One more time for the Egrets

The 2013 Snowy Egret 5K Race in Scarborough, Maine is another race that I plan to join every year and for as long as I can run.

There are also 3 reasons why I like this race. First... the venue. Of course, driving situation is always first in my list for the major reasons and points of consideration when signing for races. Scarborough is not really close just like Gray but I am used to driving to this area. Though parking is a little bit a problem compared to Gray's.
Second... the "course", of course. LOL. This is partly a trail course which I like because it's almost summer around this time so it can be kinda hot and humid and this race take the shady part of the trail.

Third... this is a Memorial day race. Though it doesn't mean anything. LOL I just like the fact that I do something memorable this day. Whatever that means too. Toink!!!!

So just like last year, I wasn't impressed with my performance. I did 38:44 for my time with a pace of 12:28 which means I ranked 158th out of 195 participants. 

Yes, this is my 2nd time for this race. I really love this course and I plan to do it every year... so help  me God! hahahah

Being Patriotic for the 3rd time

The 4th Annual Patriot 5K race this year is the 3rd race that I joined since I started running. I love this race so much for 3 reasons.

First... convenience. By that I mean driving convenience. Gray, Maine is not really close to where I live but I like driving there because traffic is easy and light. It's not a city so I'm very confident in driving there.

Second... the "race" itself. I love how organized the race it. From the parking - which is a huge thing for me to race packets to race proper to post race activities. The Organizers as well as the volunteers are great. Even the people living around the lake are awesome. They are courteous, very supportive and welcoming. Love them.

Third... the "course". Running around the gorgeous Crystal Lake is one of the perks of this race.  I think the course is moderate for the fact that I did not crawl to the finish line. LOL.

So yes, I did it again for the 3rd time. Though I my PR didn't really improve since the last time I ran this race I was still happy that I made it and yes, I met the older lady who I met here during my 1st race... and who beat me to the finish line. Yes, she beat me again. What do you expect? At 39:14 time and a 12:38 pace, that didn't mean anything to a 60-ish year old lady who trained well. LOL. I ranked 596th out of 776 participants. Yeah, this race is getting popular each year.

Well, will see if I can improve on my PR next year. Smiling here.

Running for a free pizza

I signed up for the Jimmy the Greek Maine Mall 5K Race for Lyme Disease this year again. However, proceeds of the event this year will be donated to the Boston Marathon Victims instead of the Research for Lyme Disease.

  

I love this race because the route is easy and I am so familiar with it - the Maine Mall area. wink*** But no, I didn't go shopping after the race like I did last year and I am so proud of myself for the strength and self-control.

I finished in 23:46 and I was over-the-moon in happiness until I realized just now that the race wasn't actually 5K. The distance that we ran wasn't actually 3.10 miles but 1.9 miles. That explained why my PR is almost 10 minutes less than usual. Hayzzzz!!!

So yes, I ranked 243rd out of 362 participants with  a 12:31 pace time. And with that result, I couldn't rejoice knowing that most of those who crossed the finished line after me were walkers. Another hayzzzzz!!!

Oh well, I cannot brag about it since deep in my heart I know too that I didn't deserve to run faster than the speeding bullet because I didn't train or did anything at all to prepare myself for the race. But just crossing the finish line gave me the pride I need to sign up for more races. And yes, I whole-heartedly line up to get my free pizza right after I crossed the finish line. Why not? That was the main reason why I signed up for this race in the first place. LOL.

Then headed straight to Weight Watchers for the weighting in with a slice of pizza on my hand.

2nd Year and Counting

Yes, this is my 2nd Year Running Anniversary!

 

The Great Scot Trot 5k is the very start of my running career. No, there isn't a running career. I was just dreaming. LOL.

I just can't believe that I still enjoy running. Never in my mind would I ever dream of running but here I am on my second year and not dreaming of adding more distance if I wouldn't chicken out. Hay,

So, just like the 1st Year Anniversary, it wasn't that significant in terms of my net time. I clocked in 37:36 which is a minute less than my Mary's Walk last week. What an improvement, huh. And a pace time of 12:08 placing me 147th out of 195 participants.

[I look like I am constipated here, LOL]

 Despite the "numbers" I am still proud of myself to be able to make a huge change in my lifestyle. So yes, I will continue running for as long as I can!

Starting the year right

It's the New Year and there is nothing more appropriate than starting the year right, right? As for me I started it with Sammy the Seagull's New Year's Day 5k held in Scarborough and organized by Clambake Restaurant. This is one of my favorite races so far... for 2 reasons.

First reason: Hubby was with me. He finally watched me run... well sort of. He just waited for me at the finish line, actually and took a couple of photos. So it's very precious. I have been running for almost 2 years now and this one is the only race he watched or rather went to... to wait for me.

Second reason: There was a seafood buffet right after the race. And that was the "catch" to make Hubby go with me. LOL. So I ran the 5K race and Hubby ran to the buffet table. Just kidding. We both did as well as most of the participants their families. Why not? It's the New Year and we need to celebrate for good luck. And since I ran, I must be burning calories while I stuffed my mouth with fried onions, clam strips, baby shrimps, meatballs, chicken and yes, clam chowdah!

It was a nice sunny day today but cold and windy. The wind was so thick and I had a hard time breathing the entire race. Well, that is one of my alibis for placing 120th out of 135 participants. Or to nicely put... I rank 1st... among the walkers. LOL. However, compared to my last race, I made 2 minutes improvement on my PR which is 37:43 at 12:09 pace. And yes, a 60-year old lady beat me to the finish line again.

And yes, there are 2 things that I found different with today's race. 1. instead of a shirt, which is my main motivation for running... they gave us winter gloves. I don't like it. I need shirt for my collections. And 2. I felt like a celebrity because a cop's car followed me to the finish line suggesting I was indeed the last one to cross the finish line. :(

Well, the race was awesome and even if it didn't go well as I wanted to I was so proud of myself for making a good choice and happy that my Sweetest was with me. I just hope that someday, we will join me in the race even if just walking.

My Reasons for Running

I wasn't in a hurry to get my bu*t moving to get to the venue for today's race. Why should I? It is barely 5 miles away from home. I could even run my way to get there but that is not really an option. It was kinda cold compared to yesterdays foggy day.

There were only few people there when I arrived. I assumed they were mostly family and friends of the organizers. There were quite a few kids too which I hate because I know those little ones will surely beat me to the finish line. They always do. But I had to admit they are cute and I am jealous.

I got there about 10 minutes before the race time. I checked in and got my number but my t-shirt's size ran out. I was not really very happy about it since it was my only motivation for running. LOL. Anyway, I settled to the next size up available just to get the souvenir of this particular race.

So I got there just enough time to do to some quick stretching before we race. This race is the first ever event organized to benefit Standish Recreation Department dubbed as Running for a Reason 5k. It took the Sabago Lake route in Route 35 though we didn't really run along the lake. We were just given a glimpse of the lake in the distant view when we negotiated the steep downhill going to Windham. And yes, I almost crawled my way uphill going to the finish line.

And true enough, the kids beat me to the finish line. They were already on their second servings of pizza when I crossed the finish line. I placed 8th from the bottom list. LOL Yup, 27th out of the 34 runners. I clocked in 38 minutes and 34 seconds making it 12:28 as my pace time. Oh well, what do you expect? That's what you get when your only reason for running is - to get a free t-shirt.! hahaha

For the Tots

I have a flight schedule to the Philippines on Monday, the 26th of June and a birthday party to plan tomorrow. It's crunch time folks but I still have one race to do before I succumbed to panic attack.

I set forth early this morning for the 2nd Annual Trot for Tots 5k at Back Cove in Portland. The place is already familiar so I don't have to set my GPS to get there. I just drove off, picked up my packets, put my number, warmed up and ran. I did pretty good beating a 7 year old kid and his Dad. LOL. I clocked in 36:19 at 11:43 pace and placed 58th among the 79 participants. Not bad. Not bad at all, huh.

Then, timely, the free massage bed was empty on my way to the parking lot and a volunteer Chiropractic came up to me and offered me a free massage. Awesome. She said my muscles are tight. I wondered why? wink*

Then, I went home to bake my very first cake pops for Brandon's birthday tomorrow and blogged this. Tomorrow... the schedule is - packing for my trip back home right after clean up. hayyyy!

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.

Running for the birdies and close encounter with the Walking Lady

This year, my goal is to run 2 races every month. So far, I was able to do it. I started last March when I celebrated my 1st Running Anniversary. The Snowy Egret 5k at Scarborough is my 8th race for 2012 and my 2nd race for the month of May.

This is my first "trail race" for this year [and hoping to do more]. I didn't know it until I ran the race. It was a nice nonthreatening course. Though it was a little humid, the shady trail kept us cool.

The race is a replay of my Maine Mall 5k experience in terms of "running". I ran this race again when I was passed by an elderly lady about sixty-ish years old who was just walking the whole time.

 

Let me tell you about this amazing woman. I saw this woman probably more than 5 times already since I started running. She seems to be all over the place. LOL And each time that we ran, she would just be walking the entire 5k race. She walks with grace like a royalty. She walks in a choreographed rhythm as if she was walking on air. She is fast and unstoppable. She never shows tiredness. She is relaxed and poised.

The race course had a one long straight route where we turn around at a certain point. On my way back I saw her from a distance in her signature graceful brisk walking coming my way. I continued jogging while a woman kept passing me by just like the one at the Mall race. By that time I was already contemplating to do the trick I did before but not really sure if I really want to or not.

 

After about 5 minutes of not-stop steady jogging, I realized that the walking lady caught up with me and she was walking right beside me and started talking to me when an spectator said... "good job" to us. It was then I realized that I was really jogging slow or maybe she was really fast. Well, I wasn't really threatened by her until that Maine-Mall-part-2 woman caught up with me again. Just in time, I saw that I was already almost 500 feet from the finish line. So, I sped up agian... sprinted... and ran as fast as I could passing again a couple of people on my way to the finish line.

I clocked in 36:08 at 11:38 pace and placing 181st out of the 225 participants. At the finish line I finally got the chance to talk to this amazing woman and boy, she is one of the nicest people I ever met. She even gave me advice on race walking and told me that she would gladly coach me to race walk. Her name is Debbie.

Getting Patriotic

The 3rd Annual Patriots 5k is my second race. Too bad I wasn't into running yet when they started. This race is also called "Lap around the Lake". The course is a loop around the gorgeous and breathtaking Crystal Lake in Gray, Maine. Last year the lake was covered in thick fog good thing this year we were blessed with warm sunny weather so I really enjoyed the view of the lake.

I remembered last year that I ran with an elderly woman who beat me to the finish line. This year I was looking for her but with a total of 701 runners and walkers alike, I wasn't lucky to find her and I didn't even know if she joined this year. Anyway, I love this race because the organizers are very organized. LOL. The people living around the lake are very supportive and friendly.

The race is awesome. I didn't do any extra-ordinary thing like I did in my last race at the mall because nobody threatened me. wink. So I just jogged my way to the finish line - without stopping except for 3 seconds at the water station.

I clocked in 35:15 which is 5 minutes over my last PR. hayyys. Oh well. I told you I wasn't threatened. I placed 461st our of the 701 participants at 11:12 pace. Next year, I'll try to break that record. We'll see.

What's not 2 LUV?

It was a chilly early spring morning. By this time, I'm more comfortable driving down the Back Cove because this is my 5th [I guess] time I've been there. Three out of five times were races that I joined. And this time this is the 2nd time I did Luv2Run Series, which is the 1st of the 3 Series for 2012.

It was nothing very spectacular except the view. Nothing worth noting but the freezing cold weather. And nothing too special but keeping with my running routine.

The race was small, simple and uncomplicated. It was pure fun and achievable. I clocked in 37:32 with 11:14 pace. I wasn't too impressed though but hey, I did it despite the cold weather. I place 63rd out of 72 participants. And I had a blast shopping afterward. And that - is worth noting... that is spectacular and that is special, indeed. wink

One Year and 10 Races

Today... marks my very First Running Anniversary. Yes, this is the first year in my running career [if there is such a thing hahaha]...my 11th race so far since I started... and already my 4th 5K for this year.

Like any anniversaries - this is a very important event to me. It's the anniversary of my 360 degrees mental, physical and psychological turn-around. Yes, it has been one year now since I made that drastic decision to take charge of my life. It has been a year now since I ran The Great Scot Trot 5k - a decision that I never regret.

Time flies quickly. I have ran 10 5k races in a span of one year and now I am looking forward to more races and trainings.

I have braved mental torture on thinking "why am I doing those stu**d laps around the Bonney Eagle HS tracks". I have endured physical torment of weight lifting for strength training. And yes, I have psyched myself up to rationalize that all those grueling training days and nights are part of my life as a runner. Hah! It does feel good to call myself a runner though deep inside I know I just either walk or jog my way to the finish lines. wink*

 This is me last year at the Finish Line. Notice the snow on the background.

Today, is my second Great Scot Trot 5k. I walked up to the sound of rain. I walked up hoping that they cancel the race. But then I realized this is my 1st year anniversary, it should not ruin the momentum. So I ran the race in freezing rain and landed 164th on the list with a breaking record [wink* wink* and another wink*] of 35:03 PR. It was 5 minutes and 45 seconds less than my first one.

This is me on my 1st Year Running Anniversary.

And yes I wasn't 5th to the last like last year. I was 66th to the last [one huge wink*] this year. Yay! To me and to more races until - my Second Year Anniversary.

My 3rd 5k for 2012

Same time last year... I was so excited because it was my first time to join any event that has something to do with "walking and running". At first I just wanted to be a part of the team who supported Sandy Orr, one of the secretaries where I work. She lost her battle to cancer that year and in memory of her we did the Mary's Walk and Kerrymen Pub 5k at Saco, Maine, which is an event that benefits the Maine Cancer Research. That year, I planned to run but I chickened out so I just "walked" with the rest of the team.

This year, I finally got the guts to run. And this year, this event meant so much to me because early this year, I got a "cancer scare" when my Doctor found an abnormal cell in my latest pap smear. Good thing my Ob Gyne assured me that there is nothing to worry about and the abnormal cell turned out to be "normal", quite ironic. It's a long story and it has nothing to do with running. lol

 This was me last year at the Mary's Walk getting ready to "walk".

Anyway, so I finally signed up for the 5k race and became part of the pack... the last part of the pack, that is. wink* Though I thought I know everything about running after doing it for at least once every month since last year, I was still overwhelmed with the experience. It was a fine sunny day, for some reasons I cannot explain. If you live in Maine you know what I mean. It's still winter here at this time of the year.

This is me this year getting close to the Finish Line at Mary's walk.

So I did run the Mary's Walk. No elderly women passed me by this time. LOL. And my only goal is to pass by the lady in front of me whom I beat by a matter of 2 seconds. hahahaha [There she was the one in the blue shirt.] I clocked in 38:01 and ranked 921st among the close-to-a-thousand runners and I ranked 56th in my Division which has 58 runners. hahaha Well it's not bad at all considering that I did finish the race and I didn't chicken out this time.