Friday, June 15, 2012

Schedule of Events

Team 5K & Tacos
Training & Race Schedule

SoCal #2 Tough Mudder - Snow Valley Mountain Resort, Running Springs, CA
Saturday, July 7 & Sunday, July 8
Benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project. This is an intense 10 to 12 mile obstacle course designed by British Special Forces to test your all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. There is an Aspect Ratio team registering for the Sunday event. It's going to be a grueling challenge but working together we can get through it! Go here to register: toughmudder.com

Hansen Dam Triathlon Sprint Distance - Lake View Terrace, CA
Sunday, August 19
This is going to be my very first triathlon and you should join me! The Sprint Triathlon begins with a 500 yard open water swim, transitions into a 11 mile road bike course, and finishes with a 3 mile trail run through the Hansen Dam Regional Park. According to their blog, The Hansen Dam Tri is perfectly situated for all multi-sport competitors. Whether you are a novice or professional triathlete, this fun, fast and competitive event is a fantastic race to participate in!
Go here to register: hansendamtri.com

The 11th Annual Kickin' Cancer 5K Walk/Run - Brentwood, CA
Sunday, September 30
Benefiting the Lynne Cohen Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research. This is our annual team race, the one that started it all! Let's all put on our bright yellow team shirts and run/walk this super fun and family friendly course together. We had a huge turn out last year, let's try and do the same this year. I love this fast, out and back course including a super fun expo with lots of goodies afterward. Let's go TACOS!!!
Go here to register: kickincancer.com (make sure to sign up under Team 5K & Tacos)

Run For Your Lives, Zombie Infested 5K Obstacle Course Race - Vail Lake Village, South Temecula, CA
Saturday, October 20
Benefiting the American Red Cross. You guys, this is going to be amazing! Runners will navigate a series of 12 obstacles throughout a 5K course in an attempt to reach the finish line — all while avoiding zombies. That's right, ZOMBIES! All About You! Bootcamp has put a team together for the 12pm wave but feel free to join an earlier or later heat so that we can support each other and cheer each Taco past the zombie attack!
Go here to register: runforyourlives.com

Santa Monica Venice Christmas 5K & 10K Run - Ocean View Park, Santa Monica, CA
Saturday, December 8 
Benefiting Partners In Malawi – Transforming the face of HIV/AIDS in Malawi, Africa; and Harvest Home, a residential program for homeless women and babies. The Santa Monica-Venice Christmas Run has a 5k and a 10k run that winds through the beautiful streets of Santa Monica and Venice, including a long stretch along the famous Venice Beach boardwalk. There are usually fantastic costumes and a very fun atmosphere surrounding this popular race.
Registration opens July 1st: christmasrun.com

Tinker Bell Half Marathon - Disneyland, Anaheim, CA
Sunday, January 20 
Benefiting the Anaheim Community Foundation. Sassy, feisty, and fun loving, Tinker Bell is the fairy we all know and love! Celebrate your inner Miss Bell at the half marathon full of pixie dust and Never, Never Land adventure. This is a half marathon celebrating female runners. While men are invited to run as well, the focus will be woman. What a fun way to run through the park!
Go here to register: espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/rundisney/tinker-bell-half-marathon/index?page=tinker-bell-half-marathon

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

13.1 Done!

I am proud to say that I rocked 13.1!  It was one of the most rewarding accomplishments I have achieved on my road to healthy living.  Let me tell you though, it's been a long road getting to where I'm at today.

A year ago around this time I was over weight and under going surgery for appendicitis.   My doctor warned me that I needed to do something about my weight and so I got serious about my fitness.  I joined All About You! Wellness BootCamp and reintroduced Team 5K & Tacos to the world.  It was the best thing I could have done for myself.

Two weeks ago I was dreading this race, knowing I hadn't trained as hard as I had wanted to and race day was approaching all too quickly.  Race weekend came and I was still super nervous but with the support of my fellow Tacos I was also pumped and knew that I could do it, it was my race to run.  That was something I repeated to myself throughout the morning, run your own race.  And that is exactly what I did.

I kept a slower pace, never pushing my body too hard to make sure I had enough in me to make it to that finish line.  I stopped at every water station for a drink and used my GU as extra support.  It worked!  I managed to at least slow jog the entire hilly course.  It was amazing!  The atmosphere was a buzz with excitement and it was contagious.  It also helped to know that there were 4 other Tacos running this same course with me.  Not to mention Jackie, my team support, showing up multiple times on the race course with her bright neon sign cheering me on.  RUN MICHELE RUN!  It made all the difference in the world feeling that love.

My goal was to finish in under 3 hours.  I came in at 3 hours 7 minutes and 59 seconds.  This just leaves me with a new goal to reach, finishing my next half marathon in under 3 hours.  I had my finisher's medal engraved and it's now proudly hanging next to my other medals.  I can't wait for that next race.  I was so proud of myself, I never thought I could do it but you all proved to me that I can, we all can.

Thank you so much for the support.  Lots of love to you!

XOXO
-M

P.S.
If you ran this race, or any other, and would like to share your story on this blog, send it to me in an email and I'll publish it here for you.


Me & Summer, post race