Nun Run 2011

I was asked to be a shadow participant in the annual Nun Run on March 12th.  The run is actually taking place in Tempe, AZ.  Since I don't have unlimited funds at my disposable, I opted for the shadow option.  I'll be running the race 'virtually', ie on my roads and then reporting in.

This order, Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, is one of my favorites. Why?

1. The focus is on Jesus.  
2. Perpetual Adoration is to constantly give thanks to Our Lord
3. Full habits
4. From the order that Mother Angelica founded in the U.S. (EWTN)  more history here
5. The race motto is awesome.  "Nun Run...it's a great habit to be in!"

The nuns are in the process of raising funds to build a monastery for 28 nuns.  Could you join me and give any amount you can?

Give Here

 One of these years, I want to run with the nuns!

Thanksgiving Day 10K Race Recap

A week has gone by and I have not updated my blog on my Thanksgiving Day 10K.  Maybe because it was my PW (Personal Worst) 10K.

After driving for eleven hours, we arrived at my mom's house in Kentucky.  My sister and I had signed up for the local Thanksgiving Day 10K race / fun run.

The morning of the race, rain was coming down pretty steadily.  My sister bailed on me.  She didn't want to get wet ... worried about melting since she's pretty sweet.

I decided that I was going anyway.  I hadn't run in over a week in prayer that my left foot would feel better to run on.  It didn't feel the greatest, but after a few Tylonel, I could run without limping.  I was so determined to run.  Running has been such a great joy and stress reliever for me.

I drove myself to downtown Cincinnati.  The race was to start and end at the Paul Brown stadium, where the Cincinnati Bengals play.  Parking was surprisingly easy.

People were huddling inside the stadium since it was raining.

Waiting for the start.

The people behind me.  The rain had stopped.

Before the start.  Lovin' my new ipod.

By the time I was at the starting line, the clock was running for almost twelve minutes.  This was my first big city race.  There were 12,000 runners.

Mile 1:  10:52
First mile was slower than what I wanted.  I was constantly weaving around other runners trying to get into my groove.

Mile 2:  10:15
Feeling good and in the groove.

Mile 3:  11:13
Left foot is starting to really hurt.  The course took us over the first bridge that crosses the river.

Mile 4:  11:36
Saw a couple dressed as an Indian (bow and arrow) and a Pilgrim.

Mile 5:  11:55
Another bridge crossing back over the river.  Left foot is crying.

Mile 6:  11:33
The end is in sight and I focused on enjoying the race.  Of course, people watching was a hoot!

The last 0.2:  11:26
Passed by a gentlemen who had collapsed from a heart attack.  The paper covered the story and he had lived.  He was fortunate that two nurses were running just a few yards behind him and administered CPR within seconds of his collapse.  Also, a young runner ran off course to get the ambulance which was only a block away.  The gentleman ended up having a quadruple bypass and is on his way to recovery.

Official Results:

1:10:21

(11:21 pace)

342 / 602 in my age group

3135 / 5488 in women

7312 / 10756 overall

Finished!

Chase the Pumpkin 10K

A local Knights of Columbus group organized a race to raise money for diabetes.  A friend of mine asked if I was interested in going with her to run the 10K.  The race was less than two hours away from home and the fee was less than $20.  I was in.

I've been working on my running form; changing it from a heel strike to a forefoot strike.  Changing my running form has slowed me down.  I've also have been focusing on increasing my cadence, steps per minute.

My goals for this race was to run the entire race using a forefoot strike.  I haven't been able to do much speedwork or tempo work with my new form yet, so I knew that my time wasn't going to be close to a PR.

Before our 10K

The temperature was 35 degrees.  There wasn't too much wind which was a nice change from earlier in the week.  The course was an out and back.

Mile 1:  9:50  Avg Cadence 82.1
A 12 year old ran along side me and jabbered away about how she tries to find a running buddy in the race.  I said that she was welcome to run with me until her half way point, since she was running the 5K and I the 10K.

Mile 2:  10:07  Avg Cadence 81.4

Mile 3:  10:36  Avg Cadence 80.8

Mile 4:  10:34  Avg Cadence 80.4

Mile 5:  10:43  Avg Cadence 81.0

Mile 6:  11:20  Avg Cadence 78.4
There wasn't any runners ahead of me.  I came to a corner and I didn't know if I was to go straight or turn.  I turned.  Bad move, I had taken a wrong turn on the course.  When I realized my mistake, I had two options.  Go back to where I had turned or cut through the field to get back onto the course.  Not sure what was proper race etiquette but I elected to run through the field.  Upon coming out of the field, a volunteer asked me if I had taken a wrong turn and pointed me into the right direction.  Looking at my data, my detour cost me more than 1:17.

With the course being an out and back, you can see where I took the wrong turn.

To the finish:  0.35 miles (0.15 miles longer than the race)  10:06 pace with an average cadence of 81.5
My friend had finished ten minutes before me.  She was very kind to run with me into the finish.

This was the flattest course that I've raced.  Gunner didn't register any elevation change.

6.35 mi

1:06:43

10:30 pace

80.7 avg cadence

Windsor Rodeo Run - 10K

It was a beautiful morning for a run.  The temperature at 8:00 am was 63 degrees.  This was the first year that the Windsor Center organized the run.  They were surprised by how many runners showed up.

Thanks to everyone who left a comment on which outfit I should wear.  I went with the majority.

A very good friend of mine (another homeschooling mama) was running her second 5K.  We stayed together for most of the first mile.

Mile 1:  10:20
Mile 2:  10:10
Mile 3:  10:20
Mile 4:  10:32
Mile 5:   9:59
Mile 6:   9:54
The finish:  9:09 pace

Time:  1:02:53

PR!!!  (I beat my last 10K time by 1:39)

Placed 1st in my age group!

Elevation:

Lil' Chef (#343) ran the 2 mile with a good friend of hers (#340).  They are standing next to their swim instructor (bib #370)

Her friend finished first in her age group and Lil' Chef finished 3rd in her age group with a time of 27:20  (39 seconds faster than her last 2 mile race)

Next, Mr. T and Squeaker ran the kiddie race.  Squeaker was disappointed that she wasn't running the 2 mile race.

At 10:00, the town had a Rodeo Parade

We had lunch at a local sub shop and then onto the rodeo!  A big thank you to Babcia and Papa for taking all of us to the rodeo!

Run Your Bass Off 10K

My small town has a race entitled, "Run Your Bass Off".  There's a 10K, a Half Bass (3.6), and a 2 mile walk.

Quite a few months ago, I invited my parents and siblings to stay at our house and participate in the race.  It was to be a family reunion of sorts; our closest family lives eight hours away.

My mom, little sister, and I signed up for the 10K.

My brother-in-law complained of sore knees and therefore signed up for the 5K.

My brother and his girlfriend joined the family in the event by signing up for the 2 mile walk.

My other sister wasn't able to join in on the fun.  =(

My stepfather was willing to stay at my house with all of the children:  11 yr niece, Lil' Chef, Mr. T, Squeaker, 5 yr niece, Trouble, 2 yr nephew, and Lots of Hair.  That's eight children!  I'm so fortunate to have a dad like him in my life.  Plus, he's never had children of his own ... I was praying that no diapers need to be changed.  Luckily, the race was five minutes from my house.

I had two goals for the race:  beat last weekend's 10K time and finish ahead of my mother.

In last weekend's 10K race, my average pace was 10:35.  I set my virtual partner at 10:30.  Should I name him Gunner??

Mile 1:  9:50
     My mom stayed in front of me for the entire first mile. 

Mile 2:  9:55
     Ate a bug.  I passed my mom on the descent.  I truly enjoy flying down hill.  I guess with my long legs I can really open up my stride.  I'm way in front of Gunner.

Mile 3:  11:06
     Major hill ... see elevation:

Mile 4:  10:27
     I was thirsty.  I felt that there wasn't enough water stations on the course.  I made a note in my log to bring my handheld water bottle next year.  I'm still in front of Gunner, but he has closed the gap some.

Mile 5:  11:08
  The last big hill.  I noticed that many women in front of me started walking.  Since I've practiced this route many times, I kept running knowing that it was going to start tapering off soon.  I gained considerable ground on them.

Mile 6:  10:36
     I really tried to pick up the pace.  I'm in front of Gunner, but not by much.  I just need to keep the pace and I'll beat him.  My legs were like rubber from the hills and part of this stretch of the course was sand.  Have you ever tried running on sand at the beach with shoes on?

Last 0.2:  8:30
     My little sister was yelling at me to pick it up.  I am so fortunate to have wonderful family members who support my running.  Sometimes, you need a little "Jillian".  (Think of Jillian Michaels yelling at you)
Coming into the finish:

I look like I'm going so slow...but I'm running a 8:10 pace at this moment.

1:04:32
(10:27 pace)

new PR!!!

10/11 in age group; 33/39 in women;  68/78 overall

The Runners:
Brother-in-law, 30:06 Half / Mom, 65:57 10K / Me / Sister, 53:47 10K
My brother-in-law placed 2nd in his age group!

The entire group: