Tutu 2 Miler - June 28, 2013

Two posts in two days, you lucky ducks!

I did my first "evening" race. Though it really wasn't a race. We didn't have bibs or anything. However, I'm really not a fan of the after-work races.

1. it's too hot (well, yes, it was June 28 in So Fla.)

2. my body isn't used to working out in the evening, i'm a morning worker outer.

3. i feel too rushed after work to get there. (i get really anxious about parking situations, check-ins, etc. before a run.)

But it was fun, AND it was Dan's first run!! We met up with a couple of our friends; Kim and Melissa. It was just a 2 mile run, and the proceeds went to benefit the Special Olympics.

We got there a little over an hour before the start. Melissa and Kim revealed the Braves tutu that they crafted for Dan (that was the deal: if they could find him a Braves tutu, he'd run this race. Done!)

he's pumped!

 It was really hot too. There was a contest for "best costume" ... we hoped that Dan's Braves tutu would be good enough, but some guy came in a complete Captain America costume (no clue how he did that without dying of heat exhaustion.), another guy had a Yankees jersey, baseball tutu & Yankees knee high socks, too. Guess Dan wasn't the only one influenced by baseball.

By the time the race was finally ready to start, I just had to kind of chuckle at the "start line." No one was really lined up or anything, where they usually are pretty serious about it in a timed bibbed race. But we were off!

Dan took off right away, and Kim and I fell into a groove running together for a while. The path went around a lake, then through the Downtown at the Gardens outdoor mall area. So we got to run through by the all the shops (and shoppers) and restaurants (and diners). It was really fun! People were cheering and everything. (I'm sure it was quite a sight to see these people running through in tutus!) The route was this loop twice. Dan ran his first mile in 7:28 then he walked and I walked with him for a while, we jogged off and on for the 2nd mile (soooo hot), and then race sprinted it out at the end. Hey, had to show him that's what you do in races to reach the finish line. He out ran me by a second though.

I don't even know what my "time" was, and I don't even care. It was fun and was great to be there with Dan for his first run! And he's even told me that he will do a 5K now!

Today I was re-inspired to go out running. I almost made the mistake of running outside around 3pm, but it started to rain. I texted Dan and he said, "why would you run outside at 3 in the afternoon?" And I realized I really WAS being stupid. So I went to my community gym and used the treadmill. I felt really good and made myself go faster each mile of the 3.1 mile run. I kind of think I could've even gone further.

And you know what else is odd? The treadmill was sort of facing a mirror. And I haven't been on a treadmill where you SEE yourself run since probably freshman year in high school. And it kind of HELPED me to run. Not sure if it was an inspiring thing or what, but it felt good!

You'd be in for a surprise if you attacked me...

I refuse to let my blog fall to the wayside! Haven't had much of anything exciting to write about so why post, ya know?

But I've kind of picked up another form of exercise lately.

Through work, our big wig Marketing Consultant (who has helped hundreds of start ups) is also a black belt, so him and HIS instructor teach us Brazilian Jiu Jitsu twice a week for one hour, just down the road from my office at his private gym. Tuesdays @ 4 and Fridays @ 12:30 you'll find me there :) There's just a small group of us that go from the office but it's been great.

First of all, it's been nice getting to know these people a bit more outside of the office. Second, it's good interaction with my bosses! Third, I'm learning some great self defense, heaven forbid I should ever need it. Fourth, I'm burning calories! Fifth, it's just FUN!

I've always kind of been interested in BJJ but didn't know how to get into it as an "adult." But in this setting, we're all beginners learning at the same pace and there's no pressure at all.

Hopefully it's something that we continue with! 

Sights and Scents

I went on two short-ish runs this weekend. Well yesterday's was my new-normal 3ish route. And today's I just wasn't feeling it but needed to at least get out and do something; so I went 1.6 miles.

I feel as though there were so many random sights and scents, I just had to write about it. And these aren't in any particular order.

1. Scent: fried chicken. Darn that Publix for being along my route... delicious, delicious fried chicken.

2. Scent: dryer sheets. There's on neighborhood in particular that I always seem to encounter this.

3. Sight: a fallen palm frond onto an electrical wire. I kind of think perhaps I should've alerted someone about this! I ran safely around it but it's just kinda dangling over a wire!

4. Sight: frog carcass. Nothing too out of the ordinary around here but worth noting. 

5. Scent: dead animal. I'm not sure if it's a skunk or what, but again, one spot in particular on my route I always encounter a disgusting smell!

6. Sight: other runners. For some reason I love coming upon other runners, especially in the morning. A little friendly smile & "morning" to each other. Both knowing we're out there doing something good for ourselves!

Eric Patrie Firefighter 5K - May 18, 2013

Another long lost blog post... So you get TWO in THREE days! Will the streak continue? Stay tuned...

A couple weeks ago I ran my last real race of the season - gets WAY too hot in the summer to sign up for races and there really aren't very many offered. Ugh, I hate humidity.

This one was located locally in Delray Beach along A1A. I've ran a couple other races along this portion of A1A previously as well.

It was a smaller race (which gave me hopes that maybe I could place but since it was for a firefighter, a LOT of firefighters ran in it and let's face it; they're in better shape than me!). I believe the total number of runners was 408.

Runners at the starting line! Note: Guy in the yellow was the winner.

Action shot just past the start line. Can you see me?

Dan's friend Kim also ran this race, so it was nice to have someone with me at the start.  She bolted out ahead of me at the beginning but ended up having some foot pain so I passed her shortly after mile 1. I was able to cheer for her at the finish line, though!

My heartrate monitor didn't work right so I couldn't roughly time myself with that, and my Nike plus app was announcing mile markers before I was actually hitting what they had labeled on the course. So I was completely blind as to how fast I was going. But the same thing happened at the Fast & The Furriest and that ended up being my best race.

Hi!

I crossed the finish line officially at 30:28. So slower than my fastest but still decent, especially given the heat.

There's my classic leg swing. :)

It was a very well organized race so I'd definitely run it again. We didn't stay for the awards. Instead I got water poured on me and then we proceeded to go to the Firehouse Open House. :)

So flipping hot.

Official results:
172nd place out of 408
20th out of 52 in my age group.
30:28

 

Wedding Bells

No, not mine.

Finally getting around to do a quick little post from my dear friend Allison's wedding!

It was a lovely hotel that she had the wedding at; the boys had plenty to do to keep themselves busy the day of the wedding while us bridesmaids got ready with the bride! And her bridal suite - ohhh, don't even get me started. It was 2 stories! It really was more like a little condo; corner room with a nice big patio...

The wedding was planned to be outside, we were taking pictures in the suite and Allison's wedding coordinator called her to tell her it's raining but it should blow through. But we're not just talking a LITTLE rain. No no no, this was tropical storm-esque. Big gusty winds, and everything.

But Allison's the calmest bride we've ever seen & just said "okay, whatever. It'll all be okay." (and it was!) We decided after the rain stopped it was probably a good thing because it made everything extra green!

The wedding ceremony itself was a long time coming and was SUPER fast! Reception was a lot of fun, lots of Stetson people but most were AK Psi so I didn't know too many people, but it was fun to be around some fellow alum!

Here are a few pics for your viewing pleasure.

The Stetson bridesmaids with the beautiful bride!

I love this picture. :) Groom & Bride laughing at one of the speeches.