The Best Of 2011

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Coco
  • Best Book: Bossy Pants by Tina Fey

 

If you haven’t read this yet, please move it to the top of your reading list. I am not one to laugh out loud at much of anything, but I had to stop reading this in bed because I kept disturbing my husband.

  • Best Movie: The Help

I thought it was true to the book and totally absorbing.

  • Best New Song: “Someone Like You” by Adele

Someone Like You

There is just something about this song that pulls at me!

  • Best Running Song: “Raise Your Glass” by Pink

Raise Your Glass (Clean Version)

This one came out in 2010, but I’m always behind in making running playlists. Both the music and the lyrics inspire me to run faster.

  • Best Workout Buddy: Fit Stanley

Did you read about our adventures?

  • Best Race: GW Parkway Classic (Alexandria, Va)

This race is well-organized, scenic and has great crowd support from start to finish.

  • Best Food Discovery: Chobani Greek Yogurt

Thank goodness they sell it by the case at BJ’s!

  • Best Snack Food Discovery: PopChips™

I just wish the salt and pepper flavor wasn’t so hard to find.

  • Daily Mile Data:
    Fastest Race: Race for A Cause 8K (October 16; 8:00 pace!)
    Longest Race: Zooma Annapolis Half Marathon (June 5)
    Highest Mileage Month: November (98 miles–now I wish I’d run 2 more!)
    Total Miles (since I started using Daily Mile April 26): 620

What made your “best of” list for 2011?

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Seen On My Run

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Coco

I usually run at o’dark-thirty or on my treadmill, but I did manage to see some lovely sights on some of my runs this year.

Potomac River/Wilson Bridge from Alexandria, Virginia

Key Biscayne, Florida

Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.

Boulder, Colorado

Mt. Vernon Trail, Alexandria, Virginia

Mt. Vernon Trail, Alexandria, Virginia


Alexandria, Virginia

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(Almost) Wordless Wednesday (The Runderful Christmas Edition)

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Coco

(Books from my Mom and sister-in-law.
The the title of the second one is “Once A Runner.”)

(My mother-in-law’s sense of humor.)

(My husband gets the prize for most awesome running gift!)

Did you give or receive any cool fitness-related gifts?

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My 2011 Before Pictures

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Coco

Before the GW Parkway Classic

Before the Zooma Annapolis Half Marathon

Before the Army Ten Miler

Before the Hot Chocolate 15K

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Home For The Holidays Virtual 10 K (Race Recap)

Posted on December 26, 2011 by Coco

Last week I registered for the Home for the Holidays Virtual 10K organized by Ashley, Robin and Stephanie at A Healthy Happier Bear, mostly for the motivation to get in a decent run over the holiday weekend, but it didn’t hurt that they are offerring amazing prizes!

I thought I might be able to do the 10K on Christmas morning before my kids (teenagers) got up, but my daughter left me a note saying that she was going to try to get up at 8:00, so I decided to wait until Monday.
 
When I went to bed on Christmas night I was glad that I had signed up for this race, because I knew it was going to motivate me to get out for a run in the morning, even though I was exhuasted from two days of baking and cooking.
 
Monday I slept until the sun woke me up at 7:30, fed my daughter’s cat and then emptied the dishwasher and set up the coffee pot while she ate. It was in the low 40s, so I wore my running tights, a thick turtleneck top, light weight gloves and a hat. I set my Garmin for 6.2 miles, put my “Xmas Run” playlist on shuffle, and headed out.  After my walking warm-up, it was about 8:30 when I hit start on my Garmin.
 
I ad-libbed a hilly neighborhood route and enjoyed the crisp air, bright sunshine and blue skies. There weren’t very many people out, but I saw a few neighbors walking their dogs and a few runners. I was surprised at my pace (9:20-ish splits), but I was pushing myself up the hills and burning off the residual holiday stress (and possibly putting a dent in the holiday calories!). 
 
My route ended up being the perfect distance. I hit 6.2 miles about 1/2 block from my usual stopping point.
 
Image
 
I was very happy with my finish time (57:44) and ready to enjoy that coffee with a Christmas cookie while I fixed myself a fried egg with cornbread stuffing and cranberry relish for breakfast!
 
Did you get any exercise over the holiday weekend?
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