Hot Chocolate 15k Chicago Recap

November 9, 2014- 1:40:48 PR*

Last November I participated for the first time in the Hot Chocolate 15k in Chicago. I rode down with some of my fellow mom's from my MRTT group. We had great parking, which happened by mishap. We were right across from Millennium Park and it took us no time to walk over to the start area. We all decided to start in Wave 2, I was in corral M. There were around 40,000 people at this race but it was very well organized.

 

The course was supported well and went down Michigan Ave to 35th then back up along the lake. At the finish they had this great cup of chocolate and hot chocolate, so good! We met up with other MRTT, warmed up in a tent, and headed home.

 

Pros: Easy location

Good course support

Nice Course

Great swag- hoodie, cup of chocolate, hat, and medal

Great packet pick up and expo

Free pictures

 

Cons: None really, some might not like the size

MRTT ladies

 

 

Women Rock Half Marathon Recap 9-28-2014



This year I completed my first and second half marathon with my friend Kelly. Unfortunately I do not have a lot of pictures because I thought they would have professional photographers at the race but they really did not. So no race pictures of me were captured :(.

We got up super early and headed to our parking garage on Webster. It was super easy to find and we paid we via ParkWiz so we headed right in and got a spot. The lot was a 10 minute walk to the start line, which was not bad at all. We skipped by the first line of porto potties to find the second group with a shorter line. The line to verify 21 and older was WAY long so I figured I'll get my wristband at the end.

We headed to the start line, which kind stunk because there was no corrals. So we guessed where we should stand and got in a spot. Once the race took off we headed out towards the tunnel under lakeshore drive up to the lake front path.

There were some pros and a lot of cons to this race. I some how managed to PR given the circumstance and was extremely happy. Kelly had a harder time and finished about 15 min after me. We met up, had some chocolate milk, drank Champaign (yuck), and had to use the phones GPS to find the car. We then took the long journey back home. Next year I think I will do the 10k because you still get the necklace, jacket, and can buy the medal.

Pros:

Nice stained glass medal... for purchase
Nice necklace, I wear mine a lot
Nice jacket

Cons:
Only 4 water stations for 13 miles, it was hot and I am glad I brought my own water.
You share the path with people training for the marathon, bikers, dog walkers, rollerblades...etc
Low race support
Rough terrain
High cost

Famous Racing Sausage 5k

 

 

Well it seems I missed quite a few recaps. One of the races I try and do every year is the Famous Racing Sausage 5k put on by the Brewers at Miller Park. I love this race because it is well organized, the racing sausages are there, and you get to run on the baseball field. So many perks! This year we had enough people on our team Tour De Sausage to get our names on the back of the shirt. I was the only one not to wear the shirt because it is was so hot outside!

 

I met up with John, Tracy, and the rest of our team so we could head to the start line. I really wanted to beat my time last year, oh and John also. He beat me last year and I was bitter :). It was warm again this year but not as bad as last year. My other goal was to beat Chorizo. I did manage to pass Hot Dog on the course and give him a little wave as I ran by. I also love, as usual, running through the stadium!

 

I finished in 34:21, not my best 5k but one of my fastest, oh and I beat John but not Chorizo. I did beat hot dog! No medal at this race, but it is worth it to run with the sausages and through the stadium.

 

After the race I headed home to wash up and then the three of us met everyone for tailgating and the Brewers/ Mets game.

John tailgating

Todd tailgating

Beautiful night for a game

Run sausages run!

Chorizo wins!

 

 



Dirty Girl Mud Run Recap

 

Well I totally forgot to post my recap of the Dirty Girl Mud Run I did back in June. June 28th my friend Irene and I completed the muddy obstacle run for the second year in a row at the Lake County Fair Grounds. I will just start this by saying this will be my last mud run. After running a half marathon I decided I would rather punish myself with 13.1 miles then mud.

 

The weather was warmer this year than last, which was nice. We got there early and was in the 9:15am wave. We ran some but walked a lot as the terrain is very uneven. Most of the course was full of other mud and dirt. This year they had a different organizer which had it's plus and minuses.

 

Pros:

Free images (and good ones none the less)

New obstacles

More vendors and freebies

Free beer, and good beer too Summer Shandy

 

Cons:

1 water station- a bit lacking for a mud run

Longer lines at the obstacles

You had to shower outside this year instead of in the tent, we skipped the shower

 

We had a good time none the less chatting and doing the course. We skipped some of the obstacles where you had to crawl low or climb into water or mud.

Here goes nothing!

Irene and I going down the slide

 

My goal of no mud on the face...FAIL

Like I said I won't be returning next year but I still recommend this race to anyone looking for a muddy good time. It was organized well, not as good as 2013 but still good.

Love this picture!

 

Got to get Irene's number in the pic



We did it!

 

 



Peoria Firecracker 5000 Recap

 

We took our typical trip down to Peoria for the 4th of July this year. I asked my good friend Katy if there were any races on the 4th or that weekend. She mentioned I should try the Firecracker 5000 on the riverfront. We headed down the night of the 3rd so I could get up early and do the 5k. I was able to sign up the day before and get my packet that morning.

 

 

First one up, heading out to the race.

 

I got to the race about 40 min before so I could get my packet and find Katy. The race was very well organized and was about 1,000 participants in size. After I found Katy, we took a quick picture before heading to the start.

Love this pic!



Starting line selfie

 We got to the starting line and after the National Anthem, hit the ground running. Katy is much faster than me so I only stayed with her for about .10 miles. I realized right away I was going way fast. In fact my first mile was my fastest ever, 9:53! I never knew a sub 10 mm was possible for me! The rest of the race went pretty normal. I did not carry water so I needed to rely on the water stops. I also felt like I was going to puke at the end, but had my fastest 5k at 33:12! I was so happy!

 

Afterward we got the traditional post race beer and then I headed to find the nearest Dunkin Donuts for a post race treat. I liked the race a lot, it was reasonable priced and well organized. I will do this one again next year if given t

he chance.



Biggest Loser 10k Race Recap

 

I'm back from my blogging break, well hopefully. Days just always seem to go by so fast! August 24th I ran my 2nd official 10k, the Biggest Loser Six Flags 10k. Packet pickup was small the day before at Sport Authority. I got a nice shirt and a draw string bag.

I arrived at the park around 6:30 as the race began at 7am at Six Flags Great America. I met 2 ladies from my Mom's Run This Town group Michelle and Julie once I got to the park.

I was surprised how few registrants they had for the race. I think they said only 500 or so, small for a national run. My friend from work Heather was also doing the race with her sisters.

 

The 10k had a disadvantage as it was just the 5k route run 2 times. Also only about 2 miles of the 10k were through the actual park. I was also surprised how few water stations there were and race support. Below are my pros and cons of the race:

 

Pros:

Smaller race and easy to spot friends

Nice medal, it spins!

Nice shirt

 

Cons:

No porta potties, had to use the one bathroom in the park that was open

Few water stations for such a hot day

Most of the race not in the park but in the parking lot

I got lost, route was not marked so well in places

No one cheering on course

 

I finished in 1:14:00 note I ran 6.4 not 6.2 and it was humid as can be.

 So I am sure I would be around 1:13 for 6.2. Would I run this race again, probably not but I would run another Biggest Loser one.

 

 

 

 

 



I Guess I'm Only Half Crazy Now...13.1 Done That!

Flat Emily for my half, I love bibs with my name on it!

 

Saturday the 14th I finally ran my first half marathon, the Rock N Sole Half in Milwaukee. My friend Kelly from work decided to participate in the half with me, it would be her first also. I got up at 4:15am that morning and headed over the Kelly's house, we would car pool from there in her car up to Milwaukee. The drive up was pretty smooth until we got about 1 mile from the parking area, where traffic was dead stop. Of course I had to use the bathroom really bad! Kelly pulled some fast maneuvers and got us out of traffic and to a close parking lot. We were able to go in the Italian Center to use the bathroom, thank goodness for a real bathroom!

 

After that we decided to make our way to the start area, the race started promptly at 7am. They had photo people everywhere, which was really fun. My goal was to finish in less than 3:15:00, I was so nervous I would be picked up my the slow bus. I just did not want to slip to 3:30:00.

Love the building for lease sign in the background!

I am hoping we get a coupon for the photos soon as I really want to buy them. We took one more trip to the facilities, where Kelly had a quick panic moment where we thought her ear bud went missing. I found it and saved the day!

 

 

 Finding the corrals was easy, I was in M and Kelly in L. Thankfully my corral was not the last! I met some nice ladies at the start who warned me about mile 9 and assured  GU and was really to go! It only took us 5 minutes to get from our corral to the start once the gun went off. I had some phone issues but then everything seemed to fall into place.

 

Once we started going I found myself getting a little chocked up, I guess I was just emotional from the race! We headed out on the course and I felt good. There were lots of bands playing on the course and tons of people. It was nice because the 10k people and the half people were together for the first 5 miles or so. I just took my time, running the first 2 miles. I enjoyed the sites and the experience.

 

 

Mile 3 is when we started the long, steep climb up the Hoan bridge. I just stuck to the strict run/walk combo I programed into my phone and made my way up. Once I made it up it was a nice quick steady decent where I ran the whole way down. It way great experiencing the bridge, but I was so glad it was done! Once we were over, the 10kers split and headed towards the end. The half continued up to the north. I finally had to stop and use a porto potty, thankfully with the 10k crew gone that really thinned out the crowd. I was in and out in 15 seconds I think. I took a GU and went on my way.

 

 

After that I kept heading up the road when I finally got to the last huge hill which was mile 8. I had to walk up it. I started getting some bad toe pain in my right foot about mile 7. My toes felt broke but I continued on. After making it over mile 8.5 some people yelled "It's all downhill!". I was like yeah right, but they were actually right. Miles 9-11 were pretty much downhill and other than the toe pain, were pretty enjoyable. Mile 10 I looked at my watch and saw I was about 2 hours in and I thought to myself  hey I am going to be under 3 hours for sure! The sites of Lake Michigan were just beautiful! The weather was gorgeous with temps starting in the high 50s and climbed to about the high 60s with a great breeze. Around mile 11 I filled up one of my water bottles from an aid station and only took water to pour on my head after that.

 

Mile 12 was all along a path along the water and beach. There were lots of people and musicians. It was a little deceiving and hard to see the finish but there were signs telling you how much distance was left. I rounded a corner to the SummerFest fair ground and through the finish. I had done it and I felt great, minus the toe pain! I finished in 2:44:49, I was so happy!

I'm a half marathoner!

 I found Kelly almost immediately after the race and we had a few more pictures taken.

 



Close up of medals, we got the one on the right

 I called Justin and found him and L. They were both very proud of my accomplishment. We walked around some to keep the legs moving and then sat down a bit.

Kelly finish only a few minutes before me



Awesome new medal!

Once we finally changed and headed on our way, I put on my new Pro Compression socks. We went to Denny's for lunch and then to Walmart for grocery shopping. I totally forgot I left my car at Kelly's so we had to go get it at 5pm. I found her mowing the lawn, crazy lady! I went home and took a Epson salt bath and relaxed. I hurt some but not as bad as I thought. Oh and so much for the finishers tees, all they had was xl and 2xl left.

 

All in all I loved the half distance and would love to do it again. I loved this course and hope to run this one again in 2016. Well in fact I am running another half this year. I signed up for my second half in late September. I am looking to train harder and shave minutes off my time.