Highlights from my Running in 2015

I love getting to this time of year and looking back at the races I've done and the miles I've ran over the year.

This year I have ran a total of 20 races. (Compared to 12 last year)

• 1 full marathon
• 9 half marathons (3 in KY, 3 in IN, 2 in TN, 1 in Canada)
• 1 10 miler
• 1 8 miler
• 1 5 miler
• 6 5k's
• 1 3k

Yearly Mileage: 835 miles (Next years goal:1,000+)

My favorite race was the Niagara Falls Half.
I hadn't seen the Falls since I was little, so it was so exciting seeing them again. Also because I got to spend the weekend with my dear friend Michelle, who lives in Canada. Best weekend ever!

I didn't get an PR's this year, but the one where I got closest was the KY Derby Half. It was also one of the rainiest races I ran. As you can see, I'm soaked!

My hardest race would've been my marathon, the Indy Monumental. It wasn't so hard physically, as it was mentally. I had a very hard time getting into the game. I had lots of doubts and fears leading up to it. It ended up being my slowest marathon ever. But, I finished and I did get my fave race pic of the year at that race!

I am very happy with how my year in running went. I had no injuries! Woohoo!
In 2014 I had several injuries and had to cancel some marathons. I had none of that this year!

I have something crazy big planned for next year, so my mileage will be much higher. I can't wait to talk more about that!

I'm linking up with Marcia, Patty and Erica for Running Highlights.

What is a highlight from your year?

Otter Creek Trail Race Recap

I hope these next 2 weeks go very slowly. The lady I nanny for is a school teacher, so when she's off, I'm off. It's pretty great!

Saturday I ran my last race of the year, the Otter Creek Trail race. They have an 8.5, 17, or 26.2 option. I decided to do the 8.5 since I hadn't been on a trail in ages.
 Come to find out, I was so glad I was only doing the 8.5!

They don't post a picture of the elevation chart online, and now I know why!

(From my Runkeeper)

See that mountain around mile 6? Yea. That was crazy. It was literally straight uphill, as you can see. After running the first 6 miles, my legs sure didn't feel like climbing that! It was also my slowest mile, at almost 19 minutes. Eeek!!

Friday night Melissa and I went out to do some carb loading and some shopping. I stayed out way too late for having to wake up at 4:45 the next day!

Saturday morning I picked up Tyler and we drove a little over an hour to the race. It was cold. 30 degrees cold. I came prepared though. I had on a long sleeved shirt, a sweatshirt, a hat, earmuffs (that doubled as speakers), gloves and handwarmers. Oh, and my hoorag. (Which was awesome!)

We picked up our packets and then got started at 8 am. Most of the trail was a single track, so I made sure to stay in the back, being a newbie and all!

 For many miles I was alone, I couldn't see anyone in front of or behind me. It was absolutely amazing. Just me, in the cold, silent, beautiful woods, watching the sun come up.

There were definitely some scary places where the trail runs along an edge that drops off into the river below. I just tried not to look down!

A friend of mine who had ran this before told me to watch out for hidden roots and rocks. There were a lot of them. I was glad I wore my trail shoes, and not my running shoes.
 I only fell once, as I was running downhill on some rocks and slipped, but I got up and kept on running. Thankfully no one was around to witness that either. :)

I was averaging around a 14 min. pace until mile 6 when I slowed way down.
What was crazy was when a few guys ran past me, on their second time around- and they were still running!

I finished in 2:16. I was hoping for 2, but didn't really know what to expect. This was definitely a hard race, but I absolutely loved every second. I love doing things that challenge me, that push me, make me work harder, and are different from what I normally do.

 I have a feeling I'll do this race again next year, just so I can get a better time!

Tyler, on the other hand, came in 3rd place overall! I knew he would either win it, or come in 2nd or 3rd. He is a beast. There were a little over 200 participants.

This was a great trail race for beginners. Cynthia, the race director was amazing. After the race there was a chili cookoff, with many different kinds of chili. I didn't eat any, chili is the last thing I wanted when I was done! So we grabbed some water and banana's and called it a day.

 I was disappointed they had run out of medals by the time I got there. (Why has this been happening to me lately? Lol!) The medals were wooden, made by local school students.
But hey, they gave me a workout dvd instead. Ha!

I had a great time. Loved being on the trails again. I've gotta get back out there again soon, there is nothing like it!

When was the last time you were on a trail?

5 Things Friday

For today's 5 thing's, I am starting out with something sad...

1. I couldn't get tickets to see Adele. After watching her Live in NY concert a few days ago, I fell in love with her even more, and couldn't wait until Thursday to get tickets. My twinnie and I had already decided we were going to go to Nashville to see her our birthday weekend in October.
 But, it wasn't meant to be. After trying unsuccessfully for a couple hours, I gave up. I have a friend in Atlanta who couldn't even get tickets to the show there.
Meanwhile, my sister in WI got tickets to see her in Chicago! I am very happy for her. But oh so sad for me. (My sister told me that just a few hours after she bought her tickets for $150, the very same ones were selling for $4,000!! It infuriates me that people do that.)

2. Something I was given:
I got my birthday present from my twin sis, and I cannot wait to wear these out! Love, love, love!

3. Something I wore:
I am still a Gwynnie Bee fanatic. I love renting clothes. This is one of my favorite dresses.

4. Somewhere I went:
A friend gave Jeremy and I box seat tickets to The Nutcracker. I had never seen it before, and I loved it! It was magical and enchanting.
 I know a lot of people think ballet is boring, but I think it's beautiful.

5. Something I'm doing:
Tomorrow I'm running the Otter Creek Trail Race. I'm just doing 1 loop, so 8 miles.
I am excited, but nervous too. My last trail run of any kind was when I attempted to run 100 miles, and made it to mile 33 after bronchitis and a sinus infection took me out.
So, it's been almost 2 years since I've even been on a trail!!
And it's going to be 30 degrees. And I hate to be cold. As you all know.
But it's going to be a blast! I'm taking Tyler, a 16 year old from my youth group with me. He has won numerous races. Pretty sure he's the next Usain.

 Have a wonderful weekend!!

Have you seen The Nutcracker?

When was your last trail run/race?

The best award ever

Have you guys been having Spring like weather too? It was almost 70 here this weekend. Oh, if only it would stay...

Friday night I went to see my brother play Mortimer (the lead role) in Arsenic & Lace. Let me tell ya, he is a pro. I mean, he was excellent. He never even knew he liked acting, he just decided to try out for the role, and he got it! He's a natural talent. He even won the best actor award! He's awesome. Btw, yesterday was his 18th birthday. He's the youngest of all 9 of us, and he's finally an adult!

 Saturday I ran a 5k with my niece, Maia (my twinnie's daughter). It was her very first race. My nephew had been planning on running it too, but his ankle started hurting from where he had sprained it over the summer. So it was best if he didn't run. So, it was just her and I.

 Before I knew she was going to be running it, I had set a goal to win an award. Not because I'm fast, but because it's a small race, and there were lots of age group awards. That's the only way I ever win, but I was going to get one!

But there was no way I was going to miss out on running with my niece for her first race. That is a once in a lifetime experience.

If you remember my horrible experience a few weeks ago running with a first timer, I had no worries at all that this would be anything like that. And I was right.
 Maia was so sweet and happy the whole time. A couple times she said "wow, this is a long race!" But she asked me probably 10 times how I was doing, how I was feeling, etc. It was SO precious!! She did not complain one time.

My fave picture ever!

We finished around 45 minutes, with her sprinting towards the finish line.
When we crossed the finish line, we were met with this!!

A table that did have water and bananas, but was now EMPTY!
I was not a happy camper. At all. This poor little girl just ran her heart out, no water stops on course, and then not even at the finish line?? We asked and they said more was on the way.
After waiting at least 10 minutes, someone brought some out apologizing, saying "we didn't realize it was gonna be 70 degrees".  Ummm....what? Really?? What does the weather have to do with anything??

I am so proud of this little girl. Her mom said she wants to be a runner just like her Aunt Katie. Running with her and experiencing this together is better than any award I could've ever received.

The weather was so nice I couldn't let it go by without a little more running, so I went out and ran 7 more miles.

 Ever ran a race that ran out of water?
I was trying to think back on all my races, and this was a first! Food, yes. Water, no.
Who else ran this weekend? 

5 things for Friday!

Happy Friday!

 Here's a few things from my week...

Something new I tried: 
A friend of mine sent me a sample of the White Chocolate Peppermint Advocare shake. It is unbelievably good. I will even say it is the best 'at home' shake I've ever had. And I've tried them all! I did buy a box during Cyber Monday, but when they aren't on sale, the price is absolutely ridiculous. But they are deelish!

 2. Something I won:
I was so excited to get an email from Michael, the race director at Louisville Sports Commission. They are doing 12 days of Christmas giveaways, and I was day 1! I won a free entry to a trail run (that I wasn't able to do, because it was the very next day!), a tech shirt and a 4 pack of red bull, which my stepson was very happy to take off my hands.

3. Somewhere I went: 
As you guys know, I'm the nanny for a 6 month old and 4 year old sisters. Yesterday I only had the 4 year old, so we spent the day at the Science Center. That was the neatest place!
 This girl (who I've babysat since she was 3 months old) is the sweetest ever. Just out of the blue, as we were on our way, she said "I love you, Ms Katie. You're the best babysitter in the world." She makes it all worth it.

 4. Something I bought:
Early Christmas present! For the past year I've had the Jawbone UP24, and I just upgraded to the Jawbone UP2. This is sleeker, not as bulky, and it automatically tracks your sleep pattern, without having to push any buttons. I love seeing my steps, and always trying to get more too. This was another Cyber Monday buy, so I got it for $30 off!

5. Somewhere I ran:  
The treadmill.  It's been a long time since I've ran on it. It was good to be back, I love it!
8 miles so far this week. Tomorrow I'll be running a local 5k with my sweet 11 year old nephew and 8 year old niece, and then going out for a 10 miler on my own.

Have a fabulous weekend, my friends!

Do you wear a Jawbone, Fitbit, or other activity tracing device?
 

A little stalking and a lot of ice cream

There was no running for me this weekend, and I was ok with that. (Shocking, I know)
November's mileage was super low (57 miles, compared to 100 in October!). I am determined to make December another 100 mile month.

If you've been reading for awhile, you know I love Franklin, TN. I try to go there as often as I can. In February I even spent the whole month there. If I ever come up missing, check there first, that's where I'll be.

I needed to go back, so I invited my twinnie to come with me. I wanted to show her my home away from home.

 We drove down Saturday afternoon, ate dinner, where I introduced her to the wonderful world of the peach wallaby darned.

Then we decided to do some celebrity house stalking. I mean, why not? I had no idea how many celebrities live in Franklin!
We found Steven Curtis Chapman's home and Michael W. Smith's driveway. We were hoping to see them out at their mailbox or something. ;)
That was all we had time for, since we ran out of daylight.

Great picture, right?

 After our exciting night we went back to our room and chowed down on some ice cream. Well, gelato actually. Have you guys had this stuff? It is ridiculous.

Sunday morning we went to Grace Center, which is one of the reasons I love Franklin. That place is life to me. When my world seems grey and I'm gasping for air, I just walk in the doors and it feels like God puts breath back into my lungs.

 Then...it was time for more ice cream. I promise I eat more than ice cream. Usually. And this is why I run.

I used Annie's curling iron this weekend. It was the first time I've used one in probably 20 years! I'm in love. I am going to get one ASAP. Beachy waves all the time? Yes please.

This week IT IS ON. No ice cream, no junk, and lots and lots of running. I'm also getting back into my strength training again, 3 days a week.

Do you like gelato or ice cream?
Have you ever seen a celebrity?


 

Thanksgiving and a little pie in the face

Happy Black Friday! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
 I am not a Black Friday shopper. I can say I did it once a few years ago, and that was enough to last me a lifetime.
 Instead, I went for a run. It sure was quiet and peaceful out there today!

Yesterday morning Nikky and ran a 5 mile Turkey Trot. It was at Iroquois Park, the hilliest park in Louisville. So, I went into it expecting over a 12 min pace. But, I need to start changing my expectations! We did great, and I was so happy to see we ran under a 12 min pace. Having a friend to chat with while running makes the time fly by!

Last night Jeremy's dad took the fam out to dinner for Thanksgiving. It was the first time we've done that. Although it was much easier, no cooking or clean up to do, there is nothing like homemade Thanksgiving dinner! I'll take that anyday over lukewarm restaurant Thanksgiving food. But, I am very thankful his Dad was so thoughtful in doing that for us.

 After dinner we all went back to his house for a little Pie in the Face game. Have you heard of that game? It is hilarious! You put whip cream on the little hand, and you pass the game around. Each person turns the little clickey thing (how else to describe it?!) once, hoping it doesn't land on them. We all played and we all got pie in the face at some point.
 It is so funny watching (and capturing) everyone's faces as they wait to get a face full of whipcream.

 We all got cleaned up again to take a family picture.

Tomorrow will be my family's Thanksgiving. I'll be cooking a few things, but what I'm most excited about is making Ruth's Chris sweet potatoes. I've never made them before, but if it's Ruth's Chris, it's gotta be delicious!

Did you do a Turkey Trot?
Are you a Black Friday shopper?