Busy or lazy?

It's been well over a month since I've blogged and honestly, I'm not really sure why. I kept saying November was a crazy bust month, but now I don't really remember why I thought it was so busy.  I did run two races in November and finally posted race recaps for Race the Bar #4 and Turkey Trot 5k. I'm just a little Type A and felt I had to get those posts done first before I could just start blogging about current stuff. Weird, I know. Spoiler alert - I did accomplish a goal I've been trying to do for a long time (in both races actually).

Since I can't remember why November was so busy, maybe I was just being kind of lazy. After the half in October, I thought it would be nice to not have a running schedule. I was definitely looking forward to shorter runs. But then it started getting dark early and it was cold and the excuses to not run turned into valid reasons (at least in my mind). I kept telling myself, I didn't have a race to train for so why in the heck did I want to run in the dark and cold? My lazy self says, I don't.

So I guess my Type A side needs to have a running schedule or a goal race to train for. Perfect timing to start thinking about new goals for 2013 since it will be here soon! I've got some other exciting running and non-running news to share but I'll save that for later posts. Hopefully I can get back on track with running and blogging!

Turkey Trot 5k

This year our Turkey run came before Thanksgiving. The local Thanksgiving Day race is the Greensboro Gobbler 5k which we did last year and it was just okay. It’s good to do for fun, but it’s very crowded and the course is a hilly loop (not my favorite course) that you run twice. Instead this year we decided to do the Turkey Trot in Reidsville which was on November 10.

Pre-race with some of the WRS Royal Blue girls

Really Michael wanted to do this race once he heard they gave out actual trophies! It’s a small race and based on last year’s finish times (and the fact that he’s fast!) he had a pretty good shot at winning one. Actually based on last year’s finish times, I had a chance of placing in my age group and we all know I’m NOT fast! But last year’s results do not mean it will be the same this year.

I talked Ryan into signing up for the 1 mile fun run instead of the 5k. He wasn’t happy about it at first, but I knew that he hadn’t been running much and 3 miles would be much less enjoyable than just one mile. Plus it was his birthday weekend so I wanted him to be in a good mood (if that’s possible, he is officially a teenager now). My BIL and his crew came out to run and some of my running buddies from the Women’s Running School.

The 1 mile fun run was first and Ryan did great with a 7:30 mile! All the fun run participants (under age 15) received a medal which was cool. Even cooler was that they gave out trophies for the 1 mile run and Ryan won first place in his age group!

Ryan getting his trophy

Ryan and my nephew Britain who also won his age group for the 5k!

The finish times this year were nothing like last year. Michael finished sixth place overall even with a sub-20! He still won first place in his age group and got a cool trophy. Not quite the karate trophy first place overall male and female got…those things were huge! 

Michael and another trophy

I had a great run that day and set another 5k PR!!! My official chip was 29:07!! I was so happy to finish sub-30 again. So many times I have come close to my goal of finishing under 30 minutes and now I’ve done it twice! The last little bit was uphill and once I realized I was close to the finish line, I thought I might could even finish in under 29 minutes. I gave it all I had but there just wasn’t much left. My legs were seriously on fire!

Me at the end struggling

This year’s field was much faster than last year. I didn’t even come close to placing in my age group. My BIL didn’t place either and he usually does. It was still a good race and I’m very happy with my new PR. Ryan was sweet and said I could have his finishing medal since I did PR. Awwww… Maybe one day I will actually win a medal!

Race the Bar 5k #4

The final race in the Race the Bar series was a few weeks ago on Nov. 3rd. I debated about doing the this last race since I had dropped to 4th place for my age group in the overall championship after that horrible 3rd race. I wasn't that far behind in points and I thought there is always a chance, so I should at least give it a try.

It was another afternoon race and the weather was perfect. Instead of this race ending at a bar, it actually ended at a brewery. Pretty cool. Coming into the race, I thought I have to just go out there and give it my all. Run hard. Earlier that week I had decided to test it out and see how hard I could push myself. I always hear my husband and my BIL talk about pushing yourself to "puke stage". Well I know I've never felt like that at the end of a race and I don't think I really want to. But maybe this is how you are supposed to feel. I figured it would be best to try it out before a race, just in case I really did get to "puke stage".

So during a regular 3 mile run in my neighborhood, I pushed myself to run faster. I could definitely feel it was tougher. It was the first time I finished that course in under 30 minutes! I didn't puke (luckily) but my legs felt like they were on fire! I finally had hope that it was possible for me to run a sub-30 5k. After that run I knew I wanted to run this last Race the Bar 5k. Even if I didn't place in the overall series, I really wanted to see if I could run a sub-30 5k.

Pre-race

BIL with the photo bomb

 I felt great on race day. In fact, so great that I finally did it! I finished a 5k race in under 30 minutes! My official chip time was 29:23. And the course was legit...my Garmin had 3.11. YAY for me!! It was so great to finally accomplish this goal!


Adjusting my hat and my feet are actually in the air!



Right after finishing the race

Post race beer in the brewery

 I didn't place in the overall championship...I finished 4th in my age group. But I was so happy to finish under 30 minutes it really didn't matter. The medal or trophy at each race was a pint glass. For the overall championship in age groups, you got 4 bottles of beer each from the different breweries that sponsored each race. Don't get me wrong, I like beer, but personally I would much rather have a medal. I also think that if you did all 4 races in the series, you should have got something for that...at least a pint glass! Yes I'm complaining (since I didn't win anything).

Well I don't think I will do this series again next year, but I did accomplish two goals: Finish a 5k in under 30 minutes and I ran in all the races for the series. I'm happy with that. :)