Five Things Friday

Five Things Friday...total and absolute random things I am thinking about today.

1-Lola was watching a cartoon the other day when this commercial came on. My first thought is this a joke. My internal conversation was interrupted by Lola's squeals of delight Mommy can you get me that? Of course Lola, of course...I mean look how happy THIS little gal is to play with some fake dog doo.

source

2-It's been about two weeks into the triathlon "off season" for me and it's been nice to just do what I want with no schedule to follow. I've changed up my diet and been hitting the weights. Lots of running, short runs though. My body is responding quickly and I am happy to be putting some muscle back on even if I did lose a lot of strength over the last season.

It's my goal to be rockin' a killer 6 (or 4) pack for Ragnar in January and of course, there is the little Abtastic Rev3 challenge I've got to be ready for in time for Knoxville in Spring.

3-Speaking of Ragnar...this whole adventure is less than 2 months away and it blows my mind that it is almost here already. I cannot wait to finally meet everyone face to face. This is going to be such an amazing experience.
As for costumes, I have a vision of what I want to wear...it'll all come together soon! Now to find the perfect ammo belt!


4-Speaking of bullets...I'd like to lay a few into this sleep schedule of mine. Now, I am up early early as it is--3am--since I need to ready to rock n roll to teach boot camp at 5am, but with this time change I've been getting up every day at 2:00 am. I mean, really...COME ON! I think I am going to stay up really late one night this weekend just to try to reset my body clock. Ever the optimist though, I have been using that quiet time alone to get work done and be productive.
HAS THE TIME CHANGE EFFECTED YOU?

5-Sunday is Veteran's Day. Make sure you take the time to thank a veteran for their service to our country. You were able to vote on Tuesday because of them. You are able to complain/celebrate the results because of them.



I am planning my own little long run on Sunday and will be honoring those who are no longer with us. Running and triathlon has brought so many amazing people into my life, people like Bob and Nancy Kelly. So on Sunday, I will especially be thinking of Nancy & Bob Kelly, and Captain Christopher Cash, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2004.

 

Run for Cash 5k RR

This weekend was the 7th annual Captain Christopher Cash Memorial 5k race.

If you have been reading my blog since the beginning, you know that this race is close to my heart.

Last year I got to know Capt. Cash's mother, Nancy after running this race; then I did The Run for the Fallen in Capt. Cash's honor.

This was such a fun race last year! It was Lola's first race, I snagged a 3rd place AG finish and had an amazing day all around. The Run for Cash 5k is one race I will each and every year until I cannot run anymore.

This year clouds and rain did not damper the spirits of the race or it's participants. I was happy to see such a big turnout despite roar of thunder and lots of rain.

Lola participated in the Kid's Fun Run. Last year it was a 50 yard dash for the kids. This year?? It was an entire lap around the track--A quarter mile!! And Lola did it with a smile in the pouring rain.

Ready to run! (the tee was too big for Lola!!)

She's ready to SPRINT!

Yeah-she totally chicked those boys by A LOT!!

I ran with her and as she started to slow down towards the finish, I pointed out the finish line and reminded her that she would get her medal once she finished.
That was all my little girl needed to hear MEDAL
She SPRINTED the rest of the way and was SO PROUD of her medal!!

Gotta show off the bling to Marc!

Showing Jim her medal

Soaked and cold but she has her medal!

Lola was soaked to the bone and freezing cold so Lola and her Daddy packed things up, headed home to warmth and dry clothes. Luckily, I had several friends there with me and could catch a ride home later if need be...or I could just run home.

It was time for me to warm up and get ready to run. I had some reasonable time expectations for myself on this race-modest expectations since I have not really done much speed work since a majority of my training has been volume focused around the Timberman 70.3!

I met up with my Dailymile friends, triathlon friends and ran around the venue a bit to warm up then it was show time!

BANG! and they are off!

The Leaders heading up the first climb of the course

The first mile of this race is a slight downhill to the ocean and then a sharp left. Felt great
Mile One split: 6:36

Then the course takes another sharp left and up you go through the main strip, a gradual climb. Things level out for a bit and then you hit the turn-around. This is when you start seeing the leaders heading back to the finish line! I love that!! Still feeling strong!
Mile Two Split: 7:37

After the turn you take a different way back though town, essentially all up hill climbs. Short climbs but continual. Hill, level out for a bit. Another hill, level, another hill. Then it is one final climb and take a right onto the finish. Felt good on all the climbs and glad to see my pace held.
Mile Three Split: 7:37 (hmmm-consistence!)

and then the final 1/10th split: 0:51 for a 6:41 pace

Post race with Jim

Happy Jen after snagging 2nd in AG

Official Race Time: 22:42

2nd place in Age Group

15th Overall Female

60th Overall

This is a new 5k PR for me and I beat my expected race finish time by over a minute!! So I am very pleased with how well this race went and I am hoping to bust this PR at next months Ocean Park 5k which is flat and fast!! I do have a specific number in mind but keeping that to myself for now!

Funny story-there is a local elite runner, Christine Snow-Reaser, who seems to be my good luck charm. Last year at the Kennebunk Beach 5k I attempted to keep pace with her the first mile in the pouring rain. This year, I was with her for a bit again in the pouring rain.
Each time I run with her in the rain, I set a new PR.
Of course, I had to tell her this after the race!!

Christine Snow-Reaser and me

I also want to congratulate my friends Marc, Jen R. and Kate who all set new 5k PR's themselves on that day!!

Jen R is all smiles! She later ran the Warrior Dash-so badass!!

Marc's PR Finish! I even got his official race time on "film"! wooohooo

Kate's AWESOME FINISH!!

The Dailymile Crew! Me, Kate and Jim

Now for all the guesses as to my final time!

The winner? Karien with a guess of 22:40-You were only 2 seconds off! Great guess!