NASP 5K in San Francisco

This past week I was in San Francisco for the National Association of School Psychologists annual conference.  As part of the conference they held a 5K race one morning.  I was totally in!!!

I ended up talking three of my classmates into running the 5K, and we had a lot of fun!  We had to get up around 5:00am after a late night out, but it was worth it.  We loaded the buses around 6:00am and they took us out to run by the Golden Gate Bridge.  As soon as we got outside it started raining...

But we kept going, and pretty soon the rain let up.  

Here I am right at the half-way point of the race.

And here I am with Jamie and Marcia... we had a great time running together.  My other friend, Robin had taken off ahead of us, and I am so proud of her!  She has just started running in the last few months, and she is doing so well! :)

It was a beautiful way to start the day, and the closest we got to the bridge that whole week!  

Alcatraz off in the distant...

After the finish line!

We stopped to take pictures and didn't push the speed.  It was still a great run, and I'm so glad I was able to run at least once in San Francisco.  I love that I can say I've ran a race alongside the Golden Gate Bridge.  Tomorrow I'll be doing a longer run with my friend Hannah and hopefully getting myself ready for the half-marathon I have coming up in three weeks!


Miles: 5k
Time: 40 minutes

Miles this Week: 3
Miles this Month: 20

Jingle Bell 5K

This morning Mathis and I woke up early to head down to Roanoke for the Jingle Bell 5k!!  This is the first race that I ran in last year when I began my journey towards running.  Here's a comparison of pictures from last year and earlier today...

It was really exciting to think about how far I've come in this last year, and the growth that I've experienced as a runner.  The fact that I'm only 25 days away from my first marathon is terrifying and thrilling all at the same time! :) 

I have to admit that within the last few weeks I haven't had much made the time to run.  The ridiculously cold weather we've had hasn't made it any easier.  But today while I was running I remembered all the things I love so much about running.  I love that it's a challenge, and believe me when I say that running is most certainly a challenge for me both physically and mentally.  It hasn't gotten any easier, but I do think it's made me stronger.  I've made a lot of friends while running.  Hannah is definitely one, and she ran the 5k with me this morning...

Running has made me so much healthier this year.  I love that it's a lifelong sport for me -- something I can continue to improve upon and do virtually anytime, anywhere.  It's taught me a lot about hard work and about pushing myself to do better, to be better.  The feeling of accomplishment I get when I run fast or run long is amazing.  I love what it does for Mathis and I, and that we can share in the experience together.

So here's to the past year of running.... what a great year it has been!  And on to the next year... I can't wait to see what running has in store for me. :)

"Running has taken me in, and continues to comfort, heal and challenge me in all kinds of magical ways. I am not a 'good runner' because I am me. I am a good 'me' because I am a runner". -- Kristin Armstrong

Miles: 3.1
Time: not a PR, but very close... somewhere around 29 minutes, 20 seconds

Miles this Week: 8
Miles this Month: 17

Summer Solstice Sundown 5K

Even though I don't get that excited over 5k races anymore, I was excited to run this 5 because it was at night in Blacksburg.  This race was also a part of a larger festival going on in Blacksburg all Saturday, and was set to begin at 8:30 right when the sun was setting.

I didn't have that many expectations going into this race.  I figured it'd be fun, and it also supported the Blacksburg High School track and cross country programs.  I secretly hoped I could PR, and bring my 5K time down.

They passed out glow sticks to wear during the race which I thought was fun!

Unfortunately right as the race was set to begin, a huge thunderstorm rolled in.  All the runners huddled together to see if the storm would pass, but it just kept pouring rain and lightening.  The race officials finally decided to postpone the race until Sunday evening.  We were pretty bummed about it, but I know that this is bound to happen from time to time with races.

We showed back up Sunday night ready to go.  We weren't quite as pumped as Saturday night, but we managed to push through.  It was a fun race.  5Ks are so short, and there just isn't much to say.  There were a few little hills, but that's to be expected here.  Part of the race was on the Huckleberry Trail, and I saw quite a few fireflies while running.  The whole time I kept running I was really trying to push myself.  I'm still learning just how much to push and how much to maintain a pace that will let me finish the distance.  I felt pretty good throughout the race, and I kept checking my Garmin to help find a good pace.

I finished in 29 minutes, 21 seconds (9:26 pace)!  A new PR for me!!!  I was still hoping I could have brought my time down closer, but this is still 30 seconds faster than my 5k in April (and about 5 minutes faster than my "first" 5k in December).  Mathis did SUCH a great job and came in at 23 minutes, 44 seconds (7:38 pace).  I am so proud of how well he's doing.  He's really come back strong since his shoulder healed.  **Side note: I'm still always amazed at how fast the Blacksburg runners are!  Much like the Blacksburg Classic, these runners meant business!!  As great as Mathis' time was he still was close to 40th).**

The next race I'll be running in will be the GYRO 10k on July 31st!!  Even though this race is a little low-key, it will be a lot of fun.  I've only run an 5k and 8k race, so I'm looking forward to the 10k distance. :)

Miles: 3.1
Time: 29 minutes, 21 seconds

Miles this Week: 3
Miles this Month: 28.5

4 minutes, 19 seconds

I found the race results for the 5K yesterday, and my chip time was 29 minutes and 54 seconds (9:38 pace)!  Woo-hoo!!!!! :)  I just had to go back to the 5K results from my race in December, and do the math.  My time in December was 34 minutes and 13 seconds (11:01 pace), which means that yesterday I hit a personal record by 4 minutes and 19 seconds!!!  You have no idea how excited I am to see that progress.  Now I can see how addictive it becomes to want to beat your best time when you run the same distances over and over.

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

This morning was the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K. I hadn't planned on running this race, but earlier in the week I won a free registration thanks to Roanoke Outside. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to run a free race! I love Race for the Cure -- I've been able to do it twice before: once in San Antonio with my Dad in high school and again in Waco during my freshman year of college. This was the Inaugural Race for the Cure in the Roanoke area, and it was great to be a part of such an awesome cause.

 I was pretty tired when my alarm clock went off this morning, but my love for running has started to replace my love for sleep. Mathis was very sweet to wake up with me, and we made a quick run by Starbucks before the race. The race was at a park in Salem that we had never been too. As always, the drive down I-81 was beautiful, and the trees have all started to blossom... Spring here is beautiful!! We got to the race, picked up my packet and walked around for a little bit.

 Here I am still looking a little tired. :)

The race got started a little late at about 8:45. I didn't have many expectations for this race -- it was a last minute entry, and I had to run 9 miles yesterday so my legs were feeling a little sore. At the same time I wanted to push myself to try to speed it up, because the race was so short.

 Here are a few videos Mathis took of the race...

In the end I set a new PR!!!!! According to my Garmin, I finished in 29 minutes 55 seconds. Woo!!!!!! That's a good 4 minutes faster than the 5K I ran in December! Talk about some progress. I was chip timed, but I'm not sure when the results will be posted, so I'm sticking with my Garmin time for now. :) I was really pleased at how fast I ran, and it only makes me want to get faster. But overall I'm just happy that I can go out there and run the entire thing.

I loved having Mathis there -- he is so supportive!! His ankle is still bothering him, and I know it's been hard watching me run when he can't. We're praying it heals in time for the half. And I just have to add that this week I ran the most weekly mileage yet. 25 miles!!!!! I looked back at November (when I began running) and that whole MONTH I only ran 20 miles. I'm so encouraged to see my progress, and I'm excited for what the future holds! :)

Miles: 3.1 
Time: 29 minutes, 55 seconds 


Miles this Week: 25 miles 
Miles this Month: 30

Jingle Bell 5K Run

I was very excited about this race.  Although I've ran other 5K races in the past, this was my first race since becoming a self-proclaimed runner. :) I laid out everything the night before, and I woke up several times during the night ready to go!

This morning it was COLD.  It was 12 degrees when we left the house, and I think it was somewhere in the 20s while we were running.  We had to get up around 6:30 am so we could leave the house by 7:00.  Mathis was such a good sport, but I'm pretty sure he was questioning what I had signed us up for!  Here I am right before we left.

I always enjoy the drive to Roanoke.  This morning it was really pretty because we got to watch the sun coming up over the mountains.  The sky looked pink and the mountains were a gorgeous shade of blue.  Love Virginia.  This picture is horrible, but it's the best my iPhone could do.

We got to Roanoke really fast.  I think we were there around 7:45 and the race didn't start until 9:00.  We had to pick up our packets, and I had wanted to make sure we had enough time.  We didn't have to wait in line for our packets so we grabbed our stuff and headed back to the car to stay warm and wait.  We looked through the packets, and listened to Christmas music.  I also got the chip timer on my shoe.

About 10 til 9 we forced ourselves out of the warm car and into the cold.  Here I am ready to go!

We made our way over to the starting line, and there were lots of people.  A lot of them were wearing Santa hats, and other fun Christmas attire.  A lot of people wore jingle bells (myself included) while running.  Some people even had their dogs with them.  We saw one boxer!  I snapped this picture of the crowd, but I now realize it shows you very little.  I blame the fact that I was tired and cold.  Sorry.

Mathis and I were pretty far back from the starting line.  We kept jumping up and down to stay warm while waiting to go.  Ok legs, ready to run?

Mathis ran with me for the first mile, but then he took off!  I told him to do so, and I was proud of him for running faster than me -- ha! :)  I was slightly worried that if I wasn't running next to him I wouldn't be as motivated, but everyone else around kept me going.  We ran up a few hills (highway overpasses) and this was hard.  In fact, much of the race felt hard.  I was really expecting that it would be easy for me, especially after Monday's great run, but I had to really push at times to keep going.  I was frustrated at myself for having a difficult time on such an "easy race".  I know I shouldn't get down on myself for this -- I need to remember I'm just beginning.  It wasn't long ago that just a mile or two was very difficult.  And for many people that is still a difficult challenge.  I'm showing progress (as slow as it might be) and that's all that's important! :)

My goal was to finish somewhere around 33 minutes.  According to my own watch I finished just around 34 minutes, but I remember starting it early so hopefully that means I met my goal.  I'll be curious what my chip time says.  Either way, I ran the whole time and that's what counts.  Here's a picture Mathis snapped of me the finishing the race.  If you look closely you'll see that a dog is beating me.  Oh, the shame! :)

Both our lungs REALLY hurt afterwards.  I think the cold air was worse than we realized.  We went to the after party for a few minutes and grabbed some Panera bagels.  That bagel was one of the best parts about running this race. :)

We came home, and we're still relaxing on the couch.  Here's Mathis in his Victory T-Shirt!

I'm really glad we got out there and ran this race.  Maybe I can find one or two more before the BIG ONE, but we'll see.  From here on out in my training, 3 miles is going to be my standard run, and then I'll just keep adding on the miles from there.  That makes me a little nervous, but I'm very excited at the same time.  I know I can do this if I just stick with it!  I'm really grateful to have the break from school over the next month so I can devote more time to training.

All in all it was a great first race, and I can't wait for the next!

Miles: 3.2
Time: 33 minutes?

Miles this Week: 6
Miles this Month: 11.5

Jingle Bell 5K

Today I signed Mathis and I up for the Jingle Bell 5K Run on December 12 in Roanoke.  I am excited to run a race to keep me motivated, and I think it will be a fun way to celebrate the Christmas spirit out here before we travel home to Texas! :)  I had my eye on this race for awhile, but now we're definitely committed.