National Half Marathon Archives - Page 2 of 2

ashleyd / March 27, 2011

National Half Marathon: Success!

Thanks to Caitlin, I have a wonderful memory of the amazing race I ran today!

Even though the race was longer than expected (13.34 miles) and had more hills than I trained for, I rocked it and set a new PR! Around 4pm, our final results were posted and my PR became official: 2:13:22!

My goal was a 2:15 so I’d say I successfully achieved that and have already decided that 2:10 is my next goal!

Ali and I just returned to the room after spending hours on our feet exploring Washington, DC! Needless, to say I’m exhausted.

I’ll be back tomorrow with a full recap! Thank you again for all your kind comments, support, and positive thoughts! Also, if I saw you today at the half marathon, I hope you rocked your race! I had three readers say hi before and during the race!

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ashleyd / March 26, 2011

Carb Loading & Race Day Prep: DC Style

What a day it has been!

We arrived in Washington, DC around 1:15 after a smooth and entertaining Bolt Bus trip.

Within minutes, we were exiting Union Station in order to meet Theodora’s friend Tamsin.

I forgot how gorgeous this city is!

Tamsin navigated the DC traffic like a seasoned pro, quickly finding our hotel and then the Armory where the expo was held.

Unfortunately, this expo was underwhelming. But, the race shirts are technical tees and I was able to catch up and meet some new blogger friends, so I can’t complain.

It was great meeting Anne and Megan for the first time while also catching up with Tina!

All too soon we parted ways in order to tame the hunger beast which had developed since our early bagels.

Tamsin suggested a neighborhood pub for lunch and it was perfect! Ali and I shared the blackened mahi mahi sandwich with sweet potato tots since it was already 3pm and we didn’t want to ruin dinner.

After lunch, Ali and I headed towards our hotel in Capitol Hill. Luckily, the METRO was able to get us there in 40 minutes with only one easy transfer.

Our hotel has far surpassed our expectations! We weren’t sure what to expect since it isn’t in the best area but it is one of the official race hotels which means it filled with inspiring runners, offers a race day shuttle to and from the course, and has a very helpful staff! You can’t ask for much more.

After unpacking, organizing our gear, and relaxing we headed out for a pasta dinner. We both knew we wanted a simple pasts dish which included a protein and a vegetable. Many of the area restaurants were already booked due to the weekend crowds. Luckily, Carmine’s DC was able to fit us at their bar.

Dinner included lots of bread and garlic infused olive oil. Good thing there won’t be any kissing happening tonight. That garlic was STRONG!

We were able to save money tonight by sharing one of their family style dishes, the shrimp spaghetti with “red sauce.” I put the red sauce in parenthesis because it was no where to be found in the dish. Luckily, we were both open to mixing all the ingredients and mashing the roma tomatoes which led to a delicious flavor and mix. This dish ended up being exactly what we wanted and were each craving!

Our gear is organized, everything is charged, and our pasta stomachs are ready for bed.

After all, we have a race to run tomorrow don’t we! In 12 short hours, we’ll be celebrating wonderful runs!

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ashleyd / March 25, 2011

Every Race Needs A Pre-Party

Good morning and HAPPY FRIDAY!

Race weekend is finally here and I couldn’t be more excited! I’m wedged between Ali and Theodora on our Bolt Bus heading down to Washington, DC.

Last night, after a very long week at work, I was able to convince Mike and Bo to meet me for a beer, or two. Winking smile What can I say? Last I heard, beer has carbohydrates and those are definitely crucial for a great race. Or, I could also rationalize last night’s late night with the fact that it took my mind off the race. Regardless, I enjoyed every minute of our race weekend pre-party.

By 9pm, the bars were packed with basketball fans which made staying at Sutton Place virtually impossible. Bo, Mike and I were screaming just to hear ourselves. That was not what I had in mind. Luckily, Mike suggested The Mean Fiddler, a bar near Times Square which features a thorough food and drink menu, which allowed me to find some much needed food quickly.

I enjoyed half this turkey burger with a cold Amstel Light while my male friends enjoyed the fries. It had been ages since I had a turkey burger. I forgot how delicious they can be when seasoned correctly!

Look who else joined the late night party!

Theodora saw that I checked in at the Mean Fiddler on Four Square and immediately joined us for a beer and a few laughs.

While I may have only seen my comfortable bed and sheets for six hours last night, I enjoyed every minute of our “late” happy hour last night. I rarely go out during the week but this may have to happen a bit more often.

This morning, I woke up bright and early to finish packing, double check my list for the twentieth time, and get ready for the bus ride.

One really full carry-on suitcase later, I think I remembered everything! Here are a few random things you’d see in my bag if you took a peek:

banana
two slices of Nature’s Pride Harvest Wheat bread (Thanks Foodbuzz)
a jar of peanut butter
The stick
three Ziplock bags (I’ll use these to protect my iPhone and Gu’s in my CamelBak)
CamelBak
Stuart Weitzman heels

Which of these things doesn’t belong.

By 8:15 we were all in line ready to board the bus.As you can tell from this picture, including the guy with the foam roller, our bus is filled with runners! But, it wasn’t 100% smooth sailing for everyone in line. We learned a few very important Bolt Bus lessons this morning:

You must be 15 minutes early or they’ll give your seat away
They aren’t very nice when they give your seat away so crying doesn’t help
They give you cheap bus fares so do not expect great customer service
They do not have a guest list with names, only confirmation codes. Therefore, PRINT your confirmation page ahead of time. (Ooops)
Choose your seat mate well because sometimes a 4 hour trip can turn into a 6 hour trip if the Tunnel is shut down due to an accident