Energize the Earth

The third annual Energize the Earth 5K, also our third year running it. I was also my PR 5K and I really wanted to beat it. The weather was cold and rainy, I was bundled up after being freezing at the race in Somerville a month earlier I didn't want to take my chances. Also, my Garmin Forerunner didn't feel like picking up the satellites that day. I had pockets in my jacket so I brought my new phone and tracked the race on my trusty Runkeeper app. Which I forgot about after crossing the finish line.

We had a lot more friends running with us this year, Gavin of course took off at the start.  I hung back and my friend became my carrot, until I caught up with her at about the first mile marker and we ran together for mile 2.  Mile third mile, I took off, hearing the voice cues from the runkeeper lady I had to step up my game or I was not going to beat my PR. I am not going to lie my training hadn't been as diligent as last year, I started about 2 months later. So I was pushing it to finish this one.  Oh and I hadn't mentioned it, I spent 11 hours shooting a wedding the Friday before, which means my body was beaten up

My official time... 33:22 (my PR is still 33:05)

My new Boston Strong Bic Band came in the mail just in time, so that made everything better!

Post Race Photo

Also, I found this relic!! 

Energize the Earth 5K 2013

On April 21, 2013 Gavin and I ran in the second annual Energize the Earth road race.  I am happy to say that it was our second time running it, so we have been there since the beginning.

The race starts in Lynch Park in Beverly, MA one of our favorite spots just to hang out and watch the sun set.  Although, this day we were there at 8:30 AM.

I have said it once and I will say it again... I am a slow runner, but in 2012 this race was my 5K PR (33:38.2)!  My plan was to beat my PR from last year.

Gavin and I decided to get Cliff Bars and Gatorade Prime Fuel drink.  Not going to lie, I think Gatorade is onto something.

The biggest thing that probably helped me pace myself was running with a friend of mine, Karen. She started me out at a really nice pace and I was able to keep that momentum going throughout the race.

I am not a big fan of stopping at hydration stations when I am doing less than 5 miles... I don't like stopping at all really, even for the 9K I did 2 years ago I just powered on through. Karen stopped at the first Gatorade station and I kept going... I know I am a terrible friend, but she was well aware I was on a mission for time.

I was able to find a few people that had a similar pace as much as they were not too keen on me tailing them (I don't really know that... but I just assumed that)

My pace splits per each half mile. 

I had a bit of ipod trouble for the first part of the race... note to self, get that playing before they say go! Who knows if I had been able to get going at a faster pace then I might have been able to get a better PR. Or I would have not been able to finish as strong, as it was right after the 3rd mile marker I tried to give it more juice and wasn't able to keep it up.  That might have had something to do with the obstacle of running through sand at the end. 

I beat my 2012 PR 33:05.9, alright so not by a lot. I beat it! Not sure if I was on a high from beating it or I just trained well enough, but I felt great afterwards. Not to mention, shaving 2 minutes off my time from a month earlier was a huge bonus. 

Slightly embarrassing post race photo... 

Karen, Gavin and I post race! (I made the shirts) 

Then we went out for beers, I like to get my antioxidants so mine was blueberry! (hope the sarcasm is apparent)