Will run for chocolate

I run for a lot of reasons. Today, that reason was chocolate.
This morning the Hot Chocolate 5K & 15K rolled into town. It's a race series held all over the United States. Run the race and get hot chocolate, chocolate fondue and things to dunk in that fondue at the end of the race.
The race has been in Atlanta before, but I'd not run it until this morning. I ran it with friends Kellie, Sasha and Joy, the same friends at the Anything Is Possible 5K. We must love unusual races!

Me, Sasha, Kellie and Joy

Hot Chocolate race start

It wasn't nearly as cold this morning as yesterday. It was about 10 degrees warmer, so still below freezing. The nice part of this race, other than the chocolate at the end, was the really nice running outerwear we got instead of a T-shirt. I wore it this morning and it was warm. I know I will use it a lot.
My race time was about a minute and a half slower today than yesterday's race, and honestly, I'm a bit surprised it was that close today because my legs felt tired. The race started and finished at Turner Field, and I've run a similar course at other races, so I knew it would be hilly. In all, I'm pleased with today's race.
Maybe I'll have another piece of chocolate to celebrate!

Is my smile frozen?

January is turning out to be a cold, cold month in Atlanta.
So it was no surprise that this morning's Race Against Homelessness 5K, which benefits the Atlanta Mission homeless shelter, was 21 degrees at the start.
Can you believe I talked my friend Michelle into this?

All smile before the start!

Michelle with the Atlanta SkyView Ferris wheel in the background

Me with the SkyView in the background

We did this race together last year, and what struck me was it was cold (not as cold as today, but cold) last year, too, and the race director delayed the start of the race by about 20 minutes because of a glitch in the race number pick-up. More people than expected turned out for last year's race, which was a really nice problem to have!
A collective groan went up when the race director announced the delay last year. Then he reminded all of us that we get to go home to a warm house when the race is over, and the folks we were running for do not. Puts it all into perspective.
So today, as cold as it was, I did not complain. It was really bitter out. Wind chill in the single digits. I was wearing two sets of gloves and I could not feel my fingers.
But I kept reminding myself that I do not have to suffer through those temps for long. I cannot imagine living out on the streets in these temperatures. I thought of the single mothers with children, who have no place to turn. I cannot imagine their anguish.
So I was happy to run this race, as cold as it was, and to raise money to end homelessness in Atlanta. It's a race we must win.

Drumming and running

Monday was Martin Luther King Day here in the United States, and for the third year it was the MLK Day 5K in Atlanta.
This year's race was much bigger than last year and much colder!
It was 34 degrees at the start. This race is part cross country, part road race. I dislike the cross-country part because I'm not very good at trail running, probably because I just don't do enough of it.
I ran this race with my co-worker and friend Ellie and her boyfriend Dave, whom I met at the race. Both Ellie and I went to the University of Missouri, and Ellie wore her Mizzou hat. She's lucky I didn't steal it!! I want one!

Dave, Ellie and me before the race

What I love about this race is there is a drum line that is part of the race. This year there were LOTS of drum line participants. The first year and last year, there were really only drum lines at the start and finish. This year, there was motivation all along the way. This race has really grown every year.

Motivating drum line

Keeping us going

Strong support

 I can see that my January races are going to be marked by really cold temperatures. I've got two races this weekend and I don't think either start will be above freezing temperatures.
It has been so cold the past few days, that I saw this near my office as I was walking to lunch yesterday:

Frozen fountain

The fountain really was pretty all frozen, but you'd think someone would have thought to turn it off, if only to ensure no pipes froze or burst!

I'll try to remember the volunteer drummers as I race this weekend, hearing the rhythm in my head to keep my legs turning.

Rained out

I got rained out of the Frostbite 5K this year.
I got rained out of the Atlanta Women's 5K for the same reason -- monsoon rains, but more importantly, lightning.
I can't say I wasn't disappointed I got rained out. I was to meet my friend Julie to run this race. It's about the one time of year Julie and I run a race together.
We did meet up, all nice and wet.

completely soaked

Even with the rain poncho, I was about as wet as Julie for this one. I had gone back to my car to drop off the race T-shirt, which was handed out before the race, a rarity, and the wind picked up and the rain came sideways. Before long, my legs, feet and shoes were soaking wet. There is just nothing worse than cold wet feet.
Julie, who had brought her dog Brewer, went home to drop him off since the rain was not letting up, and we were lined up to start the race at least once, but every time we tried to start, it would start to lightning and storm again.
Finally, the race directors called it off.
Ironically, later that afternoon, the sun came out and it was very, very pleasant. If only it could have been quasi-pleasant Saturday morning!
So, I've had my first rain out of the year. I hope it is the last.

New Year, New Me

Ah, a new year. Such endless possibilities.
First, let's talk about the end of 2013. I spent the holidays with my family in South Carolina, where my father turned 75. How the hell did that happen? Because in my mind, he's my age and I'm a whole lot younger than my chronological age.
Second, it's time for my annual count of my "found money" out of the found money piggy bank.

The found money pig

This year, I collected $4.20. I think that will get me a grande coffee at Starbucks!
Third, I finished 2013 with my neighbors Christine and Christopher, as I have for the past seven years. It's a tradition I have come to cherish. We make a lovely dinner and watch a movie and ring in the new year with some bubbly.
I made butternut squash soup and tiramisu. Christine made pork roast with roasted potatoes and asparagus. it was all so yummy.
I didn't make it to midnight. I went home early, but ended up on Facebook chatting with my running buddy Jessica and ended up signing up for the Publix Georgia Half Marathon in March! I know I'm ready, but I'm planning on running a half marathon in Kansas in April, so this pushes training up my a month. Oh well! It can be done.
On New Year's Day, I was at the start line for the Resolution Run 5K with my friend Angela.

Me and Angela before the race

 We didn't do too badly for this chilly race. Really, it wasn't so bad. It was in the mid 40s at the start. Sure beats last year when it was raining and really cold. I ended up running this race 10 second slower than last year, but I felt good through the whole race, even though I hadn't run in two weeks.

Selfie during the race.

who is that kid with the foam rollers? Me and Angela

I'm pleased with 2013 as a whole. I ran two half marathons, when I thought distance racing was behind me. I had great fun running with my friends Erin, Angela and Jessica, among others.
Geez, I turned 50 and nothing exploded or imploded! :)
In all, I feel like 2014 will be another wonderful running year. After all, it really is a whole new year, and a whole new me.