10k COMPLETE!

Today I ran my first 10k!

Overall, it was great! I was a little nervous because 1. I had only run once this past week and 2. the furthest distance I have gone so far was only around 5..maybe 5.5miles. I know that last.5 shouldn't make to much of a difference, but it did, well only a little.

The picture to the left is of the Publick House, the start line was behind the restaurant. This is in Sturbridge, MA. This was a race for the Rehabilitation Rescources, Inc.

 

 
Here is my bib number!!!!
I ended up taking it off my shirt, and pinning it to the back of my jacket. I wanted to be able to run with the my jacket on at first, and I didnt want to cover up my bib, so I pinned it to the back, so if I took it off, you could still see it if I tied my jacket around my waist. In the end I could have kept it on my shirt, but oh well!

The Remax Hot Air Balloon next to the Start!

So the race officially started at 9:03am, with both 5k and 10k groups starting together. I started off at my own pace...walking. Whenever I start a run I try to start walking..fast, but not running, just to warm up.



I was walking...and everyone else was passing me,but that is something I had to be ok with, I have my own pace, and I was sticking to it! Plus half the crowd was doing the 5k...and when I passed the 5k turn around , I felt as if I was the only one doing the 10k. I saw a few people in front of me, but no one behind me.

Getting passed the 3mile mark is always the hardest for me. Its that hump I have to get over, and then I kind of soar through the rest..still at a steady pace, but I'm not struggling physically. There were some hills but nothing to cry about, I made it through.

 Both pictures are of the same thing..just one is closer up. I thought it was a great time to capture some beautiful Fall foliage!!

 

Around mile 3...I was on my own, aside from volunteers telling you where to go, so it was really nice. The trees are all beginning to turn if they haven't already, and it was beautiful. The only thing I had to be careful of was getting around turns on the road..where it was hard for cars to see you until they got around the turn. A Sturbridge cop came down the road every once and a while, probably to make sure there was no one hurt, or to see if there was anyone left....like me!

 

I was in the home stretch as I hit mile 5. But that's when trouble began again. My left thigh became really tired and kind of sore. I had to take it easy to not stress it out to much, but I didn't want to lose to much on my pace time at that point. I walked a little more, pushed through and made it to the 6mile mark. Of course there is a hill at the end, so I walked up that as quick as I could and as soon as I hit flat ground, I went for it!

 

So here is my grand ending. The race started at 9am, with a 5k and 10k group. But at 10:30, there was a fun run, which starts at the start/end of the 5k/10k. So as I finished (dead last) there was this huge crowd waiting to start there fun run. As I got close, I could hear a bunch of the kids waiting to start say "here comes a runner!", "another runner is here!" so of course I was bit embarrassed that I was last, but at the same time I thought it was a great way to end. I had this huge crowd to cheer me on, be there to congratulate me as I finished!

 

So I finished!

According to my RunStar app, I finished 6.3miles in 1hour, 25minutes and 54 seconds!

According to the time keeper of the race, I finished the 10k (6.213miles) in 1 hour, 26minutes and some odd seconds. The official times arent posted yet online.

The difference I think is made in the the mile markers and my app and how it counted the miles. As I was approaching each mile marker, my app would tell me I hit it before I even got to the marker that the race people had put out. But then when I hit the mile 6 marker, my app said I reached 6miles after the marker. So I dont know which was correct, my app or the markers. 



But the only thing is...I FINISHED! 

When I got to registration, like many races, you get a shirt. Well the 5k I did back in May I think, gave tshirts. But this race were wicking shirts...not cotton! I was so excited! I dont need anymore tshirts, but I can always use another running shirt!

So after the race, I walked around for a couple minutes to cool down. I should have walked a little longer, or stretched because when I got home and got out of the car, I was a bit sore, so I will be sure to ice up a little bit this evening.




On my way home I had to make a stop...after all, America runs on Dunkins...and as do I!

 Getting some Post Race sustenance!

 Cant wait to do another one!

Stephanie
"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”




Busy Bee

I feel as if I have been neglecting you!

Sorry if I have, I dont mean to! I have been super busy this week working, getting in my runs/exercise, and preparing for the Vendor Fair that I had today!
Plus last week I was away for a night in Maine, then sunday Rich was playing at the Harvard Fall Festival. So I got to spend time with some friends and family. It was nice.

The vendor fair was to benefit the Tyler Foundation, for families and children with epilepsy! So I have been putting myself to work for the past 6+ Months on putting together a lovely display of jewelry! You can check me out at my facebook page for Sass&Class! I have pictures posted and want to spread the word. I am really hoping to find a few more craft fairs to display/sell my items. I hope this will be a great way to raise some more money for my trip to 5th Annual Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon!!

Speaking of Princess 1/2 Marathon....it's 54% full! There are only 151 days left!! The price just went up to register as well!! If you havent signed up yet and are thinking of signing up....STOP THINKING....JUST DO IT!!!

I've been trying really hard to get back to the gym, and get my three runs in a week. Because my schedule has been all over the place, I have had some trouble keeping up, but am doing my best, still getting 2 runs in a week. For my long run, I only ran 4miles last week. I went to the gym on Friday and ran a "5k" on the treadmill, and got my treadmill time down to a 12:45min pace, but I will say that I am a bit slower than that since I have a feeling the treadmill is off by a little bit in terms of distance.

My 4 mile run, I was not feeling it at all! I pushed through and got it done, but not up to the standards I would like to be holding myself too. Next week is my first 10k...so I am pretty excited and hope that I am feeling good and can keep my pace to around 13:30min/mile.

This week I am excited to say that I start a new part time job, ridding of one...I will start at the Yankee Candle part time, obviously still have my full time job. I just needed something a bit more calm and less stressful. I also am going to the bank for a pre-qualification for a mortgage!

Rich and I are ready to get out of this apartment and get our own place....our own Home! So hopefully this will push things along. We have been talking about going to the bank for a long time, but pushing it back and back because of all the paper work we have to get together in order to go to the bank. Rich isnt as organized as I am, so his paperwork has been a bit harder to get, but we have it and its ready to go!

That's my little update!
Stephanie

"Believe you can. Then you will."

Slacking off much?

These past couple weeks I feel like a slacker..but I find that I have good reason.

#1. I work a full time job AND a part time job. So when I work my part time job in the evening, it doesnt leave a lot of time to run or exercise. (luckily my part time job involves a LOT of walking around)
#2. well...I guess there is only 1 reason, haha. I just wish I had the energy to get up and go run or even to the gym in the morning before work.


I am doing really well at getting my long run in, which so far, the longest has been 5.5 miles. I find that once I get past a certain distance, the rest kind of just plays itself out smoothly. I get tired a little bit, and soreness comes and goes in my right leg mostly, but as long as I keep going ( and taking walk breaks every once and a while) it just feels like going with the flow.

Today was my one short run of the week, and it was only 3 miles. I find that I have mentioned this before, but those three miles always seem tougher than doing more, but I guess that is the threshold I have to get by in order to just be able to go!

Anyone else have those slacker moments? How do you get past it?

-Stephanie
"A dream is a wish your heart makes'

Let the Football season begin....GO PATS!

Today is the first regular season game for football..including the New England Patriots. I may not know everything about football, but I understand the basics, plus I can always annoy Rich with my questions about why this player did that, and why this call was made...haha

So far an excellent start to the season!

This morning began with a slow start, not really wanting to wake. After work yesterday, I spent a lot of time in bed just watching tv and relaxing, so as the night came to a close, I was beginning to feel restless. I dont like being still for to long, even just sitting and being on the computer or reading is better than just sitting and staring at the TV. Oh well, I settled down and the hubs and I watched Willy Wonka, well I fell asleep while he watched and flipped back and forth to Pawn Stars.

When I finally sat up and woke up I had a tough decision to make....to run now or after the Pats game. I kept telling myself I should go now rather than later, only because I know once the game is over, I am not going to want to go anywhere. So, with enough time, I got geared up and went out. I decided I would try to add some distance today as well.

I am pleased to say that I improved my time! Each mile update my phone gave me I was running at approximatley at 13:52-14:07 minute mile...and my final pace time was 14:04minute per mile which is 10 seconds fast than my 5mile run last week! And each mile pace update was at least 15seconds faster than the pace updates I my phone gave me each mile last week! I am very proud of myself!

Along my route last week I saw a pretty waterfall and decided to take a quick pic to share with you all!

I am not sure if this is next to someones house or if it is some kind of business or something, but I thought it was nice. I run through a lot of residential neighborhoods, so I dont have a lot of "sightseeing" along my route.

When I run, I notice that gas bubbles seem to move a lot, not so much farting...its burping. I always feel like its going to be more like throwing up, but I know its a burp. It kind of makes me nervous when I get that feeling, and it gets kind of annoying. I understand it is beacuse I am moving around, so everything else kind of moves around inside...Anyone else experience that?

Well, I finished my run and showered, just in time for the game to start. I took some time to update my blog since it has been a few days or so...but now, back to football!

Stephanie
"Mirror, mirror on the wall. Whose the fairest of them all"

Back to the Gym

After a long weekend, I wasnt exactly ready to go back to work, but I got back and as usual, once I was there, things were great!

I did a lot of walking at the YMCA with some of the students, probably only about a mile around the track, but when you have to walk 19laps to make a mile, it seems like a lot.

Anyways, so after work I went to the gym, again...not really in the mood, I probably could have gone home and taken a nap. I hopped onto the treadmill and set it for 30 minutes. My first mistake was wearing a cotton tshirt...man it weighs you down when you are sweating, plus I was trying to roll the sleeves up, but they wouldnt stay and that really bothered me, so I said screw it and just kept them down.
I also did a short time on a stationary bike, then some crunches and some weight lifting. It was pretty good.

I dont really have much to say today!

Stephanie
"Keep on swimming. Keep on swimming"

Labor Day Weekend: Virtual 5mile Race

I decided today I would get my long run in outside, enjoy the weather..and the fact that it was actually cooler like I thought it would be (unlike last run outside where it was still pretty warm!)

Today started with some laziness though, just laying around in bed. Then it was off to my sister-in-laws to see my mother-in-law who was babysitting my neice for the weekend. Rich and I went over there to see Sofia, our neice and to spend time with his Mom since she had been by herself since I think friday with Sofia. She is the cutest thing and soo beautiful!

Of course along our way to her house, I saw a whole bunch of people out on their runs. I thought wow, why am I not out there right now? Then of course Rich started to tease me a bit saying that all the other runners were saying "how come Stephanie isnt out here running right now!?" haha. Then he mentioned that they are all probably out right now because it is suppose to rain, which I completely forgot about. So that had be worried, but hey if it was raining, I would just go to the gym. Its a good back fall.

So we were over there for til about 4, which seemed like we were there for a lot longer, and I was really tired, not like I did to much either. So we got home around 430 and I thought I would take about a 30-45 minute nap before my run just so I would have enough energy. It turned into about an hour nap, and it was good! But I was still a bit groggy, and it was roughly 6pm!

Seeing that is was starting to get late, I had a quick snack, put all my gear on and got ready to go! Seeing how I was determined to get a 5 mile run in, I strapped on my new running belt on in order to be able to have some water with me!

Nathan Trail Mix 2 Hydration Belt

I like the belt, it stays in place and doesnt ride up. The bottles are a bit small, but I figure when it comes time for the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon, I will be able to get water or whatever at the water/food stops through out the race and save my water for times when I need it and there is nothing around. I was able to split up the water from a regular water bottle, like Dasani into both water bottles. I was going to try to put some ice in each one, but the cubes wont fit into the openings.

So not only was I able to get in a long run, I figured a 5mile was a good choice since my Princess friend Nicole shared this Virtual race page. http://anywhere5k.com/races/ It has a calendar for virtual races, meaning you can run anywhere anytime of a certain distance and then somehow your distance and time is shared. I registered through a blog titld MommyRunFast in which Laura talks about the virtual races, etc. So I registered after I ran and had my dinner! So now I just need to wait to receive an email back asking for my race time and distance, along with my blog entry or any photos that I may have took.

(This is the Bib for the virtual Run that Laura from MommyRunFast posted for thoe who joined in on the fun could wear...if I had seen it before my run I would have worn it!)

I didnt take any photos, but it was a good-great run. I ran through parts of town that I have been through on a run before, plus others I havent. Some were just side roads, that I figured woul help in extended my run and making sure I made it to 5miles before or just as I would reach home. Some miles felt longer than others. But thanks to my lovely RunStar app, I was able to set up a notification for each mile, and it would also tell me how long I have been running and the pace of each mile, which was AWESOME! It made me very happy, but I also felt that I would become anxious as I felt that I had reached another mile because it felt so long, but indeed I hadnt because I had not received a notification yet.

So all in all, I am proud of myself for getting it done, not giving up, and maintaining pace! My last mile was actually the quickest mile, shaving 20-27 seconds off compared to each of the miles before. If that makes sense...Well each mile, 1-4, was about 14.20-27 minutes each, and mile 5 was 13.58minutes.

Yay me!

Stephanie
"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship"