All Together Now: "Awwww"

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about new running shoes and the promise that a fresh box of shoes brings. I posted this picture of my new shoes to help illustrate the excitement:

This week I logged onto Facebook and saw a video of my cousin Erin's baby boy Diego taking his first steps. Facebook has been a great thing for Erin, her husband Alex, and baby Diego. They are stationed in Germany as Erin is serving our country in the Army. They are able to post pictures and videos of Diego so that we can watch him pass all those big milestones and grow into a little boy. I commented on the video and congratulated the proud parents on their boy's first steps. The next time I logged into Facebook I saw myself tagged in this photo:

It looks like Diego has his first running shoes! I hope that his shoes bring him the same excitement and hope that my shoes bring to me. Just think of all of the steps he has ahead of him. Today is Diego's first birthday, Happy Birthday Diego! And Happy Running!

Was It Too Hot To Handle?

I can't think of a more appropriate name for the Too Hot To Handle 15K, in fact, it might have been the hottest one yet! I'm not sure that I have ever been to a race where I am sweating...BEFORE the race even starts. All that being said, it is still one of my favorite races because I see so many runner friends. I understand that there were over 3,000 registered for the 5K and 15K races.

I woke up at 5:00 am and groaned when I checked the weather report: 80 degrees and 75% humidity--and this was before the sun even came out. North Texas summers are pretty brutal, but this one is exceptional. It is like we have suddenly inherited the humidity of Houston. Ugh.

Erik and I made our way to the race and spent some time milling about before the start. We saw so many of our friends and fellow runners and had a great time talking to everyone while we waited for the race to begin. Erik was signed up to run this race, but was unable to due to an emergency appendectomy last Thursday. He was a real trooper to come out and endure the heat in support of all of us.


Erik received a get well gift from
one of the race sponsors.

After a slight delay we were off and running. I knew going in that there wouldn't be any personal records (PRs) today, and I was just hoping to finish with a decent time somewhere in the 1:25 area. Summer running is a whole 'nother animal and I know that I am not going to run at top speeds. I have learned that summer is about enduring the temperatures while maintaining my miles and overall fitness level. The payoff comes on those cool fall days. My strategy was to settle into a pace that I felt I could maintain all day and then push it a little bit towards the end. I gave myself full permission to take my time a little bit more than usual at water stations. Thank goodness they were plentiful and fully stocked with water and sports drinks.

Spectators can make a huge difference in a race and Libby and her cheering squad was just what we needed during a hot summer race. Since this was an out and back course, we saw her around mile 3 and again around mile 6. It is amazing how seeing a familiar face can really lift my spirits during a tough run. Thanks, Libby, for coming out there and cheering us on! I know that it made a difference to me.


Thanks for the picture Libby!

I checked my watch around mile 9 (the race is 9.3 miles) and saw that I might not make 1:25, but wouldn't be too far over it if I pushed a bit at the end. It always amazes me that no matter how tired I am, there is always just a little bit more to give at the end. I picked out a couple of runners who were in front of me and tried to pass them on the home stretch. That last little bit is so much fun!

I finished the race in 1:26:04, nothing to shout about but within my goal for the day. It is 4+ minutes faster than I ran this same race a year ago and I am pleased with that progress. An interesting look at what heat does to this runner: my 15K PR was at the Too Cold To Hold in January. The Too Cold is the sister to this race and follows approximately the same course. In January my time was 1:19:30--almost 7 minutes faster than today...on the same course! The heat is no joke! Survive the summer and fly in the fall, that is my plan.

One more hot weather race to go, The Hottest Half is next on the calendar. I am betting that it lives up to its name too.

Give A Girl The Right (Running) Shoes And She Can Conquer The World!

My new running shoes arrived via UPS on Tuesday afternoon. I scored an incredible tax-free, no shipping fees deal on Ebay and I had been tracking their journey to my house via the UPS website. I was giddy as I unwrapped them and opened the box, I'm not going to lie. I get an incredible feeling of hope and excitement when I open a box of brand new running shoes. There are so many stories just waiting to unfold, so many challenges and triumphs waiting to be played out. I will rely upon these shoes for protection, comfort, and even inspiration. Where will they lead me over the next 300-500 miles? We will spend a lot of time together, pounding the pavement. Undoubtedly we will run in many races, will they lead me to some new personal records (PRs)? Will I be wearing them as I complete some of my big goals for the year? They are so fresh and clean, I dread getting them dirty but at the same time I know that is part of the adventure. I will take them on their maiden voyage tomorrow morning--a five mile run around the neighborhood. Here's to many happy miles!

Liberty 5K: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Running.

July 3 brought the annual Liberty By the Lake 5K, a favorite race of ours for many reasons. The 2008 Liberty 5K was my first race ever and I consider it my "anniversary" of running. It is the first race that Erik and I did together and I remember being so proud of both of us when we finished for the first time. The logistics are just alot easier as the Liberty 5K is held right here in our little suburb, so we don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to drive to Dallas.

I woke up to the sound of rain and was hoping for a rainy race, however, the rain held off and left us with a heavy blanket of humidity. We arrived at the park and immediately spotted a group of runners in hot pink Heels and Hills shirts. Libby Jones, Heels and Hills Half co-director was there with some members of the Lucky 13 Run Team. Libby and Jamie were both doing the inaugural 10K race. We also found Mary, her daughter Kama, and Linzy--a friend from work. One of my favorite things about running is the people that I have met, and I was thinking about that as I started the race.

I have been thinking about a huge goal for several months now: to place in the top 3 in my age group in this race. I knew that it was possible as I finished 5th place a year ago. I knew how much I needed to improve to be good enough for 3rd place and I had been focused on it over the last few weeks. I really wanted a trophy, and I knew that it would take a new 5K personal record (PR) to get it.

We started near the front and I took off pretty fast--faster than I usually do--and the humidity hit me square in the face. Holy cow! This was going to be the hardest 3.1 miles that I have ever run. I knew that I was moving faster than usual and was pleased to reach the 1 mile mark in 8:10. I also knew that I would have to hold that pace for two more miles...ugh. Erik and I ran together the whole way and it was nice to have someone to share some of the hard work with. At one point Erik asked if I was "chewing the air" like he was. Indeed, the conditions were not great for a PR.

We hit mile 2 in 16:22, making the second mile in 8:12 and holding a good pace. Mile 3 felt like four miles instead of one and I felt pretty sure that I was coming undone just a little bit. I knew what I needed to do and tried to keep on pushing, picturing my goal as I struggled to get a deep breath. I was so happy to see mile 3 that I didn't check my watch to see if we were, indeed, slowing. I really wanted to cross the line before Erik and tried to wait long enough before engaging in my final big kick. I feel certain that he knew this and was also biding his time until I made my push. Sure enough, I kicked it up a notch and Erik did too, crossing the line just before me. I was pleased to see 25:22 on my watch, and I thought that I might, just maybe, have managed to get a third place finish. I am not going to lie, I felt terrible the moment that we stopped running. It was just impossible to get a breath and I wanted to sit down more than anything. However, as soon as I got some water and walked around a minute I felt normal again. A look at the final results show that even though Erik crossed the line before me, we somehow ended up with an exact tie as his time was also 25:22. We must have started at slightly different times.


After the race we met up with Jamie (one of the Heels and Hills gals), Mary, Kama, and Linzy and waited for the awards to be handed out. I was still not sure if I had placed and it was fun to see runners of all ages getting trophies. When they got to my age group they announced 3rd place and it wasn't me....but then they announced 2nd place and called my name!! I don't think that I could have been smiling any bigger when I went to get my trophy. I have never won an award for anything athletic and now I had a lovely eagle trophy--a huge running milestone. I still can't believe that it happened. Jamie thought that she might have placed in her age group for the 10K so we waited with her to see. Nobody should get a trophy alone, right? Sure enough, Jamie took 3rd place in her age group. We were both so proud to carry our eagles out of the park. I may, or may not, have taken mine to breakfast with me. I also might, or might not have, carried in my purse at some point this week.


Jamie and I show off our age group trophies

I was surprised at how hard that was--that race was harder than most of the half marathons that I have run. I don't race 5Ks that often because I thought of them as too short or not enough of a challenge. Consider my mind CHANGED!! I can appreciate the challenge that the shorter distances bring and I am looking forward to the next opportunity to meet those challenges.