Gimmie the Hot Chocolate!

The Seattle Hot Chocolate 15K took place on March 6 this year... I hitched a ride with a friend down to the race and we arrived in plenty of time.  The weather was not sizing up to be great. It was cold and a little drizzly by the time we had parked and got to the corral area at the Seattle Center.  The 5K started well before the 15K and we saw that some of the corrals for the 5K had not even began the race yet as we walked onto the grounds at the Seattle Center.  So we headed over to the Center House to use the flush toilets and stay warm.   We made note of the large bag check area near the Center House on our way since we both planned on checking bags before the start.   We used the potties and got warm and realized it had started raining outside... it is Seattle after all but I am not excited about running wet and being cold... for over 9 miles.

My friend decided to use the restroom one more time so we parted ways and said "see ya at the finish line!"  She is way faster than me and had been placed in a further up corral.  I was in corral J... I didn't realize my placement would be so far back... but I am a rule follower so back to Corral J I went.  I had decided to ditch my jacket at bag check at the last minute... I knew even if it started to rain hard that I would regret having it 5 minutes into the run.  I am not sure I made the right choice.

After a slow move forward we were off... The weather was all over place... first a little rain and then the sun would break through for a bit.  Then as I hit the middle of the mileage the weather took a turn and got worse.  There were moments of diagonal rain and inches of water on the roadway.  Needless to say I was soaked!  Then the wind... geez... really?  My strategy to finish well was to turn off my trusty Galloway timer around mile 7 and go for landmarks.  This basically means... run through the next two cones... walk one cone... run through the next two and so on.  

Finally that finish line was in view (up another hill but that is Seattle for you).  The sun broke out a bit for my big finish.  I was just so glad to be done and all I wanted was my jacket!  I had picked up some little kids hat that had dropped it right in front of me as he and his tiny sister jumped in with their mom on the home stretch to finish with her.  Now I am all for cheering and celebrating someone's accomplishments... BUT... the volunteers handing out medals gave these two kids 15K medals.  REALLY?  I am not sure they were suppose to do that and at the time it bothered me A LOT.  I guess it still bothers me.  Would that upset you?  This wasn't a cheap local 5K... I EARNED (and paid for) that 15K medal... and you just gave two little kids the same thing I EARNED (and paid for?).  Hmmm.  I know these were volunteers and they probably thought it was cute... two little kids running across the finish line with their mom... it was cute and HIGH FIVE would have been enough.  Hand their mom the medal she earned (which they did) and simply high five the kids.  Oh well... 

So was this race worth it this year?  What drew me in again? (This was my 3rd Seattle Hot Chocolate 15K)  I have to say it is the challenge.  A 15K is not my favorite distance... it is far... did I say far for me on a good day  and this year the weather presented not so perfect conditions.  I do like the medal... that is part of the draw for me.  Time with a great friend on the ride down and back.  Participating in a large race... next to Disneyland this is probably the largest race that I do.  A lot of people like the spread at the end... the hot chocolate and snacks. 

Not my photo ...but this is almost exactly 

what we received at the Seattle race.

The snacks are good and plentiful... but seriously a water and a banana would have been enough for me.  I did appreciate holding the hot drink but it was SUPER sweet and REALLY thick for my liking so I tossed that pretty quickly.  I ate the banana (I did dip that thing in the hot fudge) and brought the rest home for my kiddos.  I have heard that some people find fun uses for the cups but I tossed it in the recycle.  It is pretty cheap and a really thin plastic.

So... would I do this race again.  Probably.  The biggest reasons... the challenge for myself and I do like that medal.  Lets hope the weather is better next year!

My great friend Merritt and I at the finish!

Bless her for waiting around for my slow #%*!

What would be your fun snack of choice at the end of a race?

Have you seen medals handed out to people who didn't actually participate in the race? 

(I am okay with a volunteer receiving one... this wasn't a cheap local 5K... this race was long... hilly... and that medal was earned!) wah wah

Biggest Loser Half Marathon - Everett, Washington

Well... on October 12th I participated in the Biggest Loser Half Marathon just south of my home in Everett, Washington.  I did this race in 2013 too but it began in Seattle... I asked around at the race and found out that some of the reasons they moved it north to Everett this year was... 1. construction at Gas Works Parks in Seattle, 2. complaints from neighborhoods of noise in Seattle... hmm - whatever the reason (s) I liked that it was closer for me.  The route... I would put it in the category of "hilly"... I have been known to pick races because of the "flatness" - I do not have any love for the hills.  That aside... I did okay. 

 

The other thing I should mention is that way back in the summer I signed up for this one... I realized that I had signed up for 3 Half Marathons in 6 weeks.  Yep... that is run one... skip a weekend... run another one... skip a weekend... then run the last one.  What am I ... nuts?  Yep - pretty much.  This race was #2 of that threesome and #12 in my total Half Marathons to date.   The first installment was the Bellingham Bay Half that was on September 28th.  The one coming up is the Snohomish River Run on October 26th.   I have never run the Snohomish Race before - but did do the sister race the Snohomish Women's Run (Half Marathon) last May - that was a good race - nice and flat.  Check back to see how I do...

The Biggest Loser Race Series is a really fun race.  Very well partnered with the TV reality show and a very inspiring atmosphere.  The Half Marathon course began at the Everett waterfront at the The Port of Everett.  Another Half I have done begins at the same spot... Heroes Half that I have done twice and wrote about here and here.  The routes were almost completely different though.

 My friends Carrie and Lynn at the start!

 

We showed up about 40 minutes prior to race time - used the restrooms and made our way to the very loud start area.  The race series also included a 5K which was set to begin 30 minutes after the Half Marathon.  So... the start area was quite congested prior to the race.  I wish there had been a better way to line up nearer to the desired pacers... if you didn't get there early you just had to line up behind the people that got there right before you did.  It all worked out though and once the race began everyone spread out.

Like I said before the course was in my opinion "hilly".  Despite that... I ended up with exactly the time I had in 2013 when I ran this race in Seattle... on a different course.  How did I do that AGAIN?!  On a different course too!  Crazy!  I was SOOO hoping to break 2 Hours and 30 minutes... but I will have to be happy with my 2 hours and 36 minutes. 

This was Half #12 for me... I can't believe it!  How did I get here... the girl who HATED running!  I really point to one thing that makes this whole idea even doable for me!  Jeff Galloway!  His run/walk/run method is the way this whole crazy thing sounded doable to me... I have stuck to it and it works!  Staying injury free and enjoying the journey.   Is it easy??? ... NO WAY!  There is LOTS of effort involved... lots of "do the training even when you don't feel like it" moments... But oh so worth it! 

Coming in to the FINISH!  Always the most awesome moment!

 



My younger 2 kids (Makenna and Luke) after they finished the kid's race!

 



The Half Marathon Medal!

I love this race series... next to Disney it is hands down my favorite local race atmosphere for the start and finish as well as so encouraging on the course.  I highly recommend this series to anyone who might be interested.  You won't be disappointed!  So much fun!

Biggest Loser Half Marathon - Part 2 - RACE DAY!

 

Race morning came early... luckily we stayed in Seattle on the eve of the race at the recommended hotel which was about 3 miles from Gas Works Park where the race was to begin.  My friend Carrie, my younger sister Heather and I and grabbed the free breakfast.  There were quite a few participants with the same plan that we had at the hotel.  It was fun to see all of the early risers and race shirts in the Hotel lobby.  We left soon after and arrived at Gas Works at about 7:15am.  The half was set to begin at 8:00am so we were all good!  The weather was cool but no precipitation was predicted... great racing weather!  My sister and I wore our matching Sparkle Athletic skirts and received so many compliments throughout the race!  We saw others sparkling up the course as well!  Check them out if you haven't worn the sparkle! 

 

My sister Heather, Me, and Carrie!

Dan from Season 5 of the Biggest Loser

I had arranged a Meet Up for any folks from the Team #runDisney Facebook page to gather about 7:30am so we made our way over there to see if anyone would surface. 

Myself, Carrie, Lonnie, and Melissa made it... we ran into a few 

others later... during and after the race.

Kaylee - Taken - Post Race

Soon it was time to head to the Start line... this was Carrie's first Half so she set herself with like pace folks towards the back... Heather and I pushed (not literally) forward to be at about the 11:00 min pace signs... a good guess for us.  Soon the National Anthem was sung (by Dan) and off we went!  I carried my camera and got shots along the way.  This route was very similar to the See Jane Run Half I had run last July.  Starting in exactly the same spot and with the route going around Lake Union.  The slight variation was at about Mile 10ish with the route taking a turn more south for an out and back instead of north like it had in See Jane Run.  I much preferred this route even though the out and back is not my favorite... the running trail was much wider and allowed room for coming and going as well as just the recreational runners and bikers that were out in the middle of it all.  

The course was really beautiful and full of Fall color... we had some fun... I usually do not run with anyone training or otherwise... so it was different but fun to participate with my sister staying with me.  I run using intervals and this was something my sister does not do.  She was a trooper and stayed with me.  Actually pushing me a bit towards the end of the race to "obey my timer"and not walk as much as I normally would have had I been on my own!   I actually got a PR for this Half by 6 minutes!  That is huge and I attribute it to my sister and her keeping me going that last 3 miles.  We had a great time with the photographers!  All photos for this race were free - which was amazing!  Here are a few that the Race photographers captured of us!

We had a lot of fun!  

Here we are crossing the finish line!

Wahoo... the Medals and accomplishment!

After the race we picked up some of the free food being offered... lots of bananas, cinnamon rolls, oranges... and more.   We had some fun while we waited for my kids to arrive to run the Kid's Mile fun run... my husband was bringing them down from where we live... the kid's race didn't begin until 12pm.  They had a blast running it and got some pretty sweet bling for thier accomplishments!

 Carrie's boys and my 3 ready to run!

Racing with the Biggest Loser Race Series was great fun!  Love to do it again!  Very well organized and well supported all along the route!   My friend Carrie finished her FIRST Half that day!  So proud of her!  

 Very inspiring to see so many attempting races for the first time and challenging themselves!    I recommend this Race series to anyone looking to sign up in other cities!  Have fun and do it!

I also got to meet Jennifer Rumple who was on Season 12 of the Biggest Loser.  She was giving high fives at the finish for awhile.  So nice and really interested in meeting inspiring folks!

I realized I am really white and she has the most striking blue eyes!  Time for tanning!

I should add that this was my 5th Half since last January!  Pretty good for never running in a race before September of 2012!  On to Number 6!

If you haven't been a runner (or walker) all of your life... but came to it later... what inspired you to jump in?

When you got your last PR at a race what do you attribute it to?  

Coming soon... 

My 7 year old Daughter is going to guest post a recap on the Biggest Loser Kid Race!    Stay Tuned...!!!

Harvest 5K - A Family Run!

This was a running weekend!  

On Saturday, September 28th, my whole family turned out to participate in the first Harvest 5K in Stanwood, WA.  This race took place just minutes from our home at Klesick Family Farms that also happens to have a successful delivery business of Organic Produce. 

100% of sponsor fees from this event and runner registration fees went to CrossWay International, a non-profit ministry who will be drilling a water well in Ukundu Town, Kenya - home to 2,000 people including 200 orphans. Our goal is to raise $10,000 to cover the cost of the well.  It is amazing that a bunch of local people can turn out on a rainy Washington morning and raise enough money to change the lives of an entire village across the world!  Yeah!

My whole family participated in this event... it was a rainy and cold morning... my children had attitudes... all over the maps... my daughter was excited... my oldest son had to be convinced this was going to be fun (he still didn't think so at the end)... my youngest son was excited he was going to get to ride in the plastic covered stroller.  My husband was game to push the stroller and let me do my "running thing".  At least we were all there!

The whole family... Wyatt (9), Makenna (7), 

and Luke (5)... oh and that is me and my awesome husband Brian!

The weather was not great... drizzling and windy... as we waited for the race to begin most people were cold... but soon they were encouraging everyone to the start line and off we went.  My daughter loves to run... she was off... I soon settled into my "routine" and at about mile 1.5 my oldest son and my daughter started telling me to slow down (I am not super speedy anyway).  My 9 year old slowed to keep up with my husband and I took off ahead... never far ahead of my girl though.  This course was awesome... farm roads all the way... we freaked out a few herds of cows who chose to run along for a bit.  a few vehicles made an appearance (all farm trucks who more that happy to wait for the runners and walkers).

Here are few shots of the family at various places on the 3.1 mile course.

The weather held off enough to get it done but most participants left before the race organizers had a chance to hand out any awards.  Bravo to Klesick Farms for planning this first ever event!  It was terrific!  Below is a photo of some of our friends that participated as well... so much fun!