St. Jude Race For A Cure 5k

So lesson learned, it is always a good idea to take it easy the day before any race. Especially when you haven't been running as much as you should. Yesterday I walked about 8-9 miles in downtown Frederick. It was totally intentional, I actually wanted to read a book, so I parked my car on a side street and walked to the local park. I did a few laps around the park, read for a while, then visited my friend who is a very talented hair stylist to get my hair done. We then went to dinner, where you guessed it, we walked around downtown looking for a good meal. By the time I was finished my legs were tired and my feet were killing me. I went home and realized that I was going to be sore the next morning.

5:24 my alarm goes off and my hubby and I make our way back down to Frederick to go to Baker Park. The same park I was at the day before. He started near the front and I started near the back like we always do. The race starts, I run almost the entire 1st mile and then I had to take a break because my legs were achy and because I was caught behind jogging strollers and walkers going at least 2-3 wide (more on that later). Mile 2 I ran intermittently and my legs began to loosen up. By the start of mile 3 my legs were good to go and I ran almost the entire last mile. I got caught behind some jogging strollers and a really rude woman in teal (more on that later). I ended the race with me running at a strong pace and passing most of the people who left me in the dust on mile 1. There was one woman behind me that kept telling her husband the entire race that she wanted to beat me, I had my ipod in, but I could hear her say this. So she takes out in a dead sprint and passes me right before the finish line. Here's the thing, I could have beaten her, but I wanted her to have that victory. I knew she was coming and I could see her gaining ground, but I felt like me racing her and beating her might crush her ego. I could really care less because I beat the woman in teal and I finished 2.5 minutes quicker than last week with my legs and shins not being in pain. I had enough victories and I wanted that woman to have her moment to shine. Besides she showed some great gumption towards the end, so good for her for finishing strong. All in all, not terrible. My hubby apologizes for no finisher picks because apparently I, in his words not mine, "booked it so fast" that couldn't get the camera ready in enough time.

Back to my pet peeves. For those of you who do not know runner's etiquette, here is my take.  If you have a jogging stroller, that's cool. I actually have a lot of respect for you because it is hard enough to run, but you are pushing a small child. But please for the love of God, start in the back. You are not a world class sprinter and you hinder people from actually getting around you in the beginning. Its not fair to those who are really trying for a good time to contend with you. To the walkers that go 2-3 wide. Be aware of those who are actually trying. By this I mean, move out of the way and go single file to allow those to pass around you. Countless times today, I was bottlenecked by walkers who refused to move. I shouldn't have to run on a slant in the grass to get around you. I move for those trying to get by because it is the right thing to do. Last, and this goes to my "friend" in the teal, when passing someone do not immediately start walking as soon as you get around them, especially when they are running. It is also incredibly rude to purposely cut in front of someone to make them stumble. Once, I can forgive, twice, I am annoyed, and if it happens thrice then I call you out and proclaim you a rude bitch on my blog. So there it is... I beseech you fellow runners and walkers, please make this an enjoyable experience for all and try to not hinder someone who is trying to do well, even if they are incredibly slow like me.

So up next, I am traveling to VA with my friend Ashley to do the color run. My goal is to take some pretty boss pictures of this run. I am taking the camera with me in a baggy and I am going to try and give you some live action shots. My friend, Amanda and I are starting to train to run long distances for the spring. She is focusing on the half, and I am shooting for March 17th to run a Marathon in VA. Its the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon. I have a lot of motivation, I like Yuengling and I am Irish so this seems like a perfect fit for me.

Well, happy running!

Women's Distance Festival

Yesterday was an absolute beautiful day to run. I ran my first 5k in about 2 months yesterday. I decided before the end of the school year to sign up for the WDF in Frederick because it wasn't a terribly long drive, it was a women's race, and it was in August. I know my limitations and I knew that I would need some incentive or motivation to begin training again.

The start to the Women's Distance Festival.

Last post, I announced that I would not be running the full marathon in Baltimore. The desire to run the full marathon is still there, it is just I hate running in the heat and I had zero motivation to run. Not to mention I had a terribly inconsistent work schedule and I kept getting called in to work more hours. That's not a big deal, but I am a person who if I can develop a routine I am fine and I can work the correct regimen in to my schedule. However, the lack of consistency left me dragging and wanting sleep more than anything. I considered myself successful if I dragged myself to the gym in evening to do the elliptical for an hour. Might I say that the Olympics helped to pass the time better than ever on the elliptical. Anyway, once I have some order to my life I should be able to train, plus the weather will be nicer.

To the finish line.

The WDF went okay, my time was 5 minutes longer than usual. I walked a majority of the first half of the 5k because it took my muscles to get used to running. To be honest, I expected it. I actually expected to walk almost all of it with bouts of running dispersed periodically on the course. However, I found myself able to run almost the full last half of the 5k. I actually counted it as a success. I could feel the strain in my legs when I was finished, it was a subtle reminder that if I planned on running all of those half marathons in October that I needed to get off of my butt and work a little harder.

The before photo.

All and all, I really liked the 5k distance which had us take two laps around FCC. It was a fairly flat course with a lot of men wearing pink shirts and offering encouragement. I like running all female races because its a lot of encouragement and the super competitiveness isn't there. Don't get me wrong, there are still women who come to play and they give it their all, but for the majority of us its about being fit and doing your best. Its an awesome feeling to get pats on the back from the faster women as they run by. I know I am slow, but its a bonding thing that is pretty cool.

The after- sock and brace in tow after it bothered me during the run

So what's next??? Well tomorrow I am going to start running more. I have another race in Frederick this weekend it supports St. Jude and finding a cure for childhood cancer. I am a big proponent of St. Jude and what they try to do. Signing up for this race was more about support and less about the need to run another race. Jury is still out on whether or not I will run a race labor day, I am leaning towards no because I have a couple of important races coming up and running is costly. Plus, I am planning on signing up for a marathon and a half marathon.

That's right, I am adjusting my goals and I am planning on heading down to VA Beach St. Patrick's Day weekend to run in the Yuengling Marathon. The time constraints are the same as Baltimore, but its not quite as hilly. The advantage to this is that the training for this race will be during the winter time. I don't mind running when its cold. I just need layers and I am planning on stocking up on compression gear, so I think I will be successful this time around. I am also adopting a run/walk method beyond a certain point and I am planning on starting at the novice supreme level for training. This integrates walking with running and takes about 30 weeks to complete. I think by March 17th, I should be good to go. So...here's hoping :-)

Life's Gotten in the Way

I am still running Oct. 13th, but I had to downgrade to the half marathon. Sadly, I have been unable to train and I don't want to enter into this race under prepared. I made the decision to downgrade from marathon to half marathon after I realized that I just didn't have the time to meet the necessary training requirements. My husband and I have had a run of bad luck with a hodge podge of things breaking around our home, which led me to not only picking up extra shifts at the camp that I work at, but to find a part time job as well. So, I have to put my dream on hold. Sometimes, life gets in the way and you have to rework your priorities. Being financially secure and taking care of my home trumps running, its sad but its true.

However, I have decided my best chance of completing a marathon is if I train over the fall/winter and attempt to run one in the spring. Summer is always the most hectic and the most difficult, and I remember doing well this past winter, even when it was biting cold out. Oddly enough, it is always easier to train and build a workout schedule during my regular full time job. Especially this year, my teaching day ends at 12:20 and I can always sneak in a run right after school or during 6th period. But, hopefully the weather will hold this winter and I can run outside like I like to do.

I will keep you posted on when I find a suitable race that can put up with my slow pace! Thanks for being a reader :-)

Happy running!