Last Saturday morning, I drove over to one of our most prized locations in Independence, MO. . . THE TRUMAN LIBRARY.
I was happy to see that the "Chick-fil-A EAT MORE CHICKEN" cow had shown up, too!
We were all there to be a part of the 6th annual L.I.N.K. 5K RUN/WALK , which helps to raise money for a fund that awards college scholarship money to local high school students.
"Chick-fil-A" was one of the sponsors of the run. . .it was great to have the cow "mingling" with the participants.
After we sang The National Anthem. . . . (I love this part of the runs). . . .
we were off!!!!
I am on the left side....wearing my "lucky" yellow visor!!!
That part of the run was awesome. . . we went down the long sloping drive of the library. . .
and headed for the 3.1 miles it would take to complete this run.
Sadly, I have to say it, was not one of my stellar days.
Right off the bat, there was a hill. . . and by the time I made it up that, I was pooped for the rest of the run.
I even had to stop and walk. . . for the very first time in a 5K EVER!!! (OK...I've only done five of them. )
My calves were sooooo tired and I just couldn't "talk myself" out of the way they felt. SO, I walked....twice during the run.
As it turned out, my time wasn't terrible for ME. I did the run in 34 min. and 54 sec.. I could have had a decent run if I didn't have to take time out to recoup.
One thing I always look forward to, following a run, are the "treats" the organizers/volunteers have ready for us.
Cold water is especially a good thing after running/walking and so is juice. There's always fruit...like oranges, bananas and/or grapes. Often, there's yogurt. Sometimes there are yummy eats. . .like this breakfast roll I nabbed! NOTE: I'd already consumed my banana by the time I thought to take a picture. :)
While we waited for the run results. . .
one of the awesome organizers of this event drew names for prizes!!! There were some good ones, too.
I really hoped I would get a gift certificate to our local running store, but I didn't. In fact, I usually don't win anything, so when my name was FINALLY drawn I was thrilled!
There were only three prizes left to choose from and they were all . . .
"chips".
I couldn't see what they said on them, but picked the purple one.
No one seemed to know what they represented. I have to drive to this local Harley spot and find out!! I'll let you know when I collect my "prize".
Do you think I won a "HOG"? WOW! That would be an awesome prize! :)
Next, they announced the results of the run. . . first, second and third places for each division. The divisions are based on gender and age.
I was actually shocked that I was in third place in my division. It wasn't such a big deal, since there were only 5 or 6 of us in the Female 60-64 age group. However, the first and second place gals beat me by a little over 3 minutes...which is a lot of time. I was kicking myself that I had to walk cuz it really slowed me down.
OK, I am a bit competitive....I need to refocus on beating MY personal times, not someone else's...right? I promise I'll work on that.
HOWEVER: I came away with some lessons learned.
1. I didn't give my legs enough rest before the run. In the days before the 5K, I'd run over 3 miles, two times. On top of that, I'd attended hard workouts at the gym on two nights. So, instead of "resting" for 2-3 days prior to the run, I'd only rested one day. Not smart for my elder legs.
2. While I include hills in my runs, I have never started out with a hill in my outings. I will toss that challenge in over my runs in the future.
3. Here's a big lesson learned: Do NOT eat bar-b-que the night before a real 5k...ever, ever, ever again. :(
THE STONE RABBIT loved my third place medal!!
He thinks it's awesome that I was able to complete the run at all.....especially since he saw how miserable I was when I left the house that morning....cursing the bar-b-que I'd eaten the night before!! :)
Oh, and did you notice the swell iPhone he's showing you? That was a gift from my hubby for our anniversary!!!
I had it with me at the run and took almost all of the photos you saw on this post with it!!!
I'm sure you are loving the PINK shell I selected for the phone!!! Oh, and it's hard to tell, but Izzie's collar is brown with PINK flowers!!!
Yep, we love our PINKS around here....even THE STONE RABBIT has learned how much fun PINK can be!
You're certain to have PINK FUN today if you hop on over to Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND. Lots of other bloggers are ready and waiting to share their PINKS with you, too!
Have a great PINK SATURDAY!
DANA
I have to share this with you, too. Rhondi, of ROSE COLORED GLASSES, is hosting her annual PORCH PARTY on June 21. If you haven't participated in it before, you should!!!
It's so much fun. We get to visit the porches and patios of fellow bloggers. . . all decked out in their summer fun!
OK, now I need to work on my porch....the pressure is on!!! :)
Happy Pink Saturday, dear Dana.
Girl, you are just too hard on yourself. I think you are fantastic - and you make us all proud.
Look at you with your fancy phone. Do you know all the uses yet? It looks pink and pretty to me.
I'll be at the porch party, but it will be more of the same for me. The only time my porch changes is for the holidays. Maybe I will go ahead and decorate for July Fourth.
Posted by: Beverly | June 17, 2011 at 11:32 AM
umm hmmmm soooo you had to walk twice in a how many mile run???? and you went up hill?????
Okay first I give you credit for putting on running shoes.. never mind actually running.
third place? FABULOUS ... I can tell by the look on Mr.Stone Rabbits beaming face that he agrees with me. (())
Posted by: Francie Thornton | June 17, 2011 at 12:10 PM
So love that phone, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, Dana. Good for you my friend ... you stuck with it & did great!
Happy PS weekend ~
TTFN ~
Marydon
Posted by: Marydon | June 17, 2011 at 12:32 PM
Great job! You are inspiring. I couldn't run around the block. Love your iPhone cover! :)
Posted by: Jori | June 17, 2011 at 01:20 PM
I was huffing and puffing by the time I got the end of the post.....I can walk, but running stopped a loooooong time ago! Good for you and third place is great!
HPS!
Jil
Posted by: Jil | June 17, 2011 at 02:14 PM
Wow - you go girl!! You've totally impressed me!
Happy Pink Saturday - hope you have a fabulous weekend :o)
Hugs,
Marie
Posted by: Marie @ Sally Lee by the Sea | June 17, 2011 at 03:23 PM
Dana - Congratulations - wow you placed. I can't fathom walking that at this point so you are my hero! Barbeque? haha And you have that new phone to go with the Harley - a biker babe who runs. No texting while you're on the bike, okay? The phone really takes great pictures, too. I hope it wasn't too hot during the race. It was 106 today - I'm dying here, Dana. Plus the drought is awful so I'll probably miss the porch party. Looking forward to seeing yours. Take care of your foot! xoxo Nancy
Posted by: Nancy | June 17, 2011 at 04:10 PM
ESP - we posted at exactly the same time. You must be feeling my pain about the heat and I think my foot hurts and I have this urge to run! I'm gonna call the SyFy channel and see if they want to do an episode of "Psychic Bloggers"!
Posted by: Nancy | June 17, 2011 at 04:22 PM
Well congrats on your run.....and all the loot too. :-)
I thought it was great that you ran....let alone grabbed a 3rd place....and to think you did it carrying a camera and tripod too. I mean....how else could you have taken those great long distance shots of yourself running? ;-)
Love the visor.
Wishing you a pinkishly beautiful weekend....
Posted by: Robin | June 17, 2011 at 06:49 PM
What a "sweet" husband to purchase an Iphone for your anniversary. Wa hoo .... that you placed in the race. Stone Rabbit must be proud.
Joyce M
Posted by: Joyce M | June 17, 2011 at 09:43 PM
Hi Dana, Bill is letting me use the iPad. Typing on this thing is hard. Your banner is awesome. Love reading about your 5K. Your pictures and your new phone are terrific.
I can't get wordy on this thing, have a great weekend. Bill says hello.
Love Jeanne.
Posted by: Jeanne | June 18, 2011 at 05:17 AM
Well done in the race and what a sweet hubby you have too. Hopping over from Pink Saturday. I enjoyed my visit to your lovely blog. Hugs
Posted by: Katherine | June 18, 2011 at 05:43 AM
I am impressed Dana!! I think you did great. My only participation in such races is to be a volunteer at the snacks and treats table!
I had to laugh about the barbecue rule.
Can't wait to see your Harley!! Do you think it will be pink?
Posted by: Aunt Snow | June 18, 2011 at 09:44 AM
Hi Dana! We were lucky and missed the storms last night. ATC stands for Artist Trading Cards. They are small little art pieces done in any medium. I love your pink phone shell! Have a nice weekend! Twyla
Posted by: two crazy crafters | June 18, 2011 at 11:41 AM
What, no beer after the race?!?! Remember - success is in the effort. You didn't quit - hurray for you!
Posted by: pat | June 18, 2011 at 12:48 PM
Hi Dana,
The Cinch book binder is what I have for book binding. I love it. When I worked for a scrapbook store we at first carried the Bind It All machine by Zutter but none of us liked it or could figure out how to use it. Then when the Cinch came out, we fell in love! I have done a few demos for it and it is so easy.
I recently heard that The company that makes the Cinch, We R Memory Keepers is coming out with a new even easier version soon which I would expect them to premier at CHA in late July. So it might be a couple months before it would be available to purchase.
Lindsey
Posted by: two crazy crafters | June 18, 2011 at 01:16 PM
Now, Dana, women have worn hats for centuries - I don't believe you'd look like a bag lady. That's what milliners did - matched the hat to the lady! Too bad everything is off the rack these days. Your yellow visor suits you, though. I'd have to embellish it with some fluff. Just sayin' - Joy!
Miss Kathy
Posted by: Kathryn Ross | June 18, 2011 at 02:08 PM
Congratulations on the run...congratulations on finishing! Stone Rabbit looks good in your medal. Love the new phone, but if truth be told, I was so jealous of the rain clouds pictured in the sky I could hardly concentrate...we really could use any you can spare. Have a Pink Week.
Posted by: riverside studios | June 18, 2011 at 08:39 PM
Hey, girl, I'm impressed. You must be in fabulous shape. Having read your plan for the next race I must jump in and say if you can't do barbecue before the race, you'll have to do it after. I hope you have a rosy weekend. Blessings...Mary
Posted by: Mary | June 19, 2011 at 08:15 AM
Oh my goodness...I applaud you!
You did great...and there are always
lessons to be learned...starting out
with a hill is NOT a good thing.
Stone Rabbit loves your medal and
wears it proudly!
Thanks so much for visiting with me
for Pink Saturday!
Pink Sparkles,
Stephanie ♥
Posted by: Queen of Dreamsz | June 19, 2011 at 09:37 PM