11/26 Turkey Trot -coldest one ever!!!

Great 5k even in the cold! Loved the trail run. It is so much better for my feet, and I can always tell the difference! Easy race and fun running with Mandy! No real PR, but wasn't really trying. I am so thankful to not have the pain I has last June from plantar fasciitis. It was a fun run-think it was about 33 minutes long. Sooo cold. Enjoyed the hot chocolate! 

Gulf Coast Marathon 10/20/13

2.32. Not a PR but ran with an injury. My plantar fasciitis since running that faster race in May has been temperamental, but I did it. It was beautiful weather, and a fun race!! 

9/7/13 Color Run

Color run was fun and I went and ran it with my friend Darla. It wasn't like the other races. It is just fun. Lol. No mile markers and water stations. Ha. Very humid. Enjoyed something different though. 

Shorts Run 6/8/13 4 miler

This was a 4 miler on the lakefront. And I ran it after taking three weeks off of my feet. I actually PR'd and best my last year time and ran it in a about 47.18. It was hot but not as hot as last year. I love getting my free pair of Brooks's shorts. Plantar Fasciitis is my first running injury and a slow and painful recovery. I have it in both feet. I know it is partly due to the shoes I wore in the last race. Also running 4 half marathons in 6 months didn't help. My feet have needed the rest. I bought new orthotics and got rid of the shoes that I thought had too much support and were heavier than my normal running shoes. I am starting training now for the October half and I also signed up for the RNR New Orleans in Feb. 2014. I did win a door prize and that was pretty cool! 

May 4, 2013 Raffle House Charity 5k

Cooler temps but warmed up quickly! 3 miles in less than 30. It was concrete the whole way and I probably ran it too fast running 9 1/2 minute miles. . Had a little plantar fasciitis in left foot (found this out later) but think too it has to do with my flat feet needing new orthotics. Need that extra cushion. Great experience and I came in 2nd place in my age division! 

In honor of Boston 4/17/13 4.1 miles

My friend Darla and I decided to run 4.1 miles on the lakefront 4/17. It was my birthday, but I couldn't imagine anything better than a much needed birthday run. I was exhausted from a crazy emotional week at work with daily news updates about the marathon bombings. I'll never forget Dan texting me on Monday afternoon as I headed for duty asking me if I had heard and if we knew anyone running the Boston Marathon. I was shocked. I had no idea what had happened. I was sick when I heard. A race. A big annual family gathering race. I was horrified by the account of three people dying including an 8 year old, not to mention the numerous horrific maiming of individuals. My birthday Wednesday seemed overshadowed by all of this and honestly-I didn't care. To me, it felt like 9/11 all over again. I know it wasn't the same and on a lesser scale-but I so identified with the runners and feelings involved and was so hurt and angry like most Americans.
The run on the lakefront was just what I needed. We printed out a bib as it was a day announced on social networks where a lot of runners were doing the same.

And the bombers were caught. One was killed Thursday late night in a shoot out as the other was apprehended Friday night. Boston is a strong city and praying that they heal. That we all heal. And praying for our country too.

Biggest Loser Half Marathon 4/6/13

This race was a last minute one!!! It was crazy! I knew my friend Darla was running and she wanted to PR -2.00 hours was her goal. She had it all planned out-the trip to Jackson, hotel, and expo visit but then her family wasn't able to come and she didn't want to go alone. So at the last minute, Darla asked me if I would go and I said yes. And thought I was crazy for doing so. I had to make arrangements for the kids Friday afternoon because we needed to leave for the expo and stay the night in Jackson. The race was at 7AM. I met Gina and Patrick from Biggest Loser. They were so genuinely nice and so inspiring. The weather was cooler but just right.
The race began promptly at 7 AM and was entirely ALL hills. It was so hard to master my breathing. As soon as I went up and back down, it would happen all over...and I hadn't prepared for hills. Heck, I hadn't even really trained for this race. It was my hardest run to date. The good news: no PR but I finished in 2.36. I only walked some at end-mile 7 and 8. It slowed me down, but the hills were killing me. I couldn't believe it didn't take me longer. And my recovery wasn't too bad. Calfs hurt for a little over a day, but after a chiropractor visit I was good-my friend Darla was sick with bronchitis and had no idea how sick she was...she finished in about maybe 15 minutes past her desired goal but she is a hero to me because she kept going and still had a super time. She had to get oxygen at the end!!! She was at the ambulance area as I finished.

Although it was my hardest run to date, it was an experience ill never forget.

Rock n Roll New Orleans 2/24/13

This was my third half!!! It was the easiest half too! The first was in humid October and horrible heat. The second one-special to my heart-was hilly and chilly but LOVED it. Rock n Roll was flat and just fun! I visited the expo the day before to get my bib and had the best time just walking around and talking to the expo people. I realized I was too honest about my finish time for the half because I was in the wrong coral. It didn't take me long to figure out. That part was frustrating and i has to run ahead of so many people who didn't put the right time. The roads, especially on Esplanade, were uneven and had pot holes. This was hard on my hips and I felt it afterward. But my time was good. Another PR was achieved! I stayed the night before in the Intercontinental. It was really nice and my friend Ericka stayed with me and ran the half as well. It was adrenaline rushing and exciting to stay down there and experience the half. There were so many people and it was fun to people watch. I ran harder in beginning because I had to pass so many slower people (in the wrong corals) but I finished strong ( 2.24) and caught the shuttle back to the hotel. I definitely will run this race again!

Shamrock 10k Hammond 3/16/13

This was my first Hammond race. I went to it really exhausted from a stressful work week and felt like I was dragging. It was a a 5k run or a 10k and I was kicking myself for signing up for the 10k. But I like a good challenge, and I ran it beating my old time. Hence, a new PR of 1.02 it was a course through SLU campus and some neighborhoods at the end. I liked that they provided a chip; that made it seem like a BIG race LOL. I realized while running how much running has taught me about endurance and patience. I run as fast as I can, but there is no way to speed it up and rush through the miles. It takes patience and perseverance. I enjoyed hanging out with my friend Darla who ran the 10k in 55 minutes! My favorite part was the massage and stretches I received from my chiropractor's office at the end. I would do it all again tomorrow just to get that!!!!