Kickoff to Kinnick 5K - Saturday, September 24, 2016- Iowa City, IA

It was a beautiful day. A little hot with high humidity, but gorgeous for September 24th. I decided last minute to do the Kickoff to Kinnick 5K because they said they had enough shirts and medals so I thought, why not? My friend Amy and Chris ran the race also.  Because it was a HUGE race in Iowa City I saw so many people that I knew.  Things went great until mile 2 when I was just too hot and had to take a breather to walk a tiny bit.  So it wasn't my best 5K.  Here are the results if you care:  Results

Before the 5K started

Amy, Me and Chris taking a picture with the Hawk.

Shirt front and back.

On the field after finishing the race.

Chris after finishing.

The biggest medal ever for a 5K, seriously it was WAY overdone.  I'm sure some loved it, but it was a 5K race, who needs a medal this big for a race that small. This medal was bigger and heavier than most of my marathon medals.

Running in for a strong finish.

Park to Park half marathon - Waterloo, IA- Saturday, September 10, 2016

There has been a lot of flooding up North so I was afraid this race would be cancelled.   We had just done a half marathon 6 days before this on my birthday so for this race I wasn't going to push the pace.    I decided to run with Amy the entire way and hopefully help her PR.  The weather was okay, but not as cold as I like to do long races in.  I forgot to take before and after pictures.  Crazy.  So I only have a couple pictures.

Part of the course was flooded so we had to run through all that, but at least the race wasn't cancelled, for I would have been really sad.  Full results are here!

Great things about this race:

• Most of the time you get a cute custom race bib, if you are late to packet pickup you may not get that, so show up early.  
• Instant results at the finish
• Nice race shirt if you sign up early and there are extras ordered so if you sign up late you still might get a shirt.
• Beautiful medal
• Plenty of food at the end and a HUGE variety of food.  If there isn't a food you like at the end then you are simply too picky.
• mostly flat course.  There are a couple small hills, but they are so small that you can't really call them hills, just bigger bumps in the road.
• Gorgeous scenery.  
• Plenty of water stations on the course so you really don't have to bring your own water.
• Coupons on the race bib for my favorite popcorn store that I did visit after the race.

Things that could be improved:

• Weather.  Ha Ha, really, that can't be controlled so get over it already and run in whatever you are delt with.  Sign up early and hope for the best.  This year it wasn't bad.
• Plenty of custom bibs for EVERYONE, so no matter when you show up to pick up your packet you still get a cute custom bib for your scrapbook, because to some of us, this matters.
• A bigger expo, but not all races even have expos, so it's nice that there was something.  I love to buy new race socks for all long races, so I would have loved to see Balega socks there to buy.

Bibs and results for Amy and I

Parts of the race course were starting to flood.  Good thing it was only 3-4 inches deep.  Could have been so much worse.

Newbo Half Marathon 2016 - Cedar Rapids, IA- Saturday, September 4 2016

I have always wanted to do a race on my birthday. This year this awesome race landed right on my birthday. The Newbo Half Marathon and it was close to home.  So I registered for it and hoped for a sweet PR.
The PR didn't happen, but the run went fairly well.  I felt pretty good and had energy throughout it.
The problem was it was a little too hot to run and I don't do well in heat.

 The sunrise was gorgeous, even though you can't tell that from the bad picture.  The course was mostly flat and the medals were handmade, so those were bonuses.  The bad thing was most of the food was gone by the time my friend finished so she didn't get everything others did.  I did like how Newbo Market was open after the event so we could change clothes and get some food from local vendors.  Full results are here.

Sunrise

Before the race began.  Me, James and Amy.

My friend James Anderson went to find Amy and run in with her.  I stayed behind so I could get pictures of her finishing.

My final time.

Finished and showing off the handmade medals.

The bibs and finishing results

Showing off the great race shirts!

Afterwards enjoying our favorite beverages.  Me with a smoothie and Amy with her beer.

Leading Ladies Marathon - Spearfish, South Dakota- August 21, 2016

Another state to check off for my 50 state marathon journey.  South Dakota.  This race was recommended by many for fast times because the race is mostly downhill.  The race started at 7 a.m. you had to be at the bus at 5:15 a.m. to catch the bus to the start. You miss the bus, you are out of luck.  Then you are dropped off in the freezing cold to wait an hour.  I personally think we could have met the bus a half hour later, but oh well.  The race started at the top of Spearfish Canyon in South Dakota. I didn't dress warmly enough, in fact I totally forgot to bring a throw-away jacket.  I was so cold at the start of the race.  At about 1/2 mile into the race I saw a girl throwing away her jacket.  I asked her if I could have it.  She didn't care.  I ended up wearing it for about 12 miles, then I finally warmed up. The race website is here.  My results are here.

I was running the full marathon and Amy was running the half.  We met my friend Sharon from Arizona to room with her.

When the marathon started out you had to actually run uphill for almost a mile, then most of the rest of the race was downhill or flat.  I was doing fine until about mile 4 when I started getting nauseous.  I walked more than I ever have in a marathon in the first 10 miles, but that was to help with the nausea.  After that the elevation must have been at a place where my body could handle it better.  I felt like a new woman by mile 12.  I took a few pictures along the way. I didn't like that the Full marathon finishing medal was exactly like the half marathon finishing medal.  That they should change for you are running twice as far, but everything else was nice.  Shirt was great, food after was nice.  Bus was on time to take you to the start, mini expo had some nice things to buy.  Packet pickup was organized.

Entering South Dakota

On the way down the mountain.  A gorgeous log cabin home.  I loved it.  There were many like it.

This picture doesn't do the scene justice.  It was so beautiful.  You can tell it was completely downhill.

Bridal Falls.  Totally awesome.

Finished.  

After the race.

Bib and medal.

Sharon from Arizona, me and Amy.

My official time

On the way home we stopped at the National Music Museum.  Totally awesome museum that I highly recommend visiting.

A gorgeous August day.

The Beach Boys' guitar signed by them.

Crossfit 4th Annual Sprint Triathlon - Oskaloosa, IA- Saturday, August 13, 2016

I found this outdoor triathlon and it was only 80 minutes away. The best part is it was in Oskaloosa, Iowa.  A great smaller town in Iowa.  It happens to be a town where some relatives of Amy's live.  Her Uncle Joe and Aunt Amy Larkin.  The best part of his triathlon is the swim is done in an outdoor pool!

Amy and I did our best considering the heat of a typical August day.  We placed 1st and 2nd in our age group and there were more than 2 in our age group.  After the race we went to lunch with Uncle Joe and Aunt Amy!  The bad part about this race is I lost a contact in the pool.  Weird and not sure how it happened, but when I took off my goggles after the swim it was gone, so it was probably stuck in my goggles, but I never found it.

Before the race began.

Not a great picture of my Garmin at the end of the race.  I actually swam with it.  This was for 500 meters in an outdoor pool, 12 mile bike and a 5K.  My final time was 1:35:24.  Not bad for a Sprint distance triathlon.

Right after Amy finished.  I was still beat red.  I had ran back to find her after I finished.

The race wanted a picture of everyone who placed. 

A finishing picture after getting cleaned up with our new shirts on!

Aunt Amy, Uncle Joe and Amy Larkin!

Backroads Half Marathon - Amana, IA- Saturday, August 6, 2016

Not a race you want to do on a hot day, but oh well we did anyway.  This was Amy's very first half marathon.  She trained for several weeks.  I picked this one because of 3 reasons
1.  It had lots of hills
2.  It wouldn't matter if we walked a lot because then her 2nd half marathon she would PR for sure
3.  It advertised a nice finishing medal.

I can't seem to find the actual results, but our times were right around 3 hours.  We finished together.  It was a super hot day and we walked about 1/4th of it.  No shame in walking in a half marathon.

Would I do this one again?  Maybe, but only if the day wasn't so hot.  The course was extremely hard full of hills and gravel.  So I might do it to better my time.

Just finished

Amy feeling awesome for finishing her first half marathon.

Close up of the medal.

Solon Beef Days 5K-Solon, IA- Saturday, July 16, 2016

A beautiful morning for a short race.  Amy and I biked from home to Solon which was about 15 miles, completed the 5K, then biked 65 more miles.  For July the weather was absolutely gorgeous.  It was warm but not terrible.  It was 63 degrees with 5 mph winds, but 100% humidity.  I had great results for a day with high humidity.  They were:  A time of 28:52 and placed 10th of 19 in my age group.  Not too shabby.  Amy PRed again for a 5K.  Her time was 32:17.  Full results are here: Results  After the race we biked  on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail.  A super nice trail that I didn't even know existed until that day.

A great picture of Amy and I taken before the race.

Amy finishing strong in humidity.

The LONG bike ride.

About 30 miles from home we stopped for a late lunch here.  Our meals were fabulous.

Week 33 through 42

Week 33
Friday :  Rest, walked .5 miles
Saturday :  Ran 13.77 miles, Biked 12.20 miles, Swam 500 meters=547 yards
Sunday :Swam 547 yards then swam 2112 yards, walked 1 mile
Monday:Sculpt, walked .5 mile
Tuesday : Sculpt, walked .5 mile
Wednesday :Sculpt,  ran 3.45 miles, swam 1300 yards, walked .5 mile
Thursday :Sculpt, Ran 4 miles, walked .5 mile

Totals for week 33
Ran 21.22 miles
Biked 12.20 miles
Swam 4506 yards
Sculpt classes 4
Walked 3.5 miles

Total for 2016
Ran: 797.14 miles
Biked: 709 minutes indoors
Biked: 1153.45 miles Outdoors
Swam:  96,486 Yards = 54.82 miles
Sculpt classes:  122 classes
Walking: 123.5 miles
Body Flow Classes:  10
Rowing machine 17 minutes

Week 34
Friday: Rest, walked 1 mile
Saturday : Rest, walked 1 mile
Sunday : Ran 26.45 miles
Monday : Rest
Tuesday: Sculpt, walked .5
Wednesday : Sculpt, walked .5
Thursday : Sculpt, Biked 11.59 miles
Walked .5

Totals for week 34
Ran 26.45
3 Sculpt
Biked 11.59 miles
Walked 3.5 miles

Total for 2016
Ran: 823.59 miles
Biked: 709 minutes indoors
Biked: 1165.04 miles Outdoors
Swam:  96,486 Yards = 54.82 miles
Sculpt classes:  125 classes
Walking: 127 miles
Body Flow Classes:  10
Rowing machine 17 minutes

Week 35
Friday:Rest, walked . 5
Saturday :  Ran 10 miles, walked 1 mile
Sunday : Rest, walked .5
Monday: Swam 1550 yards, ran 3.03 miles, walked .5 Sculpt
Tuesday : Ran 3.10 miles, Sculpt, walked .5
Wednesday : Ran 2 miles, sculpt, walked .5
Thursday: Sculpt, walked .5

Totals for week 35
Ran 18.13
Swam 1550 yards
Walked 4 miles
Sculpt 4 classes

Total for 2016
Ran: 841.72 miles
Biked: 709 minutes indoors
Biked: 1165.04 miles Outdoors
Swam:  98,036 Yards = 55.70 miles
Sculpt classes:  129 classes
Walking: 131 miles
Body Flow Classes:  10
Rowing machine 17 minutes

Week 36
Friday: Ran 5 miles, walked .5 miles
Saturday: Biked 21.43 miles, Swam 750 yards
Sunday: Ran 13.11 miles, walked 1 mile
Monday:Rest
Tuesday Sculpt, walked .5 mile
Wednesday Sculpt, walked .5 mile
Thursday Sculpt, Ran 1 mile, walked .5 mile

Totals for week 36
Ran 19.11 miles
Biked 21.43 miles
3 Sculpt classes
Swam 750 yards
Walked 3 miles

Total for 2016
Ran: 860.83 miles
Biked: 709 minutes indoors
Biked: 1186.47 miles Outdoors
Swam:  98,786 Yards = 56.13 miles
Sculpt classes:  132 classes
Walking: 134 miles
Body Flow Classes:  10
Rowing machine 17 minutes

Week 37
Friday Swam 1550 yards, walked .5
Saturday: Ran 17 miles, walked .5
Sunday: Ran 5.09 miles, Swam1000 yards
Monday: Sculpt, walked.5
Tuesday: Sculpt, Swam 1000 yards, Ran 2.65 miles, walked .5
Wednesday:Sculpt,  Ran 4.28 miles, walked .5
Thursday: Sculpt,  ran 1.56 miles, walked .5

Totals for week 37
Ran 30.58
Biked
Swam 3550 yards
Sculpt classes 4
Walked 3

Total for 2016
Ran: 891.41
Biked: 709 minutes indoors 
Biked: 1186.47 miles Outdoors
Swam:  102,336 Yards = 58.15 miles
Sculpt classes:  136 classes
Walking: 137 miles
Body Flow Classes:  10
Rowing machine 17 minutes 

Week 38
Friday: Ran 3.25 miles, walked .5
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Swam 1550 yards, Biked26.40 miles, Ran 6.2 miles, walked 1 mile
Monday: Sculpt, walked . 5
Tuesday: Sculpt , Swam 1000 yards ,  Ran 2.65 miles, walked . 5
Wednesday:Sculpt , ran 4.28 miles,walked .5
Thursday Sculpt ,  Ran 1.56 miles, Walked . 5

Totals for week 38
Ran 17.94
Biked 26.40 miles
Swam 2550 yards
Sculpt 4 classes
Walked 3.5 miles


Total for 2016
Ran: 909.35
Biked: 709 minutes indoors 
Biked: 1212.87 miles Outdoors
Swam:  104,886 Yards = 59.59 miles
Sculpt classes:  140 classes
Walking: 140.5 miles
Body Flow Classes:  10
Rowing machine 17 minutes 

Week 39
Friday: Rest, walked . 5
Saturday:  Ran 3.1 miles, walked 1 mile
Sunday:Ran 13.25 miles, walked 1 mile
Monday: Sculpt,  Swam 600 yards, Walked . 5
Tuesday: Sculpt, Walked . 5
Wednesday: Sculpt,  Ran 4 miles, Swam 1700 yards, walked .5
Thursday: Sculpt,  Ran 4.12 miles, walked .5

Totals for week 39
Ran 24.47
Biked
Swam 2300 yards
Sculpt 4 classes
Walked 4.5 miles

Total for 2016

Ran: 933.82
Biked: 709 minutes indoors 
Biked: 1212.87 miles Outdoors
Swam:  107,186 Yards = 60.9 miles
Sculpt classes:  144 classes
Walking: 145 miles
Body Flow Classes:  10
Rowing machine 17 minutes 

Week 40
Friday:Walked 2 miles
Saturday:Ran 23.02 miles, walked .5
Sunday:Swam 1500 yards
Monday: Swam 2000 yards, Sculpt, walked .5
Tuesday: Sculpt, walked .5
Wednesday:Ran 5 miles,  Sculpt, walked .5
Thursday: Sculpt, walked .5

Totals for week 40
Ran 28.02 miles
Swam 3500 yards
Sculpt classes 4
Walked 4.5 miles

Total for 2016
Ran: 961.84
Biked: 709 minutes indoors 
Biked: 1212.87 miles Outdoors
Swam:  110,686 Yards = 62.89 miles
Sculpt classes:  148 classes
Walking: 149.5 miles
Body Flow Classes:  10
Rowing machine 17 minutes 

Week 41
Friday:  Ran 6.30 miles, walked .5
Saturday:Swam 1200 yards
Sunday:Ran 3.15 miles, walked .5
Monday: Ran 4 miles, walked .5
Tuesday:Sculpt, walked .5
Wednesday: Ran 2.13 miles, Swam 1100 yards, walked .5
Thursday: Swam 1000 yards, Sculpt, Walked . 5

Totals for Week 41
Ran 15.58
Swam 3300 yards
Sculpt  classes 3
Walked 3 miles

Total for 2016
Ran: 977.42
Biked: 709 minutes indoors 
Biked: 1212.87 miles Outdoors
Swam:  113,986 Yards = 64.76 miles
Sculpt classes:  151 classes
Walking: 152.5 miles
Body Flow Classes:  10
Rowing machine 17 minutes 

Week 42
Friday:walked 3.5 miles
Saturday: Ran 26.38 miles, walked 2 miles
Sunday: Ran 13.36 miles, walked 2 miles
Monday: Sculpt,  Swam 1000 yards
Tuesday: Sculpt
Wednesday: Sculpt
Thursday: Sculpt, Swam 800 yards, ran 1.10 miles

Totals for Week 42
Ran 40.84 miles
4 Sculpt classes
Walked 9.5 miles
Swam 1800 yards

Total for 2016
Ran: 1018.26
Biked: 709 minutes indoors 
Biked: 1212.87 miles Outdoors
Swam:  115,786 Yards = 65.79 miles
Sculpt classes:  155 classes
Walking: 162 miles
Body Flow Classes:  10
Rowing machine 17 minutes 

Week 26-32 of Training

Week 26
Friday : Swam 1300 yards, walked .5 miles
Saturday : Ran 26.36 miles, Swam 650 yards
Sunday : Biked 5.80 miles
Monday: Biked 33 miles, Sculpt class, walked .5 miles
Tuesday : Ran 3.1 miles, Sculpt, walked .5 miles
Wednesday :Walked 2.5 miles, Sculpt
Thursday : Sculpt, walked .5 miles

Totals for week 26:
Swam 1950 yards
4 Sculpt classes
Biked 38.80 miles
Ran 29.46
Walked 4.5 miles

Total for 2016
Ran: 690.59  plus
Biked: 709 minutes indoors
Biked: 406.90 miles Outdoors
Swam:  71,650 Yards = 40.71 miles
Sculpt classes:  98 classes
Walking: 90.5 miles
Body Flow Classes:  10
Rowing machine 17 minutes

Week 27
Friday:  Swam 2000, Ran 4.15 miles, Biked 5.5 miles, walked .5 miles
Saturday:  Biked 56.50 miles
Sunday:  Swam 330 Yards, Biked 5.5 miles, Ran 2 miles, Walked 3.5 miles
Monday:Biked 52 miles, walked .5 miles
Tuesday:Sculpt, walked .5 miles
Wednesday:Sculpt, Ran 3.26 miles, Swam 1100 Yards, walked .5
Thursday :Sculpt, Swam 1100 Yards, Ran .5 miles, walked .5 miles

Totals for week 27:
Swam 4530 yards
Ran 9.91 miles
Biked 119.50
4 Sculpt classes
Walked 5.5 miles


Total for 2016
Ran: 700.50 
Biked: 709 minutes indoors
Biked: 526.40 miles Outdoors
Swam:  76,180 Yards = 43.28 miles
Sculpt classes:  102 classes
Walking: 96 miles
Body Flow Classes:  10
Rowing machine 17 minutes

Week 28
Friday :Ran 4.01 miles, Swam 1600 Yards
Saturday: Biked 35.37 miles, Ran 9.45 miles, walked 2 miles
Sunday : Swam 1900 yards
Monday: Sculpt, Walked 2.5 miles, Ran .5 miles
Tuesday: Sculpt, Ran 3.5 miles
Wednesday:Swam 1800 Yards, Walked 1.5 miles, Sculpt, biked 15.66 miles
Thursday: Ran 5.06 miles, Sculpt

Total for Week 28
Ran 22.52 miles
Swam 5300 yards
Biked 51.03
Walked 6 miles
Sculpt 4 classes

Total for 2016
Ran: 723.02
Biked: 709 minutes indoors
Biked: 577.43 miles Outdoors
Swam:  81,480 Yards = 46.30 miles
Sculpt classes:  106 classes
Walking: 102 miles
Body Flow Classes:  10
Rowing machine 17 minutes


Week 29
Friday : Swam 1500 yards, walked .5 miles
Saturday : Biked 80.30 miles, Ran 3.1 miles, walked 2 miles
Sunday : Rested a lot
Monday: Sculpt, ran 3.1 miles ,swam 1000 yards, biked .75 miles, walked .5 miles
Tuesday : Sculpt, walked .5 miles
Wednesday : Ran 20 miles, Sculpt, walked .5 miles
Thursday :Sculpt, walked .5 miles

Total for Week 29
Ran 26.2 miles
Biked 81.05 miles
Swam 2500 yards
4 Sculpt
Walked 4.5 miles

Total for 2016
Ran: 749.22 miles
Biked: 709 minutes indoors
Biked: 658.48 miles Outdoors
Swam:  83,980 Yards = 47.72 miles
Sculpt classes:  110 classes
Walking: 106.5 miles
Body Flow Classes:  10
Rowing machine 17 minutes

Week 30
Friday: Swam 2300 Yards, walked .5 miles
Saturday : Swam 500 yards, walked 1 mile, biked 4 miles
Sunday : Biked 51.65 miles, walked .5 miles
Monday : Biked 77.05 miles, swam 300, walked 1 mile
Tuesday : Biked 62.67 miles, walked 1 mile
Wednesday : Biked 100.50 miles, walked 1 mile
Thursday : Biked 52.71 miles, walked 1 mile

Totals for week 30
Ran zero miles-Ragbrai week
Swam 3100 yards
Biked 348.58 miles
O Sculpt classes
Walked 5.5


Total for 2016
Ran: 749.22 miles
Biked: 709 minutes indoors
Biked: 1007.06 miles Outdoors
Swam:  87,080 Yards = 49.48 miles
Sculpt classes:  110 classes
Walking: 112 miles
Body Flow Classes:  10
Rowing machine 17 minutes

Week 31
Friday : Biked 71.39 miles, walked 1 mile
Saturday : Biked 53.80 miles, walked 1 mile
Sunday : Rest
Monday : Swam 1000 yards, Sculpt, walked .5 miles
Tuesday : Sculpt, walked .5 miles
Wednesday : Sculpt, Ran 1 mile, walked .5 miles
Thursday : Sculpt, walked .5 miles

Totals for week 31
Ran Ran 1 mile
Biked 125.19 miles
Swam 1000 yards
Sculpt 4 classes
Walked 4 miles

Total for 2016
Ran: 750.22 miles
Biked: 709 minutes indoors
Biked: 1132.25 miles Outdoors
Swam:  88,080 Yards = 50.05 miles
Sculpt classes:  114 classes
Walking: 116 miles
Body Flow Classes:  10
Rowing machine 17 minutes

Week 32
Friday : Rest, walked .5 miles
Saturday : Ran 13.34 miles, walked 1 mile
Sunday: Swam 2000 yards, walked .5 miles
Monday:Sculpt, ran 3.6 miles, walked .5 miles
Tuesday:Sculpt, ran 3.35, swam 700 yards, walked .5 miles
Wednesday :Biked 9 miles, Sculpt , walked .5 miles
Thursday : Swam 1200 yards, ran 5.41 miles,  Sculpt ,  walked .5 miles

Totals for week 32
Ran 25.70
Biked 9 miles
Swam 3900 yards
Sculpt  4 classes
Walked 4 miles

Total for 2016
Ran: 775.92 miles
Biked: 709 minutes indoors
Biked: 1141.25 miles Outdoors
Swam:  91,980 Yards = 52.26 miles
Sculpt classes:  118 classes
Walking: 120 miles
Body Flow Classes:  10
Rowing machine 17 minutes