Let's Finish This! (Tuesdays on the Run Edition)

As I continue my goal of doing at least one race a month this year, my pick for the September race was easy, the Speak Up 5k.


In 2014 I ran the Shamrock 8k and volunteered at the half.  I would learn that a 16 year old girl, Cameron Gallagher, passed away just after she crossed the finish line of the half.  She suffered from depression and anxiety and wanted to raise awareness of teenage depression by creating the Speak Up 5k.  Her parents, who did not know she was working on it, found the plans, sponsorship requests, and speeches for the race and made it into reality in September 2014.  I've wanted to do this race since, but each year I had a conflict.  This year I didn't.

The race was in Byrd Park, the same park where I did the Frostbite 15k.  I arrived there about an hour early so that I could find parking and do packet pickup.  I found parking just across the street from the park and went to pick up my bib and shirt.  The packet pickup was by bib number, not last name.  Thankfully they had a bib lookup board.  The shirt was so soft, I can't wait to wear it.


There was an after party and the booths were mostly set up.  I decided to walk around and see what was there.  I was amazed that this 16 year old girl had this dream and her family and friends made it come true.  It was sad that she was not here to see it come true.


It then hit me that there is that much support and help out there for those with mental illness today.  I started to tear up thinking that if there was this much support and openness out there when I was a teenager, I probably wouldn't have been in so much pain.  While I am fairly comfortable talking about my depression and anxiety now, it was much different when I was a teenager.  I teared up, partly because I was happy for those that have the resources but also sad that I didn't have the same thing.  To say the least this was a very meaningful race, even before it started.

They were also handing out this card. Take time to read it both ways, it’s very cool. 

I headed back to my car to put my shirt up and grab my race things.  I also wanted to get some cash to donate to the CKG Foundation.  I hung out at my car a bit and before I knew it, it was time to head to the start line.

They had pace signs lined up and I headed to the back of the start line.  Cameron's dad said a few words before the start, including letting us know that it was not a race, but an experience.  He said that before Cameron started the Shamrock Half, she turned to her friend and said "Let's finish this!".  And we were off.


The morning was overcast and very humid out.  There were so many walkers where I started and had to run off the path to get around.  I love walkers, but I think they should have had one more pace sign for walkers so that the runners could start ahead of them.

There were several cheer stations.  Some had high fives, others had water soakers and silly string.  and others had bubbles.


There was even a bag pipe group.


This park had a 3 lakes and we were able to go around all three.  There was also one water stop that we crossed twice.


I couldn't wait to finish, only because it was so hot and humid.  Everyone was drenched with sweat.  A couple of the people taking photos were from my photography workshop that I took over the summer.  It was fun to see them.

There were also a lot of inspirational signs.


Thankfully there was a lot of entertainment on the course to help distract me from how humid it was.  I was grateful to see the finish line.  I crossed the finish line and was surprised to see that they were handing out medals.  They also had cups of water and tons of food.


I walked around one more time through the booths in the after party.  They even had a bounce house set up for the little ones.  I was glad I did this race and know I will be back again.


If you or someone you know is suffering from depression, anxiety, or any thing else, Speak Up.  There are resources out there to help.  Remember you are not alone, help is available.

I’m linking up with with MCM Mama Runs, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and My No Guilt Life for the Tuesdays on the Run linkup.

Pony Pasture 5k 2018 (Tuesdays on the Run Edition)

As I was doing all of my recaps for the last few races I participated in, I realized that as of June, I had done at least one race a month.  Being half way through the year, I decided to see if I could finish the year doing at least one race a month.  I signed up for the Pony Pasture 5k that was on July 28th.  It was down by the river and after looking at the race results from last year, I knew that I would be able to finish before they packed up the finish line.


Pony Pasture is a popular hangout on the James River.  It is where people come to walk some of the trails, put their kayak/canoe/tubes in to ride down the river, or swim.  I was down there a few weeks ago with my photography workshop taking pictures.  The race was to start at 7:30 and while you could pick up your packet the night before, there was also packet pickup before the start of the race.  While the parking lot there is big, it would not accommodate all of the people expected, so they set up a shuttle from a shopping center which was close.

I had decided that I would pick up my packet before the race.  And since I knew the parking situation was not great, especially if I want to bring my shirt back to my car, I decided to get there a little before sunrise and take pictures as the sun rose.  I got there about 5:50 and brought my camera and tripod down to the river.  For the next 30 minutes or so, I just took different pictures as the sun came up.

By 6:30 I was packed up and ready to find the table where I could pick up my bib and shirt.  There was only one person in front of me and they just asked for our name, no ID needed.  The bibs were not chip timed, so I got the next bib on the stack.  They gave me my shirt and that was it.  The shirt is one of those soft cotton ones, which I like to wear around the house.


The park had real bathrooms, so I went to use them.  I then walked around some, stretched, and played on my phone till the race was ready to start.  At the start it was 72 degrees with 100% humidity.  I was drenched before we even started.  I debated on carrying a water bottle with me, but in the end I decided it was too much trouble.


The race was an out and back and everyone lined up on River Road for the start.  They played the national anthem and then we were off.  Not knowing how my knee would be, I decided on a 30/45 run/walk.  Soon enough the runners were ahead and there was a good little group around me doing different run/walk intervals.

River Road is very pretty with the river very close.  There were plenty of trees which provided plenty of shade, even though it was overcast through the first part of the morning.  They did not close the road from traffic, but since it was 7:30 on a Saturday, there were not a lot of cars out yet.


There was a water stop just after the first mile marker.  Just in time as I was getting thirsty.  Soon after that I could tell my knee was going to act up.  It wasn't hurting yet, but it was tight.  We continued down the road to the turn around.

Since it was an out and back, we had the same water stop again a little after the second mile.  On hot days like that, I am glad we had a second water stop.  By the second mile, my knee started to officially hurt.  I continued on, running slowly and making sure I took all of my walk breaks.  It wasn't bad like it was for the Star Wars Half, but it did hurt some.


Before I knew it, I had hit the 3 mile marker.  I couldn't believe that I was almost done.  Despite the humidity and a little bit of knee pain, it felt like I was only out there for a mile.  The finish line was a turn into the parking lot and down a small hill.  There were still tons of people there cheering the finishers on.  Since it was not chip timed, several people were calling out the bib numbers and the time as we ran down the chute.

This being a small race, there was no medal.  I kinda wished we got a medal instead of a shirt, but that's OK, I did only have to spend $20 for registration, so it's a win either way.  The only thing I didn't like was that I didn't see any water or fuel for after the race.  I didn't look very hard, as I had water at my car, but I did think that was odd.

I walked down to the water and got a finisher picture with the river.  I stretched some and headed home.  The good news was by the time I got home, my knee felt good.  So maybe I am on my way to recovery with it <knock on wood>.  Overall, I really enjoyed this race.  While it wasn't as exciting as the Run and Ride 5k from last month, it was just peaceful.  Everyone was super nice and encouraging and being down by the river was the icing on the cake.  I would do this race again.



Would you rather have a shirt or medal?  

I’m linking up with with MCM Mama Runs, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and My No Guilt Life for the Tuesdays on the Run linkup.

Run and Ride Kings Dominion 5k (Tuesdays on the Run Edition)

There is a series of races around the country that has races through amusement parks.  No, this is not part of runDisney, but the Run and Ride series.  They put on different length races in four different amusement parks around the country.  I am lucky enough to have one of those four close to home, Kings Dominion.


This is the third year of the race and the weekend includes a 1 mile and 5k on Saturday and a Quarter Marathon (6.5 miles) and half on Sunday.  They also offer a ticket in the cost of the registration, but you had to use it the same weekend.  You could choose a lower costing registration that did not come with the park ticket as well.  There is also a Total Inversion challenge.  This included the Half or Quarter Marathon and the 5k.  The only thing that was on the web was that you get a 30% discount on the 5k.  I didn't even know that it existed except that I saw it was a cheaper option when I signed up for the 5k.  I went to try and figure out what that was and I couldn't find any other information.  I don't think they give any extra swag beyond what comes with each race.  I chose the 5k which took place on June 2nd.

I had been debating on doing this race for a few months.  As time got closer I was having issues with my knee and really didn't know if I should sign up and run another race with my knee acting up.  At the same time, this was a race that I really had wanted to do for the last couple of years.  In the end, I signed up for the race.  On Friday.  The day before the race.  I opted not to get the park ticket as I had to use it that weekend and I've been there several times in the past.  Even without the park ticket, signing up the day before made it an expensive race.

Thankfully they had packet pick-up before the race, so I didn't have to make two trips there.  I got there early to make sure I had time to get my bib and put everything in the car before the race.  I was glad I got there early as there was a huge line already.  It took me about 10 minutes to get through the line.  The swag was a hat that came with race registration.  I ended up paying to get the shirt too, because it was Snoopy themed.  Hello, cute!


The start area was right outside the park.  The theme was Peanuts, and they had some cute signs decorating the area.


This was my favorite.

I took my stuff to the car and came back to the start area.  I noticed that Charlie Brown was coming out.  I of course had to get a picture with him.


I hung around the start area and stretched some.  Soon, Snoopy came out.  He headed to the finisher backdrop and quickly a lined form to get a picture with him.  Glad I knew to follow him so I didn't have to stand in line.


The Clown Band had come out as well to entertain us till the start of the race.  They kinda reminded me of a marching band from school.  They played some songs for us and also told jokes.  Some were corny and some were actually a bit funny.


The band finished up about 5 minutes before the race and we were instructed to head to the start line.  The only issue there is that they filled up the area from front to back.  Since I wanted to be towards the back, I had to work my way through all the people standing at the front to get behind them.  They should have had us walk around to the back to fill in.


They soon played the national anthem and then we were off.  It was in the mid 70's with high humidity.  For the heat and humidity I don't think it bothered me too much.  At least at the start.  The first part of the race went through the parking lot, but very soon they had us in the park.  As I was running through I realized that it had been probably 15 years since I actually was in the park.  As I saw all the new things, it made me wish I opted for the park ticket. 


We came around and they had us running on the car track, but only for a very short time.


We then came to this dinosaur area, Dinosaurs Alive, that was new to me.  It looked like a path with life size replicas of different dinosaurs.  They were huge and some had buttons where you could press and have different parts move and make sounds.


Really cool. 

Then they had us go through a gift shop, which I found amusing.  My knee hurt a little at the beginning of the race, but by this time it worked itself out and felt fine. 


We went around the Wind Seeker, which was new to me.  It looked like a very tall swing type ride.


Then we came around to the Twisted Timbers.  This ride area used to be the Wayne's World coaster.  It is now the newest ride that they keep advertising on TV.  It is part wooden and part medal.  Not sure how that makes it different, but it's the newest coaster.


The next area they took us to was the water park side of the amusement park.  Last time I was here, they had some water rides, but I never actually been on them.  The heat had started to get to me and I realized that we hadn't had a water stop yet.  And I was thirsty.  The first part of Soak City we went through was a wave pool.  They actually had us run right next to it (with a life guard on duty).  I saw a guy ahead of me take his hat and get it full of water to dump on his head.


We ran by a splash pad, where water comes out of the ground and other designs.  This one was off and I was disappointed as I wanted to run through the water to cool down.  We ran through another wave pool area.  More people were splashing water on themselves.  We then ran past another splash pad and this one was on.  I ran through it and it felt so good.  A young girl followed suit behind me and then she complained that she was wet.  LOL.  We then ran by the Lazy River and I so just wanted to jump in and relax on one of the floats.


It was time for us to leave Splash City and head back into the other side of the park.  We ran by the Drop Zone.  That has been there since the last time I was there.


We cam back around to the area where the Shock Wave used to be.  That was a roller coaster that you stood up on.  They tore it down a few years ago.  We finally came to our first and only water stop.  I took 2 cups I was so thirsty.

We ran past the Country Kitchen.  That restaurant has been there since the first time I went to the park.  When we went as a family, we always had a meal there.


We then entered the Planet Snoopy section.  This is an area full of rides for little ones.


They turned us so we went into Safari Village.  This section of restaurants and shops was exactly how I remembered it.


We ran by my favorite ride of the park that I remember, Volcano.  It is such a smooth ride with a very fast take off.


We headed back into Planet Snoopy.  It really is a cute area of the park.


With Snoopy.


And Woodstock.


We came around and there was a hill towards the very end.  That is mean.  I turned the corner and there was the finish line!

After I got my medal I made a beeline to the water.  They were out of water bottles except for one case that was being opened as I go there.  Seriously, with it as hot as it was, I couldn't believe the lack of water.  I grabbed a bottle and downed it right there.  I was going to grab a second, but I noticed a jug to fill up water bottles and went over there to refill my bottle.  They did have plenty of chocolate milk, but I just wanted water.


I headed to my car and at that point I was glad I didn't get a park ticket.  I was hot, thirsty, and hungry and all I wanted was to take a shower to cool down and clean off all the sweat.


Except for the lack of water, this was an amazing race.  It kinda reminded me of runDisney at the beginning before they sold out in a day.  I am defiantly doing this one again, but will sign up earlier so I don't have to pay as much next time.  I'd sort of like to do the Quarter Marathon as well, but looking at the course, we spend half of it in the parking lot.  You really get great park time with the 5k.

Have you done a Run and Ride Race?  Do you prefer water or chocolate milk after a race?

I’m linking up with with MCM Mama Runs, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and My No Guilt Life for the Tuesdays on the Run linkup.

Star Wars Dark Side Expo 2018 (Friday Five Edition)

I'm finally getting to my Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon Weekend recaps from April.

On the Wednesday before the weekend, I headed down to Disney World in the evening after work.  The plan was that I would stay with my friend Kelly and her husband Franklin that night and after the Expo on Thursday I would move to my own room.  We did it last year and it worked out great.  This year, because of work, Franklin was not going to get there till Thursday evening, so it was just the girls for the Expo.


Kelly likes to get to the Expo early and wait for the doors to open.  I know we would have to wait either way, so I was fine heading there early.  We took an Uber to ESPN and got there a little before 8 and there was already a short line outside.  Last year we spent the time outside, so I brought a blanket for us to sit on.  The moment we got comfortable they started moving the line inside.  Since the official merchandise area is in a new building, there was room to have us wait in a room inside.


We chatted some and we both brought things to work on.  When we left the room to use the bathroom, you could see the empty Expo.  It was fun to see it empty with all the items there.


There was a DJ there for awhile and the music was too loud.  And every time he talked to the group, you could not understand a word he said.


The Expo was supposed to open at 10, but they let us in about 9:30.  I had seen the Disney blog about the merchandise and had an idea of what I wanted to see.  We did a once through and grabbed items that interested us.  They had tables on the side, so we grabbed one and went through everything we grabbed and tried things on.

The pre-purchased items could be picked up in the same area so we took turns picking up our items and putting things back that we didn't want.  It actually worked out well.  The per-purchased items were to include a magnet, a shoe ordainment, and a figurine.  Well it turned out that we got two ordainment and two figurines.   We came to a conclusion that maybe the ordainment and figurines from the Light Side in Disneyland were ordered before the race was canceled and they couldn't cancel it.  Therefore they were part of the Dark Side items.  We don't know for sure if that is true, but that was the only thing we could figure.


Noticed that they had an artist section set up.  I went over and looked at the drawings and saw the

Millennium Falcon.  I had the artist write "Never tell me the odds." on it and went to pay for my merchandise while I waited for that to be done.

After we paid, we got in the Dooney line.  When I saw pictures on the website I wasn't sure if I liked it or not.  But seeing them in person, I did like the clutch.  They were selling Passholder shirts which I fell in love with.  Kelly was a Passholder and was able to get herself, her husband, and me one.

I picked up my personalized Millennium Falcon and we headed out of the merchandise area.  We saw that they had characters setup for pictures.  As we waited in line for Jabba the Hut, Kelly went to get a drink and came back with this AT-AT.  OMG it was awesome.  It moved and opened up.  It was almost as nice as the toys my mom wouldn't buy me when I was a kid.  I had to have one!

We got our pictures taken with Jabba.

And then with the Storm Troopers.

We had done everything we could do in that building and headed to the building to pick up our bibs.  As we left there were more photo opportunities.  There was the Viper probe droid.

We went in to get our bibs.  Along with the races for the weekend we had to pick up our medals for the Star Wars Light Side virtual race that we did.  They gave us a box which contained the medal, and "I did it" magnet, and a little BB-8 that light up and made noise when a button was pushed. 

On the way to the main expo they had the runDisney icon out. 

In the Expo area they had more cool photo ops. 

I couldn't find my Rock Tape before I left, so I decided to have them tape my knee and buy a couple of roles.  After I passed the Sweaty Band booth and saw that they had a bunch of holiday headbands in their clearance area.  Yes please.

We made it around to the shirt pickup and got our race shirts.  I asked the people at the runDisney booth when and if they expect to have Star Wars Light Side back.  They said that there was a new hotel being built in the parking lot where the finish area usually is and that they wouldn't be back till the construction was done.  Knowing that I don't know where they would put the finish area if that parking lot is gone.  But I did notice on one of their brochures that they are still having the Star Wars Light Side virtual run for next year.  It is the only Disneyland race that they made virtual.  

While there the topic of the virtual summer series came up.  Kelly said that they signed up for it to get in a few longer runs through the summer.  Granted, they do track through the summer, so 3 miles is a longer run for them.  I thought since I probably will do more biking through the summer then running, this would get me out to do a few runs through the summer, so I signed up.  Plus the medals are so super cute!!

I also stopped at the Roo Sports booth.  I had bought one the week before at the Ukrop's 10k

 and noticed that the earphone hole was fraying.  They were super nice and exchanged it without question.  I also talked to the owner about how the corners of the pocket poke out and she thought it was a good idea to do something about that.  If they do, I'll defiantly buy another one.

I finished up the last row of the expo and noticed that there were people trying on compression sleeves.  I was interested as I had tried different brands and they were always too tight for me.  I got measured and tried on a man and woman sizes.  They were comfortable so I bought a pair.


Both Kelly and I were exhausted and ready to head back to the hotel.  We got back and dropped off our stuff.  We had lunch at the hotel and she went off to Epcot and I went to check into my room.  I moved my stuff into my room, showered and rested.  When Franklin got in, I met him at the bus stop.  Since it was pretty late, the plan was that he would jump right on the Expo bus to get his bib.  I met him to take his carry on items from the plane to his room so that he didn't have to carry them around the Expo.

It was an early night for me as I would have to get up early for the 5k.

Continue reading about the Star Wars Dark Side weekend with the 5k.

I'm linking up with Fairytales and Fitness and Running on Happy for Friday Five 2.0