mymid-lifecrisis

[mymid-lifecrisis]

Dream…Believe….Achieve!

The “Dream, Believe, Achieve” Super Sprint TRI at Sandy Pines was a rather fitting name for my first Triathlon. I had toyed with attempting this event last year during my year of 5ks, but chickened out! I later completed my own “TRI,” but months later, I still couldn’t get this event out of my head and I knew that I would always feel like I’d left something “undone” if I didn’t attempt it…so when it came time to sign up for this year’s event…I put it off for several weeks! I had almost talked myself out of it…and that’s when the power of community stepped in and didn’t ALLOW me to chicken out this time! More on that later…first the details!

After weather forecasts that called for thunderstorms all morning, I wasn’t completely confident we’d get today’s event in, but we did! It downpoured when we were driving in, but once there, only a few sprinkles were felt all morning. It was muggy, but only in the 70s, mostly cloudy, but the sun did peak out a few times and the water temp was 82 degrees!

There were several distances at this event, but for my first TRI, I played it safe and chose the Super Sprint distance. The swim was 200 meters, then a 10k bike ride, followed by a 1.2 mile run. What I liked about these distances was that today’s event wasn’t so much about pushing myself for great distances, but rather pushing myself outside my comfort zone to do 3 disciplines back-to-back, an open water swim with lots of other hands and feet splashing around, biking in crowds and then of course the transitions. It was the perfect event to TRY a TRI and gain valuable experience and knowledge just by watching others and seeing how and why they attack the disciplines the way they do. Even though the lengths were not terribly challenging…I still ALMOST let my fears and excuses stop me from participating in today’s event!

I have come a ways with not letting fear keep me on the sidelines of life, but it doesn’t keep the “what-if’s” away…and with this race, I had a lot of what-ifs! What if I go out too hard on the swim and exhaust myself? What if another swimmer kicks me in the head and I am knocked out, what if I swim to the wrong buoys? What if I freak out? As it turns out, I did get tired…I did resort to doing some backstroke and side crawl…but the worst thing that happened to me was that I stink at sighting and the lifeguard redirected me twice before I went TOO far off course.🏊‍♀️ I even managed to not finish the swimming portion last, even though I (purposefully) entered the water last…and I wasn’t the one the lifeguard had to pull out of the water! (He’s okay…just couldn’t finish the swim!). I didn’t hit any trees or other bikers…my brakes didn’t fail and I didn’t get my bike stuck in a way-too-difficult-to pedal gear like I did in my training ride earlier this week! I should add that my bike is about 30 years old…it was a Wal-Mart special that my family gave my mom as a present. It’s a hybrid and has a granny seat. 👵🚴‍♀️ I love that it was my moms…and that’s about all I love about it! But….maybe most importantly, I didn’t get lost on the course! (There were only 28 Super Sprinters and most of them were so far ahead of me, I couldn’t see them …although I did manage to pass the 12 year old girl and her dad…yeah me!) I didn’t really have any fears for the run…I just knew it would stink after biking, but I had done several bike ride/run training (brick) seasons, so I knew I could handle it…even if it involved some walking intervals…which it did! 🏃‍♀️

My list of excuses was pretty lengthy too…too expensive, too time consuming to train for…too early (I got up at 4:15am this morning!). I’m heavier than I want to be, I didn’t train enough…blah, blah, blah, blah, blah…excuses…all of them!

In the end, I wish I had trained more…I wish I were 30 pounds lighter…but I pushed aside my fears and excuses and did it! I ended up 26th out of 28 people (Men, women, children). It took me 1 hour and 8 minutes. I honestly thought I’d finish last (and for once was really, truly okay with that!). I had hoped to be under an hour…but it is what it is! I did it…and I’m happy with that! I couldn’t have done it without my supportive community that doesn’t let me get away with using my fears and excuses for reasons why I shouldn’t attempt something.

Many times during my year of 5ks, I had asked my trainer to run one with me. The answer was always the same…“I don’t run!” Then one day, while mentioning that I really needed to put some time in at pool if I was going to think about doing this TRI, he asked me what the distances for a Super Sprint were (200 meter swim, 10k bike and 1 mile run). When I told him, his reply (after calling it a baby TRI…no, not even a baby…a placenta TRI!) was, “That one I’ll do!” So I suddenly had a TRI buddy…and not just any buddy…my trainer! Knowing he was only doing this because I was, is what finally prompted me to sign up. It’s amazing really, the things my trainer can get me to do…I guess that means he’s good at his job…helping people get out of their comfort zones so real growth (both muscular and emotional) can happen. Ironically, he had to cancel last minute because he was needed at the gym. He felt awful and wouldn’t stop apologizing…but honestly, I think his role in this was to get me to commit by signing up…because I’m Dutch…and if I’ve signed up and paid money…I’m doing it!

As I’ve mentioned before, I am part of a large, international, on-line fitness community called My Peak Challenge. Peakers (as we call ourselves!) are an incredibly encouraging group and once I dared mention my dream of a TRI, the #peakereffect took over and convinced me I could and should do this! Several Peakers with TRI experience offered up advice and helpful tips that allowed me to feel somewhat knowledgeable about TRIs... and knowing so many Peakers were cheering me on this morning was awesome!

And then my friend Kara. Kara ran my first 5k with me and serves as a powerful example of courage and fearlessness. Kara ran this race last year as her first TRI and was planning on doing the longer Sprint distance this year…but when she found out I was thinking about bailing again this year…she decided to do the Super Sprint with me. She invited me out to the lake last week to do a practice swim and drove me around the course we would bike, patiently answered my questions and calmed me down when I was freaking out…she even fixed my medal after the race so it would lay perfectly for pictures! I would like to think I would have participated in this event without her…but I know that because of her, I felt prepared and was even able to enjoy it!

And of course my family…who woke up at 5am after having crazy busy weeks (kids at camp…Jason providing leadership to a conference)…drove 45 minutes, and hung out in the Jeep while it rained. They were, as usual, the best cheerleaders and Jason was the calm, quite voice of reason during transitions. I am blessed with how much they love and support me!

So…will I do another TRI? Never say never! Both Anna and Will were asking when they could do one, so I can see where a family TRI might happen sometime. I think for me to continue with TRIs I’d need a new bike, to get in a little better shape and to have more time to train. Since those are all things I would LIKE to happen someday, I’m hoping another TRI will too! And if I write this much about a Super Sprint, can you imagine how long a Sprint TRI review would be?!? 😉

[mymid-lifecrisis]

It’s been awhile since I had a race to report…but I do…and it’s a 10k!

I have discovered, as many runners have told me, that unless you have a race to train for…just running a few times a week easily becomes running once every few weeks! After a couple of months of that, I knew it was time to plan a race. Proven that I can handle 5ks, I decided to select a 10k to keep me motivated to run 3x a week during the Michigan Winter. I carefully selected the Gazelle Girl 10k in April. I chose this race because it’s all women, it’s super encouraging and because it’s very welcoming for new runners and runners trying new distances…they have pacing out to 14 minutes…which I’ve never seen anywhere else…but it makes me…a 12:30 mile pace runner, feel welcome! I started at the very beginning of the Couch 2 10k program in January. I talked a few friends from around the state of Michigan into joining me and set about training. It felt really good to be back at a dedicated training program.

Then we were blessed with the opportunity to spend a week in Arizona…someplace very dear to me and with people very dear to me…the catch? In order to afford the airfare…we’d need to take crazy flights…like the Red Eye, home…on the Saturday/Sunday of the race I was training for…we’d actually land in GR 1 hour AFTER the start of my race. But there are other races right?

So…I could choose between the 5/3rd 10k…a huge race in GR or the Tulip Time 10k in Holland. The TT race was a much better weekend for the family…and much closer…but also much more competitive. Looking over the results of the previous years, I saw the last person coming in at one hour and 24 minutes…which was about where I thought I’d be! Coming in last at a hometown race where lots of people I know will be watching? I wasn’t so sure. Plus, they close the course at 1 hour and 30 minutes…so if I was slower…I might not even be able to finish! All these fears and doubts just about caused me to give up on my 10k. Until a friend called me out on them…and my sweet Anna showed me a bracelet she thought I should buy…it had the words “Live Fearlessly” on it. She told me, “You need this mama…because this is what you are doing…well…most of the time…so maybe you need a reminder sometimes!” That bracelet now lives on my wrist…and I signed up for the Tulip Time 10k!

As usual…my fears were a waste of time. I didn’t finish last, I didn’t lose sight of other runners and get lost on the course…I didn’t even get “sweept” by the police escort and leave the course with the race unfinished. I ran faster then I thought I could (and even hoped I could!) and felt great doing it! I loved seeing so many people I knew at the event and had fun cheering them on and being cheered on by them.

This race was really quite emotional for me. A week ago I had plans to start training for a Super Sprint Triathlon in July and SOMETHING big in September…either a Spartan Race or a ½ Marathon or a Ragnar Relay (200 miles with 12 people). But a lot can change in a week. After a visit to my GP where I mentioned some pain in my right knee, I know find myself headed to Physical Therapy for Patella Tracking issues. And after 9 years of being a Stay-at-home mom, I’m headed back to work, which will drastically cut into my “free time” for things like training for longer distances. I’ve been very blessed to have so much time to workout and run and focus on improving my health…and I’d be lying if I didn’t told you that I wasn’t concerned about having the time to continue on this journey to a healthy life…but I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given at this job…and I’m grateful for the time I had at home with my family…and I’m thankful that I CAN run…when I couldn’t before.

If I learned nothing more from my 10k today…I at least learned this…fear and worry are a waste of time. I need to focus on living fearlessly…abundantly …and gratefully!

[mymid-lifecrisis]

One of my theories in this whole healthy lifestyle journey has been to “fake it until you make it.”  And I have found it helpful.  Long before I was eating well, I looked for healthy recipes, visited healthy food blogs, pinned countless recipes for healthy foods and shopped at health food stores...pretending to be someone who eats healthy...slowly I started eating healthier.  Same for running...and the gym...bought some clothes, read Runner’s Magazine and even an issue or two of The Box (crossfit magazine), pinned workouts and just started running and working out (although now I have a trainer who directs my workouts...which is good...or I’d still be lifting 5 lbs weights in my basement instead of rack pulling 285 lbs!).  I thought about the kinds of things I wanted to try once I felt comfortable enough to get off the sidelines of life and into “The Game”.  Running was a big one and once I decided on my year of 5K’s I searched for races to fit in my schedule.  While looking, I came across more races then I could fit in my schedule (or afford!) and started putting them on my “bucket list”  Some of them seem out of reach to me still...but once again...I plan to fake it until I make it by training for them anyway!  Here is my bucket list of races I want to complete before I turn 45.  I’d love running buddies if any of these lists are on your bucket list as well!

March: Shamrock Shuffle in Muskegon, Irish Jig in GR

April:  Gazelle Girl 10k in GR, Calvin Spring Classic, Holland Sprint Tri 

May: Fifth-Third River Bank in GR, Foreshore Adventure Run in Muskegon, Michigan Adventure Race in Ludington, HopCat Full Circle 5k in GR 

June: M-22 Challenge in Traverse City, First try Triathlon Lindon, Tri Goddess Tri in Jackson

July: Greatest 4th in the North in Lake City, Lakeshore RTS 10k, Dream Believe Achieve Tri (Sandy Pines), Rudyard Lions Summerfield Tri

August: Wings of Mercy 5k in Holland

September:  HC fall classic, Ragnar Michigan, Holland Haven 1/2 Marathon

October: Fall Colors Bridge Run, Great Pumpkin Dash in Traverse City, Run through the Rapids in GR

November: Great Beard Race in Traverse City

December: Ugly Sweater in GR 

And some year...the Thirsty 3 Series: Hightail to Ale in Detroit,  Running between the Vines in Jackson, and the Scrumpy Skedaddle in Flushing 

I’ll probably return to a few favorites from this past year too...Zeeland Turkey Trot, Fenn Valley 5K, and Alger Heights 5K.  

I was challenged to create a Vision Board of where I hope to be a year from now as far as my fitness and nutrition, but also my lifestyle.  I created a Pinterest Board (because who doesn’t love Pinterest!) for what I hope all this “faking until I make it” results in by the end of 2017.  If you want to see changes in your life...make 2017 your year!  I challenge you to create a “vision board” of sorts for yourself.  Here is mine if you want to check it out!   

https://www.pinterest.com/jodi_gillmore/a-year-from-nownovember-3-2017/

[mymid-lifecrisis]

Thanksgiving morning started off with the Zeeland Turkey Trot 8K run with family.  My brother Mike and sister-in-law Jamie were part of a large group of family members who ran in February with me and had wanted to run one of my last races in October, but as football parents, couldn’t squeeze one in.  My cousin Neil and his wife Becky have been running (or returning to running after injury) and while we talked about running a race during my year of 5K’s it never happened, so it was awesome that if finally worked out to run a race together.  

I didn’t have a lot of expectations for this race as I had not been “training” for anything for 3 weeks, so I was happy and surprised that running felt great and I ran it about 2 minutes faster then last year.  It was cold, but dry this year, which was a blessing too!  

This race will probably be a regular for me as the local bar opens up at 7am offering beer, mimosas, cookies, breakfast pizza and turkey, providing Jason and the kids a good place to hang out while I run.  It starts early enough that I can run, hang out a bit, hit the showers and still make it to church and Thanksgiving dinner.  I ran it this year in thanksgiving that I had no injuries or illness during my year of 5K’s...I’ll run it in the future when I can because it’s fun and Anna wants to run it with me!  So thankful for her and the rest of my family (those who ran it with me...and those who ate beer and pizza while I ran!).  

[mymid-lifecrisis]

My year of 5k races ended a few weeks ago and I’ve been reflecting on what I learned and what I’ve gained from the experience (and it’s more than a bunch of race tee-shirts... although I did gain quite a few of those too!).  

1. I learned I am a runner!  I really am... and here’s why. I ran 18 races this year, including 7 in a row in the last 7 weeks, but more than the races, I ran a 5k every weekend over the course of the year as part of my workouts... and I ran a 5k every weekend for 3 months before I ran my first official one in October of 2015.  I don’t like to fail, so before I committed to running a year of 5ks, I made sure I could run 3.1 miles and not just once, but several times.  So I took three months to “train” using the C25K program and then 3 months of just “practicing.”  Then my year of 5ks. That’s 18 months of running 3 miles, 2-3 times per week.  And like the mailman, the weather didn’t stop me.  I ran in rain, sun, snow, wind, heat, cold and humidity.  I ran on vacation, on treadmills, and on cruise ships.  I got lost while running in Hawaii, ran a 1/2 mile loop over and over again while at my in-laws in New Jersey because it was the only flat area I could find and I ran around the corn fields at the family cabin in McBain. I may not be fast, but I was disciplined and made running a priority... I put it on my calendar and rarely allowed anything to take priority over my runs. This is something I should apply to more areas in my life!

2. I learned it’s okay to just be okay.   While simply running 5ks was my goal, I did assume I would get faster as the year went on and thankfully I did a little, but not as fast as I hoped I might. I started out running a little over a 13:00 minute mile, but hoped to get to a 12:00 mile by the time the year was up. While I did regularly run a 12:20 mile (and often ran sub 12:00 in my training miles), I never did reach the 12:00 mile pace for a 5k race.  I also pictured myself getting to a point of talking, even laughing with people while I ran... you know, kinda like the cheesy pictures you see of groups of people running. Pure glee and joy while running never did happen, although I did get to the point where I could carry on a conversation with people, and after the initial training phase didn’t dread running.  While I was happy I got to the point that I could carry on a conversation while running, all that really meant is that I wasn’t pushing myself hard enough!  Countless runner friends gave me advice on how to train to improve my times, but I never did try any of them.  I simply ran. My goal for this year was to celebrate that I could do something I couldn’t do before and I did that, but it does leave me wondering what could happen if I tried speed training... and added hills... and all the other things I have filed away to try... someday... maybe!  Not everyone can be an Olympic runner (or Steve Jobs, Billy Graham, or Tom Brady), but being just okay at something doesn’t mean I can’t still do it! The world runs on millions of people being okay at things. I’m not saying I shouldn’t strive to do some things excellently, I should, but I’m saying it’s okay to do some things “unexcellently” too.  I learned that sometimes it’s not about getting better and better at something, sometimes it’s just about doing it... something I should apply to more areas of my life! 

3.  I learned I have an amazing family and incredible friends. I knew this already, but this year really brought it to light. Jason and the kids sacrificed many Saturday mornings to come cheer me on.  Registering for 18 races in a year is expensive too (not to mention buying good running gear, and travel expenses for some of my races) and yet Jason never batted an eye when I signed up for yet another race (and as Anna started joining me for more and more of them doubling the costs for our family). Other areas of our home life suffered so I could train and run these races.  (Mostly cleaning and laundry...for which I could find almost any excuse to not spend time doing... at least running was a healthy one!)  For almost every race I had one (and sometimes as many as 15) running buddies who signed up and paid money to run with me. Some of them were veteran runners who don’t normally pay to run a 5k anymore, some trained for 3 months to run their first 5k with me! Some walked a 5k in February... in Michigan... just to show support, some ran with me a few times during the year, some gave up their races to run mine. I found myself on the receiving end of so much encouragement from people who followed along via this blog on my year of 5ks.  Thank you to everyone who ran with me, who cheered me on whether on a race sideline or in a Facebook comment or in the parking lot of the grocery store when I happened to see you.  A kind and encouraging word is powerful...something I should apply to more areas of my life!

So...what’s next?  I’ve had many people ask me what’s up next for me now that the year of 5ks is over.  Initially, I had planned to go longer, harder, faster in my training.  I had planned to run sprint repeat drills, conquer some hills, start adding millage to my runs, get serious about swimming and biking so that I could register for a REAL triathlon...the kind with other athletes participating in them!  But as I’ve already reflected on here, while I am a runner, I am only okay.  I am not a natural endurance runner (although I’ve discovered recently I am still a pretty good sprinter...why don’t they have 100 yard dashes on Saturday mornings all over America?).  I started thinking about the amount of training I should be doing to get faster, stronger and branch out to add swimming and biking to realistically finish a sprint Triathlon (remember...I don’t like to fail...so I’m not going to register for it unless I’ve REALLY prepared for it!)... and I came to the realization that while I am sure I could get better with a lot of time and effort, I don’t think that’s where I should be placing my time and effort right now.  When I completed the Lazy Man Tri in May I was either running, swimming or biking at least 2 hours every day.  Even now, I am at the gym 2-3 times a week and I run 2-3 times a week.  When I can, I try to get a session in at the pool or on the bike and aim to get to MetCon classes a few times a month too...basically there are moms at my kid’s school who probably wouldn’t recognize me when I don’t have workout gear on and my hair isn’t up in a ponytail...because every time I picked Will up from preschool last year I was coming from the gym or a run.  These are good things, but there are other areas in my life I want (and need) to apply the lessons I’ve learned during this year.  

After thinking and praying about where I should be placing my focus, I’ve realized that I started something a few years ago that I never finished... something that honestly scares me because I’ve failed at it SO many times and I honestly don’t know if I can succeed.  I started working on my nutrition and weight loss.  I lost 100 pounds, but was still about 25 pounds heavier than my doctor and trainer suggested would be my ideal weight for my body.  Since focusing primarily on fitness in the last 18 months, I’ve put about 25 pounds back on, meaning I now have about 50 pounds to lose to get to a healthy weight for me.  You would think that with all the working out I was doing, this wouldn’t have happened, but one other thing I’ve learned this year...it’s possible to out-eat all the work you do in the gym. Providentially my gym began a nutrition program 2 days after my last race, so I joined a 12 month habit based program on October 31 to help me with my focus for this year of my life. I don’t like to fail... it’s why I trained for 6 months before running my first 5k... yet nutrition and diet is something I’ve been failing at, so it’s where my focus needs to be right now.  

Does this mean I’m done running?  Nope!  In fact I’m registered for a race next week, the Zeeland Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning.  I still like running... I still find it challenging and I still find it a good cardio workout and with all the heart disease in my family that’s important.  I am running this particular race because I am thankful that I had a healthy year of 5ks.  No injuries, not even a cold on a race day through this whole year. I even have running buddies... a mix of family and friends. It will be fun.  So I’ll still be running this year, but I plan to be more relaxed about it.  If it’s only 2 times a week and if it’s only 2 miles and if I walk a little of it...it’s okay!  Or if I decide to run hills or do some sprinting, or add the staircase at Tunnel park, that’s okay too.  Since my last 5k in October, I’ve turned off the Map my Run app, turned off the C210k app and retired my Race Mix playlist and instead just run, usually listening to hymns while running.  I’m loving it!  I have a bucket list of about 30 races on it that I hope to complete by the time I’m 45 and on it are the Gazelle Girl 10k, the Tri Goddess Triathlon and a Ragnar Relay!  (lots of 5ks though too!).  I’ll post the list sometime in case anyone wants to be a running buddy!

Does this mean no more gym?  Nope... I love the place and you couldn’t keep me away.  I’ve got goals there too.  225 pound dead-lifts, at least 1 REAL pull-up, a sub 1:45 500m row and sub 8:45 2000m row... so I’ll still be there!  So much of my confidence that I have now is because of my time at the gym. I also have a bucket list of other things to try or keep improving...snowshoeing, cross country skiing, tennis, SUP, Kayaking..basically anything that is NOT on the sidelines of life!  Except ballroom dancing... I’ve no desire to try that!

It just means I need a little more balance this year.  My family deserves a little more of my time, my commitment to RUN to people who need help needs a little more of my time and I need to focus on my nutrition and diet this year as well as spending a little more time with my Father God.  Balance...I’m learning it and all the other lessons I’ve learned during this year are good things and need to be applied to more areas of my life!

Thanks for reading my LONG blog posts.  I’ll be back periodically to keep you posted on my new challenge for my 41st year!  Blessings!

[mymid-lifecrisis]

And just like that, my year of 5ks is over! Today was the Alger Heights Halloween 5k in Grand Rapids, the race I started with a year ago! I am happy to report that today’s finish was a little over 2 minutes faster than last year’s race, and only 3 seconds off my fastest time (in hindsight I shouldn’t have stopped to hug the man dressed in a full gorilla costume cheering as we past his house…it cost me a PR…but he did give good hugs!) 😜

My running buddies were Curt and Kara, who ran this race with me last year and have joined me a few other times during the year…they are faithful and encouraging and I appreciate them both SO much! Last year Curt gave up his race to run mine…this year he had his son’s last soccer game to get to, so he was eager to get to the finish line and he kicked my butt…even in 68 degree weather and wearing a Chewbacca costume!

My sweet Anna asked if she could join me for my last race and for once we stuck pretty close together for about half the race and could chat as we ran. She was my main inspiration for this year of runs. The first four years of her life I wasn’t the best role model for her in the areas of health, fitness or even being brave and living life abundantly. I hope that is changing. I want to be a good role model for her. I want her to see me doing something challenging and outside my comfort zone. I want her to see me show discipline and dedication to reach a goal. I want her to see me be active and strong and confident…even brave!

I loved that she wanted to be there with me. I loved that when we talked about who we should dress up for this race, she picked Rey from the latest Star Wars, a very strong and independent female protagonist. I love that she wants to challenge herself to run an 8k next month and is excited about the Girls on the Run program at her school this spring. I am very blessed that God chose me to be her mom and look forward to running being a way to connect with her in the years to come.

I’ve learned so much this past year and will write more about my thoughts and reflections sometime later this week, but I wanted to say that I’m so thankful for my running buddies this year and for many encouraging words from friends and family. Thank you! I am blessed!

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A few more pictures from the Zombie Dash so you can see what Jason looked like! This is the only race I've done so far where we hit the bar BEFORE and after the race! 😉

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My fourth October run was a totally blast! The Zombie Dash in Grand Rapids is the kind of race you do for fun and not really worry about running a personal best. The course is crowded with lots of walkers, includes staircases, abandoned cars and a few hundred Zombies trying to capture one of the three flags runners have hanging at their waist…so not quite the normal race course!

(As I type this I realize that I really truly now run some races for fun… because running has become fun… at least some of the time… sometimes it’s still REALLY hard! I am not sure I EVER thought I would be able to say that running is fun… but I can and it is!)

My running buddies for this race were some very special people. Dee, Charity and Steve are also my workout buddies as they are all people from my gym, Valeo Training. Dee was my trainer for about 6 months at Valeo (where she tortured me by making me do Turkish Get Ups over and over… but thanks to her, I can do them with great form now!). She also took swim lessons with me earlier this year because I wanted to work on a Triathlon and she wanted to support me in my efforts. She rocks! Charity was my workout buddy for several months this past year and kept me laughing during many tough workouts. Charity is a runner who has been suffering from some pretty major injuries which has kept her from running lately. She was in pain today, but she was committed to be there to support me (and you should know… she’s scared of Zombies… and she was still there!). Steve is my MetCon (Metabolic Conditioning) buddy and one of the kindest people I know! Steve works hard during class and then spends the 90 seconds between stations walking around giving high-fives and encouraging everyone in the class. He’s just a good guy! He’s not a runner, but a pretty serious biker, and he did great today and I so appreciate his support by being there! I am very blessed to be at a gym like Valeo where there is such a great community of members and trainers committed to encouraging others to reach goals and be the best athlete he or she can be! I have gained so many friends (and so much confidence) there! It’s amazing how sweating together bonds people!

I also loved having Jason there today as well…he made a fantastic Zombie…and I think a few fellow runners were a little surprised when I planted a great big kiss on his bloody lips when I ran past him! Love you babe, and the way you show your support!

Once again I am blown away by the people who give of their time, energy and money to be my running buddies and support me! I am blessed!

One more race this month, the Alger Heights Halloween 5k…where all this 5k craziness began a year ago!

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My third October run was the Pumpkin Harvest 5k in Coloma, MI. My running buddy for this race, Olivia, turns 40 this month and is celebrating by trying to do several things for the “first time” this month and I was privileged to be with her as she completed her first 5K! Olivia lives in Northern Indiana, so we found a race about halfway between us and it was a fun (except for the sand hills!) trail run through Jollay Farms, which wove through apple, pear and cherry trees, as well as a cemetery, haunted house and vineyard. The start/finish line was at a farmer’s market filled with apples, pumpkins, mums, and REALLY yummy apple spice donuts!

Costumes were optional, but when someone is running her first 5K, tutus are always a good idea! Olivia was Glenda, the Good Witch and I was The Wicked Witch of the West (a stretch for me! 😉). Olivia made our shirts, which read “Are you a good witch or a bad witch” on the front, and “It depends on whom you ask” on the back. Having a daughter, I’ve created my share of tutus, so I made a couple to complete our look. We didn’t win the contest (a 3 year old Zombie did!) but we thought we were pretty cute!

The kids had a blast playing and participating in the kid’s fun run and it was so sweet when they all met us on the home stretch to finish with us! I’ll never forget Olivia’s boys yelling “You won, you won!” While I am not always a fan of the “Everyone is a winner” philosophy in our present kid’s sports culture, these boys where right today. Good weather, the beautiful outdoors, supportive families, good friends (and donuts)…seems like a “win” to me!

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Triathlons have always intrigued me...admittedly for most of my life the fascination was mostly wondering WHY people would torture themselves by competing in them...but during my year of 5ks, I began to wonder if I could finish one...even a small one, like a Super Sprint Triathlon. This wondering led me to tackle an Ironman length Lazy Man Tri back in May...and that experience left me even more interested, but also really concerned if I could handle the swimming portion...it was clear I would need some serious training time in the pool and eventually open water. Looking at the Triathlons in my area, I couldn't find one that fit my desired length, my calendar, or would give me the time needed to train for the swim that also fit into my year of 5ks...I was bummed...but also relieved! 😉 But as my calendar of races filled up it became clear October was going to be FULL of races! I realized I did have one October weekend race free and if I was racing 4 weekends already...why not make it 5 out of 5? I had recently learned of virtual races, where everyone competes on their own...and so this little voice in my head said "You should try a Tri...a virtual Tri!" And then a FB post for Fellow Flowers came across my feed...they were selling a limited edition "Watch Me Tri" shirt...and then I discovered that I could order a Triathlon medal for $3...and so I decided to try a Tri (it's amazing really, what I will do for a shirt and medal!) I chatted with a friend in AZ who started her own year of 5ks back in January and she agreed to join me in doing a Super Sprint Triathlon this weekend...me in MI...her in AZ. Once this was planned, I figured I would train for it...but the summer got away from me and training really didn't happen...but once again I am amazed at how much my 3x a week running and 2x a week gym sessions "train" me for an active life! I started at the Dow for a 400 meter swim (no wetsuit + October = indoor swim!) and then biked 7.5 miles home, followed by a 2.5k run. The biking was a little further then the typical 6.2 miles for a Super Sprint...but that's how far the Dow is from my house! My transition at the pool was pretty slow, but the transition from bike to foot was great because the kids met me at the driveway to get my bike and helmet! Once again, my family rocks with their support! They were at the pool to cheer me on (and so the kids could swim with Jason!), they cheered as they drove past me biking on the road about a mile from home, and then of course they provided help with my bike at home! Jason came to find me on bike during my last 1/2 mile run to be sure I didn't phone it in and walk (there is a big hill the last 1/4 mile!) and then I rounded the bend and saw the kids waiting with a finish line across the driveway! They even had water and a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup ready for me (so much better than a banana...thanks Anna!). I finished about 20 minutes faster than I hoped and even had fun...although my legs are still sore 5 hours later! So...is a REAL Triathlon in my future? Maybe...the plan is to put some serious time in at the pool this winter, so we'll see how it goes! What I've learned from this Triathlon is to not make excuses...something I am good at doing! While not all things are possible, with determination, creativity and courage, many things become possible... even if you have to order your own shirt and medal! So... do you think I can add Race Director to my resume? 😉

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My first October race was the Fenn Valley Vine Wine'd Trail 5k in Fennville. It was a little hilly, but beautiful, weaving through the vineyard, pine forests and rolling meadows. The after party meal was great, with music and wine of course! The wet trail kept me from getting anywhere close to my PR, (we may have stopped to take selfies during this run😉) but I don't think anyone was close to their PR today! My racing buddy was my friend Kara, who celebrated her 5k anniversary today as this was her first real 5k a year ago! Several of her friends from the Real Women Tri group were there as well and it was great to chat with them afterwards about triathlons in the area and getting some tips and tricks for Tri events! Perfect timing as next week is my first Tri...kinda...I will share all the details in my next post!

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Official September race day (because Adventure Races are not 5ks!) was today! When the race course is 2 miles from your house and you get a free entry...you've just got to do it...even if it's during a crazy busy weekend! Much thanks to Sarah for the free entry, my running buddy Stacey, who rocks, and my family for cheering me on! Tied my PR and really ENJOYED running today! Beautiful weather, flat course, and doughnuts and meatballs at the finish line (and medals...I love medals...and most 5ks don't reward runners with medals). Now on to October...my last month in my year of races. 5 weekends...5 races!

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My September race was an extra special race for me, as it embodies much of what this year of races is all about for me. As I’ve said before, after years of living life on the “sidelines” because of being overweight and unhealthy, I longed to participate in life.  Growing up, my family wasn’t very active.  We didn’t go for bike rides (I didn’t even have a bike after the age of 8!), we didn’t go skiing or even really participate in recreation sports or many schools sports (a little basketball in elementary school and later, Track and Field...but mostly Field!).  At the time it didn’t bother me, as I didn’t really enjoy being active and would rather spend my time watching TV and reading books. In high school, when friends would invite me to go water skiing or do something active, I would always pass since I didn’t want to embarrass myself.  I clearly didn’t know HOW to do these things and didn’t really want to try for fear of failing. I always assumed I would look ridiculous if I tried. In college and beyond, throughout my young adult years and into my marriage this remained an issue for me as I passed on hiking trips, bike rides and really ANYTHING that involved endurance, movement, agility, or a swimsuit.  

Even though I acted like these activities bored me to tears, I often did want to participate.  I love the outdoors and the idea of hiking or kayaking was so appealing, yet I almost always stayed on the “sidelines” and eventually friends just stopped asking. Then parenthood happened and I realized very quickly that my children were destined to a life on the “sidelines” just like me.  I knew it was time to leave the “sidelines,” for my children’s sake AND for mine!  Most of you know the journey Jason and I have been on to make positive changes towards a more healthy lifestyle.  Good food choices, working out with personal trainers (which by the way, I am convinced is what helped so much with this event...strength training!), and of course RUNNING!  :)  

You may remember back in May, I participated in a Lazy Man’s Iron-man Triathlon as part My Peak Challenge, a fundraising effort for Bloodwise (the UK branch for blood cancer research), which has an incredible on-line community of people pushing aside their fears and training hard to reach their goals by challenging themselves and raising money while doing it.  While May was the month that participants were encouraged to challenge themselves, hence the Lazy Man Tri, there are times when a special challenge presents itself... and it might not be in the month of May... it might be in September!

This weekend I was that person that I had always longed to be... I trekked, I biked (a LOT), I kayaked... I participated in the Sleeping Bear Edition of the Michigan Adventure Race... a 5 hour race that saw me and my teammates looking for checkpoints all over the Glen Arbor area and completing Amazing Race style challenges along the way (digging for potatoes... blind-folded cherry pie eating at Cherry Republic, looking for historical facts to solve puzzles... that kind of stuff).  When I first heard about this race, my first thought was, “This looks like so much FUN!”  And then I, of course, started talking myself out of it, convinced I couldn’t do it.  Thankfully, I am surrounded with wonderful friends and family that reminded me that not so long ago I would have thought that a 5 hour adventure race would be anything but fun... rather just the opposite, pure torture.  But they also reminded me, I am not that person anymore.  And as if I had any doubt that I married the greatest man EVER... Jason said he’d do it with me.  Up until this point, Jason has not been able to join me running because of his knees, but since he’s a fast walker, trekking through the woods (especially when the race uses a compass and map to find the checkpoints... so lots of stopping along the way to consult both) he knew he could do it.  Jason has been at nearly every race cheering me on, but to have him on this race with me was just the push I needed to commit (and he KNEW that of course!).  As we talked with friends about our plans for the race we picked up a few other teammates.  Curt and his wife Andrea have been one of our greatest cheerleaders the last few years as we’ve made these positive changes in our lives.  Curt was also one of my running buddies for my first 5K last October (and never left my side!).  Curt joined us again, as did our friend Greg who has participated in similar events AND knew about orienteering (a bonus in a map and compass race!) - his wife Katie would have as well if she weren’t very pregnant!  I purposely placed these guys on their own team figuring they would grow impatient with how slow I might be and want to take off on their own (Jason was stuck with me... but he swore for better or worse!).  But they didn’t... Greg and Curt in so many ways gave up their race to let me race mine!  I am so blessed by their friendship!  

I had many goals for this race:

1.  I wanted to finish and not give up before the 5 hours were up... we came in with only 5 minutes to spare!

2.  I wanted to do 3 of the 5 Amazing Race style challenges... we did all 5! 

3.  I wanted to complete at least 50% of the checkpoints... we collected 21 out of 34 (the most any team collected was 31). 

4.  I didn’t want to be the last team... we finished #66 out of 192 teams who finished!

5.  I wanted to have fun... no crying, no losing my temper if something didn’t go right.  I am happy to say, there were no tears, no yelling... but lots of smiles and laughter!

6.  I wanted to NOT lose our passport or make any major blunders that would cost us time or result in us getting majorly lost and losing hours of time.  We were all good there.

7.  I did not want to end up in the emergency room (Kara, another friend, who  happens to be a PA, joined us on the trip, so we had our own team medical personnel!).  Mostly I didn’t want to lose control careening down a hill on my bike, hit a tree or cow or other large flora or fauna, and die.  Thankfully, only a little blood was shed... and we’re pretty sure that came AFTER we crossed the finish line!

Lots of goals, all met by an amazing day with amazingly supportive friends, and definitely NOT sitting on the sidelines!

There were difficult hills that I walked my bike up, a few checkpoints I decided NOT to get because I thought it would sap my strength (dune climb!) and we did a lot less trekking and orienteering then we thought and A LOT more biking then we planned on... but we did it!  

To cap the day off, I was an MPC (My Peak Challenge) flag carrier during this event for a wonderful group of women that I am proud to be a part of, the BAMstrength girls!  BAMstrength is an on-line community of women who met online during last year’s MPC and formed a virtual group focused on positive, healthy choices with a large dose of encouragement and laughter thrown in.  The MPC flag has been traveling around the globe with BAMs as we complete our challenges.  I was honored to have it with me at this event... as witness to a life no longer spent on the “sidelines!”  

Much thanks to the best teammates ever... Jason, Curt and Greg!  Also to Andrea and Kara for being our support and finding us on the course to encourage us (and to Kara for finding us really wonderful free lodging!). Thanks also goes to Matthew Falk, a former colleague of mine who is a a pro at adventure racing (he and his brother finished 3rd in this race) who shared some helpful advice.  And much thanks to my family for watching the kids so that Jason and I could go on an adventure... we are already talking about how much fun it will be to do an event like this WITH the kids when they are old enough!  

PS... no phones allowed during the race, so these pictures are of the planning session beforehand (mapping out our route) and then after (dirty hands=fun adventure!)

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Love Does...even at the Color Vibe 5k!  Recently while on vacation I read Bob Goff’s book, Love Does.  What does that have to do with my August run?  Quite a bit actually.  The basic idea of the book is that people often talk about ways to show love to others, and we even make plans of how we are going to show love to others, but really all we need to do to show others love is just to show up and be present.  Let’s just say I felt the love at my August run!

While looking for a race for this month, I realized that our family was going to be out of town for most of the month, so I started looking for races in places where our family was going to be...New York, New Jersey and islands in the Caribbean.  I found what I thought would be the perfect race...a Color Vibe 5k in Utica, NY on the weekend we would be in town for a family reunion.  I figured a Color Vibe would be a fun and laid-back race...perfect for vacation.  Anna was thrilled with the idea and asked to run it with me and we decided to ask other family members to join us...they agreed it sounded like fun, so we all signed up...all set...August race booked...check! 

But then we found out the reunion had been moved to a different weekend...which meant that a bunch of us were now registered to run the CV in Utica (where none of us live...not even close!) on a weekend that none of us were going to be there.  Thankfully the CV is a national race and allows people to move their registration to a different city if needed.  The only CV that fit our schedule was in Ann Arbor...3 hours away from Holland.  Jason encouraged me to go for it and make it work...so a hotel room was booked and a road trip planned.  

Once I knew when/where Anna and I were racing, I contacted my college friend, Jordan, who I thought lived about 45 minutes from Ann Arbor and asked her if she and her daughter would like to join me and Anna.  Her response, “Sure...how do I sign up?”  Anna and I were excited to have running buddies and I was happy that I had an August race still planned!

So...today was race day.  It was humid...we ran around a mall parking lot...it was untimed...so I don’t even know what my time was (forgot to start the Map My Run app) and based on how good I felt when we were done...I am not even sure it was a full 5k...but you know what...it was one of my favorite races to date...it was fun, it was whimsical...and I felt so loved!  Here’s why:

1.  My sweet Anna girl, who just wants to be with me, was so excited to run today.  From the first color powder that was thrown in the air, to the dance party after...she was so full of joy and so happy to be there.  She has been a constant cheerleader for me this year.

2.  Jason, my support and encouragement, once again just handled things for me all weekend long.  Even when the original plan of a Utica race fell through, he encouraged me to switch cities, vowing to make it work.  Even when it became clear that it would involve a hotel stay and a road trip, he fully supported me and my goals (and my NEED for an August race!).  He has done nothing but give of his time, energy and money to support my year of 5k’s.  

3.  Jordan!  Not only did she say “yes” when I asked if she wanted to run with me (and pay the hefty registration fee!), but I discovered today that she actually had a 2 hour drive to Ann Arbor, had just come off from an incredibly busy week with her family (who she left to finish up their busy week so she could run with me) and really needed to be preparing for her job tomorrow.  But instead she was running with me...even though she doesn’t run much anymore and we’ve only seen each other 2-3 times in the last 16 years.  

I was blown away by the support and the love DONE to me today!  Just simply BLOWN AWAY!  

Only two more months remain for my year of 5k’s.  In September I am running two races...a 5 hour adventure race and the Park to Park 5k.  In October...well let’s just way I decided to go out with a bang...5 Saturdays in October...5 races!  I am always looking for more running buddies!  Let me know if you’d like to join me for a race!  

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My running buddy for my July 5k...my friend Karen (and her cute as a button daughter)!

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July 5k was The Run for the Sun

5k number 10 was a fun, but hot and humid evening run. The Run for the Sun 5k is a fundraiser for Camp Sunshine held in Holland with the start/finish line on Hope’s campus, making it a fairly convenient run for me. Last year I was in the middle of the C25K program, so I opted to do the mile Fun Run with Anna. This year both kids ran the mile Fun Run (with Amber, my running buddy from November and the world’s best babysitter) while I ran the 5k. Last year was hot and humid, and this year was the same, but I guess that should be expected for an evening run in the middle of July! Considering that, I was pretty happy that my pace was just a few seconds off my personal best set in my June race. Jason was gone, so this was my first race without him there to cheer me on, but I was joined by my amazing friend Karen, who put up an amazing time…so proud of her! Her son had a blazing mile time and hopefully that means Karen will be running a lot more 5ks in the future trying to keep up with him!  The great thing about a hometown race is that friends were everywhere…running the race, volunteering, cheering and…something I really appreciated…hosing down runners as we passed their houses! So fun!

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Run for the Sun…July 2016 5k run and mile fun run for the kids!

So proud of both kids...they did awesome!