stroller running

3rd Annual Holiday Family Fun Day 5k presented by Mitchell & West LLC – December 3, 2016

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I knew I wanted to do some sort of holiday race this year but not per say with wearing an itchy Santa suit so I decided on this race. Going into this race I knew that I was never going to place as it always brings in all the speedsters in the area (I have seen pics from previous years). Also there is a mile option as well. I’m kinda thinking about signing up for that option as well next year. Awesomely enough the winner for both races was the same, Baptist Health South Florida Kendall Run Club pacer, Ethan Clary.

Anyways back to the race morning, I got ready and was on site an hour before the race, I wanted to make sure that I could hit up the Publix bathroom before the race started. I picked up my race packet, which was a super speedy process and headed back to the car to change Phoebe’s diaper. Of course when you choose something for a toddler to wear you must always keep an extra outfit on hand for any unforeseen issues. Just my luck Phoebe’s diaper leaked right before we got out of the car so I had to do a whole clothing change in the car before setting up the stroller.

Checking out the tree at City Hall before the race
Phoebe was a little bored before we started
Right after the race, Phoebe was out, as usual

The weather was pretty nice on race morning too, not too warm and slightly breezy, which was a bit of a problem on the final jaunt to the finish line. No one realizes just how difficult races with a stroller can be in windy conditions, I felt like I was going nowhere pushing 50 lbs of stroller/toddler. The course was different from the typical Coral Gables course around the Granada golf course and instead ran us through very shaded areas (awesome!) and in front of the Biltmore Hotel. For most of the race I followed a speedy girl whom I knew was finishing her long run at the 5k, figuring if I could keep up with her I could do pretty well. Well I did keep up with her pretty well and ended up with a new stroller PR! Official time: 23:58, 7:43 pace, almost an overall stroller less 5k PR, amazing! I stuck around to cheer on my friends still running the 5k and then for the mile race. Great event and I will definitely be back again next year, most likely doing both races, the 5k and then the mile race 🙂

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The start of the mile race. Speedsters are off!

The next day I had my first 20 miler of marathon training and by Monday morning I was feeling that speedy 5k + the 20 miler.

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Turkey Day Miami – November 24, 2016

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Running this race on Thanksgiving Day morning has become a tradition for me, been running this race since 2012, the first year I started running. The first year I only ran the 5k and since then I have ran the 10k. Phoebe has already done this race twice now. Last year it was horribly rainy and although it started out a little drizzly it cleared up before the race began. I was crossing my fingers that I would not have to run the stroller through massive puddles again. I got to the race site early and met up with some of the other ladies in Every Mother Counts South Florida team. Parking is always a bit of a problem for this race but if you get to the site an hour early its a breeze, everyone else is stressing out and you are parked and can relax a bit.

Phoebe pre-race boredom
Picky Bar swag!

 

I had the rain guard over the stroller for most of the run since the weather was sprinkly most of the way. But towards the end, in the last mile I believe I was able to lift the weather guard so Phoebe could get some fresh air since it was not raining anymore. A few years ago this race was very chilly, in the 50s but this year it was unseasonably warm. I like the out and back way of this course so you can cheer on and get cheered on by friends passing by. I finished at a respectable 54:36, which 6 minutes faster than last year’s time. There was a bit of clogging in the finisher chute, due to the race backdrop with photographers too close by. I can always expect some sort of line there but this year it was insanely long and I ended up slightly bumping someone as I tried to get through the crowd to get out into the open again. This guy ended up screaming at me for bumping into him and saying I need to pay more attention and not run over people. Very, very rude participant all because of the overcrowding in the area. Phoebe remained sleeping through it all and was finally able to escape the rude guy and the crowd. I met up with Derrick and some of our friends from the 1k run club and then we walked over to the Every Mother Counts tent to see everyone there. After some time there we headed to the food tents and I stocked up on the Picky Bars?! Again, at another local event! Never have I been so happy with the food options at a Lifetime Fitness event. Overall, another great Turkey Day race with my little running partner.

 

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RunWild 5k – 2016

I’ve done this race since 2013, almost every year that it has been happening. And every single year I try to place in my age group, one year I was actually 4th place and they happened to be giving out medals for 4th that year. But never did I think that I would place while running with Phoebe in the stroller, let alone be first in my age group!

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Phoebe’s 1st podium pic!

 

It was a chilly morning, when I checked the weather app on my phone it showed 47! Phoebe was super bundled up, only her face showing. It was as cold as Miami Marathon started out this year! What’s up with all the races being cold so far this year? I was prepared and wore a long sleeve over my Oiselle racing singlet and Oiselle fleece lined sleeves. I was wearing shorts and remarkably my legs weren’t too cold. We had to pick up our packets on the morning of the race because there was no time to head over to Footworks in South Miami during the week.

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All bundled up & ready to start!

The race started on time, unlike 3 years ago when it had to be delayed due to a lot of fog. I really did not know what to expect from this race and didn’t try to give myself any time goals. The course is super super twisty and the Bob Ironman stroller is not super easy to navigate with twists and turns. By mile two, I was hoping for it to be over already, I pushed myself pretty hard to get ahead of a lot of people at the beginning and I was not going to let them all pass me at the end. When I crossed over I found Derrick, who had a goal of a 20 minute 5k which he achieved with some seconds. We got our medals and were handed bouquets of daisies (there was also carnations being given out). We hurried to the post race party where I indulged in some tiny acai bowls. I love acai so I really enjoyed that post race treat. We walked around a little, saying hi to friends and waiting for the results to be posted. Finally they were posted and Derrick came back with a picture of the results and me as first in my age group & he got 2nd in his age group! What? I really didn’t think even placing 3rd was a possibility with the stroller. It seems that all those races I was forced to runner slower due to pregnancy and the weight gain of pregnancy has made me more determined post pregnancy to earn back my speed. At a slightly slower pace than I did the Tropical 5k a few weeks before, I came in at 25:53. A stroller 5k PR for me. Still slower than my solo 5k PR but it is great to feel like I am finally getting somewhere with my paces.

2013 & 2014
2015 (couldnt find a finish line pic) & 2016

After the awards ceremony, where I brought Phoebe on stage with me (she did cross the line before me 😉 after all) we took a stroll around the zoo to see some animals. She had fallen asleep just as they were counting down for the race to begin and stayed asleep for another 10 minutes after we finished the race. I don’t know how anyone could possibly sleep with all those turns but I guess she’s used to it from all the training runs. She rode on Derrick’s shoulders and checked out the camels, elephants and giraffes. Just as we were heading out she started to get a little cranky but that was due to her feeding being an hour delayed. I fed her and then we went to Ihop to refuel after that fun race.

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Derrick won 2nd in his AG too!

Happy little leopard bear 🙂
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Post race fuel.

This is my 4th year doing the race and for sure I will be back next year again!

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Naptime finally!

 

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