Hattiesburg Half Marathon 4-10-21 - Half marathon #43 for me

 

Welcome back Hattiesburg half marathon!! Our race was canceled last year due to COVID.  I can't even begin to describe the excitement that was in the air leading up to race day.  We were all thrilled and looking forward to running an ACTUAL race NOT a virtual race right here in our home town!  

Then as the weather usually goes for us here in South Mississippi... you know that saying... "wait 5 minutes and the weather changes!".   We've had lots of storms here lately.  So going into race week the weather did not look real good for Saturday.  Friday this picture and info was posted on the Hattiesburg city page.  The race team would be meeting with the weather people to decide if a delay in start time would be needed or not.  Turns out it was NEEDED.  The race was scheduled for 7am.  They delayed the start time till 9am.   I was very happy that I didn't have to get up super early to begin my race morning process of trying to eat early, etc.  AND there was lots of thunder storms and rain going on at 6am!  

After the storms cleared the weather was really perfect.  It wasn't too hot and the humidity seemed to be better to me. 😁

I was so excited to be running with so many friends!  We had most of the PPRF group there, tons of MSCoffee runners, Half marathon maniacs, a couple from Team Run4TheKids and many more.  It was a great morning snapping pictures with all the groups.  You could feel the excitement in the air! Our world had been turned upside down for a year with races being canceled with nothing but virtual races.  There is this feeling or joy I should say for me when I run in a race with tons of people.  You just see so many types of runners.  Fast ones, slow ones, jog/walkers, etc.   I just love the atmosphere of a race!  Here is one picture of the PPRF group before we started.

Me and my sleepy eyes... them bags don't do down for awhile...😂😏

So here's the course map:

When we started there were a couple little turns and the officer leading the runners turned the wrong way so a ton of runners (I heard like 60%) followed suit behind him.  I started noticing the mile markers signs did not match up to my watch.  But I didn't fret too much over it because I figured we'd make up the distance at the end somehow.   However, when I crossed the finish line my watch said 12.6 not 13.1 😕  but honestly it really didn't bother me.  I was just happy to be running an actual race.  Everyone that was at the finish line at that time was asking each other what their watch said on distance... everyone around me was short like me... so I was like ok... it was just short.  I didn't know at the time about the cop making the wrong turn.  And I certainly can't fuss at him.  Who knows.. maybe it was his first race and he got excited when we started and didn't realize he turned wrong... I have to always remind myself that there could be other reasons besides him just not knowing the course.  😀  

When one of my friends came through she was like I've got to go finish and get my 13.1 miles on my watch.  By this time I had already drank a beer and eaten.  I was not going to run anymore... so we all sat and visited while she did her distance. 😁  Anna I'm proud of you!  Then another one of my friends came in and was telling me she saw me going the wrong way.  She said some of them that were in her pack of runners were yelling at the others trying to tell them they were going to wrong way.  😂  I'm sure most had in ear buds like me and never heard anything and all they knew were they were following the runner in front of them.  That's what I was doing. 😂😁

Overall it was a BLAST.  Did I mention it was also a charity run.  They had several charities and many of them were on each mile cheering.  The course also went through part of USM.. My alma mater!  It was AWESOME.  That's why I love a REAL race not a VIRTUAL race!   I felt really good until the bathroom hit me around mile 6-7 and I had to end up stopping 2X to go to the bathroom... GRRRR  I still finished in 2:11 in which I was THRILLED.  I haven't been running for speed in a long time.  NOT that I'm ever fast! But I have done a half marathon faster than 2:11... several years ago.  😂  I give God all the glory!  He was with me every step!  With all the long distance training I've done over the past few years, I really haven't focused on speed.  But my sweet coach has been implementing some speed work here lately and she's about to kill me.... 😀😂😎  But it's been good for me and has improved my running lately.  I'll never be really fast... too old and too many complications from head to toe inside the body... 😊 I just thank the good Lord for what I am able to do each and every day! 

Here are a few pictures of the day with my peeps.  I am very THANKFUL for each and every one of them.. They ALL inspire me! 

Candy & Ronnie meet a new friend, Tammy!

PPRF and our new friend Tammy

Renee & Dennis (love my neighbors & running friends) helped put on the race! Nestor & Jennifer beside them.

Nestor in one of 3 of his costumes he ran in during the half marathon! 

Start line

Kily grabbed this pic of me coming in.  It was nice to see him!

Chilling after the race.  

Felicia & Michelle coming in 

Our FAVORITE couple!  I love the FREEMANS!  They both run and encourage each other.  I often wish my husband ran so we could do races together.  This couple has it going on! 💝

Still eating and chilling... 

Ran into Haden right before the race.  He graduated high school with my daughter.  He recently became a father to a beautiful baby boy! Love them!

3 of the SFI crew that finished.  There were several others from Sanderson at the race, but I only got a pic with Serina & Mary.  💓

Krista walked with Frank who has been struggling with back issues.  They are both big BLESSINGS to me!  Looking forward to St. Jude Memphis Marathon with them in December! Notice the blood above Frank's eye.  He told people that Krista hit him during the race.. 😂 He loves to tell a good story! I think what happen is the door on the porta john came back and hit him. 😉

The lady in the picture died the week of the race.  She was a long time MSCoffee runner and inspired many runners.  So several of us pinned her picture on our bibs and ran for Ms Sheri! 

Well, that's a wrap! Keep moving! Keep training! You got it!

MS50 - 20K 3/6/21 - WALKED

 We knew this race was probably happening.  Heck it's out in the woods.  We didn't really fear that COVID would shut it down and it didn't. 😃  However, this race I was not with my PPRF girls that I've been running a lot with lately.  I was with some old running friends that I've really missed!  

This year we did not RUN the 20K.  We all WALKED.  Yep, that's a FIRST for me. 😀 and to be honest I was a tad concerned about walking 12.4 miles!  I didn't want to be out in the woods all day.  I kept thinking about all the things I could be doing at home!  I have tons of sewing to do on my big project I'm working on.  However, once the race started and we were all walking, I laughed so much and had a great time.  A couple of my friends have not had time to train due to injury, life, etc. so that's why they were not running.  Otherwise we would of all tried to run most of it.  It was a beautiful spring day! The sun was shinning and we all enjoyed each other's company.  However...... guess what our walk time was??? 4 Hours and 28 minutes! WHEW!  I've ran 26.2 miles in that time before. 😂  It was a long time on my feet and my shins were pretty sore the next 2 days! 😅 and still sore today 😕🙈

Here are a few pics:

Me with the GoPro 😀

Sunshine got her 10 year award

Serina got her 10 year award

The group! Me, Frank, Missy, Serina, Dennis, Doris, & Sunshine! What a blast these people are to be with!! 😍😍😍😎 Even though there was some mud, it was probably the driest year I've seen and I've done the race like 8 times.   UPDATE:  8 is right... I finally went back and reviewed all the previous years results to make sure I was right on 8 and looks like the 2 years I didn't do the race because I was preparing for Ironman is the 2 that knocked me out of getting my 10 year award.  Here's the numbers:

2012 - Vol run - 20K

2013 - 20K

2014 - 20K

2015 - 50K

2016 - 50K

2017 - 20K

2020 - 50K

2021 - 20K

That's a total of 8 years.  In 2018 I was training hard for Chattanooga Ironman and didn't want to do any races where there was a chance I might get hurt.... and then the week b4 ironman I had a bike crash and didn't even get to do ironman!  Then in 2019 I decided to try again for Ironman so I skipped the trail run again.   This time I did complete ironman, but missed another year at the MS50.   Maybe in 2023 I'll get my 10 year award. 😏😀

Well that's a wrap on the MS50... Until next year! Hope we all running together then....  Sunshine mentioned she wants to do the 50K again... 😏😕😁  Guess well see in 12 months... I’ve done it 3 times... we’ll see if there is another 🤪😁

What's on the horizon next for me?? well, I was going to go to the Zydeco half marathon in Louisiana this weekend, but some of my daugher's friends are having her an engagement party so I'm staying put here in town so I can go to the party and enjoy the moment with my daughter 💕💕💕😍

But don't you worry... I'll still be running, biking and swimming.. my coach demands it. 😄

Miss Blues virtual Half Marathon 2/27/21

 So the Blues was canceled on 2/27/21 and postponed till October 16, but you know us PPRF girls.... we decided to go ahead and run our distance virtually on race day so that's what we did!

This is the only  Pic I took with the girls.  I was only doing the half marathon so when we finished the half, we snapped this pic and they went on to do their full marathon.  I went home and showered. LOL   It turned out to be HOT and HUMID on this Saturday...  Yep, directly after an ice storm we got straight into summer... notice the tank tops! 😜

We keep longing for more in person races... virtually isn't much fun. 

MS50 coming up the following weekend... stay tuned.  

Lighthouse 5K - Petal 2/13/21

 A 5K run and 2 Mile walk with numerous door prizes (including cash), breakfast provided by Waffle House and unique awards!  AND benefitting the Petal Children's task force.  

About the Task force: 

 ~~~ The Petal Children’s Task Force was formed in December of 1989 by Petal residents and friends Demaris Lee and Jessie Rowell. The event that set in motion what would eventually become the task force was a single needy family. The two women purchased food and Christmas presents for the family with money from their own pockets. While they didn’t advertise what they were doing, the women said requests for help continued to come in. While visiting these families to bring food and other necessities, the women often saw various sad situations. Children in deplorable living conditions, sometimes with no bed to sleep on, and houses with only a wood fire for heat in the winter are just a couple of examples. For almost a year, Demaris and Jessie tried to meet the needs of local families on their own, but in 1990 they received their first donation, $500 from the Chamber of Commerce. This was soon followed by several other donations from Petal businesses.

The women began speaking with local clubs and organizations, and soon the task force grew into a full-time organization. From a meager pantry at a local church, to space provided at the Center for Families and Children in Petal, the task force continued to grow. Eventually, a board of directors was organized, and the Task Force gained much support from the Petal community.

Even as the Task Force grew, its mission remained the same, to provide for the children of Petal and act as their advocate when no one else could.

Today our work continues. Through the generosity of Asbury Methodist Church, we now have our own space at the Lighthouse Mission site in Petal. And with this most recent blessing, we have been able to become a true Emergency Food Bank for all of the people in Petal. We now provide food assistance to anyone in need in the Petal area, including those who do not have children in the Petal School District. ~~~ Copied from their website

My PPRF girls talked me into doing this 5K.  They didn't have to talk hard.. ha   I love doing things that are for great causes.  It was however, very chilly that morning!  We all huddled inside until time to start the race.  This was right when that winter storm was coming into Mississippi.   It was so cold the air hurt my lungs during the run.  Normally I can run pretty fast when it's cold, but on this morning I felt sluggish and the cold air just really hurt when I breathed.  However, we had an awesome time and Anna and Feleica and I believe Michelle all got PRs!  Plus when we went inside after the race to eat Waffle house and wait on awards, we ALL won a door prize!  It was like our table was on fire! :>)  I won $50! Plus I won a medal for 1st place in my age group.  

Here are a few pics:

Me and crazy girl from hburg in shorts.. ha  She's awesome. 

The group b4 the race

Anna and Feleica.

Before the race.. notice we all bundled up!

Me and Felicia with are medals. 

My neighbors fountain just a few days after the race... It got COLD in Mississippi!!

Until later... Keep running... keep moving! 

Hebrews 12:1