Half Marathon #3 for 2013!

Another amazing weekend has come and gone far too quickly.  The awesome times always seem to fly by, but that just makes room for more memories to be created.  The Brewers Half Marathon was one of those memories that will stay with my for years to come.  I was happy to be able to spend it with some great friends.

Elizabeth and I headed south after a half day of work on Friday to meet up with Matt and Molly for some shopping, dinner and relaxing.  The four of us spent the afternoon walking through Miller Park, picking up our race packets (and Matt had to grab a "few" extra magnetic Brewers 2104 schedules - Molly I don't think you will be able to find your refrigerator once he puts them all up!), shopping at Whole Foods and then dinner and fun at Dave & Busters.  After a marathon game on Uno, it was time to get some sleep and get ready for Saturday morning.

Elizabeth and I, at Miller Park by 6am!

Not sure how we managed it, but Elizabeth and I were up BEFORE our alarms went off at 0'dark-thirty!  We were dressed and out the door early and AT Miller Park by 6am!  Even though we knew that we were not going to be running together for this race, it was exciting to know that we were there for each other.  We each had our target finish time and were determined to do our best.

When we arrived at Miller Park, it was the perfect morning for a run through the streets of Milwaukee!  Although the crowds were thin when we first arrived, but before long we were in the midst of all the excitement of this event and the fact that we were back in Miller Park again!  We were about to run through this awesome stadium for the second time this summer!  Combine that we a morning of perfect running weather, what more could we ask for?

Just as the sun was starting to come up, we made out way over to where MyTeam Triumph was getting ready for today's race.  They had several captains and even more angels ready to hit the streets of Milwaukee to make more dreams come true.  It is always a great sight to see all of the excitement on the faces of everyone involved with this amazing organization.  Oh the places they will continue to go!  I am looking forward to next year when I can do more with mTT and run with these inspiring individuals.

Before long it was time to head towards the start line.  Matt and Molly were at the park and Matt was making his way over to the start line too.  Although he was only running the 10k this morning, we had previously decided that we were going to run the first mile together, up to the 10K/Half Marathon split.  It is hard to believe that our summer of running together is coming to a close!  We only have a few more races that we will be running together in 2013.  I am proud of all of the things we accomplished this summer.  We set and surpassed personal goals, never gave up (even tho the thought crossed our minds from time to time) and had fun while we ran hundreds of miles together.  We have pushed each other to achieve things we never thought possible and I look forward to more miles that we will run together in the future!  Thanks Matt keeping me moving this summer!

 Finally it was time to start this adventure through the streets of Milwaukee.  I would spend the next 2+ hours running past many of the area landmarks, including the Harley Museum, The Mitchell Park Domes, Miller Brewing Company, over several of the amazing bridges and of course running around and THROUGH Miller Park.  After the cool morning, the sun came out and the temperatures seemed to settle at a very comfortable point. the first half of the course was behind me before I knew it!  I was feeling great and was on pace to finish well within my 2:30:00 goal.

It was about the half way point that I could really tell that the temperatures had continued to slowly climb and it was getting a bit warmer.  I was thankful that I had my hydration belt with me!  Between that and the well placed water stations, I was able to make it through the back half of the course. Around mile 9, I passed the second of the mTT teams along the course.  Seeing this crew of Angels with their Captain and their amazing smiles on their faces and encouragement they were providing to others on the course gave me the push that I needed to keep moving forward.

I know that I slowed my pace on the second have of the course, but I was determined to give this course my best - even through the nasty hills at mile 10.5 tried to get the best of me!  No matter what Milwaukee was going to throw at me, I was going to make it to the end!

The last mile of the course is what everyone was looking forward to - around and through Milwaukee Park!  It is always a huge boost when you have thousands of people cheering as you make your way through any course, but with you are on that warning track around the stadium it is that much more motivating!  This last mile was my fasted mile for this race - and I have the cheering crowd to thank.  No matter how tired and sore you might feel, the excitement and cheering just gets you moving again!

Once outside the stadium, a few more turns and the finish line was in front of me!  I made it!  Official time = 2:29:10!  So, even though I slowed on the back half of the course, I still was able to hit my target time and I was still smiling at the end!

Next stop - a few free beers while I wait for Elizabeth to finish!  I didn't have all that long to wait - by the time I got through the line at the beer trailer and made a loop through the finish line festivities, she was done - and ahead of her target finish time also!  Another successful day, running in the awesome Wisconsin Summer sun!

Until next year Milwaukee!

Fox Cities Marathon relay

After a colorful fun run yesterday, it was time to get back to some serious running... as serious as running a relay with 4 other friends, driving all over the Fox Cities together, sharing laughs and creating lasting memories can be!

Team Cellcom gathered in Appleton to tackle the Fox Cities Marathon Relay.  We knew it was going to be and adventure and we were ready for some fun!  Patti and I met at Matt and Molly's to ride down with them bright and early.  Technically, I think Patti was still asleep with we climbed into the truck and Molly took a nap on the way there!  When we made it to the start line to find Gina to deliver her bib number and our timing chip, it was definitely a chilly morning.  However, the cooler temperatures were going to make for awesome running weather!  Once we knew Gina was on her way, we were off on our adventures, driving all through the Fox Cites!  Next stop - Sean's house to pick him up and deliver him to the 1st exchange point.

While we were waiting at the 1st relay exchange point, it became clear that we had some creative team names out on the course today! "Better Late than Never", "Girls gone running", "booze cruisin'", "are we there yet" and "I just pulled a hammy" were just a few of the fun team names that we heard on the course.   Granted we were proud of our team name, as 4 out of 5 team members work at Cellcom and they sponsored us to run this event through some of the amazing programs they have, to help give back to the community!  Next time, who knows what the team name will be!

Throughout the morning, we were glad to have Sean with us to navigate the area!  Having to get people to 4 different relay exchange points throughout Appleton, Kaukauna, Kimberley, Neenah and Menasha was no easy task!  Thankfully Sean knew the area well enough that he was able to get us effortlessly from one point to the other with plenty of time to spare!  We even had time to make a breakfast stop at McDonald's for those that already ran (Gina) and those that were along as co-pilot (Molly) while Sean was running his leg!

By the time we got to mile marker 15 so that I could wait for Patti, I was ready to run!  The sun was out and it had warmed up just enough to take the chill out of the air.  I was determined to make it the best 5 miles I have run yet this summer.  Before long, Team Cellcom was announced so we knew that Patti was within a few blocks of the exchange point.  Once Patti cruised into the exchange zone and we moved our timing chip from her to me, I was on my way.  One of the coolest things about this race course is the fan support along the entire route.  It really is a huge motivator having people at every street corner, hanging out in their yards etc ready to give you an encouraging word.  I got out there and felt great, enjoying the day for everything it had to offer.  The sun was shining, the weather was favorable and we were running a marathon!  After the first mile, the little bird in my ear told me that I was running a 9:26 pace, I knew I had this one.  My goal was a 10 minute mile pace and I was on target to hit that. Over the next 4 miles, I did slow a touch, but in the end, I ended up running my 5 mile leg in just under 49 minutes!  My best 5 mile run to date!  It felt great to hit that goal, but I was really glad to see Matt at mile 20 to take over running!

Our next stop?  Mile marker 25... which just happens to be literally right around the corner from the finish line, since the the route loops around the park before it ends in the center of the park.  Molly found a parking spot a few blocks from the target mile marker.  The four of us camped out to wait for Matt so that we could all run the last mile together.  While we were waiting for Matt, I saw a familiar face... it was Ryan Sawlsville,  who was featured on Extreme Makeover, Weight loss Edition.  He was out running his second Fox Cities Marathon.  What an inspiration!  Seeing him out there running, giving it everything that he had, made my 5 mile run seem like peanuts compared to what he was doing.  Would I ever get to the point I being able to actually finish a full marathon?  The thought has been in the back of my mind for a few weeks now, so I guess we will have to see what the future brings.

Before we knew it, Matt was approaching mile marker 25 and we were off and running again.  Gina and I fell into step with Matt, while Sean a Patti were not far behind. The end of our adventure was just around the corner!  Crossing that finish line as part of Team Cellcom was a great feeling of accomplishment - we rocked that marathon!  Official chip time = 4:44:34

To my fellow teammates for the Fox Cities Marathon, thank you for letting me be part of the team, we all had amazing runs and set personal bests for our legs! I am proud of each of us and had an awesome time hanging out with everyone as we cheered each other one, pushing each other to do our best.   I never though I could pull off a 5 mile run in under 50 minutes!  Thank you for helping me reach that goal!

We came, we ran, we conquered!

Team Cellcom - still smiling after all that running!

From a rainbow of color to running part of a marathon relay... what a weekend!

This is the first of 2 posts from this insanely busy but completely amazing weekend!  From Run or Dye in Green Bay to the Fox Cities Marathon, there was not much time for rest and relaxation, but I would not have traded it for much of anything!  It was another weekend filled with friends, family, laughs, challenges and accomplishments!

Part of our group before the run

Saturday morning was the long awaited Run or Dye color run in Green Bay - at Lambeau Field.  We had a group of 12 that met up at the stadium for 3 miles of color and fun, including my mom and aunt who were participating in their first 5k and then my cousin and his family who drove down from Michigan to join us!

You may recall that this is the second colorful run that we did this summer.  The first was the Color Run in Madison, back in June.  We were curious to see how Run or Dye was going to compare to Color Run... how different were they going to be or was it just the same thing, different name?  We were going to find out today!

First time we have seen Jennie if over 10 years!

John picked up our packets during the day on Friday to save us time on Saturday morning and we got a good laugh when he walked in the door with and armload of 8 t-shirts and Run or Dye Goodie Bags!  Darrin and I spent some time sorting through t-shrts, bib numbers and bags to get everyone's stuff sorted and ready for the morning.

We were curious to see how they were going to do this event at and around Lambeau Field, with all of the residential areas.  How were they going to see up the run so that they didn't cover people's houses etc with paint?  Everything started and ended at Lambeau Field and actually went through much of the industrial areas around the stadium and some of the residential streets.  All of the color stations, except for one, were actually in the industrial area so everyone's houses, cars etc were safe!

The day actually could not have been better!!  The weather was perfect (as long as you were not standing in the shade before the event started), we were hanging with friends and family and we were getting covered in paint!  what more could we ask for??  Proud of my mom and aunt for finishing their first ever 5k - and they already said they want to come back to do this one again!

After this morning, and half the crew heading to my house, I don't think my shower will ever be the same again...

I'm surprised our teeth aren't colored too!

Jumping TOGETHER was not in the cards today!

Not your traditional 5k, but it was their 1st one!

Jennie's got the jump thing figured out!

Remember the scale is just a number...

After another crazy few weeks of running and adventures, achieving new PR's for my 5k and half marathons and just having some great weekends with my friends and family, summer is quickly coming to a close.  I can guarantee that the adventures will not end there!  I have more adventures to come this fall and I am already looking to 2014 and some events that I want to check out, challenges that I walk to tackle or adventures that I want to take.

I also realized that I have not posted anything about my ongoing mission to get back to a healthy weight.  You may recall my post from the end of July regarding the Biggest Loser competition at work.  Right after that round ended, we started the next round! After my success in the last round, I had dreams of continuing on that momentum.  Unfortunately, my body had different ideas.  Overall, in the last 6 weeks in this round, I have maintained a pretty consistent weight.  It gets frustrating seeing the pretty much the same number on the scale week after week.  

I decided this week that I am not going to worry about what the scale says.  No, I am not giving up on getting to my goal weight.  I am going to refocus on what I need to do and keep on this long and winding road.  I have been very pleased with my runs in the last few weeks and can honestly say that I have been feeling great after each run/race.  I also have found jeans in my closet that I have not been able to fit into in over 3 years. The scale just hasn't moved. Over the last year, I have come to realize that my weight loss and any inches lost never happen at the same time.  When I first started working out with my trainer, I was frustrated because the scale was hardly budging - for the first 2+ months!  However, each time we did measurements, they inches were disappearing. Then things would turn around, and the the scale would start to move... but the inches would slow to a crawl.   Since August, when I had to change to morning training session, we have been more focused on getting going and working through each weeks workout - at 5:30am!!! These workout have also been more focused on preparing me for the endless weekends of races that I have been challenging myself with.  We have not had the opportunity to take any measurements. 

This morning, was finally measurement check time!  We didn't realize until the morning that the last time we did measurements was July 9th.  I was curious to see how things went!  First was the scale... down about .4 from last week.  Just what I figured. I know that I have been watching what I have been eating, but I have also not been as focused on this as I have been in the past.  I know that I can work on this, and probably should get refocused on my meal planning, food choices and a consistent workout schedule. Now for the real results!  In the last 6 weeks, I am down a total of another 7 inches!  Guess that explains why my jeans are fitting better (or not fitting anymore in the case of a few pairs of shorts!).  I will take it, enjoy it and use this as continued motivation to keep moving forward.

We all need to remember that each of us is different.  Different in they way we lose weight, work through challenges, and even the way that we use the tools that we have to work towards our goals.  The key is to learn what works for you, how your body reacts to what you do and how you are going to move yourself forward toward your ultimate goals!  Just remember, don't give up on what you want - with hard work and perseverance, you can achieve whatever you want!   

New experiences to put things into a different perspective

Every once in a while we need to experience something different, something new, to put things into perspective and help us to understand why we do what we do. Or make you think about what else you could be doing...

On Wednesday night I had my first opportunity to join myTeam Triumph for one of their training runs.  I have a few friends that are involved with this amazing group and have always been impressed with everything that they do.  I have seen them in action at many of the events that I have done over the last year, and have been amazed at what they do for those athletes.

For those of you that are not familiar with myTeam Triumph, their mission is to enrich the lives of those with disabilities with the opportunity to experience the triumphs that you and I may take for granted.  Through the use of specialize racing equipment, these Angels guide Captains through road races (running and/or biking) or triathlons, crossing the finish line together... creating life long memories and lasting friendships.  Running (or walking) a 5K may not seem like a big deal for you, but when you have a disability that prohibits you from even attempting that, being able to actually cross that finish line, this opportunity creates new opportunities for everyone.

When I arrived for the training run, they were busy getting chariots ready for the Captains that would be joining us tonight.  Since this was the first training run that I had been to, I had no idea what to expect, so I just stood back and watched everyone in action.  As Captains arrived, it was plain to see that even these training runs are a big deal for everyone.  From veteran Captains to rookie Captains, each and every Angel that was there made sure everyone felt welcome and shared in the enthusiasm of the Captains.  The excitement on the faces of each and every one of the Captains makes it easy to see why this is such a rewarding experience for them, as well as each of these selfless Angels.

Tonight's run was a nice 5 mile route and it was plain to see the amazing bond that the Angels and Captains have.  It was a very rewarding evening, spent with some very inspirational people.  I can't wait to get back out and run with this fine group on individuals again!  Next year I need to get more involved with mTT!!

Thank you for all that have served! City Stadium Run for Veterans 2013

This morning was the second annual City Stadium Run for Veterans here in Green Bay.  This year all proceeds for the event go to support the USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program and all that it does for these true American heroes.  From the City Stadium Run website:   

" The USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program mission is to organize and administer an ice hockey program that provides a recreational, therapeutic, and educational experience for those wounded in the defense of the United States. This team represents some of our nation's bravest and most determined heroes, soldiers, and veterans. These young men have suffered severe injuries, including amputations, while serving in the military. Through extensive rehabilitation, they have become competitive athletes again with some veterans even sporting prosthetic legs and arms. The USA Warrior Ice Hockey has two teams: a sled team and a standing team. The sled team is comprised of warrior athletes who lost the ability to use their legs. The standing team consists of warrior athletes who have gain their ability to skate again even if it requires a prosthetic leg. Proceeds for this year’s run will help support in the purchasing of hockey equipment for these worthy athletes that we call our veteran heroes"

I felt honored to be part of this day for such a humbling cause.  Before the run we were talking with on of the players on the Warriors Hockey team. Mike Cain received the Purple Heart after losing his leg from a roadside bomb, he was determined not to feel sorry for himself.  He got back up and keeps moving forward. You can truly see that he does not let his disability get him down and he is living his life to its fullest potential.  I am going to have to make a point to check out one of their games this year!  Knowing what these athletes have gone through to get to where they are now really puts things into perspective!  I have had many days where I was not pleased with my run or left the gym disappointed with my workout.  But what if I didn't have that opportunity to walk into that gym?  or lace up my running shoes and just go? 

Darrin's last dash to the finish

Aside from running to support these amazing athletes, I also was running today with my family.  Darrin and John both decided to come out and join the 650+ other runners and walkers that were hitting the streets around City Stadium this morning.   Granted we were not running together but just knowing that we were all out there was a lot of fun.  A light rain fell about an hour before the run started and that helped to coll everything down a little, but by the time race time arrived, the humidity started to come back.  It was in the low 70's but starting to get really sticky outside. I was not going to let this bother me.  I was ready to hit the road.  I felt great through the entire race and could really feel that it was going to be a good day.  Just as I was approaching the back side of City Stadium I was starting to feel it and was ready to be done.  I was averaging  about 9:30 minute miles but the humidity was starting to take it's toll.  I ended up falling into step with another runner and I ended up running the last stretch of the race with him.  I was using him to keep my pace.  He didn't realize it, but I was using him to push me to the finish (I would find out later when I was talking with him after the race that he was doing the same with me!). 

waiting at the finish line for my boys!

Just before I was entering the stadium, my phone told me that I hit 3 miles at less than 29 minutes!  I was going to do it!!  For the first time EVER I was going to finish a 5K with an official time of under 30 minutes!   I crossed the finish line feeling great, with the entire St Norbert College Men's Hockey Team right on my heels.  I wasn't about to let them catch me!  When I crossed the finish line, my app told me that I was at 0:29:44 - but I was going to have to wait for the official time.  I grabbed a water and headed back down to the field to wait for my boys to finish!  Darrin finished with a time of 44:11 and John finished just 3 minutes behind him!  YAY!!  Once they finished we caught up with some other friends that were also there for the event, grabbed some snacks and check our official times.  0:29:11!!  FINALLY!  for the first time, I actually finished a 5K in UNDER 30 minutes!  In fact, it was close to under 29!  Guess I know what my next goal is!One of the coolest things that they did this morning tho was the skydivers that were landing on the field at City Stadium after the race was finished!  They timed the landing to be after everyone was finished with their run/walk so no one missed the excitement.  3 ski divers decorated the sky, one carrying a POW/MIA, one carrying an American flag and the other bright streamers.  Watching these sky divers make their way to the ground while Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA played over the loudspeakers in the stadium was the best way to bring this morning to an end.Thank you to everyone that worked hard to make today's even a huge success but more importantly, thank you to all that served  and sacrificed to give us all of the freedoms that we have today. 

The Green Bay Gambles Hockey team was on hand to catch the flag when it landed

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