2015 GA Publix Half Recap - It finally happened...

So yesterday was the GA Publix Half Marathon, the weather was perfect minus the crazy wind at times which made things seem colder.

Flat Ramona ready to run the hills of Atlanta

I was anxious to get started or maybe I was just ready to start moving to get warm. Either way, I was ready. Even though the course is a challenge, it is still one of my favorites courses out there. A lot of it may have to do with the scenery and the spectators that come out and cheer us all on.

Before the race I met up with some fellow INKnBURN people for a group photo before heading to our corrals. 

The race started on time. Since I was in B, it didn't seem to take long before we were at the start line waiting for our start.

And we're off...

The first half of the race seemed to go by quickly for me. I was feeling great. My legs were happy (which is a plus seeing how I don't run a lot of hills in training).

The second half of the race I knew was going to be a challenge. The hill coming out of Piedmont Park is always a struggle as well as the last hill over by GT.

The last 3 miles of the race turned into a mental game for me. I knew what to expect. I knew to stay on track for a PR; I needed to time my short walk breaks and push through the tough hills.

Soon we were at Georgia Tech. I hate the hills over there. The very last big hill we have is about as bad as the 10th Street hill, if not worse.

I pushed myself up that hill. And now for the home stretch. Longest mile ever. I knew I needed to hold on. I kept telling myself I was only out for a quick run.

Finally, I see the brown building. I knew I was almost there. I kept looking at my watch. I was close oh so very close. I heard the announcer saying you have 20 seconds to sub-2 to the people already sprinting in. 

I turn the corner. I look up and see the clock 2:00:42. I take off. Where that energy from, I have no idea but I just I knew that I had PR'd, but I also knew I had just done something I said I couldn't do on that course. I finally did a sub-2 half marathon!!!

Celebrating as I make my way to finish line!

Official time: 1:57:42

2016 Peachtree Road Race Lottery - OPEN

Today is the day to enter the lottery for the Peachtree Road Race here in Atlanta that takes place on July 4th. It is by far one of my favorite races of all time and holds a special in my heart.

If you are looking to getaway for the 4th of July and want to race as well, why not consider entering the lottery for the Peachtree Road Race? You will not be disappointed, I promise. And if you are local and never ran the race or maybe you have, what are you waiting for....register!!!

I am signed up and excited to run my 12th (yep, 12th straight) Peachtree Road Race. Like I said before it is my favorite and holds a special place in my heart. 

Registration for the Peachtree is open from March 15th to the 22nd. Don't delay, register today!!!

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.

June: Last Month of PRR Training 2014

Holy cow! It's the last month of training for the Peachtree Road Race. Hard to believe I am so close to running my favorite 10K!! :)

Here is the June schedule:

4 miles - June 3rd

6 miles - June 5th

2 miles - June 7th or 8th

5 miles - June 10th

3 miles - June 12th

3 miles - June 14th or 15th

2 miles -  June 17th

5 miles - June 19th

10K Race - Possum Trot - June 21st

3 miles - June 24th

4 miles - June 26th

5 miles - June 28th or 29th

3 miles - July 1st

2 miles - July 2nd (Last Day of Training for the Peachtree Race!!)

May: Second Month of PRR Training 2014

Thankfully no half marathons during this month to mess up my schedule.  :) Fingers crossed that I stay injury free this month as well.

Hard to believe it's May. This year is FLYING by. Slow down please!!

Here's the schedule so far for May:

2 miles - May 2nd

2 miles - May 4th

5 miles - May 6th

6 miles - May 8th

3 miles - May 10th or 11th

2 miles - May 13th

3 miles - May 15th

3 miles - May 17th or 18th

6 miles - May 20th

7 miles - May 22nd

6 miles - May 24th or 25th

4 miles - May 27th

3 miles - May 29th

3 miles - May 31st

April: First Month of PRR Training 2014

This month is kind of crazy since I have a half marathon on the 19th. I am probably going to take a week off after the half but since I am still not sure I will list what I am suppose to do just in case I want to get out there for some slow recovery runs.

Here is my training runs for April:

2 miles - April 9th

3 miles -April 11th

5 miles - April 13th or 14th

2 miles - April 15th

2 miles - April 17th

Half Marathon - April 19th

4 miles - April 23rd

5 miles - April 25th

3 miles - April 27th or 28th

4 miles - April 30th

Esprit de She 10K Recap

Esprit de She Atlanta took place at Piedmont Park. This was my first time actually running in the park. Normally I just run to the park and finish in the park for the Peachtree Road Race. This time I got to run in the park which was nice even though I wasn't able to really able to enjoy the park beauty so much since it was dark.

We started off at 10th Street and Monroe. We had to run up 50 yards before turning into the park and making our way around the loop. The 5K ran the same route as the 10K. The 10K participates had to run the loop twice. I normally try and avoid races like that only because it gets boring seeing the same thing twice. Hoping maybe next year they have the 10Kers go another way.

I started off up in the front of the pack like I always do, but I knew I wasn't going to make this race a PR race (even though it would have been nice to).

The horn went off at 7:09.

I immediately knew something was up with my knee once I started running. Perhaps standing around in the cold didn't help one bit. I had it in my head I was going to quit and not do the race because I just didn't feel right. But I told myself to get to 3 miles and if I just wasn't feeling it to stop running and just quit. Luckily, I warmed up and was able to finish the 10K.

I finished the 10K at a time of 53:26. Not too bad for it being dark, very cold out, and slightly injured.

Overall this was a fun race. There are a few things they need to fix before next years race though (too many things to list).

Would I run it again? Maybe. If the 10K has a different course than the 5K then I will consider it, but if its the same route as this year I am going to have to pass.

Thanks Jen for taking this picture for me.

Esprit de She Atlanta 10K TONIGHT!

Jen and I are going to the Esprit de She run tonight at Piedmont Park. She is running the 5K and I am running the 10K. :)

Look for a recap later on..

Peachtree Road Race Recap

Hard to believe this race came and went just like that. It feels like I just signed up for it. I am already excited about signing up for next year! Why? Because it will be my tenth Peachtree Road Race.  :)

Enough with that let's move on to the recap...

All week they were calling for rain on race day. I was seriously dreading it. I have never ran in the rain before and really don't want to especially a crazy downpour like they were expecting. So on Wednesday, after looking at one of the groups I belong to on Facebook, I decided I was going to duct tape my shoe to try and prevent as much water from getting into my shoe as possible. But with it the chance of rain, I also had to decide if I wanted to wear my normal running shoes or an older pair. I decided I would wear an older pair that I knew would be okay to run 6.2 miles in. Good thing I chose them. More to come on that.

I woke up at 3:15 AM the morning of race day. I was running on 3 hours of sleep (I can never sleep the night before a race anyways). Since my Mom was volunteering before the race, we needed to get down there around 4:30 for her to check in and definitely beat the road closure. We parked at Phipps Plaza which is right across the street from Lenox Square Mall. I was able to take a short power nap before having to get up and tape my shoes up.

By the time I got my shoes all taped up, it was time for me to make my way to my start wave. My wave was set to start at 7:45. It was raining a little bit when I was walking over to it, but as soon as I got there it had stopped and luckily it held off until I was walking back to Marta. 

Please excuse my fuzzy photos. My iPhone was in a zip-lock bag to keep it from getting wet.

Mile 1: Was a little crowded. I had to deal with a few people not moving over to the right hand side. Once I was able to get around them the race seemed to fly on by.

Mile 2: Saw one person receiving medical attention. From what I heard it was a heart attack. I really hope they are okay.

Mile 3: I knew I was getting close to Cardiac Hill. I never slow on this hill. A lot of people are usually stop mid way and walk up. 

Mile 4: I knew I only had 2 more miles to go.

Mile 5: I was already planning my tenth Peachtree Road Race. Hey, I had to think of something other than the run.

Mile 6: I knew I was going to come in under an hour as long as I didn't cramp up at the end. A few years back, I cramped in both of my calf muscles right at the end. Sucked majorly!

Mile .2: I finished strong.

Official time: 55:03

Not my fastest PRR, but I did beat my time from last year which is perfectly fine by me.

Credit to MarathonFoto for the pictures

Since I wasn't raining when I finished, I decided I would stick around Piedmont Park to wait on my Mom and my other friends running the race.

When I turned to go into the park, I didn't notice how muddy this park was from all the rain until I started making my way through the park. Yuck! It was awful walking through it.

I headed over to the Atlanta Track Club for some yummy Waffle House food and a cold water. Oh, and I can't forget this... 

I love free stuff!!! :)

I caught up with Jill after she finished along with Katie and Marcia. It was my first time meeting Katie and Marcia. :)

While making my way around the park with Jill, Katie, and Marcia, Jen texted me asking where I was so I met up with her and Brandi for a photo.

They decided to go as ducks because it was suppose to be raining during the race.

And since Brandi ended up having her Peachtree medal with her so I asked to get a picture with it...

After saying bye to Brandi, Jen and I waited for my Mom, which didn't take long. My Mom and I took a picture up on the hill (to avoid going back into the mud pit) before making our way to Marta.

As I mentioned earlier in the post, I am so excited about next year. :) If you ever want to participate in the world's largest 10K then I highly suggest coming to Atlanta for the 4th of July. It's really a blast. I mean, why else would I keep running it? Registration opens up in the middle of March as a lottery system.

And now for the reason a lot of people run this race...

This is the "finishers medal".

Did you participate in a 4th of July race? Or did you run on your own?