race recap

Atlantic City Half Marathon: PR City!!

/ Jess / 2 Comments

I’m working on a full race recap for you guys as we speak, but I just had to let you all know – I earned a NEW PR at the Atlantic City Half Marathon this weekend!! I shaved 2+ minutes off my last half time, and about 6 minutes off of my time on this same course back in 2012 (when I tore my ACL at mile 12). I’m so close to a sub-2:50 half that I can taste it! I almost want to run another one like this weekend to prove to myself I can do it!

But either way, I’m going to call this one a WIN!

IMG_8250

Stay tuned for a full race recap!

Race Emotions: A Study in Photos

/ Jess / 1 Comment

I’ve been meaning to post this for a while. When I discovered these gems in a recent set of race photos, I had to share –  because I can’t be the only one who’s experienced something like this.

Let’s go back to the day of the Seaside Semper Five 5K. I’ll set the scene: It’s mile 2.9 and the finish line is in sight. For the first time in a long time, I realize that I can break 37 minutes in the distance. So I dig deep and push – hard. When I get to the final .1, I can see the clock: 36:35. It’s happening!

1Fig. 1: The Realization

I’m running, I’m running… and suddenly, I’m stonewalled. Someone (ahem, girl in gray) didn’t realize that she had to cross the timing mat about 20 feet further down the finish chute, and she decided to STOP and walk, directly in front of me.

2Fig 2: The “Don’t Panic, You Can Weave Around Her”

Instead of giving a nasty look for the race photographer to immortalize forever, I instead kept on smiling and changed my plans with gritted teeth. But I couldn’t maintain composure for long.

3Fig 3: The “COME ON!”

Hey, I’m only human.

Race Recap: Walk for Wishes 5K

/ Jess / 4 Comments

IMG_7699I’ll spoil the surprise for you: this 5K get a big thumbs up!

This race was a lot of fun – I originally hadn’t planned on doing it because of the ridiculous miles I was supposed to be putting in around these weeks. I didn’t want to register then have to drop out when a 20 miler knocked my ass out the day before! But when I re-prioritized and dropped to the half, a whole bunch of great fun run opportunities opened up to me – including this race! A friend of mine works with Make-A-Wish New Jersey, and when she invited me to come out and support a great cause I couldn’t turn her down! So when I woke up on Saturday, September 27th with a head cold and runny nose, I strapped all my gear on and added a package of tissues to the mix and went for it.

IMG_7676How could I not, with a view like this the whole run?!

It was a small-ish race of around 150 folks, starting in the newly refinished Liberty State Park (thanks, Hurricane Sandy). It truly was a gorgeous morning – not a cloud in the sky, warming up to around 70+, not even a breeze. The course was totally flat and led me along the water around Lady Liberty one way, then facing the NYC skyline the opposite way. Perfection!

I took my place near the back of the pack (as usual) with no expectations at all – this was purely a fun run. With all the cold meds in my system I anticipated finishing around 40 minutes, but what the hell. Fun run! An old friend turned out to be running the same race, and we chatted for a bit before the gun went off. Once we started, he took off and I chugged along and fell into step behind a gentleman with a nice backside (hey, I calls ’em like I sees ’em) and realized that he was pushing me to a good 10:30 pace – and I wasn’t even feeling it. Go figure!

photo 2Must have been the nice views on all sides (thanks, Mr. Nice Patootie Pacer)

The course took us about 1.4 miles in one direction before spinning us around and going back the way we came from. That meant that every single person that was faster than me had the distinct pleasure of watching me stop and blow my nose. I’d stop, blow, wipe, tuck my tissues away, and start up again, catch up to Mr. Pacer for a quarter mile, then do it all over again. Those poor folks got more than they bargained for, but hey – at least I wasn’t blowing snot rockets at them.

I made it a point to not look at my time until I had less than a mile to go. So once I hit 2.3, I glanced at my watch and saw somewhere around 30:xx. I was doing a lot better than I had planned! Even with all those runny nose stops, I was still on pace to finish under 40 minutes. Must have been my pacer for the first mile 😉

So I sucked it up (literally) and pushed for the last .75 or so – with one mandatory “stop now or risk a snot-filled finish line photo” pit stop. And wouldn’t you know it, I finished only 10 seconds slower than my last healthy 5k two weeks prior: 36:54!

IMG_7682That’s running happy if I’ve ever seen it!

I was thrilled – even with all those full stops, I was still only 10 seconds slower than my last race. I cursed myself for being sick and wondered just how fast I could have gone if I was healthy! Ah, fun runs. They bring out the competitor in me.

Afterwards, we were treated to an awesome spread of big soft pretzels (omg the most delicious things in the world), fruit punch (the second most delicious thing in the world), and a bunch of other post-run goodies.

IMG_7681And tissues. My god, so many tissues.

The Walk For Wishes was scheduled to start a bit later, so a good crowd had gathered to get ready and watch the award ceremony. There was even an impromptu dance party (so much fun!) – and the best party? We even got participant ribbons!

IMG_7688This will look so cool with all my medals!

After the excitement died down and the walk started, leaving the park pretty empty, I called it a day so that I could retire to the couch with my tissue box and blankie.

Overall it was a fantastic race and I can’t wait to return next year. Great job, Make-A-Wish NJ!

Race Recap: Seaside Semper Five

/ Jess / 10 Comments

This past Saturday, I ran in the Seaside Semper Five charity 5K down in Seaside Park, NJ – and it was fantastic! If you’re an NJ local, this is a must-run.

10296885_413475788793006_8083273667702440745_n

I first heard about it back in May or June, when the Seaside Semper Five Instagram account followed me and liked almost all of my running-related posts. I checked them out and learned that they were planning a 5K race on the Seaside boardwalk in September to benefit the Marsoc Foundation, which supports active duty and medically retired Marine Corps Special Operations Command personnel and their families, as well as the families of Marines who have lost their lives in their service. A nice short run on a beautiful boardwalk for a worthy cause? Count me in!

I convinced my friend Ashley (a fellow member of the Yoga Misfits) to run with me, and she recruited her husband as well.

10613026_10100395189045188_3749426650859722764_nHe was clearly thrilled about the endeavor.

It ended up being a cool, WINDY, cloudy-ish morning, which in the grand scheme of things, isn’t the worst running weather.

photo 1 (2)It sure made for pretty running scenery.

We hung out in the Sawmill debating on whether we would run in long sleeves or switch to tank tops (final tally me: tank, Ash: sleeves), and made our way outside to prep for the start.

photo 2

The Polish Runners. Our mascot is a flip flop.

After just a few minutes of the usual milling around waiting for the gun, we were off and running – at which point my left earbud promptly died at .15 miles in. Grrr. No matter, it was a great crowd with a lot of friendly energy, so I turned my volume down and settled into a nice 11:30 pace. I kept telling myself to slow down because I didn’t want to burn out – I’d been clocking 12-12:30’s throughout pretty much every training run below 10 miles since my injuries earlier this summer. But I felt so good – SO damn good – at 11:30 that I kept it up.

We ran for exactly 1.5 miles on the pavement right along the raised boardwalk, then turned left up onto the boards at a little water break at 1.5 and went back in the opposite direction for the last 1.6. I slowed for just a few paces to drink, thanked the volunteers at the water stop, then kept right on going. The wind was a little bit of a battle, but I still felt great at 11:30. I briefly thought it’d be cool to break 37 minutes, but didn’t bother doing any of the frantic mental math I usually do towards the end of a run to calculate my time. I just focused my energy – mental and physical – on pushing and finishing strong.

It was very cool to see the Marines running in formation at the very very end of the pack – as I neared the 2.5 mile mark, they passed me on the pavement below as they brought up the rear, chanting and carrying their gigantic flag. That gave me a little extra energy boost. So once I caught sight of the finish line, I gave my usual sprint for the last .25, and was super stoked to see 36:30!

0Fig 1: My stoked face, far right.

However, just as we got to the finish flag (not the timing mat), the girl in the gray t-shirt in front of me up there decided she had had enough, and STOPPED before the finish line. She evidently thought she’d crossed the finish line, but people even started yelling, “Keep going! Keep running, cross the mat!”

1Fig. 2: My “wait, is she really stopping directly in front of me?” fake smile because I saw the camera and didn’t want them to capture my bitch-face.

So I had to do some creative bobbing and weaving to get next to her, and officially crossed the mat at 36:44.

2Fig. 3: I have no excuse for this face. Not one.

All in all, it was a great race! We hung out for a while and watched the rest of the runners finish, cheered on some more Marines that ran it, and then Mike and I even hung out on the boardwalk for the rest of the day because we didn’t want to waste the $10 we paid in parking fees by leaving early.

photo 3Calories don’t count on the boardwalk. It’s science.

The only complaint I have is that the race was scheduled as the same day as ClownFest (yes, a festival for clowns), and I am TERRIFIED of clowns. What’s worse, the creepy stormy weather meant there were no kids around, so the clowns that were wandering around had no one to play with, leaving them to terrorize the adults. Much like sharks, they must be able to smell fear, because they were all over me. I didn’t realize I could have so many mini panic attacks in a row.

But in all honesty (ClownFest aside), it was a great race and I cannot wait to run it again next year. Thanks to the organizers for a very well-organized and fun event!

photo 5

Oorah!

A Polish 5K = 3.5 Miles

/ Jess / 3 Comments

Glossing over the fact that I lied to you last week when I said I would blog at least once a day (sorry!), this weekend was another eventful and active 48 hours that I can’t wait to tell you about!

It started on Saturday morning at our town’s local 5k. This is a fun one – usually only about 100 people at the most show up for a few hot, steamy miles around our town in support of our local first aid and fire department, ending at the swim club for a BBQ and a free day at the pool. Delightful! Or, it would have been delightful if it weren’t about 100 degrees by the time the gun went off at 9am. And if someone had monitored the course mapping. Because I about dropped dead when a volunteer at the 3.1 mile marker told me “You’re almost there, just another half mile over that hill!”

Yes, it turns out at Polish 5K is 3.5 miles.

the-more-you-knowOr at least it is in our town.

Either way, I finished, running through every damn firehose they had out on the course with my cousin who’s run this thing pretty much every year since it started – and it was a good time!

photo 4she posted this on IG with the hashtag #imoldershestaller

After the race, we spent a few hours blissfully hanging out in the pool – complete with high dive action! I faced my fears and did a half a cannonball off the highest board they have, but when my contact lens tried to make a break for it out of my eyeball as soon as I hit the water on my second jump, I called it a day.

photo 1point those toes!

I spent the rest of the day napping and watching Dirty Jobs because I secretly wish I was married to Mike Rowe, and told myself to prepare for the 7 miles I had to do in the morning.

The number 7 was on the schedule, but it scared me. I’d only run that distance a few times before for half marathon training. That kind of distance just doesn’t come naturally,  you know what I mean? Like I’m not one of those people that laces up after work and disappears for 7 miles. My town isn’t even that wide across, for crying out loud. BUT – when I opened my eyes at 8am Sunday, I told myself that this was the moment that would make or break my training. I could either roll over and say “Screw it, I’ll do it tomorrow” and have even less motivation on a Monday, or I could pop out of bed, get dressed, shut up and run the damn 7 miles because I have to run 26.2 in a few months and skipping this 7 won’t do me any favors.

I’m proud to say I went for option #2 and ran 7 miles – on a treadmill! By the time I finished my pre-long-run ablutions, it was about 92 degrees and 93% humidity. I was not about to die at mile 3, so I headed to the Y and picked a corner treadmill, where I proceeded to sweat my ASS off. Seriously, it looked like someone took a garden hose to the damn console by like the first mile. I was equal parts disgusted and impressed.

photo 2Note the one dry spot of the whole outfit near my right boob.

Full disclosure: I walked at least once a mile because I was seriously feeling the humidity. The Y – while temperature controlled – is still a really humid place. But I did the full mileage, even after doing 3.5 the day before. The most demoralizing part was having to re-start the treadmill after the first 60 minute time limit ended to finish the last 2 miles… It took a lot of discipline to hit start again, but I did it, and dammit, I earned the birthday cake I ate at my friend’s kid’s birthday bbq later that day.

The best part about running 7 miles and going to a BBQ? Holding it together for the length of the party just to come home and jump into compression socks before passing out on the couch for 2 hours:

photo 3No, seriously. I didn’t even change out of my dress.

So that was my active weekend – what was yours like? 🙂

Race Recap: Asbury Park Half Marathon

/ Jess / 10 Comments

This weekend I ran my first half marathon since tearing my ACL in mile 12 of my last one back in October 2012. And it couldn’t have been a better day if I had scripted it!!

My day started out with a bit of anxiety: after 18 months of no running/racing in major races, I had some serious stress dreams about getting to the start. So when 5:30 rolled around I woke up ready but not necessarily rested. I did my usual pre-run routine (coffee, peanut butter bread, half banana, bathroom), and once I slapped some eyebrows on (gotta look good for the race photographer!), I taped up my knees and got dressed, sticking with the tank and shorts & throwing my running rain jacket on at the last minute.

After a quick 25-30 minute drive, we got to the boardwalk and easily found parking – a huge bonus in my book! I was so nervous & couldn’t stop talking in circles – poor Mike kept talking me down, and finally he gave me a look that said he was considering using the KT tape from my knees to cover my mouth, and I kept my insecurities to myself. Bless his heart.

Image

Fig. 1: a terrified runner

We milled around at the start, waiting in the semi-ridiculous port-a-potty line and acclimating to the cold wet weather, when the sun broke through the clouds, causing a huge burst of applause from the crowd. That’s when I called an audible, took the jacket off, and lined up for the start.

Image

Fig. 2: terrified runner, faking optimism

The gun went off and after the usual jostling at the start, we were on our way! As I crossed the timing pad, “Born to Run” blared from a nearby radio station tent and I couldn’t help but smile. Asbury Park, Bruce Springsteen, the Jersey Shore, the gritty boardwalk, the finish at the Stone Pony: this race was made for me! I own this! It’s funny how one song can turn your mood around entirely 🙂

So, with my confidence soaring, I settled into a nice easy, conservative 11:30-12:00 min/mile pace and smiled the whole first 2 miles, listening to other runners near me at the back of the pack chatting happily and joking about how they only had “5 more hours to go!” These were my people!

We passed hungover hipsters watching us from the doorways of diners, couples walking their dogs, people getting coffee – it was a gorgeous spring Saturday morning and I felt like I could go forever. We did a nice slow loop around the lake and back along the boardwalk where we got a nice boost from the crowd that still lingered there – and I even got to snag an extra good luck kiss from Mike!

Image

Fig. 3: Happy runner 🙂

Miles 3-5.5 went one way out and miles 5.5-7 passed us in the other direction. It was motivating to pass the faster runners and snag some high-fives to power through. I stopped at the water station at 5.5 for a stretch and some water, then took some almonds and peanut butter M&M’s for energy (gels cramp my stomach) a bit later at 1:07. But I realized too late – I had no water! I mis-timed my stop and found myself jogging with a dry mouth full of paste (that tasted like smoked almonds and chocolate, ugh). I asked a nearby course volunteer where the next water station was and while she didn’t know, she magically reached into her pocket and pulled out a tiny bottle of water for me! I heard angels and saw the skies open up above her, and thanked her about 20 times as I jogged away, recharged.

The last 3rd of the race was along the boardwalk the entire way, and as we ran back past the start/finish area I found Mike one last time and smiled, for the camera, but I knew the rest of this race was going to be tough.

Image

powering through

I felt a little bit of fatigue, and looked forward to my planned walk breaks at Mile 10. Just after I passed Mike though, a tiny figure in a neon pink sweatshirt came out of the crowd right before the Casino pier and ran straight for me, screaming, “Jess! Yeah Jess GO!” – it was my friend Tina! I had totally forgotten that she was coming! I was grateful for the chance to stop and hug her, but she (being a seasoned runner with 7 [SEVEN!!] marathons under her belt) knew that if I stopped I wouldn’t start again. So she kept pace with me for about 50 yards, “You’re doing great! How are you feeling? How’s your knee? Can I get you anything at the finish?” I kept running. All I could get out was fragments: “I’m great! 5 and a half to go, knee is awesome, thanks but I’m good!” She trailed off just as I went through the abandoned pier, “Alright, we’ll be there at the finish, you’ve got this!!” I gave her a thumbs up and once I was inside the pier, I found myself sobbing.

I was so overwhelmed with the whole experience – I was running with my new ACL, on track to beat my old time, and here was this friend I completely didn’t expect and needed just at the right moment. I mean come on, no one understands a runner better than another runner. I heard my goofy sobs echoing around the empty pier – then realized that she was probably still only a few yards behind me, dummy, pull yourself together and run your ass off!

So run I did, and started to melt down around 10.5. The boardwalk was an unforgiving surface to run on, and my thin compression socks offered little in the way of cushioning. At every step I could feel every bump and nail in the boards under my feet. My good knee throbbed with every step, but as long as I alternated between jogging and walking, I was good.

I kept an eye on my watch, with my time to beat at 2:56; That was when I crossed the finish line after tearing my ACL in the AC Half. Even if I made it in at 2:55 I would call it a win. So when I passed mile 12 and saw 2:40 on the clock, I panicked. If I walked it at 15 mins/mile, I wouldn’t make it. I’d have to push. So I did.

And just as I came over the last bridge at mile 12.85, there was another friend – Bill. I pointed at him as I jogged towards him, as he stood there smiling at me, waiting to run me in. I had nothing left to give at this point; even speaking was impossible. I felt so bad – I couldn’t answer any of his questions, or even explain to him that I was so close to my time goal because I couldn’t breathe enough to say it!

And honestly, I hadn’t even said my goal out loud, ever. Saying it felt too real. If I came in after 2:56 I couldn’t bear the thought of having to hear everyone tell me, “Well you still did great!”.

So I speed walked, I jogged, and there was Tina and her boyfriend Joe, again at mile 13. This time she snapped a pic of me:

Image

I was laughing, yes – but I think hallucinating too.

I just had to make it up to the boardwalk and sprint the last .1 to finish. I said screw it and just RAN – I’m not even sure of that final pace – but when I could make out the numbers on the finish clock and saw 2:53, I burst into tears. I simply couldn’t hold the emotion in any longer, and crossed that finish line at 2:53:44, sobbing and wheezing.

When I cleared the finishers chute, I found Mike and could only make out the words “I beat my time!” before dissolving into full-on sobs. I hadn’t even told him about my goal, and I didn’t even have the oxygen to do so now! But he knew.

Tina and Bill joined us, for hugs and photos and chatting – it was amazing.

Image

Triumphant Runner 🙂

I felt like I was vibrating. I still do! It was an amazing experience and I enjoyed every moment of it. I left it all on the course and wouldn’t have done it any other way. This race was more than just a race, it proved to me that I could see something through to the end successfully. I guess when it comes to half marathons, my third time was really the charm 😉

The only negative things I can say had to do with the finish and expo/t-shirt pickup situation. When we all parted ways, I realized that I needed water, and maybe a banana or something. I was shaking and my legs were near giving out. But all they had available on the boardwalk near the finish were plastic cups of water – if I wanted anything else I had to walk about a half mile back into town off the boardwalk to the “expo” in a school gymnasium (where they were also giving out race t-shirts). Now, I’d just run 13.27 miles. That unpaved field I had to cross to get to the expo may as well have been made of lava and filled with crocodiles. I still remember standing at the corner, looking at the expo sign in the distance and asking Mike for a piggy-back ride because I couldn’t fathom walking that far!

But even with that, I’d give the Asbury Park Runapalooza about a B+. The expo was cute, the tech shirts are fun orange long sleeve shirts, and I even got a free leg massage after the race! This is definitely a race I can see myself returning to year after year!

medal

How about you? Did you race this weekend? I want to hear all about it!

I did it!

/ Jess / 4 Comments

I promise a full race recap later, but I just couldn’t let another hour go by without sharing the great news:

Image

I finished my first post-ACL surgery Half Marathon this weekend, AND I came away with a shiny new PR!!

I was able to shave a little over 3 minutes off my time, but more importantly, I crossed the finish line with both legs fully intact (and full-on ugly-cry face).

More to come later!

 

 

 

Piggies and Stairs and Long Runs, Oh My!

/ Jess / Leave a comment

What an active weekend I had! I like to think the buildup to Boston inspired me 😉

Let’s start with Saturday. A beautiful sunny warm spring day, I met up with a new friend for a virtual 5K down at the local park. We registered for this thing back in January, mainly because it’s a race that encourages the consumption of donuts, and you also get a fun pig nose to wear for ridiculous pictures afterwards. It was a win-win!

Image

Wow did we have more fun than expected.

We jogged and walked (this being my friend’s first 5K) and had a nice workout in the process – I managed a 8:30 pace for the last quarter mile and surprised even myself! So after we finished and posed for some hysterical pictures, we headed to Dunkin for our celebratory glazed with sprinkles (and iced coffee, of course), then strolled around town for a bit. My adventurous friend spotted the South Amboy train station steps and suggested we tackle them Rocky-style, and who was I to say no? My knee was feeling nice and strong thanks to the last month of serious training, so I went for it! 

Image

I blame my delusions on the donut-related sugar high.

In hindsight, I probably should have passed on the steps given my plans to run 10 miles the next day. I used to do stairs all the time, pre-surgery. But they’re a special kind of hell – one that I haven’t really experienced in over 18 months.

So I woke up feeling fine and set out for my last long training run and also my longest post-ACL surgery run! Immediately the wind became an issue, but I stuck it out – until mile 7.5. That’s when I hit the wall pretty hard, and briefly considered asking an elderly man sharing the path at the park with me for a ride on his Jazzy.

But this wall wasn’t like any other wall I’ve hit before – this wall was more like quicksand. In the past, my lungs would give up on me first, resulting in stitches in my side and constant stopping. But yesterday, it was all in my legs and hips. They wouldn’t turn over! My lungs felt absolutely fine, but my legs felt almost numb when I was running, and ached and throbbed when I stopped to walk for a drink. I alternated between walking and running the last 1.5 or so just to test my limits and see what I could do – and that pain was shocking! I kept at it though, and remembered that I’m only racing myself here. Time isn’t important, it’s getting the mileage in. So I kept at it. And at mile 9.4 I saw the best graffiti ever:

Image

Thanks, running path.

That gave me the push I needed to finish mile #10 and put my final long run in the books. I stretched and foam rolled, and later (after gorging myself on Easter deliciousness at my mother-in-law’s), I iced and used my TENS unit too. It wasn’t until about 9pm that I realized WHY I was so pained in the last half of my run – those damn stairs!!

So now I know: do not run up and down a flight of double stairs 6-8 times the day before a long run. Lesson learned.

What are some of the lessons you’ve learned (maybe the hard way) in your running? Let me hear it!

 

Race Recap: The Color Run

/ Jess / 4 Comments

Something I’ve come to enjoy (and actually seek out) on other blogs are the writer’s race recaps. There’s something satisfying about reading about someone’s race experience. Seeing them go through the same anxieties – and joys! – makes it not as scary to think “Hey, maybe I could take on a half marathon!” So here we go 🙂

Today, I’m going to recap my experience at The Color Run of New Jersey. Although I’ve got some reservations about calling it an actual “race”, it was a great experience! It was September of 2012, and I was looking for something fun to break up the monotony of my October half marathon training. The fact that the event was only a few miles away in Englishtown, NJ was a huge bonus, and hey – free t-shirt and great photo ops. How could I pass it up?

When we arrived, the line to pick up my number and t-shirt was ridiculously long. Like, think of how long you would consider “ridiculously” long, then double it. I think we waited almost 90 minutes. So while everyone around us enjoyed the party atmosphere, there we stood, growing more and more impatient (and desperate for a bathroom). Finally, I got my number and took my place in the corral. And I waited – again – this time for almost another 30 minutes. And I noticed that even after that ridiculous wait in line for my packet, they let just about everyone into the corral, bib or not! I had paid $35 and waited all that time, while people just wandered in and out of the crowd – more without numbers than with. But anyway…

blissfully unaware

blissfully unaware

Usually when I race, I race alone. This is OK. This is why I do it! It’s my “me” time. My time in the corral is spent getting loose, into the zone, psyched up, etc. This time, I went about it alllllll wrong. As I waited, I saw that I was basically the only person running alone. At times it seemed like I was the only one actually running. Because as it turns out, the Color Run is less of a “run” and more of a Color “Let’s All Meander Through a 3.1 Mile Course with Dozens of our Friends”. Which is awesome! But not what I expected.

So when it was finally my turn to start, I crossed the line and tore out of the gate feeling good! And then: the crowds. You know that frustrated feeling you get when you’re making your way through a crowded mall only to have the people in front of you stop dead in their tracks, forcing you to jolt to a halt and change directions? Yeah, that happened every 5 feet. Toddlers wandered into my path. People with strollers and groups of 5+ people walked in a horizontal line, blocking everyone from passing. Couples and friends stopped to selfie in the middle of the path. It was frustrating to say the least.

Now, why is it a “Color” run? At just under each mile, there were stations of people hurling different colored powdered cornstarch at you (pink, blue, green and yellow), and there were lines to walk through the stations. Actual lines just to continue through the crowd. After fighting it for so long, I finally just gave up and enjoyed it – if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, right?

So where I could jog, I jogged. When I had to walk or even stop, I didn’t get frustrated. I encouraged the powder-throwers to hit me with their best shots. I even kind of wished I had just dragged my husband into the course with me. Hell, he hadn’t registered, but neither had half of the people on the course with me! At least we could have had some good photo ops!

Either way, I made my way through the winding course and enjoyed myself. The crowd even thinned out towards the end of the race, and I got to sprint for the finish line on my own, giving the hubs the chance to snap this awesome picture:

I really need a new race face...

I really need a new race face…

After the finish, they encouraged people to stick around for the post-race party, which was really just a crowd of people gathered around a stage/truck blasting techno music and holding cheesy dance contests, with “color bombs” every 15 minutes, where people would stop everything and blast each other with packets of colored cornstarch until we couldn’t breathe. So my husband (my poor, long-suffering, still clean by this point husband) held my gear while I dove into the crowd and got nice and colorful, until I finally called it quits.

and he finally realized that I'd have to get into his car like that.

…and he finally realized that I’d have to get into his car like that.

With the race done, we went back to our car and dusted me off, then sat in close to 90 additional minutes of traffic to get out of the Raceway parking lot (there was a lot of waiting that day), and I spent close to an hour in the shower that day washing cornstarch out of places I never want to see cornstarch ever again. My shirt had to be thrown out, but my shorts and sneakers fared just fine with a good washing.

Overall, I would recommend The Color Run to someone who’s definitely *not* serious about their race. This is a purely fun, have-a-good-time get together where they don’t time you at all, and you’ll spend more time waiting and walking than actually running.

Would I do it again? Maybe. With a big enough group of people. But you have to admit, there are some pretty cool photo ops.

:)

🙂

Weekend Recap: A Frozen Run, Yoga, and Whiskey

/ Jess / 2 Comments

This weekend has certainly been an adventure! After celebrating Valentine’s Day Friday night, I woke up at the crack of dawn on Saturday for the Manasquan Mid-Winter 2-Mile Beach Run. It was a huge surprise to wake up to clean pavement – they had predicted 2-4 inches overnight and I was dreading a snowy run. Yes, it’s been a full year since my ACL surgery, but I’m still so scared of doing something to damage it – or to hurt my good knee! – that I take extra care when it comes to the snow/ice.

But, the weathermen were wrong (in other news, the Pope announced he’s Catholic), and we had a nice easy drive down to exit 98. Then just before the start of the race, the rain decided to join the party. In a big way. With some sleet. And whipping winds. While we waited for the gun, I popped my headphones in and wouldn’t you know it, my new favorite run-dancing song came on and lit up the day:

I’m gonna paint you a picture. Imagine if you will: you’re standing in a herd of soaked runners, icy rain pelting you from all angles with each wind gust. You think to yourself, “Why do I do this? I’m paying to do this?? I must be a special kind of stupid…” When suddenly, the girl in pigtails and an over-sized snow parka standing next to you jumps up into the air and lands with a shimmy, shaking her hips as she points to each of her neighbors and urges them to “clap along if you feel like a room without a roof”.

No, seriously, that's exactly how it happened.

No, seriously, that’s exactly how it happened.

As you can see, I pretty much smiled like a fool the whole time. Even with the skies raining Liquid Ugh (TM) all over us for the full 2 miles through puddles, potholes, and over frozen sand. Ordinarily I would have complained. But this was a whole new experience, and since I’ve technically never “raced” at this distance, I set a brand new PR for myself too!

Then, in keeping with this weekend’s active theme, I woke up nice and early again today for free yoga at our local Lululemon. This is about as perfect as it gets, because hey, free yoga, and hey , post-yoga shopping spree! I met up with a few friends and had a blast. But the three of us are clearly not allowed to take the class next to each other again, because we couldn’t stop pinching each other and giggling when one of us ate shit when tumbling out of crow pose. While we did have fun, I currently can’t feel my calves or remove my hoodie without tears of agony thanks to spending what felt like 80% of the class in down dog. So, mission accomplished?

After class I picked up a cute new post-practice wrap sweatshirt and finally joined the local YMCA too. Given the approximately eleventy billion tons of white bullshit covering every square inch of hope outside, I seriously doubt I’ll have clean pavement to run on before my half marathon in April. Add this ridiculous weather to the fact that I’m seriously afraid of slipping and twisting my knees on the ice, and my training situation is getting pretty dire. So $24/month later, I’ve now got a great little gym around the corner from my house that has a great view of the waterfront and a nice Olympic-sized pool too!

this blog post wouldn't be complete without a ymca selfie & obligatory cat picture

Clockwise: ymca selfie, new lulu shorts & mula bundle wrap, furry friend Emma, Cocoa Diablo & BWW time!

The rest of the weekend was normal weekend-y-type stuff: MarioKart (I suck), laundry (it sucks), Buffalo Wild Wings (does NOT suck!), etc. I even met up with my parents this afternoon and joined them for a Cocoa Diablo, or a highball of hot cocoa spiked with about 3 shots of Fireball Whiskey. It is about as delicious as it sounds, and twice as potent as you’d expect. Which brings me to now!

So how was your weekend? Did you manage to stay active? Tell me all about it 🙂