Long Overdue Race Updates and Happy Thanksgiving

Long time no...blog posts. 😮

You know how the story goes. Life got busy, and I just forgot to write about my September and October 5Ks. 

And that is no Bueno!

So here is the race I ran in September: The 5K Express. 

 

This race was the third out of four races in a series I am running to complete my medals train in this "locomotive" race series.

I initially delayed writing about this race until my medal came in the mail. Due to a shipping delay, they did not have the medals available on the day of the race, and I didn't want to write the post until I could take the above pic. So, I blame the tardiness of this post on USPS.

My October race was an event I have run previously: The Smile Run.

Always a good time, this race is in the memory of a sweet little boy, Christian, the son of the children's pastor of my church.

This year, I ran it with a new 2021 running chica who is planning on running the Disney Princess 10K with a group of ladies and myself this upcoming February. 

Give it up for, Bekah!

My Strava stats say we ran this in 42:52 with a pace of 13:28. And that's about as good as I can muster these days.

Running, right now, is simply about moving. 2020 was the year of rest - sitting at home. 2021 has been about moving again. 

I don't know if I'll ever get back to running times in the 30s, but it's okay if that never happens. I just want to keep moving. Keep running the races before me.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I think it's important to be grateful that the good Lord has given us the time we have. So many lives have been cut short these past years.

Yet, we are still here. To God be the glory. And when it's not, may He take us home to be with Him. 

Until then, keep running "with perseverance the race marked out before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." (Hebrews 12: 1-2)

3.1 Miles and Covid

Ran another 5K this past Saturday. It is one I have run before, but it was canceled last year (for obvious reasons - #2020).

The Chick-fil-A Moo've It 5K raises funds for organizations within the Cherokee County School District. It's a pretty big deal in our county - and it is now dubbed the largest 5K race in North Georgia. 

Why and how did it grow so large? Well, I'm pretty sure it has something to do with Chick-fil-A. I mean, we are talking about the Lord's chicken. Who wouldn't want to run for that, right?!

That's just my humble opinion.

I ran this recent race with a few of my friends I am training with to prepare for the Walt Disney World Princess 10K in 2022. 

You heard me right. We've got our sights set on Disney in February!

Us "princess prep" ladies did a pretty good job, I think.

It has been so nice to again regularly run in-person races. So thankful we've learned that Covid is not as transmissible outdoors as it is indoors. Running races outdoors is something that can be done safely. Plenty of open air/ventilation and room to social distance. It's a win!

Right now, I so need these wins. These races. Running. 

The Covid Delta variant is raging in our community. Going to work, sending the kids to school, attending church all feel like walking into a raging fire while singing, "Kumbaya, My Lord." It's like a death march, and you're not sure which soldiers will fall.

This past Friday, my youngest was fell ill with Covid. She likely got it at school where she came into close contact with a peer who had it. Thank the Lord, her case was mild, and I was able to manage her blood sugars fairly easily (she's a type one diabetic). Also a praise, thus far it appears my husband, myself, and my oldest daughter have escaped the cursed contagion. All this is not surprising as we are vaccinated, and my youngest daughter is too young to get the shot, just yet.

I guess I'm typing all this for the post's historical context. For me, now, running has been a great escape from the sad reality that is the current spread of Covid in our community. It offers opportunities of safe human interaction during a time when we should be practicing social distancing and engaging in quarantine when necessary. 

I'm looking forward to training and running as many races as I can in what remains of 2021. Right now, running the races laid out before me - with Jesus - is the only thing keeping me sane in a world that has seemingly lost its ever lovin' mind.

In short, keep running, friends. Keep running.

Run For It!

My second in-person race of 2021 was completed on the morning of Saturday, July 17th. This race was the second in a series of races sponsored by Run For It! Productions; the races are included in what is known as the Locomotive Race Series. 

I ran the first in this series of four races on May 17th, and the second race was in the same location - at a local mall.

The coolest thing about completing these races is that each time you finish a race, you get a medal that connects to all the other medals you will ultimately obtain.

I'm super excited to collect all this bling and complete the set! Next race is September 26th, and the final race is on December 12th.

It was a good run. My time slightly improved from my last 5K race by about 15 seconds. I'm averaging a 13 minute mile for 5Ks.

Current running goals are to complete the 5Ks in the Locomotive Race Series and train up to run the Disney Princess 10K in February of 2022. I've got a team of seven other ladies who are working toward the Disney running goal with me. It's going to be an epic ladies trip, for sure!

All I got left to say at this point is KEEP RUNNING! To slightly modify what Dory in Finding Nemo says, "Just keep running.  Just keep running."