Race in Rememberance 5K - Race Recap

Today we all met up for our last 5k race until August!  Today's race was the Race in Remembrance 5k.  This race helps to raise scholarship money for students in Remembrance of those students who lost their lives in Flight 800.  The race is only held once every 5 years.  My dad and I ran it back in 2006 and I remembered it to be a very nice race with a very good turnout and for a great cause.

SB met us there, she ran 10 miles from home to the race so that she could get in her 13 miles for the day.     Dad, Amanda, Adam, Robyn and Ella beans all came to run as well.  I decided last night that I was going to shoot to get out of the 23's for this 5k since I knew it was all flat and would be easy. I decided to aim for 22:30 and set my Garmin Training Assistant to help me along.  When I got to the race they had the times from 5 years ago and I saw that I finished 1st in my age group with a 22:35 so I was really set to beat that time.

There were quite a few runners and it started off on a little narrow section so it was a little busy in the beginning.  I met up with one of the ladies that I know always finishes ahead of me or right with me.  She was aiming to finish in the 21's so I knew I needed to keep her in my sights.  I kept my eye on my Garmin and was ahead of my pacing assistant in the beginning.  The first mile I probably took off a little fast with 6:45 min mile but felt ok.  The 2nd mile I slowed it down to 7:00 and could feel that I was pushing myself.  I was definitely out of my comfortable race zone.  I started to get pretty tired at 2 1/2 but pushed along still ahead of  my pace so I knew I could finish with my goal.  

It is hard to describe to a non-runner the "thrill" and feeling you get when you know you are pushing yourself.  You are leaving it all out there and not holding back, but yet it feels so good.  My legs were tired and my breathing was a little tough but I loved it.  I was pushing harder than usual and definitely didn't have the energy to kick it at the end.  It is a good thing no one tried to "race" me to the finish because I wouldn't have been able to get them.  I was excited when I could see the clock and it was still in the 21's but didn't make it to the finish line and cross the mats until 22:10!!!!  Crushed my goal!!!  One of the best time I've had in years.  I didn't know if I could do it, if I had the "speed" potential but now I know I do.  I just might have to set a new goal for the next 5k to see if I can get in the 21's. 

Robyn, Sarah and Amanda all swept their age group with 1st, 2nd and 3rd.  I got 3rd in my age group.  My little niece who is just 19 months RAN her first little race in the grass today and she won 3rd in her age group too!  She was too cute holding her mommy and Aunt Mandwe's hands bookin it down the path.  Again I forgot my camera to catch the cuteness to share.  I'm working on that.

I did get  my camera after we were all done to get a picture of me and my sisters sporting our ActiveBands!  If you haven't discovered the greatness of this ActiveBands you have to check them out!  Great product, stays in place and does its job the whole time.  It is great with my new short hairdo.  It keeps all my layers tucked back and away from my face when I run!  Love them!

Sarah, Amanda, Me and Robyn

QOTD:  How would you describe that feeling of pushing yourself to beat a goal and leaving it all out their on the course, to a non-runner?  For me it is just an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and pride knowing that I can achieve things when I put the time and effort into working for them.   Exhausting but so inner-rewarding.  Definitely the runner's high.

Hello Summer Vacation

YAY!  I made it!  I survived my sixth year of teaching!  (Three years at a previous school and three years at this one.) 

Yesterday was a busy day.  I had school until 11:30, graduation practice, and then a nice lunch with my beautiful lil sis, Amanda.  After lunch I went to the Beagle Club to work for a few hours to get the club house and grounds straightened before their Beagle Show tomorrow.  After sweating in the muggy sunshine I met up with my baby sis and stole my neice for a few hours.  We went back to Aunt Mandwe's house to play before I had to get cleaned up for graduation.  I attended the graduation and then finally made it back home by 10:45.  Long Day!

That leads me to this morning.  Up-and-at-em by 6:45 so that I could get ready for the 5k Race. I met up with Dad, Manda, Rob, Adam, Mom and Ella beans at the race and spent time lovin on the neice till start time.  It was just a small local 5k with a really good turnout.  My mom cheered us on while we all raced.  Even the little Ella Beaners raced in her Bob (running stroller) with her GrandBob pushing her. 

I felt pretty good during the race considering I hadn't run at all in 8 days.  I started out a little fast but was able to tuck it back in for a bit until the turn around where I slowly picked up speed.  When we took off I knew their was some good competition and was happily surprised at the turn around when I realized I was 8th girl overall.  I still had my sights on two girls ahead of me that I was pretty sure I could pass.  Shortly after the halfway mark I did just that.  I knew there would be a very very small chance that I could catch girl #4 and #5 that were right ahead of me. 

I started to struggle a bit at 2.75.  The sun was really cookin' things up by then.  I was hot, tired and out of fuel (probably because I didn't eat dinner the night before and only a granola bar for breakfast.) One of these days I'll learn to eat better before a race).  I finshed 6th girl overall, 2nd in my age group, in 23:49.  My dad was 2nd in his age group, Robyn and Manda were 2nd and 3rd in their age group. 

One thing I have to say about this race is that the course flat and easy.  It goes by quick and I like being able to do an out and back race every now and then so that you can see everyone in the race.  Another thing is this race has awesome raffle prizes.  They did a fantastic job of getting donations.  4 out of the 5 of us got gift certificates.  All together the value of those gift certificates was over $295.00! 

After the race it was home to mow grass, work on my herb garden and tackle 5 loads of laundry!  A very successful day!  Congratulations to Julia on her first marathon!  Go check out her race recap and congratulate her on an awesome marathon!

Race Recap - YMCA Spring Run

Racing Season is slipping into full speed.  We had our second race this morning and picked up two more race flyers for June and July. 

It didn't look half bad out there this morning when I got up at 6:30, but the race wasn't until 10 am.  It was a 5k race to benefit our local YMCA.  It was in a different town then most of our races and only 15 mins from my house which was nice.  After 5 different outfits because I couldn't figure the weather out, I ate a quick granola bar for breakfast and headed out.  I met my Dad and SIL at the race and got registered.  Sis and Baby Sis weren't in town this weekend to run with us so our gang was a little short numbered.  It was really windy but the rain held off until we were finishing which I was very thankful for. 

The race started out flat and then had a nice hill - not too big, not too small, just right hill - and then a smooth downhill until it flattened out for the finish.  I was doing pretty good and could see girl #1, and #2 ahead of me most of the time.  When I did the final corner to the hill and flat finish the wind caught my hat so I had to turn around and get it and then on the downhill my shoe came untied.  So I lost about 15 seconds or so there.  I lost sight of the girls in the last half mile, but worked on helping a first time 5k-er finish strong.  He was letting me start to get past him so I was screaming at him to push and forced him to kick it in so that he finished just ahead of me.  As I was finishing I was trying to figure out how I could have possibly pulled at 21:15 because I knew I didn't push that hard and was told that the clock was off by 2 minutes so I had a 23:15 (or somewhere around there) which is about where I though I'd be.  It's still early in the season and I haven't been running all that hard during the week so I should see mid 22's by the July 16th race.

All in all  a good FUN RUN.  Nice turn out but not full of the 5k race usuals.  My Dad, SIL and I all got 1st in our age group and I was 3rd girl overall.  So the goal for the next few weeks is to increase the weekly miles and get in 4, 5 and a 6 mile run before the May Day 10k on May 14.

What Day is It?

I keep getting my days all mixed up.  It feels like a Thursday but it's only Wednesday.  Shucks! 

It was a pretty good day considering it was "day 5" and I hate "day 5's" because of the motley crew of 6th graders I have to teach.  Thirty 6th grade boys for 45 mins in a computer lab is TOUGH.  Thirty boys in gym class understandable - they can run, throw balls, scream and all that - but in a classroom - OI!  It is always a tough day and I end up with hardly a voice by the end.  Today wasn't too bad, the second class of boys did a great job of asking questions and listening for the most part.   Now tomorrow I get to do the same lesson with 30 girls and it will be COMPLETELY different and probably go VERY smoothly.

I got home early since it was my carpool day.  The doggies and I went for two loops around the property and then did our chores before Cowboy got home.  For dinner we had what my mom calls "matza" which is just basically hamburg patted into a casserole dish, topped with pizza sauce and cooked till almost done, then topped with mozzarella cheese.  We also had cheesey potatoes and steamed broccoli.  It was delicious!  While that was all cooking I finally got in JM Ripped - week 1.  I need to do that workout more than once a week.  It's a good one and I would really like to get this tummy trimmed down even more. 

Tomorrow I am going to plan and attempt a run with Copper right after school.  I would like to try to get our 4 mile loop in.  Hopefully it isn't raining and the weather cooperates.  I also get distracted by the other 5 dogs and feel bad leaving them in their pen for even longer.  But Copper needs the exercise and so do I since I have a 5K coming up on Saturday.  Hopefully I can get these new shoes broken in a bit more before Saturday.

March Madness 5k Race Recap

Today was the first 5k road race in our area for the season.  This is usually a Friday night race but for the last two years, they've switched it to Saturday morning.  Yesterday we would have run in gorgeous 70 degree weather, today we ran in 42 degrees and wind, lots of wind.  Regardless of the temps and warm weather it was still a good race.

This course isn't my favorite.  Most of it is on a stretch of bike path that drives me crazy because it is long and flat and seems to go forever.  The first quarter of a mile was into the wind and you spend that whole time tripping over little kids.  This race is to raise money for their soccer organization so it is understandable that they are excited and want to be up front - but still causes many of us frustrations as we get into our grove.  When we turned off of the bike path and onto a side road the wind was at our backs.  I got warmed up quick, ended up shedding my fleece and got my rhythm.  When we were about to turn back onto the bike path I was thinking how quick the first 2 miles went and that it was the best I had felt on that course in a long time.  THEN - the wind hit and I was running like I was in mud.   The last mile or so was straight into the wind again and it was slow going. 

The turnout for the race wasn't the best.  Many of the usual racers weren't there so my company along that last mile was just two young socceer players.  I wasn't too far behind a young girl in front of me, but couldn't push enough to get her.  She finished in 24:03 and I finished in 24:10, SIL- SB finished in 24:17 I think, right behind me.    We ended up being 1, 2 and 3.  This is about the third time in my  6 years of racing that I've finshed in the top 2 or 3.   The rest of my family (dad, sister, sister, and both BIL's) also ran the race.  Oh and the neice she rode in her Bob with her Grandbob pushing her the whole way.

So overall, not to shabby for the start of the racing season considering I haven't been training that hard.  I don't really pick it up and get into running and training until May/June when school starts to wind down.  June is when I usually really pick it up since my schedule is free and I can get in as many and as long of runs as I want with gorgeous weather to boot.    Ah....June....can't wait!