Official Publication of
FEBRUARY 20 1 3
Whitman’s and Workouts February Fitness Facts & Tips By Logan Sherman
Noses are Red, Nyquil is Blue CareNow Renews Health and Race Sponsorship Contracts Too
Rush Over to our Booths at Cowtown and Livestrong Austin Marathon Expos DFWRUNS Sets Your Event or Brand in Front of Thousands a Day!
Beer Runners, Rahr You Ready?
Rahr Oktoberfest 5K Saturday Social Run Series Kicks off Feb. 9th
Doc in the Box
By Holly Johnson, M.D. Heart Health for a Million Hearts and Billions of Beats
Letter from the Editor Chief Running Officer, Eric Lindberg
WE HEART HANDCUFFS,HEROES, HOOPS AND HOUSES!
I
n honor of St. Valentine’s Day, I’d like to kick off this issue of OYL with one funny love story I’ll always remember; one that kind of, might’ve backfired for one couple. During the summer of 2009, we launched the Meet In The Heat Social Runs for Run On! We partnered with Chuy’s near KnoxHenderson and wanted to add some sizzle and juice to what are often your standard, run-of-the-mill social runs.
Some ideas hit and some missed, but I will never forget the jailbreak-themed run. The concept was simple. When you signed in for the run you were given a number between 1 and 30. Men who signed in got blue numbers and women got pink numbers. At the start of the run we paired numbers and colors; for example, blue number 1 was paired with pink number 1, blue 2 with pink 2 and so on. Here’s where it got interesting. We surprised our runners and handcuffed the newly formed couples together and had them run down the KATY Trail. Keep in mind that Chuy’s is a four-block walk to the KATY Trail, so you can imagine we got some stares from people as 60 or so of us made the four-block walk. As we got to the start of the KATY Trail, the husband of one of our female participants came running up to join us (yes he was running late). To his surprise, he found her handcuffed to another man. Now as you can imagine, there were quite a few questions from the husband and jealous looks thrown around, but all was well as everyone ended up smiling and laughing about the ordeal. If there’s anything I’ve learned about the people in the running community, it’s that there is certainly no shortage of love to go around. Take the Hero Rush as an example. Dave Iaonne and his crew are working tirelessly to build up this national race series in an effort to support firefighters across the country. So far, they’ve raised thousands of dollars for firefighter departments around the U.S. Their appreciation for the work done on a daily basis by our men and women firefighters has spilled into their passion for running.
“If there’s anything I’ve learned about the people in the running community, it’s that there is certainly no shortage of love to go around.”
Letter from the Editor, Cont. Another example is the NBA All-Star FIT Run, Walk & Dribble. Between all the logistical and marketing plans, travel arrangements and event management being done to make the 2013 NBA All-Star Game in Houston an out of this world experience, the NBA is pouring tons of energy and resources into encouraging physical fitness in local communities. NBA FIT, the community and physical fitness outreach arm of the NBA, is excited to be the driving force behind the race’s third year. And if it couldn’t get any better, NBA FIT has chosen the USO of Greater Houston to be the race’s charity beneficiary. What better way to say “Thank You” to our men and women who put their lives on the line to defend our freedom. Or how about the Rahr & Sons Brewery, where Fritz & Erin Rahr know a thing or two about what it’s like to have your home-grown business be placed on a lifeline. In 2010, a devastating snowstorm caused the roof of their brewery to collapse, thus halting all sales. Fast forward to 2013, and you’ll find they’ve not only recovered completely, but they have developed an appreciation for those who, on a daily basis, don’t have a roof over their heads. As a result, the Rahr Oktoberfest 5K is entering its third year in partnership with Trinity Habitat for Humanity, a local charity that helps provide shelter to those in need. I could go on and on, but I’d need an entire issue of OYL to do it justice. In an age when we are bombarded with so much bad news about the world around us, I find myself grateful to witness so much good news and to work with so many good people every day here at work. – Eric Lindberg
WHO’S SHOUTING “On Your Left!”?
OWNERS & EDITORS IN CHIEF Eric Lindberg – elindberg@dfwruns.com Sharon Lindberg – slindberg@dfwruns.com
DESIGN Cathy Hutzler – cat@dfwruns.com
WRITING & EDITING Cherilyn Wilson – cwilson@dfwruns.com Seth Gonzales – sgonzales@dfwruns.com
CONTRIBUTORS Lindsay Musielak – lmusielak@dfwruns.com Paul Hutzler – phutzler@dfwruns.com Gabriella McCord – gmccord@dfwruns.com Maggie McCarthy – mmccarthy@dfwruns.com Logan Sherman
CATCH US! (IF YOU CAN)
Whitman's and Workouts
February Fitness Facts & Tips By Logan Sherman
W
ell, maybe we don’t exactly have a winning sampler of chocolate gutt-busting workouts from Philidelphia’s Stephen F. Whitman himself, but we do have some fitness facts and tips from Dallas’ very own 2012 Male Runner of the Year, Logan Sherman!
February is here and it is time to spend with the ones you love the most. (Or if you are a single runner you have the chance to spend more time exercising, watching sob movies and eating ice cream.) Let’s look past the Super Bowl, Mardi Gras and Groundhog Day at some fun facts for the shortest month of the year.
HE’S GETTING PUSHY!
Researchers found that calorie burn was approximately “18 to 20 percent” higher when walking with a stroller (weighted at 35lbs) than walking without a stroller.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Mother and baby exercise programs show significant improvements in well-being scores, in women identified as “at risk” for post-natal depression. Participants showed a 50% reduction in risk factors by the end of the study.
3. Pack for everything: diapers, wipes, snacks, water, music 4. Don’t run hands-free
CRAIG & MARIA OTTMAN Keller, Texas
Fastest 10k with a stroller: 35:36 at the Fort Worth Turkey Trot; 5th place! Stroller owned: BOB Ironman; because it’s lightweight, has road tires and a fixed front wheel. Secrets to a good ride: I never leave the house without: a ziplock bag of graham crackers, a sippy cup of water or juice, a toy or two [make sure they are attached to something, kids love throwing stuff out of the stroller]
1. Use a car seat adapter if your child is under 6 months of age
In the winter make sure they have hats, gloves, lots of clothing and a blanket, Campbell falls asleep real quickly when he is bundled up.
2. Lock the front wheel
In the summer use sunscreen, it is a must.
The Grafitti Run - Fort Worth Saturday, February 2, 2013 RACE WEBSITE
NBA All-Star FIT Saturday, February 16, 2013 RACE WEBSITE
Form Follows Fitness 5K Saturday, February 23, 2013 RACE WEBSITE
Hero Rush – Central Texas Saturday, March 2, 2013 RACE WEBSITE
Dark chocolate is also effective in lowering hypertension.
I also pack a small portable speaker and listen to music or The Musers [Craig’s favorite morning show].
Epicatechin is a natural antioxidant found in cocoa beans. This antioxidant can improve learning and memory.
I always store a small air pump or extra [tire] tube onboard. Leaving by 5:15 am allows baby to fall back to sleep and I get in a 90 minute run! In the afternoons, we’ll keep them under 40 minutes because he gets a little antsy if we try to go much further. We’re all happier: It’s fun looking for squirrels, rabbits and fire trucks together. We even make stops at the playground so Campbell can run off some energy. It all allows mom to get a little extra sleep in the morning. Keep it fun, if the baby is happy your run will go much more smoothly.
BUY HER THE DARK CHOC-O-LATES Chocolate improves mood, even when consumed under emotional stress. [Like during the month of February!
Findings show that regular consumption of small doses of dark chocolate may reduce inflammation within the body.
Hero Rush – North Texas Saturday, April 6, 2013 RACE WEBSITE
Central Market Thrill of the Grill Saturday, April 20, 2013 RACE WEBSITE
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, compounds that provide a mental boost, and phenylethylamine, or PEA, which stimulates the nervous system, increases blood pressure and heart rate, and is suspected to produce similar feelings experienced when a person is “in love.”
FOR LOVE OF RUNNING
Endorphins are neurotransmitters that are naturally produced by the body in response to exercise, pain, excitement or LOVE! Blood samples taken from serious runners before and after their runs showed endorphin levels are significantly higher. (Happy Valentine’s Day!) The endorphin theory of love is a view that when two people fall in love the body will release a plethora of endorphins, the body’s natural morphine (a heroine like substance), and that this accounts for the pleasurable feelings of being in love. The relationship between brain endorphin release and love stems from the 1976 research of Americans Candace Pert and Nancy Ostrowski.
1.) University of Wisconsin, La Crosse Exercise and Health Program (15 female volunteers; 19-41 years of age) 2.) Journal of American Physical Therapy Association
ZERO Prostate Cancer Run Ft. Myers Saturday, April 27, 2013 RACE WEBSITE
ZERO Prostate Cancer Run Albuquerque Saturday, May 11, 2013 RACE WEBSITE
MARKETING // PUBLICITY // SPONSORSHIP
For me it’s nice to have water or a place to stash extra clothing if it gets too warm or cold.
Noses are Red, Nyquil is Blue CareNow Renews Health and Race Sponsorship Contracts Too
H
aving CareNow and the 5th Annual Central Market Thrill of the Grill 5K together again is poetry in motion!
®
Noses are red, Nyquil is blue, But so is this logo,and lucky for you, CareNow let’s you check in online anywhere Instead of waiting with sickies who’ll just cough in your hair. They’ll give you a flu shot or nose-spray vaccine Or test you real quick and zap the germs clean. Getting you healthy and well on your way To running the Thrill of the Grill 5K!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Just as Dr. Holly Johnson explained last month, finding the right primary care physician is very important. But when getting to that private practice doctor isn’t expedient, Carenow delivers quality care giving you a better alternative to hospital emergency rooms. CARENOW Offers 23 convenient locations in the DFW area that are open late, seven days a week, and accepts more than 30 insurance plans. No appointment is needed. Just stop by your nearest location. Appointments can be scheduled for Aviation Medicine and Pilot Medical Certification... which reminds me,
Run Drenched - Dallas Saturday, May 25, 2013 RACE WEBSITE
Patriot Half Marathon Monday, May 27, 2013 RACE WEBSITE
the US Air Force has also renewed a healthy contract with The Original Mud Run and Gladiator Rock’n Run this year! We LOVE our clients who are in it for the long run. The 5th Annual Central Market Thrill of the Grill 5K registration page is smokin’ so get in now while savings are hot! Fan the FACEBOOK page coals too because we’re fired up to share some exciting details for this year’s race! While you’re there, join us in thanking our sizzlin’ sponsor, CareNow, with a big Valentine’s LIKE as well! Money is green, but sneezes are too... Let’s share the success and not the flu! – Cherilyn Wilson
Wash your hands before dialing 214-DFW-RUNS.
ZERO Prostate Cancer Run Chicago Saturday, June 1, 2013 RACE WEBSITE
DFWRUNS National Running Day Celebration Wednesday, June 5, 2013 RACE WEBSITE
Rush Over to our Booths at Cowtown and Livestrong Austin Marathon Expos DFWRUNS Sets Your Event or Brand in Front of Thousands a Day!
0
ur Promotional Pace Leaders will be our heroes this month as they’ll spend the weekend of February 15-16 at the 2013 Health and Fitness Expo for Livestrong Austin Marathon (at the Palmer Events Center). The PPL’s will be spreading the love for our Hero Rush obstacle race—the race which “takes the obstacle run craze to the next level by introducing not only unique, never before seen obstacles, but they get your friends and family in on the fun too!” Then, they’ll blaze over to the Cowtown Marathon Health & Fitness Expo on February 22 and 23rd to hand out goodies and help you to GET REGISTERED. Check out how you can run for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation wearing a commemorative racer’s bib showing the name of a fallen firefighter at www.herorush.com. The Cowtown Expo is located at Will Rogers Memorial Center 3400 Burnett-Tandy Drive Fort Worth in the Amon G.Carter Jr. Exhibit Hall. Once you’re all heated up to run this blazingly fun, totally unique 3-5 mile obstacle course, then slip n’ slide over to the Drenched 5K booth to fight fire with water! SIGN UP on-site for this water party race adventure! Like Hero Rush, the Drenched 5K race directors also love your local Fighters, so they partner with them in each city to ensure your race is safe and soaked! Though you’ll feel the heat in mile one of the race, (“the hot mile”), everything else about this event is pure party—from packet pick-up free falls by US Airbags to the post-race balloon fights. Just ask our web-footed PPL’s! They want to answer all your questions! DFWRUNS wants to flood every active person’s calendar with something fun and challenging each month and we also want to discuss how to keep your brand or event from being washed up. Can we give you our number?
We’ll get you branded like a steer in Cowtown, and every town nationally too! Just call the HOT line! 214-DFW-RUNS (339-7867)
Beer Runners, Rahr You Ready??
Rahr Oktoberfest 5K Saturday Social Run Series Kicks off Feb.9th Some say love, it is a river, that drowns the tender reed. Some say love, it is a hunger, An endless aching need. I say love, it is a Snowmageddon!
T
hree years after record snowfall caused the Great Roof Collapse, Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. will commemorate the event with a social run and special Saturday tour on Feb. 9th, along with a check presentation of the proceeds from last year’s event to Trinity Habitat for Humanity. This money raised will support the organization’s “Preserve a Home” program which transforms homes in need of repair. Plus, you will receive a special sampling of the brew Snowmageddon, crafted to commemorate that day in Rahr history which is superbly depicted on the label. But before you melt over this tall, dark stout, step outside to run, jog or walk the Rahr Oktoberfest 5K course with our DFWRUNS Promotional Pace Leaders! Our PPL’s will be on hand to ensure you smile, sweat and swoon over our monthly Saturday Social Runs. So hold on to your Leiderhosen because we’re ready and set to go work off that beer belly! Although ONLINE REGISTRATION for the September 28 5K race is open, on February 9 ONLY, you can sign up at the social run check-in area for just $25! That’s $15 off the regular registration fee and is the lowest price it will be available through race day! Don’t miss this one chance at a cheap date! Some say love, it is a river. Some say it is a rose. I say love, is just east of the Trinity where the beer flows! LIKE the Rahr Oktoberfest 5K Facebook page to stay on pace with all the crazy, fun, training run details we have coming up on your left!
$ SAVE 15 ON REGISTRATION! FEBRUARY 9 ONLY
< READ THE DETAILS
Get Fired Up for the Central Market Thrill of the Grill 5k
THRILL OF THE GRILL SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2013 RUN OR WALK - HOT BREAKFAST POST RACE PARTY - LIVE MUSIC facebook.com/thrillofthegrill Plano ISD does not directly or indirectly require or coerce employees to: 1) make or not make a contribution to a charitable organization or in response to a fund-raiser; or 2) attend or not attend a meeting called for the purpose of soliciting charitable contributions.
BENEFITING
®
Halt deine Lederhosen!
[hahlt dey-neh leh-dehr-hoh sehn!]
Hold onto your Lederhosen! Zike Zake, Zike Zake Hoi Hoi Hoi! Join us at the world famous Rahr & Sons Brewing Company for the Rahr & Sons Oktoberfest 5k! • GERMAN TREATS AND FOOD • LIVE GERMAN POLKA
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 Rahr & Sons Brewery – Fort Worth
REGISTER ONLINE »
• BIER GARDEN, FEATURING HAND CRAFTED GERMAN STYLE LAGER • RUN AND WALK
RahrOktoberfest.com
JOHNSON PHOTO BY: SPENCER FREEMAN
Doc in the Box By Holly Johnson, M.D.
HEART HEALTH FOR A MILLION HEARTS AND BILLIONS OF BEATS
H
FACTIVE
appy American Heart Month! February 14 has long been steeped deep in the celebration of the fiery roots of love, affection, and passion. St. Valentine’s Day is the only holiday on our calendar that celebrates, strangely, a body part–namely the heart. Warm fuzzies, blushed faces, butterflies, and good, lovey-dovey feelings happen when we fall in love. My heart skips a beat, however, at the thought of what can happen when a heart breaks... On one of my most memorable and heart-pounding days at work, a fifty year old gentleman passed out on the sidewalk in front of my clinic. When I got outside, he was as purple as a grape, gasping, and non-responsive. He was having a heart attack–the big one! We gave him CPR and used the defibrillator, and with God’s grace, we saved the man’s life and transferred him to the hospital. Thankfully, he was sitting up eating breakfast in bed when I called the hospital the next day to check on him! Unfortunately, however, every broken heart story doesn’t have a happy ending. According to the National Institutes of Health, 1.2 million people a year have heart attacks, also called myocardial infarctions (MIs). About half of them die. Do you know the risk factors for heart disease? They are: hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and family history. The good news is that you can control most risk factors except for the family history part. Did you know heart attacks happen most often on Monday mornings? A stress hormone, called cortisol, peaks early in the morning which increases our blood pressure and heart rate, and elevates the risk of plaque rupture which causes an MI. Pile that on top of any cardiac risk factors contributing to plaque buildup and the stress of getting up to face another work week! Yikes!
Do you know the symptoms of a heart attack? They can be different for men and women. Men typically have the classic symptoms of chest pain, radiating down the left arm, shortness of breath, nausea, and profuse sweating. Women on the other hand, tend to have more subtle symptoms such as nausea, indigestion, shoulder aches, and fatigue. Either way you slice it, heart disease is dangerous, and warning signs of a heart attack need to be treated immediately! If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these symptoms, call 911! Don’t wait! The sooner treatment is initiated, the better likelihood of surviving the event! A couple of years ago, the Million Hearts program was launched as a national initiative aimed to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes over five years. The goal is to empower Americans to make healthy choices and to teach the ABCS. ABCS is all about prevention of heart disease–the number one killer of Americans. It stands for aspirin for people at risk, blood pressure control, cholesterol management, and smoking cessation.
According to a survey of studies on the issue by Runner’s World magazine, you can not only run your way to a better sex life, but also have sex to become a better runner! Plus, Dr. Pamela Peeke, a spokesperson for the American College of Sports Medicine who competes in marathons and triathlons states, “There’s no question that research shows that having sex before a race actually increases the probability that you’re going to perform well.” So, Happy Valentine’s Day, go grab that… PR!
COMPLIMENTS DEPARTMENT
Keep sending us your compliments! In order to create the best events for you, we need to continue showing our city officials what is working. With a quick CLICK HERE, we can all make great changes together.
HOTCAKE HUSTLE COMPLIMENT: The volunteer passing out the coffee mugs at the end who thanked me for running the race. I was thanking her for supporting us! CITY: Addison, TX
LOUISIANA MARATHON COMPLIMENT: Great organization, friendly spectators, residents and police along the beautiful course. CITY: Baton Rouge, LA
Please Note: The info in this article is not a substitute for medical advice from your own PCP; you should always discuss any health decisions and questions about your cardiac risk factors with your own doc. Dr. Johnson and DFWRUNS/ On Your Left! are not liable for skipped beats or the end result of choosing the super-size fries!
REACH OUT!
Learn how DFWRUNS can help grow your brand or event. Contact us today!
PHONE: 214-DFWRUNS EMAIL: info@dfwruns.com WEB: www.dfwruns.com
MARKETING // PUBLICITY // SPONSORSHIP
Here are some other cool heart facts. Our heart, which is simply a strong muscle, is located in the very center of our chest under the breastbone. It is tipped to the left (which is why many people believe it is located there). Blood, which is produced in bone marrow, is 70% water. Basically our heart is just a muscular bag that pumps oxygenated plasma all over our body! According to WebMD, our heart can create enough pressure that it can squirt blood a distance of thirty feet! Our heart beats an average of 72 beats a minute, 100,000 times a day, 36 million times a year, and 2.5 billion times in a lifetime! It pumps 2000 gallons of blood through 60,000 miles of blood vessels every day. According to facts.randomhistory.com, a kitchen faucet would need to be turned on full blast for forty-five years to equal the lifetime flow of blood in a human. Every day a heart creates enough energy to drive a truck twenty miles; in a lifetime that equals driving the moon and back! Not a bad workout for a muscle that weighs less than a pound! As a lifetime runner, you can lower your resting heart rate and blood pressure. When you do that, the heart doesn’t have to work as hard, and therefore, it won’t wear out as fast, and you can live a longer life! The average adult has about four to five quarts of blood. The lub-dub noise of a heartbeat comes from the sound of our four heart valves as they snap shut. At rest it takes about six seconds for blood to go from our heart to our lungs and back, eight seconds to go to our brain and back, and sixteen seconds to travel to our toes and back. Although this is certainly cool trivia to stock away for impressing your friends on game night, having a healthy heart is certainly more than trivial! We need our hearts to keep pumping if we are to live a healthy life for a good long time. Plato theorized that reasoning originated with the brain, but that passions originated in the heart–another good reason to keep our tickers in tiptop shape! To keep the passion flowing eat healthy meals, cut down on the transfats and sugar, know (and control) your numbers, quit smoking, exercise regularly, drink only in moderation, have purpose, and laugh daily. According to WebMD laughter really is good medicine; a good belly laugh can send 20% more blood flowing through your entire body and helps the lining of our blood vessels to relax and expand. So laugh, live, and love this February. Your heart will thank you!
Jaunt Junkie By Cherilyn Wilson
WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKEN HEARTED? “What becomes of the broken hearted? Who had love that’s now departed? I know I’ve got to find Some kind of peace of mind Maybe.”
F
West Fork of the Trinity River toward Trinity View Park, where you’ll find drinking fountains, restrooms, picnic shelters, grills and athletic fields. Additional amenities can be found along the way at Twin Wells Park and the Mountain Creek Preserve. The Campion Trail also offers an even trade of sun and shade as it winds in and out of tree-lined areas. Its well-maintained paved path is ideal for Walking, Jogging, Bicycling and In-Line Skating. You’ll even find permanently planted sit-up benches, arm workout equipment and Port-O-Potties set off to the side of the route at times. Here’s a sample out and back 10 mile cycling route you might try if your running heart has been broken below the calves like mine. Now, I enjoy romantic sunsets with my new love, Gary Fisher (8.2 DS), at the end of my ride atop the highest part of the canal overlooking the new bridge at the Valley Ranch. • Trail hours are from 5 a.m. to midnight. • No motorized vehicles allowed on trails.
Have you been on a great run lately? Did you discover a new trail? Send your story to info@dfwruns.com!
PHOTOS BY JONATHAN GILBERT
or me, this song is more like, What Becomes of the Broken Footed. I had my HEART set on a February marathon and was even considering breaking into the world of ultras with a little 30-miler at Cowtown. I was also planning to break my 20 minutes in a 5K somewhere in between. But no sooner did I start to suspect my feet were planted on a different path, Plantar Fasciitis set in with a vengeance. The only thing breaking would be my HEART. Plantar Fasciitis usually comes with a prescription to stop the activity you’re doing which caused the flare up. The side effect of this prescription is that it can turn a non-running runner into a real you-know-what! When faced with an ugly break-up with running, “I know I’ve got to find some kind of peace of mind.,” so I started cycling! I had run the scenic Campion Trail from Valley Ranch through Irving and Las Colinas several times in my marathon training and had noticed cyclists shared the extra wide path. Ease of parking and access off the Valley Ranch Parkway made this the perfect spot to find my new legs. Other parking is available in T.W. Richardson Grove Park (333 Interstate 635) and Sam Houston Trail Park (101 East Interstate 635). Parking for the southern section of the trail is available in Trinity View Park (2221 East State Highway 356) and Mountain Creek Preserve (1000 E. Hunter Ferrell). Future plans call for connecting the two segments as part of a 22-mile greenbelt along tributaries of the Trinity River. Currently, the longer northern section follows the Elm Fork of the Trinity River which begins at Sam Houston Trail Park. From there, it travels south to Las Colinas following the
Abby Road By Abby Werner
ELECTRIC RUN A few weekends ago I ran in the Electric Run. It was my first night race and had the most participants that I’ve seen yet – there were about 6,000 of us! On the website, it said to dress crazy, but I still wasn’t totally prepared for the mass participation, people really took it seriously! I’ve never seen so many light-up wigs, neon tutus, glow sticks, morph suits and brightly colored face paint in my life! It started at seven, but they were releasing us in waves of about seven hundred each. I was in the second wave, so while I waited I got a few free glow sticks that they were flinging out into the mob. I even got to hit one of the giant balloons that they were throwing at the crowd to entertain us. Five minutes after the first wave they let us go, with an eruption of cheers from all us runners. I started out at a nice easy jog, just to see how long I would last until I needed to walk. The flat, but entertaining-to-the-eye course was kind to my out-of-shape body, but fifteen minutes later I felt close to dead. I had passed through smoke, bubbles, brightly lit balls and umbrellas and was extremely grateful for the cold water. After I drained two cups, I speed-walked for a minute before returning to my jog. I then speed walked and jogged off and on, admiring all the bright displays. I cheered on anyone who looked like they needed it (especially the tired looking little kids) and chatted with different runners. The person that stood out the most to me was another girl around my age who was running by herself. We talked about all the 5ks we’ve each participated in and why we love running. We parted when I wanted to run the last half mile. When I saw the finish line, exhausted as I was, I sprinted towards the finish line with all I had and finished in 33:37, my iPod informed me. I was thrilled to reach my goal of under 35 minutes. It was a great experience, one I’ll never forget and just another reason why I love running — you can do it in the morning or at night! I look forward to the Graffiti Run- my goal is to finish under 30 minutes. Think I can do it? Keep track of Abby each month as she grows in her running! Watch for her reviews of UPCOMING DFWRUNS EVENTS in forthcoming issues of OYL!
“It was a great experience, one I’ll never forget and just another reason why I love running — you can do it in the morning or at night! ”
CLICK TO RUN LIKE AN ALL-STAR
FEBRUARY 16 DISCOVERY GREEN, HOUSTON, TEXAS
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2ND ANNUAL
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