This past weekend 11/15/14, I helped with a race, I have heard that every runner should help with some races in order to be a better racer.  There were not very many photos taken.  I helped with aid station 5 at the 25 mile turn around for the 50 miler race.   We however also helped out station 2 which was on the course for the 50K and 50 miler.  What I enjoyed so much about this race is that no one cared how fast you ran it just as long as you finished.  Yet folks understood about those who dropped out due to injuries or feeling so sick.  This was the group photo one of them took.  I helped with the wascally group.   It was nice getting to know some of them.

In the photo is a dog of Brad and Stephanie. Brad is in the orange and Stephanie is taking it. We were at this time setting up the aid station. Due to the tree coverings we were not hot for long and it was a windy day.  We spent much time adding water to whatever water bottle that folks had.  Our aid station was said to have the best food of baked potatoes and salt.   Most folks dipped the potatoes into the salt.  Many wanted salt tables also not sure why but quite a few asked for them.  I will have research that one.  At the time they got to us, the folks had run over a marathon and had another 25 miles to go.   There were 29 50 miler entries, and 5 did not start.  We were looking for 24 folks to come through.   We did find out that two had scratched by the time the sweepers were letting us know that the aid station could be closed.  It was then that we went to station 2 to catch those getting to the second to last station.  We waited for our friends then moved on to the ending and watched them end.  I was shocked how many runners had beer while running.  I would be afraid to drink then run.   I know the calories they were burning the beer helped replace but how much would it help them stay on their feet.  On the second half of the race, I saw quite a few drinking some.  It was long day but fun one.  It did take me a few to feel human again.   I did not drink enough or eat enough that day.   I also did not drink when others in our group did.  I look forward to the next race and seeing some of these guys out running with me.  My next race is Dec 13th, the toys for tots race which is only a 5K but should be fun.   It at least gives some focus for me.  

I ran the two cities marathon Clovis Half on Nov 1, 2014.  My results were

I waited to write this so I could get my photos and official times.   I clocked this at 2:25:10 but I Started it early and ended it later.  That is also why I got over 13.1 miles.

This race was a lot of fun only because it has been in Fresno/Clovis for a few years.   Many moons ago (2007 or so) I was training for this marathon and got shin splints that kept me out of running for a few years.   This year since it was the first year I am back to running for reals, I only ran the Clovis half of this race,  This race showed what race and distance we were doing by color, since I was the Clovis Half, I got orange, I do know the Fresno Half got green, and the 5K folks got white.  

   Somehow in the past, I have forgotten something, so this time I made sure I had a flatter version of me with everything I needed for this race, It did start at 6:15 so I had to leave early.  I again had a rough night before the race but since I had set up everything ahead of time, I had everything I needed.   My only trouble was finding the parking area and drove around some looking for where to park.  I did enjoy the signs at this race and got complements on my socks from my sexy feet that I had won.  Each time I have worn them, I get complemented on them.

Here they are on my after the race,  They are fun and kept my feet from blisters during the race.    I have yet to buy a photo of me racing, but one day I will.   This time I liked only one of three photos so next time I will hopefully like more of them.  I did notice this time that I am still struggling to mid-foot strike for my stride.   The photos that I was stepping during showed that I was still heal striking.  It is a wonder I do not have shin splints again.  This is something I will need to pay more attention to in order to keep from re-injury.

Wascally Wunners Half Mawothon 9/20/14 2nd half this year.

21 Janet Chung 282 42 199 2:38:49.91 12:07/M

So I ran this race yesterday and could have run it faster if I was not hurting.  I was bothered by the fact I could not finish faster.  Yet a pace of 12:07 is nothing to be ashamed of.

These are a couple of photos I took during the run.  Views I never see I saw.  This race is in Woodward Park which I used to bike through often.They have finished the park I think.  Over all it was a good day.  I found this photo online after the run, I have the white shirt on.  I think this was mile 6.

Wild run for Sierra Area Rescue

I did this run as 10K I think this is the only 10K this year.  I did do half of a half though which is very close this distance.  This race was tough since it was very hilly.

I was shocked that it came with a whistle.  I was excited to run near Shaver Lake.  I do want to run around it sometime.  I have a map but I have yet to figure out how to do it.  

This was my after run photo.  I did need my inhaler after the race due to my lungs hurting so much.   This was due to the dust created by the other runners.  I have seen some areas like these in the lake loop which I often run.  The lake loop run does not cause my socks to turn another color.  

 I have washed these socks once and they are still dirty due to how much dust they picked up.  The shoes were so dusty they left dust on two more pair of socks that I own.  I wonder if you can wash your running shoes? These were my results.  I was number 139 over all.  I started feeling sick around mile 3 and never have recovered.  My timing was off of what I wanted.  This comes down to a 13:24 pace.
 139 1061 Janet Chung Auberry CA 42 Female 1:23:16     I do like to keep it closer to a 12 minute mile.  This one did not meet that.  It was a combination of dust and exhaustion.

Today is 3/29/14 and for the second time I did a trail run with others (kind of).   I saw 6 people while out.  Some of that is my fault in that I did not wait for them to show up.   I went to the same areas but a different path.  I saw a white bridge but not the green bridge I went over last week.

I started as the sun was just coming up.   I saw Bobby Kearney as we left on the trail at 6:50ish.  I did get to the last gate which was at where the bathrooms are at the Smalley trail head. According to my map my run app I went almost 12.5 miles in 2:33 minutes.  He went 15 miles while I did 12.   There was some repeating of miles since I did not know if I should the big sandy creak on a bridge that said hazard on it.  I decided that I do not know the area as well as I should.  As before I took some photos while running.   Please enjoy.

 On this one I just loved the colors.   I did have to wait for it to get sunny since that is how it looked best.

 I think these are poppy flowers.

 The end, my car was behind this gate.  12 miles down, almost done.

  Over all it was fun but I doubt that I would do it during the week with others.  I wouldn't do it with someone else who has not been on the trail.  I do not want to do it with time issues again either.  I doubt you could get lost for very long but I definitely gave that a try.  I should have been around 12 to begin with but my trying to get lost made it a little longer.  I was having directional issues but other than that, I was okay.  I need to trust myself more.  I did enjoy my alone time but I was hoping to make new friends.  I think my shoes are getting old and it might be time to order new shoes in the near future.

Today is March 26th and we have had some snow today and snow mixed with rain.   It is officially spring now and during the winter we had a couple of inches of snow a couple of times.  I find it interesting that this is this when it snows.   Good thing the the water for year go until June.  It is not over yet.   Maybe more wet stuff will fall within this drought year.
In news, for the California Classic, we got official results.   We were place number 22 of 42 women relay teams.   We finished in 2 hours, 27 minutes, and 40 seconds.   Not sure or Shelley's time for the first half, and not sure of my official time.   They kept us as team last minute.   I think I will take the summer off and run again in the fall.   I will be running but not racing.  Right now I want to run the wascally wabbit half mawathon  on Saturday  Sept 20, 2014 and do the whole thing.  Then I want to the Two Cities Half marathon in Clovis on Sunday November 2nd also.   These two are around 5 weeks apart.  That is time to relax and work out any issues and be ready for another race.   I have been debating on if I want to do the whole marathon in the two cities.   It is a bug that has been put in my ears lately.   Some friends think I should be a ultra marathoner.   I am not too sure I am ready for that yet, but it seeming more appealing.  Then the 20 milers that some friends want to do wouldn't be so hard on me.  Maybe this year maybe next year or the year later.  In the meantime, I need a new pair of running shoes and some summer running clothes.   I do not like the ones I have.  I think I might put some winter clothes and go hit the road.   See you after another run in the wet and cold.  

Today I ran a half of half marathon.  I paid as if I ran the whole race, but only ran half of it.  My partner was Shelley Isaac.

She ran the first part 6.5 miles.   I took over about 1/2 way through.  From map my run, I got from Map my run that I ran 6.9 miles in 1 hour, 11 minutes. I finished at 2 hour 29 minute finishing time.  That made my average pace as 10 minute 19 second pace.  These are times I had, not official times,.  She thinks her pace was around 11 minute miles.  We will know when the results become official.   I was number 1188,

she was number 1189.  I felt like I had to wait quite a while for my partner to show up, I realized I knew a couple of folks who also ran the whole half marathon or at least the half.  It was cool to see someone who went to school with me in Porterville.  She found me food line after the race.  

I also got to talk with Dave Castro, John Sloan, and met other Wascally wunners.    I do hope that I get to see them again soon.  This was fun but I am still tired as if I had run the whole thing.  I think that is just because Fresno was 75ish when the race finished.  I did go to church after the race and stopping by Starbucks for some fat and caffeine .  I just needed something cold and wet so I had Ashlee help me and got a Vanilla Cream Frappacinno with caramel drizzled throughout.  It was so good.  I am so glad she recommended that.  Today was a fun day over all.  I hope we did as well as hope.  For both of us being 41, I hope that we did pretty well.

I ran a 5K this past Sunday 3/9/14.   I did take a few photos of this race.  I wanted to this as my 5K race but it was hard to pass people who walked it.  They did not time us, but I did mostly time me.  I show this was 3.21 miles and took me 34 minutes.  That was a 10 minute 36 second pace.  I only had to use my inhaler once, that time they threw the color on my face.     

 a couple of selfies before the race.   While my clothes were still white and I could breathe.

 After the color was added.  My body was covered.  Both my skin and what I wore.  This was 3. miles

 I went to Crystal's home and she was a real blessing to me.   As I learn, I should have worn my graffiti run shirt for the race, color on that would not have bothered me as much it did on other shirt and shorts I wore.

 All our feet at the end.  You can tell our legs took on much much color.  I did was everything after the race and they still have a little color on them.  

Yes I did wash my shoes and my laces became white again.   These shoes are about done.   I think I will buy insoles and see if I can extend the shoes.   I was hoping to replace them for the summer.   I got these shoes at the beginning of January.   One half, one 5K, and many training runs.   I think I am pushing the mileage that running shoes can handle.  This is the group I ran it with.   I did come in first in our group but then I ran it and most of them walked it.  

I did have to walk some in order to get around others walking.   They did start us off in groups of around 30 every 10 minutes.   I was somewhere near the middle when we started, they were still letting people go after we ended.   It was a good experience, but I doubt I will do another of these anytime soon.  I just like the longer races where it spits the folks who run and those who would walk it.  It is good that I did it, but that short is not my cup of tea.   

Keep watching I am running a half marathon relay tomorrow.  We'll see how that one goes.  

So I ran my first half marathon yesterday.  The official results said I finished in 2 hours, 26 minutes, 37.14 seconds.  That put me at 11:15/mile pace.  These results came out today.  I was the 652 person to finish.  number 61 in my age group which was 40-45.