Celebrating National Running Day

Did you know that today is National Running Day? I usually hear about these “special” days too late to celebrate, but this year my fellow Sweat Pink Ambassador Kristin at Jonesin’ For A Run organized a National Running Day interview link up that I am excited to join. 

National Running Day
1. Why do you run? I run because I am a runner. I first realized this when I was in Portland for Fitbloggin’ 13 and was excited to get up early and go for a run before the conference events started, even though I’d arrived after midnight the night before after a long day of work, flight delays, and travelling across the country. When I wake up in the morning, my heart just wants to run! Continue reading

Posted in Fitness | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

Bike for Beer

Back in the day before I had any interest in fitness (yes, there was such a time!) my husband and his friends used to “bike for beer” and visit brew pubs off the Washington & Old Dominion trail. Since I started riding with my husband, we noticed a sign for West Ox Brewery near mile marker 25, but never stopped there until last weekend. 

Old Ox Brewery

My husband might be carrying a 6-pack back home …. 

We usually start our ride in Vienna, about 12 miles away, so while stopping for a beer usually sounds good, it doesn’t usually sound like a good idea. But last weekend I wanted a change of scenery, so we ended up starting our ride near mile marker 25, and riding out past Leesburg.

  
It was a lovely route with bucolic scenery.

We stopped to look at Luck Stone Quarry 

This was our turn-around point, somewhere between Leesburg and Purcellville.

When we got back to Old Ox Brewery we were surprised at how nice it was. They welcome cyclists with a bike rack, clean bathrooms, and a self-service water cooler.

We shared a flight of beer–I think we earned it with this elevation profile!
–and then cruised the last mile back to our car.

Dulles-Leesburg Bike For Beer

I really want to make it to the end of the Washington Old Dominion trail, so I’m sure we’ll be doing this ride again.

[Tweet “Bike For Beer on the W&OD”]

Have you found a fun place to stop on a long run or ride?

Time is running out to shop my Stella + Dot trunk show and support the American Heart Association! Learn more here. Click here to shop!  

I hope to see you at the Ultimate Coffee Date Link Up on Saturday! Learn more here.

Posted in Fitness | Tagged , | 25 Comments

God In The Mix

Recently life has given me opportunities to practice praying, not worrying. While I am getting better at it, I get stuck when I don’t know what to pray for.

As I struggled with my inability to formulate a prayer, God answered that prayer by reminding me that I don’t need to know the right words. I can simply call on His name and the Holy Spirit will do the rest. Continue reading

Posted in My Faith | Tagged | 2 Comments

Five Things I’m Loving For Summer

I feel like we didn’t get much of a spring this year. Our temperatures bounced from winter to summer and back again without only a few pauses for spring-like weather. Although the summer solstice is a few weeks away, since Memorial Day weekend already is behind us and we will be turning our calendars to June on Monday, I’m definitely feeling like it’s summer. 5 Things I'm Loving

Before summer really heats up, I thought I’d share five new things I am loving for this summer. Continue reading

Posted in Product Reviews | Tagged , , , | 41 Comments

Anticipation At Work And Play

Today’s Wednesday Word is anticipation. Are you anticipating what I’m going to write about? 😉

Deb Runs

Anticipation has two distinct meanings for me, depending on whether the context is work or play.

In work my as a patent attorney, “anticipation” has a specific legal meaning. You can’t obtain a patent unless your invention is “new,” and your invention isn’t “new” if it already has been described in a publication such as an earlier patent or scientific journal article. If an earlier publication describes every feature of your invention, we say that the publication “anticipates” your invention. If a patent was granted but an earlier publication is found that describes the invention, we say that the patent is invalid for “anticipation.”

I guarantee that this book was not as much fun to write
as #WYCWYC must have been!

In the rest of my life, “anticipation” has this meaning from the Merriam-Webster On-Line Dictionary

a feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen

I feel anticipation about seeing friends I haven’t seen in a while, like the friends I’ll see at Fitbloggin’ in a few weeks. (It’s not too late to join us — click here to register through my affiliate link.)

Fitbloggin 2012

My first Fitbloggin’–see any familiar faces?

I feel anticipation about travelling to new places, even when it’s for work like last year’s trips to Copenhagen.

Copenhagen 2

Did you catch a glimpse of this area in Pitch Perfect 2?

I feel anticipation about upcoming races, especially Ragnar–even though its a few months away. (Check out my 55 Things About Ragnar post to see why!)

Ragnar Leg 3

Yes, I’m still smiling at leg 3!

Maybe this will show my age, but I can’t think about “anticipation” without remembering this Heinz Ketchup commercial.

[Tweet “What anticipation means at work and play”]

What are you excited about this week?

“Ketchup” or “Catsup”? (Or “No thanks, pass the mustard”?)

Don’t forget to shop my Stella + Dot trunk show to support the American Heart Association!

Posted in Life | Tagged | 13 Comments