Category: Tuesdays on the Run


Feb
2016

Race shirts: Favorites and the ones we love to hate

categories: Race all 50 states, Rock 'n' Roll Race, RunDisney, Running, Tuesdays on the Run

I am linking up with Marcia, Erika, and Patti for today’s Tuesdays on the Run.

TuesdaysOnTheRun

I will confess that I rarely keep any of my race shirts.  The year I ran 14 RnR half marathons, I got 14 shirts but did not keep any of them.  They were all nice shirts (Brooks) but really what was I supposed to do with 14 shirts?  There has been one or two races in which I had the option of not receiving the race shirt in exchange for a few dollars off my registration fee.

However, I have kept a couple of them mainly because of the materials and the color/cut.

  1.  Route 66 Half Marathon

Route66Race18

2.  Princeton Half Marathon >>My favorite one.

Princeton29

3. Des Moines Half Marathon

desmoines11

I like the shirts from the Bank of America races (Nike brand) but do not keep them either.  Not sure why since I do like the cut.  But I prefer the finisher’s shirt I bought at the outlet store.  It was about $16 three weeks after the marathon. 

Now what3

The “ugliest” looking shirt is this one.  I mean, seriously?

I did keep my Run Disney long sleeve shirts but only because I wear them at night when I go to sleep.  That extra layer keeps me warm throughout the cold Chicago winters.

I know some runners have had quilts made from their race shirts and I kind of regret not saving mine.  Seeing hers made me want to have one for me so you bet I will start saving my shirts. Pretty cool right?  This one is from Kimberly who blogs at KookyRunner.

Do you keep your race shirts?  For you or to make a quilt as well?


Feb
2016

Scenes from my run

categories: Running, Tuesdays on the Run

I am linking up with Marcia, Erika, and Patti for today’s Tuesdays on the Run.

TuesdaysOnTheRun

I usually run in three different locations: treadmill, along the lakefront, and by my house.  I enjoy the variety and definitely do not get bored.  Once in awhile I may venture out to a forest preserve.  Here are some views from my run.  I will never, never get tired of the lakefront view.

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RnRNOLARecap1

photo (2)

photo-4

sledding

lakefrontwithice

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seeonmyrun

Not running related but just because.  🙂

lola


Feb
2016

Spring Race Plans

categories: Race all 50 states, Rock 'n' Roll Race, Running, Tuesdays on the Run

I am linking up with Marcia, Erika, and Patti for today’s Tuesdays on the Run.

TuesdaysOnTheRun

I am very excited about my upcoming Spring races!  I know it isn’t in the Spring season but my first race this year is RnR NOLA on February 28th.  I did the marathon in 2013 and am excited to go back for another race. My two sisters and nephew are also going so it should be fun!!

Next on my calendar is the Live Grit 10 Miler.  I’ve done this race a couple times but I think last year was the worst one.  The weather started off perfect but then throughout the race it must have dropped about 20 degrees and was windy.  You bet I was cold.  On the good side, I got a chance to meet Wendy and Marcia.  The race course is along the lakefront but on the north side which I enjoy because I normally run on the south side and like the change of scenery. Hopefully the weather cooperates this year.  Love the medal too.

LiveGrit10MilerMedal2016

Next is the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K.  This is one of my favorite races.  I love the distance and the location.  The start and finish line are the same as the Chicago Marathon.  I managed to get a PR in 2014 but missed it in 2015 and you bet I am aiming for one this year. Check out the medal.  Pretty cool huh?

ShamrockShuffleMedal2016

I have a few half marathons in various states that are still in the works.  For sure I am going to Michigan for the Bayshore Half Marathon (May 28) and West Virginia for the Harpers Ferry Half Marathon (May 14).  I am working on logistics for the Garmin Half Marathon on April 16. That’s three states.  My goal is to run in at least 5 different states this year.  I’m not sure about the Run for the Zoo Half Marathon in NM on May 1 because that will be 3 half marathons in one month.  I know it is doable.  I am just worried about how my body will respond to it.

I may register for a 5k and/or 10K since I have not done one in years.  The Run to Remember 5K in May is a great one but always gets so crowded.  I’ve been wanting to run both The Good Life Race 5K and the Ravenswood Run 5K and a few running friends have said good things about both races.  I have not made up my mind about the Illinois Marathon Relay also in April.  We had a good time (even if it rained throughout the whole race) and it looks like this year more of my friends also want to run the relay.

Summer and fall races is a whole different story.  I will leave that for another post.

This is how I feel.

runalltheraces

Any fun races for you?


Dec
2015

Race Medals in 2015

categories: Running, Tuesdays on the Run

Linking up with Marcia, Patti, and Erika for Tuesdays on the Run.

TuesdaysOnTheRun

This year I ran 9 races (well 10 if you count the Illinois Marathon Relay) and earned 8 medals. This year my main focus was the Chicago Marathon so I had to limit the number of races.

TuesdaysOnTheRun1

Note:  Missing in the picture above is the one from the Chicago Half Marathon.  I took it to school to show it to my students and left it there.  

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All of my medals hold a special place in my heart.  I worked hard and earned them.  Whether it was the course, weather or something else going on, I pushed on through to cross the finish line.

To recap:

Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle-My first race in 2015.  It was cold and windy!  Love that this medal is also a bottle opener.

Live Grit Lakefront 10 Miler-Another cold and windy day!  It started off really nice but then the temperate dropped significantly throughout the race.  I was the only one that did not have a jacket in my bag because, well, it was very nice in the morning.

Illinois Marathon Relay–I did this race mainly to cross it off my list and ended up having a great time with my friends.  It rained and rained and was even cancelled due to the weather.  But, we still managed to finish it.

ILMarathonRelay14

Quarryman Challenge 10 Mile-Hills, hills, and more hills.  It was challenging all right.  Oh, how much I dislike this race.  Maybe I’ll do it again when I am in better shape and can tackle the hills. I remember it was humid and muggy in the morning.  Oh, no medal.  But there was pizza and beer….LOTS OF IT.

Fleet Feet Sports Soldier Field 10 Mile-Finally a PR for me!  With a flat course and decent weather, everyone enjoys the race.

Covered Bridges Half Marathon-A fun trip with Jaime!  Oh, how I miss traveling and running with her.  She has already finished running in the 50 states.  It was a beautiful course with one gigantic hill around mile 8.  Still I ended up with my second best half marathon finish time. 

Elmhurst 4 on the 4th-One of my favorite races and plan to do this every year as long as I am in town.  It is a small race and cheap ($25), plenty of parking, semi-challenging, and not too far from my house.  The first mile was my fastest but paid for it later in the race.  Still, GREAT RACE.

Shipyard Old Port Half Marathon-Another HOT race!  My goal was to finish under 2:30 but that did not happen and honestly I was OK with it.  I met up with Kim, Elizabeth, and Sonya in MA, ate in NH, and slept in ME.  Three states in a couple of hours!!  There is so much to do in Portland and we made the best of it and had fun.  

Chicago Half Marathon-Love this race because of the medal!  I ran this race without listening to music.  Yep, 13.1 miles with no music.  Great course!  Plus I made it on the news.  This race works out perfect for those training for the Chicago Marathon.

ChicagoHalfMarathon9

Chicago Marathon-My last race of the year and my 7th marathon.  Done and done.  So many mixed feelings with this race.  I was happy, relieved, and in pain.  I chafed really bad and that hurt even more to walk than from running 26.2 miles.  I remember thinking that I would never run a marathon again.  Well, that did not last long because I applied again for next year and am waiting to hear back for CARA.

2015ChicagoMarathon16

Favorite Medal: The one shown above from the Chicago Half Marathon.  Almost as big as my face and I think similar to the one from the Little Rock Marathon.  Also, I enjoyed the course and we had great weather till the end when it started to run.

So here are my medals for this year.  What’s your favorite bling from 2015?