Racer Wall Frame Winner!!!!

Sorry everyone, I forgot to pull the winner of the Racer Wall Frame.

The winner pulled with Random(dot)org is.........

Kovas from Midwest Multisport Life.

Congratulations Kovas!!!!  Send me your contact information and I will get your Racer Frame out to you.

If you have not see his blog, go check it out HERE.

Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!

Brooksie Half results

1:39:52; not a PR but very close; very happy with this result.  Full race report to follow this week.

Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!

Ultra club?

10 miles on the schedule today....done!  Today's run was pretty fast with a 8:31 pace.  Pushing for under 8 minute pace tomorrow on a fairly hilly course.

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Tomorrow's half marathon is #10, the Brooksie Way in Rochester.

The race also happens to be my first ever half marathon 2 years ago.  I've come a long way in the running arena since then and I'm really looking forward to this race.  I never would have thought I'd be running 10 miles the day before a half marathon.  Who does that?  I had a 20 miler planned today but decided to do 10 today and 13.1 tomorrow and my plan at this point is to not just do it as a training run but push my limit.  I think I probably took off 3-4 days before my first one.  Haha!

Brooksie Way course/elevation map

I'll post a quick post on Sunday after the race with results and will have a full race report next week as well.

Goals for this race?  None really.

I'd be excited to beat my original time when I did #1 which was 1:45:55 but frankly, I'm not expecting it given the 10 miles the day before.  That would mean to beat this, I'd need to run about 8 minute pace.  I've done it before - my PR is 1:39:18(7:35 pace) but that was a flat course and the Brooksie Way is far from flat.  I'll just be happy to run this less than 2 hours.  Anything faster and it will just show how prepared(or unprepared) I am for the marathon in 3 weeks.

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The other day at work I grabbed an empty box for some stuff I needed to pack at home.  I just happen to find this one.  Is this a sign from the running Gods?

Not sure I'm ready to join this club.

Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!

Wicked Halloween Run a month away!!!

Rest day on the schedule......

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Kona Running Company - that's all I really should need to say.  As many of you know, if you run a race put on by Kona, you know you'll have a great time!  They do an exceptional job putting together races including the ShamRock n Roll Run, the Kona Run(former Solstice Run) and the Wicked Halloween Run.  Their calling it the triple crown series in 2013 and anyone that participates in all three races(5k and longer) will receive a Triple Crown Medal - cool!

Last year was the inaugural running of the Wicked Halloween Run and, in my opinion, it was a great success.  The company is very organized so you really get a lot for your money at this race.  Thru 10/25, the 10k is $45, the 5k is $30 and the mile is $22!

This years race will take place on Sunday, October 28, 2012.  Last year I ran this a week after the Detroit Marathon where I PR'd the marathon and then PR'd this 10k as well.  I'm not promising everyone a PR but I will promise they will have a great time at this race.  I mean, how can you not have fun at a Halloween Run?

Here's some of the details for this years race:

Date:  Sunday, October 28, 2012

Registration:  You can register online HERE or onsite starting at 7am.  Registration is limited and given the great success last year, I would not be surprised to see this sell out early so hurry to get signed up now before it's too late.

Packet Pickup:  Two options - the day before the race from 10am to 5pm or Race Day from 7am to 8:45am; A race HQ tent will be located in Kellogg Park in downtown Plymouth right near the start/finish.

Time:  The race starts will be as follows with new Wave starts.  In my opinion, this is a great improvement to help with the congestion of people starting the race.

• 8am - 10k run - Wicked Wave Start(10 minute pace or less)
• 8:05am - 10k run/walk - Haunted Wave Start(10 minute pace or more)
• 8:15am - Monster Mile Start
• 9:00am - 5k run - Thriller Wave Start(10 minute pace or less)
• 9:05am - 5k run/walk - Nightmare Wave Start(10 minute pace or more)

Distances:  10k, 5k and 1 mile - great for the whole family.  Both the 10k & the 5k will be B-tag timed.

AG Awards:  3 deep, 5 year age group for both male and female.

All entrants get a 2012 tech shirt.  Here a picture of what you'll get.  I love the logo!

All 10k and 5k finishers get a Kona Running Company or Kona Run hat!

In addition, all 10k finishers will receive an awesome medal as well.  This is one of my favorite race medals - a really great design and an improvement on a medal I didn't think could be improved from last year.

As I said, you really do get quite a bit for your money.  The 10k will also have Poweraid ION drinks at the 3 mile mark to help keep you hydrated.

Entertainment and Monster Mash Party - At the start of the 10k and 5k, the Piazza Dance Co. will perform the Michael Jackson "Thriller" song and a surprise song.  This really gets you in the mood to start that run!  Ha!  They will also have a Costume contest prior to the race and last year saw some really great costumes.  I'll be coming as a runner - yes, I know, creative.

Here's a look at the courses(5k & 10k USATF certified) for each race as well:

Interested in learning more?

Check out their Facebook page:  HERE

Check out their Website: HERE

I hope you will decide to join me for this great festive race.  I'll have a full race review after the race complete with pictures.

Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!

Saucony Ride 5 preview

5 miles on the schedule today....done!  I so love the shorter distances mid week.  Well, at least compared to my previous three days of running.  Had a good run this morning and felt pretty good considering.

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I got these on Monday night!

Saucony Ride 5

It's been awhile since I've needed shoes because I had stocked up but I'm starting to go through the shoes now with all the running on my schedule so it was time to try the Ride 5.  I've ran in all the shoes I've reviewed plus I've also run regularly in Saucony.  This includes the Ride 2, Ride 3, Ride 4 and now the Ride 5.

I may have a running shoe problem?

Above are just some of the shoes that are going through rotation that are Saucony and I've gone through quite a bit more than this.  Actually, I'm at the end of two these and getting close to a couple others as well so I figured it's time to try the Ride 5.  I've also come to like the Mizuno Wave Rider 15's I got through the Mezamashii project.  In fact, I think I'm going to run in the Mizuno's for my half marathon on Sunday.

The Ride 5's are a big difference from the former pairs since they moved to an 8mm drop from 12mm.  I've only run in the them a couple times but so far so good. My first run in them was a 9 miler.  Felt great the whole time.  I also ran a 5 miler in them today as well.  I don't really notice the difference that much in the drop.  I have been trying to land on my mid foot more and it's a little more pronounced with the Ride 5.

I'll do a full review after I get about a 100 miles on them including a long run.  It's funny but I've asked Saucony several times to include me as a tester and I've never been added to their list.  You would think I might have some opinions on their shoes they might value?  Oh well.

Do you have a favorite pair of running shoes?

Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!

Wordless Wednesday 9/26/2012



That's 4 medals - cool!; must run 5k or longer for Triple Crown Medal

 Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!

One month countdown

5 miles on the schedule today.  Ended up doing 9 miles.  Those four extra miles will get me to 200 for the month.

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In less than one month, I'll be running marathon #4......

Can't wait!  I hope you can join me!

Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!

RooSport winner!!!!

10 miles on the schedule today.  You know how I feel about it. I'm done.  Literally! Ha!

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The winner of the RooSport is......

Penny from Pink Hat Runner.

Congrats Penny.  Send me your contact information and I'll have the company sent you the RooSport directly to you.

Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!

Running & Vegans

Rest day on the schedule today...

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This weekend I picked up a new running book.  I love reading about other peoples experiences with running and so far this is a good one.  The book is Scott Jurek's Eat and Run:

See his website

I've only read the first few chapters but it has really kept my attention so far.  The book talks about his Ultrarunning experiences and also eating and training as a Vegan.  I've been interested in the Ultra distance and thinking of signing up for one of these next year as I've said in the past but I really need to find something I really want to run.  Scott was in Michigan about a month ago and after run reading part of this book, I wish I would have taken the time to go meet him.  Oh well, maybe I'll have a chance to meet him sometime at a future marathon.

I'm also interested in the Vegan lifestyle.  I'm not saying I want to be a Vegan but I could see eating some of the recipes that he has in each chapter.  Some of them sound excellent.  Some of them sound horrible.  I can't say I'm ever going to be a Tofu person but you never know.

I've got a friend that truly believes in the Vegan lifestyle and it has really changed her family.  It shows the power of eating off the land.  Not that I'm in McDonald's ever but I do enjoy chicken and the occasional steak.

If you have an interest in Ultra running or the Vegan lifestyle, you may have an interest in this book.

Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!

I'm in it for the long run

12 miles on the schedule today.  Felt great the entire time and even got some hill work in.

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I'm in it for the long run.  I'm not talking about keeping with it.  Although I would say that I am in it for the long run for running.  As long as my body will hold up which is hopefully many years to come.  What I'm talking about is the long run.

The other day one of my running buddies ran 16 miles of my 20 mile run and then a couple days later mentioned that his midweek runs seem easier.  He said that his 6 mile run felt like 3 miles.  Absolutely, I said!

I told him that the long runs(longer than he's used to) are really helping him improve and he's getting stronger from them.  To be frank, I kind of pushed him to finish the 16 but I know he was happy when he did finish it.  Here are my thoughts on long runs(and no I'm not talking about any other kind of runs - tempo, speed, intervals, etc)  Those runs have other places in training but I'm thinking about just the long run here.

1) The long run certainly helps build stamina

• Makes you stronger
• Makes you more confident
• Helps you feel like your short runs are much easier
• Even helps you enjoy your rest day the next day more knowing you ran long.

2) The long run also helps your racing

• Run 20 miles; 13.1 race will feel easy(ok, maybe feel like less effort, not easy)
• Run 15 miles; 10k is no sweat!
• Run 10 miles; that 5k PR is coming

3) The long run shows your dedication to the sport.  How many people do you know that run 20 miles on the weekend?  Hell, how many people do you know that run 20 miles ever?  I bet not that many.  Your dedicated - it's proven in the long run.

I know there all kinds of technical reasons to run the long run(burning more fat, glycogen increase, etc.)  I'm just talking from a layman terms.  It's how I feel and what I notice from others that run long.  Yes, there's lots of science to it but frankly I'm not that interested in learning all those reasons - I just want to do it.

Do you love or hate the long run?

Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!

Frivolous Friday's thoughts.....

Rest day on the schedule

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I've often thought about the fact I'm in the masters running category.  Ok, really, I've always been in it since I didn't start running until after I was 40 years old but I still think about it.  How fast would I have been in my 20's had I started running then?  I tend to fall in the lower top of the pack.  What does that mean?  Sometimes I'm in the top 10%, but mostly I'm probably in the mid pack or faster.

Did master runners that run a 6:30 minute pace in their 60's run a 5 minute pace in their 30's or 40's?  Were they always the same pace?  Did they slow down?  Or did they actually speed up and got up to a 6:30 pace by the time they were in their 60's?

I see runners much older than me cruise by me all the time.  I read about them in Running Times all the time.  Where did these guys/gals come from?  Will Ryan Hall run his same paces when he gets in his 50's or 60's?

Not that it weighs on my mind, but it makes me wonder if I'll be in the back of the pack then or in the top of my AG.

Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!

Giveaway reminders...

5 miles on the schedule today.  It was a really windy run this morning.  Most wind I've run in since Winter.  Time for a break - rest day tomorrow.

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Just a reminder that I've got two giveaways going on.  The first is for the RooSport - go HERE.

The second is for a Racer Frame - go HERE.

Bib not included. Ha!

Good luck!

Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!

Wordless Wednesday 9/19/12

A bridge I want to run across someday - 5 miles of running heaven - the Mackinac Bridge
Anyone running it in October?

Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!

Racer Wall Frames Review & Giveaway

5 miles on the schedule.....a nice, warm, windy, dry morning.

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A few days ago, Scott from Racer Wall Frames sent me three racer frames for review.  Yes, three!  How generous!  If you received your recent Runner's World, you'll see that he advertised his product in the most recent issue.  I reviewed their website and thought this was a great idea.  Basically, Racer Wall Frames are used to display your race bibs and/or photos.  I love to display my race medals and I've also kept all my race bibs since I started racing so this is a great product to really give some class to your bib collection.

You can see just when you start to open up the packaging that Racer Frames takes great care in making sure the product is shipped to you in top condition.  First, it was delivered in this great bag.

Great bag the frames came in

The company also included some stickers and a brochure

The product was bubble wrapped and also covered with material so there were no scratches when I received it.

Wrapped nicely to keep it nice in shipping

In addition, there is cellophane over the plastic cover to keep it from being scratched up.  This picture gives you an idea what you can do with this.  The possibilities are endless!

Cellophane cover over the frame to keep it from being scratched

There was also very clear directions how to put in your race bib and put the frame back together again.

Clear and easy directions

The first step in the process is to get the clear plastic cover off the black back.  All you do is simply pull up in the middle of the frame near the top and bottom and the locks on the sides will pop off.  You can see the two parts below. I still have not taken off the plastic cellophane.

Top and back of the frame

Here's a close up of the back of the unit.  You can see where the four tabs are that hold together the frame.  In addition, you can see where the nail will go so you can hang it.  This will be covered by your race bib/photo so not to worry.  The company allows for hanging in either direction.  I think that's great considering sometimes bibs can be quite large or if you wanted to hang an 8 x 10 photo vertically or horizontally.

Nice nail feature allows for hanging both ways

Taken from their webpage, this photo shows the tabs that lock things in place

Once you get the two parts separated, you can line up your race bib any way that you want.  I could have included a photo in there as well but you can see here that I've added my race bib from the Detroit Marathon - my PR marathon.  Just stick a small piece of tape on the back of the bib to keep it from moving around in the frame.

My PR marathon bib

After you have your bib the way you want it, you can then take the clear plastic cellphane off the cover and attach the clear plastic cover back on the frame.  See below.  It took a whole 3 minutes to do all of this.  Doesn't it look awesome!

The completed product

Next I needed to hang it on the wall.  Just find a place where you would like it and put a small nail up and that's it!  It literally took me five minutes to do everything from start to finish.  Here's a couple pictures of the finished product hanging in my office wall with my medals.

Finished on my wall

I placed the second one also above my other medals.  This race bib is the very first 5k I ever raced almost three years ago.  Obviously it has a great sentimental value given it changed my lifestyle for the better.

Frame #2 hung nicely above medals

I could have placed the two together next to each other.  I could have put them on top of each other. I also could have hung all three together for a nice collage as well but I wanted to keep things simple.  The design of this is very simple and makes for a really nice display for your bibs.  I could see using this for all my marathons, or all my PR races.  What about all first race distances?  Or how about five frames for five major marathons?  You really could use these to make it a focus on your wall as shown here:

From Racer Wall Frames website gallery
Display all your bibs in your trophy room!

Pluses:

• Inexpensive - only $19.99 each(Perfect give for a runner/triathlete)
• Very easy to install
• Nice quality
• Excellent way to display your bibs
• Easy to change the bib out for updates

Issues:

• Can't say that I found any.

Overall, this is a simple and nice way to hang your race memories at a very inexpensive price.  If you are like me and collect your bibs, what better way to show them off than with a Racer Frame?

Interested in learning more?  How would you like to win one too?

The company was very generous in sending me three frames so I've decided to give one of these away to one of my lucky readers.  I can't wait to give this to someone so you can display a race bib you are proud of.

So here are the rules:

1. Go to Racer Frames website HERE and tell me what you like most about them.(1 entry)
2. Go to the Racer Frames Facebook page HERE, "like" them, leave this post on their wall, "Detroit Runner sent me" and leave a comment on this blog post letting me know.(1 entry)
3. Go to the Racer Frames Twitter page HERE, "follow" them, and tweet this "@RACER_USA @detroitrunner1 I'd love to win a Racer Frame from Detroit Runner & Racer USA", post here that you tweeted.(2 entries)
4. Go to Detroit Runner Facebook page HERE, "like" us, leave a comment on my wall about this contest(even if you already "like" us, and leave a comment on this blog post letting me know.(1 entry)

Five chances to win!  Good luck!  Contest will end on Thursday, 9/25 at 8pm.

* Note - I received 3 complimentary Racer Wall Frames in exchange for this review.  All opinions on this blog post are my own and I was not paid or required to give a particular opinion on the product. 

Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!