The Registration

Today is packet pick up for the National Half Marathon and the opportunity to grab a pre-registration coupon from the MCM folks at the expo which I did! So it is official, I am registered to run my first marathon.

A brief update on things with the training group. The group participants are up, to date we are 12. Some are mentally only acknowledging that they are 'registering' for the marathon at this point. It is very interesting to observe 'how' we each accept and cope with such a huge goal and a long training cycle...7 months of hard training and racing.

It seems injury has hit our group. I am suffering through a hamstring pull, Gabs is dealing with her feet as well as Joan, and Susan and Nancy have ankle twinges. Perhaps it is best to deal with the injuries now. This has slowed down my training but has not stopped me.

Tomorrow, we continue racing. A bunch of us are running the Sun Trust Half Marathon. Last week, we ran the St. Patrick's 8K. Next week, a group is going to Quantico to participate in the 'Run to Register' 10k. As for me, I will be the substitute coach for the B&RB ladies and take a pass on the 10k. I guess you could say we are now well into the spring racing season.

Run smart. Run to eat.

After 15.57 miles, February 28, 2009, with coach Sandy

We love taking pictures to mark our milestones and progress. Featured in the picture is Kathy, coach Sandy, back row: Nancy, Blair, Julia and Susan. We love our running jackets. We like to make our presence known on the running trails and that we proudly represent B&RB Group and Pacers.

Information and recognition

The marathon crew has come together under the leadership of our running coach Sandy May who leads the B&RB all-female training group within the Pacers Running Club umbrella. The training takes place from the Pacers store in Alexandria. The group is made up of women ranging in age from 22 to 52 years old from all-walks of life, in different stages of life and various professional worlds. This makes our group wonderfully diverse. I am amazed at the dynamics in our marathon group and the training group; there is love, support, respect and most of all deep admiration for each other.

So this Saturday is a relatively manageable run of 13-14 miles scheduled and spring-like weather predicted....no more hats and multiple layers. From my stand point, a number of topics are up for discussion. Note, most of our time on the trails is spent in deep discussion, from the mundane to the poignant. We share happy moments, sad stories, humorous tales, wildly inappropriate jokes and crazy observations.

This weekend also moves us into March, a big race month with St. Pat's 8K race next weekend, followed by Sun Trust National Half Marathon and concluding with the Run to Register 10K at Quantico on the 28th...our ticket to the MCM.

A note about the MCM registration: unfortunately, the pre-registration is not occurring this year so my plan for a good drinking evening is foiled. Perhaps I am able to convince the girls to meet for dinner and some imbibing on April 1, the day MCM registration opens. More to follow.

Run smart, run to eat!

MCM Run to Register 10K

Just registered! Who else is in?

This Blog

So this is a story of a group of women, trying to tackle a new goal: the marathon. Some of us are still not completely committed to the idea (like myself), while others are bound and determined (Captain Riggs is so excited she is getting drunk on sign-up day). 

No doubt, the coming months will require patience, grit, strength, and tenacity. But perhaps more fundamental to our training is each other; we will need one another to motivate ourselves, and share tips with, and enjoy meals with after an 18 mile run. And most importantly, we will need one another to keep entertained out there on the long, long road.

So these are our stories.