2014 AJC Peachtree Road Race Recap

I am just now getting to this one. Better late than never, right?

This Peachtree was a special one for me. It was my 10th time running it without missing a year. I had been looking forward to it since last years race.

After a humid first half of the week, I was worried that race day was going to be bad. Luckily, it wasn't. I wouldn't say it was perfect running weather but it's darn close to it especially for a July race.

Since this my 10th race, Mike decided he was going to come to the race and be at the finish line waiting for me.

Flat Ramona is ready to rock the Peachtree Road Race

The race day started pretty early for us. Met Kat and Eric at one of the Marta stations so we could get a mile warm up in before running 6.2 miles down Peachtree Street.

After our quick mile jog down to the corrals, we stopped for a picture before we each went our separate ways until after the race.

Before I knew it, I was slowly making my way to the start line where I would be starting my 10th PRR.

I was so excited to get started. This is one of my favorite races to do even though I am not  racing anyone except for myself.

This particular race goes by fast for me. The crowd support is amazing. One of the best out there.

Running down 10 street almost to the finish line.

After the race, I met up with some of my running friends from the Suwanee Big Peach Running group for a quick photo.

Then I met up with Jen and Brandi for a quick photo and since I had not received my medal yet,  Jen was kind enough to let me get a photo with it on.

Here is the finisher's shirt that every participate receives. I love not knowing what design won until I open up my race bag and see the shirt after the race.

Here's a close up of the commemorative medal that you can order or buy at the expo.

Peachtree Road Race #11 will be here before I know. I am excited to run it again this year. I'll also get to see my Mom finish her 10th.

2014 Chattahoochee Challenge 10K Recap

This takes place on the same course as the Possum Trot (which I ran in June of 2013). I knew this would be the only race I could actually run to get a great qualifying time for the AJC Peachtree Road Race.

In June, I set a new time for the Peachtree but I was really wanting to try to get an even higher wave group.

So on February 8th, I set out to hopefully get a 50 minute 10K time for the Peachtree.

It was a cold morning so I wasn't sure how I was going to handle it seeing how I do a lot better when its a bit warmer out.

Immediately from the start I knew the race was going to be a long one. I felt so off for whatever reason, which isn't normal for me. I decided to brush it aside and hope that once I warmed up that I would be fine.

This is when I knew it was going to be a long race

At around mile 2 or 3, I could tell everything but my left leg wasn't warmed up. I stopped to walk briefly a little after mile 4 in hopes that I could somehow shake my leg loose.

I was fighting with myself the whole time. I knew I was making great time. My pace was faster than I was wanting it to be but for some reason I wasn't able to slow myself down Crazy how that works, huh?

Just before mile 5, I stopped one more time to stretch before running the rest of the way. As soon as I passed Mike, Katie, and Jen at the finish line, I met up with another runner who was also trying to get through the next 1.2 miles. We decided we would run the rest of it together.

Once we knocked the hill out we finally made it back around to mile 6. At this point in the race I was at 50 minutes. I knew I needed 50:59 to move up to the next wave, but I also knew there was no way I was going to be able to run the last .2 miles that fast.

I crossed the finish line with an official time of 51:31. I am hoping that they will move me up to the next wave because I am so close, but if they don't I will gradually take wave C.

Finisher's shirt!

After the race Jen, Katie, Brandi, Karen (Brandi's Mom), Mike, and I all went out for brunch afterwards.We also celebrated Brandi's 30th birthday. :)

My running family! :)

Modify Watch

Last week I won a giveaway over at MRScrashmattb thinks aloud. I was super excited to get my Modify Watch. I was able to pick out one face and two bands. I picked the navy and cool mist strap, and the silver face. I literally was going back and forth on which face and bands. After what seemed like forever I settled on those.

On Monday, my watch came! :)

 I decided to put the cool mist band on first. I love it!!

These watches are really awesome and I can not wait to add on to it. If you are interested in them, go on over to Modify Watches.

3 weeks away until the Peachtree Road Race. I am excited!

Are you getting excited??

Possum Trot 10K Recap

Today started off very early for me. The alarm went off at 4:40 AM (why do I do this to myself?). I wanted to get their in plenty of time to park near the the CNC (Chattahoochee Nature Center) and to also get my bib.

Arrived shortly before 6 and got my bib. I met up with Brandi walking back to the car then soon after saw Jen. We all hung out until Jill got there and got her bib. They had to go back to the car so since I had everything with me I hung around the finish area before walking up to the start line. It was a .5 mile walk to the start, which didn't feel like it. Maybe I should have jogged up?

Quick picture before walking to the start

Race started right at 7:30 AM. We went right back down to the finish area and passed everyone spectating.

I felt great until the first turn around. For whatever reason the sun was really getting to me. I felt like it was getting warmer every step I was taking. I took a small break shortly after 3 mile and seeing Jen. I grabbed a little bit of water from the second water station. Didn't drink much just enough to get something in my system. I was doing okay for the next mile or so. Once we turned onto the main road again to head back up to the finish area (we had to pass it), I needed another little break. The sun had taken whatever energy I had. I decided to push it to the next water station to hydrate a little for tackling the last two miles.

I knew I was close to mile 5 and then soon I would be at 6. I wasn't expecting the hill after mile 5. You went up and back down turned around to go back up again. I pushed up the hill then walked a little. I wanted to finish strong so I took off. I rounded the curve at mile 6 and saw Jill. I was keeping an eye on the clock at the finish. I knew I was either going to PR or just miss my PRR PR.

As I crossed clock time said 54:07. My official time was 53:53. I beat my PRR PR and also beat my time from the Run the River 10K!!!

At this point I knew I had beaten my current PR

And here is the shirt:

Even with my stops I had a great one. No pains or ankle rolling. I think I am ready for the Peachtree. Or at least hope I am.

One last race before July 4th. I can't wait to run the Trippadoodle 5K on June 22nd. If anyone in GA is interested in participating go to this link to sign up!. Trippadoodle Trot 5K

Jill and I got a picture with the Possum after getting our shirts

Me and the girls with the Possum

Finish on the 50 Recap

Oh where, oh where..do I start?

I wanted to write a normal post about the race, but so many things went wrong that I just don't know where to start....

So instead of a normal paragraph after paragraph post, I am going to list some pros and cons of the race (from this year).

Pros:

• It's in Auburn, AL. 
• You finish on the 50 yard line in Jordan Hare Stadium
• You start at Toomer's Corner
• You are surrounded by fellow Auburn fans
• You can run any distance (1 mile, 5K, 10K, or [new this year] the half marathon)

Cons:

• Lack of volunteers on the course (especially at intersections)
• Lack of water (5K was fine, but I heard the 10K and half desperately needed more water)
• Course needs mile markers
• Course needs to be marked properly.
• Volunteers need to be able tell people which way to go instead of sending them the wrong way (a lot of the 10K runners were sent down the fun run route and ended the race short of the 6.2 miles)
• Post race food was blah (where are the bagels? Or cold poweraide?)
• Awards didn't happen because of a malfunction with the timing mats 
• No one was handing out medals when I crossed the finish line. I had to go looking for it.

That's just a few things. I hope they listen to peoples suggestions and make next year a lot better than this year. 

Will I do this race again? Yeah, absolutely even if though I thought it was unorganized. I love running in Auburn. I love being able to run into the stadium and finish on the 50 yard line. But like I said I hope they will actually listen to people for next years race. This has a lot of potential to be something great but if they keep doing what they are doing,,,it isn't going to last long.

______________________

Now with all that being said...

I PR'd on the 5K course. I finished the race in 23:47. I even found out that I placed 3rd in my A/G. :)

I am hoping to get some pictures up soon. I have been super lazy since I got home yesterday to even think about uploading them. Maybe by the time I get mine uploaded the photographer will have theirs uploaded as well.

I'll make a separate post with the pictures. :)