My goals this year have me embracing the idea of a racecation…seeing the country (and maybe the world) by traveling to great races all over.
The first installment of racecations took me to Little Rock, Arkansas for the Little Rock Half Marathon. I had several firsts on this trip…first half marathon in 5 years (and second half ever!). First time in the state of Arkansas. First half marathon of my racecation series. And to make it extra special, my oldest daughter ran her first half marathon with me, along with her long time best friend (who also ran her first!)
It may seem like a random race to travel to, but once we figured out that my daughter’s friend could make it work (she lives not far from Little Rock), it all came together. I had earmarked this race because it was rated high based on crowd support, organization, fun, a not-super-hellish course, cool medals / swag, and a generous time limit. I am definitely a “back of the pack” runner by most standards, and freaking out about being taken off the course for moving too slow is something I don’t want to worry about.
I’ll be writing about several races this year, so I’ll focus on the highlights of each:
This race has a different theme each year. The current theme is dinosaurs which was a little funny, but I loved how the expo and all the local neighborhoods embraced the theme with enthusiasm. People ran in dinosaur costumes. Some of the pacers were dressed as Flintstones. The medal, known for being exceptionally large and heavy, was a sparkly triceratops. Easily a favorite.
There were great groups and signs along the way. Even a lipstick stop at the end where a well-known sorority was handing out lipsticks to make sure your finish was picture-perfect. The course was relatively flat. I loved running over the bridge, which also allowed us to cheer for the faster runners and wheelchair racers who were on their way back over as we made our way across.
I have been training with the Galloway run-walk-run method. The group of people running near me were in the same vein. It was pretty cool to hear a chorus of beeps and bells throughout the run and see people of all shapes and sizes getting their run on. I felt like I was in the right place. The weather was awesome, cool but not cold.
I had a great race and loved being congratulated by my daughter and her BFF at the end. They enjoyed their time together…it’s fun to see the two of them as girls who enjoy taking on adventures and challenges together too. Fit and adventurous friends are the best! Such great memories.
The only downside to this race was actually the town. Little Rock didn’t seem to have too much to do. There were hikes and caves and outdoor sports, but we couldn’t really take advantage of those since we were saving our strength for the race. We did enjoy Arkansas cheese dip after the event and an ice cream flight. I would 100% run this race again! Next stop: Disney!
Month one is in the rear view and I far exceeded my expectations. 34.25 miles accumulated. I ran 26 days out of 31. I even ran 15 days in a row at one point. Never in my wildest dreams did I have that as an expectation. Eleven more months to go and so many adventures are on the horizon. Who would have thought I would be so into running after 1 month. Certainly not me!
The start was bumpy. Day one running at midnight in Colorado. Cold. Dark. Unforgiving. I could have been done with one run. Just quit. That would be easy. And trust me I thought about it. Just a bizarre start to my adventure, I guess you could say. A flight home gave me time to pause and think about my game plan for the coming days. A regrouping of sorts. Time to think about my why or why nots.
I got a half mile in the next day. It was effort but nothing to jump up and down about. The next day I rested. My body was still recovering from travel. The day after I planned to run but life got in the way. I was beginning to get discouraged way too soon. Even having the realization of how hard my task to myself was actually going to be gave me a taste of humble pie. Training myself to do something I don’t want to or even like to do takes a lot of self talk. Over and over again. One step. The .11 miles running around a building at the gym to accumulate a half mile seemed tedious. The hill that seems like a mountain was on the other side of the building. I had avoided that hill many times. A mental block of sorts. All of it. Repeat the self talk. You can. You will.
It was Friday. I was full of excuses. My body was achy from CrossFit. I asked a couple of family members to run a mile with me. No takers. It’s cold. That doesn’t sound fun. Why? That’s what I heard. I grabbed my AirPods and said I’m doing it. I just said I had to. I eventually want the words I utter to myself to be go now. No hesitation. For now I will settle for self talk because I’m trying to form a running habit. Holding myself accountable. Just this journal is a portion of accountability.
I hit 1.5 miles on that Friday. I set a small personal best for my first mile which is really what I’m focused on as I grow as a runner. Not sure if that’s the most effective focus but it’s what I’m working on at the moment. I walked some to cool down but all in all I was happy with my distance and productivity especially getting out there mid work day, alone. Battling the elements wasn’t really an advanced thought. The wind is just gross on a cold day. The wind may be your friend running one way but the way back it’s a slap in the face. Harsh as it comes.
I ran 4 days the first week for 3.75 miles.
I signed up for a virtual 5k.
I ran an impromptu 5k on an air runner on a rainy day. For no reason. Who am I? I guess this will be my air runner bench mark time. I didn’t really plan to do this but I guess it’s now a data point. Go me! 7 miles accumulated in week 2. Yes, I am celebrating myself at every little milestone. 19 miles by the twentieth day of the month. Is this really happening?
I actually completed the virtual 5k by month end with a time of 38:58. I had to fight a lot of wind on this day as well. It was brutal in spots. I was excited to see my mile times were evenly dispersed when I reviewed my Apple Watch. This was a big win for me that I didn’t think was achievable. I guess this will be my 2024 bench mark 5k race time and my split times. Although I think a virtual race is slightly less significant due to it being self monitored versus say a chip time in an in person race. I did get a race bib for my 2024 collection so it does count as an official race. Still miss the hype of the crowds on race day that normally get you going faster.
My 5k time was logged after my first month of committing to running. A first and best official race time for 2024. It will be great to see where my 5k time ends up at the end of 2024. My last official recorded 5k time was 45:18 minutes back in May of 2023. A more hilly course and no training leading up to the event which means I should have improved but it definitely feels good to give myself a baseline 5k time to work on over the year. I also had an unofficial 5k park run time of 42:52 back in August of 2023. Definitely good to have some progress points to refer back to.
I ran in 2 states (Georgia/Colorado).
I ran in the cold.
I ran at the park.
I ran in the city.
I ran at midnight.
I ran alone most days. This is where the biggest growth is for me. Putting in the work when nobody is watching. Striving for better, solo. Getting up the courage to go alone. This can be scary at first but empowering in the long run. Getting punny here.
I ran at 6am with my crazy friend! The smile is also before the run. The red face was definitely the after look with no smile. The darkness of the photo reiterates the wee hours of the morning before the sun rises.
I ran inside on an air runner, more than once.
I ran stairs and liked it.
I learned that music can distract your mind from running if you can sing along to the soundtrack. For me this is important for pacing as well as going further before stopping. It also helps to maybe run for a song length estimating the time elapsing. This is exactly why I have a new running playlist thanks to a dear pal who keeps me on track. I also snagged a good running play list from the virtual 5k group as an added bonus.
My 1 mile best pace was 11:31 on 1/5/24.
My 1 mile pace dropped to 11:11 on 1/10/24.
Not every day was a personal best, but every day I had some sort of effort towards my goal. Writing. Reviewing. Running. Planning. Taking steps every day that will keep me on track. And don’t forget running isn’t my sole focus. I’m also active in CrossFit and paddle sports like tennis and pickleball. All of which are in full swing making me work hard to balance life and fitness goals.
I also made a visit to the local running store to make sure my feet were equipped properly for my hefty goal. Enter a new pair of shoes. My first pair of Brooks. I tried several other brands but decided on this one. We shall see how it goes. Not so excited about the color but we will see if the performance is a winner.
First run in the Brooks was decent. Cushiony but firmer than the ASICS. On we go to month two. February. The chocolate month. The Hot Chocolate 5k is on the books with friends which will be yet another 5k time to catalog. Let’s see what month two looks like for me. I’ve already come so far in such a short time. Feeling confident after month one even if the confidence is short-lived when I look at the big picture.
I also pulled the trigger on signing up for a half marathon in November of 2024. This goal is getting real, quick. Another fun fact is I’m taking pictures along the way to document my journey. And boy is my running face a sure sign of distress or pain as my friend noted. Hopefully that will change in time.
Happy to report month 1 was a success. Keep following to see where this journey leads.
2024 is around the corner. I’ve been thinking. I’ve been looking for the right target. I’ve been thinking about how to hit the target. I put the pen to paper. The idea was hatched.
The hamster wheel. My idiotic quest. My target. My stretch goal. My to do list item on repeat. The few I’ve shared this goal with asked why? Well, I was motivated by a friend who chose run every day in 2023. She has just 40 days left. She ran with stitches in her foot. She ran on cold days. She ran when she didn’t want to. She ran on the treadmill. She ran races. She ran alone. She ran with friends. She overcame so much adversity.
I looked at that success in awe. I also knew I was not as dedicated to running daily. Thus I had to find a broader way to hit a similar milestone. 1 mile a day may last me a week. I can’t do the same thing so many times. I’m just not wired that way.
I will have to manage my miles my way. Adding a mile here and there at lunch. Running a 5k here and there to build the mileage. I’m looking for variety. Maybe a 10k, 15k or half marathon. Maybe some new destinations to entice me. Maybe become friends with the air runner at my gym. Who knows.
All I know is I have a goal. I bought a journal to track my progress. I wrote this blog to have a placeholder in time. Now it’s up to me to mentally prepare for January 1, 2024. For that is when I begin my hamster wheel activities. Round and round I will go.
How many pairs of shoes will I use?
How many states will I run in?
Will I run in another country?
Will I do my mileage alone or with friends?
How many races will I register for?
Will my time improve with consistency?
Will my body change any?
Will I motivate anyone to run/jog/walk?
Is it possible for me to end up liking running?
We shall see. Look for updates in 2024 or maybe it will be a memo of defeat? Anyone want to make a wager?
Seriously, I came for the hot chocolate and the swag bag that has a sweet jacket inside proving I participated. A jacket I have been eying for a few years now. Unfortunately, I just never got any takers on completing the event with me, until this year. So excited to have earned my jacket. Thankful I get to share the adventure with some amazing people.
Participate in what you ask? The Hot Chocolate 15k road race in Atlanta, GA on a cold day in February. 02-02-2020 to be exact. When I say cold, the temp was a mere 33 degrees. It did warm up tad bit during the race for me to shed a few layers but of course the 60-degree temps didn’t hit until well after the race was over!
The random fun fact about the date of the race is it’s the same forward as it is backwards. Pretty freaky. I can’t take credit for the fun fact as my friend Sarah gave me the heads up on it. Even funnier is I finished the race in 2 hours and 2 mins…which is the the date (2/2). Crazy if you ask me, but also confirmation that I was in the right place with the right people.
We are a little over ten people deep for the event. A few newbies and a few who ran the half marathon a few months back. None of us are true runners per se but we get the job done. We cross the finish line at our pace.
Our pre-race list included some self preparation in the cardio endurance arena vs. traditional running due to the elements outside and maybe a bit of laziness. It also included outfit planning of course. Then there was the bib pick-up. The carpool. The porta-potties. And who can forget the group text messages up until bedtime the night before.
What corral are you in? F: well then many chime in with words that begin with f. Frigid. Frightening. Fucked. Flatulence. Hopefully you get the gist. Another is in c and the process repeats. Catastrophic. Cute. Cuddly. Comatose. And so on. Sounds dumb but it got everyone giggling before bed.
Sleepless. Anxious. Ready. Those are a few of the words I heard as night fell and the runners entered their sleep stage. And I caught the bug of no sleep. Finally falling asleep at 2:30 am.
I’m up about at 4:00 am and definitely tired. Met up with a group a crazy friends ready to conquer the course and the cold all while sporting flashy tutus and stylish tank tops. This is not only an athletic group of crazy women but a crafty group. One made the tutus while another made the shirts. The rest of just showed up😂.
Not expecting a great run time due to the elements, but that was never the goal for me. The goal was crossing the finish line with friends. Tackling another event that many won’t even attempt. Checking off an adventure in another month of 2020. Adding some miles to the mileage log for my lofty 2020 goal. Starting my birthday month off with fitness, friends and fun. And how cool is it that I finished in 2 hours and 2 minutes on 2/2/20.
Good fun. Amazing friends. Tons of memories. And another race adventure that I can say I did with my oldest son. This might be one of the greatest things to celebrate. Staying fit with my people always puts a smile on my face.
Another great bonus of this race is the snack pack at the end. A warm cup of hot cocoa, marshmallow, pretzels, hot melted chocolate, and some other sweet treats. A great way to end a cold morning.
This race was also dedicated to a very special person in my life who is knocking on death’s door. May our strength in the race be channeled to him as he finds his peaceful resting time / place. What a great tribute idea from one of my good friends and adventure buddies. #buddy❤️
Training diary for August is below. How am I doing?
CrossFit 6 days a week. No excuses. Well maybe I can take a rest day here and there because life is crazy in general and of course I added running a half marathon into the mix. Always enjoy a sweat sesh with my writing partner, aka Chick 2. I guess lynx barbell gave us a shout out recently…
Extra post-WOD mileage: here and there but I have been so busy that I have had to trim my extra bonus gym time which is where I would get those miles in. Sigh.
Air runner work: did some intervals this month but it’s been extra hot out making two-a-days at the gym pretty dreadful. As you can see, I sent a special # 1 sign to the person egging me on. No photo creds needed. They know who they are.
Weekly group sessions: Sunday Rundays with the girls. It’s tough waking up on Sunday but I do it and it’s great to have likeminded people around to support my growth and push me.
Healthy eating: working on this. Added some 1st Phorm protein to my days to see how that goes in the coming weeks.
Proper hydration: trying to elevate my game here. Trying to lay off the “Ice” brand of water and dial into the more pure form of water! Wish me luck.
Attire: alternating the Nike Air Pegasus and Zoom. So far I like the Pegasus the best. Keeping chafing at bay which is always a good thing. Haven’t found the perfect bottoms for race day yet but I’m trying. I upgraded to the newer Apple Watch Version 4 so I can run without my phone, in hopes music will let me go on for miles and miles. This is what my home screen looks like:
Random rants in the month from the peanut gallery:
You are not running enough. One day day a week won’t cut it. Add in this and that.
You’ve got to build up your distance. Work on your breathing. If you stop and walk do five push ups. Maybe that will make you want to keep running😂.
Guess what people? I’m training. I doing the best I can and I don’t expect to win. I do expect to finish and I’m working hard to hit the goal time I set for myself.
I might fail. I clearly won’t know that until I try to do it. How many people won’t ever sign up because it’s hard? Many. And for that reason alone I am already proud of my efforts.
2 Chicks and a blog 