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!

Why am I nervous? 4th Half this weekend!

So... I am running my 4th Half Marathon this Sunday... and I am a little nervous.  Here are my first 3...

#1 - Tinkerbell Half at Disneyland - January 20, 2013

#2 - Heroes Half - Everett, WA - April 28, 2013

#3 - See Jane Run Half  - Seattle, WA - July 14th, 2013

Asking myself lots of questions all day long... 

Will the course be hilly?  What if I pass out? (I never have but you never know)  What if I trip and hurt myself?  What if it rains?  What if it is too hot?  Will the course be hilly?  What if my shoes bother me?  What if I get a cramp?  What if they run out of water?  What if I am last?  and on and on and on....

Geez.  Can I just stop already?  

The Half I am running is just north of where I live in the beautiful city of Bellingham, WA.  I have run a few races there but never this one.  There is a Marathon and a 5K happening as well.  I am sure because of course demands they are staggering the starts.  The 5K and the Marathon start at 7:30am and then the Half does not begin until 9:30am... oh my this is bothering me too.  I wish I was starting earlier.  I just want to dive in and get it done... I am sure it will all be fine... but I like to stew on all of this.  

Then I log into Facebook today and there is an article posted from Runner's World magazine all about race jitters and how to cope... you can see it HERE.

I am suppose to be tapering my mileage and how do I deal with the stress of the half this weekend?  I run 8 miles today.  ;P


How do you deal with pre race jitters?   Do you worry about silly things regarding races? 

Race Recap - Fairhaven Waterfront 15K

Let me start off by saying I got a little nervous for this race... 15K is a long way and the pressure was on... this was my "Racerversary Race" !  I wanted to at least get a slightly better time then I had earned in 2012.  Finishing and smiling was the goal but I did want that PR!  The race was happening in the beautiful city of Bellingham, WA about 45 minutes north of where I live.   My friend Carrie (who is training for her first Half Marathon and for Tinkerbell in January) was participating as well.  I picked her up on the way and we were off.  

After a quick stop at Starbucks we were headed north.  Traffic was a breeze and once we arrived we found parking very easily!  The race was starting off in the Fairhaven area of Bellingham which is kind of "old town" but very trendy.   We had not done early race bib pick up because of the distance so we quickly made the short walk to the plaza to pick up our bibs.  This literally only took less than 5 minutes.  

This race was seriously only $20 to register which included a tech shirt!  I love cheap local races that have cool shirts!

After a quick walk back to the car to re-adjust our fuel belts and drop off our cool new shirts... we made our way up to the start line.  

I of course was sporting some Sparkle Athletic (black sparkle skirt) at this race too... I can't do a race without one on and I am sure it had something to do with my finish time!  Respect the skirt!  

After seeing a few familiar faces at the start line - we were off!  Carrie and I were not planning on running together so we bid our "good lucks" to one another and set off to "run our own races".  The course headed north into downtown Bellingham which sadly in the beginning meant UPHILL... I made it and stuck to my intervals!  Once reaching the south part of downtown the course took a sharp left and headed down to the waterfront and marina.  HERE is a link to the course map.  The weather was perfect for racing but not too great for the "seeing the sights".  It was cool and overcast.  The waterfront at the marina area was pretty but there was no seeing the mountains today.  I was fine with that... last year at this race the sun was out and it was a hot one.  The cooler temps were a welcome thing!  I didn't take any photos during the race (sorry).  My intervals were going great and I felt strong throughout.  Such a different feeling from one year ago... I am not sure what I was thinking last year signing up for a 15K as my first running race ever!  Crazy girl!  This time last year during the last 2 -3 miles I thought I was going to die.  It was hot and I was done.   This time I was glad to be done but could have kept going!  Yeah - progress!  HERE is a link to an official photo of me at the finish that currently I am too cheap to purchase.

This was my friend Carrie's first time going this distance!  She did great... learned some things about herself and felt a real sense of accomplishment on her finish!  I am so proud of her!  

All in all I would highly recommend the Fairhaven Waterfront 15K race.  The course is beautiful and has it's challenges (just enough to keep it interesting).  The registration fee is inexpensive and the shirts are great!  There were tons of drawings in addition to awards for the age groups and overall finishers.  Loved this race and can't believe it has been one year since I began actually running in races.  Oh and for that PR I wanted... Yep... got that!  I shaved 9 minutes off last year's time!  Yahoo!  

Next race (s)... Harvest 5K in Stanwood (literally just down the road from my house) and my entire family is participating!  Saturday - Sept 28.  ...and Bellingham Bay Half Marathon... my 4th Half Marathon on Sunday - Sept 29!  Back to Back!