Running with Friends (or without them)

Finding a Local Running Club

Continuing with my blog blitz into the New Year.  I really wanted to catch up with the things I wanted to write about but haven’t had time for the past few months. 

  

I have never really liked to run with people.  I was so excited when my husband wanted to start to run with me.  But when he actually ran with me it caused me great anxiety.  I guess my biggest reason not to run with people is I’m afraid I’ll hold them back or on the rare (rare) occasion they might hold me back.  I’ve gotten more comfortable running with my husband, good thing since I’ve known him for thirty years and we’ve been married for twenty.  But really when it comes down to it, we always say I meet you at the end whether it’s a training run or a race.  The last race we did, a 5 miler, we caught up to each other at then end and finished together, very unusual for us.

I found a local running group that are the kindest, most welcoming, nicest, (fastest), supportive group you’ll ever meet.  But the fastest part is a bit intimating.  They have these great things called Bagel Runs.  I’ve done a couple with them.  At first, I thought they ran to the Bagel shop, which would be cool, too. Each week they pick a different location and run 3-5 miles.  Then afterwards everyone meets for bagels and coffee and to socialize.  This is right up my alley!  The first one I went to, I was training for my 12-miler. One of the members (who I also know my church) ran some with me.  It was my first time running 8 miles.  It helped me to have someone do the last 3 with me.  My husband was on the mend from an injury at the time.  I got my husband to go with me to the next one months later. We ran with the group but I felt funny because I was so slow.  I’m not used to be last when I do things and when I run with them there is a good chance I’m last.  Let me tell you again, these people are super nice and would run at my pace if I ask them to help me. 

My husband and I also went to a Holiday Light Night Run with them.

Everyone was so gracious but again I had some nervousness running.  I didn’t like the dark and there was the last thing again.  These people are all ages but they are fast as lightning.   Lightning I say! 

But let me tell you what is great about running with a group. 

Beautiful Crisp Morning Run

They get you out the door.  We met them for an 8 a.m. run.  Would I have gotten out of bed for just me? Nope!  I met the walking group on Monday. Would I have walked by myself that morning?  I would not.  I for sure would not of run through the night looking at the Christmas Lights and will do it next year (I’ll be more comfortable or run the route ahead of time). 

There are so many opportunities.  They have a Tuesday running group, they just started a c25k group.  All good stuff!  I mentioned to one of the ladies that one of my goals for 2015 was to get faster.  She said she’d help me.  I might eventually like running with friends!  I’ll keep trying.

Tomorrow:  Reflection on 2014 resolutions.  Thursday:  2015 Resolutions

Across the Bay 10k Recap

The Bay Bridge Run

So, we decided to make another weekend out of a race.   We started by driving to Annapolis to pick up our packets at the Navy Marine Corps Stadium.   It was very cool to be in the stadium and very cold.  Packet pick up was very organizing as well as purchasing the parking pass.  The expo could have been better. It was in the narrow halls of the stadium.  And it was freezing.  I did snag hubby a long sleeve training shirt which I found out later was a good thing. By the time we got there the only men’s shirt they had left was large.  Bummer.  We scooted out of there pretty quickly. 

We headed to our hotel.  And had a nice dinner in Annapolis.  I wish we’d had more time and light to look around a bit.  We headed back and relaxed a bit then hit the sack.

Race Day

The race included 10 waves.  We were wave 6 which started at 8:30.  I was pretty happy not to start at 7:30.  We did head out to catch the shuttle at 7:30 at the Navy Marine Corps Stadium. We were unsure we to expect: we were actually expecting it to be chaos.  We were pleasantly surprised, it was so organized!  They were carefully checking bibs numbers and getting everyone on buses.  We arrived at the Northrop Grumman.  It was a beautiful crisp morning.  We had a lovely view of the bridge.   

Our start was about 10 minutes late, but no worries.  One of my concerns was there were no cups at the water stations so I bought a clip-on portable cup, the Hydra Pouch.  I was determined to use it.   I did.  The water stations had places to fill your water bottles but also water fountains.  Had I known about the fountains, I would have forgone my cup.  We started out.  It turned out to be a bright sunny day.  I was bit over dressed and wished I worn a thinner shirt and capris.  I was steady.  My husband and I ran together for the first mile, and then he went ahead (which is always fine with me).   Running across the bridge was very cool, almost breathtaking. 

I was torn between keeping going and looking at everything.  I caught up to hubby about mile 4.  We got this amazing shot.  My husband put it on canvas for my birthday.  It is one of my favorite pictures of us. 

At that point my husband was slowing down a bit.  He told me to go so I did.   We were heading off the bridge at this point.  A bit of a let down because I still had about 1.5 to the finish.   My official time was 1:09.27 which was a PR for me.  Hubby came in two minutes after me.  We got our medals and headed toward the race party.  They gave us a bag of food and we grabbed our beers and had a seat on the grass.  At this point I wished I’d grabbed one of the silver blanket thingies, it was getting a little chilly.  We walked over to the Paul Reed Smith booth.  Honey played a little guitar then we listen to the band for a bit.  

Paul Reed Smith Band

Post Race Medal Selfie

Then we were ready to head on out.  Getting back to the other side was well organized but took a little bit of time.  As we rode back on the shuttle we got to see the last people on the bridge.  Behind them were police and some of the race day equipment.  We headed back towards home and stopped in Columbia for some post race grub at Uno’s. 

My husband and I were so impressed with the organization of this race.  There were so many things that could of gone wrong and didn’t.  It is definitely a race we would do again!

First Half Marathon

Baltimore Half Marathon

I’ve run a ½ marathon.  Here’s how it went ~

I have a new position at work, which I love.  It has taken toll on running, actually work in general, takes it toll on running.  Ahhh, Summer, run when you want early morning, late at night – any time – just beat the heat.  The sun is out all day and all night.  I truly didn’t appreciate it when it was here. 

My training was less then stellar for the ½ but I was determined to go forward.  I felt like I had conquered the 12-mile race in August.  I knew I could do this even if it wasn’t going to be perfect.

I always get crazy nervous the night before a race. We made arrangements to stay downtown.  We did it last year when we ran the 5k.  It was so awesome to walk out the door and the race is right there.  It also allowed us to go to the expo the night before and not have to go to Baltimore twice.  My husband could of picked up the packet for us but then I couldn’t shop.  We arrived at the expo.  I love looking around and my husband is usually done in 5 minutes and patiently waits for me.  I think I bought six 13.1 magnets and ½ zip for each of us, oh yeah, and some finisher glasses.  If I was going 13.1 I wanted proof and souvenirs. 

After we got done we went to dinner at a nice little Italian restaurant near the hotel.  Now I am usually wound pretty tight before any race and my husband usually takes it in stride.  I am  careful about what I eat before a 5k but a ½ marathon – very careful.  I ordered some pasta  - not creamed based which I would of love, a salad and a glass a wine, although if I don’t think I even drank half.  My husband on the other hand, he ordered and gin and tonic (fine) and that creamed based pasta.  Then he ordered another G & T.  You’re having two?  Okay…  I was anxious just looking at his food.  He totally enjoyed everything.  Then, he got dessert.  A big, giant dessert and enjoyed every morsel of it.  Gulp.  I was hoping it would be okay for him. 

There he is, enjoying it all!

Here’s the thing, when you’re running a race the next day it’s not like you are going to go out and party the night before so we went back to the hotel and rented a movie, A Million Ways to Die in the West with Seth McFarlane.  It was pretty funny and kept my mind off the next day.

Then sleep, sleep, sleep.

As I said, we walked right out to the start of the half then had to walk like a ½ mile to our wave.  My goal was to make it to the lake with mile 7-8, all running, then rest I would see how it went.

The first 6 miles were okay.  My husband and I usually don’t run together but he was recovering for an injury and we took it slow together.  Then my left knee start bothering me.  I had to walk some and around that beautiful lake.  Then it kind of worked it self out.  I ran most and walked some.  When running the Charles Street 12, there were lots of landmarks.  I’m sure there were landmarks just none that I really knew.  After lake we went through Charles Village, that was cool.  There were college kids out cheering us on.  At one point there was a table with Natty Boh shots.  I thought it better that I did not indulge.  I some how caught up to my husband around mile 10.  Meghan Trainor’s All About that Bass came on my iPod, went over what I call the Artscape bridge (really, it’s the Howard Street Bridge) and I pushed through for the last 3 miles. 

Running Selfie on the Bridge

Getting Closer!

Zaching towards the finish

Hubby finished a couple minutes before me even with that big meal.  He still is teasing me but I’m still not eating a big meal before a race.   My official time was 2:48.53.  

I’ve signed up for next half.  It’s in May.  The St. Michael’s Half Marathon.  It supposed to be incredible flat because the Baltimore Half was not.  

One of my favorite running slogans is "I love running...when I'm done!"  Look how happy I look!

KISS!

I could of used this guy about mile 7!