Going to Wash DC!!

I got the best news ever yesterday... I received an email from Nike saying:

Congratulations!

We've got two starting lines with your name on them!
You're a runner who's set their sights on logging a ton of miles in 2013. We're here to help you achieve that goal, by giving you a second chance to toe the line in DC. So, what do you have to do in order to get this amazing opportunity to join us on a beautiful course through the historical streets of Washington DC?

RUN.

We have limited spots saved for the Nike Women faithful - For a limited time, you now have the option to register for both the Nike Women 10K and Nike Women Half Marathon DC.

I was super excited, but also bummed. I had already signed up for the Louisville Derby Mini-Marathon (which is the same weekend in April) since I got rejected from the Nike Women Half Marathon. A second chance?? I thought long and hard about going. In the end, I figured this would be a once in a life time opportunity and I can run the Derby half next year. Nike races aren't exactly easy to get in to.

To get entry into the race, I also had to sign up for the Nike Virtual 10k. I thought that race was pretty stupid. You pay $40, only $10 of that goes to charity, you get a shirt, and you have to run by yourself (or with whomever you want). So...I ran the 6.2 miles today around Tower Grove Park. Nike might be taking our money, but at least they are getting the ladies out running!! I took it pretty easy since I'm doing the Quivering Quads tomorrow, eeekkkkk! A trail half marathon. I know it's going to be tough, but I'll give it my all.

Two laps around Tower Grove. 

Venice

Here is a photo I took in Vence:

Rialto Bridge - - Venice, unedited.

Super washed out photo... There was a blue sky this day, but a lot of my pictures turned out like this. DRAB. I played around with it in Lightroom, brought the blue sky back and made the colors more vivid:

Venice, edited.

Now that's how I remember it!!

Carondelet Indoor Sprint Triathlon

This was so much fun!! I really enjoyed every minute of it!

I was on a swim team when I was a kid and was a fish growing up (we had a pool), but in my adult years, I'm hardly ever in the pool. I thought signing up for an indoor tri would be good for me because running is getting kind of boring.

I bought a swim suit and started swimming laps about a month ago, maybe less. I've only trained 4 times in the pool.

The swim went really well today!! I placed 4th overall. I did 500 yds in 8:30, a 29:55 pace. I can't wait to see if I can improve! I have a bum elbow that I broke when I was 20, and that causes me some pain. I was accidentally registered as a male, so I had to swim w/ 3 other dudes. I kicked their butts :o). Even one of the guys commented to me after how fast my swim was. That made me happy because I'm always mediocre at everything I do (or just plain suck).

The bike part was boring. I didn't know what to expect because I haven't trained at all for this. I own a spinning bike and I do that from time to time, but never know my pace or my mileage. I just kept moving my legs. In the end, I did 9 miles in 16:34, at 32.6mph pace. My tailbone hurts!!!!

I knew the run was going to be hard. My legs were so tired. I started at my normal 10:00 min/mi pace and stayed there for the first mile. I kept increasing my pace and finished 3.1 miles in 29:34, a 09:32 pace. I know I could have done better here... I really wish I pushed myself harder.

In the end, I'm really happy w/ my placement:

Overall 19/48
Gender 7/25   *I had them change my sex to female as they originally had my registered as male.
Age Group (F 30-39) 3/11

Swim: Rank 4/48
Bike: Rank 17/48
Run: Rank 27/48

And running is what I do!!! And I placed horribly. LOL.

Results

Castlewood Cup 15k

Uggggggg.

I signed up for this race 2 days ago. I had wanted to sign up for it when registration went live, but totally forgot about it. This race fills up pretty quick, only 600 runners max, and it did sell out. For whatever reasons, they had to move the date of the race, so slots opened. I basically thought this would be a good training run for the Quivering Quads coming up.

I bought Yaktrax because of the snow. I have never ran in these before, but what a blessing they were! A girl in front of me had on some old trainers and she was slipping and sliding all over the place. I felt very grounded most of the run. Highly recommend!

Yaktrax. 

I have never really ran in the snow before, but it sucked. Especially when it wasn't packed down, it seriously felt like I was running on sand. The first mile, there is this awful hill. I've hiked it several times, but even on good conditions running up that hill would SUCK.

Up we go!

The view down the hill.

I knew after that hill that the race was going to suck. A mile in and I was dead tired. But I found a good stride and kept on. The downhill portion was especially fun. It was very difficult to pass people on the trails, so I was always tracking someone.

My "buddy" for a while.

Somewhere there was this weaving uphill portion, around mile 3 and that sucked! I was behind several people that were walking, not that I'm complaining!! When we got to the top of the hill, I was running in a good pack and just kept up with them. That's about the only part of the race were I felt good.

My new running buddies.

Around mile 5 is when I really crapped out. There was a water break and then this huge uphill...again. I knew it was going to get bad. Basically, I ran what I could, but walked a lot. I just kept counting down the miles and dreamt of food and water.

More uphills, weeee!

I do have to say that the weather was gorgeous!! I was so nervous about running in the snow, but never once was I cold...until we had to cross a creek around mile 8 or so. It wasn't that cold, but made for some soggy running.

I really struggled to finish, but I did.

Finally at the finish!

I placed horribly. I knew I did bad, but I didn't think it was 'that' bad. Oh well, just one of those days I guess.

431/471

I had a really hard time after the race. I was sooo hungry, so I stopped at Sonic for some grub and didn't even make it home before I had to puke. I stopped in some vacant parking lot to unload (sorry, trying not to be graphic) and then made it home and really puked. IT WAS AWFUL. Why am I puking?? I don't understand. Did I just push myself too hard?

I'm really nervous about the trail half marathon in a month. Ugggg. I want to drop out, but will give it some time. I am doing a YMCA sprint triathlon in a week and I'm really looking forward to that!!! I've been swimming laps and that's been going really well. I really enjoy being back in the pool.

Can you find me?? Fins, circa 1994?? Front row, third from the left. 

Sand Mine Challenge

I really had no idea what to expect for this race. I've never been to the sand mine (in Crystal City), and to get there you drive on a narrow one-lane bridge and then through a tunnel.

Entering the Sand Mine.

After driving through the tunnel, there is an open air area where we parked. It was a mess because of the snow!! But we found a close spot to the mine opening. We had a while to wait for our wave, so we waited around with everyone else.

Yup, wearing a fanny pack.

We started with the 10:50 am wave. The first obstacle was running through COLD water. It was miserable. Definitely the worst obstacle there. There were several other obstacles, some cheesy ones, had to jump over fire, climb a lot of "mountains", cross more water passes, heavy sand, run in the dark...

Josh, leading the way.

The air circulation in the mine was obviously poor. I felt like I was breathing in a lot of sand particles. But we kept on truckin' and ran most of the course.

It was actually pretty dark here.

Finished!

The race medals were soooo cheesy. It was a waste of money to hand those out, but whatever. This race was a lot of fun!!!! Definitely different than anything I've ever done before. The route kept meandering through the mine and it was always exciting to see what was next. We finished the 3.2 mile route in 42:28.

Outside after the race.

Sandy, wet shoes.

Tomorrow I'm running a 9 mile trail race... We got quite a bit of snow the other day, so this will be interesting. I'll be back with an update on the Castlewood Cup!

Running for Stray Rescue

Hello to my three readers (hopefully there is more than three out there?).

My boys are on the top right :o)

I've joined team Canine to 5 to run the Go! St. Louis Marathon relay and we are committed to raising $2,000 for Stray Rescue in St. Louis!! I'm very excited about this event and we've already raised $900 to date!! Please visit our fundraising page and consider making a donation to Stray Rescue. No amount is too small. Donate Here!

I also did something I might regret... I signed up for the Tough Mudder. I know, what was I thinking??? I'm trying to not think about it and just do. I know I'll end up like this poor girl:

Source: Tough Mudder Facebook

Yup, that's def going to be me up there!! Although I'm really scared for the event, my husband agreed to do it with me!! We are also running with some friends, so I think it's going to be really fun!

I also talked my husband into running the SeaWheeze half-mary with me as well!! In the span of one day, I talked him into Tough Mudder and a half-marathon! No idea how that happened, but I'm very much looking forward to long training runs with the husband.

I also just signed up for my first triathlon. It's an indoor sprint triathlon at my local gym, so I figured, why not??

500 Yard Swim (25 yard pool)
9 Mile Bike (Spinning Bike)
3.1 Mile Run (Treadmill)

Date Sunday, March 3, 2013

 I guess I should train for this?? I haven't been in the pool in ages!

Run for your Beads 5k

The Run for you Beads 5k is a fun race in Soulard. I signed up weeks ago... and then the big flu of 2013 hit.... and then the hives reaction to my meds happened, and then mystery sickness on Friday occurred at work. I did NOT want to run this race!! But the route start/finish was basically right outside my front door, so I figured I had to go... even though I was puking the day before, bargh.

Race Start in Soulard

The weather was gorgeous. There was a slight chill in the air, but nothing too horrible. I knew I overdressed for the race, but I just wanted to be comfortable, aka not cold. I even had a running buddy with me! My husband joined me and pushed me the entire way!

Josh at the Race Start.

We started out at a nice slow pace... and kept that slow pace basically the entire race. The first 1.25 miles is a nice downhill and flat, but then you have to go back uphill! I was really tired. They were passing out hurricanes at the half way point, but I didn't have any. Thinking back, I really think I should have had some. I needed the energy.

Anyways, this was my slowest 5k to date. I had to walk a good portion up the Pestalozzi hill. But I got out there and did it, and that's all that counts!

Slooooow.

Here is a horrible picture of me, but the sign is just so funny! Our friend Matt lives on the race route as well, so he made this sign for us! ...totally mocking us and my hives/rash. Pretty classic.

After the race, nice and sweaty.

Here is a link to see Josh and I crossing the finish line, best part of the race!!  http://results.bazumedia.com/athlete/index/e/3172993

Anyways, after the race we enjoyed the Taste of Soulard, lots of good eats from around the neighborhood. On Sunday, we brought the pups to the Dog Parade. It's here in Soulard as well. We had a lot of snow the night before, so poor Gus was pretty cold and miserable. But I think Simon had a great time!!

My Family!

We also got to see Kevin Bacon and hear him perform live w/ his band, The Bacon Brothers.

Kevin Bacon!

Such a fun weekend, I love my neighborhood!!!

Me and my boys!