Tag Archives: 5k

Race Recap: Las Vegas Santa Suit 5K

December 6, 2011

I would like to call this race my attempt at peer pressure:

Oh heeeeeeeey, Aron. So, I found this 5K in Vegas the day before the half. It could be a great shakeout run, it’s $35, you get a long sleeve cotton tee, a cinch bag, snacks, oh and um, a full five-piece Santa suit as they are trying to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the most people running in a Santa Suit. Oh, and if you don’t come, we can’t be friends.

It worked.

Saturday morning Aron and I made the wise decision of running to the start of the race from our hotel. What we thought would be three miles, turned into four miles in the wind and cold, arriving at the race start with little time to spare.

We grabbed our packets and started suiting up (no pun intended…well, sort of). If you happen to do this race next year and the suit provided to you has a giant hole in the front “crotchal” region, feel free to ask them to replace it. I am talking from experience here, people.

Pants? Check.

Jacket? Check

Belt? Check.

Hat? Check.

Beard? Double check.

We were looking goooooooooood.

We signed our life away to the Guinness Book of World Records, watched Santa parachute in from a helicopter above (is it not obvious that we are in Vegas?) and found our way into the sea of Santas.

If you are curious about our pacing, fueling strategy or any other “real” running details, you won’t find it in this race recap because any attempt at actual running was a joke. I ran with the cinch backpack on, the belt wouldn’t stay tight, I stopped to tie my shoes, the pants were practically hammer pants and I got enough beard hairballs that I’d put Aron’s cats to shame.

We pretty much trotted along for what was actually 2.9 miles and just enjoyed seeing thousands of Santas and their festive pets make their way along the course.

However, as chaotic as it was, it was still a pretty cool experience. Should you take part in next year’s Las Vegas Santa Suit run? Definitely! I mean, what’s better than running with a fake beard?

Have you ever run this race? Or any race at all in costume?

Happy Running!

12 Comments | Posted in Races

Race Recap: Walnut Festival 5K

September 11, 2011

SURPRISE! Today, I convinced Chicken Face, my cousin and his girlfriend to come out to the Walnut Creek Festival Run for a good ol’ 5k. Sorry Cody, if you say, “Hey Page, let me know next time there’s a 5k, I want to run one,” I will find one for you the very next weekend. You’ve been warned. Plus, I was happy to support Aron and Kristin who worked so hard to put this 5/10k on.

Given my pure lack of sleep and my loathing hatred for 5Ks, I didn’t talk much about this race leading up to it as I wasn’t really sure how I was going to approach it. But as Aron will be the first to call out, once I get to the race and totally am consumed by the energy of other racers, I usually go for it.

Our good friend Katie was also running the 5K and lately, she’s been taking 1^st place at every race like they were free Costco samples. Thus, I was happy to have her there as a bit of motivation/inspiration.

As we toed the start line, a couple of 9-year-old boys trash talked us, mocking the speed at which a girl could run. What’s that 9-year-old? Are you challenging me? Not cool. I kid…I kid…but seriously…

Using the only smart advice I’ve ever been given about how to attack a 5K…I ran until my eyes bled. Well, not really, but you can see where we’re going with this. Essentially, you run until you think you can’t run anymore, then HOLD ON.

Attack of the Quadzilla!

Thank you for clapping, Mr. Officer.

While it wasn’t a PR, I was happy to cross the finish line in 19:thirty-something. OH HOW THE LUNGS STUNG!

I quickly joined Aron to cheer on everyone else who was out that morning. Chicken Face ( who doesn’t even LIKE running) looked happy — cotton shirt and all.

To add to the great morning, I realized that I was third female overall and first in my age group. HOLLA – I’ve never placed OVERALL before! That’s the beauty of smaller races. My good friends Katie and Tara also joined me on the podium – a great group all around.

BUT WAIT! It get’s better…Chicken Face and I were walking to get water when I hear his name called over the speakers.

“CHICKEN FACE! That’s you!” I screamed.

“No, no, there must be someone else with my name…” he pled.

“NO! YOU GOT SECOND PLACE!”

I pushed him up to the podium where he was partly shocked and humble the whole way. THAT’S MY MAN!

A great race with good friends, an overall and age group win, and my Chicken Face taking the podium for the first time ever.

Le sigh. Today was good and exactly what I needed.

I hope you all had a great weekend and were able to pay tribute to those we lost in 9/11 and those who continue to fight for us.

Happy Running!

26 Comments | Posted in Races

A 5K PR & A Too Small Singlet

March 14, 2011

I’ll keep today sweet and simple. Thanks to all of your encouragement and support, the Dublin Shamrock 5K was a success in more ways than one: a new PR and a 2011 goal is now complete (placing overall)! It wasn’t as painful as I had expected and am now considering all 5Ks a Band-Aid race. You don’t really want to do it, but if you just breathe and yank it off – it will be over in a no time. Plus, you’ll realize it wasn’t all that bad.

Time: 19:17
Overall Female: 3rd
Age Group: 1st / 157
Overall: 37 / 1618

I wasn’t the only one who got to enjoy the festivities though. I scooped up free post-race pizza and sandwiches for Chicken Face – this is how I pay him for being my personal bag check!

And yes, that jersey is sucking my insides out. The new running club that I joined was nice enough to loan me a jersey when I got to the race – little did I know it would be about five sizes too small for me. They called it the “5K Corset” and I’m considering it my initiation.

Happy Running!

———–
Day 71: 5 miles
Day 72: 13 miles
Day 73: 3.1 miles
Day 74: TBD

34 Comments | Posted in Races

Challenge Accepted

March 2, 2011

You know why I love you guys? Because I put something out there that I consider challenging and you all have my back and are the greatest support. Your comments never cease to make me smile, earning you an extra special thank you dance with a weird kissy face:

Photo from old place…new place photos coming soon!

But that means just one thing: I’m going to register for The 13th Annual City of Dublin Shamrock 5k Fun Run & Walk (whew – that name is a mouthful)! Big shout out to Layla for the recommendation

My goal? Beat my previous 5k PR. My strategy? Run until my eyes bleed. Sounds pretty solid if I do say so myself! Anyone else doing this race? If not, what 5k are you taking on soon?

Happy Running!

19 Comments | Posted in Races

A Love/Hate Relationship

March 1, 2011

Guy 1: I don’t know about a 5k. I haven’t done one in a while and I wouldn’t know how to pace myself.

Guy 2: You don’t pace yourself in a 5k. You just run until your eyes bleed.

I couldn’t have put it better myself (and yes, this conversation actually happened).

As I was mindlessly logging the most miles I could in a minimal amount of time this morning, my mind wondered into the world of running oblivion and I found myself thinking about how much I loathe 5ks. To me, a 5k is a solid sprint. No stopping. No water breaks. No pacing. Just haul and haul fast. 5ks don’t allow you the time to pace through side stitches or take in the scenery. It’s heads down, arm pupping, speed attempts. I would gladly run a half marathon before I ran a 5k – no exaggeration.

The last 5k I did was in March of 2010. It was a small race, so lucky for me I did well enough to place, but I know that my time could have improved.

Given my extreme disdain for 5k, I think I should sign up for one before Boston. It will only take a bit-size amount of the morning and it is always the things that are most difficult to achieve that we should go after (added bonus: I can convince Chicken Face to run a 5k with me!). I’ll most likely bitch and complain the entire way through, but in the end, I’ll be happy I did it. Now here is where I need your help, do you know of any 5ks in northern California in the next couple of months?

Also, how do you feel about 5ks? How do you get through them?

Happy Running!

—————-

Day 62: Five very sleepy miles.