Marci takes on the SNOW!

Marci and her daughter T, took on a 5 in the snow! What is your excuse for not running one of these yet?

Marci said, " My official time for the Frozen Blueberry was 49:11:06!!!! I took almost 4 minutes off my time IN THE SNOW and broke the 50 minute barrier! Yeehaw!!"

We as a group on Facebook waited to hear how she did and were so proud that she beat her 50 minute goal she had set for herself.

I asked Marci what her favorite part of the race was and what her plans are for future 5k races and she shared, “My favorite part of this race was seeing my daughter ahead of me and being able to keep my eye on her for most of the race. I also enjoyed watching her stop along the way to make snowballs - KIDS!!”

When I asked her what she did this time that was different than last time to get a better time she stated, “ This time - I didn't stop for NOTHING! Earbuds falling out - hat too hot - scarf too tight - vest to fluffy ;-) - I just kept going and did not lolly-gag. “

Marci is an inspiration for all of us that are still sitting on the couch, watching the news and saying to ourselves that we will get out there when it gets warmer, Marci said her next race is going to be the Freeze your Fanny 5k in Bay City. Her goal is is less than 49:11, but I know with some of the group pushing and virtually cheering for her and helping her set goals, she’s going to get it in 45 minutes!

Also, her daughter got FIRST PLACE in her age group. Way to go T!!!!!

Shawna and Katie's 5k

Shawna and Katie ran their 5k today!

Congrats girls!

Shawna said: " Had fun doing my run this morning with Joe and Katie. Katie did awesome on her first run! It was frigid out there to start but we warmed up once we started running.....It felt great.....felt like I could've done another 3! Can't wait to sign up for another!"

Marci's first 5k

Marci joined our Facebook Run A 5k in 2012 and got a good start on the year.
Here is her story of her first 5k:

" So, I brought along a friend with me this time (Emily Anderson). I was extremely tired. I am sick but I went anyway! There were not very many walkers at this race and we were in DEAD LAST!!! BUT still lapping the people on the couch as theysay. My daughter Tansley ran ahead. Quickly we lost sight of the people in front of us and got lost. Some lady running yelled "you missed your turn" - we turned around to "backtrack" - still no familiar faces - now I am worried about my daughter - walking as fast as I can - we get within sight of the finish - I see my daughter coming around the corner in her wee little boots - A precious high school girl running beside her - Thank God! Then a different lady running yelled "Are you walking or running?" - Walking - "You didn't finish the course - you better not go in the shoot!!!" - Emily & I walked approximately 4k in 40 minutes - we did not go in "the shoot" - Tansley (my little girl) went in the 'shoot' and crossed the finish line at around 42 minutes in her wee little snow boots - She also got a ribbon this time - Fun! All in all it was not pretty but it was an adventure and will be a Story for the Ages. Along the way, Emily and I decided to host a Full Glitz 5K someday with crowns and sashes for the winners. Please, don't anyone steal this idea - cause you heard it here first. Unfortunately, we did not take a picture. I thought I took a picture of Tansley running but really the video was going without my knowledge and once she was out of ear shot I said the "F" word a few times about getting lost and having someone be snippy about it ;-) I will try to post a edited version of the video if possible. Onward and upward to the next 5K NEXT week. Thanks for inspiring me, Marci "

GOOD LUCK!

Shawna and Katie are running a 5k this Sunday.

Shawna has been a driving force for me in the last year. She puts up her Miles in a Month and I did my best to reach the 30 miles in 30 days goal. I think I made it every month, minus one.

Katie just finished her Couch to 5k recently and Shawna is running with her! I can't wait to hear how it went!!

I spoke to Lester about his first 5k last weekend and he said he enjoyed his and together we are looking into others to do together.
He did great with one day of training, I can't imagine how well Katie will do with the whole program behind her!!

Jeremiah and Lester 1st 5k.

Another race completed today! This was the resolution run in Auburn, Ca.

Both Tabitha and I had signed up for this race in hopes of someone joining us. I wasn't sure who my Plus 1 would be for the race, but I would sweet talk someone into it. She signed up her 5 year old son for his first 5k and he did GREAT!


A couple of weeks before the race, My boyfriend, Lester mentioned that he would do it with me. I was shocked. He has watched me hike nearly every single weekend in 2011 and he even came to one of my races to take pictures.

The reason he signed up for this race is because it was a trail run. I had no idea that this run would be so brutal though. These trails are the ones I run nearly ever weekend, but this was a trail I had not seen before. I'm still trying to figure out how we went down 1 mile but came back up 2!

On Saturday before the race we had gone on a 5 mile hike and I was trying to get some time in on my Vibram's 5 finger shoes. I woke up this morning and I knew I was in horrible trouble because both of my calves were unbelievably sore. A quick stop at Sport's Authority to get another compression sleeve should do the trick.
Now, I am convinced that if this was a normal 5k I would have done okay and not injured myself, but the first mile was straight down hill and the next two alternated between severe uphill, mild uphill or minimal level.

By the time I got to the uphill I could tell there was something horribly wrong and I told Lester to run ahead because he said uphill was easier for him. I struggled up the first few hills and then this doozy of a hill came up and I sprinted up it. The hope of a flat area was my reward. As soon as I hit the flat area it felt like I had just got beamed with an orange on the back of my leg. An orange that had just come out the microwave. "OH SWEET JESUS!"
I had to power walk the majority of the way back up the canyon.

As I came up out into the parking lot, I saw Lester coming for me, He had already finished, "Give me your camelbak. You wanna run in?"
"I made wrong choices, I made wrong choices...ohhhh get me to the aid station!" He ran with me to the finish line and when I came out of the chute he gave me the biggest hug.

Now I am laid up on a heating pad.

Happy 2012 everyone!! It's going to be a great one!!

Marci was our first official-unofficial runner in a 5k.

She ran with her family in a 5k on New Years eve, and even though that doesn't count for 2012, we were all inspired by her and very proud of her.

Her time was 53:05 in the Resolution Run Sat. 12.31.11 in Midland, MI

Marci said, " I was hoping for around 50 minutes (I had to fiddle with my music and earphones in the beginning) - but I was so proud of myself and I felt much better than I ever anticipated - this was my 2nd 5k - I plan to do many more - my hubby ran with my daughter (they finished in 41 minutes - she is 6 years old - this is her 2nd 5k as well - so proud!!!) - my favorite part was when the lead female runner raised her hand to me in triumph (the fist pump;-)) as I passed her walking - that was inspiring and powerful - tears of joy - Happy, Healthy New Year!!!! "