Where were you guys?

It has been a good fall season for me! I have been able to get some great training runs with the group on Tues. and Thurs. I have run 2 of the 4 Backyard Burn Fall trail running series and look forward to the last one on December 7. The baby is now 7 months and loves the jogger! I am so blessed to have kids that enjoy running as much as I do.


All that said, I have to brag a little about the run Amy, Leo and I did in the pouring rain last week! We were feeling couped up and in need of a run and decided not to let the rain stop us. We geared up and headed out in the cold, windy, rain. It was an awesome run. Little Leo slept the whole way and was warm and dry as toast when we got home. I can't say the same for Amy and I but we were certainly glad we ran! Where were you guys?....














I know the holidays are coming up, but I don't want to lose my good exercise groove so I intend to weather the holidays just like I did the rain last week and trudge on through keeping my schedule as close to regular as possible. Anyone care to join me?

My Long Distance Running Partner

Sherry and I may be near each other in North Carolina, but unfortunately not near enough to justify driving 30 minutes to run together. Unless there's coffee involved, then I'll drive hours! We are both struggling to start our own groups down here, but bit by bit we are trying to make it work. We're determined to make it work darn it!

I peer pressured Sherry into running a 10K with me on Saturday and luckily she agreed because I'm not sure I would have gone in the end. I woke up and thought it sounded like it was raining outside. I walk out and yep, sure enough it's coming down. Not pouring, but a lovely steady rain nonetheless. Go to meet Sherry, still raining. Go check in to get our chips and yep, still raining. Standing there wet for military colors, starts raining harder. You get the picture. I'm not a rain runner like many others. Running in wet socks and shoes doesn't do a whole lot for me. Seriously, if Sherry wasn't there I would have gone back to my truck and straight to Starbucks.

We did it though and I'm glad we did. It stopped raining within the first 1/2 mile or so of the race! And as most people know I go for the t shirt and food and they had some lovely cranberry muffins afterwards! And the kicker of the entire day is that I placed 3rd in my age group. No, no, please don't get excited. There were maybe 150 there for the race, so I'm thinking I placed 3rd out of 4 or 5!

And I still got my Starbucks after the race too! Sherry and I lounged while my wild children danced away for the other customers!

I'm Back!

Today I went for my first run/walk since March. I am five weeks post c-section and feeling pretty good so I thought I'd "test the waters" today (I haven't gotten the doctor's okay yet so shhhhh...don't tell). I did the flat Vista loop to make it as easy as possible. I actually ran (translated-very slowly shuffled) most of it with very little walking. But pushing the double stroller was not fun! It seemed so heavy! I guess it will just take getting use to again. But I'm looking forward to getting into a schedule and slowly working my way back into my running life. :-)

Hell calling 2~~~ Send back the hair demons!!

Me and Don King have the same "do" now too in this heat......and you wonder why I drink Mojitos and Margaritas.........Where did my salt go?........

Hell called. They want the heat back.

Most people know that I lived here in Eastern North Carolina so I knew what I was getting into when I found out we were moving down here. It's hot and humid June, July, August and most of September. And not just hot, but so hot you need a change of clothes to get from your house to your car from all the sweating; and your windows are steamed; and you feel like you're in a sauna at 6 am. Maya kindly refers to it as "Hot Carolina" and I have to agree!

The difference between living here 8 years ago and living here now is that I didn't run when I lived here before. I did aerobics in a lovely air conditioned work out room and that was it. Now I run, and actually enjoy it! What I don't particularly enjoy is needing a towel to dry off before I even set off on a run. This morning the accuweather "real feel" was 95 at 7:30 am. Seriously? And who was the crazy lady pushing a 3 year old in this heat this morning? You guessed it! What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right?!!

But enough whining because soon my Virginia race teammates will be putting on their parkas, gloves and hats just to go run, and I will be happily wearing a t shirt and maybe some long running pants. Now running in that weather will be a dream! I just need a taste of fall weather to motivate me a little more these days! Although iced coffee with Sherry also motivates me too when it's 100 outside!

Missing my Montclair StriderS!!

Life at the beach is good, but I miss my "people"!! Thank goodness I have Christa here but we mostly just drink coffee together now. We are looking for local races, however our hubbies are preparing to leave for Iraq and that limits our opportunies drastically! Run an extra Dolphin loop for us!!!

Julie, how is the newest baby??
Jen, haven't seen updated pix on Facebook yet!!
Amy, you familiar with Facebook? hehehehe??
Michelle, thank goodness you keep fresh photos up!!

Love, Sherry

More than just Mommies Running

I moved to Virginia 3 years ago from California where I ran with a friend/neighbor. I was looking for another running buddy or 2 because I'm one of those people who just doesn't like to run alone. I was lucky enough to find the Montclair Striders within the first month of moving here and gave it a try. Not only did I get 1 or 2 running buddies, but a whole group!

In those 3 years I went from barely running 3 miles (to my credit I pushed a new baby and toddler!) to now running 2 half marathons, easily running 5-6 miles at a time and shaving my time down to an 8:30 m/m. Sure, I could spout about how hard I trained and how determined I was, but this is me we're talking about! There is no way on this earth that I would have done that by myself. I credit every bit of it to the women I ran with and trained with each week in this group. We aren't a hard core running group, but women who enjoy fitness and motivate everyone to reach the goals they have set.

However, there is much more to this group than training, running, and completing races. Many of us are friends. Not your "hey, thanks for running and see you soon" friends, but life long friends. We get together for coffee when it's cold, we always find time for a mom's night out and the emails and phone calls back and forth each week could make your head spin! When we are doing all this training and running we have really gotten to know each other. We have commiserated on sleepless nights, whether to have another child, spousal relationships, family dynamics, issues in the world and just life in general. We have celebrated birthdays, births, and all those little accomplishments we as moms revel in! These ladies know more about me than much of my family members do (and hopefully they don't spill the beans)!

And so here I am about to move again as a military wife. I knew the day would come to move and normally I take it all in stride. This is move #5 and while normally the moves get easier, this one is by far the most difficult for me. It's because I have made such good friends and I will miss these ladies so much. These ladies have helped to make me a fit mommy, but more importantly have helped make me a better person and friend. I'll miss you all.

In the words of the great Governator: "I'll be back."