Swimming the Peachtree Road Race

For this year's Peachtree Road Race 10K, swim fins might have been more helpful than running shoes.
I expected light off and on showers, if any rain, and instead I got a steady downpour, a course evacuation, and really, really wet.
The morning started out cool, with light rain. In fact, it didn't start raining until I was heading into the MARTA train station. I actually had to make a run for it.
I met up with my co-worker Joann and her daughter Olivia, and we started to make our way to the start line via the train.

Riding along on MARTA

I found my wave start. As you can see from the photo, it wasn't really raining then, although it had been sprinkling on and off as I waited for Wave M to begin, around 8:25 a.m. or so.

Getting ready to start

Just about to start

 The course officials are very nearly starting the countdown for our wave to begin. I've even started my running apps for the race, when lightning struck nearby.
Officials stopped the race and evacuated the remaining waves to nearby parking decks at shopping malls. It was there that I found my running buddy Angela. She was supposed to be in Wave L, and if only we could have found each other earlier and been in Wave L, we would not have had a 45 minute rain delay.

Waiting out the rain delay

 Eventually, the course was repopulated with runners and we began the 6.2-mile race. Angela and I made one pit stop at mile 2. We both agreed we'd waited so long before the start, we both had to use the restroom again! Darn it.
We made it to the finish to find a muddy mess at Piedmont Park.
We both took off our shoes and socks and walked through the swamp bare footed. I was surprised more folks didn't do the same, but we appeared to be the only ones. And we were the only ones with clean shoes at the end!!

Finishers!

There were lots of things that sort of went wrong with this race this year. I'm not averse to running in the rain, so that wasn't really it. although I do wish I had grabbed my windbreaker and run with that. It would have provided a little shelter from the wet.
In my opinion what went wrong was when the course was evacuated and communication broke down. I'm sure that will be addressed, but it did dampen the fun. Those were my post-race comments to the Atlanta Track Club, which puts on the race each year.
The other downside was because of the monsoon, I didn't get to meet up with friends I expected to see after the race, such as co-workers Ellie and Joann. We had gone together to get our numbers days before at the expo and had planned to meet up after the race.

Expo fun with Ellie and Joann

The good parts about the delay were that I did find Angela so we could run together, and that the rain kept the temps very cool, which was a big plus.
In the end, the 2015 Peachtree Road Race 10K went swimmingly. A little more literally than I'd like.

Sleepless in Seattle

I've just spent five days in Seattle, Washington, and had a great time visiting and completed a race in my 18th state with the Rock n Roll Seattle Half Marathon on Saturday.
I should have known how great a trip it would be when I saw this outside the plane window on the descent. Absolutely breathtaking, Mount Rainier.

Mount Rainier

I got to Seattle Thursday afternoon and met up with my running buddy Peggy. We stayed with her friends who own a lovely home in West Seattle, overlooking Puget Sound.

Sunset over Puget Sound

The photo above was taken from the deck of Shellie and Paul's house. Not hard to see why they love it there.
Friday morning we took the ferry over to Seattle for the expo. That morning was a little overcast, giving me a sense of what Seattle natives might be used to throughout the year.

Gray downtown morning

We walked over to the expo and picked up our numbers, shirts and other goodies. Always fun to wander around and see what races are coming up.

Expo selfie

Peggy and I had a little fun at the expo. Believe it or not I brought my new selfie stick to Seattle, but never used it!

Sightseeing at Pikes Market

Lots to see

The cruise ships were in Friday, so Pike Place Market was packed. I never did see anyone throwing a fish. I'd hoped I could have seen that, but it's OK. I saw a lot of neat vendors and artisans there. We had lunch at Wild Ginger, a Thai place nearby.
We were up early for the race Saturday, since it started at 7 a.m. Here's where the sleepless part kicks in. I didn't sleep well at all Friday night. I woke up at 2 a.m. and stayed that way until we got up at 4:30!

Space Needle start

Ready to run

Space Needle starting gun

Getting started

The race started right near the Space Needle, which was super cool. For the first time this year, the race began with fireworks off the Space Needle. You can almost see the fireworks in my photo above. I thought the fireworks would come off the very top, so I wasn't positioned quite right to get the full photo.
The route took us through Chinatown. you can almost see the dragon on the pole just ahead of Peggy.

Running through Chinatown

Chinatown's gate

Peggy is a faster runner than I, so eventually she got ahead of me and I brought up the rear. There are lots of fun things along the route, including this giant rocker.

Freebird!

Along Lake Washington

 I think one of the prettiest parts of the course was the long curve along Lake Washington. What was also nice about this part, other than the beautiful view, was it was dedicated to several of the charity organizations attached to the race, including one devoted to fallen military personnel. Many volunteers stood along this part of the course holding American flags. I wish I'd gotten a photo. It was beautiful and very moving.

Heading back toward downtown

 Another interesting part of the course is we went about a mile in a highway tunnel. It was kind of spooky. The DJ in there was playing some new age music and there were this lights swirling all around. But, because there wasn't really anything to see, it was my chance to kind of zone out and just run.

Getting closer to downtown

Along the route, and passing the Seattle Great Wheel

We ran along an elevated highway, so we could see the waterfront and ports to our left, and that included seeing the Seattle Great Wheel. I managed a selfie with it, even without my selfie stick!
At long last, I got to the finish. Not in my best time ever, but I was happy!

Finishers!

Finishers!

At the end

 For me, this finisher's medal represents state No. 18. Since we were right back where we started, we decided to take in the view from the Space Needle.

Atop the Space Needle

Enjoying the view

 And then we decided on a little lunch at Zeeks Pizza. And you know I had to have a glass of wine!

How every half marathon should end

We weren't quite finished with sightseeing and now that we were sated, we enjoyed the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum.

Beautiful art

No touching!

Garden of Glass

The Needle close by

It was such a fun day, but I will say I was wiped out by the evening. I was not sleepless Saturday night!
Sunday morning, Peggy had to return to the real world, while I got an extra day, and had brunch with my friend Carol. Carol lives in Seattle and usually runs the race, but plantar fasciitis has made her take a break. We did manage to meet up for brunch, though.

Carol and me at brunch

I must say, we both had the dungeness crab cake eggs benedict and they were incredible! Props to Portage Bay Cafe.
We wandered the Seattle Art Museum Olympic Sculpture Park. Carol got my photo next to Alexander Calder's Eagle, with the Space Needle in the background!

Love being a tourist!

I stayed Sunday night at a hotel near the airport and walked up to a little Salvadoran/Mexican restaurant for dinner, passing by what I thought was a park. Well, it is a park, but it is Angel Lake Park, so I stopped by on my way back to the hotel. The water was very brisk, but that didn't stop lots of kids from swimming in it!

One last sunset on the water

It was a magical trip. I so enjoyed Seattle and the friends I met, or reconnected with, here.

Summer running

I've run one of my favorite 5Ks in Atlanta this past weekend, the Summerfest 5K.
Usually, it's hot and humid for this race, making the hills that much more challenging, but this year the weather felt cool and the humidity wasn't really high. Plus, I think the course was slightly changed and I feel like we ran through mostly shaded neighborhoods. It really was rather pleasant.
I ended up coming in a minute better than last year!
I didn't take a single photo, which is too bad, but at the race's end, walking through the artist's area and looking at all of the beautiful artwork on display for Summerfest, many artists asked that photos not be taken, so I didn't.
Anyway, less than a week away from the Seattle Half Marathon. I'm as ready as I'm going to be!
Let the summer of running begin!

Gallop & Groove

After a two week hiatus of running in a sanctioned race, I was back this past Saturday with the Gallop & Groove 5K.
It was the first time I'd done this one, which was part of the Candler Park Arts & Music Festival.
What a hilly course! I think I say that about every course I run in Atlanta, so perhaps I should just not point that out any more. Atlanta is hilly!
The race started at 10 a.m., which is almost late for a late spring/early summer race in Atlanta. I was afraid it was going to be sweltering, but the morning was actually very pleasant.
I didn't do too badly, but when I checked my race time the next morning I was surprised to see I'd come in second in my age group! I was delighted, even if there were only two of us in my age group. Ha ha!
The only way I can place in my age group these days.
Still, it was nice to see.
Next time I'll try to gallop a little faster to see if I can't win first place.

Komen 2015

Komen Race for the Cure.
I have such mixed feelings about Komen, but even more mixed feelings about Komen Race for the Cure.
I suppose it is because, in part, I am nine years out from my breast cancer diagnosis, and with cancer more and more in the rear view mirror, it's not front of mind and not a big part of my life anymore -- thank heavens!
So I had resolved not to run Atlanta's Komen race this year. But the race is held right across from my office building. And last week the signs went up letting drivers know there would be traffic delays on May 9. And suddenly I wanted to be part of that race.
So the day before the race I signed up. I am glad I ran the race.
The weather was good, if humid. The start of summer racing in Atlanta.

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Komen selfie at the start

 I couldn't park in my office parking lot this year, but I did bring my key card, so after having breakfast in the survivor's area and getting my survivor goodies, I walked over to my office and left everything at my desk. I didn't want to run with all that!

Karen and me

 Running into Karen at the finish is really why I am glad I did the race this year. I had been meeting fewer and fewer survivors my age or younger at these races, so it was such a delight to run into Karen, whom I've known for several years. And I don't see her often anymore so it was good to see her and know she's doing well too.

finisher

 Here's another reason I was glad to do this race. The finisher's medal. It's not that need another finisher's medal, but Atlanta Komen was one of the few Komen races that gave a finisher's medal for survivors. For years I'd collected them. Then last year, there was no medal. I was disappointed. It was a nice touch. When I went to sign up the day before the race, the young lady who got me registered was the woman who DESIGNED the medal. She gave me a sneak peak. I think she did a fabulous job.

Komen Atlanta finisher's medal

So there is another medal hanging on my display rack, and I'm glad to have it. Nine years is a place I wasn't so sure I'd be. I'm glad to be here. And I think I'm already committed to next year -- year 10!

Beating the Street with Pete the Cat

I've run a local race that has been on my bucket list for at least four years.
It's the Beat the Street for Little Feet 5K. Why have I wanted to run this race? For the T-shirt!
The T-shirt always has a picture of Pete the Cat, created by Savannah artist James Dean.
But it seemed I was always either signed up for some other race, or out of town. This year the stars aligned and I ran the race with my friend Erin. Here I am "at the finish" with Pete.

Not quite the finish line, but cute nonetheless!

Erin finished with Pete, too

The course was around the Oakhurst area of Decatur and I'm telling you it was pretty hilly. I had not run the course before and both Erin and I groused about a couple of the hills. We turned in a fairly good run, though.

Finishers!

I've been wearing the coveted T-shirt all weekend. I know it is now among one of my favorites. Thanks, Pete!

Peace Love Run in the Rain

What is it with me and running races in downpours?
This morning's 5K was the Peace Love Run 5K in Woodstock, Ga. (get it?)
Yesterday I went to the dollar store looking for some love beads or peace stuff, hoping to look Groovy for the race. I ended up with some flower barrettes for my hair, but all of that was a wash this morning when I woke up to the sound of pretty heavy rain.
I packed my trusty rain poncho and picked up my friend Erin.
Now, mind you, Woodstock is about 45 minutes (without traffic on a Saturday morning) from Erin's house. And that drive was not all that fun.
We got there, thinking we may have just driven up to have the race canceled. We did see lightning, although it was infrequent.
But the race organizers were pretty enthusiastic that we were going to run the race, so here we are prepared to start!

Erin & Me in our stylish rain ponchos. :)

 The course was enclosed, all around River Ridge High School in Woodstock. Not my favorite course. It was windy, surprisingly hilly (for a high school campus that must have been graded before it was built), and really rather boring. But that really didn't matter as we were just trying to book it to get out of the rain!
About half way through, the rain tapered off. Hooray!
We ran a fairly fast race. Or, I should say, I ran a fairly fast race for me.
Here we are coming in at the finish:

coming in fast at the finish

A quick cool down lap after finishing

And don't we both look stylish in our Skirt Sports running skirts?

Syling and profiling

Erin is a Skirt Sports ambassador this year, and I'm 100 percent jealous because I got the same application she did, only I never filled it out! I certainly will next year!
I'm afraid this was likely a one and one race for me. Woodstock is way the heck OTP (that's Outside the Perimeter for you non-Atlantans) and the boring course will likely keep me from doing it again, too.
But I'm glad I did it once. Peace out!