Races

Being a runner, I absolutely love to compete in different races, and I have competed in several since I graduated from high school and no longer travel to cross country meets competitively. I have now ran in three half-marathons, two 5ks, one mud run, two turkey trots, and one bike race (well it wasn’t really a race, it was more like a bike rally).

I know this doesn’t seem like a lot, but since I have only been out of high school for about two and a half years and races are pretty expensive, I think this is quite a bit. Also, I don’t usually run in shorter races, such as the 5k’s, because since I have started running in half-marathons, I just enjoy the long races so much more. I have absolutely loved the three different half-marathons I have done, and now I want to try something new to challenge myself more. I am very interested in training for a triathlon, and maybe even one day a full marathon. Maybe…one day 😉 I am trying to get Ryan to sign up for a triathlon with me, and he says as long as the running portion isn’t longer than three miles he is in! (Ryan isn’t really into running. And when I say he isn’t really into it, I mean he hates it and thinks running for no reason is stupid. He doesn’t understand what he is missing 🙂 )Now, I just have to find a place where we can train for the swimming portion of the race before I sign us up for one!

This is a picture of me finishing my second half-marathon in 2011.

I did my first Turkey Trot my senior year of high school and loved it! It is an 8 mile race in Dallas on Thanksgiving morning. I can’t think of a better way to start out a day full of eating good food than a long early morning run! In 2010, I ran my second turkey trot with my friend, Carolyn, that I met in college. Carolyn ran much slower in order to run with me though, because she is a CRAZY FAST runner! She actually just started her own blog too. You should check her out!

http://carolynsrunonlife.blogspot.com/2013/01/new-name-new-horizons-new-blog.html

My sweet Daddy drove me to the Turkey Trot and supported me as I ran! I sure do love him!

My first bike rally was last April in Dallas. Ryan and I participated in the Tour Dallas, and I had a blast. Ryan and I rode around Dallas for 30 miles, the longest Ryan and I have either rode a bike. We didn’t really train for this race; we just signed up for it, which made it kind of difficult. I know what you are thinking. Why would you sign up for a 30 mile bike race and not train for it? Well, in our defense, we had every intention of training for the race, but we just ran out of time! But we finished it, and we were proud! 

In September of 2012 I ran in the Labor of Love 5K run in McKinney. This was a special run because this was my Dad’s first 5K! My dad, Ben, Kaleigh, and I all ran in this race, which made this very memorable to me. Since this race, my Dad has actually ran in several 5Ks, and his time is improving every time he runs! I am so happy that this my Dad is so healthy, and that we can continue to run in races together!

In October of 2012 Ryan and I both ran in the Survivor Mud Run in Farmersville. It was so cold that morning, which I thought would make it miserable. But once we started running it wasn’t too bad. We had a lot of fun though, and I am so glad Ryan was there with me to encourage me and help me make it through the obstacles!

On Halloween my university had a Zombie Run on Halloween that Ryan, my friends, and I participated in. This was a 5k race, and all of the runners had to wear three flags around their waist like flag football. The whole cross country team was dressed up like zombies, and they hid out at different points and tried to take the runners’ flags. The goal was for the runners to try to make it through the whole race with at least one flag left. Sadly, I lost all three of my flags, and one of Ryan’s flags that he gave me. 😦 But it’s okay; I still had a blast! My friend Brittany and I actually made tutus and bought some cheap wings at Wal-Mart so we could dress up like fairies for the race!

Cupid Run 5K

Labor Day 10K Run