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!! 

Wintertime Blues....

The sun setting before i get out of work is a bit of a drain on the motivation pool. 

There was a lot going on this winter... we moved, there was Netflix to catch up on, and Candy Crush to play... It is possible that I was busy with other things but it is all a blur and I could have just been really lazy. Let's not forget the record breaking snowfall this year. 

To put in perspective, I ran more one day in October than I did November through until March. 

Here is a little winter recap via Instagram:

I have signed up for my second annual Ras na hEireann 5K, hoping to do a lot better than last year, but without as much training. (Sometimes I set myself up for failure) 

Here goes! 

Sunday FunDay's for Running

With a new pep in his step Gavin is volunteering to run with me outside! This weekend we parked in Cambridge and ran along the Charles River for a little change  of scenery and a relatively flat training ground.

I started out great and about 4 miles in I realized that the shorts I had chosen has very irritating seams. Not to get into too much detail, but I made it to 5 miles and change but had to cut the run short, walking back to the car was not great. Gavin of course kept running, I was so impressed for a guy that hasn't been out running in a while.

Running along the Charles is so nice, there was a great breeze and always something to look at, even if it is just to people watch.  There is no shortage of scenery, the Cambridge skyline on the first leg and the Boston Skyline on the second.  The other great thing about it at least the course we took, is there is rarely a need to stop for traffic.

It was nice having a running buddy.

Ras na hEireann U.S.A. 5K

So it occurred to me that I could post date the blog posts back to when I actually did these things... but eh, I am over it. However it does mean that I am going to start out with a bang, lots of posts and then I will do my best to post a couple times a week. (I write with the assumption that someone actually wants to read my nonsensical rantings)

I ran the Ras na hEireann USA... don't ask me to say it out loud, I have no clue!

My friend Amy (someone I aspire to run like) before we started.

It was my first 5k of 2013, not gonna lie the time reflects as such. If you haven't already tried to look me up on runkeeper, I have to tell you now, I am so freaking slow.  Official time that I finished this race was 35:03 (MM:SS).  The part that makes me more sad about it, I ran without stopping, no hydration station stop, no porta-pot for me, and some (maybe running elitists) might think that what I was doing was practically walking, but for me, I was running. The technical term is probably jogging, a word for some reason doesn't leave my lips very often.

I am sure that for a good portion of the time when I am doing 3 or more miles I am essentially jogging.  It could be my need for the strive for more or it is all the publications, apps and websites that just keep it simple, and call it running.

That being said, I started back into the running game in January where I could barely eek out a mile without stopping let alone 3.1 miles. So for a 5K in March, I ran it!  I will leave it at that.

This is the first medal for any road race I have done! 

The fact that I got it for possibly one of my slowest race... well, whatever I will take it!