How To Make Your Own Medal Display

So for the past couple of months I have really really and I mean really wanted a race medal display thingy. I mean really! I asked for one for Christmas and while I got a lot of great stuff, I didn't get that. Note: not complaining, just stating a fact. Well, I also have some time off and I have been pretty handy with the computer and with pinning on pinterest. I pinned some tutorials for a race bib holder because I have a lot of bibs and right now they are just hanging from a caribeaner (i have no idea how you spell it) in my room. While on my daily pinterest scavenge I started looking at the diy bib displays and the diy race medal racks. I decided I would make my own. The one I asked for for Christmas said "Race Bling" on it and I decided to gather my craft store coupons and venture out to procure my supplies.
 
What I Bought:
1 wooden board $5.99
1 small container of hot pink acrylic paint $0.59
1 small container black glitter $2.59
1 package command picture hanging strips (rated to hold up to 16 lbs) $3.79
1 small package of wood screws $1.79

What I Already Had:
Modge Podge Matte Finish
Modge Podge Acrylic Sealer
Pink and white glitter
Black acrylic paint
Phillips screwdriver
Foam paint brushes

Total Cost: $15.64
Time to Make: 2 hours including dry time for paint, etc...

The benefit, a lot of the supplies I bought I can use for other projects.

What Did I Do:
First I used a foam paint brush and I painted the entire board hot pink. It took about 3 coats before I got it where I wanted it. Then, I took a combination of the pink and white glitter and I sprinkled it all over the top layer of paint. My goal was to get the paint to dry with the glitter on top so it would be stuck. This process took about an hour to do. I went to bed after this just because I didn't want to screw anything up due to my impatience.

Next morning, I used black paint and painted the words Race Bling at the top. I free handed it mainly because I have that skill, but online I have seen a lot of people use stencils. Its up to you. Once the letters dried. I took Modge Podge and I painted over the black paint and then sprinkled a generous heap of black glitter over everything. I then took another foam paint brush and I put modge podge over the outside edges of the entire race plaque. Again, I sprinkled a generous heap of black glitter over everything. I let it all dry and shook off any loose glitter. In particular, I wanted to make sure I removed as much of the black glitter as possible. Finally, I sealed the entire project with Modge Podge Acrylic Sealer (a little hint: buy this from Walmart. It's much cheaper there!).  I let it dry.

Final step before race medal display glory involved me screwing the wood screws into the wood. I did 3 screws for the top layer and 2 screws for the bottom layer. Then, I placed the command picture hanger strips on the back. Just follow directions on the package. And, VOILA! My very own race medal display hanger thingy!


I anticipate having to make another one eventually, but this was pretty fun to make. Its also super sparkly and girly, so it fits me to a tee!

The Benefit:
1. It allowed me to make something for only about $15. The race medal display I wanted was about $50. What I saw on Etsy cost about $23.
2. Its personalized. All of my friends know that I love sparkle, so being able to glitter the crap out of something was a way of making it my own. Plus, its tailored to my individual personality and tastes. I have not come across a display that is hot pink and black. 
3. I got my modge podge fix in. I love crafting almost as much as I love running. This has combined the best of both worlds. 

Well, if you want more ideas or want to see other crafty things to do, then feel free to follow me on pinterest @ Michelle Suzanne.

Until next time, happy running!

A Year In Review

Well 2012 is almost over and I thought this would be a good time to reflect on what went well and what didn't. Also, I thought it would fun to look at where I am now as opposed to a year from now.

A year ago, I started this blog and a year ago its purpose was to chronicle my journey to the Baltimore Marathon. Pink Running Shoes got started because my husband said I couldn't run a marathon. I never like to be doubted and I rallied my friends to support me on facebook. About 29 people believed that I could run a marathon. Well, I never made it to the Baltimore Marathon. I did run the Baltimore half marathon. Apparently, I hate the heat which I didn't realize how much until I started trying to train in 90 to 100 degree humid heat in July. Our a/c also broke so I had to spend my summer working to try and help pay for a new heating unit. Day in and day out with middle school children in the middle of summer can leave you lacking energy and many days it was all I could do to complete my insanity workout.

My solution to training in the heat was to sign up for a winter marathon. Pray for no snow that weekend, but I will be heading to VA Beach to run the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon and it is my last effort to run a marathon before I turn 30. But that's in 2013, and I am not there yet. 

So the journey isn't over, but what have I learned:

1. How to Make a Race Tutu. I learned how to make some pretty snazzy tutus and I also learned that I need to take in the waist some. As I found out during Santa Dash a hip riding tutu falls down kind of easily. It looked great and was super cute, but I did have to keep hoisting it up. I am still perfecting it, but man it was fun to wear.

2. Practice Does Make Perfect.   What do I mean by this? Well the act of repeatedly running over and over again has allowed me to knock time off of my overall mile. It has also allowed me to train my body to deal with moderately steep hills. These were things I couldn't do a year ago. I never thought it possible, but here I am stronger and faster than I was.

3. Races Are Better With Friends. I ran upwards of over 20 races, but the ones I generally enjoyed the most were the ones that I ran with Annie, Amanda, and Ashley (apparently I only run with people whose names begin with A). Even though Annie and Amanda didn't stay with me all of the time during every half marathon we ran, it was still fun to meet up with them at the end and of the race and celebrate our accomplishments. Nothing was better than hobbling back to the car or bus with my best gals in tow. 

4. Don't Switch Up Your Pre-Race Routines. If you look at my post on the Frederick Half Marathon you will find that it was not one of my finer moments. Only once have I deviated from my pre-race routine and it was on May 5th. I decided to go to CiCis for dinner versus just having my routine chicken and garden salad with a bread appetizer. It led to me abandoning all fear of porta pots out of necessity because my stomache was not used to eating high fat carbs pre race. It should be noted: I love CiCis and I have gone back to that establishment many times since and I have never been sick. Its just something about running that can sometimes take an ordinary meal and make it painful under the wrong circumstances. Never will I deviate from my race routine again!

5. You Are Stronger Than You Think You Are. Like I said before, I ran upwards of over 20 races. From October 2011 to October 2012, I completed 5 half marathons and 1 ten miler. One of those was a 10k and the rest were all 5ks. What is most interesting is that 4 out of the 5 half marathons were run all within about a week time span of another one. For example, Iron girl on April 28th and Frederick Half on May 6th and the Twilight 5k on the 5th, or Divas Oct. 6th and Baltimore Half on Oct. 13th. My point is this, a lot of people think I am crazy or that I push too hard. To me, if I don't push myself hard then I won't know what I am capable of. I never thought I could do one half marathon, let alone two in one week. Or, I never thought that the half I ran in the second week would yield a better time than that of an easier course. The human body is capable of amazing things and its our job to see what it can do! Nothing makes me prouder than to stare at my medals and think about all I have achieved in one short year.

So what's in store? As of right now I have a lot of half marathons lined up to run. I am shying away from the 5k this year and while I will still do them, I want to concentrate on that 13.1 mile distance. I love running it. So 10 milers and half marathons are what I am going to try and get better at. I will be traveling a little bit, but it should be fun. I also am going to try to go to a diva dash or a pretty muddy event. My goal is to branch outside of my comfort zone and push myself a little further. But the women's obstacle courses tend to be a little bit easier, and I want to see how I do before I think about a warrior dash or a heroes rush event. 

Well, I am in the middle of race craft where I make my own medal display. I will post pics and a tutorial once I finish it!

Until next time, happy running in the new year!    

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas from Pink Running Shoes!

 


Here is to an awesome New Year! Check in next week to read about the year in review :-)

Until next time, Happy Running!

Marathon Training Has Commenced

So I realized last week that I really haven't done all that much by way of marathon training. I also realized that today is exactly 3 months away from when I will brutally punish my body. Am I nervous? Yes. Do I have faith in myself? Yes. Will it hurt? You betcha.

Its interesting, and next post I will go more into depth on this when I do a year in review, but I am in a much better place this year then I was last year. If you have been avid reader of my blog you will notice that I tend to bitch sometimes about being in pain. I have had to work through a lot of problems, but things are going well. The pain in my knees and ankles have seemed to subside and I have been able to cover a lot of miles.  I have also gotten faster. I PR'ed two weeks ago at the Candy Cane Dash. I managed to run a 5k in under 41 minutes. For most, this probably isn't a big deal, but I am traditionally a very slow runner and the fact that I was able to knock 4 minutes off of my 5k time in the last month is pretty awesome.

But like I said, I am in a different place. A year ago, I had a grand notion of training for the Baltimore Marathon and struggling through it. I, of course, didn't do what I needed to do because of time constraints and the fact that I hate running in extreme heat. The winter training is going much better. I actually feel like I will be successful and I have learned to not do something that I don't want to do. I am really excited because for once I think I can do it and I think I will conquer the Shamrock Marathon with little to no complication.  Its nice to have that confidence and its the first time that I have really felt this way. Something seems to have clicked and my body has stopped fighting me on running and I am able to persevere!

Well hope for no injuries and in 3 months I hope to post pics of me with my awesome race swag and a spiffy 26.2 sticker.

Until next time, happy running!