Finksburg 5k and more!

Apr 192010

What’s up everyone? 

Overall my weekend went pretty well, with one event in particular being the highlight…

I RAN ANOTHER 5K!

I swear, from what I saw on Twitter on Friday, it seemed like EVERYONE was running in a 5k this weekend.  Kat was, David was, Craig was, Ryan was, and I’m sure plenty of other people were!  CRAZY! 

I began to feel a little left out, and may or may not have even cried a tear or two…

…so I went and looked for a race, and lo and behold, I found one!

The race was the Finksburg 5k, put together by the Westminster Road Runners Club (who also did the Mighty Medford 5k).  I found the race, but I wasn’t sure I really wanted to run it at first.  I hadn’t really been preparing myself to run another 5k, but hey, any running will only benefit my training efforts for the Half Marathon, so why not?

The race took place on the grounds of Gerstell Academy, which is a private school in the area.  It began with two laps around their track, and then you proceeded to run the grounds of the school.  It was a bit hilly, but no evil death hills like at Mighty Medford, which was nice.  Overall…I did okay.  My time was 32:07, which would be great, if it wasn’t 1:08 slower than my 5k in January.  The official results haven’t been posted yet, but I think I came in 34th place out of…45 maybe?  I’m not sure.  I placed 35th in Mighty Medford so I least I moved up a spot. WooT!

I was a bit discouraged about my time, until yesterday.  I went to the gym in the morning to get some cardio in, and I was able to knock two miles out on the treadmill.  In most cases, not a big deal, except that after my first 5k I couldn’t run, and could barely walk, for about a week.  This time I was able to get back to my regular routine with little issue.  So while my time may have been slower, I feel like that’s a sure sign of progress.

And if it’s not, well, don’t harsh my mellow.  I’m going to keep telling myself that :)

In a bit of other news, I’ve decided to incorporate some C25K training into my running routine.  I’m doing this along with Jess and Anthony, and the primary goal is to try to increase our speeds, so we’ll be mostly sprinting during the “running” portions of the program.  I don’t know if I’ll be doing C25K as 100% prescribed, because I’m going to need to get some more running in as well, but I feel like it’d be a nice addition and that I can do it without “overdoing” it.

ALSO!…I’m up to $280 in my fundraising goal for the Maryland Half Marathon!  Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far (Erin, my mom, my Aunt Carolyn). You guys rock!  There is plenty of time to help, and you can do so by visiting my fundraising page here.  Donations go towards the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center. Thanks :)

That’s all I got for now.  Hope everyone had a good weekend!  Feel free to share anything awesome that went down, I’d love to hear about it :)

NOMOSNO

Feb 042010

I don’t like snow. 

I won’t go as far as to say that I HATE snow, because I do think it’s pretty and all that shit…but the novelty wears off fast, and then you have to shovel it, and drive in it, and then it starts to turn all gray and gross and is no fun for anyone.

With that said, they are calling for 12-20 inches of snow in the Baltimore area this weekend, and my evil douchebag roommate (who isn’t actually an evil douchebag, but it adds to the effect) says they are calling for more snow in the middle of next week.

BOO! HISS!

No thank you winter, you can go about your business now.

Anywho, how are you all doing?  Here is rundown of some things that are going on with me:

  • I have another race this weekend. Okay, supposed to have a race, provided nature doesn’t drop trou and crap out a mountain of white upon the land.  It’s the Bear Run 4-Miler, and it takes place at the Pleasant Valley Fire Company in Westminster.  I have a co-worker who lives up that way who says it very hilly in that area, so I’m a bit apprehensive, but still moreso excited.  This will be my first race since the Mighty Medford 5k and my first real attempt at outdoor running too (which kind of shames me to admit).
  • I want to go skydiving again, like very alot. I blame Mary for this.  She had to go bring about all sorts of awesome by BUNGEE JUMPING and now I want a piece of the awesomepie.  I’ve been skydiving once before, in the summer of 2003, and it rocked.  I always wanted to do it again, but over time it kind of became one of those things that I’ll say I want to do, but won’t actually do.  Now I want to.  The problem is that I physically cannot. Yet.  You have to be no more than 220lbs to be able to jump.  I’m not that far away from that though, and I think I have a jump be a birthday present to myself I lose some more weight by then (birthday is May 14th, people…jot it down :-P ).
  • I’m going to Fitbloggin’!!!! WooT!  I registered to sign up for a cool convention/conference in March called Fitbloggin’!  It’s a place where bloggers (weight loss, fitness, food, etc…) can connect, network, learn and grow.  I’m all up for that action!  I’d love to meet some of my fellow bloggers and maybe learn how to better at this whole thing.  The really cool thing?  It’s right in Baltimore, so I could just drive on down there.  I’m considering getting a hotel room downtown though, especially so that I can party with the Big Love Crew. WooT!
  • I need glasses. My vision has been starting to go for some time, which sucks a mountain of balls.  The main issue is that I can’t read a roadsign from a distance to save my life, and now I can barely even work anything 10-15 feet away. Suck. Two of my brothers and my mom wear glasses, and yeah, its not a huge deal, but its hurting the pride a little bit.  Oh well.

So what’s up with YOU?  Anything new and exciting going on?  Anyone want to join to the NOMOSNO (no more snow) movement?

If we get enough people maybe I’ll make T-shirts! WooT!

Have a great day :)

Mighty Medford Freeway 5k

Jan 112010

My legs are STILL sore…

…but it’s an soreness brought on by accomplishment…

…

…yeah, that was lame, deal with it. :-P

I ran my first ever race yesterday, the Mighty Medford Freeway 5k, located in Westminster, MD.  This was my first race, and my first real attempt at outdoor running, and it.was.AWESOME.

The course was mostly flat w/ some very small sloping areas, until you hit the halfway mark, which involves climbing up a very large (ie. a bitch of a) hill.  I was doing good with running/jogging up until that point, but I had to start walking once I was halfway up.  I had to walk one other time during the second half, but that was only for about a hundred feet.

Overall, I SURPRISED THE HELL OUT OF MYSELF and finished in 30 minutes and 59 seconds.  Wow.  I had been running 5k on the treadmill and finishing it about this time, but I thought the roadrace was going to instill a nice dose of reality and I was going to finish much slower.  Once I saw a ton of people passing me, I resigned myself to a) trying not to be last, and b) trying to finish in at least 40 minutes.

I finished well below 40 minutes :) , and I wasn’t last, either!  I don’t know my official standing yet, but I will update this post once the results are posted.  WooT!  (update: the results are posted and you can view them here.  I came in 35th place out of 39.)

So yeah, my legs are VERY SORE, but its all good.  I need to get some biking in today ensure making my “60 miles for the week” goal, so my calves will get a bit of a break.

The next race is on Febuary 7th, and is the “Bear Run Four Miler”, also in Westminster.  I’d definitely like to try to give this a go, and if anyone noticed on my twitter over the weekend, I am officially registered for The Under Armour Baltimore Marathon on October 16th.  It’s not just idle talk anymore…WooT!

I better get my ass in gear, huh?

How was everyone elses weekend?

Newer Entries