Race for the Cure 2012

Race for the Cure 2012
Today I donned my finest pink running gear and ran a 5k to support finding a cure for Breast Cancer. I know what you are thinking, which is that me finding pink running gear isn't difficult to do. Anyway, a month ago I made the commitment to run the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. It was a little more pricey than I like, but one of close friends is a Breast Cancer survivor and I wanted to do something to celebrate her. 

My tv interview!

Overall, I had a nice time even though I did experience some of my biggest pet peeves, but first let me focus on the positives. First, it was awesome seeing thousands of people lined up to support finding a cure for Breast Cancer. Young and Old, Fast and Slow, Men and Women, everyone was there. Thinking about, just in registration alone, Komen probably raised close to $40,000 just in registration fees and I can only imagine how much money they made from teams who were able to fundraise. To me, that is the awesome part of running for a cause, which is seeing so many people come together in support of one another. I also loved seeing all of the survivors participating and seeing all of the labels which honored those who succumbed to cancer or labels celebrating those who beat the disease. I sported a sign that celebrated my friend, Marcella, and her courageous struggle to beat Breast Cancer. 

Ford Warriors in Pink Bus :-)

The course was nice and it was a little challenging, some of the areas were a little hilly. I didn't realize it, but I passed mile 1 and it wasn't until mile 2 that I realized I was almost done. I had no idea that running 3 miles was so easy. I remember back in the day when I could barely walk a 1/4 of a mile, and now I ran 3 miles with little to no problem. I also ran in to some of my students who were walking the course. I had to keep plugging along because I wanted to finish the race fairly quickly, at least for me. The good news is that I now have a new 5k Personal Record (PR). My old PR was 43: 25 and as of late it has been taking me almost 50 minutes to run a 5k.  Today I came in at 42:12. Not bad if I do say so myself!   I am slowly working toward running a 5k in 40 minutes or less.   What do I attribute to this? Well, marathon training and Insanity! Marathon training puts such wear and tear on my muscles that a short run seems like a piece of cake. Insanity is a series of plyometrics and other conditioning workouts, and I think those are slowly strengthening my legs.

Honoring Marcella

Like I said, I had a nice time and I may choose to run Komen next year. I also found a race supported by the American Cancer society closer to my house, so I may go there just because it will save on gas. But here are my two pet peeves to the race, both of which are no fault of Komen's. 1. Walkers, please start where you are supposed to and 2. If you are protesting, there is a line of decency and good taste that you must not cross!

1. Walkers: Komen had  an 8:00 start time for timed and untimed runners and an 8:30 start for walkers. A large amount of walkers ignored this and started walking when the run started. Now, I was not racing for an official time, even though I was keeping track, but there are a lot of people who are. It makes it very difficult to bob and weave in and out of a crowd that is walking. if you are walking, then don't walk 5 and 6 wide. Don't stop randomly in the road, or even better start when you are supposed to. I actually was running fairly well, but there were times that I got stuck behind a gaggle of walkers and I couldn't quite get around them, which impeded me finishing the race even quicker than I was already paced to. 

Finally a photo where I look like I'm running!

2. Protesters: My understanding is that Komen is controversial because they provide funding to Planned Parenthood, and depending on how Christian you are, you may find abortion offensive  and you may find Komen providing funding as offensive. Now the Government teacher in me has this say, you have a right to assemble and you have a right to protest, I have a right to not like what you have to say or ignore you and so does everyone else. Like I tell my students, even unpopular speech is still protected speech. Now that we are on the same page, I have this to say, a person picketing is one thing, but displaying massive billboards of aborted fetus' lining the start line is just offensive. I understand it is your right, but to me that is just too far, and I know I can't tell you not to do it, but anyone who knows me knows that I am not a pro-abortion individual, however, I make my choice to be that way and I certainly would not offensively push my views on someone else. I can only make decisions for myself, and I would expect that others will do what is best for them and it isn't my place to judge. Even with my pro-life stance, I found what the protesters did to be in poor taste and honestly it was downright offensive. A run celebrating survivors and honoring those who passed away is not an appropriate time to display bloody fetus'. Especially since this was a family event. Have the signs up that state your view, but doing something that horrific not only makes me, and I am sure others, want to vomit, but it is something terrible for kids to see.  

Well, my first week of hardcore marathon workouts is up next. I think I push past 13 miles to 15 miles this week. Should be interesting!  Well, happy running :-)

Sweatybands Product Review

Sweatybands...Do They Work?

The other day, I ordered my first sweatyband. What is a sweatyband? It's nothing more than a headband, but their product slogan says "Omg...they don't slip!"  I was skeptical because I have bought under armour, nike, and goody sport headbands. All of which offered that same claim that they will stay in place. Time after time, I would get the new headbands, and wear them for about 30 minutes before the band would start shifting on my head. I would pull and tug and reposition, but when you are in the middle of the elliptical or you are road running with a water bottle, it is a real hassle to reposition constantly. I also started using bobby pins to fasten these headbands in place, but it never worked. I sadly thought that I would never wear workout headbands. I thought that my head must be severely mis-shapen because every no slip headband, even the ones with the grips on the back just wouldn't stay on my deformed head. 

At the Divas Expo, I saw the Sweatybands vendor and the flock of women who were trying on the bands, and I was skeptical. I decided not to even go near the table because I just didn't want to invest $15 into a product that wouldn't stay on my funky shaped head. However, one of Annie's sisters bought a sweatyband, and I observed that the entire weekend she had to do very little readjustment of the band. She ran a half marathon on the headband never slipped. Her's was also sparkly and it worked with her regular outfits. A week later, I saw Sweatybands at the Baltimore Running Festival Expo. They had a cute crab one that said "Run Baltimore" on it and I contemplated buying it. This time, I decided to research the company and see what people had to say because this vendor, like the Divas Vendor, was also booming with business. So, I checked out http://www.sweatybands.com/ (click the link if you want to see their products).

Here's what I found. Countless women were loving sweatybands, but what prompted me to order my first sweatyband was a comment made by a woman who said that she always thought she had a funny shaped head (I believe she said cone head) and it wasn't until this product that she realized all the other bands just weren't designed right. I was sold, I gladly purchased my first sweatyband and I have worn it the past two days. I even ran 10 miles this morning and it didn't slip. It is weird adjusting to the fact that I don't need to reposition the band. Sometimes I found myself tugging out of habit, but nothing was amiss. So this skeptic is on board with sweatybands and if you have trouble with headband slippage, then I encourage you to try them.  I have already bought two more, and I am going to invest in some of the plainer ones to introduce into my daily wardrobe wear. One of the nice benefit of sweatybands is that you are not left with the headband headache, which I also love.

So I have joined the sweatyband nation! If you do purchase from their site, then make sure to register for an account. After 70 points, you gain sweatybucks. Not sure, what this is, but I am assuming it gives you the ability to put money towards the purchase of a sweatyband. 

Until next time, happy running!

Then & Now- 1 Year From Baltimore

Baltimore Running Festival 2012- Baltimore Half Marathon

Start of the festival

Then: In 2011, I completed the Baltimore Half Marathon without really training and even though I was sore as hell, I was hooked. What a difference a year makes.
   Mile 1: Couldn't get up the hill after the initial start. My legs cramped and I couldn't run until Mile 3.
   Mile 3: I finally was able to start moving and I ran and intermittently walked throughout miles 3-5. 
   Mile 6: Walked that, way too hilly
   Mile 7-8: Tired and my back was starting hurt, but I ran and completed mile 7, then after a GU mishap, I walked mile 8.
   Mile 9: Walked that, it was really hilly
   Mile 10-11: Periodic back stretching breaks while walking, was really tired.
   Mile 12: Could barely move and it seemed like the race was taking forever, but kept going.
   Mile 13: Defeated images captured by the race photographers as I shuffle at a snail's pace towards the finish.
   Finish: Made it, but definitely didn't have a strong finish. Got my medal and collapsed on the ground as my muscles ceased up. 

2011 Finisher's Time: 3 hours 32 minutes and 45 seconds

Now: In 2012, I decided to test my physical limits by running two half marathons in one week. I did this for a couple of reasons, 1. It was my b-day week and I wanted to go out 28 and come in at 29 with a half marathon, 2. I wanted to prove to myself that I could run Baltimore in at least the same time or a little bit better than the year before. Here's the race cap.
   Mile 1: Ran almost all of the first mile, as always I have to let my calves workout their kinks, but I knew this going in to the race. That hill I couldn't get up, yeah I owned it this year.
   Mile 2: Walked the uphill because I knew there were a lot of flat parts coming in miles 2.5-4. Ran those.
    Mile 5:  Ran with relative ease.
    Mile 6: Walked most of it as my break.
    Mile 7-8: I was determined to make it around Druid Hill Lake  this time. Last year and the 10 miler, I was unable to make the 2 mile run around. This time, I was going to do it. I made a secret deal to myself that if I ran continuously that I could walk the big hill at mile 9. Ate my energy gel, grabbed a drink and kept going. I conquered Druid Hill Lake...Go Me!
    Mile 9: Walked up the hill and then ran through until the hill at mile 11. This is when I began passing people.
    Mile 11-12: Took a brief 2 minute walk break and continued to run the remainder of my mileage.
    Mile 13: Passed even more people and kept pace with the Geico Marathoners who were finishing in 5 hrs 15 min. I actually smiled and waved at the race photographers as I knew the finish was coming.
    Finish:  Sprinted and passed the few people that were ahead of me. Walked over got my medal, stood for some snacks and walked around a bit. Then sat down to wait for my husband.

2 medals- Finisher's and the Double. 

  2012 Finisher's Time: 3 hours 18 minutes and 12 seconds.

Here is the amazing thing, I ran a half marathon 6 days earlier and it was a flat course and my time was worse than this more challenging course. I think I did better because I knew where my difficulties were and I knew how to adjust my race strategies to deal with the course. I can surmise one thing from this week, at age 29, I am in better shape than I was at age 28. 

My hubby being supportive. 

I think I will always run the Baltimore Half Marathon because I love it. Its my first half marathon I have ever run and I love the course. No matter how run down the neighborhoods  the people of Baltimore are very supportive. Especially the neighborhoods at the end of the course. Charles Village is by far my favorite to run through, mainly because the entire neighborhood is out and cheering for you. Hands down my two favorite people are the ones who dress up in tiger outfits and dance on the roof of their car to "Eye of the Tiger."  Year after year, the streets are lined with people as thousands of runners make their way through the streets of Baltimore. It really is a wonderful and well run race. I also am a big fan of Corrigan Sports Events. I have run numerous events sponsored by Corrigan and time and time again they have proven to be one of the most well organized events. I know that everything is easy to find and well supported when I run a Corrigan event. 

So What's Up Next? Well, its Runtober and I have two more 5ks. I also start Marathon training this week because I find the weather to be more amicable. 






Happy running :-)

Long Island Divas!

Divas Half Marathon- Long Island, NY

This weekend I traveled to Long Island with my friend, Annie, and her two younger sisters. We had a blast in the Divas Race. Here is a rundown of the weekend!

Race Swag

Saturday: Leave at 10:45 am for Long Island. Pit stop around 2pm for some lunch, then hit the Divas' expo for packet pick up around 4pm. The Divas expo was pretty awesome. It had a lot of unique women's running gear. I, of course, bought a bright pink 13.1 magnet for my car in honor of the Divas run, and I bought a cute sneaker charm. After the expo, we checked in at the Marriott and contemplated our dinner options. After the snafu at my previous half experience in Frederick, I warned everyone to stay clear of super greasy foods because no good can come from that. I opted for cheese quesadilla and downed several glasses of water. I turned into bed around 10pm and slept right through until 6:30pm when I decided to get up and prepped for my race the next morning.

Sunday Pre-race: As any good diva should, I donned my finest pink gear, but I skipped the tutu because there was a pending rain forecast. I figured it would be difficult enough to try and run in the rain and I didn't need a tutu weighing me down. Annie and I checked to make sure we had everything and we boarded our 7:20 bus at 7:19. We downed our breakfast and made sure everything was adequately pinned and in place. We arrived at Eisenhower Park ready to go. After snapping a few pics of the starting point, I anxiously awaited for the race to begin.

Annie & I pre-

The Race: Mile 1 I almost ran completely, I stopped to walk just long enough to let my calves adjust to everything, then I continued on until I completed mile 2 and hit the water stop. I met up with Annie who started to run ahead and I gulped my water. It caused a lot of pain. I offer this advice, Don't Gulp Water, drink it slowly otherwise it is unpleasant. Once the water settled, I continued to run Miles 3 and 4. I ran with the strategy of walk after every 5 to 6 songs and then walk one song. That meant I was running usually a mile at a time with a brief break. Mile 5 I walked up the slight hill and could start to feel some pressure in my lower back, but then I continued to run mile 6. I was relieved that I was almost half way done and keeping about a 14 to 15 min mile pace, which was my goal. After mile 6 I started to get sleepy, I have no idea why, but I felt the sudden urge to take a nap. I may have been sleep running because after a while I started to question that mile 6 to 7 was perhaps the longest mile I have ever run in my life. It was because somehow I had missed the mile 7 marker and I was now starting mile 8. 8 through 10 were brutal where I started to lose speed and I was now running more at a 15 min/mile pace. Still not bad, but the goal was under 3:30. At the end of mile 11 I got my boa and Tiara, an instant pick me up! I Then willed my self to complete mile 12 and 13 by chanting to myself that there was champagne and a hot shirtless man waiting for me at the finish line. As I rounded the final corner in Eisenhower Park I chose the hottest shirtless man I could find and I ran directly to him where he gave me an awesome race medal. Then I proceeded to get champagne, where the nice race volunteer gave me the biggest glass she could fine. Then I posed for a pic with Steve the fireman (will post as soon as I get that one!) and I hung with Annie while we waited for her sisters to finish!  We boarded the bus back to the hotel and proceeded to limp back to our prospective rooms in order to shower and rejoin the human race. We topped off the evening by drinking and eating copiously. I realized that I at one time had three beverages sitting in front of me, shots and mixed drinks and damnit I didn't care!

Hot shirtless men? Yes Please!!!

So What Did I Think: It was an awesome event! The run was easy because it was a flat and fast course. Probably why I ran it better and easier than most other halves because I didn't have to contend with hills. The medal was awesome, nice weight and really well done. The post race food was plentiful. There was a lot of on course support. The extra perks that they provided made the race clear it was for women, which I love. The only thing I wished they would have had was GU station on the course. I really struggled because I forgot my GU and it made getting through the race tough, but that really isn't their fault. I didn't think too much about it because I am accustomed to receiving an energy supplement somewhere along the course. It was an excellent race and if one every came to the DMV area, I would totally run it again!

Well, next half marathon is on Saturday. I am ready for Baltimore and to earn my 2nd race day medal for completing the MD Double! Booyah and happy running :-)

How To Make A Race Tutu :-)

Bandit watches me make a tutu!

So I wasn't planning on posting except, I became inspired yesterday evening to come up with a fun costume idea for Divas Half Marathon in Long Island this weekend. My googling is quite proficient and I was able to find a DIY No Sew Tutu. I am not like my friend Ashley, so I am incapable of sewing anything. When all was said and done, I was quite pleased with the end result. If you want to make your own stylish race tutu then here is what you will need.

Materials:
Elastic (measured to size of waist)- 3/4 inch width
Tulle- I used 2 yds sparkly pink and 2 yds fuschia
No Sew Fabric Glue
Velcro Tabs

Step 1: Cut Elastic to the size of your waist. I made mine to sit right above my hips

Step 2: Cut approximately 4-6 inch strips of tulle. I then cut the tulle in half because I wanted a shorter tutu. It goes quicker if you cut all the tulle into strips first.

Step 3: If you are using multi-colors like I did, then tie all of one color tulle directly onto the elastic waist band. I left a little bit of space between each tied on tulle so that I could add the second color. Anyway, make sure to double knot the tulle and that the knots are on the bottom of the waist band.

Step 4: Repeat steps 2 & 3 for the second color on your tutu skirt. 

Voila! Can't wait for its big reveal on Saturday :-)

Step 5: Glue the velcro dots onto the ends of your tutu using the No Sew Fabric Glue. I used paperclips to hold it in place while the glue holds. 

Brandon models the tutu! Excuse the mess, but creative genius leads to a mess!

 My fb friends love the tutu and I have already committed to making two more green tutus for St. Patty's day weekend when my friend and I do our long distance races!

Hopefully you don't find this to be tutu much of a project! Well until next time, Happy Running!