The Franklin Classic

We started the day with a 4am alarm to bake for the post-race brunch. My husband requested his favorite breakfast casserole.  I also took the brown sugar bundt cake that I posted yesterday.  I’ll post the recipes shortly:)

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I had a Picky Bar and coffee before we left the house.

The new Cookie Doughpness is SO good!

The new Cookie Doughpness is SO good!

Time to race: The Franklin Classic! We met up with so many awesome friends. Our entire community runs this race.
I ran in my favorite Saucony Kinvara 5’s. The yellow makes me so happy:)

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Lots of love for Fleet Feet Racing!

This was my first time running both the 10k (7:00 start) and the 5k (8:30 start).

***Preface: I don’t run short, fast races very well.  My stubbornness lends itself to endurance!

I didn’t taper for these races and I’m in the middle of training for the Chicago Marathon.

 

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My husband had a great 10K race!

The course is hot and hilly.  Every year I question why I run it.  It’s mostly because I want to run with my friends (peer pressure at it’s finest), but also because it supports Mercy Community Healthcare. I beat last years time by 27 seconds. Not a huge difference, but this year I had so much more breath control. I felt more relaxed. Progress.

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10k splits: 7:49, 7:50, 8:04 (hills), 7:47, 7:36, 7:28
Finish time.  10th in AG.  48:14

I probably should have found a seat in the shade, but instead I stood around socializing in the sun.  I felt a little stiff for the 5k, but I just reminded myself that it was temporary. Also, the hills weren’t as bad on the 5k course.

5k Splits: 7:31, 7:34, 7:37
Finish time.  5th in AG 23:45

This was only my 2nd 5k.  My first was in July and I ran a 21:xx.  My friend Corrie said that I was on the 50k to 5k plan!

Conclusion:  Short-distance runner are badasses. Today’s races just made me want to puke.  Can you tell it was hot?!!!

Just finished the second race...wiped out!

Just finished the second race…wiped out!

I drank Cocogo Lemon-Lime in my handheld for both races.  I definitely needed it today!

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Use code: JENCHOOSESJOY (all caps) for 10% off your order!

We stayed to cheer on our friends for their awards and then the best part of the race…brunch afterwards hosted by our friends Alex and lauren!!!! Thank you SO much for hosting a bunch of stinky runners!!!  Everything was incredible!

Just look at this spread!

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My friends are seriously good cooks.  I made sure to try it all!

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The obligatory post-brunch pic…

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We took our full bellies home for a much needed shower and rest.

After a full day, I didn’t really feel like cooking so we headed out for celebratory pizza at Mellow Mushroom. I love their build your own salad menu!

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Romaine with cucumber, shredded mozzarella, and portobello mushrooms

And of course their pizza!

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Tell me about your Labor Day!
What’s your favorite race distance? Do you stick to that distance or run others?

#choosejoy

Run Like Roy

Today was a very exciting day. One of my favorite people/running partners returned to running after being sidelined by a broken collar bone. Roy and I met though Fleet Feet Nashville’s Ultra-Dirtbag club. I was mostly a lone wolf runner and he encouraged me to join multiple running groups and even got me running track with him weekly (or as we call it…the pain train).

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We’re now on the Fleet Feet Racing Team and we have logged a LOT of miles together!

Most importantly he is my reminder to run for the joy of it. He’s such a zen runner. Don’t let that zen fool you, though. He ran Boston and the Thunder Rock 100 miler earlier this year.
He also paced me to win first female in a Jackal Trail Marathon in June. As you can see, I just want to Run Like Roy!

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This morning he joined our “Breakfast Club”. We don’t actually eat breakfast, but we do finish at Starbucks for coffee afterwards. We joke that we eat miles for breakfast or some nonsense like that!

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On Thursday evenings we have a Dirtbag trail run, but beforehand I stopped to vote (I run this body and I voted…boom!)

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I met for husband for some avocado rolls. I could live off of avocados. Yea for healthy fats!

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I prepped for what looked to be a soaker.

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Is anyone else still using their old school picky bar bags? It’s the perfect size to keep my key dry during rainy runs.

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I was so excited to get to run with Roy twice in one day and amazingly the big rain held off until immediately after our run.

Bonus: I came home to find a cupcake waiting on me. My husband rocks!

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Sorry it’s a crappy picture but who has the willpower to stop eating a cupcake to take a good picture?!!