Gaffney Peach Festival 5k

If you've seen House of Cards, this peach might look familiar....

I took this on the way home, but it's a popular symbol of Gaffney.

We got up way too early this morning to travel to Gaffney for a 5k. It was the goal race for the Fleet Feet Training Program that I mentored  the last 10 weeks or so. Gaffney is 90 minutes from my house, so we had to be in the car by 5:30. Luckily, the owner of Fleet Feet went early and picked up all of our bibs or I would have needed to leave even sooner!

The ride was painless and parking was a breeze. As I walked to Fleet Feet's tent, I saw this sign and started to worry about the race. It seemed a little thrown together, know what I mean?

 There was a lot of confusion at the start, the 10k runners didn't all know where to go and many of them were lined up with the 5k runners. 

They got it all straightened out and then, after a prayer, the race began. It's the first race I've ever been to that didn't start with our anthem, so it was a new experience for me!

The race started uphill, yikes! I was pacing Linda who wanted to do 2:1 intervals. This was her race and not mine, so we moved at her pace. It was a beautiful course, and it looped through town and back to where we started. 

It wasn't hot but it was very humid, and very hilly, so we took it a little easy and kept it as close to the 2:1 as we could. 

The one water stop was at around mile 1.75 and they handed out full sized water bottles instead of cups of water, which I loved in that weather. I had my Nathan fuel belt and plenty of water, so I didn't take one. 

It was so great to cross the finish line with all of the Fleet Feet runners cheering us on. Some of the coaches met up with us and ran us in, and did the same for the runners who finished behind us. I'm not gonna lie, it made me a little teary.

Afterwards, Linda thanked me for helping her finish and a woman we didn't know thanked us as well. She was running a little behind us and was using my encouragement to run the race. It really made that 90 minute drive worth it! 

After the race, I handed out some Shower Pill wipes and used one to clean up. I was soaking wet! It felt amazing to be sweat free and in clean dry clothes. 

There were some outlets near by, so I finished up my steps and a few thousand extra doing some shopping.

Did you race this weekend?

Flat Mama Friday

Tomorrow is the Gaffney Peach Festival 5k, and I'm running as a mentor with Fleet Feet Fort Mill! So excited, although not so much about the 5:30 wake up call!

Thursday Training Update

Another week, another update! I took it a little easy last week and will again this week, because training for NYC starts on the 18th!

Thursday I tried a new Boot Camp. It was insane, I loved every minute of it. But, it's super mega expensive after the trial is over so I'm not going back. I'm bummed, because it was perfect, until you factor in the ridiculous cost. Ridiculous. Insane. I'm disappointed, because it's not really worth what their asking, even if I went every day of the month. Which I can't. Because NYC. I'm laser focused on that!

 

Friday I went on a 4 mile hike because the weather was insanely perfect that morning. It didn't last! It's been ultra hot out ever since!

Saturday was our last Saturday run with Fleet Feet. I don't usually take pics, for privacy and all. 2.75 sweaty miserable miles but they all worked it, and it was awesome. I stayed with the interval runners and we banged it out.

We also went bowling with friends. The girls won and the boys maintain that they let us win because happy wives make happy lives. I'm not sure that's accurate though. The letting us win part. The other part is totally accurate.

Sunday was a lazy day. We ran a lot of errands that day, so maybe not too lazy. We spent the day looking at cabinets and shelves for our living room, and pretty much decided to try for built ins. Which are expensive. We will figure it out eventually!

Monday I ran the American Four Miler with some crazy local friends. It was super humid and very hilly, but also very beautiful. I got to see a lot of Dilworth, which I haven't seen much of before!

We also played a round of cornhole at our clubhouse but we got creamed by a pair of very polite 12 year olds. For real. Their parents should be super proud, they even  shook hands at the end. 

Tuesday was another rest day. Monday just about killed me. We spent all day outside and I don't do well with heat. 

Wednesday I decided to try out my Wii Cardio Boxing game. I've had it before but we have the WiiU now so I'm starting from scratch. Gold's Gym makes it, it's a lot of fun, and it thinks I have a fitness level half my age, so I'll be playing this all the time.

So, not a terrible week, but it could be better. I've been maintaining my pre-training weekly mileage of 10 miles a week, but I look forward to raising those numbers. If only the heat would cooperate.....

Wordless Wednesday

American Four Miler Recap

I'm so glad I went to bed early on Sunday night! I had a 5:45 wake up call, and slept horribly, but I dragged my butt up and headed to Charlotte for the American 4 Miler. 

I met up with Nicki, Robert and Kristen and we all lined up together to run. Nicky and Robert were doing a 30:45 run walk. Kristen was doing some 2:1 and since I needed to beat feet home afterwards for a golf cart parade, I stuck with Kristen. 

It wasn't hot but it was so humid that by Mile 1 we were already soaking wet. Ugh. We finished mile 1 and 2 in under 13 minutes but the hills and humidity were not our friend for miles 3 and 4.

The scenery in Dilworth was amazing, so I snapped a few pics on our walk breaks.

There was only one water stop, but I brought my own and didn't take any because it looked like they were running low.

I finished with a 13'11" average mile which I was pretty happy with!

At the finish, they had Gatorade, water, juice, and snacks. I grabbed some and beat feet to the parking lot so I could head home. They had an awesome band at the finish line, and Nicky and Robert hadn't finished yet, so I was bummed, but the Boy was waiting and he comes first!

I got this awesome towel at Fleet Feet. It protects your seat and it also covers you while you change your clothes in parking lots. 

And it's pretty.

I made it home with 5 minutes to spare! Whew! We loved being in our first Walnut Creek parade, throwing candy to the kids!

Happy 4th of July

Just a few pictures from the first half of our day. Happy Independence Day to you all.

Flat Mama Friday

I haven't had one of these in almost a month! On Monday, I am running the American Four Miler in Charlotte, NC. I'm so excited! Happy weekend y'all!