The Spring Leesburg 10k/5k was a small race held on part of the C&O Canal. I had previously run a 5k race on this course, so I knew what to expect. It is a pretty flat course, with just 2 little hills as you go down an under path. Other than that, it has the potential to be a fast course!

I was signed up to run the 10k race, so I started at 8am. It was a bit chilly that morning (in the high 40s), but by the time I ran three miles I had to take off my long sleeved shirt because it was warming up to be a nice day. I was almost at the finish line as the runners from the 5k started to pass by me. I quickened my step and sprinted to the finish where I was greeted by Chuck E. Cheese!!! I grabbed a water, caught my breath, and waited for the others to finish.

During the race I used the intervals 2:30/1. I didn't think I was terribly fast, but I was apparently fast enough to come in second place overall! Go me!!!The Miss Teen Virginia and Virginia Princesses were there to hand out the medals to all the winners.

This race was put on by Bishop's Events. I have been running a lot of their races, because they have tons of them! If you are looking for a great race this spring, check them out! They have options for different distances: 5k, 10k, 10-miler, and half marathon. Even better, there is no time limit for their races, so runners of all speeds can participate! Check out their website www.bishopsevents.com.

This is my second year running the Rock ‘n’ Roll DC Half Marathon.

EXPO:
I went to the race expo at the DC Convention Center on Thursday to pick up my bib. I took the metro to the expo on Thursday night since I was busy on Friday.

The first thing that I noticed about the bib pick-up was how many different “booths” that were set up. I thought this was awesome because it really helped with spreading out the people trying to get their bibs. (Though, it wasn’t really busy at the time I went). Each table equaled one corral, or 1,000 runners. Compared to a runDisney race, there are many more corrals, which helped to space everyone out.

After getting my bib, it was off to get my t-shirt. There was a t-shirt size exchange table with extra shirts already there. Luckily, I didn’t have to change because my shirt was the correct size.

There was a ton of different vendors at the expo. I had a great time visiting some of the booths, trying out samples of products, taking pictures, and exploring everything that was offered. I didn’t buy much, except a RnR pin and magnet. But I did come home with a little loot of stuff!

Brooks had a huge booth. They had a great merchandise area with clothing, shoes, and other running products. They also had Run Happy Island, where there were free gait analysis, games for kids, and prizes!

I spent about an hour and a half wandering around the expo before it closed at 7pm. I always love an expo and can’t wait until my next one!

My next step was to figure out what to wear since the weather was calling for 100% rain and temps in the 40s. I don’t have a running rain jacket (now on my wish list), so I decided to go with layers. I ended up throwing on a long sleeved tech shirt under the shirts below (and over the arm warmers.) I certainly was dressed like a party animal!

RACE DAY:
The morning of the race, I woke up around 4:40am to get ready. I needed to apply lots of Glide and get dressed. I left my house a little after 5 and headed up to DC. I had purchased parking at the finish line, so I parked there, walked a mile to the metro, and got to the start line. After a quick-ish stop at the bathroom, I headed towards the start line.

On there way there I noticed the fruit tent. Thank goodness! I had some dry cereal and a granola bar earlier, but a banana (or 2) was a welcome thing. They also had a water tent for pre-race hydrating.

I was in corral 23 for this race. Right around 7:30 I went into my corral and waiting for my turn to begin. It took about 30 minutes for us to get to the start line. By this time my feet were already starting to hurt (I really need new shoes!). I spotted the 2:30 pacer and went to hang out in that group, hoping I would be able to keep up. At 8:04, I finally crossed the start line and we were off!

I lasted about half a mile with the pace group before I needed to break away to take a walk break. They were just too fast for me to not have an interval. I also needed to take off my garbage bag because it was get a little steamy in there!

Miles 1-3 were pretty awful. I was grumpy from the rain, my feet hurt, and I was really not into the race at all. As I was running on Arlington Memorial Bridge, I heard my name being called. I looked up and saw John from Run. Geek. Run (disney) running on the other side. I quickly yelled my hello and picked up the pace a bit. Thanks, John, for the motivation!

The course took us on to Rock Creek Park, past the Kennedy Center, and then I finally felt in the groove where I could actually stay with my 2:1 intervals. I was feeling much better now. The rain wasn’t bothering me, my foot stopped hurting, and I was mentally in a better place.

Because of the rain there weren’t as many bands out (at least from what I remember from last year), but there was still some good entertainment and crowd support. At the big hill at mile 6 (yuck) there were tons of people from Wear Blue: Run to Remember holding flags and motivating us to keep going.

Miles 7 through the end were all through the streets of DC, past businesses, houses, and Howard University. There were people out in the rain spectating and cheering us on with the dogs and umbrellas and it was a good motivator to keep moving. I was still feeling pretty good and sticking with my intervals until the very end.

The National’s Presidents were out to say hi to everyone and I had to quickly stop for a photo and to post it on Facebook. (but of course! I’m not winning any prizes..I may enjoy my time!)

Running as fast as my fatigued legs would let me, I headed to the finish, so ready to be done because I was exhausted and water logged.

I collected my medal and Mylar blanket and then shuffled along to get some snacks. At this time it started to get really windy, so I knew there was no way I was going to stay for the after-party. I walked almost 2 miles through parking lots and around JFK Stadium to get to my car (so much for finish line parking, right?), where I stripped down before I drove home.

My final time was 2:54:17, which was almost 20 minutes slower than last year’s race. But this year I had to dodge puddles and potholes, and I didn’t have a running partner.

I think the Rock ‘n’ Roll races are always well done. This race was well organized (except I did hear about some bag check issues). There were a lot of volunteers on the course. While I don’t think that I will be running this race next year, I would sign up for one in a different city.

This past Sunday I trekked out to Fort Hunt Park in Alexandria, VA. It was in the 30s and still felt pretty cold. It was also the day of daylight savings, so I was extra tired from not getting as much sleep as I could. Regardless, with my Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon coming up this weekend, I needed to get out and run.

This race was put on by the DC Road Runners, and like usual, was very well organized. These races are "low-key", so they are free for members of the club and only $5 for non-members. There is no shirt and no medal, but you do get a full race, complete with water stops and an official time. Not bad for the price!

The 10k was 5 laps around the path street of Fort Hunt Park. We hit the water stop on each round, so I didn't have to worry about carrying anything with me. It was a bit icy in spots, so I needed to be careful of my step, but I didn't fall (yay me!). I didn't really warm up until lap 3-4, but then I was able to shed my jacket for the last lap.

I was hurting pretty bad during this race. Because of all the snow, ice, cold, and laziness, it had been a few weeks since I ran. And I definitely felt it (and still do - I am so sore, you would have thought I ran a marathon!). My legs felt like lead and it took a lot out of me to keep going. I did stick to my intervals (run 2/walk 1), though, which made me a bit proud, even if I was slow.

My final time was 1:13:38. I was second to last to finish. I guess that's what I get for not getting out there more! Oh well.

It’s almost the end of winter vacation….so I’ll end it with a 5k run. This Frozen 5k race is part of the same series as the Santa’s Workshop 5k that I did last month. It took place in Haymarket, VA, and started at the local Sports & Health Club. It was raining the entire day before and for my entire drive, so I was a bit worried about having to get wet and possibly get sick, but luckily it stopped raining as I got there and stayed dry for the entire race!! Yay!

I went inside to get my bib and I saw Elsa! It was a Frozen 5k, but not a FROZEN 5k, but I’m glad that someone else went the same route as I did and dressed festively. Hi Betsy! Thanks for being awesome!

I also met up with some Moms Run This Town ladies and got a picture with them. It’s fun knowing some people at races to chat with before it starts!

And I was super glad to see my friend John from www.rungeekrundisney.com and ended up running the race with him. We had a good time chatting and passing the time as we ran up all those *hills* of Haymarket.

The race started at the Health Club and then ran down a main road and past some townhouse neighborhoods. We were running on a partial lane of the road that was coned off to traffic. It did get a bit crowded at parts because there were so many people and not much room to move around, but it was ok. A little bit of weaving around people got us into some space. The course was definitely not flat, but had a bunch of inclines and declines, some of them which were a little pain. But I won’t complain too much – they weren’t terrible.

We got to the half way point, turned around and made our way back. We went up one last hill and then I sprinted to the finish. Done! Now time for some Nuun to rehydrate :)

My time was not as fast as my New Years Race, but I did not sleep terribly well last night, and there were more hills. Bristow Tri & Swim puts on pretty good races (with awesomely soft race shirts), and I’m sure I’ll be signing up for more of their races this year.

Last Saturday I trekked to Washington, D.C. to run a 20k with the DC Road Runners. This race took place on the C&O Canal, starting at Fletcher’s Cove. My car GPS didn’t really like the address and I ended up in some dead end street above the canal, but luckily I figured out where I was supposed to go and made it to the race in time. I had never been to Fletcher’s Cove before and it was quite an experience. The path into the parking area goes through a tiny tunnel, with one way traffic only. It was a bit creepy going through that small tunnel.

I quickly went to get my bib, went to the bathroom, and went back to my car for a few minutes before the race began. It was so cold!!! The race started at 10am (the 5k started at 9), which I appreciated. The first thing I noticed before beginning was that the canal was frozen! Solid! But more on that later…

The race started on time, and I was off! I appreciate the beginning photos that they took, especially because you can see my AWESOME outfit.

1. I needed to stay warm
2. I like to dress festively
3. I’m trying out my new Compression Sleeves (whew, I had a hard time getting these up over my calfs – but they did help keep my legs from getting too tired!)

Though, I do need some more colorful running jackets; this grey one is so boring!

This trail is the same course as the one starting at Carderock from my Potomac River Run Half Marathons I did last year, except it goes in the contrary direction, and starts a few miles away. But a lot of the course was the same, which is good because I think it is very pretty. On one side is the Potomac River and the other side is the canal. Like I said earlier, the canal was frozen. I was in awe at how many people were braving the ice. There were tons of kids, ice skaters, and even an adult hockey team playing out on the ice. I have no idea how thick the ice was, but I was nervous seeing them out there!

At one point I heard this thunderous sound. It made me jump! I think it was some of the ice cracking (but this was down some from where the ice skater people were). But, still…!

I started to get lapped as soon as I finished mile 4. Man, there are a lot of fast people! Also at this time, the path started to get really icy. A lot of the running took place on the edge of the path where there was dirt and grass. A few times I just had to stop and walk. There is no way that I was going to fall and get hurt (and knowing me, I would). So I was extra careful, even if it took be a bit longer.

In the middle of my ice run, I reached the turn around point and turned back. By this time, the course was very cleared out. I still had 10k to go, and at this point the race was very mental. There wasn’t anyone around me to keep me company. It was just me, the ice, and the occasional runner not with the race. These are always the toughest times to run! It takes so much effort to keep going. But I did.

Around mile 8 I started to get really tired. I hadn’t run this far or long since the PRR Half back in November. I drank some Nuun and had a Huma Chia Energy Gel to try to get my energy up. And I kept trekking.

I finally finished, 2:42:53 later. I was fourth from the end, but that is ok. Most of the people had already left to go home, including the finish line photographer (bummer!) and the bananas.

Well, it was a good way to get going for this new year, even though it was cold and a little rough mentally. I have a bunch of races coming up that I need to be prepared for, and this was a good kick-off for my long ones.