OS Rotary 5k

First and foremost I want to share what one of my intentions was in this race.  It was to run in honor of Erin Dunston, my FB friend, who is a survivor of breast cancer.  With that said, here is my picture [I know...it's a bad one] with my button on before we left for the race.  Go Erin!! Second, I wanted to use this race as speedwork/hillwork for my upcoming half next weekend.

When we got there, there were so many people milling around. Different from this race a couple of years ago. It was fun seeing all the costumes. As we picked up our packets, I saw Nancy P. It was nice to see her and I wanted to give her a "real" hug and congratulate her in person since she has done her first and second triathlon in about a month's time!! I'm so proud of her. She's worked hard, even learning how to swim this summer. 

I looked in the bag to see what our shirts looked like; that's always exciting to see.  We were to wear something reflective since we'd be running in the dark; therefore the reflective vest you see above.  BUT...when I saw the shirt we got, I stripped off the one I had on and put that one on.  I've never raced in a brand new shirt before.  It was a neon orange tech shirt.  I LOVE it!! 

I decided to run without my iPod this time mostly due to it being at night and I wanted to be alert to anyone yelling out a danger ahead of me; and I wanted to focus more on the placement of my feet so as not to trip, step in a hole, turn my ankle or fall over my own two feet. The Jazz Half is next week and I wasn't shooting for a PR in this race anyhow. So I took it easy. Another reason I ran easy was that this course is a tough one...can you spell H.I.L.L.Y.??? Wow...it was hard. With no music to distract me from the sounds of other runners breathing hard, their footstrikes and all the jingling and sounds of their Halloween costumes, it made it even tougher. This is one reason I love my iPod! It hides the sounds of running, whether it's mine or others around me and keeps me focused on MY race. But this is good to run without it occasionally. Now, to leave my Garmin at home once in a while...hmmmmmm...really don't see that one happening but miracles do occur. I'm such a tech-freak! I'm trying to do better. 

One thing that was different from most races, including this one that I ran a couple of years ago, is the crowd support.  It was so nice to have strangers cheer you on throughout the entire race. I really enjoyed that. Thanks, everyone!! It helped pull me up those hills.  I heard off and on from others how much it meant to them, too.

I thought the last mile would never come. Boy, it seemed like it just went on and on. I was never so excited to see a finisher's clock as I was this night. On top of that, you could smell that woooonnnderrrrfuuuulll Shed's BBQ!!! Oh, my...I could hardly wait to get my sandwich AND it didn't disappoint!  It was sooooo good. I'd have pics of them but this photographer doesn't do night pics well AT ALL!! You'll see.

Ran up with Bob C. before the race and chatted and then again after the race.  I had NO idea where he was in the race.  He's usually just ahead of me but it was dark and there were several places that it was as black as a sack of cats and couldn't have told you if there were 2 or 22 just ahead of me!!  As it turned out, Bob and I actually were within seconds of finishing.  When I saw him after the race his knee and leg was bloody.  Said he fell right at the Finish Line.  His son walked up and he had done the very same thing about 5 minutes before.  His hands were tore up, too.  As I went back to the Finish Line to see Kent cross the line, the guy that finished a second or two behind him fell, too, right at my feet!  He fell hard and I'm sure he was sore the next day.  I'm wondering if there wasn't something that caused these falls...and wondering how many others fell.  There were two different shutes for men and women so we didn't cross the line at that place. 

Talked with Mike B. a while the awards were called out.  He is so nice and such a FAST runner and is usually one of the first ones to cross the line ALL the time!!  He told me that he wanted to beat this one guy and he was ahead of Mike a good bit of the way; but when they began the hills, it seemed to have taken some power out of him and Mike caught him.  I was getting excited while he was relaying the story.  BUT....right at the end, this guy caught back up to him and beat him.  He is the second best in the state!!!  Man, I wished Mike could have won!  You're so close, Mike, I look for you to overcome him real soon! 

Kent won First Overall Racewalker...good job...in the dark!!  Getting ready to go, Kent insisted on staying for my age group awards.  I was definitely not expecting a single bit of recognition.  Then all of a sudden they called out my name!!  I was shocked!  I was the recipient of the First Place award in my age group.  The awards were very pretty handmade clay ones and am a proud owner of one now.  Aren't they pretty??  I love them!

Miss Mississippi, who is from Ocean Springs, was there to give out the awards.  Here are our pictures as good as I could get.  A photographer was there taking photos and I hope to have these replaced when I can locate the pics. 

I had moved over to make room for the other ladies that won so this looks kinda funny this far apart.

Here is a better pic of Kent with his award.  The flash of the camera blinded him.  Sorry, Honey!!

A final word about the race director. Leonard V. did an outstanding job putting on this race. Seems not a single thing was forgotten. One of the best things we love about the GCRC races is the fast, efficient way LV gets the results. And, on top of that, he has their website updated within a very few hours!!! We wait only a reasonable amount of time for the awards presentation. The races in Alabama and Florida could take a LOT of lessons from you, my friend!! Great job and we enjoyed it immensely!

And, now we'd like to say...put on your shoes, get your water and go

Run 4 It

you'll not regret it!!

Race for Grace 5k & Week

This has been a good week.  The temps have been nice for running and looks like it won't be long before it stays cooler.  This equates to enjoyable runs...as long as it doesn't start freezing!  Okay...what can I say?  I like it perfect...according to me, ha! 

Ran 6 miles on Wednesday with each mile run faster than the previous.  Ran 6 more on Friday and it felt even better with each mile better again.  I'm loving those negative splits!!  Needing to get my miles in, I decided to make the race on Saturday a "training" run instead of a race.  BUT...I felt good, the temp was cooperating and those "running bugs" attacked and I ran harder than I had planned.  That was okay.  I did feel good for the first time in a very long time.  This is the second race I've done since spring and the last one was miserable with heat and humidity. 

I've been training for the Jazz Half coming up in a couple of weeks and am quite perplexed right now.  I've been getting in my miles but at the same time I do not feel prepared.  I know this doesn't make sense but I don't feel ready.  There is one more week to run a long one before cutting back for the race the following week.  Having time on my feet should be preparation enough and with it being in New Orleans...well...what can I say?  It's GOT to be entertaining!  Now, on to my race report...

Race for Grace 5k
I was excited about this race for a couple of reasons.  One, I wanted to meet my FB friend, Gina Mooney, who I feel like I know through our many posts and constant support.  The first thing that struck me was that she was taller than I expected.  For some reason, I had in my mind that she was short and tiny.  She's tall, thin and as beautiful as her pictures show her to be.  Gina, you did a fantastic job as race director!  I know it's hard work and everything went well.  So good to see you.

Second, I was excited about racing again.  Yeah...for the first time in a long time, I was looking forward to racing again.  Though I had run 6 miles the day before when I usually rest the day before a race, I decided to use this race as a training run.  Well...I met in the middle and ran harder but not as hard as I could have.  This race gave me the distance I needed to get in my 25 miles I shoot for each week.  I don't always make it but this week I got in 26.65 miles.  I'm happy with that. 

It was so good to see Audrey, Raul and Sherri & Gary D., who we haven't seen in over a year!!!  I'm so thankful for Facebook cause I stay in touch with so many friends, like these.  I've really missed visiting with them at races.  I had forgotten how much I enjoyed running on the Long Leaf Trace.  Yeah...it's been over a year since I've run there, too.  Kent was feeling much better by Saturday and was able to racewalk again.  He's had a tough "row to hoe" lately and it's not over yet...just another step for now and we're looking forward to a better 2013. 

Here are some pics that were taken by us and our faithful photographer, Frank B.  Races would be left up to just those that attend and their memories if not for him!  Thanks so much!!

Raul and I wore the same Half Marathon Rock 'n Roll shirt from 2010! How odd we thought to pull out the same one to wear.  Great minds think alike!

And, off we go!

Kent...almost there.

Another shot of him coming in strong. Raul & me cheering him in.

Pushing it at the end.

Feeling good and strong...the way I love to feel at the end of a race.  I've missed you "good feeling"!!

Our friend, Tom Smith, getting his medal.

Kent won 1st Place Overall Racewalker. So proud...he's had a tough couple of weeks and wasn't even sure he could just walk it, much less racewalk it, which is soooo much harder.

Receiving my 1st Place medal and $15 gift certificate to a new local running store, Runner's High.

Kent & I with our medals.  Thanks, Shelby, for taking this pic.

It was a great day and we both left happy with our results and many nice visits. It was so good to see our sweet granddaughter, Shelby Headrick.   It was a total surprise to see her and we loved having her cheer us on at the Finish Line!!!

So what's stopping you?? Now put on some shoes and go

Run 4 It

5k For Katlyn

It was an exciting day Saturday when I ran my first 5k since February!  Yep, February!!  Whether I was up to speed on my running or not, I was determined to run this one to support Katlyn's family and help with their medical bills. Katlyn is 14 and was in an ATV accident this summer and suffered brain damage. She has had numerous issues to deal with that probably 100% of the rest of us will never experience or understand. Just about 10 days ago she was released from the hospital and is now recuperating at home. My race today was not for me...it was to praise God Who has seen fit to continue to use Katlyn to do His will. 

The race was held at West Ellisville Baptist Church in and around the area; it started and ended there.  Not long after we turned the corner, the climb began along a rough road.  There were small hills that were in the first half of the course. The announcer had warned us of the roads and to be careful and, boy, was he right.  As a matter of fact, one of my friends, Angie, fell at the beginning of the race. 

For those that haven't experienced a fall...this really hurts...OUCH! But the race went on.

My Garmin had been hard reset the day before and I thought it was ready. Glancing at it off and on the distance reading kept showing a very long 5k. Really discouraged that maybe it hadn't been measured right, I probably didn't push as I should have. So I thought when I got to the Finish Line I would at least smile at the camera and end the race happily. This did NOT happen!! The camera quit just before I got there! I didn't realize it until later. I ran to the car to get my camera to try to catch Kent and friends crossing the line. Of course, by then the camera was cooperating. I felt so bad for Frank because he feverishly worked and worked on the thing. What stress he must have been under!!

Here are my friends, Serina and Deleica, coming in strong with Kent right behind them a few steps. This is NOT a good pic of him because he was walking very strong and this "snap" was not timed good to catch the action.

Toward the end of the race, I began hearing "here comes Katlyn" and I honestly thought she was going to appear in a wheelchair.  Immediately, there were cheers, smiles and lots of clapping.  My eyes and heart were overwhelmed at what was happening. Coming around the corner, I saw Katlyn and her Mom (Tasha) running...yep, I said running...to the Finish Line.  It brought tears to my eyes as I watched what God had done and is doing in this young lady and her family's life.  She can hardly walk and there she was running the last tenth of the mile.  All I could think of is all the pettiness I let enter my life when God is waiting to do something so amazing and now I'm seeing it happen in Katlyn.  God is so good.

I knew this wasn't going to be my best race but I ran the best I could considering the heat, humidity and terrain. It was a good race, but a little tough one. Folks, you have to get going again regardless of whether it's your "best" day or not. 

Awards time came and I secured the Grandmasters Award.  I was so excited!  The GM awards are getting a little further away from me since I'm going UP the age range and many stronger, younger runners are entering it.  Actually, they had my gender wrong and I placed in the men's age group!   I was a little perturbed about it at first since "female" was on my registration and on my bib tab; but then I got to thinking.  Hmmmm...I placed in the MEN's age group.  Now, that was something, ha!!  Sadly, being considered a "male" has happened to me before.  Think I'm gonna start using my middle name to differentiate male and female to those that aren't familiar with me.  Here are a couple of pictures with the trophy, which I'll treasure because it has Katlyn's name on it.

Love this pic of us

Those that stayed to have a group pic with Katlyn

Gary came up late and missed the group pic but got one with his trophy

And now a few shots with friends.

Several things didn't go well but all-in-all I was okay with it cause, after all, it wasn't about me today. Don't let how you feel keep you from racing with friends! If you've not been running well, as I have, or whether you're just annoyed with life...put on your shoes and get out there and

Run 4 It,
Robbie