High 5 for Hope 5k

It has been a while since I have done erase. I have really fallen out of running and 10 to go to spin class and yoga class more often. Both of those things are beneficial to me but I don't get the speed I used to have when I was running more. The last couple weeks I have decided I needed to kick it up a notch and B cross training even more.

To be honest, this was my slowest 5K Pace since I have started running. I could blame it on the Hills I could blame it on the wind but the fact was I have only been running 3 miles once a week for the last couple weeks and for three months before that not running at all and only doing Spin and yoga. The good news is that because of all the spin I had no problems with breathing and my heart rate didn't Spike too high comma it's that my legs were being used and trained in a different way.

Now that it is getting warmer outside I would like to get on my bike on the trail more often as I really have been enjoying biking a lot. I will go biking by myself or as running I often dread having to do by myself. But I do plan to get out there and try to start running 3 miles a couple times a week. I plan to do that in addition to biking and yoga , both things I enjoy.

From the Heart Half Marathon Relay

Two weekends ago I did the  From the Heart Half Marathon Relay with a friend. It was a 2 person relay, so we each had over 6 1/2 miles to run. This is a local race that supports families who have someone battling cancer. It was their 8th year holding this race. They also do a 5k run walk and a half marathon, as well as the relay. The 5k has the biggest entries. When I got on the bus to be shuttled back from the exchange point, there was only 15 of us on the bus but I understand a couple people were picked up before I made it to the exchange point. So, there isn't a ton of people doing the relay; there are more doing the half marathon by themselves.

If you noticed, over the last couple years after I did 2 half marathons, I have really only been doing 5ks. I think I just needed a break from running so much and at this point I can just go out and run a 5k and it's not a big deal. So, this winter I approached my friend about starting to run together this spring and suggested we find a race to build up to. Building up to 6 1/2 miles by May 7th was pretty much perfect.

I have to say, this was a really fast half marathon pace. I pretty much kept my normal pace which typically puts me in the middle of the group, but in this particular race I was further back. But my friend and I were not running it to win a medal for time (they have them for this race). It was for the cause and to push ourselves to run further distances.

I had been running all winter with a friend who trained for this to be her first half marathon and I was happy I was able to run with her for my leg (the first half that was the hilly leg!) and be able to chat with her. Yes, we could have ran faster if we weren't talking, but it helped pass the time immensely and that is how we run together. It's a social sport for me.

The race started and ended at Lake Kohlmeier, which is why I took the cute picture of the grandpa and son at the Lake after I finished running. All I could think about after the race was eating the asparagus I picked from my garden with some eggs over easy and bacon. Yum!

There are a couple things I wish were different about some of the planning for this race. One of the things is there were only 3 bathrooms (porta-potties) total and we waited in line for 20 minutes and I barely got to the start line before the singing of the national anthem and there were a ton of people behind me and they were anxious too and asking if people ahead of them were running the 5k (which started a half hour later) or the half marathon or relay.

The other thing is that it felt like the relay is kind of just lumped in there. The relay people didn't get their own shirts like the half marathon and 5K people did; they all had shirts with their race on it whereas we got ones with half marathon it. I know some people have said they feel silly wearing it because they only ran half of the half marathon and don't want people to think they are trying to say they have run a half marathon. Since I have run two half marathons and feel like I probably could have if I wanted to that day,  so I don't feel that way but I get it  from people that haven't. The other thing is that they had not planned to give medals this year to the relay (to save money) but didn't communicate that to their volunteers prior to the race, but after all medals were given out and they realized they had a ton of medals left they gave them to the relay. Each person in the relay paid (we paid $95 for the relay) nearly as much as someone running the half marathon. It felt like we just got the leftovers and are an after thought. If I were to do this race in the future, I would probably just sign up for the half or the 5K. I did like splitting it, but not how it made me feel insignificant.

Fitness Friday: Chocoholic Frolic

The Chocoholic Frolic was another fun run I did recently. This one was only 2 weeks ago and I did it with 3 girlfriends. We scored a really good deal on Labor Day weekend (it pays to like races on FB because then you find out about specials) and we were able to register for this one for only $29/pp. Our race fee included race entry, a technical hoodie or 1/4 zip jacket (your choice, I got the hoodie), a race bag that says "Life is Better with Chocolate" and chocolate candy bar, plus a fondue buffet afterwards (and a hot chocolate stop at the halfway point if you wanted but I couldn't imagine having hot chocolate when I still had a a little over a mile left to run.) They had both a 5K and a 10K, but we all signed up to do the same run and some were just beginning running again, so we did the 5K.

As of right now, I am not signed up for another race, but I am thinking about a holiday themed 5K to do next month. I am starting to think ahead to next year and what races I might want to do. I don't often repeat too many, but there are some I do because they were just so much fun or they are local.

Fitness Friday: Mill City SUDS Run

The Mill City SUDS Run over the Stone Arch Bridge was an awesome fun run. What exactly are the suds, you may wonder. Well, it's Beer Suds. It is sponored in part by O'Donovan's Irish Pub.

This run is all about the fun! Your race entry includes the race, a technical t-shirt, 2 beer/soda tickets and a pulled pork (or bratwurst) & chips lunch. You gotta love a race that includes a meal at the end.

It was a BEAUTIFUL course. I ran it with a couple of friends and it was just a fun time. For those that want a little fun around 2 miles, they do have a "beer stop" to use your first drink ticket. I didn't do that, but there were plenty who did.

I will have this race on my race list for next year. I know several people who wish they had done this one after I told them about it, so I think I may be able to get a group together for this one. I hope so. Even more fun!

"Race Bling" Medal Display Hanger

Here are the next two of the Custom Made Medal Hangers that I have titled both "Race Bling". The Green and Gold one is one that I made for a friend and the Gold and Maroon one is my own race hanger and I now finally have all my medals hanging up. Yeah! You can read the other post linked above to see how I made them. I have 2 more that I started on that I need to finish up, so stay tuned for when I share those last ones.

My First Triathalon Re-Cap

A triathalon has been on my bucket list for the last couple years after I have learned about about an indoor one that based on points that you earn for the distance you complete over a set time.

I admit that my hesitancy for so long was because I of my lack of confidence in my swimming abilities and afraid that I would tire quickly and run out of breath and not get the breathing correctly. My kids are swimmers on swim team, but I never lapped swim and completing 6 levels of Red Cross when I was 2 and a half decades younger was about all the training I have had.

After talking to a few people that have done triathalons I realized it was perfectly ok to do the stroke I felt the most comfortable with (side stroke because then I can keep breathing). So, I side stroked it and was surprised at how well I did. I only went to a community pool once before this triathalon to see if I could actually swim long enough.

I'm a runner, so that was the only piece I was relatively confident about but I was fine with the bike and really like the idea of an indoor triathalon because I don't have to worry about anything happening to my road bike.

I felt good about all off my distances seeing that I have not specifically trained for this type of race. I felt strong because of all the strength classes and power yoga classes, as well as running I have been doing so I wasn't too terrified.

Anyways, at the end of the race what I learned is that the transitions were tough and I need to train for that with my next triathalon. I am sure my numbers will be better because now I have a better handle on how the machines work and how distance is calculated in on the bike and will do better next time,

I am happy my friend said she would do her first one with me. Our first triathalon that was a first for both of us. I do plan to do another one of these next year. These are held by Lifetime Fitness Clubs and they are held in many of the LTF locations across the nation.

Terror Trot 5k Re-Cap

This race was a somewhat spontaneous race that I signed up for. My daughter had told me that she wanted to run another race with me (we ran the Zombie Run together in May) and this race came up and I thought it would be a fun one to do with her. We literally decided about a week and a half before the race to sign up for it and only decided on our costume just a few days after signing up.

We dressed as Elsa and Olaf of Frozen. I really wanted to wear my white long-sleeve running top and she had the makings for an Elsa costume thanks to my MIL making her the dress and cape over the last couple years, before Frozen even came out. I bought her a wig that we braided and leggings and a crown.

I wore my long sleeve white running top and  put on some pieces of stick on velcro with cut out felt black circles on it. The Olaf hat was my own loom knitting creation that I will be sharing with you how to make in a couple weeks.

Here are our races numbers. This race was a great race to do with my daughter. The course was mostly flat and was around the beautiful Lake Harriet in Minneapolis. It is not a hugely attended race, probably because there is other Halloween races in the state and Twin Cities including the HUGE Monster Dash, which I ran a half marathon at last year. It was a really great race that I would totally run again, in fact, my daughter has already asked me if we could run this race again next year.

Here we are with our medals. She is very proud of earning this medal. It is the furthest she has ever run since the zombie run was a 3K and this was 5K. I am very proud of her too! I am even more excited that she has caught the race bug and wants to do more with me. We are already starting planning for a couple races next summer!

Athleta Unleash the SHE 10k Run

 A couple weeks ago I ran the Athleta Unleash the She 10K with a good friend of mine. Even though I had done a couple of half marathons last year, I had not done another 10K since I first started running 3 1/2 years ago; it's been almost 3 years since my last 10K, well, at least an official 10K race. Sure I have run a 10K distance several times (although not really much in the last year either since I had IT band issues.)

Anyways, earlier this year I told you about the Wild Irish Run that I did with her and was with her as she completed her first 5K. Well, this run was another running milestone for her and she completed her first official 10K race. I am so proud of her! And so happy I can be along with her for this journey. Next up for us will be a new milestone for both of us as we complete our first Indoor Triathalon.

I have to admit I am quite nervous about it and needed someone to be nervous with me to get signed up or I would keep putting it off. This Indoor Triathalon will be on November 2nd, so soon! We signed up the night after finished the 10K, still coming off from that runner's high and feeling good about stuff. I just need to get this first triathalon out of the way and see what I think so that I am more comfortable doing more of them.

The top picture is when we had just finished the race and were still smiling. :) So happy that my friend gets me and understands I have a need for race selfies. Ha!

Anyways, I wanted to say a bit about this race and the course. I hand picked this race for us because I wanted my friend to have an awesome 10K race experience. For us, it was a little bit of a drive to get to it, but that is really the only thing that wasn't ideal. I can't control the weather but we ended up with wonderful running weather in the mid-upper 40s with full sun. I picked this race because the 10K and 5K were limited at a total of 2500 entrants. I didn't want an overwhelmingly large race for her. Plus, when I looked it up, it looked like a flat course and it was! Flat and mostly paved trails. Oh, I also need to mention I picked it because it was an all women race. I had never done an all women race before, but I know sometimes it can be intimidating running next to men as well. Also, this race gives $5 of every race entry directly to MOCA (Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Association).

So, if you are looking for a really nice 10K race next fall, check out the Athleta Unleash the SHE 10 and 5K in Blaine. The race is also complected in Rochester on April 26th next year (not sure what the course is like), as well as in Ann Arbor, MI.

Fitness Friday: Custom Made Medal Hangers

I decided I was going to try my hand at making Custom Medal Hangers. I have acquired several medals myself and they have just been hanging out in a dresser drawer. I know I am not alone and that some of my friends are storing their medals in similar ways. My daughter has her swim and Tri ribbons and medals just hanging from her reading tent in her room and really wanted to have something more too. I am not completely finished making them all yet, but I can share this one that I have already given to a friend for her birthday present. I think the picture makes it hard to see exactly what the paint is like, but I painted a base coat of yellow on it then a coat of crackle medium and then a coat of gray. You can see the yellow through the crackle.

I enlisted the help of my husband and asked him to cut up a board I bought from Lowe's so that I could make 5 different Medal hangers, each one custom to the person I am giving it to (including myself.)

Here are a bunch of the other supplies I used including hooks, frog tape, scissors, letter stickers and iron-on letters.

I spray painted the base coats (2 coats of each) on the wood that I sanded.

Next I applied frog tape so that I could I could add a pattern detail to them board. My daughter wanted to help make them as well (since one was hers) and I put her in charge of painting the crackle on the ones that we were using it on and then painting the stripes on hers.

Here is what they looked like when I painted the colors over the frog tape (and crackle medium in some instances) . I don't want to spoil the rest and will share them with you another time, but for now you can enjoy the one I made for my friend Jennifer and imagine what the others ones look like. I will share the ones I made for myself and my daughter soon, but the other 2 are gifts for friends and they have not received them yet.

Fitness Friday: Jost Running "Home Run" (August)

This has been a fun summer running with Jost Running. 

Any readers done a virtual run through Jost Running after reading about them here? 

August races begin August 3rd and continue through the end of the month. If you haven't run a race yet this summer, be sure to check these ones out. These races only cost $25 and each month a different benefit a charity cause. The charity cause for August is Camp Promise. 

The medals pictured above are the 2 medals you could earn for August. The September races will benefit NYRR's Team for Kids. 

Check out all my other posts of Jost Running Races over the past few month too!

NO EXCUSES THIS MONTH!

If running a race this summer was a goal, let's make it happen!

With Jost Running Virtual Racing, you run at your own time and report in your run results.

REGISTER TODAY

I was given the above medals to review JostRunning.com and participate in the program. All thoughts, opinions and photographs belong to SGBG. No monetary compensation was received.

Fitness Friday: Jost Running "Beat the Heat" (July)

This is my third month of running races through Jost Running. This month the theme is "Beat the Heat" and proceeds from this virutal run go to support Girls on the Run. 

You can choose between a variety of length of races, including 5K, 10K, Half-Marathon, or Marathon. The medal with the watermelon is for the 5K or 10K and  the popsicle one is for the half or full marathon.

It's simple to do, just sign up on the JostRunning.com website for a race, print off a virtual bib # (if you wish) and enter in your time when you are finished. You can see how you rank against others completing the same race.

If you want to read about my other months of virtual racing for Jost Running, check out these posts:
May: JostRunning.com
June: Alternative Races with JostRunning.com

I will be sharing one more month of virtual racing in August, so come back and see what I have to say.

Fitness Friday: Insane Inflatable 5K

When I first saw the advertisement come up on FB (yes, sometimes those paid posts do work and are seen and people buy it) for the Insane Inflatable 5K, I knew this was something I had to do, even it I didn't find any takers to try it with me. How fun! Running a 5K AND inflatables.

So, I mentioned it to some friends and there seemed to be some interest. I decided to sign up on my own and post it on FB to see if any friends wanted to join me. They sure did! I mean - C'mon! It's a 5K with inflatables! I wish I had pictures to show you on the course of all the inflatables, but I was running a race! I paid for this race! You can see pictures of them all on the Insane Inflatable 5K website (I guarantee it will make you want to run one!)

So, here we all are after we finished and have our medals. It was the first 5K for two of these friends and I am so proud of them for completing their first race!

Here is a picture of the grounds, but they have a whole album of Rochester, MN pictures on their website. You can see the starting climbing/slide obstacle in the background. What a thrill!

My race number! Let's do this thing!

Strong women who all had a blast! I think we all agreed that this was a fun run to do. There was definitely some challenging obstacles, which is a good thing. A little challenge pushes us!

So, what's next for me? Well, this weekend I am watching my daughter compete in a kids triathalon. I have a virutal race through Jost Running to do this month and next. Then in August I have the 5K Foam Fest. My entire family will be doing the Tour De Fat this month and I am starting to think I might do the Jesse James Day 10-mile bike ride with my family (let me see if I can talk them in to this!) :)

Thrifty Thursday: Tour de Fat Bike Tour

Coming up on Saturday, July 26th is the Tour de Fat sponsored by New Belgium Brewery. This bike tour (it's short, don't worry about it being a long strenuous event) has been on my "race" bucket list for quite a while now but I have had conflicting events the past couple years. They are touring to 10 different cities, including Minneapolis where we will be participating.

This event occurs in one month! So get it on your calendar now and get registered! It is FREE event, but they are collecting donations that benefit local Twin Cities non-profits. Proceeds from beer sales also benefit local non-profits. So, it's a feel good event!

The Tour de Fat is a family-friendly event. There is live music, dancing, interactive sculpture and performances. You can find out more information and the line up of performers by clicking on the city you want to attend on the Tour de Fat page.

As of right now, you have missed the tour in only Washington DC and Durham, NC. You can still make it to the tours in the Twin Cities; Boise, ID; Fort Collins, CO; Denver, CO; San Francisco, CA; San Diego, CA; and Tempe, AZ.

Fitness Friday: Race Signs

These are all signs I made using my #Disneyside Posters to have fun support posters when my friend Caitlin and myself went to a local half marathon to support friends running it. We had a really good time and are already making plans to have even more fun as cheerleaders and supporters.

Fitness Friday: Alternative Races with JostRunning.com

If you remember, last month I shared with you that I am running virtual races through JostRunning.com every month this summer. It really helps to keep me motivated to keep running as a part of my workout routine. Last month I was surprised to see that I finished #3 out of close to 60 people. It doesn't really matter, but it does because I can see my ranking against the other runners and it motivates me to run faster.

This month proceeds from the race will be donated to the National Young Arts Foundation. I don't know much about this foundation but with a young daughter who loves art and declares it is her favorite subject and as a member of my local Art Center, I am in total support of proceeds supporting art for our youth. 

This month, the good people at JostRunning.com wanted us to tell about other ways to complete our races other than running, or running all at once. Yes, I know running is in the name of the company, but that doesn't mean you have to just run.

These are YOUR GOALS! YOUR RACE!

I would like to suggest a few alternatives to completing your races and earning your medal and supporting a good cause. Not all of us are prepared to run a marathon, half marathon, 10K or even a 5K. So set your goal, what can you run and what do you want to try to run?

Do you think you could run a marathon over the course of a month? Perhaps you could walk it? 

Or maybe you want to do a long distance all at once but can't run or walk it, how about biking it?

I ran my 5K already (I'm in 3rd place at the time of writing this post), but I was thinking about that Half Marathon/ Full Marathon Medal they sent me and what I want to do. Yes, I have run a couple half marathons, but I have not trained for that since the fall. I am considering biking it. What about you?

What alternative plan would you do to earn a half marathon or marathon medal?

Next month the races through Jostrunning.com go to support Girls on the Run and I am so happy to see that - encouraging physical fitness among female children. A daughter of a dear friend had just completed a race through this organization and it was such a powerful experience for her and that warms my heart. In August the races will benefit Camp Promise and I am going to need to educate myself more about that organization.

Fitness Friday: Mankato Zombie Run

This past weekend, my daughter and I completed the Mankato Zombie Run. It was only a 3K run and very do-able for her. She asked me during the winter if she could do a run with me and I told her about this zombie run and a mud run that had a kids race that was longer than 1/4-1/2 mile and this is the one she picked.

This top picture is after we finished the race and got our "medals". My daughter was disappointed they weren't real medals and I have to agree with her. They were just plastic things and seem much less official than a metal medal.

The next are a series of pictures of our makeup that we had them put on us. We had originally planned to be zombies as well as runner zombies, but my daughter was started to get overheated (it was 83 and humid when we parked the car and 88 and even more humid when we were leaving) and so we just did the race and got cleaned up. The race went through woods for most of it, so it was cooling and she felt better AFTER running than before when we stood outside in a very slow line for zombie makeup. If I had not paid extra to be a zombie I would not have wanted to stand in line at all.

Here is a closeup of my makeup. The volunteer doing my makeup did a great job and she seemed to take a lot of pride in getting it done just how she pictured. My injuries were made with a combination of latex, tissue, oatmeal, makeup, and blood. I would have never guessed some of the supplies used, so this was quite a learning experience. The latex injuries just peeled off afterwards, which was nice because that was the easiest part of my makeup removal.

My daughter didn't like the feeling of anything dripping on her so she only had paint on her face and blood on her clothes, whereas I am kinda a bloody, gory mess.

I actually wore this tank when I did the Color Run and had recently tossed it to the rag pile but took it out when I remembered I needed an outfit I didn't mind if it got trashed to run in. These are my paint pants, which I cut off just above the knee, but I learned jeans are not good to run in at all.

As far as the actual race, my daughter said she had fun. I was perturbed by several things, but I would approach the run differently if I ever do it again with her. First of all, they asked that kids and parents with kids run in the first 2 heats (which I understand is different than what they did last year) and so the zombies were anxious to grab those flags and were brutal. They were not trying to be zombies as much as they were trying to play flag football. And they should have BACKED OFF on the kids. There was a little boy in tears when his flags were taken and we not even done with 1K. This is supposed to be a fun run.

Also, I was so frustrated that I was getting flags pulled off when I was trying to wait for my daughter to find away around zombies that had her cornered. I paid for an entry because I wanted the "medal" and the t-shirt too. Next time I will just do the free parent chaperone entry and not worry about getting anything and not be frustrated that these zombies were out to prove something. Then, when you are finishing up there was a ton of zombies before you could finish. They were certainly trying to make sure you finished with no flags (no flags = no medal).

Another thing, there were a couple zombie invaded buildings that were dark that you had to go through and after the first one where they jumped out scaring kids my daughter was very hesitant to do the next building.

There needs to be better zombie education in order for this to be fun. This is not flag football - you are zombies and zombies do not move quick, you do not jump out in dark buildings to scare children, back off stealing all the flags from kids and their parents. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A FUN RUN!

Oh! And they HAD health packets with extra flags you could use, but guess what - some boy who was running faster than us grabbed many of the packets so that by time the 2nd heat came through there were NO health packets for all the rest of the heats. Some adult zombie on the course had mentioned a kid ahead of us had all his flags and was carrying along 6 flags (what he had left) and would just replace as they were stolen. How crappy is that!

I had fun being made up as a zombie and my daughter said she had fun. So, that was our takeaway. If I ever do the run again at her request, I will be a free chaperone and we will apply our own makeup at home rather than standing in the sun for so long. I think the idea of it all is good and could be more fun.

Fitness Friday: Medford 5K & Kids Obstacle Course Race

This was from the 4th Annual Medford Community 5K Run/Walk and Kids Obstacle Course Race. I have been participating in this 5K run since it's inception and my daughter has done the kids race from the beginning as well, but this was the first time my son participated. He was very excited to do a race but I had to remind him this race was about finishing not beating everyone since he was just a preschooler and kids up to age 10 could run (and did!)

I ran it with him. I love that he wanted to hold my hand while we ran the entire way. What a sweetheart. Before long he isn't going to want to hold his mommy's hand, so I will take it while I can.

He ran the entire 1/2 mile course with multiple obstacles throughout. I think there was 6 or 7 obstacles during the race, I can't remember exactly. He had fun. My daughter was slightly ahead of us throughout the race, so we could see her progress as well. This picture you can get a good idea of how many kids participated.

Here is my daughter coming towards the finish. It was a good little training run for her when we do the 3K zombie run next weekend.

She made it! There was never any doubt, but now we have pictures to prove it!

These last 2 pictures are of my son and I as we come to the finish. Every kid got to pick out a prize when they crossed the finish line. All of the prizes were outdoor toys that encouraged physical movement. Kudos to the team putting that together and encouraging ongoing physical fitness for the kids.

Like I said earlier, this was my 4th Medford Community 5K. I ran it with my friend Carrie (who I also ran the Irish Run with) and she completed her 2nd 5K now and I am happy to have ran with her for both. She was pretty pleased that we came in under her goal time and also shaved about 4 minutes off her time from her first 5K.

My next organized race coming up is the Mankato Zombie Run, which I am doing with my daughter. We will run the race and also be zombie afterwards for other runners.