I ran into 2009!!

It was freezing and windy!!! I completed the Fairfax Four Miler tonite on New Year's Eve. Temp was around 20F, but windchill made it feel like teens. Wind gusts were reported up to 50 miles/hr. And when I got home and checked the event website for the Results, here's what I found (besides that the results weren't ready yet):

** RACE DAY ALERT!! **

Due to safety concerns with high winds and downed power lines, we have to re-route the course. We will have the event.... however, it will be uncertified course.

It was originally one big four-mile loop, but now it was changed to 4 one-mile loops, which included a few hills to run up. I remember running up the hills about 3 times and having the wind blow against my face... fun!! :-) Running at nite time was awesome tho!! That was one of the motivations for doing the run... race at nite! After the first mile, I warmed up and forgot how cold it was (except for when I was running up the hills against the wind)... rumor is that there were 1,800 registered runners in the Fairfax Four tonite. It was a lot of fun... and I got an awesome zip-up Nike sweatshirt when I finished. I think I'm going to be happy with my finish time... my friend said he thinks he saw the time when I crossed, so I might have improved my time. Just like with the Jingle All The Way 10K, I wanted to have fun and do something different for New Year's Eve. :-)

Oh and I tried new socks... Balega Socks... from Potomac Running Store... they felt awesome! Now, I know why everyone highly recommends them. :-)

Here's one more picture... me right after the race in front of Pacer's Running Store (sponsor):

I'm really glad I ended 2008 running and it's awesome I will be completing my first Half Marathon in January to start 2009. I feel great and am thankful for friends' & family's support to make all this happen for me and to be able to cross the finish line in Miami on Jan 25... most importantly, getting closer to finding the cure for Crohn's & Colitis. Thank you & Happy New Year 2009!!! I hope everyone has a safe & fun time celebrating the new year!!

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!!)

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. :-)

Team Challenge Training Run was great!

Today I woke up around 5am and was excited about my first Team Challenge Training Run.  Mac told me, "put your running shoes on, and run like crazy!"

We met at 8am @ Potomac Running Store in Arlington, VA.  I didn't know what to expect as far as who was going to be there and of course was nervous about everyone else's running level.  I was hoping not to be getting in over my head... well, everything turned out great!

Our Team Challenge Manager, Dani, had everyone fill out Running Profiles, so that her & Kevin could group everyone according to their running experience/level.  I was in Group 2 - not too bad to be considered middle!  I met some great ppl and looking forward to our future running training sessions.

Our Team Challenge Running Coach, Kevin, proposed a 4.6 mile run.... I wasn't too crazy about it since I just starting running 4 miles comfortably the past week, but I was up for the challenge.  I ran with a couple girls that seemed to be at around the same running pace as me.  At the end, Kate & I ran down Wilson Bvd to make up for not doing the couple of zig-zags down side streets that Kevin had originally proposed.  So here's a link to what I'll call the Potomac Running Store Team Challenge.  

After we all returned to the Running Store, Kevin introduced us to some running techniques and exercises to do after our runs.  They involved leg/knee-lifts when you run, lunges, and different sprint runs to finish off our runs with. It was so much fun..... I can't wait until next wkend!

Everytime it changes, I feel better

Yesterday we ran 4 miles via the Lincoln Memorial run.... but we did it backwards!! It was fun to run on the opposite side of the Mall first and then to run the opposite away around the Lincoln Memorial. I believe doing that helps me mentally get stronger running... Jeremy and I talk about that lots when we're running. I often try to say positive things like "I feel great" or "It's so beautiful out," to try to distract myself from being tired while running.... some days it works better than others.

Yesterday, running opposite way around the Lincoln Memorial did the trick - it was a good 4 mile run yesterday! Also, having Wednesday (10/9) off with a rest, probably helped yesterday's run.

Have to wait & see what today's Lunchtime run is.... I think it's going up to near 80F today again... so it will be another warm day - but the sun is shinning :-)

So nothing less....

Jeremy commented that now we've run to the Lincoln Memorial twice... that's 4 miles each day so far... 8 miles total lol, and 3 more days left in the week!! He said we can't go less than that now. So looks like I'll be visiting Lincoln everyday.... maybe one day we'll do the "Rocky movie" and run up the steps @ the Memorial.... maybe next week, is what I keep telling him. :-)

Running @ lunchtime is great... still looking fwd to adding my bike riding back into the routine. And even better is the Greater DC Team Challenge meetup this weekend.... rumor is we're running around the Tidal Basin. That will be fun! My niece is visiting...maybe she'll join... she's only five, so maybe in a few years :-)

All the way to Lincoln!

Today, we did it!  We added a mile to our running route... click here to see the Lincoln Memorial Route.  I definitely felt the extra mile... but know it will only keep getting easier.  I think it hurt me since I went to bed late last nite, so trying to get to bed at a decent time tonite.

I'm also paying attention to my water intake in the morning before I go for the run.  When I'm well hydrated, I feel better running.... I know this is common sense along w/ the good nite's rest.

I asked Jeremy if we could run the 4 miles for the next couple weeks and then try out the 5 mile.  I believe he mentioned something about us gradually moving to  miles while adding bits each time or maybe he said something about working on my pace!  :-)

I'm really enjoying running @ lunchtime and maybe next week I'll introduce my bike riding into the routine again.  Its just that I'm working a crazy schedule at work lately because it's the end of the FiscalYear (FY08).  Btw, Happy end of FY08!  Tomorrow is the last day - Sept 30!