13 Races in 2013- Recap + Plans for 14 in 2014!

I've achieved a whole lot in 2013, if I do say so myself :) I finished the 13 in 2013 challenge, which means I completed:

• Five 5Ks
• One 5 miler
• Two 10Ks
• One 15K
• Two Half Marathonsas 
• One 18 mile Bike race
• One unofficial Thanksgiving Day family run

For a total of 13 Fitness Events in 2013!! Hot Damn!! Here are some picture highlights:

Commitment Day 

Superbowl 5k

Corktown 5k

Falcon 5 Miler

Dexter-Ann Arbor 10k

Labor Day 30k bike ride

Heroes on Hines- 1st Half Marathon!

Detroit Free Press- 2nd Half Marathon!

In 2014, I have a few overall goals I'd like to knock off the check list:

• a Trail Run
• a Mini Tri
• my first Marathon

and I've set my sights on completing 14 races in 2014! Now that I've done a year of racing, there are a few races I know I'd like to repeat, some I could live without doing ever again, and a few new exciting ones I didn't get to this year. They're listed in chronological order: 

Draft 2014 Race schedule (repeat races are underlined with notes)

1. 1/1/2014 Commitment Day, Farmington Hills - 5k Run (w/ Mike!)
• A REALLY fun/COLD way to start the year off right!
2. 2/2/14 SuperBowl 5k, Novi - 5k Run
• This is on Superbowl day- a great way to manage calories for an otherwise wreck of a day!
3. 3/2/14 Fight for Air Climb, Detroit - 70 flights of stairs!
4. 3/16/14 Kona St. Patrick’s Day, Plymouth - 10k Run  (w/ Mike!)
5. 3/22/14 No Frills All Thrills, Brighton - 8k Trail Run
6. 4/12/14 Martian race series, Ann Arbor  - Half Marathon
7. 4/11/14 Falcon 5 Miler, Bowling Green OH - 5 Miler
• It was about 35 degrees this year. A nice outdoor Spring race to prep for a longer Fall race
8. 5/4/14 Kalamazoo Marathon, Kzoo - Half or Full Marathon (w/ Mike!)
9. 6/1/14 Dexter-Ann Arbor Race, Ann Arbor - Half Marathon
• I did the 10k this year and enjoyed running a local race. Looking to do the Half this year.
10. 7/4/14 Volkslaufe, Frankenmuth - 20k Run
11. 8/13/14 Triceratops Tri, Brighton - .5 Swim, 12.4 Bike, 3.1 Run
12. 9/6/14 Hippe Half @ Run Woodstock, Pinckney - Half Marathon
13. 9/30/14 Labor Day 30k, Milford - 30k Run
• Did this 18 mi bike race w/ my fam this year- will run it as mileage build up for a  marathon.
14. 10/5/13 Sleeping Bear Marathon, Empire - Marathon

Overall, I'm trying to scale up my race distances month by month. I'm not sure if I want to try for a Spring Marathon, or one in the Fall? I did several Halfs this fall, so it shouldn't be out of the question to complete a Full in the Spring, right? I have taken somewhat of a running hiatus, but I'm beginning again this week and it seems that I'd have 20-21 weeks to train and build up my mileage.

The second big question is "Which Marathon should I choose?" I'd like to do a Michigan marathon for my first one, since it's my home. Right now I'm thinking about the Kalamazoo Marathon or the Sleeping Bear Marathon. Kzoo is in early May, and Sleeping Bear is in October. We're headed to for the Kzoo set of races either way- I think I've convinced/encouraged my hubs to do his first Half Marathon this year, and we've chosen to make a trip out of the Kzoo Marathon/Borgess Health Half Marathon. SO I could either train like a boss for May 4th, or I could make that a Half, and do several more halfs in prep for the Sleeping Bear Marathon in October.

Any thoughts from you runners out there? 

What races are missing that I shouldn't leave out? 

Is a Fall Marathon "easier" to train for than a Spring one?

Race Recap- Detroit Free Press US Half Marathon 2013

Sunday, I ran the Detroit Free Press US Half Marathon the racing event I've been training for for the better part of a year! It was amazing, and lots of fun. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a well-organized Half in a big city that's lots of fun. I though I'd share some pics before I do the full recap, since I'm short on time tonight.

Here's me inside Cobo before the start of the race, getting all my gear on.
The US Half started at 10am, but it was still pretty cold outside as I was getting ready!

Hubs told me to do some poses- he specifically requested Reverse Warrior.
This is a conservative, non-race bib-ripping version of it.

There's me cruising through the start- right under the banner.
Can you spot me?

Action shot, right around Mile 10. Lookin' good!

I don't have pics of me at the actual finish until the official photos are shared.
Here's me at home right after the race with my bling!

Me and my love :) Freep 2013!!

I finished in 2:09:23- nearly 10 minutes better than my Heroes on Hines time of 2:18:10. I'm still on a runner's high from this race! More details and pictures to come in the next few days. Thanks SO much to my hubs, my mom and dad, and Mike's Uncle and Aunt who came out to cheer me on- you guys helped keep me moving :)

Race Recap - Kensington Challenge 15K

This past weekend I competed in my longest race to date- the 30th annual Kensington Challenge 15k race at Kensington Park! I registered for it several weeks ago, as I had begun to panic about when I could fit in a longer practice race to gear up for the Freep.

The Kensington Challenge was a really nice course this year- somewhat hilly, which was tough, but a beautiful course though! It was chilly that morning- I must have taken on and off my top layer 10 times, trying to decide whether or not to race with it on. I opted to leave it off, which was a good call in retrospect.

I tried to start off the race at an intentionally slow pace, aiming for a negative split in the second half. It was a tough mental feat to talk myself through those 9.3 miles- that's quite a distance to run without a race buddy! I eyed several potential people and finally settled on a couple of fellow runners with a similar pace to me to be my secret pacers.

Once I finished the first 5k, I was feeling pretty good. When I finished the 2nd 5k, I was just focusing on finishing strong. At mile 8, I tried to kick it into gear for the last 1.3, and had a strong finish, coming in directly behind my anonymous pacers- thanks guys!!

My finishing time was 1:29:59 - an average of 9:40 minute mile. I'm really happy with the time! My main goal for this race was to run the entire thing, no walking breaks, which I did!

I'm glad I did the Kensington Challenge. I feel much more prepared for my half marathon now! I still have a few other races coming up in between; the Heroes on Hines half on October 5th, and Run Scream Run 10k on Oct 12th. I'm looking forward to each one, and hopefully bettering my times!

Race Recap- Falcon 5 Miler, Bowling Green OH

For my 4th 13 in 2013 challenge race of the year, I chose the Falcon 5 Miler in Bowling Green, Ohio! It was a fundrasier for the BGSU Track/CC Teams, which is great, and it was a 5 mile run- something I was searching for! Since I'm training for the Freep Half Marathon in October, I've been trying to plan my monthly races accordingly, so I am building up my mileage in training and in racing as well.

Race Highlights

Pre-Race Training:

I'd scaled back my running about a month ago, and had been building back up in preparation for this race. I was a bit nervous going into it that I hadn't run enough 5 mile practices to be ready, but in the 2 weeks before, I ran 2 practice 5's. In my two practice 5's I'd finished with times of 44:09 and 44:00, so for race day I was aiming for a time of 43:00.

Registration and Packet Pick-up:

Since the run was in Bowling Green (about 1 hr 5 minutes from my home), I didn't go pick up my packet early. On Friday, I changed into my race clothes and left work around 4:00pm to head down to BG. It was cold and overcast- not looking like the early Spring day I was hoping for. I'd guess it was about 40 degrees out, tops. Packet pick-up was easy and quick. Bibs were the "old-fashioned kind" where there's a perforated bottom strip that tears off, and that's where your time gets written! No fancy QR codes this time lol!

Race Day and Course:

Luckily I had packed clothing for all types of weather! I ended up going with my spandex running tights, a thermal long-sleeve shirt and my cute black and pink jacket, with a winter hat. I was worried I'd be too cold, but I'm glad I didn't layer up any more- once I started running, I warmed up pretty quickly. The race started at Sebo Athletic Center, which is attached to BGSU's Football stadium. 

I was REALLY surprised at the size of the group of runners- It seemed like less that 50 people! When I later looked at the results, the final # was 108, but that's a big difference from my last race, the 9,000+ Corktown 5K!

Everyone was bundled up pretty intensly, and we all lined up outside the stadium on the road. The began, and we  were off! We swung around the stadium and headed back towards campus, running past the student center, lots of residence halls, the library.. there were BGSU track/cc members along the course periodically with directional signs, encouraging us along! Although it was cold, they were all pretty cheery. I get a lot of motivation from a simple "Great job!" so it was nice to have strategically placed encouragement along the route! 

Another surprise was the water stop- I assumed there would be a 1.5 mile water stop and a 3 mile, but instead there was just one stop at the 2.5 mark. I ended up pushing through though, and once I got to the 3 mile mark, I was able to push myself forward- just make it to mile 4. Right before mile 4, we turned away from campus and began our approach back to the stadium. It was nice to be able to see our destination for the last mile, and I knew I could make it the rest of the way.

My Results: 

When I crossed the finish line, the clock said 42:42. I had started a few second behind the front pack, so I estimate my true time to be 42:40- awesome!!! The track/cc team members had been calling out our times each mile, so I know that I started out slow (first mile was 9:07), and built up speed after mile 1 (2nd mile 17:17, don't remember 3rd mile, 4th mile was 34:20). 

I'm really happy with my time- 42:40 is an 8:32/mile average, which is pretty great for a 5 mile run! Also, I'm proud to say that I ran the entire race- no stops, no walking. THAT is an accomplishment!

Race Swag: 

All race registrants got a Falcon 5 Miler t-shirt! They are uni-sex shirts, which is disapointing because they don't fit too flatteringly, but oh well. 

Overall Thoughts:

I really enjoyed my first 5 mile race! I wish the weather had been warmer, but there's no controlling that! Both participants and track/cc team members were friendly, helpful, and encouraging. The race was well organized, and it was kind of fun to run through campus. Overall, a cold-but-well worth it race day.

If you're looking for a small, friendly Spring race that raises money so others can run, consider the Falcon 5 Miler next year!

Race Day! Falcon 5 Miler

Today I am headed out for my 4th 13 in 2013 race this year- the Falcon Five Miler at Bowling Green State University! I'm excited and a little bit anxious for it, but looking forward nonetheless. I've run more than 9 miles at a time- I can do a 5 miler! These two things have been bouncing around in my head for the last several days, pre-race. I think "Ain't No Tired!" ala Tony Horton is my new race mantra to keep me pushing through.

I'll be checking in post-race to with a re-cap so stay tuned! :) Happy Friday!

Week 8- Half Marathon Training update

Being someone who is very motivated by accomplishments (although I'm trying to be more intentional about living in the present!), the 13 in 2013 Running Challenge I've been participating in this year has been a HUGE motivator for me. Not only is it a push forward when I register for my next race; it's also a commitment to follow through on, a challenge to build more speed and add more miles.

Case in point is the Detroit Free Press National Half Marathon in October. I signed up in January, knowing that I would have a long time to train and that a "stretch goal" could be a great motivator. When I started my most recent foray into fitness back in September, I'd run two 5ks in my life previous; not necessarily defining myself as any kind of runner! When I first hopped on that treadmill in September, I started out at a "Couch to 5K" level, essentially: Run 3 mins, Walk 1, repeat. It was hard for me to even finish 3.1 miles this way; it took me about 45 minutes.

Fast forward 6 months to now- Last weekend, I ran 3.1 miles without stopping, in 25 minutes and 48 seconds- What?! Today, I ran 9 miles, my new longest distance. I've averaging between 10-15 miles per week.

Here's what my running log looked like this week:

Overall, Half Marathon training is going well. I've been running 3x a week- this usually takes the form of 1 easy run, 1 hill rep, and 1 long run. Easy runs are averaging between 2.5-4 miles, hill reps are usually 3.1 miles, and I'm trying to build my mileage base on my long run days with a .5 mile increase each week. I'm thinking about stepping up to 4 days of running a week- ideally I'd like to add a race-pace run for whatever upcoming run I have.

On "off days" or "non-run days" to be more accurate, I am doing 45-60 minutes of strength training, along with some core work and at least one yoga class per week. Although I am definitely loving running and looking to improve, building strength through weight lifting is a big fitness priority for me as well- I don't want to have to choose one vs. the other!

This week's workout schedule:

Mon: Easy run (2.5 miles) & abs
Tues: #stronglifts 
Wed: 5 mile run @ race pace
Thurs: #stronglifts & yoga 
Fri: Hill reps run  (3.1 miles)
Sat: #stronglifts 
Sun: 9.5 mi run

Total Mileage: 20.1

What are you workout plans for the week? 

Planning to get a run in? How about some weight training? Please share!

Race Recap- Corktown 5k, Detroit MI

Yesterday the hubs and I did the Corktown Race 5K, in Detroit! 

Race Highlights

Pre-Race Training: 
I trained pretty hard for this race- I've been running 3x a week for the last 5-6 weeks now, and I do one easy run, a 5k at race pace, and a long run, in prep for the Freep Half Marathon- that's between 12-14 miles a week.

Going in to this race, I felt prepared and ready, although I tried to set a realistic goal time; since my time at the Super 5K last month was 27:17, I was aiming for a time of 26:30. Mike kept insisting that my time would be 25:37, which is a time he just made up. I laughed him off, but it was nice that he was so encouraging and positive, even if he was crazy!

Registration and Packet Pick-up:
I opted to do early packet pick-up, and drove out to Southgate on Friday to Total Runner to get our bibs and our Tech tees. I'd never been to Total Runner before- it's a small and neat run shop off of Dix-Toledo Rd.- pretty close to my in-law's house. Good to know in case I'm out that way and have a run-apparel related emergency! :)

Early packet pick-up was easy and smooth, although it's kind of a trek to get to Southgate from Ypsilanti. But that's pretty un-changeable.

Race Day and Course:
An AWESOME thing about Corktown 5K is that is started at 12pm! This was a big selling point for my husband, who considers weekend mornings to be precious time of immense sleeping value! We woke up on Sunday morning, ate a yogurt & granola breakfast, put on our gear, and left the house around 10:15am. Mike got a Brooks tech long-sleeved tee and some run shorts from Running Fit on Friday, so he was debuting this new outfit for the race. Previous to this, in our last race together, he looked- just a bit- like a hobo who had joined the run just for fun. 

We snacked on some mango slices on the drive into Detroit- was a quick drive until we got to the exit of the race, and then we sat in traffic for 15 minutes. We took a few obligatory pre-race photos, and then made our way to Roosevelt Park to get ready.

Pre-race line-up was CRAZY for us! With nearly 9,000 people, it was really difficult to figure out exactly where to go. We followed a mob of people only to be trapped by temporary event fence and told we needed to walk all the way around to get to the start line. Once we walked around to the place we were supposed to be, we tried to find our 'wave' (we were in the Gold Wave, which is 8-10 minute mile runners), and that was confusing too. 

At any rate, we found our way, we lined up, and everyone was in good humor even though there was a lot of general chaos! The Gold Wave was called, and off we went! Once we got onto the course, it was surprisingly un-crowded. The race course was essentially an out-and-back straight shot down Michigan Ave. with a turn around half way. There was a big, supportive crowd lining the course almost the whole way! Lots of green-clothed folks, handing out beer as we raced down M-12: so goofy! 

My Results: 
We both felt like we got off to a really strong start. Mike and I stuck together for the first quarter mile, but I ended up pulling ahead. Don't worry- we made a plan to rendevous at the port-a-potties on Wasbash if we couldn't find each other at the end of the race.

I hit the 1 mile mark and was doing great- my goal was just to continuously be moving forward, and to pass people as often as I could. Not in a competitive way, just to avoid getting "stuck" at someone else's pace when I felt like I could go faster. Then came the Griswold St. turn around at the Half, and I was still feeling good, surprisingly! 

There was an awesome street drummer on a corner right around 2 miles, and that beat helped me kick up my pace a bit. I hit 3 miles, and knew I was at a pretty good pace. Still feeling like I had an energy reserve, I kicked it into high gear for the last .1 mile, crossing the finish! I headed to the finisher's tents, grabbed a cookie, a banana and a water, and then high-tailed it to high ground to try to spot the hubs. I couldn't find him, so I doubled back to the port-a-potties, and there he was :) Whew! 

There didn't seem to be a live-time-tracker tent and my crappy phone camera scanner didn't work, so I had to wait 6 or 7 hours until the I found out the times were posted on runmichigan.com. I was SO EXCITED to find out that I totally shredded my goal time, clocking in at 25:44!! That's a 8:18 minute average mile- holy schnikes!

Race Swag: Very nice green & orange tech tee for racers, as well as a finisher's medal- yeah! Great swag, IMO!

Overall Thoughts:
Although I was surprised and dissapointed by the seeming dis-organization of the race, it was my biggest race to date. Maybe big races are just like this? Besides the parking and line-up confusion, it was smooth sailing. I did love running down Michigan Ave (something inherently cool about that!), and enjoyed the costumed-out supportive drunkards yelling out encouraging things on the run.

*Also, I need to plan to meet up with my twitter buddies who I know will be racing with me. Why didn't I do that? Great job to all my buds who rocked it yesterday! @Runfastmama @kmjones234 @Detroitrunner1 @Winetoweights

If you're looking for a big, fun race around St. Patrick's Day, consider the 32nd annual Corktown Race next year!

Motivation Monday- Hoppin' Back on Track

This week I am motivated by thankfulness. I'm thankful for my health, although I've had some pain recently I am still a overall very healthy person. I'm thankful for the support and love of my family and friends. I'm thankful for my awesome job and coworkers that I love. I'm thankful for the hottub at my gym... :) 

I am trying to hop back on track this week, post-injury, with my workout schedule. It's a bit lighter than in past weeks, but still trying to make it to 300 minutes of exercise, not including yoga. I ended up knocking my long run out of the way early this week; I didn't get one in last week (was supposed to do an 8 miler) and I have the Corktown 5k this week so I wanted to get my long run out of the way well before the race. I ended up pulling out 8.5 miles, which is my longest distance to date. I still look back and think about how I used to HATE running- I wasn't able to run 1 mile.

I'm still building up my mileage- I have been running for 10 minutes, pausing the treadmill for about :45 seconds to take a water break, then repeat. I'd like to space out my break intervals eventually but I can do that once I get to 13.1!

Workout Plan for the week of 3/4-

• Monday: Long run 8.5 miles (78 mins)
• Tuesday: StrongLifts & Upperbody weights & Yoga flow class (135 mins)
• Wednesday: Bootcamp class (60 minutes)
• Thursday: Hill reps 3.5 miles (50 mins)
• Friday: Practice 5k  @ race pace (8:30/mile) 3.1 miles (25 mins)
• Saturday: StrongLifts & Upperbody weights (45 mins)
• Sunday: Corktown 5k! (25 mins)

What's keeping you on track this week? :)

Motivation Monday- What Keeps me Running

Today for Motivational Monday, I'm going to share a "Things I Love about Running" list. I'm definitely what you'd consider a new Runner- I've only been running frequently since November, but I'm already hooked!
Here's what keeps me running:

Race Day
Although I do really enjoy training most days, races are what keep me motivated on those dreaded long-run days! It's not so much the "beating other people" (since I'm still a slow-ass runner!) but it's the ability to run with others, as well as the desire to challenge myself and beat my own PR from my last race!

Even signing up for my next race is a motivation- knowing I have a specific event to train for helps me stick to my training schedule; there's a reason I'm working this hard!

Self-Discipline

I enjoy a good challenge, and I am very motivated by overcoming obstacles. Because of this, I really appreciate the self-discipline that running has helped me to develop within myself. Whether it's discipline in making and following a training schedule, discipline in eating healthy and "clean", or the discipline to take a Rest Day when I really just want to train through it, Running has helped me improve as a person.

Gear & Swag 

I'm not a huge shopper, but I DO really like to have clothes that fit me! With the frequent weight loss in the past 5 months, I've got to invest in a lot of new clothes. I do think of it as an investment; if I feel comfortable, supported, and put together, I'm more likely to be successful. That applies to work clothes and business, but also to running & workout gear. I also believe that while you CAN workout in anything, a few key, high-quality pieces, like fitted running shoes, a nice pair of workout gloves, and some cold-weather gear can make a world of difference in your performance. As for swag, who doesn't love a race tee or a finisher's medal or a tech beanie? A souvenir of my hard work is a reward for a job well done :)

Running Community
A great surprise about beginning to run was stumbling upon on supportive community of runners online! When I signed on for the 13 in 2013 challenge where I will be running a race every month (plus an extra one!), I met a lot of supportive folks on the facebook page & on twitter, who have been inspiring, helpful, and encouraging! From affirming that yes, it's possible to go from 5k to Half Marathon in less than a year's time, to sharing stories of their own fitness successes and challenges, it's been great to tap into a network of passionate people!

In an effort to keep myself accountable, here's my workout plan for the week!

Workouts for the week of 2/18-

• Monday: StrongLifts & Lowerbody weights (60 mins)
• Tuesday: Hill Reps Run 4 miles (40 mins)
• Wednesday: StrongLifts & Upperbody weights (60 minutes)
• Thursday: Spinning & Yoga Flow (50 + 75 mins)
• Friday: Easy Run 3.1 miles (30 mins)
• Saturday: StrongLifts & Upperbody weights (60 mins)
• Sunday: Long Run 7.5 miles (70 mins)

What's going to keep you going strong this week?

Find it and make it happen! :)

Motivation Monday

This has been my mantra for the last week since I saw it on greatist.com! 

I really think it's effective for me because it's simple, and direct.
Just breate, damnit! :)

Half-marathon training!!!

 

Push-ups are something I'm pretty good at, but I can always improve.

At my Fit Assessment in December, I did 42 "girly" push-ups in a row! 

Now to work up to 42 standard push-ups. Join me in this challenge!

My motivation for the next several weeks- my March 5k, the CorkTown Race! 

Some of my in-laws are doing this race, and it looks like a lot of fun, 

so I signed myself up. Plus, hubs is in, since there's beer at the end ;) 

Hoping for a PR of under 27 minutes!

Happy Monday, folks- Go out there and GET IT!

Race Recap- Super 5K, Novi MI

On Sunday, I ran the Super 5K, a Superbowl Day 5K (as the name implies) in Novi, Michigan. It was my first time running the Super 5K, and I guess it was a new route, but it was new to me anyway! Overall, a great race! 

Race Highlights

Pre-Race Training: Since I'm doing 13 running events this year, I have been consistently training since I ran the Turkey Trot in November of last year. To prep for the Super 5K I had been running 3 times a week, 2 short(er) days of 2.5-4 miles a day, with one long run where I am building up mileage, simultaneously working up towards the Freep Half Marathon in October! I knew I could run a 5K already, having 2 others under my belt in the past 3 months.

Registration and Packet Pick-up: Registration was online through the RunningFit website, which was nice and easy. There was an optional pre-race day packet pick up at the Novi Civic Center (on race site) the Saturday before, and I chose to go and get my bib and swag early- nice option! Packet pick-up was pretty straight forward, and early pick-up helped me to mentally prepare for "race-mode"!

Race Day and Course:  It was a brisk- ok who am I kidding, damn cold- 10 degrees outside on race day, and was a bit windy as well! Luckily I had swung by Running Fit, a local chain of running apparel stores, to get a cold-weather top. I was decked out in a sweat-wicking base layer, a thermal shirt over that, and my new asics running top over that (pic on the right)! I put on my new tech beanie, and a winter hat on over that, and I had on two pairs of spandex pants and two pairs of socks on!

The participants mosied towards the start line, and at 9AM we were off. I was way at the back of the pack, since I had to use the restroom before the race and stood in line for 20 minutes to do so (Never Again!!). It was funny because I didn't hear any starting gun or starting announcements, so when the pack took off, it felt like a sudden start to the race! The course was nice loop down Taft Rd. through a neighborhood near the Novi High School campus, and leading back out onto Taft Rd again for the finish. there were a few small hills that I didn't expect-a good reminder to do some higher-incline treadmill workouts in my next month of training!

I felt really good and strong in Mile 1, and warmed up quickly. Mile 2 seemed to take a while to come, but I kept busy by keeping my eyes on the roads to make sure I didn't slip and do a faceplant! We finished circling through the neighborhood and came out onto Taft Rd for the end of Mile 2, and hit Mile 3 right before the finish, turning back into the High School complex. There were also GREAT volunteers along the route that were encouraging participants as they went; I really appreciated that. I always wave at the volunteers, and a returned wave, smile or cheer can keep me going strong for the next quarter to half mile sometimes! There were lots of folks cheering at the end, which is always a good last half-mile pick-me-up!

My Results: I was hoping to finish the race with a time of 28 minutes or less. My last recorded 5K time was 29:42 at the Smoke the Turkey run in November, although we did the Commitment Day 5K on Jan 1st and I estimated my time to be 29:00. Although I've been running a 5K on the treadmill indoors in between 26:14-26:50, that doesn't include the 30 second water breaks I take every 10 minutes. The 28:00 goal time also factored in the cold, which is always a bit of a shock to the system! I kicked it into high gear for the last .25 mile, and crossed the finish line strong!

The finish line clock said 29:32, and I was a bit disappointed. I started a mental cheerleading routine- 

"That's an improvement from your Smoke the Turkey time- any improvement is something to be proud of..",

and then remembered that the counter reflected the race start time, not my start time! I practically ran indoors to the after-party to see where the results had been posted, and got to see my REAL finishing time: 27:17! Out of my Age Group (Females 24-29) I finished 18th out of 86- not too shabby! Considering the cold weather and the fact that during the race I ran the entire thing (vs taking water breaks like in training), I am SO happy with my time, and it's better than I had hoped for!

Race Swag: In addition to the great tech beanie, which is an awesome addition to my running apparel drawer, the first 2,000 finishers received a cool pint glass!

Overall thoughts: This was a fun, enjoyable Winter race, and a good idea, since I totally pigged out at our Superbowl Party later in the afternoon. Pretty close to home, great swag, well organized race, timely posting of race results; not too much more you can ask for!

If you're lining up your running schedule for 2014, consider adding the Super 5K to your list!

12 in '13 Fitness Challenge!

I'm excited to announce that I'll be hosting my first-ever Fitness Challenge coming up here in January!

As I've been thinking forward to the new year and how to keep myself motivated, one of the fun goals I came up with was to do one "competitive" fitness event each month for the year. 



Why fitness events?  
1) Training for a 5k or a cycling event can be SUPER motivating, even if your goal is simply to run a mile at a time or complete the event!

2) Because you're investing some money in registering for events, there's the bonus motivator of "oh, now I've spent money on this thing; I should probably give it a good effort"!

3) There's something really powerful about participating in a group fitness event. Whether it's competitive, like the Boston Marathon, or a "Fun Run" like The Color Run, getting out there with other men and women that are trying to better their lives and their health is pretty inspiring- it kinda makes me tear up a little thinking about it now!

Get Started!
This will be a fun, personal-challenge type of thing, and I've created a few ideas on how to start and plan out your 12 in '13, as I'm calling it. I've also designed a few different images, that you can download here if you'd like. Feel free to post them on your blog, share them on Facebook or Twitter, or event Pin them!

Each person that "registers" by tweeting using #12in13challenge and putting a Commit Button on their blog will be entered into a drawing to win Eating Clean for Dummies, and each month that you register for a new event and share it on Twitter using #12in13challenge, you'll be entered for another small prize drawing!

Here are some buttons below that you can share & post. Please link them back to here, so more people can join the challenge, motivate each other, and get fit in 2013! I'll be sharing the events I've registered for so far in the next post. You've got until 1/5/2013 to enter the contest by registering for your first event & sharing it with others!

My 5 Fitness Goals for 2013

I've begun to set some goals for 2013. I am not usually one to set "New Year's resolutions"- many times these goals end up as  fads or trends, things that fade away quickly. I am, however, a big Goal Setter.

I've been enjoying my fitness journey so much since I started that I've laid out some big Fitness goals for myself in the upcoming year. And remember- the best goals are SMART- Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant and Time-defined!

Here they are, my goals for next year:

Goals 1-3 are things that I am already doing with some measure of success. I just want to keep doing them, and doing them well! Goal 4 is pretty easy, at least the registration part of it!

Goal 5 though... that's a big leap for me. I have something to admit, folks- I have a major crush on Spinning class. Ever since I first tried it over 4 years ago, I've loved indoor cycling. The combination of cycling + a group of peers + thumping music= damn hard to beat, in my opinion!

I look up to Spin Instructors (literally and otherwise). Most times they are SUPER fit and really powerful motivators. A talented, passionate Spin Instructor can make your work out 10x more fun (and more challenging)! A "bad" Spin Instructor, on the other hand- someone who is demotivating, annoying, a bully, too shy to encourage their participants, or a terrible selector of music- can make me want to leap off the bike mid-class and run out!

Just the though of being "fit enough" to feel comfortable as a Spin Instructor makes me excited! I also would love the chance to be a motivator in that way- the ability to make someones ride more fun, their workout more challenging, or just help the stress of their day melt away in that 50 minute class would be a true privilege. I've decided that 2013 is the year that I go for it, and get my Spin certification.

What are your Fitness Goals and Aspirations for 2013?