Wrapping Up April

Posted on April 29, 2018 by Coco

How can we already be wrapping up April? More specifically, how can April be over already when we’ve hardly had any spring weather? Don’t get me wrong, we had a few nice days, but we also had a number of dreary, rainy, windy and down right cold days. I’d really like some spring before it’s summer–but they’re already calling for temperatures in the 80s this week. 

Wrapping Up April

My April Garmin stats don’t tell the whole story. Those 72 running miles include two 10 mile races, and those 107 miles on my bike included two Conte’s Hill Rides. It’s been a busy month!

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Spring Racing Runfessions

Posted on April 27, 2018 by Coco

With three of my four spring races behind me, it’s the perfect time to assess and runfess so I can make progress in the month ahead, don’t you think? 

spring racing runfessions
I’m joining the Runfessions link up at Marcia’s Healthy Slice and the Friday Five link up hosted at Running on Happy and Fairytales and Fitness. You should check them out!

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2018 GW Parkway Classic Race Recap

Posted on April 22, 2018 by Coco

What do you get when you combine glorious spring weather, the scenic George Washington Memorial Parkway, and my favorite local running store? Another great running of my favorite hometown race–and my 2018 GW Parkway Classic Race Recap!

2018 Parkway Classic Race Recap

The foreground of the medal design reflects the course well,
but that D.C. skyline is not part of the view! 
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Figuring Out My Fitness Priorities

Posted on April 20, 2018 by Coco

It’s no secret that when it comes to fitness, I love to do it all–running, cycling, strength training, CycleBar, Core Power Yoga, Orange Theory. I hate to miss any of these activities, but sometimes I just can’t fit it all in. There are weeks when a specific work conflict dictates what I miss, but when it comes to weekends, I usually get to decide how to spend my time. This year more than last, I’ve had to spend time figuring out my fitness priorities. 

fitness priorities

Saturday always has been my long run day, but that’s when the Conte’s bike shop hill ride happens. While it’s easy to go for a bike ride after church, I prefer running earlier in the day. I don’t mind missing church for a race, but missing it for a training run is not a reflection of my true priorities.  Why can’t every weekend be a three-day weekend?

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Cherry Blossoms In Bloom

Posted on April 15, 2018 by Coco

This week I made my third visit to the Tidal Basin hoping to see the cherry blossoms in bloom. My first visit was two weeks ago, when they were just starting to come out. Then I got to enjoy their beauty for miles as I ran the Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run when they were at peak bloom. I wanted to take a few more pictures, so I went back this week to bask in their pink glow. 

Cherry Blossoms

As pretty as pictures of the cherry blossoms can be, they can’t capture the feeling of being surrounded by so many pink blossoms hanging off trees with gorgeously shaped trunks, lining the water of the Tidal Basin and the Potomac River, and framing the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. They really take my breath away!

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