#fivestarntp

[fivestarrunningramblings]

The Good Ole Summertime

July 2024

SUMMER. Hot, humid summer in the South, or anywhere else for that matter.  It’s a great time to be in the pool, the lake or the beach. Running outside, not so much! So for myself and anyone else who is out there battling this oppressive summer heat & humidity, I’m re-posting my checklist for summer running survival. 

START & END EARLY. The earlier, the better. Fortunately, most races this time of year are early, but there are some in the evenings. That’s a big No Thanks from me.

WATER. Drink early; Drink often. When I’m at my local park, I fill half my water bottle with ice so that when it melts, my water stays cold and I stop for a drink often. There are other water alternatives out there for hydration, but for me, it’s water.

SHADE. Chase the shade. My local park has several different loop options. In the summer, I make my course choices based on where the trees and shade are. Shade can make a huge difference in temperature.

SUNSCREEN. Use it early. Use it often. Every time you are outside. We are adults. We know this by now.

CLOTHING. I wear the lightest weight, loosest fit & most breathable running clothes I have and definitely a visor or hat to protect my face from the sun.

WRAP. I have a cold pack wrap that can be very refreshing after longer runs. It takes a little prep before hand to freeze it & remember to bring it, but it’s amazing to wrap it around my neck for a cool down after a long, hot run. A towel that I can wet with water is another cooling option.

Running in the heat of summer has its positives. The sun feels great on your skin and the getting dressed time is minimal compared to winter. The key is being prepared. Sunburn, heat exhaustion and heat stroke can all happen quickly. Simple, common sense precautions can help prevent them and make for a more pleasant running experience.

Five Star has 2 hot fun races in metro Atlanta in July:

7/20 Christmas in July 5k/10k/Half in Atlanta

7/26 Hot Fun in the Summer Sun 5k in Kennesaw

Hope to see you there!

Happy Running & Stay Cool!

Kerry

[allycatrunner-blog]

I don't care that my eyes are closed this is the best looking race photo I've ever had! #5kdatedash #fivestarntp 💕 (at Buford, Georgia)

[planetsmoothieptc]

Looking for something to do Saturday? Run the Frosty 5K at Thrasher Park hosted by @fivestarntp ! Spots are still available! Get race packets at @rrs_atlanta Friday and come next door for 50% off deal! #runatlanta #ptc #peachtreecorners #norcrosstrack #berkeleylakega #norcross https://www.instagram.com/p/B8iRJOkpu-k/?igshid=108zg9oqkqd7k

[fivestarrunningramblings]

Runner's Body

June 2024

One of my original goals when I did the Couch to 5k program in 2009 was to achieve a runner’s body. You know the body I’m referring to: thin & muscular…or to be honest, just thin. I come from a long line of “hardy” women. Big hands, big feet, big boned. Nothing petite about us. Images of female runners were of the sleek, thin perfect woman. I wanted that runner’s body!

Fast forward 15 years. Surprise! I haven’t achieved that runner’s body. What I have is my body in much better physical shape & much healthier than I ever was in my earlier years. The big bones and wide feet are still there.

I remember 6 years ago I was at the Publix Women’s Half-Marathon/5k in Savannah.  My husband was with me. Thousands of women were there. I was standing in the way-way back corral before the race & my husband told me to look around. Look at the variety of women there. All shapes and sizes. They all have a runner’s body because they are ALL runners! Thanks to him, I realized there is no ideal “runner’s body.” My body is my body. My DNA is my DNA. I have the big hands, feet and bones of my mother and my grandmother and probably great, great grandmother and so on…

The best thing I can do for my body is to love it as it is. One of the best ways to show that love it is to keep it healthy and strong. I do it through exercise, nutrition, sleep and self-care.  Now that I have entered the 3rd act of my life, I appreciate that more than I ever have before. Even though I still have a devil of a time finding shoes to fit my big feet, I have learned to love the body I have. And hey, I realized that with these bones I don’t have to worry about osteoporosis, so there you go!

Happy Running!

Kerry

Left: 2009 Couch to 5k. Right: 2024 Memorial Day 5k

[fivestarrunningramblings]

Location Location Location

May 2024

One of the things I like about doing 5k’s is experiencing different locations. Even when the race is a local one, seeing the area on foot from the street is different from riding by in a car. April’s races were fun ones that offered new experiences at new and old places. 

We started off with a new one, the Blessing of the Fleet 5k in Darien, Georgia. It’s part of the weekend festival that celebrates the area’s shrimping industry. It was a very small local race, sponsored by the YMCA that had a total of 76 participants. The course was a perfectly flat grid and the April coastal weather perfect. We got race t-shirts and free entry into the Festival but the highlight was the Lions’ Club Pancake Breakfast immediately following the race. Yum!

Another new race in April was the Cookie Crusher 5k at the Cumming City Center. Even though this was a hometown race, the location was new to me and it offered the opportunity to see all the new goings on in our downtown. This was a big race with hundreds of participants and premium swag: shirt, finisher’s medal and Crumbl cookies.

My final race of April was one of my Five Star favorites, Run Through the Decades 6k/7k/8k/Half in Sugar Hill. I chose the 6k for the 60’s and liked that it pushed me to go beyond the usual 3.1 miles. Ok, not too much beyond, but still more than my usual! I love this new course that includes the Sugar Hill Greenway and E. Robinson Park. In addition to the race t-shirt, I somehow scored 1st in my age group. Thanks Five Star for your multiple layers of award categories!

In May, I’m looking forward to Five Star’s Super Mom 5k/10k/Half in Buford on May 11, Mason Strong 5k in Dawsonville on May 18 and the annual Memorial Day 5k/10k/Half in Marietta.

Happy Running!

Kerry

[fivestarrunningramblings]

Springtime!

April 2024

It’s Springtime! Yay! Spring means the trees are budding, the flowers are blooming and the temps are getting milder. Morning races may start off cool, but it doesn’t take long to warm up. We didn’t really have a long, hard winter in north Georgia overall but we had lots of very cold weekend race mornings over the winter months. I’m definitely ready for those mornings to be over. The only negative this time of year is the pollen and brother do we have pollen with a vengeance right now!

March was a fun 5k month for me. It began with the Lucky 5k (3/9) and ended with Hop Into Spring (3/30). In between was Sweet Treats (3/24) & Run Your Bundts Off (3/30). Between the finishers’ medals and age group awards, I was able to bring home a fun amount of bling. Mostly though I’m very grateful I’m physically able to participate; to run very slowly and walk very strongly; to see racing buddies and enjoy the being outside getting exercise. I take nothing for granted.

I have several races on the calendar for April. Starts off with the Blessing of the Fleet 5k on the Georgia coast in Darien. It’s part of the Blessing of the Fleet weekend festival that celebrates the area’s biggest industry, shrimping. I’ve never done this one before and really looking forward to it. A 5k on the coast followed by a weekend of shrimp! What’s not to love?

On 4/14 I’m doing another new one, the Cookie Crusher 5k at the Cumming City Center and on 4/20 back to one of my favorites, Five Star’s Run Through the Decades 6k/7k/8k/Half in Sugar Hill. 

Hope to see you out on a course this Spring.

Happy Running!

Kerry

[fivestarrunningramblings]

Spend Less, Run More

March 2024

We all know running is one of the most economical forms of exercise. The basics are a good pair of shoes and a location, which can be a neighborhood, park or other public space (remember mall walking, anyone?) Of course, there are plenty of extras you can purchase if you choose, but the bottom-line investment is a good pair of running shoes. 

However...participating in races is a great motivator and where the fun is for me, and registration fees can add up. With Spring around the corner, now is a good time to review some of the best ways I know to shave some bucks off that cost. 

Volunteer. This is my absolute favorite way to save money.  It takes a lot of people to pull off a successful race. Some race companies (like Five Star) will exchange volunteering for future or same-day race entry fees. Volunteer jobs include helping with set-up/take-down, registration, water stations & award presentations. Many of the bigger/national races use Ambassadors to help promote the race online before, during and after in exchange for free race entry. The best way to find out about how to become an Ambassador is to look on the race website.

Early Discounts. Most all races offer early registration discounts. The timing may differ, but typically there are registration tiers, the earlier the cheaper. If you know you want to do a race on a certain date, registering early can save you money. Be careful though because most fees are non-refundable. If your date isn’t solid and you can’t make it, you may lose the money. I like to use the websites runningintheusa.com, rungeorgia.com and, of course, fivestarntp.com to plan my racing calendar.

Repeat Customer. Just like other businesses who appreciate consumer loyalty with coupon discounts, running companies do as well. Many will send a race entry 5-10% discount code to previous year participants. I love discount codes!

Group Discounts. If you like to running with friends, you can sometimes save money on race entry fees by running as a group. Five Star offers percentage discounts based on the number of people in the group.

Specials. Some of the bigger and/or national races, will throw out specials even after the early registration period has past. Some have “last minute” specials or attach a discount code to a holiday like Memorial Day, July 4th, Black Friday, etc. The best way to keep up with these offers is to follow the race event on social media or email updates.

Skip the Shirt. Some races give the option of choosing "No Shirt" and reducing the registration fee. I love getting stuff as much as the next person, but I have plenty of race t's. I'm there for the exercise and the medal (if possible:).

Five Star has a races every weekend in March in northern Georgia AND out west in New Mexico, Utah & Nevada (just in case you want to spend some of that saved registration cash on a road trip race-cation!)

Happy Running!

Kerry

[fivestarrunningramblings]

Hello February

February 2024

February is a fun month. C’mon, it’s short; it’s got Groundhog Day, Mardi Gras, Valentine’s Day, just to name a few. This year it even has Leap Year! And it’s not January, which seems like the longest month of the year. When it comes to racing and outdoor running in January in Georgia, it is always a crap-shoot. You never know what kind of weather you’re going to experience. It could be sunny, snowing, raining, warm; sometimes all on the same day!

 This January lived up to it’s chaotic reputation; starting out very cold the first half of the month, then switched to monsoon season. I started off with a bang by completing the New Year’s Day 5k followed by the Championship Races the next weekend. The New Year’s Day race has become a very popular one and it’s good to see so many people starting off the new year with fitness as a priority. The Championship Races draw a smaller crowd and thereby offer me and other slower runners/walkers a shot at the prized trophies. Both of those races were very cold; temps in the 20-30’s, but I have to admit that when the Ugly Pajama 5k came up on January 20, the single digit temperatures kept me from going out that morning. We registered for the virtual option and waiting until later in the day when it wasn’t quite so bitter cold. 

But January wasn’t done with me yet. It still had some snake eyes to throw my way. All my racing plans were derailed by two family emergencies that took me away, mentally and physically. I wasn’t able to do the Java Jog on January 27th or the Surf & Sun 5k on February 3rd as planned. The Surf & Sun at West Bank Park on Lake Lanier is one of my favorites. However, I’m looking forward to another of my favorites this month: The Super Sunday 5k at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Dawsonville on Sunday, February 11th. It’s a Super Bowl themed race that ends with the option of spiking the football at the goal line. Last year the football field was being repaired so we spiked on the basketball goal. Still fun!

Also that weekend, on Saturday, February 10th, is the Chasing Away Winter. I’ve done this 5k several times over the years and have mixed emotions about it. It’s in the North Georgia mountain town of Dahlonega inside beautiful Camp Glisson. Scenery along the course is phenomenal but the hills are no joke. It will offer you an excellent workout and also benefits good organization, Dahlonega UMC Mothers Morning Out & Preschool. There’s a virtual option that fits more for me these days which I will take advantage of. 

Finally in February is an opportunity to take celebrate 2024’s Leap Year with the Leap Day 5k on February 29th in Atlanta along the Atlanta Beltline. This is an after work evening race at 6pm and any ‘Leapings” (a person born on a leap year) can run for free. How fun for you leap year babies!

Happy February & Happy Running!

Kerry

[fivestarrunningramblings]

Happy New Year!

January 2024

Hello 2024! A brand new year is here & we are fortunate enough to be here to see it. The new year is filled with promise. It's also a time to look back on the previous year and reflect on the good and the bad, the positives and negatives, what’s working and what isn’t. 

As I look back on my year in running, what stands out is the people I’ve met along the way. It’s not everyone who gets up early on the weekends to go outside, in all kinds of weather, to run (or walk-with-purpose in my case:). We share that bond. It’s fun to see my racing buddies; to get a hug, a pic, an encouraging comment. I appreciate them. Indulge me as I take a look back…

(There are others, but my selfie game isn't great:)

Five Star offers lots of races in January, making it easy to keep those fitness resolutions. In fact, they have races scheduled every weekend through the middle of February. Hope to see you out there soon.

Happy New Year & Happy Running!

Kerry

[fivestarrunningramblings]

2023 in 2023

December 2023

It’s December and time again to reflect on my year in fitness. My running/walking journey was permeated by a mistake I made at the very beginning of the year in January 2023. Let me explain: 

I like and am highly motivated by fitness challenges. Whether that means I’m lazy on my own or just easily swayed by shiny objects, I don’t know; but I will make sure I complete a challenge if it means I get a reward at the end. As silly as it may sound, I know I’m not the only one given the popularity of finisher medals for live/virtual races and personal fitness trackers with monthly digital bling. 

So…In January I signed my husband and I up for a “2023 in 2023” virtual challenge. In my mind, that meant a great big medal for completing 20.23 miles in 2023. Easy peasy, right? WRONG! It was actually 2,023 miles in 2023. Commas and decimal points are important, kiddos!

The good news is that we signed up as a team, so the 2,023 was a combined effort that has kept us documenting our miles every day of every month of this year. We received the medal early in the year and it included milestones along the way for encouragement. Regularly we take a realistic look at our progress to determine if we are on course to finish by December 31st or if we need to take it up a notch. As of the almost-end of November, we have a total of 1,935 miles, leaving us with 88 miles to finish. We plan to do at least 3 5k’s in December, including Five Star’s Reindeer Run on 12/16 and White Elephant 5k on 12/24. Side note: In addition to Christmas Eve, December 24th is also my birthday. I’m really looking forward to my Christmas Eve Birthday 5k!

So that’s what I’ve been working on this year. My hard count of (physical) bling for 2023 is 27. I’m really looking forward to adding the big 2023 number 28 medal to the display. Wish me luck and you best believe I will be reading the fine print of any 2024 fitness challenges very carefully next year!!!

Happiest of Holidays and Happy Running!

Kerry

[fivestarrunningramblings]

Holiday Time!

November 2023

The holidays are officially here. It starts with Halloween and continues through New Year’s Eve. All the celebrating and candy and pies and turkey and dressing and potatoes and egg nog and punch and champagne! OH MY!

I have no advice on how to indulge responsibly during the holidays, because I don’t do a very good job of it myself. However, I can tell you how I try to counter punch the indulgence; I do a calisthenics & stretching workout several days a week and I do 5k’s. Five Star is offering nine race opportunities in November and December, including three options for their Thanksgiving Turkey Trot: Early Bird on Saturday 11/18 in Kennesaw, Get Basted on Sunday 11/19 in Cumming and Thanksgiving Day 11/23 in Johns Creek. I will be at the Get Basted Turkey Trot in Cumming. If you're there, please say Hi!

Spending time with loved ones, enjoying family traditions and indulging in our favorite foods is what makes the holidays special. Remember during this time to take care of yourself also. Keep up your fitness. Continue to walk, run, workout, dance, yoga, swim…whatever your favorite form of exercise is, make time for it.  You will feel better during the holidays and especially after.

Happy Thanksgiving & Happy Running!

Kerry

(I posted some fav pics from 2022’s Get Basted Turkey Trot below:)

Live Christmas music along the course. Such Fun!

Photobombing a couple of fun turkeys!

Another Turkey Trot finish line crossed!

[fivestarrunningramblings]

Happy Fall, Y'all

October 2023

Fall is here! The beautiful color changes make this a perfect time to be outside. The cooler temperatures make walking and running much more pleasant anytime of the day, instead of just first thing in the morning. I’m looking forward to participating in upcoming races. In truth, between the oppressive heat we had in August and schedule conflicts, I haven’t done a 5k since Labor Day. To help me get back in running mode, I scoured the interweb for some running and walking inspirational quotes; some insightful, some funny. Hope you enjoy them and find them beneficial also!

If you run, you are a runner. It doesn’t matter how fast or how far. It doesn’t matter if today is your first day or if you’ve been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run.  -John Bingham

Every morning in Africa a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must move faster than the lion or it will not survive. Every morning a lion wakes up and it knows it must move faster than the slowest gazelle or it will starve. It doesn’t matter if you are the lion or the gazelle, when the sun comes up, you better be moving. -Maurice Greene

Believe that you can run farther or faster. Believe that you’re young enough, old enough, strong enough, and so on to accomplish everything you want to do. Don’t let worn-out beliefs stop you from moving beyond yourself. -John Bingham

If you want to become the best runner you can be, start now. Don’t spend the rest of your life wondering if you can do it. -Priscilla Welch

 An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day. – Henry David Thoreau

All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking. – Friedrich Nietzsche

The secret of getting ahead is getting started. – Mark Twain

Run. Because zombies will eat the untrained ones first. - From the Zombie Apocalypse Survival Guide

Happy Running!

Kerry

[fivestarrunningramblings]

Labor Day

September 2023

Five Star’s Labor Day 5k/10/15k is coming up on September 4th and I am really looking forward to it. It has been so hot & humid here in Georgia this summer that my 5k schedule has reduced tremendously. In August, I only completed one race, the Mustard Seed 5k on August 6. It was a fun race on a familiar course at the Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academy in Suwanee. It’s mostly flat but has a couple of kick-butt hills. I managed to squeak out a bronze medal age group award. It was also fun catching up with my racing buddies, a definite perk of racing!

Since I haven’t been going to my local park to run this summer, I had to get creative with my fitness. During the week, I participate in a morning Hard QiGong & Stretching class. I’ve been doing this class for several years and really love it. We’ve also been heading to the Georgia & NC mountains quite a bit for hiking. It’s still hot up there, but morning hikes have been bearable. I am really looking forward to the lower temps that should be coming this way soon so I can get back on the track.

The Labor Day holiday brings lots of running opportunities over the course of the 3-day weekend. There are several big races in the metro Atlanta/north Georgia area. Five Star’s Labor Day races are an annual event held in Kennesaw. It brings out lots of people with a choice of 3 races. The event is free to all first responders (police, firefighters, EMT). They offer great shirts or you can save a few bucks and option not to receive a shirt. My favorite swag, of course, is the Finisher’s Medal, which is the 3rd of their Patriotic Series medals. I hope to see you there! I’ll also be at Express Your Super Power 5k on September 30 at Etowah River Park in Canton GA. 

Happy Labor Day and Happy Running!

Kerry

Dan & I with running & cyclist-extraordinaire, Clem Bell, at the Mustard Seed 5k in August.

Looking forward to adding the Labor Day Finisher's Medal to my 2023 Patriotic Race collection.

[fivestarrunningramblings]

Welcome Spring!

April 2023

It’s finally Springtime. Yay! Spring means the trees are budding, the flowers are blooming and the temps are getting milder. Morning races may start off cool, but it doesn’t take long to warm up. We didn’t really have a long, hard winter in north Georgia overall but we had lots of very cold weekend race mornings over the winter months. I mean VERY cold, like freezing single-digit temperatures. I’m definitely ready for those mornings to be over!

Hopefully these cold mornings are behind us for good while! Surf & Sun 5k. 2/4/23

I was only able to participate in two races in March: Five Star’s Grab Your Squad 5k at Rock Creek Park in Dawsonville and Lucky 5k at Etowah River Park in Canton. I had planned to do a few others but my right knee had other plans. I had to take a couple of weeks off so I missed the Cookie Chase 5k in Dawsonville. I still went with my husband and took on the role of race supporter and volunteer. Gotta say, it felt weird to be in “street clothes” and just watching. I did enjoy taking photos of the racers and being a cheerleader however. The fact is participating in road races is so much a part of my life that even if I can’t run the race, I still want to be there.

My knee has enjoyed the extra pampering and time off and hopefully will be ready for the Road to the Final Four Miler on April 1st. This is a really fun race that offers 3 race options: a 4k, a 4-miler or a combined Shoot the Hoop Challenge. I’m playing it safe and opting for the 4k, which is a whopping 2.49 miles. I think I can handle that!

Spring is the perfect time for races and Five Star has lots to offer in April, in addition to the Road to the Final Four Miler on Saturday, April 1st:

Sunday, April 2, Hop Into Spring 5k, Kennesaw

Saturday, April 15, Ryan’s Firepower 5k, Dawsonville

Saturday, April 22, Run Through the Decades 6K/7K/8K/Half, Sugar Hill

Sunday, April 30, Walking on Sunshine 5K, Canton

Hope to see you out on a course this Spring!

Happy Running!

Kerry

Grab Your Squad 5k. 3/04/23

Lucky 5k. 3/11/23

 I was cheerleader and volunteer only on this one. Cookie Chase 5k. 3/19/23

[fivestarrunningramblings]

Dog Days of Summer

August 2023

We are right smack in the middle of summer. Hot, humid summer in the South a/k/a the Dog Days. Running is a real challenge now due to the oppressive heat we’re experiencing. I recently had my first-ever, first-hand experience with heat exhaustion and it was no joke. After being outside all day, even though I had access to water and shade, I came down with classic heat exhaustion symptoms. It lasted for about 24 hours, even with treatment. It was an eye-opening experience!

With that in mind, here’s my checklist for summer running/walking survival. 

START & END EARLY. The earlier, the better. Fortunately, most 5k’s this time of year are early, but there are some in the evenings. That’s a big No Thanks from me.

WATER. Drink early; Drink often. When I’m at my local park, I fill half my water bottle with ice so that when it melts, my water stays cold and I stop for a drink often. There are other water alternatives out there for hydration, but for me, it’s water.

SHADE. I do what I call “Chasing the Shade.” My local park has several different loop options. In the summer, I make my course choices based on where the trees and shade are. Shade can make a huge difference in temperature.

SUNSCREEN. Use it early. Use it often. Every time you are outside. We are adults. We know this by now.

CLOTHING. I wear the lightest weight, loosest fit & most breathable running clothes I have and definitely a visor or hat to protect my face fro the sun.

WRAP. I have a cold pack wrap that can be very refreshing after longer runs. It takes a little prep before hand to freeze it & remember to bring it, but it’s amazing to wrap it around my neck for a cool down after a long, hot run. A towel that I can wet with water is another cooling option.

Running in the heat of summer can be a challenge. Sunburn, heat exhaustion and heat stroke can all happen quickly. Simple, common sense precautions can help prevent them and make for a more pleasant running experience.

Happy Running & Stay Cool!

Kerry

[fivestarrunningramblings]

Made in the USA (My Way)

July 2023

We enjoy participating in Five Star’s Patriotic Series that includes Memorial Day 5k/10k/15k, Made in the USA 5k/10k/15k/Half and Labor Day 5k/10k/15k. This year’s Made in the USA was on Saturday, June 24th in Sugar Hill GA with a total of 415 participants across the 4 races.

This year was different for us, however. Because of some schedule conflicts, we completed our 5k virtually. I have to admit that years ago when I first heard of virtual races, I imagined some type of digital/online race. I think by now, post-pandemic, we all know what a virtual race is. You definitely still complete the race, just on your own at the place & time of your choosing, instead of the scheduled live race time/location. 

It was the perfect solution for us. We completed the 5k at our local park on race day, June 24th, just later in the day. We still received the awesome finishers’ medals & placement awards (and shirts had we ordered them). 

Of course there are live race experiences that you completely miss when you go virtual, such as the crowd, friends, camaraderie, competition and just being part of a big event. But when circumstances prevent that from happening, virtual races are a fantastic alternative. 

Five Star offers a virtual race opportunity on most of their races and there are many virtual-only race companies online. I love that whatever your mindset and schedule, there are opportunities and ways to keep up your fitness. 

Five Star has several fun options this month in Georgia: 

Saturday, July 8 Dog Days 5k at Newtown Park in Johns Creek

Saturday, July 15 Chopped Oak Triathlon in Clarksville

Saturday, July 22 Christmas In July 5k/10k/Half in Atlanta

Saturday, July 29 Hot Fun in the Summer Sun 5k in Kennesaw.

All the above races, except the Triathlon, offer virtual options.

It’s July and it’s hot, so get out early, stay hydrated, remember your sun protection and Keep Running!

Kerry

Bling!

Our virtual race pic. Not as flashy, but just as effective!