A Recap.....for the 50 5ks

This has been an adventure. 

This challenge began on August 24, 2013, with a local walk sponsored by the Fleet Feet running store in Blue Ash.  It ended on December 13, 2014 -16 months later - with the Jingle Bell Run, starting in Northern Kentucky, crossing into Ohio and returning to Kentucky.  The first walk almost ended before it began as I fell off a curb and scraped up my arm and leg. The final walk I breezed past the finish to cheers from my teammates.

I have run in a gorilla suit, in a hill-billy tutu and as Wonder Woman.

I have run with suburbanites, Hatfields and McCoys, senior citizens and college students, Air Force cadets and Army veterans, stay-at-home-moms and career runners.

I participated in races in Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, West Virginia, Hawaii, and Oklahoma.

I have raised money for ovarian cancer research, Down Syndrome awareness, lung disease, pediatric cancers, Toys for Tots, disabled veterans, mountain gorillas, children's after school programs, the Columbus Arts District, The Oklahoma City Memorial, hunger programs, The Cincinnati Zoo, epilepsy foundation, Ronald McDonald Charities, Hospice programs, blind/visually impaired, and the brewery re-development project.

I have 48 new t-shirts.

I have met people who I would never otherwise have crossed paths.  The couple, who told their story at race #31 (Running for Home) of waiting to adopt their little boy from Korea, finally got to go get him in September.  They had been waiting for almost 2 years.  He is home!  And the woman adopting a little girl from China?  She picked her up in September as well.

I have run in sweltering heat, freezing cold, in wind and in rain. 

I have felt both patriotic and hedonistic.  (Thankfully, not at the same time.)

I have learned the difference between "hot" wine and "cold" wine.

I have run in Montgomery, in Mason, and in Maui.  I drove five hours to Springfield, IL, to "run" in a race that was really a big party.  I participated in the fabled Hatfield-McCoy feud race.

I have been tired and exhausted.  Invigorated and energized.

I have shaved almost 21 minutes off my first walk's time.  Still shooting for more.

I have run on paved roads and muddy paths.

I have run for beer, chocolate, lobsters, doughnuts, and wine. 

I have lost weight.  I have gained it back.  And lost it again.

I have laughed.  God, how I have laughed.

I have celebrated.

I am rich.

Many people have asked whether I would write a book as they enjoyed my writing style.  Others wondered aloud whether I knew anything about grammar.  So I have decided to appease both sides.  I'll write a book.  Just no editing.

The next challenge...awaits.

#50 Jingle Bell Run

As I write this....I am full.  Fuller than ever.  I may never eat again.  Mimosas.  Breakfast casserole.  Brie cheese.  Torte cake....

......But I'm getting ahead of myself.

The final run of this 16-month long challenge was the Jingle Bell Run in Northern Kentucky.  Raising money for arthritis research, it's the ultimate Christmas run experience.  I was joined by a host of friends (who were primarily interested in the delicious brunch afterwards) but who braved the weather anyway and walked with me during my final walk.

No, this isn't everybody, as it was clearly beyond our skill level to take one all-inclusive group shot.  I was joined by friends, neighbors and book club members, Healthy Girl and her contingent, co-workers from the TCS days (that would be The Container Store for those who are not up on my shorthand) and a friend from my college days who drove up from Louisville.  Even my offspring showed up.  (How cool is that?)

This walk had all the markings of a holiday walk.  Brisk weather, light-up reindeer antlers, Santa hats, and jingle bells.  Lots of jingle bells.  

The run begins on the Kentucky side of the river at the Convention Center.  It crosses over the bridge into Cincinnati, winds around Longworth Hall and back across the bridge finishing again at the Convention Center.  

In addition to the regular Christmas garb, I wore additional items from my many races to commemorate the Final 5K:

I had temporary tattoos from the Color Run (#33), Cheetah Run (#3) and Hyde Park Blast (#28).  Wonder Woman headband from Run Like Hell (#44) and Super Hero Run (#35).  Green Shoelaces for the OKC Memorial Run (#18).  Flying pig socks (#19).  Lanyard from the Gorilla Run (#16), photos of Mr. Smiles from Running for Home (#31), Lip balm from Maui (#41), T-shirts from FatAss 5K (#20) and Queen Bee (#43). Power is Teal bracelet from Ovarian Cancer Walk (#6).  Patriotic Bandana from Honoring our Vets (#32). Light-up pink ribbon for the Komen Breast Cancer walk (#4).  Stickers from the Amish Run in Adams County (#7). Jacket from the Hot Chocolate Run (#49).  Shoes from Fleet Feet Store (#1 & 2)


It was a fantastic experience.  I wasn't worried about making a better time or where my starting corral was. I talked my way across the bridge and back chatting with neighbors and catching up with folks I hadn't seen in eons.  We talked about our kids and jobs, houses and lives, plans for vacations, books and movies, possibilities and frustrations, gripes, limits and goals.  And my kids were waiting for me at the finish line.

And then we went to Otto's.  Mimosas.  And Brie cheese.  ...and something with figs and crackers.  Whatever.  And breakfast casserole, more mimosas and good conversation.  And laughter.  Toasts and more toasts. And laughter.  Lots and lots of laughter.  

A special shout-out to another friend from college, Liza Conces.  All the way from Wilmington, Delaware, she finished the race in 26:58 with a pace of just under nine minutes per mile.  She placed #97 out of 911 runners.  Nice job Liza!  


I am humbled by those who turned out for my final race of this challenge.  I am grateful to those who ran and walked virtually in many places across the US, because the distance was too much to conquer.  I am deeply touched by the kind words and encouragement throughout this past year.  I am rich indeed.


Fifty 5Ks before I am 50.

Done.

#49 The Hot Chocolate Run

Chocolate. Hot chocolate and melted chocolate.  Oh, the things I would do for chocolate are endless.

I have dreamed about this race for a while now.  We headed to Columbus the night before and attended the expo.  It only heightened my desire to run for chocolate. The morning of the race dawned.  It was cold.  Not chilly, but downright cold.  15 degrees and raining.  A light mist.  Snow on the ground.  Okay, maybe there are some things I wouldn't do for chocolate.

I signed up for this race so long ago that I signed up as a walker.  I have been given the Corral assignment of "M".  As I trudge past the other Corrals, A-B-C-D-E-F-G are gathered at the Start line.  They are the honored ones as they get to go at 7:30 AM.  The next wave goes at 8:05.  That would be H-I-J-K-L.  Everyone else.  Except of course for the M Corral, which might as well be labeled "End of the Earth" as I have to walk a great distance to even find it.  "M" Corral goes after everybody else does, as walkers are deemed to be unimportant.  And if you don't keep pace, you will be asked to leave the race.

And don't even think about corral-jumping.  There are Corral police who are monitoring the crowd and those deemed "inappropriately placed" are asked to leave and return to their "home" corral.  Give somebody power and they abuse it.  So sad.


Anyway, we are finally released to go and I cross the Start at 8:34.   I am so cold.  I am wearing multiple layers but its not enough.  Once we are released, I try to run to catch the group ahead of us.  Eventually I catch up to the "L" group and pass them.  Next is "K".  If anything, I am trying to stay warm as clearly my blood has frozen inside my veins.

Part of the appeal of this race is in addition to water stops, there are Chocolate Stops throughout the course.    I cannot imagine anything better.  (Well, I can, but that is for another time.)  According to the map of the race route, at the first mile marker, there will be a Chocolate Stop.  As we approach, I can smell the chocolate.  However, there is no chocolate as we get closer.  It's all over the ground.  Mashed into the pavement.  And no volunteers to explain.  The table is empty. Okay.  Well, that sucks.

Moving on.  Jo and Rocky are both running the 15K version of this race.  They are in Corral J with the "real" competitors and are way ahead of me.  Maybe they got chocolate.  Hate them. Grumble.

The race continues through downtown Columbus, circling back to a park near the river.  The two additional chocolate stops are also empty.  A great disappointment. (A polite way of saying, WTF?)  After the race, finishers are funneled further into the park where we are given chocolate mugs filled with chocolate fondue, dippers and hot chocolate.  Nectar and Ambrosia.  At least they didn't run out of those.

I inhale everything.  After all the chocolate is gone, and I look around, it occurs to me that I have no idea where the hotel is.  I wasn't paying attention when we walked to the Start, and so many streets were closed off we had to change course often, and I have no clue which direction to take.  I have my phone but it won't work unless I take my gloves off. (Note to self: Buy those new-fangled gloves with the micro touch fingers.)

I start to wander towards the tall buildings as I faintly remember that the hotel is among them.  Damn.  It is cold.  The wind is blowing and it is cold. I am starting to feel like I will never be warm again.  I curse myself...running in the cold...even for chocolate...ends badly.

I find the hotel and take a hot shower.  Well, that was the plan, but the hotel has very little hot water left.  I get dressed putting on every piece of clothing I have brought.  I get under the covers and wait for them to finish the race.  

#49 is complete.

#48 Girls on the Run 5K

#48 was the Girls on the Run 5K Fall Run.  Girls on the Run is a character development program for girls from 3rd grade through 8th. They use exercise and positive reinforcement to provide girls with confidence before they stroll into the precarious teen years.  Over 3000 runners participated in this 10-year anniversary event.

Their website is filled with powerful, positive words like:  Empowerment.  Responsibility.  Intentionality. Gratitude.  Healthy.  Optimism. Nurturing.  Compassionate.  Joy.  Open-Hearted.  Diversity.  Connectedness.  

Other than the fact that some of these aren't actual words.  (Connectedness and Intentionality are not in the dictionary.  I looked.).....but that aside.   Wow, good stuff.  I'd like to be a part of this program.  Do they have sessions for adults? Where do I sign?

This run is a capstone event for the 12 week session.  And the girls are dressed in a variety of colorful attire.

The run started at Yeatman's Cove down by the river and wound around the downtown area ending back at Sawyer Point.

There were 3 waves of participants; those wanting to run the entire race, those running and walking the course and finally those walking the entire race and the stroller crowd.

Jo and I were attempting to run the entire thing.  Jo has completed many races running the entire stretch.  I have yet to accomplish that. There is no timing chip for this race.  It's clearly about YOUR personal best.  


I was really impressed with the coaching.  Some were parents.  Others were adults who enjoy running. Kudos to the dads who appeared in tiaras and tutus to run with their daughters.  

There were lots of people.  Hands down this race had the best cheering section ever.  The parents are encouraged to cheer their kids on during the race and maps are provided with notations as to "best" cheering positions to take.

There was none of the whining of previous races.  These girls knew what they were in for and stood up to the challenge.  Some finished with flourish; others were dragging.  But they finished and the crowd cheered them on.  This was so much better than the princess runs and glitter and costumes.  Teaching young girls to be in charge of their future through empowerment and responsibility has far longer lasting impact than any glitter hairdo or fairy princess wand.

I really felt like I was creeping.  I didn't have a kid to mentor.  Going to have to work on that...  But I managed to post my best time yet.  39:19....  Personal record.  (Who-Hoo!)

#47 DAV 5K

#47 was the DAV 5K.  Disabled American Veterans 5K.  As expected, there are many veterans.  There were lots of families running in memory or in honor of a loved one who served.  Many runners were honoring a friend or family member with an additional bib.  Many had KIA with a name. Took me  awhile to figure out that it meant Killed In Action.

Many active soldiers participated running with packs on their backs.  Each service member who ran received a different shirt with their branch of service on the back.  I was in the Civilian category.  Never have I felt so horribly out-of-shape.

The course starts at Yeatman's Cove down near the river. We run around the stadium, along the river near the ballpark and return to the finish near where we started.

Final mile of the race is lined with veterans from the veterans motorcycle brigade.   All these guys (and some gals too) in heavy leather, long beards, and American flag patches all over.  Holding out their hands to give high fives to the runners.

In extreme contrast to last weeks race, this race I was referred to to as "young lady"  Hello there, young lady.  Glad you came out today, miss.  Nice run, miss.  


I had a good run time....not my best, but it will do.


At every race thus far, there is a water stop or two. Immediately following each water stop, there is a trash can for the paper cups.  At every single race, 75% of the participants throw the cup on the ground...missing the trash can entirely.  At this race, there wasn't a stray cup anywhere.  Maybe this group was more determined to get it in the container.  Most likely it was the stern looking soldier guarding the can.

Closing in on the finish...#47 is done.

#45 - Run for the Fallen

#45 dawned a very cold morning.  It is 35 degrees with snow flurries.  I think to myself, "this is a really bad idea and I wish I was done last week."  But I dig out my long underwear and my gloves and off I go.


#45 takes place in Clifton at the University of Cincinnati. Sponsored by the Arnold Air Society, the participants are primarily Air Force ROTC cadets.  (Wait, it gets better.) The race raises money and awareness for families of solders who are Prisoners of War and/or Missing In Action (POW/MIA). According to their website there are 83,388 US soldiers who are unaccounted for today.

For this race, I was killed with politeness. I have been "Ma'am" to death.  Yes, ma'am.  No, ma'am. Watch yourself there, ma'am. You are doing great, ma'am.  Thanks for coming out today ma'am.

It is a very young crowd.  With Jo and I, we have raised the average age to 23.

Against a crowd easily less than half my age, (and actually my children are older than most of this crowd) I forge ahead.

The route starts near the baseball stadium on UC campus. It goes out to Jefferson, turns on Martin Luther King Drive and turns again on Clifton Ave.  Halfway down Clifton, we enter the actual campus and meander through the dorms and buildings.  There are lots of twists and turns and I had to slow down several times to figure out which way to go. (My usual tactic of following the crowd was ineffective as the crowd had long passed me by.)  The student volunteer wildly waving his hands to get my attention is usually the direction to take.

However, as I am entering the final kilometer, I realize that the cadet in front of me has fallen behind.  He is limping.  His squadron has returned to the route just behind me to encourage him to finish with gusto.  They are chanting is cadence:

Born to fight,
trained to kill,
Ready to die,
but never will.

I think to myself, I could pass him.  I could bring on a burst of energy and pass this cadet.  With a limp.  (Wouldn't that be a victory?)

I decide not to.  I mean, how completely demoralizing would that be for a cadet to finish after this 49 year old woman?  In front of his squad?  Couldn't do it.

#45 is done.

#46 Mason 5k for Epilepsy Foundation

#46 takes us all the way to Mason, OH, to participate in the Mason 5K and half-marathon.  This race should be called Running with Suburbanites or How Many Mini-Vans can you Count.  The race raises money for the Epilepsy Foundation.  It's a good cause, so I will keep my snarky comments to a minimum.

As I said, there is a Half-Marathon and 5K.  The Half Marathoners start first.  Five minutes later, we (the 5K crowd) begins. Mostly walkers.  Lots of families with several children.
There is some confusion on the route as at several points half marathoners go one way and the 5K go another.  Then we meet up again. So there was bona fide confusion, and it wasn't the alcohol from the evening before.

Along the path, I befriended a young girl.  She's wearing a Team Hannah t-shirt.  I ask her "who's Hannah?"  She smiles and says "Me!"   She is also wearing a banner across her shirt that says 'Seizure free since October 2, 2010'.  4 Years.  I ask her how old she is.  She says "8".

So half her life is seizure free.  Got to love that.

She and her cousin are running and passing me.  And then I run and pass them.  After three of these back and forth encounters, I tell them, "You don't want to let this Old Lady beat you."  They look horrified. How did I know what they were thinking???

The course is pretty flat and uneventful.  Until we get near the end.  It starts to weave back and forth through the parking lot.  We have the illusion that we are near the end, but like the lines at King's Island that snake in and out, it is a lie.

Damn them.  I hate that part.  I cross the Finish Line, well ahead of my young friend, Hannah, and celebrate 4 years of "seizure free" at breakfast.