Mainly because I spend .73 seconds getting ready for races that start prior to 8:30am. That + people you haven't seen since high school = don't mind me stretching behind this tree off in the distance hoping that you don't see me looking a hot mess at 7:45am.
But I digress.
I ran the annual 5k in Carnegie, PA on Sunday that benefits the police department there. It's the town that's right next to mine, so it was nice to support a local cause. I did look for photographic evidence of my existence at the race, but the photographer took pictures of 16 random people coming across the finish, dogs, and everyone who won the 50/50 raffle.
Another thing I love about small community runs is the improvisation that needs to occur in order to fit in 3.1 miles. Start line in the parking lot everyone running the race parked in? Sure why not. As you can see by the picture, there was a pretty nice turn out & the crowd extended even farther out to the right, as well. I think they managed to raise close to $15,000 for the department - so that's nice.
For a smaller run, this was very well organized I must say. I think this was their 6th year doing this, so they have it down pretty good. They also had a crap load of 50/50 prizes (none of which me, my aunt, or my uncle won..) & the vibe was good overall. Very supportive & friendly despite my attempts to be anti-social.
This also happened during the race.. so that's pretty awesome.
I ended up finishing 7th in the age category of Women 18-29 which had 49 runners, and 73rd out of 479 overall. I actually had my best 5k time of 2013 during this race which was 25:36, 8:15/mile. Good stuff.
Before my runs I have been drinking water with Nuun tablets, as well. I feel like this time of year, hydration really becomes a problem with me because of the heat. I haven't had any issues since implementing this strategy, so I'm going to stick with it as it continues to heat up. If you're unfamiliar with Nuun, they're tablets that turn your water into an electrolyte drink that caters to high-intensity activities because the type of electrolyte blend used absorbs quickly. If you have issues staying hydrated during your runs - I'd absolutely recommend checking them out.
They come in little tubes of 12 tablets and they're available in like a billion different flavors. I am personally a fan of the banana because it kind of makes your water taste like banana runts. I must say that Nuun certainly does add a pop of flavor, so definitely check them out if you're looking for a nice alternative to paying $3 for a bottle of Gatorade. You can get a 4 pack of tubes (that's 48 tablets) for $22 through their website. Please stay safe & hydrated as the weather gets warmer, friends :)
Pittsburgh half marathon in t-minus two days! Pretty excited :)
Keep Running,
Kelli
