Racing to end homelessness

Ran the Atlanta Mission 5K: Race to end Homelessness again this year.
This is one of my favorite charity runs, benefiting the Atlanta Mission.
Unlike last year, I didn't have a group of friends running with me. This one was a solo effort.
And this year we got a finisher's medal included with the race. Last year I paid $5 for the medal at the end.

Finished!

I'm going to need another race medal holder very, very soon!
I'm taking a break from charity 5Ks for a couple of weeks, but I've joined a couple of local running groups, so I'm meeting up with them during the week and on Saturdays and Sundays. Got to get serious about the half marathon in April and the training that goes with it.
You could say, I'm on a mission, too.

I (Heart) Good Running Weather

I thought this morning's Hearts & Soles 5K was going to be another wash out.
The forecast was supposed to be a repeat of the Hot Chocolate 5K.
Although I heard rain overnight, when I woke up it was foggy and drizzly, but not all out rain.
Met my friend Carolyn at a coffee shop where we dropped a car and we were off!
We got to Georgia State's Perimeter College Decatur Campus and there was no rain in sight.

Pre-race photo of Carolyn and me

This is an out and back course and there is a hill on the way back that always kills me. But, I got over it!
I didn't put together a team this year and Angela wasn't here to try to get us into homemade tutus like last year. No matter, I still had fun!
I ran in to my friend Dan at the race, too. He and I did the Denver half together last year and he recently ran the Miami marathon.

Me and Dan

Atlanta Track Club group photo. I'm in there!

You can see it was a little foggy this morning by the above photo.

It was a great race this morning, ending with Carolyn and me back at the coffee shop to get our cars, so we went in for a cup!

The Not So Hot Chocolate 5K

Well, it is raining cats and dogs here in Georgia this morning, so I am reminded I need to write about the not so Hot Chocolate 5K on Sunday.
What a miserable race! Cold, rainy, windy and hilly. I've run several races in conditions like this, but this year the race organizers just completely fell down.
Poor to no traffic control ahead of the race meant lots of folks not even able to get to the start on time. My friend Kellie and I did, but only because we left so early. Even then, I was worried we wouldn't make it as it took us at least 40 minutes to go half mile to our parking area.
Once at the course, there were no tents or other protection for runners ahead of time. I found a small tent where I stood crammed with other folks, but it was the only one. A little shelter would have been  nice.
At any rate, it poured for the whole race. My feet got wet, I was wet (despite my tried and true rain poncho!) and I left the race saying I'd never run it again.
Kellie was the rock star who ran the 15K.
I've no photos for this one. Just picture two gals who looked a little like drowned rats drinking lukewarm hot chocolate at the end of the race.