Governor's Cup 2016 Race Review

Hi Everyone!

I'm definitely behind on my blogging for the week. Here it is Wednesday, and I haven't done my weekly review of last week yet OR my Tri Tuesday post!! Yikes.

Instead, today I'm bringing you a race review. On Saturday, Jeff and I were in Helena to run Governor's Cup. This year, I did the 10K and Jeff did 5K. They also offer Full and Half Marathons. This is the second year we have done this race, and we each did the same distance we had done previously. You can read my review from last year HERE.

Governor's Cup 5K about to start.

We arrived in Helena on Friday evening. We live about 3.5 hours from Helena, and with a morning race start time of 7:00 a.m for me and 9:00 for Jeff, an overnight stay was a must. First thing upon hitting town, we picked up our packets. Last year, they had a small expo with a few vendor booths that I found to be really cool. This year, nothing. Nada. Zilch. Just get your s#1+ and get out, haha. It took us about ninety seconds to pick up our bibs and t-shirts. We didn't receive any other swag. Although, we had received emails the day before with our "virtual race bag," that included a few coupons for Helena businesses. We didn't use any of them. I'm curious as to why the race organizers changed from an expo to a virtual bag this year.

Has anyone else had this before-- a "virtual race bag?"
Would you prefer a virtual bag, or an actual expo, even if the expo is small?

We spent the rest of the evening taking it easy, staying out of the rain (it rained quite a bit that night in Helena), and enjoying a nice dinner. Then, went to bed early to rest up for the race.

The next morning, my alarm went off at 5:00 a.m. I wanted to be able to eat a normal sized breakfast and have a cup of coffee, and have plenty of time for all of that to settle. Hotel breakfast didn't start until 6:30, but I had planned ahead and brought some bread and peanut butter, and some dried apricots. I was out the door slightly after six and jogged a warmup to the starting area of the race, maybe slightly less than a mile away. I spent plenty of time warming up with dynamic stretching and form running, and did a few sprints. I know I race significantly better when I get a full warmup in ahead of time.

Race Day Outfit: Oiselle Roga shorts, Oiselle Volee singlet, Oiselle Runway Bra, Brooks Glycerin Shoes, Features! socks, and a black sparkly headband from HankOrange.

My goal for the 10K this year was primarily to do better than I had last year. My stretch goal was to get a new PR. Last year, I had run 54:54, and my 10K PR is 52:59. So, I basically had a two-minute window within which I wanted to finish. I knew from last year it would be a tough race on a challenging course, but I've also made some solid progress over the past year, too. I felt pretty confident in at least beating my last year time.

Looking around the Start area, it seemed like there were a lot fewer people than last year. I talked to a few people while waiting for the race to start, and I met another Team Beef Montana runner, named Heather. I've actually never participated in a race in which I've seen another Team Beef member, so it was cool to finally meet someone! I think this is because I live so far away from most of the places where races are held and where other team members live.

I was actually caught up in conversation when the race started (which is very unusual for me, as an extreme introvert!) but I was behind the start line enough that it didn't matter and I got my Strava started in time. I felt pretty good right away but I knew I'd have a big hill later on so I didn't want to go out too hard and have nothing left. I'm pretty famous for taking the first mile way too quickly.

Mile 1- 8:24
Mile 2- 8:45

We ran right up to the Montana Capitol building- very cool!

Mile 3- 8:25

...and then we turned and went up the dreaded Broadway Hill. Seriously. It's a killer. It goes for about a half mile, then slightly levels out, then goes up hill some more. So, uphill for nearly an entire mile. I slowed down considerably.

Mile 4- 9:28

Then, blessedly, headed back towards downtown and DOWNHILL which actually felt great. I knew the last half mile or so of the course would be uphill again, so I was trying to save a bit again for that...

Mile 5- 8:38
Mile 6- 8:25
Last .2 nubbin (uphill!)- 8:38 pace

I was very relieved to see the finish line and hear the announcer call my name. He even pronounced my town of Inverness correctly! Shortly thereafter, Jeff found me at the finish area. I must have looked like hell because he asked me if I was going to be sick, but I was fine- just tired from the effort.

I checked my time on Strava- which was 53:56. Obviously not my official time, but probably pretty close. I was happy because I knew I was right in the range that I wanted- below last year's time by about a minute. Later, my official results were sent to me through email:

Chip Time- 53:51.47
Clock Time- 54:01.53
Pace- 8:40

Overall Place- 90 out of 393
Female Place- 30 of 250
Female 30-39- 9 of 70

I don't put a lot of stock in finishing place because every race is different and truly, it's more important to me to just get better personal times. That being said, I'm still pleased to see that I keep creeping up in the rankings when I do races. It used to be that I'd be right in the middle, and slowly, with hard work, I'm inching closer toward the top 20-30% of the field, depending on the race. It feels good.

After the 10K, I hung out around the finish line area with Jeff. I had made a loose plan to meet one of my Oiselle teammates after she finished the Half Marathon. It was awesome to meet Kim! Again, this was the first time I've ever met a Oiselle teammate in person. She was very friendly (no surprise!) and it was nice to visit with her. I really hope we can meet up again sometime, or plan to do a race together. :)

Meeting up with another Oiselle teammate!

Soon, it was time to see Jeff off at the start of the 5K. I wished him good luck and left him alone to continue his warmup. I decided to watch the start of the race because Heather Lieberg was running and going for the win. She is a sponsored Oiselle athlete and competed at the Olympic Trials in LA back in February. She's an elite runner, and Governor's Cup is "her race." She has won each of the other distances at this event- Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10K- and was going for the win in the 5K today. I watched her get off the line, and then tried to spy Jeff as he crossed the start line back in the pack. After a few cheers, I decided to head back down and cheer for finishers of the marathon and half marathon while waiting for the 5K-ers to come in.

Heather Lieberg, bottom right, about to finish in the 5K.

It was a fun atmosphere near the finish line with people cheering the runners in. I'd have to say, though, that overall, this course is pretty devoid of spectators. At least on the 10K route. Maybe there are more on the longer courses, but I sort of got the impression there aren't many people watching and cheering. Heather Lieberg did end up winning the women's 5K, and was 5th overall I think. It was cool to see how strong she looked. Then, I was just looking for Jeff. I was so pumped to see him in what I knew would be a good time, and cheered him in to the finish. Jeff finished with a new 5K PR and was really happy with that. I am really proud of him and his work, too!

Jeff, looking strong at the finish.

Overall, Governor's Cup was a good race. It is well organized and has great course volunteer support. There were lots of water stops and other volunteers along the route, and they were very friendly. We were a little disappointed in the lack of expo this year. The other thing we missed was the motivational speaker event. Last year we attended a cool talk by Tim Catalano and Adam Goucher the night before the race, but this year we had nothing. But neither of these things put much of a damper on our overall experience. We are both really happy with our times and will likely return again to do Governor's Cup in the future.

Next up, Dawson's Run, a local 5K race this Saturday!

After the race! 

Welcome to Oiselle!

I mentioned a few posts ago that I had an announcement to make, and today is the day you'll read all about it!  I joined the Oiselle Volee running team! (There's supposed to be an accent over that first e in Volee, but I don't know how to type that in...) I am so excited and honored to be part of this group of fast-flying, strong women from all over the country! Read on to find out more about Oiselle and what being part of this team means to me, and to read my review/love affair with the Distance Shorts, which is the short that started it all for me!  

If you haven't heard of Oiselle yet, you definitely haven't been reading my blog for very long! I've been pretty much obsessed with this brand since I first discovered them about three years ago while trolling through the Zulily sales one October day. That's when I bought my first pair of Distance Shorts and the day I fell in love with this company.

Pre-Race family photo from Dawson's Run back in June. Brett (he's not actually family, but he feels like he is sometimes!), Katie, Josh, Tom (holding Brandon), Me in my hot pink Distance Shorts, and Jeff. Carol is in front with Harvey.

Oiselle (Pronounced Wa-Zell) is a women's fitness and running apparel brand that's relatively young, but is committed to designing quality running clothes that FIT a woman's body. And they do not mess around with this mission! The first time I tried those Distance Shorts on, I was completely smitten and have recommended them over and over since then. They are currently my go-to summer racing shorts and they never fail to perform.

Pre-run planking in my Distance Shorts (with a non-Oiselle top).

Just the other day, I actually had all my Oiselle running clothes in the dirty laundry so I ran in an old pair of (Big Name Brand) Tempo shorts. Man... I never realized how poorly they fit until after I've been running in Oiselle! I mean, the crotch area has a pooch of extra fabric as if they should fit a man! A lot of other running and active apparel companies unfortunately have the design model of taking men's styles and just recreating them in "feminine" colors. In the industry, this is known as "Shrink it and Pink it." (I should know thanks to my degree in Apparel Design and 10+ years working in active apparel retail!) That is why it is SO REFRESHING to see styles from Oiselle that are specifically designed by and for women athletes.

Distance Shorts (again!) with Verazzano Bra from Oiselle.

And they do not settle for anything less than perfect! Take the example of the newly released Bra-Zen style they just put out. Oiselle has offered a few styles of sports bras and has done a really great job with them, but to be honest, they're more for smaller-cup ladies. Ladies who are blessed with bosom have requested over and over a good, functional sports bra to give them the support they need, and preferably with the same awesome Oiselle style. Oiselle heard them and spent a long time perfecting the new Bra-Zen style. It had to be just right before they'd release it! I haven't tried it, but I do love my Verrazano Bra and my Traction Bra. All the reviews I've read about Bra-Zen are RAVING, so I'd say it's probably a smashing success!

Bra-Zen bra from Oiselle.

Ok, so enough about the clothes. I mean, they are fabulous and functional, but what really kept me hooked on this company is the culture it fosters. Oiselle is all about empowering women to be the best versions of themselves. Take this excerpt from the Flight Manual (sort of a company manifesto) for example:
"We are not building a single sport, or a cause, or even an idea. We're building a new kind of family. One that is strong, supportive, passionate, and all-in on a woman-up world." This is an idea I can get behind. It's a better-stated-than-I-could-ever-come-up-with reason why I coach track. It's why I run. It's why I strive to support and inspire.

So who are my new teammates on the Oiselle Volee team? They are women from all walks of life, every corner of the country, and every level of running ability. From someone like me who is middle-of-the-pack at best in the local 5k Fun Run all the way up to Elites like Kara Goucher and Lauren Fleshman. This team encompasses everyone and is full of positive and encouraging people who just want to help one another. It's like when I saw Heather Lieberg at Governor's Cup and she was so friendly and gracious. I feel lucky and proud to be part of this group, and to know that when I race in my Oiselle singlet (coming soon!) I represent this company and this body of outstanding people.

Now, I'm teammates with Heather Lieberg as a part of Oiselle Volee!

My perks for signing up include extra discounts on Oiselle clothing and gear, and freebies and opportunities throughout the year. I'm not a paid member or sponsored athlete by any means, and I didn't join for clothing discounts. I joined to be part of something bigger. Isn't that what being part of a team is all about? I did get sent some cool items right away, including my new bright Oiselle Orange spike bag, some temporary tattoos, and a copy of the Flight Manual. My singlet will be here sometime in September.

New swag from Oiselle, since joining Volee!

There are only a few other Volee members in Montana, but Montana is a really big state and we all live in opposite corners, it seems! So, it's not likely I'll see or network in-person with other Montana birds, or anyone else, very often. That means, in order to continue to feel connected to my teammates, I'll be trying to stay active on the Volee Facebook group, Instagram, Strava, and Gametiime, in addition to reading/commenting on other birds' blogs. Maybe when I travel I can get in some runs with other ladies from around the country. Who knows?!

Don't worry--I haven't given up on Team Beef Montana for joining Oiselle Volee! I'll still be wearing my Team Beef jersey at select races throughout the year and will continue to be an advocate for beef as part of a healthy diet to fuel the run and recovery. I mean, we're serving hamburgers after our 5K On The Farm, for Pete's sake! Now, I just get to represent TWO different teams instead of just one! Kind of nice to have options, right? ;)

In order to really kick off my new membership with Volee, I've decided to start a new series on my blog. I'm calling it Oiselle Flight Fridays. Each Friday over the next seven weeks, I'll be taking one of the seven "Principles of Flight" from the Flight Manual and writing about it. What that principle means to me and how I can challenge myself to fly with it. For a teaser, here are the seven principles:

1. Build the Sisterhood
2. Set a Goal
3. Own the Journey
4. Fly With the Winners
5. Feed the Machine
6. Be a Superfan
7. Believe

I'll be mixing in my own stories and experiences when introducing each of those principles, and probably showing off some of my favorite pieces of Oiselle gear along the way. I hope you'll check back on Fridays to read more about what this awesome company, my new team, is all about! 

New spike bag from Oiselle.

Stay tuned for more Oiselle posts! And remember- Head Up, Wings Out!

Governor's Cup Race Recap

It has been a whirlwind of a weekend and it's not even over yet! One of the biggest highlights of the weekend and the summer so far for Jeff and me was competing in the Governor's Cup races in Helena yesterday morning. It's only been about 36 hours since we ran, so the entire experience is still completely fresh in my mind. Perfect time to write and share a race recap!

Running toward the Montana Capital Building in Governor's Cup 2105.
(The camera was crooked--the building is straight!)

About Governor's Cup
The Governor's Cup race event is considered to be one of the premiere running events in Montana, and it has been going since 1974, so it's probably also one of the longest-running running events. There are many race distances to choose from: 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Marathon, and Kids Run, so there is something for everyone. This year they had something like 3200 people participating, which is really big for Montana. (I'm looking forward to the day I can describe a running event in Montana as just being "really big" and not needing to add "for Montana." Someday!) The Marathon is a Boston Qualifier and attracts some really great competition, as do the other race distances. All distances finish in downtown Helena on Last Chance Gulch, with the 5K and 10K routes being run right around downtown. The Marathon begins in Marysville, MT and the Half begins half way to Helena from Marysville. The Governor's Cup website is excellent, so if you're looking for more information, definitely check that out.

Packet Pickup/Expo
Jeff and I got to town mid-afternoon on Friday. We stayed at the Best Western Great Northern Hotel which was very nice and within walking distance of the race events. After checking in, we did just that and walked to the Packet Pickup and Expo held at the Holiday Inn on Last Chance Gulch. Packet Pickup was very well organized and efficiently run. It took no time for us to retrieve our packets. Not a lot of swag in the packets- mostly coupons for Helena-area business. Nice race t-shirts, though. A cotton-poly blend in a beautiful blue for 5K and 10K participants. The Full and Half Marathoners received something that was more technical. I'd rather have this style, anyway. :)

5K/10K t-shirt style. Women's has a v-neck. Mens is crew. Featuring the Governor's Cup logo. 

Truth be told, I expected there to be more booths at the Expo than there were. Also, some of the people had already packed up by the time we got there (including the Team Beef booth!), which was around 4:30 (Expo went until 6). But we did scoop the loop and visit with the people who were still there. I spent the most time at the Sole Sisters booth because the lady was really nice and knowledgeable about her product, and she carried a lot of Oiselle, which you all know I'm obsessed with. I bought some arm-warmers from her to wear the next morning for the race. Jeff also bought a nice Brooks hat to wear for the race at one of the other booths.

Run The Edge
This year, the organizers of Governor's Cup arranged for a motivational speaker presentation on Friday evening: Tim Catalano and Adam Goucher of Run The Edge. I wasn't familiar with Tim Catalano prior to the evening, but I did know who Adam Goucher was, primarily because, again, I'm obsessed with Oiselle and his wife Kara Goucher is one of their Elite Sponsored Athletes. Adam and Tim are both excellent runners in their own right and were also very good speakers. They were funny, I really learned a lot from their talk, and they definitely motivated me. Jeff agreed that he liked them, too.

Tim Catalano (left) and Adam Goucher (right) of Run The Edge.

Tim Catalano and Adam Goucher presenting some points from their website and book, Run The Edge.

The main theme was that many of the lessons and best practices that help us to be better runners also help us to better our lives and make our lives and our running extraordinary. I couldn't agree more with this philosophy and I got a lot of takeaways from their talk that I can use myself and in coaching Track. I could do an entire blog post about just the ninety minute presentation they gave. I plan to order their book and follow their website, so I'm sure you all will hear more about Run The Edge in the future! If you ever get a chance to see these guys speak, don't miss it!

Pre-Race
I'll be writing about the 10K primarily because that's the distance I ran. The 10K race started at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, a few blocks off Last Chance Gulch in downtown Helena. I know that in order to avoid digestion issues while running, I need about two hours between when I eat and when I run, so I woke up at 5:00 and had a PB and honey on whole wheat sandwich, some water, and coffee for breakfast. I took my time eating and getting ready (but I did have my outfit laid out the night before) before heading out.

Race Day Outfit: Teem Beef jersey, Oiselle Embossed Roga Shorts, Oiselle Chevrona Verazzano Bra, Oiselle Herringbone Arm-warmers (purchased at the expo), Asics shoes, Fits socks, and Athleta headband.

Our hotel was .7 mile from the start line, so I jogged over for a warmup. I was really grateful for my new arm warmers because it was about 50 degrees outside at that time and slightly breezy. My over-exuberance for making sure I have "enough time" before a race got the better of me for this one and I was just about the first person to arrive, at about 6:15. Plenty of time to get in some more warm up and hit the outhouse before the race.

Heather Lieberg
As I was coming back toward the starting area from another of my warm up jogs, I noticed someone in a Oiselle sweatshirt. I didn't need a second glace to see that it was Heather Lieberg, an elite runner who is also sponsored by Oiselle! The Helena newspaper did this really nice write-up on Heather last fall that I highly suggest you read: No Slowing Her Down. The article details Heather's rise to elite-level running. Heather ran the LA Marathon earlier this spring where she placed fifth and qualified for the Olympic Trials. She is the course record-holder in both the Full and Half Marathon distances and this year would be competing in the 10K. I've been following Heather for several months and find her to be incredibly inspirational, so I walked over and introduced myself. She was so friendly and very gracious, even though I felt a bit awkward sort of fan-girling up to her. She also agreed to take a photo with me, which I thought was really nice. Heather, if you somehow ever stumble upon this blog and read this, just know that I think it was really cool that you took a moment out of your pre-race routine to say hi to a fan. It means a lot to me. :)

Me with Heather Lieberg, who runs for Oiselle.

The Race
Soon enough it was time to begin the race. Tim Catalano and Adam Goucher were there again for a few more words of wisdom prior to the gun, and then we were off! I clicked on my watch to get my splits as I crossed the magic-carpet (the race was chip-timed) and away we went.

We started going downhill, but then turned and went right back uphill, right toward the Helena Cathedral:

Helena Cathedral graced the opening vistas of the 5K and 10K races at the Governor's Cup.

The course continued around downtown, and included a lot of uphill and downhill, but nothing too steep or severe at this point. I had heard there was a monster hill around mile four, so I was trying to be a bit strategic with my start. I went out pretty good and my first mile split was 8:20, which I was happy with, but then I made the decision to slow down my pace just a bit so I'd have something for the big hill later. 

The Montana Capital Building. This was actually the first time I've ever seen this building.

I focused a lot on my breathing pattern during this entire race as I've been trying to work on breath-based training in my workouts, too. In miles two and three my pace was a little slower and I used a 3-3 or a 2-3 breathing pattern, trying to save a little energy for later. I missed the mile-markers in there, so I missed marking my splits (an argument for a Garmin or Soleus GPS running watch), but I think I was about a minute slower than my opening mile for both mile two and three--somewhere around 9:15-9:20.

Continuing along in Mile 3 of Governor's Cup 10K. 

Not long after the above-photo, we turned back toward downtown and up the dreaded Broadway Hill. I was a little glad I hadn't gone out too hard because this hill really seemed like it "just wouldn't die," to quote a friend of mine who had run this course in a previous year. He wasn't wrong in his assessment. It really felt like it went on forever.  I thanked myself for having done some hill workouts in my training and told myself I was strong enough to handle it.

Then, somehow, we were turning back toward downtown, running on shaded streets, and doing what seemed like a lot of downhill! Score! I knew we were nearing the end of the race. I was really trying to stride out and let loose a bit on the downhill sections at this point. I had looked at my watch and knew that my goal time, 54:01, which is my 10K PR time, would be difficult to make, but I had to try.

Coming back toward downtown in Governor's Cup 10K.
That orange-tank-top lady was back and forth with me the entire race. 

 Finally, the course turned left and we were heading up Last Chance Gulch toward the finish line. Only problem was... we were going UP Last Chance Gulch. I had prepared for the long hill earlier in the race, but to end on nearly half a mile of uphill was brutal. I looked at my watch and saw my goal time come and go and I still had a little more than 100 meters left in the race. I was disappointed, but wanted to finish strong. I scanned the crowd for Jeff and saw him toward the finish line, which was really helpful and motivating to me. I tried to give it everything I had for the finish and after what felt like the longest .3 miles ever, finally crossed the line. I finished with a time of 54:54.24.

Post Race
After crossing the finish line, they had water cups, orange slices and bananas. Jeff and I found a shady spot in the park-like area surrounding the finish, caught up with a few friends who had also done the race, and watched Full and Half Marathoners finish. We saw another friend from the HiLine finish her Half and congratulated her. We also saw the first place Marathoner finish, which was really cool. He didn't even look or act tired. Pretty impressive. I also saw Heather Lieberg being interviewed by a local news station.

Heather Lieberg, winner of the 10K, is interviewed by local news after completing Governor's Cup.

Speaking of Heather again, she finished with a time of 35:23.74. She won the 10K overall, besting second place (a man) by ten seconds, and the second place female by about three minutes. Pretty much domination. Amazing!  So yeah, if I drop twenty minutes or so off my time, I can be in the same category as her... ;)  Even though I didn't get my goal time of making a PR, I'm still overall happy with my race. I was within a minute on a challenging course.  

5K Race

Soon enough it was time for Jeff to head up to the start line of the 5K. I walked back up there with him and watched the start. Governor Bullock was the motivational guest speaker for the 5K. He had actually run the Half Marathon earlier in the morning and got a pretty good time, and then, after a brief speech, ran the 5K as well with his kids. I think it's fair to say we probably have the fittest Governor in the nation. He also ran Boston Marathon earlier this spring. Pretty cool. 

Governor Bullock on the stage with gray shirt, blue hat, green race bib, after giving a pre-5K race pep talk. 

I cheered Jeff on for his start, then walked back down to the finish line area to cheer him in as he crossed the line. He was there right within the time frame he told me he thought he should be and actually finished with a really great time-- Jeff crushed his previous PR by about a minute and a half! He ended up with 30:06, and though he is excited for his PR, he's also really annoyed at that extra six seconds! Runners woes, people! 

Post race for me, pre race for Jeff, in the finish line area. 

 All in all, it was a really great race experience that was definitely worth driving down for. We had a really great time and left feeling rejuvenated for running, which is exactly what you want from a race. This is why we run. Now we both have something to continue to shoot for! Governor's Cup 2015 was a success and we can't wait to keep racing! Next up: This coming Saturday we'll be running in Dawson's Run in Joplin, MT. I'm really excited to see where my 5K time is right now. Looking forward to Saturday!

Happy National Running Day and an Announcement!

Guess what, guys?!  Today is National Running Day!

I know not everyone who reads my blog is into running, but it's part of who I am, so I'm not going to stop writing about it. Today is National Running Day and I wanted to share Five Reasons Why I Love Running. I'll also tell you about some upcoming races Jeff and I are planning on doing, and share a special announcement. :)

Salomon XR Mission trail running shoes and a smiley barn!

Five Reasons Why I Love Running
I meant to get this typed out to share with The Right Fits running blog, but I totally spaced it until she had her post up today. There are many more than five reasons why I run, but I narrowed it down for you (otherwise this post could get really, really long.) Here's my list of Five Reasons:

1. Time To Think. Running is time to myself to de-stress, think about my day, plan for the future, and it's when I come up with some of my best ideas... one of which I'll be announcing later in this post!
2. Challenge Myself. I love the feeling of accomplishing something difficult. Running gives me that. Whether it's a tough workout or pushing myself in a race, running offers endless ways to prove my strength to myself. I don't care what other people think of me, I'm just doing it to show myself that I can. In so doing, I think I am a stronger person all around.
3. Inspire and Connect with Others. Running allows me to connect with other people on something we have in common. I've met some pretty cool folks through running, and gotten to know others better because of it, too. I also feel like because I run and I talk about running a lot, I can inspire others to possibly find some joy in running, too. 
4. For My Health. Let's be real. I really love food. I also enjoy a good glass of wine and the occasional beer. Running helps allow me to eat and drink what I want. More than that, though, running has so many health benefits that I know I'll be reaping well into my future. I'm keeping my heart and bones healthy, my whole body healthy, by running!
5. Enjoy the Scenery.  Running and racing allows me to see places I'd maybe never see. It's also allowed me to see my own place, right here at home, a little more intimately. I feel like I know every piece of gravel in these old roads! I appreciate this place more each time I run it!

This was my route on tonight's run. :)

Are you a runner? What are some reasons why you run? If you're not a runner but you have some other form or recreation you enjoy, what are some reasons why you like to do what you do? When I asked Jeff why he likes running, his response was, "Uhhhhh...."  Ha! I'm telling myself that his non-articulated response was because really his thought process about running is too complex to put into words. ;)  If you want to check out a whole bunch of reasons why other people run, stop on over at The Right Fits and see the all the lists from others she's posted! There are some pretty great reasons to rekindle or start a love of running. Who knows?! You may just feel like lacing up your shoes and heading on out there for a run yourself!

If you're looking for an upcoming race in Montana to fuel your running fire, there are two coming up quickly that we are planning on doing: Governor's Cup and Dawson's Run.

Governor's Cup is coming up on Saturday, June 13, in Helena, MT. It's only ten days away!  They offer many options for distances: 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon. Governor's Cup is the longest-running marathon in Montana and is also touted as being one of the best for qualifying for Boston. If you're from somewhere other than Montana and looking for a Marathon to travel to, this could be the one! Jeff and I are not marathon runners, so we won't be doing that distance. Jeff is signed up for the 5K and I'm signed up for the 10K. The 10K starts at 7:00 a.m., so I'll be done in plenty of time to cheer Jeff on in his 5K, which starts at 9, and watch some of the full and half marathoners complete their finish. This is a really big racing event with some cool keynote speakers and potentially some big-name elite runners participating. I'm really excited to do this race for the first time this year, and just to take it all in!


Dawson's Run is coming up only one week after Governor's Cup. It's a local race held in Joplin, MT on the weekend of their Car Show and Art in the Park event. It's a small, intimate race where everybody knows your name. Jeff and I have done it a few times and had a blast each year! They have a one mile and a 5K distance. It's just put on by some local community members and they always do a great job. There's no website, but if you're interested, you can look for their Facebook page. This race is becoming a staple of my spring/summer racing series and I'm so pumped to do it again this year!

And now for the big announcement! We've been tossing around the idea for a long time, but now we're really going to do it. Jeff and I are going to host a 5K fun run! More details will come, but right now the tentative date for the race will be Saturday, September 12. It's going to be held on our farm and I think we're officially calling it 5K On The Farm, but I've also been tossing around the title Goldstone Shuffle. Maybe 5K On The Farm: Goldstone Shuffle??  We're pretty much 99% positive of the date, so mark your calendars! We're thinking of a 10:00 a.m. start time, and plan to offer a 1-mile fun run and a 3.1 mile (5K) run/race/walk. Both distances will be out-and-back routes starting and ending at our driveway. After the race, we are thinking we'll feed everyone a grilled hamburger lunch! As details become concrete, I'll share more info. For now, just circle the date in your calendar and get excited!