I'm Registered!

My husband just registered us to run the YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase Turkey Chase 10K on Thanksgiving morning and I'm really excited. The last race I participated in was the Army 10 Miler in 2008. I've actually run this particular 10K before two other times; once in 2003 and once in 2004 and I really enjoyed it.

I've been kind of sick lately and I have very low energy. From reading so many other blogs it seems as though there are a lot of people that are sick right now. I'm okay to run though, I'm coughing on and off and have a bunch of yucky stuff in my chest, but other than that I'm fine. I am looking forward to participating in a race, it's been so long since I've done one. I've been reading everyone else's race reports and I'm constantly wanting to sign up for stuff. I feel like these events are getting to be so expensive now and I have to pick and choose which ones I really want to do. I'm happy to be running this one because hopefully then I won't feel so bad for all the stuff I'm going to eat and drink later that day!!

To everyone running, biking, walking, swimming, eating and drinking on Thanksgiving Day, have fun and enjoy!!

Our First Hike of October & Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Fall is my favorite season. Yesterday I couldn't wait to get outside and go for a hike. It's always fun and interesting to go hiking with four boys (one big one, three little ones)! We decided to hike to Chimney Rock in the Catoctin Mountain State Park, near Thurmont, MD. From where we started it was a 1.1 hike up to the top. The boys did great hiking. The youngest rode in the carrier on our backs. Here are some photos from yesterday's hike.
This is the beautiful view from the top of Chimney Rock.

My little mountain men got hot and decided to take off their shirts...this photo was taken right before they both decided to pull down their pants and pee in the forest...what can I say, they had to go. Fortunately for us there were no other hikers on the trail at them time. We just laughed!

This is my little trail runner.

Can you tell we're all saying "Cheese" for the picture? Even the baby!

My Angels...

I made some pumpkin muffins on Saturday and thought they turned out well. Charlie even liked them and he's a picky eater!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
(Adapted from Ellie Krieger)

Ingredients
Cooking spray
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1-2 tablespoons flax seed meal
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons molasses
1/4 cup canola oil
2 large eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup lowfat buttermilk

Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini-Morsels

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Coat a 12-cup muffin pan with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose and wheat flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and flax seed meal.

In a large bowl, whisk the sugar, molasses, oil and 1 egg until combined. Add the other egg and whisk well. Whisk in the pumpkin and vanilla. Whisk in the flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with the buttermilk. Whisk just until combined. Fold in the chocolate mini morsels.

Pour the batter into the prepared muffin pan. Tap the pan on the counter a few times to remove any air bubbles. Bake for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of 1 of the muffins comes out clean.

Let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the muffins to loosen them and unmold. Cool completely on the rack. (Serves 12 muffins)

Back in Business!

It seems like this has become a pattern...I haven't blogged in a week because I have so much going on with work, kids, studying and the day to day chores. I wanted to give a quick update of what's been going on around here lately.

Our youngest was sick on Friday with a fever and runny nose which kept him up on off through out the night. He seems to be doing much better now and is feeling good and happy again. James (our second son) turned 3 on Saturday and we had a birthday party for him at our house. Sunday we went to a birthday party for a friend's daughter who turned 6.

I started running again last week and made sure to take it slow at first. The first day back (after 5 weeks off) I ran only 1 mile, but it was great and I felt strong and had absolutely no pain in my leg at all. Last night I ran 3 miles on the treadmill and that felt good too. I am happy to say that I'm back in business!! My plan now is to run and bike on alternate days and do the HardCore workout everyday.
These are the new PJs that the boys got from their favorite daycare provider Ms. Lorretta. They were so excited to get them and had to put them on. I told Lorretta she must really love them...considering she is a Cowboys fan! she said she got a lot of grief from her husband when he saw these in the house.

My happy little guy.

This is James on his new "Big wewoh" bike that he got for his 3rd birthday!

I love this photo of my hubby reading to the boys before bed!!

I'm 40!

I turned 40 on Friday and I feel great! I am excited about the year ahead. I think I'm probably in the best shape of my life.

It was discouraging when I first realized that I was injured from running (5 weeks ago), but I'm not sure if I would have found my love of biking had that not happened. I think biking compliments running very well. I am looking forward to doing both, in fact I think I am going to try running again tonight. I haven't felt any pain in my leg in the past week and I'm thinking that it's probably healed now. I think I will go to the gym and try a short run on the treadmill to see how it goes.

My husband picked up a computer for my bike and he even installed it for me...it took awhile for him to do it, but it's done now and it's great. I ended up getting the one that I mentioned before, the CatEye Strada Cadence...it does everything I wanted including; Cadence, Current speed, Maximum speed, Average speed, Odometer, Trip distance,Trip distance 2, Elapsed time and Clock and you can use it on the trainer and outside.

Great 10 Miler

This morning I made it out to the trail around 6am to run my 10 miler. It was a pretty good run. It was around 74 degrees and about 80% humidity. I started sweating shortly after I started, it felt really tropical and wet. I took my CamelBak with me and a couple Power Gels. As I was running on the trail I saw 2 bunnies, 1 dear, lots of bikers, many other runners and 1 man in a suit...maybe he was walking to work? I felt really good during the run and was happy that I remembered to use BodyGlide this time.I took a picture of the trail before I started. It's the W&OD Trail in Ashburn.
Me, before I started.

We're on vacation this week. It's more like a stay-cation...we're not really going anywhere, except for day trips. I plan to stick to my training schedule. Monday and Wednesday are spin classes, Tuesday is intervals, Thursday is my tempo run and Saturday is my long run (11 miles). I plan to do this early in the morning so I can spend the rest of the day with my family having fun!

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Grandmothers of Endurance

Talk about inspiring!! I just saw this video on Facebook and I love it! I had to share it with everyone... I want to be like Barb when I grow up and have a best friend like Vicki!

Just Checking In

My week has been great so far. This is how my training looks for the week:

Monday - Rest day
Tuesday - Speedwork - 1/4 mile warm up, 3 x (1 mile fast then 1/4 mile easy)
Wednesday - Spin Class
Thursday - Tempo Run - 2 miles easy, 2 miles @ tempo pace, 1/2 mile easy
Friday - Rest day
Saturday - 9 miles
Sunday - Rest day

My long run last weekend was 8 miles on the W&OD trail. The weather was pretty nice. I started at 6am and it was about 67 degrees. I decided to wear my Camelbak, the kind that goes around your waist with the long tube to drink out of. It wasn't bad after I got used to the swoosh, swoosh sound of the water sloshing around (I don't listen to music). I thought I might like the fuel belt, but then I found out how much they are and decided to stick with my Camelbak for now.

One major thing I forgot to do before I left was to put on some Body Glide...I need to remember that next time because my sports bra started rubbing my side after I started sweating and it kind of burned. The run was great all except for the guy sitting on the bench beside the trail smoking a cigar...yuck!

I've been really thankful for the gym membership that my husband got for the family. The new gym that we belong to is only blocks away from our house. I've been getting up between 5 -5:30 each day during the week to either run on the treadmill or go to a spin class. I do my long runs outside on the weekend.

I'm looking forward to my long run this weekend. Hubby is going to be one of the supporters setting up drinks for the runners in the group run. He's actually going to have all 3 boys with him. The place where he is going to set up is on the W&OD trail near a park where they can play.

I also wanted to mention that I've really enjoyed reading other runner's blogs this week. I've gotten so much inspiration from them! I've also felt a bit of camaraderie. I never realized how hard runners really are on themselves...I mean I know that I am hard on myself sometimes, but I didn't realize how many others were like me.

I hope that everyone enjoys their weekend, I know I will be having fun running and playing with my boys!!

*side note: I need some pictures of me running...I have none (no recent ones). I'm usually the one behind the camera. I will try to remember to take the camera on Saturday and have hubby take photos.

Review of Training

Training has been going well. I am loving the Spin classes that I go to each week and I find them to be very motivating. I did my first long run last weekend (7 miles) and it was a good one. I decided to run with a group of people that my husband works with. They run on the W&OD Trail each weekend. They have a volunteer set up at different points on the trail to give out drinks and at the end of the run they have a cooler with drinks and snacks. The other cool thing about this group is that a lot of them are training for the Marine Corps Marathon too; they will have support during the marathon as well as their own tent with massages afterwards! I am glad to be a part of the group.

This is what my training looks like this week:
Monday - 1 hour Spin Class
Tuesday - Speedwork: Half mile warm up, 3 x (1 mile fast then .25 easy)
Wednesday - 1 hour Spin Class
Thursday - Tempo run: 2 miles easy, 2 miles @ Tempo pace then 2 miles easy
Friday - Rest
Saturday - 8 miles
Sunday - Rest

On Sunday I got a new pair of running shorts and I love them

Now all I need is a head band to keep the sweat out of my eyes and my bangs out of my face. I was thinking of getting a Sweaty Band.

On the homefront - Yesterday was Will's first day of daycare and he did great! He didn't cry when I dropped him off and he was happy to see my when i picked him up. I thought today may not go as well since it was the second day, but I am happy to report he did well again. I love my daycare provider and she is so great with kids. I know that he is taken care of well when he is there. That eases my mind a lot.

Charlie is on big adventures with his Grammy and Pappy and my cousin's daughter Olivia in Pennsylvania. He is having lots of fun and I am glad.

James is on grand adventures with his Nana and Grandad at Colonial Beach. He's been to the pool everyday and riding his scooter. I am glad to know that he is having fun too!

Everything is good in my life! We are looking forward to celebrating Will's first birthday this weekend.

Hurry Up and Wait

My training has been going well. I've decided to do all of my workouts in the morning before the rest of the family wakes up. This morning I was up at 5am and off to the gym for some cross training. I rode the bike for 50 minutes and was home by 6. This was a great decision because I feel great after my workout and I still have the whole day ahead of me. I arrive to work in a good mood and I get home ready to spend quality time with my family.

Mike is training for his 5th Marine Corps Marathon in Ocotober and so we've had to schedule our workouts and long runs at different hours and on opposite days. So far this plan is working.

I decided to go with a new training plan this time. For my first marathon I went with a plan by Jeff Galloway. This time I'm using the FIRST training program from the book Run Less, Run Faster. These programs are based on results from FIRST training research studies that showed runners are able to run successful road races by incorporating three quality runs a week into their overall training program. They also recommend that runners cross-train (bike, swim, cycle, etc.) two or three days a week. My husband has been using these plans for his training as well and he's shaved a lot of time off of his marathons.

Overall...I've realized after my second week of runnning that I need to invest in a couple of neccessities...I need a sleeveless running shirt and some type of headband to keep my hair out of my face and the sweat from runnning down.

I feel good and I'm happy to get up early and get out the door to train. The reason my post title is "Hurry Up and Wait" is because I just want to be faster! and run farther! which is really funny considering that just a couple of weeks ago I was making excuses as to why I couldn't work out! But that's how it is with me, once I've made my mind up, it's GO time!!

Marathon Training Begins!

I've started running again after taking a long time off (too long)! I've missed running and I've been wanting to start getting back into it for months now, but excuses kept getting in the way...I had to get up in the middle of the night with the baby, I have to be home early to get dinner ready, I need to put the baby to bed by a certain time, blah, blah, blah. The thing is, I need to do this for me! I need to run, it clears my mind, keeps me in shape, puts me in a good mood, helps me set goals for myself and it's a good example for my children. It's good for the family!

So, I thought a great way to celebrate my upcoming 40th birthday would be to run a marathon. I'm excited to turn 40 and I want to celebrate it! I've started training and I haven't felt better!

To learn more about my running you can go HERE .