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A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

running

Completing 5Ks (or longer) virtually

June 3, 2016

Virtual racing -- a 5K for all!

Virtual racing — a 5K for all!

In this day and age, sometimes it’s hard to push yourself to train and get ready for a 5K, 10K, or longer. Some people don’t want to run or compete or walk with others in a big mob.

Some might not want to worry about times and things like that.

Others could possibly just be looking to get into better shape and be looking for something to push them. Enter the virtual races.

I stumbled upon these via Facebook (one of those sponsored ads) a while back. The virtual races I found were longer (I actually signed up for two of them as I wanted one for walking, and one for biking. Alas, unfortunately, when you log miles, it logs to both, So, from now on if I do it on that site, I’ll only do one at a time).

As I searched for more and more of these as I was interested in what was out there, I found ones set up for specific distances. You enter, pay your fee (which part of goes to charity) and you get a bib/finisher medal. You then upload you time and have it completed.

Pretty cool.

Anyway, the photo you see at the top is the first one I completed. I’m going to definitely finish the other two I have going, and then I am going to watch and join other ones I like the idea of shorter ones as I can start trying to do them all in one set. Maybe down the line I can run them more than walk them. My ultimate goal is to actually run a few of these in the future.

The two big ones I am currently doing are at Make Yes Happen. What’s cool about these two races is that they are longer and they show you virtual stops for your run — photos of the area. So one is 30.3 miles — the Dublin Pub Crawl. Make sure you go check out the medal one gets for finishing that one! I am also doing the Pacific Coast Highway — a 113.2-mile race.

The one above is from Virtual Run Events and they have some really cool ones based by month. There’s a few I want to work on for sure as the summer months come closer. I definitely am looking at doing the events set up for July, August, November, and December.

What I like is you can walk or run. With Make Yes Happen, some allow biking miles, too. It’s nice because you can do them at your own pace, give to charity, and get yourself a finisher medal and a bib (some offer them mailed to you, some are ones you have to print out).

There are plenty of other virtual race spots out there. Just do a quick Google search for “virtual races” and you’ll see. Check them out and maybe there are a few you could do to get moving and exercising. I think it’s the best aspect about it for me — another way to motivate myself to try and and keep getting healthier.

Anybody else do these? If so, what have been some of your favorites?

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Filed Under: Health, My world Tagged With: 10k, 5k, race, running, virtual race, virtual races, walking

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Guest post: Having a reason to become a runner again

February 2, 2012

Sarah at the ING race expo, which had many vendors in Miami on Jan. 27.

Running isn’t something that is easily done. Many people do it for fun. Others compete. It’s a fantastic way of exercising and it seems that more and more people are doing it. Still, if you haven’t been a runner in a long time, it’s a bit off the wall to think you’d jump back into it and know you had four months to train and prepare yourself to run a half marathon — yes, 13.1 miles.

A former co-worker and friend Sarah Weber did just that. It was in the name of charity as well. (If you recall, I wrote a post about this last week). Below is Sarah’s account of her quest to run the half marathon in Miami, what she learned and how she overcame several obstacles. Enjoy!

—

I used to be a runner. I wasn’t a particularly good one — the only medals and ribbons adorning my walls in high school were for participation — but I did lace up sneakers and put feet to pavement for consecutive occasions.

Most importantly, I enjoyed running. And, in the Descartes sense of things, because I enjoyed running, I was a runner.

But, like many if not most of the adult population, casual participation in high-school sports gave way to collegiate laziness and post-collegiate time crunches. I convinced myself of two things: I no longer had time for running, and I couldn’t be a runner because I didn’t look like one. And so I sat and pined for the days I was active.

All participants received this medal.

My younger sister Anna — a runner in high school whose medals and ribbons represented races won, unlike mine — gave me a clipping from Runner’s World magazine on how to train for a 5-kilometer race in 6 weeks. It utilized something called the “run/walk” method, wherein the runner took walk breaks, or intervals, to actively recover during runs. I pinned it to the bulletin board in my cubicle and continued sitting and pining.

One day in late September, my office held an information session on Team in Training. A friend had completed a triathlon through TNT, and in the process raised thousands of dollars for cancer research with TNT’s partner, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Based on this name recognition, and not much else, I attended the session.

I entered that room as an inquisitive co-worker. I left as a teammate, with a free T-shirt and a booklet containing key facts on the endeavor I was undertaking. In approximately four months, I would train to complete a half marathon in Miami. I would also raise a minimum of $3,200 for LLS.

The ensuing four months were some of the hardest and most rewarding times of my life. Each day presented a series of choices that I made differently. Instead of taking the subway home, I went to Central Park to run with teammates. Instead of going out to the bar and watching hockey and drinking beer, I stayed in and used a foam roller on my legs to massage knotted muscles. Instead of telling myself I couldn’t – that I was too out of shape, too slow, incapable of doing hill repeats in the pouring rain – I told myself I could.

And yes, that included hill repeats in the rain.

Beyond any motivation toward attaining a level of fitness was the knowledge that I was out there training because I could. I was a healthy 27-year-old whose only excuse for not running was laziness. I was not a cancer-riddled 27-year-old whose excuse for not running was failing health. I was running because others couldn’t. And I was going to try and help them.

Along the way, I met incredible people and mentors, all of whom reiterated what I needed to hear — I could achieve my dream of completing a half marathon.

Sarah (right) and teammate Jenn doing a little relaxing the day before the race.

The beautiful thing about running (and I count run/walking when I use the term “running”) is it’s egalitarian.

You will see all shapes and sizes when you’re out running, and you will see a host of running styles. Run/walk will be one of those styles. It was championed by Jeff Galloway, an American Olympian whose website notes you can run “injury-free.” The great thing about run/walking is you can avoid injuries by using this “active-recovery” time. Your muscles get a small break, and because the interval is timed, it’s consistent. You don’t stop to walk when you’re anaerobic and therefore dead; you walk consistently and thereby maintain a pace. Best of all, it gets runners out there who otherwise may be too scared to run 3 miles. Intervals are a great trick to the mind, which can look forward to a break every six minutes in a 5-minute run/1-minute walk interval routine.

January snuck up on me.

It’s one thing to sign a piece of paper saying you’ll run a half marathon in four months. It’s another thing to realize, four months later, that you’re boarding a plane to Miami to run that half marathon.

I knew I was ready.

My training had not only prepared my legs; it had prepared my mind as well. The key to a good race, as one mentor put it, is to allow you to not have one. One must allow time to be upset over unforeseen circumstances – a cramp, dehydration, blisters, and bad weather – and then get over it. Put it past you, and keep running.

I was one of 25,000 runners who gathered in downtown Miami on January 29th to run the 2012 ING Miami Half Marathon and Marathon. I was in Corral I, the last one and therefore the one for the slowest estimated finishing times. The old me would have slotted this as yet more proof I was unworthy of running; the new me was on an adrenaline high, soaking in the experience and focusing on keys to success.

Ideally, according to coaching strategy, I would break the race into three parts: Miles 1 through 5 would be slow-paced, at about 10:50 minutes per mile, to warm up and make sure I didn’t blow my stack on the early portion of the race. Miles 6 through 10 would pick up at 10:40 per mile. Miles 10 though 13.1 were the full-blown race, with a 10:40 or faster pace.

All told, this should add up to a 2 hour, 30 minute race.

In fact, the race day was humid, and I entered the start gate with bad shin splints. I had at one point even been told a stress fracture was not out of the question. But, I told myself, I will embrace the pain if and when it comes, give myself five minutes, and get over it.

The best part? The pain never came.

Miles 1 through 5 were slow (my first mile was a whopping 12 minutes, way off pace because of the crowds), but once I hit Mile 7, I knew I was going well. The wonderful thing about distance running is you become lost in your mileage; I was genuinely surprised when I hit Mile 5. The first couple of miles always hurt; the key is to not let it deter you. Your body will click into place, and your stride will come more naturally. When it does, it’s the best feeling in the world.

Did I have doubts? Yes.

Mile 8 was tough. It was in the “back end” of the course, through a residential neighborhood with narrow roads and not many fans cheering along the sidewalks. This was in sharp contrast to running through downtown streets with local adulation, booming music, and decorations. The desolation, coupled with the inevitable exhaustion, started to creep into my mind. “I don’t really want to be doing this anymore,” I thought. “I have a lot of the race before me. If I’m going to feel this dead in my legs for the remainder, this is going to really hurt.”

The finishing straight of the race.

Two things helped — I gave myself five minutes to pout. Then, once out of the pouting stage, I thought of my Grandma Betty.

Grandma Betty was a vivacious woman who loved the color red almost as much as she loved her grandchildren. She was my paternal grandmother and the matriarch of a large brood of Webers. She was a physical-education teacher before she married my grandfather, and she was involved with Lions Club charities for most of her adult life.

Grandma Betty died of complications from breast cancer in October 2004. In October 2011, I decided to dedicate my fundraising campaign to her memory.

On January 29, 2012, at Mile 8, I thought of her on the streets of Miami as my legs tired.

I thought of her smile and how I loved to make her laugh. I thought of how proud she would be of me. And I thought of all the grandchildren who also missed their grandparents who had been cut out of their lives by cancer.

My pace quickened by Mile 9.

Miles 10 through 13 were speedy and some of the best moments of the race. The tail end wound through downtown Miami again, and the home straight was festooned in the ING colors of blue and orange. As I sped through that straight, I raised my arms and began to cry. I had achieved a dream.

Now that I can call myself a marathoner, I have become a sort of proselyte for the marathoner cause. “If I can run a half marathon, anyone can,” I tell anyone who will listen. All those articles you read in Runner’s World, those commercials you see on TV, those co-workers who tell you that you can do it?

They’re right. You can.

What you need is a good support system, a consistent and safe training program, and the knowledge that while you are working to remake yourself, you won’t be besting Haile Gebrselassie any time soon. Set modest goals. I constantly reminded myself I wanted only to complete a half marathon. I ended up doing so in 2 hours, 36 minutes, only 6 minutes off pace. Join a running group. I recommend Team in Training because not only do you get mentors, coaches, and teammates, you have the added motivation that you are running for a cause.

Most of all, believe in yourself.

You may not look like a runner in your mind, but you will be when you cross that finish line.

To see Sarah’s breakdown, click here.

Filed Under: Exercise, Guest Post, Sports Tagged With: half marathon, ING Miami Half Marathon and Marathon, miami, runner, running, sarah weber, team in training, tnt

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Running for a cause and raising money along the way

January 25, 2012

Sarah, left, as part of the Team Viacom fundraiser in New York City.

I don’t often try and get people to give money through this blog.

Usually, it’s once a year when I am trying to solicit a few bucks for our Relay For Life team (don’t worry, that will be coming soon enough).

But this time, it’s for a friend and former co-worker, Sarah.

Sarah is trying to raise a bunch of bucks for a good cause. And to do this, she’s running a half marathon in Miami this Sunday. In other words, a 13.1-mile stroll. No problem, right?

Well…

I worked with Sarah at the newspaper for a couple of years. She started as a part-timer in the sports department and eventually became a copy editor. She’s a happy-go-lucky person, but if somebody had told me Sarah would be running a half marathon a few years ago…

… I probably would have laughed in their face.

See, Sarah has been known to injure herself in odd ways when it comes to athletics. So a half marathon? It took me off-guard when I saw it, that’s for sure!

Sarah, right, after competing in the Seaford Wellness Hot Chocolate 5K on Dec. 3.

OK, humor aside, this is serious.

Sarah is a kind-hearted soul and her undertaking this is amazing enough. Heck, anyone deciding to run 13.1 miles for a charity should be applauded. That’s not an easy undertaking.

Sarah is running for the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through Team in Training. She’s competing at the ING Miami Half Marathon this Sunday.

TNT Training works to prepare people for endurance sports. In turn, those people work to donate and raise money for charities. According to a its fact sheet, TNT has prepared more than 500,000 people to compete in a marathon, half marathon, triathlon, 100-mile bicycle ride or hike adventure. Those people have raised $1 billion to support blood cancer research and patient services.

As she competes, she’ll keep the memory of her paternal grandmother, Betty Weber, in her mind. Betty Weber died in 2004 of complications from breast cancer. Sarah says her grandmother was a lady who was extremely fit and had been a physical education teacher.

Let’s put this race in perspective for Sarah.

She started training in October. At that point, she said she couldn’t run more than a mile without having to give in. Now, her longest run/walk has been 11 miles. She uses a run/walk interval setup where she runs for five minutes and walked for one minute. A resident of New York City, this training has allowed Sarah to run across the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge and George Washington Bridge.

That’s pretty impressive.

Her goal, she said, is to finish. Based on her times now, a time of 2 hours, 30 minutes to 2:45 would be about right. But she said she’s not putting a time on her goal — just to cross that line.

This is all being done for a reason, however. It’s not just to run for the sake of running in a half marathon.

She’s doing this to raise money for a good cause. Donations are tax-deductible. Her goal is $3,200. As of me writing this, she’s a shade beyond $3,000. So if you have a buck or two and can donate, send it over and do a good thing. Every dollar helps.

If you can and will donate, you can visit Sarah’s fundraising page here.

Remember, it goes to a good cause.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook by clicking the button on the right side of the page!

Filed Under: Exercise, My world Tagged With: fundraising, ING Miami Half Marathon, running, sarah weber, team in training, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, TNT Training

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Notes from my noodle: March 16 edition

March 16, 2011

It’s funny, a year ago today I was looking forward to my trip to Ireland and was gainfully employed.

A year later, I’m searching and applying for jobs and wishing I was back in Ireland! How fun would it be to be in downtown Dublin for St. Patrick’s Day? Wow. I couldn’t imagine the fun.

And the Guinness. Oh my!

I’m having problems writing cover letters. I don’t know why. I’ve spent so many years of my life writing about other people. Why can’t I write about myself to sell a potential employer on what I can do for them? I can’t figure it out. I’ve gotten decent feedback from people who have read my covers who said they are pretty good. But, I’m not getting calls. I don’t know if it’s a time thing. Or the cover. Or my resume. Or something else.

<sigh>

I’ll keep plugging along. I am close to getting one application out today. I have several jobs printed out and want to have covers and resumes sent to each one by the end of the week.

But these covers… ugh.

***

So I’ve slacked on the Couch-to-5K program.

That’s one of the reasons I didn’t set a certain date for finishing or a certain 5K I wanted to run. Instead, I kept it in my head that I just wanted to be able to run 5K and maybe do one by the end of the summer.

I still think that’s doable.

But the reality is, I can’t be doing this C25K on a treadmill, which is what I’ve been doing. It’s boring. It hurts my feet. I get annoyed and I start counting down the times that I’m on there.

The gym, for now on for me, will be used to use the elliptical machines, maybe a warmup on the treadmill and lifting.

Running has to be taken outdoors.

So as soon as the weather changes for good for the better, I’m going to start taking the C25K outdoors and hope I can complete the program. I might do a couple of the things on the treadmill between now and the better weather, but not the three times a week. It just kills. I know if I do it outside, it’s a lot different.

Speaking of cardio stuff, I’m taking my bike over to the shop sometime this week to get a tuneup. I imagine I’ll get it back in a week or so and then I’m going to get riding it several times a week. I want to get a bike computer (I found a pretty good Schwinn one for about 15 bucks on Amazon) to keep mileage and such like that, so I’ll be looking into that.

***

Turns out something is up with my domains.

I got an e-mail today from the company I host several of my websites through. Apparently one of the domains, of which I haven’t done anything with in a long time (it was for our caching group in this area, but nobody ever really went to it) had somehow been hacked and was being used for spam.

So they sent an e-mail of a warning.

Then shut me off.

I had to go through a bunch of e-mail exchanges and such to try and get my site back. In the end, they lifted the suspension and I deleted the said domain and everything else off my account. I was going to let the site expire soon enough anyway, so no biggie.

I just hope I don’t have to deal with that again.

***

I think I’m going to cut this one short right now. Just not into it tonight. Had a few other things come up and my mind is all over the place.

More later!

Filed Under: bike riding, Couch-to-5K, Exercise, Job hunt, My world, Notes from my noodle Tagged With: biking, c25k, couch-to-5k, cover letters, domain names, guinness, internet, ireland, notes from my noodle, running, travel, websites

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It was haircut time with Cameron before Thanksgivi It was haircut time with Cameron before Thanksgiving and he challenged @studio11chris some with this festive art! 

#haircut #barber #barbershop @studio11barbersuite @harmm23 @dlinc27
Sunday was a day with some errands and such, but a Sunday was a day with some errands and such, but also a nice walk on the Vestal Rail Trail. Harper loved it, of course, especially because she got to also walk with her "Gram!" 

#dog #walk #outdoors #goldenretriever #goldenretrieversofinstagram #dogsofinstagram #love #photooftheday #iphoneography
Quick snap tonight while out walking Harper. #ni Quick snap tonight while out walking Harper. 

#night #moon #blackandwhite #spooky
The weather didn’t deter Harper for National Fet The weather didn’t deter Harper for National Fetch Day! And then friends came to Harper’s Landing to make it even better! 

#nationalfetchday #makefetchhappen #chuckit #chuckitfetchgames #dog #dogparty #goldenretriever #ball #play #dogsofinstagram #dog #goldenretrieversofinstagram #harper_dublin #akc #photography #photooftheday #love #mydogharper #harperdublin #instagood #happy #picoftheday #fun #iphoneology #retrieveroftheday #ilovemygolden #dogstagram #dailygolden #dogsofinsta #fun @chuckitfetchgames
Who’s ready for National Fetch Day on Saturday? Who’s ready for National Fetch Day on Saturday? I’m pretty sure Harper is! 

#goldenretriever #dogsofinstagram #dog #goldenretrieversofinstagram #harper_dublin #akc #photography #photooftheday #love #mydogharper #harperdublin #instagood #happy #picoftheday #fun #iphoneology #retrieveroftheday #ilovemygolden #dogstagram #dailygolden #dogsofinsta @chuckitfetchgames
Tis a dreary and rainy day. What better than to ha Tis a dreary and rainy day. What better than to have a cup of tea in my new mug, which was a birthday gift from my nephew/godson Cameron!
Live life the best you can. Have experiences. Smil Live life the best you can. Have experiences. Smile. Love the world. 

#acadia #acadianationalpark #sunrise #sun #colors #sky #nature  #life #love #goldenretriever #dogsofinstagram #dog #cadillacmountain
Likely my final game of the year… but a nice nig Likely my final game of the year… but a nice night! 

#baseball #sky
Harper and Phil! #goldenretriever #dog #dogsofin Harper and Phil! 

#goldenretriever #dog #dogsofinstagram #love #iphonography #photography
Saturday was national dog day… posted on Faceboo Saturday was national dog day… posted on Facebook, but forgot here! Harper was spoiled all day!
How could we skip this? North of the border this How could we skip this? 

North of the border this weekend to get away and hit a few caching events and geocache. Dinner tonight was at @harpersburgers, especially with outdoor seating and dog friendly! @harper_dublin got to enjoy a little of my #burger, of course. And, yes, I got poutine, duh! Great service and great food! Went back later for a spiked shake. This one was a Malibu Colada (malibu rum, dark rum, vanilla ice cream, and pineapple juice) … yum! 

Good times! Looking forward to another event and caches on Saturday before heading home! 

#food #foodporn #poutine #fries #dinner #yummy
My newest #pathtag came in! A great design by @geo My newest #pathtag came in! A great design by @geofoxandthehound! This one, of course, is connected to @harper_dublin ‘s Instagram account. It won’t be easy to get! 

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Rain on leaves … still on trees or on the ground Rain on leaves … still on trees or on the ground… is so peaceful. 

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Henlo. #goldenretriever #dogsofinstagram #dog #g Henlo. 

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Haircut day! I got mine done, as did Cameron. He g Haircut day! I got mine done, as did Cameron. He got some waves for when he goes to the shore next week! One shot of me getting the straight razor too! Nice job @studio11chris at @studio11barbersuite ! 

#haircut #barber #hair
Life is good! #goldenretriever #dogsofinstagram # Life is good!

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Part one of the backyard work is done. New patio h Part one of the backyard work is done. New patio has been installed ... (the rock garden area is basically done, too ... but i need to put a few things up with it). The guy who did my patio did a great job... looks cool. 

I think Harper approves. 

One more step and we'll be set to really enjoy it back there with some shade!

Working on a few other landscaping things, too.
Golden hour. #goldenretriever #dogsofinstagram # Golden hour. 

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Waggin’ Wednesday at the @swbrailriders was a lo Waggin’ Wednesday at the @swbrailriders was a lot of fun! Hot night, but very enjoyable! 

#baseball #dog #goldenretriever #barkinthepark #wagginwednesday
Pure determination. #goldenretriever #dog #strug Pure determination. 

#goldenretriever #dog #struggleisreal
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A video looking at my first year and a half of owning a golden retriever, my first dog. It's had its ups and downs, but I've truly loved the ride and look forward to the future. 

Music: Happy before we get old by Michael Shynes via Artlist. 

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When these boxes come, there usually some excitement. But this one ... is the ultimate unboxing! 

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I hate being in front of the camera, but also realize sometimes it's not the worst thing in the world. So, I'm getting better with it. Week 4's theme was all about us and having us in front of the camera, so I tried to come up with a creative way to do it. 

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