Home for the Holidays 10K

   
December 24 - I woke up early Christmas Eve morning to take part in the Home for the Holidays 10K, a virtual race created by bloggers Ashley, Stephanie and Robin.  It is also training time for my second half marathon, so I worked in the 10K as part of my scheduled long run.

We still needed some last minute things for Christmas, so my husband dropped me at the school where I met up with my running buddy and he went off to the grocery. Our plan was to blend two of our running routes together and try to make an 8 mile run. Route #1: a 6.5 mile loop around the lake. Route #2: part of our hills workout run that we thought would add another 1.5 miles.

Here it is on GPS:

Did I mention that it was only 20 degrees? It was the coldest day we have gone running so far. All we needed was a little snow! Our run was slightly challenging because it included a few what-I-call-steep hills. I'm not sure if it was the cold weather or just an off day, but this run definitely required a lot of effort to push through. It was especially difficult to face one of the toughest hills at about 4.5 miles. My legs wanted me to keep moving down the hill instead of turning off and heading up.

We ended our run with 7.5 miles (so our estimations were a little off) and icicles in our hair! Participating in the Home for the Holidays 10K has been a lot of fun and I love that I burned a few hundred calories before the Christmas partying even began!

Virtual 10K - 1:01:10

Merry Christmas!

Virtual Running

 
December 22 - We are in the age of Virtual Running. A virtual run is completing the race requirements without being present in an actual race location. More and more events are popping up via social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, Nike Running, DailyMile and more.

My experience with virtual running began in 2009 when I participated in the Nike Human Race 10K. Nike promoted this global 10K event for its users of the nike running sensor through Ambassadors, Challenge Teams, and Facebook. I was invited to join the event by one of the Nike Human Race Ambassadors and enjoyed weeks of training while interacting via the internet with my teammates and participating in contests. On race day, runners had to complete the 6.2 miles wherever they were, whenever they wanted and then upload their run using Nike+. Even though I wasn't surrounded by hundreds or thousands of other runners, I sported my Human Race running shirt and felt part of something huge.

This year I will be participating in the Home for the Holidays Virtual 10K put together by a couple of Twitter runners Robin, Stephanie, and Ashley. To participate all you have to do is run your 10K between Dec 23-26 then submit your time afterward. You are also encouraged to submit your stories and photos because they are giving out prizes from an array of brands for Best Holiday Outfit and just for participating. These runner girls don't want to let anyone end 2011 without one more experience of the "runner's high."

The 2012 New Year will bring the Inaugural Twitter Road Race 5K on Jan 21 created by Doug another runner on Twitter. Doug has successfully registered Bart Yasso of Runner's World along with hundreds of other Twitter runners. Doug's goal is simply to bring runners together to experience the camaraderie of running through the power of Twitter.

These Virtual Races are great motivation for runners all over to get out there during these busy, hectic holidays and run. So whether you are maintaining your training or burning some holiday calories, virtual runs are an easy, healthy, fun way to do it!

What do you think about virtual running?

What virtual races have you participated in?

Thanksgiving Day Race

Cincinnati, Ohio

November 24 - Cincinnati, OH - For the third time in my life, I started my turkey day with a 10K run through the streets of downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.  In Cincinnati this 10K run/walk is on the list of Thanksgiving traditions along with turkey, football, and the Macy's Day parade.  Started in 1908, this race is the largest known in the midwest and the sixth largest in America behind century old races like the Boston Marathon.  This year over 15,000 people registered to burn a few calories before heading off to their big turkey feasts.

Thousands of cars made their way to the 50,000 free parking spots of Paul Brown Stadium hoping to make the 9 AM start.  I had to jump out of the car and dash to the stadium in search of the restrooms with only 15 minutes to spare.  Bad idea. The line was worse than on a game day! Instead I had to plan a stop at the port-a-potty oasis at mile 3.  I squirmed my way through the massive crowd back toward the starting line to look for my driver (husband) and mom: my cheering section.  Luckily I married the crazy guy who will park in garages that look closed and stand atop large orange traffic barrels waving like wild.

Dodging some walkers in the crowd!

The race started and ended on Second Street.  It probably took me 8+ minutes to even cross the starting line.  There were so many people!! Once the horde surrounding me began to move, I was off. I had set a goal to finish in under one hour.

With so many runners (and walkers) it was hard to take in the sights of the city during the run.  I spotted my cheering husband around mile two before heading over the Ohio River via the Taylor Southgate Bridge into Newport, KY.  Runners were spreading out at this point, so I did get some pretty views of the riverfront.

I did it! 10K - 59:08

The remaining four miles took me past Newport on the Levee before my two minute visit at the "Oasis" then over the Licking River Bridge into Covington. Lots of supporters and great music lined 4th street in Covington providing the perfect motivation for facing the last "rolling hill" on the run.  The final mile took me over the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge back into Cincinnati and toward my destination.  Passing by my cheering section, I made my way to the finish line in 59:08!

It was a wonderful trip home to Cincinnati, and the added bonus of being able to run the 102nd Thanksgiving Day Race with thousands of others made it even better.  I am looking forward to doing it again!