Color Me Rad 5K

I've been kind of jealous lately of everyone and their Spartan Races, Zombie Runs, and Tough Mudders. They seem so exciting! 

Something different than just a 5K.

Problem... I hate the mud, I'm afraid I'll get hurt, and the idea of it gets me all sorts of anxious.

So imagine my excitement when I heard of a new 5K...

Color Me Rad

Think of it as Fitness Tie-Dye.

Start with a clean white shirt, throughout a 5K course colors are sprayed out to coat your face, shirt, & body to create a unique momento and one of a kind experience. 

They're been adding more and more cities lately. Is there a Color Me Rad near you?

For me, the choice came between Boston & Hartford.

Even though Hartford is closer, Boston won because of timing (Hartford is the weekend of the Run to Remember Half in Boston).

So far, My brother & his girlfriend are racing too. Even my serious marathoning brother knows how to have a little fun! I ca't wait! Who else can we get to join us? 

Want to win an entry into a Color Me Rad 5K of your choice?

How to Win

please leave a separate comment for each

1. Follow me via RSS, email, Facebook, etc

2. Like Color Me Rad on facebook HERE

3. Like me on facebook HERE & tell me which race you would do!

4. Visit the Color Me Rad website HERE & tell me what color you'd like to get sprayed with!

5. Share this giveaway via Blog, Twitter, Facebook (1 for each)

Enter until 4/13 midnight EST

Good Luck & Get Colorful!

Fuel Belt Review & Giveaway!

Looking for some great gifts for your running family and friends?

Or maybe some ideas of what you want?

Over the next few weeks leading up to the holidays, I'm going to review & giveaway some great gift ideas, so stay tuned!

First up, is Fuel Belt!

A while back, Fuel Belt sent me some fabulous gear to test out, and it quickly became a staple in my triathlons and short races.

The Reflective Race Belt

Lightweight, comfortable, and perfect for my run leg of triathlons. I attach my race bib to the lace locks, and lay it with my running sneakers to throw on after racking my bike. The belt is fully adjustable, and they come in tons of great colors.

Sprint 10oz Palm Holder

10 oz holds plenty of fluids for a quick 5K run (I can NEVER go without water). Theres a zipper pocket for a few chews during a triathlon or for my keys at a 5K. The curve of the bottle fits nicely in my hand.

The Revenge Fuel Belt

Lightweight, and adjustable. Easy in/out bottles. I gifted this to my friend A after she passed out at Disney Princess. So far, she loves it, and her husband allows her to continue running knowing she'll be hydrated.

Sporting both the race belt & the handheld!

Race belt for the Womens Tri in Farmington, CT!

I definitely recommend adding Fuel Belt to your shopping list. Not only do I love the race belt and bottle holder, their customer service was excellent. Colleen at Fuel Belt was so awesome to send me the gear to try and some for you to keep!

The Race Number Slim Pocket Belt

stretchy zippered pocket, spots for gel, adjustable belt, and lace locks for your bib.

I have one in pink to give away to a lucky one of you!

How to Win

1. Be or become a follower of my blog

2. Check out Fuel Belt's page HERE and let me know whats on your wishlist!

3. "like" me on facebook HERE and tell me what else you have on your wishlist!

4. Spread the word on facebook, twitter, or on your blog!

Enter until 12/3, good luck!

To race or not to race?

Today I am so incredibly sore from bootcamp yesterday, that I cannot squat to pee. Thank goodness my trainer is off to California for advanced TRX training and will be missing the next 3 sessions. Bad news is, I know my strength training will suffer during that time. No worries, she'll be back right as I begin Marathon Training!!

Now before that marathon training begins, I still have a couple weeks. This weekend leads me to debatable races. I already signed up for the Women's Triathlon in Farmington, CT on sunday over a month ago. 

Problem? 

I have only been swimming once since my last race. It was a 1/2 mile, but it was a pool. I was not feeling good after my open water swim at the last race, and that was only 300 yards. I have not been cycling, and now the rain is keeping me from it. I could have pulled the bike in on the trainer tonight, but instead I laid on the couch. I could tomorrow night, while Kevin's at class. The running I am not concerned with, it's what I've been doing the most of, even though its my weakest sport, its my most comfortable. I have no friends to do this race with, but Kevin would tag along to cheer me on. Do I skip or plow through even though I will have a panic attack in the water probably not be pleased with my performance?

Saturday is a local 5K to support TBI research. The weather is supposed to be perfect running weather, the cost is only $20, the roads are relatively flat, and its 5 min from home in lovely Longmeadow, MA. Hmmm maybe I should go after that under 30 5K I've been dying for?

Should I do the triathlon or aim for the 5K PR?

Or both?!

I faced the music of the scale at my meeting tuesday. 3 pounds in mojitos, desserts, and cheese plates. Totally worth it. Yesterday & today I have counted points, and stayed fairly healthy, working at getting back on track with my nutrition. I know that weight loss would really help me while training for Disney!

What's your advice for me as I get ready to start marathon training?

Red Dress Run 5K Race Report!

This was not originally a race I had on my schedule, but I had thought about doing it the past 2 years. It's put on by the Hartford Marathon Foundation, and is to support the American Heart Association which I am a HUGE supporter of (I've been contemplating doing another Train to End Stroke race).  Then I saw that Kristin @ Bigger Girls Can Run Too (we'll call her K1), was running and found Kristin from Running to Somewhere (K2) who was running to. I was sold!

Now, one of my biggest fears is going to new places by myself. When I was younger, I wouldn't even let my mom drop me at the restaurant front door to put our name in while she parked the car. I HATE doing things by myself. In fact, before today I had never gone to a race by myself. I usually drag Kevin out of bed in the morning on race day with the promise of Dunkin Donuts to be my chauffeur and official race photographer. However, with my plan to meet the Kristins, I gave him the day off. Aren't I nice?

My drive toward Hartford!

I planned on leaving early so I had time to register, but due to poor directions on the race website, and lack of signage, I thought I was going to have to turn around and drive home. Finally, I found the parking lot with shuttles and joined Kristin #1 in the bus line.

I headed to registration, had to correct the woman categorizing me that I was an Athena, since she almost put me in my age group even though I had checked the Athena box. I grabbed the t-shirt (not bad), and attached my bib to my iFitness belt. I met the other Kristin and we headed to once of the nicest race bathrooms I've ever used. 

Race start

Next we headed to the Race start, Kristin 1 stayed back and I started closer up with Kristin 2. We took a few pictures (hopefully hers came out better than mine!)

So shadowy!

The start was crowded and a little slow. It took me awhile to bob & weave and find an open spot to run in. The first mile went by fairly easily. Decent downhills and mostly shade, I clocked in at 9:19, a little ahead of pace. The waterstop came a little before the 1.5 mile marker, and I grabbed a cup because I was sweating like crazy, and my little handheld doesn't hold that much. The heat started getting to me. and just before the 2 mile marker I had to stop for a walk break. Mile 2 was 9:37, not bad but slightly off my goal pace to finish under 30 min. Every time I hit a hill, or had to take a walk break because I could feel my heart rate creeping up (187 during the race), I could feel my time goal slipping away. I did not want to end up passed out in the middle of the road, so I took breaks when I needed to. 

I did mile 3 in disappointing 10:04, and tried to pick it up on the downhills and shaded areas. Finally the end was insight and I booked it as hard as I could (191 HR).  That last .15 of a mile  I did at a 7:57 pace haha. I crossed the finish with a Garmin time of  30:12, & official time of 30:14 which is a PR by 4 seconds. Not the under 30 I was hoping for, but a PR nonetheless!

I crossed the finish line and grabbed a cold water and poured it all over me to cool me down. I saw Kristen 2 and Kristen 1's mom & we went to the sideline to watch her finish. Soon we saw her pink sneakers running toward the finish!

Here she comes! (pink top)

After Kristen poured some water over her, we took some photos...

Kristin1, Me, Kristin2

Then got some delicious post race strawberry parfait. The most delish post race food I've ever had. Although we agreed a nice Margarita or a cold beer would have been nice too since it was so hot out!

Overall, a fun race with great scenery, and I'm glad I got to meet some blogger friends! Hopefully next time there will be better signs and directions for parking!

Official Results

30:14
9:44 avg pace
272/943 overall
9/123 Athena

Time for a little lounging around before my big 15 miler tomorrow!

New races, new friends!

I had a fabulous run this morning, but skipped my ride with the Competitive Edge girls tonight.

My left knee is bothering me a little, and now that I have signed up for a 5K saturday, I want to be in my best condition to go after that PR!

I've decided to head to West Hartford Saturday & meet up with Kristin @ Bigger Girls Can Run Too & Kristin @ Running to Somewhere! I'm even more excited because I also discovered that one of them is running RnR Providence & the other the Hartford Half, and I am doing both. I love to meet new racing friends!

So tonight I am taking it easy, keeping my eating in check and working on blog stuff & organizing training plans. So exciting! As a sneak peak...

Both books came in the mail yesterday, and I can't wait to dive into them. Especially the recipe book, YUM! There will be reviews and giveaways once I've made it through them thanks to the amazing folks over at Joy Bauer, where we'll be doing a little collaborative work this summer.

oh, and my winner?

My Running on Empty giveaway winner is...

 Sarah @ Running on Words!

Ann is doing some serious kick ass work in the weight loss department! I could use a motivational boost from her. Check out her blog & cheer her on!!

Susan G Komen 5K Race Report

I hadn't thought much about this race. It was the first race I ever ran 5 years ago, and I like to do it every year, especially since its for a great cause. I was wicked sad last year when I couldn't run because of my foot surgery.

I didn't lay out my pre-race outfit or really prepare at all. Instead, I got a decent nights sleep, and woke up early. After my regular breakfast, I tried to find the pinkest outfit I could. Got my gear together, then Kevin and I headed to Hartford.

It was a beautiful morning, sunny and around 70. My t-shirt and bib had come in the mail, so the only thing to do was check out the sponsor booths for free goodies. Pens, frisbees, water bottles, sweat bands, chapstick, all pink with the different companies logos, and 4 loaves of bread (which are mostly in the freezer now). After gathering the goods, we headed to the start, where Kevin sent me off.

pink plaid running skirt, pink CEP socks, new pink & black iFitness belt

I was itching for a new PR. Current is 30 and change, so I wanted to make it under 30 min. I figured if I could average a 9:30 pace, I would make it.

 We started 10 minutes late, and the crowds were so crazy, that it took a while to ramp up to a good speed. Surprisingly, my first mile was speedy, despite the people dodging. I clocked in at 9:11. Then, we hit the hills. The begining of the second mile, started with a big hill, then there were several more throughout that mile. 

We all know how I am on the hills. I slowed down, had to walk a bit of one hill, and clocked in at 10:26, yikes! I had some time to make up, so I tried to pick it up again, but I was getting tired. Thankfully the downhills started, and I was able to gain a little speed. I was struggling a bit, and had to take a few short walk breaks. Finally, we were rounding around Bushnell Park for the last time! Mile 3 was at 9:15. I sprinted toward the finish, which is almost the same finish line as the Hartford Marathon. 

Garmin time?

31:13

bummer, but Garmin also said a 3.25 mile course. 

Official 5K results

31:14, 10:15 pace

overall 577/968

age group 78/137

Booo! I was disappointed, but felt like I tried the best I could. Not under 30, and not a PR, darn it! I grabbed a banana and water, then took a quick picture with the pink cruiser, then headed home. I had a wedding to get ready for! (more on that later!)

Next race, Sprint Tri on June 26th!