A NO T-Shirt Race

This is officially the start of summer and I am starting it with a 5K race in Gray - The Longest Day 5K Race. This is also the last day of school where I work. Finally, I can relax and forget about work.

 

Yup, summer starts today. and I am started slow and exhausting. The race took an awesome course in the trail of Gray. It was really a hard course so to speak but organizers and volunteers were great except for "ONE VERY IMPORTANT DETAIL" - NO FREE SHIRT!!! Oh yeah, it's a big deal, you know. Huge! I need the shirt because I have a collection of race shirts! So yes... not really 100% happy about it.
Are you kidding me? Why was there no free t-shirt? Don't they realize that I only run for the "free Tee"? Oh well, too late now to back out. I was there early. The driving condition was perfect - one of the things I consider in signing up for races. The day was perfect - at 7pm the cloudless sky gave me a feeling that it was still 3'oclock in the afternoon. If only there was a t-shirt that has the name of the race printed on it... it would have been a perfect race. [I HOPE ORGANIZERS of the this race will read this post.]

So this is technically my very first "trail" race for this year. The Snowy Egret 5k that I did a couple of weeks ago was not all trail course so this is indeed the real "trail race" I ran to date. The trail is kinda intimidating which justified my 43:55 PR with 12:28 pace. I ranked  126th  out of 150 people who participated.

[Look at me... I was still happy even without the "free t-shirt". LOL]

Despite the "t-shirt issue" I had with this race, I can say that I like the race and will surely do it again next year... if they will provide t-shirt for the race. LOL.

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!

For Mary

I didn't get the chance to run in February. So much for promising myself to run 2 races every month, huh. For some reason I can't find any 5K race last month so I totally didn't run. Well, I did some running around my neighborhood but that's all about it and it wasn't even on a regular basis because weather is not really very cooperative this time of the year yet. Good thing I have 2 races this month.

After a month of no races and no training, I braved the Mary's Walk and Kerrymen Pub 5k yesterday. The weather was not to bad and just the same the event was well-organized and the crowd was awesome.

I didn't expect to really do good here since I don't have the proper training. And if there was any training at all, it was on the race day itself. LOL

So yes, out of 1224 runners and walkers, I placed 1145th with a total net time of 39:13 which gives me a pace time of 12:38.

Oh well, you get what you get and don't get upset. I didn't, I just helped myself with a plate of Chinese food and some Olive Garden's spaghetti and salad. wink*

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.