Spa 10K Race Recap

 Let's get to the good stuff first.

The results: 71st woman out of 227 women runners

                   official chip time--- 57:57:59

                   9th in age division

This is officially my favorite race ever. Granted I've only run three races but this one rocked my running socks right off. The course was gorgeous, made even more so by the layer of fog. The event was well put together, and I met some personal goals. First, I did not take one walk break. Not one. I have walked at least once in both the 5Ks I have completed. Those were in the middle of summer and the heat was unbearable but this was something I knew I could do and had to do. Second I came in under an hour. Woohoo go me on my first 10K!

 Generic image of the area in Hot Springs that we were running. The course started at a convention center and wound through downtown and Bathhouse Row. Very historic, very beautiful. It then went through the National Park and up West Mountain. What goes up must come down, so after the descent down the mountain we ended up back in town where we started at.

Real photo I took in the direction where the mountain was supposed to be but you couldn't see it because of the fog.

Phyllis and I after getting our packets and getting super pumped about the race.

Me before racing, sporting the super cute race tee. I loved it so much I ditched my hoodie and ran in it. I had too, it totally matched my nailcolor! See proof below.

A few photos of the ascent up the mountain. We took these long after the race was over. Just picture this beautiful scene dotted with 500 or so runners.

Me on the mountain after the race. I totally killed these hills.

My birthday is next week. I got a new (to me) car from my husband, and race entry from my best running buddy Phyllis. I am one happy birthday girl.

Phyllis and I after the race. Adrenaline high? Yes. Yes please.

Spa City 10K Race Prep

"Running! If there's any activity happier, more exhilarating, more nourishing to the imagination, I can't think of what it might be. In running the mind flees with the body, the mysterious efflorescence of language seems to pulse in the brain, in rhythm with our feet and the swinging of our arms."

— Joyce Carol Oates
 
Carb loading?
Check. Okay just kidding. I'm not really carb loading for a 10K.
 
Fresh songs on the Pebble?
Check. Specifically Your Love Is My Drug (Keisha) and Can't Stop (RHCP)
 
Camelbak?
No. I'm leaving it behind. The weather is cool (unlike the 102 degree 5K I ran this summer with only one water stop where I really needed it) and I should be fine.
 
Clothes?
Check. I'm thinking my Running Chics hoodie and my skirt. This could change depending on weather. I'll take a few things with me.
 
Manicure?
Check. What? Sorry I just painted my nails and they go fabulously with my Ghost 3s.
 
Hill Training?
Check. Thankfully I live in a very hilly and mountainous part of Arkansas. Hills are always apart of my runs. I'm going to need it. Check out this race description.
 
The race starts at the Hot Springs Convention Center and travels west into the downtown area. Runners then turn onto historic Central Ave with the Hot Springs National Park Bathhouse row on one side of the street and the shops of downtown Hot Springs on the other. After passing the first mile marker, the course turns left at the Arlington Hotel to head onto Whittington Ave. The route then heads west along Whittington around a small park and passes the two mile marker.


The race turns back east on Whittington on the other side of the park and continues ahead for 1/2 mile. These first 2.5 miles have been a long uphill section, so gradual that many runners think the race has thus far been flat. The climb is no longer deceiving as the runners now turn right to face a monster climb up West Mountain in Hot Springs National Park. After a tough 1/2 mile hill, runners pass the 3 mile and 5K markers and are rewarded with a flat and slightly downhill section. Inexperienced Spa 10K runners will speed down this section thinking the hard part is over.

The course punishes novice runners with another monster uphill section, hidden from view by the course curves, which lasts over 1/3 of a mile and takes the race past the 4 mile marker. The fifth mile is the course's true reward for those who run smart in the first four miles. Runners can fly down the back of West Mountain, out of the park and onto Quapaw Ave to the 5th mile marker. The sixth mile is not as dramatic, but also features a nice downhill section from Quapaw to Market Street, then back to Convention Blvd to pass the 6th mile marker. Only a short, gradual downhill remains before finally crossing the finish line.


 
 
Back tomorrow with race results.

UPDATES UPDATES YADA YADA

Okay so the absolute busyness and chaos continues. Let's get through a few quick bullet points, okay?

• Outhouse race was crazy wild and fun. We were beat by the NYC Fire Department. Which was good in a way because they would have never lived it down. It was super close though. We gave them a good run.
• 17 miles last week. Not bad.
• I am falling in love with running hills. I actually look for them now. I might possibly be part mountain goat. Without the hair and the horns, and uh yeah the smell.
• Still haven't signed up for the 10K in November. I must get on that.
• Weight is holding steady. Calorie counting is pretty good most day. A few days a week I don't count but don't go crazy either.
• The husband has run three whole days on the treadmill. Impressive!

We had a cool spell here in Arkansas that really made running a pleasure, but the past week its been pretty warm again. This morning it was super muggy and right on the verge of the sky breaking open. We didn't get lucky enough to get a shower during our 4.5 miles this morning, but it was still a good run.

I can tell my endurance has really improved and that will sure make a gal feel good! I've got a 6.5-7 mile run on the books this week along with another 4-5 miles. I'm really looking forward to every single mile!

Have a great week and HAPPY RUNNING!

Planning Ahead

A few posts ago, I was lamenting about where to go from here. What to do. How to maintain.

I love this calorie intake calculator. And I also really like the idea of calorie cycling. I think I've been doing calorie cycling all along by having cheat days and then really low cal days. Anyways, I plugged in all the numbers and got myself a schedule that falls between weight loss and maintenance. I really like it and when I weighed myself this week, I was down another half pound.

Many of you suggested I set another goal. Great advice! I signed up for another 5K and am planning on signing up for a 10K in November. I have a great running partner now and we have a set weekend date for a long run. Long for me anyways. I don't know about her but right now 5 miles is long. I'm hoping I can increase it up to 7 or 8 miles before the 10K. And...if the 10K goes well and life cooperates then I really think I want to attempt to train for the Little Rock Half-Marathon. But that isn't until March. Plenty of time to figure it all out.

I read an interesting little article in Women's Health last night about how to order fast food, healthier. Every other weekend, we find ourselves on the road at dinner time on Friday night and Sunday night. Like clockwork, we have no choice but to eat out twice a weekend, every other weekend. And we're not talking sitting down and eating. No time for that, and I'm not a huge fan of dining out with cranky, road tired children. So we grab something and hit the road again to get home as quickly as possible.

The article gave a few good suggestions:

• At Pizza Hut you can order any pie "fit and delicious". They give you extra sauce and veggies and only half the cheese. I don't know about you but I freakin love pizza!

• Popeyes offers "naked chicken" on sandwiches and salads. Saves you about 100 calories over fried. But I love Popeyes fried chicken. Especially the super spicy kind. I'll try this though when I know I need a light day and I'm traveling and the husband insists on this Southern favorite.

• We love Subway (kids included) and evidently you can order any sandwich as a salad and save up to 520 calories depending on the size and type of the sandwich.

• Starbucks will give you an 8oz. drink if you ask for it short and this will save major calories depending on your poison. They will also add protein powder and according to the magazine article, theirs is only 30 calories a scoop.

• And at numerous burger joints you can order a veggie burger or sandwich and it comes without the patty. Or order it protein style and get the sandwich without the bun. I wouldn't do either of these. I like my protein and carbs. But just an FYI.

I personally love Taco Bell and their Fresco menu. I know you could order like this at the Bell forever but they are finally advertising it and listing calorie counts and such on the menu. I can eat like three tacos for dinner and not go over my limit!

What do you order in a pinch on the road?

Post-5K

Hello all you happy people!

I know that if you are on a health journey in any way, shape, or form then you should be happy because you are doing something wonderful for yourself.

I've had a few hiccups the past few days with my own health journey. Only on the eating end of things. I just can not have 1700-2000 calorie days more than once a week! Get a hold of yourself woman!

I didn't run after my 5K until Tuesday. I realize that time off wasn't really necessary after a race of that distance but my legs were stiff and sore and I really wanted the break. Tuesday I did an easy 2 miles on the husband's granny's treadmill (more on that in a sec) and came home, popped in The Shred and proceeded to endure Jillian's tyrannical self for 20 minutes. This morning I managed to complete 2.5 miles outside before having to race home and get my middle child to vacation bible school.

I feel like I am behind on running after taking Monday off even though I made up for it on Tuesday. And I also feel kind of....lost. The 5K is over, what now? I've been viewing the Arkansas race calendar and am pondering doing the Dam Night Run at DeGray Lake in July. Also on my mind has been a 10K in Ft. Smith in November. Am I crazy to want to run a 10K? Nah. It would just be a prelude to the Little Rock Half Marathon that I am also considering. I need to just sign up for a few races so I can start following a training schedule again.

You know what? Training is about to get a whole lot easier. Instead of using Granny's treadmill or missing a run, I'll be running on my very own! The husband let me order a new one from Sears and it should be here next week. I am so excited!!!! I'm hoping to run at least 5 days a week now.

Today I am going to control my eating, ice my knee, and play outside with the kiddos.

What are you doing on this happy hump day?