Jerry Friesen Peachbud 10km – Race Recap

Last night was race #1 of the season.  The hubs and I along with a few of our friends ran the Jerry Friesen Peachbud Run.

This was formerly known as the TIm Hortons Peachbud race but was renamed in Jerry’s honour.   Jerry was the founder of the Subaru Niagara Series (www.instride.ca) who tragically and very suddenly passed away last year. 

First off….we all LOVED this race.  There are no CONS so the PROS were:

• easy race day kit pickup
• amazing/challenging course with some shade, some sun and rolling hills
• fully supported route including a ton of volunteers, police at every intersection and 4 or 5 aid stations.
• one aid station had wet sponges…this is brilliant for summer running.  (race directors take note!)
• cool medals, full race stats, lots of post race food and cold water available prior/during the events outside the arena – very smart…

As I mentioned, I was ‘naked’":

See?  No watch, no Garmin just my Endorphin Warrior bracelet.

Pre race photo op:

The hubs busted out a 2 min PB.  He actually won his age group…and then we looked closer and saw that he would have won if he was a women.  Sorry light-onthe-estrogens pal, better luck next time.

Running sans Garmin was very strange.  I just ran.  I really didn’t care as I hadn’t tapered, hadn’t done a 10km race since last year and am just ramping back up into race shape.  I had no clue how fast/slow I was going and no idea of any sort of split.  I came into the finish not even knowing that 2 of my friends were right behind me.

(I was actually irritated as I thought they were just ‘those’ people who just want to run someone down and I was they prey.  They’re forgiven.)

After (im)patiently waiting for the stats to be posted, I found out I was TWO SECONDS off a PB.  I’ll take it and can’t wait to race again in July. 

All in all it was a night of awesome racing, PBs, remembering that life is short so grab it by the running shoes and enjoy it.

Thanks for the race Jerry.  We will be back.

Four for Friday – the busy as a mofo edition

1.  It seems week after week I keep saying:  “If I just get through this week, things will calm down a bit.”  Yeah, not so much.  I am truly hoping that July will be a month where I can concentrate on closing up a lot of loose ends I have left dangling in between the insanity.

2.  Training though has been a lot of fun thus far.  There has been some amazing speed workout sessions (thank you local high school track for being open at 5:45am!) and even hill repeats.

Post speed work on Monday.  Sweat-tastic

3.  Hill repeats in the summer are just as hard as in the winter.  But still fun in a torturous, sick kind of way. 

4.  My first race of the summer is Tuesday.  I actually kind of forgot about it until I was talking to a friend this morning.   Being busy makes the days blend one into the next apparently.  I am really looking forward to just running in this race with my naked wrists and enjoying the evening.

Are you busy right now?  When do we get a break?

Where I’ve been and What’s down/up

Where I’ve been:  Arizona.  I love Arizona. A lot.  We had an amazing vacation with our friends where we relaxed, golfed, ran, biked and laughed while having these terrible views:

We also indulged in cocktails…specifically many margaritas.  I hear limes and agave are good for you, especially mixed with tequila.  It was super hot (100 degrees +++ every day) so you know, you have to keep hydrated. 

And ate at some amazing places like Citizen Public:

We also shopped where I picked up an awesome (and very busy) dress.

What’s down:  me.  I am getting my overall mojo-ness back but May was a rough month.  DNF not withstanding, May also marked the official end of my run club which disbanded.  I know not everything can last forever but it hit me harder than I thought.  It feels like I was part of a divorce that I really didn’t handle well so I am trying to getting into more of a Zen mode and move forward.  ALL of my friends are important to me so I am going to do my best to keep in touch, support them and remember the best in everyone.   Luckily I still have a group of friends that are all going to try to stick together to train and I still have my awesome trainer that is already killing me 2 sessions in.

I really didn’t feel like blogging for awhile as I just sounded whiny which is stupid.  This big change isn’t the end of the world and moping about it is suck-tastic. 

What’s up:  me.  I have made the decision to plan out my training and really push myself this time around.  I have signed up for a bunch of races that I am excited about including the first one which is going to be naked.  No need to cover your eyes…it will be Garmin-less which I am sure you don’t believe I will do but I promise to take a pic of my naked wrists as proof.

So, there you do.  I’ve been around, down and up. 

“Life is too short to wake up with regrets.
Love the people who treat you right.
Forget about the ones who don’t.
Believe everything happens for a reason.
If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands.
If it changes your life, let it.
Nobody said life would be easy.
They just promised it would be worth it.”

Are you down?

Are you up?