Weekend in Baltimore

Last week my dad came to visit! We had fun.

He hung out around town while I worked Thursday, and then Friday we went to Baltimore so I could run a half marathon.

We took the train. I thought the first couple hours were fun and the scenery was beautiful. But then after some delay and impatience I was ready to arrive already. And then we did, around 3pm.
 

Welcome!

We took the light rail to the convention center and then walked a few blocks to our hotel in the Inner Harbor. We checked in and dropped off our bags, then headed back out. We ate (finally) at the Pratt Street Ale House. Then we went to the race expo so I could get my race packet, and I bought a new belt that would fit my phone plus some food. Then we walked around and explored the harbor.

After all that walking my feet were ready to stop walking, since I had a race to look forward to in the morning. We had dessert at a restaurant and then headed back to the hotel. I was still able to hang out and relax a bit before going to sleep at 10pm.

Saturday morning I got up, ate my bagel with peanut butter, banana, orange juice, and coffee, and then was ready to go run a half marathon! Our hotel was right across the street from the start line, which was awesome. I went to the start, while Dad headed in the opposite direction so he could see me later along the course. We took off at 8:45.

I was in the first wave, and started pretty close to the front. Which meant lots of people passed me in the beginning as I forced myself to take the first mile easy.

I trained enough to safely run a half marathon, but I didn't necessarily train to be really fast. I still planned to attempt a PR though. (Spoiler: I did it!) Luckily the course was relatively flat. And sometimes there were good not-too-steep downhills and I was able to go faster than intended. I succeeded at negative splits, too!

Dad and I planned to see each other three times along the course. There were over 8,500 runners doing the half marathon (which eventually joined up with the full marathon course), and Dad was worried about finding me. But I knew we'd be fine as long as he was where we planned, since I'd be looking for him, too. Unfortunately he missed the first spot, but he was there as planned just before mile 5.

I ate a GU at mile 3.5 and started eating chews at mile 7. I also carried a little bottle of Gatorade and refilled it every once in a while at water stops. I felt pretty strong the whole time. I made sure to look around and enjoy the scenery, I loved reading the funny signs and appreciated the cheers along the way, and I grinned ear to ear as I ran past two women blaring Hairspray's "Good Morning Baltimore." I saw Dad again at mile 12.

The last couple miles I was getting kinda worn down, and while I wasn't really able to kick it even faster for the last mile I did manage to hang on to my pace. It felt like it took forever to actually get to the finish line though, because there was a big crowd and photographers right before we entered Camden Yards and I thought maybe that was it, but then we went through Camden Yards, which was a little lonely with very few spectators. When we got out of there the crowd picked up but the line was still a little ways off. Man oh man I was ready to stop. But I felt happy because I knew I would finish under 1:57, which was my PR from my very first half marathon.

The elusive finish line.

I finished in 1:55:12! My pace (according to my Garmin, which says I ran 13.35 miles) was 8:39. That's pretty exciting for me. I came in 77 in my division (out of 897), 416 for my gender (out of 5158), and 1306 overall (out of 8643).

I sat and stretched in the finisher area and ate some snacks, then met up with Dad (who was walking from that mile 12 point). Finishers got beer tickets, so I shared with him.

Finally we headed back to the hotel so I could shower and rest a little. Eventually we headed back out and walked to Fell's Point, where we had mussels and paella for our early dinner. After more walking we ended the night with dessert at another restaurant. (We sure ate well during Dad's whole visit.)

Sunday we got up and headed out to the National Aquarium. We saw all the fish and animals, and watched the 4D movie on sea monsters.

After the aquarium we still had some time to kill before our train, so we went to another seafood place for a good lunch. Then we grabbed our bags at the hotel and took a cab (Dad's first!) to the train station. Adios Baltimore, it was fun.

Back in Charlottesville Sunday night, Dad and I ate cheese and crackers and guacamole and chips and grapes while watching tv. Monday I went to work while he hung out on his own again. We ate dinner at the Local, followed by an evening of hanging up pictures around my house. Tuesday morning we went out to brunch before I dropped him off at the airport.

So my plan to run a half marathon as an excuse to have a mini-vacation with my dad was a success! And the PR was a nice bonus.

downtown sighting

I know you guys were hoping I'd post another picture of a pistachio shell sighting soon.

my first century!

Saturday I spent nine and a half hours on a bike ride doing the Culpeper Cycling Century. It was pretty fun.

JoAnne came to pick me up at 6:45 in the morning and I scrambled to get all my things ready to go. (Biking takes a lot of things.) We drove to downtown Culpeper and then scrambled some more to get our ride packets, use the porta potties, and get our bikes ready. Race bib on, tires pumped, sunscreen applied, socks and cycle shoes on, gloves, helmet, and sunglasses on, cue sheet and map folded and in my pocket, water bottles and computer on the bike, and voila! Ready to ride (five minutes later than the 8:30 start time).

Getting ready.

JoAnne and I have been riding together for several weekends now, and somehow I have been designated to always ride in front. I made a big effort to take it easy in the beginning, knowing that we didn't want to get worn out too soon. We had a lot of miles and many hills ahead of us. We also made sure to stop at every rest stop, which were set up about every 15 miles. They were well stocked with snacks and drinks and a couple even had real bathrooms!

Hitching post at Brightwood Store

Eating all the snacks!

The ride was really beautiful. Parts of the route were the same as the Tour de Madison I did earlier this year. The weather was also just about perfect. A couple times we got chilly (usually after restarting from a rest stop), but we warmed up. And a couple times it got windy, but it wasn't too bad.

Look how pretty!

At mile 58 we got boxed lunches. My legs were pretty sore at that point and I was grateful for a chance to stretch out and sit down. But after our break we were back on the road!

The event included a 35 and a 65 mile option, which split off from us. At our lunch stop it became very clear to us that we were probably the last of the hundred milers. There had been a few other people at that stop, and we saw two guys again at the next stop, but by about mile 75 we knew we were in the very rear. But we just kept riding.

A few miles before the last stop at mile 92 the SAG vehicle pulled up next to us to tell us the last stop had closed. Then the guy said it was five o'clock. What?!? Where did the time go? I thought it was around 3:30. Time flies when you're having fun. The SAG guy asked if we were going to be okay or if we wanted him to call a truck to come get us.

You guys, the event was over and the SAG truck was ready to drive us back to our car. How did this happen? We had no idea we were so slow. This was embarrassing. But there was no way we were going to let them take us off the road. We were going to ride one hundred miles no matter what. So we told the guy we'd be fine and rode on to the next stop for a break anyway, planning to eat our own snacks. But a different SAG vehicle (the truck) met us there and this new guy offered us snacks and drinks. He was nice. We felt really bad for his having to be with us, and we offered to take off our bib numbers and just ride on like two strangers unrelated to the event. But he said no, this happens every year. And then he proceeded to ride just ahead of us the entire last nine miles with his yellow lights flashing.

We were basically escorted back into town. Again, embarrassing. But we also found the whole situation hilarious. It's always a joking fear in races that one will get picked up by the SAG truck if you can't meet the cutoff time. It never really occurred to us that we wouldn't make the cutoff time. Guess I shouldn't have taken it so easy in the beginning. And we shouldn't have spent so much time at each stop. Lessons learned.

Anyway, the nice SAG guy met us at the car after we'd completed all 101 miles on our own. He took our picture (in front of a pretty empty parking lot, since everyone else was long gone) and gave us a recommendation on where to get some food.

We did it!

Sure we were tired and I was a little sore, but overall we were in great shape. (That's a perk to taking our time!) We had averaged 13.5 mph, which isn't that great but don't forget there were lots of hills (a 5,750 ft. elevation gain). I think we were both plenty pleased with how it all went, despite the SAG escort. And of course if either of us decides to do another century (likely), we'll pick up the pace.

(For JoAnne's version and extra photos, see her post here!)

Basement and Biking

I figured it's time I finally show you a picture or two of my new house. I'll start with the basement. (And can't promise when I'll get to another level.)

I put the TV downstairs, along with all the living room furniture I used to have in my apartment. (Though the bookshelf, TV console, and rug are new additions from my aunt). So this is a cozy reading or movie-watching room.

It's also the room where I ride my bike twice a week. I know my mom is glad I have this basement now for my bikes (my hybrid is in the big storage room behind that closed door), instead of having them cluttering up the entryway and living room like they did in my apartment. 

Usually for shorter rides I just set the bike up so I'm looking out the window and then listen to the radio. But recently the midweek rides have been longer, so I've turned it toward the TV and been watching Anne of Green Gables.

Speaking of biking, last weekend I rode 66 miles but was feeling uncomfortable in the saddle starting around mile 20. I went to the bike shop the next day and they fitted me for a new seat (my third seat for this bike so far). I also got a new pair of what should be good biking shorts. I already had what I thought were supposed to be good shorts, but these are even more padded. Hopefully between the new seat and shorts my long rides will get more comfortable. Otherwise next weekend's century is going to be rough. (Well, rougher than a century already is. I mean, one hundred miles! Yikes.)

October goals

I'm on a training schedule again! I run three days and I bike three days. The goals? Ride 100 miles the first weekend in October and run a half marathon two weeks later. Yikes.

Last weekend I rode about 50 miles. I was plenty ready for that ride to be done (it was hot, I didn't eat enough, and sitting in the saddle so long gets uncomfortable), and can't really imagine that being only half the ride. But hopefully these next few weekends of longer training rides will get me prepared. When my riding buddy brought up the idea of an October century I laughed and dismissed it immediately, but you know me. I like big goals.

On the running side, I'm attempting an abbreviated half marathon training plan so I can go to Baltimore and make use of the registration fee I paid last year for the marathon I missed due to injury. My dad is going to come too. To be honest, I'm really just training for this race as an excuse to have a little vacation with dad. It's gonna be fun. As long as I don't get hurt.

where have I been?!

Hi friends. Sorry I haven't posted in forever. Why haven't I posted? Oh, you know...

I didn't have anything to report on the triathlon or running fronts because I got lazy and fell off the training wagon. I was all set to train for another half iron right after my race in June, but my body told me it needed a little more rest. Without a goal and a training plan I'm terrible at exercising regularly. I've run maybe three times a week. I swim maybe once a week. I didn't touch my bike for many weeks. I did, however, do some group training sessions at the gym, which were fun and left me in a puddle of sweat after the thirty minutes. And last weekend I finally got on the bike for a thirty+ mile ride with a friend. It was super hilly, but I really liked getting back out there. Now I think I might attempt an abbreviated training plan for a half marathon in October, but we''ll see. In any case, I'm going to get back into a more regular exercise schedule starting next week.

Another thing that has kept me busy lately is my new house! I bought a house and moved in July. But I'm still working on unpacking and organizing and I haven't hung anything up on the walls yet, so I didn't want to post pictures. I will eventually. I've also been working on furnishing the house. I have a new (yellow!) couch but have to wait several weeks for my two (purple!) chairs to arrive. I've discovered I really like the mid-century modern / Danish style of furniture, so I've been getting some vintage pieces too (dining set, dresser, and side tables so far) that I love.

And I haven't had anything to report on the school front, because I completely failed to do any schoolwork at all over the summer. At all. I had planned to write my prospectus (the paper about what I'm going to write my dissertation on) over the summer and leave the fall semester free for studying for comps, but now that's all shifting back a little. In my defense, the first part of the summer was spent training for my triathlon and buying a house, and the second half was spent dealing with the move and the new house and hanging out a lot with a new guy. But the guy is no longer in the time-consuming picture (don't worry, it's fine) and the house will be settled soon. School starts next week and even though I don't have to drive to class anymore, I'm preparing myself to knuckle down and get to work.

So my plan is to finish unpacking and organizing the house this weekend so that next week I can get back into my normal work/study/training routine. Wish me luck.

family time and a big celebration

Last week I went home to Santa Fe to see family.

I arrived Wednesday in time for a good New Mexican dinner with my parents.

Thursday they took me to the phone store and got me an iPhone. I finally have a smart phone you guys. That night we enjoyed beer and appetizers at Second Street Brewery. Late Thursday night Ryan arrived!

Friday Dad and Ryan went fishing ("I'm the fish whisperer," said Ryan on his way out). While they were gone all day Mom and I got mani/pedis and massages! I also squeezed a five mile run in there. That evening we all visited with my grandparents for a little while and then went out for a nice Japanese dinner. We tasted different sakes, had noodles and sushi, and enjoyed fun desserts.

Saturday Ryan and I went out for breakfast. Then it was time to help get ready for the Santa Fe visit's main event.

My grandparents' 70th anniversary was on July 15, so we had a party that weekend. It was held at my parents' church, and we had about eighty people come for lunch and to celebrate Grandmother and Granddad. It was pretty neat.

Cute couple.

Then and Now pictures, and the 1944 newspaper with their original wedding announcement.

Granddad greeting his guests.

The crowd.

The cake, with some unintended Spanglish thrown in.

After the party (and a nap) Dad and Ryan and I went downtown. We had a beer at a block party at the Rail Yard, walked around downtown, and then had margaritas and nachos.

Playing around.

Contemplating nachos.

Sunday I went for another run, then joined the family at church. Afterwards we went to Tortilla Flats and I ordered the roast beef quesadillas I used to get years ago. So good. After lunch Ryan had to head back to Utah. 

Jackson

Once he was off Dad and I went downtown and visited the Site Santa Fe Biennial show of contemporary art. It was fun. Then we walked around downtown some more. That evening my parents and I just hung out at home, eating popcorn and talking.

Dad checking out some art.

And playing King of the Mountain.

Early Monday morning they drove me to the airport in Albuquerque and I headed back to Virginia.

It was a really nice time spent with my family, and I was so glad we could all be there to celebrate with my grandparents!

beach time

Last weekend I went with family to the beach! They stayed all week but alas, I could only stay two nights. It was a good short beach break though.

Saturday I drove to Richmond to meet up with them, then drove the van with Grandpa to Sandbridge (in Virginia Beach). We all stopped at the Virginia Diner along the way for lunch.

As soon as we arrived to our beach-front condo Grandpa made a beeline for the balcony to enjoy the view. So we sat out there with some drinks and snacks and reveled in seeing the ocean.

Sunni and her friends made their beeline for the beach.

 Later in the afternoon I went for a walk on the beach.

Beach sighting!

Sunday I went out to lunch with Sunni and her friends, but otherwise I stayed inside all day. It was windy out and I didn't think going to the beach would be relaxing. Sunday was also my aunt's birthday, so that night we had a nice big meal and hung out singing show-tunes and telling stories late into the night.

Sunday morning sunrise.

 Monday I finally lay in the sun and went in the water with Sunni. I love jumping waves. The water was really cold though, so we just went back and forth between the cold water and the hot sandy beach. It was fun and relaxing. And of course it required recovering with a nap as soon as we got back inside. I did a little more hanging out after that, but then left around 6:30 and drove back home.

Relaxin'

70.3: my first triathlon!

 Last Sunday I did Rev3's "Half Rev" in Williamsburg. It was my first triathlon and it was a success! (Mostly. You'll see.)

(I was in one of the last waves so that's not really my time.)

I arrived Saturday in the early afternoon. I checked in at the expo and picked up my race packet, and then I got back in the car to drive to the first transition (T1), where I checked in my bike and scoped out the swim course in the James River. (Unfortunately I didn't understand the swim course, so I remained really confused until the next morning when I asked someone else waiting to start on the beach.) The water was moving pretty swiftly, which didn't help my nerves. I breathed a huge sigh of relief, however, when I learned they decided to switch the direction of the swim from last year so that we'd be swimming with the current rather than against it. After walking along the beach for a while I left and drove downtown for a sandwich. Then I checked into the hotel and rested briefly before heading back to the expo for the pre-race briefing and to find my second transition (T2) spot. There are so many logistics in this sport.

T1, where the bikes go.

My bike, checked in the day before the race. I love how they had our names marking our spots.

The river the day before the race. You can see a red turn buoy on the left and some yellow sighting buoys in the distance on the right.

Since I was still nervous about the swim I decided to drive back to the river again, just for kicks. Plus I didn't have anything else to be doing, so it helped fill in the time. Finally I decided I'd spent enough time on my legs and in the sun, so I headed back into town to find dinner. Later that night in the hotel I laid out all my things (I had a whole suitcase packed just for race stuff) and chatted with a friend on the phone who has done triathlons to help get all my last-minute questions answered and calm my nerves. Then I hit the hay.

Sunday morning my alarm went off at 4:00, and I got up to eat breakfast. I had a bagel with peanut butter and honey, a banana, a cup of Greek yogurt, orange juice, and coffee. I also had to apply all my race tattoos (one on each upper arm, one on my hand, and some on the back of my calf). I verified that I had all the things I needed in my various transition bags, and then I finally left around 5:30. I drove to the expo/finish line to set up my T2, and then they shuttled us to T1. There I set up my stuff, used the bathroom, and then handed over my dry clothes bag and shoes. The water temperature was 80.9 degrees and hardly anyone was wearing wetsuits, so I decided not to wear mine (well, the one I'd borrowed from a friend) either. Then there was nothing left to do but head down to the water and wait for my wave to start.

There were three lagoons at the beach. The race started in the third and ended in the first, so we used the second to warm up. I was relieved to see the water looked pretty calm. I got in and swam around a little, then just hung out in the water because it was warmer than standing on the beach. Before too long it was my turn. I went through the starting line and joined my 7:25 wave wading in the water, waiting for the horn. I knew I'd be slow and awkward, so I hung out in the back. And then we were off.

As you know, I was nervous about the swim. And turns out I was right to be nervous. It was kind of a disaster.

I waded out a good ways because others were still doing it too, and then I started swimming. But very quickly I needed a breathing break. And then I tried to swim some more, but I needed more breathing breaks. I just couldn't get into a calm smooth groove. I knew I'd never make it in time if I kept standing around taking breathing breaks. The only thing to do was turn onto my back.

You guys, I did the backstroke for approximately 90% of the swim. Seriously. It was nice because I could breath and move forward, but it was bad because I couldn't see where I was going. So I'd do ten or fifteen strong strokes and then stop and look around. And usually I'd find that I was not in a good position. I kept getting farther and farther away from the stream of swimmers I could see off in the distance. Ugh. There were some kayakers and paddle boarders out there monitoring us, and they kept trying to point me in the right direction. Then I swam into the police boat, and the man looming over my head gently said I should be on the other side of the boat. It was embarrassing. I can only imagine what those volunteers and policemen must have thought about my crazy self, backstroking and weaving in a half iron race. But I finally neared the end and walked through a good length of shallow water before exiting. There were still a few people behind me and no one was telling me to stop, so I decided I must have made it under the 70-minute cutoff point.

Turns out I'd made the 1.2 mile swim in 48:30! (I keep thinking "if only I'd committed to the backstroke sooner I could have been faster." Ha.) Age group place: 27 (of 30). Gender: 103 (of 114). Total: 318 (of 353).

Glad that part's over!

After the swim I had to run barefoot almost half a mile to T1. There was even a water stop along the way.

Part of the looong way between the beach and my bike.

In T1 I dried my feet and put on socks and my cycling shoes, sprayed on some more sunscreen, lowered my bun, put on a watch and gloves and sunglasses and helmet, drank a small bottle of Gatorade, and ate half a Cliff bar. Then I ran out of the transition with my bike, hopped on, and headed off. All that transition time took 9:01. Yikes.

The biking portion was better, but still not without incident. Since I was so far in the back of the pack it wasn't too hard to pass the few people I came upon. But before long I started to get cramps (of the monthly variety...) and feared it was going to be a long and miserable race ahead. Luckily when I stopped at the first aid station at mile 17 I was able to enlist the help of a nice female volunteer who ran to her car to get me some special supplies, including Advil. It made for a really long break (I ate a gel, finished off my first bottle of Nuun, and used the porta potty in the meantime), but she was a lifesaver and made the rest of my race much more bearable.

Look that's me! On my blue bike!

 I continued biking, and enjoyed myself. It was pretty country. I wasn't terribly fast but I felt good and confident. I stayed on top of eating my chews. I took regular drinks. I averaged 16.28 mph. During the second half the seat got uncomfortable, which always happens to me, so I took a short break at the 47 mile aid station just to stand on my feet (and eat a gel and take a salt tablet). The 56 miles took me 3:26:25. Age group: 25 (of 30). Gender: 94 (of 114). Total: 306 (of 353).

In T2 I racked my bike, took off my helmet and gloves, got my Garmin (well, a friend's Garmin since mine died the weekend before the race) going, changed into my running shoes, put on more sunscreen and my visor and my IT band strap, stuffed some food in my pockets, and grabbed my little bottle of Gatorade. I ran out of transition but then stopped right away for another quick porta potty visit, and then I was off running. That transition took 5:49. (Too long.)

My T2

The 13.1-mile run was four loops, and I was surprised how hilly and "trail-y" half of the loop was. But that half was shaded and I'm plenty familiar with hills. I found a good pace and felt pretty strong through the whole run, which was nice since I'd been nervous about how running a half marathon would go after hours of swimming and biking. I also spent the entire run passing people, which boosted my confidence. (Since I was still toward the back of the pack most of the people I was passing were actually much farther ahead of me on later laps, but still. I kept up my pace and passed people on all four of my laps.) I ate a few gels throughout the run, sipped on the Gatorade I carried (and refilled with more at aid stations), ate another salt tablet at one station, and poured water on my head every chance I got.

Focused. And hydrated.

I knew my Grandpa and Aunt Judy were coming to my race that morning, so I looked for them on my run. I didn't see them on the first loop, and on the second loop I actually saw them driving away. I waved them down though, so Grandpa got to see me that once. (It was warm out and there wasn't a lot of shade for spectators, so she was taking him to the hotel. Then she came back.) Finally that fourth loop neared its end, and I tried to pick up the pace just a tiny bit. Getting to turn right toward the finish line, instead of left for another loop, felt great. I finished the run in 2:03:21. Age group: 20 (of 30). Gender: 67 (of 114). Total 255 (of 353).

Coming down the chute!

Total time: 6:33:07.

I saw Aunt Judy right away at the finish, which was really nice. As soon as I crossed the line they put a cold towel on me and my awesome medal. It took a while to catch my breath and relax, but I was very happy.

Finisher visor and medal

Aunt Judy and I moved to a shady spot so I could rest a little and rehydrate. They had a full spaghetti meal available but I wasn't hungry at all. All those chews and gels and a ton of sports drink left me feeling plenty full. Then we went back to the finish line for photos.

Leaving with all my gear. Mission accomplished!

I feel good about the whole thing, other than the backstroking fiasco. I also know I can shave more time off in several places. I have a lot of swimming work to do, but I'm ready and already looking forward to my next triathlon!