Author: capitalrunnergirl

Off-Season Training4 Comments

Creative Ways to Stay Motivated During the Winter Months

capitalrunnergirl

Last night, I bundled up to run 3 miles across the Key Bridge into DC. It was somewhere around 36 degrees, the sun had set, and there was a breeze that felt like gale force winds once I got outside. The inevitable dilemma of wondering if I had dressed warm enough came to mind numerous times, and it went back and forth from, “I totally overdressed,” to “I definitely should have worn that fleece-lined quarter-zip instead.” It happens with winter running. Sometimes you just don’t know until you are out there, and it’s not like dressing for summer running for … Continue reading Creative Ways to Stay Motivated During the Winter Months

Goal-Setting, Life and Other MysteriesLeave a comment

365 Resolutions for 2017

capitalrunnergirl

Happy 2017 everyone! I’m back after a couple of weeks away from blogging to spend time with my family in Nebraska and enjoy a few days of much-needed hibernation and relaxation. I hope you all had a warm and merry holiday season, and thanks for sticking with me all this time.

When it comes to the holidays, I’m the kind of person who likes to look ahead as much as I look behind me. At the holiday seasons, I always think about where I was in life at Christmas last year, 2 years ago, 5, or 10 years ago. I like to wonder where I will be, who I will be, who I will be with next year, 2 years later, 5, or 10 years down the line.

At the end of 2015, I felt like the roller coaster of life events I’d been on since 2013 was finally over and things had sort of come full circle. It wasn’t perfect, but I loved the imperfection of it because I felt secure in it. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I had faith that things would be okay and work out because I had already gone through some dark, empty days that felt hard for no reason at all. I was ready for a hard but meaningful and fulfilling journey that I wouldn’t trade for the world because I made the choice to stick with it no matter what, and I loved that choice.

A year later, Christmas 2016, none of the things I ended 2015 with and felt safe about exist anymore and I find myself staring down a dark, gray road surrounded by void.  Continue reading “365 Resolutions for 2017”

DC Living, Life and Other Mysteries, Running Thoughts2 Comments

An Open Letter to Drivers From Runners

capitalrunnergirl

Hi there.

It’s been a long day, hasn’t it? I suppose that’s as much the reason why you’re rushing to get home as it is for me being out on a run right now. You’re aching to get home and shake the day off, and I’m lucky to already be out here doing just that. Shaking off my day with a run.

But the thing is, you almost hit me with your car.  Continue reading “An Open Letter to Drivers From Runners”

Race Recaps5 Comments

Race Recap: Islamorada Half-Marathon

capitalrunnergirl

Sometimes, you really just need to get away.

I probably wouldn’t have taken this trip if Beast Pacing didn’t send out a call asking for pacers for the Islamorada Half-Marathon. First of all, I didn’t know about it. I’ve really only heard of Islamorada (which I found out is not pronounced eee-lamorada with a Spanish “I” but is pronounced with the long “I”) from seeing it advertised in post-holiday season winter get-away commercials and from the Netflix show Bloodline. Second, I’ve almost gotten to the point where I don’t know how to plan a vacation that doesn’t have a race in there somewhere, including a vacation to just get away. Sometimes you need a reason to get the things done. Continue reading “Race Recap: Islamorada Half-Marathon”

What I Am Reading1 Comment

Running and Reading: December 5 – 11, 2016

capitalrunnergirl

This week: Maple water, Solid Core, pelvic floor dysfunction, White Elephant gifts, Ryan Lochte, the Florida Keys, and choosing joy.

1) For 6 years, I had the honor of working for two United States Senators on Capitol Hill and, to this day, they were some of the best days of my life for all the people I met, the work I did, and the privilege to serve my country. I was pleased to see Roll Call‘s piece on the Women’s Congressional Staff Association, of which I was a board member, because it highlights the true sense of bipartisanship and women supporting each other in our work for an institution that is largely underrepresented by women. Brava, WCSA, and keep up the tremendous work! Continue reading “Running and Reading: December 5 – 11, 2016”

Race Recaps7 Comments

Race Recap: Rehoboth Seashore Half-Marathon

capitalrunnergirl

Photo Credit: Rehoboth Beach Running Company
Photo Credit: Rehoboth Beach Running Company
The Rehoboth Seashore Marathon and Half-Marathon has been on my race wish list for quite a while. I’ve never run it because I always have a big city marathon on deck for the past several years– Chicago in 2014, Baltimore in 2015, and New York City in 2016. Quite honestly, after this weekend, I’m wondering why I waited so long to run this race. Continue reading “Race Recap: Rehoboth Seashore Half-Marathon”