Moo've It

I promise you. I have been running. But I evidently haven't run a race since May. Happy to report though, that all changed yesterday. My running chicas and I ran the Chick-fil-A Moo've It 5K.

Ready to run!

This is a back-to-school favorite in our county primarily because the proceeds from the race are given back to the schools via our local education foundation and a school zone participation competition. A competition the zone I work in and which my children attend won!

I am the second person from the left. Go Cherokee Zone!

The race was packed with people, and one thing is certain: the Chick-fil-A 5K has outgrown this venue - a local park. When you've got individuals parking along side the road just to get into the park to race, you know you've got a problem.

Additionally, the race itself had a bit of a hiccup. Before crossing over a bridge to continue running the 5K, there is a loop that needs to be completed. Sadly though, the front runners of the race had a hard time completing that loop because they ran into the other half of the race's runners still trying to complete the loop before they could cross the bridge. I can only imagine that traffic jam was a huge frustration to them.

Also, something went wrong with the chip timing on the bibs which may have been due to the massive amount of people that attempted to run that day. I know this for a couple reasons including the fact that they announced me as a third place winner in my age group with a race time of 25 minutes when in reality my time was just under 45 minutes that day.

OMG! I do not deserve this!

Despite the chaos, it was a good run for a good cause. The August heat is a good reason to not run this race again. However, the atmosphere is one of support for our public school system, and that uplifting spirit is a big reason for this teacher to consider running it again - as I did two years ago.

I am going to try to run at least one race each month going forward. I don't have any definite running goals as of right now other than just run. Well, run, and enjoy running.

Running is a gift too few know the pleasure of unwrapping.

The Atlanta Women's 5K

April 14th, I got to run the largest 5K in the Southeast: The Atlanta Women's 5K.

Although I was bummed that none of my regular running chicas could experience this with me, I was excited to be running in this event. I had heard a lot about it, and the race certainly did live up to all the hype.

The atmosphere was electric with female pheromones! Music, set to a perfect tempo to excite runners, greeted me upon arrival, and after checking in and getting my bib, there were vendors to enjoy, tempting me to shop.

Before the race got started, we were given an opportunity to participate in a group stretch, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Then, runners were told to move to their race corrals.

Do you see the purple flowers on the race banner in the above pic? These emblems were everywhere. The medals were shaped like this flower, and I couldn't help thinking they looked a lot like purple forget-me-nots.

Now, if you have read my blog in between 2010 and 2016, you know that it used to be titled Forget-me-not, Oh Lord! And you know why those flowers are special to me. Whenever I see them, or anything that reminds me of them, I think about the baby I lost back in August of 2010, our Angel.

Waiting for the race to start, I thought about the day of my miscarriage, and looking around at the hundreds of women that surrounded me that day, I thought of the reality that 1 in 4 women will experience a miscarriage in their lifetime. I wondered which of these ladies had at one point shared in the pain I had experienced eight years ago.

And then the race started. And I ran. And thoughts of Angel ran with me, thoughts of all that I had done since then to honor her memory, thoughts of the races run for her. 

And I was happy. 

To think of her now, makes me smile. Back then, to think of her would bring unimaginable sadness. But it is somewhat true what they say, "Time heals all wounds." So now when I think of her, I smile. I'm grateful to have carried her the few weeks I did. I'm a better person for having had her in my life.

So I ran. Happy. Determined to remain happy. And it was a good race.

Finished in 36:07

After finishing, I got a medal, my shirt, and a flower! We were showered with gifts!!

I had a great time enjoying me and remembering Angel. This race is a keeper, for sure! 

The Time Is Now

Exploring runners' blogs rocks! They provide inspiration and motivation, and lately, I've been in short supply of those essential elements in my running life.

Putting on the dry-fit apparel and lacing up the shoes - those things don't happen without running mojo, and I know of no better place to find that than from other runners.

So today, I am linking up with Running on Happy, Crazy Running Girl, and Coach Debbie Runs for their Coaches' Corner.

Rachel at Running on Happy wrote a post about "Setting Goals For The New Year," and I was inspired to think about running and 2018.

I made two specific running goals for 2018 early on in 2017, and I'm excited to see these ambitions finally realized sooner rather than later. 

First, I have wanted to run the Hot Chocolate 15K in Atlanta for many years now, and this February, I have signed up to do it. I will get the chocolate bar shaped medal I have coveted for so long!

My precious...

My husband typically runs this 15K and has a few of these rectangular shaped beauties, and every year I would stare longingly at his bling and say, "Next year. That will be mine. I will have one. Next year." And the next year would come, and it would go, and with it, another chance to obtain that treasure lost.

But this past summer, I turned 40, and I told myself, "Jamie. Go get what you want. You're 40. The time is now."

So, February 4, 2018, I WILL have my chocolate bar shaped medal!

Another something I have always wanted will also happen in February 2018. I am going to run my first Walt Disney World race!

Another AWESOME medal! Whoo hooo!!!

I have signed up to run the Disney Princess 5K with some of my favorite running buddies. I'm so very excited about this running goal! I mean, Disney, princesses, and running?! It's going to be a dream weekend!

Beyond those two races, I'm not sure what more I want to do with running in 2018. I know I want to run - much more than I managed to do in 2017.  And I'm loving a new running date I've established with my BFF on Saturday mornings, so that will certainly help.

So I guess the third and final running goal I have is - just keep running.

Truly though, I am super excited about finally tackling those two races for two reasons. First, I've been wanting to run those races for years now. And second, they are opportunities to do something for ME.

Because while I've - for sure - neglected literal running in 2017, my metaphorical running has suffered as well.

Interesting how the two seem linked, yes? But that's for another post.

I've obviously got some literal running goals mapped out, so I've also come up with one goal to help me run the race of life better. One simple initiative.

Every day, I must do something for ME. I must take at least one action in an effort to take care of myself. I must complete one activity that will put a smile on MY face.

Cause if Momma ain't happy...

And Momma could be happier. But Momma's been tired. Consumed with running around taking care of everyone else.

So, there you have it. My literal and metaphorical running goals for 2018.

What about you? What do you want to do? What do you NEED to do?

If I may offer some advice, borrowed from a great brand of running shoes, JUST DO IT!

And let's cheer each other on in 2018! Join my Facebook page for more encouragement as we run the race before us.

My Superpower

Training for the Hot Chocolate 15K is in full swing!

Yep. That's right. I said 15K.

That race will be my first 15K, and it will be the LONGEST run I have ever attempted.

I'm scared to death!

But, hey, as FDR once said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," so I'm going for it. Besides, it is something I have dreamed of doing since I first ran the Hot Chocolate 5K back in January of 2014. Now that I'm 40, it's time to cross some things off my bucket list.

I'm using this to guide my training:

Now, I'm not doing any of the swimming or the strength training on the plan. I probably should, but it's all I can do to find time in my schedule to get the mileage in. So truly, slowly increasing mileage to be ready for 15K by the first Sunday in February is the focus.

I'm on week three of the training plan, so today, I needed to get in a 5K. And just my luck, my running buddy Jordan wanted me to join her at a local park for - yep, you guessed it - a 5K!

The North Georgia Health District put together this event at my favorite running park.  So today, Jordan and I went, ran, and both placed second in our age groups. Whoop whoop!

This 5K was to support breastfeeding - something I chose not to do with my children. However, I was more than happy to come support those who make the choice to try it.

The 5K's tagline was, "Express Your Superpower" - obviously putting breastfeeding into the category of a superpower. But I'm not quite sure that fits...

The word superpower has a couple definitions - including the word being a reference to a great nation - but the standard definition for the word is a "power greater in scope or magnitude than that which is considered natural or previously existed."

So, I would argue that breastfeeding doesn't really apply as something "greater...than that which is considered natural..." It's a pretty natural thing for mothers - all things biologically considered.

That being said, as I ran this race, I had an entirely different superpower in mind. *cue huge smile*

Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength."

Now, THERE is a superpower! The Lord Jesus Christ, Himself!

And it was Him I had in heart and mind when I ran this race to express my superpower.

It was He who enabled me to run this 5K in under 35 mintues. 

And I know that if I am successful in completing a 15K in February, all the glory will go to Him. My strength. My superpower.

Are you training for a race right now? If so, please join me in my Facebook training group Training With Jamie. Let's encourage one another as we run the race before us!

Hickory Flat Out 5K

Hello runners!

Long time no see. I've been out of the literal running scene ;-) since the end of June, and today, I got back to the business of racing. 

Labor Day is an American holiday that has grown to have different meanings for different people. For the runner, it signals the start to the fall racing season. Cooler temperatures in the mornings make for ideal running conditions, and that is one of the reasons I finally found the inspiration to get my butt back out to a 5K.

The Hickory Flat Out 5K is a race held every year on Labor Day to benefit a local summer camp.

I've had my eye on this event for some time now; this year, I got a chance to check it out. And I'm glad I did! The event was very well run, had a fairly flat course, and ended with a fun run and a few giveaways before awards. It's a great event for a worthy cause, and I highly recommend it to anyone in the area looking for a local run to start the fall season.

Because, I've not been running regularly - which I blame on the start to an already busy school year (#myexcuse) - my race time was pretty pathetic (36:00) in comparison to my usual 5K times. However, that race time will be good motivator to get out of bed in the mornings and rekindle my love for early treadmill runs. 

I knew my run time going into this race was not going to be pretty, so for that reason, my goal for the Hickory Flat Out 5K was simple: enjoy it.

Enjoy the beautiful cool weather and bright blue sky...

Enjoy the presence of friends...

Enjoy the run...

In the heavens, He has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like...a champion rejoicing to run his course. (Psalm 19:46-45)

Simply put, I just set out to enjoy running the course before me.

That is something we should all strive to do more. Just enjoy the course as you run.

Literally and metaphorically.

Happy Labor Day!

My Final Race of 2016

My final 5K race for 2016 is "in the books."

This race is organized by our county service league which raises money for children in need. It is another run for a great cause, and this year, it was being held at my favorite park (which has a mostly flat running course)!

Last time I ran this race was in 2013. I had a good time, despite the rain, but the course at the time was filled with too many hills. And they didn't have a shirt for me even though I preregistered. So for those reasons, I wasn't really motivated to run it again any time soon.

However, they changed the course to my favorite place to run, so I couldn't resist. And besides, my running buddy was going to be there with her daughter! I had to go!

I completed the 5K in 33:58. I almost beat my best 5K time for 2016, but evidently, I ran that same course back in June for a time of 33:30. Irregardless, I was happy to end the year with such a good race time.

I have run over forty 5K races since I started running in the fall of 2012! And guess what? It never gets old. I love it! I love the exercise, the fellowship, the memories...

 Come on 2017! Let's run some more!!

Today's forget-me-not: Don't ever stop running!