Friday Five!

ONE

My goal for Halloween weekend is to make it without eating ONE stinkin' piece of  candy. If I start, I never stop.  And on Tuesday, the whole pile goes to work with my hubby...  That's the plan anyway.

TWO

November Challenge... I just signed up for this "Pile on the Miles" Challenge that runs Nov. 1-24.  Concept is simple... encouragement to pile on the miles, not the pounds as we head into the holiday season.  Prizes every week!  Run Turkey Run!!  Check out Run Eat Repeat for more information and to sign up before Sunday, Oct. 30.

THREE

If you're one that likes the Challenge thing (obviously I do!), the Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge, hosted by Run To The Finish takes you through the whole holiday season Nov. 19 - Jan. 6.  Work your bootie off and accrue points for different activities.  The list of prizes so far is unreal!  Check it out!

FOUR

I'm kinda stressed out today and have a lot on my mind.  I'm really looking forward to pounding out my long run today.  Whenever I get deep in thought, my run is always strong (and fast).  It's a gorgeous sunny day... still cold, but by this afternoon, it'll be perfect for a run.  I'm looking for 10 miles, but it might be hard to stop me today...

(Indianapolis Half-Marathon next Saturday!)

FIVE

It's Friday - Here's your Friday Race Salute to everyone racing this weekend!

You've done the training, now go out there and kick some asphalt!!  

GOOD LUCK!!

Dorothy (Mile Posts) in the Marine Corps Marathon

Jamie (Running Diva Mom) in the Haunted Hustle Marathon

All my Sole Sisters running the Screaming Pumpkin tonight

Anyone else racing?  Leave a comment and I'll send my race waves your way!

Friday Race Salute

My weekend plans consist of ...
•  Getting in my first long run since the marathon.  99% sure my leg is recovered and I'm as happy as can be about that!  10 miles in on the agenda, hopefully with the company of fellow Sole Sisters.  Hubby is off playing war so I'm at the babysitter's mercy for time.

Our superhero Halloween costumes last year...
I've got this year's idea, but still gotta put it all together!

•  Pulling out the Halloween decorations.  I was half a mind to "skip it" this year.  It's such a mess to pull all the boxes out and I've kinda lost my enthusiasm for it this year.  But then Big Girl said, "Mom, it's almost Halloween... we gotta get the house ready!" Yeah, it tugged at my heart.  So we'll make some ghosts to decorate our bare front tree and maybe even work on the costumes...  Maybe next week, we'll even make it to the pumpkin patch!

•  Bonfire!  I have several groups of girlfriends.  Sometimes I feel bad because the "non-running" one gets a little neglected from me.  They are my oldest friends in P-town and we are truly like sisters. The love runs deep, we've been together through all the weddings and babies, and even bicker like the best of them.  I'm anxious to kick back with the girls, let all our little ones run wild in the yard and toss back a couple beers.

•  Organize things for The Cupcake Classic.  My to-do list for the local race keeps building, but I'm super excited for the event.  I'm expecting close to 100 women to show up on the trail next Saturday for my birthday run.  Make the mile marker signs, prep race packets, wrap the prizes, and figure out all my volunteers... next week it'll be all about baking cupcakes!  Have you signed up for the VIRTUAL RACE version of The Cupcake Classic yet?  Lots of cool prizes to be won!  More info {here}

Enough about me... 

What do you have planned for the weekend???

I know the runners below have one thing on their mind... Racing!!  Here is your Friday Race Salute!  You've done the training, now is the time for your victory lap!  Go out there and kick some booty!

All my Sole Sisters running the Midwest Spartan Sprint... Danyelle, Toby, Carrie, Heidi, Jennifer, Patty, Crystal, and Marianne.  These ladies rock!  I love a good obstacle race, but muddy hauling wood, climbing barbsire is not my thing.  I guess I had enough of that as a kid, helping my Dad in the woods...

The Hot Pants/Sole Sisters running the Des Moines Marathon... Robyn, Gail, Sheri, Becky and Laura!  And Penny from the Pink Hat Runner, whose gonna rock her 2nd marathon!

Dorothy from Mile Posts and Jodi from Run Jodi Run are gonna rock the Columbus Marathon.

Jeff from Detroit Runner is running one of those races that's on my bucket list... the Detroit Marathon.  The course is so cool, featuring several international crossings into Canada and the Windsor Tunnel!

Kim from (Just) Trying is for Little Girls goes pink this weekend at the Vancouver Girlfriends Half Marathon, benefitting the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  In a shocking twist, she's has no time goal... well maybe?!

My girl Rachel from Running in Real Life will surely kick asphalt at the Elver Park 5K.

And big kudos to Jamie who is running her first race ever with a Race for the Cure 5K.  The Komen series of races is fantastic... in fact it was the home of my first race too!

Kurt at Becoming an Ironman is running his first marathon at the Hartford ING Marathon.  Smoke it Kurt!

Aneta at My Running Bucket is tackling her 6th half marathon in Toronto.  Crossing my fingers for a magical sub-2 for her!

GOOD LUCK TO ALL YOU FABULOUS RUNNERS!

If I missed you, add a comment below to let me know you're racing 

and I'll send my magic positive race waves your way!  

Friday Race Salute!!

I think everyone and their mother is racing this weekend!!  Who can blame us?  For most of the country, it's perfect fall weather... nice and cool, where all that hot training in the summer sun is finally showing some speed!  Good Luck everyone!

First of all, BIG KUDOS to.... Danielle, Rachel, and BadgerGirl at the Fox Cities Marathon on Sunday!!  I ran the Half in Appleton, WI last fall.  The course is excellent, race organization is top-notch, wonderful crowds and perfect weather.  It still stands as my "best race," even though I've since beaten the time.  Danielle is running her very first Half-Marathon.  I nudged her last spring to register, and have enjoyed watching her training progress all summer on facebook.  Rachel is running her first FULL marathon.  We did a 16 mile long run together when I was on vacation in Wisconsin (see story here).  Best running mate ever!  I wish her all the best and look forward to the race recap.

Rachel and I after 16 in June

Lots of bloggers running the You Go Girl! Half Marathon & 10K in Tacoma!  Good Luck to Kim, Carla, Mel, Kerrie and the many more ladies I know are out there!  Both Kim & Kerrie are shooting for their first sub-2.  I hope they rock it so they can share the secret with me...

SuperMomE12 @ See Mom Run Far will be at the Top of Utah Mountain Marathon on Saturday, trying to get under 3:30 for the marathon... Holy snikes! That's fast!

Last but not least, all my SOLE SISTERS who will be running with me in the Morton Pumpkin Classic 10K and 2mile race on Saturday.  There are so many of us running... I'm sure I'll miss a few, but here goes... GOOD LUCK to Bekah (read her story here), Anna, Stephanie, Dianne, Kathleen, Deanna, Monica, Karyn, Gail, Robyn, Tracy, Susan, Lindsey, Laura (x2), Jennifer (x2), Toby, Fro, Nicole, Patty, Crystal, Cami, Kassie, Stacey, Heather and me!

If I missed you (hey, I'm far from perfect)... please comment what race you're running, 

I'll add you in & send positive race waves your way!

REMINDER... The Cupcake Classic tech shirts are still for sale.  Get your order in before Wednesday, Sept. 28.  Click here for more details.

Friday Five!

1.  SOAKED!  I attempted my 18 miler this morning.  Two miles in, it suddenly got dark, very dark.  By time I hit the wooded part of the trail, the wind started to blow hard.  Dead branches from the trees shot down like missiles.  And yet I continued forward through the thunder.  Finally after 3.5 miles, the rain hurt and the lightening started.  I started to feel like I was in the beginning scenes from The Wizard of Oz.  So I gave in and headed back.  Forty minutes later, running through the downpour, I was completely SOAKED.  Guess my long run will have to wait until Sunday...  7 miles, 73 minutes, 10:20 pace

BEFORE... heading out before the storm!

AFTER... soaked to the bone!

2.  BEACH BUMS!  Tomorrow we head to Chicago for a really fun race... Beach Palooza!  It's a 5K on Montrose Beach with wacky obstacles along the way (think beach balls and water noodles!).  My hubby and I enjoyed running this race in Daytona Beach last year for our anniversary, so when they announced a Midwest location this year, we signed up right away!

Nov 2010 Beach Palooza in Daytona Beach, FL

3.  FRIDAY FUNNY!  Saw this joke on I <3 to Run facebook page... and had to share for a good laugh!

4.  YOU LIKE ME!  You really really do!  My Facebook page -Run with Jess- surpassed the 200 mark, so I'll be doing a giveaway on Facebook!!  Come on over here and sneak in on the giveaway... Psst, thanks Runner...maybe!

5.  FRIDAY RACE SALUTE!  Good Luck to everyone racing this weekend, especially Kim at (Just) Trying is for Little Girls and Tonia at Racing with Babes as they tackle the San Francisco Half Marathon!  Are you racing?  Leave a comment so I can send you positive energy waves (magic!) before your race day.

Don't forget to check out the August Spin® Challenge!!

Five for Friday!!

1.  I'm learning why marathon plans have "recovery weeks" after 18-22 mile runs.  Last week, I logged over 36 miles... 18 on Sunday, followed by a 5K race on Monday.  My whole body was T.I.R.E.D come Tuesday.  Through the past year, I've really learned to listen to my body to avoid injuries.  So I slowed it down this week... only logged 12 miles all week!  But I must admit this morning's run felt very refreshing.  I'm looking forward to 15 tomorrow morning - especially since my favorite paved trail is OPEN once again after a month of construction/repaving.  Do you listen to your body - or stick to the plan?


2.  My 37th birthday falls on a Saturday this year, so I've been searching for a half-marathon in the Midwest to run that day.  To avoid the depressing fact that I'm inching closer to 40, I find it invigorating to run on my birthday. With the past couple years of running, I definitely feel like I'm getting younger instead of older!
Yesterday, I got an email.... Just Announced!!  ZOOMA Women's Half Marathon Great Lakes on Saturday, Oct. 22 in the beautiful resort town of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.  The course runs along the shores of Geneva Lake, a little hilly, but sure to be breath-taking with the fall colors.  If you register before July 16, use discount code ZOOMAGL11 to get $10 off a half-marathon entry and $5 off a 5K entry.  Come run my birthday with me!

Just imagine running this in the fall colors!??!

3.  There are a ton of cool giveaways going on in Bloggyville this week.  I've updated my Giveaways page.  Be sure to check it out to win some cool running goods... including my Family Fan Club $30 gift card giveaway for a new shirt or other custom item!

4.  I had a cupcake tasting yesterday for a wedding client.  I spent most the day baking six different flavors of cupcakes, each with their own flavored frosting.  I couldn't help but sneak a few.  Butter Pecan with maple frosting rocked my world!  Definitely NOT good for the marathon diet...

5.  Are you racing this weekend??  Comment here if you are so I can send positive race waves your way!!  Here is your FRIDAY RACE SALUTE!  Kick some butt!

Special mention to Kurt at Becoming an Ironman.  I've been following his training for months now, and this weekend he competes in Ironman Providence.  That's 70.3 miles...  I just know he's going to rock it!  And if you want in on a fun contest, predict his finish time here.

Friday Race Salute!

Welcome to all my new followers.  So many of you joined in for the Jelly Bean race, and I hope I stay interesting enough for you to keep reading!   I've been a bad blogger friend, but I will get around to visit your blogs as soon as I can.

I leave for Champaign in a few short hours and still haven't even decided on a race outfit.  Somehow the royal wedding took precedent this morning?!  The weather is looking good for the Illinois Marathon, but I'm not counting my eggs yet.  We'll have comfortable temps, escape the rain, but will have to fight through some spring wind.  I'll take it.

Every run this week, I have envisioned the Finish Line... the loop around the stadium, the final climb to the entrance, and the dash across the football field to cross at the 50-yard line.  That part I've got down... it's the rest of the race I'm unsure about!  

• RACE SALUTE •

It's the last weekend in April and there are a lot of races this weekend!  Good Luck to each and every one of you!  This is my Race Salute to you!!!  You've trained for this... now go kick some asphalt!!  I can't wait to hear of new PR's and read your race recaps next week.

Kim @ (Just) Trying is for Little Girls - Eugene Half Marathon

girafy @ 365 Days of Awesome - PCRF Cinco de Mayo Half Marathon

Kim @ Book Worm Runs - 10K

Toni @ Running Loving Living - Long Island Half Marathon

Missy @ Southern Girl Running - CPCC Skyline 5K

Holly @ I Hate the Treadmill - Park to Park Half Marathon

Kim Hebert - Nashville Half Marathon 

and all my fellow comrades at the Illinois Marathon in Champaign, IL

Elizabeth @ New Mercies - Illinois Marathon

Barbara @ Running Strong for Hope - Illinois Half

Courtney @ Run Courtney Run - Illinois Half

Angie Cordio - Illinois Half

Marcie & Brian Linne - Illinois Half

Leslie Poppenhouse - Illinois Half

Jennifer Young - Illinois Half

Twix @ Lost and Found - Illinois 5K

If you're racing this weekend (or next), leave a comment and let us know!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!