Firecracker 5K Race Results

Today started off a littler cooler at 6am than it usually is by 9am. Which is the time I usually get out there. I helped with registration before the race and it worked out well for one really good reason...I could size up my age group! I also made them all swear not to pass me. Ha!! Anyway, it was great fun!

I notice that I have such a struggle to make myself go fast in the beginning. My marathon training just takes over so strongly! I kept finding myself speeding up here and there when I realized this was happening. I seem to be fine when I'm running by myself, but throw me in a race and my training takes over.

Today's race was so fun for a few reasons. Kimmie and Lewis ran their first race (they're getting married in October) and Lewis even got a medal! Jenna, Bobby and Linda ran today too. They're friends from work. Bobby also got a medal. Bratty-girl Linda beat me by 5 seconds.....she's in big trouble now....LOL. Josephine got a new PR after working so very hard with her speed work. Jim, my coach, was a monitor along the route and it was helpful to hear him yelling support. Bob W. was at the last .2 miles and saw me wanting to lay down. He started yelling and making me go faster. He really helped me finish strong.

So I finished a 5K a few weeks ago at 29:04. Today's finish was 28:37! I only beat it by 27 seconds but I'm very happy! Of course now I want to go do it over since I see where I could have been better, but with all said and done...I just had a wonderful time.

Now I'm going to lay by the pool for a while before I have to work tonight!
Happy 4th of July!!!!!!

Busy Week

Really busy week here. I didn't even get to any of my exercise classes. The 2 days I probably could have, I grabbed the opportunity to run. Monday I ran 7 miles in the bahLAYzin heat. I went out at a leisurely pace and was feeling fine so I decided to go further out than I usually do. I did a great big loop and about 5 miles out I changed my mind. HA! Too late of course. I had to walk the last 1.5 miles. I was sick for 3-4 hours from that. I need a hydration belt.

The rest of the week was meetings, work and setting up for a 5k for Friday. I'm off today until 5pm. YAY!! Playing laundry catch up. Maybe get some tanning in.

I ran 3.2 miles this morning. It wasn't TOO hot yet. I was trying to see how fast I could do it because tomorrow is a 5K and I really wanna PR. My last PR was 29:04. I ran 3.2 this morning in...28:08, so it's possible. Might be tricky to get a warm up in because I'm on registration duty at 6am. Hopefully I get out of that in time for a quick mile before the race starts.

I hope everyone has a wonderful 3 day weekend!!

Sunday Run

Just in from a 3 miler. It's so wicked hot out. I went out kind of fast, I didn't feel the heat at first. At about 3/4 mile I was dying. I slowed to a jog to the end of the first mile, walked 30 seconds, started back up. I kept a slower pace this time. Oh, and during my whole 30 second walk, guess who goes gliding past me? Yeah, Mr Yellow-haired-gazelle-man. Running toward me, may I add. I never saw him coming! Where the heck does he come from????? We said hello as we passed, I should have thanked him for the nice breeze he created as he ran by. Whatever. He never passes me when I'm running. He must think I'm a walker....LOL

I ran on in the blazing heat, happy that I hydrated properly but still wishing the icecream man would go by. I turned around at 1.5 miles and walked across the street. Gazelle-man ran by me AGAIN with him going in the same direction! HOW????? He must run through the school or something. This time I ripped off my headphones and yelled "You're driving me CRAZY!!" He just gave out a laugh and kept going. I was laughing too. On the outside. On the inside I was screaming "Wait for me!" I actually tried to catch up to him but he was gone. All I got was more tired and very sweaty. I'm thinking of waiting in my car for him next weekend. And following him. Is that stalking??? Think he'd notice my car following behind him just a pace? LOL...I'm kidding, I wouldn't do that. I'd love to talk to him though. It doesn't seem right to stop someone when they're running just to chat. I've never seen him at any races.

I took my watch with me on this run. I ran 3 miles in 30:16. Slow. Ah well, what can I do?

It's Getting Better

I ran Wed at the gym...3.8 miles. It was hot but enjoyable. There's a park about halfway called 5 Senses. I ran in there and walked a bit before getting back on the road. It's a peaceful place, I think I'll go there more often.

I ran this morning at 9am. I just went about 3 miles, I was supposed to be getting ready for the beach. Everyone was still sleeping and Bobby had taken off to ride with his cycling group. I figured I'd get a shorty in. I saw a man up ahead, I picked up speed and "chicked" him. Does it matter that he was walking? No? I didn't think so...LOL...I turned around and walked back to him. I asked if he was training for anything and he said no. He had some surgery and was getting his strength back. I told him about the half marathon training and invited him. He said he didn't think he could do 13.1 miles. I told him I did a full marathon in 4.5 months, so I am proof it CAN be done. I saw a twinkle in his eye, he said he'd give it a thought. So maybe a seed was planted....we shall see.

My husband was off for the day but went for a bike ride with his group. He did 50 MILES!!!! That's a half century!! It took him 3 hours and he L-O-V-E-D every minute of it. Here's the kicker....he has a regular road bike. Not a racing bike. He still averaged 18 MPH. I'm so proud of him. The look of satisfaction on his face when he got home was awesome. I wish he would run. It would be so cool to run a marathon together. He wishes I'd bike. We have agreed to not bug each other about our chosen sports....LOL.

I think this half marathon training project has me fired up. I am back into running again and loving it. Jim (my coach) made me a running coach for this project and I am so very thrilled. I was watching him make the flyer the other day, and when he put "running coach" beside my name I just felt so proud. I don't think he realizes just how much this means to me. To think that just one year ago this month I was still recuperating from being sick. 9 months later and I've run a marathon and become a running coach. Blows my mind. My husband told me today he'd never have believed it. Thinking back to how I used to view exercise I can understand. The sense of accomplishment is astounding.

Tomorrow I plan on a 2 mile run in my Vibrams. I'll be back with an update on that......

Running In The Heat Is Not Too Fun

Ok, I did run on Sunday morning. I think it was about 9:30 or 10:00am when I left the house. I left my watch at home so I wouldn't get too insane with numbers and I walked to the end of my street to warm up. I should have stretched but I didn't feel like it! Ha!! I was fine anyway.

I ran about 1.5 miles to a bridge that over looks a small canal. I peeked over the edge looking for gators, of which have been elusive. Never saw one. I think I saw a catfish though. The whiskers on this fish were long. I took off again and was feeling pretty dizzy within another half mile out. It was about 95 degrees out, but breezy.

There's a man I see every time I run, no matter the day/time. He has a funky color yellow hair and he's very darkly tanned. He went by me on his bike doing 110 MPH, we waved. About 1 mile later, no kidding, he RAN past me on the other side of the street. I was walking because I was dizzy and when he ran by me I got a little irritated. I felt like screaming "Where's your freakin' bike mister?????" I wanted to ride it home. This guy always comes out of nowhere and passes me in the weirdest spots. I never hear him coming or see where he's come from. He must run a 5 minute mile, the show-off. If I wasn't wearing my bleaching trays and could've talked, I would've stopped him for a chat. But I didn't want to be spitting all over him while trying to speak with bleaching trays in my mouth. So he's been spared...for now.

I ran down to Publix and got some water. Ran to the middle school and did once around the track. I was so hot, I ran home from there. Ended up being a 5.25 mile run. Very leisurely. Very, very hot. Very enjoyable believe it or not. (hey, that rhymed) It was good to get out there. On the run back I saw some cyclists coming my way. I stopped on the bridge and waved as they went by. Then I saw HIM. The most handsomest biker EVER. Our eyes met, our hearts jumped. He pulled over for some smoochies. Ooohh, what a kisser! Yep, my husband Bobby! He was with the Coastal Cruisers, they were on the last mile or so before their bagel gathering. Very fun to see him!! Oh, he's such a lucky man to have me....LOL. I know this because he tells me that everyday. And I believe him.

I have yoga tonight, I think I'll run after that class. It's perfect stretching for a run. It might be a little cooler by tonight. I have a buncha things to do today, I won't be able to run until tonight anyway!