Tag Archives: 5k

Freedom Springs Sprint Triathlon Race Recap: 7.4.2014

Freedom Springs Sprint Triathlon

This is the second year I have participated in the Freedom Springs Sprint Triathlon and is officially a 4th of July tradition for me. Due to a very busy and hectic schedule leading up to the 4th, I wasn’t sure if any of our Tri Club members had signed up for the event.

Race Day

The forecast for race day: Sunny, HOT, and HOTTER. Since this was not my first time taking small country roads to Marianna, FL, I was able to enjoy the drive and not worry about getting lost. Once I arrived, I checked in, got my body marked, set up my transition, and was pleasantly surprised to see several of our Tri Club members. One of our Tri Club members looked a little nervous, more nervous than usual, and I asked her how many of these she had done. She told me this was her first and she was nervous about the cold water and the swim. I told her I would swim with her if she wanted. Continue reading →

National Running Day

10375981_10202723348619878_5372745956871331653_aIn honor of National Running Day I thought I would take a few moments to reflect on my love of running. First off, don’t confuse my love of running with being able to run fast. Being faster than a turtle has never been a goal.

My love of running began just after I graduated high school and happened as a result of snowboarding. After graduation, I moved to a mountain resort to work, play, and be a sponsored snowboarder. During a backcountry hike one day I realized that I did not have the stamina nor the endurance to keep up with the rest of my team. I realized I needed to pick it up a notch and decided on a whim to go for a run with my partner in crime, aka “Gizmo,” the best Siberian Husky that ever lived (so I might be a little biased). That first torturous mile felt good for about 20 steps and the rest of the time I was miserable. The joyful 20 steps kept me coming back for more.

Those 20 joyful steps turned into a regular ritual 3-5 times a week,  running for 30 -45 minutes. When I joined the Army, it was during the runs that I found peace, my mind grew quiet, and I would take in the early morning smells, and the sunrises through the trees.

After serving my country I continued to run, but much less often due to school, work demands, and pregnancy. In 2011, I rediscovered my love of running and did my first 5k. Since then, I have run in several 5ks, 10ks, half marathons, one full marathon and discovered triathlon and mud runs.

I have run along the beaches on the Pacific Coast, through the snow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, in deserts of Southern California, along the Atlantic Coast in Florida.  My running journey has taken me through adventures in Arizona, South Carolina, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, and Hawaii. During my runs I have seen sunrises, sunsets, bears, deer, elk, rabbits, snakes, dolphins, jellyfish, other runners, famous people, dogs, things that have made me smile and things that have made me cry.

Today, I run to beat the odds that are stacked against me: sickness, failure, and those that expect me to quit. I run to be a role model for my two little girls. I run to find my quiet place. I run to keep my sanity. I run because it is a gift to be able to run. I run because I can.

Tallahassee Marathon  1048283_10200528128540748_1655720187_o 1452165_10201545560495911_1733698033_n 1980527_649672411747509_6522627930482009540_o

Why do you run?

Freedom Springs Sprint Triathlon Race Recap: 7.4.2013

Triathlon is a Team Sport

I signed up for the Freedom Springs Sprint Triathlon when a friend in a local moms running club signed up and announced it would be her very first triathlon. By no means am I a seasoned triathlete or a veteran of the sport, but I was elated to know that another person was being introduced to the sport. I also knew how much I dreaded the swim and thought she might have some concerns about the swim.

She had about 5 weeks of swim practice to prep her for the triathlon. She also told me at this time that she almost drowned when she 5 years old and was hoping to conquer part of that fear by doing this triathlon. During this time I asked around about the swim. I learned that the swim was an out-and-back swim in chilly, spring fed waters. The worst part of the swim would be grabbing and kicking through plant vegetation (long grass). An open water swim is challenging enough, but to swim through all that nonsense did not sound pleasant.

Race Day

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The forecast for race day: 80% chance of thunderstorms by 9:00 a.m., 100% chance for the rest of the day. It did not help that is had rained everyday for the last 10 days. I had a late start out the door and the rain slowed me down. As I drove to no-man’s land Marianna, Fl, I had the privilege of crossing into Central Standard Time and gained a much-needed hour for the 7:00 a.m. race start.Once I arrived, I checked in, got my body marked, set up my transition, and started chatting with friends as they arrived. I kept a lookout for my friend and she arrived 20 minutes before the start and was in a mad dash to get situated. At this point, the rain had still held off.

Continue reading →

Run Around the Lakes 5k Recap 6.22.2013

The night before the Inaugural Run Around the Lakes 5k, I realized I was nervous and a bit anxious. For the past two years, all my 5ks had been run while pushing two little girls, unless the 5k was at then end of a swim and bike. The Run Around the Lakes would be the first time I ran without a stroller and it would be the first time my 4-year-old raced in her first 1 mile Fun Run.

We got off to a pretty easy start on race day. In true skirt day = run day fashion, my munchkins picked out pink tutus and running shoes for race day. The race location was 25 minutes away; with an 8:00 1 Mile Fun Run start and 9:00 5k start we had plenty of time to get there and situate ourselves. Tallahassee mornings in June are warm and humid, and today was no different.

1 Mile Fun Run

Run Around the Lakes 012Run Around the Lakes 018Run Around the Lakes 028Run Around the Lakes 031Run Around the Lakes 035Run Around the Lakes 043 Continue reading →

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