Tag Archives: running

motivating molly: running quotes to inspire

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Visited an old friend this AM ... and got kicked out halfway through the workout. Damnit.

(Photo source: SarahOUaL’s instagram. Read her blog, follow her on instagram, enjoy.)

BD, one of my best friends (since 6th grade!), decided this year that she had finally heard enough of my “omg running is awesome you guys” ruminations and decided to try “couch to 5k,” (c25k) for herself. The c25k program literally takes you from the couch (where I was) to running a 5k. It works, it’s the bomb and I will forever praise the glory of this program.

Anyway, BD is finished with the program, and signed-up for her very first 5k on June 9. In order to pump her up, I started sharing some of my favorite running quotes with her. I get them on the regular from Running World‘s RW Quote of the day emails, (sign-up here) and they really help me out of some run funks. (Not to be confused with funky runs. Ha! Ewww.)

I’m dealing with my own racing-running battles right now – more on that to come – and I think I just realized that sharing these quotes with BD is just as much for her as it is for me. No surprise there – this only child is selfish in that way sometimes. (I’m working on it.)

Here are two quotes that have spoken to me lately. They apply to running-life and also life-life, and that’s why I dig ‘em.

“What distinguishes those of us at the starting line from those of us on the couch is that we learn through running to take what the day gives us, what our body will allow us, and what our will can tolerate.”
John Bingham, running writer and speaker

Right you are, Mr. Bingham. Is this not a lesson everyone needs all day, every day?

“There are a million reasons why you can’t. Focus on the few reasons why you can.”
Kara Goucher

First off, Kara Goucher is amazing. Team Kara. Secondly (second off?), I’ve been using this mantra to get me through the difficulty of the past few months. Running is life, my friends, and nothing exemplifies this more than Kara’s quote right there.

xoxo,
molly

Spring Awakening (aka April – I’m ready for you)

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First, a little snippet from Spring Awakening* (a musical I adore):

Ok, onto to post.

I think it’s pretty clear that I’m in a funk. My most recent posts allude to that, for sure. So I need to change things up around here. Isn’t the definition of insanity repeating the same actions and expecting a different result?

Exactly.

I choose not to be insane. At least for April.

So, what does that mean? TIME FOR SAY IT DO IT (my favorite time)! SIDI keeps me totally accountable. Really. You should try it. I have a much more detailed version to plan and accomplish my weekly workouts and, when I write it down the Sunday before each week, I totally accomplish what I say I’m going to. It’s awesome.

FITNESS:

  • Run three times a week (one long, two short).
  • Workout for a total of five times a week.
  • Lose five pounds.
  • Crush the Nike Women’s Half. (or at least, survive?)
  • Enjoy, embrace and GET AFTER my last month of half-marathon training… until July.

LIFE:

DIET:

  • “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.”
  • (aka Eat Clean)
  • No caffeine (i.e. No coffee) after noon.

No biggie. This is doable. Right?

*Bonus info: One of the stars from the original cast of Spring Awakening, John Gallagher, also stars in Newsroom – the Aaron Sorkin HBO series that I love, but most people hate. I love seeing him there because it means the universe really does care about me and my tastes and preferences. Right? Right.

Over Committed

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While I try and wait patiently to figure out what the heck is right around the corner waiting for me, that doesn’t mean I’m just staying put, physically waiting for it.

No, sir.

First of all, I hate waiting. This is why I’m usually late to everything. Whenever I’m early, I end up waiting for other people and that’s soooooooooooo annoying. And yes – I’m aware of how awful and self-involved that sounds. I’m working on it, but not too hard.

Plus, I’m so busy (who isn’t?) these days that by the time Friday rolls around, I’m too exhausted to do much of anything other than hit the gym and then hit the hay (with a glass or two of Chianti in the mix). It’s so lame it’s cool, right?

Right.

You know, typically – radio silence on my end usually means there’s some behind-the-scenes drama going on. Sadly, that is the case this time around. I’m not going to talk about it here because 1) that’s not why you read my blog, and 2) a lady has her secrets. Plus, this one is all drama and no fun. I pinky.

So I think I established I’m busy. And lame. And I sleep a lot. But I do other things, too. Like run. You may have heard me mention it a time or two. This blog is slowly morphing into an ode to running, so it’s best not to fight it.

Do you want to know which spring races I’ve signed myself up for? YOU DO? Coincidence: I was going to tell you! It’s your lucky day.

I went bonkers with the spring race registration because I needed a way to keep my running on point during this cold and windy and cold, cold, cold winter.

Summer Bodies are Earned in the Winter

Someone really needs to tell my body that, btw, because here we are in “spring,” and I seem to have retained all my winter insulation. NO MATTER.

I got things started off in 2013 with my very first running relay:
Ragnar: Miami to Key West, 2013

Spoiler Alert: It was amazing. Duh.

As I am nothing if not a procrastinator, I have yet to write my official recap. I’m still going to do it, and I’ll update the link here when that happens, because I don’t ever want to forget that crazy/beautiful experience. I would for sure do it again, but this time with twice the number of showers (as in, I didn’t shower at all, not once, nope, huh uh, no) and much less stressing about the 11.8-mile evening run.

After Ragnar, I wanted to take a one month break, and then hit training hard. When I told my running-coach, he pretty much laughed in my face. Only it was over email, so I can’t be sure. But laughing was implied.

Why? Well to start, I’m running two half marathons back-to-back starting with the Nike Women’s Half Marathon in DC on April 28…

Nike Women's half marathon 2013 DC… followed one week later with the Frederick half marathon:

Frederick Running Festival 2013

… on May 5. CINCO DE MAYO. My former coworker and running friend GS suggested I run it in a sombrero. Silly gringo. That doesn’t even make sense.

Oh, and right before the Nike Women’s Half, I signed-up for the lottery for the Cherry Blossom 10 miler and actually was accepted. For the second year in a row.

Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run 2013

Thankfully, reason took over, and I transferred my registration to a friend, IS. He was psyched, I got out of it and everyone wins! I know I’ll register for it next year, and then not get selected the year I can actually run it. Such is life.

Except I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t turn around and register for ANOTHER race. This time, the Sole of the City 10k on April 20. Yes, the weekend before my first of two back-to-back halfs (halves?).

Are you still with me? If not, let me summarize: Molly = Idiot.

The inaugural Sole of the City 10k was last year and I had so much fun running it. Proof. So why not sign-up again? I’m not going to race it, just run it nice and even as a tempo run for the next weekend’s half.

After May 5, I think I’m gonna chill with the running, maintain a 5-mile base, and work on other things until July… when I gear up for round 2 with this guy:

#baltimorerunningfestival

So yes. You could say I’m over committed. I’d have to agree with you. But running has changed my life, so I can’t say I’d have it any other way.

If you’re running one/all/any of these races, let me know! We can meet-up and maybe YOU can tell me what it is I’m waiting so patiently for.

We’re Here (Because We’re Here)

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I wrote the post below on February 18. FEBRUARY 18. And then, I didn’t post it. Until over a month later. But I think I was getting at something good, so I’m gonna go ahead and post it today (with a few additions) because I think the same question applies to my mental status today. The important thing to remember is this: I was not sick last week. I was sick the week of February 11. The end.
__

When one is literally falling apart at the seams – as in, you have a cold – it’s easy for one to fall into that trap of OMG-WHERE-IS-MY-LIFE-GOING-I-DON’T-DO-ANYTHING-PRODUCTIVE-AND-WHY-CAN’T-I-FIND-MY-FAVORITE-WATCH-OH-LOOK-MY-NOSE-IS-DRIPPING-AND-I-DIDN’T-EVEN-KNOW-IT-HOT-COLD-SWEATY-ACHY-MAD-SAD-SNEEZE. Ya with me?

I had that kind of day every day last week.

Spent the entire day wallowing on the couch, sneezing, coughing and catching up on my dvr. #edgarallenpoe #thefollowing

(BTW – The Following is awesome, and mad props for all the Edgar Allen Poe references, but holy hell is it scary.)

Today… today is finally a bit better. I don’t quite feel like my life is in a sudden free fall as I was wont to feel this whole past week. My weekend was a train-wreck of over-scheduling, but at least I could alternate breathing out of each nostril. PROGRESS!

So where are we? A lot of things and a lot of nothing has happened since the last time I updated you:

What else is there? Life is pretty good.

Hey thanks, valentine. #officeart #ravens #superbowlchamps

We’re here, after all.

But.

What is that part of us that always feels like more is coming? Is that just my body, wishing for spring? Is it my age: 33 going on 13 but, really not at all? Is it the lonely Sunday vibe? You know – the one where you went for a run, went grocery shopping, cleaned up a little, watched CBS Sunday Morning News, read the NY Times (only the good bits), went to yoga… only to crumble into a pit of despair?? You don’t do that? Me neither. Stop staring at me.

What is it?

I hate being so cliche, but I feel like it’s just around the river bend… so close I can taste it. But WHAT THE HECK IS IT?

First one to tell me gets a Ray Lewis cupcake, on the house!

Sigh.

P.S. Only nine more days until Opening Day for Orioles baseball. Let’s get after it, Orioles!

Love. 🐦🏈 🐤⚾ #badbirdsofbaltimore

Rehoboth Half Marathon Recap (aka My First Race-I-Didn’t-Race)

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View of the start, via the Rehoboth Seashore Marathon's Facebook page

View of the start, found via the Rehoboth Seashore Marathon’s Facebook page.

This isn’t really a race cap because… I didn’t really race. I just ran. Sure, I thought I would feel better/stronger/more trained, and there was the idea that – if my legs were up for it – I would try and PR on this notoriously flat and fast course… but sometimes your body has other plans. On Saturday, the latter is what my body chose for me. But don’t mistake my tone for disappointment because nothing could be further from the truth. I had a great weekend, and you get to hear alllllll about it. Lucky.

On Friday, I left work exactly on time, as planned, but I still encountered traffic from Baltimore to Annapolis, Annapolis to the Bay Bridge, and the Bay Bridge through the Queenstown Outlets. After that, though… it was smooth sailing. Despite the rain. Since I was running behind, and unsure that I would make the 8 p.m. packet pick up, running buddy JK did the honors for me. She did a good job guessing both my size and color preferences:

Rehoboth Half Marathon 2012 Swag Bag

I love a long-sleeved and neon race premium. #win

I keep joking lately that I have all this great gear for night-running now… trouble is, I haven’t managed to do a good job actually getting out to run at night.

Details.

We were supposed to stay at our Fenwick Island beach house, but Sandy made that impossible as we had to close it up early… so instead, we stayed at the Holiday Inn in Rehoboth. This turned out to be great for two major reasons. 1) It was super-cheap, super-clean, and super-close to the start and 2) I didn’t have to clean-up when I left! This means we left for the 7 a.m. start time at 6:30 a.m., had no trouble parking very close by, and had plenty of time to hear the National Anthem, porta-potty, and get ready.

Rehoboth Seashore Marathon 2012 starting line

For me, “getting ready” means taking off the password protect on my iPhone so I can scroll easily through songs and/or easily pull up a podcast if I need to zone out, readying my playlist, adjusting the height of my ponytail, applying chapstick, and checking-in on foursquare. You know, all of the important things.

Moments before the race start, JK and I took a (blurry) picture together and promised that we’d treat this race like a long run and just take it easy. She was nursing a knee injury, and what was my excuse? Total and utter lack of training. I just didn’t want to embarrass myself. In fact, we both considered bailing on the race, but ended up talking each other into it.

Molly and JK at the start of the Rehoboth Seashore Half Marathon 2012

We also promised that if either one of us felt really great, they could break away at anytime with no hard feelings. Turns out, I wouldn’t have to worry about that. Sigh.

Rehoboth Seashore Half Marathon 2012

Rehoboth Seashore half marathon start featuring me and JK! Photo source: Rehoboth Seashore Marathon Facebook page

I love the picture above because I look like a *real* runner.

So, almost immediately, I knew this wouldn’t be a PR. In fact, my legs felt tight and heavy from my very first step. I kept hoping that it would change after a couple of miles, so I busied myself with talking to JK and taking in the views. Through the first out-and-back – which was about 4 miles – this kind of worked. There were houses to look at, ocean to enjoy, state parks to admire, and the super-fast runners who were on their way back before I even got out. I saw my running coach who was looking speedy and confident… I thought I spotted one of my favorite fitness bloggers, Theodora, and I saw some other running-group buddies. Fun!

Run like you stole something! #rehoboth #beach #marathon #rbmarathon #seashorestriders

(I don’t know that dude, but I appreciated his sign which I saw twice!)

As we headed west, and then north onto the trail… I knew that my legs weren’t ever going to warm-up and shake-out. They were lead pipes and I was dragging. I wanted my vanilla-bean Gu at mile 6, but I made myself wait until mile 7.5 in order to distract myself. In hindsight, this was a bad move. You’re supposed to take your Gu 15 minutes before you need it, and I needed it at mile 6. Now I know.

See! All these games and mind-tricks to distract myself. Long-distance running is so mental. Or maybe I’m just mental.

I knew from looking at the course map that the turn around wasn’t until mile 9. At mile 8, I was wondering if I should just turn around early. No one would know. No one, except me and JK. Which is why I hung in there.

At this point, JK started to break away and I told her to go on without me. I was tired, I was hungry (a first for me), I was dragging, I was thirsty and my feet were KILLING ME. There were stones in my shoes from all the trail running, but more importantly, my shoes were too old, I knew it before the race, and I failed to do anything about it… so I just dealt with the ache. And I so badly wanted beer around mile 10, which is normal for me.

I hung in there and finished the race with not a whole lot of excitement… but a huge amount of relief. I completed my long run, I didn’t back down, I didn’t wuss out, and now I could drink all the beer. Alllllllllllllllllll the beer.

So, after JK and I went to the car to grab some warm clothes, we went back to the tent and enjoyed what is certainly the best post-race party ever.

Together we ate various combinations of: BBQ beans, pulled pork, hamburgers, veggie burgers, PANCAKES (favorite #1), cesar salad, coffee, MACARONI AND CHEESE (favorite #2), and BEER. Delicious 16 Mile beer. They were offering three types of beer: an IPA (I think Inlet India Pale Ale), Amber Sun Ale and Blues’ Golden Ale. I went with the Amber Ale and it was delicious  refreshing, and everything I had dreamed of drinking around Mile 10.

I finally checked my phone, and realized Theodora (whom I thought I saw running earlier, but wasn’t sure since I don’t actually know her IRL) had tweeted to me:

I was happy to get the chance to meet this person who I didn’t know but read her blog daily!

Mollytics and Losing Weight in the City

I met Theodora from Losing Weight in the City. She looks adorbs and I look… special. And smushed. Why must I always looks so smushed #pugface?! Sigh.

She was, naturally, super nice, and we talked running for a good long while. Nice to meet you, Theodora! If you ever decide to run the Baltimore Running Festival, you’ve got a place to stay and a tour guide!

I needed more beer, and I need a massage, so JK and I did just that. We beered (again) and went to wait in line for the massages. This is one of the best things about this race (and probably other small races): Everything was easily to get to. No lines for food! No bottle-necking at the finish! No wait for beer (unheard of)! And only a twenty-minute wait for a 10-minute massage. How blissful!

The masseuse asked me if I had any areas of concern. I love when they ask because boy did my left calf need some attention. It immediately felt better, and she gave me some stretches to do on my own.

One other thing i’d like to mention is that the band was awesome, too. The party atmosphere was great and it absolutely lived up to the hype. I will definitely, definitely, definitely do this race again… and I’ll try and make it a regular thing. I love it!

After we left the post-race party, JK and I went to my favorite coffee shop, The Point Coffee House, took showers, took naps, then rallied and went to paradise, aka Dogfish Head Brewing & Eats:

Dogfish Head Brewing & Eats

Why drink one beer when you can drink five…

Dogfish Head Beer Flight (l to r): Namaste, Punkin, Cypher, Theobroma and Midas

… is what I always say.

Thanks Rehoboth Beach Running Company – it was a great event, a great weekend and I can’t wait to be back.