ZOOMA Training Run Kick-Off

One of my 30 by 30 things is to run with a racing club or group and I did my first of many (hopefully) group runs this past Saturday. 

I LOVED IT! 

First I need to tell you a bit about the ZOOMA racing series:

- it is a racing series that caters to women (though I think men can race if they want)

- they have an after party-expo with shopping opportunities

- get a massage after the race

- WINE for racers 21 and up!

One of the organizers was calling this the ultimate racing event with your girlfriends. And I believe it!

I'll be racing the ZOOMA Annapolis 10K on June 2nd and it is one of the races this year that I am most excited about. There are 5 ZOOMA race events across the country and they all have a half marathon and either a 5K or a 10K. They have free training sessions they set up by using a meet-up group and the first Annapolis one was the first group run I attended this past weekend. The Annapolis group is going to have training runs throughout the Annapolis/Baltimore area and they are going to have a group in VA as well. 

It was really great to run with just women. They have ZOOMA Ambassadors how lead the group on the training runs and from what I saw on Saturday, they seem to be of varying levels and speeds to keep up with all the types of runner/walkers in the group. We started and finished at Charm City Run in the Annapolis Towne Centre at Parole. Great local running store. The store had bagels, cream cheese and juice available for all the runners after our training run! 

So we started off with an "easy" three mile run around the shopping area. Some where along the way, the group I was in made a wrong turn and we had to do a few circles and extra turns to make up some ground. We ended up doing a 5K instead. (Which I saw we did in about 32 minutes! Even faster then my last 5K!) A little less then a mile in I was running along side the only other woman in barefoot shoes. We started talking about our shoes and then moved on to how long we've been running and our racing goals. It was nice talk with someone new and share a similar goal. We both agreed that the ZOOMA race season was starting off really well and enjoyed the first training run!

When we got back to the store, everyone got a ZOOMA shirt, a water bottle with the mix that will be used on the course and some muscle milk (I haven't tried that yet...) I was really impressed with the organizer and the ZOOMA ambassadors and I am looking forward to our next training run!

So Ladies, how about doing this 10K with me? It's only 6.2 miles!

2 down 10 to go (aka Frostbite 5K)

One of the very few days this year that was below freezing happened to be race day number two! The 7th Annual Valentine's (Frostbite) Chase 5K and Couples Run on February 12th at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes DE had almost 70 crazy runners out in the freezing cold and wind. Again with the racing in the wind! The first place finisher (he finished in less then 17 minutes, yup less then 6 minutes a mile) was wearing shorts. Good thing he ran fast.

As we were lining up at the start, one of the organizers was telling us that water was available just before the hill, but as they were pouring it, it was freezing. Awesome. I skipped the water station on this run.

The Dad and the kiddos got out of the car to cheer me on at the start. The Politician was doing his own little sprints to keep warm and PT and the Enforcer were covered from head to toe in coats, hats and fleece blankets. Before the start, I was a bit worried about the state of my toes in my barefoot shoes. They were a bit numb and quite frozen as far as I could tell. Luckily, they warmed up quickly as the race began.

Because of the cold, I was hoping to finish in less then 40 minutes again. After a terrible month of training in January, I wasn't expecting run much faster then my first race. I was worried about the cold air in my lungs while running and the lack of feeling in my fingers and toes at the start making my finish time a bit slower. Luckily, I was wrong! I finished in 33:27! Almost 4 minutes faster then my last race, giving me a pace of about 10:47 per mile. I couldn't have been happier!

I did come in closer to the end of the pack this time, 53rd out of 68 and 5th of 6 in my age group.

The course was an out and back course along one of the trails at the park. I'm sure in April, May or even some summer months the trail is a great place for a walk. It's a paved trail and mostly covered with trees until you reach the hill over looking the beach. But, on the coldest day this year, the tree cover meant LOTS of ice. There were a few patches of black ice on the trail and quite a bit on the hill, but luckily I didn't hear of any falls or injuries.

There were a few times during the race where I wanted to stop and walk, but after a few steps the cold would set in again and running just felt better. That was a nice change! Every time I would want to stop and would slow down a bit, I could hear someone coming up behind me. Over and over I told myself, don't get passed walking, don't get passed walking. I feel like that would be giving up on myself a little bit. If I get passed while running, that's fine with me. I am pushing my body as fast as it will go and someone else's just goes faster. I'm ok with that. It really did give me the motivation I needed to keep my feet moving.

I have to say, I have never been happier to see a bright orange cone then I was to see the turn for the last quarter mile. As the course turned and twisted back to the parking lot where the finish line was, I was looking for that clock at every turn!

At the final turn, I could see the Dad and the Politician standing next to the finish line (PT and the Enforcer were nearby in the car.) The Politician is a great cheering motivator! There is nothing like seeing your little man cheer you on to the finish. It was great. His little voice carried over the blacktop and gave me that extra push I needed at the end. He came over and gave me a great big hug afterward and then asked to go back to the car where it was warm. (By the way, this end of race photo makes me want to work on my form a bit more...)

End of race snacks were water, bananas, apples and some cookies. I had left a bottle of water in the car and I was glad for it because it wasn't frozen. I grabbed a few sandwich cookies too. Yum. We didn't stick around for the awards and medals since it was so cold outside and the kids were getting ready for some lunch. The Politician and I did step out on the fishing pier for a few VERY WINDY photos. The wind was whipping the water into the shore.


What I learned from Race Number 2:
1. Even in the freezing cold, I will get to hot for my sleeves. If the race had been much longer I would have wanted to get rid of my sleeves.
2. Little motivations for each step help me to finish the bigger goals.
3. I really enjoy cheering on the runners/walkers I pass on my way back through the course. The smiles and nods I get back are much more numerous and encouraging then those I got from runners who passed me on their way back.
4. No matter how nice the view is at the top, I am just happy to finally start going down.
5. Stepping on or around ice, will really mess up your running groove.

One of the other racers commented that "we all should have our heads examined" for running on such a cold day. Maybe we should, but the race was a success anyway! Every racer was given a red short sleeved technical shirt, not as nice looking as race #1 shirts, but the technical shirt is nice. I'm not a fan of red though, so this one will probably become a craft project later this year. I am looking forward to a warmer race with much less wind! Come on Race #3!

Wait, What happened to January

Ah, when did February get here?!? Though it feels like early spring in the bright sunshine, the first month of this year ended and we're almost just over a week into February. I have to say, I'm ready for a quieter month. In January, I had two wisdom teeth pulled (at two different appointments) and I did get two days to myself, yay, wait... The Dad got a great new job and we uprooted and planted down in a new place. All of the little things about moving, and the bigger ones,  took more time then I realized. As we settle in to February, we are finding new routines. The kids are loving their new back yard and the boys are getting used to sharing a room. PT was in the house less then 24 hours before we had a major clean up job, so she must like it here.

January and the beginning of February were busy, but good. But training, and blogging, wise... terrible. I didn't get the running in that I had hoped and I'm still not able to run the full 5k distance without a walking break. I have noticed in the gym (with all of the New Years resolutionists...) I seem to overheat very easily. I think it has to do with my new shoes. I got a pair of Merrell Barefoot Run Pace Gloves as a more normal-looking shoe. That I can wear normal socks with. At first, I thought I was getting too hot because of all the other bodies in the gym while running. Then I thought it was the socks. But I tried the shoes again on the treadmill yesterday and though my feet weren't hot initially, they definitely don't breathe as well as my Five Fingers. I think I am going to take them back to REI and get a new pair of Five Fingers instead. REI has this wonderful 100% guarantee and you can return gear after using it if it doesn't work for you for ANY reason. AWESOME! And our new living location is only about half an hour from about 3 REIs. I think the kids and I may need to take a field trip.

So for my race this weekend (Race Number Two is on Sunday,) I'll be back to Five Fingers again. It's out in Lewes, DE and I am looking forward to running near the beach. I don't think there will be any over heating this weekend. They (the all knowing weather people, ha) are calling for snow Saturday night, so hopefully if it comes, it comes sooner rather than later. Here's to hoping.

Vomit is Never Convenient

Moving, itself, is not fun. Where you are moving to, the opportunities available where ever you are going maybe fun and exciting, but the actual packing, looking for a new place, leaving the old place and all the cleaning in between is not fun. Then add a few sick kids. Awesome right?

For the past few weeks we have been looking for a new place to call home in hopes that we could be in said new place before The Dad starts his new job. All was well until we put an application in on a property. Then we were in the "waiting place." While in the "waiting place," a lot of thinking happens (or doesn't sometimes.) Thinking and worrying, in my case. Especially after the obligatory 3 day waiting period and still no word yea or nay. The I start getting antsy and begin to worry about a back up plan. As part of this back up plan, we decided to go look at a few more places late in the today.

Looking back there were signs that we should have stayed home: relator called while we're driving over to tell us two of the properties still have tenants and need more notice to be shown, two others do not allow pets (though why they don't make a note of that on the public pages I have no idea,) one other has been rented already, leaving only one property to see. (Which when we went wasn't even high enough on The Dad's list that I didn't get out of the car, I stayed and fed the Enforcer.)

So we see the ONE property and now everyone is hungry and a bit cranky so we head out for a nice dinner. (Mistake number two for the evening, we should have just gone to Chick-fil-a, but that's a post for another day.) Everyone eats a bit, though I might have been the only one who semi-enjoyed myself. Got everyone back in the car and headed for home.

Now, let me give you a few facts about the Bay Bridge. It is one of the longest over water structures in the world at 4.2 miles long. It is actually two side by side bridges. There is no where to pull over on the bridge or for over a mile after getting off the bridge. On this bridge is where PT began vomiting.

The Politician is hollering from the back seat "Stop, stop! She's Sick!" I immediately begin looking for a place to pull over, knowing full well there is no such place. And as the poor little girl empties her stomach the smell makes it's way to the front of the van. Vicious. Pink lemonade does not smell good on the way back out. Whoa. Though apparently it does not bother the Politician because he kept asking us to close the windows back up.

Luckily, I keep a change of clothes for everyone in the van (except the adults, though I've been meaning to change that because you never know when it would be good to have a spare shirt in the car.) We pulled over at the first gas station and cleaned PT off, changed her, and got as much out of the carseat as possible. It was here I was informed that the Politician had bug bites on his tush and I would need to see them when we got home. Glorious.

The remainder of our drive was fortunately uneventful.

Get PT in her bed and check out these bug bites of the Politician's. NOT BUG BITES. At first we think it might be some kind of rash, possibly poison ivy. Quickly, went to check PT and she's fine. The Politician has some kind of itchy blotches all over his legs, butt, back, arms and even one on his face. So he gets stuck in the tub with some oatmeal, while I freak out accordingly. We go through the whole day and evening and cannot figure out where he got this rash or what it is from. Our best guess is there was some thing at dinner with milk in it and he's having an allergic reaction. So he got a dose of benadril, some anti-itch cream and he catches a ride on the dreamland express.

All in all a terribly unproductive evening because in my inbox when we got home is a note from the realtor that our application has been approved. Awesome.

Some Diets I Can' Stomach

In a completely unrelated search today, I discovered the term "enlightened omnivore." Intrigued, I googled the term and one of the first links was to a blog post titled "How to Eat Meat: Transitioning Away from Vegetarianism." Apparently, there are groups of vegans and vegetarians who want to get back to eating meat again and need tips on how to do that without getting sick. The post itself wasn't what got my mind going, I actually skimmed most of it, but the comments were so very interesting. I was really surprised at the number of people that suggested eating bugs, though I shouldn't have been. I have eaten a chocolate covered cricket once, but to eat them as my main source of protein?? That would take A LOT of getting used too.

One commenter described how he makes his fried grasshoppers and suggested putting them in the freezer first so they won't hop out of the hot oil. That would be a terrifying event for a first time grasshopper frier. Imagine you've got the movie all setup and you going into the kitchen to get your movie snack ready and it won't stay put. I envision grasshoppers freaking out all over the kitchen, bouncing and hopping off everything, possibly with missing legs... TERRIFYING. Nope, that is something I am not trying at home. Thanks though.

Another string of comments was about the moral/mental aspect of being a vegetarian and the idea of not killing for food. From this sprung, a few comments about eating lamb testicles. Apparently, they are also know as "prairie oysters."That does not make them any more appealing, perhaps even less so if that's possible. I also learned that there is a Turkey Testicle Festival in Illinois right before Thanksgiving every year. There's one way to ease back into eating turkey on Thanksgiving, I won't be doing it though. I hear it is an acquired taste.

Here's the blog original blog post: How to Eat Meat: Transitioning Away from Vegetarianism | Mark's Daily Apple

Enjoy!