This is a duplicate post. If you've already read it, ignore! (Even after 1,040 blog posts, even I can make mistakes about how I post blogs....)
Because of computers, when you run an in person race, no sooner than grabbing your medal and wiping the snot off of your face, you can log on to see your instant chip timed race results. Running my virtual Freeze Your Thorns Off 5K is essentially the same way if by “instant” you mean “3 weeks”. What I lack in speed, I make up for with good looks.....endowment... prizes! Sweet sweet prizes. So, since I only have 5 of them, there are going to be 295 annoyed people and 5 people who love me to death. Who says you can’t buy friends?! (Prize winners at the bottom)
Overall the FYTO5K response was larger than I could ever have hoped. I feel that there is a real thirst for virtual races right now – they are free, fun, and a great way to generate some motivation to get out the door and run FAST. There were 293 people signed up and I received 169 race entries – amazing. Part of what took me so long to get the results out was that I did go through and read every single race report that was sent my way. I figure that it is the least I could do. If you posted a picture of yourself, you should expect to see it here! If you don’t see your results in the table below, let me know and I can get them added for sure.
(On a bit of a serious note....) What my irreverent little virtual race lacked in seriousness, SUAR’s Run for Sherry made up for in everything that runners stand for: Compassion, organization, and a true drive to get out on the roads. Well that, and she got her freaking results posted ON TIME. Kuddos to Beth for putting that together for her Cousin. May she rest in peace knowing that she brought thousands of runners together doing something that she enjoyed.
That said, without further ado, here is the results summary – thank you all so much for participating!
Ray @ Running in a world of pink scheduled a run w/ his church buddies - and 23 people showed up!!!! But, they forgot a camera. So, I stole this picture from an earlier post on his blog. Let's all assume that all of the people running around him are not actually running a Half marathon, but running FYTO.
Christine ran the race 17 days POST BABY!! I mean, I'm not sure that is exactly what the Doctor ordered, buuuuut, it is still pretty kick-ass
(also, I think that 90% of my female readers hate her for looking so go post baby)
Thumbs up for frostbite
Good Running Habits ran with spikes on so she didn't fall. She ended up running her son's paper route with papers that weighed 27 kilos. I'm not sure of the conversion, but I'm almost positive that it means that she carried 790 pounds of papers.
She's looking for jobs as a Sherpa
Julie did hers in the TRUE spirit of the FREEZE your throrns off - with a team of sled dogs!
Or, maybe just in the snow with her normal dogs. Either way
Running in Boise SAID that she froze, but she was indoors. Hmmmm - at least she looked good in the compression socks!
Sam ran in ZERO degrees (c) - although, she did say that she was too lazy to print the bib off. I'll let it slide, THIS time.
Loreleig not only ran the virtual race, but included it as her FIRST EVER post! I'd like to think that means I'm spreading the herps blog fever, one virtual race at a time.
Mitch decided he wasn't a #1 kind of a guy and thought that he was 3.14x as good as everyone else. (Those might be my words and not his)
Jenny proves that the Appalachian mountains are what we should all be jealous of
Mike did a fun trail run after volunteering to help clear the trail. Not to be one to be content with a NORMAL race, he decided to do some bridge hopping as well. (And take pictures of SuperKate in compromising positions)
Daniel ran in honor of his father who is fighting cancer
....as well as perfected the self shot photo
Jamie ran it as part of another freeze series called the Freezeroo. Love it!!
Fortunately, she was able to stay on her feet... Umm.... not everyone was (as seen on her run:
J didn't post a race report, but I found this picture on her blog and for some reason cracked up. Let that be a lesson, if you don't post a race report, I'll troll your blog for other random pictures and post them!
Michael too decided that he wasn't #1, and instead went with 1850 - and blacked out the faces of my freezer dudes!
Laura ran hers as part of a Chocolate 10K
Rose set a MONSTER PR and decided that 5Ks suck - but I can tell is totally going to try to beat her time
Joanna ran on a SUPER sunny day
Tracy said that she dressed like a "homeless person hovering over a barrel fire".
Those really were her words, not mine
Mike K represented the race WELL. I get cold just looking at him.
TriMOEngr ran on a bright windy day
Andrew Opala had a bit of a cracked foot issue which caused him to run a rather strange route. Check it out:
Miranda did the race RIGHT. Not only did she run in the cold, but there might have been a bit of pregaming with bloody marys followed by some hipster beer:
Mmmmm, tastes like skinny jeans....
Miranda had the BEST.RUN.EVER. So, that is good
Connie bundled up JUST enough to make sure that nothing froze off
Jess said that she about blew away, but at least looked good doing it!
Jen ran with her dog and got REALLY splattered by him kicking up mud all over her legs/thighs. But, that didn't slower her down running 5 miles in 45 min!
The Craft Chick got out there and hammered out a great time! (get it, crafts? Hammers? har har)
Christine has a goal to run a race each month like I do. 1 down, 11 to go!
Hope you hurry - Feb is 1/2 over!!
I still don't know how people do this, but Rebecca was pushing a LOT more weight than normal with her stoller! This is the biggest stroller I've ever seen!!
Maddy doesn't own a printer anymore. Good effort though!
Although, running while carrying a laptop probably isn't a GREAT idea.
Katie had the worst 5K she had ever done, but made up for it with this hilarious picture
Saluting? Actually, covering her nose from a horrible smell
Carrie is a VERY brave soul....She took an ice bath after her run! Cripes, not sure if I could ever do another one of those. Freezes my man bits RIGHT off
Kelly, AllieFay and Brandon had a snot contest in a richy richy neighborhood. Now, that is MY kind of race!
BitterHag Running posted a report that included lots of pictures of her dogs. Ummm, yup.
Jennifer looks hard core cranking out her 8:30 pace miles!
BabyWeightMyFatAss ran in MISERABLE conditions:
Mikey ran his as part of an icy 15 miler in the mtns of Colorado Springs. He certainly froze SOMETHING off
Christina was our official race photog at the in-person version. Fortunately, I was able to grab a picture of her putting a medal on a sweaty JeffG
Chicken went for a run with the dogs. Of course, like all dogs they HAD to be in on the action too. Hilarious!
Dina is in central Florida, so she didn't freeze ANYTHING off.
She can hang out in "awesome weather land" with me while everyone hates us
Like I mentioned above, not only did Kate crawl over bridges, it looks like she also was getting ready to go spilunking?
Rachel ran an official 5K course that she found on Daily Mile.
The hilarious part? It was on the Tabacco trail.
Local PHX runner Mike wasn't able to run the in person version because he had to run with his Team in Training group (he is the coach). That is just about the only excuse that I would accept.
X-Country^2 said that she kind of hates me because it is sunny and warm in Phoenix all the time. Yeah, I get that a lot. Lucky for me, she still went through many self-timer pictures pre-run.
Missy ran her virtual run as part of a real run - where there was a lack of port a potties. Of course, if you were part of the in-person race. You'd find that there were NO port a potties, so you wouldn't have to worry about it!
Girl Evolving AND her husband both ran the race together. It was his longest run in 3 months and......oh by the way they found a MOUSE in their house! I've done some research on this topic and I just have one thing to say - do NOT give it a cookie. That shit gets outta hand.
(Ok, I realize these are sideways.... They are showing upright in EVERY photo editing software I have. Help!)
Finally, it seems that every time I do one of my virtual races, there is ALWAYS a story that touches my heart and warms my soul to the joys of running. This time, the story was Melanie's. I couldn't tell her story like she can, so here it is in her own words:
My first 5k that I actually ran w/out stopping the whole way! Not the most impressive time, but for me it means the world! I had a lung collapse and broken arm last year, so getting back into the game has been difficult to say the least. Starting at ground zero is most humbling. You gave me the impetus to get out there and do it! It was somewhat chilly in Boston today so I sorta kinda did freeze my "thorns" off :) Tears of joy are splashing off my cheeks as I type this right now, because finishing this 5K in its entirety w/out stopping or walking once, was a goal I thought i'd never accomplish.
Ok, here are the winners! The prizes are below. First come, first served. Since I'm buying most of these, colors / sizes are up to you, qty is up to me! :)
Caroline -
http://journeytoahalfmaraton.blogspot.com/
Jayne - (Only has blogger profile)
Penny -
http://pinkhatrunner.blogspot.com/
Heather -
http://www.justacoloradogal.com/
Al -
http://yourunnoreallyyourun.blogspot.com/
Zero Water pitcher! Filters out all of the municipal water sludge and helps you run cleaner
(Review to come very shortly!)
Moeben Arm Sleeves!! UV-protected sleeves are made with a handy pocket for a gel packet or small iPod.
I seriously can't even make up these advertisements. Was this the start of a hippie orgie?
Feetures (not a typo) high performance running socks!
Like a condom for your feet (that might be my slogan, not theirs)
Body Glide!!! What better to protect your naughty bits - even in the cold
I kid you not, if you Google Image Body Glide, this picture comes up - I suppose if you're playing soccer in a bikini you WOULD need body glide.....
Nuun!!! No calories, fizz, electrolytes, delicious
Also, if you put Nuun in wine? Not that bad!