Colorful Wet Fun

 This last weekend, Matt and I did a Color Run with a group of friends. The Color run is an untimed, non-competitive run that is all about having fun and getting colored. At 4 different stations, volunteers throw colored corn starch on the runners/walkers. Usually, you can see the color stations from a distance because the corn starch makes a huge colorful cloud....

 However, this weekend, it rained. Yes, even Phoenix Arizona gets rain sometimes. Its never convenient when it happens, and this day was no exception. First of all, the race requires everyone wear a white shirt to the start line. So the race quickly turned into a wet tee shirt contest.......luckily I wore an undershirt just in case it was going to rain. There was only a 50% chance of rain, but of course it rained all night, and ALL DAY on race day. Luckily I was prepared. 

 We had organized a team of 8 and all the girls had tutus that we had made. By the time we even got to the check in point, one of our members could not handle it anymore. The water weighed it down and made it keep falling off. Mine on the other, just kept sticking to my legs which was super annoying...but at least my bottom was dry! This is a picture of 4 of the girls before the race. We never found 2 of our team members before the race...

 And this is us girls after the race! 

  For the race, we ended up splitting our group of 6 into three groups of two. The men ran the race together, the girls on the outside of the picture did a walk/run maneuver through the course, and the two dirtiest women in that picture walked the race. It was a lot of fun to walk the race and have a lot of girl chat. And of course, by going slow through the color stations, we got absolutely covered!

Matthew got pretty colorful throughout the run, but I think I got it worse. After crossing the finish line, we all got super colorful. When you check in to the race, they give you a packet of colored corn starch to throw on people at the end (or anytime really). Once everyone crossed the line, we let loose with the color. We all went from a nice multicolored person to a super dirty super blue pack of people. The rain didnt help because it made all the colors run together. By the time we walked the mile back to the car, we were soaked to the bone, blue to the bone, but all smiling.

It took a 30 minute shower and a full bar of soap to get the worst of it off...but 3 showers later I was still washing blue dye out of my hair. I think I found all the spots of skin that were colored, but just today someone at work found what looked like a bruise on the back of my next and asked if I needed to talk to the counselor about domestic issues. *sigh*. Once I explained the situation (and showed the pictures) everyone believed me. Note to self: scrub harder!

Next race: Half Marathon in Phoenix! 

A (Very) Unexpected Surprise

 The first race of the New Year was a local 10K on base. There were less than 100 people at the race, and the course was a tough course. The first 3 miles were uphill, with mile 3 being up a mile long steep hill called Heritage Hill. Matt and I would occasionally walk the hill at lunch and we would be huffing and puffing just walking the hill. So I was concerned about running it. We went into the race hoping for a PR. We each have two time goals on our goal board for a 10K. I was hoping to come in just under an hour, and Matt wanted to be faster than 55 minutes. I was relatively pessimistic going into the race because Thursday's training run was cut in half because we both were hurting.

 Matt agreed to run the first 3 miles with me, the uphill part, then to take off to try to beat his goal. My legs had started burning even before the first mile marker and my throat was dry. Self doubt and pessimism really started to take a toll on me. But my watch beeped, indicating we had gone a mile, and the time was only 9:30, so a small amount of hope crossed my mind.

 Before I knew it (and before I wanted to), we were looking up at the hill. A lot of runners were walking up the hill, and I spotted a water station half way up. It was a tough hill for sure. I know we have run up some crazy hills before, having raced the "A Mountain Half Marathon" and the Tombstone 10K with 2 hills designated as "The Hills Too Tough To Climb". I shouldnt have been scared of this hill at all, but I was. When we got to the water station I grabbed a cup and walked about 10 steps so I could drink and not make a fool out of myself. Then we started running again. At the top of the hill, I had dropped from being 20 seconds ahead of my time goal to almost 30 seconds behind. I knew I would have to book it the rest of the race if I had any chance of beating my time. And what made that thought worse is that I would be running it alone, because Matt was about to take off.

 Luckily, I made a friend mid-run. Right when Matt left me, I started talking to the lady above in pink. She was running about the same pace I thought I wanted to go, and was just there. So we started talking, and didnt shut up for along time! We talked about everything from where she was about to get stationed to my upcoming wedding. It definitely helped having someone to talk to! Time went by super fast, as did the miles. At one point of the race, I looked at my watch and it said we were going at an 8:10 mile pace! I have not every run that fast for more than a mile...let alone 3 miles. In the final quarter mile, she pulled ahead of me and ended up finishing 6 seconds ahead of me.

 I found Matt after the finish line and asked him how he did. He came in at 54:04. He met his goal and was waiting to see if I met my goal.


I crossed the line pretty exhausted. I hadnt ran that fast...ever...and especially not for that long. I crossed the line at 57:08. Far faster than I thought I could. In fact, my overall YEAR goal is a 55 minute 10K. So to be that close my first try of the new year is super encouraging. We ate a banana and drank some water, then sat to stretch and wait for the awards. Neither of us have ever won a age group award, and we didnt expect today would be the day, but we wanted to stick around to see some friends anyways.

 Well, long story short, they called my name for 3rd Place in the women's 20-29 year old age division! I was absolutely shocked. Of course, there were only 8 people in my age group, but I never thought I could even place, regardless of how many people there were. I was super excited. This may be the only time Ill be able to say I placed (and got a medal), but Ill take it!!! Matt wasnt so lucky. He has the toughest age group out there. But he was proud of me anyways.

Later that morning, I had to take my wedding dress in for a fitting. And....it still fits! I somehow survived the holidays without gaining weight (or already lost it). I was so stressed about this fitting, and am so relieved that it fits. Now if my boots would just arrive!

Save the Date(s)!

It takes a lot of work to put together a year's worth of races. Finally, this week, the race directors for some key races announced the dates, so I have completed this year's race schedule! Its going to be a busy one, and there is still plenty of room for small, cheap, local races as well.

January:
19: Ft Huachuca Ice Breaker 10K
26: Phoenix Color Run 5K

February:
2: Arizona Desert Classic Half Marathon (Phoenix)


April:
20: Spring Cross Country Classic 5K (Tucson)

May:
5: Cinco De Mayo 10K (Tucson)
12: Tucson 5000

June:
2: Meet Me Downtown 5K (Tucson)

July:

August:

September:
2: Saguaro National Park Labor Day 8 Miler (Tucson)

October:
20: A Mountain Half Marathon (Tucson

November:

December:
8: Tucson Marathon!!!!!!!

So there are a few months without anything truly planned, although I have some potential races written down. Full on marathon training will start over the summer. Until then, we will be maintaining our half marathon fitness, working on improving race times, and slowly inching up the mileage. This year should be a great year! Between the wedding, honeymoon, and the running, we will be staying busy. But at least we will be doing it all together. 

A Brand New Year

 It has been 14 days or so since I last posted. A long time, I know, but I havent been in the spirit, had the time, or the energy to write. Visitors for the holidays, the holidays, freezing cold weather (unusually cold for Arizona!), and nagging injuries have kept me from running the miles I would have liked to, but now life is getting back to normal. All the visitors are gone, I am back at work, the brother is back to college, and the Christmas decorations are going to be put away this weekend, cuz Im too lazy to do it tonight.

Running has been slow the past two weeks. But I did get some stress relieving (and stress causing) runs in over the holidays. I learned how much of a stress relief  running is for me, and how not running makes me sad and grumpy. Sometimes I feel bad for Matthew, usually when I am injured and cant run. But not having the time to run and the stress of the holidays, really did a number on me. I told Matt the only thing harder than being an injured runner is living with an injured runner...and I believe that is totally true.

  But its a new year now! I cant believe its already 2013...I still write 2011 on some papers because I cant believe it was even 2012 last year. Matt and I have now been engaged for a full year! And have just a few days over 3 months to go. I really need to get back into my running and workout routine to fit into the dress!!! The next three months Im sure will go by incredibly fast, and I am just starting to feel the stresses of getting everything done before the wedding. But running is something I just cannot leave out of my life for the next three months, no matter how busy I am.

  On a side note, we didnt get a white Christmas like everyone always hopes for...but we did get a white new years eve! Sierra Vista itself got about 3 inches of snow, and the mountains got 6-16 depending on elevation. I got a wonderful treat on New Year's Day of going to the mountains with Matthew and his Mom to play in the snow! It was supposed to be a hike, but the road was closed and there was too much snow. So we got to play. Its been 5 years since I have played in that much snow, so I was really excited!

Still need to get the pushups in!

So everyone has a new years resolution, but I have goals. In 2013, I have more goals than normal. A big goal is running a marathon. The next one is to get married (and hopefully be as stress free as possible). But I want to run 1000 miles, walk an additional 500, and ride my bike another additional 500. Crazy, I know. But I think I can do it. Matthew was a wonderful future husband and got me a garmin 410 for Christmas, so keeping track of the miles should be easy. I have already even gone in a set the goals on the website. Once it is written down, I have no choice but to achieve it!

  Matt liked playing in the snow as well, but he is more used to it. He tried to keep up and get some pushups in, but the snow was just too deep! Playing in the snow was a lot of fun and quite a treat to an Arizona native, however, Im ready to get back to normal Arizona weather! I really do not like running in the cold!!!

I dont know what it is about going back to work after a long break, but I have had a foggy brain and a slow body the past few days. My work has suffered, my mood has suffered, and my running certainly has suffered. I sure hope next week things start getting back to normal! I am certainly going to try my hardest.