Gearing Up for Broad Street.

It's exciting to run in a new city. 

It's exciting to run a new course. 

.....it's not exciting to be undertrained

.....but that's life!!

This Saturday I'm flying up to Philadelphia to meet up with my boyfriend, one of my besties from college and a few other friends to run the Broad Street Run (10 miler) in Philadelphia on Sunday. 

This is the first time I'm running a "big" race in Philadelphia. Josh and I ran the Hot Chocolate 15k in April, but that was a brand new race. The Broad Street Run has a lot of history behind it, and I will be running with about 40,000 of my closest running buddies!!

In years past, (from what I've been told by my bestie), you had to sign up for the race in the first few hours of registration opening or you weren't getting in. It sold out just as fast, if not faster then some RunDisney events! Last year however they went to a lottery system in order to ensure fairness for runners. 

This year, since Josh lives in PA, and we enjoy running together, we committed to the Broad Street - or at least the lottery. We both were a little surprised that we made it! 

After finishing the Hot Chocolate 15k, and the ODU Big Blue 5k I'm still nursing a knee injury and haven't really found the time to run. The weather has still been crappy and I've had a lot of "life" going on. Needless to say this race is going to be questionable and probably difficult. I'm pretty sure my body will hold up - I just have to make sure my mind can too!

Josh always likes to give me an estimate on how many miles in till I "give up" and go to my run/walk combo. Surf n Santa I made it 8 miles, Shamrock I made it to 7 miles, and Hot Chocolate I made it to the 10k split. Since I'm still kind of gunning for a faster corral time for the Wine and Dine, I'm going to try my hardest to run consistent and for the entire 10 miles. 

Here's to wishful thinking.....and a new medal to add to my collection!!!

At least I get to spend the weekend with some of my favorite people!!

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ODU Big Blue 5k

A few weekends ago, my running buddy and I ran in the inaugural ODU Big Blue 5k.

It was in conjunction with their spring football game and their Big Blue Barbque. I'm not an ODU alum, although I did take a few classes there, so I don't have a strong affiliation to the school other then I've been on the campus a few times and have seen some concerts at their sports arena. While the whole idea of the day was great....I didn't have the time to stay for the entire days festivities. Maybe next year.

For a 5k there really shouldn't be that much to recap - however it was a pretty great day for me and the running buddy!!

My one and only complaint about the race was that there was no dry gear check. I understand the constraints. There was a BBQ to prepare for, and a football game so they needed to get the race stuff cleaned up ASAP. But it would have been nice not to have to walk from my car to pick up my race shirt and bib number, and walk all the way back to my car to put it away - and then back again to the race start. Just sayin. I'm glad that we left early enough to not have to worry about the timing. It actually worked out perfect for us.

The weather was AMAZING.....a little warm...but that's ok. I'll take warm temps over the freezing cold. I just have to give my body time to readjust to running in the heat!

The race start was actually pretty crowded. We snuck into the corral above ours, just cause there was actually some space in there.

The course ran all through the ODU campus, so there was a lot of turns. I don't particularly mind turns, it keeps things interesting. We were running at what I felt like was a comfortable pace, and when I saw the Mile 1 marker and glanced at my Garmin I almost fell over!! We were running around an 11min mile. I called back to my buddy in amazement and kept on trucking.

Ok so we slowed down to a pace that was a little more our "speed" - 

but WOW was I impressed with my first mile! 

Well, the quick mile pace was not on our side as we steadily slowed down. The heat was starting to get to us. By Mile 2 - 2.5 my buddy was dragging. But I love her to pieces cause she just keeps on trekking!  I run ahead, stop, check on her, then we start running together again....that was pretty much our cycle for the last mile. She always tells me to go faster, but I never do. I like knowing she's there. Whether she's in front of me, behind me, or right next to me.

We crossed the finish line in 37:19.
A new PR for me.....I don't think I've ever ran a chipped 5k. My goal was 36:00 - so I'll take 37:19.

Overall we enjoyed ourselves. Even with the trek back and forth and the heat!

I got to sport my new running tank from raw threads and sparkle skirt made by Janet and spend the morning running with one of my favorite people.

Ok - so these aren't the greatest pics of us but you can check out my new Little Mermaid Bow Tank from Raw Threads, and Gineff's Little Mermaid T-shirt from them too. We coordinated and didn't even know it!!

It's also only coincidence that my KT tape matched my outfit.HAHA!!

The BLING!

Up next I'm tackling the Broad Street 10 Miler in Philly with Josh and my other PA buddies. Then its time to focus on the Disney Wine & Dine!!!

Running for Chocolate....Hot Chocolate 5k/15k

This past weekend was the start of my Spring Break. I had originally planned on hopping on a cruise ship for a week and soaking up the sun in the Caribbean. However, with the boyfriend moving to PA, I opted out of the Caribbean for sunny PA to spend half of the week with him. Of course I had to see if there were any races that we could run. 

I stumbled upon the Hot Chocolate 5k/15k taking place in Philadelphia this past Sunday morning. 

We decided to stay at the Hilton by the Airport because they were providing a free shuttle to and from the race start. 

Let me just run down some of my minor complaints about the race. 

I don't want to say I've become a running snob, but after running a handful or races with J&A and even RunDisney I've come to expect a decent level of togetherness. 

From some of the blogs I've read, RamRacing seemed to have it together. Maybe I should give them a little more leeway as this their first race in Philly. But there was no expo. It was two tents set up outside the Philly Runner store where we could go pick up our bib number and race swag. Josh is not a fan of crowds so we stayed there for only a matter of 3mins. Long enough for me to look for some KT tape and get out. It sucked because I really love a good expo. 

Ok so I know I had some complaints...but check out this race swag.

Sort of made it all worth it. Its really nice tech hoodie! Definitely came in handy on race day!

Race morning I was expecting a coach bus as the shuttle, because I had seen in other blogs that they had coach buses. As long as I was keeping my expectations to the expo.....we had a school bus. It didn't bother me. It was warm and transported me to the start and back again. 

Just a little cold out!

Now let me talk about the actual race. 

IT WAS COLD!! Like so cold I couldn't feel my feet!! We had to wait around over an hour from the time the shuttle dropped us off to when the race actually started. The 5k started about 45mins before us. Trust me - I much rather would have run the 5k but Josh made a point that if we're going to be doing any sort of traveling...it has to be longer then twice around the parking lot of his apartment complex. 

Once the race actually started we were good to go. Our feet started to defrost and I was slowly finding my rhythm. I have a new knee problem that has recently popped up so I made sure to use some KT tape and tape it up. It actually helped, but I'm still planning on seeing my doctor to make sure it's not anything major.

Knee all taped up and ready to run.

By the 10k split, I was tired and tired of running. Josh knows I don't always push myself, so he knew I was going to throw in the towel at some point. I actually think he thought it was going to be way earlier then 2/3 of the way through. The race was an out and back on part of the loop, so I could see on my way out that they were timing the 10k split. Since that's the shortest distance I need for the Wine and Dine, I wanted to see what I was currently running. 

We finished the last 3.1miles with my run5/walk2 combo. Our time was just under two hours. 1:59:48. 

Overall I couldn't complain. 

My Garmin read further then the actual 15k, but I'm still pretty happy with that pace for how little I've trained - and the amount of walking we did. 

Hey - I'm still lapping the old me who would've still been asleep! 

The race finished right at the bottom of the steps to the Art Museum, so that was pretty cool. I should've snapped a picture of that but I forgot. 

We grabbed our dry gear, hot chocolate/fondue mug, sat for a minute and then headed back to the hotel. 

There was no medal but this mug is pretty sweet! Although I'm not sure my tummy really enjoyed all that chocolate after running. 

We showered, rested for a few and then headed over to Xfinity Live to hang out before the Flyers game that night. 

For my first weekend of Spring Break it was an eventful and fun weekend.  

Enjoying the Flyers game!! 

And they won!!

(Thanks Matty for the tickets!) 

Here are few pics I took along the run. Philly might be my new favorite place to run. It was pretty fun to see all the crew teams out on the water next to us while we were running. 

Can't wait to run the Broad Street 10miler in a few weeks!

Ok that guy on the sidewalk is walking with a giant log on his shoulders....not sure what that was all about. 

Birthday Race!

Annual Birthday 5k

Sandy Bottom Park

Race agains the Odds

Last year on my birthday, my running buddy and I ran a 5k down at the ocean front. It was also when I started my blog. Granted I haven't been the most pro-active blogger  - but I'm trying. 

This year she asked me if I wanted to run another 5k around my birthday again. I happily agreed as it looks like we might have a new tradition on our hands! 

Since it was my Birthday weekend my boyfriend came down from Pennsylvania to celebrate. 

Saturday morning we made our way to  Sandy Bottom in the rain to go run a 5k that raises money to support childhood cancer. It is honor a local child who lost his battle a few years ago. 

In all honesty, if my running buddy wasn't going to be there Josh and I would've happily donated our race entry fee and rolled over and gone back to sleep. It was a chilly, rainy morning and the course was a trail run. Two of my least favorite things! Rain and mud!

But off we went.....it was just 3 miles - I could easily cough that out. 

Since Gineff was running with me, Josh took off on his own. While I know he loves to run slow with me, somedays he likes to run at his own pace.  I'm not sure if it was planned that way but the course was an easy out and back. It was nice to see Josh on his turn around. He was even a trooper and waited the extra 15-20 mins till we finished. 

It was not a chipped time race but we ran the whole thing - through the mud puddles. At one point I had to give up and just go right through the middle of it. Yuck! It was a good thing I wore my old sneakers....I was a wet muddy mess. Yuck, yuck, yuck. I am not cut out for mud. There isn't a medal big enough to get me to do anything like the Spartan or the Tough Mudder. Crawl through mud? No thanks! 

While I wasn't a fan of the weather or the muddy course, it was a nice 3 miles with two of my favorite people. A great way to start off my Birthday weekend!!

Next up.......Hot Chocolate 15k in Philly. 

Let's just hope this patella problem I've been dealing with gets better and I'm not sidelined out of any upcoming races!

Brownies - Baking actually happens. 

So I know my blog is titled Run, Craft, Bake but there hasn't been much baking or crafting going on lately. It's probably because my life has been consumed with teaching, working at the restaurant, running and every extra thing I signed up for this school year. 

But have no fear - I live with my suzie homemaker sister who whipped these bad boys up when I was taking a nap last week before my shift at the restaurant! Everyone at the restaurant loves it when I bring in some home made treat my sister has made. I think these bad boys were going in a matter of an hour!

I don't have the recipe right now but I'll try to put it up soon. 

They were super yummy too!!

Running the Shamrock and loving it (for the most part).

For the love of all things green and running!!

I finished!!!

We finished!!

Shamrock Weekend was a success!!

Plus I got a new PR!!!

I had been really excited for this weekend for awhile. Even though I was super undertrained and sort of dreading the Half. It was a really great weekend. Just the atmosphere there is pretty awesome. I've run the 8k before and love all the support! Plus the courses are flat and along the beach. Other then the winds off of the ocean, I can't complain!

Friday

After school on Friday I made my way down to the Oceanfront to check into our hotel and head over the expo to pick up our race packets for the weekend. The boyfriend wasn't going to be in till later so I wanted to make sure we'd be ready for Saturday morning. We were going to go to the expo after the 8k so he could check it out and possibly get some new sneakers.

The expo was great. But don't ever leave a girl unattended for a few hours in a place that's designed for runners to shop! I got a little spend happy!! What can I say, I enjoy buying running stuff both for myself and for Josh.

It was a good thing Josh showed up because I was spending way too much money.

After I made it back to the hotel to meet up with Josh, we went to meet up with some friends for dinner. I kinda liked how I wasn't prepared for the weekend so I wasn't too worried about what I was eating or how it would affect my running. I was just there to have fun.

I loved how they had all the course maps projected outside the expo. 

Again - I didn't even notice that they changed the start line. 

Saturday

We made our way from the hotel to the start line for the 8k. We even met up with my friend Michelle who was walking with her friends to the start line. Even though I had scoured the Shamrock Marathon page, I never really paid attention to the fact that they moved the corrals. No worries though, we found the new spot without a problem. The 8k is growing in popularity so I can see why they had to move it to a wider street for the start.

Check out all the green at the start line of the 8k!

I was thankful that I bought myself a new windbreaker the day before at the expo because it was a little chilly and windy at the start. I warmed up at the end and had my jacket tied around my waist, but it's a light one so it wasn't as bulky as some of the other stuff I've worn in the past. Secretly I think my bf was happy he didn't have to hold it for me. Overall the race was great. Josh again stayed with the me the whole time, and we trotted along. I even saw and gave a shout out to a spectator with Kutztown sweatshirt on! You don't find too many of those in VA!! I know I'm no where near my PR shape so I wasn't trying to push myself. I just wanted to finish decently and not hurt myself as we prepared for the half the next day. Of course the only time we take a short walk break around mile 4 for me to stretch out my shoulder, was where the photographer was!!

I finished one minute slower then my time last year and about 7 minutes off my PR. Like I've said - I don't always fancy myself to be a runner, but I am pretty proud of some of my accomplishments. So the fact that I pick up and go run 5 miles isn't too shabby for me.

Adding to my bling collection!!

Enjoying the warm weather and the beer tent! 

I realized after my friend took the first picture that I still had my sunglasses on! 

Don't you love my skirt!! It's my green sparkle skirt and my new shamrock skirt that my sister made for me. 

Saturday afternoon Josh and I took showers, went out and had the longest (unintentional lunch) at Buffalo Wild Wings, wandered around the expo, took naps, and had dinner at a little Italian place by our hotel. (Only after attempting to go to Waterman's - but they had a 1hr 30min wait at 7:30pm! I wanted more sleep for Sunday then I did an orange crush.)

We were happily in bed by 10 and getting ready for our early wake up at 5:30 the next morning.

I always like to lay out my outfit the night before. I really need to start taking pictures of it like I see so many other runners doing! Next race!

The view from our hotel room for the weekend. 

I just wish it was closer to the start line!!

Sunday

HALF MARATHON DAY!!

Finally! The day I was dreading!

Mentally I said I could do it.

Physically - it was a whole different story.

Selfie before the race starts.

I had to convince both my mind and my body to come together to get as much of the half done as possible. I was hoping that what I lacked in physicality I could make up in mental strength. After all, Josh was going to be with me and I do pretty good when he's running beside me. 

The temps were much cooler then Saturday morning and the wind was pretty strong. Once again I was glad I had purchased my windbreaker on Friday. Josh even opted to wear pants it was so chilly. He usually only runs in shorts.

Making our way to the starting line. 

We made our way to the start in front of the Cavalier Hotel. Lots of people were huddled in the parking garage for the nearby hotel, or anywhere they could get some shelter from the wind. The sun was almost up, but it was still pretty chilly. I'm glad I had Janet buy us some knit gloves we could toss if our hands got too warm. We definitely needed them!!

Off we go.....
There were two guys playing bagpipes right at the start. I've always loved that sound (even if I do refer to it as a cow dying slowly) because my Dad has played bagpipes on and off my entire life. You don't find too many pipers around so I'm pretty proud of him because of it.
Makes me love my heritage that much more. I jokingly told Josh that maybe I need my Dad to play next to me while I run so I can keep my pep up to the pipes!!

This was my first time running the Shamrock half, and I have to say I really enjoyed all of the crowd support. There were a lot of houses that had come out to cheer us on, and provide beer! It was a Shamrock race after all!

I think it was about mile 3-4 we saw the leaders on their turn around. It's a little discouraging when you see someone close to being finished and you still have a double digit mile count in front of you. But like I said a million times - I use the term runner loosely. So kudos for them and their speed! Slow still gets a medal.

Around mile 5 I had to stop to pee. The porta-potties at the start were really crowded and Josh doesn't particularly like crowds so I wasn't gong to chance it then. I picked a stop that I didn't think was too long. WRONG!! I stood there for what felt like forever! Come on ladies! Pee and get out!! It took so long Josh sat down! Needless to say when my Garmin ticked off the next mile it had slowed us down by 5 minutes. At this point thoughts of a PR were not in my head - but rather just keep running.

I don't know if I mentioned this but I didn't train for this race at all! I was so proud and jealous of my cousin (who also ran the race and rocked it!! Way to go Maddy!!) who posted all her awesome training runs on Facebook. I had good intentions of training - but life and the weather got in the way. I like to run - just not in the snow of 20 degree weather. I'm committed but not THAT committed. Any way, we made it to mile 7 and I was just gassed out. At that point the mental fatigue was setting in. While I know that Josh would've preferred to to just keep running - because it would be over faster, I did not. I needed to switch to the run5/walk2 combo I had promised myself after I had put in a good effort. And for no training and having had run the day before. 7 miles was a good enough effort for me.

So for the remaining 6 mile of the race we ran/walked. I was having some toe problems so the walking part was giving me enough time to recover and run again. In all honesty if Josh wasn't with me I would've caved and walked a mile or two - but because he was with me I kept up to my combo.

Around mile 9 or 10 we started to see the Marathoners making their way to the second half of their course! I guess one of the perks of being slow is that you get to see the front runners from every race! HAHA!

It was at mile 10 I started talking to Josh about a PR. He said we'd be cutting it close. I debated about it - but in the end said I could do it.  I wish I had some miraculous story of how I turned it up a notch and hauled ass to the finish line with my hands raised in the air like I had just won the race - but I don't. I stuck to my same run5/walk2 combo. I had to conserve what little energy I had left. Not to mention the winds when we turned back to make our way to the boardwalk. The wind alone was enough to make me want to give up! But we made the last turn to the ocean front and the finish line was in sight. We had one more final walk break on the boardwalk and that was it - run it in. And we did.

I crossed the finish line at 2:58:10!!!
15 minutes better then my Crawlin Crab time from 2013!
I finally have a sub 3hr Half!

FINISHED!! A cold and windy shot in front of the sand sculpture!

Granted I know that an almost 3hr Half Marathon is slow. I'm happy with it. I'm not sure I'll ever get fast enough to get to a 2hr Half time, but for now I'm content and have set the bar for the next long distance race. Train and run the whole thing.

I think it's a pretty simple and realistic goal.

After we finished we grabbed our goodies, snacks and Dolphin Medal and made our way to the gear check and back to the party tent. I had my eye on a finisher shirt, but because I took so long running - they sold out. :-(
Oh well - next year I'll have to run faster of find a non runner friend to get it for me when they open.

The tent was crowded, Josh and I were cold and didn't really feel like standing around and waiting for a beer, so we headed back to the hotel.  Along the way we got to see some of the Marathoners still making their way along the course. Good for them - I have no desire to run a full. 3 hours is my maximum.

After we checked out of the hotel we met up with my sister, her hubby and my adorable nephew for lunch before Josh got back on the road to PA.

Overall it was a great weekend and one I'd like to do again.
But next time actually train.....

Not sure what my next race is going to be....but I've got to start doing some serious speed work to get my time down for the Disney Wine & Dine.

Josh and I were thinking our next half might be the Hershey Park Half in  October.

Till then I have my sights set on doing some long runs in preparation for the Broad Street 10 Miler in Philly coming up May 4th. 

I'll show off my bling and how I store it next time!
Sorry for such a long post but it was a great weekend!!