Showing posts with label Gaming Weight Loss. Show all posts
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Instead of running a normal Half Marathon this year, we decided to do something a bit different. Lisa and I ran the Full Marathon Relay as a two person team. So, this meant running six and half miles...resting for an hour while the other runs...and running another six and a half miles. It sounded like an interesting challenge so we went for it!
As soon as we began training for it, we realized that it was going to be more difficult than we realized. First of all, we are so used to running together that long runs alone are now awful. In addition, we didn't anticipate how difficult it would be to get ourselves running again after taking such a long break. But, we take challenges head on and worked to get ready for the race.
As race day neared, we sat down and made our plans for getting around the 26.2 mile course that winds through Champaign, IL. We not only needed to get to the next relay station, but also wanted to be somewhere half way between each point to cheer for each other. Lisa made us a great plan of back streets that got us around without much issue. We decided to bike the entire course a week before so we could get familiar with the route. It was a lot of fun, but my back was killing me by the end of a 2.5 hour bike ride :)
We decided to walk the 5k race the night before with family and friends to get our legs warmed up for the next morning. It was nice to get out there and get rid of some pre-race jitters and ending on the field at Memorial Stadium was really cool. We had a few friends running in their first 5k ever so it was awesome to be there and cheer them on.
There is a different feeling when you show up for race day. All of your concerns about success start to go away and the energy makes you feel like you can do anything. This is why we tend to run a bit too fast the first mile, but we get adjusted quickly. I was there to see Lisa take off from the start line and then I jumped in the car with her mom to get to the first cheering location. Lisa came by at about mile 3 and we were there to take pictures and give her a high five. We then headed over to the first relay station!
The first six and a half miles wasn't too bad and I kept close to my normal running pace, but it was so much less fun running alone. Once you have a running partner to talk to, encourage, and get encouragement from...it's really hard to go back solo. The second leg for each of us was really difficult. Having stopped for so long and then running the second half of 13.1 miles was pretty tiring on our own. At times, the only thing that kept me going was knowing that Lisa was waiting for me and that we got to cross the finish line together.
It was a great experience that I'm really glad we did, but I seriously doubt I will run this way again. Running together is way more fun!
As soon as we began training for it, we realized that it was going to be more difficult than we realized. First of all, we are so used to running together that long runs alone are now awful. In addition, we didn't anticipate how difficult it would be to get ourselves running again after taking such a long break. But, we take challenges head on and worked to get ready for the race.
There is a different feeling when you show up for race day. All of your concerns about success start to go away and the energy makes you feel like you can do anything. This is why we tend to run a bit too fast the first mile, but we get adjusted quickly. I was there to see Lisa take off from the start line and then I jumped in the car with her mom to get to the first cheering location. Lisa came by at about mile 3 and we were there to take pictures and give her a high five. We then headed over to the first relay station!
It was a great experience that I'm really glad we did, but I seriously doubt I will run this way again. Running together is way more fun!
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One of the best feelings in the world is the the excitement that builds in the moments leading up to a race! It's even better for me if it's a race that I'm running for the first time and I get to see all new sights and people. So to make things even more exciting, Lisa and I have decided on a new long term goal of running a race in all 50 states!
In 2012 we managed to run races in three different states:
Rantoul 5k - Rantoul, Illinois (first race)
St. Louis Half Marathon - St. Louis, Missouri (first half marathon)
Wine & Dine Half Marathon - Disney World, Florida (my dream race)
We think we can get through three or four states a year and can't wait to see some parts of the country we've never even visited. When possible, we'd like the race to be a half marathon...but our rule is that as long as it's a race (5k or more) it counts. I've created a new blog list on the left side to list our first race in each state!
One of the best feelings in the world is the the excitement that builds in the moments leading up to a race! It's even better for me if it's a race that I'm running for the first time and I get to see all new sights and people. So to make things even more exciting, Lisa and I have decided on a new long term goal of running a race in all 50 states!
Rantoul 5k - Rantoul, Illinois (first race)
St. Louis Half Marathon - St. Louis, Missouri (first half marathon)
Wine & Dine Half Marathon - Disney World, Florida (my dream race)
We think we can get through three or four states a year and can't wait to see some parts of the country we've never even visited. When possible, we'd like the race to be a half marathon...but our rule is that as long as it's a race (5k or more) it counts. I've created a new blog list on the left side to list our first race in each state!
You should follow me on Twitter and Facebook. You can also subscribe via RSS or email. Please support the blog by doing your Amazon.com purchases through this link.
Follow @JamesonDurall
As soon as I was finished with My Extra Life Gaming Marathon, it was time to do my first Zombie Run! I mean...who needs to sleep right? Also, I couldn't let Lisa do the run alone and hear about how she got infected because I wasn't there to be slower than her and get caught in her place.
I wasn't sure what to expect, but assumed it was a 2 mile run where I'd need to speed up occasionally to avoid Zombies. Oh man, it was way different. We each were given a belt with three flags on it and in order to "survive" we had to make it to the end with at least one flag left. They put is in groups of 9 plus an ROTC guide and loaded us on an evacuation bus so we could get to the evacuation helicopter safely. Along the way, the bus stops and we find that our driver has been infected! We opened the rear door of the bus and everyone poured out and ran toward the bridge.
As we approached the bridge, I got my first eerie feeling. It was a single person bridge that we had to cross with a zombie standing at the other end. The guide yells "We have to run for it!" so we all took off across the bridge. The rest of the evening was us jogging to the next point and then all out sprinting...not what I was expecting!
As we approached one of the locations, I was looking behind us as a group of slow moving zombies were coming our way. Then suddenly a couple more came running out of the brush right beside of us and I turned to stare one in the face! I was able to turn quickly and get away with all of my flags, but that got my heart rate up quite a bit. It got dark during our run and a good portion of it took place in thick woods. It was pretty freaky overall.
We got through most of the encounters without losing a flag...until we ran into some of our friends. They decided to wrap their arms around us and hold us down until another came and took our flags! It was a rough encounter, but a lot of fun. They had great costumes and their makeup was professionally done.
The Zombie Run was a total blast and I'm really happy we did it. Next year we are talking about changing roles so we are Zombies while our other friends get to experience running the race. I was able to hold onto one of my flags and make it out alive!
I wasn't sure what to expect, but assumed it was a 2 mile run where I'd need to speed up occasionally to avoid Zombies. Oh man, it was way different. We each were given a belt with three flags on it and in order to "survive" we had to make it to the end with at least one flag left. They put is in groups of 9 plus an ROTC guide and loaded us on an evacuation bus so we could get to the evacuation helicopter safely. Along the way, the bus stops and we find that our driver has been infected! We opened the rear door of the bus and everyone poured out and ran toward the bridge.
As we approached the bridge, I got my first eerie feeling. It was a single person bridge that we had to cross with a zombie standing at the other end. The guide yells "We have to run for it!" so we all took off across the bridge. The rest of the evening was us jogging to the next point and then all out sprinting...not what I was expecting!
As we approached one of the locations, I was looking behind us as a group of slow moving zombies were coming our way. Then suddenly a couple more came running out of the brush right beside of us and I turned to stare one in the face! I was able to turn quickly and get away with all of my flags, but that got my heart rate up quite a bit. It got dark during our run and a good portion of it took place in thick woods. It was pretty freaky overall.
You should follow me on Twitter and Facebook. You can also subscribe via RSS or email. Please support the blog by doing your Amazon.com purchases through this link.
