Seasons 52 5.2K

Last year when Scott started his weight loss journey he wanted to run a 5k. He picked the Seasons 52 5.2k because, why not? Last year he came in just over 50 minutes. This year he came in just over 40 minutes and looked a lot leaner and a lot stronger.

Seriously, look at the difference!

The race itself was pretty good. The weather was less than desirable. It rained up until 10 minutes before the race started and since sections of the race are on brick roads it made for a slower time.

I hung with Scott for the first two miles and knew I wanted to break away before the end so I could snap a photo of him crossing. Right after the marker for mile two, Scott gave me the nod and I flew down the road.

I am so proud of how far he had come and cannot wait to show another side by side of him next year!

Celebrating Running with Some Fireworks

It's the last weekend before school starts. Um, didn't summer just start? Didn't we just go to graduation? I'm pretty sure we did...

Anyway...We made the most of our last weekend. Scott and I started it with the Celebration of Running 5k through downtown Orlando. It was a course neither of us had run before and it was a ton of fun. I hung with Scott the whole time and told him we were crossing together. Scott said I pushed him at the end, and I was happy to do it!

How cute are we?! And how cute are those medals?!

After the race (and after the rain let up) we all went to EPCOT to just enjoy the afternoon. 

We went on a few rides, had some dinner, some dessert and settled in to watch the fireworks. We usually are not in the parks late enough for the fireworks, so it was definitely a treat for the kiddos. I'm not going to lie, Scott and I both needed coffee to make it through. 

Today we all slept in well past our normal wake up times and then just hung out for the rest of the day.

I'm not even ready for tomorrow. I cannot believe my babies are going to be in first grade. Where has the time gone?!

Wishing all of you a happy first week (or maybe it's your second, or you're lucky and haven't gone back yet) of school!

Winter Park Road Race

Scott, Michelle and I raced yesterday morning. It was the final Track Shack race of the season and we just had to do it.

There were two separate races, the 2 mile and the 10k, or you could do both as a part of the distance dare challenge. Naturally, we chose the distance dare challenge. Go big or go home, right?

For the distance dare you had to run the 2 miles first and then immediately go down to the start line of the 10k. By the time I crossed (27:12) and made my way down they were sounding the air horn for the 10k.

Michelle and I had split up during the 2 miles, but thankfully, she was only a minute or so behind me and we were able to start the 10k together. Scott was behind us, but booking it. He was averaging a 14 minute per mile walking pace.

The funniest moment of the race? When Scott passed us. Seriously. We were just past mile 1 of the 10k and Scott just zoomed past us. Of course, he made a spectacle and started yelling that everyone should take a photo because this was the only time that he would be passing me.

Since we all caught up to each other, I decided this was the race I would do with Scott. He has never asked me to stay back with him because he always wants me to crush my previous time, but I wanted to be there with him on his longest race to date.

This was my first time walking with him and hot damn was I impressed. Not only was I impressed with how in the zone he was, but I was impressed with how far he has come since January. If anyone has any doubts about how dedicated he is to losing weight and getting in shape, walk with him when he hits his stride.

Michelle met up with us and walked the majority of the 10k with us as well.

I have to say, Winter Park has become one of my favorite courses (minus the brick roads). The trees, the lake views, the insanely gorgeous houses, all make this course my favorite. I think the majority of the race that's all we commented on.

When we began to approach mile 6 I knew I was close to my Enchanted 10k time, so I gave Scott the "please don't hate me, I really want to be close" look and he told me to run. I finished the last .3 or so on my own, literally. No, seriously, at one point I was the only runner. There were people in front of me and people way behind me, but nobody around me. It was kind of a cool experience.

I finished the 10k in 1:32:37 which wasn't too far off from my Enchanted 10k time. Michelle was close behind at 1:33:41 and Scott came in at 1:34:06.  For the distance dare our combined times were:

Me: 1:59:48
Michelle: 2:02:37
Scott: 2:04:26

I am so proud of Scott! This was his longest distance to date and his first medals. You betcha he worse those the majority of the day!

Thank you to all of the volunteers that were on the course. Thank you to the random residents of Winter Park that played the Rocky Theme, Chariots of Fire and other various songs along the route.

Stop by Southern Fried Fat Guy's Facebook page to leave Scott some love!

Seasons 52 Park Ave 5.2K

Today was the big day...Scott's first official 5k (well, 5.2K). We chose the Seasons 52 Park Ave 5.2k because, well, we love Seasons 52 and were really hoping one of us would be a 52nd finisher so we could win a gift card.

Scott walked the 5.2k and I ran. I debated walking with him, but he insisted that I run and really stretch my legs to see just how fast I could go. I really had no plan on PR'ing today, I just wanted to run my race and feel good at the end, whatever time that was.

You can read all about Scott's race on his blog, Southern Fried Fat Guy. Not to be selfish, but this post is going to be about me. :)

The race went through downtown Winter Park, which is an absolutely gorgeous area with only one minor problem, brick roads. More about that in a minute.

I took off at a pretty comfortable pace and at one point realized my RunKeeper was on silent, so I wasn't receiving any of my time or mileage cues in my ear. When I finally looked at it I was at .64 miles. I hadn't stopped to walk/run or anything and figured, well just keep going. I ran my first ever straight mile in 11:09.

I know, I know. I'm about to do my fourth half marathon and I've never just run a straight mile! I'm a huge fan of Jeff Galloway's run/walk method and that's what I've always stuck with.

The course itself was beautiful, but like I mentioned before, they had these pesky brick roads (red, not yellow, it wasn't that kind of road).  While they look beautiful, they are quite the pain to run on because they're not exactly even. The girl in front of me almost face planted and then I hit a pocket at one point and thanked the good Lord my ankle didn't roll.

I kept a pretty decent pace the next two miles and was really happy to see the finish when I turned the corner. I knew it was my fastest time and I couldn't wait to cross the finish line and have it official. My 5k time was 37:10 and my 5.2k time was 38:21.  I definitely pictured this in my mind when I crossed:

I sent Scott a text to see where he was and he was almost at mile three. Thankfully, the finish line was not swarmed with people so I waited patiently to see him.

When he approached I couldn't do anything else but smile. He worked for this and I am so proud of him.

I'm also glad they called his name as he finished. There is nothing better than hearing your name when you cross, especially on your first race.

I'm beyond proud of Scott for starting this journey and now having the race bug and wanting to continue this. I cannot wait to run/walk more races with him and I look forward to the day we run across the line together.

Thank you to the wonderful people from Track Shack, Seasons 52 and all of the volunteers that made today possible! Another huge shout out to the residents of Winter Park that were basically stuck in their homes until we ran past. Thanks for letting us take over!