LULA 5K Race Report

Today was the Girls With Sole LULA 5K.  I had signed up for it a few weeks ago.  Fast forward to yesterday morning and I couldn't swallow without pain so off to urgent care I went.  Moments after seeing the doctor the strep test came back positive.  I have my beautiful daughter to thank for it since she was diagnosed with strep on Thursday.  I spent the rest of the day resting in the hopes that I could run this morning.  When I woke up I was feeling okay and it seemed as if the meds had kicked in so I decided to attempt the run!  Headed to the race and met up with the Cleveland 10 Miler girls (plus Missi's son who has his mother's sense of humor!!) and Jenn.

The runners before

Missi hugging Lula Girl

Miss, Matthew, and Kim with Lula

Missi, Matthew, Deb, and I with Lula

That's one big Croc

With Liz Ferro, Founder of Girls with Sole

I don't normally carry my handheld water bottle during a 5K but I decided to today since I thought I may need extra water with the sore throat.  I am so glad I carried it because I drank quite a bit.  My plan was to just run by feel.  I felt good enough to keep between 8:15-8:30 pace so I went with it.  I spent a lot of time playing leap frog with another runner who just so happened to be wearing a Cleveland Marathon shirt.  In the end she finished before me and that was fine by me since I managed to pass another girl just strides before the finish line.  I was happy with my time and the fact that I didn't go out to fast.  All in all, it was a successful run and I managed to place 3rd in my age group.  Not bad, not bad at all.

Age group award.  Handpainted by the young ladies that participate in Girls with Sole

And as usual the Cleveland 10 Miler girls rocked it out there!!  The plan for the rest of the day is to just rest and hydrate.  Do popsicles count in the hydration department? 

Keep running, you're simply the best, and you inspire me!!

Catch a Leprechaun 30K

Monday afternoon Jenn and I were text messaging and it went something like this:

Jenn: I am crazy looking at more races lol
Me: Just read your facebook message! A 30K is 18.4 miles crazy girl! Where is it?
Jenn: I knew that. Elyria. They have a 30K, 15K, and a 5K. It is a flat course. :) I am crazy
Me: So you wanna run 18 Sunday? No not crazy just a distance runner

The text messages continued into the evening and before 8 PM on Monday night we were signed up to run our first 30K.

I had offered my guest room to Jenn on Saturday night since the race took place close to my house and she took me up on the offer. Once Jenn got here we headed to dinner and had pizza and beer. She was a cheap date! LOL. Once we got back from dinner we looked at some running things online and then headed to bed. We woke up to this lovely sight this morning...

Yep, sure enough the weather forecast had been accurate and we would be running 18.4 miles in the snow! We got ready, had some breakfast and headed out. We stayed inside the college where it was nice and warm until it was time for the race to start!

Since neither Jenn or I had ever run a 30K we knew we would have guaranteed PR's today!! The course took us on two 9.2 loops around town. We were having a great time talking during the first loop and managed to hold between 10:15-10:30 mile pace (I'm pretty sure Jenn had no idea this was the case). As we were approaching the end of the first loop, Jenn mentioned she had to pee. At the exact moment she said that, I said damn it. It was hilarious because Jenn thought I was annoyed that she had to pee. So much so that she told me I could keep running but she had to stop and pee. I couldn't stop laughing when I told her I had to pee too and the damn it was because I had just stepped in a puddle and now my shoes were wet! It was too funny! When we headed back out for our second loop I could tell Jenn was starting to feel it. Right around mile 11 she slowed to a walk and told me she felt like she was going to pass out (what is it with me and people almost passing out. Dave last weekend and Jenn today). She took in a gel and seemed to be feeling a little better and then it happened again a little further down the road. At this point she told me she felt like she may puke. I told her to go ahead and puke and we would move on. LOL. In the end she didn't puke, but I did have to send Negative Nancy packing a few times during the course of the final 7 miles! During the final two miles there was another runner not far ahead of us and Jenn told me to go try and catch her. I told Jenn no. There was no possible way I would be leaving Jenn on the course. We were in this together until the finish which we reached in 3 hours and 18 minutes (time includes potty break). For the first time ever I finished last in a race but ended up getting first in my age group. I guess it pays to be old since I was the only one in my age group today! After we left the race we stopped to grab hot chocolate to drink while we took our "ice" bath.

Once we got back to my house we headed outside to use the lovely white stuff to ice our legs. As we sat down Jenn asked me what I had this for.

I told her I would be using it to scoop snow on my legs. As you can see it worked perfectly!!

The hot chocolate really helped to make the "ice" bath tolerable!

All in all we had a great run with lots of laughs and we were both still smiling when we crossed the finish line and in the end that is what matters!

Keep running, you're simply the best, and you inspire me!!

Apple Festival 5K Race Report

A little over a week ago my friend Darlene asked if anyone would like to join her and run the Apple Festival 5K. I mentioned to her that I would like to see how I was feeling after pacing Jenn in the 1/2 marathon and then I would let her know. I was feeling great after pacing Jenn last Sunday so I shot an email to my running coach/training plan creator Joe (here) and asked him what his thoughts were on me running today's 5K as well as a 5K next Saturday. Currently my training plan calls for a pace run on Saturday, followed by a long run on Sunday. Joe was very honest with his response: "If it were me Jodi – I take those long runs VERY seriously. I would run long on Saturday (as early in the day as I could) – dial the pace down a little, maybe :20/mile slower than usual, ice bath or at least a really cool shower, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and then race on Sunday. Same drill afterwards – if you feel good, jog a really slow recovery mile …. If you don’t and your legs feel spent, don’t sweat it and enjoy the post-race spread." As for next weekend's 5K, he basically suggested the same thing. The one bonus of next week is that the 5K falls on my pace run day which will allow me to complete my long run the following day. I took Joe's advice to heart and got out there at 5:30am yesterday for my 11 miler, came home and grabbed an ice bath, and then made sure to hydrate well throughout the day. I felt pretty good when I woke up this morning. A little bit of tightness in the legs but I was able to shake it out during a short warm up with Darlene.

Darlene and I before our warm up and race

I started the race out strong with a 7:14 first mile split. I knew the large hill would be coming between mile one and two so I tried to conserve some energy. I was able to climb up the hill without too much problem...yes, I am admitting that hill repeats are beneficial! For most of the race I was playing leap frog with "red sports bra" girl. The course was an out and back and sometime around mile two "red sports bra" girl's friend shouted out "get her". I of course knew she was referring to me because I had taken the lead in our leap frog game. Between mile two and the finish, "red sports bra" girl took back the lead. As I was coming around the corner toward the finish I set my eyes on her and ran my heart out to pass her at the end. Funny thing is I didn't realize I had also passed Darlene at this point until she yelled out "go Jodi". I crossed the line in 23:18 right before "red sports bra" girl. She thanked me for pushing her out there (she set a good 2 minute PR today). Always a great feeling to help a fellow runner out! I walked over and dropped my 36th overall place card in the 35-39 age group bucket. I noticed right away that I was first. Fast forward to Darlene and I running a cool down mile and the age group buckets got knocked over by a gust of wind and the cards went flying. I didn't think anything of it until we were at the awards ceremony and they announced the top 3 in my age group and my name wasn't announced at all. Imagine my surprise when I realized I had seen the girl they gave first place to finishing her race while Darlene and I were doing our cool down. I had also seen the girls they gave second and third to finishing their races as well. Darlene and I went and talked to the guy in charge. I explained the situation. Yep, I was 36th overall and they gave first place in my age group to the 78th finisher overall (oops, I would say we had a bit of a problem there). He got all of my information and will be re-checking all of the place cards, updating and correcting the information and mailing me my first place age group award. Darlene and I were both bummed out that we didn't have a picture with me and my medal. Fortunately, Darlene was thinking on her feet and realized she had also placed first in her age group, yeah Darlene, so she let me "borrow" her medal for the photo!

Me with "my" first place age group finish medal

While I didn't run a PR today (my PR is 23:01 on a pancake flat course during marathon training back in March), I am very pleased with how I did. I was amazed how good my legs felt today after running an 11 miler yesterday at 9:02 pace. I do believe I am getting stronger by the day! Looking forward to seeing what I can do at the Detroit 1/2!!

Keep running, you're simply the best, and you inspire me!!

Run with the Big Dogs 5K Race Report

My brother and I ran a 5k together this morning. I had decided earlier in the week that I would be running this 5k in memory of Dom, who lost his battle with cancer on Sunday, August 15, 2010. Dom was a very good friend of my friend Joe. I was also competing with my brother for the "family champion" title. Right before the race started, I looked up and thought of Dom. My plan was to start out with my brother and keep him in sight. Boy did we start out fast (6:40 pace according to the Garmin around 1/4 mile in). I realized I needed to slow down a bit. I just kept my sights on my brother and made it to mile 1 in 7:23. Perfect! And then, it happened, I blew up and slowed down to an 8:05 second mile split. I tried to pick up the pace for the third mile. I managed a 7:55 third mile. I didn't worry about my final tenth split at all because at that point my mind went back to the reason I was running today, to cross that finish line in honor of Dom and suppport of Joe. And cross that line I did, in a time of 23:45. In the end I did not beat my brother. However, I did improve a lot since last year's 5k "showdown". Last year my brother beat me by over two minutes and today he finish one minute and twenty five seconds in front of me in a time of 22:20. Although, he still holds the "family champion" title, I did manage to win in regards to age group placing. My brother got second in his age group and I managed to get FIRST!! Winning isn't everything, but I had a great time trying. The best part of today's race was the fact that I ran all 3.1 miles for Dom, an amazing man, who will truly be missed. Below are some pictures of our 5K run for Dom.

My brother and I before the race. I even wore a running skirt today in the hopes that I would beat him and could tell him he had been beaten by a "skirt".

My brother and I post race. Notice I no longer have my headband. Should have worn my Bondi Band. The off brand one I wore fell off during my final kick which is not an issue with the Bondi Bands as they stay put.

Me with my age group award. First place in the 35-39 division.

Keep running, you're simply the best, and you inspire me!!

Girls With Sole 5K Race Report

This morning I ran the Girls With Sole 5k. It would be my first "race" back since my marathon attempt. My neighbor Brenda stopped by and picked me up and we headed to Rocky River for the race. Once there we met up with my sorority sister, Jenn and another neighbor, Laura. We made our way to the restrooms and then had some pictures taken before the race started.

Jenn and I

Me, Jenn, Laura, and Brenda

With pictures taken and the Star Spangled Banner sang (very brilliantly by a young girl I might add), we headed to the start line. I have to admit I was a bit nervous since this was the first time I was pushing in a race since the marathon in May and it was HOT today! My thoughts immediately went to the risk of dehyration. I just told myself that I would make sure to grab two cups at the water stop. One to drink and one to dump on me to cool myself off. My awesome friends knew I was a bit stressed out about the race and told me to just relax and have fun out there and then the bell rang and the race started. I went out a bit too fast. My first mile was a 7:42 and it was really getting hot at this point. I made a point to grab those two cups of water and they were very helpful. I also made it a point to run through the sprinklers that happend to be on in the neighborhoods. The next thing I knew I was at mile 2 with a split of 8:00. From mile two on I just focused on the people in front of me and tried to pass as many people as I could. After passing several people, I rounded the corner for the uphill finish. I even said to the volunteer that was directing us that this uphill finish was so wrong. I guess I was doing okay if I was able to tell him that! Once I hit the three mile mark I noticed a guy in front of me and gave it my all to catch him and beat him to the finish. The woman that put on the race yelled out to me to not let him beat me. In the end, it was a sprint to the finish between us. He put his hand out for a high five and I returned that high five right before I crossed the finish line BEFORE him in an unofficial time of 24:48. Once we both caught our breath he told me it was all my fault that he had to sprint. I laughed and said good job and then I went back out on the course to cheer on my girls! I walked back out to the three mile marker and I saw Jenn coming and I knew she was under her goal time. I ran up to her and told her the clock was still under 28:00 and she could do it. I took off running with her and helped her navigate through people and made sure she knew there was a speed bump right before the finish line so she wouldn't trip. She gave it her all and crossed that line with an unofficial time of 27:51, an awesome PR for her! Jenn and I walked together and grabbed some water and then went back to the finish line to cheer the other girls in. Laura finished around 31:00 with a huge smile on her face! Brenda came in shortly afterwards. She had a rough go of it out there today. See, she is a spinning instructor and she taught class yesterday and didn't hold back so her legs weren't real happy with her! We all went and grabbed some food after this and then Brenda and I decided to head home. Jenn was going to stay a little longer to cool down before she went home. Now, back to my finish time of 24:48. It was not a PR by far so imagine my surprise when I got a post from Jenn on Facebook informing me that I won 3rd place in my age group. I never place in my age group so I figured I had no reason to stay for the awards ceremony. A friend of mine used to work for the company that sponsored the race and he told me to contact them through their website so I sent them an email to see if they would mail the award or if I would be able to pick it up. I really want the award especially after my Cleveland DNF. I feel like this was my "comeback" race and I earned that medal!! Maybe I am weird and shouldn't care but I can't help it. This is my first age group award since I started running again in February 2009. I am really hoping to hear back from them sometime tomorrow. In the end, I am very pleased with the race I ran today. I do believe I have found my confidence in my running ability again!

Keep running, you're simply the best, and you inspire me!!