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. 

April Updates

Here I am now past the first quarter of the year and still moving along with my training.  Katy has been such a great trainer!  She has given so much dedication and commitment to helping me be my best.  I told her that I'm keeping this blog as my journal so to have a constant look back and resource of what I've done and the things I've learned along the way.

With that said... here's my April update and it's all about what I've learned this month.

• sweatybands.com   (these are very stylish) and you can get them for all kinds of sports and with all kinds of designs and colors.  they stay in place and keep your hair back.
• gum-- i found Quench gum at Dick's Sporting Goods --and it's awesome.  Every time we go out to run at lunch time I was getting cotton mouth...this gum really keeps me from thinking about being thirsty. 
• Dick's Sporting Goods did not have a lot of running gear...I did buy some Nike shorts but they don't carry the long sports tops...so, probably won't go back there for clothing.  Am thinking of checking out the Nike outlet though to see what kind of deals I can find there.
• Energy bars and stingers-- Marathon energy bars are made by Snickers and they are delish!   The waffle stinger's are good too.  I haven't tried many of the energy or protein bars yet and have not really used any of the jells or beans yet... probably because I'm still just doing 5k runs.
• I really like G2  a lot!  Grape is my favorite.
• We entered a "kick it back" thru Skirt Sports where Katy as the trainer and I  are entering this challenge of sorts to set up a training program.  It was introduced thru Runner's World and it's all about being able to help someone else become a runner and helping them through the process.  It's what we've been doing all along anyway... but it does make it fun to have something else to follow along with.  And... we learned yesterday that one of the perks for me would be a Skirt Sport skirt and visor!  Nice....  :) 

As far as my running times ... I'm getting longer runs!  We still go out at lunch time every Tuesday and Thursday but now because it's so hot we are going at 11:00 (it's only 88 at that time)  ha... but, as of yesterday (4-19-11) I'm running further and with more repeats --we run out of time if we go longer.  Our mileage during the week is getting better too...we are not at 4.5 miles so, things are really progressing.  I do my longer runs on Saturday when I can go 5 miles or longer and do longer repeats.

spring sprint 5k (4-9-11) Crane's Roost Altamonte Springs

Lined up and ready to run!

At the starting line.

It sure takes a lot of endurance to run an entire race.  I am not there yet....at this point I am a wanna be.    Today i did walk/run intervals and my time was better and i finished about 3 min quicker.  I am getting there slowly but surely.  Here I am at age 50 and decided that now I want to start running.  Yes, I am a late bloomer that is for sure.   a newbie at 50..... go figure?