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I Had a Real Weekend and Did Stuff!!

Finally!! A real day out!!

A couple of weekends ago, I ran the Hartford Marathon Foundation Red Dress 5K – I’ve done this one several times and it’s always a fun day. It’s a women’s only event but husbands and dads and sons all show up to support women’s health.

Lots of the women wear a lot of red. I don’t really have much red so I wear what I want and that’s okay!

But let me back up!

Kathy came down on Friday and, after my delayed Thursday run, we headed to the Riverfront in Hartford for the Riverfront Recapture Food Truck Festival. Generally we’d go Saturday after the 5K but Kathy had other plans (and I had 5 more miles to run!) Tons of great food – Kathy had something from the Jamaican truck and I had some Poutine because…fries. We even brought Phred with us since it was all outside and he hasn’t had an adventure in awhile! After we grabbed our food and beers we sat and did a TON of people watching! This even seems to always coincide with ConnectiCon – which means lots and lots of costumes (some of which I even recognized from famous movies like Star Wars!) Also, Jesus was there….???

This stuff is right up my alley, but I skipped for some poutine

We went home and got into jammies pretty early for a night of “scary” movies (quality questionable as always!) – though I think I chose pretty well this time! (The Forest and Shut In – check them out!)

Got up early on Saturday to head to West Hartford for the run/race! At packet pickup there are several tables of various healthcare type booths giving away grocery bags and First Aid kits. The race is held in and around Elizabeth Park which has an amazing rose garden!

The course seems to have changed the last few years, probably due to road work in the area but it’s always a nice one. I kept with my 45:30 intervals for most of the time and managed to keep my pace under 14 so I was happy. The post race treat is a yogurt parfait. Back when I first started doing this 5K the post race treat was strawberry shortcake and, of course, that was my main motivation for doing it in the first place. And sometimes there are extra treats…..I’m looking at you NoRa Cupcakes! Sadly, though, this year there was no NoRa But we did get a rose from some of the event people!

And, even though I didn’t get a #FlatAnne picture before the race – since I didn’t know what I was going to wear! – I did manage one after 3 miles!

Tags: 5K, running, Training

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Categories Hartford Marathon Foundation, Red Dress Run For Women, Running

Race Recap – Hartford Marathon Foundation Red Dress Run for Women (5K)

12 Jul

Logo courtesy of the Hartford Marathon Foundation

I’ve participated in this event a few times (last year’s recap can be found here!) and really do enjoy it. It’s truly women only and seems to me that it gets bigger every year – which is always a good thing right?!

I got my things ready the night before and headed to bed pretty early, since I’ve been having trouble waking up lately!!

The event was to start at 8:30, after the kids race, but parking is about a mile away and there are shuttle buses to contend with so I headed up to West Hartford around 7, coffee, water and Power Crunch bar (Nom, vanilla!) in hand!

Pre-race breakfast

Got parked, got on the bus and got up to Elizabeth park with no issues at all — not that I expected any!! Got lots of “great skirt” comments which are always appreciated. Hey, I’m out there for quite awhile, people need something pretty to look at!! 😉

Before I headed to the start, I checked my sugars and then dropped off my bag. One of the bonuses for running this race is the rose garden — we know I love my roses!! Some of them were still in bloom even!

It wasn’t long before we were ready to take off. “Take off” is probably a mis-statement for what I actually did. Slow and steady is my these early days of #Dopey15 training. I’m more concerned with being able to keep to my intervals and avoiding any asthma/wheezing and getting the miles/time in than getting a better time. For now anyway.

As always, a couple folks had sprinklers on. Fortunately today wasn’t as warm as last year, but the sprinkles are still very much appreciated! The course is gorgeous and, as most courses are, a tiny bit hilly 🙂

I did not break any records with my time, though I seem to be getting a little better each time I go out – duh! I guess that’s what training means 😀 I could get used to this improvement thing!! 😉 At the finish line, we were awarded a great little bangle, which was a new addition this year.

Another great part of the morning was catching up with my RockStar friend Kim — who was, as always, out there kicking butt!! Keep on being awesome Kim!! And hey, while you’re here hanging out on the internet, go vote for Kim to be on the cover of Runner’s World magazine!

I hope everyone is out there having a wonderful Saturday! The weather here in New England is just beautiful and I am going to soak it all in!! And tonight? I will be working on seeing that SuperMoon!!

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Categories Hartford Marathon Foundation, Red Dress Run For Women, Running

Race Review – Hartford’s Red Dress Run for Women

7 Jul

FINALLY!! What this blog’s all about!! Some running stuff! Let me start by saying this was

And yes, I know it’s only going to get hotter before it gets cold again but…whoa!

Each year, the Hartford Marathon Foundation holds the Red Dress Run for Women in Elizabeth Park which is quite famous for it’s rose gardens. And rightly so! They are really gorgeous. Though at this time of year they don’t tend to be in full beautiful bloom – but there’s definitely enough rosey beauty to enjoy! And a gorgeous gazebo! There must have been a wedding here last night because the ground was covered with heart shaped glitter!

5K – starting in the park, running through the neighborhood and then back in the park! Great course with the obligatory “I HATE YOU” hills 🙂 Lots of women of all ages – and…now that I think of it, I didn’t see any men running today. Were there men registered? I don’t know! Will have to find that out!!

Was wearing a lot of my favorite things today! From the bottoms of my feet to my shirt! New Balance runDisney shoes, KT Tape holding my foot to my ankle, Team Sparkle skirt – in black – and my Raw Threads “bow” tank! And, of course, in my belly, Energy Bits and later, a Power Crunch bar in chocolate.

Anyway – got lots of water in before starting. Left my watch at home – not 100% intentionally! It was nice to start off in the shade and a lot of the course actually is pretty shady and on a day like today, every little bit helps!

Parking is at UCONN and buses run you up to the park and back. There’s a little health fair type thing going on at the start/finish area – picked up some Ola Granola samples. YUMS! Will be great in a fruit and yogurt parfait.

The HMF always does a really great job with the post-race snacks! Today was a strawberry / yogurt parfait (back when I first did this race a few years ago it was strawberry shortcake and some amazing Panera sugar cookies!!) – and I bet it was that great Ola Granola that was adding crunch!

Once I ate half my parfait I hopped on the bus and sweated my way back to my car (thank you remote starter for getting my car cooled off before I got in!).

What did you run this weekend?! And how hot was it?

PS – Don’t you just love a race director with a sense of humor?