Army 10 Miler Recap

I flew to DC for two reasons. 1) To meet my 8 month old nephew! and 2) To run the Army 10 Miler.

I had convinced my brother to sign up for the military lottery too. So, we were both in this. We went to the expo on Friday and picked up packets and race shirts. My brother needed a sweat band so he bought that. There was nothing I needed so after that, we headed out.

Race morning came and we hopped on the metro and headed to the Pentagon. I was meeting up with some ROTErs who were also running. It was a great reunion! After checking bags, we headed to the porta potty line and chatted while waiting. While in line, we watched the Golden Knights jump. After using the bathroom, we said our good byes and headed to our starting areas. I was in the last wave so I had to wait to start. Once it was our time, we were off and running!

I was a bit nervous about meeting the cutoff time so I kept checking time on my watch. I had about an hour and 20 minutes to reach the 5 mile marker. I beat the clock! But about that time my Garmin started to flip out and said the lap data was full so it no longer kept track of my intervals. So, I had to manually keep track of where I was.

Around mile 6, there was an out and back and I ran into my ROTErs there! I kept looking for them but they spotted me first....they said it was the hot pink pants I was wearing. From there, I just kept chugging away. Once I hit the 14th St Bridge, I knew I was almost home and I could hear the DJ from the finish line at the Pentagon. The big problem here is that 14th St Bridge feels like two miles up hill. Once off the bridge, I caught up with one of the ROTErs, with about a half mile left. His Garmin was still working so we followed his intervals to the finish. On the last interval, we had an all out sprint to the end. So, my first 10 Miler was in the books!

I'm happy with my time considering I had a half the week before and an international flight. My pace per mile was dead on with my pace at the half. I'm nothing if not consistent. All in all, I would say it was a good race and if we ever get posted to the DC area, I would do it again.

Munich Half and Expo

Last Saturday, the husband and I drove to Munich for their half marathon. We went immediately to the expo at Olympic Park and it was huge! We were handed our packets by girls in dirndls and guys in leaderhosen. After picking up our race packets, we walked around the expo for a bit, purchased a few things and then decided to go check in to the hotel.

We were really under trained for this race and I was a bit nervous. Our longest run prior to the race was 7 miles. But we were both going to run intervals and just pace ourselves to get through it. Brian had decided to do 2:1 intervals and I decided to do 1:1.

We drove the car to Olympic Stadium and parked. Then we walked to the metro stop to head to our starting point (which was the half way point for the marathoners). Our race didn't start until 1 pm. The marathon started at 10 am and the organizers probably figured that most people would be past the half way point in 3 hours. So, we sat and waited and drank water and ate our peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

Then it was time to line up. We were in the second starting group (there were only two). A loud gun shot later and the first group was off. We're talking loud, this thing had to be a huge gun like an American Howitzer. We waited and then started to move up and then a second gun shot and we were off. I lost Brian within minutes of starting and was just moving along on my own. I started my intervals after 5 minutes just so I could move down the course and not block anyone.

The course ran through some neighborhoods and there were families out on the streets cheering people on. The course was pretty with no major up hills, although we did have some nice down hills to run. The course really got interesting as we were nearing the 10km marker. We ran through Marienplatz, home to the famous  Glockenspiel. There was a fairly large crowd gathered and an announcer who would give the crowd a little information on the runner coming through. After that, we rounded the old palace and then went back to neighborhood streets (albeit some busy ones). Some of the residents didn't seem to care that a race was going on and would ride their bikes on the course, sometimes in the opposite direction of the runners. That was a bit challenging. By this point, my feet were getting tired but I was too far in to stop. So I just kept up with my intervals and took longer rest breaks when I needed to and when running through a water station.

After working our way around the city, I finally started seeing signs for Olympic Stadium. On my way in, there were several runners who had already finished and were cheering people on. After running around the stadium, we ran through the tunnel and out on to the track. Yes, there were goose bumps at this point. I'm a huge fan of the Olympics and I'm kind of disappointed that the London Olympic Marathon didn't finish inside the stadium. But the fact that I was going to finish in the stadium was so freaking cool! I made my way around the track and to the finish area. Brian was there waiting after I got my medal and we just chatted about our races.

We then realized that we would have to climb a ton of stairs. That was slow going. We showered and then hopped in the car for the drive home.

(please notice world's largest race bib in the pictures. oh and there were no holes punched it it either)

Giveaway

Ragnar Giveaway! Just visit Running Diva Mom to enter!

September Resolution Recap

1. Survive Amsterdam. 
2. Lose weight (at least 15 lbs). I think just about everyone makes this resolution. I'm still losing weight. I'm not yet to 15 lbs but somehow I did lose weight while on vacation...not clue how. I'm down to within 3 lbs of the goal!
3. Read at least 12 books. 
4. Run at least 4 more half marathons. So not happening this year.  
5. Improve 5k time to under 35 minutes. So, I didn't do my 5k in less than 35 minutes. BUT...I did take it down to 37 minutes. So I'm calling that a success!
6. Improve half marathon time to under 3 hours. I really don't think this is going to happen. I feel massively under trained for the half. Race day is Sunday.
7. Commit to Jillian Michaels DVDs for 90 days (30 Day Shred, Ripped in 30, and Buns and Thighs). Considering there are less than 90 days left in the year. Not happening.
8. Start training for a marathon.  
9. Cook at least three meals per week (only one of which can be pasta). Still doing well on this one! 
10. Only eat out once per week, unless traveling. We are again doing well with this one. We just need to keep it up.

Vote for Me!

Don't forget to vote for me in the Sweaty Bands contest. Here: Contest

This is my picture:

Oktoberfest

I was traveling last week with my cousin and her friends. We planned to go to Oktoberfest in Munich and then on to Berlin. While at Oktoberfest, we thought it fitting to create rules for any future festers and ourselves based on thing we saw and sometimes experienced.


Rules for Oktoberfest

1. No crying.
2. Don't drink so much you have to be fed like a baby deer.
3. Don't tell people to meet you at an object that can move.
4. Don't ride the ferris wheel.
5. Plan ahead and wear comfortable shoes.
6. Still no crying.
7. Never take a "man-up" challenge.
8. Once you leave the festival grounds, stop drinking.
9. Make sure any decorative pins are firmly attached.
10. Don't buy hats while drinking.
11. Always attempt the photo bomb.

All in all, we really enjoyed ourselves and are planning on (hopefully) going back next year.

Resolution Recap

1. Survive Amsterdam. 
2. Lose weight (at least 15 lbs). I think just about everyone makes this resolution. I'm down 10 lbs. and even kept it off while in Italy. Boy they sure do make good food!!
3. Read at least 12 books. 
4. Run at least 4 more half marathons. So not happening this year.  
5. Improve 5k time to under 35 minutes. Our 5k is still looming at the end of this month.
6. Improve half marathon time to under 3 hours. Still working on this. Half is coming up quickly! (EEK!)
7. Commit to Jillian Michaels DVDs for 90 days (30 Day Shred, Ripped in 30, and Buns and Thighs). Oh, Jillian. The bane of my existence. 
8. Start training for a marathon.  
9. Cook at least three meals per week (only one of which can be pasta). We are kicking butt at this one. 
10. Only eat out once per week, unless traveling. We hardly ever eat out now because we are cooking. See above :)

Travels!

So, I realized I would post some travel stuff and I have completely slacked on that. So, here's the past 9 months or 274 days!

Our travels started off spending New Year's Eve in Amsterdam!

The ladies who went spent New Year's Day playing at the North Sea (it was a little cold).

We spent MLK weekend in Paris! This is the view from the Towers of Notre Dame.

In March, we went off to Berlin!

We also took a trip to Luxembourg but apparently didn't take many (if any) pictures.

For Memorial Day, we took a trip up the Rhine and Mosel Rivers!

And then my parents came to visit! We traveled to Paris (again)....

And Salzburg!

And Munich!

We will be heading to Italy for Labor Day! Munich for Oktoberfest and London for Thanksgiving. I hope you enjoyed the photo tour of Europe. More to come.

July Tracker

1. Survive Amsterdam. 
2. Lose weight (at least 15 lbs). I think just about everyone makes this resolution. I'm still losing! I haven't hit 15 yet (but that would be a bit unhealthy if I had). But the scale is moving down!!!!!
3. Read at least 12 books. 
4. Run at least 4 more half marathons. I'm going to assume this goal will not happen. I'm only registered for two distance races this year and the marathon next year. 
5. Improve 5k time to under 35 minutes. I'm working on this one. And we're registered for a 5k at the end of September.
6. Improve half marathon time to under 3 hours. I've seen some encouraging times on my Garmin while running. Here's hoping my work will may off.
7. Commit to Jillian Michaels DVDs for 90 days (30 Day Shred, Ripped in 30, and Buns and Thighs). Again, this goal isn't happening so much. But I'm not ready to give up yet.
8. Start training for a marathon.  
9. Cook at least three meals per week (only one of which can be pasta). We've gotten really good about this. But I won't be able to cross it off until the end of year. 
10. Only eat out once per week, unless traveling. Again, we're doing pretty good on this one too!

The Run That Almost Wasn't

I've been good about keeping up with my training...even though it's hot outside. Well, you might be wondering what's considered "hot." But it's been in the 80s and 90s here. Oh, that's nothing compared to the 100 degree weather you had earlier, I know. But it is when you don't have the reprieve of air conditioning. It's 80-90 outside, guess what, it's 80-90 inside too. But enough about that. So, this morning, I really needed to do a run and it was the start of a new week on Couch to 5k. I spent the better part of the morning trying to figure out how to find a workout I created with Garmin Connect on my Garmin. It ended up being a futile effort and I contacted Garmin about it. I decided I can just do the interval setting and have to remember where I was in the process.

I drink some water and head out the door. I'm on my warm up walk down to the river and off I go. I start thinking about the nice cool water waiting for me in my freezer and then start to think "Did I grab my keys?" I feel my back pocket, nothing there. "Crap! I'm locked out of my apartment, I don't know my husbands number, I have no way of getting in. Can I break into my own apartment?" Well, I continued on my way and calculated in my head when I should be half way through and turning around. But my Garmin didn't indicate I was almost half way done with my workout. "Dang it, I set the wrong number of intervals. Ok, just end the workout early and it's no big deal....but how am I going to get home?" My run ends as the temperature is topping out at 88. So, I start walking home. "Should I just sit outside and wait the 3-4 hours for Brian to come home? Is there a way I could call him? No, I don't have is number memorized and I don't know how to ask someone in German if I can use their phone." What to do, what to do? I didn't want to disturb my neighbors because it was during "Quiet Hours" but I also didn't want to look like a bum sitting outside sweating. "Could I really break into my apartment? No, that's not going to work and I would just be stuck out on my balcony baking in the sun."

I decided to buzz my neighbors, who are also my landlord's parents. They graciously gave me keys to try to open the door. None of them worked! So we tried a few more keys and finally found one that worked. Alas, I was back into my apartment and am now ordering a new Road ID with the updated information so I can actually call someone when in need.

June Wrap Up

1. Survive Amsterdam. 
2. Lose weight (at least 15 lbs). I think just about everyone makes this resolution. I lost 4 pounds while on vacation! Mainly because we were walking around so much! But now that marathon training has started hopefully this will continue!
3. Read at least 12 books. Completed this goal!
4. Run at least 4 more half marathons. Registered for Munich and Army 10 Miler now! I'm not sure I'm going to meet this goal this year.
5. Improve 5k time to under 35 minutes. Started running again! Finally getting my butt in gear!
6. Improve half marathon time to under 3 hours. Because the previous goal hasn't happened, this one hasn't either.
7. Commit to Jillian Michaels DVDs for 90 days (30 Day Shred, Ripped in 30, and Buns and Thighs). #fail This is a tough goal. 30 days of JM is really hard!
8. Start training for a marathon.  Created my training plan and started it! Three days into it now!
9. Cook at least three meals per week (only one of which can be pasta). We've really been getting better at this. I've been trying new recipes and working on trying more! 
10. Only eat out once per week, unless traveling. We hardly ever go out/order take out any more, which is good and bad. I love the local cuisine but it's healthier to cook our own dinners.

5k Recap

If you read my blog a few days ago, you know is signed up for the Welcome to Summer Virtual 5k. I completed this today! I did the first bit as part of getting back into running with the Couch to 5k program. I started it last week with a friend and then did the next day today. I always feel so accomplished after running.  But this is the beginning of my marathon (eek) training. I'm starting at square one and then will progress to the marathon plan. So the run today....it is mild outside, we had a big rain storm last night that cooled a lot down so it wasn't brutally hot. But it was very windy. My running path is a trail along the Rhine River and it's really neat to be running and have a huge barge or cruise boat pass by. I start in my town and then run toward Rüdesheim am Rhein (I don't make it all the way there as that is a 16k run one way). I pass the cute little town of Erbach and then I turned around. Because I wasn't done with the 5k at that point (I was done with the 20 minute run for C25K) I decided to run along the Rhine in my town, which means that I got to pass several docks for some of the cruise boats, the roses that are still in bloom from the rose festival and a couple castles! I love the change of scenery I have from running the same trail in a forest in North Carolina to getting to run past castles. SO cool! Afterwards, I turned back around to continue running up my street and home. It was a pretty good run/walk, although very windy.

5k!

I'm registered for the 5k! 5k/10k

May Resolution Update

1. Survive Amsterdam. 
2. Lose weight (at least 15 lbs). I think just about everyone makes this resolution. I am still crossfitting. My scale is moving the wrong way! I need to try something new.
3. Read at least 12 books. I'm now finished with book number 7 and started on number 8! This may be completed before December!
4. Run at least 4 more half marathons. Registered for Munich and Army 10 Miler now! I'm not sure I'm going to meet this goal this year.
5. Improve 5k time to under 35 minutes. I still have not run...yet. But heading out today as the weather is beautiful!
6. Improve half marathon time to under 3 hours. Because the previous goal hasn't happened, this one hasn't either.
7. Commit to Jillian Michaels DVDs for 90 days (30 Day Shred, Ripped in 30, and Buns and Thighs). #fail I stink at this goal.
8. Start training for a marathon. I'm registered for the Marathon now (Eeeek!!!)
9. Cook at least three meals per week (only one of which can be pasta). We've really been getting better at this. I've been trying new recipes and working on trying more! 
10. Only eat out once per week, unless traveling. We hardly ever go out/order take out any more, which is good and bad. I love the local cuisine but it's healthier to cook our own dinners.

April Resolution Update

1. Survive Amsterdam. 
2. Lose weight (at least 15 lbs). I think just about everyone makes this resolution. I'm still working on it and still crossfitting. But my scale is not moving! I've actually had an increase in body fat (WTF?!)
3. Read at least 12 books. So far I've read four books and I am a few pages shy of finishing my fifth!
4. Run at least 4 more half marathons. We have registered for Munich and I have decided that I'm doing the Army 10 Miler (which is not half but close enough I'm counting it).
5. Improve 5k time to under 35 minutes. I still have not run...yet. But heading out today as the weather is beautiful!
6. Improve half marathon time to under 3 hours. Because the previous goal hasn't happened, this one hasn't either.
7. Commit to Jillian Michaels DVDs for 90 days (30 Day Shred, Ripped in 30, and Buns and Thighs). Starting today!
8. Start training for a marathon. I'm registered for the Marathon now (Eeeek!!!)
9. Cook at least three meals per week (only one of which can be pasta). We've really been getting better at this. I've been trying new recipes and working on trying more! 
10. Only eat out once per week, unless traveling. We hardly ever go out/order take out any more, which is good and bad. I love the local cuisine but it's healthier to cook our own dinners.

Marathon Registration

I am officially registered for the 2013 Walt Disney World Marathon and 5k. I can't believe I did that while I have a torn calf muscle and a fever! I'm just falling apart at the seams but I'm committed!

Resolution Update Again

1. Survive Amsterdam. 
2. Lose weight (at least 15 lbs). I think just about everyone makes this resolution. I'm working on it and still crossfitting. But my scale is not moving! I have had a decrease in body fat though.
3. Read at least 12 books. So far I've read three books and over half way done with my fourth!
4. Run at least 4 more half marathons. We have registered for Munich and I have decided that I'm doing the Army 10 Miler (which is not half but close enough I'm counting it).
5. Improve 5k time to under 35 minutes. I still have not run...yet.
6. Improve half marathon time to under 3 hours. Because the previous goal hasn't happened, this one hasn't either.
7. Commit to Jillian Michaels DVDs for 90 days (30 Day Shred, Ripped in 30, and Buns and Thighs). Again crossfitting is getting in the way of this but I'd rather have the human interaction that crossfit provides.
8. Start training for a marathon. Registering for Mickey in 7 days!!! So training will begin soon!
9. Cook at least three meals per week (only one of which can be pasta). We've really been getting better at this. I've been trying new recipes and working on trying more! 
10. Only eat out once per week, unless traveling. We hardly ever go out/order take out any more, which is good and bad. I love the local cuisine but it's healthier to cook our own dinners.

I did it!

I signed up for my first international race. I will be running the Munich Half Marathon the week after Oktoberfest ends. So it's finally time to dust off my running shoes and get my new Garmin ready to run. I'll keep you updated on my progress!

Finally!!!

So, I've had an issue since before the New Year, where a spot on my heel has been a bit swollen, tender and had a dark spot. I went to the doctor and he said that it was just a scab and should heal on it's own. I kept using a ped egg to wear it down but it kept bothering me, sometimes a lot and sometimes I could ignore it. After walking around Luxembourg all day Saturday, it was really bothering me. I asked Brian to check it out and he said he didn't see anything. Well it really bothered me yesterday and I just rubbed my hand over it and it felt like there was something there. I grabbed some tweezers and just went after it. I pulled out what looks like a thin staple without the prongs. Thank goodness the Army makes dependents get tetanus shots. But since I removed the object my foot feels so much better and things that would normally hurt don't! So happy this is finally over and my foot is feeling much better!

Great Product

Sorry about the last post, I was kind of a Debbie Downer.

But I wanted to tell you about a great product I found. Sweaty Bands! Sweaty Bands They are great headbands that don't slip! They say that and they mean that! I wear these for Crossfit and when I clean around the house to keep the "whispies" at bay. I don't think I want to acknowledge how many I have but they are great! One of my favorites is the digital camo (pictured below). Sometimes they have special like a free band with a purchase, so sign up for the newsletter.

Btw- I was not paid or endorsed to write this review. This is a product I really believe it and wanted to share with all my readers!

FOMO

So, this weekend is Disney's Princess Half and I can't help but have major FOMO (fear of missing out). If we weren't living in Germany, I'd be in Orlando gearing up to be a Princess. I tried and begged to go and kept checking flights but somewhere deep down inside I knew it wasn't going to happen. I'm a bit sad because I'm "stuck" in dreary, cold Germany while I have a ton of friends enjoying the Florida sun. Also, if I was in Orlando, it would mean I would be taking a detour to see my new nephew. But again, because of other plans, I may not see him until October (hopefully). I thought I could handle it but there are times when being so far away from friends and family is hard.

I'm sorry for the kind of downer post but felt the need to get this off my chest.

Resolution Update

1. Survive Amsterdam. 
2. Lose weight (at least 15 lbs). I think just about everyone makes this resolution. The batteries in my scale died! But we have started Crossfit so hopefully this will happen soon.
3. Read at least 12 books. I've already finished two books this year, so I'm on pace to complete this one.
4. Run at least 4 more half marathons. We've started talking about running the Munich Half in October! I just need to find a few more!
5. Improve 5k time to under 35 minutes. I honestly haven't run any sort of distance since we moved. I need to get cracking on that.
6. Improve half marathon time to under 3 hours. This will happen hand in hand with goal number 2. There's a great article from Runner's World on finding your Ideal Weight.
7. Commit to Jillian Michaels DVDs for 90 days (30 Day Shred, Ripped in 30, and Buns and Thighs). I haven't even started this because like I said we're doing Crossfit now.
8. Start training for a marathon. I've decided to run Mickey in 2013 so I won't need to start until May/June for training.
9. Cook at least three meals per week (only one of which can be pasta). If I were a teacher, I would say this needs improvement. We're still trying to get settled. But once we do, cooking will start.
10. Only eat out once per week, unless traveling. We've actually gotten better about this...but Brian is the one cooking!


Once spring comes, I plan on getting out and running more. It's been so cold lately and it seems this is the time that I'm getting my annual sinus infection. I was hoping to avoid it but no such luck! By way of travel, our next trip will be to Berlin. I'm really excited about that as it'll be a new city for me and there's so much to do. 

Happy New Year!

Hi All! Happy New Year! We rang the New Year in from Amsterdam and boy was that exciting. I thought I would take a few moments to post my New Years Resolutions.

1. Survive Amsterdam. (Done!) This was important because New Years is crazy. People are setting fireworks off all over the city so it's a true test of duck and cover. They also will set fireworks off and run away so one may go off right next to you leaving your ears ringing. But I survived!
2. Lose weight (at least 15 lbs). I think just about everyone makes this resolution.
3. Read at least 12 books. I have a Nook and I need to use it more.
4. Run at least 4 more half marathons. I had fun with my last half. Yes it was hard but it was great to see that all my work paid off and I did it!
5. Improve 5k time to under 35 minutes.
6. Improve half marathon time to under 3 hours.
7. Commit to Jillian Michaels DVDs for 90 days (30 Day Shred, Ripped in 30, and Buns and Thighs).
8. Start training for a marathon.
9. Cook at least three meals per week (only one of which can be pasta).
10. Only eat out once per week, unless traveling.

I think all of these are very doable and I will update you with my progress.

I wish you all a very happy 2012!