Corporate 5k 2012

Each year there are over 1500 employees of different companies from around Jacksonville that come together at Metropolitan Park in Downtown Jacksonville. Tents were set up everywhere with each of the  companies and it is set up to be the largest networking party in Jax. The funny thing is that people really didn't talk to others outside their company. I thought it would be a good chance for me to even get to know some other people from Corporate. It wasn't exactly what I thought it would be, but I still enjoyed it. A live band performed throughout and after the run there was water, free beer, and pizza. Obviously, beer had no appeal to me.

I left work at 5pm and didn't get there and parked until 5:50pm. It is crazy downtown after work driving. It probably didn't help that I am not familiar with downtown. The run itself was throughout downtown Jacksonville. I was very happy with my time, it was my best so far 39:38 with basically 12:45/mile.

I took this picture of myself

Solo weekend in Kissimmee

The KISS-IM-MEE 5K was my 2nd 5k race. It was throughout downtown Kissimmee and started at 7:30AM. It was neat seeing a lot of businesses I didn't know exist. Downtown truly has been changing for the better. The race itself wasn't as organized as the first race we did - the Matanzas 5k, but then again Matanzas 5k is one of the largest in the country. I don't have any cool stories like last time, but my dad did try to make a conscious effort to be at the finish line waiting for me. The funny thing is that he went to grab a bottle of water for me when I finished and while he was gone I crossed the finish line so he didn't get to cheer me on like he planned.

I was very happy with how I did, especially since I hadn't exercised no less ran at all for close to 2 months. It was a better time then my last 5k. I finished 22nd place for age category 18-29 with 40:28
My dad actually did well. He got 5th place for men age 60-69 he did it in 30:41. He amazes me with how much he can run, bike and just exercise! He has always been one to work out a lot.

After the 5k we went back home and got ready to go to the Osceola Art Walk which was at the Valencia Community College Campus a few minutes away from our house. My Aunt Nancy came with us, but she kind of made her way on her own talking to vendors a lot about wood pens. There was a lady that had some beautiful Florida Landscape oil paintings. One I thought looked perfect for my house. I still think about it, but I just don't know if I can bring myself to spend $1800 on a painting.

I went down to Kissimmee a few weeks ago to run a 5k with my dad. Omar didn't come with me this time. It was nice because he got to stay home and relax and do what he wanted. Something he rarely gets - without my list of "honey-do's". Plus, I got the benefit of my own agenda without visiting people he wanted us to see.

Following that we went to eat a Mexican restaurant that was actually pretty good. Later that night I went out with Naomi Gunnels to dinner at Pei Wei. Love that place! We then were going to go to the ice cream shop in downtown Kissimmee that makes the ice cream from liquid nitrogen but they close so early (doesn't make sense to me). We instead went over to Menchies and met my parents over there. Menchies is okay, but I much prefer Mochi. It was great catching up with Naomi. I love that I have some good true friends that we can not talk forever and just pick up from before.

Sunday was wonderful because I got to sleep in a little bit. I helped get dinner ready for after church. When I go home to my ward, the ward I had gone to for my whole life, I always feel like I am home. There are a lot of the same families there and I love them. I couldn't believe that Tanner Bohman, a kid I babysat for over 4 years had his Mission Homecoming talk. I really felt the spirit and I was so glad to hear some of his mission experiences. It seems people don't include things from their mission anymore in their homecoming talks, it makes no sense to me. I also got to hear my mom give her lesson in Relief Society. She is such a great teacher. Dinner we had Beef Burgoyne and my brother actually came over for few minutes before I had to leave to go back home. It was a nice weekend.

My First 5k

Dad and I

My first racing #

My dad and I both completed our first 5k yesterday morning! We decided the week of Christmas to run the Matanzas 5K in St. Augustine. I had just recently started training and thought I would be ready by today. Well, I did okay but could have used more training as this really cold weather the past month deterred me from running outdoors when it was 20 degrees plus howling winds.

We received our registration packets this morning at 8 AM and weighed in as we were both eligible for the Clydesdale division. It sounds pretty bad right? For women you just have to weigh over 150 pounds to be eligible. I only remember being less than that when I got married (then again I was exercising an hour a day 5-6 times a week, and only eating Special K twice a day and a lean cuisine for dinner). We thought we might as well try for an opportunity for a prize.

There were over 1800 people at the race that went through the heart of Historic St. Augustine. I ended about what I figured I would, which is not bad considering how my running has tapered off to be non-existent the past few weeks. I wanted to make it under 40 minutes, but ended up about 40 minutes and 15 seconds. The gun time for me was 41 minutes and 2 seconds, but I wasn't at the front, I was at the back when the gun went off. I am happy with my first results and that I only ended up walking 3 minutes total during the race.

The finish line while people were still arriving in the morning

The starting line

This is how they timed us

I thought my dad would be there waiting for me once I finished cheering me on while I crossed the finish line, he wasn't though. Funny how he is what almost 61 years old and he beat me by about 9 minutes, he runs a lot though.

He told me that the whole time he was trying to keep up with the guy that was on CRUTCHES running barefoot in front of him so he didn't have the chance to pay attention to the scenary around him. My dad wasn't able to keep up with him. After the race the barefoot guy on crutches running barefoot won 5th place in his division for his run, he was 79 years old! It makes me feel a little better that he raced the 300 meters in the olympics back in the 60's. Come on, crutches though?

the course layout

I was amazed at how many people ran barefoot or ran with these really weird shoes that I actually saw by chance in a shoe store earlier this week. They are the ones that have a rubber lining for the bottom of the foot and each toe is individually wrapped. I heard some guy say that he runs barefoot normally but wasn't sure if the road would be wet which if it was he wears those shoes so it wouldn't tear up his feet.

We stayed for the awards ceremony which took forever. Won't do that again. It became freezing cold, colder than when we were running as the wind had picked up. My mom and Omar kept calling to see where we were to know how much longer we would be. I told my dad we could go any time. Finally after they announced the male Clydesdale division winners he said we could go. I was like well we might as well wait a minute to hear the female Clydesdale division winner then, but we didn't. My dad cracks me up.

3 mile marker - only .10 of a mile left

I finished!

It was a good experience, now to really start training for my next 5k so I won't walk any of it. Any suggestions?

Training for a 5K

I think I am down to 41 days until my first 5k ever! I decided I needed some sort of health goal as just limiting my food intake was not enough, and the goal of making it to the gym never quite works out with my work schedule. So I told my dad that I want to run a 5k with him. We picked one out, the Matanzas 5k on Saturday January 22nd. I started training the week of Thanksgiving. I must say I am so proud of myself. My first week I ran a WHOLE mile straight! I don't think I had ever done that in my life. Week 2 it was a mile and a half STRAIGHT! I am on a roll.

I have been getting up at 7 AM every morning to run outside. From my house down to the waffle house and back is 2 miles. The cold weather came this past week. When I say cold, I mean it was brutal. There were people from up north visiting that didn't even know what to do because it was just that cold! I went running outside and couldn't make it a full mile before I literally felt my muscles and bones freezing! When I drove to work I noticed that the temperature gauge said it was below 35 degrees outside, plus there was humidity! I must have been running in 20 degree temperatures! I am insane.

I am getting back on track tomorrow, so I really can reach my goal. Some friends of mine run a race every month. I want to make this my new hobby. Wish me luck!