Reebok Spartan Race Series-- (1) Free Race Entry GIVEAWAY!!

Congratulations to Liz our winner for the Free Race Entry to Reebok Spartan Races!!

A big thank you to Reebok Spartan Races for sponsoring this giveaway. 

I hope that you all have goals that scare you just a little bit for the New Year and if you don't..start planning now! If you didn't win the giveaway and you still want to rock a Spartan race in the New Year here is a coupon code that will get you 10% off!!  Coupon Code: SPARTANBLOGGER

#SPARTANUP

Is Spartan Race on your race to do list?  

One of the things I have learned over the last six years on my journey to better health and fitness is that our bodies are AMAZING!! We only have one body and one mind and it is so important to feed and challenge both to stay at our very best. My most rewarding races were not the ones I nailed my time goals (although they were awesome) but they were the ones that signing up made my heart skip a beat and my chest tighten up just a little bit in a panic--the races that I had to fight fear and fatigue to make it through to the finish line. 

When you challenge your body and mind you grow stronger and when you look back tears come to your eyes in disbelief and astonishment that you made it through. When we face challenges and obstacles and make it through to the other side we gain confidence that cannot be given...it is earned.

If you are looking for a challenge it looks like Spartan Race is here to deliver! #SPARTANUP

To enter the giveaway for a FREE Race entry to any US Spartan Race sponsored by Reebok Spartan Race:
(1) Free Race Entry for any US Spartan Race

Long Beach Half Marathon 2011 - Race Recap

It's almost been a full week since Long Beach half marathon and I have been meaning to write to tell everyone what a fun race it ended up being!

I admitted earlier that my friend and I did not train like we needed to in order to run a fast race since we had been focused on the triathlon in September. In the future I won't plan races that close together or at the very least have a better plan in place before committing.

We decided to make this race a fun run and partially a training run for our full marathon coming up in February. The moment we made that decision all race jitters and any anxiety about the race went away. The night before the race I slept like a baby and this is not normal for me. The night before a race I usually get very little sleep because I'm really afraid of sleeping in and missing the race. So I usually wake up every hour which is not fun.

Race morning I felt well rested and I walked out my door to find my friend Karoline with two egg and chorizo burritos in her hand. Yummy! It was a real treat. We walked out to the street and the rest of our friends were there to pick us up and then we were off to the race.

We got to the start area in plenty of time to use the potties and get in our wave. Two of our friends went up to the speedy waves and Karoline and I went a couple waves back to where we thought we would pace ourselves. We took a quick picture before the start.


Then it was our turn to start the race. It was hard to keep our pace slower than normal but we knew it was needed to get through the race comfortably. We chose to walk through every water station which was a wonderful change! I usually run through them because I carry my own water and nutrition but occasionally I will grab a cup and try to drink it only to be plagued by a side cramp five seconds later. No side cramps this race. I really don't think we lost any time doing this because we would quickly catch up with the group we were around before the water break.

I really enjoyed all the scenery I totally missed last year. Around mile nine we were both talking about how good we felt mainly due to keeping the pace nice and easy. But around mile eleven I hit a point were I felt I was just done running for the day. Luckily Karoline told me to get my booty in gear and to keep moving and that little boost help me push through my yucky spot. I really wasn't hurting but I think it was more mental.

It was a great race experience this year so I couldn't ask for more than that!

Here are the race stats:

Official Finish time: 2:18:11
Avg. Pace: 10:33
Age group place: 364 out of 1063

Splits from my Garmin:
Mile 1- 10:10
Mile 2- 10:24
Mile 3- 10:05
Mile 4- 9:39
Mile 5- 10:06
Mile 6- 9:55
Mile 7- 9:44
Mile 8- 9:52
Mile 9- 10:14
Mile 10- 10:26
Mile 11- 10:18
Mile 12 -10:27
Mile 13- 9:33

WVA Ralph J. Reddington 10K and Kids Run- Race Recap

On the fourth of July I woke up early and met up with my girlfriends to run our local 10k. I had planned on running the 5k again this year but since I really hadn't done any speed work or really any training it was very unrealistic that I would have been able to run faster than last year. Plus all my friends were running the 10k and it's fun to run with friends.

We wore our cute sparkle skirts because they make any race a little more fun. But this race was not fun for me at all. It was hot and it was hard. I just couldn't find my groove.

It started off on the wrong foot. We stood at the start line chatting and taking pics and then the horn sounded to start and everyone was a little taking back the lack of warning before the start.

I can't really explain why I felt I couldn't run the route I run a couple days a week. My body just did not want to and my mind could not force it to get moving. I wanted to quit a handful of times especially when we ran past the road to my house.

I felt bad because my friends were staying back with me instead of leaving me behind. A couple of times I thought I was going to cry because I was soo frustrated with myself. My friends kept telling me to keep going and they were super encouraging and had it not been for them I may have just quit.

I have never felt this way before about a race and it was a totally bummer to have all those feelings. I finished with the time: 1:02:32.  My pace averaged 10:03.

So the best part about this morning was that my son Weston got to race in his first kids run!! It was a one mile race. I didn't plan on him racing until the night before when he told me how much he really wanted to race too. He has asked a couple of times but I have been waiting for a shorter kids run but this ended up being a fun race for him.

We were super proud of Weston for running this race all by himself! He ran the mile in 9 minutes and 7 seconds. 

So even though it wasn't a great race or a fun run for me I ended up having a good time after I finished and got to celebrate with my son.

Also I wanted to give a big CONGRATS to Tiffany (the one in the white hat above) for winning her age division at this race with a smoking fast 48 min time!

Have you ever had a race you just wanted to quit?

Summer/ Fall Race Plans

Okay since I threw in the towel for P90X I have been casually running here and there. Swimming a day or two then a week or so off and a ride thrown in for good measure every blue moon.

I have not been consistent at all. Which is not terrible but I love how I feel when I am on more of a schedule. I love to cross training days off a plan. Registering for races helps keep me consistent and challenged. I usually have a goal in mind when I sign up for a race and I try to figure out a plan/schedule to help meet that goal.

I have signed up for one fall race so far but I have one summer fun race and one other fall race I am a little too nervous to sign up for.

These are the races I have in mind for the rest of this year and a little into next:

7/4/11-- Ralph J. Redington (aka Woodbridge) 5K--I ran this last year for my first race in CA. It was a really fun race. Here's my race recap.

9/11/11--Pacific Coast Triathlon-- I have not signed up for this race yet. I really would love to complete a triathlon. This is a local tri (I have a group of friends already racing in it) but the swim is in the ocean which really frightens me. You know sharks, big waves, murky deep water, etc. Open water???? Hmmm.. I'm just not sure.

10/9/11--Long Beach half marathon -- This is where I ran my first half last year. Poor organization last year but I hear they have a new event planner this year. Here's my recap.

2/5/12--Surf City MARATHON-- Oh yeah I typed that big fat word MARATHON not half but a full marathon I am pondering for Surf City. I want to run a marathon one day...I think 2/5/12 may be my day. Not signed up yet I have to grow a little more courage to click the marathon option. Yikes! Oh I meant YIPPEE!! :) Here's my race recap.

If you think you might be interested in signing up for a race and you're not sure how to get started take a look at this post.