Training right along with you...

The one and only downside to being a race director... not being able to run in the race you are planning!  I'm hoping on race day that I'll be so busy and so excited watching all of you run the race and cross the finish line that I won't have time to feel like I'm missing out.  I'll be a part of the race day fervor I'm sure. 

But in the mean time - I've made a commitment to train along with you.  I've been out running no doubt, but honestly I've been a bit reluctant to share how things are going sometimes (and really busy too!).  I've realized though that I'm probably not alone... training rarely ever goes perfectly or exactly how you plan right?  Today's run was a great one; one that I wished I could run every time my feet hit the pavement. The morning was still a bit cool from the night and I was up at 5:45 as planned.  I ate two slices of toast and started hydrating. I got dressed, remembered everything I needed; gum, lip balm, iPhone, head-phones, heart rate monitor and water (yes - I do in fact NEED these things!) and set out.  As I set off I left happy (maybe that's important...). I realized I had in fact gotten up really early, the morning wasn't sweltering, I wasn't melting (well okay - I was a little), I wouldn't run out of water, I had plenty of energy... I made it the 13 miles I planned and a ran just over what I hope will be race pace.  It felt great.  Good enough to be brave enough to tell you about the morning runs that didn't go great...

I always plan to be up to 5:30 to avoid the heat and have time to eat a good breakfast and get ready for work.  More times than I want to admit - 5:30 gets snoozed or ignored and it becomes 6:30 or even 7:00.  I start late, it gets hot, I forgot to eat something or forgot to grab a drink before heading out because I was so tired, hurried and worried about the "late" hour...  those kinds of mornings never make for great runs for me.  On those days, I don't really want to check my watch each mile to gauge my pace - but I do... On those days, I don't really want to go the distance I planned because that means running faster than I think I can - but I try and it doesn't always go well... On those days, I run out of water, or forget it entirely, and then get a bit dehydrated and a bit grumpy for the rest of the day - but I still keep putting one foot in front of the other.  And I bet you do too.

Training for me isn't ever perfect. But, I'm trying to remember that though many of us are following our own plans and have our own goals; our experiences are probably being shared, even if only in spirit.  So I'm training with you now and I'll be running with you on race day - even if it is only in spirit.

A ride with USATF course certifier Clark Ensz

As I set off last Wednesday on my bicycle to meet Clark Ensz, I was truly grateful for the overcast sky and the only cool morning weather we have had in weeks. It was a bit humid, but still cool and I was ready to see the course from the luxury of my bicycle! I admit... even after running the course, walking the course and using iMapMyRUN (my favorite app!) to GPS measure the course; I still embarked on this journey not knowing for sure if my calculations were accurate and if the starting line would be where I anticipated. That’s right - I said the starting line. This method of measurement from the finish line was new to me too. Clark educated me on this subject and explained that when measuring a course for certification; it is generally easier to measure from the finish as most races have a definite location they want to finish and a slightly more flexible starting line. Okay, I had already learned something - the process of measuring a course for certification was interesting, fun AND educational!

Clark and I began by choosing the North 30 yard line in Gowan's Stadium for the finish line to give runners roughly 3/4 of a lap inside the stadium to soak up all the cheers and encouragement from the anxiously waiting crowds at the finish. We them took a journey along the sidewalks around Hutchinson Community College, the Kansas Cosmosphere and Hutchinson High School before crossing 17th Street then Plum Street to enter the State Fair Grounds. Clark and I then enjoyed a tour of the State Fair Grounds before exiting to the Hyde Park and Old Farm Estates Neighborhoods. After stopping and marking mile after mile I only half kidded Clark that I thought his bike should have a sign indicating to honking impatient traffic that "this vehicle makes frequent stops." Clark only smiled and said he really didn't pay much attention any more to heckling and honking after years and years of measuring courses. He told me his favorite experience actually included a police escort! Can you imagine that?!? After we entered Rice Park, we cruised along the JPM Sunflower trail to Carey Park. Once we had about half of a mile left, I started getting really nervous... Would the Starting Line be where I had guessed/planed/hoped? We had to find a way to get off the trail and onto a low traffic road so that runners would have at least half a mile of road to get spaced out before entering the wide trail. As it turned out - all my worry was for nothing. Clark calmly suggested a place to enter the road and confidently told me that he was fairly certain the Start would end up in the Salt City Splash parking lot... just as we had discussed. Sure enough, just as we planned, the starting line is in the perfect spot! Plenty of staging area, very close to parking and park restrooms! Yea! Mission Accomplished. I can officially say now that our certification is pending (all part of the process!).

Want to view the course map?  You can get a good look on our webiste at www.runfortherocks.com or at MapMyFitness.com http://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/40156036

We're Still Here - Promise!

Hello, everyone!

Sorry for the delay in blogging. We're still here. In fact, we're swamped with race details and work right now...so it's a good thing! :)

All of our printed marketing materials are complete. If you'd like race posters, registration brochures, or sponsorship brochures, feel free to e-mail Amy at aconkling@hutchrec.com and she can get you the materials you need! We appreciate your support of this event and are even more appreciative of you spreading the word. Also...make sure to friend us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and then share the love with your social networking friends!

Can't wait for more details to unfold and tell you about our exciting updates. More to come soon! For now, hang in there with the heat and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

- Amy, AKA Mama on the Run