I forgot the best part...

They crowned us and gave us booze.
That's the perfect end to an awesome race!
Excalibur 10 Miler

Run, Fun, and Finish

What could be more fun than waking up at 4am on Sunday morning to go run 10 miles?  How about waking up at 4am to run 10 miles with a theme!  That's right, the Excalibur 10 miler was in full renaissance mode last Sunday morning.  And I was in full running mode.  This was actually my first 10 miler race, so my expectations were low.  Just finish, have fun, and run.  Well, and if I broke 1 hour 30 minutes...that wouldn't be a bad thing either.

Starting the day with Tammy and a few new friends.

Great start to the morning.  First 3 miles flew by.  I was in my running/music zone and didn't notice how fast they flew by.

 I might have been having too much fun out there.  I ruined this poor ladies picture.  But yeah, I kinda love races like this.

Speaking of having fun.  Tammy was having more fun than anyone.  She was taking photos, facebooking, and meeting new friends.  She always makes this look way too easy.  But she kept me motivated to keep a solid pace.  We scored this sweet goofball photo along the way.

Somewhere around mile 7 and I was still having a good time, jamming to my music, dancing, and of course smiling.  This was probably around the time that I realized I could actually run a sub 1:30. Maybe all the effort, time, and of course intervals were paying off.

With a strong sprint, I managed to finish 1:28:51.  8/83 for my age group.  Definitely can't complain about that.

Lucky's Lake

So maybe I can swim...in a pool.  But open water is a different story.  I pretend to not being dying inside...but I usually am.  Simply at the fear of really dying.  I've been avoiding Lucky's Lake for some time now, but with Augusta just 7 months away...it was time to sink or swim.  I mean swim, definitely swim.

It was a cold morning and the water was just about 64 degrees.  So not only did I have to conquer to idea of drowning or being eaten by a gator, I also had to worry about not freezing to death.  This is the look of fear covered with a fake smile.  But heck, there were tons of people and Tammy was there to hold my hand (she literally same the first length right next to me).

And that's what a real smile looks like.  I completed a Lucky Lake's crossing and went back for more ("Coach" Tammy kicked in and decided one crossing wasn't enough).

Signing the wall.  Let's do it again!!

A year to celebrate...

...leads to a year to work harder.

Over the last year, I found my inner athlete and took my running to another level, I discovered my drive to get faster, I found more inspiration and dedication to working out, and I finished 8 races including 4 triathlons and a tough mudder. I really couldn't have asked for a better race year.

2013 Race Results and Division Place:
(11/28/2012) The Annual Swenson 10K Super Run World Cup 56:41 (3)
(11/02/2013) Tough Mudder (12 Miles w/Obstacles)
(10/27/2013) Cooter Triathlon (.25/12/3.1) 1:39:55 (4/4)
(06/02/2013) Pinappleman Triathlon (.34/15.4/3.34) (1:56:18) (20/26)
(05/05/2013) Rocketman Triathlon (.25/34/3.1) 3:35:33 (27/35)
(04/11/2013) IOA Corporate 5K Finished
(04/14/2013) Cocoa Beach Triathlon (.25/12.5/3.1) 1:38:31 (8/10)
(01/13/2013) Color Run 5K Finished

Swenson 3rd Annual Super Run World Cup

Swenson 3rd Annual Super Run World Cup

After 3 consecutive times, something becomes a tradition.  And on Thanksgiving this year, our "Swenson Annual Super Run World Cup" finally became that.

With new rules this year (set by last year's first place finisher, Josh), everyone had a solid shot of taking home the trophy...but my money was set on Mom.  The weather was a brisk 34 (yes, we were in Florida...WTF?) that morning and I wasn't looking forward to freezing my butt off.  But none the less, we suited up (SASRWC gear and all) and headed out to the starting line.  In normal Reese spirit, he took off like a bat out of hell and had a solid lead for the first mile.  But soon after that, gimpy (okay, that isn't nice, injured dad) caught him and the gap between the remaining three of us started closing in on Reese yet getting became more spread out among us.  With the sun on our side that day, we were finally warming up at this point and getting into the groove.

I had been in training mode for months and knew I would make my moves between mile 3-4 (which is where I caught Josh and Reese the first year).  So when I hit the 3 mile mark I decided to start sprinting for periods of time.  Really, it was one mail box to another in the distance. So no real rhyme or reason, but it helped me quickly cover some ground, pull out 2 sub 8:30 minute miles and catch Josh. With Reese just ahead (dad way ahead of him), I continued on with the sprints and got really close.  Like really really close...but not close enough.  I think that little snot trained this year and I just couldn't catch him.

As the race came to a close I finished in at 56:41. It isn't my fastest 10K time, but given the cold cold weather; I'll take it.  That put me in 3rd yet again this year.

And although Dad finished first, when we added in handicaps, Mom did ultimately take the cup (she is already talking smack about next year's race...now that is true Kelly style).  Reese took second, me in third, Josh in fourth (which is baller considering he ran carrying the winner's cup and a six pack of beer...all part of the rules), and dad in last (the whole reason the rules change, helps keep the fastest from winning every year).

Next year...that cup is MINE!

The next big thing...

Something happened; my dad says I drank the cool-aid, others say I'm crazy.  But after reflecting on my first season of doing triathlons and finally becoming a triathlete, I wanted to do more.  Next step for me...a half Ironman!  That is right, I am excited to announce that I am officially registered for Augusta 70.3 IM.  There's no turning back. Let the journey begin. #RoadToAugusta703

Tough Mudder

Fun, Friends, Mud, & Miles...enter Tough Mudder.

I've been wanting to do the Tough Mudder challenge for about 2 years now.  But not too many people want to spend their Saturday morning running nearly 13 miles, in mud and water, and...oh by the way, lots of obstacles.  And lots of tall obstacles. Lucky for me, I met a couple crazy MBA classmates that were crazy enough to take on the challenge (willingly).

Happy, clean faces at the start of the race and decked out in our Gator gear.

We barely even began and the mud started; plenty of mud.

No monkeying around here.

The carry.  Finally a challenge wear my leg strength helped. Thank goodness we had some tough dudes on our team, lots of upper body strength challenges.

Oh look, then there was more mud running.

And some "walking the plank."

But no challenge was too big for us (approaching the finish line).

Finally, what we really came her for...the free beer.