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Last night, I drove up to stay with my mom so I could run a 5K at my old elementary school. When I woke up (if you can call it that after not really sleeping all night), my car was dusted with SNOW! GAH! But, thankfully, the ground was mostly clear.

My mom walked the 1 mile loop, which took off 10 minutes before the 5k.

And then we took off. The course was through the school's nature trail, then out through a subdivision.

It actually felt almost effortless. I resisted checking my Garmin and tried to focus on pushing myself while having fun. So I was shocked at the end:

First female overall! 24:00 clock time- a new PR (after just getting a new one on Tuesday!). My garmin said the course was .1 short, but that could have just been some mad cornering skills through the subdivision (I hugged those apexes like white on rice). Others said it was long by the same amount. So IDK.

Best thing I heard from my mom: "I tried to get more pictures, but you were just too fast!"

I love photos with both feet off the ground- it captures that feeling of flying I sometimes have when finishing a race like today!

Honestly, though, the highlight of my day was lunch afterwards. We went out to eat with my grandparents, and even though you can visibly see my grandma's health is declining, she was the perkiest I've seen her since before my dad passed away. She was witty, and cracking jokes about her ailments, and sharp as a tack. And, being my grandma, she was SOOOOO PROUD of me for running, and nearly fell out of her chair when I told her I was the 1st female- I guess it's a good thing they didn't do official awards, because I'm afraid a trophy might have made her fall all the way!

It has been a wonderful weekend. I needed that visit with my mom and family time. 

Fueled by Boston

Run to remember. Run to recover.

For the 5k on base today, I let the anger, sadness, and frustration fuel me, and I ran a new PR. Second female and 4th overall of those who participated, with my time of 24:56.

I was smiling when I got home because as runners, we endure, we persevere, and I know across this beautiful country of ours, others were out there running for Boston, too.

My heart still aches, but my spirit refuses to be squashed.

Do NOT let them win.

There are no adequate words to describe today.

My heart hurts. My soul aches.

Boston runners, spectators: you are in my prayers, and will be in my thoughts with every step of tomorrow's run.

For those who are responsible: fuck you.
You will never win.

It might take me 35 years to qualify, but I WILL RUN BOSTON. To spite you, and in spite of every terrorist there is. This was never a goal until today, but it is now.

You have no clue about the make-up of the running community. We are some of the strongest, and definitely the most determined people on this planet. We run 26.2 miles FOR FUN. We take ourselves to the edge of sanity, to the precipice of pain with every run, FOR FUN. We cannot be stopped. We will not be stopped. But you will.

Run on, my friends. Tell the terrorists they can go fuck themselves. Honor those lost and affected by this insanity. We are strong. We can, and we shall endure. After all, it's the basis of our sport.

(I apologize for the language, but strong emotions beget strong words)

Anyone have this problem?

Leg holes. Why do designers think any woman who wears a size small has pencils for legs? Why do they make garments, even pajama shorts, that don't allow for any meat on our bones?
Any one else have this problem? It's only gotten worse as I've started turning my "energy reserves" (cough, cellulite, cough) into at least a layer of muscle under less-visible "energy reserves" (because really, cellulite is just fuel for an ultra, when you break it down. Or a survival situation. Or the apocalypse. Whatever).
Thank goodness I'm crafty-literally. I deconstructed a pair of pajama shorts that fit great except for their puny leg holes, drafted a pattern, and voila! The real test will be if they are as comfortable to sleep as they are right now.
How is your weekend going? Tomorrow looks like it will be a great day to run!
PS-Matt is such a photo bomber!

Steeplechase!

Our group ran through the rain, on the flooded 5k trail on base today. It brought back memories of the steeplechase run our xcountry team did in middle school. I was soaked, from hat to feet. And it was just what I needed after a stressful morning.

Not much cleanses the soul like an awesome run through the rain!

An unexpected run, and a review

After a late night (12:30 a.m. is practically staying up until dawn for me), combined with  the fact that I'm not actually training for a big race for a few more weeks, I gave myself permission NOT to run. It was a beautiful day. I had stuff to do, and a major nap to take.

And then, after that lovely nap... I went for a run!

 Look at that weather! How could I stay inside?

Plus, I was excited to try out a shirt I won from My Race Ragz last month. I got to pick a favorite quote, and then the designed a custom shirt for me.  This is what they came up with:

The quote says, "Never let the body tell the mind what to do." Thank you, George S. Patton. I understand why my great-uncle went AWOL to get back to your squadron.

 Aren't those graphics gorgeous? I love the flowers. How did they know my favorite flowers are daisies and tulips? This little Dutch girl LOVES her shirt!

Please excuse the post-run sweat- I was too excited to go run to take pictures beforehand!

 And they put my name on the front! In case I forget who I am... and so random strangers can yell, "GO, KASEY, GO!" Which, I love. Please, yell your heart out if you ever see me run.

I wore this shirt for a quick 5k today, and it was beyond comfortable. It's dry-fit, light, and that perfect fitted-but-not-tight. I could sleep in it. Which is the only thing I'm pickier about with apparel comfort than running.

I would highly recommend My Race Ragz for a custom shirt... or check out their pre-made designs! My favorite says, "She's going the distance" (gotta love Cake!).

 Even Prudence, dirty dog that she is, approves of the shirt (when I white dog gets that yellow tinge going, you know she need a bath! Now, to convince her of this fact...).

Go check out My Race Ragz. Find them on Facebook and Twitter, too- FB is how I won mine! I don't have another big race until the fall, but you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be using  My Race Ragz the next time I need a custom shirt (man, I wish I had known about them before we did either Tough Mudder!). I'm contemplating a custom design for the either of my fall marathons: "Short skirt, long distance" (playing off a different Cake song). Feel free to "steal" my idea, as long as you use My Race Ragz to make it!

With that I leave you with visual proof that Runner's World has the best recipes of any magazine. If you could smell this, you'd be driving over for dinner: Jerk Shrimp Stir-Fry- form the May issue. It disappeared in less than 5 minutes, and I'm normally a slow eater.

 

Hope you had a great weekend!!!!!!

5 by the 5th- April amazes!

I just ran a 5k in 25:16. Unintentionally. Which might explain why I don't have any photos.

We did speed work today- 5 minute warm up, 600, 1200, 600, 5 minute cool down, all on the odd track on base that is just under 600 meters. I ended up doing one more lap to get to 3.1 miles, and when I stopped my watch, I was SHOCKED to see 25:16. My current PR is 25:15. WHAT??!!!! Especially since that last mile was "easy." Looking back at my Garmin, the second mile (which is the 1200 and the 600) combined for a 7:16 mile. That speed is unheard of for me... and holy cow, I just ran a marathon 10 days ago!

So now, I'm riding high and hoping to break 25 minutes for the 5k I have coming up on the 20th.

Happy Tuesday!!!


PS-
If you're a Saucony Kinvara 3 fan, check out Running Warehouse's sale right now. Plus they have a discount code on their facebook page for an extra 15% off.