The Tradition - 8 Summers

For my herd - Yes, it's blog post! Don't faint!

We started running in 2006. Wow, almost 9 years ago. It still amazes - that we ever got this crazy idea to start running. 

In 2007, Elsie, Betty and I decided to do the End of Summer Fire Run for the first time. I have no idea why. Do you remember why we did this? Betty and I had run the AFC 1/2 Marathon for the first time the previous weekend. It was our first half. Maybe a four mile run sounded like fun? Maybe we signed up for the race before the half, not really thinking about what we were doing?

We hadn't run a marathon yet, so there was no Hefferblog to record the event. I was pretty surprised that I had a photo. Thank goodness Millie was there, or I probably wouldn't have any photos!

Fire Run 2007 - Elsie, Betty and D2... before she received her Heffername - Millie

Fire Run 2008 - I guess we convinced Mik to run with us this year. It looks like it was cool, but it probably wasn't. 

Fire Run 2009 - The years of the neon, day-glo, glow-in-the-dark, lime green shirts. We ended up on local TV because of them!

Fire Run 2010 - Must have been another cloudy year, thus the sweatshirts. After-run breakfast at The High Dive with Irene and Michael. Apparently no Mik that year, but Walter decided to join us!

Fire Run 2011 - Elsie and I are committed to the neon, day-glo, glow-in-the-dark, lime green shirts.

The only year we missed the Fire Run, was 2012. Actually, we had signed up for it, but the girls decided that I needed to see REO Speedwagon for my 50th birthday, so they kidnapped me for the weekend, and we missed it.

 Fire Run 2012 - DNS - We sent winetasting and REO Speedwagoning instead - An excellent tradeoff!

So, for the last two years, I guess it's really become the end of summer tradition! 

Fire Run 2013 - We were BAAAAACK! Big Crew at the PB Bar and Grill. You have to know that there would be no link to a previous blog where I wrote about the race ...the Hefferblog was clearly in decline by last year. I guess I could note here that there were quite a few PBs last year - myself and Walter included.

Fire Run 2014 - I guess we are kinda over the bright green now.  Beautiful and sunny morning. We have certainly gotten a little lazy about our pre-race prep. Shout out and THANK YOU to Betty for carrying my and Walter's gear since we missed the bag check...GAH! (had to get one GAH! in there!!!)

Here's to 8 more years of Fire Running!

Here's one more - From PB Bar and Grill.

Love you gals! 

Hugs,

Alice

I Didn't Mean to PB

My running life has been quite the surprise recently*.

I mean, I thought that once I turned 50, I'd pretty much slow down...and by slow down, I mean that I thought I'd just start running slower, not run less.

But that's not how it's really worked out, not that I'm particularly running more, but I am running faster. I'm not sure why.

Take a look at my last five of the last six races. My PBs are in bold print. I've run all of these since turning 50.

February 2014 - Sue Kren (15K) - 1:35:22 (10:15)
February 2014 - Home of Guiding Hands (5K) - 28:23 (9:08)** and ***

January 2014 - SuperRun (10K) - 57:39 (9:17)

November 2013 - Run for the Hungry 5K - 26:38 (8:34)

August 2013 - End of Summer Fire Run (4 Miles) - 35:12 (8:54)

March 2013 - San Diego 1/2 Marathon -  2:17:43 (10:31)

This morning's PR at the Sue Kren 15K was particularly surprising because I really, really, really hadn't intended to be anywhere near a personal best. First, the 15K distance is difficult. It's a long race. Not a 10K where you can push yourself, but not a half-mary either. Also, for the first time this particular race was a low tide run, on the sand.

Walter and me before the race. We won't make comments about the beautiful weather...but it was.

Sand running has never been my favorite. To be honest, I avoid it like the plague, yet there I was this morning, running my first 15K in three years, on the sand. This morning's run was also the longest training run before the San Diego Half Marathon in two weeks, so my overall goal was to run slow, finish, and not get hurt.

And I honestly felt like I was taking it easy (or as easy as one can run 9.3 miles).

So, I was pretty surprised when I looked at my time this afternoon and realized that I had another personal best this year.
___________
* No more surprising than a blog post by me!

** Disclaimer. The HGH5K was the last three miles of an eight mile run...and I feel pretty good about the close to 9 minute pace having already run 5.

*** Full disclosure, I actually won my age group in this race! Woot!

My first "first place" medal!