I Got RADified!

The venue for the Color Me Rad 5K race which benefits the YMCA of Maine this morning was in Brunswick. This is the 2nd event they had this year in Maine. The first one was in Portland.

Team WES [composed of the Waterboro Elementary School Staff] was scheduled to go on the 3rd wave but Julie, Kelsie and I were late because we had to go around Sebago lake (thanks a lot to our reliable[?] GPS)... plus the unforgiving traffic... plus the half a mile walk from the parking lot to the start line all summed up to the wasted time we should have spent getting RAD. So we ended up joining the 4th or the last wave instead.

But despite the hassle it was indeed a fun day at the race. It was different compared to the other races I joined in the past for one particular thing - no timer. So I just ran as if I was training for my next race which is also true because I do have a race tomorrow. What was I thinking?

Anyway, the race was colorful and fun and exciting. The runners and walkers and crawlers and everything else in between had a blast going through all the color stations be it the color powder, colored water sprinklers, or color bomb... everybody was all smile and having fun.

Aside from the splash of colors here and there we were also happy how the volunteers cheered us up. They were so amazing. I have never experienced that kind of cheerfulness from volunteers before so it was really special.

And the finale where all the finishers gather around the stage while the organizers were throwing out freebies to the crowd was awesome too.

 Me with Julie

Me with Kelsie

When the crowd threw color bomb at each other all at the same time while dancing to the music was totally out-of-this-world. It was zero visibility. All I can see was the explosion of different colors. The crowd was engulfed in colorful cloud. And everybody was happy. And I swear to god, I will surely do it again next year.

To Run or to Get Ran Over!

Finally, I was able to get back to running. This is my first race after my long vacation in the Philippines and my long pause from training.And speaking of training. I didn't have any prior to this race. It is not my alibi for coming 1st in the "walkers" list or rather 11th in my age category. [And I am not going to mention that there were 11 of us in my age category] LOL It is simply the truth.
As I have mentioned in my previous post - I didn't get a chance to run when I was home except for a couple of occasions. I didn't even have a descent training as soon as I came back from that vacation because I started working 12 hours again. And even if I can run after work, that didn't work out well too because we started to lose light in the afternoon. It is getting dark early and Hubby didn't want me to run in the dark. But still, it's not an alibi. It's the fact.

Well, the fact that I was late too is the culprit - there! Well, I need to point finger at something you know. Wink** It will never be my fault. Nevah! hahahaha

I came just in time when the "GO" was shouted out. I went running... to the registration table to get my number and my shirt. And before I can get ready they were already quarter of a mile ahead. I started running while fixing myself at the same time. My iPod gave me a hard time setting it. My hair was a mess and I had a hard time wrapping my head with a headband to keep my ears warm. It was freezing cold that morning, though beautiful. The fall weather is gorgeous especially in the orchard.

So I ran until I caught up with some walkers. Walked a bit, ran a bit, and crawled one time uphill. I finished at 46:15 and I ran to the food table to help myself with some apple cider donuts!

I signed up for this race because it is for the organization I work for. And being part of the organization I want to be a part of everything they do as well. The 5th Annual YMCA 5K Trail Run/Walk benefits our scholars so it means so much to me. And the fact that it is a trail run at the apple orchard, it made it more interesting to me. So I guess I will be running again next year. I hope I will really run.

Y Race?

Why do I join races? One good reason I can think of... I have to entertain myself. I need to think of a thing to do that will not involve getting bored. And I need a thing to do to stay away from food. But that is another story.

I started racing at the age of... ehemmmm... [clearing my throat here]... 46. Yeah, I'm a late bloomer.

I started joining races when I got jealous of those runners and figured out that I can do the same. And I was right. I have ran more than a dozen races to date.

The YMCA Fit Fest 5k race is another race I ran with Heather. And yes, we were not late. We came just in time. It was a fun race aside from doing a good cause for the YMCA. I work for the Y in Sanford so the affiliation is the same.

The route is awesome and picturesque. I did a great job I guess since I did not stop jogging/running through the entire race. I clocked in 36:08 at 11:21 pace placing me 461st over 701 participants. That included the walkers too. LOL.

But the best part of this race is the post race where Heather and I went antiquing. LOL we spent the rest of the day at Brunswick flea market and yard sales. I brought home some antique silver wares. Love it.

Everybody's a Winner

It was huge. It was spectacular. It was epic. That is how I describe the 14th TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race held at Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

I car pooled with another volunteer I met during the Volunteer Appreciation Party last Tuesday. We left Standish early to avoid traffic. We reached Fort William around 6:30am and the parking lots were already piling up with cars. Well, we don't expect to see a lot of people there because the race will start 10 kilometers away from the Portland Head Light. This is where the Finish Line is. So the huge crown was somewhere in Cape Elizabeth near Crescent Beach State Park on Route 77 where the race starts.

I volunteered for the Water Finish. It may seem an easy job but boy, the task did give my "biceps" a hardcore work out. We laid out 6000+ water bottles. Transferring boxes after boxes of those water bottles from the delivery truck to the tables was like doing hundreds of repetitions of biceps curl with 30-pound dumbbells.

Volunteering has it's perks and benefits. We have free t-shirts. Yey.

 Excellent spot to greet and meet the runners.

 Easy access to the porta-potties. hahaha

 And yes, a great vista of the famous landmark - the Portland Head Light.

Needless to say, the event is a 'runner's dream race', if you live in Maine. It is an important race if runners from 49 states participated in.I believe it is a very significant event when there are 6000 plus runners who signed up.

 [Photo Credit: TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race]

And it is indeed a highly-recognized event  if there are 11 countries represented in the event.

At the end of the race, we did recognize and acknowledge the winners - the oldest at 86...

the "wheel-chair bound" athletes,

the Elite runners,
the resident runners,

the just-for-fun runners,

the families,

 the supporters,

 the spectators...

 and of course, the volunteers.

At the end of the race - everybody's tired...

and yes, - everybody's a winner too!

If you can't join them... volunteer!

Right after I crossed the finish line during my very first 5k, I vowed that I will join another race. Yeah, right!

So I went straight home and searched the internet for another race. And there it was... the most prestigious race in all of Maine - the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10k Road Race. Seriously!

Okay, I may be too overwhelmed. Really! Crazy is more like it. But yeah. I signed up for it. It was a lottery so I was hopeful that I will win. Good thing I didn't! hahaha it was only after two days that I realized that running is not as easy as I imagined it to be. It takes a lot of practice, discipline and determination. And what I only got is just determination. hahaha

Anyway, I didn't get in so I was thinking there is another way to be a part of it. You see, this race is very significant and important to me because of several reasons.

1. It is prestigious. It will be covered by our local television network and it will mean I might be featured in TV. It doesn't matter if it said - One runner crawled all the way to the lighthouse.
2. The event is the biggest in all of Maine. Participants will sum up to about close to 7 thousand-ish. It means that spectators and supporters alike wouldn't even realize how slow I was because they would be too tired cheering and congratulating the first 6,999 finishers. LOL
3. The venue meant so much to me. The Portland Head Light is where I was married 4 years ago and I have never been there again since I said "I do". I want to visit it again in full sweat. LMAO

But, yes... none of those things I mentioned above will gonna happen because I didn't get it. So where did the "determination" part go? I volunteered!

Yes, I am part of the race... not a runner but a volunteer. This is my first time to volunteer so I am excited and nervous at the same time. And yesterday... I attended our Volunteer Appreciation Day and met some of the volunteers. Yes, I partied last night. There were lots of food, drink and music. It was an awesome event.

The race will be on Saturday, the 6th of August and I will be right there in the finish line handing cold water bottles to finishers. And yes... I will be there at the Portland Head Light - in full sweat.

 

 [That's the Portland Head Light from the distant. That's where the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10k Road Race will end. This was taken where we were having the Volunteer Party.]

This One's for Austin!

Since I started liking races, I have ran 2 races already and have walked a couple too. Those were all for a good cause. Those races I joined in were events made to help Cancer Research for Maine [Mary's Walk-March], Fundraising for the athletes [Boney Eagle Scot Trot-March], a march to save the babies [March of Dimes-May] and my most recent which is a cause to help a school and a community [Patriot 5k "Lap Around the Lake"-May].

On Saturday, the 4th of June, I am scheduled to probably walk [since I don't have the time to train] for another cause - 5 Mile Dog Walk for a Cancer which will be held at 9am to noon in Lake Arrowhead Community at Victoria Lane East Tennis Court North Waterboro.

This event is perhaps the most important race I will participate in not because it is another event to support a special cause... but because, the cause is meant for Austin Hudson.

Austin is the reason why I am working part-time as Ed Tech at Waterboro School. He is a typical 9-year old boy who loves being with his friends, likes to run and play, enjoys Math, Art and Computer subjects and more importantly, who loves his independence and his ability to discover, learn and do new things on his own. But last year, he was diagnosed with brain cancer and now in recuperation. The struggle is continuous and indefinite as we all know of most cancer patients.

I have not known Austin until I was assigned to work with him. However, I could tell in his eyes that he is a fighter. His spirit is tough but his body is so fragile. That is why no matter how much he likes to go to school everyday ,it is a constant struggle as well. I have only worked once a week for 2 hours in the past 4 weeks with him but this week, he was able to come to school 2 days in a row and that is "huge".

This Saturday... we are going to run or walk [whichever you prefer] for him. It's a Dog Walk actually, but Sarah, Austin's mom said you don't need to have one to join. [Good, thing I was already on my way to buy a dog just to join, LOL] But if you cannot join us... you can still support and help by donating to Austin Hudson Family Fund. Donations can be deposited directly at SIS Bank. Details on the event can be found in Facebook too.

So, come and join us... in person... with your dog [on a leash, please] or your friends and family... or in spirit [by donating] and let's all walk for Austin.

See you there!

Win-Win Situation

I am in stiletto mode nowadays. However, that is not the reason why I have not been seriously back in training mode.

But there are several reasons why I run or shall I say "why I should run". As if someone is really asking or interested in knowing what those reasons are. But I will share with you the reasons why, anyways. And for that you have no choice. LOL

Reason 1. I bought 3 new pairs of VS bathing suits online. They're on sale so I went crazy not realizing that those bathing suit look better on pictures... on that particular model... and on that particular body. So there you go... I got the shipment and I tried it on. I didn't like it. I was like totally in, "that's-what-you-get-for-being-cheap kinda mode"... but I do know the reason why it didn't look good on me. And I am not going to answer that question. PERIOD!

Reason 2. When I signed up for my first Walk, I realized that with your registration fee, you get free t-shirt [when you pre-register], a lot of freebies like water bottles, bottles with water, pedometer, bookmarks, bags with sponsor's name on it, coupons, etc. and food. Yes, you get free breakfast of donuts, bagels, coffee, bananas and snack after the race. So the question is, will I really lose weight here after the race? BIG QUESTION MARK!

Reason 3. Then, since most of the races are for a "cause"... I believe that I am helping a good cause. I am being a good citizen! EXCLAMATION POINT!

Well, I have not really started training again for my next 5K for varied reasons. One is that I am working part-time as Ed Tech in the school where I am assigned as the Site Leader of the Kids Out Enrichment Program of the YMCA. Although I could still go for a 30 minutes run around the track on my way home since I only work for 2 hours... my mind and stomach are always debating if I should run or not. And my stomach always wins.

At hindsight, maybe the best title for this post should be - WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN Situations! What do you think?