Cause running

I once had a friend ask me why I ran so many 5K races.

First, I like them. I like getting out and seeing new parts of Atlanta and its suburbs. There is really nothing like seeing the city by foot.

Second, most 5K races have a charitable component, so it affords me the opportunity to donate or raise money for charities or causes I believe in. I've run many a race that benefits breast cancer research/survivors, but I've also run races to benefit schools, leukemia research, epilepsy research, developmental disabilities research and a host of others. This morning, I raced to end homelessness.
I ran the Atlanta Mission 5K with my friend Michelle.

Michelle and me before the race

Aside from feeling good about myself for running the race and raising a little money for the cause, I also was very humbled this morning.
After so many weeks of a mild winter, much cooler temps have arrived in Atlanta. This morning's 39 degree start meant I was wearing long running tights. two long-sleeved shirts and a sweatshirt, a hat and gloves. Just pulling off my gloves to start my smartphone/running app made me groan.
So imagine my chagrin when the race director lead us all in prayer this morning before the race, and reminded all of us that while we are out in the cold for just a few minutes, there are those among us that don't get to go back to warm cars and warm houses. That 39 degrees, or so, is a constant today.
Suddenly, I realized how very blessed I am to have a roof over my head and heat coming out of the furnace.
I ran another inspiring race this past Monday, the MLK Day 5K.
I ran this race last year, but by myself.
This year, my friends Erin and Mary ran it, too.

Mary, Erin and me

Last year the race was in Buckhead, and ran throughout one of Atlanta's major business districts. Since not everyone had the day off, the course caused some traffic inconvenience to those driving that morning. This year, the race was entirely within Piedmont Park. No drivers were inconvenienced for the race.

However, all last week Atlanta saw copious amounts of rain.
I had joked that since the Atlanta Falcons had beaten the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of playoffs, we'd gotten Seattle weather all week.
That meant the MLK Day 5K ended up being part mud run, part trail run and part road race.
One really fun thing about the MLK Day 5K are the high school and middle school student drum lines that keep the rhythm (and runners) going.

A very young drum line

I enjoyed doing the MLK Day 5K and hope to make it a part of my annual races. And I think the Atlanta Mission 5K is one I will continue to run, year after year, if only to remind me of how blessed I really am.

Too warm for frostbite

This morning's 5K was the Frostbite 5K, but it was not aptly named today.

For the second year in a row, it was a balmy day for this race. I seem to remember running in a T-shirt last year as well. It was 62 degrees this morning, and has warmed up to the low 70s today in Atlanta. Not typical January weather at all.

The Frostbite 5K is also called Run with the Dogs, and the race allows dogs on the course, so there are lots of four-legged runners at this one, which means I not only have to run, but WATCH where I'm running. Some of my fellow runners are less than tidy.
I ran into my friend Julie at this race, who was with her boyfriend Chris and their pup Brewer.

Chris, Julie and Brewer

Me and Julie after the race


I ran into my friend Jennifer, too, but forgot to get our photo. Next race!
The Frostbite 5K was profitable for me. I found a dime and four pennies on the course, so the pig has been fed.
The race T-shirts this year are really cool. The shirt is the portrait of a dog by a local artist, and there was a contest to have your dog's portrait be the "poster" for next year's shirt.
I happened to see another cool shirt at the race that said "No one ever drowned in sweat." I need to find that shirt!
Certainly, no one was going to die from frostbite today, either. Just as well, I worked up quite a sweat instead.

Resolving to run, and write

Oh boy.
I guess it is a good thing the new year has arrived and I have resolved to do more running, and writing.
I can't believe the entire month of December went by without a single blog about the races I've run.
Dec. 1 I ran the One Love, One Heart 5K in Decatur. It's right over in Medlock Park, a very hilly neighborhood.
On Dec. 8 I ran the Jingle Jog 5K. It had been a couple of years since I had run that race.

Ready to run in my Santa hat!

 Turns out my co-worker Patsy ran it as well, but neither one of us thought to ask the other if she was running it. I would have liked to have caught up with her at the start/finish at least.
It was a drizzly day for that race, but not too cold, so it wasn't all that bad.
I ran a really fun race Dec. 21 called the End of the World 5K.

End of the World 5K

End of the World 5K

The race was a play on the hoopla over the Mayan calendar ending on Dec. 21, 2012 and was it the end of the world. People dressed up in some pretty creative costumes for the race.

Some Mayan fun

The race was at night in Marietta, and it was COLD. It was pretty much and out and back course from Jim Miller Park and it ran by the county landfill and other government buildings (like the jail). As such, there were very few street lights, so as I'm running along I look up and can see the constellation of Orion. That was pretty darn cool, to see the stars during a 5K race.
The End of the World 5K was my final race of 2012.
In keeping with tradition, I counted up all of my found money from 2012, and the grand total this year was $3.45.
I started the new year off by running the Resolution Run 5K in Kennesaw.
I ran this race last year, but what a difference! Last year I ran the race in short sleeves and this year was rain, rain and more rain. I was soaked through by the end of this race. And cold!

I am soaked and I haven't even started the race yet!

But I found a quarter and a penny during the race, so the pig got fed on the first day of the new year.
Which brings me to my resolutions, to run more and write more.
Although I run a 5K nearly every weekend, my running during the week had really fallen off last year. I used to run at least three times a week. Slacking off has meant some very unwanted weight has crept up on me. I bet I've gained 15 pounds in the past year and a half. I know my pants and skirts are snug, if not downright tight.
So, I am resolved to step up my running. It is exercise, for me, that gets, and keeps, the weight off.
And I'm resolved to do more writing.
Last year my resolution was to write my book. I'm up to chapter 5, but it has been very slow going.
I think part of it is I write for a living, and when I get home from a long day of writing and editing, the last thing I really want to do is write and edit.
But I am getting a lot of encouragement from my friends, including my co-worker Rachael. I sent her the first few chapters. She's a working mom and wife, so she readily admits she can only read a couple pages at a time. But she tells me she likes what she is reading and will want more chapters when she finishes what I gave her. That encourages me to write!
So let's hear it for resolutions. The new year is a great time to reflect and recommit to whatever we feel will improve ourselves.
Here's to a great new year.