Color Me Bad? No! Color Me Rad!

This past weekend marked the first race for me since my half marathon back in June, as well as my first race here in Dallas since moving back: the Color Me Rad 5K.

The race took place in Fort Worth, so Stephanie and I made a day of it. Our race time was 1:00PM, so we didn't have to get up super early. We met up at my apartment and headed out to the location.

It's still hot in Texas in September, so I was grateful we started in white shirts. It kept us a bit cooler until we started running. At that point, it didn't matter.

This would also be my first color run. I had wanted to participate in one back in Hartford, but it was during the last week of half marathon training, so I couldn't make the race. I was very excited to try it out. I had seen pictures from other races, but didn't quite know what I would be getting myself into.

Needless to say, it was FUN! Every kilometer or so we would get doused with another color. By the end, I was a human tie-dye shirt. Poor Stephanie got hit in the face with a massive amount of purple color right at the end. She was coughing and sneezing purple. We got back to the car and luckily we brought towels and she blew her nose in it. PURPLE was all that came out!

 

After the race, we headed out to get lunch. We were definitely a sight to be seen at the restaurant. The only good thing was that it was past the lunch rush, so very few people were witness to our madness. Our waiter even made a 'comment' about how I had something on my face. How original.

 

Once I got home, I realized it was probably best to hop in the shower to get all of the color off. It was hilarious to see that it made it through my shoes and socks!! I had colorful little piggies!

 Well, the first color run of my career was a success. Next up: DISNEY!!

Ten Penny Ale 5K

Ah...Ten Penny Ale time!

Today was the Shamrock Duathlon & 5K out in Glastonbury. Something that was just a fun run for Bryan and I, but something Arielle was training for.

A couple months ago, during my kick of getting people at work to sign up for training programs, I managed to convince Arielle to join this particular 5k training group. Bryan and I were already in our half marathon training program, and this group would meet at the same time. It was something I know she wanted to do, but I was hoping she would actually do it.

And guess what...she did.

So...Bryan and I decided that we would sign up for the 5k and run with her (see that post here). And run with her we did. We never left her, kept saying motivating things and giving her tips to get her through a little easier.

She was a trooper...even when Bryan physically pushed her forward at one point during the race (ok, it was just a nudge...but it was funny). We got her water when she needed it, let her take walk breaks when she needed and tried to keep her smiling.

I even recruited a cheering squad for her, consisting of her fiancee Andrea, Robyn, Stacie, Andy and Traci. Sure, they were there to see us too...but they were mainly there for Arielle.

She finished in 43:38 and I couldn't be prouder!

We celebrated with a Ten Penny Ale at the finish line and then the group of us went to breakfast...which was delicious by the way! I think one of the greatest things was that we did it as a team. It was one of my favorite experiences so far!

The half marathon is two weeks from today...this was my first run in 2 weeks because of my injury and I feel pretty good honestly. The foot is doing well...so I can only hope that, as long as I'm careful, I'll be ok for that big run. Keep those fingers crossed. :-)

See this post on my running blog.

O'Hartford 5K

Max's O'Hartford 5K was the end of my 5K training group this season. It was something I was building up for...and not all at the same time.

I didn't put everything I had into training for this race. There ended up being so much happening in my life at the time, both good and bad, that I didn't really do what I wanted and needed to do to make this race amazing.

But, that being said, you better believe I was happy that I did it. I was happy that Stacie trained with me and proud of her for finishing. She ended up finishing only about 10 seconds behind me. Not bad!

I also know that if it weren't for our coaches (Liz and Allison) that we both wouldn't have done as well as we did. Allison ran with me (picture below) and Liz with Stacie. I can't thank them enough for their support.

I've got the Amica Ironhorse Half Marathon that I'm training for next and I'm pumped! If you would like to check on my progress during my training, check out my running blog, 365 Days To Become A Marathon Runner. There is also another post about this particular race here.

I'll post that race here as well, but I'm sure there will be trials and tribulations, successes and failures in the next 3 months! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Race #1

Technically, my first race was cancelled last month and today should have been the second race. However, due to the cancellation, today I participated in my first race of 2010.

Today's race was a 5k (3.1 miles) through downtown and it was being held after a month of not running. Due to my ankle injury, I had not been running in hopes of having it heal as much as it could before I was to race.

Luckily for me, I healed enough to run the race and at the end, my ankle was actually holding up really well. It was twinging a little during that last mile, but nothing I couldn't handle.

The first mile was rough. I could feel my body revolting on me, basically saying 'hey, you haven't done this in a while....what the hell are you thinking?!" I could see my boss ahead of me and he just kept getting further away. I didn't want to push myself for fear of agitating my injured ankle. I held it together as best I could (trying to not get sick) up to the 1.5 mile mark (and basically the half way point).

I picked up some water and basically it gave me the energy to finish the race. By mile 3, I was back at my stride and feeling good; good enough to sprint to the finish at the last hundred yards or so.

My final time: 33:16. Not bad for a month off! To celebrate, my boss and I savored some free beer and corned beef on bagels (hey, it was a St. Patty's Day race after all!)

Next goal: get back in the gym and try and prep for the 1/4 marathon in 3 weeks!

Cross your fingers for no more injuries!!! (And I'll post the finish photo when I can!)

Race Cancelled :-(

Well....this does not bode well.

I was supposed to participate in my first race of the 'year of races' this Saturday, February 13 but I received information that the race was cancelled due to a "sudden and unavoidable conflict with [the] race venue."

There is no information as to whether or not it was due to the weather (which has been snowy and cold) or if it really was due to some other unforeseeable circumstance that shut the race down.

Personally this news comes to me with both good and bad feelings about the situation:

Bad: I've been prepping for this race for about a month and a half and I felt really prepared.
Bad: I'm concerned that with the next race a month away, I may slip in my training and slack...AH!
Bad: My roommate, co-worker and father were going to be in attendance cheering my boss and I along as we ran and now....no signs, no cheers for another month.

Good: This gives me another full month before my next race (of the same distance) to be even more prepared.
Good: I don't have to run in the freezing weather that I had been dreading all week.
Good: I get to spend less time worrying about the race and more time with my dad this weekend (who didn't come in for the race but would have been able to see it due to being in town for the right weekend).

So, I'm....conflicted!

Oh well. I have to look at it positively and just move on from this point and be extra prepared for the St. Patrick's race in March...

May the luck o' the Irish be with me!