Rock 'n' Roll Seattle - Half Marathon June 21, 2014

HELLO SEATTLE! 

Flying into town for a epic few days on this Runcation! Ready to race the Rock n Roll 1/2 and earn my first heavy medal! 

But first, let me take a selfie! 

All smiles as I was feeling pretty good running seaside in this beautiful city! 

My post race selfie with Apollo might be my favorite race moment so far! 

When your finisher medal is a cup of coffee, what else is there to do then take the obligatory Starbucks Seattle shot! 

13.1 miles in 2:13:06

Here is my trip highlight video! So much fun all week! 

Surf Town 1/2 Marathon, RI - September 2014

Time for a Runcation! In September I flew back to the East Coast for a week, and decided to fit in a half marathon with there. I chose this race because of the location. The Surf Town half is located in a small beach town in Rhode Island!  

First thing I had to do when we made it to town was head to the beach! Living in the desert, it was nice to be near the water again, even if it was chilly and overcast! 

Laid everything out the night before, it was definitely a chilly weekend! 

Mom was there to cheer me on!

The sun came out just before the race started.  It was a small field around 2,000 runners.

The course turned and winded through a small beach town that made a perfect scenic course. 

2:10min and 13.1 miles later, new friends were made.

Couldn't be happier to have run such a great race at one of my favorite beaches!

Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona – Half Marathon January 19, 2014

I decided to up my game and sign up for my first half marathon! After checking out several local races, I was set on running the RnR! The overall experience was great! The atmosphere was fun, tons of people, bands, signs and random strangers cheering everyone along!

The morning started early! We decided to avoid as much traffic as possible, so we took the Light Rail into town. We got to the train stop at about 6:15 in the morning and it was FREEZING and dark!  

Groups of people began to head to the Start Line. The corrals started to for just as the sun was coming up.  When the gun went off, it was go time!

The crowds came out to support over 24,000 runners! It was great reading all the signs, having random strangers cheer and shout supporting words throughout the whole course! 

Even though I was battling a cold the week leading up to the race, and on race day, I kept myself moving forward, enjoying the atmosphere, and really taking in this first experience.

13.1 miles later, I made it to the finish line! I was aiming for a 2:30 race, and beat it by 6 minutes! 

Not only did I complete the course, but I did it for a great cause. I was proud to run on the Children's Tumor Foundation NF Endurance Team, fundraising and helping to raise NF Awareness.

By far the coolest medal I have ever earned! Proud of myself for the accomplishment!

And like any race day, worn down and tired, I still had to have a beer to celebrate!

Now I have my medal proudly hanging in our home as a reminder of what I can accomplish if I set my mind to it!

Color in Motion 5k, Arizona - December 2013

Another race brought to you by Groupon! Sometimes the deal is just to good to pass up. This was my first "color" run, and who knew how messy things can get with corn starch!





Color in Motion 5k, Arizona - December 2013

 

 

And another run in the books, and I would definitly sign up for color run again!

St Patrick's Day Run, Tempe AZ - March 2013

The St. Patricks day celebrations are pretty tame compared to the East Coast shanangins we all love, but today we wore our green, and chased a leprachaun through Kiwanis Park in Tempe for a 5k.



 

St Patrick's Day Run, Tempe AZ - March 2013

It wasnt exactly a parade, and there werent any bands. But there was a decent turn out and beers waiting for us at the end!

 

 

We even made one more stop at Dos Gringo for Coronas, although they should have been Guninss. But it is a Mexican bar, so not sure what I expected to drink.

Got That Orange Headband! Tough Mudder, Arizona - Feb 2013

Its race morning, got my gear, and my ride for the day, and I am looking scared as hell. If the parking lot is this muddy, what is the course going to look like. 12.75 miles of unknown mayhem.

I am as prepared as I as I think I can be. I have a Warrior Dash and a Spartan Sprint under my belt. I am ready. I keep telling myself, I have read a ton of blogs on what to expect, watched 100 youtube videos. If other people can do this I can to. Lets paint on my number, and here I go. 

At the gate, all fired up "hoo-rah!" Its another cold morning, but the sky is clearing and all I can think, is get through 1 obstacle, run as far as I can and I will make it to the next. Let's just say as soon as I hit the ice bath, I new I was in for a long morning. Jumped in, didnt think twice, but wanted to die trying to crawl my way out of it. 

From one obstacle to the next, soaking wet and still breathing, I felt the nerves work their way back up, then I was jumping into the unknown cold water, again.

Seriously looked like a scene from the Walking Dead out there, and I was feeling like a zombie too about to trudge through another muddy mile. 

Everest, the obstacle I was most nervous about! Only one failed attempt, second run up, I just went for it, didnt stop running until some awesome Mudders grabbed me and pulled me up to top! I can almost see the finish line now! Just one more obstacle, Electric Shock Therapy, It got the best of me, and I completely face panted in the mud!

But it all turned out just fine, I finished, didn't break a bone, felt great and got to enjoy that beer I worked so hard for!

Spartan The F*** Up! Spartan Sprint, AZ - February 2013

Spartan Sprint, AZ - February 2013

One of my biggest accomplishments of the year was finishing the Spartan Sprint. 4.7 Miles, up a mountain twice, a mud crawl the distance of a football field, fire, ropes, cinderblocks, walls, and more burpees then I have ever done before.

Every obstacle was challenging, the most physical race I have ever ran. Temperatures were in the 30's and you could actually see snow on the mountain tops. I can proudly say "I am Spartan"