A Running Tally

My major goal for this year is to be more active, get into great shape, and get my weight down. I do admit that's been my goal probably for the past 5 years, but I've actually been acting upon it this year. I've lost about 15 pounds since January, which feels great (ideally I'd like to lose 15-20 more pounds). 

Running has been my passion lately. In order to keep track of my races, I'd like to start writing them down in here (NERD ALERT: I also keep a spreadsheet of my daily/semi-daily runs).

Races Completed

• 4/10/2010: Teach for America 5k, Schenley Park
• Time: approximately 28:48 (it was very unorganized w/no official time posted) / approx 9 minute miles
• Course conditions: ROUGH.. last stretch included a very steep incline. I doubt 5ks planned by non-college students would generally involve hills like this.
• Weather conditions: a bit chilly (maybe in the 50s) but sunny and comfortable once we started running
• Ran with: Joe
• 4/25/2010: Burgs Pizza& Wing Pub 5K, Montour Trail
• Time:  27:07 / 8:45 min miles
• Course conditions: Relatively flat on a limestone surface.
• Weather conditions: Rain was in the forecast, but we had nice weather. I think it was in the mid-60s and sunny
• Ran with: Phill

NOTE: At this point "dear old Dad" (as he calls himself) asked me if I was ever going to run a race with a heterosexual... I know he didn't mean anything bad by this. It was a situation where I both rolled my eyes and laughed.

•  5/9/2010: Race for the Cure, Schenley Park
• Time: 26:26 / 8:31 miles
• Course conditions: much better than the other course in Schenley. There were a few hills, but nothing was terribly steep. In addition to running through the park, we also ran on some city streets in Sq Hill (unlike the other race in Schenley, traffic was actually blocked from using the roads. I have to say, that felt a little safer to me!!)
• Weather conditions: quite chilly, so the what-to-wear question was a bit tricky. I think it was around 40 degrees for the start of the race. I ended up wearing capris, a t-shirt, and a track jacket for the run (and I was definitely over-heating to some extent during the race)
• Ran with: Lydia (I promptly called my dad to tell him that I ran my first race with a heterosexual...)

Upcoming Races

• 5/22/2010: Jaxson's Jog (proceeds to go Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia research) 5k, North Park Boat House in Allison Park 
• Running w/my co-worker Lauren or doing my first solo 5k!
• 6/5/2010: Scott Coffee Moorestown Rotary 8K Race, Moorestown, NJ
• Running with Matt (and possibly some of his running friends) during my visit to Philly!
• 7/17/2010: Rockville Rotary Twilight Runfest 2010 (8k), Rockville, MD
• Running with Lauren and some of her co-workers during my visit to D.C.!
• 9/26/2010: Pittsburgh Great Race 10k, Frick Park to downtown
• I think Joe has been convinced to sign up, so hopefully I'll be running with him!

I've already signed up for the races above; they're in the books! I'm hoping to do a few more as well. I'd really like to do the Father's Day 5k (if I can convince my sister to do it with me. It occurs on the weekend my mom and sister are visiting) to support prostate cancer research.

More running updates to come!