Zoom Zoom at the Zooma Annapolis Races

6 week training group to be held in Crofton

This 6 week program is designed for every level of runner, from beginner to experienced, looking to improve their fitness and confidence by building up to, or racing your fastest, 10k or half marathon.  Depending upon individual capabilities and aspirations, you will be paired with runners of similar ability and train appropriately to meet your goals.   

You will receive a 6 week training schedule asking you to run at least 3 to 4 times a week.  There will be two plan options each for both the 10k and the half depending on your capabilities.  These can be tweaked individually with guidance from Coach Christine.  The group will officially meet once a week on Saturday mornings at 8:00am.  We can discuss mid week group runs as our individual schedules allow.  Each runner is expected to follow the 6 week daily training program on the days we do not meet as a group.  Email communication is encouraged between the coach and your fellow group members.

Participants should be in general good health and, (depending on the race distance you choose and your goals), be able to run at least 30 to 45 minutes continuously without difficulty for 10k or half marathon participation.  If you would like to join the group and need assistance in being prepared for our first group run, please contact Coach Christine for guidance.

A signed waiver will need to be signed prior to running with the group.

Start Date:  April 21, 2012 at 8:00am.  Plan on at least an hour (more as we progress).

Location:  The group will meet at Crofton Elementary School, 1405 Duke of Kent Dr., Crofton, MD 21114.
Runs will take us  in and around the Crofton Parkway area.   We will run outside under almost all weather conditions (it’s a lot of fun) so it will be important that you wear the proper clothing for the conditions.
**Location is subject to change.  You will be notified prior.

Goal race date: June 2, 2012 Zooma 10k or Half Marathon. 
Instead of the tradition finisher’s medal you will receive a beautiful charm necklace.  I love mine!

It is each runner’s responsibility to register for the race.  Make sure to include the discount code below to get $5 off the 10k fee and $10 off the Half fee.  I suggest you sign up as soon as possible to avoid increased fees and the possibility of it being sold out.

Link to register:
http://zoomarun.com/annapolis/

CODE: ANNCON7

Cost for 6 weeks:   $60

What you also get:
Unlimited email access to a well known and published RRCA certified professional coach (Runner’s World, Women’s Health, Women’s Running, Train like a Mother plan contributor, as well as other local and regional publications) that is highly experienced with group and individual coaching as well as an athlete herself.
Mini information sessions mixed into the sessions that will cover various topics, such as nutrition, form, gear, hydration, stretching, race day prep, etc…
Ongoing Q&A to become an educated runner
Weekly email newsletters
Discount at Charm City when you mention your are training with Coach Christine Hinton
Various other running related goodies as they become available to me.

For more info on the coach see:  www.TheRunningCoach.com
Please contact Coach Christine Hinton at 410-562-2277 or TheRunningCoach@comcast.net if you are interested in participating. 

Stay in the Zooma loop:                                                       
Check out Zooma on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ZOOMARun)   and Twitter at ZoomaRun as well as updates on Crofton Cuties Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/groups/128959450452230/)

Zooma Press Release:
ZOOMA Annapolis Provides Unique Racer Experience

Patriotism, Pride, and Scenic Course Fuel Runners

(March 19th, 2012, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND) – Combine a scenic, challenging race course, motivating ambassadors, free training programs and an opportunity to run for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and you get a memorable race experience at ZOOMA Annapolis, June 2, 2012. 

Registration is open for the Women’s Half-Marathon and 10K races and runners can enjoy a discounted rate between now and April 19^th.  Come April 20^th, fees for the half marathon increase.

ZOOMA was founded to encourage women to live full, healthy lives and take on challenges such as an endurance race.  For this reason, ZOOMA is even more thrilled to be charity partnering with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training. Runners can make their running experience an even greater accomplishment by helping cure cancer by raising funds for research.

In 2011, Competitor Magazine selected TNT as the Mid-Atlantic’s Best Charity Training Program. Since it’s inception, TNT has trained over 500,000 athletes who have raised over $1 billion for cancer research and patient programs. Those interested in participating can visit www.teamintraining.org/nca.

COURSE INFORMATION
Half marathon and 10K courses start at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and cross the scenic Severn River on the Naval Academy Bridge. With the national anthem playing at the start of the race, racers feel a surge of patriotism and energy.

Race start time for the Half Marathon and 10K is 7:00 a.m.


ZOOMA Registration                   

March 12- April 19^th:

$95 (half)                                 $55 (10K)

April 20-May 30:

$105 (half)                               $65 (10K)

About ZOOMA:

The ZOOMA Women’s Race Series is dedicated to promoting health and fitness by providing an encouraging, inspirational, healthful venue in which to run. Organizers welcome both men and women to participate in all ZOOMA events. For more information, please visit http://www.zoomarun.com. 

Patuxent River Trail 10k: Feb. 25, 2011

Despite my desire, I am not as a huge of a trail runner as I'd like to be.  Most of my trail running has been done during races, mostly ultras.  The fact is, it's too easy to step out my door for a run than drive 30 or more minutes to a good trail.  I am hoping, as the kids get older, that will change.

We're off!

I jumped at the chance to run a 10k on the trails.  This would be my first non ultra distance trail race.  I was excited to try to run faster on the trails.  The weather had been wonderful the week leading up to the race, but that day was super windy and cold and rain the day before had made for some muddy footing on the course.  

The Quantico Orienteering Club put on the race for the second year.  Luckily, for me, I didn't have to use a compass to find my way, although the whole orienteering thing has me intrigued.  Described as mostly flat and non technical, I found it more challenging than expected.  

There were tons of muddy sections.  I have zero fear of getting down and dirty, but at 40 years of age the last thing I want to do (but often do do) is fall.  Slippery, squishy mud and my feet don't always mix well.  I stayed upright through all the mud, but of course tripped over a root or rock or something just as I was feeling confident.  I started to tumbled forward, but somehow managed to stay upright.  The lady behind me remarked that my core would be sore tomorrow.  I did roll my ankle a couple times, but all in all avoided kissing the dirt.

When I describe a course as flat, it's well, flat.  This course had some fairly steep, although on the shorter side, climbs that in the later stages had me power hiking. I didn't plan on doing any walking (which is par for the course in ultras) for this 10k, but  I was not the only one who decided to conserve some energy up the steep slopes that had fallen leaves covering a rocky terrain.  

Once on the open field, with the finish line in sight, I picked up the pace and finished strong.  Passed quite a few younger ladies.  Ultimately I didn't pass the lady that mattered.  I ended up getting 4th in my age group (40-49).  I hate to even share my time (61:45), which for road standards would be one of my slowest 10ks ever in my life!  But trail running is totally different.  Not only is each race course different, the trails are to be approached in a different way and with different outcomes.  Finishing time doesn't really prove or disprove anything about a the runner.  That's why I am pleased with the 4th place finish in a 10 year spread age group.

I hope to be lining up again next year.  Great race in a fun atmosphere.

July 2011 to February 2012

I typically like to post fairly soon after races, as my memory ain't what she used to be.  If I don't spit it out in a day or two it gets lost forever in the back alleys of my brain.  With that said, here is a quick recap of what I can recall.

After Rosaryville, I got in weeks of good solid training with my mind focused on JFK 50 miler scheduled for November.  I was feeling pretty confident that I could run a similar time as last year, with a dream goal of going sub 10 hours.

But first........
October 29, 2011:  Marine Corps Marathon

This was my very first marathon back in 1998.  I felt a little nostalgic going back to run it again.  I was handling it as a training run for JFK and planned on pacing a friend who was shooting for 4:30ish.  Last year I made the mistake of running the Baltimore marathon too hard before the 50.  So, I was being super relaxed about the whole thing.  In fact, I was so relaxed I overslept by almost an hour, missed the meet up at the metro station, and had to sprint to the start!  Never found the friend I was suppose to pace.

I don't have an actual picture of me running,
so here's one  of Porter and me  at packet pickup.

Nevertheless, I tried to stay within the 4:30 range to hopefully meet up.  Didn't happened.  I felt really bad about that.  I ran along and came in around 4:23 (which included a emergency stop to deal with a colitis flare up right before the last bridge) .  Nice and comfy for me.  The real marathon started post race.  Good grief!  Getting back into the metro station and in an actual train took f-o-r-e-v-e-r!  One lady passed out!  Lucky her, she got carried through the crowds.  Another guy had the smarts to stop in at the McD's and got himself a large ice cream shake.  Why didn't I think of that?  I was drooling as I watched him enjoy the sweet coldness and inched my way to the turn stalls.

November 6, 2011:  Riley Race 5k in Annapolis

A cause dear to my heart, our wounded military, were to benefit from the proceeds of this race.  Only a week after the marathon, I planned to run alongside my 14 year old daughter.  The race started with tears as 4 young brave men told their stories of lost limbs and lost friends.  Watching them run and cross the finish line was an image that has been burned into my mind.

The race was great.  Nice swag too.  Addie, my daughter, started conservatively, with her dad and me.  It was a blast to run together, which we did until she found another gear towards the end.  Buh-Bye!  I'm so proud of her.

November 19, 2011:  JFK 50

My "A" race!  I had been nursing my son's strep throat that week before and vigilantly, ok, obsessively washing my hands and spraying Lysol.  Unfortunately, about 3 days before the race I started to feel "off", then achy.  I couldn't believe it!  All this training and I was getting sick a mere couple days before the race.  I tried to will myself well to no avail.  So, naturally I went into denial mode.

I traveled to the race alone.  Something not initially planned, but since my son, Thomas, was still sick, we thought it best this way.  Apparently some people find ultra sports not to be spectator friendly!

I thought I had left myself plenty of time to walk to the start from the school gymnasium, but the gun went off with me (and quite a few others) still a couple minutes from the start!  Some started to run.  Not me.  I wasn't going to start until I was officially over the start line.

The Rocky AT

I pretty much felt yucky right off the bat.  But I was determined to suck it up and run this thing no matter what.         I won't bore you with a play by play of the course (see my JFK 50 report from last year), but here are some highlights.

I started having problems breathing.  I could  not get a good lung full not matter my efforts to suck in that precious O2.  At this point I figured I had strep or a bad cold.  Nothing I couldn't suffer through.

TMI warning here.  I have exertional colitis.  That basically means that when I exert myself my digestive system and bowels go all to hell.   As predicted they did just that around mile 25 or so.  It's not pleasant and wipes me out.  But, I have learned to deal with it and carried on.

As I ran along, meeting and speaking with people, every time I laughed, I sounded like a 3 pack a day smoker.  My chest felt constricted.

This all resulted in a long and painful race.  The last 20 were torture and I knew a sub 10, or any PR, were out of reach.  Heck, I was now just worried about finishing in the 12 hour time limit.

I finish in 11:27.  Over an hour longer than last year.  I tried to eat something and enjoy the post race camaraderie of my fellow finishers, but I just wanted to get back to my hotel room and in bed with bags of ice for my legs.  But, in accordance with how my day had been going, I got on the wrong darn bus to get back to my car at the start.  Realizing this, as we crossed paths with the bus I should have been on, I begged the driver to stop.  I flagged down the right bus and hoped on.  In my defense there was one other guy who did the same thing.

Getting the Neb

On the bus (the right one) I started to hack.  I can't really call it coughing.  It was nasty.  Thank goodness I had the school bus seat to myself.  It was gross, what was coming up.  That's when I knew that I was sick.  Really sick.

The next day, after I got back into town, I went to my local minute clinic before even going home.  I was diagnosed with a severe case of bronchitis.  It would be a solid 6 weeks to fully recover.  The longest I have ever been sick.

February 11, 2012:  Valentine's Day 5k

Once well, I was able to get back into the swing of things by the new year.  I signed up for the Annapolis Strider's Champ Series.  The first race was the V-Day 5k at Kinderpark.  There was fear of it being canceled as a dusting of snow covered the ground from the night before.  With not much sticking to the roads or trail we were fine to go ahead.

I had no expectations going into this race.  Well, that's a lie.  I did have some conservative expectations that I am actually embarrassed to say out loud.  It is really hard to admit that I have slowed as much as I have since my hay days.  A combination of variables have conspired against me to slow my race times more than nature would normally allow.

I did finish faster than my hoped time so that was a plus.  But my finish time was blah.  I'm not going to tell you what my time was.  Feel free to Google search if you really want to know.  Nothing impressive.  But it was my first 5k in awhile and something to build on.

There you have it!  Up next is a trail 10k, more series races, the Zooma race, the 6 hour race at Quietwaters and hopefully another JFK50.  I have some unfinished business to take care of there.