Race Awards :)

One unexpected bonus of running all of these races is that I ran many I probably would never had considered.  I am a creature of habit.  :0  Who knew that some of these races would become some of my new favorites!  So I started thinking about each one and came up with some race awards.



Best Reason Not to have Too Rockin' of a New Year's Eve~  The Frosty Four


My First Ever Trail Run~  The Snowshoe(less) Classic


"The Hell Race"~   Olde Salem Greene Cross Country Race 
(This one is like childbirth.  You forget how bad it really is over time.)


Most Fun I've Had Running in a Noreaster Along the Ocean~  Ring Around the Neck 
 
Tied for Best Race Shirt~  Fast Chicks 5K and Ricey's Run


 Best Ending~  Patrick Downey 5K (aka all downhill!!)


 Prettiest Route~ Tri-ROK 5K


 Toughest Race to Complete~ Melody Miles


 Most Inspiring Race~   North Shore Cancer Run

Race shirt swag

A little more swag

Nine of my numbers.  I lost one.  ;)

In the meantime I am collecting some last minute cash and will let you know how much I've collected.  A Grand Total is coming soon!!

Race Number 10...It's a Beautiful Day!

Bright and early this morning I ran my final race to raise money for the Fitzgerald Cancer Fund.  Very fitting that it was the North Shore Cancer Run!!  It was a bright and sunny day.  As I came across the finish the speakers were blasting It's  Beautiful Day by U2.  I thought to myself that it really is...so many people running and walking to raise money and tell cancer to get lost. 

The end of the race mingled with the walk.  I saw families in matching shirts honoring their loved ones with names and pictures on their backs.  Children and the elderly...all walking..each one with a different story of cancer..  Last year my family did the 6M walk as my aunt was at Mass General kicking cancer's ass.  :)  Since last year, many more people in my circle have been diagnosed..and it sucks.  Time for it to go!!

I have a few draft posts that are coming soon...but I can tell you that so far my fundraising has surpassed what I expected when I started this journey six months ago...THANK YOU for helping me help the Fitzgeralds!!!!!!!

And Kick Butt We Did!!

I actually look like I am running...and not shuffling. 

My Number

Nine down...and ONE to go!

I started this mission on January 1st. In 6 months, I've run nine races and I am one away from my goal.  :)

The races I've run so far...

January
The Frosty Four
The Snowshoe(less) Classic

March
Olde Salem Greene Cross Country Race

April
Ring Around the Neck 5M
 
May
Fast Chicks 5k
Patrick Downey 5k
Tri-ROK 5k

June 
The Melody Miles 5M

Ricey's Run

My last race is Sunday, June 24th...the North Shore Cancer Run!!  I had shirts made to celebrate.  :) 

Time to Say Thanks...

I am one week away from my last race to raise money for the Fitzgerald Cancer Fund.  I have a few races scheduled after that...but nothing compared to how many I've run in recent months.  I'm having some fun with my last few blog posts...but I wanted to send out some thank yous before I get caught up in finishing. 

A big thank you to all of the race organizers out there for organizing some awesome road races throughout the North Shore.  I am lucky to live in such an active and awesome community!!

Thanks to all of the random runners I've met along the way.  Lots of people encouraged me during races...complete strangers.  Somehow those kind words always came at exactly the right time.  Funny thing is, now I am much more likely to encourage someone on the course who looks like they could use some.  :)

To Danielle, Sue, and Kate who ran as many of the races as they could...and snapped photos when they came.  I apologize for that hot and hilly...somewhat brutal...5 miler I convinced you all to do!!

To all of the random strangers I asked to take my picture at the end of a race.

To Mike Toomey from Toomey Sports Running Center who runs the Salem Park and Rec running clinics.  I think I owe my new-found speed to those track workouts!

To my dad and mom who came over many Saturday mornings so I could get to a race while my husband was at work.

To Eric for holding down the fort while I was out running...and for our brand new Garmin!

To my boys for asking me how my run was when I got home and telling me I should sit down and have a drink of water (before I turned back into Mommy).  :)

To all of YOU...yes YOU...for following my blog and offering kind words of support along the way. You all ROCK!!


I think this may be the closest I get to giving an awards speech...

Race for Ricey in the pouring rain. :)

The Race for Ricey honored Jim Rice, a local fallen firefighter.  He was killed in a fire 2 days before Christmas. All of the money raised from the event went directly to his wife and three young children.

 It was pouring rain...and still tons...244 to be exact.. of people turned out! It was an out and back course so I got the see the fast people and all of my friends that ran too. There were lots of local fire departments there which made me smile. They also had a kids one mile fun walk to the fire station and back.  Lots of kids toughed it out in the pouring rain.  Great community event!  They had awesome raffles and great shirts. I love a good race shirt...and a finishing time of 31:51!  ;)

Before the Race

And after.  :)