Warrior Dash Wisconsin 2012

A few months ago Jared said, "Mom, I'll do a race if it has mud." So I found Warrior Dash Wisconsin. Jason and Brenden also wanted to do this race. I was going to, however figured that with a marathon only weeks away that I shouldn't risk getting injured. My friends Rhoni Jo and Stephany also rode along so they could do the race too. Everyone had a great time that raced. I took all the pictures.

In the van on the way to Warrior Dash Wisconsin.

Walking towards the start line.

Stephany and Rhoni Jo

Jared, Rhoni Jo, Stephany, Brenden and Jason

Silly guys dressed up

The Village People

Even the Pope was there.

Two men in plastic suits.  not sure how
they did the race in those, but cool.

Brenden going though the mud pit

Close up of Brenden.

Brenden after completing the race.

Jason after completing the race.

Jared in the mud pit

Jared and Jason

Jared, Jason and Brenden.

Rhoni Jo and Stephany in the mud pit

After completing the race.

Posing with the sign.

2012 Flying Pig Duathlon--Washington, IA

Two years ago we found a race down in Washington, IA called the Flying Pigs Duathlon at the end of September.  A Duathlon is a run, bike, run.  We decided to do the race as a team with Brenden running the first leg, a 5K, Jason riding the 20 mile second leg, and Michelle running the final 1.5 miles.  It was 50 degrees and raining.  As miserable as it was, we had a great race and finished 2nd.  Last year, they moved the race up to the first weekend in August which conflicted with the Crossroads Triathlon.  So we didn't participate in the Flying Pigs race in 2011.  This year, Jason had planned once again to do the Crossroads Triathlon but a bike wreck during the Lake Geode Challenge prevented him from swimming because he has injured his shoulder so we thought that doing this race again would be fun.  I don't have pictures of Brenden during his 5K race because I was running next to him to encourage him to finish.  It was super hot and he was struggling at the end.  But he finished strong.  Jason did his 20 mile bike ride in about 57 minutes and then I took off for the 1.5 mile run.  I sprinted and ran as hard as I ever had in my life, it was hard, but it was cool to see my Garmin watch (GPS watch) telling me that I was running a 7.40 minute mile.  Now if only I could have kept that pace up for the entire 1.5 miles.  Either way I did the distance in a little over 12 minutes and that was good.  I felt we finished strong and was hoping to place in the top three of the team category.

Our team name was "Swine Flew" and it turns out we really flew because we achieved 1st place!  We Rock!  The medals were awesome and it was fun to be first.  Here are some pictures to enjoy.  If you want to see any of the pictures bigger you just click on them.

Jason getting ready to ride his 20 miles.



Jason riding in for a great bike finish.



Me taking off for the 1.5 mile run.  Scott was cheering me on.



Almost done.  It was cool to have Jason, Brenden and Scott
yelling for me to finish strong!



At the finish!



Brenden and Scott being silly after the race.



It was just announced that we won 1st place.  Here we are inspecting
our medals.  What an awesome feeling.



Scott our photographer captured this picture of us with our medals on.



After we were home and showered we put on our race shirts
for one last picture!

2012 Pickle Days 5K--Walker, IA

This is a GREAT race in a very small town.  I was first attracted to the race because I heard on the radio a couple years back that this race had the cutest shirts around, so back in 2010 I tried out the race and loved my shirt and just the atmosphere of Walker.  Such a fun race.  Since this year the race fell on Jason's and my 20th anniversary I took more pictures than usual and Jason and I had shirts designed special to run in.  Note to self though, never run in a thick cotton T-shirt ever again, it's just too hot and I should have known better and my 5K time greatly suffered because of it.

Here is a link to the photos the community of Walker took: Photos from Pickle Days  Pictures 20 of 57 is of Jason and I.  The results are posted HERE for both the 5K and 1 mile race.

We brought Alyssa and Scott with us. Alyssa also did the 5K race and Scott did the 1 mile kids race.  After the race we went to the Walker Fire department Fireman's breakfast.  A fun morning had by all!

The design for this shirt was designed by my
friend Rhoni Jo and her husband.  I asked
her if she could draw up something super
cute so that I could make shirts for Jason and
I for the race.  She e-mailed me the design, we
printed it off and made it into shirts.  Too cute!

Jason and I before the race in our cute shirts.

Alyssa, Jason, Me and Scott before the race began.

Running in for a good finish.  The lady in green I was determined
to  pass at the end.  I did end up passing her, but it was a struggle.
I was WAY too hot in this race.

Alyssa running in for a strong
finish.

Scott running in for his 1 mile race.

Scott and Jason at the fireman's breakfast

Somehow without me knowing, Jason had
purchased a dozen roses, hid them from me, hid
them in the car, took them to the race director
of the race to give to him to present to me.
Then the race director holds up the flower while
he was doing door prizes and said, "This
next prize goes to Michelle Clark, it's her
20th wedding anniversary and her husband
brought these for her."  Too cool!

2012 Alexian Brothers Fitness for America Sports Festival 10K and Half Marathon-- Hoffman Estates, Illilnois

Jason and I are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary and part of our weekend celebration in Chicago was to find a race to do.  We chose this one in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.  I did the half marathon since I was scheduled to run that far anyway for my marathon training.  Here are the results for that race--Results.  Jason ran the 10K race and got a new personal record.  His results are here for the 10K.

Jason and I taking a picture of ourselves before our races
began.  Jason was running the 10K and I ran the
half marathon.

Around mile 11, I was running next to a girl that shared my
running pace.  Her name is Shelby and she is from Georgia.
I was impressed that her goal is to run 35 half marathons before
she turns 35 and today was race #33 for her.  I also learned that
she will be running the Air Force Marathon with me in September.

Jason caught a picture of me right before
the finish line.

 After a shower wearing the race shirt.

Later that day we both dressed up a little and went to a nice restaurant
called Rose Bud

2012 Midnight Madness 5K, 10K, 15K challenge--Ames, Iowa

A very hot night in Ames, Iowa. Around 4p.m. a storm brought a bunch of rain. After the storm passed through the air was super humid. Tracy and I rode together to Ames and stayed at a Holiday Inn Express on 13th Street. It was a very nice hotel which she got for a great price since she is a state employee. We left to pick up our packet and I ran into Alvin Ravenscroft.  See post here about how I met him.

I actually remembered his last name.  My friend Tracy took a picture of us which you will see below.

This race is unique for these reasons:
There is a 5 and 10K race.  Or you can do both for the 15K challenge and your times will be combined.
There is a pasta dinner after with cookies, fruit, water and soda.
This race is at night.

Al and Me at packet pickup.

Just before the 5K race started.  Stephany, Me, Lisa, Tracy and Rhoni  Jo.

Rhoni Jo, Lisa and Me right before the 10K.

Rhoni Jo and I running in the 10K.

I ran the 5K and had a time of 35:16. I think this was my slowest 5K time in all my history of running, but it was super hot out, around 90 degrees with super high humidity, and my body was having a hard time cooling down. I was hotter than I've ever been in a running race, and by mile 2 had a stomach ache and ran with this huge pain in my stomach.

 My stats for the 5K are these: I was 55 of 88 in my age group of 35-39. 477th place of 799 females. 1193rd place out of 1634 total finishers so I wasn't last and that is good. Here are the results. I finished and had about 20 minutes to prepare for the 10K. When I lined up for the 10K I just knew something wasn't right with me. My stomach hurt and I didn't feel like running any more. I felt done for the day. I ran the first mile and didn't stop, but then I was so warm and felt like puking. I never did puke and for that I'm grateful. I walked more than I would have liked during mile 2 and continued on. By mile 2.25 I knew I was just sick and should stop running. Thank goodness my friend Rhoni Jo was with me because she was feeling just fine and was in the right mind set to tell me to get medical help. She called Tracy who was waiting for us at the finish and told her I wouldn't be doing the 2nd 5K loop and to get me medical help.  I made it to the end of the 1st loop and was walked with Tracy to the medical tent.  As soon as a freezing cold wet towel was placed on my shoulders I perked right up and felt better.  My pulse was high, but my blood pressure was low.   I was disappointed that I didn't complete the full 15K, but it's better that I stopped instead of passing out.   I still completed 29 miles for the week so that's good.

2012 Tri in July--Sigourney, Iowa

A nice race in a small town. If you are looking for a first time triathlon experience this one may be for you. You swim 5 laps there and back in an outdoor pool (330 yards), then bike almost 6 miles and then run 2 miles. There are tons of volunteers to help you at every turn. After the race you have some bananas and cookies waiting for you along with cold water and breakfast pizza. Below is a picture of me with 3 of my friends who also did the race.

Race results are HERE   I was happy to place 3rd in my age group and beat my time from last year!

Stephany, Me, Tracy and Allison.

2012 Alliant Energy 5th Season 4th of July, 8K &5K races--Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

First I just have to say that this race was HOT and not hot like great, but HOT in temperature. We woke up to 80 degrees with high humidity early in the morning. You can just imagine how much hotter it got one and two hours later. Last year I ran the 8K (5 mile race) in 48:38, this year I was hoping for a better time, however I did so much worse.  The best thing I can say is that I finished.  I had a really hard time cooling my body down. It wasn't until mile 4 at a water stop that I asked several volunteers to throw water on me that I finally felt better. Racers were puking all over the place, it was disgusting. People were just pushing themselves way beyond what they should in the heat.  I never puked and for that I'm grateful.

 If you want to see results click on this link.

It's a nice organized race.  I have written some good and bad points that are my opinion about this race, so you can decide if you want to do this race next year:  

The Good
Organized packet pickup.
Organized in general.
Course is down hill for half of it. 
Plenty of volunteers at every turn so you never could get lost. I was impressed by the number of people volunteering.  You can't have a good race without a bunch of volunteers.
3 water stations, which ends up being 4 because you pass by 1 of them twice. 
Chip timed--however you have to give the chip back. I think for a race this size they should have those disposable bib chip timing things. 
Some food after--Water, Gatorade, oranges, bananas, cookies after 8K race. 
Medals for 5 places deep in the age group. 
Early time in the morning to start the race so if it is hot, like this year you get it over with early.


 The Bad 
 Course is up hill for half of it. 
NO goody packet.  Instead it was an envelope with advertisements for other races. Save some paper and put those brochures on a table and if people want to pick them up they will.  Seriously with all of these sponsors can't you give away something?  Instead all the money from sponsors goes to pay fast runners to do this race, why? 
Shirt was the EXACT same as last year, just a different color. WHY? Change it up a little please.
 More food at the end. When my daughter finished her 5K there were NO cookies left. You should have enough food for all races. Why wasn't there better food? Last year it was better and I would expect with all the sponsors you have to see more choices.   Seriously it's a 5 mile race and I've seen more choices of food in 3 mile races.  Many people ran both the 5 and 8K race.

The UGLY
You run past a super stinky factory that makes you literally gag, maybe that's why so many people were throwing up.

I did have a nice morning despite the bad points and the heat, below are some pictures:

My daughter and me.  I found these tanks at Wal-Mart.
Perfect for the 4th of July.

Jason and I.

One of my running friends, Lisa.

Alyssa running in for a strong 5K finish.

Here is me after both the 8 and 5K race.  I first did
the 8K for me, then Alyssa wanted me to run her race
with her, so I did.  I'm grateful I'm fit enough to do
just that!  My tank stretched way out when it was wet
so it looks horrible at the end of two races.  I won't be
wearing that again.

My first 20 miler

Last night when I checked weather.com  I was super worried about the weather this morning and what it would be like.  It said 40% chance of rain at 4,5,6 and 7a.m.  all of those hours I knew I'd be running.  Rain doesn't bother me so much, but lightening does and you shouldn't run in it.

When I woke at 3:45a.m. I didn't hear rain so that was nice.  I got dressed in my running clothes and ate 1/3rd of a banana.  I checked weather.com and to my surprise it was only a 10% chance of rain until 6a.m. which said 30% chance.  So I set out for my journey soon after.  While running in the first mile I did see some lightening, but it was up in clouds and very distant so I continued running. I had a pain in the top of my right foot that hurt pretty bad, but by mile 4 that pain finally melted away.  I ran 6 miles before needing a bathroom so I was pleased to see some porta potties near some new home construction sites.  I was glad someone had just cleaned them and put fresh TP in them.  After that I ran another 1.75 miles when my friend Rhoni Jo texted me to tell me she was at my house.  Soon after I heard thunder and then it began to pour rain.  I ran faster.  Another text came in from Rhoni Jo and she asked me if she could pick me up.  I ran even faster and got home soaking wet.  I was worried I'd be hit by lightening because it was coming down, but I was near very big homes and trees so I was sure I'd be okay.

I arrived home and my Garmin GPS watch said I had run 9.20 miles so I still had quite far to go.  I changed into a completely new running outfit so I was dry and re-applied a bunch of Body Glide.  I even changed my shoes.

After changing Rhoni Jo and I looked at the weather online and decided that running the same course I had planned wouldn't be good because that storm I had just been caught in was still pouring rain out and there was another storm right behind it.  However to the north in Coralville, and North Liberty which was just a couple miles north there wasn't rain at all, so I drove my car near the mall, parked and we ran on trails and in neighborhoods there.  After about 2 miles I was so ready to be done.  I didn't say anything, but I was just so tired.  Thank goodness Rhoni Jo is such a supportive friend running with me because she is the one that kept me going to help me reach my goal.  Another three miles passed and I mentioned something about being tired and slow and then she said, "We are faster than those sitting at home."  We ran by a garage sale, we ran up and down hills, and then we ran by what seemed to be a 5K course being set up. Then we saw these ladies setting up tables and water cups.  I think I asked what race it was or something because next thing we know is we were asked to help pass out water to the racers.  We said we would run another few minutes and come back to help.  We did just that and helped pass out water to racers for about 10 or so minutes but I could feel myself stiffening up so I was hoping to be running again soon.  Very soon we were off to run our last 5 miles.

By this time it was getting super humid out.  I think it was about 8:30a.m. and I was at mile 18 when my body was just saying NO.  I even blurted out quite suddenly once, "We need to walk!"  My right calf seemed like it was going to explode, but as soon as we walked it felt much better.  We made it to the car when my Garmin said 19.52 and then we did a cool down walk to get to my 20 miles.    

After all this we came back to my house to stretch and then Rhoni Jo went home.

I stretched more, showered and ate a little something, but felt quite nauseous over all.  I iced my top of my foot, my right calf and my low back and then other areas that had kind of bothered me.  The nausea never went away until several hours later.  I think I felt this way because of the heat and what I had put my body through.   The total time was 4 hours and 20 minutes which comes out to be a 12.99 running pace.  Every training book I have read says to run 1.5 to 2 minutes slower than your race pace and it seems on my half marathon races I usually run an 11 minute mile so I'm right on track.

It's now almost 12 hours later and I'm sore in several places and not walking up to speed, but I feel tons better than earlier and also feel great that I'm closer to my marathon goal.  I know I can do this now because I'm only a 10K away from the actual distance.  In my training plan I have a couple more 20 milers planned, one 21 miler and one 22 miler.  

I just want to say a huge Thank you to Rhoni Jo for meeting me this morning to do those last 10 miles with me, that ended up being almost 11 miles.  I know I completed this long HOT run today because of her.

2012 Hog Wild Days 5K--Hiawatha, Iowa

Saturday, June 23rd was a nice cooler morning for June. The temperature was in the 70's and the humidity was medium. Tracy met me at the house, then I picked up Stephany and Rhoni Jo, then we traveled to the race. Rhoni Jo picked up all our packets the night before so we didn't have to wait in line for those. All you had to do race morning was get your timing chip. That went quick so we had time to get a couple pictures of us, and a picture of our shoes and do any last minute warm ups.

 The race started on time and seemed to be within a tenth of the advertised distance. After the race there were many door prizes. Alyssa won a gift certificate to a new running store in North Liberty called We Run.  She was super excited about getting to spend her gift card.  I won a Road ID gift certificate and since I have two different ones already I had Alyssa pick out one for her.
My friend Rhoni Jo also won a gift certificate to We Run and my friend Bill won a Nike sports watch.  There were trophies for first place overall and first place in your age group and the trophies looked really cool.
There were granola bars, watermelon, bagels and biscuits from Hardees along with water and Gatorade after the race.

The course seemed mostly blocked to traffic so you could run down the middle of the street.  I would do this race again.

Lastly I just want to say that my group of running friends has grown and I truly enjoy running races with friends.  So fun.

If you are set on seeing results then click here.

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

Our shoes with the timing chip

Rhoni Jo, Lisa, Kris, Stephany, Melissa, Me, Alyssa, Tracy and Bill