Showing posts with label 10K. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 10K. Show all posts

Friday, May 23, 2014

I've got Disco Fever (10K variety)!

Last Saturday was the fourth year for the TI Disco Fever 5K/10K, but it was my first time running it. Christine & Sarah, the owners of TI Fitness where I SurfSet, organized this charity event. These ladies are so inspiring and super fun to be around.


I grew up listening to disco music, so I was pumped to join the fun and play a little dress up.


On my way to registration, I ran into some of the girls from the There She Goes Again running group and chatted for a few minutes.


The race was held at the World Sports Grille in Manchester and pre-race booths were set up in the lower level of the garage. I love the race shirt made by b Positive, but the sizes run very small, so it's likely that I won't be wearing it.


While waiting to make my way to the start line, I checked out Blue Trailer, a mobile rental locker service launched in March by a runner named Molly. Her #lockitup concept was born from the need to store items securely at a race/event. It's a great idea, especially when the weather is less than favorable at the start, your car is far away, and there's no bag check.


The 5K and 10K started at the same time, but were separated by about 50 yards. Both followed the same route along the Manchester Trail until just before the 2 mile mark when the 5K split off. It was fun to run along the trail since it is one of our regular choices for long runs.


As usual, mrC joined me on this groovy adventure. We stuck together for most of the run, but he had to walk at mile 5 and I just wanted to get to the finish.


After the race, runners could immediately check results and then head over to the World Sports Grille deck for post-race live music, beverages, and food. I will definitely do this one again!

Do you like themed races?



Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Swagtastic Virtual 10K Recap

I really enjoy virtual races. They're fun for all sorts of reasons as I mentioned when I talked about my first experience in 2009. Since then I have done a few more including the recent Swagtastic Virtual 10K.

This race is organized completely online and race bibs are emailed to registered participants prior to the five-day race window. Participants run the registered distance and self-report their results online.



I normally do long runs on the weekends. Since most of my "long" runs have been under 7 miles recently, it made perfect sense to run 6.2 miles on Saturday. To make it even better, we would be in Newport for the holiday weekend, so the route was going to be gorgeous.


The goal was to get out the door as early as possible: 1) to beat the heat and 2) we had a sailboat to launch at 11AM. So, a little after 7AM we laced up our shoes, grabbed our Simple Hydration water bottles filled with Cytomax and stepped out into the SOUP!

We made our way off the base and along the waterfront into town. Along the way, we passed numerous other runners, walkers, and bikers all out getting their workout done early. The sun was shining, the water was glistening, and the wind was...well, light. With little shade except through a section along America's Cup Ave, we pretty much felt like we were melting.


With each passing mile, the run got harder. At King's Park, our turn around point, we took a little break, used the port-a-potties, and took some pictures. It was difficult to get going again after that. On the way back, we walked and hydrated at each mile.

Mile 4: The Wave

This was a very tough, sweaty run. During the last mile, we saw a dog owner throwing a toy into the water for his dog to retrieve and I was ready to join the dog! I remember saying to mr. C, I just want this run to be over!



So we might not have made the smartest run decision on Saturday: it was warm, it was humid, it was sunny, and we were sunburned. We did it though. Fortunately receiving the swag from this race has nothing to do with how well you do.



What's your favorite virtual race? 



Friday, October 12, 2012

Tufts Health Plan 10K

It was another day for running and this time I ran with women. I was invited by Reebok and FitFluential to run the Tufts Health Plan 10K in Boston on Monday as part of Team Reebok.



Thanks to my husband, we arrived at Boston Common with plenty of time to get checked in, cruise the expo, do some shopping, and say hello to the race spokesperson, Joan Benoit Samuelson, AGAIN.



We stopped by the Reebok Booth to check in and get our picture taken. They had fun signs for runners and supporters to fill out and a CrossFit game to play.


Before I knew it, the other FitFluential Ambassadors arrived. Reebok generously outfitted us all in Team Reebok PlayDry short sleeve tops. These shirts were perfect to wear with temperatures in the high 50s. 


With approximately 8,000 women (and some men) signed up for this race, the announcers started calling for the faster runners around 11:15. I hopped in the port-a-potty line one last time, got a good luck kiss from my husband, and joined the crowd. During the wait I happened to spot one of the ladies who has run this race for the last 36 years. Then Joan Benoit Samuelson wished all of us a good race and we were off.


Here's the video my husband captured of the start of the race:




I ran with my phone to take pictures because the course went through parts of Boston that I hadn't seen before. The first mile led us down Beacon Street before crossing over the Charles River into Cambridge. I know we looped past MIT, but I was more interested in watching the lead runners and looking for my FitFluential friends. We were pretty easy to spot in our purple Team Reebok shirts. People lined the streets everywhere including on top of an overpass and as we crossed the river back into Boston, the crowds on the sidewalks got even thicker. When I got to the finish line, Joan Benoit Samuelson was there to shake my hand (she finished in 38:21).


At each mile marker I had checked the time against my pacer bracelet, and had hit all of the 9:30 pace times. Since I used my Simple Hydration Water Bottle, I ran past all of the water stops including the last one staffed by men in tuxedos. My 56:23 finish time was a new 10K PRI finished 1485/5430 finishers. And for the first time, I ran faster every mile.




This was my first race in Boston and the second largest race I've ever run (biggest in Cincy). Picking up my bib and race swag was a breeze because they were so well organized. The announcements made throughout the day from the stage were very helpful (and that's how we knew JBS was there!) and we found all the volunteers to be helpful and friendly.  



Some details worth mentioning: Participants were offered pace bracelets. Even though I'm inexperienced with using them, I loved this and found it very helpful. They also handed out stickers to reflect the number of years you have participated in this race. I wore mine on my skirt and found myself looking for them on others. There was also a "changing tent" which I gratefully used.


Disclaimer: My race entry and Team Reebok apparel were compliments of Reebok. I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own.




Monday, April 16, 2012

It Was A Marathon Weekend

 
April 16 - Good luck to everyone running in the Boston Marathon today! You rock!

The weekend was a whirlwind of running events. On Friday my Crazy Running Partner and I headed to Boston for a running girls night out.

Our first stop was the 2012 Boston Marathon Expo at the Seaport World Trade Center. CRP has finished the Boston Marathon twice and she thought I needed to see this expo. Huge. Loved it. Wish we had more time to hang out.


Cute display, but we kept moving (can't afford to stop there!)


My favorite marathon shirt


Great colors on the running shoes


So many Sweaty Bands!


Thought they had too many, so I took two!


Chatted with the girls at the RNR PROV booth


Then we headed over to Saucony's Evening of Running Inspiration Party at The Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts. The event included keynote speakers sharing their stories of running and life followed by a reception highlighting the new Kinvara 3.


A special tribute to Caballo Blanco (Micah True) the Mythic Hero of Born To Run by Luis Escobar, friend and Ultramarathoner


2012 NFL Superbowl Champion for the New York Giants; Boston College All-American; Cancer Survivor, Mark Herzlich


3X World Triathlon Champion; Ironman Kona Champion, Karen Smyers


4X Winner Boston and NYC Marathons, Bill Rodgers


Q & A with the audience 
(hey Dorothy Beal from Mile Posts - love your #strong)


Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and beverages! 


Mark Herzlich tells us to #FindYourStrong


(We met up with FitFluential Ambassadors: Samantha, Nancy, and Dani
- too dark to take pics with my phone, but you should check out their blogs!)


After the Saucony Party we had a late dinner at Rock Bottom Brewery in the Theater District.


Saturday afternoon hubs and I dusted off the bikes and took our first ride of the warm season; a three mile bike ride to one of our favorite running spots, Scobie Pond (aka Haunted Lake). 


Sunday afternoon we ran a 10K at the 19th Annual Walk & Run for Food & Shelter in Nashua, NH. This was my running goal race for the month of April and my last race until the Cox Rhode Races Half Marathon on May 6.


There was a really good turn out for this race. They offered a 3K walk, 5K and 10K runs. I'm guessing there were over 500 participants in all of the events.


I registered for the 10K. Hubs came along and ran bandit!


We had plenty of time before the race to do the usual stuff...stretch


People watch


Chat with other runners and then ask them to take our picture


The course consisted of two different loops. The first loop was nice and easy, rolling hills and a good breeze. I ran this part with hubs. The 5K and 10K split near the finish line and this is where hubs and I also split. The second loop was much hillier and hotter because the breeze pretty much disappeared. The last half mile was a steady uphill to the finish line. Hate that. My finish time was 1:02:51.


Hubs unofficially finished in 1:14:08


After grabbing as much water and Gatorade as we could carry, we made our way to the food tent. They had apples/bananas, hummus & chips, chocolate chip cookies, and assorted sandwiches. An excellent post-race selection.


It was a beautiful day for a race in NH. Hubs and I had a great time!


Today I will be following the 116th Boston Marathon and cheering for my fellow runners.


Have you ever participated in the Boston Marathon?
Runner, spectator, volunteer?

Last year I spectated from the start line in Hopkinton, MA

Next year I'd like to run the B.A.A 5K









Sunday, January 1, 2012

2012 First Run 10K

January 1 - To welcome in the new year and get a start on my 2012 running goals, I headed to Lowell, Massachusetts to participate in the First Run 10K. Joining me was my running buddy Daisy, and my husband who would be running the 5K. Using VZ Navigator, we found the race location and parking easily, but getting into the registration building was like trying to buy an iPad on Black Friday! Ok, maybe not that bad, but it was super crowded. Good sign for the race (a lot of people usually means it is a good race) but harder to make those last minute rest rooms breaks and find people.

Cool hat and long sleeve tech shirt
Today's race was a big festive continuation of New Year's Eve. I'm guessing at least 2000 runners turned out for both races and we were given great swag, outstanding music, and a functional starting line area with all the typical runner-needed amenities. The course was a double loop with 5Kers splitting off when 10Kers continued on to loop part 2. It was an easy course, mostly flat with one small hill and the last two miles followed the Merrimack River. The 5K portion was very crowded, but things were nice and roomy for those who kept on for the 10K.


Personalized bib & finisher's medal
The last time I ran a 10K race was at home in Cincinnati. I PR'd that one with 59:08. I had no intention of trying to PR this one because the plan was for me to run the 5K with hub and then continue on. However, he encouraged me to go ahead. I ran with Daisy most of the way, but about 2 miles in I realized that I should have gotten in the port-a-potty line. Two miles later I trailed Daisy as I struggled with my very, very full bladder! This really sucked because other than that, I was having a great running day. The 10K took a small side route through a neighborhood where, if you ask me, a couple of port-a-potties would have been like finding water in the desert! Overall, I did enjoy this race and managed to PR in 58:09l!

Stephanie & her hub!
Leading up to this race Bill from Daily Mile arranged a DM group meet up and Stephanie from Run for Fun let me know she was running and wanted to meet. I was super excited to meet fellow cyber runners for the first time. These are the other people who have what A Veteran Runnah would call RUNNERITISThey are a totally fun and loyal virtual support group.

Today I was supposed to meet them IRL (in real life). I'm happy to report that I did meet Stephanie, but only briefly. She was easy to spot in her "Crazy Bitch" running shirt. I still had to grab my race bib, so we parted ways and only saw each other again during the run.  (I shamelessly stole this picture from her Twitter post). I never did find the DMer group in the massive crowd.

Appropriately named, the First Run 10K was a day of firsts for me. First run of 2012. First race on my run-a-race-a-month goal. First time meeting a blogger friend. First time meeting attempting to meet Daily Mile friends. First time running a race in Massachusetts (another race goal). First PR of 2012. Now if I could only take my FIRST GOOD RUNNING PHOTO!

Why do I wave like that??


How did you spend New Year's Day?

What do your running/active photos look like?

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