Another one of those pesky 5Ks ...

I’m running a 5K today. Yeah, the race distance I despise. But, it will be fun because my dad is doing it, too. It’s his first! For that reason, I’m excited. 

I'm hoping to run it faster than my last 5K in September (and hopefully not feel like puking like I did then). My dad's plan is to run one mile and walk two miles in interval fashion (he just recently started the Couch-to-5K program).

I'm a little nervous about it because I haven't gotten enough sleep all week or ran (well, aside from the half marathon on Sunday) due to work, Dad arriving and general craziness. Also, we'll be at a spring training game from 10:30 a.m. until almost 4 p.m. in the skin-sizzling sun ... with the 5K starting at 6:15 p.m. Eek! 

Thankfully, we were in the shade this game.

But something working for me: even though this race is in the vicinity of the Pier, and I think you'll be able to see it almost the entire course, it doesn't involve running on the thing. Yay! No pesky Pier! 

It's nice to look at ...

 

I’m debating about wearing bunny ears for the race. I have a hard time resisting a costume, and with Easter looming, I thought it would be fun (and easy since I already have the ears). I also like the humor factor: a person who proclaims to be a turtle wearing rabbit ears.

(On a side note, wearing things on my head does not bother me during a race. I usually forget they are even there. I always think I am going to want to toss the thing off within the first mile, but I never do.)

If these didn't bother me, I don't think anything will.

Maybe Dad's first race, no Pier and bunny ears will make my dislike of the 5K disappear ...

Should I wear bunny ears? Do you like 5Ks? Do you run 5K races regularly? What is your favorite distance? Do your parents run? Have you ever run a race with them?

Running randomness

I'm pumped that I was able to at least focus my randomness on one topic. This is progress:

• Our running group started bridge training for the Clearwater Iron Girl Half Marathon this weekend. In other places, this may be known as "hill training." On the West coast of Florida, there are no such things as hills. We met at a local trail and ran overpass repeats for 50 minutes. There were three overpasses in a small area, so you can cover a lot in a short amount of time. It was tough. Probably the most difficult 4.3 miles I've ever ran. I'm hoping it gets easier.
• During this training, it was extremely humid. Being the sweaty girl that I am, I sweat ... a lot. Since I knew this was going to happen, I wore my hair in a braid to try and avoid the sweaty, tangled ponytail I usually get. Instead, I got a tangled braid (how does this happen?!?). Any advice on how to avoid tangled, matted, nasty, sweaty hair?
  
  

Ponytail and braid end in tangled, sweaty messes. (Yes, I like purple and making funny faces.)

• Speaking of purple (when do I not speak of purple?), I will soon have these beautiful babies in my possession. I got the last pair in my size (allegedly), and I got them on sale. Score!

Source

• In other exciting running news, my dad is running! He's run before (he played college basketball and was in the military), but not in a very long time. He walks 3 miles a day at the gym, and he decided he wanted to add some running. I sent him the Couch to 5K plan and told him to take it easy, not overdo it and not get discouraged. He's decided he wants to do a 5K with me when he's here in March for some spring training games. I'm so pumped!

Baseball and running? Awesome!

Do you do hill/bridge training? Has it helped you? Do you like it? What is your favorite color? Have you ever run a race with a family member?

My (short) running history

I made attempts at running my freshmen year of college. My roommate and I would go out most nights and just try to run farther than we did the night before. And, we actually had some success. In the Kansas winter. In our nylon pants that made the swish-swish-swish sound as we ran (why I thought those things rocked as much as I thought they did, I'm not sure). I'm also not sure why we stopped. Probably studying. Yeah, that's it.


So, here I am now in my 30s trying to get serious about running again (or maybe really for the first time). I tried to follow the Couch to 5K plan, but I ended up modifying it. I ran intervals for what seemed like forever, and then, one night it all clicked; I ran two miles without stopping, and I was hooked.


I ran my first 5K race in February, and I added two more to my collection by May. I ran the entire race each time, and I had a faster time each race. After my third 5K, I wanted a bigger challenge. So, I began looking for a 10K (what seemed like the next logical step). Problem: finding a 10K in Florida in the summer is difficult.


A friend (who is a running coach, motivator and person who believes in me when I don't) mentioned she wanted to do the Women's Half Marathon in November. I was adamant that I wasn't going to run that far. I couldn't do it. I just started running. She disagreed, but didn't push. Funny thing: I eventually came around. And, I can add to my short running history.