Labor of Love 2013

This is one of my favorite events.  Labor of Love is a 2 day running event about 45 minutes outside of Las Vegas sponsored by Calico Racing.  I have done this event 4 years in a row and will be sad when they only offer one day next year.  Aside from the elevation gain, there isn't anything I don't love about this event.  The stations are always stocked with plenty of water and heed and have the best volunteers.  Finish line is filled with a variety of goodies for when you get back.  My favorite is the pasta salad. 

 At the start line before the race on Saturday.

 With my favorite photographer!

Shane working on his 50 mile age group award!  How fab-o is he for getting the age group in his first 50k and his first 50 miler!!

Walking on Sunday with one of my favorite people, Deb! 

 All the bling for doing both days!  You had your choice of a 100 miler, 50 miler, full marathon, half marathon, or 10k on Saturday then a 50k, half marathon or 10k for Sunday!

Please visit www.calicoracing.com for a complete list of all of their races the next time you are looking for a reason to visit Las Vegas.  Next up with Calico Racing is Running with the Devil on June 29th.  Look forward to seeing all of my Calico family there!!

Stride Boxes!

Stride Boxes:  I can't say enough positive things about this program.  Found out about it from another runner and knew we had to sign up.  For just $15 a month, you get a box of random running stuff delivered to your doorstep.  While there is always bound to be something either you don't like the taste of or can't really use, it is sure to feel a little like Christmas or your birthday every month.  Cannot say enough positive things about Stride Box!!

We are still enjoying our 1st box and just opened our 2nd.  Will work on getting up our thoughts on the contents soon (with pictures when possible), and will also include a link to the products website!

Happy Running!!

William M. Maguy 1st Annual Scholarship 5k run/2k walk

Perfect morning for a run.  I have been trying to sign up for as many of the local events as I can, just to get out and meet new people and support local causes.  I had mixed feelings when I saw the location of Cutler Park.  Had only been out there once and remembered not feeling 100% about the experience. 

First off, want to say great job for a 1st year event.  While it looked like most of the people were employees of Proteus (who was the main sponsor and who was in charge of the scholarship the money was going to fun), it was still nice to see so many people outside moving.

In front of some of the "Lincoln Log" type playground at the park.  A great place for a family to spend a few hours outside. 

With one of the local sponsor signs along the course.  They made signs for all of the local businesses who had donated to make the event possible.  I picked this one since I worked there for a few months after high school (and my brother worked there as well).

While I didn't see a mile 3 orange runner dude, this little guy showed us the way for miles one and two.

Race shirt and number.  Was surprised they had technical shirts for this event. 

Since they didn't have medals or ribbons at the finish line of this event, I decided to reward my feet with a pair of new Gizmo socks as my "bling" for the race.  Actually gave them to myself before the event since the shirt I was wearing matched them.  Funny how the event shirt was the same color.

There was plenty of water, bananas, and oranges at the finish line as well as a crowd to cheer everyone in.  Maybe it was because it was mostly a group of co-workers out there, but it was still great to be almost the last runner and still have a crowd to cheer me in (where there was only about 50 people). 

They only negative was not one the RD could have helped.  Running loops around the park takes you off road into the grass and sand areas of Cutler Park.  While I am all for an off road trail run, I do really like ones that I have to constantly be watching for holes.  The gophers were plentiful at Cutler Park, that much is certain.  You could tell maintenance had been working hard to keep up with the problem by all of the fresh areas of dirt.  With all of the possible out and back options available out there, my only suggestion for improvement is to try that next time.  I was told by a couple of other runners that they had been to events at Cutler Park that had done just that. 

I managed to hit one of the gopher holes with my left foot just before mile 1.  This poor leg/foot still has not healed completely from my marathon March 16th.  While my calf had been feeling better and the multiple blisters had began to heal, hitting this hole just did a number on me.  By the end, my right leg was feeling the majority of the pain due to trying to over compensate for the discomfort of the left.  While it was nothing major, it will still be a concern in future events at Cutler Park.  Gopher holes are not good for runners, at least not this one. 

Look forward to trying it again next year!  Great job Proteus!!  Hope we were able to help your scholarship fund!

Crazy 8's Saturday w/ Tracy's Racing

This was my second time doing an event with Tracy's Racing.  There is this 8 day event called Crazy 8's.  You can either run one day, or 8 days, or anywhere in between.  You get to choose the distance:  5k, 10k, half or full marathon.  If you do all 8 days, you get a pool ball for each day.  There are gender 1st & 2nd place for all distances too. 

I had wanted to try and make it for all 8 days, but knew because of the expense it wouldn't be possible.  Race registration is actually very inexpensive (please visit www.tracysracing.com for more details). 

My race day album can be found on my facebook page on the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10200437821721819.1073741829.1044716918&type=1&l=dc758f3a0c

I can't say enough positive things about this race.  My goal for the day was to shoot some pictures of the other runners, spend time with my running family, and get in a 5k (so I could earn some new bling).  While it was a little windy, and there was a few drops of rain, it was a perfect day to be outside. 

I was still feeling a little bit of a twinge in my left calf from my full 2 weeks prior so I knew I would not be doing much running.  Having been on the course before (for the MLK triple), I knew where the turn around was.  Lake Merced is a 4.5 mile loop.  Depending on which distance you choose, you just keep running around in a circle until you get there.  For those of you counting, no worries about going over your distance for the full or half.  There is a bridge that makes it perfect, you just cut across and it keeps your distance right on track.  The 5k and 10k's both have volunteers out there to make sure you turn around at the right spot as well.

I am hoping to one day be able to do all 8 days of the Crazy 8's.  There is a spring and a fall addition of this event.  If you do them back to back, you have a chance to earn all 16 balls for your efforts!!  Just too much fun!!!

End of the Trail half marathon and 10k

This race was one I had been wanting to run but unable to because of timing issues.  Was so excited when I saw it was a date I had open.  Only problem was it was the weekend after my first full, and I was scared I wouldn't be able to successfully complete it.  While I walked the entire thing, I am still glad I did it.  I was able to meet some new friends, and see a few run past me on their way to the finish.  With all of the blossoms we passed, it could almost be another Blossom Trail run.  :) 

I got to spend most of the morning with my new friend Juanita.

And some of my old friends I saw along the way, like Josette.

My left calf was pretty tore up by the time I finished, and my blister from the marathon had started to come back a little, but still consider it successful overall.  I can't remember the last time I was at Mooney's Grove.  Anyone living in the area needs to make a trip out to walk around out there.  Anyone reading this, I would love to meet up for a run/walk, just let me know when.  Another great Central Valley event.  I think my favorite part was the ice cream at the finish!!  Picked up a cool Visalia Runners hoodie too. 

Looking forward to seeing everyone out there next year.  Just hope I can run it this time.  Thank you to the RD for allowing the walkers to start an hour early.  This made signing up more appealing to me.  Thank you also to all of the volunteers out there.  Our students did a great job showing supported for everyone and always with a smile, even when there were guarding a turnaround and were no doubt bored. 

Beyond Limits Ultra 100mile, 50mile, 50k, marathon, and 24-hour



I never thought I would have considered a running around the block, let alone signing up for 26.2 miles.  I could not have asked for a better group of people to do it with.  Through sheer determination and the support of some great friends, I was able to make it (finish time was 8:44).  It started out rough as I had under estimated the distance from our hotel to the race and we didn't think we would have enough time to get there.  I hadn't slept well at all, was having congestion problems and wasn't able to breathe well enough to get much sleep.

 

I can only begin by saying thank you to Shane.  He is always there for me, believing in me even when I don't believe in myself.  He sat there quietly while I had my breakdown with 8ish miles to go.  He had just finished 31 miles himself, and yet was still there walking with me, trying to make sure I kept going.  I love you (for that and so many other things). 

 

Thank you to Tony (aka Endorphin Dude), you said you would help finish strong while I was still on the fence about even trying, and you were true to your word, spending all of my final lap encouraging me.  Thank also for making sure everyone was yelling for me as I crossed the finish line, with you being the loudest.  

 

 

I didn't believe Shane when he told me how funny I was as the RD Ken presented me with my age group award.  I only wish we had a video of it.  All I could keep saying was, "how can this be?"  I later learned there were 15 of us in the marathon that day.  While here were a couple of other 30-49 runners, they were in the top 3 overall, opening up age group for me!!  What a great way to break into the marathon world!

There were so many things happening for me that day.  I think I doubted myself even as I was crossing the start line.  I know I was doubting myself as I sat down and cried with almost 8 miles to go.  While the sunburn faded, my memories of that day will be with me always.  I have always know that stopping to help others is what is most important in this sport.  I will always have another race in which to PR again, but helping someone else feel successful is what keeps me coming back for more. 

RD's Ken and Stephanie are amazing.  Please check out their story at www.beyondlimtsracing.com  While I can't promise I will be back again next year, I know it is highly likely.  The course is perfect, you are constantly surrounded by others as you loop around the track.  If you wanted, you could stay on site in a camp like setting.  While I am not sure I want to experience that (due to flashbacks from 6th grade), I know I will be there next year even if it is just to cheer on my BLU running family! 

New Years Double and Miss. Blues half marathons!!

I had been on the fence about signing up for a full marathon.  I never thought I wanted to run a 5K, why would I ever consider a full marathon.  The race directors were people I had met through Labor of Love and Calico Racing in 2011.  Their story was so amazing, when I saw they were hosting an event, I knew I wanted to be a part of it.  The only problem with that was, the shortest distance was a full marathon and the half was my limit.

I posted on the Facebook site, "wish you had a half so I could join you."  Several ultra runners, including the race director told me I should just sign up for the full.  I kept dragging my feet, just didn't want to commit to 26.2 miles.  I have had some pretty horrible 13.1's, I could never imagine doing twice the distance.  A very wise man, Mr.Ed Ettinghausen (aka the Jester), told me to do back to back days with my longest distance and see how I felt once I was done.  So I found a way to test this theory.

Shane wanted to run Mississippi Blues Marathon in January.  They also had a half, so I was set!  Then I started looking for something else we could do.  I heard about a double even in Allen, TX to celebrate New Years through Bling Whores on Facebook.  I showed the site to Shane and he said he was in if I wanted to do it.  I tried to only sign up for one half and then a 5k, but the 5k was sold out, so I took that as a sign.

So in the course of 6 days, I would run 39.3 miles!  YIKES!!  The Jester had said to see how I felt on the end of my 2nd day and go from there to help decide if 26.2 was something I should try to conquer.  Day 1 (Dec. 31st), we were greeted with rain, wind, and very cold temps.  Allen, TX had received several inches of snow a week prior and some was still visible on the group upon our arrival.  My finish time was 3:28.  Not my worst, but not anywhere near my best either.  Day 2 (Jan. 1st), while the rain was done and most of the wind, we still had the concrete sidewalk we were running on to contend with.  Concrete is not a fun surface to pound on for 13.1 miles, let alone 26.2.  Both of us were feeling the effects.  My finish time for the 2nd day was 3:18, 10 minutes faster than the prior day. 

The following day we took a nice 5k walk around a local man-made lake to keep our legs stretched out.  Then it was 6 hours in the car to our next stop.  This was also a test for Shane in his training for his first 50k in March and 50 miles in April.  Both of us were feeling it in our feet from having to run on concrete.  The rain had made it impossible to run on the side of the trail.  We knew Miss. Blues was going to be hard for both of us.

We had decided to get arm warmers for both of us, and Shane had picked up a new "rain jacket."  Jan. 5th greeted us with cloudy weather and the threat of more rain.  We made it almost all the way through before it finally started but it was certainly cold enough.  My finish time for this was 3:09, my best so far for the trip!!  While Shane was tired and slower than normal for him, he too felt mostly good.  We knew what we had to do that night....sign up for Beyond Limits Ultra 100mile, 50mile, 50k, marathon, 24-hour!  BLU was going to be a test of our Limits!!