Race Review - Calico Racing's Once in a Blue Moon - "Shoot the Moon"!

It's been a while since I've blogged, but I'm going to work on blogging more frequently.  A lot has happened since I've last posted, including getting married!  I also ran my first ever full marathon, but I've been out of the running game since then.  I decided earlier this year to get back on the running horse and to start working on getting my act together AGAIN!  I've successfully gotten rid of 30 lbs since February and I hope to keep going with that trend.  I'd say I have another 30-40 lbs to lose as of right now.  Hopefully with the help of Weight Watchers and running I will be able to do so and finally hit that WW Lifetime!

So last night I ran a race, well three races actually!  I ran the Calico Racing "Once in a Blue Moon" race.  Calico is a really great local racing company here in Las Vegas.  Joyce, the RD, takes great pains to make her races successful.  She runs a lot of races out in nature here in Vegas as opposed to a lot of the big urban races (Rock n Roll).  Her shirts and medals are always top notch and I like the high quality and the smaller races that she puts on.  She did an inaugural Blue Moon race back in 2012 - which I ran - and this this the first Blue Moon race she's had since then.  A Blue Moon (two full moons in month) only comes a long every few years, and the next one isn't slated to occur until 2018!  The first Blue Moon race was a timed race per distance - you could either run for one hour, three hours, or I think five hours?  The object was to run as far as you could in that time frame.  It was in interesting concept and I did enjoy the race, but it was the only time I've ever done a race like that (once in a Blue Moon - it was the opportunity to do a different kind of race).  The race last night was another type of Blue Moon race where we got to do a race type that we've never done before.

This year's race consisted of three 5k's - a 6:00 pm race "Moondance", a 7:45 pm race "Bad Moon Rising" and a 9:15 pm race "Dark Side of the Moon".  Participants could register for one or two of the races, or try to do all three and "Shoot the Moon".  Since I am up to running 6-7 miles consistently for my marathon training (more on that later), I definitely wanted to "Shoot the Moon".  I figured if I was too tired, I'd quit after two, but I wanted to go for the full shebang!

My friend Irene likes to walk 5k's and she has done some events in the past.  She is also going to do the 10k when I run the ET Full Moon 1/2 marathon out at Area 51 in a few weeks (more on that later).  She decided to come out to walk the 6:00pm 5k, along with another couple that she knows.  We also ran into two ladies that we have seen around at other events in town, so the night ended up being a pretty social one!

The race was held at Sunset Park, which is a nice local park that has running/biking trails.  The entire course was a paved trail.  Since the sun was setting and the moon was rising during the races, participants were encouraged to wear a head lamp because the trail was not lit for the most part.

The 6:00pm "Moondance" race started off with the sun shining.  It was humid, especially for Vegas, and there were clouds in the air and lightning in the distance.  It actually made it a little nicer in my opinion because without the clouds the sun would have been brutal.  It was about 105 degrees F, and I was very sweaty and heated up at about the 1/2 mile point, but I played my music and ran my race and had a nice respectable finishing time (for me) of 39:29.  I was VERY hot and thirsty when I finished.  I went to my car, where I'd packed a bag with supplies, toweled off, slammed a bottle of water, ate some Shot Blocks and walked over to the pavilion where there was food service and awards.  Calico Racing always has a great food service and this race didn't disappoint.  There was quite an extensive assortment of food - salty and carby snacks.  I had a small piece of bread and walked back to the finish line to see Irene finish.  After she finished, she left with her friends (they were going for dinner) and I got ready for my second race.

As the 7:45pm "Bad Moon Rising" race started, the sun was going down and the moon was rising.  I got out my headlamp, because we were told we'd need it about halfway through.  I started running and was warmed up at about the 3/4 mile mark and off I went into my groove again.  The races were all on the same route and the route was a funky not quite loop, not quite out and back type, more like a lollipop with two loops, but since I had ran it once, I knew what to expect for number two.  The sun set and I did turn my light on and I was keeping pace pretty much with my first race.  I kept thinking it would be great if I ran the whole thing and didn't have to walk - so that was what I did.  At about mile 2.5, the guy in front of me veered from the right way over to the left side of the trail.  I couldn't figure out why he did, until I got a couple of steps further and saw a big old SNAKE slithering across the path.  Nothing like desert running!  I don't think it was a rattler, I was since told it was probably a gopher snake, but it was about 3 feet long and slithering across the path.  I gave it a wide berth and went on to finish race #2 in 41:12.  Again, after finishing I toweled off and slammed some more water, ate some more Shot Blocks and downed a protein bar.  I then rested up a bit and prepped for #3.

At this time, there were some announcements to stay hydrated and have salt or salt tabs because there were complaints of people not feeling well, feeling dizzy and light headed.  It was probably ~100 degrees F and I know some people aren't used to running in the heat.  I felt fine, my feet were getting tired but I was feeling confident that I'd be good to go for #3.

It was dark at the start of the 9:15pm "Dark Side of the Moon" race, and I took off running the course for a third time.  I was warmed up at about the 1/2 mile mark and everything was going great.  No snakes this time, the temp felt a little cooler and I just ran my pace.  I got through the first 2.5 miles without a problem and then I did stop for a short walk break.  Hey it was my 9th mile of the night and my feet were tired, I was ready to be done!  Even with the walk break, I managed to finish #3 in 42:43.  So I slowed down a bit through each consecutive race, but I think I did pretty well for myself, considering that I was getting more tired and had more mileage each time.  When I finished, I got my Blue Moon medal and when I looked up, the clouds had parted and the moon had come out.  It was a really nice ending to a really cool series of races.

Me with my medal and the Blue Moon over my shoulder

I really liked this race a lot.  I liked having the 3 5k's with about a 45 minute break in between.  It allowed me time to eat, drink, rest and recover and get ready mentally and physically to do it again.  I liked it better than the previous race that Calico did for the Blue Moon with the hour times.  I'd do a race like this again.  If I had any suggestions, it would have been to add a 4th 5k!  Also, everyone got the same medal, no matter how many races you did.  It would have been nice to have a special "Shoot the Moon" medal, but honestly I was very happy with everything and nothing detracted from my enjoyment of the race.

Please ignore how sweaty and blown out I look in my photo - it was about 95 degrees at the very finish!  Great race though, I'll surely race again under the next Blue Moon!

Cirque du Soleil 5k

Yay!  Another official 5k race is on the books!

This race was called "Run Away with Cirque du Soleil" and it was at the Springs Preserve which is kind of an outdoor garden, nature, conservation center here in town.  The race was to raise money and awareness for One Drop which is an organization dedicated to ensuring that everyone has clean and safe water.  The chairman for the charity is the founder of Cirque du Soleil.  They said today that a child in the world dies every 20 seconds due to not having access to clean water. 

So I got up at 6:30 and I was about to put on my cute new running skirt and t shirt and lo and behold I let the dogs out and it was 52 and cloudy and overcast and windy (NO SUN) outside - in other words, it was COLD.  So I got out my compression pants and I had to search for a long sleeved running shirt.  Luckily I found my Full Moon Extraterrestrial Midnight marathon shirt from when I did that race last year and I was set to go.  I tried to wake Scott up but that wasn't happening, so off I went alone!  This isn't a problem for me except that when I'm alone I don't have a photographer.  I didn't want to run with my camera so I left it in the car but for the future, I am going to just have to learn to do so, especially if I want to be a blogger.  Not that anyone reads this anyway.

Here I am in the mirror before I left the house:

I think my hips are looking a little slimmer, but that could just be wishful thinking on my part!


So off I went.  When I got there I left everything in my car except for my car key and my iPod.  It was pretty darn cold.  Actually it wasn't sooo horrible except for my fingers and I really wished that I had brought gloves.  But alas, Starbucks was there so I had a small cup of Pike's.  I told the Starbucks girl "bless your little hearts for bringing coffee".  lol.  There were about 20 Cirque characters gadding about for photos while we were waiting and they were on stage talking about the charity.

There was a lot of waiting and they did this thing where thy had the parachute sheet from the bed scene in Love and they had painted it with the One Drop logo and they took it and stretched it over the whole crowd, so we sat under it, which was nice because it was warmer under there due to the wind being blocked.

We had a warm up and Mayor Oscar Goodman came out and spoke for a few minutes.  This was the 10th annual race, and the first time they affiliated with a charity and didn't have to use the Springs Preserve as the charity.  And off we went to the starting line.

Cirque characters at the starting line, I'm way back there somewhere

Mayor Goodman shot the starter pistol and off we went.  The run itself was pretty easy and I warmed up quickly once I started moving.  I was moving along pretty fast until after the turn around and I had to run INTO the wind.  Ack.

I still made decent time overall and my time was a mere 30 seconds longer than my six tunnels run.  Which I think was amazing considering that I was running into the wind for half the race.  And I got sad because before I knew it, it was over...

So, here's my overalls....

I finished 38 out of 73 in my age group (women 35-39)

I finished 484 out of 827 overall.

Chip time: 32:56

Pace: 10:35

Honestly, I just wanted to finish in less than 35 minutes, so I did good.  Someday I will get my 5k pace under a 10 minute mile.  Someday.

When I finished I got my picture taken with some Cirque characters:

Look at those pearly whites - got the teeth whitened yesterday and they are looking good!

That was my favorite part of the whole experience :)

They had all sorts of events after the race, they had a Cirque band play, they had circus stuff for kids, like a tightrope walk and balancing on balls.  They had these high schoolers with big like 10 foot kite butterflys, they had Whole Foods there with fruit and a big piano with bubble mix in it and all the kids were blowing big bubbles.  It was just a fun event overall and I was sad that no one else went with me - not because I was alone but because it was just such a good time and I thought that other people would have appreciated it and had a good time.

I stayed for the raffles and awards (I didn't win anything) and then I was off to my car where I blasted the heat and went HOME.  Overall, a great time, I am glad I went.  I have my sights set on a 8k next which is about a 5 mile race.  Wish me luck!

Run Away with Cirque du Soleil

Ok, so I am doing another 5k tomorrow!

Cirque du Soleil 5k

Running is becoming a bit of an addiction for me.  While I am running I like parts of it, and parts of it are hard, but I crave it and I am so elated when I finish!  This race should be fun, it's at the Springs Preserve, Mayor Oscar Goodman is going to be there and different Cirque cast members.  Should make for some good photo ops!  Recap tomorrow!

Also, I was down THREE lbs at my weigh in on Tuesday, so i believe that I am WELL on my way to goal again (sooo happy!).  As of Tuesday, I was exactly 8.2 lbs from goal (go me!).  Again, I should have got a small race shirt today instead of a medium.  When will I ever learn?  I am wearing a shirt today that I haven't worn before because it's been too small.  I have actually gotten smaller on the top, all of my shirts are big, even though I haven't lost but three lbs in the past two months, my body has redistricted a bit and my top half is smaller.

I went to the dentist today for the first time in many years...they were super nice and I got my teeth whitened with Zoom! whitening.  Wait until I get my happy smiling race finishing pictures tomorrow so you can see me happy white teeth, woo woo!  Best get your sunglasses out now!

Gotta finish my laundry and wind down to get to bed early to rest up for my race tomorrow, wish me luck!  I don't have any goals for this race except to finish at 35 minutes or less.  We'll see if that happens.

Six Tunnels to Hoover Dam 5K RUN

YAY! I did it!  I RAN in a 5K RACE!!!!!!!!

I have walked several races (Rock n' Roll Las Vegas 1/2 marathon, Catch the Rabbit 1/2 marathon, ET Full moon midnight 1/2 marathon, Mardi Gras 10K, Susan G. Komen 3-Day 60 mile walk), but this is the first event where I actually RAN the entire thing!

So, I got up yesterday morning and I didn't shower even though Scott said I should.  I ate a bowl of oatmeal made with Lite Silk Soymilk and a banana.  I put on my compression pants, running socks, my Adidas Supernovas, sports bra and my bright green shirt that we had made from the Vegas 1/2 marathons.  Of course, that shirt is an XL and I am a Small to medium now, so it was kinda bagging:

 

But since it was a St. Paddy's run, we were encouraged to wear green and I wanted to wear it since it has my name on it and everything, so off we went.  Scott very generously went along since I asked him to please take pictures of me at the finish. We went to the Hacienda hotel/casino in Boulder City almost the whole way to the dam - Arizona, that is.  I couldn't believe the crazy parking and how many people were there, it was really nuts, I didn't think I was going to get a spot.  I finally found something, we walked through the casino for one last bathroom break and I decided to tie a knot in the back of my shirt to tighten it up so it wasn't flapping in the breeze.  I put on my iPod and got my Garmin set to record my pace and distance, I got my sunglasses and gave Scott my phone (that was a toughie - I had really wanted to carry it!) and I was ready to go:

a couple of pics just outside the Hacienda:

 

I've already posted these on Facebook and I received tons of comments, people saying how great I looked - that I looked STRONG and LEAN and SKINNY!  WOO WOO!  I just think that I look HAPPY, which might be just as much an accomplishment for me as being all of those other things. 

Since I gave Scott my phone and camera, I couldn't get any pics of the actual race, so I started walking down to the trailhead.  He was going to hang out at the casino for about 1/2 hour and then come down.  I had told him that if I run my fastest 5k ever, I will be done in 35 minutes.  I have been running 11 - 11.5 minute miles on my neighborhood runs and my fastest one ever was 35 minutes.  I figured being on gravel and being in a crowd with a bunch of people that my time might be as long as 45 minutes, so I told him no shorter than 35 and probably no longer than 45.  The info about the race had said it was about 1/2 mile to the start and OMG, it was down a trail that was made of dirt and down a cliff, yikes!  I had said to someone behind me "just what I need is to break my leg five minutes before the race", lol.  So I got down to the start about one minute before the 1/2 marathon was about to start.  They started at the tunnel at the trailhead.  This course is neat as you run along what used to be a train track that was built to take supplies to the dam.  They actually blasted tunnels through the rock for the tracks, to get supplies through.  The tracks are long gone, but the tunnels are there and it's kind neat to run through them - you get cooled down and some shade.  

These are some pics of the tunnels from last year when I did the Catch the Rabbit race - it was on this same trail, just so you can get an idea of what the tunnels look like:

So, the 1/2 marathon started and then they lined us up.  I got in the back of the pack, since that is where I am used to started and besides I figured that I was a slow runner and I would be in the back of the pack.  So off we went, they had bagpipers standing on the top of the first tunnel where we started, I started my Garmin and I was on my way.  I was happy that I had started in the back, as it wasn't too crowded but I did take off around tons of walkers.  I kept thinking that was me before and to look how far I had come.  It was sunny and warm but not too horribly hot and I kept passing people and looking at my Garmin and thinking that my pace was too fast and that I needed to slow down.  I was afraid I was going to not have any energy left for the end but I was feeling good and I kept on going.  There was a water station at about .75 and I slowed down and drank a water and then before I knew it, I was at the 1.5 mile mark, and the turn around.  

So I remember thinking that I was halfway done and I needed to slow down, but my feet wanted to keep going, so off we went.  I did stop at the water again and I passed lots of people, but I was doing great.  I saw the sign for one mile to go and I thought wow, I only have about ten minutes left, and ran a bit more, turned the corner, and there was the finish line.  I actually got choked up just for a split second but then I got really happy because I knew that I was going to do it!  I started looking around for Scott and I didn't see him, and I was smiling really big as I ran the last 1/4 mile and before I knew it, I was done!  The announcer said, good run ladies and someone handed me a medal.  My MEDAL!  YAY!  The medal is one of my main motivations.  I LOVE GETTING MEDALS!  I felt like I earned this one so much more than other races where I walked and got a finisher's medal - I RAN for this one - I was so happy.  I looked around for Scott and didn't see him anywhere and I stopped my Garmin and it said 32:34 - wow!  That put me at a 10:33 mile???  I had beat my fastest 5k by 2.5 minutes!  YAY!  and that was just my Garmin, not my official time.

So, I finally hear Scott and he says, "sweetie, you finished too fast, I saw you coming around the corner toward the finish line and I wasn't even down there yet"  then he said, "look up and look at all of these people that you beat!"  I looked up and there were a bunch of people finishing behind me - I'm not worried about racing against any of them, I just wanted to race with myself - but I felt validated as a runner.  So I asked him to take my picture at the finish line:

and just like that, it was over...I had to go and pick up my Bountiful Basket so I had to take off...

So we went and got the basket and went home and I wore my medal for the entire day:

even when we went out for my victory dinner at Red Robin....

I was eager to see my official time and rank and when I got home and checked the website...


Out of 54 finishers in my age group, I finished at # 11 !!!!!!!!

11 ANYA SANKO              LAS VEGAS NV         39 F     33:56   32:22 10:25

NO WAY!!!!! 

That 32:22 is my chip time for the race and the 10:25 is my mile pace....Little did I know, 

apparently that would be in the top 20ish% :)

I finished 191 overall out of 421, putting me well into the top half (top 45% actually) overall!

That means there were over 200 people that came in behind me.  I really have no idea how this occurred.

What I do know, is I did it, I finished and I did good and I am happy. 

YAY!

RUNNING a 5K tomorrow - OFFICIALLY!!!!!!

I am running the 6 tunnels to Hoover Dam 5K tomorrow!!! Yay and Yikes!!!!!

Have I mentioned how I have always hated running and how I could never do it and how ASTONISHED I am that I actually CAN run?  I mean, I am pretty slow and I know I'm awkward and I probably look really weird doing it, but I am RUNNING now!  So weird.

As far back as elementary school I wanted to run, but after two minutes my chest would be heaving and I would be gasping for air and feeling like I was going to die.  I never understood how people became runners.  I don't really understand how -I- became a runner.  However, I really feel like I have to amp up my exercise to get 10-15 lbs off and the way that most people do it is by running.

When I started my WW journey ten years ago, I never thought I actually would be able to get the whole way to goal.  140 lbs seemed so far away and I never thought I could get that small.  I thought that maybe I could do 170 or 160.  But you know, here I am at 150, down 67 lbs from my all time high of 217 and I reaaaaaaaaallllly want to be 140.  I just feel like my body is used to all of the exercise and activity that I have integrated into my life and that's it's used to the vegs and the natural foods.  That was one of the good things I think about the old WW Momentum program was that when you lost more weight, the number of points that you got per day would decrease.  Maybe they need to do that again???? I have been 150 +/- 2 lbs for three months.  I think running and boot camp will help immensely.

So, tomorrow I go to Boulder City and RUN a 5k.  Last year in February of 2010 I walked a 10K and almost died.  I walked a 1/2 marathon in April on this same 6 tunnels course that I am doing tomorrow.  I feel like this is going to be an amazing day for me tomorrow and that it could be potentially life-changing.  I sure hope that I can run the entire thing.  I ran 2.5 miles yesterday and I was dying so I decided to take today off and rest to be fabulous for tomorrow.

Here I am in my cool 6 Tunnels 5K t shirt that I picked up today in my race packet

my nerdiness knows no bounds, this is what I ran in yesterday, YIKES

going to work on Thursday.  Not the greatest picture but the pants make me look skinny!

But anyway for tomorrow, I have my compression pants, my race shirt, my Adidas Supernovas, my race number, my Garmin, my iPod and my camera.  I am ready to run 3.1!  Wish me luck!  recap will come tomorrow!

I may get past this plateau yet

So, here's my dilemma.

I stayed the SAME at my weigh in last night.  I have been the same weight for at least the last three months +/- 2 lbs. At least I'm maintaining, but the problem is I am NOT at my goal. I knew the last ten pounds would be tough and I knew that to really get that fit, I would have to amp it up, but I really didn't expect this. sigh.

I read an article today about plateaus and I have been trying to find it to post here, but I have been unsuccessful. Basically the suggestions were: add weight training 3x a week, drink more water, track what you eat and change your exercise.

So, other than the fact that I have been very lax with the program over the past few months, those suggestions are REALLY applicable to me. I have been working out continuously for well over a year, but I always do the same workout: cardio/Zumba. So it is time to switch it up and add some Body Pump for weights. This means I have to cut out a Zumba, or two but I think I'll survive. I remember when I first started Zumba, it was my goal to be able to make it the whole way through certain instructors' classes, especially the really high energy ones. I still sweat at Zumba, but I believe that my body has gotten used to doing it regularly and that it takes less energy (fewer calories) to move my smaller bootie and smaller hips around so I burn fewer calories per class than I used to. So, time to ramp. When you do weight training and you have a higher muscle mass, you burn you burn more calories so, weights it is. I have to come up with a new gym schedule. I will miss Zumba, but I think this will be good for me to shake it up and ramp it up. I also don't drink NEARLY enough water, so that's going up too.

So last night I went to Zumba with my friend Cheryl, she is a breast cancer survivor, and she had a double mastectomy over a year ago and she is starting reconstructive surgery on Monday. So, this was her last Zumba for a while, because she is having a series of surgeries. She is such a strong and brave woman. Oh yeah, and I met her at Weight Watchers. I will miss her at Zumba, she is so funny, she cracks me up. She also writes music and sings and acts and all kinds of stuff in addition to her day job as a Valet driver. I love the characters in this town! She'll probably never see this, but good karma is coming your way from me, my girl, and I know that your surgeries will be successful and that you will be great! I am thinking of you.

pre-workout (not sweaty)

post-workout (sweaty) with Cheryl (isn't she fabulous?)

VIP locker room!  I bought the membership as my reward when I lost 40 lbs!

So, last night I signed up for a 5k for this Saturday, YIKES!

So I figured I'd better run.....

pre-run

post run, no worse for the wear.  Scott said I looked like I was gonna collapse, lol.  He better not be saying that when he's photographing me cross the finish line on Saturday!

it's posted on the previous blog entry, but I wanted to prove to myself that I actually could DO a 5k before I tried to run it on Saturday....so I did exactly a 5k (3.1 miles)...

I have actually finished races before.  Last year I took up walking and I did three half marathons, a 10k and the breast cancer 3 Day 60 mile walk (20 miles a day for three straight days, camping in a tent at night).  I have medals from all three halfs and the 10k, but never from an event that I actually RAN.   SO this week - I run.  Wish me luck!

Rock and Roll announced yesterday it's Vegas 1/2 marathon and marathon are going to be ran on the Strip at NIGHT!!! SO, I'm tempted....

And I already signed up for THIS - MY DREAM RACE!!! But don't tell anyone, shhhhh... I haven't told a few key players yet....

I ran a 5K!!!