Santa Cause 5K - Peoria, IL - Saturday, December 12, 2015

It was an extremely foggy morning. More foggy than I have ever driven in, in my life. I woke up at 5:15a.m. and started getting ready for the race. I picked up Chris at 5:55 a.m. and we left for Peoria. It was very dark and super foggy and I had to really pay attention to where I was going. I figured that by the time the sun came up the fog would burn off. I was wrong. The fog was just as bad and now the sun was shining into it. You couldn't see anything.

The race started and I knew 10 minutes into it that I was going to boil.  Thank goodness I didn't wear the Santa pants.  I was in shorts and only a sports bra underneath the hot coat.  The only cool thing about the coat (outfits) was people driving by the race that are usually super irritated about runners were whistling, cheering us on and honking.  They all thought the sea of Santas was awesome.

I kept a nice 8:15 minute per mile pace for mile 1, but by mile 1.2 I was hot, very hot, boiling hot.  I should have taken the coat off then and why I didn't I don't know.  Well Yes I do, because I only had a sports bra on underneath and I have never in public ran in a sports bra only.  Gross.  But this time was going to be different.  By 1.5 miles in, I was on fire, like felt nauseous, pukey.  Not something you want to feel racing.  So I did what I needed to do and wrapped that coat around my waist and let the cooler air hit me.  I didn't want to pass out.  No one wants an ambulence ride at a 5K race or ever.

 Then at the water stop I poured water on my head.  Yes in December I poured water on my head and I was running in a double sports bra, shorts and a sants coat around my waist.  It was 62 degrees out in Illinois in December.  Bodies running heat up at least 20 more degrees.  Crazy.  My second mile suffered greatly because I was hot.  I think it was a 12 minute mile.  So disappointed in that mile split.  By the end of the 2nd mile I finally felt better and had cooled off a bunch.  I was able to run faster.  Finished in 28:56.  I know I could have done a 26 something, but not in this heat.  A fun race, but it needed bananas at the end or something like that.

This is a picture of the starting line when everyone was lining up.  The race director asked everyone to PLEASE wear their santa coat and hat for sure.  We didn't have to wear the pants, beard or belt,   

This picture was taken at 9:15 a.m., 45 minutes before the race started and there was still this much fog.  It was absolutely gorgeous.  Glad the fog burned off before we drove home.

Chris and I before we warmed up to run.

A selfie in the beard.  Glad I didn't run in it.  It was WAY too hot.

My stats.  I didn't run as fast as most 5K's, but I was overly hot in that suit.  I felt I did well for my age group.  Being in the top 12% in my age group.  Not too shabby.  And the top 15% of all the females.  This was Gun time not chip time, BTW.

Chris running in for a great finish!  She is awesome.  I'm so proud of her for running and staying fit.  She will turn 69 next week and is determined to keep running.

The Garmin stats.

Chris and her daughter.

We were promised a free soda if we didn't want beer.  However they ran out of regular soda and who wants diet?  Gross.

A beaver or something swimming in the water.  Too cool.  I need a better camera.

Columbus Turkey Trott-Thursday, November 26, 2015

On Tuesday of this week I had two surgeries. Not super major, but surgeries.   One surgery was on my toe and I was awake and numbed up.  That lasted maybe 10 minutes.  The 2nd surgery I was put under and it lasted about an hour.  Then it took me over an hour to wake up. I was told that for the 2nd surgery that healthy people recover from it in 1-2 days, and unhealthy people could have up to a week of recovery.  The doctor said to run the race only if I felt good in two days, but to take it easy and not speed race.
I was determined to feel great within 36 hours so I could register and run the race.  I woke up the next morning and did feel better.  By that afternoon I felt great, as if nothing had happened.  I registered for the race for the next morning.  Jason decided to run it with me to make sure I didn't speed race.  Plus I think he secretly wanted the Turkey medal.

The morning of the race was a gorgeous day.  A cold day, but not too bad.  I didn't need a coat to run in and even my shirt became too hot.  It was perfect running weather.  I started out at a decent speed, but not too fast.  My insides felt okay, but not exactly wonderful.  I knew I needed to be careful.  I was able to keep about a 10-10:15 minute per mile pace.  So it felt like a training run more than a race, but I did complete it and only had mild cramping later in the day.

Before the run took place.  Me wearing my turkey tights,turkey headband, cute socks and arm sleeves.  AND of course the Hawkeye shirt in Buckeye land!

Bibs with medals

My garmin showing my time.

After the race back at my parent's home.

The cute turkey medal.  Glad I ran the race to get it.

The next day I felt like running again.  I ran 6 miles and while on the run saw this sign.  I had to have a picture since my maiden name is Lewis!

White River Marathon for Kenya - Cotter, AR - Saturday, November 21, 2015

Left on Friday, November 20th for Arkansas.This was my 9th scheduled marathon in my 9th state.  Picked up Amy around 10 a.m. and we were on our way.  The drive down was nice until the Ozark Mountains.  My satellite on my phone went off, so my directions that were being spoken to me by my phone quit.   It was dark and we were within a half hour of being to our destination. I was driving the wrong way for about 20 minutes, then when I realized it and woke up Amy and we got the directions back it took us another hour to get to our hotel that we should have been at 45 minutes earlier.

Plus because the roads were winding around and around, up and down, Amy got sick and threw up and threw up for a while (outside the car thankfully).  We did finally arrive and I got all my stuff layed out in our room for the race the next morning.  We went to dinner and had some pasta.  It was good.

A picture on the way there.

A funny sign. Who names their town Licking?  Seriously.

Arkansas was really flat and beautiful.  It was 60 degrees when we arrived.  If only the nice weather would have continued the next day when it mattered.

Imagine the absolute worst weather ever for a marathon.  Like rain, freezing cold, high winds, and sleet.   Then imagine running in that crap for 26 miles.  It is not fun at all.  It takes everything in you to complete a race like that.  But I did it.  I was tempted to be done at the half marathon mark, for you had to run right by the half marathon finish line to turn around for the marathon.   I was tempted, but thought, "I drove all the way here to do a marathon in a new state and I will do just that."

Here I am in the car about an hour after I finished with my medal.  I feel this was super hard to earn.  My face was windburnt but I'm still smiling.  State #9 done!

Not my best time, but I didn't run the entire way either.  There were periods of time where the wind was so harsh in our face that I would walk with my head down to shield the bad conditions.  It seemed like the wind was always in our face the entire 26 miles and it would blow so hard it would push you backwards.  Crazy awful conditions.

A link that shows me finishing the marathon.  Around 13 minutes into the video you can see me in the distance, all dressed in black.  At 13:50 into the video I appear.  Crying again like usual.  Every marathon is so emotional for me to finish.  

Results if you want to see them.  I placed 9th out of 13 in my age group.

Amy being silly, wanting a picture with a sign.

Both of us being silly, trying to take a picture of ourselves.  We had to sit on the ground to get this picture.  I could hardly stand up after.  My legs were seizing up.

Up close of the gorgeous medal

A message in our elevator.  I love it.

Amy and I in our awesome race shirts the night after the race.  

Awesome people we met from Arkansas

Amy drinking shots.

On the way home in a gas station in Missouri somewhere I found this giant snickers bar.  I didn't buy it, just thought about it.

Return of the Turkey Trot-Saturday, November 14, 2015 -Marion, IA

It was a bitter cold morning, but the weather was clear and beautiful and it was warming up. Chris and I went to the race together and when we were there we met Russell, who is my friend from the Cocky Rooster racing club I am in.  They do packet pickup the morning of at this race so that is nice.  The race is indoors so you can use the bathrooms or stay warm if it's really cold out.

Turkeys on the side of the road that I saw on my way to the race.  Cute.

Turkeys on the side of the road.

I warmed up well by doing a half mile of running and some leg exercises,and should have taken all clothes off down to a thin shirt, but it was freezing outside.  I knew better than to go out too hot.   I lined up. They play the national anthem and then the gun went off.  I went out fast and felt great.  I was holding a 7:40 minute mile.  I actually held that for half a mile this time.  Then slowed to an 8:15 minute mile pace and held that for a long time.

Front of shirt, they always have great turkey shirts for this race.

 I realized soon that I started out with a layer too many and by mile one took off the outer layer. I was so glad I didn't have more to take off. I ended up getting a sweet new personal record for an 8K of 45:33.

The back of the shirt

Russell, me and Chris before the race.

The pancake breakfast after the race.  I ended up only eating 1 pancake, saving the banana, drank the milk and that was it.

My number

Our race shoes.

Full results if you care.  I was 10th of 23 in my age group.

My Garmin showing my personal best time.  The Garmin didn't star right away at the beginning of the race, it had a delayed reaction, obviously because my time was really 45:33 and I really ran 5 miles.

My time slip

Chris won 2nd in her age group for her first 8 K in 30 years.  Great job Chris!

Week 49 of training for 2015

Monday:Ran 2.05 miles, walked .5 mile
Tuesday:  Sculpt class, walked .5 mile
Wednesday:  Sculpt class, ran 3.25 miles, Swam 100 yards (was teaching a friend how to swim), walked .5 mile
Thursday:Ran 2.03 miles, Sculpt class, Biked indoors 15 minutes, walked .5 mile
Friday: Ran 4.16 miles, Sculpt class, Swam 800 Yards, walked .5 mile
Saturday: Ran 10.06 miles,  55 minute Spin class, walked .5 mile
Sunday:  Rest

Totals for week 49 of training:

Swam 900 yards
Ran 21.55 miles
Sculpt classes 4
Biked indoors 70 minutes

Did not swim nearly enough this week, should have gone Tuesday morning and didn't.   Week 50 will be my most awesome week yet!


Totals for Year 2015 
Swimming:  133,455 Yards= 75 miles, 1455 yards
Elliptical :    14.45 miles
Biking inside: 562 minutes 
Biking Outside:  444.64 miles
Zumba class:  5.5 classes
Sculpt classes: 207classes
Les Mills Body Pump:  1 class
Les Mills Body Flow class:    46 classes
Walking:  125.05 miles

Running:   1320.87 miles 
Vinyasa Yoga:  1 class
Hiked 2 miles with stairs
1 Jazzercise class

Week 48 of training of 2015

Monday:  Biked indoors 68 minutes, Swam 2000 Meters = 2187 yards, walked .5 miles
Tuesday : Rested and had 2 surgeries, walked .5 miles
Wednesday : Rested
Thursday :Ran 5 miles, walked .5 miles
Friday :Ran 6 miles
Saturday :Jazzercise class, walked .5 miles
Sunday:  Rest


Totals for week 48:
Swam 2187 Yards
Ran 11 miles
Biked indoors 68 minutes
1 Jazzercise class



Totals for Year 2015 
Swimming:  132,555 Yards= 75 miles, 555 yards
Elliptical :    14.45 miles
Biking inside: 492 minutes 
Biking Outside:  444.64 miles
Zumba class:  5.5 classes
Sculpt classes: 203 classes
Les Mills Body Pump:  1 class
Les Mills Body Flow class:    46 classes
Walking:  122.05 miles

Running:   1299.32 miles 
Vinyasa Yoga:  1 class
Hiked 2 miles with stairs
1 Jazzercise class

Week 47 of training

Monday :Ran 4.35 miles, walked .5 mile
Tuesday : Biked indoors on my bike trainer for 45 minutes., Sculpt class, Ran 3.03 miles, walked .5 mile
Wednesday :Ran 2.02 miles, Sculpt class, walked .5 mile
Thursday :swam 1750 yards, Sculpt, walked 1 mile
Friday: Rested and Drove to Arkansas, walked .5 mile
Saturday: Ran my 9th marathon in Arkansas  26.38 miles
Sunday:  Rest, Stretch, rest, drove home to Iowa.

Ran 35.78 miles
Swam 1750 yards
Biked 45 minutes
Walked 3 miles
4 Sculpt classes


Totals for Year 2015 
Swimming:  130,368 Yards=  74 miles 128 yards
Elliptical :    14.45 miles
Biking inside: 424 minutes 
Biking Outside:  444.64 miles
Zumba class:  5.5 classes
Sculpt classes: 203 classes
Les Mills Body Pump:  1 class
Les Mills Body Flow class:    46 classes
Walking:  120.05 miles

Running:   1288.32 miles 
Vinyasa Yoga:  1 class
Hiked 2 miles with stairs

Trick or Trott 5K - Walcott, IA - Saturday, October 31, 2015

A Halloween race right on Halloween. Too fun. This one was just a 5K and thank goodness as it was some of the worst weather I have ran in, in a long time. Cold, rainy, super windy. Not fun conditions.  I decided to wear a costume, even though I wasn't going to.  Thank goodness I did as you will see later I won the costume contest.

My costume for the race.

Front of shirt

Printed stats.  Not bad.  Now if only I could run that fast for 26 miles.

Back of shirt

A really good 5K time for me

Prize for winning the costume contest.  SWEET.  Free fuel and candy!  Thank you Casey's.

My friend who dressed as the Black Eyed P's.  She won best dressed also.

I came home and put my costume on Abby.  She was less than impressed but super cute.

Later in the day went with Jason to run 13 miles for his long run.

We did it.  13 miles.  Made 16.11 total miles for me for the day!