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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

2013 Waunafest 10 Miler Race Report

 This was my fifth or sixth running of the Waunafest Ten Miler Run (HERE) this past weekend.  The Saturday morning race, took place at 7:30 am in Waunakee.  Over 400 runners competed in this event and over 700 people participated in the 5K run.  Having run the race so many times, and it being so close to home, we arrived just short of thirty minutes before the start of race, picked up my packet and used the restrooms - twice.
 
 
I was super familiar with the course, and all of the hills (especially the second half).  It is really nice knowing where the tough spots are, the easy spots, the crowd support and everything in between.  The first half of the course zig-zags through the business park, which is quite boring and then through some nice neighborhoods and through a covered bridge.  At the half-way point, you head back through the industrial park and back towards the startline. 
 
I had a full bladder much of the first 5-6 miles (despite using the handy bathrooms twice, with no lines prior to the race).  But, that quickly faded as each mile passed.  I still have not stopped to use a port-o-potty during a race.
 
Normally this race is super hot and super humid and I'm always empting out my handheld water bottle to quench my third.  It was CHILLY and breezy this year.  And at one point it started sprinkling lightly.  The raindrops were so cold, they almost felt like snow.  The sky was speckled with clouds and there was no sun in sight.  I felt cool and comfortable and felt like I had tons of energy.
 
At mile 7, we headed back to the starting area, which makes it really easy to see your family and race supporters.  It was awesome to see my kids and The Fiance bounce up off the curb to cheer me on.  I had a huge pep in my step at that point, because I kept playing the same 40 mins of musis over - my power songs.  The last three miles are a very familiar 5K course that I've running in previous events in the small community.  I was slingshot running with a few gals, running my pace.  In the end, I finished ahead of some, and others passed me.  I kept a very consistent pace of 8:40-9:00 mins each mile. 
 
After I hit the mile 9 marker, I restarted a Nicki Minaj tune - twice.  And kept getting faster - and faster, as we approached the track at the baseball diamond.  I headed downhill and passed the last of the 5k walkers coming in to the final stretch.  I then passed a gal that I had been sling-shotting the entire way.  She sped up too and then we kicked it in to the finish line together.  She gave me a high five after we stopped our stop watches.
 
I love this event and will be back year after year.  A nice course with variety; a nice distance; easy parking/restrooms/facilities; close to home; and a great price.
 

 
1:29:14
(8:56 min/mile)
236 / 405 overall
91/208 women
20/38 age group

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

2013 DMB Freedom Run 5K Race Report - Catalyst Couch to 5K

For the past nine weeks, I have been leading a group of new runners at Catalyst Activewear (HERE) in Madison.  We met at the store every Wednesday night and ran together on the Olbrich Path.  It was fun watching them grow from struggling with one minute of running - to completing a practice 5K on the race course in Deforest after nine short weeks.
 
I choose the DMB Freedom Run (HERE) 5K in DeForest on July 4th for their event.
 
 
We met up at Firemen's Park on race morning, a hot, sunny and humid one.  After meeting up with other friends and family that were participating or spectating, we posed for a few, cute photos.
 
They were all decided out in new running shoes from Catalyst - a even a couple pairs of matching argyle compression socks and Bondi Bands!  I loved their enthusiasm with the sport of running - and running gear!
 
 
The fiancĂ© also ran the 10K event. 
 
 
We knew exactly what was in store for us over the next 3.1 miles, since we ran the course the week prior.  Some of them even went out again on their own to test the distance a second time.  The first mile was flat through residential neighborhoods, then we proceeded up and down the only hill on the course.  I alternated back and forth throughout the participants on the race course, trying to help each of them along, at various points of struggling.  I distracted them with conversations, Fourth of July plans, and reflecting on their nine week journey to the startline.
 
After 41 minutes - all of them had completed the race!  The fastest in a swift 23 minutes and the rest scattered out on the course through 41 minutes.  We even met up with Chelsea and Josh from the group at the finish line, who we didn't have a chance to meet up with before the race.  There were lots of sweaty glows and smiles after their wonderful performance!  I'm so happy to have gotten to know each and every one of them and watch their enthusiasm grow and grow.
 
 
Congratulations Josh, Chelsea, Tammy, Shannon and Sara!!



Monday, July 8, 2013

Updates to the Playlist


Drop It Low 3:46 Kat DeLuna 

Took the Night (Clean) 3:54 Chelley 

Mr. Saxobeat (Radio Edit) 3:15 Alexandra Stan  

Clappers (feat. Nicki Minaj & Juicy J) 5:17 Wale

Clarity (feat. Foxes) 4:32 Zedd

Come & Get It 3:52 Selena Gomez

Here's to Never Growing Up 3:34 Avril Lavigne

Don't Stop The Music 4:27 Rihanna

Freaks (feat. Nicki Minaj) 3:03 French Montana

Get Up (Rattle) [feat. Far East Movement] 5:02 Bingo Players 
#thatPOWER (feat. Justin Bieber) 4:40 will.i.am

Swing 3:38 Savage & Soulja Boy

Giveaway Winners ....


I was recently given the opportunity to review several great products.  You can read all about my fabulous experiences at the links below.  Please visit their sites and start shopping.

One winner was chose at random to receive the following items for active families. 

Random.org chose ……..

Gu Energy
Winner - Cari @ A {Love} Story - Carie's {Owning} It
Company Website (HERE)
RDM Review (
HERE)

Kidz Bop Party Hits CD
Winner - 4am Runner (
HERE)
Company Website (
HERE)
RDM Review (
HERE)
Race Junkie Tutu
Winner - Katie M (
HERE)
Company Website (
HERE)
RDM Review (
HERE)

Congratulations!!!  Please email me at ( runningdivamom at yahoo dot com ) with your name, email and mailing address.  And, I will get you your prize!
 
Thank you for following my journey!!

[If you would like YOUR product or website featured on Running Diva Mom, please email me at ( runningdivamom at yahoo dot com ) ]

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

The Color Run Madison 2013 Race Report

I was very excited to run my second Color Run (HERE) this summer.  Last year, I ran Color Run in Racine, Wisconsin.  I was thrilled that they were coming to my hometown in Madison, Wisconsin this year.  I was asked to serve as a race ambassador and happily accepted the task.  Little Diva has really enjoyed running/walking alongside me, so I was able to get her into the race as well.  Little Dude has taken an interest in running, but he hadn't been "training".  I couldn't think of a better event for him to participate in his very first 5K.  The event is super fun, low-key and non-competitive.  There are lots of children participating - and kids under 7 yrs old are FREE (sans bib number or shirt)!  You can't beat that!
 
 
The kids and I headed to Alliant Energy Center's Willow Island for packet pick-up on Friday afternoon.  It was quiet and there were NO LINES.  When I had done race day packet pick up at the Racine event, we waited for 30-45 minutes.  This was a breeze - great, considering I had the kids with me. 

 
We picked up our packets and stopped by the Color Run booth.  They had a lot of fun, affordable items - including knee-high socks, water bottles and apparel.  We picked up some colorful rubber bracelets to remember our first event together - just the three of us.

 
The race started at 8:00 AM. Parking was available at the Alliant Energy Center, but the traffic off of the Beltline was backed up. So, we parked at The Sheraton and walked with others across John Nolen Drive.  Later, The Fiance moved the Marathon Mommy Minivan closer to the finish line.
 
There was a 5-10% chance for thunderstorms that morning and the skies were dark and cloudy.  When we got to the muddy start line just before 8:00 am, the downpour started.  The kids didn't care.  We were surrounded by close to 7,000 other runners that were getting the party started at the startline. The MC was starting waves every minute or so - and Little Dude got a huge smile on his face, every time he counted down from 10 to 1.  We were in the tenth wave or so, before we started.
 
 
We splashed through tons of puddles and mud and onto a narrow path, near the dog park, where I've ran before.  As we approached the first kilometer, the race was halted and stopped before the big pink arch, where we were to be dowsed in red color.  Everyone was lined up for at least five minutes at the first "stop".  It was a perfect point for Little Dude to make his first stop after 8-9 mins of consecutive running.
 
The rain stopped the second half of the race.  We then ran/walked to the next four color stations - being covered in all sorts of colors.  Parts of the course were out and back.  Little Dude enjoyed giving high fives to the runners coming from the other direction.  When he wanted to walk, he would give high fives and start running again.  The color stations motivated him to keep momentum.
 
It wasn't until the last mile that he started falling behind and wanting to walk more.  Little Diva was ready to go and keep moving - though she's look back and decide to wait for us.  We all really wanted to finish together.
 
The colorful arch was marking the finish line and I kept pointing it out to Little Dude to keep going.  We splashed through a few more puddles, as we approached The Fiance with the camera near the finish line.

 
With all of the waiting at stations and walking - we ended up finishing together in 49 minutes.  We were covered in paint and wet from the rain.  Our shoes were soaked, too.  It only took us a few showers and lots of scrubbing to get the paint off of our bodies.  Their shirts came out of the wash tie-dyed - a great way to remember our first race together.