New Years Day 5K

As promised, albeit a month late, here's my race recap of the New Years Day 5K. This is the 4th time I've run it and this year it moved to a new location. I made sure I got there early enough to find the place, get a good parking spot, and get checked in. I ended up being there way too early and it was freezing! My dad was there as a volunteer photographer and we huddled in his car until we absolutely had to go out.

The race made some weird loop so you ended up running the same part twice. And of course there were some decent hills coming back. Doing them once was okay but twice was no fun! I jogged what I could and walked when I needed to. Overall I felt really good during this race, I just didn't like those darn hills!

I have a hard time not "racing", but being pregnant I know I need to just have fun and not push myself too much. So I had a goal but it was a very loose goal. I wanted to finish in under 45 minutes, which I knew was completely doable. I was very happy to see the clock as I finished- under 40! My official time was 39:24. It's not even my slowest 5K, which is awesome! I ran a 5K when I was about 2 months pregnant with Jack. It's the only time I ran and I actually downgraded my registration from the 5-miler. I finished that in 42:37. So to be over 5 months pregnant and finishing in under 40 minutes is so amazing! I'm really proud of myself for continuing to run, even if it's only twice a week.


Here I am waving at my dad:

I'm running a virtual 5K next week and per doctor's orders, I'll need to switch to walking in about 2 weeks. I'll update with how January went and how February is going. I'll try not to let a whole month go by in between updates!

Announcement and a Pumpkin Run

So I've been a bit MIA but I have good reason....I'm pregnant!

We're so excited, Jack especially! I'm doing my best to have an active and healthy pregnancy so that I can have a natural delivery. I was induced with Jack due to having mild preeclampsia and I don't want to go that route again.

On Nov. 7 I ran the Great Pumpkin Run 5K with a friend and we carried 3 pound pumpkins the whole way. It was a lot of fun!

I'm 18 weeks pregnant now and feeling pretty good. I ran 3 miles this morning without any problem. I'm going to continue with short runs (2-4 miles) as long as I'm able. Then I'll focus on walking. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Baltimore Running Festival

After lunch last Friday Sidney, Jack, and I headed to Baltimore for the running festival. It's only about an hour drive but I knew it would be easier if we stayed in the city and I thought we could turn it into a family adventure! It didn't go as planned but we still had fun!

We checked into our hotel and immediately headed to the expo. It was just like any other expo and we didn't linger too long. All 3 of us got really nice tech shirts. Even Jack which really impressed me and I can't wait for him to wear it!

At the Baltimore Convention Center

We left the expo and went straight to the inner harbor. I had hoped to take Jack to one of the museums but we got there a bit later than I had expected. We walked around the shops and then decided to go to Hard Rock Cafe for dinner.  Did I mention it was pouring? Not ideal for walking around the harbor but we made the best of it!

Dinner was great although a little pricey. There was a Noodles n' Company and looking back we should have just gone there. I've made up my mind that if we ever travel for another race and go out to dinner, it will be someplace quick and relatively inexpensive! Good thing I really enjoyed what I got (Chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, cole slaw, beans, and corn bread):

Luckily it had stopped raining by the time we were done and we walked back to the hotel. We went to bed at a reasonable time and I set my alarm for 6am.

I wasn't nervous at all for this race despite not feeling adequately trained. I was more nervous for the timing of it all. The races were scheduled so that we were all able to run at different times. Sidney ran the 5K at 8:20 while I stayed with Jack, then Jack ran the kids run at 9:20, then we all walked to my half marathon start at 9:45. It was weird to start so late!

We enjoyed the hotel's breakfast then made our way to the start of the 5K. The marathon start was at 8 and at the same place as the 5K. When we got there and were waiting around with the crowd, I felt the energy and said to Sidney, "This is why I race. I love it!" The energy and anticipation is awesome. I wish I could bottle it up!

Sidney got in line and Jack and I walked a bit down so we could hopefully see Sidney as he got started. It was so different to be on that side of the start line. But I loved it and was so excited to be able to watch Sidney run for once! We're either running together or he's watching me. This was also the first race he's done where he wasn't pushing Jack. So it was extra special!

We made our way to the finish line and were able to see daddy as he finished! For some reason I can't find his results when I search. I need to contact them about that. But Sidney said he received an e-mail that he finished in 28:33. If that's right, then he finished 5 seconds faster than my fastest 5K! Unbelievable! He also got his first medal for all his hard work. He's been teasing me about this for a long time since Jack and I have both gotten medals and I'm glad he finally has one of his own!

We immediately got Jack to his starting line to wait for the kids run to begin. It actually seemed like a longer distance than most of the other kids runs we've done but Jack did great! He started out very fast and a little more than halfway into it, started to slow down. In order to keep him motivated I pointed to the clocks and told him that that was the finish line and he just had to make it a little more. He kept going and never stopped! He earned a well deserved medal as well but we weren't able to enjoy any of the other perks of the kids zone. They had an inflatable slide and basketball hoops and Jack really wanted to go over to them. Unfortunately we had to hurry to get to the start of my half and couldn't stay.

Every race had the same finish but the half marathon had a completely different start and we had to book it to get there in time. Once we got there I said my goodbyes and ended up starting around 10am. They went back to the hotel to hang out and then waited in the lobby for me. They latest we could check out was 1pm so they weren't able to see me at the finish. I ended up getting back to the hotel at 1:45.

This race was tough. I had no idea it was going to be as hilly as it was and it took a lot out of me. I sprained my ankle about a month ago and missed a bit of training because of it. The week before the race I set out to do a 10 mile run and stopped after 8 because my feet hurt so much.

We did have some great weather though! We were expecting rain but it stayed dry until after I finished. It was overcast and cool. I wore a pull-over and stopped at mile 4 to take it off. It was ideal conditions! It always takes me a couple miles to warm up and I was feeling stronger between miles 4-6. At mile 7 they were giving out UTZ potato chips and I grabbed a bag and walked while eating them. I never walk! I don't even stop to drink or have a GU. But I walked and I was okay with it. Once I finished with the chips I started running again. My legs were sore and my feet were killing me! When I got to mile 8, which is all I had been able to do the week before, I kept pushing even though the last thing I wanted to do was run another 5 miles and I wasn't entirely sure I would be able to. I did stop again to fill my water bottle at one of the water stops and then kept going.

Just when I thought we were done with hills we came upon a bridge. I actually started talking to myself. I got a little cuckoo! It was all mental at that point and if I had been relying on my physical abilities alone, I would have definitely stopped. Somehow I'm able to push through the pain, the mental blocks, and just keep going. I almost cried when I crossed the finish line! And I did what I always do, despite the fatigue, because I just don't know any other way- I sprinted the last 2/10 or so.

I did not go into this race hoping for a PR. I was just hoping to finish right around 2:45 and just finishing at all is a great accomplishment. I ended up with a time of 2:39:50. I can live with that! :)

This was by far the toughest race I've ever done. Not only was it a challenging course, but I was sore and fatigued and coming off of a recent injury. I'm so proud of myself for what I accomplished! The best part is I earned myself 2 medals. I ran the Frederick half back in May and that combined with the Baltimore half earned me the Maryland Double medal!

I sent the Maryland medal to my running buddy Mickey and I'm so glad I was able to earn it for her!

I have a mud run on November 2nd- my first obstacle race! After that I'll just be trying to survive the winter and looking forward to spring. I'm definitely doing the Frederick half again next May and I'm looking forward to planning out my 2014 race schedule, which will be a lot lighter than this year has been. My wallet just can't handle another packed racing year! I'll definitely be focusing more on the free races my running club offers throughout the year!

Frederick Running Festival

Once again I'm late with my race recap. I guess I should stop promising more regular updates. Oh well!

The Frederick Running Festival took place May 4-5. They have a kids run Saturday followed by a 5K, then a half marathon Sunday morning. Anyone doing both the 5K and half can sign up for the "Nut Job Challenge" and get a unique medal for being such a rockstar.

The challenge interested me but I didn't want to pay $100+ when I was already running a half the week before. I guess it was meant to be because I ended up winning a contest that gave me free entry into any race that weekend! Without hesitation I signed up for the Nut Job Challenge.

Everything took place at the Frederick Fairgrounds which is only about a half hour away. We went to the expo on Saturday (where I signed Jack up for his kids run) and then we just stayed for the races. It was very convenient!

Jack did great and got a very nice medal!

After Jack's run (which you can read about in more detail on my other blog) I had to line up for the 5K. Knowing I was coming back to run a half the very next morning, I didn't want to push myself too much. That's hard for me because I get into race mode and I really want to get a good time. I told myself I'd be happy if I finished under 32 minutes.

The course was an out and back with great scenery of some farms in Frederick. It was really nice to run in a new place, hills and all! I felt good but I didn't feel like I was pushing myself, which is how I wanted it. I finished strong and surprised myself with a time of 30:08! I couldn't believe I was that close to finishing in under 30 without even trying!

We went out to dinner and I tried to rest for the half marathon. We left early the next morning and it was great being able to drive straight to the race rather than taking the metro. When we got there I had time to use a port-a-potty and then it was already time to line up at the start. It was chilly so I had on a sweater which I practically threw at Sidney before getting lost in the crowd.

The start was brutal. I ended up staying with the 2:40 (or maybe it was 2:45?) pace group for almost 3 miles. My muscles felt heavy and I started out very conservatively. I didn't have any real time goals for this race except to come in around 2:45. I had just gotten a PR 1 week before and I just wanted to have fun and make it to the finish in one piece.

The sun came out but we were running in shady areas. Then when we were out in the open the clouds came in and it was overcast. I didn't really warm-up until I hit the last 2 miles. I was surprised how cold it was!

We ran through a lot of really nice neighborhoods and around mile 5 there was a house under construction with a port-a-potty in the lawn. I knew someone was in there but there wasn't a line. Just as I was making my way up to it the guy came out and I took advantage of this rare opportunity. No line or wait! I felt much better and as I got into the second half of the race my legs were feeling good. The 2:45 pacers were well behind me and I knew I'd finish with a decent time.

As the miles ticked off I felt better and better. I kicked it up a notch when I felt able to, making sure I was at a pace I could keep for the rest of the race. Somewhere in the last 2 or 3 miles I came upon the 2:30 pacers. And passed them. I was inspired but didn't want to be too hopeful. I had no idea how much time was between their start and mine, but I knew it couldn't have been too much.

I really kicked it up for the last mile and finished with a time of 2:25:48!! That's 5 minutes faster than Nike just 1 week before and I made my ultimate goal of finishing under 2:30!! Such an incredible feeling!!

Showing off my 2 medals:

I couldn't do any of this without the support of my family:

I had so much fun doing this challenge and I'm already looking forward to doing it next year! I proved I can successfully do back-to-back half marathons and do 2 races in 1 weekend. I'm definitely going to make this my main spring half marathon. It's local, family-friendly, has awesome race swag, and it's fun!

Clarksburg 5K Race Recap

Before I go into any details about my (what now seems inconsequential) 5K, I want to take a moment to recognize the city of Boston and everyone affected by the bombings that occurred at the marathon on Monday. It was a senseless act that left many people broken and grieving. Word quickly spread about a campaign to wear race shirts on Tuesday and to "Run for Boston". I did just that, sporting my shirt from the Zooma Half Marathon at the track that night. After we finished our workout I ran one final lap on my own for Boston. I am so proud to be a part of this awesome community of runners. It may be an individual sport, but we are all in it together supporting one another. #RunnersUnite

On a lighter note, I ran a 5K this past Saturday that my whole family participated in. I ran this last year and finished with a better than expected time of 31:41. At that time I was training for my first half marathon for that June and my training had just begun in March. This year, having already run a half marathon in March and being stronger, fitter, and 10 pounds lighter, I was going for a PR. I really wanted a sub-30 5K.

I didn't sleep well the night before and had some cramping in my right quad. Not good. But I kept positive, telling myself that I could do this.

First up was the kids run. It was a good distraction! All week Jack was really excited at the thought of "racing" and getting a medal. When the time came to line up and he was all of a sudden surrounded by people, he wasn't too sure anymore. I really wanted him to run without my help. In past kids runs I've held his hand and trotted along with him. He's actually a fast runner and I was hoping he would do this one on his own. He really wanted to hold my hand and I just kept reassuring him that I would be right next to him the entire time. Daddy was waiting at the finish and that helped.

Waiting to start:

Lined up:

Running!

All done and sporting his medal!

He ended up doing very well. He ran the 100 yards without any help and he even smiled while doing it! I think he was very proud of himself as was I!

Next came the 5K. Sidney actually ran pushing Jack in the Bob. Last summer he ran 2 5K's (also pushing the stroller) but he hasn't run any distance since. Rather than just standing around waiting for me, he decided to run it. And he got a t-shirt and water bottle out of it. :)

I knew I'd be starting out semi-fast and he needed to stay in the back with the stroller. So I kissed them goodbye and made my way closer to the starting line. When the race started it took some time to get through the crowd and the first mile was my slowest.

I kept a good pace, definitely faster than I would ever attempt on a longer run. It wasn't easy but I kept telling myself it's only 3 miles. I've done mile repeats at the track. I can do this. I thought those 3 miles were going to creep along very slowly but before I knew it I hit mile 2. And then there was mile 3 just ahead.

There were 2 big hills and I was worried because almost the last quarter mile is almost all up hill. I couldn't sprint like I normally would at a finish until the last 10 seconds when the road leveled out. Going up that last hill I though, "Did I push myself enough in the first 2 miles? Did I give it all I had?" Despite wanting to finish in under 30 minutes, I told myself I'd be happy if I finished in under 31 with a time of 30-something. Actually I'd be happy just beating last year's time. I didn't want to be disappointed if I ended up not achieving my ultimate goal. But I really wanted that sub-30 and I knew I could do it.

When I got close enough to see the finish and the clock, it read 28 something. I couldn't believe I was so close! I sprinted across the finish and it read 29-something. I stopped my phone, which I hadn't checked at all, and it read 29:11. I had started recording the run before I actually crossed the starting line because I didn't want to be fumbling with my phone on the course. And then of course it took me a few seconds to dig it out and stop it. All I knew was that I had done it! I was so overwhelmed that I almost started crying right there! I had pushed myself harder than I ever had before and it paid off!

And you know what my official race time is? 28:38!! Under 29!! Woohoo!

I hung around the finish area waiting for Sidney and Jack. I had no idea when to expect them. After a couple minutes I saw the yellow stroller and cheered them on.

 I love Jack's little face poking out!

Sidney finished in 35:18 which is so awesome! He ran the whole way and didn't stop once. He immediately sat down, looking worn out and in need of fluids, but he says he actually wants to run more!

I love the Clarksburg 5K. It's very family-friendly with a very reasonable entry fee, awesome swag, and a great post-race party complete with raffles, moon bounces, vendor booths, etc. Jack left with a free soccer shirt just for being so cute and kicking a soccer ball like a pro, and I ended up winning a huge beach bag filled with tons of awesome stuff for summer. Sunscreen, bug spray, towel, and toys galore. I'm already looking forward to running next year!

The next family friendly 5K that we'll be doing isn't until the end of August, but hopefully we'll be able to find one along the way. I love having the whole family involved!

The Naked Foot 5K

On June 24, Sidney and I ran the Naked Foot 5K. They encourage runners to run the race barefoot or with minimalist footwear, but it's not required. I decided I wanted the full experience and ran barefoot. It was awesome!

I didn't enjoy running on the pavement or the gravel but running in the grass, dirt, and mud was a lot of fun. Because this race wasn't timed and we were just out there to have fun, it was really laid back and I was able to enjoy it more. I don't know my official time, just that it's under 40 minutes which is alright by me!

Jack, waiting for the kid's run to start:

Barefoot!

Sidney finishing the run, with Jack in tow:

This was Sidney's second 5K and both were in June. He's not a runner and didn't do anything to prepare for either race. Yet he managed to run both times pushing Jack and only finishing minutes behind me. Maybe he's got some natural talent?

This race was so fun and despite needing more time to recover, I'm really glad I ended up running barefoot. We even got technical shirts saying "I ran naked"! The Naked Foot race series started out in Colorado and they now travel around the U.S. to a few different cities. This was their first time in D.C.. I hope they come back next year so we can do it again!

Clarksburg 5K

Saturday April 21, I ran the Clarksburg 5K and my first race of 2012. I ran my last 5K in September 2011 and finished in 34:29. I really wasn't sure what to expect for this race. I've been running more but my pace has been between 11-13 minutes on my training runs.

I had never run this race before and therefore wasn't familiar with the course. There were quite a few hills right from the start and not knowing what was to come, I tried not to push it too hard. Even the finish was on an incline! Once I saw the balloons and could see the "Mile 3" marker ahead, I gave it all I had. I really surprised myself and finished with a time of 31:41!!! A 10:12 pace! Woohoo!! This is my 3rd fastest 5K and my fastest since 2007. And I felt great afterwards and like I could've run more.

Before the 5K, there was a short kids run that Jack did. He was a bit confused and I don't think he enjoyed the chaos. But he finished and got a medal! This is only his second run and I'm sure as he does more of these, he'll start to get the hang of it.

After my run:

My next 5K will probably be June 16. I'm running a one mile track heat tonight, a 10K on Sunday, and the half is just 5 short weeks away! I love racing!

Kentlands 5K

I'm only 10 days late in posting, but better late than never! The Kentlands 5K was Saturday, September 3 and it was a perfect morning for a race. Cloudy, cool, and dry. I started out slow and kept a nice, steady pace. My final time was 34:29 and my average pace was 11:06. I know I could've been faster, but my goal was to finish in under 35 minutes and I accomplished that! Overall, I'm very happy with the outcome!

As we were driving home, a huge storm hit us. I was happy it started after the race was over! It rained the rest of the weekend and well into the next week. We got 13 inches of rain in less than a week! Needless to say, I didn't run all week. I ran last night for the first time since the race, and that was just a short run with Jack. Now I'm feeling sick and having bad stomach cramps, so I'm not sure when my next run will be. Hopefully I can get in a long run this weekend! It won't be long before it starts getting too cold and dark to take Jack out and I want to take advantage of the cooler weather we're about to get. And I definitely don't want to lose momentum!

Here's my log for the last few runs I did since the last post:

August 31, 6:07pm
2.21 miles
25:39 minutes
11:36 avg. pace

September 1, 6:19pm
1.43 miles
16:26 minutes
11:32 avg. pace

Sept. 3, 8:30am
Kentlands 5K
34:29 minutes
11:06 avg. pace

Sept. 12, 6:07pm
1.35 miles
16:32 minutes
12:16 avg. pace

I really hope I feel better by the end of the week so I can get in some more runs!

Brain Health Blitz 5k

Last Sunday, on Father's Day, I ran my first solo race in over 2 years. It was awesome! It was also my first 5k of the year (the last one I did was last September). I made that one in under 40 minutes pushing Jack in the stroller. Going in, my only goal was to finish this one in under 40 as well.

It was a great course, going around a lake at one of my favorite shopping centers. Except that we had to go around it 4 times and by the 3rd time around, I was getting tired of the same route! It was mostly flat with one small hill. It wasn't easy, but I ran the whole way and pushed it a little on the last lap.

My official race time is 32:52! Woohoo! There were only 36 people running and it was such a nice, relaxed race, put on by the Alzheimer's Association. I don't think they advertised it really well so not many people knew about it, but it was great. I hope they do it again next year!

Jack and Sidney cheered me on and took some pictures while I ran.

I'm not sure when my next race will be, but I look forward to running much more. I've been running around my neighborhood more and last weekend I ran Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I'd love to run more 5k's and slowly work my way up to longer distances. My ultimate goal is still a half marathon!

ICC 5K

From the day I signed up for it, I thought this race was on Saturday. Luckily I realized it was today thanks to some running friends who also signed up. Unfortunately I haven't been running very much, and I was not looking forward to getting up early and running. I don't mind the getting up early part. I have a baby who thinks it's his job to get me up way earlier than I would otherwise. But I didn't want to have to get up early enough to get us both ready and be to the race site by 8:30. I even considered making up an excuse. I forgot to set my alarm or my baby kept me up and I overslept. I paid a $25 registration fee but it was going to the special olympics, so it's not like I would be wasting the money. But I'd rather walk the whole thing than not go at all. I'm not a quitter and I don't want to teach Jack that it's ok to give up when something is hard or you just don't feel like doing it. So I trudged out of bed and got us out the door at a reasonable time.

It was an out and back course and I thought I could run the first half and maybe walk the second half. There was a team from the police academy right behind me during the first half. They were singing running songs (like they do in the military) and it was very motivating. I think Jack enjoyed it too! When I got to the turn around, I decided to keep going. I got to mile 2 and thought, "There's no way I can justify walking the last mile when I've made it this far." Jack was in his stroller and I kept saying things to him like, "We're almost there. Just gotta make it up this hill." It kept me going. And I ran the whole way! I didn't stop once!

I was wearing my running watch, trying to keep track of how fast I was going. Once I realized I had a chance at finishing in under 40 minutes, that motivated me to keep going strong. I saw the finish line up ahead and realized it was getting very close to 40 minutes. My previous training kicked in and I started sprinting towards the finish. I did a cool maneuver to get around 2 people who were walking in front of me, and I just made it. My official race time is 39:57:38 with a pace of 12:52. Awesome!

Here's Jack and I after we just finished the race:

I'm not sure what's next for us. It's hard to find races that allow strollers. Plus it's going to start getting too cold to take Jack out. I'll have to figure something out so that I'm not starting over again next spring. I hope to start training for a half marathon next year! That has been my goal for a few years now and I really want to keep Jack exposed to running.

For now, we'll continue to run around the neighborhood and try to find races that allow strollers. Stay tuned!

Race For The Cure

The 5K race was Saturday and it was awesome! There were 45,000+ people there- it was completely insane but lots of fun. I finished the race in 36 minutes which I am very happy with. I'm hoping to finish my next one in under 35 minutes. They had a lot of sponsors and booths set up and I won a 6-roll pack of Quilted Northern!! Other than finishing the race in 1 piece, that was the most exciting part of my day! There's a 5K on Friday night (I'm a member of a running club and this is just a club race) and I really want to run it, but I noticed some swelling on my ankle last night. It's not too bad so it should be good tomorrow. After the injury I had last summer, I'm not going to push it and risk not being able to run for 2 months. We'll see how it goes!