2013 Races

I wrote about several of my races this year but when I saw Jennifer's wonderful post about her resolution to run in a race every month, it made me want to "see" my races for the year. I did not try to do one each month but I did quite a few. A couple were not traditional races but they were important accomplishments to me, so I included them. My race rack that Jennifer gave me for Mother's Day is getting full!

January was the first race of the year was Jackson Road Elementary Resolution Run 5K. Denise and Melissa did this race with me. I walked this race and my time was 55:01.

I did two races in April. The Color Run 5K was at Atlanta Motor Speedway and this was my first BIG run. It was untimed and was actually organized chaos but a lot of FUN! Jennifer, Denise and Melissa ran this race with me. One of my kindergarten students Brody Meeks and his family ran this 5K, too!  I walked most of the race but jogged some of it, too. My time was 52:00.

I did the Crosspointe Academy Cavalier Country Run in April, too. Denise, Jennifer and Carter ran this race also. This was a very special race because Jennifer, Carter and I all won medals! I jogged a little but walked the majority of the race and my time was 55:05.

  

I did Relay for Life in May which is not actually a race but I walked all night long...in the rain! I walked further and longer than ever before even though I didn't keep up with the miles. This was the MOST important walk for me of the year. I lost both of my parents to cancer as well as many family members and friends and one very special student. One of my students, Brody's mother Melody Meeks survived cancer so it was especially meaningful to walk with them! I raised a lot of money to fund the race for a cure for cancer. Our campsite won the prize for best campsite! Every single child in our school wrote a message on a paper link and all of these links were connected and used to decorate our tent. Many of our students and their families walked with us that night.

I didn't do any races during the summer. I did however begin the Couch to 5K Running program in September and RAN my first 5K. It was the Scrub Run 5K in Griffin. I ran this race with Jennifer, Tammie and Stacy. Jennifer won first place, of course and I won 3rd place in my age group. This was one of my favorite races! My time was 48:58.

 



I ran two races in October. The Jubilee Jaunt in Concord. Denise, Jennifer and Carter ran this one. It was in the rain! Carter and Jennifer won medals. I would have but it was a very small race and the age group was combined to be men and women 40 year and up! Crazy! My time was 49:50.

 My other October race was Denise's school Rehobeth Road Jack-O-Lantern Jog. This was a GREAT race because three of my grandkids ran this one as well as Jennifer and Denise. I was so very proud of  TJ, Maggie and Jada! They trained for this race and ran well! Jennifer medaled and so did I - first place in my age group! The medal is beautiful! My time was 49:50.

 

 

The Family Marathon at my school Cowan Road Elementary was a different kind of race that I ran in November. Our school is a healthy school and we all try to eat right and exercise - staff, students and families. This marathon is run over the course of several weeks and the last 1.2 mile is run together at school. We did this last year and it's very special to me because it stands for living a healthy lifestyle.

November 28 was my 60th birthday and Jennifer, Denise and I ran the Thanksgiving 5K in Atlanta. This was the biggest race I've ever ran! We celebrated mine and Denise's birthday in royal style. We stayed at the Marriott Marquis hotel and ate at The Cheesecake Factory all as Jennifer's treat! This was my most memorable race! The girls ran every step of it at my pace. It was very cold - 22 degrees! My time was 49:04.

 

 

 

The last race of the year was the Silly Santa 5K in McDonough. Jennifer and I did this one together in the pouring rain!! It was a lot of fun! Jennifer got a huge trophy for Fastest Female! I am so proud of her! We ran on a team called Pike's Pride with several friends from Pike County, the Greg family, Elaine Mangham and Bonnie Dials. I ended the year with  a Personal Record time of 44:46.

 

 

 

My next race in The Hot Chocolate in January 2014. I am looking forward to spending the night in Atlanta and running this race with Jennifer, Denise and several running friends. I know we will have a blast! I want to run more races in 2014! I am making the resolution to run one every month, just like Jennifer did in 2013. I have set several running goals for 2014. I want to RUN a 10K - I walked one last year. I also want to run the Rock and Roll in Savannah in November. I hope that Denise will do the half-marathon relay with me. If not, I may try to run the half-marathon. Jennifer will be running the marathon! I have to restart my running because I had an appendectomy December 18 which turned into an infection of my incision. I will most likely have to start over with walking but I hope to progress quickly to running!