Saturday, May 10, 2014

Virtual Race Swag

Today, this arrived in the mail:
Las Vegas Virtual 5K shirt - FREE!
I really didn't think I'd ever see this!  As the day that registration opened was coming up, the Vegas Half Marathon was posting on their Facebook page about kick off night which was being held in several cities.  For those not in one of those cities there was the virtual option which was to register for the race within the first few days of registration being open and then run 5K anywhere, take a selfie showing a Garmin, phone app, or treadmill screen and upload it to the special post that would appear the evening of the kick off events.  I did all of that and uploaded the photo but wondered how in the world that I would receive a shirt from that.  I honestly didn't think I'd ever see a shirt.  I vaguely remember something during registration that had to do with Facebook.  It must be that I somehow linked my FB with my registration because I got my shirt today!!  It is the strangest color.  That picture makes it look gray but it is a weird green color.  I'm not complaining!  It was FREE!!!  It's a nice shirt; it's even a women's shirt, not the usual unisex t-shirt.  

This is the photo "results" I submitted:
Vegas Virtual 5K results
Notice the snow on the ground!  Notice the headband on my head!  Notice the winter running shirt which is my heaviest winter shirt!  I think it was cold that day! 

Las Vegas, here comes Runner Nerd!!! 

Runner Nerd
got a shirt in the mail

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Track Workout

Today, I did a track workout for the first time in a long time.  I went to the group led by the trainer whose classes I take at the Y.  (I've been doing his track workouts for years.)  We run at a high school track.  He has been running workouts for a few weeks this season but I haven't been to one yet.  When I saw the workout in an email I knew I was in trouble! 
We started with 4 easy laps warm up and then 4 laps fast on the straights and slow on the curves.  Then it was 4x400 on 3 minutes.  I did ok for those first 4 repeats.  I had 1:57, 1:59, 1:57 and 1:57.  Then a lap slow and then on to the next set of 4x400 on 2:40.  That was tough.  I wasn't getting much rest.  All 4 of those laps were 2:01-2:03.  Another slow lap and then to the next set - 4x400 on 2:30.  This is where it got ugly.  I might as well have done a mile repeat because I got very little rest between repeats - about 15-20 seconds.  The last two 400s were 2:09 and 2:08.  There was actually a fourth set but only two people attempted that - 4x400 at 2 minutes.  I did the first one then a slow lap in which time the other two did almost two repeats so I joined them on their last repeat.  Then two slow cool down laps and I had just run 7 miles with 3.5 miles of fast running. 
I was worn out but I actually felt really good afterward.
Before we started, I told the coach that it was going to be hard after the first set because I don't think I can run a 400 in two minutes right now.  He said, "oh yeah, you were running 1:47s last year!"  It was at the END of the summer that I was ran a couple of 1:47 400s.  (I was also 10 lbs lighter at that time but I didn't mention that.)
So, that was my fun and games for the day! 

Runner Nerd
did speedwork

Skechers shoes - now for the elite runner!

Meb won the Boston marathon wearing Skechers and now, I read today that Kara Goucher is now sponsored by Skechers! 
I went to their website and they have some really cute running clothes!!  I never knew they made clothes.  I may have to go to the Skechers store! 
I remember a few years ago when Skechers came out with the shoes that supposedly would tone your legs just from walking in them and all of us runners laughed at that!
I was thinking about trying the new running shoes for work shoes. 

Runner Nerd
wondering about Skechers

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Run for Eli

Today's group run was a little different.  We met in a park instead of the usual fitness studio.  The owners of the fitness studio wanted to have a special run today to remember their son,Eli, who was stillborn one year ago.  Before taking off, we released light blue balloons which we wrote  messages on.  It was very simple, she said one, two, three and we let go of the balloons and they all floated upward. 
The run route started with a 3.1 mile loop that came back to the park because Eli weighed 3 lbs, 1 oz.  They had a lot of family and friends there who walked the 3.1 mile loop and many were pushing kids in strollers.  The run then continued on, for those of us in the running group, another 7.41 miles to equal 10.51 miles because Eli was born at 10:51.  They also asked everyone to wear blue and most people did.  It was really special and even though it was just my weekly long run, it really did feel like I was part of something special.  It was very nice.
After running, they invited everyone to join them and their family members in the park for snacks.  They were also taking donations for March of Dimes.  (Eli had a fatal genetic disorder.) 

While running the first 3.1 mile loop of the run we saw many students in cap and gown headed over to the big house for graduation!  That was really exciting!  We were all saying congratulations to them.  

I really didn't want to get up at the crazy early hour that my alarm went off but I'm now glad I did as this was a very memorable group run day.

Runner Nerd
ran for a purpose today