Greensboro Run for Autism

Bryan and I participated in this run on Saturday.  It was a BEAUTIFUL day for running!  There was no humidity and it wasn't hot.  That was great for my breathing.  I did use my inhaler before the race, but I always do that.  I made it to mile 3 before I even stopped to walk.  That's a big deal for me.  normally I'll make it about a mile to a mile and a half.  Outside running on the road normally takes a pretty big toll on my breathing.  Especially if I don't have something to distract me.  I am SO thankful that iPods were allowed for this race.  I needed the distraction. 

Did I mention that the run in Greensboro was supposed to be a 10k?  It was actually a little longer.  Just a smidge...like a quarter of a mile more, lol.  It turned out to be 6.5 miles.  I had never run that far before.  I did manage to finish it though.  I shaved another 30 seconds per mile off of my run time (which was awesome!) and finished in an hour and 21 minutes.  That was a little less than 12.5 minutes a mile.  I'm improving!

So anyway.  I have to share this funny moment.  Bryan and I were probably getting close to mile 4 running down the road.  *Remember, we're running the back roads of Greensboro.  It's all farmland out there.*  I just happened to look down and noticed I almost stepped on this monstrous sized spider.  Oh...no...Jackie does NOT do spiders.  Not big ones, not medium sized ones, not small ones...not even ones you can barely see moving.  No way...nuh uh...no sir.  I freaked out and practically started dancing while I was running.  Bryan looked at me like I was nuts because he couldn't really hear me (iPod).   Even the cops thought I was crazy.  I didn't know at the time, but Bryan explained to me later that one of them was pointing at me and giving me a weird look.  I think he was trying to figure out if I was okay.  NO I'M NOT OKAY!!!  Stupid spider.  Gave me the heebie jeebies.  Eww...

At the end of the race everyone got a tshirt and a medal!  Yay!  More to add to my scrap book!  Woohoo!  I don't have a picture in my shirt yet, but I'll add it later when Bryan can take it for me.

Next!

Bryan's already got us signed up for our next two events!  One is the Greensboro Fire Department 10K run for Autism, which is next weekend.  The other is Potomac Heritage Trail 50K.  Yeah...that's gonna be fun, lol.  That one isn't timed.  Only 100 people are allowed to sign up for it and it's already almost closed out.  From the pictures I've seen, it's going to be a beautiful run/walk. 

5 Miler update!

My previous road time for 5 miles was 72 minutes (previous treadmill was 66).  Today I ran the Navy 5 Miler race in 65 minutes!  I cut another 7 minutes off of my road time and a minute off of my treadmill time!  Awesome!  It's my personal best.  The hills (that might as well have been mountains...) were constant.  I kid you not!  I dreaded the 3 mile mark.  The next half of a mile was all uphill.  UGH!  I'm just glad a lot of the race doubled back because I got to go downhill as well, lol (i.e. the second half of the 3rd mile was all downhill).   That helped my time alot.  

The weather yesterday wasn't the best, but it wasn't the worst either.  It was 65 degrees and overcast for a while.  Then it started drizzling.  That wouldn't have bothered me, but it got really humid.  They humidity messes with my asthma pretty bad.  I probably would have finished the race a lot faster if it wasn't for the humidity and the never ending hills!  That and the fact that for the first 5 minutes of the race we were shuffling until people started to spread out more.  

I have to say that runners are some of THE most supportive people I've ever seen (apart from your family).  The whole time there are people cheering you on and offering water.  The runners that finish first come back to support and cheer for you.  Food and water was provided for everyone too.  There were also photographers taking pictures all throughout the race.  Not sure when those are gonna be posted.  

Sorry I couldn't finish this last night, lol.  I started writing it and was just too tired to finish.  It wasn't because of the race though.  It was because I had to get up at 5 in the morning!  Now that was killer.  Bryan and I were both too excited to go to bed early.  I crashed at 9:00 last night.  Those who know me, know that 9:00 is really early for me.  For more than a month I haven't been able to go to sleep until at least midnight.  I've tried, but I always manage to be awake until at least then.  I've gotta start forcing myself to get out of bed earlier.  We got up at 7:30 this morning, but still...gotta get up earlier so I can hopefully go to bed earlier.

I've got pictures of my shirt!  PLEASE excuse the very bad hair day.  My shirt was big too.  I still look really tired.  My eyes were swollen when I went to bed last night because I was so tired.

*Revision: I just found out now that 65  minutes was the time it took me to get over the finish line.  But the total time run (from actually stepping over the starting line to the finish line) was 64 minutes.  Bryan and I were kinda in the back of the pack starting off!

Pictures From the Alzheimer's Walk

The walk was held at the Regency Furniture Stadium, home of the Blue Crabs (minor league baseball). 

 

 

Knights of Columbus with Justin Hancock singing the National Anthem

Anthony Sudler, President Alzheimer's Association/NCA

U.S. and MD State Senators

People coming down onto the field

BAD lighting...but me in my shirt

And...the back

I have a Bib!

Check it out!!  Bryan and I have our bib numbers for the race!

Navy 5 Miler

Scroll down and find us!

Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk & The Navy 5 Miler

Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk (Waldorf) 

The Navy 5 Miler

 

My husband (Bryan) and I are really excited.  These are the first events that we'll be participating in.  

 

The Memory Walk that we're attending is a three mile walk.  No big deal for us because we walk all the time for family exercise.  It's relaxing.  We're excited to do it for a good cause.  Donations are welcome.  If I raise $100, I'll receive a t-shirt from the walk!  This cause is personal for me.  My husband and I are walking for a couple of very special family members of mine.  We want to do our part to raise awareness and further Alzheimer's research.

The Navy 5 miler was kinda sprung on me at the last minute...thanks honey!  I say last minute because I've only got about 3 weeks to get my lungs adjusted to running longer periods of time.  Asthma stinks.  It really does.  I'm not gonna let it hold me back though.  I want to get my name on the scoreboard.  In order for me to do that, I must finish the run in 90 minutes or less.  I ran/walked the 5 miles for the first time today on a treadmill in 72 minutes!  Now, I do understand that running on a treadmill and running on a track are VERY different.  I plan to practice on the regular track as well as the treadmill.  Wish me luck, it's not going to be easy.