March Madness 5k Race Recap

Hello all.  I know it has been a while.  I think I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), otherwise known as the Winter Blues and just have no motivation, desire, or ambition to keep up a consistent workout in the winter.  Therefore, I had nothing worthwhile to blog about so I took a break from blogging, again.  BUT….. spring is almost here.  I say almost because although we have been having gorgeous spring weather I am fearful that ol’ man winter is going to rear up his ugly head at least one more time before spring really gets here.

With the gorgeous weather this week I have noticed a huge difference in my mood and ambition.  I made it out for a run five times this week!  It felt so good to get out there in a sunshine and work up a sweat and hear the sounds of spring.  My last run of the week was during the first road race of the season here in this area.  (Side note:  one thing I love about blogging is being able to look back at previous entries.  I loved that I was able to go back and read about my race during last year’s March Madness 5k.)

I  look forward to this race because it is the first race of the season, but don’t love the course.  This year however I actually found myself enjoy the whole thing.  The weather was fabulous, hardly any wind (compared to last year) and I felt good.  I had no goals or expectations going into the race since I have had very little training this winter with an average of oh, maybe 4 miles a week.   All of my runs this week must have woken up some tired but not groggy muscles and got them ready for the race. 

I was very pleased with my time – 23:24 - a whole minute faster than last year.  SB,  a 10 year old and a 16 year old were the only other females ahead of me and I kept them  in sight the whole time.  I could tell that I was pushing it but never felt that I was dying and I recovered very quickly at the end.  I think I may have been so determined to not slow down or take it easy because so many of my students were in the race as well.  To my knowledge only 1 of them beat me! :)  Even my adorable little sixth grader who threatened me with “You’re going down” at the start of my race couldn’t catch up.  Whew!

Since it was Saint Patty’s Day we of course all wore our green. 

Even little Ella was dressed up with her Shamrock shirt and hair tie!

Thanks SB for the pictures.

Now that the seasons are changing and racing season is starting back up I hope to return to more regularly scheduled blogging!

First Time for Everything

This weekend so far, I've had two firsts...

First Snow Fall - As I look at my window this morning it looks like Christmas time.  Everything is white, everywhere.  The snow is covering all the tree branches and it looks like a winter wonderland  - on October 30th.  Yikes....what is the rest of the winter going to look like?  I am a little scared!

First Overall Female - I met up with my sisters for another race this weekend.  It was another small, really small  race - only about 35 walkers and runners.  They were well organized and did give out technical t-shirt instead of cotton t-shirts.  Which is unusual in these neck of the woods.  But the smalls weren't really smalls so I got mine in a size Cowboy could wear.  The girls and I did a quick warmup before the race started and then we were off. 

Many of the regulars weren't there and within just the first half mile of the race I realized that I was first female.  At the turnaround I was able to see my sisters and just 2 other ladies behind me.  I definitely wasn't super speedy, but I did manage to keep a decent 8 minute pace to keep the lead.  I finished in the same time as last week 24:05.  Robyn finished as second female and Manda finished as fourth female.  SB is having some issues with her leg/ankle, so she just walked it.  Needless to say - that girl walks at a jogging pace.  We went back to get her and bring  her in and none of us could walk at her pace.  We all had to break into a jog to keep up. 

Overall it was a good race and if the weather hadn't been so yucky (rainy, cold, dreary and snow looming) I think they might have gotten a few more runners.  This is a busy time for races though - I think there was a least two other races in the area.!

The rest of my day was really nice. I ran some errands and then came home to snuggle with my doggies, drink hot chocolate and watch the snow fall.  Today I have some cleaning to do and then my FAVORITEST little trick-or-treater is coming to visit.  I will be sure to take some pictures of that little cutie!

QOTD:  What is the earliest snowfall you've experienced?

Race Recap and Saturday Fun

What a nice Saturday being a hunting widow.  Amanda, SB and I had a great day yesterday as they too end up being hunting widows since all of our men spend the next month out in the woods.

We started our adventures by meeting up for the first Monster Dash to benefit a local elementary school.  We got there at the same time and went to pick up our race packets.  For an first time race it was pretty organized as far as race packets and getting started.  The race started on time and we took off following closely behind the leaders since it was a small race.  Right at the start we were suppose to turn right but the leader turned left.  They did not have any volunteers stationed at the corners to help direct the runners.  All they had was little 8 1/2 x 11 posters with a tiny arrow on it.  Luckily SB and I only went a few strides beyond the sign but we still had to fight with other runners and walkers to get back to the front of the pack.  It wasn't long before the leaders caught up and passed us.  Shortly after the first mile there was one other turn that was missed because the volunteer wasn't at the right spot - but that worked out ok. 

I liked the course it was generally flat and went by quickly after the boo-boos. From then on SB and I confirmed with every volunteer were to turn next.  Around mile 1.5, SB and I realized that we were 2nd and 3rd lady so we did our best to keep the spots even though we weren't trying to race. We finished strong and finished together  Amanda was just two minutes behind us for one of her best finished yet!! 

After the race, we came back to my place to get cleaned up and ready for lunch and a movie.  I've been itching to see Footloose so I convinced the girls to join me.  It was really well done I think.  Modernized but at the same time they kept the look and feel of the original Footloose with many of the same outfits.  We also did a little shopping and window browsing.

When I got home I enjoyed some time with my little doggies outside and eventually made my way back inside to clean and work on schoolwork.  I ended the night by cuddling up on the couch to enjoy yet another sappy hallmark movie.  They are silly and predictable but I enjoy them.  

Now it is time to start another gorgeous fall day here in the Northeast.  Since schoolwork is done I have the day to enjoy before the husband gets home from his hunting adventures.  Hummmm.....what will I get into today.

QOTD:  Have you ever made a wrong run in a race or gotten "lost"?

Half Marathon Race Recap

Yesterday was the half marathon that I've been training for the last 10 weeks.  The weather was perfect.  A little cool, a slight breeze, clouds and no rain.  The previous year it poured for most of the race. 

This was the third year for this race and the turnout was really good.  There was over 100 runners for the half marathon and quite a few for the 5k.  My dad, Amanda, Robyn and SB all ran the half as well.  SB and I started at the front with the plan to stay around 8:20 pace and then pick it up.

As soon as I started running I knew it was going to be rough.  We took off with the crowd and before we knew it our pace for the first mile was 7:45.  My feet were killing me most of mile one and two.  I seemed to notice every little rock under my foot.  This course is all on a rails to trails path which has gravel as the base.  I don't remember it being as rough last year - maybe because I was tromping through puddles and landing in mush.  I wished there was mush this year.

I had to stop at mile two and retie my shoes and lost SB.  Mile 2 - 5 I really had to get out of  my head.  I was beating myself up and knew I wasn't keeping the pace I needed to finish with my goal of under 1:45.  I finally started daydreaming, planning lessons, singing music and anything else I could think of to get my mind off of the actual running part. 

At the turnaround I took a Chomp and got some Gatorade.  I caught up with SB at this point and pulled ahead.  She was finally in her marathon pace mode and was considering this a training run for her marathon in four weeks..After the turaround I seemed to finally catch my groove.   I just focused on the people ahead of me and got lost in the rhythm of things.  By mile 10 I started to feel it in my feet again and in my hips.  About a 1/2 mile from the finish Amanda's fiance jumped in with me and took me to the finish line.  Having him run with me that last bit really helped me to push it in.  Right at the finish line I had several sets of feet pounding and pushing behind me so I kicked it in and kept ahead of them.

My Garmin wasn't working properly so I had no idea what my time was.  When they finally posted our times I was happy to see that I finished in 1:49:23.  A min slower than last year according to posted results.  I didn't get close to 1:45 like I hoped but I still stayed under 1:50 so I was happy.

Overall it was a good race.  I like this one because it is mostly flat, out and back.  It seems to go quick and I can usually just get lost in the run.  Now I have five more weeks to train for an extremely hilly and challenging half marathon.  No goals for that marathon other than to finish.

Here's my week 10 recap and my plan for week 11:

Definitely looking forward to the decrease in miles this week. I have the fun Doggers and Jogger's 5k race this Saturday with Copper to look forward to as well.  Copper's fan club (aka the in-laws and Cowboy) are even planning on coming to cheer him on.

QOTD:  How was your weekend?  Any runs, races and goals accomplished?

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.

5 Miler Race Recap

Workout:  5.13 trail race in 45:40

This morning I met up with Anda, SIL - SB, and my dad for the 5 mile Wildlife for Everyone Race.  It is a five mile trail run in area game lands.  This was the first time we've run this race.  Usually on this weekend in July we travel to Utica, NY for the Boilermarker 15k, but decided not to travel this time. 

The race is tucked back in the gamelands and the course was marked very well.  Since it was a trail run we of course had various types of ground to cover....grass, rocks, mud, sticks, gravel, broken pavement.  The first mile and a half was pretty rough for me.  My legs felt like I had cinder blocks on them and I felt like I was shuffling my feet through the grass.  My calves, ankles and feet were really struggling.  I finally found a great song on my ipod and which helped me to relax and find my groove.  I was singing along though the song three times which got me to mile 4.  The last mile was through rough grass and at this point my feet were really starting to tingle and get tired.  The last half mile was up a good little hill which was really tough to push up.  I wanted to stop and walk but kept moving once I asked someone how close the finish was.  Right before the finish was a little flatter with more dirt so I was able to kick it in for the finish. 

SB was ahead of me a little ways.  She finished as the third girl just 20 seconds behind girl one and two.  I was about a minute and half behind SB and finished as fourth girl overall and second in my age group. I still definitely feel like I need to keep pushing myself and work on lowering my pace...but considering it was a trail run today and not the typical road race I am happy with my overall time and pace.  Dad finished behind me and was second in his age group and Manda was fourth in her age group.

This race had great door prizes and we all walked away with one.  My door prize was a mug and hat.  The awards were different too.  Instead of the typical medals or tropies they gave out Blankets, Coolers or a Pocket Knife.  You got your pick as you got called for your age group award.  SB and Dad got pocket knives and I went with the cooler.

My door prize and age group "medal".

Overall a good race.  I hope we can do it again next year so I can better my time.

QOTD:  Do you like and compete in any trail runs?  What's an interesting non typical "medal" that you've received?

Irv Z - Race Recap

Today was the Irz Z - 3.5 mile race.  It is usually a hot one and it a nice course.  Something different than the typical 5k. 

There was a great turnout for the race this morning and not the usual crowd.  We did a little warm up to get the kinks out and the race started on time.  I was a little ache to begin with but once we did the first hill my hips started to stretch out a bit.   I tried to keep SB in my sights for most of the race.  She has been doing a great job of staying focused during a race and not getting distracted by the little things.  There was no way I was catching up to her today.  As long as I didn't let any other females get between us I was happy.  Right in the last half mile I caught to a little guy, probably about 10 years old.  He had a great race but was losing steam, so I talked him in the finish and told him when to "race" me.  He finished just a few steps ahead of me and our time was 27:26.  Just 26 seconds slower than last year, I'll take it!

According to my "training plan" I was suppose to rest yesterday but I did 3.6 with Anda, and today was the race of 3.5 and tomorrow was suppose to be my long run of 6 miles.  The beauty of a plan is that plans change!  Since I didn't have my rest day, and this is my first week I wanted to make sure I didn't overdo things.  So I decided to run another 2.5 after the race to get a total of 6 and still end up with roughly the same weekly total.  Dad, Anda and I ran the race course backwards, except for the first loop to get an additional 2.5 in  24:06.

Overall a very nice start to my morning.  Another nice race and a successful first week of half marathon training.  Tomorrow I will do a weekly recap and comparison of plan verus actual runs.

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!

May Day 10K Race Recap

Today was one of my favorite 10K's in the area.  The course is an out and back, flat course.  There were probably close to 250 people with 5k Walkers, 5k Runners and 10k Runners.  It was very overcast, dreary and cool 58 degrees with a light drizzle.

The race started right on time at 9 am.  10k'ers started first and head out the stretch of road which still had some car traffic on it and then we headed down to the bike path.  I felt really good starting out.  I had my garmin and music so I was able to set a good pace.  There was a group of about seven girls ahead of me, with SB somewhere in that group.  I kept my eyes on them and just focused on closing the gap.  I was able to get around most of them before the halfway point. 

When I got to the turnaround I was able to see that there was just one girl between me and SB.  So I just set into a grove behind that girl and started to chant one of the sayings on the back of someone's shirt.  It said Fight It, Believe It, Win It.    I think that got me through miles 4.5 to 5.5.  After that I was able to pick it up a little bit.  I never was able to catch up to SB but did finish in 48:14.  I don't have my time for last year, I think it was in 49 mins.  The year before I had a 48:43 so overall I accomplished my goal of doing better than last year and even the previous year too.

My dad finished around 51 and my sister Anda finished in 55.  My baby sis, Rob did the 5k in 25 mins.  SB got second in her age group(5th girl overall), I got third in my age group (6th girl overall) and Dad got third in his age group as well. 

We had fun waiting around for results and then did some puddle stompin with the niece on the way to the car.

An excellent day for a race with my family even in the dreary weather!!!

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.

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!