Virtual Racing and Coaching

This weekend I ran in my first Virtual Race. For those who don't know, these are races that are set up by different people/groups anyone can sign up, you run the set distance, time yourself and submit the time to an e-mail/website/Facebook account.
Sometimes there are prizes, almost always you can purchase bling;)
This particular run was a 5k, the Cupcake Classic to be exact, run a 5k eat a cupcake! Really what's better??
First I had recently updated my Map My Run app on my iPhone and discovered there is now a coaching option!?!? I figured what better time to try this option out than a timed race.
We took off and due to the cold, I think, we were going at way to fast a pace for us. Slowed down a bit and that fancy little "coach" kept me on track for the time I had entered that I wanted to finish in!
I beat my 5k time by a little over a full minute, this after not being able to convince my mind to do so on my own. I guess I just needed that little robotic voice to tell me to move my *ss.
So aside from missing the thrill of being around hundreds to thousands of people for a race, I think I'm a fan. I will be doing a Winter Runnerland virtual 5k in January. I'm looking forward to breaking my PR again:)
Plus, the bling is cute!
Run on:)

New Shoes:)

It was time. I had put over 300 miles on my Brooks, time to look into new shoes to transition into. I had been hearing about these "minimalist" shoes and did some research, they seemed to make sense.
I went to my favorite runners store and while the helpful young man looked up my info I told him I had been thinking of transitioning to the minimalist. He talked them up being a fan of them himself, which helped convince me they were worth a try.
It seemed like I had placed tiny clouds on my feet, Brooks Pure Flow is what they actually were. I ran the little track and although they felt different, they felt wonderful!!
Well I bought those fluffy little shoes right up and went home to put them on immediately. I wanted to test walk them for a couple of hours before running in them. So after walking around it was time for the true test, I went out and ran a quick 2 miles. New shoes are always different, these were no exception. It was like muscles I had never used we're woken up and as tight as they felt while running I never felt sore afterwards. I think I'm in love.
I Have very happy feet and am looking forward to the move into my New Shoes and logging many miles.
Run on:)

MudMan Recap

I did it! I finished the Muncie MudMan, and it was hard. It was a blast but to be honest I probably only ran about half of the time. But I would totally do it again!!
There were over 15 obstacles, aside from the rain and 45 degree temperature already working against the runners. We started off with a short run through some knee high grass, into a pit of mud that almost sucked my shoes off. Next we traveled into what used to be a small creek/drainage ditch but was now kind of a raging creek/small river type thing that came up to my thighs!! (This went on for about a hundred yards.) I was frozen and terrified I was going to slip on some fallen wet leaves or branches and break or sprain something...
Into the woods, up a hill made of pure mud with no foot holds, yep pulled ourselves up by a rope:). There were some fun obstacles that made me really appreciate our armed forces and police officers, S.W.A.T. Training grounds... Thank You for all you do!!!
At a couple of points I really thought I might quit, but I really wanted that medal, I love my racing bling:) So I finished, and I got my bling! And I am so very proud of myself:)
Run on:)