Hello and happy Friday!
I’m so excited – tomorrow morning I’ll be running my favorite DC race: the Rock ‘n’ Roll USA half marathon! I received a free bib from their PR team in exchange for sharing a recap here on the blog after, but I would have signed up anyway because I LOVE this race. Yes, it’s huge and crowded, and the pre-race stuff can be a bit of a hot mess (ARRIVE EARLY!), but the course is fabulous and so are the crowds and bands along the way. This will be my third year doing the race (last year’s recap: 2013 Rock ‘n’ Roll USA Half Marathon, and the recap from 2011 when it was still the National Half: National Half Marathon).
Unlike most DC races, the Rock ‘n’ Roll USA half doesn’t involve much running down on the mall or around the monuments. For out of towners, this might be a bummer, but as someone who does a lot of DC races I love that they mix it up and run through the neighborhoods instead. This is also nice because it means that there are a lot more people out cheering, since it’s easier for people to simply walk outside vs. head down to the national mall. I have already heard from a bunch of friends who will be out cheering, which is awesome!
In the past, I’ve made this race a personal record (PR) attempt race: last year I finished with a new PR of 1:48:01 for an 8:15 minute/mile pace, before breaking that record a couple months later at the Nike Women’s Half Marathon, where I somehow busted out 1:43:44 for a 7:54 minute/mile pace (seriously still not sure how I did that). Before I received the LA Marathon opportunity, I was going to try to PR this race again, but clearly that’s not happening now. Instead, I’ll be taking it easy, enjoying the views and crowds, and taking photos! My college buddy Sarah and I are planning to run together and just make it into a fun adventure. With the exception of the Calvert hill coming out of Rock Creek Park, it’s not super hilly, which is nice.
I tested out the waters today with a short run – my first since the LA Marathon on Sunday. Matt and I did a nice little 2.5 ish mile jaunt before work this morning. My legs actually felt surprisingly good! Still a bit sore but nothing crazy.
I’ve been doing a lot of foam rolling this week, which I think has helped! I also treated myself to a massage. :)
In terms of other workouts, here’s what I’ve been up to this week:
- Saturday: 5k shakeout run in Santa Monica (with elite runners, nbd)
- Sunday: LA Marathon!!
- Monday: rest
- Tuesday: Yoga @ Edge Yoga (hit up Mark’s 1 hour lunchtime class – love it – everything felt good except for chair pose, which was just not happening.)
- Wednesday: rest
- Thursday: 30 minute morning swim (loooove swimming when my legs are sore/tight) – alternated freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke
- Friday: 2.5 mile shakeout run
As you can see, I kept things low key this week to give my legs time to recover! On my rest days I did some light stretching and walking which I think helped too.
On the eating front, we got another (complimentary) From the Farmer delivery so we’ve been working our way through some of the veggies from that. (p.s. I updated my original From the Farmer review post with a coupon code if you’re interested in trying them out!)
Mmm the apple cider was a fun surprise. :)
We got a ton of lettuce and kale and some fun baby greens too, so I’ve been doing a lot of salads for lunch.
I’ve mostly been having my usual combo of salad greens + veggies + grains + beans + homemade balsamic vinaigrette. Sometimes cheese or avocado, too. Today I had a quinoa and chickpea variation. Yum!
And now – time to finish up some work and AnneTheRD client calls before heading to the Rock ‘n’ Roll expo to grab my bib!
Zara says: have a nice weekend, everyone! :)
What do you guys have on the docket this weekend for fitness adventures?
Who else will be out running the Rock ‘n’ Roll USA tomorrow? Are you doing the full or the half? Good luck – and if you see me out there, come say hey! :)
Good luck tomorrow! My co-worker is running that half marathon as well. Good thing the weather is going to be great!
This Sunday I’ll be running my 6th (out of 30) race: a 5K in Somerville. It’s Irish themed (of course) and I can’t wait to enjoy a Guinness afterwards. :-)
Enjoy the race – and the Guinness! :)
Have a great race! I have a St Patrick’s Day 5k on Sunday. I still need to go get a green shirt for it. :)
Fun!! Enjoy it!
Good luck and have so much fun at the race! Lookin’ forward to the pictures and recap already :)
Yay – thanks for reading! :)
I’m running the half tomorrow, but I’m treating it as a long run rather than a race so it should be extra fun! What are you guys wearing? The weather has been so crazy lately with warm then freezing, I feel like I’m never wearing the right thing.
I tend to overheat easily, so I always err on the side of less clothing… I think I’m going to wear my compression sleeves, my Lululemon running skirt, and a short sleeved tech shirt. I’ll also cut off the toe of an old pair of Matt’s socks and wear these at the start as arm warmers – will toss them once I warm up! Good luck out there and have fun!
Today was a 7mile run for my “long run” (by my standards :)) for the week. I’m training for my first half-marathon in May. I’ve been mentally and physically drained from work (I’m a nurse) and workouts this week (I’ve been running at a faster pace then I should be… oops). So this morning I was just wanting to run slow and finish strong. It went really well. But I’m looking forward to a relaxing weekend of pilates and rest :) Good luck tomorrow! You’ll do great!
Good luck and have fun this weekend! I ran this as my first marathon back in 2011 when it was still National Marathon- kind of makes me sad that it isn’t called that anymore. But, well… RNR is in the business of making money so obviously buying races does that. Has the course changed since then? One of these years I really want to go back and run it again just to see what it feels like to repeat my first marathon course!
The course is pretty much the same – starts at the mall area now instead of down at the Armory, but otherwise very similar to the National Marathon!
Good luck tomorrow! I hope to see you out there!
Yusss! Such a great course – three blocks south and I’m in prime spectator territory on the waterfront (and in prime spectating weather)! Good luck tomorrow!
I’m SO excited about the weather forecast!!
Have fun tomorrow!!! I will be running my first 10K this weekend!! I’m excited!
Good luck!! :)
Enjoy the race!!! Nothing can stop you now! Good call on giving your legs a rest..you never know you might just get that PR! Any plans or did you do anything interesting with the purple broccoli?
Probably just going to roast it!
Yay! You got this! Have fun tomorrow! :)
Wish you guys were all here too! :)
Have a great time! I was considering doing the RnR DC half for a while last fall, but decided against it. Maybe some day!
I am also running the half tomorrow! I am nervous about Calvert hill…but I am going to aim for a PR (hopefully under 1:49). I’ve never run this race, so I’m excited about that!
Good luck tomorrow, Anne. I’m beyond impressed that you’re running a full and a half marathon on back on back weekends. I’ll also be at Rock ‘n’ Roll tomorrow for my second half. If I see you I’ll be sure to say hi!
Good luck tomorrow!! :)
Marathon last week, half marathon this week? My legs are tired for you! ;)
Good luck tomorrow! :-) I would like to get in a run outside this weekend and a yoga class.
Have a great weekend Zara and have fun tomorrow Anne! ;)
I’m running the half too – Hope to see you out there! We lucked out with the weather :)
Good luck, Anne! I am doing a 10k tomorrow.
Congrats on another Half! Well done!
All that produce looks so yummy! Good luck with your half marathon :) I can’t wait to see all your pics!! AND Thanks for the tip about using a point and shoot…it works perfectly!
I am always hesitant to do an RnR run because of the crowds but htey always seem so fun! This weekend we spent as much time as possible outside enjoying this gorgeous weather.
As long as you go into it knowing it will be packed and allow extra time before the race, it’s not a big deal. :)
Awesome, you are on a roll! Any other races for you in the near future? I’m attempting the Cherry Blossom, GW Classic, and Nike Half in April. Any chance you plan on crushing those?
Sadly I’m not doing any of those this year! Out of town for the first two and for Nike Women’s I decided against it since I have a few more halfs coming up this spring/summer – I’ll do a post later this week on “what’s next” so stay tuned! :)
I woke up yesterday morning super sick with a bad cold, but I ran the RnR half anyway because I paid for that sucker! It was my first time running it and I’d totally do it again even though I can barely walk today. Fueled by Dayquil and caffeine, and wanting to die, I got through it in only 30 seconds off my PR so I’m not too mad about it.
Wow, I’m impressed! Hope you feel better soon!