Charm City Living and Running

What I Discovered On My Run Around The Harbor Today

• Wit & Wisdom finally added outdoor seating
• The dragon(?) head is about to be placed on the new Ripley’s Believe It or Not
• Ben & Jerry’s in the harbor is being replaced
• Someone has a boot camp class that looks pretty fun
• Phillips finally added outdoor seating

I spent the entire weekend in Baltimore!

It’s a miracle! I feel like I have been out of town every weekend lately so it was great to spend the entire weekend in Charm City. And, what a beautiful weekend it was. The weather could not have been better. 

Friday night - After work Chris and I walked over to Fells Point to try to find a place to eat outside. Since everyone else had the same brilliant idea, we ended up waiting for about 40 minutes for a table outside at The Point in Fells. It was worth the wait. I love sitting outside and the grilled cheese that I had was delightful! We ended the evening with a quick stop in at Amedeo’s for a night cap back in our neighborhood and then called it an evening.

Saturday morning - I had a super 12 mile run with some of my Back on My Feet teammates. We ran all over the city, including some sketchy areas, but overall it was an awesome route with a handful of good hills thrown in for fun!

Saturday afternoon - Chris and I had lunch at Woody’s before touring a Japanese warship that was docked in Fells Point for the weekend. The crew could not have been more hospitable. It was a really cool tour and I got to play dress up while Chris pretended to fly the helicopter.

After that we met up with Stephanie for a few drinks at V-No and Waterfront Kitchen. Then we made our way back to Little Italy. We played darts in the beergarden at Heavy Seas Ale House and then watched “I’ll Have Another” (appropriate for our day) win the Preakness in an exciting last-second win! We ended the day by grilling out. Chris is a real grill-master! 

Sunday - I went to Bikram with Stephanie in the morning. It always kicks my ass, but I do it anyway. Then it was back to The Point for brunch with some of my CP teammates. Later in the afternoon, Chris and I headed to Mount Vernon with some friends to see a show at An Die Musik, which was very good. Then we had dinner at Dukem, which was not very good. Not that it was bad, but it just wasn’t that flavorful.

I loved being in the city all weekend. Of course, I am away the next two weekends.

Half Marathon Challenge 2012 - #5 Complete

Yesterday, I was in New Jersey to run my May Half Marathon. The Long Branch Half Marathon starts at Monmouth Park Racetrack and runs through small, beach-area towns, including Oceanport and Monmouth Beach, before reaching Long Branch, where you finish along the boardwalk and ocean. It’s a flat course with lots of pretty neighborhood scenery. Being from this area of New Jersey, and spending my summer days on these beaches, I was happy to go home to run this race with my niece.

I left Baltimore early Saturday morning so I could get home in time to have breakfast with some of my family. After that, my niece, Lauren, and I went to the expo. There was a ton of traffic trying to get into the park. We made note to leave enough time the next morning for the race. The expo was pretty good, but on the small side. We had lunch at a local wine bar (success!) and then I went out with my sisters for the night. We hung out in Bradley Beach/Asbury Park. The weather was chilly and overcast, but it was fun to spend time around the beach. I still miss living close to the ocean after all these years.

The next morning, my niece and I headed out to the race. We met up with one of her friends and got ready to go.

I moved back a few corrals to run with my niece. My niece has been focused on studying and getting into Grad School so apparently the training schedule I sent her wasn’t used. We threw her original time goal out and just ran the race together for fun.

I asked her not to run with her ipod for the first time ever. I planned on entertaining her. Poor girl. She nodded at me a lot as I talked and talked and put on a smiling face every time I took her picture during the race. Yes, I was that person running with her iphone taking pictures, texting and facebooking. It was actually kind of fun. For me, anyway.

My sister texted me to let me know they would be around mile 10 to cheer us on. As we turned the corner, I saw them, and I guess I thought I should raise the roof? Not sure, but at least we are both smiling.

The last three miles were a little tough for Lauren, but she kept on trucking and did not give up. She even smiled for every picture even though she told me she wanted to vomit. What a champ…or ham.

At the end of race, she was still speaking to me. Although, I am sure she wanted to punch me a few times during those last few miles. But, we are family, so it’s all good. I hope!

Official Time: 2:20:39

Friday Afternoon

I spent my afternoon:

• Catching up on the funniest tumblr there is
• Watching the drunk Tan Mom clip over and over
• Tracking Thunderstorms

I should have just left hours ago.

Half Marathon Challenge 2012 - #4 Complete

Four down and eight to go!

My half marathon for April was the Iron Girl Half Marathon. Close to home and featuring Joan Benoit Samuelson  as the spokesperson, signing up for this half was a no brainer. I saw Joanie on the local news last year promoting the event and I signed up that week. It was a little pricey, but it benefited a cancer center at JHU, so I could justify the cost. And, no travel cost for this one either. Bonus!

I was super excited to go to packet pick up and listen to Joanie speak. She is as incredible as you would think she would be. Humble, kind, funny, passionate. It was great to hear to speak about her career, her motivation and her causes.

My friend, Erin, and I were huge dorks are stuck around for a photo and autograph from the inaugural Gold Medalist in the Women’s Olympic Marathon in 1984 and two time Boston Marathon winner. Yep, I wore my Boston jacket. I wanted her to think I was cool. She probably didn’t, but she still signed the best autograph: “Jeanne - Have a great run through life.” I love that!

I think I was more excited to meet her than to actually run, but the next day I was back in Columbia lining up behind her and the rest of the really fast ladies.

The weather was pretty perfect for running, but the streets were a little slick early in the race from an overnight rain. As expected, there were plenty of rolling hills on this course. It was a nice route through a few neighborhoods and there were pockets of people outside their houses cheering us on. It was a single loop course that came back around at mile 11 to return to the start/finish. I tend to enjoy rolling hills, so this course was nice. HOWEVER, there was a bitch of a hill right smack in the middle. This was my slowest mile of the day at 8:17. It was hard!!! And, it did not go back down immediately. It just flattened out for a bit after that.

With under 2,000 ladies, the course was never crowded and the water stops were manned well by volunteers. There was a chocolate stop at mile 8, but I passed on that. Not sure my belly would have enjoyed that, and I was feeling really strong on this run so I didn’t want to mess with it.

I was surprised at how good I was still feeling at mile 11. I looked at my watch and realized that there was a good possibility of a PR. According the some bystanders at this mile marker, the last two miles were slightly downhill. I took their word for it and tried to take advantage and speed things up a bit. When mile 12 came in at 7:44, I knew I was in really good position to break 1:42. That is all I really wanted to do in one of my 12 half marathons this year. Break 1:42. Then, as extra motivation to get me going, a bitchy girl that passed me at mile 8 was right in front of me. Not for long! I took her with about half a mile to go. (Sometimes, I am an angry runner.)

I saw the clock read 1:41:fifty-something as I finished. Success! I was tickled with this time. I am pretty sure that meeting Joanie the day before helped my racing mojo. Seriously.

Official Time: 1:41:52 (59 second PR)

Overall: 59/1617

WHEN I WANT TO BUY A BOTTLE OF WINE PAST 10PM

whenindc:

…but when I remember the mini-mart down the street has more “flexible” hours

Sole of the City 10K

I was happy when Charm City Run announced they would be opening a store downtown this year. I love the store and the staff, but not the drive to Timonium. Then they announced that they would be holding a 10K downtown this Spring. Two things that our running community does not have a lot of - 10K’s and races downtown. I signed up immediately. And, I am glad that I did. I have not enjoyed a race as much as this one in a while. Maybe it’s because it is new or because the distance is short enough not to get painful, but I loved the race this past Saturday.

Surrounded by a bunch of my BoMF friends, we gathered at the starting line just outside the new McHenry Row shopping center. It was a warm, sunny morning and the crowd of 2500 was raring to go. The start wasn’t as bad as other races, but I did a fair amount of weaving to get past the people in front who weren’t in the right pace area. I wish more races had pace signs at the start. Race starts are so much easier when they are used. After a faster first mile to get around them, I pulled back to a comfortable 7:50 pace and settled in for the rest of the race. After running up Fort Ave and over to Key Hwy, where Erin was cheering us on, we made our way onto the Inner Harbor promenade.

After running around a few of the piers, we headed back along Pratt Street and made our way through Fed Hill, South Baltimore, and Riverside Park before ending back at McHenry Row. While I run some of these areas often, it was still nice to run them during a race. I rarely run past Fed Hill into SOBO or by Riverside Park, so miles 4-5 were really a treat. A co-worker of mine picked me up with just under half a mile to go and he really made me push the pace at the end. I felt good enough to do it and wasn’t dead at the end, so I guess I ran pretty well.

The after party was pretty good too. Some of you beer snobs may not agree, but I was happy with unlimited Bud Lights from the beer truck. They also had food provided by the new Green Turtle and music by a local band. It was a great way to spend a Saturday morning with friends.

I am looking forward to running this race again next year!

Official Results:

Overall: 155/2235

Age Group: 2/273

Female: 44/1524

Time: 48:00

Getting Bendy. Sort Of.

The yoga schedule at my gym doesn’t really work for me. Classes are either late at night or during my weekend runs.  While I use that as an excuse, I will admit that I am not a devoted yogi because, honestly, it hurts. I am not flexible at all. Even with regular practice, I am never going to be a bendy person. But still, every once in a while, I try again.

I went back to Bikram on Sunday, thanks to groupon offer. And, last night, I went to a free class offered by lululemon on the rooftop deck of the new Four Seasons Hotel in Harbor East. While it was a bit chilly up there, the view was lovely. 

Lululemon offers free classes in their showroom and throughout the city all year long, but this was the first class at the hotel. It was a popular choice! Many of my friends could not get in because the 60 spots filled up in less than an hour of them posting it on Facebook.

As class started, the above deck was packed with yogis and not so yogis (like me) bending and stretching and balancing and ommmming. It was a hard class. Somehow I missed the fact that it was Power Yoga. But, a fun class nonetheless.

I am hoping to stick with practicing at least one a week. Fingers crossed. 

A Perfect Spring Weekend in Baltimore

• Attending Opening Day with my season-ticket plan partner, Cakes
• Hanging out at Leinenkugel’s beer garden
• Ice cream trip to Haagen Dazs
• Seeing a movie (albeit a bad one) with a cocktail at Landmark Theatre
• Running around Patterson Park with the roommie
• Cocktails on the deck at Woodys
• Bar hopping through Fells Point on a sunny afternoon