Mind Over Matter

I stole this image below off a friend's Facebook wall - I just love it.  So much of running is a mental game and convincing yourself that you can do it, even when your body doesn't want to.  I need to run after work, but do I want to?  No, not really.  My legs are tired.  But I know that when I hit the trail my mind will be what ultimately makes my legs go, and I know mind over matter is what will help me finish the MCM on race day.


Here's another quote from my marathon training website (marathonrookie.com) that I leave you with:  "Now if you are going to win any battle you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired in the morning, noon, and night. But the body is never tired if the mind is not tired." - George S. Patton, U.S. Army General, 1912 Olympian


Just a little mid-day motivation to get through the afternoon....

Mussel Bar Brunch: 5+ Stars

Happy Monday morning, everyone!  Brad and I had a great 7-mile run yesterday on the Capital Crescent Trail.  Since we don't typically sleep in anymore, we planned to wake up early on Sunday morning and hit the trail in Bethesda by 8:30am so we could finish and grab a bite to eat when the restaurants opened at 10.  Well, I guess our bodies were telling us that we needed more sleep because we didn't wake up until after 9.  I was a little worried that we'd step outside and that it'd already be 100+ degrees but thankfully we lucked out and it wasn't too humid.  We hit the trail as soon as we hopped out of bed and threw on our running clothes and I'm pretty sure I wasn't even awake yet when we started our run.


Capital Crescent is a great trail.  We drove into Bethesda and ran 3.5 miles into the trail and another 3.5 miles back.  I love this particular trail because it's filled with so many other runners which definitely keeps you motivated.  I felt very strong the first half of the run but could definitely feel my legs getting tired on the way back.  The last mile of the 7 my legs started to feel like lead...but hey, we finished and that was an accomplishment!  This was the first long run that Brad and I did together.  I think my pace may have killed him just a bit (I could tell a few times he really wanted to sprint off and go at his own pace), but he was very good support and kept with me the whole time.

Taking a stretch break at mile 3.

During the last (hard) mile, I kept thinking about the delicious brunch that we would have as soon as the run was over.  One of our favorite restaurants in Bethesda is Mussel Bar, and we've only been there for happy hour (they have an incredible beer selection) and dinner (their mussels are our favorite!)  We have never been for brunch, but have heard great things.  Well let's just say I was blown away by their brunch and it may have been better than what I've ever eaten there for dinner.  I ordered their Wood Fired Tart, and it was basically a pizza with rosemary ham and a poached egg on top.  It was the perfect meal after a long run -- carbs and protein!   Brad was equally as pleased with his selection of the Huevos Eggs Ranchero which is spicy pork, peppers, onions on a grilled spinach tortilla.

I also ordered a very refreshing mimosa with fresh squeezed orange juice while Brad (no surprise here), ordered himself a nice cold IPA.  We had a great breakfast and we both decided we'd like to go back here again soon to try the rest of the brunch menu options!

With our delicious meals at Mussel Bar, feeling quite sweaty and tired after a run on Capital Crescent trail in Bethesda.

Following Mussel Bar we stopped at Georgetown Cupcake to pick up our *free* cupcake of the day, which was Lavender.  If you follow G'town Cupcake on Facebook they announce a secret cupcake flavor of the day and distribute 100-free cupcakes daily.  I'm pretty sure the people working there know us by now as the couple who only come into their store to get their free cupcake.

Well that sums up our first long run together.  Only 13 more long runs to go (not that I'm counting down or anything...)

I hope everyone has a great week!

13.1 songs for 13.1 miles

I came across this list below of 13 running songs on Lululemon's Facebook page.  I'm always looking for good running music and usually end up listening to songs on Pandora on my iPhone while I run.   I'll have to download some of their recommendations.


My default running music will always be a forever favorite of mine and Brad's...Girl Talk.  If you're not familiar, Girl Talk is a DJ that specializes in mashups and digital sampling.  He uses a dozen or more unauthorized samples from different songs (think random like Barbara Streisand combined with Jay Z) to create a mashup.   We love Girl Talk so much we went to see him in concert at Loyola College in Baltimore a few years ago with our friends Erin & Levi.  We were officially the oldest people there, but it was so fun.  Best thing about Girl Talk is you can download his albums free here:  http://illegal-art.net/allday/


13.1 songs for 13.1 miles

1. Dog Days Are Over – Florence and The Machine
2. So Close – Calvin Harris
3. My Body – Young the Giant
4. Run The World – Beyonce
5. Black Betty – Ram Jam
6. Midnight city – M83
7. Work Hard Play Hard – Wiz Khalifa
8. Promises – Skrillex
9. Let it Go – Dragonette
10. Let it Roll – Flo Rida
11. Run This Town – Jay Z Ft. Rihanna
12. Edge of Glory – Lady Gaga
13. Bombs Over Baghdad – Outkast
13.1 Run Forrest Run Remix …Seriously? Who comes up with this stuff!

Running a lot = eat whatever you want?

I'm having this problem that I'm sure is common with most 1st time marathoners.  Because I'm running so often, I'm constantly hungry.  I feel like my stomach is a bottomless pit.  I keep telling myself that it's okay, because whatever I eat I'll probably burn off.  Wrong.  During the day I crave carbs and at night (surprise, surprise) I crave sweets.  I have to learn how to be more contentious about what I'm eating!  I think what matters most is that I don't feel as guilty eating not-so-healthy food knowing that I'm at least exercising more than I normally would.  (Don't get me wrong, in general I try to be a very health-conscious eater but when it comes to snacks there are absolutely no limits and this is probably an area I should focus on).


After doing some research on some of the foods that I should be incorporating into my diet, I came across these 10 below.  While some of them I already consume (coconut water, chia seeds, kale, quinoa, yogurt) there are others I should probably think about including.


And now for the 10 foods that every marathon runner should integrate into their training diets pronto:
Quinoa
Yogurt
Turmeric & Ginger
Sardines/Jarred Tuna
Kale
Coconut Water
Pumpkin Seeds
Dates
Chia/Maca
Buckwheat/Soba noodes

On an unrelated note, tonight I told Brad how much I'm looking forward to the weather getting cooler.  I think about doing long runs on crisp fall mornings, returning home, laying on the couch and spending weekend afternoons watching the Hokies and/or NFL football with chili in the slow cooker.  It feels like forever until fall will be here but I remember loving these kinds of days last fall while Brad was training for the MCM.  Now that I'll be training with him on these long-run weekend days it will feel very rewarding knowing that I also ran hard and long with him that morning.  I can blissfully sit on my rear end and do nothing all day but eat, drink beer, watch football and relax (gosh, too much of my husband might be rubbing off on me I think...)


For right now, I'm sitting on my couch typing up this post while waiting for a (vegan) key-lime pie to come out of the oven for a friend's BBQ tomorrow evening.  Tomorrow morning I'll be up by 6:30 to run 3 miles. (running and exercise in general on a Friday is a new thing for me as I am usually never motivated after a long week of work to do any type of exercise).


I'll be writing more this weekend after my 7-miler this Sunday with Brad (or maybe I'll get him to write something and add to this blog!)  To my readers so far - thanks for following along!

Ultimate deciding factor for signing up to run MCM.

I'm just a few weeks into marathon training and the big runs haven't even begun yet.  However, I am getting excited thinking about running a crazy amount of miles through DC during the fall, which is my favorite time of year.  I signed up for this marathon back in April and didn't think much about it all summer (pretty much told myself if I didn't think about it, maybe I wouldn't actually run it...he he).  But now that I'm using a training schedule and committing to doing this, it feels good and I'm motivated by the challenge!


I had been flirting with the idea of running a marathon over the past year or so, watching Brad train for the Pittsburgh, NYC, and Marine Corps Marathon over the past 2-3 years. I also read somewhere that only 1% of people in this world actually complete a marathon.  This inspired me.  Someone recently said to me, "there are 2 kinds of runners who do a marathon.  Those who run it and cross it off their list and never pick up their running shoes again, and those who cross that finish line with a total high and want to do more." I aspire to be the 2nd kind of runner, but unsure if my lifestyle will actually allow me to train for any additional marathons after this one.  I love all social activities, and in general tend to have a difficult time putting running before fun things like happy hours, dinners with family and friends or a quiet, relaxing night on the couch with my husband.  But just this once, I want to try it out and am committed to making running a priority.


Going back to this idea of the 2 types of runners, I also hope this experience doesn't make me hate running all-together.  I don't think it will. Generally, I can definitely be the competitive type and when I set my mind to something, I'm proud to say that I usually complete the task at hand. During my prior half-marathons and 10-milers, I've definitely been the type of runner who finished the race and craved to do more.  That's why I love running so much -- it's the accomplished & addictive feeling you get after finishing a race.  I cant imagine the victorious feeling I'll get after crossing this finish line.


So, back to what ultimately convinced me to sign up for this marathon.  Back in April Brad called me at work and said "Marine Corps registration just opened.  Sign up.  There are only a few hundred slots left."  He also informed me that I could either defer my entry a year, or sell the bib if I decided to not to do it (enough convincing there!) So, $100 later I decided just to sign up.  So I was...officially...a MCM participant....excited and apprehensive all at the same time.  The next question that went through my head -- how will I ever train for this?  You see, Brad is quite the fast runner if you don't know already.  He trains not only to finish, but for speed.  He does marathons in 3 hours and 20-some minutes.  I'm hoping to do mine in less than 5 hrs.  Clearly I wouldn't be able to train with him.  After lots of thinking and looking into different rigorous running groups around the area, Brad actually said he'd be willing to be my coach and train with me if I decided to go through with this.  Mr. Competitive Runner is willing to run SLOW with me?!  I couldn't pass it up.  I couldn't say no to that incentive :).  My in-laws laughed when I told them and said "you actually believe him, that he'll do this with you??"  I told them, it's a catch-22.  He doesn't train with me, then I don't run.  He wants me to do this as much as I want to, so we're definitely in it together.  


So, (at least for now) I'm really looking forward to it.  And I'm hoping that doesn't change.

Beach, Bike and Beer

This morning I woke up at Rehoboth Beach husbandless as Brad went to Richmond for a concert this weekend.  Came to the beach for my long weekend to visit my dad and was thankful to wake up this morning to 70-degree temps and overcast skies, meaning I didn't have to wake up at the crack of dawn to get my 6-miler in.  I got up, ate some cantaloupe and greek yogurt and I was on my way.  About a mile into my run down Henlopen Ave. en route to the Gordon Pond State Park, I see a man on the other side of the street on a bike waving at me trying to get my attention with a big smile.  At first I thought, who the heck is this random man??  Turns out, it was my dad.  Today's run included my dad as my personal coach.  It was the best.  He biked behind me, and then sped up and biked ahead of me, and every 10 minutes asked if I needed to stop or if I needed water.  (of course his asks were very tempting as I wanted to stop every 10 minutes, but didn't give in).  He would bike along side of me yelling "looking strong Annie, keep it up!" 

My dad at Gordon Pond State Park, DE. 

He finished his ride and I had 1 more mile to go.  I came inside when I was finished and my family was talking about my dad's "12 mile bike ride." Somehow he calculated all of his ups and backs and circling around me on his bike to be an extra 6 miles....hmmmm.....does that mean I can say I also ran more than 6?


Right now I'm sore and of course the inevitable...my lower back feels completely locked up but we'll see what tomorrow brings in terms of back pain.  I enjoyed a guilt-free evening on the front porch with my friend/cousin Caitlin and a 90-minute and Namaste (Dogfishhead beer), and am trying to get my sore butt across the street to the actual DFH which is just minutes away from my dad's beach house.  Tomorrow the weather is supposed to bring sunny skies which means I'll be spending the day on the beach...and very happy that my long run of the weekend is complete!

Cookie Monster

Yup, that's me....the cookie monster, the cake monster, the anything-made-with-sugar monster. If you know anything about me, the first thing you will come to find out is that I have an insane/out-of-control sweet tooth.  Put anything sweet in front of me and all self-control is out the window.  This leads me into the (very simple and stupid) lesson I learned tonight:  don't eat two huge homemade chocolate chip cookies and then run 4 miles immediately afterward.  I came home from work early and sat on my couch and told myself it didn't matter that I had 2 cookies because I was going straight on a run.  I failed to think about the stomach ache that would shortly ensue!   Oh well, I got through the 4 miles but my belly filled with cookies wasn't too happy.  Another night on the treadmill (BORING)...as it was in the high-90's again today.


I also forgot about how great throwback music is and how it can really get you going during a workout.  I started listening to Ja Rule and Notorious B.I.G. on Pandora and got carried away in memories of freshman year of college.  Sometimes that is the best kind of music you can find...the songs that you easily can get lost in.  There's nothing like a song that takes you back to your days of stupidity, naivety, and good friends (aka freshman year).


Signing off early tonight -- there are terrible thunderstorms happening (again!)  


Happy weekend...I'm sure I'll have some good stories to blog this weekend...6-miler on Saturday morning (bright.and.early.ugh.)

Yawn.......

I can't stop yawning this afternoon.  Let me begin by telling you that I am not a morning person what-so-ever.  Watching Brad with all of the races he has trained for over the past few years, it has always amazed me how he can casually roll out of bed as soon as the alarm goes off.  (We're the complete opposite in this regard as I typically catch my second wind in the evening and can clean, do laundry and the works...try me in the morning and it's not pretty).  So anyway, this evening I have a work happy hour.   I could just attend the happy hour and not have a beer and go running afterwards, but you can't exactly place me in a bar and expect me not to have a beer (or two...or three...) :)  I forced myself to set my alarm for 6:00 and to be out the door by 6:30.  And guess what...I did it!! So.freaking.proud.of.myself :)  This typically doesn't happen very often. I know it's  not that big of a deal that I got up and ran 3 miles, but it was a pretty big deal to me. Can't tell you the number of times I've set my alarm to get up and work out and I end up turning it off.  This is a big success.


Anyway, I figure I better get used to these morning runs.  With the summer heat, and with the insane fall schedule that I usually have between work and social activities, morning and I will soon become best friends.


70-something more runs......

5 miles...first "long" run

Brad and I had our first "long" run yesterday and with the D.C. heat wave that just won't escape us, it was gonna be a dreadful 5 miles. We had our friend Kristi from Richmond visiting and staying with us for the weekend, and she wasn't going home until Monday morning.  The motivation to try to run over the weekend was hard to find, knowing that we stayed up until 3am on Saturday morning drinking and chatting with good friends, and of course, with the darn heat.  Brad is much better at running through the heat and humidity...I'm quick to try to find an excuse not to run outdoors, but being someone who will only make it through these 15 weeks by following an exact plan, I knew I had to do it.  I know in about 5 or 6 weeks I'll look back and laugh at myself for trying to find excuses for not running 5 miles when my long run will be anywhere from 10-15 miles, but we'll deal with that when the time comes :).  So, we got up and went to a greasy diner on Sunday morning (to cure the hangover), and I immediately felt like crap.  Knew I had to run.  Running always makes me feel better whether it's a 2 or 8-miler.  Brad and I decided to run separately so I started with my run with 2 miles outside, and then ran straight to the gym where I finished the last 3 on the treadmill indoors.

Today I am feeling okay....great about getting through week 1 of training, but can definitely already feel the pain slowly making it's way down my leg (more to come in another blog post about my SI joint dysfunction in my lower back and the pain that shoots down my left leg as a result).  Taking it one week at a time!

We went out to dinner last night to a restaurant we'll be visiting and ending our long runs quite frequently...one of our favorite pizza spots in DC...Pizza Paradisio. We meant to capture a picture so we could start our weekly photos of long run restaurant and beer spots, but we were too caught up in fun and laughter with our best friends friends Erin and Levi who live in Arlington and with our lovely visitor and friend Kristi.

One week down....here's to 15 more! 

Pizza Paradiso, Dupont Circle

Team A&B

Hi!  We're A&B.  Also known as Annie and Brad, a 20-something couple living in the Washington, DC suburbs who have been happily married for 3 years.  We decided to start a blog to share our love (and for me, sometimes hate) for running.  Mostly the blog will be written by me (Annie), but I'm sure Brad will chime in every once in a while.  A&B will be running the D.C. Marine Corps Marathon on October 28, 2012.  Mostly this blog is to share stories about our training adventures over the next 15 weeks that include anything and everything about our weekly long runs, trying out new restaurants and beers (our reward for the long runs every weekend!), and the pain and rewards that come with signing up for an {insane} 26.2 mile race.


The name of the blog...it's pretty self-explanatory.  I did marry a marathoner (and maybe wasn't exactly sure what I was getting myself into...) :)  Not only did I marry a marathoner, but also married into a life that includes everything leading up to training...being husband-less on Saturday mornings (and afternoons when there is beer involved..), running clothes and shoes that stink up our entire house, husband passing out on the couch every evening at roughly 8:00, and the list continues.  Having run track during high school and having completed a few 10-milers, 10Ks and a half marathon, I decided to see what this marathon training is all about.  It's been a bucket-list item of mine, so what better time to do it before   there are kids in the picture and I'm actually old enough to make excuses and reasons not to do it.  I'm looking forward to getting a glimpse into my husband's favorite pastime and to see how he actually motivates himself to run for 16 weeks straight.


I hope you also look forward to sharing in this adventure with us as we take on training, and as I experience my very first marathon.  Happy running!