What's Your Dream?

Tomorrow morning I will be departing work and headed straight up to Snohomish to run in the the Snohomish River Run half marathon. I have run this race before back in 2012, their first year. Because it was their first year there were many ... difficulties. For instance the shuttles was so late that my sister and I had to walk down to the start. Which added almost another mile onto the distance for that day and then the course ending up being rather difficult at one point at the "turn around" you repeated the same spot several times and mentally it was just really hard. But I have high hopes for the race this year. There is a new "route" it's almost backward from the original and there is plenty of parking close to the start, only a couple of blocks away. I also feel that they have a better understanding for the requirements of their aid stations , they added a couple more, even more porta potties!  I just know that this year the race will be an amazing event co...

So for a couple years I have slowly watched the world of virtual racing grow and grow. If you don't know what a virtual race is, it's simple. The race host puts up a website that you go to and sign up, you pay a nominal fee, then run said distance you signed up for, record your time, post you time on the website and see your standings. These races can range from getting a free printable bib to the much more eccentric races, like the ones I am about to tell you about. So despite my doubts and wonder of how this could be enjoyable, so I decided to give it a try anyway! I am signed up for two virtual races! Don't ask me how that happened because I am not exactly sure... So I started looking into a virtual race company that one of my mega marathoner friends posts about every once in a while on Facebook. I thought "If he likes this stuff and he travels the world to run, then maybe I will!" So I looked into it and signed up for the US Road Running 's  Hallow...

First I'd like to start off with an apology to the Seattle Green Lake Running Group Pacers at the Biggest Loser Half Marathon in Everett, WA. After much discussion I learned that there were more pacers at the event that I didn't see because of some technical difficulties, contrary to my previous statement. All of the pacers were in attendance and they did a wonderful job!   That being said, previously I said I'd post my official race photos and they are in! Crossing the finish line! Staying healthy one step at a time. Keep on Running!  

The Biggest Loser Half Marathon ! This race was very different than almost every other race that I have ever run. There were several reasons why this one was so different and the first thing that made it different took place a few weeks before the race even took place! I received an email stating that the race location had been moved from Seattle's Gas Works Park to the Port of Everett. I have never had a race location be moved before, I almost pulled out of the race (they offered a refund) but I decided to stick with it, and I'm sure glad that I did!  The second thing that happened different with this race is; I bonded with my new friend Shannon on Facebook through a local running group. We kept each other posted on our other races/training runs and we met for the first time the morning of the race!  Shannon is a lovely lady and I so glad that I was able to meet her finally!  I ran this race after getting off my graveyard shift, drove the 45 minutes to Everett and t...

Today I am running in the Biggest Loser Half Marathon in Everett, WA. I am looking forward to it but I am also nervous about it.  I am already exhausted and it's only 2:00 am! I have four more hours left on my shift before I drive up to Everett as quickly and safely as I can (it will be super foggy) and get my race packet before the race! Not to mention get a parking spot which is also a big concern for me at this race because time really does matter, I don't have any to waste today. But it'll all work out, one way or the other. These are just a few things on race day that I am concerned about and I know there are many others out there that have the same race day concerns.  In preparation for today's race I made a check list of all of the things that I needed to take with me to work to get ready for the race. After looking at the list it made me realize just how much stuffing running really takes! And how much all of this stuff costs! It's crazy! It is definitely no...

Yesterday I set out for my run like normal with the distance of 6 miles in mind. As soon as I stepped outside I knew the weather was perfect for a 6 mile run, it was cloudy and cool with a slight breeze, perfect! I started off my run a little slower than normal but then decided to keep up a nice slow steady pace. At mile 3 I decided I wanted to keep going and try for 8 miles, I felt really good and didn't want to stop. At about mile 4 I could see the weather was changing it looked like rain but that doesn't stop me and decided to make mile 5 my turnaround point making my total a 10 mile run. I just felt really good and didn't feel like stopping. Then by my 5 1/2 it was pouring.  Yes, the heavens opened up and the rain came down, the last 5 miles I had to run in pouring rain. So this was my first wet run of the season. I kept pushing through and because it was pouring I fiddled with my phone to make sure that it wouldn't get drenched but by doing so I lost track of my au...