Movie Madness 5k - Manchester, PA

This morning hubby and I got up to run the Movie Madness 5k. This race is great because it is literally 5 minutes from the house and nothing is 5 minutes from our house! We were going to dress up for it because they encourage costumes, but when I checked the temperatures at about 6:45 a.m. it was 32 degrees. Uh...no.The skirt to my costume was too short to be out in those type of temps! So, we  put on normal running gear and headed off.

We parked as far away as you could get based on race day instructions and walked to the registration table. Since we were at the O's game last night we missed day before packet pick-up. The organizers were dressed up as Ghost Busters.

We took our bibs and such to the car, freezing the whole time. We put on our bibs and walked back to the starting area. We had about 15 minutes before the 5k was set to start. They did set off the half marathon about on time at 8:00 a.m. There was a decent number of people for it, but I'll be honest, not enough for my liking! The 5k was scheduled for 8:10 a.m. and we went off about that. While the race had lovely timing chips on the bibs, they did not have a starting mat to start your bib, so I (uncharacteristically) went to the front of the group of 5k runners. I stayed as far left as I could, but I wanted to be close to the start since I left Garmie at home.

We were sent on our way with the call of "Lights! Camera! Action!" and off we went! This year's course was a bit different than the one I ran in November. In my opinion, it was hillier. Many more hills to go up and some of them were rough hills. We left the high school track area, past the baseball field and up a short hill, steep, but short. We then ran across the parking lot, behind the middle school, then up this rrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy long hill (long for me anyway!). Once up that, we made a right onto the main street in front of the school and continued down until we were in front of a housing development. We took the second entrance and ran in, made a right and took that to the turn around point. The race was now just a repeat of the previous course. You can check it out here.

I was passed by numerous people during this race and until I hit the turn around, I was pretty sure I was in last place. There were a couple people walking which kept me from finishing last...bless them! I came back to the school, ran around the middle school, through the parking lot, past the baseball field, then down to the track. I had no idea what my time was (obviously). I felt like I ran strong. I felt like I ran fast. I hit the track and a ton of people started cheering for the kid I had passed on the course just moments before. Around the track I ran (not the whole track, just a small portion) and as I got close to the finish line, I sprinted. Not sure why, but eh. Why not if you can?

I finished ahead of the kid. Phew! Came through the shoot and was handed my medal. Hubby found me and I waited at the computer board that had our times posted as you finished. I kept waiting for mine because as I crossed the line it said 43 minutes. Wha??? I know I ran faster than that! And finally I came up! 37:26. Woohoo! That's not a bad time at all! I wanted to beat last year's 38:31 - mission accomplished! And honestly, I think this course was hillier than the last one and did I mention I didn't take any walk breaks? Yea. I ran the whole darn thing. I can't remember the last time I ran a race without walking. Maybe Princess Half Marathon in 2011?

Afterwards we got our photo in front of the Movie Madness back drop...

A month or so ago an email went out to past participants about how few people had signed up and you could potentially win an age group medal. So, we decided to wait around to see if we did. Why not? I will say it was soooo cold waiting around! The temperatures were actually decent, but the wind! My God, the wind! So nasty! But, we waited. They were a bit disorganized and did all the men first. When we got to hubby's age group he thought it possible he might win one. Sadly, he did not. He had a good race, but the 3rd place finisher was 25 something. We were disappointed. So, then we waited for the ladies. I didn't have high hopes. Just because I ran a good race for me, doesn't mean it would be a good time for the race. When they started to announce the time for the 2nd place finisher...37...we looked at each other and woohoo! I won 2nd in my age group! Even with a slow run I won 2nd! Woohoo!

I've never won an age group trophy before! It's all very exciting! I can't believe it. Yea me! After the race, we headed to DD for our post-race/post-run Earn Your Donuts breakfast. I treated myself to the apple fritter even though I only ran 3.1 miles. I had said I couldn't order one unless I ran 5 or more miles this year, but I figured winning 2nd in your age group allowed for a relaxing of the donut rules. :)

Did you race today? Did you run? How did it go?


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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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Movie Madness 5k

Yesterday I got my butt up and ran the Movie Madness 5k hosted by the York Road Runners Club. I have to say the main reason was twofold: 1. The race was 5 minutes from the house and 2. I got a medal. How can you go wrong with this???

So, we met our friends Tina (For The Love Of The Run) and her hubby Friday night at packet pick-up and for dinner, which was at the same place. Tina's hubby was running the half the next morning, while I was slacking with the 5k. We had a great dinner and great conversations.

Hubby and I got up about 7:00 am. Saturday morning. The race started at 8:00 a.m. So nice to get up at a reasonable hour to run a race! Got out the door about 7:30 a.m. and made the parking lot about 7:35 a.m. :-) Got there and walked to the start, which wasn't far and found Tina and her hubby.

The half marathon set off at 8:00 a.m., which the 5k started 10 minutes later so we all cheered as Tina's hubby headed off for 13.1. The 5k had the same first 1.5 miles as the half, so they wanted to make sure the half marathoners had a good head start and not get caught up with us 5kers.

I got in line at the back and chatted with a lady who ran the half in April. And then we were off!  The bulk of the race really was in the parking lots of the high and middle schools. A tad boring honestly. But that's another story.

Yup. Caught playing with Garmin.

We headed off towards the middle school, then around it. Once around the middle school, we ran back towards the high school, but turned out of the parking lot areas onto Board Road. I saw Hubby and Tina as I turned to go onto the road.

I was freaking out a bit. My first half mile was 5:30. I have never run a 5:30 half mile before...

 Then it was time to run on Board Road. It was an out and back on the road portion of the race. It was off running the this part of this course because I run here all the time for training purposes. I did think the course would take us out further than it did, but we turned around much closer to the schools than I thought. On the way back though, apparently the neighbors didn't get the message that a race was going on. One of the them was using a forklift to move items off a flat bed truck. Really? You couldn't wait the 30/40 minutes to let the race finish before doing that? Jerk.

Anyway... I got back to the school and turned back into the parking lot.

The rest of the race was pretty uneventful. Complete the course backwards from how we went out. Lots of hilly areas to get through, but it wasn't awful. I came up to the high school and yea! the race was almost over.

And there is even a race photo of me! I had no idea there was even photography at the event! It's not even a bad photo either.

And then it's the finish line! The time above me reflects the half marathon rather than the half. I finished the race about 10 minutes faster than the timer.

I didn't PR this event, but I didn't have any preconceived notions I would. I really haven't been running like I should, so just finishing was a victory. I mean, not a come-back from awful injury victory, but I haven't run in ages, I don't want to embarrass myself victory. LOL!

I didn't get a t-shirt, but I did get a medal.  Woot!

Nice medal, huh? Overall, it was a good local race. Because there was a theme (movie madness), there were lots of people dressed in costumes. There was a guy dressed as Forest Gump in a suit who ran the half marathon. Yes, he ran 13.1 miles in a suit. Impressed? Yes. It was fun that people dressed up and ran. I'm thinking of running the next one and dressing up. Why not? It's local. I get a medal. I can dress up in a costume. Seems like a fun time!

Still

Tomorrow I'm lacing up the ole Asics and running in the Movie Madness 5k. It's my fourth 5k of the year and my 11th race this year. And I'm scared. Yup. Every time I prepare for a race, I get scared. At this point I know I can run the 3.1 mile distance, it's not that. I'm not sure what it is. Fear of failure? Fear of coming in last? Which I believe is a high probability since the website said this is a competitive race and it's a pretty small town that's hosting it.

So, I'm kinda scared of running tomorrow's race. Maybe I'm not totally convinced I'm a runner? Maybe I'm afraid the extra pounds I've put on and am having a hard time taking off are going to totally mess with my running ability? I don't know. All I know is I'm slightly nervous to stand at the start line at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow and go when they call "Lights, camera, action!"

Movie Madness 5k

Ever run a race because it's close to home? We live in the middle of nowhere and there are never races that are close. All "close" races are at least 30 minutes away. I've been seeing a 5k race advertised all over York the last few weeks that is literally 4 minutes from my house. It is my training area for all my runs. So, I've been debating whether I wanted to run it.

Why would I debate this? Ummm...because I haven't run since October 21st. Yes, that would be the Atlantic City Half Marathon. The last two Saturdays I meant to run. Really I did. I just didn't. *hangs head in shame* Then I just found out a friend of ours is coming into town to run the half marathon associated with the 5k. So, I spent time looking up the 5k, which I had the worst time finding. Then I finally found it. And I was still iffy.  Until...

I know most people think a medal for a 5k is dumb. I honestly don't care one way or another (except in the case of the Baltimore Running Festival), but hey, if they are going to give me a medal, I'm going to take it!

So, this coming Saturday I am going to finish last in this 5k. But, I'll get a medal. Which will look good here: