FOOLS 5K--April 6th, 2013--Cedar Falls, IA

Back on January 1st the Fools 5K registration opened.  I happen to love all races put on by Trekman Racing that I wanted to run a 5K put on by him as well.  Dave (the race director) puts on a race called Park to Park in September and it was listed as one of the top half marathons by Runner's World.  So if you are looking for an awesome Saturday Half Marathon, you should check out the Park to Park race on his link.

Back in December I was at his Snow Shuffle race, however I was injured and couldn't run in the race.  My friends were going to push me in a wheelchair, but we couldn't locate a wheelchair so I just went to the race to watch my friends and have fun.  While I was there I won a 55 Minute massage at Elements Massage so since I was going to Cedar Falls a day early I decided to finally use my gift certificate.

Tracy and I left on Friday around 12:15 p.m. for Cedar Falls.  Our first stop was The Runners Flat to pick up our shirt and racing bib.  Then Tracy and I had some lunch, then off to Elements Massage to redeem my gift certificate.  I had a nice massage then Tracy and I checked into our hotel.  We stayed at Country Inns and Suites and that was so nice.  We got a super cheap rate since Tracy is a State worker.

Race day was windy and cold, however within a couple hours the sun did come out and warm things up a bit.  If you are looking for a great 5K then definitely book this one next year.  Why?

• It has wireless chip timing
• flat course
• cool looking race bibs
• door prizes
• LOTS of volunteers to make sure everything goes smoothly.
• dri fit shirts that you could choose your color.
• costume contest
• Best of all, all kinds of food and drinks at the end so you can be refueled to go run again.  Even Gluten Free options.

Here are some pictures:

My racing bib.  Backward the number is 169 and divide that by
13 and you get 13.  13 is my lucky number so I'm always trying
to find a 13 in my bib somehow.  I know silly.

Front of shirt.

Back of shirt showing all the sponsors.

A before picture of Tracy and I.

We didn't know what to dress up as.  I was blank
with ideas, until I remembered seeing a group of
people at a gym do a swim party and they were
all wearing swim suits over their workout clothes.
It was hillarious.  Since our hotel was right next
to a Goodwill store we went inside and found very hideous
bathing suits that were way too big for us and we wore them
over our race clothes.  We had our swim caps with us and we
found super cheap (1.00) goggles to wear to complete
the costume.  We had brought our very cute
long running socks that Rhoni Jo gave us and wore them.

Other costumes we saw.

Here we are at the end of the race.  Too funny.

After returning to the hotel we put on our race shirts for another picture.

We went to the local STUFF consignment store to
do some shopping.  I found these silly 5 inch heels and had
to get a picture with them.  However I couldn't even stand in
them because they were so high.  I'm not sure how people walk in these.

WE RUN 5K--March 23, 2013-- North Liberty, IA

On March 23rd the weather was cold, but perfect for a great run. The running store that I just LOVE called WE RUN in North Liberty, Iowa, see link here:  http://www.werunllc.com/Home_Page.php
was having it's FIRST birthday and hosting a 5K/1mile run,

Since it had a finishing medal and I was finally able to run again, and since I work at this store occasionally and just love it,  I signed up for the run.  Kris Tharp, the owner of the running store, had over 600 signed up. I ended up doing awesome with the run.  I had a new post injury personal record of 30:58 and I did run the entire race without ankle pain.  In addition to running both Jason and I volunteered at the race.

 Below are some pictures:

Some old shoes were lacquerred and then painted gold, silver or bronze.

Rhoni Jo arrived bright and early so we grabbed a picture together.

Jason helped out in a variety of ways for this race.
He mixed powdered Gatorade in huge coolers, he
helped new runners attach their timing chip
to their shoe that didn't know what they were
doing.  He also worked at one of the corners on the
race route, directing runners where to go and cheering
them on.

Here I am with Sharon passing out timing chips before the race.

Here are two of my students in my Body Sculpt class that I encouraged
to run/walk in a 5K.  This was their FIRST 5K ever.  Left to Right:  Me, Deb and Jill.

Me being silly picking the nose of the statue.

Our cute running legs.  However I forgot to get my running socks on.

My great running friends:  Stephany, Tracy, Rhoni Jo, and Me.

The awesome finishing medal!

Too cool that my number for the race was #4.  Bib numbers were
assigned by what order you signed up for the race.  I don't think I've
ever had such a low number.

A new record

It was hard, but I did it. I swear the elliptical is the hardest thing ever for me to work out on, but I did it. Now had this been a treadmill then I could have done 7 miles in this time, so why it is only at 5 miles in 80 minutes on the elliptical I don't know. Either way I'm glad I stuck with it and hit a new all time time and distance record for me.

Proof that I hit 80 minutes and 13 seconds.  5.01 miles

Running Commandments

Weight Loss

Loosing weight is hard, gaining it is easy.  I'm sure of that.  I love food and have found that I can easily put on 2 pounds a week, but to take 2 pounds off a week is next to impossible.

Last time I remembered weighing in was October and I was 144.  Then on New Year's Day I weighed in because my size 6 jeans wouldn't come up the thighs, and the size 8 jeans weren't fitting and I was feeling like a cow.  Sure enough I had gained a lot of weight in just two months with an injury that prevented me from doing any cardio exercise at all.

I gained (18 pounds) to be exact during my injury.  I weighed in at 162 pounds.  The heaviest I had been in 9 years.  However, finally it is slowly coming off so that is great and I'm feeling better all the time.  I used to linger between 140 and 145 which for me is a great weight.  All the charts say I should be 120 to 130 for my height, but seriously I don't think those take into account muscle mass that I had on me, and I was lifting all the time.  I was a size 6 and felt good most of the time so I was happy with that weight of 140-145.    You may be thinking 18 pounds isn't bad.  Well it was for me. I was sad, mad and worried I'd never see the 140's again.


Well I knew I needed to eat better, for that has always been my hardest thing so I'm eating as clean as possible meaning trying not to eat processed foods.  I have had some, but very little.  Also, eating many fruits and vegetables a day.  Some meals have been all fruits and vegetables and I have to say that I feel so good.  So amazingly good.  AND I've lost 10 pounds in 2 months so that is what I'm really excited about.  My current weight is 152 so I still have more to loose, but hey I'm getting there.

I'm exercising more.  I'm teaching usually 3 Zumba classes a week on average and several Body Sculpt classes, trying to fit in a run once in a while, some time on my elliptical machine and some swimming.  I need to make some time to bike and hoping for good weather soon so I can do that outside.

I did take a before picture that I will not share yet, for I want an awesome AFTER picture to share when I finally show the embarrassing before picture.  When I get back down to 140, which I know in a couple months I will achieve this as I'm working hard to regain my super fit body, but this time eating right.  My after picture will look awesome.  Can't wait to show it.

Happy Exercising!

CVRA Freeze Fest 2013--Marion, IA--February 23, 2013

It was a cold day in the low 20's, however it was a great day for a race. The sun was out, it wasn't snowing and everyone seemed happy. I am just getting back into running since my injury so I was on a 4 minute walk/1 minute run interval to help me along into easing back into running safely without re-injuring myself or aggravating the ankle.  I have now participated in this race for 3 years and I really like it.  This year we didn't see  Lisa or Kris, but still had fun.  My final time was 42:15 so not bad for a 3.1 mile race.  This beats my all walking 5k a month ago by 11 minutes.  I'm happy with the time as I will just continue to get better and get better times in the future.  Below are pictures of the event.

My running friends! 

All of us. Stephany, Tracy, her husband Steve, Rhoni Jo and me.

Even batman arrived.

I like to take pictures of our racing feet.  This one is Tracy
up top with Steve next to her, then Rhoni Jo, Stephany and me.

Since I was walk/running intervals for this race I brought
along my camera to get pictures of my friends.

Me speed walking with Rhoni Jo.  I still wasn't able to run a full
5k yet, however look how silly I'm dressed.  I didn't even
realize it until this picture was shown to me.

Back of shirt.

Front of shirt

My personal results.  They printed them for you.

My race number and it adds up to 13 which is my lucky number.

2013 Charleston, SC Half Marathon and 5K--January 19th, 2013

Back in October, my friend Julie and I wanted to do a Marathon together.  This would be her first marathon and my 2nd.  However I got injured badly which you can read about if you go back about 5 posts, so doing any running for the next 3-4 months was out for me.  However I had already registered for the race.  Mike (Julie's husband) and my husband Jason decided to do the Half marathon.  On January 17th we all traveled by Southwest Airlines to Charleston, SC.  It was hot and sunny that day we arrived and it was amazing.

I was able by the time this race arrived to be walking again so I had switched my marathon registration to the 5K race and was able to walk that.  So cool that there was a finishing medal so that I could still complete a small part of a large goal I have and that goal is:  To get a finishing medal from every state.  When I made that goal I imagined that every finishing medal would be at least a 10K or above, most likely all half marathons and marathon finishing medals, however not this time.  I'm grateful to be walking.

Pictures below are just a few that I took while in Charleston.  I took at least 100 pictures of houses that I won't post here.  I was able to slow and sometimes fast walk the 5K in a total time of 53:52, my slowest 5K to date, however I can say this, "I'm so grateful to be walking again that the joy I had from finishing this race felt as awesome as my first Half Marathon and almost as great as my first Marathon."  Below are pictures to enjoy:

A fun, cute and yummy restaurant.

Me holding a Stuffed, bacon wrapped massive shrimp that was
so yummy.

Jason and I outside the packet pickup place.

Together touring Charleston, taking a picture of ourselves.

Went on my first carriage ride ever.  Here is our horse named Larry.

My race bib for the 5K

Jason and I the morning of the race.

Jason's Half Marathon racing bib.

Jason running in for a finish.

Our finishing medals.

Jason just finished the race and he was exhausted.

After some food, Mike and Jason posing for a picture.

Here we are from Left to Right:  Jason, Me, Julie and Mike.
All 4 of us completed our goals.  Julie did her first marathon and even though I wanted to be running beside her, my heart was with her the entire time cheering her on.

Santa Snow Shuffle--Dec. 8th, 2012--Cedar Falls, Iowa

This is a Fun Run put on by Trekman Racing.   I was looking forward to it since the Park to Park Half Marathon that he puts on in September.  I love well done races and Trekman Racing really knows how to do everything right.  So I signed up for this race, but never imagined that I'd be in a boot and on crutches by the time the race got there.   The greatest thing about the day, besides being with my favorite running friends, was that I won an AWESOME door prize for a massage that I can't wait to redeem.  Here is their website:  Elements Massage.  This fun run was timed, but not officially, meaning there was a clock there so you could see your time, however no prizes for Top 3 or anything like that.  It was just a fun run to raise money for the Salvation Army.  There were many door prizes and lots of great treats after the race to enjoy.

From Left to Right:  Rhoni Jo, Julie, Mike, Tracy, Me, Lisa, Stephany

The Race Director Dave and his daughter.

Cool costumes I had to get a picture of, they
even dressed their dogs up.

I decided to sit with Santa.

Another awesome costume.

More fabulous costumes.  Wow people are creative.