Friday, February 13, 2009
Coming Back Soon
Welcome to the FitArlington Running blog! This blog is currently on hiatus, but stay tuned - we hope to be back soon.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Perfect Day for a 10K
A bit late in posting the results of the 10k, but had lots of company and the election to work on and YES WE CAN and YES WE DID!
In thinking back to the 10k I must say that the entire day was perfect. The weather, the course, the participants and the organizers. No one can put on a better race than the United States Marine Corps. I enjoyed every step of it.
I did fine. Came in 6th in my age and gender, which proves that if you live long enough and keep running you move higher up in the ranks. I hope to run again next year and do some races in between, including the annual Turkey Trot in Alexandria on Thanksgiving Day.
Thank you Arlington County for sponsoring me and others. Thank you for your efforts to have a healthy populace and thanks to all the other runners who inspire me to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Peace.
In thinking back to the 10k I must say that the entire day was perfect. The weather, the course, the participants and the organizers. No one can put on a better race than the United States Marine Corps. I enjoyed every step of it.
I did fine. Came in 6th in my age and gender, which proves that if you live long enough and keep running you move higher up in the ranks. I hope to run again next year and do some races in between, including the annual Turkey Trot in Alexandria on Thanksgiving Day.
Thank you Arlington County for sponsoring me and others. Thank you for your efforts to have a healthy populace and thanks to all the other runners who inspire me to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Peace.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Thanks FitArlington
One 10K down- many more races to go!
I enjoyed my first ever race and can't wait to improve on my time. I have definitely caught the running bug.
Thanks FitArlington for the entry. I don't think I would have had the nerve to register for the race if I wasn't offered the chance through the group.
Here's to staying healthy, fit, and happy!
I enjoyed my first ever race and can't wait to improve on my time. I have definitely caught the running bug.
Thanks FitArlington for the entry. I don't think I would have had the nerve to register for the race if I wasn't offered the chance through the group.
Here's to staying healthy, fit, and happy!
Amazement and PERFECT conditions!
I was extremely happy with the weather on Sunday. Saturday had been terrible- cold and rainy. Today isn't that much better. But Sunday was a jewel among ruins; we runners could not have asked for better!
Two and a half years ago, I had PR'ed at the LA Marathon with 3:40:58. The five marathons I ran after that did not shatter that PR, so I was hoping that I might be able to once again reach 3:40 at yesterday's MCM. Well, I did that, and then some. I totally shattered my record and created a new PR of 3:33:06.
I was really surprised that I did not hit a wall anywhere, that I kept on running steadily throughout the race, and that I had it in my to go all out right at the end. So I re-qualified for Boston and now the question is, can I go there in April without going broke? I think that since I've done Boston once, albeit in terrible weather, the major excitement is gone, but I'd still like to go. The whole trip is just really expensive. Enough about me.
Congrats to all the FitArlington participants and especially the first-timers! This was a truly beautiful course to run but I have to ask, weren't the post-race refreshments a bit lacking? Did anyone see any bagels or oranges?
Two and a half years ago, I had PR'ed at the LA Marathon with 3:40:58. The five marathons I ran after that did not shatter that PR, so I was hoping that I might be able to once again reach 3:40 at yesterday's MCM. Well, I did that, and then some. I totally shattered my record and created a new PR of 3:33:06.
I was really surprised that I did not hit a wall anywhere, that I kept on running steadily throughout the race, and that I had it in my to go all out right at the end. So I re-qualified for Boston and now the question is, can I go there in April without going broke? I think that since I've done Boston once, albeit in terrible weather, the major excitement is gone, but I'd still like to go. The whole trip is just really expensive. Enough about me.
Congrats to all the FitArlington participants and especially the first-timers! This was a truly beautiful course to run but I have to ask, weren't the post-race refreshments a bit lacking? Did anyone see any bagels or oranges?
Disappointment
Last week I concentrated on tapering off and staying well. Monday I felt the beginnings of a cold coming on, but I rested and by Wednesday I felt normal again and relieved that I got the illness out of the way well before race day.
But ... Friday morning the cold came back. I rested, and drank lots of fluids. I picked up my race packet at the Armory, and tried to visualize success. I also went to Target and stocked up on vitamins and immune-system boosters.
It didn't work. Saturday I felt terrible (my parents had to come babysit while I slept most of the day). Saturday night I had to make the call about the race. I thought about my fever, my runny nose, my hacking cough and my total exhaustion, and admitted that, even if I felt a little better Sunday, I was not going to race.
I'm so disappointed, after five months of training -- starting from scratch! -- that I didn't get to race.
On the other hand, I'm proud that I went from barely being able to run a mile to running 5-6 miles without too much trouble.
I'm setting my sights on a new goal -- the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile race in April. I'm trying to talk my runner friends into joining me. Will any FitArlington folks be there?
I hope everyone else feels proud of their accomplishment, whatever that may be!
But ... Friday morning the cold came back. I rested, and drank lots of fluids. I picked up my race packet at the Armory, and tried to visualize success. I also went to Target and stocked up on vitamins and immune-system boosters.
It didn't work. Saturday I felt terrible (my parents had to come babysit while I slept most of the day). Saturday night I had to make the call about the race. I thought about my fever, my runny nose, my hacking cough and my total exhaustion, and admitted that, even if I felt a little better Sunday, I was not going to race.
I'm so disappointed, after five months of training -- starting from scratch! -- that I didn't get to race.
On the other hand, I'm proud that I went from barely being able to run a mile to running 5-6 miles without too much trouble.
I'm setting my sights on a new goal -- the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile race in April. I'm trying to talk my runner friends into joining me. Will any FitArlington folks be there?
I hope everyone else feels proud of their accomplishment, whatever that may be!
Beautiful Weather, Ugly Time
Well, I finished. But the two weeks of down time five weeks ago (due to an plantar fasciitis) came back to haunt me around mile 14. I was on pace to go under 3:30 and still had sights on a low 3:20s, through the halfway point. I had been able to run in recent weeks, but only went 12 miles in training, and that was the point I felt my energy slipping away (plus some cramping issues in both quadriceps).
Still, the 3:50 was my second fastest 26.2 time. I'll take it, chalk it up to experience and look forward to my next race (after I give my foot a chance to heal). And I was very thankful that the race was Sunday, with sunny skies, and not in Saturday's down pour.
Hope you other Arlingtonians fared better in your reaching your goals.
Still, the 3:50 was my second fastest 26.2 time. I'll take it, chalk it up to experience and look forward to my next race (after I give my foot a chance to heal). And I was very thankful that the race was Sunday, with sunny skies, and not in Saturday's down pour.
Hope you other Arlingtonians fared better in your reaching your goals.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
T minus Five days
Can someone please do something about the weather? Conditions will be perfect all week (clear, calm, in the 50s) but now the forecast is for rain all weekend. Sucks.
I'm mostly ready. My foot still hurts, but I can run on it. I did a final 12-miler on Sunday, including the last five at race pace. All systems go. My biggiest concern now is that the two weeks of idle time I had last month will haunt me around mile 21. The dreaded Wall looms large. I only did one 20-miler in training and that will have been five weeks before race day. History tells us that often the distance of your longest training run is the spot in race where you crash. We'll see.
One last thing: anyone know if there will be a FitArlington get together after the race? What happens once thing is over? Does this blog disappear?
I'm mostly ready. My foot still hurts, but I can run on it. I did a final 12-miler on Sunday, including the last five at race pace. All systems go. My biggiest concern now is that the two weeks of idle time I had last month will haunt me around mile 21. The dreaded Wall looms large. I only did one 20-miler in training and that will have been five weeks before race day. History tells us that often the distance of your longest training run is the spot in race where you crash. We'll see.
One last thing: anyone know if there will be a FitArlington get together after the race? What happens once thing is over? Does this blog disappear?
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