2013 Race Schedule

Here is my personal race schedule for this year. These are all of the races I am planning on doing for sure this year. These will include both virtual (meaning you can run them anywhere during the allotted dates) and local runs. This is going to be an exciting racing season. Here are my races for the 13 in 13 challenge and then some. * indicates that there is a medal included for doing this race, some are optional if you want the medal or want all to go to charity.

*Sandy Hook Virtual 5k (Half marathon option avail) - complete any time in January, proceeds go to the united way sandy hook fund.

*Will Run For Beads Virtual 5k - Jan 19 -Feb 12 - benefits Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Tackle the Tower - Saturday, Feb 2, Cleveland OH - benefits Ronald McDonald House. 38 flight of steps. I do the race and not the fun walk. It is definitely a unique challenge and worth doing at least once for the experience

*The Sweet Cupcake Virtual 5k - Anytime around Feb 16 - Benefits Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

*Frosty Virtual 5k  - Feb 21 -25 benefits cancer society

*St Patrick's Day Virtual 5k - complete any time in March - Benefits Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Black Squirrel 5k - Saturday, April 14, Kent, OH  This one is at my alma mater and is a nice nostalgic run through Kent State Univeristy's Campus

Walk, Rock & Run -  May 4, Cleveland OH. benefits the diversity center of cleveland. Right in front of the rock hall of fame, you get a free ticket to the rock hall and science center with your walk or 5k run registration. They served great cookout food. Highly recommend this to others looking for a good 5k or a starter 5k. It wasn't too hilly and had all the extra fun things going on with it.

*Run for your lives Zombie infested 5k (mud run obstacle course)- May 25, Logan Ohio. I am really looking forward to this. It is a obstacle 5k but you get chased by people dressed like zombies. You wear football flags and if you keep one you survived the zombie Apocalypse. If you lose them all you were eaten. You get a medal either way and there is food and concerts after. I am so excited and pumped for this.

*Warrior Dash - (mud run, obstacle course) June 1st, Butler Ohio. This was one of the first 5ks I did since h/s. It was my introduction back into running. It is definitely a challenge but one I love and look forward to each year. Mud, fire, obstacles and a 5k. What's not to love?

*Hero Rush (firefighter inspired obstacle course)- July 27 Hartville, OH

*Warrior Dash (mud run obstacle course) - August 10, N Lawrence Ohio

*Fit Family Triathlon - Sept 15 Akron, Oh. I am going to do the woman's only mini

Akron YMCA Jack O Lantern Jog  - TBD

Tree City Turkey Trot - TBD

 Great NYE Race - TBD


The last three have not been announced yet. I will post the dates and links once they are announced.

Tentative races:
Ragin Cajun - Feb 12, Cleveland OH. I am going to do this one with a friend but we aren't signed up yet so it is on the tentative list until we are officially signed up and ready to go

Color Run Cleveland - did this last year and while it was a little warmer than we were used to so a lot of use walked it was definitely a fun experience and I am considering signing up again. The date hasn't been released yet so it also depends on if it is the same date as another run but I def want to do it

Virtual Treadmill 5k Summer Heat Series - I am not a fan of treadmills. I like the road or a track. My b/f wants to do it regardless... this means I most likely will be doing this one too... lol. That's how it works with us and races. If one isn't sure and the other is doing it for sure we usually both sign up. Too fun to feel left out of a running opportunity.






















 

Body Building Vs Running and an introduction

Hi Everyone. Welcome to my blog. I'm Liz. Here's some background about me. I used to run in high school. I wasn't necessarily the fastest but I was ok. My PR back then was somewhere between 27-28 minutes. Life happened. Somewhere in college and after I sort of lost sight or running. I am not here to make excuses just giving a background. I always wanted to get back into it and realized one day that the only one stopping me was me. So I did a warrior dash. The first one I did was in the summer of 2011, exactly  4 days before my 31st birthday. The hills were brutal. I even jokingly sang happy birthday internally to not think about the hill and realized wait I am almost 31 and I am doing this! It is amazing when you find out you can accomplish more than  you thought possible. Yes that was a crazy race to do as a first race back since h/s but I was glad I did it. Then I figured if I could handle that any 5k would be a piece of cake. They weren't easy. The next couple were very hilly. Ohio is full of hills so most runs here are not easy but they are I worth it. I was so glad to get back into it. My goal was to do about one run a month. I should also mention, I have crohn's. So there will be weeks where I am down and out and can't move due to extreme stomach pain. While this has slowed my progress, I am still running and still love it. Running truly changed my life. I dropped 20 lbs and kept it off. I met the man of my dreams while I was at the gym, a body builder who now runs with me.

So now that I introduced myself... this title is a little misleading. I am not going to say one sport is better than another. It isn't. Well I am biased, I like running but now I am just getting off track and no I am not saying running is better. What made me bring up this topic is that today old navy featured a blog of a body builder wearing their new fitness line. She was torn to shreds on in the comment thread. The runner they posted yesterday did not get all that negativity. Now as I mentioned my boyfriend body builds as does one of my best female friends. No matter what sport, fitness is fitness. If someone is working hard to get fit or stay in shape or to improve their body, then they should be respected not ridiculed regardless of your personal preference. It upset me the way people tore her down and called her names. Simply unacceptable. I am setting up this page as a log of my fitness progress. I started running again last year and am now doing a 13 races in 2013 challenge. I have many exciting races coming up including two warrior dashes, run for  your lives zombie 5k and many many 5ks both virtual and local. But let's keep in mind this space is pro fitness. I respect all sports and anyone looking to improve their health. Personally I probably could afford to do more weights and increase my strength as I aspire to do a tough mudder someday and running alone will never get me there. On the same token the body builders in my life decided adding some cardio is a good choice and have started to run with me. Can't we all get along? Fitness is fitness. :) Keep working. Let's make 2013 our year to shine no matter what your sport.