Send me an email to find out where to send check.

P.S. The great friends who have already donated, are already entered into this contest- no worries!!

Jingle All The Way... I'm running all the way!

I'm excited... I just registered for the Jingle All The Way 10K!!!  So this will be an excellent preview to Miami Half Marathon is what our Team Manager and Coach are telling us.  I believe it's a great idea, especially since this will be my first official run.  It should help me know what to expect for Miami.

Also, this is great doing a 10K because that's about 6.2 miles.  And everyone knows (if not, check out my training log on the right) that I've ran at least 6 miles already! :-)  So even though a Half Marathon is 13.1 miles, I'm considering myself at the halfway mark for training.  Our Team Manager and Coach assure us that we will be prepared to run in Miami, so long as we follow their suggestions and running plans.  This is really exciting... thanks again for cheering me on!  I'm so happy about finding my new hobby running... or as our Running Coach says "finding your runner's high!"  Jingle All the Way 10K is December 14, so that's almost exactly 1 month away.... what an exciting day today is for me!

Week 9 Summary & Looking fwd to Wk #10 with Happy Hour!

Week 9 Summary of Miles Ran:

11/10: Ran at least 6 miles @ Lunch

11/11: Ran 3 miles w/ Chris

11/12: Ran 4 miles to Lincoln Memorial

Total Miles Ran: 13 miles!!

Weather is getting colder and I think it's affecting my motivation to run... I have a busy weekend coming up so trying to make sure I get good nite sleeps so I don't get sick.  I have the DC Danish Christmas Bazaar and getting ready for Happy Hour @ Crystal City Sports Pub next week.  Everyone is calling out sick at work, but I'm taking my Vitamin C! 

Yesterday 3 and Today 4... Become my Virtual Running Partner!

Yesterday I got a surprise invite to run with a friend from the Team Challenge, Chris, who is an avid runner and she's running in the ING Half Marathon for CCFA, too. I thought it was funny and actually very impressive when she told me that this is first Half Marathon.... but she's ran a Marathon before!! So when she asked me to run last nite, I was really excited and even more excited that we have arranged a Happy Hour @ Crystal City Sports Pub on November 20.

So yesterday we ran a 3 mile loop through Arlington and on the Mt. Vernon Trail. The trail is where I ride my bike to work... this was the first time I ran on the trail and might give it another try this wkend. It really is a great place to run & bike or walk!

Today, I met Jeremy to run @ lunchtime and he and I agreed on running just to and around the Washington Monument.... but when we got to the backside of the Monument, Jeremy kept running along the path but toward the Lincoln Memorial. I asked where he was going... he said we're running to Lincoln. So today was a surprise 4 mile run. I felt much better than I thought I would having just ran last nite... but glad Jeremy was there to encourage me to run a little more today.

Thanks again for everyone's support and contributions to CCFA for me so I can run. I'm almost at the 50% mark, so getting more and more excited! I have to meet this $3,600 minimum goal to be able to run... so you're literally helping me cross the finish line when you donate!!

I'll do all the running... just become my virtual running partner by contributing to my run :-)
(Click Here to be my Virtual Running Partner!!)

Week 8 Summary

Here's a quick summary of my Week 8 Training:

11/3: Ran 4 miles @ Lunch & Walked 2 miles after work

11/4: Election Day! Ran 25 mins + Rowed 15 mins

11/5: Ran 3 miles

11/6: Rest

11/7: Ran at least 5 miles... Jeremy thinks close to 6 miles

11/8: Rest

11/9: Biked about 20 miles

Ran: about 15 miles

Walked: 2 miles

Biked: about 20 miles

Miami and Copenhagen on different days!

Friday was a good run... we ran somewhere between 5 and 6 miles.  I mapped out at least 5 miles, but Jeremy reviewed my route and said I missed some of the distance... so we probably ran closer to 6 miles.  It was a fun run b/c Jeremy led the run (as always lol) and seemed to just run anywhere throughout DC.  It was warmer than what either of us expected for beginning of November... so that's where the title of "Miami" came in for this post.  I felt much better than what expected w/ the warmth and also the distance, which is definitely (at least I think) a good sign!!

So where does Copenhagen come in?  As much I would like to be there right now, it just seemed like that's where I was today during my bike ride.  Yesterday, I took a rest day and was really feeling like doing something today.  So when the sun was shinning bright this afternoon, it only seemed appropriate that I go outside & stay away from the gym today.  I opted for a long bike ride.... I've been missing biking since I've been running @ lunchtime during the week.  And I didn't want to overdo it by biking to work and then running so much at lunch.  So I took advantage of the great weather today for a great bike ride.  It started out nice and sunny... not warm, but not chilly... then the clouds moved in and it started to feel chilly.  The Concierge at my apartment building asked if that made me ride quicker coming home... I don't think so, but wearing a T-shirt and shorts wasn't as comfortable for the conclusion of my ride as it was in the beginning.  So the weather on the chilly side and all the bikers out on the path today, reminded me of when I was in Copenhagen. :-)

Hope everyone is having a great weekend, too.  I can't believe we're only a couple weeks from Thanksgiving and that means Miami is that much closer!  And now for quick fundraising update... I passed the $1,500 mark... so this a very motivating milestone!! Thanks for everyone's support and cheering me on!!  Almost to the 50% mark... there's still time for anyone else that would like to make a donation to help me make the required $3,600 to run in Miami!  Click here to go to my Fundraiser Page.

Here's a Fun Fact

I've been interested in calculating something ever since I started running all over DC. The Washington Monument is 555 feet 5.5 inches and there's 5280 feet in a mile.
Question:
So how many times do we "run up" the Washington Monument when we run around it @ lunchtime?

Calculations:
555.4583 ft (approx of Monument height) / 5280 ft (feet per mile) = 0.105 miles

3 miles (Ran on Nov 5) / 0.105 miles (approx height of Monument in miles) = 28.57

Solution:
Jeremy and I ran up the Washington Monument almost 29 times yesterday! lol It's fun to think of it that way :-) Unfortunately... or maybe fortunately for us... you can no longer walk up the Monument and must take the elevator. But it still provides some great views of DC!

(Here's me at top of Monument looking over to the Lincoln Memorial... I made sure I pointed out to Mac all my running and biking routes from what we could see out the windows.)

Our Lunch Hour Run & Hurrying Slowly

Yesterday, both Jeremy and I were tired, but still wanting to run. I don't know if it's an addiction, but we both always comment to each other how great we feel after a run @ lunch. We just didn't feel motivated to run all over DC. lol So we completed one of our original runs - around the Washington Monument totaling about 3 miles.

I found a quote from Runner's World that made me laugh and also realize there's so many ways to look at running a long distance... but as Jeremy reminds me during every run, "it's just mental."

"My basic philosophy can be summed up by an expression we use in Norwegian: hurry slowly. Get there, but be patient."

-- GRETE WAITZ, Run Your First Marathon

Today I ran, while Jeremy was home!

So yesterday, Jeremy and I ran 4 miles to the Lincoln Memorial... it was a great run!  The weather was a bit chilly, but there was no wind so it wasn't cold.  Then today, I got dressed to go run and walked out of the office building.... but it was raining!  I told Jeremy I would run even though he said he wouldn't be there... so now what was I to do?

The gym downstairs!  I tried something different today, but kept in mind that I might be standing in line to vote after work today... so didn't want to push myself too hard today w/ exercise.  So I ran for 25 minutes on the elliptical machine AND also I rowed on the rowing machine for 15 minutes... 40 minutes of cardio!

And it gets even better... today I got home early around 3:30 and headed to the voting polls @ 4pm.  I had to go a few blocks in Old Town at the Fire House.  I was ready to stand in line a couple hours and brought a bottle of water with me.  I walked up to the side of the firehouse, but where was the long line?  There was no line... I walked right in!  I didn't even have to wait to watch a short demo with the election machine.  So I was done voting in about 5 minutes!!

I hope everyone had a great day today and voted. :-)

Vacation is over and it's back to training this week!

My boyfriend from Denmark visited me this week, so I missed the past couple training sessions and didn't complete any runs this week with Jeremy. I look forward to getting focused on my training this week and running at lunch time!

I believe it was good to switch things up and walked so much this week around DC that I was still exercising. (I know Nichole can appreciate all the siteseeing walking I did.)

I'll keep you posted on how my running goes this week... I'm anxious to find out how my week of rest and walking will play into my running this week.

Week 6 Summary:

• 10/23: Ran 5 miles
• 10/22: REST
• 10/21: Ran 5.5 miles
• 10/20: Ran 5 miles

Total: 15.5 miles