Azalea Trail Run 10K 2016 Recap!

This is one of my favorite local races! I have run it every year since I first started running! It was also my very first 5K...but I haven't done the 5K since lol! I always run the 10K!

This race is held at the Civic Center so there is always a little expo. My plan was to head over that Friday afternoon (the day before the race) to get my and Jenny and her hubby's race bibs. But the weather was super rainy which resulted in really bad traffic. What should've taken me about 20 minutes was going to take 56 minutes according to my GPS! So I decided to wait and go later that night. It was a good choice because at 7:30 PM there was no traffic! Plus my hubby and boys went with me!

Of course I posted my flat Road Runner Girl the night before the race!

The forecast for this race was calling for rain. I was prepared for running in the rain...I was just hoping there were no thunderstorms. The drive over was clear though and I hoped it would stay that way. 

Another plus to this race is the option to use the restroom in the Civic Center. That's where I headed first. Then I got a text from Jenny asking where I was. She needed her race bib and her hubby's race bib. We kept texting back and forth but couldn't find each other! 

While I was searching for her I ran into Paige!!! Of course we needed a picture together! We've had one together at this race almost every year I have run it!

Then finally Jenny and I found each other! We were excited about this race because we met each other in person at this race last year! We literally met on the course! So we were calling this our friendaversary!!! :-)

We headed to the start line. Of course we took a picture first. I love the Mobile skyline behind us! And notice....the sun had come out!!! No rain!!!

We lined up pretty close to the front of the start line. I didn't want to have to weave in and out of runners and walkers like I had to last year. 

We started running and right away started reminiscing to last year when a race walker stepped on my shoe and I lost it all before mile 1. And then we remembered around the spot where Jenny saw me and we "met" for the first time! So fun!

We also ran into our friend Tim who always takes amazing pictures of the runners at so many races. He was running and immediately ran ahead of us and turned around to get our picture. It was a cute picture...I just wish it hadn't turned out blurry.

This course is always beautiful! I love running under the oak trees! So pretty! And the day had turned out to be gorgeous...even though it was hot and humid.

Jenny and I were having a great run! The miles were just flying by! Apparently I didn't even see this photographer lol! Looks like I was talking lol!

The finish line was upon us before we knew it! Jenny was super close to a 10K PR so she sprinted ahead...and PRed!!!! I was so proud of her!

I finished a few seconds after her with an official time of 51:56...about 30 seconds shy of my PR! I was happy with my time since I wasn't aiming to PR.

The best thing....they had chocolate milk at the finish line!!!!! My favorite recovery drink after a run!!!

And of course we had to take our after the run pictures! We were happy to be celebrating our friendaversary!!! 

I always love the outtake photos of us getting ready to take a photo lol!!!

After the race we headed into the Civic Center for the post race party! They had music playing and food! You could get red beans and rice and cheese grits! I LOVE cheese grits and they were so yummy!!!

We talked for awhile afterwards and then it was time to head home.

It was another great Azalea Trail Run! I'm already looking forward to next year!!!

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

Azalea Trail Run 10K Recap!

This race is one of my favorite local races. I love it so much that this was my sixth year in a row running it! It is always fun running down the streets of Mobile under the canopy of the oak trees and with the azaleas in bloom! It's the perfect way to celebrate that springtime is here!

Usually the weather for this race is warm. The temps are usually in the 60's and a lot of times it is humid. But this year...it was chilly at start time! The temps were in the low 40's. So I had to rethink my tank top that I had planned to wear. I knew the tank top would be fine while I was running. But I was worried about before and after. I was so miserably cold at Seaside in a tank top before and after the race and I really didn't want to be that cold again. So I decided to wear a long sleeve shirt under my tank.

Like in the years past, I met friends early so we could all carpool to the race. We got there about an hour and 15 minutes before start time. That gave us plenty of time to head inside the civic center to use the restroom. And take pictures!

It's tradition at this race that Paige and I get this pose in!

I also ran into my blogging friend Regina in the civic center! I was so happy to see her! It has been so long! She looked fabulous like always! I even got to see her for a second after finishing as well!

Finally it was time to head to the start line!

We met our Sole2Soul Sisters at the start line for a group picture and prayer!

Then we headed to line up at the start. There aren't any corrals at this race. You just line up at suggested pace times. But I couldn't find any pace signs so we all just lined up wherever. And before long...it was go time!

It was super crowded at the start! Because of no corrals there were slow runners at the front of the line. There were even race walkers at the front! And they seem to all be on the left hand side. I passed so many people in the beginning. But it was hard passing them. It was so congested.

Then I saw a race walker right in front of me. I went around her....and she stepped on the back of my shoe...and MY SHOE CAME OFF!!!! In the middle of the street! I panicked! There were so many people running and I had no idea how I was going to get my shoe! Luckily a nice man stopped and grabbed it and threw it at me. I stepped to the side and quickly put it back on (thank goodness for Lock Laces) and then I was back running again. Crazy!!!

I hadn't been running long and I heard someone to my left say my name. I knew instantly that it was Jenny!!! We've been following each other on Instagram for a while now and have wanted to meet each other. She lives in my town and it seems like we have so much in common...including the same running pace! She saw my shoe came off and realized it was me!

I'm so glad I was able to catch up to her and that she called out my name! And that was it...instant friends! We ended up running the rest of the race together! We talked and talked and talked and the miles just flew by! We were having soooo much fun!

Thanks to Fleet Feet Sports in Mobile for taking these pictures! :-) You can see how much fun we were having!

Before I knew it, Jenny said we were almost done. We were at mile 5.6! I couldn't believe it! The race was almost over and it felt like we had just started!

We could see the finish line up ahead. And then I saw my amazing photographer friend Tim up ahead taking pictures! He took a great shot of me and Jenny! Thanks so much Tim!

The finish line came quick! It was pretty congested though because the 5K runners were coming in at the same time. Jenny and I finished side by side and with huge smiles on our faces! We looked at our watches...we had both PRed!!!!!! My official time was 52:30...a 2 minute PR for me!

Of course, we had to get a picture of the two of us together after the race too!

We found Jenny's husband (who was super nice as well) and talked some more. Then I found Susanne (who I rode with)! Tim saw us again and took another picture! Thanks again Tim!

After some chocolate donuts (YUM) we headed towards the civic center. The fun thing about this race is that the expo is still open so you can still shop around if you want. We wanted some of the red beans and rice and cheese grits that they were serving though. So we headed that way.

Too soon, it was time to say goodbye to Jenny. I am sooo glad we found each other on the race course! I truly believe God allowed my shoe to come off so that we would meet! :-) I loved getting to know her better during the race! Hopefully we will meet up again!

Susanne took one last picture of me celebrating my PR!

This was such a fun race! I can't believe how fast it flew by! And...of course I will be running it again next year! :-)

QOTD: Have you ever lost a shoe in the middle of a race? What is the craziest thing that's happened to you during a race?

Azalea Trail Run 10K Recap!

This race is one of my favorite local races! It's also the biggest race in our area. Even the Kenyans come out and run it! ;-) It also special for another reason...it was my very first 5K four years ago! I remember that day being in awe of the runners running the 10K...thinking I would never run a 10K! I've run this race every year since...but I've always run the 10K! ;-)

The race expo is always at the Civic Center. Several vendors come out and the expo lasts until a few hours after the race! So if you didn't get something when you came to pick up your packet...you have a chance to get it after the race!

The shirts always have a super cute design on them. They are tech shirts but they are unisex. So I hardly ever wear mine because they never fit me correctly.

And a race recap wouldn't be complete if I didn't show you my race outfit that I always lay out the night before! ;-)

I wasn't sure how this race was going to be for me. I was recovering from strep throat that had hit me two days before. That morning I decided I would start out super slow and see how I felt from there. If I felt good then I would push on. If not, then I would hang with my friends and just have fun. No matter what I knew I would finish the race.

Me and my Sole2Soul Sisters all met up before the race so we could caravan over there. There were so many of us running! So much fun! Some of these ladies were running their very first 10K! I was so proud of them!

And my traditional picture with my BRF Paigey!

Once we got to the race we headed to the restroom! Luckily we were able to avoid the porta potties and use real restrooms in the Civic Center! Then I got a text from Elizabeth from Running for Bling. We were both headed to the start line and hoped we would see each other. Luckily, I just happened to glance around and I saw her! She was so cute and so nervous! She was aiming for a sub 45 minute 10K PR! I knew this was the perfect flat course for her to do it!

I wished her luck and then we headed to find more of our Sole2Soul Sisters. There were so many of us there from so many different groups! It was so great to see such a huge group of us!

That is one thing I love about this race being local....you get to see so many people you know!

Then it was time to head to the start line!

Before we knew it we were off! There were so many people running! So fun!

We were not even at a half a mile and we saw a Mardi Gras float! It's the first time I've seen one during this race!

I started out slow and ran with my friend Paige. So far I was feeling great! Around mile 2 Paige had to stop at a porta potty. We ended up waiting about 5 minutes but I didn't want to leave her. So I people watched!

We got going again and picked up the pace. I was feeling great! It was fun running with Paige again! We hadn't run a race together since the Gulf Coast Half in October. We were having fun running and talking!

Thanks so much to my new friend Tim Ard for capturing this pic of us on the course!

Around mile 4 Paige wanted to slow down. I was feeling great so I decided to keep going! The last 2 miles of the race were solo. I was running pretty fast and I was loving it! I looked down at my Garmin a few times and I was running in the high 8's! I never run that fast! 

Finally I saw the finish line! I started sprinting! My official time was 1:10:07! It is my slowest ATR time but I was happy considering I had strep throat a few days before and I stopped at the porta potty with Paige. 

After the race I headed back towards the finish line so I could cheer on the rest of my sisters! Then we headed back towards the Civic Center where the after party was. On the way we saw these guys and couldn't resist a picture with them! I'm not sure about the men but the girl won first place in the 10K! Wow! (I think they thought we were crazy for wanting a picture with them lol)

We walked around the expo a bit more. And a few of my friends got a post race massage! It was a great way to end and celebrate a race!

I'll definitely run the Azalea Trail Run again next year! It's always a great race!

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

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?