Moss Park Night Race Friday August 5th, 2011

This was by far the toughest race I have done.  It was super hot, the race started at 8:15 and it got dark while we were out there.  Lots of strange noises in the forest and the way was lighted only by those glow sticks....a bit spooky.  Would have been real easy to get lost if you didn't stay with the pack.  Lots of mosquitoes and spider webs........yuck.... guess I'm not the trail running kind of girl.  Wouldn't have known this if I hadn't tried it.  Did get a nice tee shirt out of it (lol) 

Florida Hospital 5k Race at Orlando Science Center (Augustt 13, 2011)

Liz Langan receiving her trophy!

This race was alot of fun.  Liz and I have been walking together and she wanted to do her first 5k walk.  So, being the good friend that I am (smiles) I decided to do this one with her and encourage her through the race.  It was actually a lot of fun for the 2 of us and there were a lot of hills and the cobblestones were something she wasn't use to.  It was a good walk and she did it in 50 min. which is AWESOME for her first walk.  It was nice to walk the race with her and I was very happy to be a part of her first race.  It's nice to do something to help someone and I hope she will want to do more in the future.  There is another race in September in Casselberry and she is going to have Mike (her husband) walk it with her.......so, looks like we've started something and that's a good positive feeling!   Katy and I got her a little trophy b/c she was so cute about wanting to get an award when she passed the finish line.  It was a good momento for her and she was thrilled with it and had practiced her acceptance speech....LOL  

Run for the Pies! 6-11-11

To date.....this by far was the most fun I've ever had at a racing event.  Could it be because it was an overnight trip?  PROBABLY !!   I went with Katy and Randy and we stayed in downtown Jacksonville.  The race was a night race at 8pm and it was at the Landing!  This was SO MUCH FUN!  I'm still waiting for Randy to send over the pics so I can include them on this blog. 

They had live music which definitely makes me run faster!!  And, there was this huge celebration after the race that just kept going and going.  This was my first out of town race, my first night race, my first "rock band" race, and my first overnight race.  I LOVED it.  Jacksonville is a very cool city downtown and the race took place on the river front.  It was the perfect tone and I'm in every year now from here on out.  Withoug a doubt the best time I have had working up a sweat!    Stayed tuned for pictures.... :)

It's SO Difficult to run in the Florida heat

I'm so glad I started my running adventures back in January when the weather was perfect.  If I had started now, in July I'm not so sure I'd still be here.  Eveything changes when you run in the heat.  EVERYTHING!  I feel like I've hit a brick wall (a fire wall) because the air just does NOT move and the temperature is in the triple digits, and the humidity is off the charts.  If it sounds like I'm whining... I AM!  OMG.... this is a challenge for even avid runners (so I'm told).  BUT,  I'm staying with it!!  Wait... did I just say that?  Seriously...the benefits that running gives me far outweigh this one little bothersome point. 

It's so easy to make excuses and say "it's too hot"  and it takes real dedication to stick with it.  I've decided to stick with it and pretty much sweat it out! 

Oviedo 5k Race

This was my first Race in my hometown.  I was kinda nervous because the training during the week has really picked up speed.  Instead of running / walking by minutes.... the last few weeks we started running 1 mile straight...then increasing it by 1/4 mile increments.  Last Thursday was the longest straight run I have done.....2 miles.  So, I think this is a great accomplishment--- especially since I have not done anything  athleticallly since high school.

Now today I had a new PR... it was 41:28 so, I'm slowly getting better.  This was my 5th 5k.  I also signed up on http://www.athlinks.com/ which will show ALL my races and track the times for me in one location.

Katy was 2nd overall and 1st in her age class today....she got a 1st place medal and I was so excited to see her win!  She's an awesome mentor and I cannot thank her enough for all she has done for me!   Here's a quote she shared with me and I love it so am posting here to remember it often!!

I am not a good runner because I am me; I am a good me because I am a runner!

1st Place Finish Medal!! 

Run for the Trees--Winter Park 5k Race 4-23-11



Sending this to Skirt Sports for their 5k challenge



Warming up on the school track

Bus trip back to the field



Everyone got to take home a tree!

 Today's race was in Winter Park and it was a beautiful run.  We actually had about 1 mile of the run down a tree canopied dirt road.... Genius Drive.  This road is a private road and they only open it for the public during this race.  It was my first run on a dirt road.  This was a fun race because there were peacocks on the trail, some of the homeowners were giving out juice and champagne :)  and and there was even a table with homemade cookies!  very nice touch.  My time was about 15 seconds less than my last 5k but it was probably one of the prettiest races I have done so far.   It was a point to point run... and there was a bus that brought us back to the start line area.  This race started at Showalter Field and we actually were able to warm up on the track there.

Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.

I know this is my blog and all... and I'm tracking my progress....etc.  BUT...I wanted to write a special post just for Katy.  She's been such a great inspiration to me and I want to be able to share my thoughts with how I feel about our running relationship and the journey we are having.  Without making it too cheesy I want to say that I probably would never have known how much I enjoyed this if it wasn't for Katy.  I'm lucky that I work with her and that we have the time and opportunity to go out on our lunch hours to run.  I think now that one day when I'm older and I look back on my life I'll be glad I did this and took advantage of getting to know that I would enjoy this.  Life is an opportunity and I'm so glad I didn't miss this opportunity.  I can say that being able to run is going to be a passion of mine...it frees my mind and empowers me in a way I didn't even know was possible.  I'm so very thankful to have such a great opportunity to learn from one of the best!  Katy's run 9 marathons to date and countless 1/2 marathons...she has an endless energy and desire to help others and I'm so lucky to have her as my personal trainer.