Any one interested in revisiting Wasatch Back?

Hey Ladies! I know I haven't posted much lately and I really have no excuses, but I have a big empty (at the moment) team for Wasatch back! So far I have 1 possibly (she is just waiting on St George Lotto) so that means I have room for about 10 more of you! I am not looking for a competitive team, just one that knows how to laugh (a LOT) and have fun! If you want to go check out some of the fun we had from last year you can go here. We ended up with 2 team of moms from around the country met up and had a "wicked fun time"! If you want more info (or need me to talk you into it-because I am really good at that) email me at info@theribbonspot.com. First come first serve so hurry :)

Mommies Got Back still need 3!

Hey if you are interested in running a crazy fun race (See the details HERE)  we still have 3 spots on the team from here.  Head over to our BLOG for information on how to join in the fun!

What did you do this weekend?

Guess what I did this weekend?  Want to read more?  Check it out here (www.runningfromthekids.blogspot.com)

DC Ragnar Relay Report

I was super scared, but did it. And I have a medal and tech tee to prove it, plus the burning thighs. (I'm the one in the back looking the most disheveled.)

General low-down: Van 2, my van, started our running at 6 p.m. (Van 1 started at noon.) As the twelfth runner, I didn't start until 11:00 p.m. It was pouring rain and I swear my pants were five pounds heavier at the end of my run than at the beginning. When I finished, we went to the start of our next run and hoped for sleep, but unfortunately had only about 3 hours before we were to start again. Maybe 1.5 hours of sleep were obtained. My second run, leg 24, was longer but it didn't pour on me as it had the night before--awesome! I ran by some beautiful homes and saw dead snakes and frogs along the highway. Our second break was much longer, but as it was in the middle of the day, I didn't sleep well. My last run was my shortest and easiest, and boy was I happy about that. It was also the most beautiful as I got to run nexto to the Potomac River, across from some of DC's most famous landmarks, and directly underneath planes landing at National Airport. Forty-nine minutes later, it was all over! Our team feasted on apple pie and pizza.

What I learned:

• Training-wise: Long runs were definitely helpful, but even more helpful were the Saturdays where I ran once at 7 a.m. (about five miles) and then again at about 3 p.m. (about six miles). It helped me know how my body would react to such insanity. Also, I know better than running in brand-new, unbroken-in shoes, but what damage could some super cute red ballets flats do? A LOT, it turns out. Don't try out new shoes the week before your race.
• Eating-wise: This was a big concern for me because running with a full stomach isn't pleasant. I knew that my first run would start at about 11 p.m., so I ate dinner at about 4. Then, after run 1, I ate a bagel, luna bar, and drank tons of water. A couple of hours later, I ate some jerky and drank more water and Gatorade. And right before each leg, I ingested a banana. Repeat. This made for very good runs, stomach-wise. I was never famished but neither was I overly full. It also gave me good reason to think before eating the Reese's peanut butter cups in our van.
• Sleeping-wise: Rent a 15-person van. For our six runners, we had a mini-van which barely fit the six of us and all our gear. A 15-person van would have been so much more luxurious. (A motor home, with a driver, would have been the ultimate in luxury, but they're illegal, sadly.) I didn't use the sleeping bag I brought; a blanket would have been more practical. The pillow was necessary however. But really, plan on not getting much sleep. It's just hard.
• Packing-wise: Bring three sets of running outfits and two pairs of running shoes. Although we have things like the news and papers to know the weather, it's better to be prepared. I was soooo glad to have three changes of clothes for each leg, especially after run 1 wherein I got drenched. A couple of my teammates were not so lucky.
• Fun-team-names-wise: I'm not quickly-creative. So as I was invited to join this Ragnar team about six weeks before the actual race, that was not enough time for me to come up with a clever name or costume. While I liked what was eventually chosen, it was not award-winning. I'll start working on it now and hope that by the next time I do this, I'll have something that is. And while I'm not sure I'd like to run in costumes (one team wore cavemen outfits), I think some could absolutely do-able. Anything where you could draw on your face or applique on a shirt, would be okay. Like I said, I'm thinking about this.

I think that's it. I hear Ragnar is adding five new locations to next year's relay schedule. Anyone up for a run-cation?!

Allow Me to Introduce Myself

Just another newbie excited to be here...

I started running my last year of graduate school. More than five years later, I can't stop. I just became a mommy in March and am excited to get that boy in the jogging stroller, but am slightly afraid of running alone in my DC suburb. So for now, the treadmill will have to do. (Although, I admit that running while watching Project Runway is one of my favorite things to do.)

I haven't run a marathon, but I've done a couple of halfs (LOVE the Provo River half!), a few ten-milers, handful of 10Ks, some 8Ks (my fave), and a slew of 5Ks. I am currently training to run the Ragnar Relay here in DC (http://www.ragnarrelay.com/dc/index.php) and am scared to death. But hopefully that t-shirt will look great in my race shirt quilt...making it all worth it, of course.

Favorite race distance: 8K
Favorite song to run to: ??? Honestly, no idea why this is so hard, but it is.
Favorite dessert: McDonald's ice cream cone or, when in Utah, Maverik cones
Current goal: Simply finish the Ragnar DC Relay (September 26-27--eek!)
Blogger screen name: erinmalia

If anyone has any tips they'd like to share about running the relay, I'd love to hear them. While I feel confident in my training, it's the logistics of it that scare me to death.

But most of all, thanks for letting me be a part of this site. I love reading about the fun and amazing things you all are doing!

LAST CALL!!!!

Hey Ladies!!!

Some of you may remember me posting a while back about the Ragnar Relay from San Antonio to Austin on October 24th & 25th.  Well here is the thing.  We need to get our team finalized and still have a few spots.  We are not running to win anything... just have a rocking fun weekend.  So even if you are slow we would love love love to have you  :)  Come check us out...  www.RunningFromTheKids.blogspot.com  we are a really fun group of girls and have the potential to be even more fun in the wee early hours  :)  Email me if you have questions or you want one of our last spots  info@theribbonspot.com 

Erin  

Any one up for 196 miles?

Ok everyone..... another race I need your help with! I am looking for a few more people to join a group of us to run the Ragnar Relay Series in Austin October 24-25! There are about six of us here all ready and we are looking for six more. It is a relay so no you don't run all 196 miles by yourself. We have a really fun group of girls but just need some more. If any of your husbands want to do it too there is a group of men getting together from our church so they could join them too and you could make it a great get away weekend! Here is the quick scoop (click on the race link for the whole scoop and great doable training plans even for the beginner runner...

1. We need a team of 12
2. Each team member runs 3 legs ranging from 3-8 miles
3. It is on a Friday/ Saturday :)
4. Yes I am doing St. George 3 weeks before so you can too :)
5. We need to register our team by the end of June to get the best rate


Email me at info@theribbonspot.com if you want in :)