10 Things you didn't know about Erin - as she preps for MidAtlantic Regionals!

If you don't know Erin, co-owner of Crossfit Annapolis, you will want to after reading this. I met Erin in 1993 - a forced friendship because our brothers played soccer together. We hung out at a soccer awards banquet at Fudrucker's and never looked back. In a word Erin is fun. I spent my high school years at her house, baking chocolate chip banana bread, listening to music, and laughing a lot. Ah, memory lane:

Erin, Meg, and me - game ready!

Me, Erin, and Meg after a lacrosse game

Meg, Me, and Erin - my first car accident

Erin and me after a lacrosse tournament

Me and Erin at ODU lax camp

Erin is the definition of an athlete. She began with Lacrosse, then track and field, then Field Hockey. That was High School - we spent a lot of time together on those sport fields. Throughout college she stayed active - we separated to Longwood (me) and Va Tech (Erin). We are like yo-yo's though and always seem to come back together....next in an adult Lacrosse league. It was like old times. Running, laughing, and of course - chocolate chip banana bread.

Now Erin and I find each other together again - by spirit, email, text messages, and Facebook. :)  Both mothers of two boys. We both have road race and triathlon experiences under our belts - Erin's list is way more impressive than mine.

I cannot do justice to her impressive athletic achievements - it's a long list. Erin has completed every running distance I've ever heard of, including The Cheat Mountain Moonshine Madness 50 mile trail run, The Mid Maryland Ultra 50K and The Umstead 100 mile Endurance Race. She has done some impressive swims including the Chesapeake Bay Swim and of course triathlons.Erin ran the Dublin and Richmond Marathon and the JFK 50-miler while pregnant. She also completed the American Odyssey 200-mile Adventure Relay Run. After she had her baby she registered for Ironman Lake Placid and ran the Annapolis 10 Miler. Intimidated? Don't be. Erin is also the biggest cheerleader you will ever meet.

racing with her hubby

running for two

crossing the finish!

Currently Erin is training for the Mid Atlantic Regionals that are happening at GMU May 23-25. She went into The Open hoping to get to Regionals with Team Syndicate (ranked 6th place). Wouldn't you know - she also qualified to go as an individual (ranked 17th!)!!!!!

Here's my interview with Erin:

1. You have a background in running, lacrosse, and field hockey. How did you find yourself in Crossfit?

I first heard about Crossfit when it was more of an underground thing and the closest one around to me was 15 miles away (hardly the case now!). I had been very big into endurance competitions and was hoping to qualify for a few marathon/ultra-distance events so I swallowed my fear of the unknown and added Crossfit into supplement my endurance training. It definitely helped and I loved it!

2. What is your favorite way to WOD? Music or no music?

I would say music but to be honest it probably doesn't matter if it is silent and crickets are chirping. The last thing I typically hear before a workout is 3-2-1-GO and then I couldn't tell you what happens or what I hear until I am done.

3. Hardest Crossfit move for you at this time?

Oh gosh, right now- strict HSPU's. A lot of the gymnastic movements are a work in progress for me but I'm stubborn and keep at them. :)

4. Favorite Crossfit move?

At the moment butterfly pull-ups. I never thought I would say that but I worked so hard to have that become a smooth and efficient movement. When I first started trying to learn them, I looked like a struggling fish out of water!

5. Your goal for The Open was to qualify on a team, what was your reaction when you saw you finished 17th in the Mid Atlantic Region!?

I was really surprised, honestly. But I was thrilled- it's always motivating to have hard work pay off. Even when you feel like you are squeezing for time to train and compete. The Open can be tough because you have to be "on" during each one of those workouts for five weeks straight. Life still goes on during those five weeks- family, kids, friends, jobs, training, vacation, etc. It was definitely an adventure coordinating!

6. What keeps you motivated?

Two things:
1. My love of being an athlete and having the ability to run, jump, play, and move. I love seeing what I am capable of. If I fail, I have a new goal to reach and a story to grow from. If I succeed, I appreciate the journey it took me to get there. The sun will still rise tomorrow, no matter what kind of day I have. That's motivation. I try to swallow any fear I have of the unknown, take risks and whole-heartedly embrace the adventure of any journey I am on no matter what the outcome.

2. My family. My husband who supports me on all my crazy adventures and the two little boys who call me "mommy". I will strive every single day to be the kind of person I want them to grow to be. That is motivation for me to work hard and dream big....so they do, too.

7. You have a family - including two small boys! - What does a training day look like for you?

Oh gosh. Every day is a bit different but it typically starts in the early morning getting the boys dressed and fed and finishes with getting them fed, bathed, and into bed so I can collapse, myself. I know that isn't the "training" you mean but phew! Really though- I either get a training session in mid-day or in the early morning before the world wakes up. It's sort of a balancing act but getting in time to train or doing something active each day makes me a better....everything (mom, wife, friend). 

8. Do you have mantra, quote, saying that helps you get through the rough stuff?

Inspired from my baby boy, Kilian- "If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere."

9. You inspire so many - who inspires you?

I'm inspired every day by people I notice in the moment- the woman running while pushing two kids in a jogging stroller fighting to keep going no matter how tired and sleep-deprived she is; the student going to school and working full-time in order to follow a dream; the soldiers we see coming home to their families after being away for so many months. I try my best to listen and look around every day and find a moment- it's an easy way to be inspired if you let it be.

10. Favorite post workout food?

Chocolate chip banana bread. Always has been and always will be. :)


Just so you don't think I'm biased I got a little ditty from Megan  (you can read more about her here)- a partner in crime for Erin and I in high school and life (and pictured above).

We should have known Erin would be a a fitness/healthy guru from the beginning.  She chugged more ice water then anyone I had ever known. . she was all about hydration before hydration was cool.   When I say Chug. . . I mean she could put back gallons of water at Don Pablo's before I had finished a single glass. While most kids in school were eating pizza and chips, she would pack raw veggies that earned her the nickname broccoli buddy. Somehow we called each other that, but I am pretty sure I didn't earn it.   She did have a weakness for Baskin Robbins Chocolate and Peanut butter (lesson learned: everything in moderation right?!).

Erin was also a great leader in both our sports- lacrosse and field hockey.  I can remember doing long distance runs  and singing Beatles songs to help the time go by faster because she was such a natural runner. She would run ahead and tackle back making sure we were all finishing! We involved everyone around us to help get through the run (because let's be honest in high school 2 miles was long distance!).   

I remember vividly running around Burke Lake with Ann and Erin the summer before our senior field hockey season.    At the time, I didn't realize, but I had developed bad exercise induced asthma.  I was having such a hard time completing our long run. It was the longest run around the lake I had ever had and I remember being devastated because I had never felt like that before after being an athlete my whole life.  We finally finished and it was because both Erin and Ann were supportive and motivating through every mile!  I see these characteristics have continued on through both of their Crossfit communities!

xoxo - Meg

Thanks so much for inspiring all of us Erin!!!!! Good Luck at Regionals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Questions Questions Questions

I got these questions from SUAR. She's hilarious - you must check her out if you haven't before. 
 
Best run ever? I would have to say the first race, April 2009 - no picture, clearly before digital cameras were invented :). It was a 5K and I had to walk two times during it. I caught the running bug big time. I still get goosebumps thinking about that race. I spent the rest of the day laying on the couch doing nothing and yelling "I ran a 5K today!" It was not pretty, but great memories to think back on.


Three words that describe your running? Slow, happy, Slow

Your go-to running outfit? Anything that fights chub rub. Running skirts are great because they have chub rub fighting spandex but cover my booty. I also LOVE a racer back tank.

Quirky habit while running? I don't know - I do love to talk while running. I check my Garmin too much.

Morning, midday, evening? It all depends on the time of year. Summer = morning. School year = evenings.

I won’t run outside when it’s ____________ Dark - I get scared. I'm not the biggest fan of the rain, but you do feel pretty bad ass when you do 12 miles in the rain.

Worst injury—and how you got over it. June 30, 2011. The day my world crashed around me. I was diagnosed with Lyme's disease, migraines, and "we don't know what this is". Through Dr's, friends, family, cleaner eating, and exercise I'm coming out on the other side of it all.

I felt most like a badass mother runner when _________ When I hear : "How do you have time?" I work full time, I own a small private speech practice, I have 2 boys and a man-child husband. How do I find time? Because I want to.




Next race is __________ Army 10 miler in Oct. I am very excited to run this for the first time.

Potential running goal for 2013? Another 1/2 marathon, at least 2 international Triathlons - working towards a 70.3

Medi-what?

Yesterday was my first day of my hard-core 30 day Medifast trial. I've been counting calories with my new BFF app MyFitnessPal (which I LOVE). Medifast is something that worked for my husband (Sam) to loose weight and I figured I can't keep complaining about weight gain if I haven't actually tried EVERYTHING.

So, day 1? Not too bad. I did not work out and I had the day off. What's not to love? Here's a cheat sheet of Medi-isms for what you go through on this meal plan. None is really that scary, all are reversible.

1. Medi-gas: lots o fiber = lots o gas. No way around it. It's going to build.
2. Medi-mean: let's face it. you are starving, maybe even to DEATH. You get mean. Period.
3. Medi-sober: no alcohol for a while. See "medi-mean"
4. Medi-tired: Eating less calories is going to equal less energy at first. Remember - reversible
5. Medi-shaky: Gotta eat every two-three hours. The shaky will get you if you forget to set your watch
6. Medi-memory: Let's face it. You got food on the brain. I can only fit in so much.

Today I had a serious case of the Medi-s. It started with my phone alarm at 8am. Not sure what I forgot that was on the calendar I checked it out - smile quickly fades. Jury Duty! In 5 minutes!!!!!! SHIT SHIT SHIT. How did I forget? I went on the website and felt all the blood leaving my face. I'm not sure what happens in jail, but I watched Locked Up, Beyond Scared Straight, and First Week In. I would die in jail. I'm too weak, especially since I have cut back the calories. Although, Medi-mean will kick in soon and that might do me well.

I checked the website, my number was not called! Phew! Jail sentence avoided.

After a long day at work I made it home with both kids, some things you just can't forget. I started planning my lean and green meal when my phone alarm went off again. Crap! What this time? The MELTING POT!? The ladies on my triathlon team were meeting at the melting pot, in 5 minutes, and I TOTALLY FORGOT! How does that happen? I was so excited for it, been on the books, rubbed it in Sam's face! Crap!

So, day 1 was fine, day 2 I avoided jail and the melting pot. I wonder what day 3 will have in store?

The Final Medi - ? Medi-skinny or Medi-Fit. It's a club I hope to join soon. 

What does 2012 look like?

So far 2012 has been great. I'm really hoping to keep that up - it just feels so fresh at the beginning of the year.

The family and I have TONS going on this year. Let's take it month by month:

January: Sammy turns 5!!!!!

February: Sam turns 33!

March: Sam and I run the 1/2 Marathon (sam's 1st!)

March: My sister gets married in St. Lucia. Jealous?

April: 1st tri of the season and Cherry Blossom 10 miler

 April: Mason turns 4!

May: 1st Mcdonnell Lake swim

June: Sam does the I love this Tavern Tri in Richmond

July: Redeem myself at Colonial Beach sprint tri

August: Off! That's right, nothing on the books :)

September: ending the season together in Reston for the perfect 10

Now, we are done in September. We no longer pretend that the cold training, water, and runs don't bother us. We are cold weather wimps. Whew, that felt good to say.

Here's to 2012. Staying healthy, getting fit, and having fun!

365 days can do alot

Last year on Halloween I was running the Marine Corp Marathon. My first. I ran it with Alyson, well - I ran it because of Alyson. She said after a 1/2 Marathon in Sept "Let's just keep training and do the marathon." I almost puked on her shoes. I wanted to do it, but was terrified. So, I said yes and we kept our training going. We raised money for Neuroblastoma research, which at the time her brother Nick was battling.

Me and Alyson. Puffy eyes from crying - pretty happy to be done. wearing our Nova Chicks run for Nick shirts

With Meg - our biggest cheerleader

at mile 26.19 sooooo close to the end

Sam is my biggest supporter and best hugger.

Since then alot has happened. The year since the marathon focused more on triathlon than just running. Sam and I joined a Tri Team (Team Fexy) and bought 1 million dollars worth of gear. :) I am now working at a different Middle School. The boys have done their first "race", which Sammy won. Sam applied to be on Chopped (Food Network). My brother got married. I got and survived Lyme's Disease this summer. And I've already had the flu this season - after I got the shot, of course.

Alot of change in a year. Anyone else have changes over the last year?