Diva Dash 5k!

I signed up for the Diva Dash kind of on a whim, just 5 days ago. I'm so glad I did! I was still bummed after missing the Monster Dash 1/2 Marathon after my younger daughter got the stomach flu, and I was itching to do a race. This 5k seemed perfect!

It was a wet, chilly, windy day. I've never run in conditions quite like it - normally I'm a pretty "Fair weather runner". I started out the race having to pee (thanks to all the coffee I drank beforehand, and despite visiting the restroom 20 minutes before start).
I was expecting a hilly course (therefore not the best time) but it was actually fairly flat, though not quite as flat as the course my PR was on. The start was narrow and it was pretty clustered at first, but once I found my way through, I was able to really give it gas. I forgot to turn on my Nike+ GPS, so I had no idea what my pace or time was. I just did what felt right, and I knew I wanted to give it my all. Which I mostly did, although the occasional blobs of slush falling from the sky didn't help.

Towards the end, I saw my time was going to be a potential PR so I really sprinted as hard as I could. I passed a girl about 3 feet from the finish line. (I'm sure she was cursing me!).

My official chip time ended up being 27:25...a PR by 6 seconds! Yaaaay!! AND my place was 56 out of 710. Granted, it's a run/walk with lots of walkers, but still. That's pretty exciting for me :-) Not bad considering I haven't run outside for ages (though I do run on the treadmill a lot), I wasn't planning this race, and it was cold and windy and drizzly.

I LOVE the thrill of trying to beat myself and the satisfaction I get from succeeding.

All in all, a great race, despite the less than desirable weather. I would definitely do it again!

Sweat pink!

I applied, and was accepted, to be a Sweat Pink Ambassador through Fit Approach. Sweat Pink is a national movement to motivate, inspire, and encourage one another to live a positive, healthy lifestyle. As you can see, I immediately and proudly put my Sweat Pink Ambassador badge up on the blog. I am SUPER excited about this! Upon posting the news on my personal Facebook page, somebody said I should become a personal trainer. A second person promptly agreed.

BAHAHAHAHAA!

No...I am very passionate about health and fitness, but I don't think personal training would be for me. However, I do potentially have interest in becoming a certified running coach some day. It all depends on where life and my own journey take me, I guess.

Speaking of fitness - on tap for today's routine is 3-5 miles on the treadmill at the gym, followed by some time on the elliptical. And of course... exercising my right to vote :-) I hope everyone out there will also be voting. I will not share my political  views on this blog, but I DO have some very passionate opinions, particularly about a specific issue on the ballot in my state today.

Oh, and again back to sweating pink - I will be sweating pink this weekend, at the Diva Dash 5k! I signed up yesterday. After missing out on the Monster Dash 1/2 marathon because my daughter got sick, I was feeling pretty bummed and dying to do SOMETHING. A race, any race. The Diva Dash will be a perfect quick little race to satisfy my urge. Because it will likely be the last one I do in 2012, I am going to put in 100% effort. It is mostly uphill the whole time, and then a sharp downhill at the end. I haven't been training outdoors much, so I am not expecting any kind of PR (current 5k PR is 27:31), however I do want to get under 30 minutes. But no matter what, I think it will be a good time.

Stay tuned next week for results and race report :-)