Here I go again!

No running again as I was up in Pennsylvania again - skied all day - Out of the 9 people in our group, one was injured and didn't ski, the other six were super good skiers and they stayed together and did some black diamonds and double black diamonds, and I was the only chicken of the group who had to stick with the green and blue slopes... wah-wahhhh! My knee was bothering me a little too (same spot that hurt after falling once in Aspen over Christmas but doesn't bother me when I run or bike - not sure what's the deal there) so it was good to keep it low key. The snow conditions were great for the east coast, but nothing compared with Aspen... pretty good but some patches of ice that make you lose control pretty fast. After a full day of skiing we got to rent an outdoor hot tub and we all got to relax for a while there before having some dinner (I was too tired and headed home) and we all went home and crashed.

Another day of no running, as some of the group went skiing and some of us went back home... what a fun weekend this was! I was very emotional realizing how random that group of people was, and how well we all got along and had tons of fun. Most of us there were runners so I know we'll see each other in races in the near future. And of course I owe the blog to meeting the wonderful life-of-the-party Aaron and through him the super fun Amy. I'm sure more camping trips, hiking trips, and running adventures await to all of us!

FINALLY some miles! Inauguration fun all day - I stayed away from the crowds and watched it at home with my friend Sangeeta - it was very emotional to see the crowds, the first Black president, the first president I voted for and is going into office since I became a U.S. citizen, the entire country coming together in support of a new head of state, with great hopes that he will listen to the people and do his best to help the economy, the war, and so many other things that we need to fix right now!

After watching the speech and parade I headed out to the Congressional Cemetery for a few easy miles. Feeling pretty good! Now off to do my stretches! It's going to be a great week full of quality miles!

Ok people, as I begin feeling better about my running relatively pain-free, I'm having an itch about my future plans... Yes indeed I want to run a BQ relatively soon, believe it or not...

The semester starts on Monday (yes, I am back in school after taking the summer and fall off...) and I'll be taking only one class and supposedly a very easy one. So, I should have time to train properly and hopefully run a marathon at the end of April or sometime in May. That way I'll have the summer off to take another class and do some low-key running and maybe some biking races and triathlons.

The question is, which marathon to run. Any suggestions? I'm willing to travel... I'm looking at Ogden, Salt Lake, Moab, Fort Collins, Capital City (WA), Coeur D'Alene? Of course I have to find out about all of those, if they're flat and if they're BQ, and if I can get in... Any other suggestions?

The plan is to get serious and start increasing mileage starting today, but unlike last year, I will run mostly 40-mile weeks, and maybe one or two 50-mile weeks at the peak of training, but not more than that to avoid injury. Focus on quality over quantity, do some speed work and interval work. I will also cross-train at least two days a week - at the gym (spin and weights) biking or swimming, and that's on top of my bike commute. Something like this:

Mon: bike to work/back; recovery jog (3-4 miles)
Tue: 5-10 miles; intervals (to work and/or back)
Wed: bike to work/back; spin class
Thu: 5-10 miles (to work and/or back)
Fri: 5-10 miles; speed work (to work and/or back)
Sat: long bike ride with Will
Sun: long run

So my questions to you fellow bloggers are:
1. Do you think a 40, sometimes 50-mile week would be enough training to run a BQ marathon?
2. Any suggestions on which marathons to run or avoid?

Thank you guys! happy running!

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Ran home from work, 6 miles, the long way. It was bizarre to run on the mall that is now completely empty, when yesterday it was completely full of people! Shins hurt a bit but not too bad. Doing some core work and stretches/strengthening now as I get ready to go to bed - good night!

Biked to work, biked to the Smithsonian after work and met up with the Capitol Striders for a group run around the mall. It's fun running with people once in a while, but I've realized I really enjoy running by my self or with just one or two good friends - not really a group person unless it's a race...

On the way back home I realized I had dropped a glove... so I went back to get it. Surprisingly, it was there still! Lucky me!

Shins hurt a bit more than they have been... not sure if I'll run tomorrow...

TGIF everyone!

Planned on going on a long bike ride with Will in Loudon County, near Leesburg. We got there and started climbing these gynormous hills on this beautiful country landscape on a very cold morning, but unfortunately the gravel road had just been turned and it was not suitable for my hybrid bike. Very sad. So we turned around after a few miles and went on the paved W&OD trail. Then Will wanted to turn around cause he wasn't feeling well - it's his birthday today so I kept making jokes about getting old and not being able to bike as much. I don't think that helped ;) Went out to dinner and had some friends over for cake at night and to sing him happy birthday.