5K Number 5

When I started running at the beginning of the summer my goal was to run five 5K races by the end of the year. Today I ran my fifth! It was a perfect day for a run, though the long sleeved shirt and pants were not a good idea. I finished at 29:01. I was hoping to improve my time more than that, but I haven’t been running as much as I should, so I really can’t complain. I think it was the last race for the year (due to the cold) but I am looking forward to running more next year! I think I may even move up to some 10K’s!

Racin' in the Snow

Today was the Red Ribbon Run against drugs. There was a 5K run, and a mile walk. My friend, Bethany, and I did the run, and I talked my family into doing the walk. All week they have been predicting snow for today, but I didn't believe it. I woke up this morning to howling wind and trees bent over. I prayed that the weather would hold off just until after the race.

Apparently it worked, because as the race was about to begin it cleared up a bit and the wind backed off. It was CHAOS! I would guess that over a thousand people showed up, even with the insanely cold weather. The 5Kers started first, so Beth and I were off. Yes, I ran in this hat. At least until it got too hot and I took it off.

As I rounded the first corner the ipod I was using died. So I ran the race musicless. My Newsies couldn't get me through. Thank goodness Bethany was with me! It actually wasn't that bad. When we had about a half mile to go it started snowing pretty hard. I was so excited. I love snow! But I can't believe that it is snowing in October.

As we approached the finish line we began to pass the mile walkers. I was looking around for my fam, and then we passed them! Dad and Karl ran with us the last half block, and we crossed the finish line as I created a new personal best - 28:44. So exciting!

My cute parents.

When we crossed the finish line we all got these medals. Madison wasn's sure how she felt about the race, or her new green marshmellow coat, but she sure liked her medal! It was so much fun! Give me another year and I will have them all running the 5K with me!

A running bunny and another 5K

Weeks ago I registered to run another 5K. I was really excited about it. It is a well known race with lots of people involved. I was training for it, hoping to beat my best time. Then last weekend, all at once, I got super sick. I was down for over a week, and worried that I was not going to be able to run my 5K. On Wednesday I ran for the first time since being sick, and it didn't go so well. Thursday was a bit better, and Friday better still. Definitely not up to my regular speed and energy level, but to the point where a 5K was possible. I was guessing that it would take me around 35 minutes to run the race, since on Friday it took me around 40 (which is A LOT slower than my last 5K which was just over 29 minutes, but what can you do)

Today was a perfect day for running, and the race really was cool. During my last 5K they just wrote down your times as you came in. This time I got to wear a cool chip on my ankle that was activated when I went across the starting line and then clocked my time when I came across the finish line. It looked like this.

This is at the beginning, while we are all trying to find our spot on the road. Unfortunately, you can only see my shoe. It is blue. I am behind the lady in the while tee shirt.

And this is me crossing the finish line (right hand side). Thank goodness for blurry pictures that make it so you can't see my face at this moment!

I was really excited when I came across the finish line at 29:58!!!! I made it in under 30 minutes! I was so happy! It is still 40 seconds slower than my last speed, but after being sick it is all that I could ask for!

Nesquik was one of the sponsorers of the race. They even had a mascot there. But get this, he ran the entire 5K in costume. And he finished in less than 20 minutes. Anyone who can run that fast while wearing a hot and awkward costume (look at that head!), and then walk around giving out free bottles of chocolate milk is my hero! YAY for Nesquik!