Rock n Roll Raleigh Expo and 5k #RocknBlog

I love RnR Expos! They are always amazing and Raleigh didn't disappoint. I met some friends there and we spent two full hours at the expo.

I bought a tee from Brooks, and one from another vendor that had my new state on it. I also bought some throw away gloves, since the weather was supposed to be cold at the start on both days. I may have also bought a little SC magnet for my car. And what would a trip to the expo be without a pic with the Gecko? And a spin of the Success Rice wheel? The hubs and I both scored a free box of rice!

We went back to the hotel where I made my flat mamas. Neither one ended up being accurate though!

I realized when I was making my flat mamas that I grabbed an extra tech shirt instead of a sports bra, so I only had one for both days. I didn't have time to buy one before the 5k, and I didn't want to wear something new for the half. I would be thinking about this problem for the next 20 hours or so.

Morning came and we headed over to the 5k start. The hubs dropped me off and then went for some breakfast while he waited for me to finish. I gave him a time line but he wasn't really focusing on what I was saying, so he thought he had way more time than I told him.  Anyway....

I met up with a fellow Rock n Blogger, Brandi, and we hung out until the start. We may have taken a few pictures before we separated to our corrals.  

The race started right on time, and they really kept it moving, so I started faster than I thought. This race was hilly. It took place at Dorothea Dix, and the grounds were amazing. Lots of old houses and plenty of... hills.

I spent the first half mile arguing with an 8 year old about costumes at Disney. No lie. This kid had very compelling arguments about humans dressing as characters. I'm pretty sure I lost that argument. And then he ran off. I spent another mile admiring the race etiquette of a 6 year old running with his grandparents. This kid was awesome.

Before I knew it I could see the finish! I couldn't believe it! I finished in about 39 minutes, which was a minute faster than I hoped and about 10 minutes faster than I planned. So much for taking it easy! Brandi got some pics of me finishing and we took some more selfies before she went to the shuttle buses back to her car. The hubs wasn't at the finish because, again, he thought had had more time. All was forgiven when he gave me a carrot cake donut from Rise.

 

After a quick shower, we hit the Science Museum and I took some obligatory medal pics. Then we hit the mall where I spent way too much at Lush, and bought a new sports bra at Victoria's Secret. Will I  regret that new sports bra? Stay tuned....

Rock n Roll Raleigh Recap Preview

RnR Raleigh was exhausting, exhilarating, and enjoyable. I had an amazing time and I have lots to say, but for now I leave you with a post from my  Facebook page that everyone seems to like.

Thoughts that run through your mind at RnR Raleigh....
Wow it's cold
OK let's start
Hill!
Cute spectators
Hill....
Gotta pee
Ahhhhhhhhh
OK this isn't so bad, ditch the gloves.
Hill....hill...hill...
Wtf was I thinking?
This isn't so....hill!
Ok. I've got this. I can do this.
Hill!
I think my sports bra is chafing
Hill!
Cool sign!
Yeah... it's chafing
Hill hill hilly
Mile 8. Score! I might make my goal pace
Hill
Hill
Who needs to finish NYC in under 7 hours?
Not this girl.
Hillllllll
Are those marathoners? Passing me? Ugh.
Hill
Almost done. Almost going to make my goal.
NYC? Noooo problem
Are you freakin kidding me? Another #! $#% HILL?
Ok, that's the last turn!
Bling!
Chocolate milk!
Gotta walk to get my bonus bling.
Dammmmmmn it's another freakin hill. I want my mommy.

Flat Mama Friday

Thursday Training Update

This week, I really took hold of my training plan and followed it! This is often hard for me to do, I definitely have a tendency to have an all or nothing approach.... oh, I had some cookies at lunch? Let's eat all the food all day, because I blew the day anyway. Skipped a workout? Might as well not work out again until Monday.
Have you ever felt like that?
It's brutal. You are literally your own worst enemy. You just can't get out of your own way.
When there are weeks like this, weeks where I managed to work out pretty much every day, I want to shout it from the roof tops. This is huge, people.
Ok, let's get serious.
Thursday: PiYo lower body and FIRM sculpting ball workout. I really felt like working the upper body that day! And work it out I did. That ball only weighs 5 pounds or so, but they really torture you with it! The boy and I also went for a hike to the bridge.

Friday:  expo day! I flew to Newark, and then we drove to Philly for the Hot Chocolate 15k. There was lots of walking, and that's about it. But there was lots of walking.

Did I mention the walking?

Saturday: Hot Chocolate 15k. It was a rainy mess, but I got it done. 

 

Sunday: the hubs and I went for a trail hike in the Uwharrie National Forest. We were really checking out the off roading situation for the boys, but he threw in the hike to placate me. It worked. Two mile hike, very mountainous, very pretty. This is just one of the zillions of pictured I took. I can't wait to go back!

Monday: the start of a challenge group for 22 Minute Hard Corps, using the Beachbody app, which I am just loving! We started off with Cardio 1 and Core 1. I also went for a 4+ mile hike and a dog walk.

Tuesday: Resistance 1 plus hill repeats with the Fleet Feet Fort Mill running group. No pics from.that, since it's a running group and that's not cool. It was a great group, I hope to work with them in their next round.

Wednesday:  Cardio 1 and Core 1 plus a dog walk. 

This weekend is RnR Raleigh, I will be doing the Remix Challenge and continuing 22 Minute Hard Corps.

Wordless Wednesday

Hot Chocolate 15k Philly... the Good the Bad and the Ugly

I waited a few days to wrote this post because I wanted some of my frustration to dissipate first.
Hopefully it worked, but I'm not completely sure!
I flew into Newark on Friday and my dear friend picked me up at the airport and we drove to Philly together. I prepaid for parking through Parking Panda, so we had no problems getting parking at the Convention Center.
Gigi got there at the same time, and we all went to the expo together. Gigi was picking up for the Long Island BGR, and she needed our help!

Hot Chocolate has aways used the most amazing bib pickup system, and even with 30+ packets, we were out quickly.

We rested for awhile and then headed to Rangoon for dinner, as always. It was pouring, and there was some thunder and lightening, but we walked the few blocks with no problem. The lovely owner even offered to dry our jackets for us! So sweet! Dinner was perfect, as always, and we were shocked at how late it was when we got back! Bed time!

We woke up on race morning to a light rain. We hoped it wouldn't get much worse. Lots of runners were huddling in the merchandise tent, but we stayed out and warmed up with BGR.

And then it was time to start. We decided in advance that we would all run our own race, as usual, and if it was pouring when we finished, we would meet back at the hotel. 

Eileen and Gigi managed to stay together the whole time, but I just couldn't keep up. I lost them around the first mile, and didn't see them again until the turn around. They were about 5 minutes ahead of me. 

The water stops didn't have the promised chocolate. I managed to get one snack, but many didn't even get that.

There was no potty until almost mile 7.

The volunteers were amazing.

The scenery is not to be missed, rain or not.

I am my own worst enemy.

Mile 1 was great, the crowds were cheering, I could still see Eileen, Gigi, and Susie. I felt pretty good. 

Mile 2, the rain started getting to me. I had a pity party that last 3 miles. It was my birthday race and it was raining. My pace was terrible. I had to pee. Why do I do this? How will I ever survive NYC? 

You know the drill. 

It was ugly.

After the turnaround, my mindset changed. 

My pace was right where it should have been for NYC. As bad as I felt, there were hundreds behind me who would be in the rain long after I finished. If I had been running since January, it would be easier. Each subsequent race will be easier because I will have trained better.

And look! Potty!

After I peed I was a new woman. My pace picked up for the next mile and a half and only slowed on that last horrible hill before the finish.

I was done. And I had a 2.5 minute PR.

I would have bling. And Chocolate.

Only they ran out of bling. 700 people didn't get medals and I was one of them, so was Susie.

I'm not gonna lie, I was disappointed. These things happen, however, and I patiently waited in the rain to give  my name. Some poor guy was taking names, and a woman came over, snatched his clipboard to grab some paper and help take names. And proceeded to yell at us. I'm guessing someone gave her some grief and she took it out on us. This I am not OK with.

My complaint on the Facebook page was deleted, as were many others. I am not OK with this either.

I will get a medal in the mail, and I did get chocolate. Many didn't get that either.

This will be my last RAM event for sure. 

A very nice stranger let me wear her medal for this picture. Thank you, stranger.

Have you ever had to wait for your bing in the mail?

Flat Mama Friday

Tomorrow is my birthday race. I'm ringing in 43 years at Hot Chocolate Philadelphia with my favorite runner girls!