Races

My first race happened on Thanksgiving Day in 2011.  I have been hooked ever since!

I want to try and write a race recap for each race I do, so the newer races have links in the title if you want to read more about a specific race! 

November 24, 2011 - Festival Foods Turkey Trot (~24 minutes?... Not chip timed)

Shortly after I decided to change my habits with eating and fitness, I signed up for my first race.  I did not want to freak myself out, so started with the 2 Mile Festival Foods Turkey Trot on November 24, 2011.  Luckily, I had the support of amazing friends, Jenna and Ben - who ran with me the entire way.  Thank you!

Thumbs up for pumpkin pie!

Right after the race with Ben :)

Since I just did the 2 mile, it wasn't officially timed, but I believe we finished around 24 minutes for about a 12 minute pace.  Definitely not a time to brag about, but for my first race - I was happy that I ran the entire thing without stopping!

April 21, 2012 - UWEC AMA 5K (32:13)

A couple of weeks before the Eau Claire Marathon Relay, I decided to participate in my first 5K race to get another race experience under my belt.  Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures of this race... but I participated in the UWEC AMA 5K for Special Olympics on April 21, 2012.  I used my Nike+ meter/phone and it measured the race at 5.86K and I finished it in 32:13 for an 8:50 pace.

May 6, 2012 - Eau Claire Marathon Relay (6.7 miles, 1:19:32)

My team consisted of myself, Angel (friend from work), Heather (another friend from work), and Roni (my bestie!). 

Pre-race picture (from left: Roni, Angel, myself, Heather)

While you may not be able to tell in this picture, we were all VERY nervous.  Angel ran the first leg (6 miles), Heather ran second (7 miles), then Roni (6.5 miles), and I finished it off (6.7 miles)!  We had a blast cruising around town (thanks to our amazing "taxi driver", Terry) and cheering each other on.

Post-race with our goodies!

My parents came to cheer us on and my mom bought us all Eau Claire Marathon glasses (thanks, mom!) so we posed for a sweaty/medal/cup team photo :)


My first medal!

June 2, 2012 - Thorp Dairy Days 5K (33:31)

A small town race with a long-time friend, Renee.  We were both very new to running still and Renee was attempting the "Couch to 5K".  She is looking AMAZING and I look forward to doing many races with her in the future!

Post-race sweaty pic :)

June 9, 2012 - Spectrum Shuffle 5K (33:37)

Only a short week later, Renee and I did another 5K.  It was a HOT morning and the entire course was in direct sunlight - no shade except for at the very beginning and very end.  I felt miserable throughout the entire race.  Joining us on this race was Renee's friend, Karen, from Girl Scouts (and her daughter).  This was Karen's first 5K and she walked the entire thing strong!  Was very proud watching her finish :)


Can you tell how sweaty we are? MISERABLE!

June 30, 2012 - Chetek Fishy Four (45:10)

Another hot race, but luckily there was plenty of shade available on this one!  I went up north to Chetek for their Liberty Fest Fishy Four race.  I was able to see lots of great people from the ski team and participate in a fun run :)  My time for the four miles was 45:10 with an 11:18 pace.  My goal was to just finish under an hour.

August 28, 2012 - Lil' Buckshot Run - 2 Miles (19:35)

Since the Buckshot run falls on Labor Day weekend which usually interferes with many holiday plans, they decided to do a Tuesday Lil' Buckshot Run!  Sold!  It was 2 miles so I made a goal to finish under 20 minutes.  Not only did I do that, but I finished in 19:35 and placed 3rd in my age bracket!

My friend Abby (on the right), finished 2nd right ahead of me!  Woot woot!  Friends Renee and Carrie ran it as well :) What are races without friends?!

Source: Leader Telegram

A cool perk about this race was that we became famous on the front page of the newspaper!  That's me leaping over the big puddle!  You can see Abby, Renee, and Carrie in the background!

November 4, 2013 - Rails to Trails Half Marathon (2:44:21)

My FIRST half marathon!  I was a nervous wreck. I spent the entire evening before the race putting together an awesome playlist full of Fergie and Black Eyed Peas, Glee songs, and other songs that has pushed me in training.  My goal for the race was to simply finish it.  No matter how fast or how slow I went, it would be my first half marathon and a PR.  I finished in 2:44:21 with a 12:33 pace.  It was slow, but it was a finish.  I was able to run the entire way (slowing down to drink some water without spilling all over myself) and ran super fast through the creepy, wet tunnel (which was 3/4 of a mile long) that I had to go through TWICE!

The weather was perfect for a long run.  No wind, nice and cool.  Chilly for spectators though!  Little Parker came with and just wanted to hang out in the warm car the entire time.

I crossed the finish line, got my medal, and surprisingly felt pretty good. 

Until about 5 minutes later, when I started feeling sick.  I had eaten a banana, some orange slices, and 2 small chocolate milks, but nothing was helping.  My craving?  McDonald's french fries.  We decided to get in the warm car and drive the 10 minutes to McDonald's where Terry ordered me a large order of french fries and a strawberry-banana smoothie.  Sure enough, within minutes, I was feeling so much better.  I think it was the salt ;)

This was a great race, especially for my first half marathon.  I cannot wait to do it again next year!

November 22, 2012 - Eau Claire Turkey Trot (time unknown, not chip timed)

I was so excited for the Turkey Trot this year.  Last year's Turkey Trot was my first running race ever.  To be standing at that start line again felt like a blessing.  Who knew, that after years of my weight going up and down, fad diets, and falling in and out of love with working out, that I would be standing at the same place one year later.  I realized that I had done it.  I had changed my life and there was no looking back.  The Turkey Trot is a new tradition that I look forward to doing every year with friends and my future family.  What a perfect way to start out Thanksgiving.. being thankful for my new outlook on life and health.

2012 vs 2013

Yes, my friend Angel convinced me to dress up as an indian with her:

Our costumes didn't even compare to Angel's husband's costume!  He dressed up with his 3 buddies in a BOAT! Yes, that's right, A BOAT!  They spent the entire week prior preparing The Mayflower and they ran the entire 5 mile Turkey Trot together IN the boat!

Mayflower crossing the finish line!

It was so much fun watching the guys finish together.  They were interviewed by the news stations and were in the paper!

November 24, 2012 - Run the Lights at Irvine Park 5K (no time)

Only 2 days after the Turkey Trot, I took part in the first ever "Run the Lights" in Irvine Park in Chippewa Falls, WI.  It was a 5K that began right before sunset and therefore took place through the Christmas lights in the park.  It was beautiful.  And very, very cold.  However, I did not run this race.

Why?? :)

Because I actually convinced MY MOM to do it with me!  She did not think she could finish a 5K, even walking, so I told her I would walk the entire way with her and promised her that she could do it.  And she did!  It took us 55 minutes to finish the 5K, but it was my mom's FIRST 5K!  A PR for her :) I was so proud that she decided to show up and hope this is the first of many races she decides to do.

May 5th, 2013 - Eau Claire Half Marathon (2:37:22 - PR!)

My second half marathon in the comfort of my hometown.  And a PR!

June 22, 2013 - Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon (2:24:12 - PR!) 

My third half marathon.  My first BIG race.  And again, a PR!

October 20, 2013 - The Biggest Loser Half Marathon (2:44:09)

My fourth half marathon, and it was a COLD one!  A little disorganized but overall, a positive experience because it was Abby's FIRST half marathon!  Yay!