Today is one of two rest days before the double races this weekend. On Saturday I am doing the Chicago Perfect 10 mile race - which starts and ends at Navy Pier. A large portion of the race is the same route as the Monster Dash Half I did a few weeks ago but I never tire of getting the chance to run along the lakefront and skyline. Then on Sunday I am doing the final race of a series of 3 here in Joliet, this one is the Red Eye 8k. This was my second ever race last year and the first in which I received a medal. So it will be cool to have officially completed a full year of races this weekend. And speaking of medals - this means I will add two more to my growing collection this weekend. The next medal after these will be for the Walt Disney World Marathon in January - crazy to think how fast that is approaching in the big scheme of things. Anyway back to the rest day - even though it can be a chance to sleep in a little longer in the morning, today I got up early anyway as I am on a mission. Outside of fitness/running I am also trying to make other changes in my life. I am trying to challenge myself and spark my creativity once again. I was recently reminded that I really do have talent but I let myself get rusty along the way. I would love to figure out a way to get into the creative and it dawned on me that the only way that is going to happen is with practice/training. I thought about how I am doing all of this training/miles to be a runner, and I saw others committing to running everyday for “x” number of days. So I decided to carve out time each day to do something creative. To start I am going back to the basics and drawing. My free hand skills are still pretty good but need some fine tuning and I am really enjoying the process and learning from my mistakes. Today is day 3 and once I get a little better I just may post some of what I have been working on.
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Today is one of two rest days before the double races this weekend.

On Saturday I am doing the Chicago Perfect 10 mile race - which starts and ends at Navy Pier. A large portion of the race is the same route as the Monster Dash Half I did a few weeks ago but I never tire of getting the chance to run along the lakefront and skyline.

Then on Sunday I am doing the final race of a series of 3 here in Joliet, this one is the Red Eye 8k. This was my second ever race last year and the first in which I received a medal. So it will be cool to have officially completed a full year of races this weekend.

And speaking of medals - this means I will add two more to my growing collection this weekend.

The next medal after these will be for the Walt Disney World Marathon in January - crazy to think how fast that is approaching in the big scheme of things.

Anyway back to the rest day - even though it can be a chance to sleep in a little longer in the morning, today I got up early anyway as I am on a mission. Outside of fitness/running I am also trying to make other changes in my life.

I am trying to challenge myself and spark my creativity once again. I was recently reminded that I really do have talent but I let myself get rusty along the way. I would love to figure out a way to get into the creative and it dawned on me that the only way that is going to happen is with practice/training. I thought about how I am doing all of this training/miles to be a runner, and I saw others committing to running everyday for “x” number of days. So I decided to carve out time each day to do something creative. To start I am going back to the basics and drawing. My free hand skills are still pretty good but need some fine tuning and I am really enjoying the process and learning from my mistakes. Today is day 3 and once I get a little better I just may post some of what I have been working on.

I added this Walt Disney quote to my wall just below my medal hanger and really like how its works together. (This is the quote that will be on the WDW Marathon medal and was a strong influence in casting my fears aside and going for it). I found this Quote as a decal on Amazon.com and ordered it - free shipping, arrived in a few days and was extremely easy to put up.  Really happy with it!
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I added this Walt Disney quote to my wall just below my medal hanger and really like how its works together. (This is the quote that will be on the WDW Marathon medal and was a strong influence in casting my fears aside and going for it).

I found this Quote as a decal on Amazon.com and ordered it - free shipping, arrived in a few days and was extremely easy to put up.  Really happy with it!

Which medal is which?

iwillrunforfood replied to your photo: There are no words that will ever be able to…

Do I spy polar dash and go commando medals?

Somehow I didn’t catch this question when you posted it…so I apologize for the delayed reply.  That is the Polar Dash medal, but I have not done a Go Commando race. I believe you were referring to the medal that is a dog tag.  That one is a local 10k race called the Rockdale Ramblin Run, which also happened to be my first ever 10k and first time running 6+ miles!  

There are no words that will ever be able to express the great pleasure and pride I get each and every time I pass by this on my wall.  It is a reminder of how far I have come and how much more is possible if I put my mind to it.  It is a reminder that the only thing holding me back for so many years was myself. And most importantly of all it is a reminder that life really does begin at the end of your comfort zone.  I think of all the great times I have had, with such a great group of friends not only earning each one of these but also training for them. Eight medals and counting (two of which I earned this week)!!! Keep Going Green!!!
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There are no words that will ever be able to express the great pleasure and pride I get each and every time I pass by this on my wall. 

It is a reminder of how far I have come and how much more is possible if I put my mind to it. 

It is a reminder that the only thing holding me back for so many years was myself.

And most importantly of all it is a reminder that life really does begin at the end of your comfort zone.  I think of all the great times I have had, with such a great group of friends not only earning each one of these but also training for them.

Eight medals and counting (two of which I earned this week)!!!

Keep Going Green!!!

Races, a lot of races in the next 14 days

The last few days have been kickboxing classes with a large amount of various extras at either the half way point or near the end of the session.

My legs were a bit sore from the 4 miles I ran/jogged on Wednesday but my feet have been feeling so much better in these new Brooks I picked up last weekend.  What a difference they seem to be making - which is great.

Really looking forward to the Beach Dash tomorrow over at Montrose Harbor there are about 15-20 of us going, so it will be a fun afternoon. 

Then on Thursday July 19th I have a 5k that is the second race of the local park district series here in Joliet. 

I am considering signing up for the Rock and Roll Mini Marathon on Sunday July 22nd but not sure yet, as I then have the Hero Rush event on the 28th.  That would be four races in 14 days! So may or may not happen.

Some (including me) my think that is a bit overboard, but at least my weekends are filled up with active events and races this summer - unlike any other summer of my life before this!  And I am loving every minute of it - even the tough, hot, painful ones :)  Plus a well adorned medal hanger isn’t such a bad thing either!

Rockdale Ramblin’ Run 10k COMPLETED!!!

(This photo includes some of the greatest people I have ever had the chance to know.  They all challenge, motivate and inspire me to do more than I ever dreamed possible. To say I am better for knowing each of them would be a massive understatement)

Today was the Rockdale Ramblin’ Run my first ever 10k distance race and it is billed as the Toughest 10k in the Midwest.  Not sure how accurate that is but it does include many hills along the way which certainly added to the challenge. 

Once again I found myself heading out into a race of uncharted territory in terms of my personal distance - my longest run previously was 5miles.  But I did it!

My pace is about normal for me - I matched my time for my previous all flat 5mile race - at the 5 mile marker on this hilly course so I consider that a personal best for sure.  And I know many others walk faster than my jog - but considering the shape I was in a year ago and how I struggled to run my entire life this is pretty freaking HUGE to me to be covering these distances!!!

Heart rate would really spike (170s) when I was running up the hills but as the chart shows I was able to get it back down again each time a hill was completed so that also feels like great progress.  And this race is just under half of a Half Marathon which I now feel even more confident I can train up to by January!

Considering this is the longest race I have done I guess I was hoping that the medal would have been equally as substantial but that wasn’t quite the case with this little dog tag style award we got. 

In either case it counts as a medal and that brings my total count up to 5 now!