I think I CAN!

Hi!  I've not posted for awhile. ... May perhaps?  I've done a couple of races since then - Boogie marathon, which is both fun and yet not fun all at the same time.  I ran another 50 miler back in Oct in KS.  Got lost and ended up with about 52 miles.  I gotta say, I got my $$ worth from that race . :)

I think I've not been on here as I really stink at running.  I'm a great recreational runner but with respect to races....I just stink.  I got a response from Nevels on my last blog asking if I'm running underground to return much faster.  John, thanks for that good laugh.

Since I've come to terms with the fact I'm just a recreational runner that likes to run marathons I'm back and posting again.  I ran tonight in the beautiful 65 degree weather.  The whole time I keep thinking....wow, it's November!  This almost makes up for all those HOT days over the summer.

So, now that I can enjoy running once again I can share my upcoming races with y'all. 

November - Bartram Forest Winter Trail Run 50K and marathon.  This is my running partners first marathon.  I'm really excited to be running with her.

Dec - nothing

Jan 1 - Dark Side Runners New Years marathon (free race)

Jan 9 - Red Nose Run Marathon (another free race....sweet!)

Jan 16 - Museum of Aviation Marathon

Feb 13 - Iron Horse Endurance 50 miles

March 28: Ocean Drive Marathon

I think a few 5Ks will be sprinkled in.  That said, I don't do speed well so those are just social calls to see my fast friends get thier awards.

I'm still trying to decide what summer and winter races I'd like to run.  I'd love to do the Lean Horse in Aug or the Dances With Dirt in Hell but those require airline tickets and I'll have to wait and see what the year brings. 

I took my 7 year old to a 5K about an hour from my house.  I was totally amazed by my daughter. She finished 165 out of 265 people.  The last 5K I took her to was in the summer during a very hot day.  We didn't do well.  So I backed the pace and run time down some.  We did a 30 sec run and 30 sec walk the entire race.  The kid sprinted each time the watched beep.  When I say sprinted the garmin shows 8:15 to 8:30 min mile pace.  During our walk breaks she skipped.

There was a prize to the school that had the most participation.  I think what really encouraged her to keep running was the comment we kept hearing after the half way mark.  There were different versions but mostly it went like this, "I can't believe that little girl just past me!!"  We heard that from both middle school and high school kids. Those folks might/might not catch up to us on our walk break.  When they did it just made her more determined to push harder in the next run cycle. I don't ever think I've seen such determination in her before.

The last half mile was all down hill so I turned off my watch and told her to run it in.  I think she took one more walk break and was off again when she heard feet closing in behind her.  Much to her disapointment, she took 4th in her age group. 

She is already chomping at the bit to do the next 5K race. You know that I'm swelling with pride over here.

Added the P90X workout to my routine. Holy cow I am sore!

Went out for an easy run today.  I've decided that I need to cut back to the P90X Lean (less strenous and more cardio) than to complete the next 89 days doing the P90X classic.  It is hard running when your body is this sore.

easy run today

The Bartram Forest 50K/Marathon is one of my most favorite races.  It is a relatively easy trail race with all the works.  The food is plenty, the volunteers are da bomb, the bathroom is inside an building, there is no time limit, it is local, and my running buddies make up about 25%  of the race.  The course itself is a 5.25 mile loop.  There is some single track, some gravel, a little mud, but mostly it is like running on a mowed front yard. 

I had the pleasure of running with a friend on her first marathon attempt.  You know, it is always an honor to be with someone when they cross the finish line for the first time.

Before race day we are told to wear bright clothing.  It is hunting season and apparently this park is now open to hunting.  Ahhh, there is nothing like running in the woods with the slight nagging fear of being mistaken for a deer and shot.  I bought 2 bright orange hats for my friend and myself.

As usual I made a wrong turn and got off the race trail.  What makes this odd is that it happened about the first 1/10th a mile of the race.  I went out for an early start with a few friends that wanted to finish early. (Allowed by RD as long as we keep track of our start time).  Silly us followed the trail the race took the previous 2 years.  The course was changed from the year before. It was really fun to see the front runners jog past us on their first loop. (We of course are now going the wrong way on the trail). OK, so we did a 5K before we hit the trail for the “real” loops. 

Stef (accidental marathoner), Tim, Deb (doing her 1st marathon), and me

So, we hit the aid station shed outerwear, get some water, snacks because the fudge was really good and headed out onto the trail….this time in the correct direction and trail.  So we run loops 2, 3, 4, and then take the trail backwards (on purpose) for loop 5 just for a change.  We still had a few miles to make up so we went back out onto the trail for another 1.75 miles, turned around and came back in.  Thank goodness for Garmins!

Another thing I like about this race is the finish prize….A gingerbread man.  OK, so it is not really a good finisher medal for someone’s first marathon but it was darned tasty.

Oddly enough one of the ladies that went out with us in the beginning only planned on doing just 15 miles (3 loops).  We were having so much fun (and she was still feeling good) that she continued with us until the end.  So not only did she run an accidental marathon but she PR her marathon time to boot.  What an incredible day!!!

As for my friend who finished her first marathon, I think I’m going to give her one of my generic medals from a previous race and make some type of plaque for her that contains her finish line photo and medal.