Jingle Bell for Arthritis 5k/10k

What a gorgeous day!  Ran in the Jingle Bell for Arthritis 10k Race in Pensacola on Saturday (11/24/12).  The day started out quite cold.  The numbers didn't seem to say it but the wind was a killer knocking the chill factor much lower.  We thought we'd freeze until our bodies got warmed up.  This course is flat and fast.  I love how it runs close to the beach.  The sun on the water really made it beautiful today. 

The Race Is On:
I felt good and strong.  There was one lady that stayed close to me and I wondered if she was in my age group.  We passed each other off and on.  I ran steady most of a race but it seemed she was pushing to get up even with me or pass me.  I didn't feel she was a threat because it just looked like she was giving it about all she had throughout the 10k.  Keeping a steady pace until the last half mile, played out to my advantage.  It was then that she gave out and fell behind. 

I had asked Kent to try and get my picture crossing the line since he would be in from his 5k before I got finished.  Not having good 5k and 10k times lately, I told him to look for me just under an hour.  I felt stronger at the end and was able to kick it up a notch in the last half mile all the way across the Finish Line.  My race was great.  I crossed the line at 56:27...not too far off my PR, but better than in some time.  As a matter of fact, Kent was standing right at the end and when I saw him he was eating and drinking.  There was NO sign of a camera anywhere!!!  Then...he saw me!  I'll have to say that seeing his mouth drop was priceless.  He had NO idea I would finish as well as I did.  Sooooooooooo...there was no Finish Line pic.  The camera was safely kept in his pocket.  Oh, well.  I still loved the look on his face. 

This race had a Santa Chase with 8 year olds and younger.  It was so cute.  Here is Santa giving instructions. 

And, off they go!  Click on the photo to get a lively view of the race.  I loved all the laughing and giggling. 

After getting some refreshments, Kent shared that he was the first overall male racewalker.  There was no one in front of him.  In most all Pensacola races, they start the racewalkers 1-2 minutes after the runners have taken off.  When the awards began, they called out another man's name for the overall.  He started with the runners; therefore having over a minute's lead AND with the time that he came in, it was obvious that he ran...it was way too fast!!!  I was soooo sad for Kent.  He deserved the win.  Racewalkers stand a 50/50 chance in actual competing against each other.  There are so many people that cheat, it's not funny...and it is HARD to do!  He got 1st Place in his age group but it really took the pleasure out of the win.  The 'cheater' did not even show up for his award. 

I had looked up on the board and saw that I came in second.  I looked for the one that came in ahead of me to see her time but there was no one.  Then I looked below my name and saw a lady in my age group getting first place.  This certainly didn't make sense.  I went back and sat down waiting for the awards, then I got to thinking...do they have me listed as male or female??  Yes, this is a legitimate question!  With a name like 'Robbie', it can go be a man or woman's name.  Several times this club has put me in the male group because they can't distinguish the name from a male or female.  It is obvious they do NOT check the box that you mark if you were a male or female.  I went back to check and they had me as male!!  Once they changed this, I got first place in my age group and the lady that I beat came up to get her award and it was the lady that I ran with off and on during the race; she WAS in my a/g.  Boy, am I glad that I had extra energy for a stronger run at the end.  She got second. 

I got to thinking...hey, it's pretty cool when you can place in the male AND female categories.  I'm a happy camper.  I really haven't thought of placing in the last few races because I know I have done better and I'm happy with just racing again.  I think my attitude has relieved me of what I call 'placing stress'.  Now, if only I can get Pensacola Runners to recognize me as a female and not male.  Think I'm gonna use my middle name next time.  Ann is hard to fly as a male, ha! 

Here is a pic of our medals.  They were kinda small but still had Jingle Bell on them.  Mine is the green ribboned one. 

We leave you with one thought.  No matter how healthy/unhealthy, overweight/underweight or how young/old you are, set your goals.  Then you must

Run 4 It

Turkey Trot 5k

I'm a little late getting this post out as we've been on the road back and forth due to Thanksgiving.  So let me recap this race.  This race was on Saturday, 11/17/12.

We ran this Pensacola race last year and thoroughly enjoyed it.  This year we were dry...yep, it rained throughout the race making it colder than we wanted it to be.  Yay for the sun this year!  We really enjoy running Pensacola races.  Being mostly flat makes it easy to push yourself, and having the gorgeous scenes all around you, as most we've run are along the beach or across bridges, just bathes your mind and puts it in a peaceful state.  Oh, the memories we've had and plan on enjoying in the future.  This race was no different. 

Not long after starting, we hit the beach road and ran there for a good bit of the race.  Being an out and back, we got to enjoy the beach's beauty for a while.  The wind was a little gusty but you just have to love the beauty we had to take our minds off of it...and after all, the beach always has SOME kinda breeze going on.  Many wore shorts and I'm thinking that they removed their long pants before the race because the temp was definitely cool enough for long pants and we didn't see that many shorts before it started.  Here is our pic after we went inside to warm up after the race. 

Here's Kent coming in to the Finish Line.  He did well in his race. 

While we were inside enjoying the warmth and getting refreshments, we enjoyed really good turkey chili.  Okay...we were demolishing this second bowl here along with some fruit...someone knows how to cook chili here.  Yummm!!

We love the reason for this race.  They provide as many Thanksgiving meals as they can with the money.  The ones that 'need' food are able to pick up an entire meal with a whole turkey to take home and enjoy with their families with dignity.  I'm so glad to be a part of this because we are so blessed!!  This year they provided 139 full meals!  Now, we're ALL winners here. 

After enjoying our meals, the awards began.  Everyone that won the top medals were awarded with a huge turkey to cook for Thanksgiving.  Kent received 1st place in his age group and I did, too.  I was surprised because I wasn't looking for anything because I've gotten a little slower than I use to [okay...I'm not training like I use to either NOR eating well ALL the time]. 

Oh, yeah...the lady in black standing behind me were giving out Wild Turkey shots [see the man in the front with his] to every winner.  And, for those that may be wondering...NO, we didn't partake.  Gave mine to the director on the left behind me. 

Instead of receiving race shirts this year, they gave large, zippered, insulated totes.  I really liked them but not sure if we'll need two.  One should hold more than we would need; guess we have one when that one wears out.  They appear to be quite durable, too.

All in all, we love this race and hope to do it next year.  I love the fact that you have a place to go inside and warm up if it is cold outside. 

If you didn't do a Turkey Trot somewhere during Thanksgiving, then you better get off that couch and

Run 4 It...
You have nothing to lose but unwanted pounds gained!  And, yes, you probably did...we all did.

Jazz Half = Fun = New PR

This half marathon was different from any I've done before.  This is my 7th and thought I'd learned all there is to know on basically flat races.  All my long training runs were not good and I was afraid I would have to walk some.  Actually, I only had one long run that was a solid run and it was my last one.  Thankfully, it was 12 miles.  I'll have to say that I was soooo not looking forward to this race and just wanted to get it over!!  Yep, this can and does happen.  At least, I had miles on my legs and should be ready strength-wise. 

Secondly, this was my first "girls trip" and I have to admit I was a bit anxious.  It's been a looong time since I'd been to a slumber party and I didn't know what to expect.  Sweet Deleica, who got us all together to race this one, did a fantastic job in getting a very nice hotel room close to the race start and finish, as well as to downtown so we could walk every where we wanted to. 

Thirdly, this is the first race, and a half marathon at that, that I did without Kent at my side at the end.  All in all, I was a little bit on edge until each thing was checked off the list.  As these happened, I became more relaxed.  That is, when we woke up the next morning and didn't oversleep, ha! 

When we got there, we headed on over to get our race packet and take it to the hotel.  Here is a pic of Devon, Serina [who met us there with her family], me and Deleica.  We were so disappointed in our shirts.  Oh, they were nice tech shirts and we liked the design but they HAD to be youth sizes!!!  Not a single person could come close to fitting into their shirts and that's AFTER we had asked for a larger size.  This was pathetic, to say the least.  I really felt sorry for Devon, the one on the left, as this was her first half marathon and now she will not get to enjoy wearing her shirt. 

After this, we hit the streets...well...maybe that's not the proper word for New Orleans; but we did start out walking from the hotel, down several streets, through the French Quarter [where we partook of wonderful Beignets-you've GOT to have some of those when you go to NOLA] and on to getting dinner.  We ate at Mulate's where we were entertained by an eccentric band using instruments that people used over 50 years ago, like an accordian, washboard and a kazoo type thing.

I got a grilled chicken po-boy.  Just couldn't see going to NOLA and not getting some of their fantastic bread!!  I am NOT a bread eater but I can't resist theirs.  I really kinda worried about the eating the night before the race.  I mean I stick with pasta in every long race I've done.  As a matter of fact, I'm just now getting to where I'm loosening up on this "rule" when it comes to 5k's.  Hoping I didn't overload on protein and cause any stomach ills during the race, I rested in what was going to happen was going to happen.  And, it was really, really good.  Here is a pic of my meal.  Doesn't it look delish??  Devon and Deleica's pic follows.  They got blackened fish and it looked good, too.

We tried to sleep but as with most runners, sleep usually evades you when you need it most.  But when you get up for the day, the butterflies start fluttering.  I loved that our names were on our race bibs.  We dressed in costume, too.

 







Here we are all huddled up before the race for a quick photo.  It started at the break of dawn so it was still dark here.  Also, the wind was quite strong at the first and end of the race making the temps feel so much colder than what it was.  See my hair?? 

As the race started, I focused on my own race and tried to keep an eye on my pace.  I was so afraid I was going to start out too fast and peter out at the end.  I felt so good...the best I'd felt for a race in a very long time.  I noticed off and on that my pace was faster than it should be and I "tried" to slow down; but again, I really felt good and thought I'd run my race as I felt with some caution on my speed.  The course was really pretty and I enjoyed every bit of it.  The roads were not the NOLA roads I was familiar with in past races.  These were nice and, yes, there was construction off and on throughout.  Photographers were all along the route taking pics.  Though I was sent the link to mine, I couldn't get them copied to put them on my blog...ugh!  [Well, I don't take good pics anyhow.]  Anyway, I had begun to pick up my speed at the 10-11 miles and as I got to the 12th, I sped up a little more.  I came up to the 13th mile and knew I only had .10 to go.  Then, I saw the clock in the distance.  I felt great and looked at the clock; I had gotten a PR!!!!  Oh, my!!  I had not expected to see that. 

When I got something to eat, I sat down and looked at my watch again thinking that I had mis-looked at the numbers.  With my phone in one hand, dialing Kent as fast as I could, I couldn't believe that this had really happened.  I was almost hyperventilating, I was so excited...really!  I thought I had beat my PR by a lot more at first; but...I STILL had a PR by 53 seconds!!!  That's almost a minute and I had about decided that I wouldn't get another PR in a half marathon...that I had peaked.  Well, here's my info:  http://www.jazzhalf.com/results/2012/half-marathon?first_name_op=starts&first_name=Robbie&last_name_op=starts&last_name=Headrick&division= I, also, came in 9th out of 43 ladies in MY age group alone.  That is a great thing by itself in such a big race.  There were 2083 runners and I came in 1078th.  There were lots to eat after the race: chicken/sausage pasta, chili dogs, Blue Bell ice cream and drink. The only thing I thought was unusual was I saw NO fruit at the end of the race. 

This was an amazing race and weekend to say the least.  Thoroughly enjoyed being with the girls, great food and nice race festivities and I worried over nothing.  I left so stoked I was probably intolerable to be around, ha!  I loved every exciting, unnerving moment.  One thing I learned from this half that I will take with me in the future is that always do your long runs as scheduled even if you have to/need/or do walk some.  The time on your legs will make them strong and all of this WILL pay off in the end.  And, second, to keep a positive attitude.  Do NOT let a single negative thought enter your mind that you don't have a postive one to replace it with before it takes root.  I never would have believed it, but I do now.  So, if you're thinking you're not prepared but yet you've done as your program says, have faith in your training, keep your head up and nurse a positive attitude.  It will pay off.  After all, not everyone can run 13 miles!!  Now, go

Run 4 It