2013 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5k

Last Sunday was the third time I've run the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5k.  Oddly enough, this is the first time I've blogged about it (I didn't have a blog in 2011 and I left for Europe the next day last year)!  I'm not going to say a whole lot about it, but I will say this: it is a very tough race to run every year.  The course is flat and all, but there are SO MANY PEOPLE walking that you spend half the time weaving and dodging and wasting your energy to avoid running into them.  It just makes it tough.  Anyway, it was my first 5k in a LOOOOONG time, so I was content with how I did.

31:26 isn't a PR, by any means, but it also isn't my worst time either!  I'm content with it and excited to keep it up.  My ankle is giving me some trouble...so we will see how this goes...

XOXO

2012 Polar Dash 5k

It was cold...really cold.  It snowed last night...make that snowed and iced.  I woke up and went, "Whose dumb idea was this anyway?!?"  Oh, yeah...mine...

The roads were crummy on the way there, so I was worried what the course would be like.  After much debate on what to wear, I elected to wear both my pink zip-up (for insulation) and my Monster Series windbreaker (to keep the wind off).  In addition to my ear muffs, I wore a headband over them and then a thing to keep my neck warm.

Before Heading to the Start, Sans Bright Pink Neck Warmer

We headed to pee and the line was long, as per usual.  I thought I was going to pee my pants, but I made it in the port-o-potty in time.  I did my thang, adjusted my knee strap, and we headed to the parking ramp to try to keep as warm as possible for the next 35 minutes.

Once it was our turn to line up (after the 10k and Half had taken off), we waddled over to the start.  I asked Jason what the course was like because I hadn't looked.  He said it climbed a bit to the turn around, but then it was mostly downhill on the way back.

An Icy Cold Run Along the Mississippi

FYI...he was wrong!  Okay, he was partially right, as the elevation did climb, but it was probably the most hilly course I have run and the one with the largest change of elevation.

I knew before I hit .5 miles that it was going to be an awful race.  I had tears in my eyes the entire time, as pain surged through my knee with just about every step.  My feet were so numb that I couldn't feel if my toe was hurting, but my knee was surely doing enough for my whole body.  At the turnaround, I wasn't too far behind Jen and Jason.  Jason saw me and asked if I was okay.  All I could do was mouth, "It's really bad," but I kept running.

I told myself going into this race that I would do whatever I had to do to run the entire thing, even if it meant blowing out my knee and gimp-hop-running across the finish.  I forced myself to focus on my music, the course, the other runners...anything, but my knee.  Eventually, I saw the finish approaching.  I wanted to sprint the last portion, but I knew that if I did, I may not even get to the finish, so I kept my pace up as best I could.  When I was able to see the timing clock, I had to look twice.  I crossed the finish line, stopped my own timer and gimped forward to go get my medal.  I then realized...

I BROKE THE 30 MINUTE MARK AND GOT A NEW PERSONAL RECORD!!!

My timer said 29:04 and knowing I did it while injured just reaffirmed in my mind that what I am doing...the running...it is changing me and my body.  I can do this.

I met up with Jason, got finisher medal (which is awesome) and then we went to find Jen.

Who Got A Medal and A New PR??? This Girl!

We got our food bags and hot chocolate and we tottled back to the car.  I was happy with my performance.  Period.  No...not despite my injury.  I think a new PR, no matter when you do it, is something to be proud of.

1 Monster Dash Series race done for 2012.  4 to go.

1 race out of at least 12 done for 2012.  11 to go.

I can do this.

XOXO

Polar Dash 5k Training Schedule

So, I'm not really sure that I need a schedule to "train" for this 5k, but I created one (along with one for the Get Lucky 7k and then the Minneapolis Half Marathon) to keep me on track and actually running.  I figured I would post it every once in a while to keep myself accountable!  I plan on using my Sunday runs (at least) to run outside in preparation for the whole "running-outside-on-the-1st-of-the-year" thing.  Wish me luck!  I am actually looking forward to running outside...I still hate the treadmill...  Any ideas/suggestions on how to make it better???

2 runs down...a bunch to go!

XOXO

2011 Fast Before the Feast 5k

I got up bright and early on Thanksgiving Day.  My brother, Jason, picked me up at 6:15, as we had to go pick up Jen and head down to White Bear Lake to run the Fast Before the Feast 5k.  We got there early to pick up our packets and sat in the car getting ready and keeping warm...it was pretty cold out!  Eventually, the 10k took off so we hit up the port-a-potties and headed to the starting line.  After a few minutes of jumping in place and 3-way-slow-motion-explosion fist bumping (if you don't know what that is, I scoff at you *scoff*scoff*), it was our turn to take off on our excursion.

I stayed one pace with Jason for a bit and then wised up and realized he runs WAY too fast for me.  I then kept a few steps behind Jen, but also realized that I just needed to pace myself and run MY pace or I'd end up walking.  I had layered my new zip-up over my running shirt and had my earmuff thing on, since it was so chilly.  Around .5 miles in, I realized that this was a big mistake.  I was heating up really quickly, but just pushed my sleeves up as best I could and kept on going.


The run itself wasn't too bad.  It was mostly through a residential area (and there were quite a few people cheering the runners on...which is awesome).  It was a bit hilly, but it didn't kill me as bad as I thought.  The first marker I saw was at the two mile.  I looked down and saw that I was at 19:27, which is a great pace for me!  I got really excited and knew that if I kept it up, I would have a new personal record.  I had set out with a goal of beating 32 minutes, but this had me on par to even beat 31 minutes!  The elevation map of the course doesn't show it, but there was a LONG hill about the 2.5 mile mark uphill...ugh...thought I was going to die!  I figured this completely ruined me, but when I saw the finish line, as per usual, I sprinted!  As soon as I crossed the finish line, I looked stopped my iPod and took a look.

At first, I was THRILLED that I thrashed my old PR set a month earlier!  Then, I was totally bummed that I had been so close (yet not close enough) to meeting my 5k record of breaking 30 minutes.  After finding Jen and Jason, there were high-fives all around as all three of us beat the time we had hoped to beat at the race.  We went and got our bananas and headed home.

This was the first race I've been in that has been chip timed.  After I saw my official time, I was even more upset...but even more proud of myself.  I know that next time, I CAN BREAK 30!

So. Freakin. Close.

Is this a new tradition?  Perhaps.  Now, to train for the next race and get my 2012 goals in place...

XOXO

2011 Monster Dash 5k

Yesterday, I ran the Monster Dash 5k.  It was one of the most fun runs I've done so far.  There were tons of people in tons of costumes...including us!

Sideline Superheros, at your service

Captain Ankle Roll (me), Super Side Stitch (Kali), and Batback (Christa)

We had a good time before the race hanging out and making the same comment repeatedly: "Oh, my God.  How the HELL do they plan on running in THAT?!?"  I still had the usual pre-race jitters (felt like I had to use the restroom repeatedly...had to check/re-check my ipod, outfit, sneakers, etc).  I hope I eventually can just get over those and just be able to run.

The course was great (see below), the weather was great (high 40's/low 50's) and the fall colors were gorgeous.  

5k around Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, MN...BEAUTIFUL!

Best news the whole thing?!?

My time was 32:24!  46 seconds off of my previous time...

NEW PERSONAL RECORD FOR ME!!!

And this was despite the fact that I had to repeatedly pull up my awesome, metallic green leggings.  After about the first 50 feet, I knew the race was going to suck and that I'd be pulling up my pants the whole time.  I was right.  The stupid leggings not only kept slouching down, they also kept pulling down my underwear.  By about 100 yards, I could feel my underwear about mid-way down my rump.  Thank goodness for our nice capes because I had to (discreetly) reach my hands down my pants and pull up my underwear and then keep pulling up the leggings...all while trying to run...

Classy...

**Note to self: If you plan on running in costume, do a test run before your actual run...


Oh, and my first finisher medal!

Kiss me like you mean it...

I'm really glad I had Kali and Christa there.  I feels great to be running and know that some great people are totally sharing in your pain...

And a big thanks goes out to Lee, Sean and Derek for cheering us on/holding our stuff.  Way to go, supporters!

XOXO

A Race That Ended With the Funniest Moment...Ever

Today was the big day.  It was Dave Ryan's 5K for Special Olympics...the day that Kali would run her first ever 5K.  My brother Jason was going to run it with us.  A few days ago, Kali's boyfriend Sean was talked into running it, too.  Yesterday, Lee finally decided to run it as his first 5K, as well.

Jason, Lee and I headed out this morning into the chilly, breezy air.  I had intended to run in short sleeves, but when I got there and couldn't warm up, I decided to keep my long-sleeve shirt on underneath.  We went and got Lee registered, got our bags and coffee and water and bagels and went up to the car to prepare before heading to meet Kali and Sean.

Jason, myself and Lee right before heading to meet Kali and Sean

After meeting up, we headed to the starting line.  Before we even started, the race was a big fail because my cat had apparently chewed through the wires of one of my headphones and so I was left with just one ear of music to listen to.  Lee flat out forgot his...nerd...  I wish I would have taken a photo of the people behind us.  It was super neat to be right at the front of the pack for the start, but also quite a bit intimidating.  Regardless, we stayed and jumped around to stay warm

A quick pre-race photo of us all (minus Lee, the cameraman)

After a quick few words from Dave, his son Carson sounded the horn and we were off.  Jason, Sean and I took off running with Lee and Kali right behind us.  I soon realized that there was NO WAY I was keeping up with Sean or Jason, and that attempting to do so would put my finishing the race in jeopardy, so I settled into my normal run pace and went with it.  I had people jogging past me the entire thing, but I sure felt like a winner for a few seconds.

The run was beautiful...if you have never been down by the river in St. Anthony Main or on the Stone Arch Bridge, you are missing out.

Here is the route for the 5K...ending by crossing the Stone Arch Bridge

After feeling like I wasn't going to finish the entire thing running, Sean and I met up magically and ran together for a good while.  While we didn't really chat, it was nice to have someone to run with for a while.  Steve and Lena from the Dave Ryan in the Morning Show were right by us for quite a while, talking about how good barefoot running is for you (which it really isn't).  It found some humor in this, which helped take my mind off feeling like I was dying.  By then, we were almost to the Stone Arch Bridge.  I knew if I could make it there, I could finish.

That damn bridge seemed to go on forever...but I punched it to the end of the bridge where my brother was waiting.  I thought I had finished, as the end of the bridge was supposed to be the finish.  He yelled at me to keep going, as the finish was about a block up the road.  He ran with me and I punched it again and finished.  The great news?  I shaved 18 seconds off of my first run's time!  My time was 33:10...about 10:15/mile.  I'm okay with the fact that it wasn't more.  It was pretty windy out there and I overheated a bit with the long-sleeved shirt on.

The funniest moment ever that happened at the end of my race?

Slightly Awkward and Gross Warning!!!

I peed myself a little...

Apparently, I had to pee pretty bad and my muscles thought they were all done functioning and working after the 33:10 of running.  I promptly waddled to the Jimmy Johnny, finished my tinkle, tidied myself up and went to wait for Kali and Lee.

 A while later, I saw Lee coming to the end of the bridge, so I hoped back on the course and finished with him.  A little while later, Kali comes running down the bridge and Sean and I hoped back in to finish with her.  I was super excited for both of them because a VERY short while ago, I was finishing my first 5K and I think it feels better to have people you like finish a race with you.

Both of these fine folks did a pimp job at running their first 5K.  They are both super awesome and deserve mad props!  You guys have worked hard for it and will get better and better!

WAY TO GO, KALI!

LEE, YOU ARE COOL!

After the race, we cooled down and I even won a door prize (door prize at an outdoor race...???).  Then, we took off for my motivation: breakfast at Al's!

I forgot to snap a photo of us all (because I suck), so I leave you with this photo of the three of us folks!

Jason, myself and Lee after finishing the race and before heading to Al's

XOXO