Maryland Half Marathon-race recap & Dozer the dog!



13.1 miles in Howard County

 This was race #3 in a row of my crazy running plan. I wanted to go out and get my self a new PR given my legs were going to be ready and they had 2 races (Island to Island half & Fredrick Half) to get warmed up BUT...............I ran into this furry guy around mile 5 or 6. As you know I love my self a dog but this guy looked like he didn't belong in the middle of a sea of half marathons. He was trotting along the course acting like he was running with someone. I asked a few fellow runners do you know who's do? Is that your dog? and even Hey doesn't it seem like this dog got out of someones yard? Everyone that I asked sort of brushed it off and said he will go home or knows where he is. Really? I know if it was Milo I would be freaking out  and if was the owner of Dozer I would be worried. Well in Dozer's case his owners didn't know he broke out of the fence and joined a half marathon. I ran with him between miles 5 and 6 threw a neighborhood. I even at one point stopped to see if he would let me get him by the collar to walk him over to some people who were cheering the runners on at the end of there driveways. Dozer didn't like me trying to get his collar so he darted off and I lost him. My friend Kim in my running club was cheering some of us on and she later told me at the finish that she saw him around mile 9. This 4 legged guy was booking it. In fact he finished 10 minutes ahead of me. What the...............? I guess it was those 10 minutes that I was using to ask people, stop and pet him and talk to him that cost me those extra few minutes that that is OK. I enjoyed the course. The first 5 miles were killer! Rolling hills, back country roads and full off nice views. Last year it was in Baltimore County and next year it will be the same course. The race organizers said they will do 2 years in each county in the state of Maryland to bring the money spectators and runners bring into the city/county. Just another great reason to run this race.


Running buddy Dozer







Dozer got a medal for running the half marathon! what a good boy



http://www.ummsfoundation.org/dozer

Here is a little bit of info on the University of Maryland and the Cancer Center.

The University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center

The University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in treating cancer, using a philosophy of integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to clinical care. Recognizing that a team approach is the most beneficial way to manage cancer, the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center has developed a multidisciplinary program for treating all stages of cancer.

The University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center (UMGCC) recently received a National Cancer Institute Designation in August 2008 and is listed among the Top 50 Cancer Programs in the United States by U.S. News and World Report!

UMGCC’s rich tradition of treatment, research, and education, combined with its continuing commitment to making patients its primary focus, gives the center its outstanding reputation across Maryland and throughout the United States and the world.

To visit the Cancer Center’s website, please visit:
www.umgcc.org

Kissing Milo when I got home because I was so happy he was HOME!

really good kids tent but most important this is where I got my free ice packs.

Mom and I enjoyed our free iced coffee that was a plus!

my HUGE medal!

see it glitter?

They not only gave us a great medal but a great shirt too. the state of Maryland is formed out of runner guys. So cute!

So all in all I was happy that I was able to finish 3 half's in 3 weeks! My legs are rather sore and I am so thankful my next race isn't until Zooma on June 5th. I need sometime off of racing. lol....

Fredrick Half Marathon-race recap



Ready to go!!





The Fredrick Half Marathon is my official 5th Half Marathon in 2011! OMG Have a I really run 5 in 5 months? I am crazy and didn't realize it until just now. I have been wanting to do this race for sometime now and was a little unsure about it. To be honest I don't know anyone who has run it. I have read about it, seen pictures on FB and have read other bloggers race reviews but all of them were blah. So that lead me to believe this little city as going to be blah. It was beyond what I expected. I didn't expect to see such friendly faces on the side of the course. (granted everyone who comes to watch a race is friendly but the people who lived in the neighborhoods are who I am talking about) The skyline was full of old churches and buildings. The parks were beautiful (exception of the high school where someone was cutting grass and trying to kill me), the old homes were amazing and the water stops with GU were plentiful.

The weekend before this race was the Island to Island Half in Ocean City Maryland and I ran that with a couple second PR. I was thinking running a back to back even would be like the National Half Marathon and the Cherry Blossom 10miler for me. Smooth, simple and PR filled. WRONG!!!!!! The week leading up to Fredrick I started getting the sniffles and it went into a full on cold. Cough, headache, chest full and nothing but non stop blowing of the nose. OMG how am I to run a half marathon if I can't even walk to my car from my house 25feet with out getting out of breath? Well I took very good care of my self, drank plenty of water and go tons of rest. It still meant for a long 13.1 miles for me. I didn't set a PR but I did finish the race in 2:18. Not bad since every few miles I would be sucking on a Halls to get me threw it. I did at one point around mile 3 or 4 walk for a while but that was because someone had the bright idea to cut the grass. Didn't this grass cutter man get the memo that people are running a half marathon and some might not be able to breath? Geesh some people.  

 


Corral for the 2 hour finish. I didn't finish in a PR of 2 hours. Oh well.





Mile 1-2

around mile 3 we ran past a Costco

around mile 4 or 5



Fredrick skyline





A garage sale in the middle of a half marathon. I had to take a picture!!!

 mile 6

One of the best signs I have seen in a long time

squished on the side of the road or known as the gutter

Some where along the course around here mile 8 or 9 is where I saw MM. I was so happy to see her because I wasn't feeling so well and really needed someone to tell me to push my self. We spent the next few miles chatting and catching up. I really haven't gotten a chance to talk to her and catch up for a while. I like to talk to her about somethings when other friends are not around. This was also just 1 day from when I found out I had skin cancer so it was hard for me to want to talk about that to any and everyone. I was more worried, scared and some what ashamed. I am not sure why I was feeling ashamed but for some reason I was. It's not my fault my mother is a red head, fair skinned woman or my father is blond with light color skin as well. Nothing to be ashamed but that was what I was feeling in that moment.

walking right threw the middle of the auction on our way to Katie and MM's cars

tractors ready for auction.



Finish line and people gathering to watch the last few half marathoners come in.



Finish line festival

Super cute picture of MM and I (too cheap to buy these over expensive pictures)

Sweet medal and half zip shirt

Found some fellow Half Fanatics at the beer stand. Go figure?!?

We finished the Half. Hooray!!!

All in all for me the race was pleasant. I got to spend some time with a couple of girl friends, meet some new friends and enjoy a new city via my running shoes. This race is part of what they call the "double". This means if you run the Fredrick Half Marathon and the Baltimore Half/or/Full Marathon they will give a 3rd medal. The race company who puts on these 2 events knows how to make bling. This past year I ran the Baltimore Full Marathon and got a HUGE and I mean HUGE medal. Granted it was the 10th anniversary but the Fredrick Half I have now hanging is not that far off of the big bling from last year.

Since I run this race and plan to run the Baltimore Full this fall I will get to collect a medal. Below is a past medal they have given out for the "Double".



Island to Island Half Marathon-Race Recap

Island to Island Half Marathon use to be called the OCMD also known as the Ocean City Maryland Half Marathon but for some reason they changed it this year to the Island to Island Half. This was my first year running this event and my 4th half in 4 months.

Just another Manic Monday….

I wish it was Sunday because that is my Fun Day! I have had this song stuck in my head just about all morning today thanks to a dear co-worker of mine.

Recap of a busy weekend:

Friday night went well I sort of forgot exactly what we did but it was Mr. Fat’s birthday so it was another excuse to eat desert before dinner. We ended up ordering a cheese pizza for dinner since its Meatless Friday STILL (insert grumpy non catholic here). This week is the last week of NO MEAT on Fridays and let me tell you this Friday the 29^th will be the eve of my next Half Marathon and I plan to CARB LOAD with MEAT! This not eating meat on Friday’s is so hard.

Pizza from up the street. I can't wait to have meat on my pizza.

Saturday was a wash out. No really it rained and stormed for hours. We got our much needed grass seeded so I am going to cross my fingers we see something green in a few weeks growing or we are out $50.00 in grass seed. I had no idea grass was so expensive.

We did however get our errands done and scored a couple new buckets of paint. My shutters are on my mind to have repainted and up before Mom comes for a visit in May. (I placed this goal on my self) I also scored a small can of red paint to paint my front door. I can’t wait to share my before and after with you all. I am almost free of 80’s turquoise. I have had a small shade of it in almost every single room in my house but now we are down to the doors and the living room. This shows progress in the house since we moved in January 2010.

Here you can see the old shutters and see what I am dealing with! 

Sunday I ran the Clyde’s 10K in Columbia here and had such a great time as always. Last year I ran this with a couple of girl friends but this year I ran it with my running club and my dear friend from work Nona.

Last year at the event. 

 It was her first 10K and I felt like a MOM at it. Making sure she was ready to go. She and I have been talking about her getting ready for a 5K and 10K for a couple of years now. Now I am going to try and talk her into running a half marathon with me. She laughs and says NO WAY but I have a feeling one day I will be seeing her.

Nona & ME

Running group at the 10K


Hope you have a wonderful evening!!

I am off to be a slave over the shutters.

Love,
C.





National Half Marathon-picture overload!

This was my 7th half marathon so far as well as my 3rd half marathon for 2011 and I scored a PR all in my 6th Team Sparkle skirt too!!

http://www.nationalmarathon.com/

I wanted to sign up for this race since I am working my bucket list. One of my bucket list items is to complete a running race in every state. This means a 5K to a full marathon. Plus I also like how close it is to home and was looking forward to seeing DC by foot. As I know DC isn't a state I still wanted to run this race and I know it's a district so doesn't that at least count for something? I guess this means I will be running 51 states in my life time then! Boy I didn't really think of that until now! (insert blond moment here)

Race eve included a full 8 hour day at work. I wasn't going to take a half day off or a full day off so I worked it out with super flexible boss to come at O'dark hundred hours and went in to get my full 8 hours in and also have enough time to get to the expo all the way down in DC at the DC Armory.  So off I trotted into work to ensure I was out by 2PM and ready to hit the metro and DC traffic on my way home.

Made it down to the New Carlton Metro stop in record breaking time. 35min to be exact! This included my drive down 95 and 495 also knows as the DC beltway. This stretch of road on any given day at any given time can be bumper to bumper cars so I got lucky! Hit the train and went right into the expo.

The expo was a good size and well organized for the most part. I did notice they didn't give any free samples of things and that is one of the things I like most about expo's is getting a chance to sample different running snacks. In fact I stopped at one of the booths that sold the new powerbar gel blast's in coca cola flavor and really wanted to have a sample before I purchased one. you can find them here
Since they didn't offer free samples and the price was only $2 I figured why not and if I don't end up liking them I can fling them out my sunroof at traffic since I will be leaving around 330 from the expo and getting into that bumper to bumper traffic that DC/Baltimore is so well known for. I never ended up having to do it. I loved them! OMG they are so delish and totally took the hunger pains away until I could get home and have a proper carb load dinner of cowboy spaghetti. If you love coca cola or cola flavored items you will LOVE these!
I went and grabbed my race number and goodie bag and sort of wondered a round in hopes my girlfriend would call. She called and we meet up for a couple minutes and chatted then I needed to get on the train and my make way home. 3:45am is going to come fast!

Made it home in what seemed like record breaking time considering I didn't get to my car until 4PM and had to drive from DC all the way back up to Baltimore. I knew it was going to be a carb load and rest kind of Friday night. I got my cloths laid out and ready,my morning breakfast and race bag all set.

Milo helping out with the first outfit picked out. 

Milo LOVES to help by stealing socks!

I was read to go! I laid on the couch and relaxed for a while and thought about all the things I might have forgotten and did my mental check list. Seems like I am not forgetting a thing. As the night went on I sat and thought about what I was wearing and how I didn't want to wear the outfit. I had already worn my Redskins t-shirt at another race and I hate to wear the same shirt twice since I only own a zillion and one shirts! So off to the closet I went to change my outfit. I wasn't going to change my sparkle skirt but I wanted to change the Tshirt.  Once I got the outfit together off to bed I went for a 3:45am wake up.

Race morning seemed to come real fast. Almost as if I laid my head down on the pillow for only a few minutes. The night before a race I never sleep well as I am so excited and pumped to add another race to my list!
Mr. P was coming with me and we were off on time to the Metro. In fact we had to wait about 15min as the station wasn't even open on yet. We got down to RFK/ DC Armory and the place was packed at 615am. The race was due to start at 7:00am sharp and I knew I needed to meet my girl friend around 630 on the steps of the Armory and I knew I had to meet at 6:20am for pictures with the Half Fanatics/Marathon Maniacs. My first one and I was so excited!!

The only 2 half fanatics at the picture!

World Record holder for youngest female marathon runner in 50 states. Also MMW's favorite blog to read!

Once pictures were over Mr P and I headed to the stairs to meet my girlfriend MMW but we never saw her. She ended up driving down and got stuck in the bumper to bumper traffic getting to the race. It was 6:45am at this point and I needed to get to the stink pot and line up in my coral. The stink pot lines were bad! I mean bad!!! They seemed to have enough but the lines were not moving. I sent Mr P off to look for a better line for me and he did. He found a bunch that were wide open!! I headed down to the coral (8) and didn't find a friend we had set to pace together as she was running late due to traffic and roads being closed. (so glad we didn't drive!) I made my way to coral 2 as I was not about to stand around in the 30' temps for much longer and off we went.

The first 4 or 5 miles were threw DC and the mall area. The sun was coming up and the Capital was so beautiful. I took a bunch of pictures threw this area of the run.

After this part of the race I didn't take pictures. The race started to get hilly and I needed to focus as I really wanted to get a PR. The race was full of fun people and I chatted it up with one of the Marathon Maniacs who is running 50 in 50 states by her 50th and she is 48 working on her 6th. I think she has some work to do!! She was running in the 3:45min full marathon pace. Speedy lady and might be the cause of my PR. Running with the speedy crowded makes you want to keep up and keep pace or you look like you are moving backwards as everyone else is passing you.

As I was coming up on mile 10 I heard someone shout out GO TEAM SPARKLE SKIRT!!! I switched my head around and it was 3 girls running together looking so cute in matching pink sparkle skirts! YAY! I shouted back cute TEAM SPARKLE outfits back. Nothing feels better then a bunch of people telling you how cute or great you look. This was my first race where I had anyone and everyone tell me how cute the gold skirt was. I was called Goldie, sparkling gold and hot momma in the gold! YAY I love being a hot momma!!! sparkle skirts here! I loved my skirt and want to thank the girls at Team Sparkle for sending me this skirt. I think this is my favorite one. It's so bright and so sparkly! Oh and I got a PR all because of it! It makes my butt and legs look fast!!!

Right after this picture it is a slow climb up to the runners shoot where I seemed to slow down and some random guy grabbed my arm and told me "hey Goldie I have been trying to catch up to you since mile 8 so it's not time to slow down now." and off we sprinted the last 0.1 miles together. I would like to thank that random stranger for doing this to me. I think I might have taken an extra on my time if it wasn't for him. I would say it was him who reminded me that the last .1 miles is the hardest.

Here's me whizzing by at mile 12.5! Mr P almost missed me.

I crossed the finish line at 2:11 a new Personal Best for me.  I was so happy at this point and hit the food lines (got my bottle of water and 2 bananas) and headed over to where I could see 1 big proud smile. It was Mr P waiting for me and so happy as he had clocked my time as well and knew I had a PR. 

After a couple pictures we headed over to the beer tent to meet some of my RG3 running friends and headed home. I was more then ready for a hot shower and lunch. I ate 2 sandwiches and took a 3 hour much needed nap. I knew I was tired and Sunday was going to be Milo and Me's first 5k and charity walk. I had a busy weekend ahead still!!! 

All in all I loved this race because it was part of the bucket list. I loved this race because I loved how this sparkle skirt made me feel. I loved this race as this was my first time as a Half Fanatic. I loved this race as well because I walked away with a PR and was home showered and feed by 11am! I didn't however like how the food lines were but really that is all I didn't like about it. I would do this race again. 


I leave you with a really funny picture of man-spandex that was at coral 2. This isn't the craziest thing I have ever seen but it was at this race. 

What is the craziest thing or person doing at a race you were at? 


I will give you a report about Milo and ME's first 5k tomorrow. Until then make it a great day!
Love,
C.