February Virtual 5 by the 5th 5K

This morning I started my day with coffee and "speed"work. Along with many other members of the running blog community, I'm participating in Mommy Run Fast's excellent 5 by the 5th challenge.

I'm trying to consistently do one work out that focuses on speed each week during this marathon training cycle and trying to use the series of something of a means of tracking my progress. I'm hoping that it will make for a stronger marathon in May and maybe a fast 5K and 10K in the summer. My goals for this virtual run, which I did on the treadmill, were to run the entire time, push myself to give a solid effort, and to beat my time from last month (31:19). I ran this month's 5K in 30:36. Overall, I felt pretty good on this run. I felt some tiredness in my legs during the second mile, so I backed off on the speed for a little bit and then tried to finish strong. My splits were 9:57, 9:48, 9:43, and 1:08. Woohoo for negative splits!

In other news, my wonderful spouse started a new job yesterday! Hooray for gainful employment! Right now he's working on a 3 month contract, but we're hopeful it will turn into something more longterm. While it's going to make some things a little more logistically challenging between car-sharing and not leaving our deranged but darling dog by herself for too long at a stretch, I have to admit I've been feeling some relief. I won't get paid in the summer and the cost of living is higher here than what we're accustomed to after a decade in the Midwest, so I'm happy that now it looks like we'll be able to ride out the summer months without having to dip into our savings.

Weekend Fun: Bridal Shower 5K

On Sunday my running group held a little 5K bridal shower for one of our members. Our coach had shirts designed for us to wear for the occasion as running attendants. One of the other runners made a veil for the bride-to-be with a stocking hat and some tulle and tuxedo t-shirt for the soon-to-be-groom. Our coach and fearless leader had come up with a very funny and very sweet little ceremony to join our friend the "Running Goddess" with her fitness partner for life and soon-to-be husband "Stud Muffin."

We ran a fun little Run Away Bride 5K route in our coach's neighborhood. The only two rules were for the bride and groom to stay together the whole time and to have fun. Since this was only my second time to run two days in a row since before my injury, I decided to run at an easy pace and ran with my friend K. and her daughter, A., who did an awesome job! After the run, we all had a yummy lunch of chili and fixings, cupcakes, coffee, and punch. Some of us had gone in together on a professional popcorn maker as a running bridal shower gift, so there was also some present opening and general conviviality. It was such a fun way to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of a couple of runner buddies!

M. is not a fan of running, and, while most of the time, I enjoy the fact that running gives me time away, Sunday was one of those times when I found myself wishing that my partner was a running partner too. Is running something that you share with your partner or significant other? Would you consider having a running bridal shower, bachelor/ette party, or Jack and Jill social for yourself or a running friend?

Race Report: St. Peter Halloween 5K Fun Run & Walk

 This morning I got up bright and early to meet up with some women from my running group to run the Saint Peter Halloween Fun Run.  M. and Bailey and I rode over to St. Peter separately.  M. and a friend of ours were planning to meet up to watch the race together.  M. stayed outside with Bailey, while I went into the community center to pick up my bib, chip, and swag.  Then I headed out to chat with M. while waiting for my friends to arrive.  I had no trouble finding my friend A. in her Lady Gaga costume which was lucky because my unoriginal cat costume made me hard to spot amidst the many other black cats who had shown up to run the 5K. 

We lined up with the other 1000+ runners and waited for the race to begin.  It was a chilly but sunny day.  For the end of October in the upper midwest, we couldn't have asked for better running weather.  Some runners had donned tremendously creative costumes.   The music was pumping at the starting line.  The energy was just incredible.  ( Thanks to M. for snapping some pictures of the race from the sidelines!) 

 The course was more or less a quick out and back with a couple of challenging inclines and declines.  We weren't worried about pace, so we just went out and enjoyed the atmosphere and the costumes.  We ran the first mile in 9:40.  I didn't bring my Garmin because I had intended this to be a social run rather than a race for time, but I know this because there were volunteers at the mile markers clocking people and yelling out the times as we ran by.  The second mile was a bit tougher as there were a couple of hills, but we hit the mile 2 marker at 20:15.  Just before mile 3 M. spotted us on the home stretch and snapped a few action shots.   This one's my favorite.

I'm not sure my official time, but when I passed the 3rd mile marker, I heard a volunteer say 29:00, so I assume I finished in about 30 minutes.  I was pleased that my whiskers held up as well as they did!

My friends and I had a great time running this 5k!  This race has grown over from a few hundred runners just two years ago to quite the event.  I can only imagine that it will gain in popularity because it's for a good cause, it's well-organized, and the energy is fantastic!  It was definitely a fun way to begin my Halloween weekend and a great excuse to don a costume!

What plans do you have for this Halloween weekend?  Are you taking the kids trick-or-treating?  Going to a costume party? Running a race?