tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57021778860362747082012-02-01T10:07:18.107-05:00If one could run without getting tired I don't think one would often want to do anything else. -C.S. Lewisultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.comBlogger741100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-824241680128363262012-01-23T11:08:00.003-05:002012-02-01T10:07:18.113-05:00

I am excited and honored to be featured in People Who Have the Runs, a Q&A with runners as well-known as Bart Yasso and now -- little ol' me! Bart Yasso speaks at the 2009 Lehigh Valley Half Marathon pasta dinner Find out: how I got started running my ultimate running goal  what ultrarunners do in the woods  and other burning questions you've never wanted to ask here: Who Has The Runs

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-36604701426599178182012-01-18T14:10:00.000-05:002012-01-18T14:25:42.430-05:00

Foie gras & chocolate, Bloody Mary gelatin, Macarons filled with beet mousse. Someone had a birthday. In celebration, I checked off one of those life list Grand Plans: Dinner at The Inn at Little Washington.  It was the most delicious, delightful, creatively presented food I've ever eaten.  Beet Salad, extraordinary Carpaccio of Herb Crusted Baby Lamb with Caesar

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-22365359227689636002012-01-11T12:25:00.000-05:002012-01-11T16:38:42.048-05:00

I'm not organized enough to write a real year-end recap, but I couldn't resist posting my DailyMile summary graph and looking back at the miles I ran in 2011. Last year in January, I was recovering from a six month battle with a bulging disc in my lower back. I slowly began building my mileage back. Mindful of the long period I'd been unable to run, I took it easy and enjoyed simply being out

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-77568070949542312512011-12-22T15:38:00.001-05:002011-12-22T15:46:22.096-05:00

Regal Monogram Christmas CardCustom Christmas cards are always available at Shutterfly.com.View the entire collection of cards.

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-40738683055236975892011-12-05T15:53:00.000-05:002011-12-06T16:52:19.445-05:00

I ran the fifth and final Fall Backyard Burn at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park on Sunday. As usual, EX-2 put on a well-organized, fun event on challenging trails that featured plenty of hills. It was a chilly morning, thick with fog on the drive to the start. After I got my packet, Hubz and I spied Kate and Tracy and jumped in their warm car.  Tracy, Kate and Kirstin before the start

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-74396536381489843832011-11-30T11:42:00.000-05:002011-11-30T16:01:54.503-05:00

We've been exploring Virginia wine country in earnest this fall. We're enjoying this new shared hobby immensely, and Hubz is developing a discerning palate. The other day we rented Sideways - an amusing flick for anyone who's ever gone wine tasting. Hubz was bowled over by the delicious lunch I made out of our Thanksgiving turkey leftovers and the bottle of Virginia wine we were drinking. He

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-5162308611971165192011-11-28T07:30:00.000-05:002011-12-06T14:35:42.615-05:00

I recently walked the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure in Arizona with three of my girlfriends. I'm proud to report that our team raised $11,600 $12,375 for breast cancer research and support. If you donated, THANK YOU!!! If you'd still like to do so, click the link above. I walked for my mother, who is a breast cancer survivor. They caught it very early, luckily. I walked for her

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-83037646213456882822011-11-23T11:15:00.000-05:002011-12-01T08:57:57.731-05:00

I was afraid of how tough my first Bikram yoga class in three weeks would be. But it really wasn't difficult at all. Some postures that are usually very frustrating for me went well. I actually got completely into the second posture, Pada Hastasana (Hands to Feet pose), right off the bat! I can NEVER seem to get remotely close to having my stomach on my thighs or face on my shins, even in the

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-63863412516557521642011-11-01T19:23:00.000-04:002011-11-02T10:46:58.876-04:00

I won't bury the lede: I spanked my PR from 2005 (my last road marathon) by 42 minutes!  I'm really happy about that. The only photo in which I don't look like death My race report in a nutshell: Crowded. Shuffling. Accelerating. Weaving. Jostling. Slowing. Avoiding. Tripping on gloves and random discarded clothing for the first eleven miles.  PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. I kept expecting, any

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-81472961969409687282011-10-17T21:12:00.000-04:002012-01-24T12:41:23.607-05:00

Marathon training. There's a lot encompassed by that phrase. I've been diligently training for my fifth Marine Corps Marathon.  (I'm pretty sure it's my fifth. It has been so many years since I last ran it, even the Internets don't remember, so I can't be certain.) I'm finally coming up for air and starting my two week taper. Pace. Miles. Splits. Hill repeats. Intervals. Long runs.

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-10266094070696186732011-10-05T12:47:00.002-04:002011-10-05T12:47:50.150-04:00

October is for hiking Old Rag. It doesn't get any better than rock scrambling and fall colors. Go!

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com7Old Rag Mountain, Robertson, VA 22719, USA38.5517905 -78.314170238.526955 -78.35365220000001 38.576626000000005 -78.2746882tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-22777491509979503842011-09-23T07:04:00.000-04:002011-10-05T12:50:42.622-04:00

It was my eighth running of the VHTRC Women's Half Marathon Trail race. That's a lot of years worth of experience. In fact, this race had been my one and only streak (7 straight years, until my bulging disc injury sidelined me). My running partner and many of my girlfriends were running. The best trail running club in history, the Virginia Happy Trails Running Club puts this race on

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-59672370604465613852011-09-02T15:26:00.000-04:002011-09-06T11:26:32.085-04:00

I feel I've been neglecting my blog. I haven't had much motivation to write.   Oddly enough, I'm running - a lot. More than usual, in fact. But I haven't felt I've had much to say about my training. Oh, I've had all the typical runs: the I-love-running runs, scenic runs, it's-way-too-hot runs, the fast runs that felt pretty easy, the breakthrough run (fast, with hills!) and yes, a couple of

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-9757045879747358042011-08-16T13:27:00.002-04:002011-08-16T13:53:47.994-04:00

Please support me as I attempt an endurance event that spans 3 days -- my longest yet! -- in the fight to end breast cancer. Apparently I'm not allowed to run, so this time, I'll be walking. It should be a whole new kind of challenge. The Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure® is a 60-mile walk over the course of three days. Net proceeds from the 3-Day for the Cure are invested in breast cancer

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-69766598440535519772011-08-10T11:40:00.001-04:002011-08-10T13:54:29.579-04:00

The Bull Run Trail, Fountainhead Regional Park Dirt trail, uneven in places.  Sticks, leaves, roots. The chatter of friends. Hills. The Do Loop.  Humidity. Sweet, runnable downhill.  Lovely footfalls, breath, rhythm. A trickle of sweat meanders down my temple. A meadow. Solitude.  More hills. The final push. Cold watermelon. Satisfaction.

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-34180581528015830202011-08-01T16:33:00.000-04:002011-08-01T16:33:50.223-04:00

I love summer.  Yes, even when it's traumatically hot and unbearably humid.  Butternut squash volunteer in my garden I love the long days, the heat of the sun on my skin, the sounds of the cicadas in the trees. Life in the summer feels relaxed. It's still broad daylight when I arrive home on weeknights. I can go sit in my backyard with a cool drink, even if I get chased inside by

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-8042620834259814322011-07-20T10:33:00.002-04:002011-07-20T10:46:40.439-04:00

I have a new sister in law!

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-34258395290399042132011-07-13T16:34:00.001-04:002011-07-20T10:46:40.439-04:00

Friends at Big Devils Stairs Overlook A pause to take in the view and refuel Waterfall along White Oak Canyon Another lovely view, only slightly hazy What kind of snake is it? All our nature nerds were left guessing. An old stone wall, built by hand

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-59771656573911948752011-07-05T12:40:00.003-04:002011-07-05T15:50:54.580-04:00

Why?  I bought a 10-class pass. It expires in 10 days, with 6 classes remaining. I’m not willing to forfeit that money. Yes, I had three months to use it so I am teaching myself a lesson in the process.So?  I feel like I’m a good beginner case study, because up until this week, I’d done exactly six Bikram classes, over a four month period. Day 1 I was slightly worried about my five-in-a-row plan.

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-35094162334922349172011-06-29T13:35:00.007-04:002011-06-29T16:16:44.106-04:00

Sour Cherries Cherries with pits removed Cherries and sugar, boiling Cherries, cooling In the blender. Forgot to snap a shot when I added the yogurt. Pouring the chilled yogurt and cherry mixture in the ice cream maker Almost done! I always fail to take photos of the finished product in a pretty dish. Sour Cherry Frozen Yogurt (recipe adapted from David Lebovitz's The Perfect

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-38538122295671729632011-06-24T13:44:00.008-04:002011-10-05T12:50:12.956-04:00

Highlands Sky 40 Miler rocked my world. And my quads. Also, my feet. Fueling up before the first climb, a misty 2,300 foot ascent. Back in the Game. This was my A race for the year, yet somehow, it sneaked up on me. In preparation, I'd run 50k in February, March and May, so I felt good about my endurance but less confident about my leg speed. Outside of a flat trail 10 miler in March, an

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com17Dry Fork, WV, USA39.00317769875894 -79.392013924804738.93025219875894 -79.5702609248047 39.076103198758936 -79.2137669248047tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-49004668635309792472011-06-14T16:50:00.000-04:002011-10-05T12:51:58.244-04:00

It was to be my third running of the Lawyers Have Heart 10K. Alas, early the morning of the race, the organizers decided the heat presented a danger and voila, it was suddenly a 5K. Hubz had never run a 5K before. He was a gym rat who ran a couple of Annapolis 10 Milers and then got sucked into ultrarunning. We frantically tried to warm up by running up and down the street under Whitehurst

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-92108837334600886232011-06-08T09:39:00.002-04:002011-07-20T10:46:40.439-04:00

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-39640858581605938092011-05-31T17:10:00.005-04:002011-10-05T12:51:49.198-04:00

My good friend Sophie invited us down to the Southern end of Shenandoah National Park for one of her legendary runs.  Am I ever glad we made the journey. All of us at the start. Not sure why I'm holding my leg up. It was the perfect summer trail adventure. Stream crossings abounded, so many I lost count. Sophie claims she has run this trail during dry spells and finished with dry feet. I am

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-88307720078167418862011-05-18T17:47:00.000-04:002011-07-20T10:46:40.440-04:00

Warming up for my volunteer stint at an Aid Station during the MMT 100.

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-84143889347626988732011-05-11T14:05:00.000-04:002011-05-17T13:46:19.650-04:00

rite noun 1: a prescribed form or manner governing the words or actions for a ceremony 2: a ceremonial act or action synonyms: observance, ritual Capon Valley 50K means that Spring is here in earnest. There'll be no more of Winter's cold, dreary days. From here on out, there'll be a few amazing, low humidity, sunshiney, glad-to-be-alive days before it feels like a sauna and the mosquitoes are

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-23475685879425395852011-05-04T13:18:00.004-04:002011-10-05T12:50:23.588-04:00

The WUS Beer Mile was a rousing success. The speedy kids had been talking trash all week. Frankly, I was quaking in my rugged trail shoes, fearing the possibility of coming in DFL. Amazingly, I finished second woman! My pre-race warmup. No one else is apparently taking this race seriously. The WUS gang, awaiting the word GO Ok, it was a distant second (more than 5 minutes behind Martha)

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-73836642968666254132011-04-26T17:36:00.004-04:002011-05-08T12:01:48.238-04:00

If you asked, I'd tell you running is fun. I feel pure joy when I'm out cruising on trails. But, when I'm training for a big race, I occasionally find myself taking my running too seriously. This Spring, I've re-discovered the fun run. These short "races" have refreshed my spirits, gotten me excited about running and I'm now looking forward to my training more than ever. First in the Fun Run

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-47221776104713570032011-04-02T10:58:00.019-04:002011-05-08T11:58:18.358-04:00

Seven years ago, I ran my first ultra here. I remember the crazy mush mind I got in the last few miles of the race. I remember how my legs hurt afterward, so much that I could hardly sit still on the ride home. I signed up for another one immediately. A grand old tree on the HAT course Here I was again, toeing the line at my fifth HAT Run. Well, actually my sixth. I was here to redeem a DNF.

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-20279713213122282332011-03-15T10:29:00.000-04:002011-04-26T17:37:09.750-04:00

Running the Backyard Burn 10 Mile I haven't done any speedwork, tempo runs, intervals, fartleks, strides or any type of fast running since July. So I wasn't expecting much at the Backyard Burn. I hoped to hold a moderate pace, resist the temptation to race and NOT have the wheels come off.  It was a perfect Spring morning for a race. The air was chilly, but with the promise that jackets would

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-82384742375660653952011-03-09T08:02:00.040-05:002011-07-20T10:46:40.440-04:00

Recipe from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day, a cookbook I use weekly. Technique can be found in this post from Steamy Kitchen.

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-81705506021282002992011-02-27T21:37:00.001-05:002011-10-05T12:53:00.544-04:00

Muscle Memory: 1. A kinesthetic phenomenon by which a muscle or set of muscles may involuntarily produce movement that follows a pattern that has become established by frequent repetition over a long period of time. 2. The phenomenon by which a runner is able to cover a distance for which she is not trained, but has completed in the past, and is thus mentally able to conceive of the

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-7296380666846668302011-02-09T06:30:00.033-05:002011-07-20T10:46:40.440-04:00

Whitegrass, West Virginia As peaceful and quiet as you'd imagine Nordic Skiers and Frost Covered Trees

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-73044501393267088822011-01-06T13:29:00.000-05:002011-05-17T13:47:07.213-04:00

I'm running again! After months of PT, rest, and acupuncture, the maddening nerve tingling has stopped. I have now run four glorious days in a row! with no issues. I'm taking a rest day today. Playing it safe. Being conservative. Brittany and I went for a fantastic nighttime trail run a couple of days ago. The scent of wood smoke from someone's fireplace, the crisp air, the tunnel vision from

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-36722440063121307402010-11-19T10:43:00.001-05:002011-10-05T12:52:29.173-04:00

When was the last time you tried something you haven't tried before? I tend to get in a rut with my exercise, cooking, and habits. But I tried three new things recently, and I'm glad I did. Acupuncture. Three months of Physical Therapy and back strengthening exercises hasn't fixed me. So, I'm trying a new approach. On my first visit, my acupuncturist stuck many tiny needles in my back. "Drink

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-43290861703292178342010-11-08T21:33:00.000-05:002010-11-08T21:33:50.723-05:00

Calm and ready to run just before MMT 100 Miler, 2007 He who has gone, so we but cherish his memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man.                                                                                ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery Still smiling at mile 48 of MMT100, 2007 Laughing as I BodyGlide his nipples at 211, MMT100, 2007   Grinning at

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-45605580866710332862010-11-01T18:40:00.001-04:002010-11-01T18:40:00.076-04:00

Although I had to defer my entry to next year, I wanted to meet all the Twitter folks who were coming to DC to run the Marine Corps Marathon. It was more fun than I could have imagined! What a great bunch! @rshill37, @tinyjenna, @ultrarunnergirl, @BklynRunner, Tall Boy, @BeeZales Tall Boy, @pigtailsflying, @BklynRunner, @ultrarunnergirl, @BeeZales, @JoePennella, @rshill37, @MsV1959, @

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-28598307396418525752010-10-25T13:16:00.000-04:002010-11-01T11:48:58.612-04:00

After deferring my Marine Corps Marathon in September, I threw myself into other activities. I tried to put running out of my mind. I forgot that I had signed up for Army Ten Miler. I'd meant to sell my registration, but I missed the window. I figured I might as well go, walk part of the course, throw in a mile or two of running. Then I'd make like Rosie Ruiz and hop on the metro around mile

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-2485200065131485622010-10-11T10:32:00.000-04:002010-10-11T13:20:14.902-04:00

In my dreams, I run. But reality intrudes: I'm quickly winded. Running the Laurel Highlands 70 Miler in 2006  

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-72638202756646181142010-10-06T11:21:00.003-04:002010-10-11T13:20:14.903-04:00

The Mountain Goat In the mountains, all is pure, all is calm, all complication is cut off. Rare are they who know how to listen, happy they who possess wisdom. One pauses on high ledges, one climbs to the high clouds, one sits in the depths of a gorge, one pauses in windy grottos. Here is the realm of harmony and joy, where the past and present become eternal. -- Hsieh Ling-Yun (385-433AD)  I

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-29561503671684053312010-10-04T10:38:00.000-04:002010-10-11T13:20:06.050-04:00

After seven weeks of physical therapy, it turns out my injury was not my IT Band, nor even my Quad. It is a Bulging Disc. Thus the strange tingling, itchy, random numbness episodes I'd been experiencing while doing my test runs. Determined to kick this injury to the curb! I'm continuing physical therapy and doing some new back strengthening exercises.No running or biking (say WHAT!?) allowed

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-32097528429513659832010-09-22T13:14:00.001-04:002010-09-22T13:16:26.666-04:00

Goodbye, summer. I'll miss my garden and my insect friends.     Carpenter bees sleeping in squash blossom    Fond Memories. I met up with Katie for our first bike ride back in June. We ended our ride with frozen mango margaritas at Sequoia. We've been friends and bike partners ever since and decided to salute the waning days of summer by revisiting the scene of the crime.

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-17796570095737783762010-09-10T12:43:00.001-04:002010-09-20T09:17:28.970-04:00

Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live. - Dorothy Thompson Not long ago @runnrgrl asked the question of me: What is your greatest fear? Without hesitation, I replied: Not being able to run. Running is who I am. It's my joy, my hobby, my freedom. It's my identity - quite literally, on Twitter and Blogger. It's my sanity. My discipline. A big chunk of my social life. It's what

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-34259651304789639482010-09-01T18:02:00.000-04:002010-09-03T14:08:07.121-04:00

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-88550634223944643832010-08-26T19:00:00.006-04:002010-09-03T14:08:39.850-04:00

What does an ultrarunner do when she can't run? The answer isn't pretty. Rather than learning a practical skill (like how to work my new camera) or do something productive (hello, weedy garden), I've channeled my energy into the consumption of beer and ice cream. And some good old-fashioned moping. What about biking? I'm forever espousing my love for my two-wheeled commute. I adore jaunts

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-43840653952461341192010-08-23T17:29:00.002-04:002010-09-03T14:08:39.851-04:00

I am seeing a very good Physical Therapist. He's an ultrarunner! He is also a complete sadist. This better fix me. I have gained two pounds. I miss running.

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-24431034972258231372010-07-29T12:05:00.001-04:002010-09-03T14:08:31.940-04:00

My marathon training has ground to a sudden halt. I am injured. Though my weekly mileage did not increase, the intensity and frequency jumped a bit. Apparently, my Iliotibial Band took offense. The bad news: ITBS can take a long time to overcome. If the athlete continues running while it is inflamed, it can become chronic. The good news: I have not progressed to the stage where pain has

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-51725670060045231872010-07-21T19:00:00.039-04:002010-07-22T12:22:36.840-04:00

Rain Rain pelts the ground, splashing our hot faces, rushing down the trail. Our feet keep their own rhythm. Thunder cracks nearby. I feel alive. Our usual Tuesday night trail run started off as it always does. The fast folk pulled away before we had quite reached the trailhead. It was hot and humid, and the skies looked threatening. We eagerly awaited the coming rain. Two miles into our

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-92013196074874624352010-06-28T13:49:00.004-04:002010-07-22T12:24:40.699-04:00

A scene from the Bighorn course I live in a (former) swamp. This year I went to Wyoming and ran the Bighorn 50K. The West is big and tall. It laughs at East Coast low-landers like me. This is my race report. Tough. My Garmin recorded the elevation at the start of the race at 7482 feet. You immediately climb for 2.5 miles for 1,000 feet of elevation gain. I could definitely feel the altitude,

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-49295374075305914602010-06-15T15:16:00.005-04:002010-07-22T12:24:40.699-04:00

The real purpose of running isn't to win a race; it's to test the limits of the human heart. ~ Bill Bowerman I signed up for the Lawyers Have Heart 10K again. After all, this was the race that sparked the fire under me to set a new 10K personal record (PR). It was a challenge that rejuvenated my running. It turns out that setting PRs is fun! Our firm team pre-race Training. I haven't been doing

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-41599879196679915772010-05-20T11:14:00.000-04:002010-07-22T12:24:40.700-04:00

Capon Valley 50k was a fantastic run, as always. The weather stayed cool. The volunteers are the friendliest you will find at any race. The course was lush and green and breathtaking. The twenty or so stream crossings were relatively low, allowing for dry feet most of the day. The course was in great shape, less muddy than usual. The hills, though many, seemed less daunting. I ran with old

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-21060956162668228352010-04-11T05:27:00.010-04:002010-04-12T16:08:54.221-04:00

My thoughts leading up to my fifth Bull Run Run 50 Miler.  I hadn't run an ultra since last September. I was slightly worried. Had it really been six months?!? Thanks to the record-setting blizzards we'd had this winter, I hadn't done a lot of running. We did some snowshoeing and a few snow runs, but that was really hiking (and plodding). One 24-mile road run just before a ten day vacation was

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-59609119551489323932010-03-05T13:52:00.012-05:002010-07-22T12:25:47.392-04:00

"In a way, nobody sees a flower. It is so small, we haven't the time. To see takes time, like to have a friend takes time." - Georgia O'Keeffe Bluets (Houstonia caerulea) along the Great Allegheny Passage Not long ago I realized that my hours spent on trail would be a much richer if I took greater notice of the beauty of nature. Flowers, trees and birds surrounded me on every run and I set out

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-17902908038971755462010-02-10T12:40:00.005-05:002011-02-08T10:18:34.615-05:00

Last week Snowmageddon approached, threatening to bury our fair nation's capital with 30 inches of snow. Citizens mobbed grocery stores, stocking up with weeks worth of groceries that would likely get crammed in their freezer and forgotten. Meanwhile, I prepared with an impulse buy of my own. Snowshoes! What would possess someone living in the MidAtlantic region, with an average annual snowfall

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-80727672930296436662010-01-29T18:01:00.007-05:002010-06-24T14:58:59.677-04:00

I started a running streak. No, no, this has nothing to do with that naked running business. A running streak is defined by USRSA as running at least one continuous mile within each calendar day under one's own body power. The concept has been ricocheting around my head since the dedicated Bill G. logged over 1,000 consecutive days in his running streak. Pretty impressive, you say? Turns

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-63968975611303023182010-01-10T18:05:00.001-05:002011-02-08T10:18:34.616-05:00

I took a semester of German in high school. I loved how many of the words were similar to English, like schwimmen (swimming) and trinken (drinking). Kalt means cold, but you don't say "Ich bin kalt" when January weather hits - that translates as "I am frigid." Well, it's damn kalt here, and has been for an unusually long stretch. Not only is it cold, but there are gusting winds of up to 50

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-11263795119920064042009-12-28T11:07:00.003-05:002009-12-28T11:38:24.769-05:00

Every year I send out a Holiday/End of Year Letter. Here are the highlights of our year! It was the year of many home improvements. We got new carpet, a new floor and a sliding glass door in the kitchen. 2009 will ultimately go down as The Year of the Termites. After I noticed a crack in the dining room corner, my husband and his son tore out the dining room wall and corner. They rebuilt it

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-86304800155837311512009-12-09T12:59:00.278-05:002010-06-30T17:18:28.048-04:00

I'm a runner. I came to running late, after college, for vanity's sake. I've never been particularly fast. I started running because aerobics and machines bored me, and because I didn't have to go to the gym to do it. I liked running because it was hard. I loved the calmness that came as a byproduct of running. I ran because I didn't have to do a lot of planning ahead. I could just run out my

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-38535967641292553042009-11-19T15:12:00.020-05:002010-01-12T09:53:12.006-05:00

I spent the first day of November running the Potomac Heritage 50K. It was a cool, overcast day and we had a little drizzle, but the leaves were colorful and it was really the perfect temperature for a run. Though not advertised as such, the PH 50K is a 'Fat Ass.' A Fat Ass is a trail race with a disclaimer: "Free, no frills, no awards, no t-shirt" and the threat of no aid except perhaps some

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-31458185128671479352009-10-06T14:33:00.004-04:002009-12-14T13:59:45.715-05:00

I took a cooking class a few years ago called "Fabulous Fall Soups." It lived up to its billing. Every soup we made was a savory delight. The soup I make more than any other is the Autumn Harvest Lentil Soup. While there's quite a bit of chopping involved, it's a simple, straightforward recipe that doesn't require you to make a stock. It's also great to make in stages. Don't have time to do it

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-80071617009010851882009-09-30T13:37:00.025-04:002011-07-19T10:55:57.471-04:00

The Name.Let's start with the name: The Big Schloss. It even sounds bad-ass. You know right off this ain't gonna be some namby-pamby run with a bunch of pavement or flats you have to run. Courtesy of Pete McLaughlin with whom I shared a killer hill from miles 19-21  The Race Directors. Amy and Steve Platt mark the course, recruit and retain the volunteers, arrange for the pavilion, provide

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-52040472951922022732009-09-11T14:02:00.044-04:002011-06-03T17:31:54.615-04:00

A section of the Women's Half Marathon trail Before this becomes a food blog and I have to rename it 'ultraeatergirl' (though that's certainly catchy and even sounds kinda bad-ass) I'd better write about my running. My next race is, um, tomorrow! It's the VHTRC Women's Half Marathon Trail Run. I've run it every year since 2003. I don't have any other "streaks" so I feel compelled to keep this

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-29699347427302615932009-08-28T12:47:00.046-04:002010-07-22T12:46:50.288-04:00

Tom picked these up at his favorite farmers marketTomatoes, Peppers and Thai Basil grown in my gardenI've been remiss in singing the praises of my CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share. Fabulous, pesticide-free fresh produce once a week. How to eat it and use it all before it spoils? It's not always easy and it's rarely convenient. It challenges me and forces me to branch out in my

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-58944849347275298302009-08-25T15:40:00.053-04:002010-07-22T12:46:50.289-04:00

Oh yes, I've been busy in the kitchen! Between my garden and my CSA share the past couple weeks, there's been lots of food to goad me into trying new recipes.From my CSA:blue potatoesa medium aubergine (eggplant)a big green zucchini squash grown especially for its blossomspotatoes (plain ol' beige ones)hardneck garlicFrom my garden:yellow summer squash heirloom (Stupice)

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-83162896267380632832009-07-23T10:40:00.028-04:002010-07-22T12:46:50.289-04:00

I was in a mad rush to Cook Away My CSA this week before leaving for my high school reunion -- yes, that's my 20 year reunion. Can you believe I am still cooking and blogging and being so active at my age? Now, where was I? My memory just isn't what it used to be! Oh, yes -- To avoid spending a lot of time cooking, I made one of my favorite salads. I assure you that is a short list. I'm not a

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-68976716608441923302009-07-22T11:44:00.019-04:002010-07-22T12:46:50.290-04:00

As a member of the Cooking Away My CSA group, I humbly offer my first attempt at using the bounty I received from my CSA, Bull Run Farm in Virginia.I can barely contain my pride, because for someone who cooks quite a lot, I have to admit a reluctance to experiment with recipes. I didn't exactly go hog wild, but I didn't measure a single ingredient!I used potatoes, fresh garlic and the remnants of

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-87729171875561306932009-06-17T15:31:00.087-04:002010-07-22T12:24:40.700-04:00

Summer In The City Ah, Georgetown on a warm summer morning! Alright, technically it was a muggy spring morning. There's still nothing like waking up and running out your door to take in the sights and sounds of the city on a Saturday morning. Seeing those souls who are out and about on bicycles or walking their dog or baby or both, gathering at the Farmer's Market on Wisconsin Avenue or strolling

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-81754789036083942762009-06-01T14:03:00.005-04:002010-07-22T12:24:40.700-04:00

I'm going to start my Bushwhacker 10 Mile race report by digressing. You should know that I've been suspicious of the institution of marriage from an early age, despite the fact that my parents have a good, solid marriage that's still intact. Call me The Cynic, and believe me when I say I've come a long way from early adulthood. [Random fact: I was once the proud owner of a novelty lighter that

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-54421442822348569102009-05-29T12:51:00.001-04:002010-09-20T09:17:46.137-04:00

That's right, HOMEMADE OREOS! The moment I saw these on smittenkitchen they were catapulted to the top of the list. Unfortunately for my poor husband who is trying to get back in top-notch shape, my baking obsession is not helping him feel uberfit.We all have our crosses to bear! This was actually pretty darn easy and didn't take nearly as long as I anticipated. I started them about 9:45 pm,

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-45159234177953653932009-05-12T10:48:00.000-04:002010-09-20T09:18:00.310-04:00

I've been obsessed with making ice cream lately. Folks, I must warn you, once you taste homemade ice cream, french custard style, you will be ruined for commercially produced ice cream. Even Ben and Jerry's. My first attempt was vanilla, and Tom still hasn't stopped raving about it. It was just like a rich custard, frozen. Almost too rich! I've also tried Philadelphia style (no eggs)

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-75381237649317698262009-03-27T13:28:00.001-04:002009-06-03T11:44:02.731-04:00

My latest experiment: ciabatta bread. Another creation easily coaxed from the basic boule dough in Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. I've been resisting this incarnation because I so love the crackling, crunchy, crispy crust of the basic slashed boule and baguette. But Tom has had an affinity for the soft, chewy, slipper-shaped ciabatta ever since he got a taste of Whole Foods' offering,

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-90326992897365821482009-03-15T10:53:00.000-04:002009-03-15T11:56:13.796-04:00

My best friend and I met in college. Turns out her family almost moved to my little town at one point in grade school. We always laugh and wonder if we would have been friends if we had grown up together.Somehow, we both ended up in DC and our friendship is stronger than ever. This is somewhat curious as we're very different people, and many friends with whom I used to be close I no longer see

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-60632197364034132302009-01-27T09:47:00.001-05:002011-07-11T10:39:40.681-04:00

I've recently tried my hand at baking homemade bread. Having briefly dated a baker, I am quite the bread snob. Good bread must be crusty, dark, and properly scored, with a chewy, dense, moist crumb. After recent disappointments at Whole Foods and Panera Bread, I decided it was time to take matters into my own hands. I must pause here to give serious props to Artisan Bread in Five Minutes

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5702177886036274708.post-6601760071167840632009-01-23T13:35:00.002-05:002010-03-01T13:45:01.548-05:00

January marks the beginning of a new year: another birthday for Martin Luther King Jr and me, and the Gap to Gap training run. At this point I've become accustomed to the frigid temperatures and actually enjoy winter runs. Gap to Gap was my first ever mountain trail run, back in 2005. I was completely stunned by the interminable climb up Jawbone. When I finally struggled (dead last) to the top, I

ultrarunnergirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12509015436909032553noreply@blogger.com3