Wife Mother Runner 5K Archives - Page 2 of 2

John Liquori Memorial 5K

June 7, 2015

Today was a spectacular morning. Not only is it my son’s 8th birthday, but it was the Inaugural John Liquori Memorial 5K. Sadly, John Liquori, a 20 year old young man, was struck my a drunk driver while running at 2:00 in the afternoon last July. He died in the hospital. I didn’t know John, but I remember the day the accident happened. I was driving to St. Therese to pick up my kids from camp and a section of Rte 17 was closed off. I knew that wasn’t good. I didn’t see what happened, but learned later that a runner was struck.

John Liquori just hours before his life was taken from him.

John was a great looking guy. Was loved by so many people, and his friends and family put together this event to help raise money for the organizations and interests that John cared so much about. To learn more about this Foundation visit www.doitforjohn.com. I’d say there were about 500 runners and walkers at the event today. The sun was out, the sky was blue and it was a wonderful morning.

My friend Adrienne was running her first 5K. I met up with her and her trainer, her sister-in-law and some friends from her gym. I was excited for Adrienne. Last night I hadn’t even registered for the race yet. When I tried to register online it said the registration was closed so I knew I had to register at the race. We had my son and husband’s family birthday party Saturday night and then we had a fire and stayed up late watching our favorite TV show, America’s Got Talent, so I knew I had to set my alarm for at least 7 a.m. so I could get there in time to register. I didn’t know how large of an event it would be. I actually woke up this morning before the alarm even went off. That was good because I was afraid that I was going to wake up my husband and then he wouldn’t be able to get back to sleep. I am also pleased that I woke up on my own on the weekend because I need to start coordinating my training plan for my upcoming Marine Corp Marathon and the Philadelphia Marathon which will require some early morning weekend long runs to avoid the summer heat.

Before

We haven’t had the chance to run together yet so this was our first time! I ran with her for the first mile without doing my intervals, and then told her that at mile 1 I was going to start doing my intervals. I didn’t set my watch ahead of the race, so it was stuck at the 30/30 setting. It felt great to run the entire mile without stopping. They were keeping a great pace of around 10:30 per mile. I would have continued with them, but I haven’t trained that way and didn’t want to cause injury considering what I have been going through with my back lately. They were never out of my sights and in the end I think I finished only 30 seconds behind them. The course was very flat and it was a great race for her first 5K!

The end of the race ended at the track and I saw Adrienne and her gang just ahead of me and was going to take a picture for her; but decided to just finish the race. She trained well for this race and I am so proud of her! I am looking forward to running more races with her! We are talking about the Branford Road Race in 2 weeks.

After

Way to go Adrienne! I enabled another Mother to Run!

It was great to run for a cause. Sad that this cause was so close to home. His mother and many family members were at the race; but the town supported them and came together today to remember John and to support his family and friends. Life is short, it can change in an instant. In the past year or two I have had the mentality to make the most of every day; especially in the lives of my kids. Yes the accident happened while he was running, but accidents can happen anywhere. He was struck by a drunk driver. He could have been struck by a distracted driver. Yes, I am more aware now when I am out walking and running and make it a point that I am seen by driver and that I can see the driver as well.

HMF O’Niantic 5K

April 2, 2015

The second race in the Hartford Marathon Foundation Trinity Series was the O’Niantic 5K. While the O’Putnam race was a chilly day, the O’Niantic race was a Snowy day! We had a late winter/first day of Spring snow storm hit Friday afternoon and continued through the night and into most of the morning. In fact, the snow stopped just as the race finished and then the sun came out. Go figure. The race started at 10:45. The Hartford Marathon Foundation already made a determination to start the race an hour later due to forecasts of weather earlier in the week. But the forecasts weren’t saying that the snow was going to continue through the night AND into the following morning. It was supposed to stop by the morning.

My family and I piled into the car and drove to Niantic which was about 45 minutes away but took us about an hour. We arrived into town, parked at a church and rushed to put on the rest of our costumes and pin on our bibs. Then we literally had to shuffle/run through town to the start line and had about 1 minute to spare! It was a nice warm up prior to the race; but we got there in the nick of time.

At the race start

As the race started, my kids and husband and I were going to try to run/walk a bit and see how they do. Yea that lasted about three tenths of a mile! They weren’t happy campers. Their feet were wet, the roads were slushy and slippery and it was still snowing! This race was a “challenge” in itself because they kids were just so miserable. Adrienne especially was suffering because her feet were wet, which then made them itchy. I kept trying to give them a pep talk to keep one foot in front of the other; but it was hard. Then we approached the 1.25 mile area where there was an out and back area and the kids were seeing people on their way back towards the finish line. I think that made it hard for them because they saw how much more they had to do. Some of my friends were running that race and they yelled out to me as they were passing us and heading back to the finish. I was a little jealous that they were getting closer to the chili at the end than we were! But we kept pushing on. I vowed that we would never do another 5K like that again with the kids; but I’m sure next year we are all going to want to do the challenge again. Just like all races, you swear you won’t do it again but then you sign up once registration opens!

Every time my daughter would step, her foot would slap the slush and it went splashing into my shoes so I kept trying to tell her to walk ahead of me; but she just kept zigging and zagging to the side of us and splashing. Ugh.. it was cold. My son went through the typical emotions of running a race. He hated the first mile, then he pushed through the second mile with still some complaining, then he got quiet in the last mile and was determined to get it done. Poor Adrienne was whimpering the whole last mile. Then at the finish when she got her medal and heard me tell her how proud I was that she did it despite how hard it was, she gave me a huge smile.

We still had the O’Hartford 5K to do the following day and I was concerned that the kids were going to be miserable. But the forecast was calling for a dry day at least, but it was going to be cold. After the race I told my husband to take the kids back to the car to have their lunch and warm up and I was going to go get my chili and beer with my parents. I went to Smarty’s for the chili and it was so delicious! The best chili I ever had. It was more like a vegetable broth with beans and onions. It was fantastic! I went inside with my parents to get my beer and then used the bathroom and saw Anne and Katherine and got a picture with them before I left.

Two races down and one left to go with the race challenge and even though it was hard, when I got back to the car the kids were smiling and were looking forward to the last race of the series and getting their Pot O’ Gold medal at the end. Despite the race conditions my mom’s finish time was just a minute slower than the O’Putnam race!

Flannel goes with everything - according to my dad!

My dad worked hard to coordinate his “costume” for this races so he matched! #flannelforeveryoccasion

Dopey Challenge Part 1 – Travel Day to Orlando

January 21, 2015

I left for the Dopey challenge on Wednesday afternoon. I got my kids off to school, went to see my chiropractor to get everything “lined up” and then my husband drove me to the airport. We had a nice talk on the way up there and I knew that once he left I was going to be anxious for the rest of the family to get down to Florida to join me. But I was also looking forward to a little time alone as well. My flight was delayed about an hour; but I still had plenty of time once I would land to get the car and head to the expo so I wasn’t worried.

Just before we took off it was snowing heavy at the airport and the plane needed to be de-iced.

I landed around 5:30, picked up the minivan and drove straight to the expo. At that time of night, the lines are very short. The merchandise I sort of picked through, but there was still quite a bit of stuff on the racks. I spent about an hour at the expo exploring and purchasing what I needed for my races, checked out the runDisney merchandise, said hi to Jeff Galloway, and then drove over to Target to get what I needed for the hotel room for the week.

It was chilly out in Orlando, I wore a sweatshirt and jeans and still felt a chill on the night I arrived.

I was starving and wasn’t quite sure what I was going to do about dinner. I figured I’d have something that I picked up from the groceries at Target. I got to the hotel around 8:00, unloaded the car and was determined that I was going to take ONE trip from the car to the room with my luggage and the groceries. Thank goodness there was a luggage cart near the elevator!

Once in the room, I put the food away, sorted out my gear for the 5K race and had a delicious dinner of Raisin Bran! To be honest, it really hit the spot! However, I will find out after the 10K that it’s not a good idea to eat that for dinner prior to the races. More on that later. My intention was to be asleep by 9 or 10 p.m. so I could get 5-6 hours of sleep. Since it was a travel day and I had to rush around to the expo and Target, I was still pretty revved up when it was time to get to bed. I did some work for my job on my laptop and then settled down for sleep by 11 p.m. I set my alarm for 3:00 a.m. and was feeling good about my first morning wake up call. I knew that I could spend time resting after the 5K if I was feeling tired from the first early morning wake up.

I enjoyed my time alone in the hotel room, getting things ready for the family and having some quiet time to myself. I was also getting excited to surprise the kids on Friday and almost slipped a few times when talking to them on FaceTime. I had to be careful not to say anything about their own rooms at the hotel or the minivan that they would be riding in. I am so happy to report that with the new medication my doctor gave me, I did not suffer from a migraine from flying. That was HUGE for me! I had the ability to function once I landed and wasn’t sick in the bathroom the night before the race!

I booked a 3 bedroom suite at the WorldQuest Orlando Resort. My friend Amanda Tinney stayed there during Tower of Terror in 2013 and I went to see her in her room. I was so impressed by the size, the cleanliness and the cost of the location that I knew I would have to stay there for a race sometime. It seems very isolated from everything, but it is really just 2 minutes outside of the gates to Walt Disney World and less than a 10 minute drive from the room to a parking space at Epcot for the early race mornings. I will write a separate blog post with my overview of the room and accommodations there.

Stay tuned for my 5K recap in the next blog post.

My Very First Race Location

August 4, 2014

This was the field I ran in for my very first race. It was a 5K at the Potato and Corn Festival in North Branford, CT August of 2011. It is a very memorable day for me, not just because it was my first race, but because it was probably the worst first race anyone could have had! I had thrown my back out the day before because I was riding on the hayrides in a bumpy field, going on the slides with my kids, and sitting improperly on the grass. These were all recipes for disaster. The morning of the race my mom had to go to the quick clinic for an infection so she wasn’t sure if she was going to make it for my first race, and not to mention it was a torrential downpour.

But, it didn’t stop me from participating in my first 5K that I had been training for. Despite being driven there in tears with my family, I pinned on my number, slopped through the mud and lined up with the other runners. Then the race began. I pushed through the pain and took my first steps into my racing career. The rain came down so hard my headphones stopped working. I was afraid I was going to short out my iPod. I had no clue what the course we going to be like but I followed the pack. I was mostly towards the back, but I was just happy to be there.

My finish time was 38 minutes. Not my best 5K time, but it was my first PR. Since then I have done many 5Ks, several 10Ks, half marathons and 3 full marathons. This was where it all began for me. As they do every year, the race was held this year, but I chose to sit it out because I am training for the Dumbo Double Dare, along with the Philadelphia Marathon, and the Dopey challenge. I can’t afford to twist an ankle on a trail run that I haven’t trained for. But this race will always mean something to me. And I am proud to walk its course and remember what it was like running my first race there.

Will runDisney Add A Second Star Wars Race Challenge?

June 12, 2014

Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog

So now that the registration has come and gone and filled up, I wonder if runDisney will offer another Star Wars Race. There are talks of it on the pod casts that I listen to. All speculation of course.

Here are thoughts:

Get rid of Expedition Everest and add a Star Wars weekend the first weekend in May. Star Wars weekend takes place during May at Hollywood Studios so it would be a nice marriage of two events. The kid races and 5K could take place in the morning and then the 10K and half marathons could take place at night since it is very warm in May. Expedition Everest takes place at night already so this wouldn’t be too different. Perhaps don’t include the 10K with this race series and just have the half marathon at night to help with logistics.

There could be an Coast/West Coast coast to coast medal with special recognition of the two different Star Wars Challenges.

Then there is the added element of the Tinkerbell Half Marathon weekend taking place May 7-10, 2015. Yet another coast to coast race going from the East Coast to the West on back to back weekends.

What do you think of this idea? Do you think it is feasible? Do you think it will really happen? Would you do all of the races?

Star Wars Registration Opens Today!

June 10, 2014

Will you or did you register for the runDisney Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend today? Did you take advantage of the early AP and DVC registration opportunity? Will this runDisney event sell out yet another famous race?

Like the Avengers race that recently opened up for registration and sold out in record time (less than 2 hours), I believe this race is going to sell out even faster. This has been the race everyone has been waiting for; however, there are more complications involved with the logistics of it.

First of all, it is the weekend following the marathon weekend. If runners are participating in the Dopey challenge, 4 races in 4 days, they will then have to fly to Anaheim prior to Friday to pick up their race packets to participate in the 5K beginning on Friday. It also means 3 more early wake up calls for the races. If you live on the East Coast that shouldn’t be too hard, but your body is recovering from Dopey.

Second, you will be eating up a lot of your vacation time in January if you are doing Dopey then Star Wars. For Dopey, you have to be in Florida by Wednesday to pick up your race packets and run the first race, the 5K on Thursday. The races end Sunday so if possible, you could fly home for a few days then turn around and head to California for Thursday.

Third, you’ll be spending more money on airfare and hotel and food. These are the consequences for registering for these races!

Fourth, Disney did add another challenge to the mix a month ago when they announced the Castaway Cay Challenge. This is the cruise that leaves the day after Marathon Weekend and sails for 4 days, arriving pack to port on Friday. You can still hop a flight to California for Star Wars, but you will miss the 5K. This is also an additional pricey race to add to your list within the first month of 2015. The price for the Castaway Cay Challenge is $65 but that’s the race only. You still have the $1000+ cost of the cruise.

There are some positives about all of this. If you are addicted to the bling, then you will go home with 5 medals if you participate in the Star Wars Challenge after marathon weekend because you will have the 5K, 10K, half marathon, Star Wars Challenge AND a coast to coast medal.

Is it worth it? It would be to me, but I really can’t fork out the cash for another race registration and travel expenses. runDisney marathon weekend is becoming the largest race weekend event in the country, and it does bring in economic activity to the area. The same is also true when adding a race weekend event to California. That is a positive impact of these races for the surrounding areas. But given the time of year and the costs associated with all of the races, I just can’t do them all.

I was a fan of Star Wars when I was young, but my kids aren’t into it yet. So even though I am not registering this year, it may be something that I’d show interest in the future. It also depends on if it will be back in the East Coast or if it will remain in Disneyland. For those of you registering today, may the force be with you!

Runner’s World Heartbreak Hill Half and Festival

June 7, 2014

Today is day 1 of the Runner’s World Heartbreak Hill Half Marathon and Festival taking place in Newton, MA. I am running the half marathon tomorrow. The race weekend is filled with 3 races – 1 5K, 10K and the half for a Hat Trick. Or you can do the 5 and dime which is the 5K and 10K race. I couldn’t participate in the Hat Trick because today is my son’s 7th birthday and I wasn’t going to miss that!

The races are being held at Boston College and run through Newton along the roads that are part of the Boston Marathon. The ever popular Heartbreak Hill is also a star of the show during this event. My friends Kimberly, Gail, Alison and Janice are there along with others that I know from the runDisney races like Michelle Scribner-MacLean and Danielle Nardi. I hope to see Michelle tomorrow. I know Danielle is only running the 10K today so we won’t get the chance to see each other.

I’m looking forward to running this race; however, the girls who ran today said it is hot and hilly so I can’t plan on getting a PR there. Which is fine. As much as I wanted to earn my 3rd PR in my 3rd race this spring, I will also enjoy running with friends and having a good time. I have to rise and shine around 4 a.m. so that I can drive the 2 hours to get to Boston College. I guess I shouldn’t complain, its better than the 2 a.m. wake up call at the Disney Races!

Race recap will be provided soon!

runDisney Announces Yet Another Race I Can’t Attend…let the wookie win

May 28, 2014

Yesterday was my first day back at work after being in Disney for 11 days. I was catching up on everything from work and then I was noticing Facebook posts were popping up about Star Wars and a new race that was coming up. My phone was also dinging tweets with clues from runDisney. Sure enough by lunch time the announcement was made that there would be a race on January 15 in Disneyland for Star Wars with a 5K, 10K half marathon and kid races.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hzOfY3hGtw&w=560&h=315]

Registration Opens June 10 at noon. I bet it sells out in record time.

This is the second race in a month that runDisney has announced that I will not be able to attend. I am very bummed about this. I will be running my first Dopey challenge the weekend before in Walt Disney World. I already have plans to stay in Florida from Wednesday to Wednesday. I can’t hop on a plane and fly out West to do the Star Wars races. I do have a job and I would like to keep it! My husband will also kill me if I sign up for a race out West the following weekend.

Just a few weeks ago they announced the Castaway Cay Challenge which is the 5K run while sailing on the Disney Dream. This now presents an issue for those who have registered for the Castaway Cay Challenge and who want to do the Star Wars race because the ship doesn’t return until January 15th.

I think it is great that Disney finally offered the race that everyone has been waiting for, but I wish it was taking place in Walt Disney World in May during Star Wars weekend.

Tag: 5K