Drymax Sport Socks – GIVEAWAY

October 13, 2009 by · 52 Comments

A few weeks ago I did some MAJOR Blog stalking! It started out very innocently: it was a Monday morning; I was reading blog posts and race reports from the weekend and just happened to find a post about Drymax Socks, written by an Ultra runner who swears by them (no blisters for her after a 100 miler). Well, then I just happened to spend the next few hours (yes, more than one) blog stalking everyone who runs, blogs and swears by Drymax. From that moment on, I knew I needed a pair. ASAP.

Bob, at Drymax Socks, is awesome – and the reason why I am hosting this awesome giveaway! After said stalking, he sent me 8 pairs of socks: a few for my blog readers, and a few for me (I’ve already given a pair to my mom). I haven’t stopped wearing them since they came in the mail. These socks are wonderful – and totally keep my feet dry and blister free. As an avid runner (and running for almost 20 years) my feet are NOT pretty. I had finally accepted my long term relationship with blisters and realized that not even the most expensive pedicure would make my feet look good – until my feet met Drymax Socks. It seems, that blisters and my feet, are breaking up (and the foot modeling business may be in my future).

Seriously, though, one of the best things about these socks is their versatility – they are made for different activities and weather conditions: hot weather running, trail running, cold weather running, tennis, walking, maximum protection, etc. Finally a sock that is made for everything that I do!

And, in case you don’t believe me – here’s website proof:

Drymax Socks Actively Prevent Blisters
Drymax technology socks were designed to actively prevent blisters.

1) Drymax socks fit because they come in 5 sizes, and were developed on special 3D foot shaped models which accurately represent the human foot.
2) Drymax socks do not irritate skin because they are soft and seamlessly smooth on the inside.
3) The inner layer of Drymax fibers, along with vents built into the socks, allow liquid & vaporized sweat to pass through to the separate outer layer of the sock, then to the shoe lining. Blisters caused by sweat vapor or liquid sweat are prevented because Drymax fibers stay dry, breaking the Blister Cycle.

So, if you are as excited as me about living BLISTER FREE – you are in luck!! 2 lucky winners will win Drymax Socks (2 pairs/each – size Medium)!!

Here’s how to enter:

1) Go to the Drymax website and blog. Read some of the incredible stories about runners and Drymax socks (one Drymax lover got MARRIED in her socks!!). Leave a comment about your favorite sock and why you want and need to live blister free.
2) Become a I RUN LIKE A GIRL follower
3) Link to this giveaway on your blog…or tell others about the giveaway.

I will announce a winner on Monday, October 19.

Happy Running!

Filed Under: Uncategorized ·

Army 10 Miler (ATM)

October 7, 2009 by · 27 Comments

Race 4 of 4, in 4 weekends

Every year since I have lived in the DC area, my mom has come up from Florida for a Girl’s/Army 10 Miler weekend. My favorite part about the weekend (besides running 10 miles) is that I get my mom all to myself! When I go home to Florida, I have to share her with my dad and sisters – Army 10 Miler weekend, it’s 100% uninterrupted Mom/MP time – and I love it! Since my mom is the reason that I am a runner, it seems fitting that our girl’s weekend would include a 10 mile run. No shopping sprees or mani/pedi’s for us – we are all about the Army 10 Miler!

Expo: One statement – I love Expo’s! I love getting 20% off running shorts. I love discounted running shoes. I love One More Mile slogans, like “One Bad Mother Runner” and “Toenails are for Sissies”. I love to people watch.

And this year, I love TRX. Since the website says it better than me, TRX Suspension Training gives athletes, military personnel and fitness pros a complete total-body training tool and the cutting-edge training programs they need to take their performance to the next level (yes, I will) . The main reason I love TRX: I won one – for free – by winning the “low row” contest. My new friend Shawn (see picture below), told me that he would give me one, on the spot, if I could do 30. I made it to 24 and had to call it quits. However, 24 placed me #1 for most female rows. So, I still won (awesome, right?!)! I seriously think that TRX will take my workout routine to a whole new level – and I can not wait to start using it! (Thanks Shawn!)
After we left the expo, with new shorts, a pair of running shoes and 3 running tops, we headed to my favorite pre-race restaurant – Faccia Luna – and ordered a delicious pizza. Since high school, I have eaten pizza before every road race – it’s the one routine superstition that I can not give up. Delish dinner with mom and BJ, wine, dessert – and off to bed. I needed as much “dreaming-of-a-PR” sleep as possible.

Race Day: We woke up to awesome weather – it was a little chilly but I knew it would warm up, so I wasn’t concerned. The forecast: 72 and partly sunny. I love awesome running weather! Mom, BJ and I got to the race about 1 hour before the 8am start. We got to see the beautiful sunrise, the Golden Knight parachute team and cheer on the Military Veterans and amputees who started at 7:45am. 8am race start – I was ready to rock the ATM!

Since the 2009 Army 10 Miler marked the 25th Anniversary of racing, they opened the race to 30,000 runners! Since there were 30,000 runners, they had specific waves for specific race numbers (all color coordinated by having same-color race numbers and balloon arches indicating the wave). Since I was bib number 2245, I was in the wave (#2) behind the elite runners. However, like any big race, with 30,000 runners, 96 year old, Grandma Betty, with bib number 29,987, thought she could start in wave #2, too. Sorry, grandma – you can’t! My biggest frustration (besides not enough water) is runners who think that they can start whenever they want. There are wave starts, bib numbers and timing chips FOR A REASON! If you’re not in my wave, don’t start running with me!

Miles 1 – 1.5: I spent the entire first mile (and next half mile) running in and out of people that started in the wrong wave. I had to slow down, break my pace and actually walk around people. I had to yell: “on your right”, “or your left” and “in the middle” too many times to remember. Seriously, people, you think that’s acceptable?! Now, please don’t get my wrong, I am not an elite athlete nor do I think that I am “so awesome” that I’m not human, but I just don’t understand why people start in the wrong wave. It is clearly marked, there are a million color-coordinated balloons to help you, should you get confused, AND, for the love of God, you know you are not running that fast!

Surprisingly, I crossed Mile 1 in 7 minutes (it should have been faster but honestly, I’m surprised it was that fast).

By mile 4 I realized that I was consistently running 7 minute miles and wondered if I could keep that pace for 6 more miles. I felt really strong – plus, my mom gave me some awesome advice the night before. Awesome mom advice: it doesn’t hurt any more to run a 7 minute/mile than it does to run a 7:15/mile or a 7:36/mile (my pace from last year). What the hell – I’ll keep running a 7 minute mile – and I’ll be done sooner! I love mom advice, especially because moms are generally right.

I saw BJ around Mile 7 (for me – and Mile 5.5 for him). We always get excited to see each other and I love when he tells me that I look strong, or yells: “Go Melly go!” Since he knew that I was a faster runner than him, even before we started dating, he is the most supportive and awesome boyfriend on race days!

Approaching Mile 8, I still felt really strong, continued to pass people and knew I only had 2 miles left. A little blister started to form (I really need some blister advice – how do I make them stop??) – but with 2 miles left, I knew that I could run through the annoyance and deal with it later. Still on a 7-ish pace, I tried to pick up the pace, even if just a little tiny bit. I hit Mile 9, only 4 laps around a track left, and started to pass runners one by one. I think I’ve mentioned this before, but as a former 400m runner, I still feel really strong at the end – and am usually able to find a little extra kick somewhere deep down!

With (probably) half a mile left, I looked down at my watch and realized that if I kept running hard (and fast), I would:
A) Shatter my time from last year (2008: 1:16:01)
B) Run under 1:10:00 – which means my pace would less than 7 minute/mile.

I sprinted to the finish line – and crossed in 1:09:58!! Even, if just barely, that’s a sub 7 minute/mile pace – and 6 minutes and 2 seconds faster than last year!! (YAY!!)

Overall Time: 1:09:58 (6:59 pace)!!!!
Overall: 1,016/21,289
Sex: 95/9566
Age Group: 32/1966

I am so thankful for:
A) Awesome weather!!!
B) My best ATM ever (this was my 3rd year running) – I ran 10 miles at a 6:59 pace!
C) My mom being able to run the whole race – and not stop (It’s a LONG story but my mom had a terrible horse accident less than one month before the race and she wasn’t even sure she would be able to run)!!!
D) A PR for BJ, too!

Awesome things about this race:
1) Location – close to home, the race starts and finishes at the Pentagon
2) Supporting our Troops! I’m an Army Brat, so I have a special place in my heart for the men and women that serve our country! I clapped and thanked every amputee I saw on the run (and after) – they deserve it.
3) Washington D.C. – shit happens here. It’s cool to run 10 miles in and around our Nation’s Capitol!
4) Hundreds of AWESOME volunteers – some civilians, some Military personnel.
5) The ATM is beyond organized – probably one of the best organized races in the U.S.
6) Awesome expo – see 3rd paragraph, above.
7) The after party is so much fun! There are tents everywhere, good food and everyone is having a good time.

Not so awesome things about this race:
1) Very, very crowded. Because this race is so well organized, 30,000 runners just barely works – however, I am NOT happy about the “laissez faire-ness” of the bib numbers and wave starts. There are HUNDREDS of [handsome] military guys working this race – you need to enforce it, fellas.
2) 30,000 runners – YOU ALWAYS NEED MORE PORT-A-JOHNS. Yes, trust me, you do! (I almost missed the start of the race but thankfully a very kind man (who was obeying his later wave start/time) allowed me to cut in front of him – I just barely made it in time.)

Verdict: I love this race for a number of reasons, including my mother/daughter weekend, great weather and another reason to support our troops! I’m 3 years strong – and I hope I can run this for (at least) another 25 years. We will be there in 2010 for round #4!

Overall Score: 9

Filed Under: Race Report, Uncategorized ·

Inaugural Clarendon Day 10k

September 29, 2009 by · 13 Comments

Race 3 of 4, in 4 weekends

I have two statements that I can not wait to share:

1) I got 3rd overall (women)
2) I won prize money
YAYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!

Almost 1,500 runners gathered to run the Inaugural Clarendon Day 10k. Since this was my 3rd race, in 3 weekends, I was ready for a no frills, no travel, close to home, easy race. I could not have asked for anything more perfect. The race started at 9am; BJ and I left the place at 8:50am and walked to the start, 2 blocks away. The weather was great: a little overcast with a nice, cool breeze – it was perfect running weather.

BJ and I got to the start (I like to be as close to the start as possible to avoid running around everyone), saw a couple of people we knew and casually chatted to the runners around us. Since this was such a casual race and I had no expectations, I was really able to enjoy myself (sometimes my competitive side gets in the way of me having fun). My only goal: beat my 10k PR time, which was 45:33.

The first mile was flat, fast and downhill. I hit Mile 1 in 6:06. I was running toward the front of the group but felt strong and didn’t want to let up. Since the 5k and 10k races started at the same time and shared the first 2.5 miles, I couldn’t tell which runners were my competition or 5k runners. At the 2.5 mile mark, 5k runners split and 2 women that were in front me went the 5k direction. Okay, cool! At this point, I was not sure where I “stood” among the 10k runners but I knew that I needed to keep running strong and not worry about the runners behind me. Mile 3: 19:00. Mile 3.5 – Turnaround point: I’M IN THIRD!! Now, I definitely felt strong! I did see one girl, who I “know” from the local running community, that might have been able to catch me – and I did not want that to happen. Must.Run.Faster! As I was running back I saw BJ – he was so excited to see me and yelled: “I think you are in third – get it Mel”. I yelled back: “I am…!!!” (now, that’s a good feeling!!!) I hit Mile 5 and for the first time the entire race I thought, I’m tired – but I knew I was so close to the finish that I could push through any pain that I felt. Mile 5.5 – back in the game. Less than 1 mile to go – and still in 3rd – I picked up the pace, and sprinted it in.

Finish Line: 3rd place!!!! (WaHoo!!)

Ok, so I never win anything – I’m always right on the verge – and always 4th. But I got 3rd! Overall! And I CAN NOT believe it!

BJ was so proud of me – and it was just really fun to have my favorite running partner cheering me on when I got my 3rd place prize money!

Overall: 37/884
Women: 3/ I can’t figure out how many women ran the race but I promise it was more than 3!
Time: 41:37 (6:42 pace and new PR!!)

Verdict: This was a great inaugural race – and really well organized. I love Pacers – it’s a family (of runners) owned business and they put on great races (plus, it’s where I met BJ)!! The volunteers were great, the after party was fun and the rain just held off. My only suggestion would be more water – but that’s only because I always think there can be more!

I’ll be there next year, I have to try to defend my title. ha!

Score: 9.5

Filed Under: Race Report, Uncategorized ·

SavageMan Triathlon 2009

September 22, 2009 by · 19 Comments
Race 2 of 4, in 4 weekendsSavage – barbarous: (of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering; ie: cruel tortures; fierce, ferocious, or cruel Man – the human individual as representing the species

Are You Savage Enough?

BJ and I end our triathlon season with SavageMan – pretty much the hardest triathlon in triathlon history. While it is, hands down, the hardest race of the season, it is also the most fun!

If the name alone doesn’t scare you, just wait until climb the first huge hill….less than 0.5 miles into the bike. It’s uphill from there. Literally.

I had 2 goals for the race:
A) Beat my time from last year (2008: 3:06:06)
B) Finish under 3 hours

I knew that #1 would be easy – all I needed to do was shave a few seconds off of my transition times. I was skeptical about #2 – the course is brutal and I had less than 1 week to recover from The Nation’s Triathlon.

Rematch: SavageMan 2009 vs. SavageMan 2008

Here we go:

SavageMan takes place at the Deep Creek Lake State Park in the heart of the Allegheny Mountains in Western Maryland (yes, mountains!). Deep Creek Lake is so beautiful – the lake is crystal clear, the leaves are changing colors and the weather in September is perfect for a race. It’s hard not to look around and enjoy the sights, even while grinding it up a mountain and cursing Kyle Yost, the course architect, for creating a race that brutal! Simply put: it’s the perfect place for the hardest race.

Pre- Race: Race day morning was a little chilly but warmer than last year so I knew that by my 9:30am start, I would be fine (no long sleeves for me). BJ competes in the Half-Ironman distance and starts 1 hour before me, so I was there extra early (compared to the other Olympic distance triathletes). I had the place to myself – and set up a pretty legit transition area. Transition closed 15 minutes before race start, so I was able to go-in-and-out accordingly. I love how laid back it is.

Start: 9:30am – All Females (excluding Elite)

Swim: The water temperature was 69 degrees and wetsuits were “strongly encouraged”. The water still felt cold even with my full body wetsuit so I can’t imagine what it felt like without one! Once I was comfortable in the water, I positioned myself front and center. I felt really strong in the water (that doesn’t happen very often) and was totally rocking the navigation! The lake is great – the water is clear and you can actually see the bottom. My friends cringe at the thought of me swimming in the Potomac River [for Nation’s Tri], so there is something surprisingly refreshing about being able to see the bottom for a mile. For once, I enjoyed the swim (shhh, don’t tell anyone). Fastest swim of the season – Time: 28:39!!! (YAYYYYY!!!)

T1: Long, slight up hill run to T1 (but way easier than last year). I had a hard time getting my wetsuit off – I really need to figure out a better strategy for getting that sucker off. Time: 2:28 (#2 fastest T1 time)

Bike: The bike starts off with a hill – and it only gets worse from there! Let’s just say I didn’t plan on setting any records on the bike. The hills are long and hard only to be followed by an extremely curvy downhill, a sharp right [or left] turn at the bottom and immediately back up a hill mountain. It. is. hard. I couldn’t wait to be off the bike. Time: 1:27:25

T2: I slipped when I tried to rack my back and it scared me a little – but I was in and out – and ready to run. Time: 1:11 (#2 fastest T2 time)

Run: The run course is hard, especially after biking through the Alleghany Mountains – but I’m a runner and I know that this is my strongest part of the tri. The course is completely shaded and perfect for running. No one passed me on the run – instead, I passed people like crazy (I love that feeling). I felt really strong and was on course to run a major PR! Must. keep. pushing. through. pain. and. up hills. With about 600m to go, I sprinted to the finish – and the announcer said, “MP from Arlington, VA – that’s the biggest and prettiest smile I’ve ever seen”. Duh, Mr. Announcer – I just shattered my time from last year!! Time: 51:40 (8:19 pace).

Overall Time: 2:51:21 (15 minute improvement)

Overall: 43/230
Division Place: 10/87
Age Group Place: 4/14 (missed 3rd place by 14 seconds!)
Swim: 28:39
T1: 2:28
Bike: 1:27:25
T2: 1:11
Run: 51:40

Awesome things about this race, besides EVERYTHING:

1) The venue is amazing – unparallel to any place we race all season.
2) Everyone is having a good time. No jerks, no super serious (Type A) triathletes. Even the pros are friendly. (Bjorn Anderson apologized after the race for not saying “thanks” when I said “good job” to him; he was really suffering on the run)
3) Awesome volunteers (!!)
4) PLENTY of water stations
5) Really well organized – the race director is genuinely concerned about the safety of the athletes; the bike course is clearly and very well marked
6) A PR for me and BJ!!! BJ beat his 2008 Half-Ironman time by 45 minutes.

Not so awesome things:

I, seriously, can not think of one thing I would change about this race!

Verdict: This race is awesome and probably my favorite of the season. The weather is perfect this time of year and everyone is having a good time. I made new friends, chatted with the race director, got to see BJ a number of times throughout the run portion and cheered everyone on. It’s like an unwritten rule but everyone says “good job” to everyone, even if you are passing them. I think that’s cool – and totally reflects the vibe of this race. I’m sad that SavageMan is our last triathlon of the season – but that just makes me want the 2010 season to start already!

Overall: 10 – can’t wait for 2010!!!!

P.S. In true Half-Ironman training (my 1st is in June 2010) I ran the first 6.5 miles with BJ. It hurt! Like Hell!

Filed Under: Race Report, Uncategorized ·

Final Days: Dick’s Sporting Goods $100 Giveaway on Twitter

September 21, 2009 by · 5 Comments

Ok, so you only have 2 days left for your chance to win a $100 gift card to Dick’s Sporting Goods to buy whatever your heart desires!

This giveaway (on Twitter) is NO JOKE and totally legit! Dick’s sponsored my very first giveaway ever – and gave one of my lucky readers a $100 gift card. Ever cooler, I was the Day 12 winner of a $100 gift card!!!! I had been day dreaming about a new Speedo – and could finally buy it. For free!

So, here’s how you win:

1) Log on to Twitter ASAP (or sign up for an account)
2) Follow @dickssportcmo on Twitter
3) RT @dickssportcmo with an answer to this question: What would you get at Dick’s with $100 and why?

Yes, it really is that easy to win $100!

Seriously, you should do it – you’ll thank me later when you have a new ______________ (fill in the blank)!

Filed Under: Reviews & Go-To's, Uncategorized ·

The Nation’s Triathlon

September 16, 2009 by · 16 Comments

Race 1 of 4, in 4 weekends The 2008 Nation’s Triathlon was my very first triathlon ever. One year later, I’m hooked and actually say “yes” when someone asks me if I am a triathlete.

I’ve trained harder, faster and stronger in 2009 than I ever did in 2008.

So, you better believe that 2009 wanted to kick 2008’s @$$!

Rematch: The Nation’s Triathlon 2009.

Since said training, I was really hoping for my best race of the year – namely a PR and a couple of margaritas. Unfortunately the race didn’t go quite as well as I would have liked…

6,000 athletes registered for The Nation’s Triathlon – doubling the size in one year. I’m not quite sure how I feel about that many athletes – but I’m leaning toward “I don’t like it”. The transition area was huge – 240,000 square feet to be exact. So big in fact that the “Bike In – Bike Out” was at least 800m from my transition area. Yes, that’s 2 laps around a track or half a mile. The swim waves were equally as huge – each age group was a wave within a wave. For example, the F25-29 age group (the AG I fall under) had 3 waves, A, B and C, with approximately 120 athletes per wave. Bottom line: too many people!

Pre – Race: The best part about doing a race so close to come is the convenience of race morning. We woke up at 5:00am, hopped in the cab at 5:45am and we were in transition by 6:00am. BJ and I love races that are close to home – especially triathlons because typically, they aren’t close to home! Race day weather was awesome – almost perfect for a race: partly sunny and a high of 81. It was just starting to get hot when I finished the race. Race Start: 7:00am
Wave 20: 8:00am

Swim: The swim waves were approximately 3 minutes apart. I was in the 3rd to last wave – so there were already a lot of swimmers in the water when our wave jumped in. I positioned myself in a great location for swimming straight out, under the bridge and back. I felt really strong on the way out – passing other waves that had started before me. But, the way back was a bit of a different story. At one point the Potomac looked like a rainbow river: red caps, pinks caps, green caps, yellow caps, blue caps and white caps e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e. Too many swimmers! My other beef with the swim (and I complained about it last year, too) is the fact that the sun is coming out at the same exact time that we are swimming back. Bright, rising sun + bright yellow buoys = can not see anything! Now, I know that I’m not the only triathlete affected – it jacks us all up – but C-O-M-E O-N! [If any Nation’s Triathlon officials are reading, here are a few tips: more buoys, different colors!] I was literally swimming blindly for the last ½ mile. The last ¼ mile is a cluster of madness: people swimming on top of people swimming on top of people swimming on top of more people. I was glad to be out of the water! Time: 33:29

T1: I felt good coming out of the water – but had a little difficulty getting my wetsuit off in T1. It was pretty uneventful – but had to prep myself for the longest run to “Bike Out” e-v-e-r. Time: 2:18

Bike: Initially I did not feel strong on the bike. Since we live so close to the race, BJ wanted to bike into DC the day before to attend the mandatory briefing and bike racking. Logistically, we ended up biking and walking way more than we should have the day before a race. Oh well, now we know future race day endeavors. The course is flat and fast so by mile 5 my legs started to feel better and I was in a good grove. Then, mile 10 happened – and I lost my chain while attempting to shift to the big ring. (Of course I did) I slowed down, tried to pedal slowly and shift, in hopes that my chain would work its way back on. No luck. I pulled over to the side, got off, played around with the chain, accidently dropped my bike, had to pick it back up, played around with the chain some more and finally, got my chain back on. That was a 2.5 minute penalty. I felt like crying once I was back on the bike – and mentally it took me awhile to recover. For half a second I thought about quitting since the chain cost me a PR – but I wanted to get my $165 worth (plus, I don’t quit)! My attitude improved at the turn around point and I was fired up – I wanted to crank it out on the bike – 10 more miles to go.

Well, by the time I hit the turn around point, it seemed the other 5,999 athletes did too. Some points on the Rock Creek Parkway are narrow, one lane each way. You can imagine how crowded that can get with thousands of athletes on the course. Then, when you throw the typical M40-44 “I’m-too-cool-for-school-triathlete-because-I-ride-a-Cervelo-tri-bike” jerk into the mix, things get dicey. For full disclosure, I do not think that all M40-44 are jerks nor do they all ride Cervelo tri bikes – however, this is their last “hoorah” as strong, male athletes and I personally believe that some of them are they are trying to prove their awesomeness – or lack there of. Case in point: I was riding behind a F34 athlete and we were in the process of passing a fellow athlete. As we were passing, we started to hear: “On your left, on your left, on your left, ON YOUR LEFT!!!!” We didn’t have anywhere to go – nor were we in the wrong since we were passing before this “cool” tri-guy (age 43 – he was being followed by another guy, age 41) decided to pass us. WELL, as we got over, the “cool” tri-guy pushed the girl in front of me on her hip – as his way of saying we should have gotten over sooner. I was furious – and shouted profanities that are not appropriate for this blog. If he would have done that to me and/or I would have gotten his number “cool” tri-guy would have gotten reported. Here are my thoughts and what I would like to say to “cool” tri guy:

A) WTF – and who the F do you think you are!!!
B) Do you know how dangerous that is? That could have caused a MAJOR accident!
C) There are 6,000 athletes doing the race – what do you expect?
D) The road is extremely narrow – where do you want us to go?

This continued for the last 10 miles – and at one point I just stopped getting over for them! I didn’t have anywhere else to go! Plus I was doing my own weaving in and out of athletes – and I was getting tired.

Oh, and one last point: you know that there are too many triathletes in a race when everyone you pass or get passed by is drafting! Too many bikers! Time: 1:18

T2: Prepped myself for the long run back to my transition area. Bike shoes off – running shoes on – and out of T2. I felt strong and knew that the run would be flat! Time: 1:47

Run: The run course was super flat and fast. BJ and I ran the course the week before – and I’m glad we did because I knew exactly what to expect. Unfortunately, my calves cramped for the 1st 3 miles so I stopped to stretch them out. I’m glad I did because the last 3 miles seemed easier. Surprisingly (and thankfully), the run was over before I knew it! 400m out, I sprinted to the finish and was glad to be done!! Fastest run of the season – Time: 49:00 minutes (7:55/mile)!

Awesome things about the race:
1) Home Turf (!!!)
2) Insane weather
3) Super flat and fast course
4) Really well organized (especially given the number of athletes)
5) Awesome volunteers (!!!!)
6) Plenty of aid stations
7) 6 bikes/rack (as opposed to 8 bikes/rack in most races)

You need to fix some things, Mr. Nation’s Triathlon Founder:
1) TOO MANY ATHLETES – stop being money hungry, it’s dangerous.
2) 6,000 athletes = Yes, you still need more port-a-johns!
3) Buoys, water, sun – they all look the same. I’m talking orange buoys and more of them!
4) Post race festival: there were PBJ’s and fruit for free – but then there was food you had to pay for (the good stuff – like Skittles). I DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR FOOD – I just spent $165 to do the race (that’s $990,000 total) and if I want Skittles, I should get them. For free.

Ok, now on to the Rematch results:

2009
Overall Place: 1153/4500
Division Place: 37/353
Sex Place: 143/1459
Swim: 33:29
T1: 2:18
Bike: 1:18
T2: 1:47
Run: 49:00
Total: 2:44

2008
Overall Place: 949/2200
Division Place: 47/233
Sex Place: 181/956
Swim: 35:45
T1: 3:46
Bike: 1:20
T2: 2:28
Run: 54:39
Total: 2:57

Congrats – 2009 is declared the winner of The Nation’s Triathlon rematch!

Verdict: This is a great race because it’s close to home, flat and fast. But honestly, I’m not sure if I will do this race in 2010 – and I haven’t said that about any race this season. I hate to keep saying it, but 6,000 athletes is just TOO many (ask someone who did Chicago this year, too – they will say the same thing). I have 75 days before the 2010 sign-up: I’ve got to do some serious thinking!

P.S. I’d be lying if I didn’t disclose that my falling short of a PR didn’t influence this verdict, just a little. I’m bummed about my chain and upset that I couldn’t crank out a PR when I was more ready than I’ve ever been!

Score: 7.75

Filed Under: Race Report, Uncategorized ·

Run Happy

September 3, 2009 by · 21 Comments

This morning I instructed my boot camp to run the entire hour (or as much of it as I could squeeze out of them). We ran 30 minutes and ended up at the track where we did some sprints and stadiums, finishing with a 5 minute cool-down. Running days with my boot camp are my absolute favorite because, well, I love to run. Simply put: running makes me happy.

Then I started thinking: what else makes me Run Happy?

I am so grateful for the awesome weather in DC this week. 80 degrees and sunny with a nice breeze = perfection! Great weather makes me run happy!

I love running by my favorite restaurants during happy hour wearing my “Running is My Happy Hour” hat from OneMoreMile. My running hat makes me run happy!

Having a glass of wine with dinner and chocolate ice cream for dessert. Well deserved but sinful treats make me run happy!

My teal blue Brooks running shirt looks perfect with my favorite running shorts and my favorite jeans. My “Run Happy” shirt makes me run happy!

BJ, my mom, my friends, my running community. Running friends make me run happy!

Totally grinding it out on my bike and still feeling really strong on the run portion of my brick workout. Triathlon training makes me run happy!

I could go on – but I think you get my point…. I love running happy!

Runners: What makes you Run Happy??!!

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Back from Vaca

September 1, 2009 by · 16 Comments

I’m grudgingly finally back from vacation. BJ and I had an awesome time in Sun Valley* – the last 8 days have me seriously considering a move out West! I bet you’re thinking: “random vaca spot”, right?! Well, BJ’s uncle has a condo in Sun Valley that he lets us use – free accommodations = a pretty good reason to vacation somewhere you normally wouldn’t go. We went last year, had a blast and decided to do it again this year.

This vacation is founded on 3 simple rules:
1) Train like crazy
2) Relax
3) Drink copious amounts of wine

Check, check and check. Who am I to defy the rules??

My friends think we’re crazy: “You workout that much while you’re on … vacation??!!” However, I know you will be more understanding. I can’t leave for 8 days and not workout – now, that’s crazy!

Training:
4.4 mile – run (run uphill home – 2.2 miles)
36 mile – (road) bike ride
5.2 mile – run/hike – Baldy Mountain; elevation: 9150 ft. (roundtrip: 10.4 miles)
5 x .8 mile – (run) hill repeats
2 miles – swim (total for the trip)
2.5 hours – mountain bike ride (this was my 1st time and it was AWESOME – we had such a blast rockin’ it on the trails)
5 miles – run
8.4 mile – hike – Pioneer Cabin; elevation: 11,000 ft.
30 mile – (road) bike ride – Galena Summit (last 6 miles are completely uphill and completely kicked my ass)
6 mile – run

Eat/Drink:
I love to cook, so as a budding chef and reason to make BJ want to marry me, I cooked 3 of the 5 nights we were in SV. SV has a great local grocery store with fresh fruits and veggies, great meat, wine (you get my point) – but the culinary highlight of my trip was the Farmer’s Market on Tuesday! This was the farmer’s market of all farmers’ markets – and I pretty much fell in love. I bought fresh rosemary, parsley, zucchini, squash, garlic, heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, red onion, lemons, cheese, fresh bread… And when we got home that night, I whipped up a delicious little farmers’ market dinner (with wine, of course). The nights we ate out, the food was exceptional, weather was near perfection and the wine was abundant. I love vacation!

Globus:
-Local All Natural “Salmon Creek” Pork Baby Back Ribs Honey Hoisin Bbq Sauce, Asian Cabbage Slaw, Jasmine Rice (YES I WILL!)
-Green Thai Curry with ChickenRoasted Eggplant, Red Peppers, Baby Shitake, Onions, Broccoli, Basil, Jasmine Rice
-Wine: Ridge Three Valleys Zinfandel Blend – Sonoma

CIRO:
-Grilled Artichoke with sun dried tomato aioli (this was insanely delicious!)
-House Salad – organic greens, cherry tomatoes, with lemon & olive oil
-Parma Pizza – plum tomato sauce, basil, mozzarella with fresh sliced prosciutto & organic arugula
-Americano Pizza – plum tomato sauce, garlic, oregano, mozzarella, parmigiano & imported pepperoni
-Wines by glass:
Pinot Noir Siduri – Sonoma, CA
Dolcetto D.Alba Prunotto – Piedmont, Italy

Sun Valley Wine Company:
Light fare – featuring salads, panini, pizza, and a variety of ethnic appetizer plates.
Wine: too many to choose from!

The fun did not stop at night. We went to a wine tasting. We walked around town and looked in art galleries. We went to see Dr. Stuart Brown give a talk on his book: Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul, as part of the SV Writer’s Conference. We went to the outdoor pavilion – one of the best things about SV – to see the Trey McIntyre Project. The venue is super cool and while BJ and I don’t love ballet, it’s definitely worth seeing if TMP comes to your town. We just had so much fun!

I was sad to say goodbye to SV but vaca wasn’t over yet (thank God) – BJ and I headed to Boise for a few days to hang with his awesome family (uncle, aunt and cousins). Saturday was my birthday – so we spent the day on the boat, wakeboarding and hanging out. When we got back to Uncle B’s house, the house was decorated with balloons, a banner and a delicious birthday cake. It was such a fun and unexpected surprise (especially since they aren’t my family)! We had a big BBQ, ate birthday cake and drank great wine. I guess turning 26 wasn’t so bad after all. BJ and I had great time on vaca – I wish it could have lasted for months (or until the really cold Idaho weather starts). It’s nice to be back in DC, though – I think I brought the delicious Sun Valley weather home with me!

*we spent 5 days in Sun Valley and 3 days in Boise (BJ’s uncle lives in Boise – so we did some family time, too)

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Coolest Giveaway E-V-E-R WINNER!!!

August 21, 2009 by · 5 Comments

The winner of the Coolest Giveaway E-V-E-R is

Drum roll, please…

Amanda at RuntoFinish (selected by Random.org)

When asked what she would buy with $100, RunToFinish said:
Can I buy abs like yours at Dick’s? If not then I think I would probably go for a bosu ball, it seems like a great addition to my running for cross training.

Hilarious, right??!!

Amanda – thanks for the awesome shout – out but I think your new Bosu Ball will be much more reliable than my summer-induced-abs!

Thanks to all of my new followers (and my old ones) who commented to win this awesome giveaway from Dick’s Sporting Goods! I think my 1st giveaway was a success. You all had great answers to the $100 question – I seriously wish everyone could win!

Amanda – email me your address so you can start training with your new Bosu Ball
(melody.parry@gmail.com)

P.S. – follow @dickssportcmo on Twitter for another chance to win. I was the Day 12 winner – and am getting a new Speedo with my $100!

P.P.S. – BJ and I are off to Sun Valley, ID for 9 days (so I will be blogging MIA). Happy Running – I know we will be training like crazy!

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Google Search: MP

August 19, 2009 by · 14 Comments

Have you ever Googled yourself? I mean, really Googled? Like, got down and dirty, searched more than “page 1”, and read the articles…??

I’m only asking because yesterday morning, coaching boot camp, one of my “students” told me that he had been reading my blog. Since he’s a super cool guy, I was not freaked out (actually, I think it’s kind of awesome that someone can find I RUN LIKE A GIRL when searching my name!). But how did he find it???

That’s right – he Googled me!

Well, you better believe I went to right work and Googled myself. I wanted to make sure there were no incriminating lies on the WWW about me.

Instead, I was pleasantly surprised. Beside the obvi Twitter, LinkedIN, FB accounts, it was kind of fun to read about old races and my college days. Here are some of the fun things I found – who knew some 1-5 years later they would still be on Google!

1) Sun Gazette – Arlington Running Roundup (I’m in a Newspaper article!!): At Potomac Valley Track Club’s Go Fourth 8K at Belle Haven Park in Alexandria, Edi Turco, 36, wrapped up another age group win, fourth overall in 28:56. Anthony Lee, 36, charged into 14th place in 31:00, and Tom Carey, 32, ran 32:00 for 22nd. MP, 25, carried 35:46, eighth among women.

2) Sun Tree Turkey Trot: Women’s 5K, Ages 20 – 24 (2007)
Place: 1
Name: MP
Age:23
Time:22:04
Km pace: 4:25
Mile pace:7:06
Bib #348
**I’m just finding out today, 2.5 years later, that I got 1st in my AG!!

3) College Choices 2001 – by College
These are the College choices by Track and Field and Cross Country Athletes of the class of 2001:
University of Central Florida – P,M– Satellite BCH – FL

4) University of Central Florida Track and Field Media Guide (this is my *favorite*)

Name: MP
Hometown: Satellite Beach, Fla.
High School:Satellite HS
Event:400mH, 400m

*2005: my senior year of college

So I wonder (readers, this is a question for you): What would you find if you Googled yourself?? A race you forgot about, a time you didn’t know you could run..? It might be kind of fun to see what you can dig up!

Also, DON’T forget about my awesome $100 giveaway – you have until Friday (August 21) to enter! Click here for more information.

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