Catching Up

So it's been a long time now, and I have a few minutes, so this isn't going to be a well-thought-out posting or anything as much as something for people to read, if they happen to pay a visit. I've been spending a lot more time on Facebook over the past six months or so, so if you really want to keep up with my daily musings, hit me up over there.

I've been training for the National Marathon, which will be my tenth marathon. I would like to PR but have had a lot of obstacles this cycle--namely a never-ending cold, a broken rib, lots of work, uber-cold weather, etc.--so I may settle for just coaching Mr. Rallycap through his return to the distance. We'll see. My track workout went pretty well yesterday, and my long-long runs have gone well. It's everything in the 10-18 mile distance that I'm not really enjoying.

I have definitely reaffirmed the fact that I prefer ultra-style training--not too much during the week then run all weekend. Which is why I'm excited to be in the field for Bull Run Run, which will be my second 50-mile run. Yay. I am nervous about it, because it's much harder terrain than JFK was, and the time limit is only an hour more generous, and my running hasn't been as consistent over the past year as it was prior to JFK. But that's why these things appeal--there's always the chance of not even finishing.

In other sports, we're mulling trips to Florida in March (spring training, surfing) and New Hampshire this summer (hiking, visiting friends and a baby!). Neither are specifically planned, but we can do that, with the nature of what we do. It would be nice to see the beach again. Haven't seen the ocean since Costa Rica in November.

Which was an interesting trip. We went with a group of friends, and if it had just been us we would have done things differently, but if it had just been us we might not have gone in the first place. I saw the Pacific for the first time--honestly, not super impressed. I was thrilled to be sitting in the ocean and see mountains, instead of just dunes and then nothing (or giant hotels). And the trip to Arenal was AMAZING--seeing live eruptions and hiking in the rain forest were both really epic adventures. It did get us thinking about trying exotic travel again sometime. But there is definitely something about easy destinations like the Outer Banks, which is like home but without the same routine.

I'm looking forward to baseball--part of the motivation behind the potential Florida trip. Football ended in such boring fashion. The Redskins really sucked it up (glad we didn't bother renewing season tickets) and the postseason paled in comparison to inaugural festivities and even just general, mundane life.

Speaking of the inauguration, I have been working on a wrap-up of our activities that weekend. Living where we do, right near the Mall, it seemed like we were obligated to take in as much as we could. And it was worth it.

Okay, back to work. :)