Valley Center 5K Race Report:

1st place in his age group

 Valley Center 5K Run

This weekend is the  Valley Center Fall Festival, and our family always has fun with all the activities.  This year I ran the 5K with my 8 year old.  It was at 7:30am, so it was a bit of a chore getting him up and awake and to the start line on time.     I knew that the race would be small, it usually is, but this year it was especially small because it was held on the same day as the Wichita Race for the Cure, one of the largest and best 5K races in the area.  It usually draws 8 or 9 thousand people.    The race we ran?  Maybe 50.  Tops.   But that was okay, we were just there to have fun and enjoy the day, which we did.

showing our medals

My son ran his first 5K about a month ago and ran it in 33:30.   His time this time?  31:10.   He did awesome.  He got 1st in his age group (I think he was the only one in the 0-10 group),  and I happened to take 2nd in my age group, the first time I've age-group placed.   My son thought it was funny that he got a gold medal and my medal was silver.

We ran together the whole way and had a lot of fun.  I made it a point to thank every volunteer that we encountered.

"I need to put my new heart in."

Just before the race started, my son found a silver heart pendant on the street and stuck it in his pocket.  About 2.25 miles into the race, he says "I think I need to put my new heart in,"  and he gestured by putting the pendant heart into his chest, to give him more energy.   About a half mile later, getting winded, he said "man, that heart didn't last very long."   I told him maybe he should bring a few of those hearts next time.



my son with his "new heart"

After the 5K, we stuck around and did the kids fun run with my wife and other son.  I think the distance was like 3/4 of a mile, but I was amazed that my 8 year old still had gas left, he ran pretty fast the whole way.  My other son and my wife did a great job too.   Afterwards we stuck around for the parade, and are looking forward to riding rides and the fishing derby as part of Fall Festival as well.

my awesome family

 

Biking Advice?

Before I ask for biking advice, I have to tell you about the hail storm.    I started to go for a run this week after work, and I didn't get more than 1/2 mile from the house when I heard thunder, it started to drizzle, and tornado sirens started going off.  So, I cut the run short and headed home.  Living in Kansas, you kind of get used to tornado sirens, so I wasn't really worried, but I figured I didn't want to get stuck miles from home if it got really bad.

Little did I know that this was a pretty vicious storm.  Not only were there tornadoes, there was hail.   Big hail.  Seriously BIG hail.  Some of the pics I saw were hail 5 or 6 inches wide.  There was a hailstone that set a record apparently, as well, like 7 inches big.

 Since I live on the north end of town, we didn't get any hail (that I know of), but down south, they got pummeled.  Check out these pics:

not sure what the deal is with the donut hail

my boss had a huge hail stone go through the windshield of his car

Shifting Gears

So, here is the advice I need, for anyone the bikes out there.  I went for a 15 mile bike ride this morning, and I found my gear shifting to be kind of clunky, like I don't know what I'm doing (which I don't).  So, I wanted to search out some advice.

I just started biking a couple months ago, and really like it, but I'm kind of confused about what gear to ride in, when to shift gears, what gears to use when going uphill/downhill, or against the wind, etc.   For example, should I leave my front gear on the big sprocket or small sprocket most of the time?   I'm kind of just making it up as I go.   

Also, what is a good speed/pace to shoot for on a road bike?   I have been wearing my Garmin during my rides lately and my pace ranges from 12 to 22 miles per hour, depending on wind and hills.  It seems like 15 mph would be about average.  Is that good, bad, or just average?  I have an older road bike that is kind of heavy, so that pace seems about right.   I appreciate any advice you can offer.

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I'm off to my son's soccer game, and then watch a little K-State football.  Have a great weekend everyone.

Happy Runner Giveaway here!

Pep talk from a 4 Year old

I need to go rent "Miracle"........and I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm sick of tired too...

Tri Runner Giveaway here!

Racing with Babes Giveaway here!

Run Faster Mommy Giveaway here!

Nathan Training Kit Giveaway here!

CSN Giveawy Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered the CSN Giveaway contest. Random.org picked the winner, and the winner is......

Lisa at Chasin Bunnies!

Congrats! I will be passing your email on to CSN to get you your prize.

Thanks.

15 Miles and My First Wipeout

I flipped a coin this morning to see if I would go for a run or a bike ride, and bike ride won. It was a beautiful day, perfect for biking, and I went 15.5 miles. The strange thing is that I am more tired after running 3 miles than biking 15. Really weird. I almost went for a run after the bike ride, but decided against it. I had a really good ride. Except for two things.

First, my bike light fell off and I realized the clip broke, so I'll need to get a new one. Not a big deal.

Second, I had my first wipe-out on my bike. I was riding through a campground of a local BBQ towards the end of my ride, checking to see if my friend was participating in the BBQ cook-off this year, and I totally wiped out. I forgot I was riding on a sand/dirt path and took a turn too sharp, and down I went. Of course I immediately looked around to see if anybody saw me fall. (I don't think they did.) I hit my head, but didn't get hurt, but I did get a nice raspberry on my leg.

Painted!

Labor Day weekend was anything but restful. Aside from celebrating birthdays/anniversaries with a nice family lunch, and taking a break to watch the K-State game (Go Cats!), we spent all weekend painting the exterior of our house. We kept the base coat the same, but changed the trim from a pastel blue to a tan and brown. We didn't really take before pictures, but here is an idea of the color we replaced:

And here is an "after" photo:

It was a lot of work, and we were extremely tired at the end of each day. I really wanted to go for a long bike ride or run, but I just didn't have the energy in me.

Speaking of bike rides, I got chased by a Rottweiler on my bike about a week ago. He came out of nowhere and starting barking and chasing me, for about 100 yards. I thought he was going to catch me for a minute. I had to turn and speed up to get rid of him. Now I can say that I've been chased by dogs while running AND biking. Why can't people keep their dogs (especially vicious ones) controlled or chained up??

Don't forget to enter my Giveaway , you have until Sept 12th.

Also, Busy Mama Running is having a Giveaway

And so is Shut Up and Run

A Giveaway -- $45 Gift Certificate to CSN

In honor of Labor Day, my birthday, my brother's birthday (we're twins), and my parent's anniversary (all happening in the next few days), here is another great giveaway from CSN.

I'm keeping in simple. Someone will win $45 in merchandise at CSN Stores. There is a ton of great stuff at that site -- you could get a textured foam roller, a LED headlight for those night runs, a massage stick , some ankle weights, or any number of hundreds of items. It is up to you how to spend the money, you could even get something non-running related.

To win, here is how to enter:

1. For one entry, leave a comment and say hello...yes, it's that easy
2. Be a follower and let me know it for a 2nd entry

3. For an extra entry, leave a separate comment about what you might spend the $45 on at CSN

4. For another entry, link back to this post on your blog

Contest runs until the end of Sept 12th, and then I'll pick a winner.

Happy blogging and good luck!

Do The Unthinkable...

Scott Rigsby turned his life around from over a decade of countless doctor visits and hospitals, 26 surgeries, amputations, depression, fear, and uncertainty. He has reached unprecedented heights as a world-class athlete.He completed 13 triathlons and 5 road races on his way to setting world records for a double below-the-knee amputee in the Full Marathon, Half Ironman, and International Distance Triathlon, earning him a spot on the 2006 USA Triathlon Team. On October 13, 2007, Scott Rigsby became the first double amputee in the world to have completed the grueling Hawaiian Ironman triathlon using prosthetics at the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.