I sit here today scrolling through social media as my running friends finish the 41st Marine Corps Marathon and I can’t help but be a little nostalgic for days gone by… I ran the MCM ten times and it holds the honor of being my very first marathon. Yesterday, I shared my ten favorite memories from those ten years, and today I’m hearing of new memories shared by friends. The weather here in the DC area is miserably hot for a marathon and my hat is off to every runner who crosses that finish line.

This week’s training was great. My runs were strong and pain free and I attribute how well I’ve been feeling to five-minute daily planks and mostly shorter mileage now that my longer fall races are behind me – I do have three 5K’s between now and the end of the year…

On Tuesday, my friends Erin, Tracy, and I met for a rare mid-morning run and celebrated with a jump shot. I also may have hit the Lululemon website afterward to see if Tracy’s gorgeous plaid shorts are still available. They’re not.

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Left to right: Deb, Tracy, and Erin

Annoyed that I had on a lavender shirt for my jump photo in front of that gorgeous fall tree on Tuesday, I returned on my next run wearing fall colors. Oh, the things we runners do!

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Saturday morning I promised my long-time friend Beth that I would join her for a part of her twenty-mile run as she trains for the Philly Marathon. We met at 6 AM and completed ten miles before I handed her off to two more Cruiser friends who were joining her for six miles. I felt so good and it was such a perfect running morning that I continued with them for another mile.

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Left to right: Deb, Ellie, Beth, and Janet

After leaving from my friends, I headed back toward the parking lot and along the way I bumped into two other friends, Barb and Lupe, both training for the Richmond Marathon. I ran a bit with each of them and then wrapped up my morning with a few strides over the parkway bridge.

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Yes, I may complain occasionally that I can no longer run marathons, but let’s face it, I’m a very lucky girl who after so many years of pounding the pavement can still run thirteen easy miles while chatting the entire time and maintaining a 9:45 pace. I am, indeed, grateful for every step.

Here’s how the rest of my week went down… 

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Fitness tools beyond the equipment in my gym that I used during the week included: 

Cameras used for blog photography include:

 

  • Questions:
  • Have you run the Marine Corps Marathon?
  • Do you add planks into your fitness routine? 
  • Did you race this weekend? 

 

Have a great week!

 

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on the blue product link and then make a purchase, I will receive a commission for referring you. You will pay no more or less for the product; however, Amazon will show their gratitude for my referral by paying me.

 

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I’m linking up with Holly at HoHo Runs and Tricia from MissSippiPiddlin for their Weekly Wrap.  Be sure to check out not only the hosts, but the other great bloggers joining in on the fun!

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