Race Recap: Race for the Cure 5K

This past weekend, I spent a lot of time offline - enjoying the summer weather with my family. My hubby and kids spoiled me for Mother's Day, and I couldn't help but relish every moment.
"My cup runneth over" Psalm 23:5

I ran this race as a member of the
 Peoria Air National Guard team.

Saturday was particularly perfect. I started off the day at one of my favorite races ever, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K.  This event has special meaning since it was my very first race (2001).  It's also our community's biggest fundraiser for breast cancer, the disease that took my grandmother when I was just a toddler.  Always the Saturday on Mother's Day weekend, it's heart-warming to see the crowds that gather for this occasion - grandmothers, mothers, daughters, sisters, and each year more men participate too.  By far, the largest hoopla you'll ever see surrounding a 5k run/walk.

I arrived about 45 minutes before the start, for the mere purpose that I wanted a good getaway parking spot.  The race started a 8:00am and I had to teach Spinning at 9:00am. Talk about an incentive to run fast!  My plan was to finish the 5K in under 30 minutes, run through the finish line straight to my car, and then jet off to the gym.

I purposely didn't plan to "meet up" with anyone pre-race. It was a nice change of pace to just show up and run. I relaxed on a curb pre-race, soaking in the beautiful morning sun while listening to the pre-race ceremonies from the stage. I love watching the huge group of survivors and big crane up in the sky that takes their group photo each year.

The Survivors.  Photo from the Susan G. Komen FB page

After a quick jog around the parking lot to warmup, I bumped into some friends near the starting line and waiting there for the official start. I haven't run the Race for the Cure in a couple years, so I was surprised to see all the men lining up in front. The race has evolved through the years. The first year I ran, there were no male runners - only a "mile of men". Then it had a waved start - women first and then the men 10 minutes later. We ran the same course, but it guaranteed a woman winner. I always used it as an incentive... my goal being to reach the 2 mile marker before the lead male came zooming past me. Now it's all merged together as one - probably for the best - but personally, I liked the wave start best.

I haven't run a 5K in a long time, and certainly had not trained for the speed that these shorter races require. My only goal was to finish in time to make my 9am Spinning class!  It was a silent flag start, and just like that, we were off. I knew the course well, but hadn't given it much thought when I registered. I completely forgot how hill-challenging the course is.  In the first mile, we did a gradual climb up University Avenue. There's a clock at the top of the hill to mark the end of the first mile, and I sadly noted that I was a full minute off the last time I ran this one. Sigh...

The latter miles circle through pretty neighborhoods, adding in several more hills. I always like to see residents sitting out in their yards, cheering runners on. What I wouldn't give to live on a race course!

My friend Cassie was out cheering along the course and caught me as I ran by...

I hauled it in for the final mile and finished with an official chip time of 28:44.7. 
That averages out to a 9:15 pace. For now, I'm okay with that!

I hurried off to the gym and continued the Pink Celebration with my For The Cure ride in Spinning class. It's an inspiring but tough ride. I left the gym with a big smile on my face, happy to have squeezed in both a race and a Spin class - all before 10am.  

My hubby and kids had been busy too. They spent the morning cleaning the house from top to bottom and doing laundry. I walked in the door and my kiddos yelled out, "Happy Mother's Day!"  We spent the rest of the day shopping for and planting flowers. It was truly the best day ever.

Tiger Trot 5K - Race Entry Giveaway!

When it comes to 5K races, I love small town events. Maybe it's because I grew up in a small community, but there is such a cozy feeling about running amongst friends... and groups of kids darting around the course to cheer you on. It's pure fun without all the whoopla of big city races.  No parking concerns, no crowds, no fuss... just run. Oh, and my standing 5k PR is from one of those itty bitty small town races.

The Tiger Trot 5K is one of those small-town races that I highly recommend. Last year, my husband and I switched roles for a day... he ran the race and I cheered with the kids.  The chip-timed race course starts at Marquette Elementary School, circles the small town, and ends in pretty Independence Park. Once all the 5K racers finish, there is a short children's race, free for the little ones. Last year, they even got a finisher's ribbon!

After the race, participants gather in the school cafeteria for food, drinks, door prizes, and award age-group awards - 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall, plus 1st & 2nd in each 5-yr age group.  That's a lot of awards for a small race... which means you have a greater chance to winning something, if you're on that cusp like me.

Instead of the average 5k cotten tee, the Tiger Trot boosts a tech-style run shirt as part of your registration. If you are a member of the local running club in Peoria, this is also an Illinois Valley Striders Grand Prix Series Race.

Proceeds from the Tiger Trot 5K benefit the three local schools - Marquette Elementary, Rogers Elementary and Georgetown Middle School. I can't think of a better way to raise much-needed funds for our schools... while encouraging our children to take up a healthy activity like running (versus video game playing).  Personally, I get so tired of the kids coming home with popcorn and junk catalog sales.

What's better than a family race outing on a beautiful spring morning?!  We had such a wonderful time last year. I hope you can join in for the 2014 race on Saturday, April 26.  Register here before April 12 for the early bird pricing ($25). There is also a spaghetti dinner the evening before at packet pickup, that helps the local Cub Scout pack... 5-7pm at the Real Life Church.

Find the Tiger Trot on Facebook here.

• • •  RACE ENTRY GIVEAWAY  • • •

A good friend is the race director for the Tiger Trot 5K and has graciously offered me a race entry to giveaway to one of my readers!  It's so easy to enter...

• Comment* below - With so many 5K races these days, how do you determine which one you run? What is the determining factor?
• Share this post on Facebook and/or Twitter to spread the word about this great race! Include hashtag #TigerTrot

Good Luck! Winner will be announced Monday, April 7, 2014.

THE WINNER IS .... LAUREN SIEMERS!

* To enter by making a comment below, you need an online profile. To do so quickly, select the OpenID option in the "Comment As" dropdown. Enter the web address to your Facebook profile... www.fb.com/yourname

South Side Stride: Trial Run & Giveaway

A new race is coming to the Greater Peoria area this October... the South Side Stride 5K.  I had the privilege to guest-speak at one of their training groups earlier this summer, and am excited to run this fall race. In my opinion, October is simply the best month of the year to run. And an interesting twist on this race... it's in the afternoon!

Today I drove up to the village of Dunlap to give the course a "trial run." This course was designed to provide a nice tour of the village. I believe the only place of importance it doesn't pass by is the ice cream shop and the bar. Oddly enough, those are the only two places I was familiar with...

So I grabbed my course map and set out on a very sunny muggy morning...

The starting line of the South Side Stride 5K is at North Park. I knew I was in the right place when I saw the big banners announcing the upcoming event.

The course immediately heads south through neighborhoods and enters a small downtown area... the bank, the post office, the village hall and a variety of store fronts. There is a gradual incline in the first 1/4 mile, which will help keep one honestly paced from the start.  Once through downtown, I hit a pretty park area by the Methodist Church and took a left (and then a right) towards the Rock Island Trail (RIT). This area was familiar to me as I've run the RIT so many times before, just never on the actual road.

The race course passes by the grade school and library. This is the best flat straightaway on the course to pick up speed. While I was roasting in the hot summer sun, I couldn't help but daydream about how nice this stretch would be on an autumn afternoon.

As I crossed over Rt. 91, my legs started to tire. It's a decent incline to climb along Legion Hall Rd. But then the course turns left and I see a nice downhill to reward my uphill efforts. Whee!

I'm now halfway through the 3.1 mile course, in the midst of a nice new neighborhood. I am completely jealous of the playground, park and smooth sidewalks they have in this neighborhood! This would make a great cheer stop for your spouse/children. This will also be a water station stop on race day.

The course makes a nice rolling loop through the neighborhood and recrosses Rt 91 to trace my steps back to the start/finish line. I ran both my Garmin watch and MapMyRun app during today's run, and the course seems to be dead-on accurate for distance.

Interactive map can be accessed HERE

Oh, the elevation...

What do you say... 

Wanna run this course with me?

Sunday, October 6
Start Time: 2:00 pm

North Park, Dunlap, IL

REGISTRATION

Runners and walkers alike can register HERE. The cost is $25, which includes a timing device, race bib, cotton t-shirt, goodie bag, marked course and traffic control, 3 live bands (2 on course, 1 at finish) and one water stop. Word has it the JFL cheerleaders will be out cheering along the course.

CHARITY
Proceeds from this race benefit the South Side Mission. The South Side Mission serves to love, feed, house, clothe and teach all people whom the Good Lord sends their way... with a laser focus on Peoria's most destitute zip code 61605. They focus their prayers and resources on the struggling people in that zip code... Peoria's South Side. Think of the difference we can make in our poorest neighborhoods... Reduced crime. Teaching the importance of marriage and family. Reduced alcoholism and drug use. Dwindle gang membership. Restoring HOPE to a depressed area... and making our community safer for all of us!

Hmmm, what could make this better...

How about a FREE RACE ENTRY?

 Enter the giveaway contest via Rafflecopter below before Sept. 5.

a Rafflecopter giveaway