Monthly Archives: January 2010

The car ride was taking forever.

I was exhausted from what felt like hours of gymnastics (in reality, maybe it had been an hour? Memory is tricky that way). My quads ached. My triceps screamed. Not that I knew what those muscles were called at the time — I was only seven.

Once I got home, I whined to my dad in between chomps of pizza: I was soooo sore!

He smiled. “But isn’t it such a good sore?” he said. Well …. yeah!

I found myself the best kind of sore after last weekend’s shift at with the Mountain Safety Team at Whitetail, which marked the real kickoff to my 2009-2010 ski season. The skiing was spectacular, the snow fluffy and perfectly groomed, and I enjoyed three or four solid hours of hard skiing both Saturday and Sunday in between my duties. For reasons outlined in this blog, I thought I was in pretty decent shape. My quads begged to differ, and I left on Sunday afternoon feeling divinely sore and ready for bed by 9 p.m. That “good sore,” plus a well-earned sleep after hours of physical activity outdoors, is motivating me to work out inside the rest of the week. Here’s what else is motivating me this week:

My new ski boots. I skied what I’m pretty sure will be my last day ever in my 13-year-old Langes on Saturday. On Saturday afternoon, I finally got my custom insoles made for my new DalBellos. My shins are bruised from breaking them in all day Sunday, but my ankle was no more sore at the end of the day than it was at the start. Hope is motivating, and these boots are chock full of it.

Hip hikes (video here), those unbelievably boring hip strengtheners my new physical therapist reminded me I should be doing, are also giving me a lot of hope. Because the very idea of running or skiing without any hip or ankle pain is highly motivating.

An appointment with that new physical therapist on Wednesday. He says he can help make sure I don’t reinjure my ankle, and to make sure my bum ankle doesn’t affect my hip like it usually does. I’m all ears, and can’t wait to find out my marching orders for the next month or so.

Larabars. I won a small box of these in a giveaway before the holidays, and it was waiting for me when I got back to DC after my own holiday travels. I’d been spooked by the nutritionals previously — though the whole-food ingredients are delightfully simple, I was skeptical those tiny bars would be worth the 200-plus calories. Turns out, those whole-food ingredients actually keep me full for a long, long time. The Cherry Pie flavor is my favorite so far, and I love knowing I can pronounce all three ingredients: dates, almonds, unsweetened cherries. How simply perfect!

A new toy in the works. Your helpful comments have convinced me that the Garmin 305 is the way to go, and I’m shopping around for one now. I feel pretty certain it’s going to revolutionize my training.

What’s motivating you this week?

Motivation Thursday lacks the catchy alliteration of Motivation Monday. But since I missed a few weeks on vacation, I thought I’d play catch-up by giving you a dose of mid-week motivation. Here’s what’s motivating me this week:

• Getting out in the cold. For real! I almost didn’t head out for my group run on Tuesday night, in part because of the cold snap that’s hitting Washington, D.C., this week. But it wasn’t so bad once I bundled up and headed out. Plus, I’ve had fun telling people that it’s not blush reddening my cheeks; it’s a badge of honor proving I’m hard-core for getting out there in all kinds of weather. For tips on braving the cold comfortably, check out this great guest post from my friend Amy, who lives in Minnesota.

• Easing up a bit. Last October, after a painful and disappointing Marine Corps Marathon, I was chomping at the bit to tackle another 26.2. I set my sights on the National Marathon in March, and mapped out my route to redemption. My attitude about completing another marathon this year can be summed up this way: Meh. I could take it or leave it. The good thing about this: I’m taking cues from my body about what it’s up for, rather than expecting my body to get with whatever program I’ve decided is best for me. I may do a fall marathon. I may not. I’m finding that this attitude is far better than setting myself up for disappointment. Somehow, this feels motivational.

• A few interesting possibilities for my 2010 race schedule. Marathon notwithstanding, I’ve got a whole bunch of interesting possibilities race-wise. I’m definitely planning on the Blue Ridge Parkway Half-Marathon in April and the 1-mile Chesapeake Bay Swim in June (I sort of accidentally-on-purpose missed the deadline to register for a spot in the 4.4-mile swim. $250 was just too much to spring on one race for me). Other possible additions include the Five Points of Life Half-Marathon in Gainesville, Fla., on Feb. 14, and the Pensacola Aquathon on May 23.

View from the Blue Ridge Parkway Half-Marathon course.

• Ben Beach, a Boston Marathon “streaker” who’s keeping up his track record of running the race every year despite overwhelming physical challenges. Beach, 60, of Bethesda, is aiming to finish his 43nd consecutive Boston Marathon this year — only one other runner holds a longer “streak.” Beach suffers from dystonia, a neurological movement disorder that has warped his gait, making training difficult and racing harder. Read about his journey to Boston here.

• The promise of a Garmin Forerunner! That’s right — in addition to a dweeby reflective running vest, I also got a gift card for Christmas meant to help me purchase a Garmin! I’m still deciding what kind I’ll get, and would welcome feedback. The 405 isn’t really in my price range, but I’m still hesitant to buy a 305 without hearing more positive reviews of it. I’m also curious about the 205, which is cheaper yet. Thoughts?

What’s motivating you this week?