Tuesday, June 18, 2013

5K on the Runway


It was a chilly, dark day when I thought it was a great idea to register for the 5K on the Runway. What a novelty of a race ... running where the airplanes go. Of course I had to do it!


The race started at 3pm (3pm on a June Saturday? Clearly I didn't think ahead when registering!) so I had no need to even set an alarm clock. Awesome! I never get to say that!  Man Friend and I cooked a yummy breakfast together and leisurely took our time getting ready to head out of town. We got to the race over an hour early to check out the airshow that was going on and make sure we knew exactly where to park. Getting our bibs was a cinch. I expected a shirt and bib. I got a bag filled with things, including sunglasses that light up! I was also pleased to see that this would be a chip timed race, and the shirt was soooo soft. Score for me!

Before the race I wandered around checking out some of the airplanes. I've been in countless commercial planes, but haven't even been up close to a small personal aircraft, so that was cool. They make me nervous though, I don't want to die. While waiting I was sure to keep hydrated and find shade. By the time we got to the start line for the countdown it was already 83 degrees. This course was the very definition of flat, with not one tiny speck of shade. We really were going to be running a 5K on the runway!

The plan was no plan. Just run a nice, steady race. No time goals. No picking out people to try to pass. We haven't had heat yet, so this day was just extra hot to me and I wasn't in the mood to pass out. At the start we went just a few yards before turning right. From there we went down a ways, turned left, turned left ... and proceeded to run over a mile in one straight line. That mile was into very strong wind ... and not "ooh it's cooling us off!" wind. No, it was "oh my gosh that wind is freaking hot!" wind. 

This view for 2 miles - except I passed all of those people!!
Half way through was a water stop. My first cup I dribbled on my head and shoulders, the other I drank. We walked a lot, and I totally didn't even feel guilty about it. Everyone around us was saying how it was just exhausting and crazy hot. We all verbally questioned our sanity and wondered why on earth we were out there doing the race. Eventually we turned left, then left again, and run another mile right back down. Pretty darn exciting -- essentially we ran one huge lap. 


I came through the finish line feeling pretty good .... finishing my slowest ever 5K race, aside from those that I walked during Disney race weekends. It was a fun time, but I'm not sure I'll be "racing" to do it again --- only because of the heat. I'm like a little bug that gets hot and shrivels up and whines. But if you can handle heat and are looking or a course to PR -- this is the one for you!

Five pounds lighter (thank you, sweat)  and a few shades redder!


Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Spartan Winner is Anointed NOW!

Five people wanted to be Spartans ... clearly the rest of blog world is scared! Yep, chickens! ;)

So I am now happy to announce a future Spartan, courtesy of the always popular random number generator. And the winner of a race entry is........................... DanniD!  Congratulations! I want to hear all about it after you go -- excellent choice on choosing the Pacific NW -- and congrats on your first 5K last weekend!

For those of you that didn't enter, or didn't win, click here http://bit.ly/spartanwarrior to get a 15% off code for any Spartan Race!


Friday, June 7, 2013

Been There, Run That ... Race Giveaway

As I've said before .... in 2009 I couldn't run around the block without walking. I decided to train for a 5K at the end of the year. Early in 2010 I was running my second 5K and decided I needed more. I need to do a half marathon! Cut to doing 12 half marathons in 12 months, again I needed more. So I decided clearly I needed to do Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge. Add 2 full marathons in a 3 month period to my resume! But once Goofy was done I was just sort of blah. What next? I didn't want to go any longer than 26.2, but I wanted to keep running regularly and racing. But I needed some spice! Something more than just running from A to B with occasional water stops along my way.


Last month I was at the Portland Rock'n'Roll expo. I lost Man Friend. I turned to find him drooling at the Spartan Race booth. I perked like a puppy and rushed over. I cheered him on as he did their burpee challenge in a quest to win a free shirt (which he wears ALL THE TIME now)! We chatted with the Spartan people and since then have been online checking out their race locations and eyeballing the various obstacles. I have done one mud run before, but felt I could handle something harder. I think a Spartan race is that something more that I desire!!


<-- Check out that burpee action!

Coincidentally, around this time I received a chance from Spartan Race to give away a free entry to any Spartan race in the continental US for the 2013-2014 season. Um, awesome!!! If I did have a certain life plan set for 2013 I would be registering in a heart beat. But alas, this year I can't --- 2014 here I come!!!

So why don't you, dear friends, take up this opportunity and go do it and report back to me on how awesome it is!?! Haven't done an obstacle race before? This is your chance. If I can do it, YOU can do it!



Here's what the official Spartan folks have to say:
Spartan Race is on a mission to get you active, healthy, excited about change, and return to our ancient roots where running through woods, getting dirty, and facing adversity was part of everyday life. Our events are all about challenging today’s perception of normal. 
Our events challenge the familiar, today’s perception of normal living and getting you out of your comfort zone! At Spartan Race, we do this everyday and it shapes everything we do.
Having experienced many different racing events, we wanted to make adventure racing more accessible to everyone, but do not be fooled by the word ‘accessible’, as our events have a challenge for everyone’s needs. 
Spartan Race now introduces a level for everyone beginning with the entry level Spartan Sprint, intermediate level Super Spartan, the advanced Spartan Beast, and the ‘99.9% need not apply’ extreme level Death Race.

Whatever your level, Spartan Race will test your strength, stamina, and sense of humor.

So if you're feeling in the mood for adventure, leave me a little comment. Tell me where you'd do your Spartan Race if you're the winner! And since I'm curious, have you done one before?? Any favorite obstacles?? I want to hear all so I can live vicariously through you this year!

I'll pick a winner sometime .... I'll give warning. I'm imagining next week - like Wednesday? I want to not dilly dally so that you have ample time to pick your race and register. Remember, only ONE winner, so if you are the only one to comment, it's yours! Let's say Wednesday. Wednesday evening I shall deem a winner!


Tuesday, June 4, 2013

It's A Bogey!

A golf reference? Actually, yes! I do believe that’s how the name came to be. But let’s back up a little bit.

Yesterday just before lunch I received a text from Man Friend. It was a photo of an absolutely adorable dog. He asked if I knew anyone that wanted a free dog. Um, duh! Yes… ME! I began quizzing him to find out the scoop. Basically MF ran into a guy he knew, and this guy had the dog in question. This little dog appeared at his house last week and wouldn't leave. They put up signs, went door to door looking for an owner or anyone who recognized him, talked to the animal shelters, the vet offices, the police department. Nobody claimed him, nobody has looked for him, nobody responded to signs or even placed their own looking for this lost puppy. MF’s friend and his family really liked him, but they have a small house, three children and two dogs already. They are going out of town tomorrow and were hoping to find him a home before that so they wouldn't have to take him to the pound.
 
Well soft heart that I am, I pretty much knew instantly I was going to be saving this dog. *My older cat, Tinker Bell – her original owners broke up, parted ways and she had no home, so I took her in. *My sweet dog, Lady – I got her at the animal shelter. I thought she only had months to live and needed to give her a loving home for her last bit of time on Earth. Yeah, that was in 2005… she’s still here. She’s a great actress. *My Millicent, the new little black cat – she also ended up homeless and I pretended to find her a home for all of 5 minutes before I knew I was keeping her. So here we are again, and I want to make sure this little boy has a loving family!

My plan was hatched. I told MF to tell the guy we would take him! After work I would have my mom take this little boy home with her so I could do some grocery shopping. Then I would pick him up after. But really, I thought this time alone with him would cause her to want to keep him. She hasn’t had a dog in years and always says she wants one. Well here he is! If she didn’t want him I’d take him in myself, but I knew that my plan was going to work! Before work was over she had already shown the photo of him to my step-dad and was antsy to get off work so she could see him. We even stopped to get him a toy and some treats on the way to my house.

Upon pulling up to my cottage we saw a crazy sight. My Lady, who hates dogs, was happily playing with him! She had a new friend! He came running up to meet us and instantly we all just knew. I sent him on his way out to his new home and I went about my shopping. I called to check on things and see if I was keeping him or not --- and she immediately said he was HER dog! Bogey (Bogart when he’s in trouble) was busy swimming in the river and playing with his new toy. As his new sister I picked him up a new collar and two bandannas that will bring out his color. We rushed out to see him, and what a cutie!! He and MF played fetch for quite a while until he was all tuckered out.

Apparently he likes to not only sleep on the bed, but up by the pillows! Bogey and my mom got a lot of quality cuddles in on his first night! Even today she couldn't walk with me on our morning break. Oh no, she had to go home to see her puppy! But wait!! I forgot the kicker!! My friend, having seen the photo I sent her, stumbled upon something last night. She was unable to sleep and browsing Craig’s List. What did she find? Our dog! He is 6 months old and his owners were trying to find him a home since they were moving. Seems they just ditched him instead … but that worked to our benefit. So now we have in our family a new little 6 month old puppy named Bogart …. I’m already plotting to take him on some neighborhood runs with me once he gets a little more coordinated! He’s going to be so much fun!