Since Pappy passed away 3 years ago over Memorial Day weekend, I have ran the Marietta Memorial Day 10K in memory of him. This is always a hard race for me emotionally and mentally, but it is what I do. A few of my Team Awesome friends were also running it which makes for a fun race morning. My friend Becky also stopped by for a few minutes on her way to a class at her gym. The Oscar Mayer Wiener Mobile was there! Yes, seriously! So of course Becky and I had to plank and selfie with the Wiener Mobile. The race was scheduled to start at 7:30. Well, come 7:30 there was still no sign of the race starting. This has been a trend the past 2 years as well. We stood around for a while waiting for the start with not explanation of what was holding up the race from starting. Finally, around 7:40 the wheelchair racers started and around 7:45 we took off. This creates a lot of issues for runners as some space out their pre-race routines (stretching, warming up, fueling, restrooms, etc) based off of the start time that they are given. The 5K and 10K both take off together and run the first 1.5 miles together. Congestion was not too bad and things thinned out fairly quickly. The course is fairly flat for the 5K with some rolling hills but nothing too bad, however the 10K is rolling the whole way with some pretty tough spots. I typically run well on hills, but this race gets me every year which I think is a mental/emotional thing. It was a rough race for me - I was emotional to say the least. You can't have your best race every race and I accept that. It was so great though having my friends waiting for me at the finish line and cheering me on for the last push. The post race area was small. The food included bottles of water and some cheese crackers on a table. There were very few vendors to visit after as well so we went back to the Wiener Mobile. We took some fun food pictures and chatted it up with the "hot dogers" (the awesome people that travel with the Wiener Mobile. They were super cool and taught us a lot about the Wiener Mobile and gave us Wiener Whistles. It is always great to kick off a holiday running with friends. While this race has some issues starting on time, it is a convenient race for a lot of us to go to.
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While I love large races, it is fun to run small local races as well. To kick off Memorial Day weekend, I joined several friends at the Holly Springs Memorial Day 5K. A few of them ran the race previously and said it is a good little race - a hilly course, but a good race. Momma K was out of town visiting her mother over the long weekend, so Papa J and I ran this one together. We arrived pretty early and met up with friends in the pre-race area. Bib pickup was well organized, there was music pumping, but there was something missing. There were no port-o-potties! We asked about restrooms and we were told that the only restrooms were at the finish line....about 1/2 a mile away. Yes, seriously. Since the finish line was at a small park down the road, we decided to drive down the finish line, park the car, and use the 1/2 mile back as a warm up. After we headed back to the starting area, we all warmed up and went through our pre-race routines. Our friend Michele also came out to cheer for us which is AWESOME! It is always great to have someone there cheering your name as you run by. The race started promptly and we were on our way! The first portion of the course was a nice downhill. Typically I would be stoked about this, however my body went into a little panic mode after last week's downhill half marathon. I think my body though we were about to do that again :) Thanks to talking to my friends before the race, I knew that the downhill wasn't going to last long and that we would soon be hitting some rolling hills for the next 3 miles. While the hills were not "too bad" by Atlanta standards, they were enough to challenge you a bit. The course takes you primarily through neighborhoods before leading you down to the park. There was a water station set up around the half-way point and a few residents were out cheering along the way. After rocking the hills, it was great to have most of the last .2 miles or so be downhill to the finish. I knew that it was a small race with about 80 or so registered, but I also knew that a age group award would not be easy as after looking at the list of runners I saw a good number of runners in the Female 30-34 age group. As I made the turn to head towards the park at around mile 2.95, I spotted a woman in front of me that appeared to possibly be in my age group. I kicked it into high gear to get past her. I gave it everything that I could that final stretch and ended up passing her just before making the final turn at the finish. I got my finish card and turned it in before cheering for my dad to cross the finish line. After dad crossed, I noticed that I was in 3rd place in my age group! I did it! The woman I pushed to pass in the final stretch was not in my age group, but I really appreciated the motivation to finish strong. WIth Team Awesome making up about 10% of the race, we had quite the showing to say the least. We racked up! After the awards ceremony, we stuck around to cheer on the Fun Run runners. Of course, no Team Awesome race gathering is complete without some fun pictures. I really enjoyed this race. My only complaint would be the port-o-potty situation which we made the best of the situation. It was just odd to have a race that didn't have restrooms at the start area. I will definitely be looking forward to putting the Holly Springs Memorial Day 5K on my 2016 schedule.
While some readers know me a little more personally than others, I always try to give you all the honest truth an non-filtered look into my life. With that said, I am sharing something a little more personal with each of you today. Today is one of the hardest days of my life to go through each year - it is the 3rd anniversary of the passing of my grandfather (Pappy). In 2012, my mom and I had already had plans to go to south Florida over Memorial Day weekend to visit family. About 3 weeks before our trip we learned that Pappy had degenerative heart failure and his time with us was likely limited. Pappy never knew he was "sick" - it was a family decision to just let him live the rest of his time in joy and not worry about what will happen to his wife once he passes. Mom and I decided to soak up as much time with Pappy as we could on this trip for sure. We took him of his favorite places in the world - the beach. While we couldn't get him out of the car, we parked along the water and rolled down the windows for him to see the water and feel the ocean breeze which he absolutely loved. The next day, just as mom and I were getting ready to go visit him we got the call. Pappy had passed away just as the nurse was getting him ready for dinner. It was beyond emotional to say the least. Not only did one of the closest people in my life pass away, he passed away just before I was going to spend some more time with him. I went through a lot of emotions. There was a few week period of time that I wasn't me at all. The only things that I would do in my spare time were puzzles and running which both helped me clear my mind on a daily basis. While Pappy never got to see me run a race, he played a very important part in my running. After every race, I would always call Pappy and tell him about the race, how I did, and of course the weather (he always loved talking about the weather). During our talks, he would frequently tell me that I was "full of crap" and I didn't really run that far (whether it was a 5K or a 1/2 Marathon). He always liked to push my buttons and try to get me to whine ever since the day I was born - that is what grandfathers are for. I always told him that I was going to run a marathon one day and he always egged me on that I wouldn't (jokingly of course). Shortly after Pappy died, I decided that it was time to take on the challenge of a marathon. I was going to conquer my first 26.2 and dedicate my run to him. With that in mind, I knew the best place to run my first marathon would be in Palm Beach where my a lot of my family resides, along with the burial spot of Pappy. When I wanted to quit the marathon so badly in the last few miles, I knew that I could not let Pappy down. I knew that he would not let me quit and that I needed to cross the finish line for him. After finishing, I went out to see him and show off my new bling to him. I knew that he was so proud of me. Three years later, Pappy still plays a very important part in my life. Every time I lace up my running shoes I think of him and I even carry a little something special that reminds me of him while I run. While he is not here with me, he gives me strength to keep pushing myself more each day and to continue to make him proud.
I did it! My run streak is now at 365 days - 1 YEAR!!!!!!! What a year it has been to say the least. In celebration of this monumental day for me, here is a look back at how my run streak began and a few of the memories during the past year. Last year, Momma K and I took on the Runner's World Run Streak challenge. During the challenge you complete at least 1 mile per day from Memorial Day until July 4th. The Run Streak is an awesome way to commit to stay active during the summer months where many people are busy with vacations, days at the pool/beach/lake, etc. Momma K and I were both in training for the Dumbo Double Dare at Disneyland so we figured we would just do a "easy mile" on the days that we would typically rest. Each day we diligently logged our mile. Whether it was a race, a training run, a quick mile before yoga, or a lap around the neighborhood, we got our mile in. The "end" of the run streak was on July 4th which was the Peachtree Road Race 10K and we talked about how tomorrow we finally get a break. Well, July 5th rolled around and I looked at mom and said "want to go do a mile?" The rest is history. As we kept setting our eyes on short term milestones (50 days, 100 days, etc), the run streak just became a part of life. Yes, there were days that we didn't want to go do our mile, but we did it. Did we want to start back over at day 1 just because we were tired? NO! We have encountered some pretty crazy situations while doing our "mile+ a day." We have gone out in rain, sun, hot, cold, night and day. There was one day that we were doing our mile and a storm started rolling in and we had to haul butt back, but we got our mile in. In January, we headed out to the park for a long training run and everything was covered in ice and also sported some pretty fancy pre-race throw aways. Don't forget the holidays! Just because it is Christmas Day does not mean that we didn't get our mile in. Mom, dad, and I all headed out to the park to get a few miles in as a family. No matter the holiday, we were out there doing our thing and continuing our run streak. What about vacations? Well, the first few days when we were at Disney were easy - we simply did our mile+ at the races. Even though we would be walking 10+ miles a day in the parks, we still did a designated mile each morning. On other vacations/racecations we have utilized hotel parking lots and treadmills to make sure our mile was done. It has definitely been a crazy ride the past 365 days, but I wouldn't change it for anything. Each run completed has its own story and I loved getting out there each day whether with friends/family or solo. How long will the run streak continue? Only time will tell! Question of the Day: Have you ever taken part in a run streak? How long did you "streak" for?
***DISCLAIMER: All information provide above was provide to me by the Jeff Galloway Blogger Program to share with my readers. Thoughts are not my own (other than if noted), rather they are the advice and thoughts of Jeff Galloway. You will commonly see me running or working out with different friends and family members. There is a reason behind my love of staying fit with friends and family. This week, Jeff Galloway highlights some of the different benefits to running with groups. The fun of running with a group pulled me into the sport 57 years ago. Running and training with my friends Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter Bill Rodgers, brought out the best of running in me—while we became good friends, and Olympians. As I travel the US this season, for our Galloway training program kickoffs, I see the same fun, support and friendship development. I hope to see many of you at our free clinics. Here are the ways I’ve observed runners of all abilities improve more and have more fun when in the right group. 1. Great friendships 2. The miles go by quicker—telling stories, sharing life experiences 3. Guidance in running with the right group for you, with the appropriate run walk run strategy 4. Because the group is waiting for you, you will stay motivated and get out there more often 5. You’ll learn about some interesting races, places to run, fun running experiences 6. On the really tough workouts and races, the group will pull you through 7. Access to tools for management of nutrition, fluids, motivation, aches/pains 8. The right group leadership can fine-tune the pace of each workout, avoiding injury/exhaustion 9. Helping others who are struggling bestows an amazing sense of achievement 10. Sharing the empowerment of finishing a long run can change your life Most groups, like Galloway programs allow runners to try them out for free. Together we can celebrate fitness and inspire others to improve the quality of their lives. Visit http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training-groups/list-of-cities/ to find your closest Galloway Training Program. Additional benefits of the Galloway Training programs include:
Question of the Day: Do you run/workout in a group? What benefits have you noticed from your running buddies?
This is one of the harder posts that I have had to write. I am always completely honest and transparent with my family, friends, and followers, so here you go... If you have been following my journey, you know that I race A LOT. Seriously. In 2012 I ran 40 race, 2013 it was 58 and 64 races in 2014. I have been asked previously if I ever get "race jitters" or nervous about races. To be honest, typically I don't. My body and mind know the drill - cross the start line and run until you cross the finish line. The days leading up to the Tear Drop Half Marathon were different than I typically experience - I was scared, nervous, and questioning my own abilities. I was facing a race that was completely outside of my "norm" and my comfort zone and to be honest, one that I did not feel ready for. As my friend Becky told me, my body is usually "half marathon ready" due to how frequently I run them. However, I have never ran DOWN A MOUNTAIN before. While this was not a trail race, knowing the grade that I would be running approximately 8 miles on terrified me. I admit it, I did not train/practice any downhill running which is my own fault. This is 100% on me. What was this going to do to my muscles? Can my knees handle it? How do I run downhill that long? Oye! I was also questioning my abilities with pace going into this. 2 weeks ago I ran my slowest 1/2 marathon in a very long time at the Pittsburgh 1/2 Marathon. While it was a race full of me being sick and fun selfies, it wast still slow. I was a nervous wreck all week. Between the LocoGlo 5K the night before and nerves ramping up, I did not sleep well at all. I had an early wake up call to make the hour drive up to Chattsworth. Momma K and my friend Becky ran the 5K and a few other friends were heading up to run the 1/2 marathon as well. We were assigned buses by our last name to take to the summit of the mountain. Lucky me, I was on the 2nd bus (out of 4) which got me to the summit early. Well, the bus driver go lost! We blazed past the start area and started making our way down the other side of the mountain! Finally we got the driver's attention and we turned around but now the 4th bus would be late since we were detoured a few minutes. The bed & breakfast at the top of the mountain was kind enough to allow the runners to wait inside for the race. We had a total down pour for a few minutes so I am glad that we were indoors. I am beyond thankful that I had my friend Mandy there with me that morning. She is an incredible athlete and friend and she really helped my nerves and confidence. We took some goofy selfies together which helped clear my mind before running. We received a 5 minute warning when the final bus was almost there. We made our way outside and got ready to start. I felt bad for the runners on the last bus because they honest got off the bus and had to run due to the buses running late. Two of my friends were actually in the port-o-potty when the gun went off. The gun went off and I ran. Just as I have done hundreds of times before - I just ran. About 2 miles in I smiled and thought to myself "you are doing it!" I took smaller strides and leaned slightly into my stride as I ran. I made sure to start off slow and get my legs in a rhythm before gaining any speed. The views were pretty beautiful coming down and a few of the residents on the mountain came out to cheer on the runners. Before I knew it, the first 8 miles were done! I had conquered my fears and I did it! I actually ran the first 9.5-10 miles at my 5K pace which I was very pleased with. The last few miles were rolling hills through the town of Chattsworth. THIS was the hard part! Most of the runners all said the same thing - the last few miles were tough. While I am usually one who does really well on hills, my body panicked. My legs were unsure what to do now. It was not that I was in pain, my body was confused. I slowed down a bit, but kept pushing. At mile 12.9 I smiled - Becky was along the road waiting for me to arrive and cheer me into the finish! I did it! I completed my 38th half marathon, ran down the mountain, proved to myself that I could do it, and PR'ed! I actually beat my PRs at my 10K, 15K, and 10 mile splits as well! I guess that downhill helped me a bit :) No, I am not telling you that this was easy. As with any race, there are risks involved especially when you are not trained/prepared for it. While I was prepared for 13.1 miles, I was not trained in downhill running. I relied heavily on leg strength and core strength that I gained through cross training. The support of my friends and family from the days prior to the race to me actually finishing was amazing. Sometimes I forget how lucky I am have to have such an awesome support system around me. I can never thank each of them enough for never telling me "you are crazy for doing that" but rather "I know you can do it" and always being there for me. I learned a lot about myself and my abilities coming down that mountain for sure with the most important being that it is normal to be scared and to face your fears. I am already looking forward to adding this race to my 2016 calendar and seeing what a little confidence (and proper downhill training) can do for me! Question of the Day: Have you ever been scared of a race? What did you do to calm your nerves?
Last year, the Locomotive Race Series changed it's May race from the Freight Train 5K (a morning race) to the LocoGlo 5K. The LocoGlo 5K is a night time race meant to light up the sky of Kennesaw. Runners of all ages gather to run a 5K and wear their best glowing attire. From lights, to neon, to glow sticks, you will see it all at the LocoGlo 5K. The race is a great family-friendly race, and a lot of younger runners attend this race than some of the other 5Ks in the area. There is a 1K that started at 8:30pm and the 5K started at 9:00pm. We arrived fairly early to race as we wanted to have some time to hang out with friends and cheer on the 1K runners. I did mention that this was a GLOW run, right?!?!? Of course I had to get my glow going. I think it was a little 'understated' - don't you agree? The course is a 2-loop course of some mild rolling hills in the Kennesaw area. The race is held in an office park area, so the roads are able to be closed and help protect all of the runners (especially since it is dark). Knowing that I had a date with 13.1 miles in 10 hours, I took this one easy. The flamingo served 2 purposes: (1) it was fun and festive (2) it helped me run at a conservative pace. As the race started, I noticed a little boy (around 6 or 7) that kept looking back at me and telling his mom that he wanted to beat the flamingo. I decided to do a little "backwards pacing" with him. I positioned myself a few feet behind him the whole time and when he would slow down I would pass him or close in on him. It was a fun "game" and really helped me pace myself better. The mom was so thankful that I helped push him during his first 5K. The post-race festivities included different vendors and snacks, a dance competition, light competition and age group awards. I might not be the fastest, but I am pretty darn great at being fun! Don't get me wrong, I lace up and run hard but occasionally it is good to just go out there and have fun with your friends. My illuminated flamingo attire won me the best lights/costume competition which means that I am now 2-0 for costume contests at LocoGlo. My trophy is one of my favorites for sure - it is a etched glass block on a light up base. How fun is that!?!?! I had a great time at LocoGlo for sure and I am looking forward to 2016! SInce I had to wake up at 4:30 for my half marathon, I left pretty quickly after the race and didn't get to go enjoy a post-race meal with my friends. Fortunately, they all understood that getting rest was important. Question of the Day: Have you ever ran a back-to-back (races within a few hours of each other)? How did you pace yourself?
***DISCLAIMER: I was provided a pair of OOFOS OOlalas in exchange for my review. All thoughts are strictly my own. A few weeks ago, I was contacted by the team at OOFOS to do a product review for them. I have heard many great things about OOFOS from my running friends, so I was excited to learn more about them and give them a try. Well, they had a great surprise in store for me - they were about to launch the new OOlala collection which I was going to be one of the first to get my hands on! The new OOlala collection offers the same great support and comfort as the previous OOFOS models, but now offers a sleeker and more fashionable profile. OOFOS offers 3 keys features to wearers: impact absorption, arch support, and comfort. All of these features are definitely something that you want on your feet after a hard workout or race. It is so important to allow your body to recover properly and OOFOS are great to help your feet recover from life's journey while on the go. The OOFOS OOlala collection is available in 5 beautiful color choices: Cosmic Blue, Cosmic Pink, Chrome, Latte, and Black. Knowing how "matchy" I tend to be, I decided to play it basic and go with black to make sure that I was able to rock my OOFOS after all of my races. After a long run, one of the first things that I want to do is take off my running shoes. With that said, the best time/place for me to try out my OOlalas was after the Pittsburgh 1/2 Marathon earlier this month. While I was packing, I wanted to make sure that my OOlalas would fit me well so I tried them on. Seriously, as soon as my foot slid into the shoe I said "oooooooooooo." They are a mix of nice an "squishy" (OOfoam) and great support in all the right places. I instantly knew that I wanted these on my feet at the end of my 13.1 mile journey through Pittsburgh. I made sure to put my OOlalas into my gear check bag so I would have them for the post-race party and walk back to the car. Once I got to the finish line, I quickly put on my OOlalas. I was ready to get my running shoes off and enjoy the "OO" and treat my feet a little before heading back. My feet were so happy to be out of running shoes and "floating on little clouds of happiness" as I described them. I must admit that the OOfoam was a little interesting to walk on for the first time, but my feet quickly adjusted and enjoyed the walk back to the car. Since I can't give a full product review after a single race, I decided to bring my OOFOS along for my final Half Marathon of the Spring - Tear Drop Half Marathon. Running DOWN a mountain is something pretty outside of my norm. Well, actually, I have never ran down a mountain. I knew that my feet would probably enjoy a little TLC after finishing 13.1 miles coming down a mountain and over some rolling hills, so I made sure that I had my OOFOS with me for the ride home. I loved getting them onto my feet and enjoying some post-race relaxation at home with my OOlalas. The best part about the OOlala is that they are not only a "recovery shoe" they are also great to wear around town. The sleekness of the band and choice of colors makes them look like a regular sandal that can be worn to run errands or even to work. The OOlalas are simply fabulous to say the least. I really enjoyed wearing them after my races (especially during the day afterwards). I am thinking that the slide-on OOAHH model might be a good fit for me as well as sometimes I like to leave my compression socks on for a bit after my races. I mean, a girl can never have too many shoes right?!?! My next half marathon is not until August, but I will certainly be packing my OOFOS in my running bag for any races going forward. Even after a 5K my feet still deserve a little love too. Thank you again to the team at OOFOS for allowing me to experience the "OO" - I am definitely a OOFOS gal for sure now. If you are ready to go ahead and purchase your OOlalas or want to learn more about them, information can be found here. The Peachtree Road Race is quickly approaching. In a few short weeks, approximately 60,000 runners will take to the streets of Atlanta to kick off their 4th of July with 6.2 mile trek to Piedmont Park. In the weeks leading up to the Peachtree Road Race, the Atlanta Track Club hosts Peachtree Junior to give young runners the experience of running their own Peachtree Road Race. For a few years now I have wanted to volunteer at this event, but schedule conflicts always prevented me from getting to. This year, I did not have a race in the morning so I was excited to finally get to head to Piedmont Park to give back to the junior runners in the community. Peachtree Junior has appeal for runners of all ages and abilities by offering different race distances. This year, the race included a 3K (ages 7-14), 1/2K (ages 5-9), and 50 meter dash (ages 6 & under). My volunteer assignment was the hydration station. I arrived at Piedmont Park bright and early for a 6:30am set-up which gave us about 2 hours to get set up before the race started. There were about 2,700 runners total across the morning's events, however only the 3K came through a water station. We had a good number of volunteers on hand which made set-up pretty quick - like they say, 'many hands make light work.' Most of us were Atlanta Track Club members so it was fun to get to exchange running stories while setting up. Of course most of the talk was about Peachtree Road Race coming up which made me get even more pumped for July 4th. As we set up, it was fun to get to watch the runners and their families arrive to the park. A lot of local schools had teams there which was so great to see. My favorite part was watching the twinkle in the parents eyes as their child was getting ready for the race. As one family came through, the father explained to his daughter about the hydration station and told her that 'this is the only time it is alright to litter, the nice volunteers will make sure to clean up after the race.' The water station was set up mid-way through the course, however the station was right next to the start line. We were able to head over and watch the first wave of junior runners take off and cheer them on. The speed of the kids was absolutely amazing to say the least. The first few runners to come through bypassed the water so it took a few minutes for the station to get busy. While some runners were totally focused on the task at hand, there were some that wanted to stop and congregate around the water tables and tell us about the race so far (a few thought that this was the finish). In order to get the area clear for the next runners we had to cheer them on to the finish line. They were seriously great to watch and cheer for. After the races, Atlanta Track Club had stations set up that the kids could learn and try different track and field event like the high jump. The coolest part was that the stations were being taught by local former Olympians. How cool is that!?! Perhaps some future high school stars or even Olympians were created this morning. It was a wonderful morning in Atlanta for sure. The weather could not have been much more perfect (especially in mid-May). All of the kids seemed to have a blast and watching the proud kids and parents enjoying the day was amazing for sure. I really enjoyed getting to volunteer at the Peachtree Junior. It was awesome to get to give back to the community and support our runners. Without the time and efforts of volunteers, most races would not be able to happen. I highly recommend that you take a few hours out of your time and go volunteer at a race near you. Not only is the volunteering aspect rewarding, it is also neat to see 'the other side' of races. The Atlanta Track Club staff is amazing and really cares about the running community. Whether you are looking for a 5K, 10K, half marathon or even volunteering yourself, be sure to check out their race calendar for future events. Question of the Day: Have you ever volunteered at a race? What was your favorite part of the experience?
It is the 2nd Thursday of the month which means it is ADVENTURE RUN day! Last month was my first Road Runner Sports Adventure Run and I was instantly hooked! The Alpharetta Road Runner Sports just opened not too long ago, so last month was their first Adventure Run as well. The team at the Alpharetta store is awesome - especially Brooke! Since we all had so much fun last month, obviously we are back for more fun! You might be wondering what exactly an Adventure Run is. Adventure Runs are hosted by Road Runner Sports stores and are a scavenger hunt style fun run. At the start of the run, a map is revealed on a board (or sent to your email if you pre-registered) and you are sent on your way. Your goal is to get to as many checkpoints and get back to the store in an hour. Each checkpoint gives you raffle tickets to be used in the drawings once the run is over. At some checkpoints you simply get tickets for arriving and some have fun little tasks to complete (such as burpees, planks, etc). There are some pretty awesome prizes to be won and the best part is that Adventure Runs are FREE! If you have read my previous Adventure Run posts, you know that each week has a different theme. We have participated in Spring themed as well as Luau. This week is cartoon week which means there are a lot of different options for attire this week. I decided to be............. Momma K and I arrived early since work is pretty close to Road Runner Sports and Becky and Mandy joined us shortly after. You will want to make sure that you arrive early to Adventure Runs to meet with vendors before the run. The vendors are available for an hour before the run starts and are a great way to learn about upcoming races, try new products, and of course EARN TICKETS! At 6:30 our map was revealed and we were on our way. There were 3 checkpoints outside of the Avalon area (two on the map and a 'secret checkpoint') so we went that way first. Our first stop was at a bank where we had to complete 3 push-ups and 5 jumping jacks to get our tickets. Simple enough to do, yet it still gets a little extra blood pumping. Next, we headed out towards our secret checkpoint. Here is a tip: the secret checkpoints are released on your local Adventure Run Facebook page the day of the event. We took a 1.5 mile (approximately) out to go meet 'Adventure Run Velma' and answer Scooby Doo trivia. We didn't head towards the other checkpoint because we were worried about making it back to Avalon in time to get our tickets in. We also knew that there were multiple check-points inside of Avalon that would get us more tickets than if we got to the YouFit checkpoint, so back to Avalon we went. Once we got back to Avalon, our check points included a few restaurants, stores, and of course Road Runner Sports! At Road Runner Sports we were awarded a ticket for arriving and then we received bonus tickets if we were able to toss a water balloon into a bucket. All of us failed at getting the bonus tickets, but it was fun to try. Our next stops were simple check-ins that did not require us to complete tasks, so they were pretty quick. However, we were asked a few times about what was going on with the people in the neon shirts. It was fun to get to tell them (quickly) about what Adventure Runs are and hopefully we will see them next month! Our final checkpoint was with Haven which we had to complete 10 burpees (or 25 jumping jacks if you wanted that option). After that stop, we headed back to the lawn to get our raffle tickets ready! There were some pretty sweet prizes given out including a few pairs of New Balance shoes, gift cards to different restaurants and stores, and even a few race entries. During the raffle, they did a few fun giveaways as well including a jump roping contest for an Adventure Run shirt. Mandy rocked it for sure, but sadly she did not win. We ended up with 2 winners in our group - Momma K won a gift certificate to YouFit Health Club and Mandy won a gift certificate to a local restaurant. As always, we had to wrap up an evening of fun with a plank! It is just what we do. Thank you again to Road Runner Sports and the Alpharetta team for hosting another wonderful Adventure Run. Also, a huge thank you to the vendors and sponsors who are checkpoints and provide prizes to the runners. I am excited for our next Adventure Run adventures in June - I already have a few other friends joining in on the fun next month! YAY! If you have never tried an Adventure Run, I highly recommend that you do. They are free, fun, and a great way to get in a few miles during the week. Who knows, you might even discover some new restaurants around town or new product to try out. Hop on over to the Adventure Run website to find out the dates and locations of an Adventure Run near you! Question of the Day: Have you ever done an Adventure Run? What was your favorite checkpoint task?
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BrandiI love to run and most importantly I love to have FUN while I run....I am the "Funner Runner" Feedspot's Top 100 Running Blogs
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