Marion Arts Festival 5K and Half Marathon--May 18, 2013

The weather was a beautiful 65 degrees when I left for the race. This year I did the 5K alone without my husband or children. Some of my other running friends were at the race, but most of them ran the half marathon and those who did choose the 5K were much faster than I was so I ran alone. I was hoping to break 30 minutes, but the heat got to me and I had a time of 31:00 even. Oh well, didn't work out this time, but I am grateful to be able to run at all. The results are HERE.  My personal results are here.  Personally after reviewing my results and comparing my overall stats, they aren't that bad considering I finished in the top half for my age group and for the gender.  Here are some pictures to enjoy:

Me before the race began.

My friend Tyler Sullivan who placed 2nd overall
in the 5K

My friend Lisa Flatery after her half marathon.

This guy finished as 10th place overall in the
half marathon and he ran in this costume for
the entire race.  It was hot out by this time
so I'm sure he was boiling in that.

A picture of me after the race with my race shirt on.

stuff from the packet.

Left to Right:  Tracy, Lisa, me and Rhoni Jo.

Training for a Triathlon and a Duathlon.

Two of my major goals this year are these:  Doing a Sprint Triathlon this year faster than I did the one last year.  Doing an entire Duathlon all by myself.  I would also like to fit in either another Sprint Triathlon in August, or find an Olympic Triathlon somewhere and do that.  My Sprint Distance Tri is this:  Swim 600 Yards, Bike 15 miles then run a 5K.  The Duathlon is this:  Run 1.2 miles, Bike 15, then run 3 miles!

Part of my training is done with a friend named Deb.  On June 15th will be her very first Sprint Triathlon and my 2nd.  I get up at 4:30 in the morning to get dressed to ride to the North Liberty Recreation Center which is 9.11 miles away.  Then we swim for about 20-25 minutes, then I ride with her to her work, then I ride home.  Total distance for me is about 22-23 miles on the bike depending on the route I take.

I am running 2-4 times a week, teaching Zumba only once a week since my ankle doesn't like the lateral movement I cut my classes from 4 a week to only 1 and during that 1 I wear a couple ankle braces at once.

I also teach Body Sculpt 4 times a week. In that class you do everything from a massive amount of squats, to planks, pushups, burpees, crunches, lifting weights for several different muscle groups and also using the exercise ball, medicine ball and resistance bands.  I do something different in every class to get an all over muscle conditioning workout.

I'm hoping that by keeping up this crazy schedule that I'll be super fit by June 15th when I do the Triathlon and then the Duathlon is on July 13th.

Right now I weigh 149 and this is up last year by 6 pounds.  However it's down from the 162 pounds I went up to in January of 2013 during my massive ankle injury that happened back on October 26th, so I feel great that I've lost 13 pounds, but seriously need to take the other 6 off and continue to tone.

With hard work and dedication to my goals I know I can continue to get fitter and stronger.  The lowest weight I've been since having my 6 children is 137 and I felt amazing at that point, so I'm wondering if I'll ever see that weight again.  Time will tell. Either way weight is only a number, it is really all about how you feel, what your blood pressure, pulse and cholesterol numbers are.  I donate plasma twice a week so this is a time I get to have my blood pressure and pulse taken along with my protein and hematocrit levels measured in my blood.  Lately my Blood pressure has been 120 over 70 so I love that.  My pulse tends to be around 66-70.

What I have learned in 9 years of working out is this:  You are never too old to try new fitness goals and achieve them.  Keep working hard each day, eat right as often as possible, and you will feel better.

Bear Stampede 5 & 10K--West Branch, Iowa--May 11, 2013

It was a super cold morning in the low 50's with wind gusts up to 22 mph. However I decided that since my husband and friend were going to still do the race I would too. Thank goodness it stopped raining. I was up that morning at 5a.m. to take Alyssa to a Speech and Debate field trip for school and it was raining.  I saw sun in the distance and hoped it would come out.  Sure enough the sun did come out and except for the cold and windy day, it was gorgeous.

When I started the 10k I thought I'd pretty much take it easier that day so I would treat it as a training run for fun.  Well my competitive spirit came out around mile 3 when I saw this girl about 2/10ths of a mile ahead of me and I was determined to catch her.  I kept trying for two more miles and finally got her just after mile 5.  Then I passed her and kept going strong.  All of my mile times recorded were in the 10:30's to 11 minute miles until that last mile and it was a 9:37 minute mile.  I was cruising (for me) and it was still windy and the two hardest hills were yet to come, but I did it.  I stayed strong and I conquered those hills and the cold and the wind and finished strong.  As a result I placed third in my age group.  Turns out that girl I passed was in my age group and finished just 50 seconds behind me.  I'm so glad I set a goal in the race and kept at it.

I talked my friend Deb into doing the 5K and I'm so proud of her because she not only did this race, but she pushed her grand daughter the entire way in the stroller and this was a TOUGH course of hills and trails with rocks and weeds and chip wood and grass.  Jason, my husband, finished in under an hour and he also placed 3rd in his age group.

This race has yummy home made treats at the end and prizes for EVERY runner.  Jason won free Cold Stone ice cream and I won a $15 gift certificate to a running store.  Deb won a FREE massage.

I would do this race again because of these things:

• it started ON TIME
• it was chip timed so we have accurate times
• it was challenging
• there is yummy food at the end, both healthy and not
• water on the course in 3 different spots.
• prizes for everyone.

Here are some pictures to enjoy:

Left to Right:  Jason, Michelle, Deb and her granddaughter.

Happy Racing Feet

Kris and Brian Tharp with their We Run display at the race. We Run is
a great running store located in North Liberty.  See link  HERE

When I took my headband off my head following the race it
was super heavy.  I squeezed it out to see if it had anything
to squeeze.  Ha ha, it sure did.  Sick and Gross I know.

Jason won third in his age group.

I also won third place in my age group!

Jason and I after the race with our Bear shirts on.

Close up of the medal.  It has glitter.

Both of our racing bibs.  Mine was #2 and Jason was #39

The shirt.

Columbus Distance Classic Quarter Marathon--Columbus, Ohio--May 4, 2013

Every year I travel to Ohio to see my parents and run the Columbus Distance Classic race. I love this race because 8 years ago it was my very first race ever so it has a special place in my heart.

 There are three races at this event--5K, Quarter Marathon and a Half Marathon. This year I did the Quarter Marathon because I wasn't quite ready to do a Half.  The weather was PERFECT and I had a great time and felt great.  Here are my results:  Michelle Clark's results.  Overall results  Here are some pictures:

The race bib with my name on it!!!

My awesome medal I earned for finishing.

Close up of the medal.

After the race my Dad gave me flowers which were gorgeous
by the way and he took this picture.

Growl Prowl 8K--Marion, Iowa--April 13, 2013

Very Cold morning. First 8K race ran since my ankle injury. I was able to run the entire race and felt great. Results are here:  RESULTS

Left to Right:  Tracy, Stephany, Denise, Rhoni Jo, Me

Happy Racing feet.

My race number

After the race we met up with Lisa and I had to get a picture with her.  We were
very cold, it was freezing out.  Left to Right:  Me, Lisa, Tracy, Rhoni Jo and Stephany.

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