Running From Zombies!

A while back ago a few of us Bouncing Buns-DC girls signed up for a zombie race in Lorton VA, which is very local for us! Score! The race was also being held at the now closed Lorton Maximum Security Prison! About a week before the race my daughter Emma asked if she could run it! I of course said, "YES, YES!" I was so excited she wanted to run with me! She even had a costume idea! Her favorite movie is ZombieLand!! So she wanted to make t-shirts that said "Rule #1: Cardio and Rule #2 Double Tap" if you have seen the movie you know what I am talking about!

The race was an afternoon race so we showed up a little too early (Opps I thought it started at 4 but it was 4:30) and so we hung out and took fun pictures while we waited for the rest of our group to arrive! 

The rest of our group arrived about 30 minutes later so we took the opportunity to grab a group shot! 

The race started and we were off! I reminded Emma to keep a steady pace and I thought she was until I looked at my Garmin and we were running an 8:30 mile so I slowed her down and we finished the first mile under 10 minutes! Then we proceeded to walk/run and sprint while the Zombies were chasing us!! It was really fun! I was so proud of Emma! She did great! Her time was not too shabby for deciding a week before that she wanted to run! 

Emma has even told me she wants to run the Turkey Trot next month! I am sooooooooo excited she wants to run with me! I really believe this habit I have created for myself has started to rub off on my daughter! Watching my daughter cross the finish line was the best runners high I have ever had! 

Army Ten Miler Volunteer

On Friday October 10th I had the opportunity to volunteer for the 30th Anniversary of the Army Ten Miler here in DC. My friend Stephanie and I were helping with t-shirts distribution. All I can say is WOW...these people have it figured out! They were getting people in and out of those lines quick! People who were picking up team packets of 20 people were commenting on how easy it was and had planned on being gone from work for hours...but we had them in out in minutes!! I loved volunteering and plan on doing it again next year!

Stephanie and I at the Expo

The day of the race my husband was running so I was taking the kids downtown to watch him! I got the kids up at 6am and we were on the metro by 7am. I had planned on seeing my husband at the 4/5 mile mark. He is always in the first wave of runners so we had to hurry. We rode the metro downtown and started our walk to our spot. We were able to see the Wounded Warriors and the elite athletes run. Then the mass of the first wave. We were lucky enough to see my husband at the 2 mile mark and he threw his jacket to me...we then saw a break in the waves and ran across the road to the 4/5 mile mark. We spotted my husband again! Yay!

My husband in blue with yellow bib. 

We hung around for a bit to cheer and people watch. I am always so amazing at the people who this race! Amazing!

 It's Captain America!

I have seen barefoot runners but never sandal runners!

I hung around a bit longer and was hoping to spot Jackie and her husband Kevin and I was also on the look out for a few other Kansas friends! I spotted Jackie's husband first and yelled for him but he was in the zone! I looked and looked for Jackie and could not find her...right when I was yelling for a gal decked out in Royals gear a runner came up behind me and yelled "I am so glad I found you!" Aahhhhh it was Jackie!!! Yay! I never did see any other runners I knew. There were so many people it was amazing!

Yay! Super Cute Jackie! So happy I saw her!

I really enjoyed watching all the runners and supporting my husband and friends but I do admit I was a tad jealous! I wanted to be running! :)

Later that night Chris and I met up with Jackie and Kevin and some of their other friends in town for ATM and we had dinner at Elephant and Castle. It was a fun day and it was so nice to catch up with great friends and meet new friends!

Crawlin Crab Whirlwind Girls Weekend Part 3

After the 5k, Jane, Van, and I headed to Virginia Beach, VA to check out the area and walk along the beach. After a super humid and hot morning surprisingly the humidity went away and temps dropped and it ended up being an absolutely beautiful day.

After a couple of hours we headed back to Hampton to meet up with the rest of our party, The BB-DC girls, Jennifer and Melissa. Yay! We went over to the expo and decided it was time to go get a perfect dinner at Lone Star and I swear that meal was perfect. We then went back to the hotel for Managers Special!! Oh yeah...but being a smart girl, I only had my one beer because 13.1 is a lot longer than 3.1 and I don't think I could have finished a half marathon with 3 rum punches in my belly. Lol! 

We all went back to our rooms and got everything ready to go for the race! It was still really nice to know we could sleep in and then walk out to the start line right before the race starts, so I actually had a very good night's sleep! 

Now, I know this race was supposed to be my Do-Over Race (you can read about that here). However, I ended up hurting my foot about 5 weeks before this race and I took 3 weeks off. So my goal went from trying to beat my last half time of 2:33 to just finishing the race strong and NO PUKING this time (remember I was sick for last years Crawlin' Crab and couldn't drink the beer..).  

Jen, Mel,Me, Jane, and Van before the start

Well, the race went well! I MADE myself run a 13 minute mile for the first 7 miles to where Van was waiting for me to help me through the last 6. 

Van and I at mile 7 on the water. 

So, I finished. While my time was not awesome, I actually enjoyed the whole race and GuEsS WhAT?? I got my beer after the race (actually Mel and I enjoyed a little too much beer)! 

By the way, all the girls ran awesome! Melissa clocked in at 2:18 (pushing that stroller during all that training made her fly)! Jennifer knocked 10 minutes off her Nike time at 2:26! Jane clocked in at 2:26 also, and Van and I hit 2:54 which is the EXACT same time Ginger and I ran last year! 

After the race and the party we got cleaned up and Jen suggested a hamburger joint called MooYa. OMGoodness- best hamburger, hands down! I do believe it is better than In and Out. Yes, I just said that! 

We then continued to enjoy our girls weekend by seeing the movie "Gone Girl." I have read the book and the movie is just as good! I won't go into details but while reading the book and watching the movie I thought to myself, "Crazy"!! 

I am so happy some of the DC ladies got to meet the Kansas ladies and a fun weekend was had by all. I love you, girls! Can't wait 'til next time! 

Crawlin Crab 5k and Whirlwind Race Weekend Part 2

Friday night we arrive in Hampton, Va. We know we have a 5k in the morning so we end up just planning on settling in at the hotel. We are given these "golden" tickets for the manager's special and breakfast for every day of our stay. Manger's special...what? Free drinks and snacks, Yes, please! One great thing about our hotel...it was literally steps to the convention center where the Expo and post race party were and also steps from the start/finish line. Awesome!!! So we headed over to the expo and picked up our packets, along with the other BB girls who would be arriving later Saturday to run the half with us!

The Expo was nice and small. Lots of cool Crabby stuff! :) After the expo, we went to the Manger's Speical! Wow...that Rum Punch was awesome...too amazing!

We then decided to call it a night after 3 rum punches because we still had to get up sorta early to, you know...run a 5k! So I got all my gear ready to go!

Since our hotel was steps from the start/finish, we stepped out of the hotel about 7:40 and strolled to the start line! The race was fun. Jane ran with me and, because it was so stinkin' humid from the rain we had over night, no one was going all out...we were seriously soaking wet by the time we finished, it was so humid! So even though the course was flat and I was recovering from a foot injury (more on that later) I clocked in at 34 minutes, not best and not my worst.

We then headed to the post race party...beer and soup! The soup was so good and because it was cool in the convention center and we were still wet from the humidity, it was actually a nice thing!

I am so happy these girls came to VA to run this race with me! It was a really fun day!

Crawlin Crab and a Whirlwind Girls Weekend! Part 1

Wow, what an amazing weekend it was here in Virginia! Two of the ladies from Kansas Bouncing Buns flew in this weekend for a girls weekend to run the Crawlin Crab Shell Yeah Challenge in Hampton, VA with me!

Van and Jane arrived early Thursday morning so we decided to head into DC to do a little sight seeing. We hopped on the metro and headed to the The National Mall. We were able to score tickets to go up into the Washington Monument at 1:30, so we had a few hours to burn before our tour. We went over to the US Treasury department but missed the tour and hit the gift shop and then headed to the Holocaust Museum. It was a great exhibit, but very sad. Unfortunately, we had to cut our tour short (I plan to go again) so we wouldn't miss our Washington Monument tour. The Washington Monument Tour was great...except one madly in love couple who we ran into at every turn...let's just say they must have thought they were kissing cats..they were constantly meowing at each other! Really!!??!! I can't make this stuff up!! After that we were very hungry, so we headed to the Food Truck stop but before we got there we came upon this amazing garden right next to the Hirshhorn Museum! The plants were so beautiful!

We then got a Food Truck Lunch...sadly most of the trucks were already packing it up for the day. I, however, really enjoyed my Greek Chicken Pita sandwich...I don't know if it was really good or I was really hungry! :)

Friday morning we got up and headed into Old Town Alexandria. Van was able to meet up with a friend, so we all sat on the pier drinking a coffee and enjoying each other's company. We then headed to Hampton, Va to get ready for our Shell Yeah! Challenge!! 

Stay Tuned in for Part 2 tomorrow!!