"When I do the best I can with what I have, then I have won my race." Jay Foonberg



Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Fiesta Five Flags 5k

Boy, what a weekend it was!!  The itinerary was a busy, hectic one: Sand Volleyball, Hot Air Balloon Glow, racing then straight on to see our granddaughter in her Show Choir performance in Hattiesburg.  She was beautiful!!  I don't think she missed a step and they performed a LOT.  We are so proud of her.  What a weekend...whew!!  It was tough but we got it all done.  None of these things were in the same vicinity...can you say, "on the road again"?? 

Friday, the 1st, we went to the beach in Gulf Shores to watch the Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championship.  Gorgeous day it was.  Some of those girls were soooo dark, especially from Long Beach State, California.  Could all those girls play volleyball!!  Guess that's why it was a National Championship. 

The Hot Air Balloon Festival began on Friday, too.  Since we knew our weekend was packed we decided to go on Friday night and see the Hot Air Balloon Glow and miss the rest of the weekend's treat.  It was cool!  Here are a few pics. 




Getting to bed early was a challenge because we needed to be up early.  Unfortunately, it ended up being our normal going-to-bed time.  Waking up to the alarm the next morning at 3:45, our Saturday began.  We had a favorite race of ours ahead of us.  Normally, it takes about an hour to get to Pensacola and the race began at 7:30.  Great time for a race, if you ask me!  We didn't pick up our packet Friday and since Pensacola was a little ways away; hence the earlier rise time.  Also, everyone had to be bussed to the Starting Line and the last bus left at 6:30.  We took a different route going to Pensacola this day and boy, did it cut off some time!!  A lot of it.  We have now found our new route to Pensacola.  Though a little early [we are early people anyway], we were fine with that.  The temp was perfect!  It was 52 when we got out of the car.  No wind and a gorgeous day.  One couldn't ask for anything better for racing. 

I was so unprepared for this race and wanted to be "ready"...but it is what it is.  Reason behind this: I attended a scrapbook crop the weekend before.  Okay...you say but that was the previous weekend.  The deal is that this was a 24 hour crop for 3 days.  I am one of the few that do all my work standing.  Aha!!  That's the deal!  Yep, that's the deal.  By the time I'm finished with any crop my ankles are swollen pretty bad; so much so that they hurt.  I'm not worried about this except it takes an average of TWO+ days afterward before I can get on my feet again running or walking.  For the first time, the swelling and discomfort lasted longer.  :(  Hence...not much preparation for the race the week OF the race.  I knew it would be tough but there was no way I was going to miss either event.  For one thing, I WON the crop!!  I love my life now!! 

Back to the race.  I was real nervous about this race as I had a goal this time to beat my last 5k time.  We started out and I really felt pretty good.  My knee hurt as I warmed up before the race and I was anxious about that.  But as the race got started, it didn't hurt.  Whew!!  Though the course is pretty much flat there is a hill going over the bridge in the 2nd mile and a HUGE hill going down a long street in the 3rd mile...hence, "kneeeee challenge".  Settling into my pace, I felt pretty good.  As I crossed the Finish Line I noticed that I had beat my time by 9 seconds!!  I know, you say that's not much...BUT...every second is a lot when you race.  What an encouragement!!  I can hardly wait until I get my time down by another minute or two.  I KNOW I can do this. 

I'm now looking forward to my next race...whatever that is.  It may be in the fall as I am not a summer racer.  I won't stop running but not sure about the racing.  I've now gotten excited about racing again.  It's been quite a while and I want those feelings back...whatever the time may be. 

Kent did VERY well, too.  He came in ahead of when he had hoped and that paid off.  He placed in his age group.  This is a tough race to place as there are many there.  Congrats, Honey...I am ALWAYS proud of you and you ALWAYS inspire me to do my best. 

I leave you with one thing.  Never give up!  Do what you can, whatever it is.  Some days are better than others and you will push through it.  I'm ready to be injury free.  It will soon be two years that I have fought "something" with two things being major...but I won't give up!  Reach for that better time or PR or whatever eludes you at this time and go

Run 4 It!! 

2019 Races

  • 05/11/19...9.38 mile Good Life Ride
  • 04/13/19...Raven 5k
  • Dec. 15 - Mar. 8 2019...175 Mile Challenge
  • 02/16/19...Sweetheart 5k
  • 01/19/19...Casio Bridge 5k...DND

2018 Races

12/09/18...MS Gulf Coast Half Marathon
12/01/18...Honeybee 5k (cancelled-weather)
11/17/18...Seville Quarter Turkey Trot 5k
11/11/18...Battleship 12k
10/20/18...Hope Haven Run for Hope 5k
10/13/18...Shrimp Festival 5k
09/29/18...Don McCloskey 5k
09/01/18...Bloody Mary 5k
01/27/18...Casino Bridge 5k

Through December...200 Mile Fall Challenge
Through August...175 Mile Spring Challenge
Through June...150 Mile Spring Challenge

2018 Goals

Bike 500 miles.
Improve gear shifting.
Strength training 2 hours/week.
Run 600 miles.
Improve running without walking.
No processed sugar 75% of time.
Improve positive thinking.
NEVER give up!

2017 Races

  • 12/10/17...MS Coast Half
  • 12/09/17...MS Coast 5k
  • 11/25/17...Kaiser Half
  • 11/18/17...Wild Turkey Trot 5k
  • 11/11/17...Rotary Oyster 5k
  • 10/14/17...Shrimp Festival 10k
  • 02/18/17...Sea Turtle Half
  • 02/04/17...Double Bridge 15k
  • 01/29/17...Big Beach Half

2017 Bike Rides

  • 10/01/17...Southern Magnolia Ride [25.85]
  • 05/13/17...Good Life Ride [26]

Series

  • MS Coast Double Down...5k & Half
  • Run The Beach...3 Half's

2017 Goals

  • Back-to-Back Races [Done]
  • 3 Half Marathons [Done +1]
  • 1,000 Miles-No
  • First Half Marathon Series [3 Done]
  • Work on core/strength 2-3 times a week-No
  • Lose 25 pounds-No
  • NEVER give up! YES!!
  • Control/Eliminate refined sugars-Good

2016 Races

  • 10/15/16...Shrimp Festival 5k
  • 05/30/16...Fiesta Five Flags 5k
  • 03/19/16...Azalea Trail 10k
  • 03/13/16...St. Pat's Leprechaun 5k
  • 03/05/16...Bay to Breakfast 12k...1st trail race
  • 02/20/16...Sea Turtle Half
  • 02/13/16...Double Bridge 15k

2016 Goals

  • Run 1,000 miles-Done
  • Bike 300 miles
  • Half Marathon-Done
  • Eat fruit daily
  • Push through the hard times-Done
  • Cut back on refined sugar

2015 Races

  • 12/19/15...Make It To The Line 4 Miler
  • 11/21/15...Wild Turkey Trot 5k
  • 11/14/15...Oyster 5k
  • 10/10/15...Shrimp Festival 5k
  • 05/30/15...PHind a Cure-W/D
  • 05/02/15...Fiesta Five Flags 5k
  • 04/18/15...Zydeco 5k - W/D
  • 04/??/15...Virtual Remember the Fallen 5k
  • 04/??/15...Virtual Boston Strong 5k
  • 04/11/15...Magnolia 5k
  • 03/28/15...Azalea Trail 10k
  • 03/07/15...Circle K 5k
  • 03/01/15...Gulf Coast Lulu's 10k
  • 02/28/15...Sweetheart 5k
  • 02/07/15...Double Bridge 15k

2015 Goals

  • 1 Half Marathon
  • Eat fruit daily
  • Overlook past failures
  • Push through the hard times/things

2014 Races

  • 12/06/14...St. Jude's Half Marathon
  • 08/16/14...Pinky 5k Virtual
  • 08/15/14...Howl @ the Moon 10k Virtual
  • 02/15/14...Sweetheart 5k
  • 02/01/14...Double Bridge 15k

2014 Goals

  • 1 Half Marathon
  • 700 Running Miles
  • Strengthen my Upper Body
  • Recuperate, Recover, Renew
  • Get active in WW
  • Eat Fruit Daily
  • Start Clean Eating
  • Begin Eliminating Sugar from Diet

2013 Races

11-30-13...Stennis 5k
11-23-13...Turkey Trot 5k
11-08-13...Run For The Kids Virtual Half [St. Jude's]
10-12-13...Shrimp Festival 5k
09-22-13...Talladega Half
07-04-13...Wesson 2 Miles
06-29-13...Emz Liverpalooza 5k
05-18-13...Pursuit of Fun 5k
04-20-13..Warrior Dash
04-07-13...Gulf Coast Half-Pensacola
03-23-13...Azalea Trail 10k
03-10-13...Leprechaun 5k
02-24-13...NOLA Marathon
02-02-13...Double Bridge 15k-Pensacola
01-13-13....Gulf Coast Half-Lulu's

2013 Goals

  • 3 Half Marathons-Done-Plus 1
  • 1 Marathon-Done
  • 1000 Running Miles-No, due to RC Tendonitis & Broken Shoulder
  • Eat fruit daily-A little aggressive but better
  • Maintain weight in 130's-Did NOT happen!

2012 Races

12-08-12...FloraBama Jingle Bell 5k
11-24-12...Jingle Bell 10k
11-17-12...Turkey Trot 5k
10-27-12...Jazz Half
10-20-12...OS Rotary 5k
10-13-12...Race for Grace 5k
09-29-12...5k For Katlyn
07-04-12...Wesson 2 Mile
04-15-12...Gulf Coast Half...[Withdrew-bronchitis]
04-14-12...Diversity Dash 5k
03-24-12...Azalea Trail 10k
03-03-12...MS50 20k...[Withdrew-bronchitis]
02-25-12...Kids Need Heroes 5k
02-11-12...Sweetheart 5k
02-04-12..Double Bridge 15k
01-14-12...Pensacola Half



2012 Goals

  • 1 Full Marathon-Marine Corp filled up
  • 3 Half Marathons-2 Down-Sick had to drop 2
  • 20 Miles-Wkly Mileage-Bronchitis kept me from this
  • Cross Training 2x Week-Poor Commitment
  • Weekly Weights W/O-Again Poor Commitment

2011 Races

  • 11-26-11...Kaiser Half
  • 11-19-11...Turkey Trot 5k
  • 11-11-11...Thumbs Up for Bill 5k
  • 11-05-11...Senior Bowl 10k
  • 10-22-11...Running the Streets 5k
  • 10-15-11...Shrimp Festival 10k
  • 10-08-11...Mullet Run 5k
  • 09-24-11...Waiting for a Cure 8k
  • 09-05-11...Labor Your Legs 5k
  • 07-04-11...Wesson 2 Miles
  • 06-04-11...Bay Fest 5k
  • 05-14-11...Stargazer 5k
  • 04-30-11...Fiesta 5 Flags 5k
  • 04-16-11...St. Benedict's 5k
  • 04-10-11...Gulf Coast Half
  • 03-26-11...Azalea Trail 10k
  • 03-19-11...St. Patrick's 5k
  • 03-05-11...Eco 5k
  • 02-13-11...Mardi Gras Marathon

Secrets to Running a 5k

Here is an excellent site for those who have thought about running a 5k race but just hadn't made that move yet. There's tips, directions and even a section on what to wear. If you have never run a race, you are missing out on a lot of fun. You will have support from most everyone you meet. Now for the site...click here to change your life and get started!

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