Nick’s Run Double Challenge 5k & 10k Recap

Posted by hellyontherun in 10k, 5k, Race, Running and tagged with 10K, 5k, Angels for Athletes, GVP Runs, Local Races, Nick's Run, PR, Run Local February 22, 2016

I FINISHED 3RD FEMALE OVERALL!!!!!

Okay, I just needed to yell that. Oh, and it was the 5k where that happened. 😀

Lemme start at the beginning.

As I’d mentioned before, I was the ambassador for this race and was very, very excited to be a representative out there. I went in with the intention of have fun and using it as a training run for Phoenix Half next weekend. That was the plan.

My high school running buddy Nadia was also doing the double challenge and she also planned on taking it easy. This pleased me because I’d have a running buddy and really, it would be my one chance to run with her (she’s way faster than me).

The 10k was first and we plodded along nicely at around a 9 minute pace. We chatted the entire way and eventually had no idea where we were in the park. Luckily the race had ample volunteers directing us because we were not paying any attention, lol! We rolled along and around mile 5 Nadia wanted to slow down and I decided to stick to the groove I was in. I finished the 10k at 55:05 with an 8:49/mile pace. Felt good the entire way.

The 5k was next and started about 30 minutes after the 10k. Nadia was going to stick to 9 minutes but I wanted to be around the 8:30-8:45 mark so we decided to go at it solo. I looked around the crowd one last time in search of my husband–he was meeting me before the start as my daughter would participate in the Kid’s Run after the 5k. I didn’t see him so when the horn blew, I began to run. I was going along nicely when at about a half mile in we approached the first turn. From where I was, I could count the people in front of me and saw that I was the third girl at that point. When we rounded the corner, I could see the crowd behind me and saw that the next couple of girls were a bit aways. This might be my only chance to place overall! Any plan I had at that point was out the window and I picked up the pace.

Just after the first mile, 7:55, I saw my husband and daughter and he caught this pic of me capturing how happy I was to see them

I kept it going, feeling good and mile two beeped at 7:58. I was still 3rd female.

When we reached the final mile, I began to speed up a little as I saw I was close to a PR. I figured I was so close, I might as well give it a shot. The race ended with a little uphill but I finished mile 3 at 7:39 and managed to beat my previous 5k time (and remain 3rd female!) at 23:55!!

As soon as I grabbed my medals I walked towards my husband and dragged him to the screens displaying runners’ finishing times. There I was, my name next to third female overall!!!

I know that this will very likely NEVER happen again (and thank goodness for small races, lol) so I’m glad I was able to finish strong despite having ran a 10k before.

But my bad luck with race awards continues…

Remember how at FroYo 10k my chip time never registered so I missed out on an Age Group award? Well Nick’s Run only awarded 1st and 2nd overall places ONLY!!!

WHOMP, WHOMP!!!!!

No 3rd place overall award for me 😦

It’s all good though because I can still say that at one point in my life I did that, lol!

On a positive note, they mail out Age Group awards and my times put me at 1st in my Age Group for both the 5k and 10k so I should be getting those! Super yay!

The best part of the race though???

THIS

Waiting for go time to start her Garmin ❤

I think she likes to run.

My daughter had an absolute blast running her race. The 2-4 year old distance was perfect for her and she ran the entire way by herself. I was such a proud mommy!!!

Admiring our medals

This was such a great race. Very well organized–like I’d mentioned earlier, the race was in a huge park and the course took you through several loops. There was a volunteer at EVERY turn directing you. I even saw the race director himself on the course pointing runners in the right direction.

And the medals. GORG.

I strongly encourage runners to race locally. So much thought is put into it and you can see how people truly care about the event taking place.

Plus, running smaller races gives you a chance to place 😉

–Do you run local races?

–Ever placed overall in a race? (Like Suzy, winning the whole damn thing in her first 5k)

–Have you raced two (or more) distances back to back?

FroYo Race Pics and More

Posted by hellyontherun in 10k, 5k, Race, Running and tagged with FroYo, Half Marathon Training, Nick's Run, Phoenix Marathon, Race Pictures, Running February 19, 2016

Happy Friday!!

Short post today but wanted to share with you pics from FroYo. There were a couple I liked, but it wouldn’t be Helly’s blog if I didn’t share the ones that weren’t so great, lol!

If you recall from my recap, I wrote that I fist pumped my way through the finish line. I wasn’t lying 😀

And while they didn’t get me with full pumps in the air, you get the idea. I was so ridiculously happy to snag a PR.

I also mentioned in my recap how I struggled with my earphones. It was right at the start actually when they started to fall out and here’s proof:

LOL @ my face!!!

Of course, I got it together and just went with it.

These pictures were free so that was another cool feature of the race. I finally did get a response from the race director and while it’ll be a while for them to fix/add my time, it will get done. I’m a little bummed they’ll be using my time and not their chip time (you know, sometimes you gain a few seconds 😉 ) but it’s okay, I’m just glad it’ll be taken care of. As far as my age group placement, I had to be there to accept the award anyway…

I have Nick’s Run this Sunday and I’m super excited. Their medals look super cool and I’ll be getting the Double Challenge one since I’m doing the 5k and 10k back to back. I don’t plan on “racing” as I figured this would be my long run leading up to Phoenix 1/2 next weekend. The 5k is tempting to race but I don’t want to do anything foolish.

I had originally not planned to “race” Phoenix 1/2 as I didn’t think I’d be ready with less than 6 weeks to train, but now I’m toying with just going for it and seeing what I can do, given I had a good 10k last week and have been doing well with the training I have done so far. What are your guys’ thoughts?

My only qualm is that I haven’t done any double digit long runs. I did a 9 miler 2 weeks ago, (my 10k last weekend), and I’ll be doing 9.3 this weekend (BUT, I plan on adding a warm mile and cool down mile to make it 11.3–it just won’t be done consecutively).

Anyway, those are my random Friday thoughts (not as short as I had said, lol!). I hope everyone has a great weekend!! Who else is racing??

Local peeps, there’s still time to register for Nick’s Run!! Check out the bling!

www.nicksrun.com

Nick’s Run Ambassador

Posted by hellyontherun in 10k, 5k, About Me, Race, Running and tagged with 10K, 5k, Ambassador, Arizona Running, Gemini Virgo Productions, Nick's Run, Run Local February 5, 2016

One of my goals for 2016 is to run more local races. I’m very lucky to live in an active community and there are no shortages of races and events to participate in.

When I began searching for local races to fill up my calendar with, I came across Nick’s Run and was immediately intrigued. I like running locally because most often the race is benefiting an organization or charity and that really adds to the meaning of running the race. I feel like my money is going towards me and someone else.

Nick’s Run was started because of a boy who was seriously injured in a hockey accident. Nick was 16 and doing something he loved, never thinking that it would someday risk his entire life.

He fought hard to recover and when he did, he didn’t let the near death experience keep him from his sport, and he returned to the hockey rink unafraid.

What bravery! I’m not sure that at 16 I would’ve had the strength to go back to something that almost cost me my life. At 31, I’m not sure I would!

Nick’s Run helps support Angels for Athletes, a non-profit organization aimed at getting children and teens more involved and active in recreational and competitive sports. As a mom of two toddlers and high school teachers, wanting my kids and students to get involved is always something I strive to encourage them to do.

Being an ambassador for this race is helping me do that on a larger scale and I’m so excited and grateful, as I’ve never been the sole ambassador for race before. I never knew where this blog would take me when I first started, but I’m surely glad it’s given me a platform where I can give back to my community. ❤

If you’re interested in participating in Nick’s Run February 21st, use HELLY5 for $5 off the 5k, 10k, or Double Challenge. A Kids’ Run is also offered at $5 (discount does not apply).

–-Do you like running local races? Is there one in your town you really like?