Tasty Run 5K

I thought the donut run in January was great but never could I imagine a run with 5 food stops on the course. Christy and I headed in to Dallas early so we could have time to check things out. This is the first year for this race to coincide with The Taste of Addison. There were 1200 runners signed up to run.
The horn blew and we were off, first stop was Le Madeline handing out chocolate croissants, now you know I wasn't going to pass that up even if it was crowded. Oh it tasted so good! Next was Ganghis Kahan, again there were lots of runners at this stop and we decided to pass. Now we were at the huge hill and at the top was fresh lemonade, no let's pass. Down the hill and turn to go back and up ahead they were giving out cookies, oh yes we'll stop here. I grabbed an oatmeal and loved it. Last food stop was On The Border with burritos, we passed on that stop. Back to finish and then it was time for more food and beer if you wanted.
I took first place in my age group and got a spork on a lanyard. Will be using it tonight when my husband and I go to The Taste of Addison. Also our bibs are our entry into the taste.

Vineyard 5K

We couldn't have been given a more beautiful day, temperature around 50 at the start of the race. This was the 5th time for us to run this race so we were familiar with the course. What I forgot was how steep some of the hills were. We started together and our plan was to run 1 minute and walk 2, this worked for the first mile but then Christy's shin was bothering her so I went ahead. Without my Garmin
I was guessing on the times for running and walking but finished with a 44:44 time, not bad. I have done this race faster and slower. The time was good enough to get me 1st place in my age group and the wine glasses are a new design so will have to run this again next year.

Hypnotic Donut 5K

Who doesn't like donuts and running? Christy found the perfect race for us to do and it happened to fall on my birthday!

 

 

We were up early and out the door by 6 am to get to Fair Park. After picking up our packets we stopped by the tables, who can resist a freshly made donut early in the morning.

 

 

 

 The race took place inside Fair Park and there were 5 donut stops along the way. No, we didn't get donuts at every stop only at two. This was a great race, I think everyone was on a sugar high. Afterwards they had food and free beer inside and gave out the awards which were a glass mug with the race logo on it. We had a good time and would probably do this one again.

Making progress

Woke up this morning and the first thought in my head was I was too sore to go to the gym. After a few cups of coffee and reading the paper I was starting to feel better. Finally around 9:30 I made the big effort to get up there. Why is getting out the door always the hardest thing?
Started with 15 minutes on the elliptical, checked out the floor below and there weren't many by the free weights which was where I was headed next. I did all 3 sets of each exercise and then went back up to use the treadmill. I did 2 minutes at each incline working my way up to 10 and then 2 minutes at each back down to level one.
I feel like I am making progress, have now worked out for two weeks. It's good to be back in the gym.

Out the door

I was out the door and off to the gym early today. I was afraid it might be crowed but was surprised how few people were there. I'm into my second week of the runners workout, this means increase weights and lower reps to 10. I start out with a 15 minute warm up on the elliptical and then go into my weights. it was different with the increased weights and I was glad when I reached 10 reps. After doing the weightsI head back up stairs and try to do at lest a mile or better on the treadmill.

Gym, Rangers and walking

This week I was able to get to the gym three times. I had made a promise to Amy that I would try to use the gym more and if at the end of the month of May  I wasn't then I would drop my membership. She says I am just wasting my money, which is true. I have not been on a  regular schedule  since I dropped boot camp last October.
My big question was what would I do. I finally settled on the Cara Goucher workout for runners that was tucked in my gym bag. Basically you increase weights and decrease reps for four weeks then rest one week and start over. I could see some improvement just from Monday

Tuesday night my husband and I went to see the Ranges play and since he is on a walking program we used the Garmin to see how far the walk was from the car to our seats. It turned out to be only .70 miles, guess we'll have to park farther next game.

Ft. Worth Zoo Run

This was a race that Christy has been wanting to do so we signed up, not knowing that both the 5K and 10K would sell out. That meant a lot of people would be running. The 5K started at 8:30 but they warned about a 45 minute wait to park so we left the house at 5:30 and arrived at 6:30 with no traffic wait. We brought food with us to eat in the car before we lined up. There were 6000 running/ walking this race and the course was more hills than flat. I always say if you want to find a hill in Texas sign up for a race.                                   
              

Here is the back and the front of the shirt. I think they are really cute. A lot of people were wearing them but I had on my shirt that keeps me warm on one side and cool on the other.                                                                                                                                                                                              
                                                          

On the way to the start of the race we stopped at the entrance to get a photo.

We squeezed into a spot not far from the start and waited. I asked a lady in front of us if she would mind taking a picture of the two of us.

The race started on time and we headed down the road and into the zoo. The first animals we passed were the elephants, my favorite.

Paneless

So this is what has been happening at my house for two days, new windows. The hardest was the big window over the front door, I was sure I would hear glass breaking. I never thought I would be gaga over windows but these are really nice and something we have needed for about 20 years.
Tomorrow Christy and I are doing the Ft. Worth zoo run. Part of the race goes through the zoo. I wonder if the animals are up that early.

Belated Birthday Gift

Yesterday while I was busy in the kitchen making oatmeal cookies I heard a rap on the front door. Most likely it was the UPS man delivering a package. What did my husband order now I thought. I went to see and there was a box with my name on it . I checked the return address and it was from Boulder,CO. YAAAY, my Newtons were here, a birthday gift from my daughter.

Newton's are becoming quite popular in the States. There was an article about them in the latest Runner's World magazine and a lot of the running stores in the area are advertising them. They are suppose to help you run more efficient and some say even faster.

My daughter told me I need to ease into them so today I put them on an ran around my circle. I don't think It will take me long to learn the new way to run because I already land on the ball of my foot. I could definitely feel the lugs. I liked the way they fit and love the color !

Moving Day

Went out for my walk/run on the trails. There was lots to see. The wildflowers are out, the fire ants are out and there was one flat frog the someone must have run their bike over. Just past the frog I came across a small turtle in the middle of the trail. I first I thought it was dead but picked it up and it moved. I know your are not suppose to move turtles but I knew if left in the middle of a cement sidewalk it wasn't going t last long so I carefully placed it in the grass and went on my way.

Top of the mound

Christy, Allie and I attended the sunrise service on The Flower Mound this year. It was a beautiful morning with the temperature around 70. The mound was covered with lots of wild flowers this year. After the service we went to La Peeps for breakfast.
I hope everyone is enjoying their Easter sunday.Now I am hearing thunder and sounds like we are in for some storms.

Crazy Day

Wow, can a day get any crazier. First I was suppose to have coffee with my friend but when I called her to say I was stuck in traffic she replied " Are we suppose to have coffee today?" So she had an appointment and we changed it to around 11 but eleven came and no call. At 12:45 she said she was just about finished and could meet around 12:30. I headed back to Starbucks and found a table outside to wait. One and no show, then another call and she was home and would be there shortly. By the time she arrived storms were heading to the Dallas Ft. Worth area and tornado's had been sited. We debated what to do, decided to get coffee and a cute little cherry tart. The wind was blowing and the sky was dark and we were wondering if we should head for home. I remembered the time we went to the movies on a sunny afternoon and when we came out our cars were covered in ice and what normally took me 20 minutes to get home took me 2 hours. We finally left and headed home and later she called and said that both her sky lights had been broken by hail the size of golf balls.

Chase the night and win

I did not know what to expect when Christy picked the Firefly run for us to race. This race is in select cities around the country. Kim in Chicago you can run it and Tonya and Katy in Atlanta can sign up to run it. It will also be held in San Jose and Phoenix. This was just the coolest race and I'm usually not a fan of nighttime races, but with the lights and atmosphere, how could you not enjoy yourself. The start was awesome with all the glimmering lights and people dressed in costume. We had decided to stay together and I had bought shirts so we looked like a team. It was hard to run with that many people but we did the best we could, running when we had an open space and walking when it was to crowded. Even though the sun was gone the temperature was still in the 80's. We crossed the finish line with the crowd and a time of 46.12, I missed third place by 1 second. Over 7000 runners had signed up with proceeds going to Children's Medical Center.

There was lots of water available before and after the race.

Some of the runners waiting to line up.

We're lined up and waiting. My lights are on and I'm ready to go!

We chased the night and won.

Bluebonnets

Christy and I are signed up to run the Firefly race tonight. Who would have thought that the temperature would be in the 80's , I mean this is still March. We picked up our packets on Thursday and I did a little retail therapy, buying a new running skirt and a top. On the way home we noticed a large field of bluebonnets so stopped to get some pictures.

Puzzled

It all started with a Christmas gift from my friend. A puzzle of yarns and knitting needles and lots of bright colors. I finished it and then when I was in Costco I spied puzzles. I thought I would challenge myself so I picked the mother giraffe. It was hard. I didn't think I would finish it but I did. While I was in Tuesday Mornings I spotted another puzzle. My granddaughter was with me and said I should get the bird in the nest because it looked easy. I did. It wasn't. Today I finished it and I am puzzled out, but they have been great fun to work and have kept me busy.

It's Spring

Spring was ushered in with a flash of lightning and the sound of thunder. Big storms are moving through the area but I'm hoping the sky will clear and I will be able to get out for a run. Actually I have gone back to a basic run/walk program.

Friday and Saturday saw me out on the trails enjoying the warm weather and mother nature. The wild flowers are popping up in the fields, dotting them with lots of color.

Yesterday I took my husband for his pre-op, surgery is next Monday. By the time we got home it was too windy to get out and I had to go to Target to fill a prescription for him. Bought myself some yellow tulips, jelly beans and peeps and made an Easter arrangement.

March Curse

My computer broke and had to be sent to Indiana to be fixed. In the mean time I had a lap top and an Ipad to use but didn't like either. I kept making so many mistakes that I just said the hell with it. The computer is back and I can now blog and do the other things I did on it. I missed reading so many blogs.

My husbands back has been bad since December and after going through injections with out any relief they have decided to do surgery the end of this month.

The temperature has reached the 80's this week and our air conditioner broke on Tuesday. The part is in so they will be here tomorrow to repair it.

Oh yeah, and the roof leaks and I have a ceiling in the kitchen where it drips out.

Do you think with this kind of luck I should buy a lottery ticket?

Cowtown Race Report

Last Saturday morning Christy and I left the house at 5 am and headed to Ft. Worth for the Cowtown 10K race. This was our first time for doing this race. The day before I had gone to the expo and picked up our packets and a cute shirt. The 5K and 10K are run on Saturday and the half and full marathon and ultra marathon are run on Sunday, so there are lots of people. The temperature was around 40 and we were able to wait inside until the start.

There were 25,000 signed up for this race and start time was 7 am. We lined up and then waited . It wasn't long until the horn blew and we started. Immediately there was a long hill for us to run up. I always say if you want to find a hill in Texas, sign up for a race. This one was full of hills. Once we got to the top of the hill there was a down hill and then we were on a residential street for quite some time. The homes were beautiful and people were out cheering us on.

The street ended up at the Trinity Trails and this part I loved, the river was to the left, there were lots of people around and the day was beautiful. Christy was ahead of me because I had had some problems with stones in shoes and bathrooms.

I finished the race in 1:33:46, not a bad time. I met up with Christy at the finish and then we went inside to have some food and look at the expo. I would do this again next year and then it will say on my bib, 2nd time running. Everyone received a medal which was nice.

Seems Like Spring

It was too nice of a day not to go out and run or walk or both. The temperature hit 78 yesterday, is this the start of summer ? I headed for the trails and because I have been lack in my training I did more walking than running. But today it wasn't about speed or time I was just enjoying the nice weather. Thursday is suppose to be in the 80's . Trees are in bloom and flowers are up, seems like spring.

AMAZING

Congratulations to my son-in-law who ran a 100K yesterday. He finished in 11:06. That's like doing ten 10K's. Whew!