4th Annual KidsPeace Trick-or-Trot 5K / 1 Mile Walk

My hubby is a big Baltimore Orioles fan. I'm a baseball fan, but my team is from Philly. But, ironically I get all the Orioles emails and he gets all the Phillies emails. I buy Orioles stuff for him, he buys Phillies stuff for me. Kinda funny.

Anyway....the other day I got an email about the above 5k. It sounded fun, but I had a feeling hubby would really want to run it. I suggested it to him and he loved the idea. Then he promptly went back to work. He's got too much going on at work lately. Today, I remembered that if we sign up by August 15 (yes, today) we would get 2 free tickets to an Orioles game on Sept. 26th. I double checked with him and I signed us both up tonight.

So, apparently running again is a real thing. I haven't run since June 23rd at the Baltimore Women's Classic. I knew I wouldn't run in July and August, but picking a race and signing up for one sure makes you realize the roads are waiting for you. LOL!




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Baltimore Orioles (and Philadelphia Phillies) Home Opener(s)

Today, hubby and I are heading to Baltimore for the Orioles home opener. All the way back in December, I gave hubby a four-pack of tix which included the home opener. Good thing I did! They are sold out! I can see why. They made it to the play-offs for the first time since 1997 in 2012 and they this week they won 2 of 3 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (I don't care what you say, they are the DEVIL Rays!).

Of course, my team...

...the Philadelphia Phillies are also opening at home today. Baltimore starts at 3:05 p.m., while the Phils get underway at 4:05 p.m. Blargh! See what a great wife I am? I bought tix to hubby's team rather than my own.

Either way you look at it though, baseball is back! So excited!! Hope ya'll have a great Friday! Tomorrow, hubby and I are running the Movie Madness 5k here in town. Hoping to beat last November's time at this race, though they changed the course. We shall see...

Are you excited for baseball? Do you have a favorite team? Any running plans for the weekend?



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Kelly St. Patrick's Day 5k - Race Recap

Today, hubby and I hit Baltimore to run our first live race of the year - Kelly's St. Patrick's Day 5k. I love this race. Hubby not so much. There is one reason I love this race. This is a pretty good photo of why I love this race:

Before I get ahead of myself, I'm going to back things up. We got up this morning and had a small breakfast. The race starts at 1:15 p.m. and it's hard to know how much to eat before the race since there's time between getting up and running. I went with two slices of toast with peanut butter and cinnamon, plus a cup of coffee with soy milk. Before we left I meant to have some dried cherries, but I forgot. Oops!

We headed off to Baltimore about 11:20 a.m. and we hit no traffic. That was nice. Parked our car at Harbor Place and hit up the bathrooms. The best reason in parking at that garage are the bathrooms in the food court! Afterwards, we walked over to Charles Street. We got outside and kinda freaked a bit because there was such a wind...a cold wind. We worried it would be a bad mistake wearing short sleeves, but we did survive the walk to the start.

Once there we texted our friend Ada since we meet up with her and her dragon boat friends for this race. We actually found her two dragon boat friends before her! We all hung around together chatting and taking photos. One of the group could not run because of a knee injury so he was taking photos. Here's a group shot:

Shortly after the photo was taken, the horn sounded and we didn't do anything. There were 5,000 people signed up for the race and wow. Insane! We really didn't move for a while. At the end of the race, there was a 4:40 difference between gun time and chip time. Yea. Crazy.

We finally got passed the timing mat and got to run...sorta. It was still pretty conjested, so I took to doing what my hubby refers to as pulling a Brian Westbrook - dodging in and out around other runners as you try to find open space to run. We hung together almost the whole way down Charles St., but I could tell he was holding back. He asked if I was ok at one point and I told him to run his race. Don't worry about me. So, off he went and I was alone.

I kept going and lost sight of him eventually. There were 5,000 runners and he is much faster than me even when injured. Once we turned off Charles Street, there was the 1 mile marker and they were yelling out times: 16:05. I knew I ran faster than that, but I had no idea what I was doing because I had no Garmin with me. I didn't bother since I know it doesn't pick up GPS well. As I turned onto Key Highway I just saw the first runner coming back towards Inner Harbor. He finished with a time of 15:13. Wow.

Up Key Highway we went and the up hill got me. I took my first 30 second walk. I usually stop every half mile, but without my Garmin I didn't know when that was. Oops! Maybe I should have taken it. I started up again, then took another quick walk break near Federal Hill. I just was dying on the continual uphill. After that I was good until the water stop. I ran well along Key Highway, better than I thought I would. I was pleasantly surprised when the turn around came up. Usually I am dying and wondering when it's going to show.

Made the turn and waited for the water. I needed it. My throat was so dry and I was fighting a side stitch. I knew I should have hydrated more, but there wasn't much I could do about it on the course. I grabbed a full cup of water and tried to drink and walk. Fail. Pulled myself off the course and drank my water. LOL! Then, back at it!

Kept going and it wasn't too long til I hit the 2 mile mark. They had people calling out times and when I hit the sign they called out 29:05. So...mile 1: 16:05; mile 2: 29:05. Interesting. I took a 30 second break, then kept going past Federal Hill and back towards Inner Harbor. I passed a few people, had a few people pass me. It was all good. I felt good. I was breathing a bit heavy, but not scary heavy. I took a quick 20 second break as I came up to Pratt Street, because I wanted to run to the finish from there.

I got past the first warehouse at Inner Harbor and turned onto Pratt Street. There was a nice guy cheering us all on, which was really sweet. He was all by himself and just stood there yelling and chanting for us all. I turned onto Pratt and felt good, not tired at all honestly. Which is weird. I saw this guy as I was running and he made me laugh:

How could you NOT laugh seeing him on the side of the street? I kept going. At this point I usually pull up and just coast. Today, I didn't want to do that. I didn't think I had much for a sprint though. The temps were in the 60s, which is about 25 degrees hotter than I've been running in. Spring is coming to the Mid-Atlantic and today was one of those early Spring days. I did say to myself, "be consistent. Don't worry about sprinting, just be consistent." So I did. I kept going. I passed a bunch of people. I was proud of myself. I turned the corner to the finish line and kept up my pace.

I crossed the line and saw 42:45 on the clock. Damn! I knew that wasn't right, but I had no idea what to subtract. After crossing the line, I heard hubby yell my name. I waved and kept going (I had to, they were funneling us through to get our timing chips off) and then he handed me a bottle of water. Bless him! I felt like I was going to throw up. The water helped. I downed that bottle of water faster than any I've ever had. LOL! My time? 38:05. Yes, my splits, while obviously the first two are gun time and the last chip, still kind funny:

Mile 1: 16:05
Mile 2: 29:05
Finish: 38:05

We waited for everyone to finish. We all had a good time and then headed over to the James Joyce for post-run food. :) It's getting to be a tradition. Post-race photo of hubby and I!

Lessons:

1. Start a bit further up next year. With the increase in participants it was insane at the start. Lots of people who started too far up and walked, slowing the rest of us down.

2. I need to lose weight. I knew I needed to, but I looked awful today. I don't care what you all think, I look bad. I looked better last year and I'm mad I let myself get this way.

3. Not be upset that I ran this race about 1:15 faster last year. I honestly thought I ran it about the same this year to last and when I saw my time this afternoon, I was really sad. I have to remember that this is the first time I felt really good running this the whole time. I ran strong the whole race and enjoyed it. The race just seemed to fly by (even if I didn't!).

4. Shamrock isn't going to go as well as I was hoping. I have a week to adjust my expectations. I'm not upset over this. I just have to prepare for it. I can take my mistakes from training for Shamrock and improve for Zooma Annapolis.

Did you race this weekend? How did you do? Do you have a race coming up?

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Baltimore Women's Classic 5k 2012 Race Review

This past Sunday marked the beginning of my fourth year of running.  I ran my very first 5k at the Baltimore Women's Classic 5k in 2009.  Sunday, I ran the streets of Baltimore at the 2012 Baltimore Women's Classic 5k to celebrate my running accomplishments.

For some reason, each year the temperatures are hot.  I know it's June, but it is seriously one of the hottest mornings (in my opinion).  Amy at Pumpkin to Princess also ran and says it was 87 degrees Sunday morning.  I didn't check the weather, but it was hot!

But, I got up at 6:30 a.m. and got ready.  At 7:10 a.m., hubby and I left the Radisson and started the walk over to Rash Field.  We stay overnight because the drive down is brutal!  We live about an hour and twenty minutes from Baltimore and we had actually driven down the morning before so hubby could run in the Dreaded Druid Hills 10k - he was up at 4:00 a.m. and I was up at 4:30 a.m.  Plus, staying over is a nice little vacation.

My silly hubby took this photo of me walking to the race.  Goof ball!

I'm in the obnoxious orange shirt

And true to BWC history, we got a photo of me pre-race.  The pre-race photo is always so nice.  I'm not dripping sweat.  I don't feel like I'm going to die.

Not a bad background for your pre-race photo

Got there early enough to check out the expo.  It's not a bad one for such a small local race.  There was a warm-up with the owner of a local fitness chain.  I believe they help train people to run the race through Charm City Run.  I never participate in this because A. it's hot and I don't want to make myself hotter than I already am; B. I don't necessarily agree with the whole warm-up before a run mentality; and C. I don't want to tire myself out before running, i.e. I'm lazy.  

Shortly after the warm-up session we were all told to start making our way over to the start line on Key Highway.  Almost all races in Baltimore involve Key Highway in some way.  The past two years this race started at Key Highway between Rash Field and Federal Hill. I made my way to the 13+ minute mile runners (because of the heat I knew I would be slower than I've been running.  I'm ok with that.  I also didn't want to impede others who would be running faster by being too far up.).  We had one false start, then we were off!  

I'm waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy in the back

We ran up Key Highway and made a right.  I have no idea what street it was but the street is steep.  Really steep.  Last year we ran up this street and I wasn't prepared.  I walked it.  LOL!  This same street was in the Sole of the City 10k in April, at the very end of the course.  I ran half the hill, then walked the second half making sure I had enough left in me to run to the finish line.  Sunday, I ran the whole hill.  :-)  Improvement!

And then we kept running.  I usually run half a mile, walk a minute, repeat.  Sunday, I ran through to the first water stop.  I walked there because I honestly can't drink and walk at the same time without a straw.  Then I started running again.  I had a good mile time (12:05) and a good two mile time (24:48).  Then I did the math.  I wasn't going to PR the race.  I didn't think I would, but you never know.  And when that thought crept into my mind, I stopped pushing.  It was hot.  I was hot.  So I let up.

Brian caught me after the second water stop as I came back down Key Highway towards the finish line.

Eh.  I look like crap.  I usually don't wear such tight pants, but it was hot and they were shorter than anything else I owned.  Bah!

Went past Federal Hill/Rash Field on Key Highway to the turn around point.  From there, you come back towards Federal Hill/Rash Field, but you turn into a condo development and run along the water.  It's very scenic.  Kinda warm.  Very sunny.  I got around the corner and needed a break.  I walked for about three posts and started running again.  It's a bit chaotic at the end because there are lots of volunteers and spectators, but it's not too bad.  There's a volunteer who tells you to mind your step as there is a step down once you leave the boardwalk area and head into Rash Field.  :-)

I saw Brian as I came up to the finish line.

I'm in the orange and black up near the actual Finish line, just in front of a girl in teal

I crossed the finish line and let go a sigh of relief.  I like this race and all, but man it's hot!  As I headed through the shoot, a nice volunteer took off my timing chip.  Then another volunteer handed me a freezing cold wash cloth.  Love that!  Next a volunteer handed me a cold bottle of water.  Yea!  And finally, a third volunteer handed me a rose.  Yes, a rose.  Love that!

Just as I started to look around for hubby, he called out behind me and there he was.  Walking through the shoot.  LOL!  We headed towards the food (because at this point I was hungry!) and I got a slice of watermelon (thanks Falls Running Store!) and half an orange.

We  hung out a little bit after the race.  Sat under a tree and just people watched.  Then it was time to head back to the hotel to shower.  Yea.  Shower.  Ahhhhh...  But not without first getting a post-race photo!

Told ya I got a rose! 

Again, another successful BWC race!  I didn't set a PR overall, but I did set a race PR with a finish time of 39:05, so starting with those 13+ minute mile people was about right in the end.  Last year, I ran the BWC in 42:02, so a nice 3:03 minute improvement!

I plan on running this race again next year, for the fifth time.  If you're interested, it really is a great race and with it being a women's only race, it's just got a different vibe than any other race.  Maybe I'll see you there next year!

Baltimore Women's Classic 5k

I just signed up for the Baltimore Women's Classic 5k on June 24th.  I didn't think I'd get to run it this year as I had tentative plans to be out of town, so when that didn't pan out I realized I could run it.

I'm pretty excited about it.  This race was the very first 5k race I ever ran way back in 2009.  I trained literally 6 months to run it.  LOL!  I started the year running 1 mile and then slowly adding in quarter mile increments until I could run 3.1 miles.  And I made sure I could run 3.1 miles before I ever toed the line.

In 2009, the temperature was gorgeous.  I couldn't believe how cool it was out.  Baltimore is just over an hour south of me, but it is consistently 10 degrees hotter there than here.  But, for whatever reason, there was a beautiful breeze and I knew the temperature was going to be perfect for me.

I headed to the back of the pack, because I knew I was going to be slow.  I had absolutely no goal except to finish.  I didn't care how long it took me, I just wanted to cross the finish line.  I had on a Jersey Girl t-shirt and had a lovely conversation with some women who ran a race down the Jersey shore.

When the race started, it took quite a bit to get to the start.  There were about 1,700 women running that morning.  And only women.  The BWC is the country's 2nd oldest women-only race and is Maryland's first women's-only race.

I ran slowly, but I ran.  I trained six months for this and I didn't try going out too fast.  I remember we needed to run over the bridge that takes you to Fort McHenry, but you didn't get to run at Fort McHenry.  Just over the bridge and back.  What I remember about that bridge is many of the people who were around me couldn't run up it.  The small hills I had trained on helped me get over it twice - once on the way towards the Fort and once away from it.

Once past that part of the race, it was onward to the finish line.  There was a woman I passed and was passed by for the next mile and a half.  As we headed to the home stretch, she passed me...walking.  Oh heck no!  No one walking was going to beat me to the finish line!  As much as I didn't have much left to give, I started running faster.  I passed her just before the finish line and made it in before her.

When I crossed the line, I was handed a cold bottle of water and a beautiful rose.  I had no idea about the rose.  It was such an amazing touch in my opinion.  I finished in 45:25.  Oh yes, 15+ minute miles.  But I didn't care.  I finished.  I ran the whole thing and I crossed the finish line!

After the race, I decided that every year I could I would run this race.  And I have.  I ran it in 2010 and 2011 and I'll run it in 2012.  It is one of my favorite races and I am excited to be able to run it again.

Sole of the City 10k Race Review

Yesterday hubby and I ran the inaugural Sole of the City 10k in Baltimore, MD.  We run a lot of races in Baltimore, but I'd never run a 10k in Baltimore before.  When we signed up for this race it was going to be my first ever 10k, but then we signed up for the Hershey 10k the weekend before and this became my second 10k.  LOL!  Which is fine.  I was still looking forward to it.

I'll be honest.  I really wanted to run this race because of the swag.  Most races give a shirt away, either short or long sleeve.  But, this race upped the ante with a Under Armour jacket.  :-)  Since it was different I kinda wanted it.  Here's what it is and you tell me if you would run this race because of it.

 Full front

Front left logo - my apologies for it not being horizontal.  The photo was taken horizontally and saved horizontally, but it's not loading horizontally.

 Full back

 Higgy approves the jacket

 Close up of the back logo - apologies again...

So, now that we all agree that the jacket is well worth signing up for this race, let's move onto a race review.  The race started at 9:00 a.m., which is lovely for the non-morning person that I am.  I will admit though that with the mild winter we had and the early summerish temperatures we've been having that the temperature at the start worried me - 70 degrees.  This one might have been a bit better earlier in the morning just to have the cooler temperatures.  But, it was what it was and overall it wasn't too bad.

The race itself was a celebration of Charm City Run's 10th anniversary of being in the Baltimore area and opening their Baltimore store on McHenry Row (near Fort McHenry, the site where Francis Scott Key became inspired to write the Star Spangled Banner).  There were 2,700 runners, which made for quite a few people crowded at the start.  Maybe a few too many.  

There were lots of announcements at the beginning, most of which those of us at the back missed.  But, what we all heard and I'll admit to being awed at was the rendition of the National Anthem.  OMG.  The group who sang it was absolutely amazing.  They should sing the National Anthem for everything.  Yes, I know this is a race review, but if I skipped giving this group (who I have NO idea who they are) props it would be an incomplete review.  Hoping at some point to know who they are.

This week we heard the horn go off.  It took a several minutes to get to the front and it made me laugh that I wasn't moving and yet I could see lots of people already running.  Gotta find humor in being a back of the pack runner.  Eventually we all got past the start and headed into Baltimore for 6.2 miles (not 6.3 miles that I always say it is.  LOL!)

The race itself was good.  I was thrilled that the big hill we had to run up at last year's Baltimore Women's Classic we got to run down to start the race. Yea!  Then down Key Highway around the Inner Harbor.  It was fun to run around the actual Inner Harbor.  The looks of tourists and Baltimorians who were out for the morning was hysterical!  We ran around piers that I didn't even know existed.  LOL!  It was neat though.  And I was impressed with the number of volunteers around this area to help us know where to go.  It's helpful when you are towards the back of the pack to know you are going.

After all the piers we headed back on Lombard Street back towards Key Highway in the bus lanes.  Which was odd.  Lombard Street is one way and we were running the wrong way.  And there was lots of traffic!  I think due to us.  LOL!  We came back towards Key Highway and yes, we caused a traffic jam.  People were getting out of their cars because they weren't going anywhere.  It was kinda weird.

Once past Key Highway we were back into neighborhood areas and away from the Harbor.  This part of the race was much hillier than the Inner Harbor which was nice and flat.  It was challenging.  But it wasn't too bad for the most part.  And I give lots of credit to the police officers who were there keeping the traffic from running us over.  Traffic was not happy.

As we got close to the end, that fun hill that we got to run down on the way out?  Yea, we had to run up that hill.  Ugh.  I'll admit I didn't run the whole hill.  I ran half the hill, then walked the second half.  I decided I wanted to run across the finish line rather than walk across it.  And I did.  From that hill, it was a straight shot to the Finish Line and hubby was standing just out front so I saw him as I came in.

Here are some random splits, that probably only I care about.  LOL!

Half mile - 5:34 (last week it was 5:45)

Mile - 11:13 (huh??)

1.5 miles - 17:00 

3 miles - 30:21 (last week 30:08)

5 miles - 1:01:41 (Shamrock 8k was 1:01:51)

10k - 1:17:52 (one second faster than the Hershey 10k)

Crazy!  I tried really hard to do 5 miles under an hour, but it was not to be.  I didn't really try until 4.5 miles and only had 4 minutes and 30 seconds to do it, so it really wasn't happening, but I tried.  Ah well.

Positives: Swag!   National Anthem singers.  The backward course (compared to all the other Baltimore races who use basically the same course).  Running around the Inner Harbor itself.  Free beer at the end.  Setting a PR on a hilly course. A free post-race lunch.  A Dunkin Donuts right there!

Cons: Hilly course.  The big hill at the end of the course.  The water stops were odd (volunteers putting their hands in big coolers, and just not where I would have thought).  Only chicken available as the post race lunch (I don't eat chicken).

We only got one photo at this one, but I love it!

Kelly St. Patrick's Day 5k - Baltimore, MD

This is my favorite race of the year.  It's such a fun race.  It starts at 1:15 p.m., which is so nice since Baltimore is about an hour twenty minutes from the house.  It starts with a fabulous downhill that's almost a full mile.  Everyone is dressed up in green or costumes...or both!  And it starts with Jaws crossed with Jingle Bells (or "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" by the Dropkick Murphys).

This is our third year running it and even though I have two races next weekend I wasn't about to skip it.  Hubby and I met up with our friend Ada and some of her Baltimore County Dragon Boat mates.

Brian shortly left us to start up further as he's faster than we are.  The rest of us chilled out while we waited for the start of the race.  Once the horn sounded, it took us about 4 minutes to get to the green and white arched balloon start, but we made it and off we went!

It's a crazy start because it's all downhill to start.  Really.  The first mile of the race is downhill.  Which gives you a fantastic view of all the green people are wearing to this race.  It is THE best part of the race.  If you start at the front (cough cough, elites, cough, cough) you totally miss out on it.  Sure, you finish in 15:04 (yes, the first place winner finished in 15:04!!), but you miss the coolest race view EVER!

 The sun was crazy so you can't really see how truly awesome the sight is.

Ada and I stuck together for a good portion of that first mile, but Ada's faster than me.  So no hard feelings, she headed off to run her race.  I hit the mile marker somewhere in the 15 minute range.  Thinking it took us a couple minutes to reach the start line, I figured I was really about 13 minutes.  I was ok with that.  Now, the issue I have is, I have been doing the modified run/walk method and ummm I forgot Garmie.  I had NO idea when the half miles were.  So, I decided to walk a minute at the mile markers, which meant counting to 60...out load.  LOL!

Made the turn onto Key Highway (because every race in Baltimore involves Key Highway) and up the hill I went.  Now, everyone will say this race is flat past the big hill at the start.  Maybe for the elites, but for the average runner, there are several places where there is a noticeable uphill.  They aren't mountains or anything, but they are uphills.  But, with all my running through Mt. Wolf the last few months, the uphills didn't bother me.  I was shocked.  But, I kept going.  

I hit the turn around and grabbed a water at the water station because it was HOT.  Maybe not FL hot, but hot for mid-March in the Mid-Atlantic.  It had to be over 60 degrees!  I finished my water and kept going, eventually passing the 2 mile marker somewhere in the 27 range, which I was thinking would be about 25 minutes (thinking again a 2 minute delay in reaching the start.).

Now is the other area I say is an uphill.  Well, it is an uphill and many people just stopped.  Runners just decided to walk up the hill.  I felt pretty good so I kept moving.  It was rough trying to get around all the walkers at this point, but I kept moving.  I got to the top and turned towards Pratt Street, which leads to the finish line.  As I ran under an overpass, a little boy yelled out, "You aren't running good."  After the initial laugh, people started yelling things like, "I don't see you out here running," "I know where you live," and "I know!"  

I made my right onto Pratt Street and reminded myself that Power Plant Live! (which is where the finish line is) is not as close as I think it is.  Keep moving!  People were all along cheering us on and I finally saw the 3 mile marker and knew I was almost there.

I made the left into the Power Point Live! street and could see the clock.  40:42 showed.  Disappointment ran through me.  I had such high hopes of seeing 36 on that clock when I got there.  I saw hubby on the side lines as I ran towards the finish line.  I crossed and found him quickly.  He said I looked good as I came into the home stretch, but I was kinda down about the time.  I knew the clock was gun time and not chip time, but still... 

We shortly found the rest of our party and skipped the after-party.  Free beer, but you just can't get close to it.  The race has like 3,000 people and it's just too narrow an area for that many people.  We headed to the James Joyce Irish pub like last year.  When we got there it was practically empty, so we got a table right away...on the deck!  We all celebrated our fabulous runs with Guiness, Black and Tan, rum and Coke, and Harp.  And then we ordered yummy Irish food!  Hubby and I shared some Brown Soda Bread (which I could honestly live on) and while I ordered Sheppard's Pie, hubby ordered the fish and chips.  Two thumbs up.

 Brian and I at the James Joyce post-race

Shepard's Pie - delicious!

Now the fun part.  Our friend Ada has a fancy phone that allows her to look up internet stuff.  Charm City Run does a great job of posting race results quickly and quick they were!  Ada was able to find me while we were at the table:

3261 697/968  Christina Stetler       F 36 Manchester PA    40:54 36:43 11:49 

So, yea.  Do you SEE that chip time???  Let me share with you what it says, 36:43.  I PR'ED BY TWO 

MINUTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  INSANE!!!! I was floored!  How the heck did that happen!?!?!?!?  Honestly, I don't 

think I care.  I'm just THRILLED it happened!  What a fabulous race!  And if you read yesterday's post about my ankle,

no worries! The ankle held up just fine.  :-) 

Celtic Solstice 5 Miler

Last Saturday we ran the Celtic Solstice 5 Miler in Baltimore.  It's a race I've wanted to run since May when we ran the Preakness 5k.  I saw a woman ahead of me in this kick-a** jacket that had an amazing logo on it.  And at that moment I decided I wanted it.

So, we signed up for the Celtic Solstice 5 Miler as our December race.  We had been doing the Jingle Bell 5k the last couple of years, and I will admit, I kinda missed running with bells on.  But, sometimes you have to sacrifice...

We got up really early...5:30 am....to get to the race area in time to pick up our shirts, bibs, and tags.  With it being about an hour from home, it was an early start.

We got there and I was nervous because it seemed like we parked soooooo far away from the start.  But, we got there, grabbed our stuff, and realized there was a bag check.  Doh!  Since we didn't have time to drop our stuff off at the car, I tied my beautiful new shirt around my waist.  It worked especially since I could push it up under my jacket.  LOL!

We hit the port-a-potties, then got in line.  It wasn't a bad wait.  A bit chilly, but really not all that bad.  The start of the race is pretty cool.  As I was standing in my spot at the back of the pack, I heard bagpipers and people parting to form an open path.  And next thing I see is two gentlemen with bagpipes leading the way.

Following the bagpipers were two massive dogs, Wolf Hounds I believe.  They were taller than my hip!  They seemed friendly enough though.  They were in the finishers tent afterwards and seemed very happy.  I'm thinking it's from all the attention they were getting!

Shortly after they went past, we got ourselves back together and the race started!  Took a couple minutes to get to the start, then it was up the hill. 

I did not realize how hilly this race would be.  It is part of the course for the Dreaded Druid Hill 10k, which is promoted as the hilliest race you will run.  Hubby ran that back in May and did great!  But, after running this race, I realize the Dreaded Druid Hill 10k is not for me.  LOL!  This is just one of the hills involved.

I walked more of this race than I wanted to.  The hills got me.  At one point I had to stop and get to the side because I had a post-nasal drip issue that kept me from breathing.  I thought how embarrassing would it be to die from post-nasal drip at the race than from a race-related issue?  Yea, I think these things when I'm all by myself.

After all the hills, you run around this nice little lake.  We had about a mile to go and I thought there is no way this race is really 5 miles.  The lake looked way too big! 

But, turns out it was about right.  After going around the lake, you run down the hill you ran up at the beginning.  Ahhhh....so nice....  Our friend Ada came to cheer us on at the end and got this great action shot as I came to the finish line.  Brian and Ada say I was booking it.  I felt like I was running in molasses...or maybe egg nog (in honor of the season).

Afterwards, we all headed into the tent for post-race festivities.  We had yummy hot wassail wine from Boordy Vineyards, delicious cookies from I have no idea who, and a glazed donut from Ada!

I was very happy with my race.  I felt like I was slow the whole time, but Garmin said I was at 1:05:45 for 5 miles (best 5 mile time EVER!) and the final race chip time was 1:06:24 (2 seconds slower than my previous 5 mile time).  So, either way you look at it, a good run.  :-)

Afterwards we headed to IHOP for breakfast.  Had a great breakfast with Brian and Ada and yummy food! 

For anyone who wants a challenge and a great shirt with post-race festivities, go for this race.  I may even do it again next year!  LOL!

La la la...

So...yea...it's been a few days (o.k. maybe more like two weeks) since I last posted.  It's not you, it's me.  LOL!  I apparently cannot keep my hands off the darn Kindle Fire I got early for Christmas.  It's is evil.  It is a time waster.  It has made me addicted. 

Anyway...tomorrow is the Celtic Solstice 5 Miler in Baltimore.  Yea!  I've been looking forward to this race for a while now. It's capped at 3,000 people and has pretty nice swag:

How sweet is that?  Last year the design was on a jacket and I wanted one!  Slightly disappointed it's not a jacket this year, be eh.  Nice long-sleeve technical shirt with a kick-ass logo?  Yes, please. 

And I read today there is wine at the end.  Wine.  No one told me about this before.  I am still a little leery about it, but bring it!  I'm all for wine at the end of my race.  I've had beer at multiple 5ks, but wine???  Hells yea!  This will be fun!  Especially at 9:45 a.m.  LOL!

I'll be back to share how the race went.  I'm not looking to PR or anything, but if I do I sure won't be complaining!

Celtic Solstice 5 Miler

Hubby signed us up for this race.  :-)  I'm actually pretty excited about it.  It's about a month after the Philly Half Marathon and it's a nice winter race.  I love running in winter.  It's so much nicer.  Druid Hill Park is in Baltimore and hubby ran the Dreaded Druid Hill this past summer.  But, this is a small race - 3,000 participants and goes on rain or shine.  In 2009 they ran the race the day we received approximately 20" of snow.  About 300 people made it to the start line...so they ran it!  Hard-core.  LOL!

I first learned about this race when hubby and I ran the Preakness 5k in May.  I saw a girl with the coolest jacket with a sweet logo on it.  And it was from a race!  It was from this race.  Since hubby and I line up at different spots, I had to wait to tell him about it.  Apparently, he knew about this race.  I told him then and there I wanted to do it this year.  How could you not want to do a race where the logo is so freaking cool and you get a jacket????

Sadly, this year's race is not giving away jackets.  It's a long-sleeve equilibrium thermal.  I really wanted a jacket honestly.  I thought that was the coolest thing ever!  Ah well.  I'll live.  And I'll wear my equilibrium thermal proudly because it's a pretty darn cool logo, that changes (as you can see from the last several logos).  According to Active.com's page for the race, this year's design is Cari Buziak's interpretation of pair of intertwined snowbirds, a wonderfully mystical creature of a bygone era. Could be cool...I'm hoping it is!

If you want to join us, check out the site at Active.com for the Celtic Solstice 5 Miler. There's a 3,000 person cap on the race and I've heard it's sold out in the past.  Check it out.  It should be a cool race.  ;-)

Baltimore Women's Clasic 5k - Race Review

In 2009, I signed up for my very first 5k race.  I had no clue if I would finish it, but people I know swore I could run 3.1 miles...back to back.  So, I searched around and found a 5k that was local (Baltimore) and all women.  As much as I'm not a sexist person, I didn't want to worry about athletic men running past me, wondering what the heck I thought I was doing.  So, the Baltimore Women's Classic 5k was decided upon.  That year, I had the best 5k experience I think you could ask for for your first - cool weather, great organization, lots of people (which implied I wouldn't come in last), and surprises at the end (well, surprises to me because I apparently missed the part where they give you a rose as you cross the finish line)!  I swore then and there that I would run it each year I was able.


Last year, I ran it again.  I said I would!  :-)  The weather did not cooperate and it was the third 5k race I did in 8 days.  Nothing like those people who run 52 marathons a year or what have you, but for me three 5k races that close together was killer!  I improved my time over the year before, but it was the worst time of the three 5ks.

This past Sunday was the 36th annual Baltimore Women's Classic 5k.  Hubby and I hit town on Saturday (after he ran the Dreaded Druid Hill 10k!).  Each year we have booked ourselves a hotel room and chill out.  It's a nice little trip.  This year, we got to check out Dragon Boat racing at Tide Point thanks to our friend Ada who races with BCDB.  They are great people and we had a good time watching the final championship races.

We then headed off to check into our hotel and grab dinner.  We tend to use Hotwire and let them find us a place...which generally turns out to the the Sheraton.  LOL!  We checked in, washed up, changed, and headed off to B&O Brassiere, at the Hotel Monaco.  Love both of these places!  But especially the B&O Brassiere.  They have great food, awesome atmosphere, and an incredible chandelier!  I had a tasty dinner of pizza with arugula.  It's also the closest pizza to Italian pizza I've had here in the States!

  Then, we decided on dessert.  How can you go wrong with dessert?  Simply, you can't.  :-)   I had a lemon curd creme brulee with dehydrated blueberries and a molasses shortbread cookie.  It was better than the description!

After dinner, we headed back to the hotel because we were both really tired.  At least hubby had an excuse.  Me?  Not so much.  No idea why I was so tired...oh yea.  It might have something to do with the entirely carbby dinner I had!

But, we got up the next morning and got ready.  I had everything laid out the night before, so I was ready fairly quickly.  We walk to the starting line rather than drive.  It's a nice warm-up and I like walking through Baltimore.  The start was the same location as last year, Rash Field, which is on the other side of the harbor from the Aquarium.  Here's a shot of me pre-race with the Harbor in the background.

We hung out until close to the start, then headed over to the start line.  Then we parted, me to get in line and hubby to find a spot to get some photos.  The start of the race was broadcast on the local morning show, which I thought was pretty cool.  I was towards the back, which is where I belong.  ;-)  This year there were over 3,000 people running!  It's such a great race for that reason.

Can you see me?  I'm in orange.  heehee!

We got started, basically starting out the same way we went last year.  But, due to construction we had a new course.  And the first turn was murder!  I know others may not have felt the hill you faced as you turned the corner was hard, but I sure did!  I was anticipating the flatness of the previous two years and I was entertaining thoughts of having a PR.  When I saw the hill, I knew that was just a dumb idea.  LOL!  But, I got up it and kept going.  I tried to use the run/walk program, but my Garmin decided to be a butt and it didn't catch on until too late.  So, I took a couple walking breaks throughout the race.  I will say, I felt better running it with those walk breaks thrown in. 

We wandered through the neighborhoods near the Inner Harbor, but just off.  Then we turned a corner and you could see the Harbor!  It was good to see since I knew that meant I was pretty close to being done.  With the 1 minute walking breaks, I was feeling pretty good at this point.  As I came back onto Key Highway, hubby was there! 

From there, it wasn't far to the finish.  Headed off to the condo development next to Rash Field, which has a beautiful path on the water where you finish the race before hitting Rash Field for the finish line.  I came around the corner and caught sight of the clock and said out loud, "Ok, seriously?"  This is because I anticipated the time being earlier than it was.  The girl in front of me turned around and said the finish line isn't that far, you can do it!  I laughed since we were totally on different pages. 

I crossed the finish line and got in line.  The finishers shoot was a tad bit crowded this year.  But, as you go along, you get a cold, wet towel, a cold bottle of water, and a rose.  :-)  After coming out of the shoot, I headed off to see hubby and grab some grub!  Oh, and that time was my gun time, my chip time was 42:02, which is more than 2 minutes faster than last year!

I also had the chance after the race to meet a new friend.  She's running the Disney Princess Half Marathon in February 2012 and lives a little bit south of me.  We "met" on the Facebook page for the race and decided to meet up afterwards.  It was great meeting her and her family!  It was her first 5k and she kicked butt!  I'm looking forward to the fall/winter when we start our training runs together.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Baltimore Women's Classic 5k is a great race.  If you're in the area and are looking for a good one, I totally recommend it!  Great goody bag, great organization, great post-race area, and a fun location.  Thanks BWC for another fantastic race!