Posts

Race Review: Philadelphia Marathon

By -
Image
Just over a week ago, I ran the Philadelphia Marathon for the second time. Both times, I ran as a charity runner for the Parkinson’s Foundation.  Here’s my review of the race overall. Course - mostly flat and rather fast, I enjoyed the course both times! There were a few hills- some steep and some rolling, but overall a flat run. The second half is long “out and back” along the water. This year, the weather made this really tricky (rain, snow, AND sleet- yuck) thanks to the wind. Crowds - the first half is much easier for spectators, so is much more crowded, but overall, it’s awesome. Special love to the people during the second half who had tissue boxes for sharing.  My family came to cheer me on and was able to walk to see me at three different points, and then the finish. The RaceJoy ap worked really well. Premium- it’s a rather lame shirt and I’ve gotten better premiums for much smaller races. This is the one area I can say could use improvement. The medal is awesome...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hip Surgery Survival Hacks (Especially For Those Who Live Alone)

By Unknown -
Image
So...you, too, huh? You're going to have (or thinking about having) hip arthroscopy? I am 10 days into my recovery from my first hip surgery. I've previously had four knee surgeries and I'm slowly learning this is a whole new ball of wax. A few days before my surgery I went online to look for "tips" to help with recovery and didn't find much. Every day I am figuring out new things, so I figure I might as well share them in case I can help someone else. I'll mention a little about the procedure I had done and then on to some things that I've found really helpful in the days since surgery.  The surgery was on my right hip (so right off the bat that means I can't drive for 6 weeks). Because of a pretty significant area of cartilage loss, I saw two different surgeons--one who does arthroscopy and one who does an open procedure--and debated over which type of surgery I should go with. I opted for the less invasive arthroscopy and hope I will see som...
Post a Comment
Read more

Race Review: GEICO Tunnel Run 5k

By -
Image
This race is a hidden gem for a great cause! Full disclosure: I don't even like driving into the Ft McHenry Tunnel . I have a "worse case, horror movie" mentality when it comes to driving this. But, I love that my sister works for the Special Olympics of Maryland so I happily said YES when she asked me to run this race. When we got there, I asked my 6 year old if she wanted to run- and she said yes. It was her first race. She walked/ran with my husband. Yays The cause . Nothing was more exciting than running along side athletes who are so brave!  Before the race, we said the Special Olympics oath, which I had never heard before. "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." This was a motivating factor, and a quote I will carry with me.  There were a number of Special Olympics athletes who were participating in the race.   The course. The tunnel! We ran under water. Think about it- a 5K under water!  The tunnel was clean...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ode to Some of My Un-Favorites

By Unknown -
Image
I began this year with a ridiculous encounter with yoga .  I was not impressed, in the slightest, and had no intention of a repeat attempt.  The year moved along, and so did I...all the way to Seattle.  I started a new job and attempted to settle-in to new responsibilities, new expectations, and a new home.  And somehow,  a month ago I gave yoga another try , this time with added heat, high-tempo music, and weights.  Being in a hot yoga class was not something I ever would have predicted. But what's even more surprising than my initial foray into hot yoga is that, a month later, I'm now going 2-3 times a week.  Somehow I have found myself establishing a bit of a routine.  But that's preposterous!...I hate routines!  How could this even be happening? Well here's the deal:  the first month and a half of this new job has been all-consuming and exhausting.  I have regularly spent late nights in my office after the school day ends an...
Post a Comment
Read more

What the West Coast Has Done to Me Now

By Unknown -
The following statements may not make sense to those who know me. 1. I went to a yoga class 2. It was hot yoga 3. It involved weights 4. This was on purpose 5. It was the second straight day of going to a yoga class If it's possible, I'm even rolling my eyes at myself.  Who have I become??  I move to the west coast and now I'm going to multiple yoga classes in a week? I'll start here:  There are two things that I know I need, no matter where I live.  a) Fellowship (thanks to Matt for making "fellowship" part of my regular vocabulary).  2) Physical challenges. ...  This yoga thing was both fellowship and a physical challenge.   But,  I assume the reason you're here is you want to know how a profuse sweater like me handled hot yoga.... The studio starts out at 93 or 94 degrees, plus some humidity.  I have no idea what the temp reaches once it's filled with people working out.  But as I walked into the studio and had a wall of w...
Post a Comment
Read more

Race Review: Frederick Half and 5K

By -
Image
We completed the first leg of the King Crab series this past weekend with the Frederick half .  We also did what the folks in Frederick call a "nut job" and ran the 5K Saturday and the half marathon on Sunday.  I ran a recent best time in the 5K and wasn't too far off on my half (20 seconds over my best).  It was a nice weekend of running. Not a race I would plan my life around requiring to do, but it was a nice run!  I can't really explain what made it a nice run, with two really good times, and I'm not dying to do it again.  The weather was chilly but nice for running.  Yays SWAG and Medals - finished the weekend with three medals, a t-shirt and a pull-over.  Nice branding on all swag. The idea of starting the 5k and finishing both races on the horse track Super cool, great stands, easy to spot finish line! Boo Bag check for half marathon - way too far away and it was COLD!  The reality of finishing both races on the ho...
Post a Comment
Read more

Race Review: Hot Chocolate 15K Philadelphia

By -
Image
I ran the Hot Chocolate 15K this winter for the first time.  It was also my first race in Philadelphia and my first 15K.  This is a series of runs, held throughout the country.  It was a great time for me and I felt awesome.  Below are my race review highlights. Yays The course Scenic at the start (Rocky Steps, and other landmarks!) and then a flat out-and-back Bag Check Easy process and convenient location in start/finish area. The GeoTag See example below.  Quality geotag, right?! The Medal Looks good, and mentions the city on it! The hot chocolate I'm not a huge hot chocolate, or any chocolate, kinda person...but this lived up to the hype! Boos Parking We ended up parking at an overpriced art gallery garage.  It was a pain to get in and out of the location. No day-of packet pickup with a super small expo with bad parking This was a logistical nightmare from planning to execution.  Limited parking, rush hour tr...
Post a Comment
Read more