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Racing Stripes-- A Running Blog


racing-stripes.blogspot.com
This blog is all about running and races. It includes race reports, training schedules, and personal anecdotes.
Boston Bound - Again!
2024-03-23 16:32
I’m making my 4th trip to Boston for my 5th Boston Marathon in a few weeks. I know that sounds weird, but I ran the virtual in 2020 and I totally count it!My first Boston Marathon was… Read More
My First Sub 90 Minute Half Marathon
2024-03-03 22:28
The title of this blog post gave away the ending! Now let’s start at the beginning.This morning I ran the Newport News One City Half Marathon. This was my goal race for the spring, and… Read More
My Instagram Followers Wrote This Blog Post
2024-02-13 18:21
I asked my Instagram followers to name one thing they've learned from me. The answers spanned a wide range of topics but mostly fell into the following themes:Consistency/dedicationRunning f… Read More
For The Love Of Hills 10K
2024-02-04 19:01
The actual name of the race I ran this morning is "For The Love of It" 10K, but I'm going to assume the "it" refers to "a hilly course".I knew what I was getting into with this race. This wa… Read More
New Year's Day 5K: Workout Or Race?
2024-01-02 21:17
Yesterday morning I ran the New Year New Day 5K in Ashburn, VA. This race was a last-minute decision for me. I was pretty sure I was NOT going to run a New Year's race because I had done two… Read More
Going The Extra Mile
2023-12-10 19:18
"Going the extra mile" is one of the most popular running cliches/puns out there. Never has it been so applicable to my running career as it was during yesterday's 10K. BackgroundI regi… Read More
Turkey Trot- I Winged It!
2023-11-25 20:55
I did not have any goals or this year's Turkey Trot due to its proximity to the Richmond Marathon, just 12 days prior. I knew that I would still have my marathon fitness, but my legs were st… Read More
Lessons Learned In Training
2023-11-20 14:34
Even though I have now run 33 marathons, I learn something new each cycle. Sometimes I learn something I already knew, but yet forgot along the way. And often my training confirms what I alr… Read More
Boston Marathon Controversies Galore!
2023-10-05 23:09
Last week the B.A.A. announced that 11,000 qualifiers would not be admitted into the Boston Marathon. The qualifier field was limited to just over 22,000 runners and the race had 33,058 appl… Read More
The Perfect 10: Perfectly Wet!
2023-09-24 21:34
I was supposed to run the Susquehanna River Half Marathon yesterday, but it was cancelled due to a tropical storm. This did not come as a surprise to me as the course runs over a mile-long b… Read More
Zebra Dazzle 5K
2023-09-16 21:52
I've been waiting my entire 20-year running career for a race like this. A zebra-themed 5K! A dazzle is group of zebras, so "Zebra Dazzle" was an appropriate name. This race was held in… Read More
5K At The Beach
2023-08-18 10:27
Greg and I are in the Outer Banks of North Carolina this week on vacation. We often come here in the summer and I have been coming here since childhood. They have a race series that's held e… Read More
I'm Training For The Marine Corps Marathon
2023-08-07 22:27
I officially announced on my Instagram that I am training for the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) but I am not sure how formal of an announcement I made here. Even though I live 25 minutes from… Read More
Call Me
2023-07-28 19:35
I am now a certified running coach! I received my certification from McMillan Running in June by taking a course online and passing the exam.I always thought I would eventually want to coach… Read More
Firecracker 5K: More Fashion Than Fit
2023-07-05 12:02
Fashion was the goal in yesterday's Firecracker 5K! I've run this race almost every year since it started in 2010.  The only years I have missed were 2012 (illness), 2013 (injury), and… Read More
Spontaneous Fiesta 5K
2023-05-28 12:56
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am taking an off season from racing this spring. Thus, my blogging frequency has declined. My reasons for taking an off season were to focus on stre… Read More
UCAN Edge Gel Review
2023-03-30 15:01
UCAN Edge energy gels. When I last did a review of UCAN vs. Maurten, I did not include my thoughts on the UCAN Edge gel because it was so new. In this blog post, I will give my thoughts on U… Read More
Spring Break
2023-03-18 19:27
I have not updated my blog in over a month! That is a long time for me to go without blogging. That's because my running life has been pretty uneventful. I haven't run any races and I am not… Read More
Post-Viral Fatigue Part 5
2023-02-11 16:51
If you've been following my blog, you may remember that I decided not to run the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon last fall because of the warm forecast. I wasn't concerned about running a s… Read More
Houston Marathon: Smart And Steady
2023-01-17 12:18
I ran the Houston Marathon yesterday! It was a huge event and I'm happy I was able to experience it. I had run the half marathon twice (2008, 2018) but never the full marathon. This was mara… Read More
Pre-Houston Marathon Thoughts
2023-01-08 20:19
The Houston Marathon is one week away. Yikes, how did we get here so quickly?2022 ReviewI didn't even have time to do a 2022 recap on the blog. I'll do it quickly right now and then we can m… Read More
Jingle All The Way 15K
2022-12-11 19:45
This morning I ran the Jingle All The Way 15K in Washington, DC. The 15K is a fun distance, but rather uncommon. The 10-miler is much more popular here in the DC area with the Army Ten Miler… Read More
The Turkey Trot Is Sacred.
2022-11-25 15:20
When others were suggesting that I run the Philadelphia marathon after Indianapolis and Richmond were a bust, I gave a firm "no." I will probably never run the Philadelphia marathon. Why? It… Read More
Towpath Revenge
2022-11-14 22:28
I've got the fall marathon blues! As in, I did not race a fall marathon or half marathon. But at least this decision was all mine and wasn't forced upon me by injury or illness. So I can sti… Read More
What's My Purpose?
2022-11-02 21:32
I started working directly with coach Greg McMillan earlier this year. Something we focused on from day 1 was our strategic approach to my running. What were my long and short term goals? Wh… Read More
Hilly Hartford Half!
2022-10-09 13:39
I ran the Hartford Half Marathon yesterday. I chose this race because it was four weeks out from my full marathon (I like to run a half marathon 4-5 weeks out) and I had never done it before… Read More
End Of Summer Training Update
2022-09-17 13:47
We've reached that time of year when it's darker in the mornings and evenings, leaves are starting to fall off the trees, but yet here in the Washington DC area. . . it's still warm and humi… Read More
South Africa: Zebras Crossing Lodge
2022-08-28 17:59
With a name like "Zebras Crossing Lodge" this place had been on my bucket list for over five years. On Instagram I follow #zebras and this lodge kept coming up. What attracted me to it was t… Read More
Chobe Game Lodge: An Elephant Paradise
2022-08-26 18:52
For those of you who follow me more for the "Racing" and less for the "Stripes," the racing posts will resume once I am done documenting my stripey journey in Africa. It's important that I w… Read More
Leroo La Tau: A Zebra Paradise
2022-08-23 14:34
This post a continuation of our trip to Africa. See my previous post about how we got here.Zebras in the backgroundThe next stop on our African adventure was Leroo La Tau in Botswa… Read More
Africa: Victoria Falls
2022-08-21 20:25
Our first of four destinations was Victoria Falls. Similar to how Niagara Falls have a United States and a Canada side, Victoria Falls can be viewed from Zambia or Zimbabwe. We stayed on the… Read More
African Safari Adventure
2022-08-21 16:14
My number 1 goal for this year was to go to Africa and return home safely. And that goal has been accomplished. Greg and I were in Africa from August 7 to August 19. We visited South Africa… Read More
Heart Rate, Hills, And Other Stuff
2022-07-20 19:55
I'm officially done with my 5K racing season and have moved into base building for my fall marathon. I ran four 5Ks this spring/summer and their purpose was mainly to get my running heart ra… Read More
Firecracker 5K Report: STRENGTH!
2022-07-04 20:29
Sometimes in racing, things work out better than expected, and that was true for me today!I ran the Reston Firecracker 5K, which has become an annual tradition for Greg and me. We ran the in… Read More
Running Home With Michael Wardian
2022-06-28 22:10
Exactly 14 years ago, in late June of 2008, I met Michael Wardian for the first time. He was attempting to break the world record for the fastest treadmill marathon and I was there to suppor… Read More
Lawyers Have Heart 5K: A Muggy Slug
2022-06-11 18:45
I ran the Lawyer's Have Heart 5K in Georgetown, Washington DC this morning. I have a very long history with this race. It used to be a 10K, and now they have both 5K and 10K options. It was… Read More
Guest Post: Greg's Vermont City Marathon
2022-06-04 19:44
Please enjoy this guest blog post written by my husband Greg!Choosing Vermont CityI ran the Rehoboth Beach Marathon in December. At dinner that same night, Elizabeth was already asking which… Read More
Vermont City Marathon: Pacing Greg
2022-05-30 21:31
Yesterday morning I ran the Vermont City 2-person relay, which enabled me to run the first half of Greg's marathon with him. Greg chose this marathon because he wanted to experience a n… Read More
Feed Fairfax 5K: Hello Humidity!
2022-05-14 20:18
This morning I ran the Feed Fairfax 5K. This race was on my radar last year for the inaugural event, but I was injured and unable to run. This race starts about three miles from my hous… Read More
Run The Greenway 5K
2022-05-08 23:16
Yesterday morning I ran the "Run The Greenway" 5K in Dulles, VA. They close down the Dulles Greenway (which is a major highway) so runners can run a 5K or 10K. This race is relatively new; l… Read More
Boston Marathon 2022: Running My Heart Out
2022-04-19 22:31
I ran my 4th Boston Marathon yesterday which was my 31st lifetime marathon. It was an amazing experience and I am so thankful that I was able to complete it, given everything that has happen… Read More
Boston Marathon Weekend 2022
2022-04-19 19:12
This blog recaps the weekend leading up to the Boston Marathon. I will post my race report separately. FridayGreg and I flew into Boston on Friday and arrived to our hotel at around 1:3… Read More
4 Days Until Boston: Final Update
2022-04-14 14:37
With 4 days left to go, I am in decent shape. The cortisone shot worked, and the SI joint pain is usually 100% gone, but I do feel it from time to time when walking around. Thankfully not wh… Read More
11 Days To Boston: SI Joint Injury Update
2022-04-07 20:56
I'm back again with an update, with a little more clarity than I had in my previous update.  I'll first provide a brief overview of the situation, then a detailed timeline (more for my… Read More
3 Weeks Until Boston And OUCH!
2022-03-30 14:31
With less than three weeks until the Boston Marathon, an injury has popped up, bringing my training to a complete halt. I'm going to document all the details here, mostly so I can go back an… Read More
The Ultimate Tracksmith Gear Review
2022-02-17 16:37
Ah, Tracksmith. The brand I love to hate and hate to love. What is Tracksmith?Tracksmith is a high-end running apparel company based in Boston, MA. Founded in 2014, the brand markets it… Read More
Covid Recovery - Slow But Steady
2022-02-06 17:54
I hope I am not jinxing myself by saying this, but I believe myself to be 100% recovered with no lingering symptoms. In my previous post, I said that this would either be a "normal" recovery… Read More
UCAN Vs. Maurten For Marathon Fueling
2022-01-26 22:00
In my long quest to find the optimal fueling solution for my needs, I have found Maurten and UCAN to be the products that work best. How are they different? Can they be used together? Let's… Read More
2022: A Shaky Start
2022-01-18 16:37
This is my 500th blog post! And it's the first blog post of 2022.The year is off to a shaky start. On New Year's Eve, I had some major digestive issues that left me feelingJanuary 5 snowy ru… Read More
Pacing Greg At The Rehoboth Beach Marathon
2021-12-06 22:29
I had the pleasure of pacing Greg for the first few miles of his marathon last Saturday! He ran the Rehoboth Beach Seashore Marathon in Delaware. This course currently holds my marathon PR f… Read More
Running For PR Pie
2021-11-26 16:56
Yesterday morning, I ran the Ashburn Farm Turkey Trot 10K. This race offers both a 5K and a 10K and back in 2019 I ran the 5K. Prior to 2019, I had run the Virginia Run Turkey Trot 5K every… Read More
On Being An
2021-11-20 17:06
I don't like the word "influencer". I don't think of myself as someone who influences other people. I like to share my stories and express my opinions. It does feel satisfying when that's he… Read More
Spontaneous Marathon: Marshall University
2021-11-08 12:54
I did something crazy and ran my marathon a week earlier than planned. Instead of running the Richmond Marathon, I ran the Marshall University Marathon in WV. Why?As I posted about in my tra… Read More
Richmond Marathon Training
2021-10-17 15:47
Things have kicked into high gear since the half marathon two weeks ago. The mileage has increased, the workouts have gotten longer, and the weather has gotten warmer! After a divine 4 days… Read More
Wineglass Half Marathon Race Report
2021-10-04 22:00
I've been slacking on blog title creativity lately. I ran the Wineglass Half Marathon yesterday morning in Corning, NY. This was one of those bucket list races that many runners have told me… Read More
Fort Hunt 5K Race Recap
2021-09-05 16:47
I just couldn't think of a creative title for this one. I'm tired! I ran the Fort Hunt 5K this morning in Alexandria, VA. Last year, Greg and I ran the 10K course at this same race.The cours… Read More
Achilles. Heat. Boston.
2021-08-29 19:27
I have multiple topics to cover in this blog. First, my Achilles Tendinopathy has flared up in both feet. Second, I have ramped up my training in the heat. Third, I'm going to comment on the… Read More
BYOC: Bring Your Own Competition
2021-08-13 13:23
Greg and I are spending the week in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We are staying in the same condo that we did last year and are here during the same week. Our wedding anniversary is at… Read More
I've Come Back!
2021-08-01 19:44
I think I am at a point where I can say I am "back" as opposed to "coming back" from an injury. June was all about re-introducing running with run/walk intervals. July was about gradually ra… Read More
Large Races Are Back, And So Am I!
2021-07-04 17:43
774 people came out for the Reston Firecracker 5K this morning. That's by far the largest race we've had locally since last March! It was a festive morning with beautiful weather, and I was… Read More
Focusing On Form
2021-06-28 21:43
I've now been running for 3 weeks after taking 8 weeks off for my Osteitis Pubis and torn adductor. As I said in my last post, I am using the run-walk approach to gradually get back into my… Read More
Back On The Roads!
2021-06-12 14:11
After 8 full weeks of zero running, I have started back up again. Very gradually!I was not exactly sure when it would be safe to return. My physical therapist cleared me to run after 7 weeks… Read More
Recovery From Osteitis Pubis
2021-05-24 19:49
My recovery from this Osteitis Pubis injury has been more involved than any other injury I've ever had. To recap, I have a partially torn adductor with "moderately severe" Osteitis Pubis acc… Read More
Running And Osteitis Pubis
2021-05-07 16:26
Osteitis Pubis. Sports Hernia. Athletic Pubalgia. These three terms refer to a set of conditions that result in groin pain in athletes. They all have slightly different nuances, but all of t… Read More
My First Chess Tournament
2021-04-06 22:34
Last weekend, Greg and I played in our first chess tournament. It was called the Colonial Open and it was held at a hotel about 10 minutes away from my house. For all the background on how I… Read More
2021-03-28 21:39
Yesterday morning, I ran the Two Rivers Marathon in Lackawaxen, PA. That's in the Pocono mountains in the northeastern part of the state, right on the New York border.When the Myrtle Beach m… Read More
Miles, Miles, Miles!
2021-02-28 19:34
Sooooo many miles. I'm officially training for the Tidewater Striders BQ Invitational Marathon on March 27. That's four weeks away! I had been targeting Myrtle Beach, but they postponed the… Read More
Let's Talk About Food
2021-02-07 17:00
On Instagram, my followers frequently ask me about my eating habits and nutrition. I have answered this question so many times that I figured I should write a blog post with all the details… Read More
10 Fast Miles
2021-01-31 18:11
Yesterday morning I ran the Tidewater Striders Distance Series 10 Miler in Chesapeake, VA. I'm so happy I did!Spring Race PlanningA few days after the Harrisburg Marathon last November, I re… Read More
New Day New Year 10K
2021-01-01 21:03
The long awaited 2021 is here. And what will it bring?For starters, the first race in the Northern Virginia area (that I am aware of) held on closed roads: The New Day*New Year 10K. All the… Read More
2020 Hindsight
2020-12-27 17:19
Despite most races being canceled, I had a decent running life in 2020. In fact, I've logged 2,855 miles this year, which is 160 more than last year, making it my highest mileage year ever… Read More
Christmas Caper 10K: Happy All The Way!
2020-12-19 18:08
This morning I ran the real, live Christmas Caper 10K in Washington, DC. This was the same course as my 5K from November, only doubled. It's a no-frills race series. No chip timing, no shirt… Read More
Quick Li'l 5K
2020-11-21 20:05
13 days post marathon and I jumped into a 5K this morning. This is pretty much unheard of for me. It usually takes me about two weeks to feel "normal" again, and the soonest I have ever race… Read More
Harrisburg Marathon Race Report
2020-11-09 00:42
This morning I ran the Harrisburg Marathon in PA. I registered for this race back in July after the Marine Corps Marathon was canceled. This was my goal race for the season and I was hoping… Read More
Harrisburg Marathon Training Recap
2020-10-24 18:55
And just like that, my marathon is two weeks away! I still have two long, hard workouts remaining, plus two shorter workouts and that will be it. My coach typically doesn't give me much of a… Read More
A Real, Live Half Marathon!
2020-10-04 16:25
They DO exist!Yesterday I ran the Hanover YMCA Runfest half marathon. Hanover is about two hours from my house, which means it's closer than most half marathons I run. I had heard about this… Read More
Fall Marathon Plan
2020-09-20 18:14
What to do about a fall marathon?Plan "A" was to take a trip to Africa during the last two weeks of August and then begin training for the Rehoboth Beach marathon, occurring the first weeken… Read More
Fort Hunt 10K Race Report
2020-09-12 18:24
This morning I ran the Fort Hunt 10K in Alexandria, Va. Although government officials in Northern Virginia are still denying permits to race directors, this race was a go because it took pla… Read More
The Outer Banks Lighthouse 5K
2020-08-14 20:04
I did it again. . . I ran a real, live race in the midst of the COVID-19 cancellation era! (My first race back was a 1-mile race in Winchester). But this race wasn't something that I searche… Read More
Loudon Street Mille Race Report
2020-07-25 21:45
I ran my first LIVE race this morning since March 1st! All of the races I had been registered for after March 1st were canceled, but the Loudon Street Mile marked my return to real racing. T… Read More
Marine Corps Marathon Hopeful
2020-07-19 17:12
I registered for the Marine Corps Marathon. While the naysayers are convinced that this race will ultimately be canceled, I remain optimistic. Here is the race director's stance:"Many other… Read More
160 Days Of Running
2020-06-21 20:40
Today I hit day 160 of my run streak! Not having a marathon to recover from makes it possible for me to run every day and I am lucky that I can do so without injury or illness. I have no ide… Read More
Boston Marathon: Canceled!
2020-05-30 19:39
Earlier this week, the B.A.A. announced that it would cancel the marathon and instead have a virtual race. This did not come as a surprise to most people, myself included, as no large sporti… Read More
2020-05-10 16:47
On Friday morning, I ran the Mother's Day Virtual 4-Miler, put on by Potomac River Running (=PR=). This was the first race I registered for as a virtual race, as opposed to registering for a… Read More
Virtual Cherry Blossom 10-Miler
2020-04-05 16:41
This morning, Greg and I ran the Virtual Cherry Blossom 10-mile race. The race was canceled due to the coronavirus, but they offered a virtual option. The virtual option allows you to run 10… Read More

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