13 in 2013...Complete!

Hey everyone! I will be back with The Weekly Chase next week! Today I want to recap my running for the year. You may remember that one of my running resolutions was to run 13 races in 2013. These races could be official races or virtual races. They could also be a variety of distances or one distance. I chose for my races to be a variety because I knew I'd be running several different distances this year.

First off I want to say that the first half of the year was amazing! I ran strong and was so proud of that! The second half of the year wasn't as good...I got set back with a hip and knee injury. Luckily, I only had to miss one of my scheduled races.

So here's a rundown of all 13 of my races this year! You can read the original race recaps by clicking on the name of the race.

Race 1: Resolution Run 5K!

This was a virtual race to start off the new year! I was excited to begin this new challenge of 13 in 2013!

Race 2: Walt Disney World Marathon!

This was my second full marathon! I was super excited to run it in my favorite place on Earth...Disney World! And some of my best friends ran with me! Disney races are my absolute favorite! This race was so much fun! I loved seeing the characters for 26.2 miles!

Race 3: Tackle the Miles 5K!

I did triple duty with this virtual race! I ran my 5 by the 5th race as well as miles of shame for my Superbowl team losing. It was fun getting three goals done with one run!

Race 4: Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Half Marathon!

This race was supposed to be run with my friend Paige but her babysitter got sick with the flu so she couldn't run. Luckily I had a few other friends running and I ran with them. I took it easy this race because I had another half the next weekend. Running in New Orleans is always fun! This was my third time running this race!

Race 5: Seaside Half Marathon!

This is probably my most memorable race this year! It was freezing cold but that made for some great running weather. I felt amazing the entire race and PRed!

Race 6: Azalea Trail Run 10K!

This race is my favorite local race! It was also my very first 5K and I remember thinking I would never be able to run the 10K! This was my second time running the 10K! We always dress up for this race. This year I was Wonder Woman!

Race 7: St. Patrick's Day Virtual 5K!

This race was run in new shoes! They helped me go pretty fast and I ran the fastest 5K I had run in a long while. And...I loved my green outfit! ;-)

Race 8: Crescent City Classic 10K!

This was another race in one of my favorite cities...New Orleans! I'd always heard how fun this race was but had never run it. Me and Paige had a blast with this one! And....it was the first 10K I had ever run where you also got a medal!

Race 9: Gulf Coast Half Marathon on Pensacola Beach!

This was one of my toughest races this year. The day before I was a zombie in the Zombie Run and all the sprinting I did after the runners made for some super tired and super sore legs. So I ran and walked and ran and walked and didn't worry about my time. I ended up having fun despite the run being tough!

Race 10: Gulf Coast Half Marathon in Mandeville, LA! 

This is a race I run every year...this was my third time! My hip had just recently started hurting....and to top it all off....my knee started hurting during this race. This began my hip and knee injuries that I dealt with for the remainder of the year. The race itself was great other than the pain.

Race 11: Senior Bowl Charity Run 10K!

This race was more of a test for my knee. I had just started treatment with my chiropractor and he allowed me to run the 10K. Unfortunately my knee hurt for most of the race. I kept having to stop and stretch it. It was very discouraging.

Race 12: St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon!

I had been looking forward to this race for a long time. I had fundraised for it as well as working hard to get my injuries well. Unfortunately an ice storm in Memphis caused the race to be canceled. So we came home and ran the race here at home for the kids of St. Jude! It was an unforgettable experience!

Race 13: The Biggest Loser RunWalk Half Marathon!

I just ran this race yesterday! It was one of the most inspirational races I've ever run! It was so awesome meeting past contestants from the show and hearing their stories! The race was one of my slowest but I had a blast...and I never hit a wall! I ran with my friend Paige and we had so much fun! It was a great race to end the year with!

So my goal of 13 races in 2013 is now complete!!! I wasn't sure I would make the goal when I got injured but with the help of God and many prayers...I did it!!!!

QOTD: What resolution did you keep this past year?

#GoalGetter2013 Update: April

It's a new month and time to recap last month's #GoalGetter2013 progress! I hope you are all crushing those goals and resolutions you set back in January!

As you know, I've been using #GoalGetter2013 and the Weekly Chase to help me stay accountable for my running resolutions and weekly goals. I will be doing an update each month to help me stay focused.

Here are my previous updates:
January Update
February Update
March Update

Now for the month of April!

13 in 2013 Running Goal: I ran my last race of the season this month...the Gulf Coast Half Marathon on Pensacola Beach! Race season is basically over for me because of the heat where I live. 

5 by the 5th Virtual Race Series Running Goal: I ran my April 5K for this goal and ran it pretty fast for me...my time was 29:33! 

Digital Running Interstate Challenge Goal: I completed this challenge with the Gulf Coast Half Marathon in Florida this month!

Quality Time with my Boys Goal: I've been making sure to spend more time with my boys each day! We've all enjoyed it!

Daily Bible Devotional Goal: I've been using the Our Daily Bread App on my iPhone as well as a devotional book that a friend gave me a while back for this. I will say that there are some days that I forget to do my devotional but I am getting better at it. 

Per #GoalGetter2013 requirements, I posted the following picture on Instagram to show my goal progress for April! I am happy to say that I completed the Digital Running Interstate Challenge! The Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Half Marathon in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast Half Marathon on Pensacola Beach in Florida qualified me for the challenge!

For the month of May I am focusing on running the virtual race for 5 by the 5th. It is super hot here on the Gulf Coast this time of year and too hot to race. So my 13 in 2013 running goal will be put on hold until the fall. I am also going to focus on running at least 3 times a week and trying to keep up my long mileage to at least 6 miles so I will be ready to jump back into half marathon training in the fall. 

As I've talked about in my Weekly Chase posts, I want to continue to read my Bible daily. I also want to continue to stretch and roll daily. 

I hope you are joining me for both the Weekly Chase and #GoalGetter2013!

Feel free to grab the badge and play along with us as we conquer our goals this year!!! All you have to do is take a photo of you working towards or completing your goal, use the hashtag #GoalGetter2013, and upload it to Instagram and/or Twitter! You can also post your picture on our #GoalGetter2013 Facebook page!

<br><a href=" http://www.roadrunnergirl.com " target="blank"><br><img src="http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p624/roadrunnergirl/goalgetter2013buttonsmall_zps78f45612.png"/><br></a><br>

QOTD: What goal did you crush in April?

#GoalGetter2013 Update: March

It's time for a #GoalGetter2013 check in! How's everyone doing on those yearly goals and resolutions you set back in January? I hope you are still crushing them!

As you know, I've been using #GoalGetter2013 and the Weekly Chase to help me stay accountable for my running resolutions and weekly goals. I will be doing an update each month to help me stay focused.

Here are my previous updates:
January Update
February Update

Now for the month of March!

13 in 2013 Running Goal:
I ran FOUR races this month!!! I PRed in the Seaside Half Marathon! I also ran two 10K's...the Azalea Trail Run and the Crescent City Classic! I also ran a virtual race...the St. Patrick's Day Virtual Race!

5 by the 5th Virtual Race Series Running Goal:
I ran my March 5K for this goal and even ran pretty fast!

Half Fanatics Membership Goal:
I ran the Seaside Half Marathon the weekend after the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Half Marathon and thus qualified as a Half Fanatic! Say hello to Half Fanatic #3726!!!

Guest Bedroom Organization Goal:
It is still a work in progress but I got a lot accomplished in the guest bedroom this month!

Per #GoalGetter2013 requirements, I posted the following picture on Instagram to show my goal progress for March! I am so excited to finally be a member of Half Fanatics! Because yes...as I am sure you all know by now...I really am a Half Fanatic! I love that distance!!!

For the month of April I am focusing on running my races for 13 in 2013 and 5 by the 5th. I am also aiming to complete the Digital Running Interstate Challenge this month! (It's not too late for you to join this challenge and earn a medal!)

As I've talked about in my Weekly Chase posts, I am also focusing on spending quality time with my boys individually this month. And I am focusing on growing my relationship with God through a daily Bible devotional.

I hope you are joining me for both the Weekly Chase and #GoalGetter2013!

Feel free to grab the badge and play along with us as we conquer our goals this year!!! All you have to do is take a photo of you working towards or completing your goal, use the hashtag #GoalGetter2013, and upload it to Instagram and/or Twitter! You can also post your picture on our #GoalGetter2013 Facebook page!

<br><a href=" http://www.roadrunnergirl.com " target="blank"><br><img src="http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p624/roadrunnergirl/goalgetter2013buttonsmall_zps78f45612.png"/><br></a><br>

QOTD: What goal did you crush in March?

St. Patrick's Day Virtual 5K Race in NEW shoes!

As you know one of my running resolutions for this year is to run 13 races in 2013. Luckily Jill and Jen started this challenge and I am so happy to be a part of it! To help us all reach our goal, Jill and Jen are hosting several virtual races this year.

So far I have participated in all of their virtual races thus far. Tackle the Miles was the last one I ran.

This month I participated in the St. Patrick's Day Virtual Race! I was so excited because I so wanted to wear some fun St. Patty's Day run gear! You know it's all about the outfit, right?!

I headed out for my run like any other day except I was dressed in St. Patty's Day gear AND I was running in a new pair of shoes. I love my Asics GT-2170's and they have been discontinued. As soon as I learned they were being discontinued I bought a couple of pairs. Well..sadly this is my last pair of my beloved shoes. Asics has updated the model to the GT-2000 but I've heard varied responses on whether they are comparable to my GT-2170's. So I am going to enjoy these shoes while they last.

I don't know about you but I HATE getting new shoes. It always takes me a few runs to break them in. I know they say you shouldn't have to break in a new pair of shoes (especially when it's the same model you wore previously) but I always do. New shoes are always tighter on my feet and I always have to retie them a thousand times to get the fit I like. I like my laces super loose when I run. I also feel like I run a little different when I get new shoes. I'm sure they are rearranging my gait a bit since the older shoes have worn down and my gait follows. 

I also usually have some kind of weirdness that happens with new shoes. For instance, I've had my right foot go numb the first few runs in a new pair. I've felt like I was running heavier in another new pair. My hips were super sore after running in another new pair. These things always work themselves out after a few runs in the new pair of shoes but I still dread it.

So I wasn't really looking forward to this run because I knew it would probably feel awkward. I started running and could immediately feel the difference in the run. The new shoes felt great! I realized how bad my old shoes actually were! I looked down at my Garmin and saw that I was running pretty fast...I guess the new shoes were making me speedier too! 

Around the halfway point of the run I started feeling a small stab of pain on the top of my right foot. Here we go. I kept running and prayed it would go away. It wasn't an enduring pain....just a stab every so often. So I ran through it. 

I made it to the 5K mark, stopped, and looked down at my watch. 29:56! That's the fastest 5K I've ran in a long time! The new shoes helped me go fast!

The rest of the day my right foot felt weird. I waited to see what it felt like the next day...and it was fine. I analyzed it and decided that I had laced my shoes too tight. So the next run I did I loosened the laces and never felt that pain again. But of course now it's in my mind...and every run I focus on that foot hoping no pain arises. Ugh! 

The St. Patrick's Day Virtual 5K was a speedy success...despite the achy foot! And don't you think the outfit is too cute??? ;-)

QOTD: Do you like running in new shoes? Have you ever had your favorite model be discontinued?

Azalea Trail Run 2013!

This is one of my favorite local races! It also holds a very special place in my heart because it was my first ever 5K! I remember that day so well! I also remember being so inspired by the runners who ran the 10K and thinking that I would never be able to run that far! Well...this was my 4th year running this race...and 3 out of those 4 times I have run the 10K!!!! :-)

(Thanks to my friend Dana for this picture!)

The day before the race I headed to Mobile to pick up my race packet.

The expo is held in the Civic Center. There aren't a ton of vendors but it's still a fun expo to attend.

I got to visit with Dr. Justin some (I haven't seen him since he released me from my knee injury).

My boys visited the Publix booth and got free bananas (they were super excited about this)!

I got to visit with Missy from Running Wild Fairhope...one of my favorite running stores.

Even Swiftwick was there!!! I was super excited about that since they are my favorite socks to run in! And the Swiftwick vendors were super nice and even gave my boys a Swiftwick wristband!

Another local running store, Sports 'N More, was there too and they had tons of running clothes on sale...and each item was only $9.99! It was a steal!!! I bought a red Asics hoody jacket...for $9.99!!! It normally retails for $58.00!!! I love it!!!

While shopping I ran into Robbie from Run 4 It! Robbie and I have been Facebook and runner friends for years...but we have yet to meet! She recognized my boys first and then found me! I was sooo excited to finally meet her! She is such an inspiration and one of my best encouragers! 

That night I of course posted my gear picture on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Cullen approved! ;-)

I got tons of comments about my outfit! I was dressing up as Wonder Woman for this race. In fact, all of my Sole2Soul Sisters were dressing as superheroes for this race. Why? Because this race benefits the Superhero Foundation of Mobile, AL. This organization is all about fighting child abuse.

Race morning we all met up early to take pictures and carpool to the race. We had a ton of Sole2Soul Sisters dress up!!! (And this picture doesn't even include some of them)

And here's my picture with Paigey (if we are running a race together we always take a picture of just the two of us...it's become a tradition)!

After pictures we headed to the race. After a bathroom stop and a few more pictures we finally made it to the start line!

Me and Laura...as Wonder Woman!

Me and Stephanie!

And I am always so flattered when I have people come up to me and tell me that they read my blog! I met two readers right before the race...Andrea and Leigh (who I got a picture with)!!! It was awesome to meet them AND to realize that people really do read this! 

We finally lined up at the start line...and I saw several people I know on the way! I just love races...it's like a big reunion of people you may not have seen in awhile! Here's the last picture before the start...Paige, me, and Suzanne! (Thanks to Suzanne for the picture!)

Finally the race started! I had been watching the weather all week long...they had been predicting a 60% chance of rain and we were all just hoping the rain held off until we finished the race. But because rain was moving in it meant it was hot and we had to deal with 100% humidity. None of us were used to the humidity...we had been running in cooler temperatures. And my outfit was hot! My shirt was 100% cotton plus I had a cape on the back! So half a mile in I was already breaking a sweat! I knew I could deal with it for 6 miles though so I kept on pushing. Luckily my pace partner Holly from Running and Baking Oh My had decided last minute to run the race. I also run better when she's there to push me! 

Because of the humidity Holly and I stopped at every water station but the last one. I was super thirsty (although I made sure to hydrate well the entire week) and didn't want to get dehydrated. I really didn't have a goal time for this race...I was in it for the fun and costume! It was so motivating to hear all the spectators cheer "Go Wonder Woman!" Like always, Holly and I would keep trying to slow ourselves down. We didn't want to run too fast and too hard and not have enough energy to get us to the end. But we struggled with our pace like normal and one time I looked down and we were running in the late 8's! We knew we'd never make it at that pace! 

The first 4 miles were hard for me like they always are. I feel like I say that for every race! But I just don't get warmed up until then. So around mile 4 I was feeling great and I downed a Huma Gel and could really feel it when it kicked in! 

They reversed the course this year so it made the race feel totally different than in the years past. We could see the finish line from about mile 5 so it made it feel like we would never get there. But finally we got close and I kicked it into high gear and started sprinting! 

Thanks to my Sole2Soul Sister Bonita for this picture of me racing to the finish line!

I finally made it! My official time was 1:05:26! (Yes..it took me almost a minute to cross the start line...there were about 6000 runners there!) It wasn't a PR but it was faster than last year's time at this race so I was happy!

After finishing I headed to find some water and food. They had bottled water, bananas, apples, and muffins to choose from. Holly and I grabbed our goodies and headed back to the finish line to see the rest of our Sole2Soul Sisters finish. 

Me and Holly waiting at the finish line!

I was so excited to see Stephanie finish! It was her first 10K and she did awesome!!!

After all our sisters had finished we took a few more pictures to celebrate and then headed for the after party!

Wonder Women!!!

Only after a race will you ever see a garbage can piled this high with bananas lol!

On our walk to the party a random guy came up to me and Paige and asked if he could take a picture with us. He kept saying our costumes were awesome. We agreed to take a picture lol!

The post race party was being held in the Civic Center. The vendors from the expo were all still there so you could do more shopping if you wanted. They had beer, cokes, cheese grits and sausage. Yum! We also saw tons of people with Chick Fil A sandwiches and it took us forever to find them. But finally we did. They were outside the Civic Center and only had a few more left so we quickly got in line! They shot the sandwiches out of the side of the truck...it was fun to watch! And that chicken sandwich had never tasted so good!!!

I am so glad the weather held up for us. Around 1:00 that afternoon the skies let loose and we even had some hail! I'm so glad that didn't happen while we were running...ouch!!!

Many of you asked where I got my costume. The shirt and socks I got online but I can't remember where. I just googled "Wonder Woman shirt and socks" and found them. The skirt came from Team Sparkle. It was my first time running in a Team Sparkle skirt...and I was super impressed! It never bothered me once during the run and it didn't ride up or chafe! I will definitely be investing in some more of these skirts! The headband is a Sweaty Band that I bought at the Walt Disney World Marathon Expo to wear with my Snow White costume. 

It was a fun race...like always! If you ever get a chance to run a race in Mobile, AL...this one is a blast! I highly recommend it! 

QOTD: Do you have a local race that you run every year?