Holy CRAP. This is getting real.

I was scrolling through my FB newsfeed today and came across THIS little update:

50 days?!  50 days???  How could that be?  50 days will be here before I know it!  I saw this picture and literally got goosebumps thinking about running this race!  I can hardly believe that I'm strong enough right now to be running 16 miles tomorrow morning.  When I stop to think about this whole training, it's just kind of crazy and I don't know how I got to the point already where theres only 50 days left until 26.2.

On that note, the training has been very exhausting.  Obviously exhaustion is something that is expected when you sign up for a marathon,  but it's even more difficult when you have other things going on in your life that make the training extra challenging.  Somehow...some way....you can never lose sight of the end goal and lose motivation.

Work has been insane the last few weeks since school started.  I'm typing this post after a long day of work on a Saturday as we had an all day event for our students and have another event on Monday.  It was an incredibly stressful week and when I thought about having to squeeze in running, it was another stressor added into the mix.  After a long day of work, the normal person prefers to put his or her feet up, lay out the couch, and drink a glass of wine.  But my outlet has had to be slightly tweaked...and now it is running (not exactly always #1 on my list of what to do after a stressful day...). Friday was the busiest day all week because I was wrapping up loose ends for the event on Monday and I had a 7-miler after work.  Surprisingly, the run was awesome and I felt so amazing after it was over with a completely cleared head. (It kind of made me wish that prior to starting this training that has now forced me to run on Fridays that I had chosen to run every Friday after work to clear my head/separate a stressful week with a fresh start to the weekend!)

Knowing how challenging training has been, I came home to a great surprise from my "coach"...aka, my sweetest husband Brad.  He could tell the type of week it was for me, so he had a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a motivational card waiting for me when I got home.  Jeez, what a guy!  

I know I can't do this training alone.  The little things such as B's thoughtful card and flowers made such a difference and made me realize that yes....I can do this...and I sure as hell couldn't be doing this without the motivation of my husband and the support of some of my great friends who have also been cheering me on!

Thank you!

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!