Good Luck to everyone who is running this weekend! I know your training will pay off and you all will do great. I look forward to your post-race posts.

I, on the other hand, am still training. I am scheduled to do my 24-26 mile run this weekend before tappering off. However, the forecast looks like rain, rain, and more rain. I don't mind running in the rain, but downpours?

I heard that when you start tappering, your body can become depressed. After thriving on long runs for so long, your body becomes sluggish. However, the tappering, while seemingly harmful at first begins to rejuvinate your body in time for the marathon. This is all very interesting to me as I work towards my first marathon.

Dreaming of Mums and Pumpkins

reds, oranges, deep greens. hot cider, apple crisp, stews, and butternut squash. running in the crisp evenings. sleeping with the windows open. long pants, sweaters, and flip-flops. roasted pumpkin seeds. football games. bright blue skies and brilliant sun. fallen leaves.

Tim and I just returned from a relaxing 24 hours in Fishing Creek, Pennsylvania. Our friends wedding brought us to this stunning piece of land outside of Harrisburg, and it was incredibly hard to leave. As we pulled up to our lodge the first thing we noticed was the silence. The air was crisp, clean, and refreshing. We woke up early this morning to play golf...the course was deserted, allowing us to take in the scenery as we took our time playing the immaculate course.



I didn't get much running in this weekend. Only a short run yesterday, but I have definitely been rejuvinated in other ways. (I also got to see old old friends from Maine yesterday! It was a very joyful reunion!)

Mazel Tov!!!!!

A Weekend with Family at Great Falls, Maryland

The Great House at Great Falls, Maryland



Overlooking the Falls

Our weekend visitors

Baby Cate loves dogs

The Falls short on water during a dry spell


Bonding outdoors


.FUN.

What Was It?

"There are clubs you can't belong to, neighborhoods you can't live in, schools you can't get into, but the roads are always open." - Nike

What was it that first got you hooked? that gave you the itch? that made you want to be out there, on the road, on the trails, running? What was it that turned you from a tomboy into an athlete?

For me, it was this quote by Nike. It hung above my bed scripted across a poster of a girl running by a white church on a golden evening. There were no hills, there were no roads, just the girl, her legs, thistles of grass, and the open territory.

For me, I envisioned myself being that girl. I envisioned myself running quietly through the open fields using the muscles and strength that God gave me. She looked so calm, so collected, and so strong.

Though, I am pretty sure I got the itch many years before I got the poster. My dad used to time us running around our house. Unfortunately I was always behind my sisters. Sally and Abigail would power through, lift their elbows, and block me out. They were sprinters. It wasn't until much later that I realized I was a long distance runner.

Running and athletics has always been a large part of my life, and a way for my family to bond with eachother. When my family gets together, we still find the time to run, bike, throw the lacrosse ball, hit the tennis ball, or just go for an evening walk. Now it is less about competition, and more about spending time with eachother.

But that is how I got my itch, and my family is what helps me to keep scratching it. They will be there to welcome me at the finish line of the marathon. Hopefully my dad will still be timing me.

From my training tip today:

"At times, you may not progress as fast as you expected. We Americans are traditionally hyperactive and impatient. When we plant a seed, we not only want it to grow, we want it to become a tree by next week. We want results. When you start, you want to see physical and psychological benefits. But if you push too hard, you can tire yourself out and end up quitting in frustration."

I am trying to take the above advice in stride. Despite enjoying my long run this past weekend (enough to go out for a short run with my friend Cynda a couple hours after the 20-miler), and then a 3-mile run the next day...I am ready for the marathon to be over. I have pushed hard all summer, and I am ready to put my training to the test. Training is more time consuming than I thought, and I am starting to get impatient...I want to be done with the training, I want to see if it worked, and I want to know that I can finish a marathon without doubling over. It is four weeks away...not close enough.

20-mile run, and then some

This weekend I ran farther than I have ever run before. Anna and I were to meet up at 6:15am. Early enough for us to get in our run, and then wash up before having a slew of Saturday shopping, chores, etc. to do. However, it seemed to have slipped our minds that the sun does not rise until around 6:45/7:00am. So as soon as we felt comfortable to run with adequate light, we took to the streets. They were still, very quiet, and almost haunting. We kept a great pace and after two miles of chatting, we popped on our i-pods. Cruising along the trails past Falls Church, and then the beltway, we made it to the ten mile marker. We both looked at eachother and smiled. We had never been this far on the trail. As we turned around, our pace quickened. We knew we could do this and it was a great feeling.

Soreness in the knees, ankles, and shins set in around mile 16, but we continued to cruise. It was the perfect running weather. 70s and overcast. We made it to the end of the trails, and the end of our run. We added on an extra mile and a half of walking to stretch out our legs.

With the marathon only a little over a month away, it was very encouraging to finish this run. I have been in a slump since the middle of August, but this weekend put me back on track.

Evening Run

Last night, after getting home from work rather late, I hit the streets of DC for a run. I had been pinned to my desk all day, and my body was itching to get out into the mild weather.

The evening was peaceful against our audacious Capitol.

Running on our National Mall can be quite comforting. As you make your way down the Senate side of the Capitol you have patchy views of the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. After reaching the Washington Monument, turning around, you are hit with the greatness and power of the Capitol..with the lights still on and bodies still moving inside.

I always sprint up the House side of the Capitol, getting a thrill as I pass our Representatives walking across Independence Avenue from their offices to the House floor to vote. I always smile at them. Are they thinking of their families back home? Would they rather be running?

The cool down past the Library of Congress and Supreme Court, weaving through the Senate Office Buildings, then to my doorstep. It is a quick run, 3.5 miles, but filled with views of consequence and significance.

In Scotland, a new game was invented. It was entitled “Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden”. . . and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language...

Ahhh, my how times have changed...golf lessons have started

As a city dweller, I enjoy spending my weekends on the golf course... looking up and not seeing any planes or helicopters. I covet the four to five hours without sirens, cars, or horns.

Therefore, to improve my golf game, to give me confidence to play with firends, and to hopefully enjoy the game even more I have started taking golf lessons.

I forgot how much I enjoyed practicing a sport. Much like throwing the lacrosse ball against the wall for hours on end to get better, my golf lessons consist mainly of instruction followed by practice, practice, and more practice.

The more I practice and the better I get, the more I can convince my husband that I need the cute outfits and snazzy shoes.

Running Route

For the last couple of days, I have been running or biking the same route around Hains Point in Washington, DC. It is a 3.14 mile picturesque loop that juts out into the Potomac by the Jefferson Memorial. I don't know if I like it because I feel like a true DC insider when I run it, or if I like watching all the people on their boats, people playing golf, people taking pictures of The Awakening, or planes taking off from Reagan National Airport. But when I run this loop I feel peaceful and calm. I can look across to the busy streets of DC...but only look. For the time that I am moving my legs I am not a part of that rapid lifestyle.



These pictures are from Wednesday night, my first time running the loop. The sun was going down, and the leaves were catching some last minute rays. Tim was riding while I was trying to keep up with him. I was able to do two laps running to his four on the bike.

Change

This week came fast with a thud.

Work has picked up. New interns moved into the dorm. Traffic is back in DC. Congress is back to the grindstone...emotions are again on the rise. Helicopters circle above as I type marking Renquist's move from the Supreme Court to the Capitol. Emails splatter onto my screen.

Even the sun seems stunned...on Tuesday the sun began its slow journey to winter, creeping in later and later, making it harder to get up early for a run, or even to make coffee for that matter. Did that much really change over the Labor Day weekend?

I do however welcome the gorgeous humidity-free weather, abundant blue skies, and crisp mornings.

"Change comes like a little wind that ruffles the curtains at dawn, and it comes like the stealthy perfume of wildflowers hidden in the grass."

John Steinbeck

Back pains

For the past couple of weeks I have been telling myself that "it" didn't hurt. After long runs, I would come home, pop a few tylenol, and get on with my day. But "it" has continued to creep up on me ever so slowly and quietly.

Lower back pain.....

After the 19 mile run this weekend the pain was uncomfortable, but bareable. My back was tense but not in extreme pain. But after my 6.5 mile run yesterday, the pain was spreading from my lower back down my right leg. I couldn't get comfortable, I couldn't sit down, I couldn't stand up, I just had to remain in a perpetual bent over position.

I am hoping it is my shoes since I am maxing out at 300 miles and need new ones VERY badly. If not, I am working to strengthen my lower back and praying that the pain does not conflict with my training.

An Early Fall?

Is summer really over? For the past week the weather has been anything but usual for August in DC. It has been gorgeous, not a drop of humidity. Today, it was actually rainy, cold, and chilling. I walked outside and thought I saw the color of the leaves change. Shocking!

So what else is one to do on such a day but sit inside and watch the latest Barefoot Contessa? Her show had me dreaming of hearty autumn dishes...chicken stew, roasted vegetables, and tasty breads.

Anna and I actually got our long run in today, despite the downpours...19 miles. The rain was coming down so hard we weren't even thinking about the fact that we were running. Instead we had to focus on playing the windshield wipers for our eyes so that we could see where we were running. That, and we were hoping that our i-shuffles weren't getting ruined.

I like these slow, thoughtful, purposeful days....

No Vacation Is Long Enough

It seems as though just as we begin to plan a vacation, it is over. Two weeks ago I was busy packing and preparing for a vacation with friends to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Today, I am back at work daydreaming about next year.

There are many highs and lows that come with taking a vacation. The excitement, anticipation, and thrill of looking forward to getting away. The goodbyes, long car rides, and empty refrigerators of coming home.

But last week, the highs of time spent with friends far outweighed the lows. Smiles on friends faces, the enjoyment of seeing how we all have grown over the past seven years, the laughter, the sapping up of every minute of the day to spend with each other, and as as always...the arguments, challenging one another, the tears, and forgiveness. With these friends I have learned how to love others, despite what I think are their faults. I have been tested in my opinions, and I have been encouraged in my beliefs. What I most appreciate is everyone's uniqueness (we are a muddled group made up of singers, actresses, small business owners, teachers, lawyers, financial advisors, construction workers, political gurus, and Air Force pilots), their genuine love, and their ability to relax on the beach with a boogie board in one hand and a good book in the other.

"When we are afraid, the least we can do is pray to God. But our Lord has a right to expect that those who name His name have an underlying confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the ones who are reliable. Yet our trust is only in God up to a certain point, then we turn back to the elementary panic-stricken prayers of those people who do not even know God. We come to our wits’ end, showing that we don’t have even the slightest amount of confidence in Him or in His sovereign control of the world. To us He seems to be asleep, and we can see nothing but giant, breaking waves on the sea ahead of us." Oswald Chambers

For the past several days all I have seen are huge "breaking waves on the sea" in the form of Tropical Storm Irene. God knocked me to my knees this morning with this quote from Oswald Chambers. Oh me of little faith. Why do I think that I can actually control the weather, taking on the likeness of God? Why do I think that I have control as to how others react to the possibility of a hurricane ruining their beach vacation?

"There are times when there is no storm or crisis in our lives, and we do all that is humanly possible. But it is when a crisis arises that we instantly reveal upon whom we rely. If we have been learning to worship God and to place our trust in Him, the crisis will reveal that we can go to the point of breaking, yet without breaking our confidence in Him.

We have been talking quite a lot about sanctification, but what will be the result in our lives? It will be expressed in our lives as a peaceful resting in God, which means a total oneness with Him. And this oneness will make us not only blameless in His sight, but also a profound joy to Him. " Oswald Chambers

Our vacation is in God's hands. May he bless our travel. May we find rest in Him through conversation and by enjoying his creation. May we find joy in eachother, in our words to one another, and in the experience of surviving a possible hurricane together.

In Preparation

I have spent this week preparing for our vacation next week. Laundry, cleaning, vacuuming, last minute shopping and details. I love the week before vacation...the excitement and anxiousness is palpable. I am dreaming of sun-filled soft beaches, reading on the deck in the morning, running by the water's edge in the evenings, quiet times as the sun is coming up, time with friends, and relaxation.

Calorie Burning Extravaganza

When it was time to leave Tunnicliffs Tavern last night after a wonderful meal, Tim and I could barely move our legs. We tried, but they wouldn't move. In fact, they actually screamed at us, "Don't move!" So we just sat, and sat, and sat some more.

This weekend, in an effort to tone our bodies for our beach vacation that is approaching quickly, we hopped on our bikes for a three hour, 40 mile bike ride down to Mount Vernon on Saturday. The trails took us along the Potomac, through Alexandria, and by the most spectacular views, gardens, and beach front houses. It was a great ride but towards the end we knew that we would be feeling it the next day. We could barely sit on our bike seats...we were very sore!

On Sunday morning I woke up when the streets of DC were still quiet and went on a 17 mile run. The first few miles were very hard. My legs were still upset with me for the bike ride the day before. But as they eased into stride my body felt great. I was starting to feel confident about the marathon that is approaching quickly as well (only a little over two months away). I must admit I am unsure if I can do it...if I can actually run across the finish line. The other day it hit me what a daunting task this was actually going to be. I soon found out from my training tips that this questioning is normal.

"The left side of our brain tries to hold us back. Inside the left hemisphere at the top of your head is the center of logic. The left brain solves math problems, organizes and nit-picks, and conducts the structured cognitive activities during your workday. One of the primary missions of the left brain is to steer you in the direction of pleasure and away from discomfort. Any form of stress or perceived stress will stimulate this negative center of logic to produce a stream of messages to "slow down!" or "quit!" or to question your sanity: "Why are you doing this?" Because we rely upon the left side for logical guidance, we listen to these messages. If we're weak or tired, we're very likely to give in to the messages and compromise our goal. Certainly we must always monitor the real dangers which could produce health problems (heat buildup, traffic, overfatigue) and take action when there is due cause. Most of the time, however, our left brain overreacts in warning us long before we are in real danger."

That same day, Tim hit the gym and ran more than he has ever run before. Needless to say our bodies were both very tired by Sunday evening. However, as we sat at Tunnicliffs, slowly putting the calories we lost back into our bodies, we felt great...tired, but healthy and great!

The recent posts over at Becca and Bella got me thinking about my favorite summer food. Beyond a doubt I would have to say the tomato. (This is quite obvious by what I have made for dinner this week.) My parents grow amazing tomatoes. They are always juicy and full of flavor. We used to have tons of them, they would line our counter, window sills, and be piled inside our refrigerator. They were so delicious that we only ate them with a dollup of mayonaise.

This year my parents decided to grow cherry tomatoes as well, and gave Tim and me some in a bag. I caught Tim eating them out of the bag one day...just popping cherry tomato after cherry tomato into his mouth exclaiming, "these are the best tomatoes I have ever had." Must be the PA soil.

As I have grown I have altered my mom's dish a little, adding salt and pepper to the mayonaise to bring out the flavor. I also make tomato, basil, and mozzerella at least two times a week. It is a nice change to a boring old lettuce salad. Put the above ingredients (tomato, basil, and mozzerella) on top of a pesto laden pizza crust and you have a great dinner. Also, tomatoes are wonderful tossed with some cucumbers and red wine vinegar. The options are endless.

Hydrangeas