Winter Classic 5k

I wanted to beat 35 minutes. It was 28 degrees when we started. I didn’t pace myself well mile 1. Mile 2 is usually my best mile. I struggled to get my breathing under control for a while too. I could see the finish line and I knew it was close to beat 35 minutes and I had Deanna running next to me cheering me on, but I had absolutely NOTHING left. I had to find the positive in that I finished the race and I had a great time of 35:19 but you always want to beat yourself. I’m so competetive sometimes I beat myself in my head before the race ever starts. Gotta get better at that! Still I got a fun long sleeved shirt I will actually wear!

PS I know some of these are short, but really what can you say about a 5k you haven't said 9 other times!!

Fisher Cat Thanksgiving 5k

I signed up for this race since my parents wanted to see me run. Luckily Deanna was close by and signed up with me! I also ended up running into my friend Dave from work so good times! It was really cold and I haven’t done a lot of cold weather running yet so I had my gloves with me as well as a couple of layers. Here’s the thing I have 10 years on Deanna so I chase her for about a mile and that’s it. My little almost 35 year old legs are that fast. It was a really nice course there is only one slight hill and once you’re over that you’re at mile 2 and then it’s mostly downhill. We ran into Fisher Cat staduim and you run along the warning track. I was hoping to not find Deanna being detained by police for running on the field and luckily she was on her best behavior. I finished in a personal best time of 35:10. I felt awesome after the race, it was awesome to see my parents waiting too! It also made the giant mimosa I made when I got home totally worth it!

Firefighter Memorial 10k

Crap, how the HELL did I get talked into a 10k? That’s 6.2 miles incase you didn’t know. That’s 2.2 miles further than I had ever run. This is NOT going to be pretty! Kelly and I had a REALLY tough time acutally getting out of our pajmamas since it was kinda chilly that day. We had to run with our shirts tied around our waists since they had no bag check and the car was pretty far away.
Race started and I was feeling really good, until mile 2 when my hip started killing me. I was running way too fast for my own pace and having fallen the week before at Renegade I don’t think I was quite healed. I spend the next 2 miles contemplating quitting. I was done. Had it not been for Kelly running right next to me I would have quit. She truly kept my legs moving. I was feeling okay around mile 5 and we were running pretty slow. We had our own EMT escort too!

So the end of the race you turn back down the street you started on so I knew we were close, but all I kept telling Kelly was I couldn’t do it. At that point she was telling me to keep looking forward and just keep moving my legs. I was never more happy to cross a finish line in my entire life. I feel accomplished but I also felt so much pain and wanted to sit (apparently that is the WORST thing to do) so we stretched out had some water and an orange. After seeeing we didn’t win a medal, I mean come on no medal for last place? We headed out to brunch. I use the term brunch losely since it was just really just a lot of drinking and in my case falling. But hell I just ran 6.2 miles I think it was well deserved! So I have now completed ½ of a ½ marathon!

Renegade Playground Challenge

If I could marry the renegade playground challenge I would. Kelly, Deanna and myself had such a blast at this mud run. It was SO much better than Warrior Dash. The heats were smaller and the obstacles were actually challenging! Of course we had to go with a theme and we deciced on Sesame Street. Kelly was Elmo, Deanna was Big Bird and I was Cookie Monster. This involved tutus again but this time we added hairbows! They were super easy to make and well when you have a super helper like Bill you can whip them out in no time.

It was a beauitful sunny day, I almost couldn’t believe our luck! The weather was perfect! We got all checked in and suited up and it was off to the start line. We got several compliments on our outfits and as cute as they were we were ready to WRECK them! We had to run for a while in the woods but once we got out in the open you could see some of the obstacles. The was a hill and the best way to get down a hill is on your ass, we all know that!

There were so pretty deep marshes that were EXTREMELY cold! And it seemed like every time we got muddy the water cleaned us off! Funniest part was a dark tunnel you had to crawl through and they were playing the dirty dancing music. In typical Erin fashion we went over a creek and there was a rope to use and Kelly yelled to me to use the rope and I was like I don’t need a stinking rope and that moment I tripped! Classic!

Best part was at the end you get to jump out the back of a bus into a pit of mud! So much fun! I went with the flying leap! There was no saving our tutus after that! Once we managed to get outselves out of the mud we rant to the finish line where Bill was waiting with flowers that matched our outfits. There’s a reason why I keep him around! He always drives…oh wait and yeah he’s a really good friend!

I can’t wait to do the race again and we’re already brainstorming ideas!

Urban Dare Challenge

This wasn’t a race, well it was. It was like a 1 day amazing race through Boston. I ran with my friend Lam and it really was a learning experience. Had we not gone all the way over to Fenway Park at one point I think we would have had a fair shot at finishing on time. But we ended up in Little Italy, got pizza and finished our own personal race and headed back to Southie!

Next year I would make sure that I have a complete T schedule and a map and actually plot out everything. We spent too much time back and forth when we would go the wrong direction, but in any case I totally want to do it again! Also, stripping in the cab and then dressing in an alley...Priceless!

Celebrate Pink5k

Another race and another personal best! Angela was coming in from Cali and wanted to run a 5k while she was here (mostly because I can run now) so Kelly, Angela and myself woke up early on a COLD September morning and went to Portsmouth to run in this race! Something I've noticed I don't like about some races, there is a mass start, which means there is no timing chip when you start the race just when you finish. Even more reason I need a runner's watch (MOM&DAD ARE YOU READING THIS??) But for now I use my Nike GPS on my Iphone to time myself. I'm glad I did as their time and my time were off. I will always choose my time! So off we go running! Remember when I said people who put hills at the end can kiss my ass? So can people who put them at the beginning!! I mean really let's be honest, hills suck and I'd like to do it with out them but begininning and the end are the worst.

Bad thing, my foot started to go numb when we were running, a sign I don't wear the right shoes. Freaking shoes cost me $100 and they were awesome the first time I wore them. I mean really! So I am going to go to a professional running store and get measured and fitted for shoes. Hell I am running 13.1 miles next year!

At the end I decided to push it and told Kelly we were going to race to the end. Somehow I got a second wind and felt the need to run like a bullet! We were laughing when we were finished since most people slow down at the end. Got our obligatory shirt and got our of dodge!

My friend Jonathan got married that day and I'm glad to see I could go from sweaty running to fancy wedding guest! Had a GREAT time and was so glad I got to run with Angela! I want to go to Cali and run out there too!!

Daily Mantra: From sneakers to heels, always stand tall!

Tavern to Tavern 5k

I was reminded last night I haven’t exactly been really good about blogging about my races or life for that matter so be prepared for like 7 blogs in a row!
The Tavern to Tavern 5k ended up being rescheduled from the previous week due to Hurricane Irene, gee thanks! Not to mention I did lose my power that day too. Luckily I have good friends who let me hang out with them and use their electricity!
So since it was Labor Day weekend it ended up just being my friend Matt and me running. He ran with me for like 12 seconds and then I told him to run at his pace. Not gonna lie, this was a TOUGH race! I was not prepared for the hills and at one point I needed to walk but forced myself to run after a 2 minute break. I have to say these races that throw hills at the end can kiss my ass. Do they NOT know I’m TIRED??? I finished and collected my medal and started the task of trying to find Matt. Clearly that wasn’t working really well so I got my bag and went and changed. The air conditioning in the bathroom was cranked and I was so happy for that! It was SO humid that day! We got in line to get our free beer and food only to realize you needed a coupon for each, we used them both for beer. I supposed beer at 11am IS a meal, especially if it’s Octoberfest!

Went back to Kelly’s. Dave was in town and it was Deanna’s birthday weekend so there was plenty of drinking and shenanigans! It was all fun and games until I had a flat tire and didn’t get home until 2am! But overall it was an awesome weekend and another race in the books!

Daily Mantra: The voice in your head pushing you is there for a reason. DON’T QUIT!