Race Report - FAM 5k "Fund" Run/Walk

The weather forecast for Saturday, September 24 was not favorable for a family run event.  Of course, there was no stopping team JFA!

Husband and I originally decided to participate in this event for two main reasons:  to support the "Fund" and sometime beneficiary Schoharie County ARC, and because there was a kiddie run offered.  Thankful that start time was not until 10 AM, the family left home around 7:30 for the 90 minute drive to Cobleskill.  We each had packed dry clothes to change into after the event, as it had been raining all morning and we were going straight to a family event on Long Island immediately following the race - we were prepared. 

Somehow, the rain tapered off as we entered Schoharie County and we were in for a dry 3.1 miles!  Team JFA met near the packet pick-up area and headed to the start.   

Team JFA ready to head to the starting line

There was a brief convocation and then it was time to take off.  Husband, pushing the big yellow jogger, went out ahead as well as 2 other JFA runners.  I fell into a comfortable pace with another JFA team mate and we talked and enjoyed being out and active on a Saturday morning.  She and I walked the steeper hills and trotted the rest of the way as the course rambled through the SUNY Cobleskill campus.  A Cobleskill alum, my running partner let me join her on a trip down memory lane and even showed me where her husband proposed.  We took in water at every available water stop (must stay hydrated) and were surrounded by plenty of other joggers and walkers.  We ticked off the miles one at a time and before long, we were a quarter mile from the end, picked up the pace, and cruised into the finish chute greeted by the rest of the team. 

After getting drinks and congratulating each other on a job well done (and offering kudos for coming out despite the abysmal forecast), Team JFA disbanded.  Husband and I took daughter to the kiddie run.  She ran the 50 yard dash with a smile on her face and even got a great little swag bag to boot! 

Great goodies for the kids!

We headed back to the car and started to feel rain drops as we loaded up - perfect timing.

The event raised over $19,000 for this year's recipient organization.  What a great way to spend the Family Health and Fitness Day and help the community!

Next up:  October 16th - JFA sponsored race "Arc in the Park 5K" (Walk, Run, or Roll) in Troy, NY and, of course, the 1/2 mile fun run for kids.

Family Health & Fitness Day USA - September 24

September 24 is Family Health & Fitness Day! 

"The 15th annual Family Health & Fitness Day USA is a national health and fitness event for families, set for Saturday, September 24, 2011. (always on the last Saturday in September.) The event's purpose is to promote family involvement in physical activity, one of the goals of the U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health" (Source: www.fitnessday.com)

This is a great day to get out and get active with the whole family.  Some activities you can do as a family include: play in the park or playground, take a walk or hike, ride bikes, fly a kite, or rake (and jump in) leaves!

JFAHELP coaches will be participating in the FAM 5k "Fund" Run/Walk in Cobleskill NY, along with other JFA team members, family, and friends http://www.fam5k.com/.  This event benefits 5 organizations to whom the funds are granted on a rotating basis.  One of the benefactors is JFA client Schoharie County ARC www.schohariearc.org.  We are especially proud to participate in the FAM 5K this year to show our support for this beautiful area that was hit hard by Irene and the subsequent flooding. 

The whole Coach T family will be out, as there is a kiddie race beginning at 11 AM!  This means that we won't have to stage a mock mini-race in the parking lot of this one as my girl loves to "go for racing".  There will also be raffles, a clown, massages, and goodies to refuel after the event.  We will be posting live updates and photos to our facebook page www.facebook.com/jfahelp and hope to see some familiar faces out on the course.

Happy Family Health & Fitness Day!!! 

Moreau Lake Aquathlon - A lesson in preparedness

On September 11, 2011, husband and I decided to complete the Moreau Lake Aquathlon.  The event was staged by one of our favorite local race directors, Green Leaf Racing and consisted of a 1.5 kilometer swim (.9 miles) followed by a 5 kilometer (3.1 miles) trail run through Moreau State Park.  JFAHELP has a couple of upcoming 5K run/walk events that we are preparing for so I thought this would be a fun end-of-summer event.  Come race day it dawned on me that, carrying extra pregnancy weight and having a bit of a baby belly, my wetsuit is too tight to swim in at the moment.  Therefore, I was hesitant about getting started - the water was around 70 degrees and I was concerned about the chill - but once in the water for a short warm up, I realized that it was actually quite comfortable without a wetsuit. 

Preparing for the race to start I made two last-minute judgement calls:  first, I let husband know that I would be taking one of the Gatorade bottles out on the run course even though there was a water stop along the way and second, I decided to wear my Garmin 305 GPS watch even though I had not planned on tracking my time or pace. 

This was a small no-frills event so there were not a lot of competitors.  It was more of a preview for the Race Director to see if he wanted to grow this event into an annual tradition.  About 25 people hit the water around 10:30 AM for the start of the Aquathlon.  Taking it easy and tackling a distance I haven't done in a while, I settled into a rhythm knowing that I could stop and rest with a nearby kayak if needed.  The lake was clear and comfortable, and I just swam at an easy pace in the back of the pack.  45 minutes later, I trotted to the beach, put my trail shoes on, grabbed my race belt, Gatorade, and trusty Garmin, and headed out for the run.  An hour later I was still trudging through the trails.  When I still wasn't finished at 1:00 PM (and my Garmin reported 3+ miles), I knew I was in trouble.  Earlier that morning, there was also a 15K run and I realized that I had been following the markers for the 15K route rather than the 5K route.  First, I panicked and yes, cried ... a lot.  I was not prepared to hike 9.3 miles up and down a mountain range.  My legs were already tired, I was out of Gatorade, and at 23 weeks pregnant I was very concerned about dehydration.  So, for about 10 minutes I realized I had no choice but to continue on.  (Preparedness lesson #1 - travel with hydration) Then I may have cried again.  Finally I stopped and got my bearings and realized I had a GPS on my wrist.  I scrolled through my options until I found "navigation" then I asked GPS to take me back to start.  With 4+ miles to go, as reported on my device, I went off trail for a bit and followed the stream that I kept crossing.  This put me on a more direct route back to one of my original trails and cut some distance. (Preparedness lesson #2 - use the tools you have especially when going off the map.  I didn't have a cell phone but I did have a GPS) Then I met a hiker and borrowed her phone to call husband and let him know that I was OK and on my way back (he had left his phone at home so I hoped he'd check messages).  Before too long, I was back at the Moreau Overlook.  The view really is incredible but I admit, I appreciated it more when I was at mile 2 as opposed to exhausted at mile 6.

Two hikers were having lunch at the Overlook and gave me water and a yogurt.  They also had my friend's phone number, who had asked them to keep an eye out for me so I was able to call and calm the search-crew.  He and husband asked me to stay put (not bad with this view) and they were coming to get me because the route down from the Overlook was quite steep and rocky.  I thanked the kind hikers and they headed down the trail.  (Prepared lesson #3 - Do unto others and help those in need)

When husband and friend got to me I was tired but in good spirits. Others were confused at the route split (something that the Race Director has made a note of for next year) and that was a bit of a consolation.  I discovered that one of the nice ladies who helped me had a fall on the hike down.  My friend had his "Emergency Hiking Kit" with him and it was tremendous.  We splinted the injured hiker's ankle using 2 sticks and duct tape.  He had a knife to smooth the sticks as well as a space blanket, rope which could have been used to make a stretcher, and other wonderful goodies that we were all thankful for.  (Preparedness lesson #4 - Learn basic first aid and travel with first aid basics at the very least)  Before long, the park staff arrived and we were finally able to head back down the mountain, collect our belongings and head home.  I was tired, sore, a little scraped, and very dirty.  I was thankful for many things on this day, the 10th anniversary of 9/11.  I was thankful to have managed to only hike a little over 6 miles rather than 9.3 miles.  I was thankful to the last-minute decisions of bringing a water bottle and my GPS watch.  I was thankful to my husband, friend, and race crew who searched tirelessly for me even though they were also tired.  Finally, I will always be thankful that my parents raised me to have the sense to head for home.

I'll bet those ladies are thankful that I took the wrong path. 

Please take a moment in remembrance of the events of 9/11/2001 - We will never forget...

Rainy Days and Mondays...

Song lyrics and melodies often pop into my head.  Today I started thinking about the rainy weather we've been having and suddenly I am softly singing a Carpenters tune to myself.   This was certainly a morning where I wanted to bury myself in the covers and hibernate.  Somehow though, I found my energy and am not letting this weather get me down.
It's not technically Monday, however today is the first day of school here in the Capital District.  Driving to work this morning was no fun as commuters were hit with the double whammy of pouring rain and congested highways.  There is a definite shift in the traffic patterns when school is in session as schedules are adjusted so parents can see their children off to a new year.  The start of every school year is exciting and terrifying for just about every child and even more so for the parents. 

Personally, I don't yet have a school aged child so I have not had the opportunity to experience the wonder of a new school year through my own child's eyes.  She's in day care year round (and has 2 more years before she starts Kindergarten) and has no idea that most other children have "summer recess". 

While many people mourn the end of the season, it's time to start looking ahead at the next few months.  Fall foliage has already begun to dot the landscape and soon we will be ensconced in hues of orange, yellow, and red.  October, November, and December are full of anticipation for children and adults alike as we prepare for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas (for those who observe any of these holidays).   As far as healthy eating goes:  fall vegetables are coming into season and advertisements for apple picking abound.  Holidays aside, there really is so much to look forward to!

I'm looking forward to a pumpkin spice latte.