What's on your bucket list?

As athletes, we all have that list of races-could be triathlons, marathons, half marathons, even down to 5K’s. What defines these Bucket List races is that great saying we always say, “It’s all about the journey.”

This past weekend we congratulated three Fleet Feeters on their Bucket List Races, all three now have the privilege of marking “Mountain Man” off of their Bucket List. The Bear 5 mile hill climb to the top of Grandfather Mountain, The Grizzly 65 mile bicycle ride including to the top of Beech Mountain, then the world’s “toughest” marathon-The Grandfather Mountain Marathon 26.2 through the Blue Ridge Parkway ending at Grandfather Mountain. We’ll tell their race recaps as they cross that off their bucket list.

Here’s a short list of possible Bucket List Races: Alaska Marathon by cruise shop – cruise through Alaska with 3 races that equal 26.2 miles, Alcatraz Triathlon – swim with the sharks, Beach to Beacon as you run from the beach to the Bay Bridge , Assateaque Assault a triathlon that has you swimming with the wild ponies. Some locals like to say The Knob Hill Climb – 2.5 miles of pure Hill to the top of Howard’s Knob in Boone.

Bucket List races are not about PR’s or even in some cases decent times, it’s all about the journey and how you feel when you cross that finish line. What bucket race is on YOUR list?

Race Day Friends...

Now that our No Boundaries Friends are moving into the 10K training class, let us tell you about a special club out there on race day. It’s a different set of friends that you see several times a year called, “Race Day Friends.” We’ve been out there, standing around in the starting line and seeing a sea of familiar faces.

My race day friends have moved from a general “hey, how ya doing,” to a more competitive bunch. We started off patting each other on the back each race then realized that we’re finishing around the same time. That moved to realizing that we’re finishing CLOSE together on race day, now we’re looking at each other as our finger moves to the start button on our watch as the gun goes off.

The best part of race day friends is they challenge you to be better, when you are running with them you’re either running faster than you normally would keeping up with them or they’re doing the same thing to keep up with you. My last race finished with a sprint I would never have done had I not had a race day friend breathing down my neck throughout the entire race, only to finish 3 seconds ahead! (bragging rights for one year on that one). Another friend was there telling me to get my butt in gear during a swim and I did finish sooner than I expected.
So if you haven’t said hello to those same people you see race morning, take the time before you jog up to the starting line and lay your finger on your watch. You never know, you may get a PR trying to beat one of those Race Day Friends!

Hey, veteran runners, what are your stories of Race Day Friends?

I can do anything for 30 minutes....

This is a great philosophy for racing and life. Moving past the fast moving shorter races into the endurance races requires more mind games. It’s easy to stay focused and in your element where there are lots of people cheering and a finish line under 30 minutes from the starting line. Longer races however, require not only physical toughness but mental toughness-when you get out on that lonely road all by yourself, it takes a lot to keep going and make it your strongest race!

Muscles are screaming in pain, cramping because they are VERY unhappy with what you are doing, you’re out where no one can see you, why not just walk a little while? You know you can run the entire race but the body is trying to trick you into getting some rest saying, “Just a short walk to stretch things out then we’ll hit it hard again.” If you don’t want to regret your performance at the end of the race and know that you can do it then use this mantra, “I can do anything for 30 minutes.”

Putting your mind into the time and setting a distance is a surefire way to find that finish line strong. If out in the country, pick a point and tell yourself that you’re going to run to that mailbox, or that water tower, or that barn then stick to the plan. You’ll find that once you reach that goal, you’ll feel good and ready to set another one, “I’m climbing the hill to the house at the top.” Your mind is stronger than your body when it comes to being tough, the muscles want rest but you know they can keep going. Set another goal and tell yourself, “I have a 10K or a 5K or 2 miles left, I can do anything for ….length of time.” Put your mind in the zone, set a watch if you have to just get to that time limit, and then march onto the next one.

Mind games (on your body not your significant other)to get across that finish line is just one of the things we teach in our 10K training program! Have you signed up today?

What type of mind games do you play on the longer races?

Everyone at the starting line has a story to tell....

Tomorrow our No Boundaries Folks will bring their stories to the starting line of the Heart and Sole 5K! We are do proud of them for their commitment to this program and especially their commitment to themselves! It’s been hard work but their enthusiasm and determination will take them past that starting line and confidently across the finish line.

We learn in life that there are No Boundaries, there’s nothing stopping you when you put your mind to something, when you are determined to do it. Your success isn’t good luck, never call it luck, it’s your hard work. When you are standing at the starting line anywhere in life, pat yourself on the back for just getting there, then grit your teeth put in your best performance and make it across the finish line!

So No Boundaries Folks, look around at all the friends at that starting line, some there for the first time, some there for a personal record, some there because they had nothing else to do on a Saturday morning except run. High five your friends from the group because through the rain, snow, sleet, and even beautiful weather you made that commitment to being fit, to running a race and seeing it through to the end.

What stories are you going to tell after this race?

Why is Heartbreak Hill called Heartbreak Hill?

More Boston Marathon Facts for Stacie’s Run:

The race starts at 10am this morning.

The marathon capped at 25,000 runners from every state in the nation and 50 countries. The race record is 38,708 during their 100th anniversary year.

Over half a million spectators expected to line the course – that’s a lot of cheering!

The Boston Marathon is the second biggest single day sporting coverage behind the Super Bowl.

In 1975, Boston became the first marathon to include a Wheelchair Division.

Last year, the top three elite women’s runners were separated by on nine hundredths of a second at the finish line.

In 2007, Boston initiated a wave start with the first wave starting at 10am then the second 30 minutes later.

1972 was the year women were allowed to enter the race.

Heartbreak Hill is called that because in 1936, on this hill defending champ John Kelley caught race leader Ellison Brown, giving him a pat on the shoulder as he passed. This lit a fire in Brown who then passed Kelley and win effectively “breaking his heart.”

Most runners know Heartbreak Hill for it’s testing of runners who “hit the wall” on the hills of Newtown and this is the last climb at miles 20 and 21. 88 foot vertical climb. So muscle stores of glycogen are likely depleted at this point.

Beautiful day for a race, think of all the runners at 10am this morning as they run the “race of their life.”

Lillie's 5K - A Little Run With My Friends!

A Little run And A Lot of Fun

I have participated in many 5k’s through my running life for various reasons, but the one I completed today will stay with me. It was held by The Lillie’s Friends Foundation, which is trying to find a cure for Pediatric Neuroblastoma, one of the lowest survived cancers of children. It was a beautiful day for the “Got Friends” run. The atmosphere was more relaxed than other races and the abundance of children running, seemed to resonate the reason for the race, to celebrate life. While running, as I read the signs about Neuroblastoma, I have to admit, it did make me sad. This type of cancer has no cause and no cure and the survival rate is 30%. The foundation’s mission is to raise awareness and fund research as well as support families who are affected by this cancer.

Half-way through the race, I received an egg, which was a simple reminder to enjoy the moment. At the end when I opened my egg, I found a small toy and a fortune. The fortune read” Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible.”
The after-race festivities celebrated the child in us all. There were sack races and bubbles, jump houses and face painting. The band got everyone tapping their toes and the egg hunt was fun chaos! I am glad I was able to participate in the race and be one of Lillie’s friends.
My hope, which is the hope of everyone there, is to find a cure for Neuroblastoma. Until that day, I will continue to be one of Lillie’s friends, and I encourage you to do so too!

Want to be a friend?

Have you heard of Lillie’s Friends?

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28

Fleet Feet Sports is sponsoring a race this Saturday for Lillie’s Friends, an organization for families with the diagnosis of Neuroblastoma, a rare form of tumors usually found in young children. Lillie Boyte was diagnosed at the age of 2 ½ years old and bravely fought her disease for 10 months. Lillie’s charm, charisma and unconditional love of those who surrounded her inspired Lillie’s Friends Foundation and the Family Festival.

Lillie’s Friends Festival at Tanglewood Park starts and ends at the Steeplechase Grounds. The 5K run starts at 9am, the Kids Chase The Hare at 10:30 then a Easter Egg Hunt at 12N. Did you hear they have 5,000 eggs!!!! The Chase The Hare 1 mile Fun Run is for children 6 months to 9 years. A Family Festival follows with inflatables, magicians, games, live entertainment, crafts and raffles!

Join Fleet Feet Sports and become one of Lillie’s Friends, run a race, have some fun and find out about a wonderful foundation!

For Information on the race, visit our website http://www.fleetfeetwinston-salem.com/ or http://www.lilliesfriends.org/images/uploads/20105kFestivalFlyer.pdf
See ya there!