Neighborhood training run - 79.3 total

As I mentioned in the last post, winter training is hard.  Imagine running 15, 17, 18, or 19 miles on a treadmill.  I don't have to imagine, I did them all. 

Incidentally, our treadmill stops when you run 100 minutes.  It doesn't just reset the clock, it stops spinning.  Good information to have ahead of time.  So, when the treadmill says 34:58, what it really means is 200 min plus 34:58.  So, almost 4 straight hours on the treadmill.  It really is as bad as you think it is.  But again, I didn't apply these miles to our total.  When it came time for a 20 mile training run, I wanted to do it outside.  I had planned to run the Dahlgren Rail Trail half marathon on Feb 13th, but snow caused them to reschedule the run.  So on Feb 14th, I decided to tackle the 20 mile run.  I put on my new running shoes and hit the pavement.  There was still plenty of snow on the ground.

I came back to the house for a water stop after outlining all the streets in our neighborhood once, which was about 9 miles.  The kids were outside cheering me on as I walked the cul-de-sac and refueled.  Then off I went again.  Around 14.5 miles, my watch warned me that the battery was low.  Poor planning on my part, so I headed back home from where I was.  I managed to squeeze in 15.6 miles running outside, then finished the last 4.4 inside on the treadmill.

So, here is another 15.6 miles, for a total of 79.3 miles.

Training Run 63.7 miles total

Winter training is difficult, but this year has been especially hard.  Snow and extreme cold make running outside difficult and dangerous.  So several of my training runs have been on the treadmill.  When we made the challenge to run 460 miles, I felt that treadmill runs weren't the same as running outside.  There is something about propelling your own body forward that is empowering.  It isn't the same as trying not to fall off a machine.  Finally a day presented itself for an outdoor run and I took advantage of it to boost our totals.  12 miles was on my training schedule, so I loaded up my Ipod with podcasts and hit the track near my work.  It was a beautiful day for a run.

At least I didn't have to utilize the PT equipment in the middle of the track.

Sadly, my knee fell victim to my poor shoe choice, and I was only able to complete 9.7 miles before walking to the car.

Not a bad run, and it did raise our total to 63.4 miles.  On our way...

New Years Day run - 54 miles total

Starting the New Year with a race was a great decision.  But after a day with the kids at the mall, I still wanted to get just a little more running in, to stretch my legs and to even out our mileage a little.  Besides, there were still some beautiful lights out in the neighborhood. 

Add another 3.5 miles for an even 54.0. 

Resolution Run 5k - New Years Day 50.5 miles total

What better way to start the New Year than with a 5k. I decided at the last minute to participate in the Resolution Run 5k at the Massad YMCA. I did the same thing last year and finished in 32:11.

The race started at 11, so it was easier to get to than most. All dressed up warm, I was ready to go!

It was a great run, with the sun shining. There was a bit in the woods.

After a few weeks without racing, these signs were a bit too far between.

At last the precious 3 mile sign signaling the final .1 sprint for a 5k.

A 5k is a great way to start the year. My time wasn't so great, but it got us off on the right foot to complete our goal this year. 

Adding 3.1 for a total of 50.5 miles.

Mile by mile. 5k training run through Ocean Pines. 47.4 total.

We took a few weeks off post half marathon to recover and prepare for Christmas. I did have the chance to visit my brother again and help out with his sweet baby girl. Driving home with K2 in the back seat, we were rear ended at a stop light about 75 miles from home. The hit was enough to push us into the car in front of us, but not enough to hurt either of us. We were stuck at the accident site for about 2 hours waiting for the police to do what they do, then we headed home and arrived 15 min late for Js music concert. Add  A little reminder that some journeys are suddenly interrupted, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't continue to the finish line.

After Christmas, we headed to the beach for a little Post-holiday R&R. I love running at the beach for a few reasons. It's flat, there are shoulders on the road for running, if you make it to the pond, you get an audience of geese, and did I mention it is flat? Oh, and if I run far enough I can feel like I earned my Thrashers French fries. 

This trip was in quite cold weather, so I opted to keep it to a 5k. Again, it was cold, so no pictures except this one.

Add 3.1 to our total.

Blue and Gray 5k and half marathon. 44.3 miles total.

This morning, J, B-Dad and I will put a big bump in our total.  They will take on the Blue and Gray 5k in Fredericksburg while I tackle the half marathon. Race starts at 7:30. Snow will start between 10 and 11. This is going to be fun!

Post Race Report-

Early weather reports had us running in anything from snow to freezing rain. We woke up, checked the skies (cloudy), the ground (dry), the weather report (good until 10 or so), and most importantly the website (race was on!) 

My parents were nice enough to stay with us to watch C, K1,and K2 so we could drive to town for our race. We made it with just enough time to park and get this picture before the half marathon started.

I lined up toward the back of the pack of around 650 runners. The half marathon started on time at 7:30, but it easily took me a minute to cross the start line. 

The course started through the Central Park retail area, then down Cowan Blvd toward the hospital. The first two miles are basically down hill, making for a great start. There was a little of everything, from trails ...

to neighborhoods...

and a lot of Rappahannock River views.

This course is largely out and back. For me, that means that somewhere between miles 4 and 5, I start to see runners on the way back. 

And if running in the snow and ice earns you some respect, this guy earned it tenfold.

Another river view.

The icy boardwalk was cause to more than one runner spill. Notice the cars stopped along Fall Hill Ave waiting for runners to cross.

One more river view.

Once we were off the trail, around mile 11, it was on to hospital hill. This thing is no joke.

Mile 12 along Cowan Blvd. This hill may not be as long a hospital hill, but it is much tougher.

The top of the hill is the bridge over 95. I slipped on my first step on the bridge, reminding me to be extra careful.

After the bridge, it wasn't far to the parking lot...

And the finish line...

And a happy finish.

Long before I finished, B-Dad and J crossed the finish line for the 5k. I'm sorry I missed their finish. Because of the weather, they had to head home early and missed my finish as well, but B-Dad shared this picture with me.

It isn't easy to get out there in the cold and run. I'm so proud of J for getting through it. 

So there we have another 19.3 miles for a total of 44.3 miles. Journey on!

Sunday run at Lake Junaluska - 25 miles total

  I am trying to follow a training schedule for a marathon next year. most of my runs the past two weeks have been on the treadmill in our basement. I don't include these in our total as it just seems like exercise running on a treadmill watching TV.

  This weekend included a 6 mile run on my training schedule, but I was at my brothers house this weekend helping him with childcare as he worked. He and his sister-in-law suggested I try running at Lake Junaluska, so I plugged it into Google Maps and headed out on Sunday afternoon.

  I may be getting this completely wrong, but I believe the Lake area is owned by the Methodist church and used for conferences and such. I was here before once because my brother and his wife had their wedding rehearsal dinner at a restaurant on the lake. 

  Once I reached the lake, I drove around for a while until I found a parking spot. This my the view starting out.

There is a nice path around the Lake, used by walkers, runners, some dog walkers, a couple stroller walkers, and a few bikers.

It was a beautiful 55 degrees out with just a slight breeze. It was a bit chilly in the shade but otherwise perfect weather for a run.  The Christmas decorations seemed a bit out of place.

Parts of the trail include named walking paths.

Another walking path

This bridge marked the 2 mile mark of my run.

A beautiful walking bridge.

Followed by quite a hill.

As I finished one lap, I found it to be around 2.25 miles, so I decided to make it three laps so I could round the total up to an even 25.

  After two more miles, I faced the bridge again.

The other bridge on the path included a driving path that was closed to traffic. I'll admit, the first time I crossed, there was no one on the bridge and I was a bit apprehensive, but by the third time, I bounded across with confidence.

One third and final glimpse of the walking bridge.

Wrapped it up at 6.8 miles.

And had an amazing view for stretching.

Not to mention some company.

  

  This run was obviously different than the others I've chronicled so far. For one, it was a solitary run, my first without a bib.  But I wasn't alone. A simple smile, a "beautiful day", a joke with an older couple about who would crest the hill first. Each of these things warmed my heart, and made the running just a little easier.  

  This was my first run here. This is where my brother lives, this is where his wife's family is. It is easy for me to go on with life as usual at home, but coming here it is real. Her absence is real. Their pain is real. 

  It has been a month since my sister-in-laws died. Her daughter is almost 6 weeks old.  Her husband is working, her son is in school. Life is normal, a new normal.  It wasn't supposed to be like this. I can't imagine what it is like for them. It is just starting to sink in with me that she is gone.  It hasn't sunk in. It all just seems like a bad dream. Even after a month.  

  Even though I drove 540 miles to get here (coming from my Moms house). Even though I spent two full days caring for my niece before the run, it just started to hit me that this is how it is now. My running voices drowned out the Terri Gross podcasts streaming from my IPod.  They let me know that this is just how it is. 

  One thing kept coming up again and again. Sadly, I've never really been close with my sister in law. And I'm sorry that I'll never get the chance to be. 

  The closest I ever felt to her was when we ran together last Thanksgiving on the B&A trail. I was just recovering from my first half marathon and she said she was really into a run/walk training program. I thought maybe we had something in common we could bond over, but when she got pregnant, that was the end of her running.  

  I do miss her. My heart aches for a relationship that I'm not even sure we had. My heart breaks for those who did. I know that she had so many close friends who miss her dearly. And I know that her family is devastated. I hope and pray for strength and healing for each of them.