The Great Equalizer

Today I did the Fountainhead Off Road Half Marathon and I am already feeling it. Tomorrow I am going to be stiifffff.

It was an absolutely beautiful race through the woods and along the water, but oh my. The hills. Oh, the hills. I thought last week's Run For the Dream Half Marathon was rough with it's 'rolling hills,' but those were baby hills compared to this trail race. Seriously, trail running is the great equalizer. No one is immune to wet feet from crossing creeks, hills so steep you almost have to use your hands to help you climb up or just to save yourself from slipping in the shoe-sucking mud. Then the blisters happen because of those factors and when a blister pops open while running, it is the worst feeling. I've considered having my pinky toes removed during my states of delirium after a blister pops during a race. It's that bad. Obviously, no PR was made, but free pizza and diet coke at the finish line put this race pretty high on my favorites list.

I had also checked out a running trail yesterday close to where I'm staying that I think I'll be using quite a bit for my long runs this summer. It, too, ran along the water and gave me lots to look at, which is good because I know there's a 25-miler hiding somewhere in my training plan.

I also have to brag a bit on my hair yesterday. I did a French braid crown that was added to my French braid. Mind blown.

Now, I'll leave you with my running plans for the week:

Monday - 5 miles

Tuesday - 4

Wednesday - 6

Thursday - 4

Friday - rest

Saturday - Baltimore 10-miler!

Sunday - 4

So close!

I did the Run for the Dream half marathon yesterday in Williamsburg, Va. and the 6 miles of 'rolling hills' won. While I still got a new PR of 2:01:40, I didn't manage my goal of a sub 2 hour. So close! Maybe in the fall.

Besides that, it was a beautiful run. We ran through colonial Williamsburg, ran up and down the parkway and did a lap around William & Mary's stadium track. It was hot, hot, hot outside, but there was a pretty constant breeze that saved my life and they did a good job with the water stations.

We also had some great food while we were there. The night before the race we had she-crab soup, and I think it's my new favorite thing - well I guess just crab in general because I had it with a crab quesadilla and this was after the crabmeat cheese steak from Friday night.

After the race, we had a massive brunch in Williamsburg, that I refuse to be ashamed of devouring every last bite because I had just run a half marathon, of smoked salmon eggs benedict (another favorite), shrimp and grits and hash browns.

After that, we headed to Yorktown solely for this amazing wine shop called River Fruit Tropical Wines, where they have every flavor of fruit wine that you could possibly imagine, plus... Wait for it... Chocolate covered, frozen, key lime pie on a stick. I'll wait while you reread that description and let it sink in... And yes, it is everything that it sounds like it would be.

And yes, that is chocolate on my face

Now for the running schedule this week:

Monday - 6 miles
Tuesday - 4
Wednesday - 6
Thursday - 6
Friday - rest
Saturday - 5
Sunday - 13.1. I signed up for another half marathon - Fountainhead Off road half marathon. So, I won't be able to get that sub2, since it's a trail, but I am expecting a beautiful run.

Busy, busy, busy

It's been a couple days since my last post because I've been swamped with work, but I'm currently on my way to Williamsburg for the Run for the Dream half marathon! And even though I've been exhausted all week, I still fit in a couple 4 milers and I even hopped on a bike for 11 miles for some cross training (and paid dearly for it the next day with a sore bum!)

I haven't made any exciting recipes lately, but I did have some amazing crab last night for dinner from Casey's Crab Co. Me and the hubs shared some hot crab dip with Ritz crackers and then we had a crabmeat cheesesteak (the one and only, according to the menu). Man, oh, man was it tasty! It had a load of crabmeat, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, cheese. Everything that makes a great sandwich. I may be checking them out again before I leave.

Now wish me luck on tomorrow's race!

Meatless Half Marathon

Meatless Half Marathon doesn't quite have the same ring as Meatless Marathon, but not every title can be a winner.

I did the Alexandria Running Festival Half Marathon this morning and before I tell you the time, take this into consideration - "Remember the feeling you get from a good run is far better than the feeling you get from sitting around wishing you were running," -Sarah Condor. So, good or bad, at least I did it.

Now, the time...*drum roll*...
well first, let me add that Runner's World magazine gave me the guidance to go into a race with three time goals - the first is your 'having the best race day ever and the wind is in your favor' goal time, the second is the more reasonable 'I pushed myself and I'm happy' goal time, and finally, your 'I better be bleeding or limping if this is my time' goal time. My three were a sub 2 hour (even 1:59:59 and I would be ecstatic), 2:10 and 2:20.

Knowing this, *cue drum roll* 2:03:25! So, I wasn't as excited, BUT it was still a PR! It beat my last one of 2:07 from the Woodrow Wilson Half Marathon from October 2011. And either way, it was a really great race. The weather was perfect - cool, but not cold, sunny, and no humidity. Unheard of in these parts at this time of year. Fingers crossed for these great conditions next weekend at the Run For a Dream Half Marathon in Williamsburg, VA. 

Now that we've chit-chatted about running, time for some food talk. After the race, me, the hubs and a friend went to Bread & Chocolate in Old Town Alexandria for my absolute favorite brunch item - eggs benedict with smoked salmon. Seriously, the egg yolk, hollandaise sauce and the saltines of the salmon was a.m.a.z.i.n.g after running 13 miles. And let me tell you, you had to have just run a half marathon to eat it because it runs you about 20 Weight Watchers points! Totally worth it.

For dinner, I was too tired, and lazy, and hey, we don't have much food in the house because we're moving, so we went out to eat again at Grilled Cheese & Co. It is a gourmet grilled cheese restaurant. Oh dear.

I got the Veggie Delight and the hubs got the Crabby Melt and we both got a bowl of tomato soup because every good grilled cheese has tomato soup on the side. Mine had harvati cheese, roasted veggies, olive tapenade and black pepper aioli. Hubs had Monterey Jack cheese with crab meat because this is Maryland!

The tomato soup had big chunks in it and was topped with pieces of Parmesan cheese and croutons and the sandwich had hot, gooey cheese and you could taste the olive tapenade with every bite. I can't decide if I liked mine or hubs' better with the sweet, creamy crab dip spilling out the sides. And then... We went back up... And bought ANOTHER. But we shared it and it was the Sweetest Thing with brie, mascarpone, raspberry preserves and chocolate chips, so, technically it was dessert. Do you see why I had to join Weight Watchers?!

They even serve an 'original' with american cheese if you want to stick to the classics.

I don't even want to think about running right now, but I should probably mention my running plans for the week:

Monday-3
Tuesday-4
Wednesday-5
Thursday-4
Friday-4
Saturday-1
Sunday-13.1

Now, put me to bed!