On Sunday I decided to fly under the radar and run a small, local half marathon called the Bridge2Bridge Half Marathon. This race was just what I needed.
Ready for the perfect race vacation? It's time to checkout this incredible Santa Barbara half marathon filled with extras like WINE, yoga, and killer medal.
I'm compelled to write a Wineglass Marathon race recap as I recently ran it on October 6th, 2019. It is hosted in Corning, NY, a lovely, quaint town in beautiful western New York. The point to point marathon begins in Bath, New York, and winds via country roads through small communities and farm land. The
I was given free entry to run the Bolder BOULDER, but I was not paid for this post. All opinions are always my own.Prior to running the Bolder BOULDER 10k I had never been to Boulder, CO. I had actually never been out of the Denver airport except one time for field hockey camp in high school and that was in Colorado Springs. Boulder is beautiful. Have you ever had a feeling when visiting somewhere that THAT was where you were suppose to go to college? I had that feeling and it was a little weird. I flew in Sunday to Denver, got my rental car, and drove out to Boulder. The “expo” is held on Pearl Street which is an outdoor mall. It had a huge selection of vendors, not to mention all the other stores that are always there like Newton running, Patagonia, Free People, and much more. I checked into the Hampton Inn and Suites Boulder-North and enjoyed a quiet evening. I woke up at 5:15am to head to the race. The Boulder BOLDER 10k is the 4th largest road race in the US. It has 50,000 runners, but is managed VERY well. There are numerous small waves that go off every minute. The first set of waves are for time qualifiers. They even have waves for walkers who want to enjoy the race. The whole feeling of the Boulder BOLDER was organized, but with a laid back and calm vibe. I had heard that some people dress up for this race and decided that since it had been raining in Colorado for like 20 days straight days I would go with a water theme. I was in wave EE. There are awesome volunteer that hold ropes between the corrals and walk you up to the starting line. While the waves are only a minute apart I never felt like the course was overly crowded or congested. Some people dress in really fun costumes. There were bands the whole way. I even found Elvis! Apparently he lives and just hangs out at the Bolder BOULDER. One house is known for the slip and slide out front. It was a little cold for me, so I didn’t participate in the slip and sliding, but had it been a warmer day I totally would’ve. I’m a sucker for a slip and slide. Living at sea level and running a race at a high altitude had me a little scared, but it wasn’t bad at all. The summit of the course elevation is 5,391 ft which is pretty high. I felt great though. The weather was around 53 degrees and the sun was out. It was gorgeous. Perfect morning for a run. The race finished at the huge stadium at University of Colorado Boulder. It was pretty cool hearing cheers from the stands. The Bolder BOULDER doesn’t have a medal, BUT you do get a beer at the end. I had a really great time running the Bolder BOULDER and I understand why many people consider this race a classic. It is nice that this is a race a whole family can participate in together.
I'm compelled to write a Wineglass Marathon race recap as I recently ran it on October 6th, 2019. It is hosted in Corning, NY, a lovely, quaint town in beautiful western New York. The point to point marathon begins in Bath, New York, and winds via country roads through small communities and farm land. The
Irvine Half Marathon race recap and results. Highlights from the expo, parking, course, weather, post race party and more!
Hi! I ran the Run Through Redlands half marathon this morning. I had a surprisingly good race. Here is my Redlands race recap and results…. (let me know if you ran a race or had a training run below too) Let’s start from the beginning… I signed up for the race online and got my ... Read More about Redlands Half Marathon Results and Recap
Revel Run Race Series Marathon Big Bear race recap and top 10 list. The best miles of Revel Big Bear and running with my friend
Contributor Tanya headed to Dallas Savage Race for her first Savage Race experience. Find out why she gave it a 5 out of 5 for the event.
Boston Marathon packing list. Tips for what to bring to the Boston Marathon race starting line. Check list for pre run food and must haves
Surf City Marathon Results and Race Recap. Course and Expo tips for the Surf City Run in Huntington Beach, CA.
I'm sharing my recap of the 1/2 Sauer 1/2 Kraut Half Marathon, a fun German-themed race in Philadelphia!
Running the Paris Marathon this year? I ran in 2019 and finally broke 4 hours! Here's my advice for what to expect.
You've heard of Seawheeze, but you're missing out on so much more fun thanks to the Lululemon 10k. Here's my review and recap!
My goal for the 2016 Cleveland Turkey Trot was to run and have fun. Here's my review and recap of this "Cleveland Tradition."
The 2018 Cleveland Half Marathon may be over but I've got plenty of lessons to learn from it. Here's my review of the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon and race recap!
OC half marathon results and recap. Race day tips and review of the course. AND Foam Rolling vs. Stretching - which is better? Which one should you do after running a race
Los Angeles Marathon Race Results and photos. Best of the course and LA Marathon tips for runners training for the popular
PCRF half marathon 10k 5k run recap and results. The half marathon in Irvine has a kids race too. SoCal race discounts for this and other races on my coupon page
I'm all about chocolate. I'm also all about running. But I have never done a chocolate-themed race. Enter the Chocoholic Frolic. I was approached, several months ago, about being an ambassador for the Iowa City venue. In exchange for promoting the event on various social media channels and shout-outs, I received some swag and a free registration (I opted for the 10K, but there also was a 5K race as well as 1K for the little ones). Since I already had a few other 10K's on the roster, as well as the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-miler, another 10K thrown into the mix would fit nicely with my spring schedule. The more, the merrier...am I right? Race morning dawned with moderately cool temps (high 30F's), but intermittent sunshine. There also was quite bit of wind...like 20+mph wind, thank you very much. At least it wasn't raining or snowing, as had been forecast earlier in the week (glass half full). The race course was an out-and-back route, along a paved trail at the Terry Truebood Recreation Park. The 5K and the 10K shared the same course, only the 5K route had its turn-around earlier. Race Day Preview Typically, I honor the notion of "nothing new on race day," but I chose to make an exception for this race. The red 1/4-zip jackets were so cool, I couldn't resist! I'm a big believer in bright colors, after all, so race day karma be damned. I got to the race site with plenty of time to use the (indoor) restroom and do some dynamic stretching and warm-ups. As we stepped outside, to line up, I instantly regretted not wearing an additional layer (I already had a fleece-lined base layer under the race jacket) because the wind felt so cold. The first mile was a partial loop around Sand Lake. What started as a tail wind, quickly became a ferocious cross wind and then a powerful head wind as we rounded the lake. As we approached the 5K turn-around (near the 1.5-mile mark), we entered into a bit of woodland setting, giving us some shelter from the wind. There was a water stand (stocked with water AND chocolate) at the 5K turn-around. I grabbed a quick drink of water and continued onward. I'm never, and I do mean NEVER, able to gauge my pace in the first mile of most races. I run based on how I feel, so I'm usually running "comfortably strong." Sometimes, that comfortably strong pace gives me a much-too-fast start; sometimes it has me at an easy pace that will not burn me out too quickly. Having just run a 10K (on a warm Florida evening), I was secretly hoping to beat my finish time...but knew I needed to go out much slower than I had done eight days prior at the other race. I had glanced at my Garmin and saw the first mile was at 8:29, which is moderately fast for me, but not in the danger zone. I knew I would need to ease up a bit, though, to get through the remaining 5.2 miles. As I made my way towards the 2nd mile mark, the route started to curve and I could feel the wind (again) in my face. We did have some shelter, among the trees, but the wind was still very much a force to be reckoned with. The trail through the park was nice! I'd imagine it to be quite scenic with leaves on the trees and renewed vegetation, later in the season. Eventually, I made it to the 10K turn-around, and breathed a huge sigh of relief as I grabbed a cup of water. Having fought the wind for the previous (almost) two miles, it was nice to know I'd have a tail wind for awhile on the return trip back. Although I had been cold at the start, I warmed up quickly, especially after getting past that first mile around the lake. I glanced at my watch at each mile-mark, to reassure I was (hopefully) staying near a 9-minute pace. As I passed the 5-mile mark, I could feel my legs start to move a little faster....until we were back out in the open...going back around the lake. Holy Frozen Face, Batman! That wind was brutal! I had kind of forgotten about my pace as I put all of my energy into fighting the crazy head wind, and it felt like I was barely moving because the wind was so strong. I kept my head down, and just kept pushing forward, hoping the wind would lighten up for just a minute (spoiler alert--it didn't). I saw the timing clock above the finish line, and thought it read 55:xx. Not a PR, but definitely a decent finish considering how crazy the wind had been. I clicked off my watch. A gal handed me my medal (with a candy bar), and I made my way towards the building, eager to get inside! windy hair, don't care It wasn't until I got inside, and saw my official finish time, that I realized what I'd just done. My Garmin is difficult to read with my sunglasses, so I hadn't gotten a good vision of what it actually said...it hadn't said 55:xx (and neither had the timing clock outside), it had said 53:59! What's more, when they pulled up my official time...it showed 53:57, and that I'd gotten first in my age group. Wow. Seriously? Honestly, I was in such disbelief, for several minutes. I had run the Florida 10K in 54:51; that race had felt hard, but it also felt like I ran it "faster." To have run this 10K, almost an entire minute faster, when it seemed like I was barely moving (due to the wind) left me dumbfounded. Along with the medal, we all received a candy bar at the finish line! The box of chocolates was my 1st place AG award. In addition to the 1st place AG (out of 7 other gals), it showed I finished 33rd out of the 97 total 10K participants. I suspect, had the weather been a teensy bit warmer, there would have been more participants. The 5K had 212 finishers (some of which were walkers). Over all, I thought this was a neat event. The weather was a buzz kill, but that's at the mercy of Momma N. Although there was plenty of race information (regarding packet-pick-up, course maps, etc.) on Facebook, I would have liked some pre-race communication, via email. First world probs, I know, but I have gotten spoiled by email alerts and reminders in the weeks/days leading up to race day. The chocolate along the course was a nice touch (though I didn't grab any of it). The medals are nice, though they do not indicate the particular venue (there also were 5K's/10's recently in Sioux Falls SD, Appleton WI, St. Paul MN, Dallas TX and San Antonio TX)., but that's not a deal breaker for me. Can you tell it was a windy day? The race jackets are light-weight, and oh-so-colorful! I like that the logo is actually a sewn-on patch and not just a vinyl imprint. A few keeping-it-real notes: ***My splits were somewhat consistent (8:29/8:56/9:00/9:04/8:40/8:44); it isn't too tough to spot the miles run against the head wind. ***Initially, I thought this was a 10K PR for me (having believed my current PR had been in the 54:xx range). It turns out, upon digging through several old race bibs, I actually ran a 10K in 53:46 (2012). That was before I had a Garmin, and it was a (somewhat) small-town event...so I have no idea how accurate the distance actually was on that other race course (and never will know). ***It took me a couple days, but I realized that this 10K course was actually a bit short. According to my Garmin, the course was 6.14 (and not 6.2), but my pace still was a tiny bit faster than that previous Florida race (ha ha! So, I'm still quite content on my finish time). So, there you have it. Another 10K (for 2019) in the books. Have you ever done a chocolate-themed race? Ever fought the wind and ran a surprisingly fast time? How do you feel about the 10K distance...too short, too long, or just right? I'm linking this with Kim and Zenaida for the Tuesday Topics Link-Up **I'm also linking this with Debbie and Rachel and Marc and Lora for the Running Coaches' Corner Are you following me on social media? Let's connect : Facebook Instagram Pinterest
If you’re debating whether to run Grandma’s Marathon (or half marathon, or 5K!), I hope this race review convinces you to do it! I was beyond pleased with the 45th running of Grandma’s Marathon on June 19th, 2021. This was my 15th marathon, and is definitely high on my favorite's list. This race is often
Adding an adventure race to my endurance resume has been a long time coming, and I cannot tell you how excited I was to have the opportunity to run my first AR in my current home town. But before I tell you all about the Independent Republic Adventure Race, held here in Myrtle Beach, I've got to give you a little background story.
Crew Chief, Matt Willis recounts another wet and muddy Spartan Race outside of Houston, Texas. Check out his muddy account of the Spartan Houston Race.
2019 Sadlers Creek Stumble 24 hour ultramarathon recap - Lake Hartwell, South Carolina
Disclosure: As part of a Tampa Bay Bloggers and Color Me Rad partnership, my daughters, friends and a handful of Run DMT fans received Color Me Rad entries in exchange for my honest review. The opinions shared are my own....
Lyon was my 7th half marathon and definitely one of my favorites. Here's what I thought about the expo and course, and reflection on my performance.
If you’re debating whether to run Grandma’s Marathon (or half marathon, or 5K!), I hope this race review convinces you to do it! I was beyond pleased with the 45th running of Grandma’s Marathon on June 19th, 2021. This was my 15th marathon, and is definitely high on my favorite's list. This race is often
On August 24, 2019, I finally became an ultra runner. I'm so proud of myself and quite humbled. Check out my experience at the Moebius 50K!
I came, I saw, I conquered. I’ve officially completed my tenth half marathon at the third annual Rock Hall Half Marathon on Sunday. And what a great day, it was! Aside from my own race, I had a few runners out […]
Half Marathon morning routine for race day. Pre run steps for a great half marathon, 5k, 10k race. What I eat, the gear I love and
Hi, guys! I ran my 5th Falmouth Road Race yesterday, and it was a total blast! I know I’ve said this in previous blog posts, but the Falmouth Road Race is truly the best race ever. The course is absolutely gorgeous,...
Ever wondered what virtual races were all about? Check out "Virtual Race Recap: Gone for a Run 10K Challenge" for a review of my first virtual race!
The runDisney Disneyland Paris Inaugural half marathon was run this past weekend. How'd it go? Fantastique! See the pictures and the buzz around this race!
If you’re debating whether to run Grandma’s Marathon (or half marathon, or 5K!), I hope this race review convinces you to do it! I was beyond pleased with the 45th running of Grandma’s Marathon on June 19th, 2021. This was my 15th marathon, and is definitely high on my favorite's list. This race is often
I'm so excited to share my recap of running the Buffalo Half Marathon in 2017! This is a wonderful race that I highly recommend!
Pros and cons of the Platte River Half Marathon in Colorado - our first race at altitude might have been rough...but beautiful.
This past weekend Conquer The Gauntlet (CTG) kicked off their 2016 season with their first race in Wichita. Not surprising, CTG brought out some of their toughest obstacles to the start of the season off with a bang.
I'm sharing my recap of the America Runs Virtual 5K. It's a great opportunity to earn some awesome swag!
What a day at the races! I'm back with the 2019 edition of the Cleveland Half Marathon race review and recap. Find out what made it so memorable -- and what I wish I could forget.
Looking for a sweet race? Look no further than the Allstate Hot Chocolate race! See my full write-up of the Nashville Hot Chocolate 2020 15k race recap!
Lebanon is not a country known for obstacle racing but contributor Evan Perperis checks out Hannibal Race in Awkar to compare racing in the US and abroad.
Today I'm sharing my official Race Recap: Grandma's Marathon 2017. Plus, five things I did that went right for this race!
