AC Shortgrass Scamper Race Recap

This morning brought the second Archer City Shortgrass Scamper, a race benefiting the Archer City Salvation Army. My mom's one of the organizers, and it's a definitely a family affair, from volunteers to particpants.

It was fitting then that I ran with my cousin Vicki. It was really nice to have an unexpected running buddy of the same pace. We kept each other going and got to catch up with each other a bit. And this particluar picture catches us saying hi to our families...her kids, mother-in-law and sister, my parents, my sister, her husband and baby  son. It was fun to have a cheering section :)

The race, even though I might be a little biased, was very well organized. The swag bags were better than some I've had at much bigger (i.e. more expensive) races. Check out all the loot!

There were coupons, flyers, samples and snacks.

The race would not have been successful without all the sponsors, some of which were represented in the goodie bags. They were all on the back of the shirt....



The course was the one I ran last week with Mom, so I knew what to expect...hills and all. It was very well marked for those that weren't familiar with it. There was one section Vicki (who runs the streets of AC on a regular basis) called the dead zone because even though the wind might be blowing the tops of the trees, the street level was breezeless...boy, was she right. It was right at the end, too, and a little uphill...but we rocked it!

We kept a great pace the whole race and finished in 1:03:44 together. I wanted to break the 60:00 mark, but alas, no such luck. Still, I'm happy with the way we ran it. I was surprised that we were quite far back at that pace, but that's part of a small race, I guess. The official results are posted on the Wichita Falls Runners Club website.  

After the race and medal presentation were over, they handed out some "door prizes" that had been donated by some awesome companies...BondiBand, Emergen-C, RoadID, NLZ running socks, One More Mile, as well as some local places. And I won a RoadID...again! I won one last year as well, but I gave it to Vicki then. This time, I kept it so I could get the kids each a Slim ID.

All in all, it was a great day, from the weather to the swag to the family time to the run itself. It's a growing race, and we'd love to see you out there next year!

Mileage Report
Weekly: 14.7 miles
YTD: 547.85 miles

Join the fun!

It's just over a month away! The Archer City Shortgrass Scamper will be September 17 this year. That's a week later than last year, but they're hoping to avoid a couple of other events in the area.

There will be 3 events this year: the 10K will start at 8, the 5K will start at 8:15, and the 1 mile fun run/walk will start at 8:30.

This race benefits the Archer City Salvation Army. By running and having a little fun yourself, you are helping them take care of others. The Salvation Army helps residents when they need it. A worthy cause!

You can register on Active.com. Just click my link :)

Last year, it was quite warm, and with this summer heat, I'm sure it will be again this year. It was a fun race though! We'd love to see you there!



Getting signed in and our chips



Finishing!



My age division



Moms Run This Town Virtual 5K

While I'm not new to the idea of a virtual run, I'm really liking this one! It's a ladies-only virtual 5K, meaning you can run where you want, when you want (and as fast...or slow...as you want). It's being hosted by Moms RUN This Town. And it's free!

It's so easy. Just head to their website, and register for the Virtual Insanity 5K. They'll email you a nifty bib you can print on your own. When you complete your 5K, just go back to the website and click on the Finisher's link. They are doing one a month...what a great way to stay motivated during the summer!

And...there are prizes! This month's includes a SPIbelt (which I love!) and a few other great prizes.

You and also find this group on Facebook and can even earn more entries to the giveaways by sharing about the Virtual Insanity 5K on your page...just be sure to include @Moms RUN This Town in your post.

It's summer!

Since I had a meeting yesterday at school, today is my first "real" day of summer! And it's wonderful for so many reasons.

1. It's National Running Day today, and I ran 5 miles outside before Chad had to leave for work.

And I'm wearing a few of my favorite things...my new Super Mom BondiBand, my favorite running shirt from One More Mile, and even though you can't see them, my Garmin and my Road ID.

A lot of places are giving out good deals for National Running Day today. I know that you can use the code RUC1326 for 15% off One More Mile. I love their shirts...the fabric is light and airy and their sayings are awesome!

I definitely felt like Super Mom when I returned, and not just because I ran 5 miles. I came in to find my little guy getting up for the morning, so I got him settled with breakfast and Sprout. Then I folded a load of laundry and took out all the trashes, including pulling the trash to the curb. A mom's job is never done :)

The run itself was good...overcast skies, not too hot (but it was still hot), and outside! I was slow, but that's ok. I haven't been eating or hydrating well or taking care of my IT bands. It's not an excuse, just an admitting of my mistakes here lately.

2. I registered for my second half marathon, the Rock'n'Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon yesterday morning, if you could call it morning yet. My son woke me up at 1:20 that morning, so I stayed up to register at 2 a.m. our time. It was cool because I was able to Facebook chat with my friend Chandra who was also up to register for the race. She and I will be meeting up in Vegas to run our first race together!

3. We finished our first t-ball season for our daugther last night. It was a long season, but I think she enjoyed the experience. Poor thing was a magnet for the balls and got hit in several games, including last night's. But she's a tough girl and after a few tears, she got right back to playing ball.

We also enjoyed some time after the trophy presentations with good friends, pizza and a swimming pool (and a Mavs game on TV). It was really nice to be able to kick back and relax, but that's summer, right?

4. Did I mention it's summer? My son is playing the Wii, my daughter is coloring and making me pictures...life is good. The house is a wreck, but life is good :)

5. I got to try out my new Running II WrightSock that I won from Running Diva Mom's blog a few weeks ago. I've worn a different WrightSock for a while now (since before the 3-Day) and love them. Of course, this morning was more of a need since all my others were in the wash. I love this style even more! It still has the double layer but doesn't feel as heavy or thick. Plus, the ankle is a little lower than my other ones. Defintely worth a try!

Race Report and the Weekly Miles

So I ran the Lyndon Laseman Memorial Run in Henrietta this morning with the goal of breaking an hour. But I didn't meet my goal. It was hot and hilly, two things I hadn't planned on. I made the first mile in less than 9 minutes, probably a little fast. I did ok through mile two. Mile 3 was hard, but not as bad as it's been through some of my training runs. But mile 4? That's where things fell apart. I started having chills and feeling some cramping in my calves. I grabbed some sports beans to try to balance out the ol' electrolytes, but it was too late. I'm going to have to start experimenting with taking Gatorade on my runs. I had to walk quite a bit of 4 and a little of 5. I let some kids douse me with water at the last pit stop, which felt good, but again, it was too late. I crossed the line in 1:06:51. I was fourth in my age bracket. About a minute faster would have gotten me some bling.

I've still got to plug in my Garmin to see the elevation. I really was not expected that. I did set my pace alerts to beep if I fell below a 10:00 mile. I have to say, when I was walking up some of the hills and that thing beeped, I was ready to fling that thing as far as I could throw it.

It was definitely a mental thing. I just wasn't in it this morning like I should have been and I let myself beat myself in my head. Physically, although the chills and the cramping were there, I could have done it. But once I took a small walk break, I told myself I couldn't reach my goal and there the race went. Maybe I need a sports doc...one for the mental aspects, not the physical.

I could blame it on several things, but instead of making excuses, I'll turn it into lessons learned:
1. Use the water stops on hot runs to pour water over your head.
2. Train for hills.
3. Replace electrolytes sooner rather than later.
4. Try out Gatorade or some other drink.
5. Eat more calories the night before.

I had about a cup of pasta, some fruit, a little potato salad and a breadstick for dinner. I went to bed feeling hungry, but I was battling a 3-year-old and didn't feel like getting up again to have something to eat. I should have though. Even a glass of milk would have been good.

And on top of those things, I think I might have a sinus infection. I can feel fluid shifting in my inner ear. It was a weird sensation to feel like I needed to pop my ears while I was running.

The miles:
Weekly: 13.2 miles
YTD: 313.9 miles

Race Recap

I did it! I finished my first half marathon yesterday. The Dallas Rock N Roll Half Marathon benefiting Susan G. Komen was an awesome first race!

Let's see if I can do this race justice...

We got up about 5:30 and headed out about 6. I debated shorts vs. tights and finally settled on tights. Then I debated my new shoes (which I suspected were causing my big toe/foot pain) vs. my old shoes (which need to be retired) and decided on the trusty Asics (saying a prayer of "God, bless these shoes" as I laced them up). My parents, kids and hubby dropped me off in downtown Dallas close to the start where I made my way to the Aloft hotel to meet up with the Komen fundraisers/runners. I was so thankful for that warm lobby! It was quite chilly, especially that early. My hubby drove my parents and kids to Fair Park to wait at the finish line while he took DART to find me at the start and then again at the halfway point.

I had quite a wait but got to down a granola bar and enjoy real bathrooms before we paraded past all of the corrals to ours...corral 11. There I was able to meet up with Marsha and Margie, two of my Team BFF's from the walk in November. My hubby got to stay with me until the start, and I really appreciated having his calming influence there with me (plus I got to keep my fleece jacket and gloves on as long as possible). Shad and his buddy Rusty joined us in our corral as well. I've never run with anyone, but Shad said he'd run with me at my pace...so I took him up on it. It was great to have company on the run, especially knowing he'd done this 18 times before!

We started off pretty easy. I tried not to watch my Garmin too much, knowing I can get too focused on how slow I am and how much farther I have to go. We did a pretty good job of keeping the pace between 10 and 11 minutes/mile. I felt great the whole time!

Chad made it to the stop at around halfway (right at 6.8, I think). I was so happy to see him! I ran over and gave him a kiss and kept on running.

I was thrilled when we hit 10 miles, knowing I'd only run 10 or more twice before. And I was just as thrilled when we passed 11, knowing I'd now gone farther than ever and was still feeling great. My legs were getting heavy, especially my right quad/hip area, but thankfully, my big toe/foot never gave me an issue.

Right at the end, Shad backed off and let me finish...and finish I did! I did get to see my mom and kids at this point (although it was kind of a blur, but I did wave). I need to plug in my Garmin to see how much faster I was going, but I felt amazing nearing the finish line. An announcer was telling the first-timers to cheer, so I did :) I was completely pumped crossing the finish line! I'll share that link in another post.

The finish line was a little confusing. I'd done the wave start at White Rock for the marathon relay, but I didn't have to maneuver the finish area. They had all the food/drinks set up right at the end. I did make sure to get my picture taken!

I connected with my parents and texted my hubby so we could all meet up at the Komen VIP tent, where I scarfed down a piece of a turkey sandwich. I was so ready for a shower, so we didn't stay too long, but I did run into a college classmate who also ran the half for Komen.

Overall, it was an amazing experience. After having such a horrible run last weekend, I was terrified...but I kept telling myself that this was a mental thing and that I had trained right and trained well and had this...and I can't get over how good (no, make that amazing!) I felt the whole way! I'm pretty sure I smiled the entire time (ok, maybe not every second...). And to top it off, I finished in 2:20:31...under my goal!

I'm sure I'll think of things I left out and add a few things, but here it is in a nutshell.

White Rock Marathon Relay: Done

Team Because We Can survived our White Rock Marathon Relay this weekend!

Once we got Fair Park, we had to get situated and figure out where to be. I had to be in the corrals by the starting time of 8. Everyone else headed to the buses for the exchange points, except for my sister, who waited with me until about time to start.

I had the first leg of 5 miles. I couldn't feel my feet until mile 3. Then I started warming up and couldn't really shed many layers. I just unzipped the fleece jacket and kept going. I did lose my Bondi band though. I had it around my neck and when I warmed up, I took it off and looped my arm through it...but didn't think about it when I shifted my water bottle from one hand to the other. Off it went. :( I did ok with my leg...52 minutes for right at 5.2 miles once I hit the exchange point. That was crazy. I had no idea how I'd find my brother. Luckily, he's tall so I spotted himi over the crowd. I yanked the chip timer off my ankle and passed it to him as he handed me my bag. Off he went.

I don't have an exact time on him, but he did a great 5 miles! He was planning on running a mile and walking a quarter, but he ended up running 2.5, walking a bit, and finishing running.

He passed off to Mom for the longest leg. From what I can tell, they had a rough exchange point...all chaos. She ran 6.73 in under an hour, an amazing 8:48 pace! She's a rock star!

She passed off to Dad, who had to battle the wind and hills the most, but he did very well! 44 minutes for a little under 5 miles. Awesome!

He passed off to my sister for the last leg. She did her five miles in 45 minutes...I'm jealous! I got to see her finish, as did my brother and mom, as we'd all made it back from our exchange points.

The things we learned?
We figured out a way to have the things we wanted after our run without dealing with bag check. It was also a way to pass off any layers we didn't need while running. Each person waiting at the exchange point had a bag and would pass it off to the runner coming in. That way, the runner could have water, Gatorade, snacks, an extra jacket, etc. after they had finished, and the new runner could leave behind clothes they didn't want to wear running.

To be honest, I probably wouldn't choose a relay again. You miss out on everyone else running because of the exchanges. I only saw my brother take off (since I handed off to him) and my sister finish.

Being a part of a large race, like the White Rock, was amazing. I really liked watching the finish line as the half-marathoners and marathoners finished. Amazing!

It does scare me a little. I did see one lady throwing up as she ran to the finish. I saw another break down just feet from the finish line. I saw lots of tears.

But what motivates me is that I saw many runners finishing strong, with a smile on their face and a spring in their step. One was even singing into her iPod as a makeshift microphone :)

Race for the Cure

Just one year after my mother-in-law's diagnosis of breast cancer, we walked as Patsy's Posse at this year's Race for the Cure. Amazing. Awesome. The whole family was in on the walk, 1-mile of family support. Grammy's two sisters, one niece, two grandkids (with one more cheering us on), husband, sons, my parents, and I all participated in RFC for her.

After the 1-mile walk, we stretched and warmed up for the 5K. With a 10K just two weeks ago, I just wanted to run strong. And I did. I finished in 31:30, which is actually my fastest yet. I wasn't in it for speed...but I was still a little disappointed that I didn't hit the 30 mark. My parents, on the other hand, rocked! My mom finished in 25 something and my dad was less than 30 seconds behind her! He tends to be faster, but I don't think he was feeling good today. She turned 50 in March...and I hope that when I'm 50, I can run a sub-30 5K! Heck, I hope I can do that by 40!

Even though I'm a little disappointed with my time, I realize that I ran a strong race, passed people, and did just fine. So much better than last year. And progress is progress.

The only drawback is that after the race I came way too close to passing out. I was on my way to grab an orange or banana and ran into someone I knew who I stopped to talk to...and I could barely focus on her face or words. Dad was with me though, so I knew if I hit the ground, I'd be fine :) I didn't though...but I did find the closest curb and took lots of deep breaths. The best I can figure out is I stopped too soon and my breathing became more "normal" before my body was ready for it to.

I did try some Power Bar Engery Gel Blasts in rasberry...two at the half-mile point because I just wasn't feeling strong. About a mile later, I felt them kick in. It wasn't anything magical or crazy, just a little kick of energy, enough to boost my confidence and move my legs.

I also carried a new water bottle. I've been carrying a water bottle for a while now and really like it. This one by Nathan has a strap with a pocket, perfect for those chews. It worked well.

I guess there was more than one drawback, I found that I had blisters again. I never had any blisters with my old shoes, even if they did remove two toenails. And now, with both my new pairs, I am getting them just about every run. Well, actually, that's not true. I didn't get any until the 18-mile training walk 3 weeks ago where I got many blisters at mile 2. Since then, I've gotten them after most runs. I let the fluid out on Tuesday, and babied them with some antibiotic ointment and band-aids, but they're back like a bad alien movie. They are coming up in the exact same spot every time...inside heels right where the bottom and side of my feet meet. I can feel the hot spot in the Asics, but I don't feel anything coming up in the Saucony shoes. I'm baffled but need to get this figured out before the 3-Day.

My, how things have changed

It's the night before Race for the Cure, and it's got me thinking about several things (although how my kids can behave so badly and be so cute is not really connected to this event...it's on my mind too).

1. Just a year ago, we were waiting for results on tests for my mother-in-law...and of course, just the week after Race for the Cure, we found out that she did indeed have breast cancer. She's had a mastectomy and is doing very well...no radiation or chemo was needed, luckily. We will all be walking in her honor as Patsy's Posse for the 1-mile tomorrow...my hubby, kids and extended family included...before I run the 5K with my parents, sister (if she's not sick), sister-in-law and a few others.

2. Last year at the Race for the Cure, I was recovering from hip issues and couldn't run the entire thing. And now, 3 miles is a basic run for me. I'm not in tomorrow for speed though since I did a 10K just two weeks ago. But I'm looking forward to the run!

3. I'm not as nervous as I usually am before a race. Maybe it's because I really haven't had time this week to think about it. Maybe it's because it's "just" a 5K (and I know that not that long ago, that was a huge deal to me!). Maybe it's because I'm considering this a recovery after the 10K. I don't know why, but I'm ok with just heading out for a run tomorrow. I love being outside hitting the pavement and am looking forward to it!

Isn't it amazing how fast we forget where we were not that long ago?! Change may be slow, but it's happening. I'm stronger and, even though I'm still slow, faster. I'm more confident and comfortable.

Yeah, baby!

The weather definitely didn't cooperate this weekend. We headed to Abilene yesterday afternoon for the Balloon Fest 10K today. I signed up for this one for a couple of reasons...1. it was a 10K, 2. it wasn't too far away, 3. they had a kids 1K, 4. they had hot air balloons. Well, we never got to see a balloon! It rained yesterday evening/night so we couldn't see the night glow, which I really wanted to see. However, the hotel had an indoor saltwater pool, so we did get to swim with the kids.

And it was definitely raining this morning! We headed over to Red Bud Park. Hubby was sweet enough to go get my packet so I wouldn't start off wet. Nana and Poppy took the kids to McDonalds while we got all this done. Then Hubby drove me as close as possible to get my chip. But then we had to go park...and then hike to the start line. We huddled under tents. The start was delayed a little, but the rain cleared off for a little bit...just enough for Hubby, Nana, Poppy and the kids to come cheer me off the start with signs and all!

I took two sports beans at the start line with about 2 minutes to go.

And we were off!

Luckily, it wasn't raining for most of the race. There were some huge puddles to maneuver, but it wasn't anything like the CASA 5K in the rain. In fact, I kept my feet relatively dry until about mile 3.

The greatest thing was having a cheering squad at several points in the race! The kids had signs and my mom and husband had the cameras. Dad took my visor at one point when it had stopped raining and had just gotten too hot...then Mom gave it back to me when the rain started up again.

I had two more sports beans at the 2.5 mile mark. I think I've finally figured out water stations, or at least the drinking out of the cup part. They did throw me by having a left-handed water station though.

I hit the 5K mark at about 33...a little slower than I wanted, but I just kept on trucking.

I hit 5 miles at about 52 minutes, I think. I was pumped! My last long run I hit 5 miles at 1 hour and that was after hoofing it to get the last mile in in 10 minutes.

I finished in 1:07:08, about 6 minutes less than my last (and first) 10K! And I felt good. A little shaky for a few minutes, but I was able to head over to the kids' 1K without any problem. They did so good too. SB wanted to walk some, but Ryan just kept on trucking! And it was really neat to see my parents with my kids!

Post-race, we headed to the hotel for a nice warm shower and a little fuel. Then we headed to Rosa's, which was cool because that's what we had after my last 10K. Something about warm tortillas and butter works for a recharging! I wore my compression sleeves on my calves on the way home. They sure felt tight, but they feel better now...now if I just had some compression sleeves for my quads.

Overall, it was a great experience! If it hadn't been for the weather taking away the balloon-watching, it would have been perfect. There was a race here in town, but it was a 15K...I probably would have done it if it hadn't been for the balloons...and since that didn't happen, I was a little disappointed. Still...it was fun and I felt great. That's all I could ask for!

Getting nervous

So when I walk in my classroom tomorrow, I'll walk up to the board and change my race countdown to "1 day until Mrs. J's next 10K." And then I'll have a panic attack. I don't know why I get so nervous about races...and continue to race. It's not like I'm really that competitive, as in I never place. I just want to be there. And do well. For me.

I am trying to remember a couple of things: 1. Trust the training. I've done what I can to prepare for this. 2. Face the fear. If all I'm afraid of is not doing well, then what do I have to lose if I go all out? That I might do well. That I might fail. Either way, it's not life-ending. Or even life-altering. I'll hit the treadmill next week just like I always do. 3. It's supposed to be fun. Besides, I'll be outside running! And my family will be there. :)

I wish I'd had enough time to figure out a couple of things about what I prefer and what I handle in the form of nutrition. I'm going to carry a water bottle and take my beans at each water station. I'll leave Gu to figure out later. I am going to have a mini Clif bar before I run, and maybe a banana if I can grab one. I'll drink my G2 post-run and have some fruit. I'm hoping that will work.

And I'm going to wear my iPod, but I'm not going to start with it on. I really think I get distracted by the music and quit listening to my body. I know that I can go on long runs without it and end up enjoying my run so much more (and I'm faster, to boot).

Our local Y is starting a running class. I wish it was at a time I could attend. Even though I've been running a while now, I'd love to see what they have to say about how to run. I wish they'd had something like this a year or so ago. I'm sure there's so much I should have learned early on.

I'm falling asleep as I type. I have had to get up at 4:40 to run this morning because of early morning duty at school. It's killing me. Just one more day though! But I'm still going to hit the sack.

Getting there

After Saturday's walk, I was very, very sore. As in, it hurt to move sore. I should have taken an ice bath, but I didn't. And I'm pretty sure I was dehydrated. But, I'm getting better. I went to bed with a heat pack on my back last night and it's a little looser today. I rolled every possible part of my body as well last night. I got some compression sleeves yeseterday and wore them for a few hours yesterday and taught in them most of today. And I have to say, I'm a believer. My calves are much better this evening. I'm going to use the foam roller again tonight.

My plan is to stay hydrated, get and stay loose, and get two easy runs in this week. That's it. That's not what I had planned originally for this week, but it's all about adjusting to what happens.

I still have no idea what I'm going to run in this weekend. I wanted to find a longer running skirt, but it looks like my capris may win out again. I'm hoping a 7:30 run is cool enough for that.

I didn't get to experiment as much as I wanted with Gu, sport beans, and other fuels. I think I'll stick with the beans for now. And I'm considering a couple of things: 1. running without an iPod and 2. running with a water bottle. And now, I've got my compression sleeves to consider. Wow...I just have not gotten this down yet.

Shortgrass Scamper

This morning was the Shortgrass Scamper in Archer City benefitting their Salvation Army and ultimately, their residents. Mom was one of the organizers, and it was definitely a family affair. Sister and Dad rode bikes to lead the race and bring up the rear. Brother took care of lots of odds ands ends...logo, goodie bags, sound system, walkies, etc. I, however, got to run.

Because I'm training for a 10K in two weeks, I needed more mileage than the 5K would provide...so I ran 1.5 miles before the race and another 1.5 after. Granted, the breaks in between probably weren't the same as running 6 in a row...but the heat made up for it. The race was at 9:30, and I'm definitely used to that 6:30 a.m. run on Saturdays.

I ran it in 32:30 or something close to it...definitely not what I wanted for today, but it will work. I did get 2nd in my age division (out of 4...LOL)...but it's my first medal!