While I no longer look at fitness goals through the eyes of a super-obese human, I do still remember what it felt like and each time I find myself at a race I struggle with finding the line of encouraging those that remind me of myself (just a year ago) and focusing on my own race, my own goals, setting my own challenges.
When I began the year I was 6 months in to my OTF journey and I was wondering what kind of New Years goal I could set for myself. See, I find no good in “new years resolutions” given that I have never seen the need to wait until January 1 to make a change, but…I do like to put a framework on the year to come. This year I decided I was going to do a race every month. I did not define it too much…no need to set too many stipulations…and half way through the year…I am incredibly proud of what I have done so far. So, here is my mid year recap!
January 12, 2013- Glow in the Dark 5k
This is the most fun 5k I had done in a really long time. A small group was supposed to do this race together, but given traffic getting to St. Pete I arrived much ahead of the others and ended up doing this 5k solo. In my “you glow girl” t-shirt and neon orange shorts, I took to the streets of St. Pete at night (another first—a night 5k) and traveled through countless GLOW STATIONS and neon parties. A great energy, a SUPER-POSITIVE atmosphere and a killer medal to start the year off!
February 9, 2013- Dirty Girl Mud Run 5k
I think this was my first mud run…I can’t remember a time when I didn’t THINK I could do a mud run, but didn’t feel shear TERROR in the back of my head…that I really COULDN’T do it. So, I decided a girly mud run might be a good way to start. Inflatables over electric wire and sturdy structures over wobbly wood! I had a BLAST doing this race!
Februarry 23, 2013- Gasparilla Distance Classic 15k
GDC 15k 2012 was my first 15k race. When I look at pictures of 2012 and 2013 15k side by side, it is a truly remarkable benchmark! My goal going in to 2013’s 15k was to break 2 hours. I had previously completed the 9.6 mile course in more than 2 and a half hours. I did a full write up on this race…you can look back on the blog if you want more details…needless to say, I cut more than 45 minutes off my time. SUCCESS!
March 2, 2013- Zoo Zoom 5k
Going in to March, I had not found a race I really wanted to do, so I did a little crowdsourcing on the good ‘ole book. OTF St. Pete had a group doing Zoo Zoom, so I asked if I could join them…and join them I did. IT. WAS. FREEZING. Most of my training to this point had been done in the gym as Florida had let to reach the 60s (yeah—warm winter) and I woke up for this race and started shivering immediately. SO thankful I owned an OTF long sleeve…I also PR’d on this weird and windy course that spun through the zoo!
March 23, 2013- Race For Research Half Marathon
The way my mind works is not always so logical. When I decided to head to Jupiter for Passover, of course I looked to see if there was a race in the area. Just 25 minutes from Arielle’s house, the Race for Research was a good fit…but 5k or half marathon? I did 9.6 a few weeks ago, so why not go for 13.1. I added an 11 mile training run…and off I went. The last time I did a half marathon I was between 280 and 300 lbs…let’s just say, even with some pretty bad war wounds from OTF going into this race…I realized how much FASTER you can finish 13.1 with nearly 100 fewer pounds on your frame…here we go! This is the race that made me really SERIOUSLY think about committing to 26.2 soon!
March 30, 2013- Easter Mud Hunt 5k
I really want to do a Tough Mudder…so I signed up for Savage Race. Dirty Girl didn’t really test me…so I thought I should get a slightly more RUGGED mud run under my belt before possibly embarrassing myself with the OTF team for Savage Race. The aim for this race was to run 5k and collect Easter Eggs on the course with prizes in them. I skipped the eggs and hit the trai. One big difference…little to no grass or mud running (plenty of mud obstacles) just lots of Florida SUGAR SAND!
April 11, 2013- Corporate 5k (more like 3.8 miles)
I love a little spontaneity in my life…I signed up for this race on Tuesday for Thursday. OTF had a nice little team and we hung for a while at Curtis Hixon. I can’t say anything special about this race…it was long and HOT…and I did not have any major success…other than convincing Lat to come renegade Savage Race with us.
April 13, 2013- Savage Race
I am not sure I would have been NEARLY as successful in this race without Justin, Susie, Latimer, Jennifer, Michael, JoJo and the rest of the OTF gang to rely on for this race. I mentioned earlier the slight fear I felt going in to this race. THIS…was an intense mudder. At the start line Justin, Jennifer and Lat were still questionable…and once I saw Justin run up next to me before we hit ‘Shriveled Richard,’ the first obstacle, a BRUTAL ice bath, I knew I would be okay. We ran, we climbed, we walked, we swam, we carried, we got shocked…but we finished…TOGETHER. (and it was NOT 5-6 miles…it was closer to 7.5 with 25 obstacles!)
May 4, 2013- Girls on the Run 5k
I did not RUN this 5k…and it was the best feeling ever. Girls on the Run is an organization I became familiar with through Camp and I love the idea that the fun activities and self-esteem building for girls also happen to prepare these girls to complete a 5k, for many of them, their first! I was paired with a little girl from Sulpher Springs Elementary school, a not-so-great area of town and kids that need a lot of attention and positive reinforcement. This little girl had NO desire to complete a 5k and about half way through the race I realized her shoes were horribly fitting. Either way, she and I skipped (just to the next stop sign) and we walked while holding hands…we even ran a little—but she finished!
May 11, 2013- Miles for Moffitt 5 miler
MfM was another benchmark race for me. MfM 2012 was my first 5 miler…and once again, I KILLED my time from last year. I just hope as I start looking to 2014, I can continue to do the same! I cut more than 25 minutes…that’s over 5 minutes PER MILE. I love the spirit of this race as well…not nearly as large as the GDC in February, but another HUGE community event for the Tampa Bay Area.
June 29, 3013- Bayshore Community Hospital 5k (Holmdel, NJ)
I did try to do a 5k pre-surgery (June 1 in Tarpon Springs) and for the first time ever I just no-showed. I was SO beat…so I put a lot of faith in myself to be good ENOUGH to complete a 5k just shy of 4 weeks post-op. My cousin got married the night before and I had invited all of my aunts, uncles, cousins, parents and siblings to join me for this 5k. They all declined and tried to convince me not to do it as well…I told my family I would walk. I didn’t plan to jog. I also didn’t know there was something called the “Holdel Hill” we would be traversing. Either way, almost 4 weeks post op I did an 11:30 first mile, an 11 minute second mile and just over a 12 minute third mile (slowing down with quite a bit of walking) and that my friends, meant I was ready to get back in the gym!
I probably forgot a race or two…but that’s okay…here are the standouts and I am not slowing down…looking ahead, here is what I have planned…let me know if you would like to join me!
July 19, 2013- Sunsets at Pier 60 5k
August 24, 2013- Wig Out Against Brain Tumors Water Obstacle 5k (currently a LivingSocial deal)
September 7, 2013- Hog Wild Mud Run (only if I find a discount code...not paying $100 bucks)
September 28, 2013- Blueberry Stomp
October 19, 2013- Savage Race
October 26, 2013- Bride of Frankenfooter 5k (?)
November 2, 2013- Tough Mudder (EEEEK…ONLY IF A TEAM DOES THIS TOGETHER!)
November 9, 2013- Zombie Run
December 1, 2013- SAL ½ Marathon
January 18, 2014- CHARLESTON MARATHON (hopefully RAKTC!)
HAPPY RUNNING!
For now,
LM
