Color Run Completed!

     We did it!  The Color Run was a fantastic success!  The weekend was long, so thanks for bearing with me, I left my laptop at home (it's on it's last poor little leg anyway, I figured it deserved the rest too!) but we did arm ourselves with 2 disposable cameras to capture all the fun.

The packet opening!  Our dog played with the headband, so it didn't make it into the photo!

     We started out with dinner on Friday night, with all of the team, and several friends!  We dined at Sal and Mookie's, a local pizza and ice cream place with an awesome beer list (hey, that counts as hydrating and carb loading, right?!)

Group picture-- we took up the whole patio!

      Saturday morning we all got up and ready to go, and met up to walk over to the start line.  It may have been early, but we were all pumped!  Thankfully, it wasn't even too hot (for July... in Mississippi!)

      We had to wait for our wave to get out of the starting gate (there were over 2900 people registered!), so we had time to take photos and be goofy.

A start line conga?  Why yes, I think we will!

The hare and his brother and parents-- ready for some color!

My mom and my "other mother"!  They wore hats (a smart decision!!)

      We finally got started, and we were off!  The Hare and I timed ourselves just for fun, but didn't bother with music or anything else (except a camelbak to carry everything, and water to rinse our mouths out after color zones!).  It was so lovely-- and everyone was so positive!

Going over the bridge at the start of the race-- it was so beautiful out!

I got a shot with the Runicorn!  I also look horribly poufy because I am leaning backward!

Disposable cameras really do take good shots-- we never stopped running, and this came out well

The Hare's dad (father in law) got "smurfed!"

It really was pretty happy!  I just wondered how well the street cleans off afterward!

Father in law getting some orange! (He's the one with arms up, my mother in law is behind him in pink!)

My mom and other mother coming in for a photo finish!

It almost looks like it has a halo-- I know we were all glad to cross it!

the group, post run, but pre party!

      After the race we all waited for the whole group to get back together (and cheer each other into the finish!) and then we headed for the color party!  There was awesome music and we just danced and goofed around until the color throw (which we got much more color on us there than during the race itself!)

Posing with the promo sign-- we had to!

There was a ton of sidewalk chalk around, and we wrote our team name!

Ready for the throwing!  I got my favorite color!

The Hare captured both of these-- it was amazing he got them on disposables, but these are my favorites!

In case you're wondering, this is what the inside of the giant color throws look like!

Here's what they look like after the dust settles a little.

Post throw photos-- lots more color added!

Me and my wonderful friends!

Here's what happens when you wear a camelbak to a run like this!

Even Akasha's sweat was colorful and happy that day!

We did it! (And we found a Color Run beach ball on the walk home!!)

     So, that was our Color Run adventure!  It was amazing, and we hope to be able to do it again!  It's inspired us to keep at it-- especially because we beat our fastest time!  We walked some (lots of folks, so we had to slow down) but even at a fairly easy pace we were faster!  That by itself was great for us-- we let ourselves have fun, and we got to share it with family and friends on top of it all!  The race staff and volunteers were great, and everyone said they enjoyed it.  I can't wait for our next race!

What was your favorite race?  How did you feel the first time you beat your PR?  Do you take a camera to races, or have you used a disposable camera?  Tell me about it!

Water/ Aid Stations-- a How to Primer

     So, I just got conformation from the Color Run officials that there will be water stations on the course (which I am thankful for!  It's hot, and we will be grateful for the water!!) and a lot of my friends haven't been through a water/ aid station before, and it seems like a smart topic to discuss (especially since we went over etiquette yesterday).  I know for me it was a little (ok, a lot) intimidating for our first race-- I had these horrible images of everyone going down in a watery collision (that starts with me of course) something like this:

     Luckily, that did not happen, and I feel a lot more confident about going through them, and I want to share the tips and advice I was given about it.  It's a breeze, and kind of a weird mini accomplishment when you do that for the first time.

Water Station Tips:

1.  Decide ahead of time if you will get water or not-- if you don't want/ need it, then try to get to the other side of the course, so those who are going through have an easier time.  Look at your race route early, so you know when to expect them.

2. Whatever you do, DO NOT STOP to grab your cup!  You can slow a little, but unless you know there isn't anyone behind you, keep moving at about the same pace.  Just pick a volunteer (usually they hold the cups out for you) and look directly at them (so they know you have your eye on them hah), and reach your arm out a few steps before you get there, and take the cup.  After you grab it and get past the station, you can walk (on the side of the course, not in the middle!) as you drink some.

If there are no volunteers, just grab a cup as you go by, like this!

3. Throw it away after you are done-- if there is a trash can, and you can get to it, use that, but it is totally fine to throw your cup on the ground otherwise, just try to crush it some first, and throw it as far out of the way as you can (not off in the grass, but to the curb) so you or others don't slip on cups!  Don't throw it over your shoulder either, no one likes a cup and water in their face-- just drop it from waist height.

Those things are slippery, so try to get them to the trash or curb!

4. Say "thanks" to the person you got water from!  They are volunteers usually, and love to help, so show them some love!

5. Pinch the cup so it forms a "V", and pour into your mouth, rather than drinking like a normal cup-- this keeps it from spilling all over you.  However, feel free to dump it over your neck/ head if you are hot, but watch out for headphones and other non-waterproof electronics! (I know that from experience...)

Kinda like this, just minus the business formal wear and the anger.

6.  Wait until you have passed the aid station before you start drinking, so it keeps the area from getting congested. 

7.  Don't chug all of the water!  Remember drinking a lot as a kid, then jumping around and "sloshing" in your stomach?  Yeah, you don't want that during a race.

Plus, some cute little critter might want some! :)

8.  If it's a long race, this would be the time to use a gel-- they require water.  I would take the gel right before the station, and water right after.

Now, if this still feels really scary, you can bring your own water bottle-- or if you aren't sure if there will be water or aid stations.  I like to run without for short distances without any water (if it isn't hot or there are aid stations), but for longer distances I say have some water with you.  I use the Amphipod Full Tilt, and I love it, the Hare uses a Camelbak. 

 I wouldn't try a new fuel belt or water bottle on race day though-- rule number one is always Nothing new on race day!

***Training Update***

    We ran one of our first early morning runs today.  The Hare's schedule is weird the next couple of weeks, so it's early mornings during the week or no runs (unless we want to run at 1am...I don't in our pitch black neighborhood!)

 It was short, but with the race on Saturday we decided to keep it short and simple.  It was 6 am, but still 75 degrees with 95 (yes, like 5 less than 100) percent humidity, so it was tough!  Maybe I'm just being a baby about getting up early, dunno. Either way, I'm proud of us for doing it!

Are you a morning or evening runner?  Have you ever had to swap temporarily?  Have any water station tips?  Discuss it below!

Etiquette for Runners on Race Day

     To continue our race week extravaganza of posts, I figured a little basic etiquette would be great!  A lot of it is common sense, but running your first race can be a little daunting, especially if you're like I was in our first 5k (I was so afraid I would "mess someone up" or be in the way).  Hopefully these tips will help you feel a little less intimidated-- remember, everyone had a first race at some point!

I laughed at this a little too hard, but it was worth sharing!

1.  ALWAYS read the race rules ahead of time! Sometimes a race will allow strollers or dogs, sometimes they won't.  The race guide that is on the race website, or sent to you via mail, email, or inside your packet will have all of that information.  It's usually short, but you should read over them to make sure you know!

2. Make sure your race bib is really visible!  This is for race officials (and photographers, if there is one at your event!) and your friends and supporters.  Just pin it to the front of your shirt (around the tummy) or your shorts if you feel more comfortable with it there-- just make sure it's in front!

3.  If you are on a team, try not to run/ walk more than 2 abreast-- so others can pass by without having to move through or swerve a lot!

4.  Speaking of swerving, don't needlessly run from one side of the course to the other.

5. Sometimes bodily functions happen-- if you need to spit, blow your nose, or heaven forbid throw up, move to the side (or as close as possible in the last case) and as out of the way as possible.

6. Always say "thanks!" or at least nod and smile to the volunteers and others helping with the races-- they are working hard too, and deserve some joy from you!

7. Don't stop right at the finish line-- people are coming in behind you.  If the race is not timed electronically, don't get out of the order you came through in either!  You can take photos and celebrate in a safe area away form the finish line.

8. If there is food and water at the finish, don't pig out-- the people at the back of the pack will really appreciate having some refreshments left!

9. If at all possible, don't keep your keys  or loose change in your pocket (which will jingle constantly!).  A lot of people aren't appreciative of this.

10.   If you know you will be walking or running much slower, don't line up at the very front where the fast runners are-- it can cause chaos.  If you're unsure, ask someone next to you their pace, and if it's much faster, then drop back a little.  No harm in it, and you may pass more people than you think!

     It's almost here!  I bought 2 disposable point and click cameras today to take this weekend, that way we won't be worried about phones or digital cameras getting dusty.  Everyone on the team is coming in the night before, and we're all going to dinner!  And yes, I have already started packing and gotten my outfit together and the like...I'm one of those "excited so I'll keep myself busy by packing" people!

      Tomorrow morning we're due for a (very) early morning training run-- just a short one, but wish us luck, as we are NOT usually morning folks!  

What tips do you have for a first time racer?  What pet peeves do you have with "new" runners? Are you guilty of any of these?  Talk to me about it!

Race Day tips, Checklist, and How to Keep a Color Run shirt Fabulous!

   

  To further hype myself and the Hare up for race day on Saturday, I was looking around for ways to keep the color in our team t-shirts after the race was over (because why wouldn't we want them to stay awesome?!) and I found a plethora of information on the Color Run FAQs and in my digging I found this:


Spray your shirt post race with vinegar, then iron it (all of this before washing!).  Hang it to dry (and air out, vinegar smells strong!), then wash it after it dries well! Some colors (pruple and blue) wash out a little easier, so avoiding the "clean off" stations at the end can help (but bring a change of clothes!!).

      We will have to try that for sure!  The other tips we found for pre and post race are pretty straightforward, but it's always helpful to have them!

• Bring a change of clothes (and a plastic bag to put everything in!), and a towel to sit on so your car doesn't take the brunt of the color!

• Wash race clothing separately from everything else, in COLD water! (if you worry about your machine getting color stuck in it, go by a laundromat!)

• GET THERE EARLY!  This gets you a sure spot in the early waves, and not missing anything!

• Close your mouth when going through the color zones-- or at least try not to inhale too much through your mouth. Sunglasses help keep it out of your eyes a good bit too (though not guaranteed-- watch contact lenses!)

• Consider grabbing a disposable camera and having the film developed, so you don't risk a camera getting dust in it (or phone).

• Oiling your hair (especially if you have light colored hair) or using a leave in conditioner can help prevent stains from darker colored powder

• A bandanna can save your life!  Either in your hair, or around your mouth in color zones, don't forget one!

• Make a checklist (or use the one below!) and have your things laid out the night before, so you don't forget anything!

• Pin your bib to your shirt the night before too-- no losing it that way!

• This is the one time I will advise a fanny pack or other container of the sort on race day-- you'll have to carry your color with you, and whatever items you need (keys, money etc.) so a small backpack, or a fanny pack (ick) will work best for this purpose.  They don't do a bag check, so plan ahead!

• Most importantly-- have fun with it, and don't expect to PR-- there will be walkers, runners, strollers, and LOTS of people! 

This is a great checklist for packing for the race!

***Run Update!***

      Our first long run in a week was last night-- and it was one of those wonderful, good paced runs on a beautiful evening (the clouds were awesome!) in the coolest July I've ever experienced (seriously...in the 80's in July?!  In Mississippi?! It's unreal!!!).  We've had trouble fitting our longer runs in lately, so it was fantastic to get one in and have it go so smoothly.  Yes, I'm bragging, but dang it I celebrate the small victories! 

Have you ever run in a Color Run?  What tips would you give someone who hasn't before?  How long was your "long" run this week?  Has it been hot or cool for the season where you are?  Tell me about it!

Color Run-- One Week and Counting!

      The Color Run in Jackson is just a week away now!  I am team captain for our 10 person team (Sacre' Bleu is our name!  You should say hi if you see any of us!) and I am so excited about the upcoming race!  We had shirts made for everyone, and I put together goody bags on Friday for each teammate too-- just as a little thank you (including a hand written note) because it takes some time and dedication to do a race on a team, even a fun run like this one!

I've already delivered a few, but here are some of them, ready to go next weekend!

     Included in the baggies were:

Not a bad spread!  Plus, the sticker is the shirt tag from Custom ink, the octopus is a sticker!  Love it!

• Color Run t-shirt (custom printed by the awesome Customink.com!  They did a bang up job, and were so helpful!)

Thanks guys, they turned out wonderful!

Look at all that Bleu' goodness!  I am seriously loving these creations!

• A packet of Gu and a Clif Bar-- a lot of our team doesn't run much, so we thought that would be helpful before and after the 7am start!

•  A water bottle-- in blue, of course!

• A lei-- for some color on race morning!

• Chap stick-- because that is my biggest weird issue running, I get chapped lips no matter the time of year!

      Total cost of each bag (minus the t-shirt, which our awesome team chipped in for) was only $3.25! It isn't much, but it is a great way to show your team that you appreciate how much they mean to you!  So, next time you find yourself heading up any team, scoot over to your local dollar store (seriously, those places are gold mines for stuff like this-- literally all of my items came from there, except the Gu the Hare and I have stockpiles of from Christmas and Easter)


    Also, before I go, here's a sneak peek of part of my race day outfit-- I am fully in the Color Run spirit now!  I am seriously so excited to wear this, it's a little ludicrous.

     Because who doesn't want to wear rainbow tutus and tube socks on a weekend morning?!  Apparently, not my team-- I am the only silly one who will don this much color spirit, but that's totally fine!  I'll just be sure to have enough for all 10 of us!  This race is the reason I first got the hair brained (and amazing) idea to run stuck in my head, so it is such an important morning for us!  This one isn't about times, or PR's or anything of the sort-- for me at least, it's about the goal we set in January, and not giving in!  In fact, it gave us the bug badly enough to sign up for several more races in the next year!

Have you ever been a team captain?  Have you ever run a Color Run, or any run where you could dress in goofy costumes?  Let me know what you think below!!

Our Half Marathon Plan

     Well, we finally made a decision, and signed up for the LEO Half Marathon, slated for November 16th, 2013.  We are excited about a local half being our first (and our " easy test run" for the Blues in January), so we did some researching and got an official half marathon plan together.  There are TONS out there, and if you plan on running a race I highly suggest you look around and find the one that works for you (some are free, and some races offer plans for a small fee) and try to stick to it as best you can.

plan and image courtesy halhigdon.com

      We tweaked this Hal Higdon Novice 1 plan (we just swapped days-- we run Monday,Wednesday, Friday and Saturday with strength training Tuesday and sometimes Thursday, with total rest at least 1 day, sometimes 2 if needed.  If you look at it, it does start out very reasonable, and it does build fairly slowly, so we are excited to get officially started on it!

      If a half marathon seems like a scary or impossible prospect, just remember that everyone started out where you are (and the Hare and I are right there with you!).  Some days I am pumped about it, and some days I feel more like this when it comes to our upcoming 2 half marathons (can't I just say we're running a marathon, with a 2.5 month break in between?)

from Active.com, 20 great spectator signs-- click for the rest of them, they are hilarious!

     Following a plan will both give you mini goals to work toward, and keep you on track safely so you don't injure yourself or overtrain.  Another plus, these plans are well tested and used widely (there's practically a cult following for the one we picked, folks swear by that one for newbies!) so you aren't left guessing as much.  Post it someplace obvious (ours is on the fridge, with a weekly calendar next to it with our run days and rough times) so you are always aware of it, and reminded that you are doing something great for yourself.

    Finding a fun, interesting race, and maybe finding ( or in my case, mercilessly begging and cajoling) a buddy or even a 4 person team (some races even offer relays, for those who don't feel quite ready to take the full 13.1 mile plunge) to offer added support and fun during your training.  The feeling of excitement is intensified when you have a group behind you and with you, literally every step of the way.  They will be there during the race too, when you can all commiserate feeling like this:

image courtesy of Nike

    So, if you've done some smaller, shorter races, and still have the bug to run-- congrats!  You're in the crazy "I pay people to make me run long ways" club!   So lace up, and look into a training plan, and find a race that interests you, either local or one you can make a short vacation around, and go to it!

What plan are you using to train?  Have you ever tried one that didn't work for you?  What are your favorite half marathons?  Tell me about it below!

My Running Bucket List

     I have to admit, I am a sucker for awesome race bling.  I am fairly artistic, and something that small with so much visual impact (not to mention meaning) for the runners is just fantastic to me-- I applaud the people who have to re-create these things every year, along with the coordinators and volunteers who help the runs (often themed) go smoothly.  I have several that I would LOVE to eventually earn for myself, I thought for fun I would list them here and show off some of their bling!

Run for Your Lives 5k

     I have always had a soft spot for zombies...and now that running is part of my life too, how could I resist both at once?! This is an obstacle style race, where you have the option of either being a zombie (out to get the runners) or an escaping human-- everyone gets shirts, medals, and beer at the end, so it's just a party! My only problem would be deciding to run with the living or be with the living...dead!  This one doesn't come too close to my area either, so it would be a big weekend trip.

Disney Princess Half Marathon

      This race appeals to my inner kid, and my ability to run a race *through* Disney World, dressed up in a costume! :)  The medals are always beautiful, and it's just an easy (ha, 13 miles...easy...) one for beginners to the half marathon world (so "they" say, whoever they is!).  It's one of the more expensive ones though (it's Disney though, what do you expect) and a little far for us, but it would be a fun short vacation!

Warrior Dash

        In stark contrast to the last race, the Warrior Dash 5k is a rough and tumble, muddy obstacle course race! You have to jump over fire, go through mud pits, barbed wire, and all kinds of crazy obstacles on your 3.1 mile course-- but at the end awaits an awesome medal (that last year included a bottle opener!), shirt, free beer and turkey leg (for the barbarian in you), and that stylish hat there!

       Plus, getting to say you rolled around in mud all morning, and had fun!  This one is actually in my area, so we have it on our radar for next year (it's in early May here-- perfect!)  There is a similar one (albeit longer) that I am NOT brave enough for yet (live electric wires shock you for the end-- it's called the Tough Mudder) ...but maybe one day we'll be ready!

Route 66 Half Marathon

      My sweet hubby is a HUGE car nut-- in fact, he owns (and loves, a lot) a rebuilt 1968 dune buggy, and his dream is to drive it down Route 66 someday.  This half marathon is totally for both of us!  Car themed, and hey, we could take the car, right? (Not on the course, just on the trip!)  It has been voted one of the top marathons in the U.S., so even though it's pretty far from us, it would be well worth seeing that part of the country, and some history!

New Orleans Rock n' Roll Half Marathon

      We went on our honeymoon to New Orleans...heck, my parents found my name in the Big Easy!  New Orleans is close to us, and just one of my favorite places to be.  Add Rock and Roll to that?  Well, I am a happy tortoise! I love the beads for the ribbon on the medals too.  The Hare has a collegue who ran this one the past year, she said it was fantastic, and a great one to try!  This one is for sure one the list someday soon!

Space Coast Half Marathon

      This is another one that might be more up the Hare's alley, but I think it's pretty awesome too.  He wanted to be an astronaut, and these are just fantastic medals!  It's a 5 year series of races, and the bottom two are bonus medals if you complete either 3 or all 5 years!  These might be doable, since we have friends and family that *might* be fantastic and let two vagabonds crash on their couch for a weekend. 

The Glo Run

   This is another theme race, a 5k similar to the Color Run, but this one is run after dark, complete with blacklights, DJ's playing techno, and glow bracelets (and this totally funky GLOW IN THE DARK medal!) to keep it interesting.  I actually didn't hear about this one until it had already passed in my area, but there is always next year!

     What races are on your running bucket list?  Are there any that you have run already that were (or weren't) all that you imagined?