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!!

Week 13 Summary - most miles!!

This is a short, quick post to keep record of reaching the most miles (22) I have run in one week time so far... and it all started with the Jingle All The Way 10K!!

•  Dec 14: Jingle All The Way 10K was awesome!
  
•  Dec 15: Ran 4 miles to Lincoln
  
•  Dec 17: Ran 4 miles to Lincoln
•  Dec 18: Ran 50 mins all over downtown DC
•  Dec 20: Ran > 9 miles @ Burke Lake Park

I believe my previous post back in October, was right about banking miles help you in future.  It's great to be able to see my progress since I started in September.  Thanks to everyone for your support and help!  Miami is only 3 weeks away, and I'm only $600 away from the required minimum to run!!

I was so happy and proud when I saw an advertisement for Team Challenge - ING Direct Miami Half Marathon in CCFA Take Charge monthly newsletter.  It emphasized the importance of who is behind Team Challenge.  For the past 40 years, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) has paved the way to find a cure for Crohn's and Colitis.  CCFA created the first dedicated research program to change the course of treatments and search for a cure.  The future has never been brighter and new breakthroughs our on the horizon.  

Thank you for supporting me with DC Team Challenge so we can get to the finish line and find a cure!

Pushing myself to 10 miles today!! A great run with Kate

I still have the cold and I ran 6 miles yesterday.... but what's 10 more? lol I met Kate today for a run in Rock Creek Park. She was great to plan out the run - 5 miles to DC-Maryland Border and back, so that gave us our 10 mile goal for today. I didn't pay attention to the time, since I was more concerned w/ being able to go the distance.... but we kept our same pace and even pushed ourselves when we saw the DC-MD Border sign. We're great support for each other!! :-)

Here's a quick picture of us when we reached the DC-MD Border (one entrance to park):

I was smart and brought a few tissues today... that helped so I could give myself some relief w/ this cold. Kate & I both noticed around the 6 mile mark

that we were thirsty and our mouths were getting dry... so this probably had something to do with hitting the so called Wall so early today. We helped each other by staying positive and motivating each other to the finish.

We went to Potomac Running Store afterwards and bought some PowerBar Gel Blasts and Clif Shot Bloks. A couple other DC Team Challenge teammates had these in previous long runs, so it was great they let us try a couple (Thanks Lynn!) and we knew we liked them. The Blasts and Blocks are perfect to help w/ electrolyte intake during these long endurance runs.

Potomac Running Store is great and our Running Coach for DC Team Challenge is a manager there. They just opened a Cleveland Park store right off the Metro - perfect after a run at Rock Creek Park. :-)

This weekend, I made up for my rest during the week because of the holiday. It was great to test myself and see what I could do after a long rest and having the cold. I'll keep providing updates this week w/ my lunchtime runs w/ Jeremy. And Kate is going to try to meet up with us, since she works in DC, too. Jeremy will have two girls chasing him! lol

I have great news, too!! Kate surpassed the goal of $3,600 and has a new goal of $4000, which she is doing awesome to already being close to that! I'm just shy of the $3,000 mark, so getting close to the $3,600 minimum required to run in Miami. Kate & I hit the 10 mile mark today, so I know I'm right behind her with my fundraising.

All donations - no matter the size helps! Thanks for all my friends & family (Virtual Runners) who have contributed and supported me in this great cause.

I hope everyone had a great holiday and looking fwd to a great New Year! 2009 is going to start off great finishing in Miami!

I have a cold and it's warm outside today??!?!?

It didn't feel like December at all today... felt more like an early Spring or Autumn day.  It was unseasonably warm.  A new friend from an Area Running Meetup Group emailed me about running around Old Town Alexandria.  At first I wasn't sure b/c not running all week with the Christmas holiday and being home in NJ - I know excuses, excuses!  But when I arrived back to DC Metro area last nite, I realized I was getting a cold. :-(

Anyway waking up this morning, I emailed my friend Kate as planned to see about meeting up for a run, but she had said tomorrow was better for her - so that worked for me!  We're meeting at a new place tomorrow that neither of us have run... I'll tell you how it goes!

Well, today I got that email from a friend, and I told him my running plans with a friend changed for today, so I'd be interested in meeting today for a run.  We ran  6 miles!  and it was a fun run starting at Eisenhower Metro Station and along the avenue to a run/bike trail to the Alexandria Library and around a park area.  I surprised myself and kept to my running and not worrying about my time or speed - I couldn't find my watch before I left to meet him anyway, lol.

How do I feel after running w/ a cold?  Great!  Much better than I did when I left to meet him and much better after the first mile or so I ran.... I feel like my head is clearer and I'm breathing better... so having a cold isn't a good excuse to not run anymore.... or at least I'll be more apt to give it a try next time, too.. in hopes to feel better again. :-)

The best place for my longest run so far...

I did it!! Well almost... I've been wondering when I would hit the 10 mile mark, but I came super close today.  DC Team Challenge met up at Burke Lake Park, VA and we ran around the lake twice.  It's not a small lake... between 4.5 and 4.7 miles once around... and has a great run/walk/bike trail.... so we ran somwhere between 9 and 9.5 miles.  For the most part it's gravel & dirt paths, with the occasional paved bit near parking areas.  The trail is very scenic by the lake with some great clearings where you can look over to the other side of the lake.  I noticed some geese and squirrels running around this morning.  The sun was not shining much today (hopefully that means it was in Denmark!), so it was an overcast, grey sky with  chill in the air, but not wind... so it was good weather for a long run.

The Burke Lake Park was an excellent location for my longest run of more than 9 miles... I believe how the goal distance of the day was split in half around the lake, it was very motivating.  Because as soon as you ran around the lake once, you knew you could do it again... or maybe it was I just kept going and then before you know it you're about 1/4 away around the lake, so you might as well keep going.  And just like Jeremy told me during our lunchtime run, if you continue running, you'll get back faster! lol Such great common sense advice... but it really works when you're out there running.  Plus I remember that training quote from a previous post saying every mile you run, adds to your bank (of endurance).... so 13.1 miles really has been getting closer with every run I complete.

I've noticed during the chilly months, as we approached December and with the occasional below 30 or low 40s, my body warmed up after the first mile and after 3 miles I was breathing regularly with the cold air not bothering me so much.  I still have to figure out the best way to handle a runny nose in the cold weather.... I hate to keep sniffling and can't wait to get a tissue when I finish running.... but maybe this won't be a problem to worry about in Miami in the 60/70F weather... I can't wait!! It's amazing how your body adapts to the climate and change in temperature, while at the same time allowing itself to build an endurance to longer runs.  I believe running gives me a new appreciation for my body and more of what I'm capable of doing.... so that's awesome!

Today's run was fun... I met up with Kate and we always motivate and cheer each other on.  We comfortably ran at the same pace and are definitely looking forward to Miami to cross that Finish Line together!!  The first lap around the lake wasn't too bad... I remember seeing the 3.5 mile marker and thinking how fast that went.  When I saw the 3.5 mile marker for a second time, I was really proud of us!! We were doing it!!  Our Team Coaches were awesome and had a table set up with quick water and snacks for us at around the 4+ mile marker... The DC Team Challenge is really a great experience and an awesome bunch of people who are trying to hit the $3,600 minimum goal to run, but we all have the same goal to run across that 13.1 mile Finish Line & Find a Cure!!!

Christmas is this week, but I'm going to try my best to keep up 

with my training and not let myself slack off.  I commented to a friend tonite though, about how I relaxed during the Thanksgiving holiday week and it didn't hurt me the following week.  Actually I believe it may have been a great rest for my body.... the only thing is the disappointment I get from not seeing the miles up during that week - so I guess running really can be a mental game after all. :-)

I'm looking forward to my next long run... I'll keep you posted on my training for the upcoming week and how I'm progressing towards that 10 mile mark!!  13.1 miles isn't that far anymore and neither is Miami!!!! Jan 25th will be here before we know it!!