Lessons Learned

Here are the top 20 in no particular order:

1. It's not cheap. In retrospect, I could've committed to 10 marathons, gained all the benefits and saved a bundle.
2. It's ok to walk. So many have finished races ahead of me after walking a lot, and taking selfies.
3. Fast runners come in all shapes and sizes, with capes and strollers, etc. 
4. Racing frequently takes the fun away. 8 in 18 days was too much for me. 4 in 4 weeks is healthy.  
5. Practice good sportsmanship. I make more friends and learn more by staying for the awarding, even if I don't win anything.
6. Running in the rain is fun.

5K #50, Harvest 5K run/walk - the making

In April 2014, I created the goal of running 50 individual 5K races before my 5Oth birthday, Sep 30, 2015. After several races, I realized that I could do something more than just race and donate to some cause I didn't really care for. I wanted my 50th race to be more meaningful, and to help do some good in my own backyard. So I toyed with the thought of organizing my first race and talked to my hubby about this possibility.

In January 2015, hubby and I invited a few friends over for dinner and that night, a race committee was born!

None of us had any experience in organizing a race.  It was a daunting project.

Here is a list of what we thought we needed:

1. Location 
2. Date 
3. Race Name 
4. Marketing and Promotions 
5. Online registration 
6. Shirts 
7. Awards 
8. Volunteers 
9. Food 
10. Beneficiary

A 50K was not part of the plan but I did it anyway

Crossing the finish line with Jennifer Palmer (left). 
Photo courtesy of Virginia Beach Distance Races

Yay! I'm an ultramarathoner. What does that even mean? First, a 50K is not ten 5Ks, although it is equivalent to it. It is hundreds of training miles, countless hours of running (and walking), aches and pains, strength training, and a lot of work that all came together to help me cross the finish line of the Virginia Beach Distance Races afoot on Sunday, Feb 8, 2015.

#35 – Runner’s World Half Festival, shaved 10 minutes and lessons learned

A historical moment with running legends

Maricar and Bart Yasso.

5K #35 started at the Steel Stacks in Bethlehem, PA on Oct 18, 2014. It was the beginning of the Hat Trick, a 3-part race consisting of a 5K and 10K on Saturday, and half marathon on Sunday for a total of 22.4 miles in 1 weekend. Each race was timed separately.

This year was the 3rd annual Runner’s World Half Festival and each year, I participated in various events:

2012, my first half marathon 

2013, first hat trick (6 weeks after my first full marathon) 

2014, hat trick

#33 - Fit to Food 5K, about the race and return from social networking

Anne (left) and Maritza (right) placed 2nd and 1st, respectively in the 

50-59 Age Group. Maritza finished in 22:54.

I apologize that it's been over 10 races since I last updated this blog. I thought I could just recap my races in Facebook because many of my friends are already there and can quickly respond to each post. It’s also easier for me to load pictures and short stories from my phone to Facebook versus updating this blog. However, social networking sites have limitations.

First and foremost, posts made via Facebook are not searchable. If you were interested in reading about a race from 2 weeks ago, you may have to scroll endlessly through my timeline to find it. Second, there are so many stories in my newsfeed, and so little time to read all of them.

#25 - 2nd Emmaus Dash and Splash 5K

I had no intentions of splashing but after the storm, there was no choice.

The 2nd Emmaus Dash and Splash, held in Emmaus, Pennsylvania on July 23, 2014 was originally organized to provide 5K participants an opportunity to swim in the community pool.  However, due to lightning and thunder, they closed the pool early.

#21 - 5K Run for the Park: no awards, so I bought rewards

With Jennifer after the race.

My ultimate goal was to race towards the Premium Outlets right after finishing the 5K. And guess what? I did!

The 5K started at 8:15 am, right after the kids finished their race. The weather was surprisingly pleasant: 65F in July, low humidity, cloud cover, and breezy. The organizers advertised a relatively flat course. Yet again, I was blessed with conditions that I thought would help me beat my personal record (PR) of 26:59 (minutes:seconds).

I positioned myself in front of the starting line. It was a wide line, about 2 car lanes wide, so I didn't have to worry about blocking the fast runners.