Goodbye 2013. Hello 2014

I made a goal to run 13 races in 2013. I only ran 12 :(. I am sad that I did not make my goal but I got really really close. I didn't realize how much money 13 races were going to cost. So as much as I would like to redeem myself this year and run 14, I am going to have to come up with another running goal this year. Races are expensive for this single income family. I am proud of all 12 of the races I did run. I worked hard in my training. I did not always enjoy the training but I did it.  

So we will see what 2014 brings. As soon as a set a goal for this year I will tell you so I will be held accountable. 

Quarry Turkey Half Marathon

Race : Quarry Turkey Half Marathon

Distance : 13.1

Date :11/30/2013

Pre-Race Preparation :trained for 8 weeks

Pre-Race Thoughts : I ate to much Thanksgiving food 

Lap Length :

Running Surface : pavement and hard packed dirt

Incline / Decline : small rolling hills

Start Time : 8:00 am

Finish Time :2:12:37

Weather  : about 50 with clouds

Pre-Race Routine : 

Shoes : minzuno wave

Socks : Vermont darn tuff running socks

Fluids taken during the race : water and sports drink at the water stops

Energy / Calories consumed Prior to the race :Apple and a few swallows of oj

Energy / Calories consumed During the race :two gu chomps

Sodium / Electrolytes consumed During the race : some sort of sports drink 

General Observations :the weather was perfect. And the race was pretty well organized. It was a small race. I loved running with my sister. She pushed me real fast. 

Things that worked for this event : weather and company

Things that didn’t work well for this event : I ate and slept like crap for the whole week prior and could tell that I was carrying extra weight 

Psychological Observations : I stuck with Amy for 10 miles and felt good. Mile 10 I hit the wall and was done. I told Amy to take off and I fished the last 3 miles a lot slower

Post-Race Recovery : I sat in the car for 13 hours. I bought compression socks before our trip and put them on after the race and I think they helped but I am so sore in my hips today. I am still not walking right. 

Things to Improve for Next Time : my eating leading up to the race. 

These pictures were taken on the course by photographers and were free to download and print  

This is a picture Jer took at the finish line

Hit and Run 5k

I did another fun run yesterday. We walked 90% of it but I had a good time. It was really cold before we started and at the end I fell in the water and than I was freezing. 

I broke out my high school parka to keep me warm. 

This is the group I ran with. I'm the one on the top of the van. 

This was the last obstacle. Here I am getting ready

 Levi told me to go as fast as I could. 

So I'm going fast

Had to dodge a big ball

Ball knocked me off balance and in I went

Oh man was it cold

Get me out!

Here we are all done and still smiling. Vicki, the second one in on the right, is counting. ONE

TWO!!

THREE!!!

Here's kyle wearing my headband. 

Kiss Me Dirty

I did my first mud run with my friends. We walked 95% of it cause we all wanted to stay some what together. It was a lot of fun. 

The course was around an equestrian center so I tried really hard not to think about what was in the mud. 

We all threw mud at each other and knocked each other down and laughed and laughed. At the end they threw pink chalk dust on us and than we ran thru foam. Than we hosed off in freezing cold hoses. 

I am not sure i will do another one. The price tag for these runs is very pricey and like I said I walked almost all of it. But I am glad I did it this time and the group of ladies I did it with make it a blast. 

Can you find me?

Run In Rhythm 5k

Race Report

Race : Run In Rhythm 5k  

Distance : 5k

Date : 8/17/2013

Pre-Race Preparation : None

Pre-Race Thoughts : Its hot and I am tired

Lap Length : N/A

Running Surface : Pavement

Incline / Decline : Lots of hills

Start Time : 8:30am

Finish Time : 31 min

Weather  : Hot about 80

Pre-Race Routine : minimal stretching

Shoes : Brooks

Socks : The socks Amy gave me for my birthday 

Fluids taken during the race : a cup of water at the only water stop at about mile 1.5

Energy / Calories consumed Prior to the race : none

Energy / Calories consumed During the race : none

Sodium / Electrolytes consumed During the race : none

General Observations : no bathrooms at the start. It started  10 min late. Only one water stop and it was super hot. Very hilly and the last .1 miles was straight up hill

Things that worked for this event : I only ran 2.5 miles the day before, normally I don't taper for a 5k

Things that didn’t work well for this event : it was hot and my legs felt like lead the whole race

Psychological Observations : I hate when races don't start on time

Post-Race Recovery : bath

Things to Improve for Next Time : run faster

I don't know what my official chip time was. I hope they post it online. The health fair afterwards was GREAT!!  At the health fair everything was free (the 5k was free too and I got a pretty cool shirt) so we got so much free stuff. Free food, free face painting, free glucose screening, we came home with 2 bags of free stuff :)

Frozen 10k

Race Report

Race : Frozen 10k 

Distance : 10k

Date :07/20/2013

Pre-Race Preparation : I spent the day before at the water park in the hot hot sun and did not drink enough water. Not wise

Pre-Race Thoughts : Why the hell did I sign up for this

Lap Length : 1/4 mile?

Running Surface : indoor track

Incline / Decline : 0

Start Time : 9:00 am

Finish Time : 1:02:01

Weather  : it was inside and climate controlled at 63-65. It was PERFECT running temp

Pre-Race Routine : none

Shoes : My brooks, I felt them at Rachel's house the day before but luckly her hubby was running the race also so she brought them to me at the race

Socks : the socks Amy got me for my birthday. 

Fluids taken during the race : None. They had water but I suck at drinking out of a cup while running and being inside I did not want to make a mess all over the track. 

Energy / Calories consumed Prior to the race : I ate a banana and a pice of toast with peanut butter

Energy / Calories consumed During the race : none

Sodium / Electrolytes consumed During the race : none

General Observations : it was a super small race, about 20 people for the 10k and 50 for the 5k. It was mentally really hard to do 22 laps and have all the 5k people lapping me over and over. It was great to see Jer and the boys the whole race. Rachel and her kids were also cheering me on. 

Things that worked for this event : the temps. It was so nice to be able to start at 9am and not worry about the heat

Things that didn’t work well for this event : I was a little dehydrated going into it. My gps did not work inside so I had no idea what my pace was or my splits and that was really really hard.  

Psychological Observations : this race for me was all mental. But I did it. My goal was under an hour and I was 2 minutes from my goal.  

Post-Race Recovery : a lot of R and R

Things to Improve for Next Time : my time. Next 10k will be under an hour :)

This is me and Brad(Rachel's husband) he rocked the race and is super fast. 

Me after the race. I got 3rd place in the womens 18-40.  After the race I got cold cause it was only 60 in the building and I was all sweating and no longer moving so I put my race shirt on to keep warm. 

Quick Check In

I ran 10 miles today without stopping. Today I ran 10 miles without stopping. That is the farthest I have ran since my half marathon in April. We were in Meadow for the 4th and since there was Jeremy and my mother in law to watch the boys I woke up and 6:30 and ran. I started the run at 7 am. It's been sooooo hot here that I had to get it done early. I laced up and ran on the frontage road. I went out 5.5 miles, turned around and ran back. The first 3 miles were hard. The first 3 miles of any long run are really hard for me. After that I was in the zone. I ate two gu chomps at miles 4.5 and miles 5 thru 8 flew by. I was on top of the world. Mile 8 was getting hot and I was getting tired. Mile 9 was hot and I was ready to be done. My phone said 10 miles and I was so happy. I walked a half mile to cool down and than stretched and drank a ton of water. It took me just under two hours. I felt on top of the world. I just busted out 10 miles without walking. I was really happy with my pace too. I have had runner lugs the whole day and my knees hurt like hell but I did it. 

Above is my 10 miler today and below is my 4 miler in Meadow on Wednesday. 

This was my splits for the 10 miles :)

These two photos are from the Millie's Princess run. 

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