Gecko 5K: 5/9/09

Saturday, May 09, 2009
Gecko 5K [Done! 27:58 pace-8:42!]


What a GORGEOUS day! :) It all started at 4:50 am... beautiful moon, good coffee, regular breakfast of peanut butter and 1/2 banana on 1/2 whole wheat bagel. Off to get Jeanine at 5:55, 5 or so minutes late of course! But managed to remember to stop at the stop sign (finally!) and noted how pretty the moon was!

We get to BCC in plenty of time to get our bags and meet up with fellow sparkers SueAnn, Holly and Courtney (and a few others I didn't even know about!!)...apparently there is a whole group of sparkers here! GO SPARKPEOPLE!

The race was HOT. Its 94 degrees here today. No idea what it was at 7:30-8am, but it was definitely WARM. No shade at this race either - through a parking lot and around an interestion. Traffic was handled though, the pavillion was a great place to have all of the goodies, etc. There was one water stop at 1.5 mi and another right around 2.9 (same water stop - the race was 2 loops). Note to self: stay away from races that loop ... the second trip around was NOT FUN. I walked 3 times. GRR. But I still met my goal (under 28!) so I'm happy with that! We also got cute lil leis and even got a picture taken with a um... ???

Afterwards we headed to Mimis cafe for some brunch and it was so wonderful! So glad to have shared this 'pre'Mothers Day with these great women!!

Race Results:
8 318 584 Chandra Claycomb 34 Palm Bay FL 27:58.2 9:01
9 346 206 Jeanine Nolan 34 Palm Bay FL 28:25.1 9:09

Flamingo 5K: 4/25/09

Saturday, April 25, 2009
Flamingo 5K at the Melbourne Art Festival 2009 [Done! 28:48 pace-9:18!]

So here's the story. This was my first 'short race' in a long time! I know that I dont even come close to my PR from last year anymore, and I did NOT want to go to this thing. I actually haven't been looking forward to it. But J and I were going to go, she was excited, so last night I drove across town to make sure I could sign up (they capped at 1800).

My running buddy Jeanine (J) wanted to be there at 6-6:15 because of parking, so I needed to leave my house by 5:30; I was up at 4:45. Geek in me, checks email before coffee, to find that J's daughter is sick and she can't go!!!! My thoughts 1) poor baby feels bad again! 2) poor J, I know she was looking forward, 3) poor ME! I didn't even want to do this and JUST paid the $31 last night! ugh! I sat and contemplated whether I would go back to bed and 'donate' the $$. I didn't want Matt to kill me so I managed to get myself there.

I parked in the parking lot by the bridge. The weather was around 65-70 degrees at that time and a pretty good breeze was blowing in from the east...and There was a 'PARTY' going on!! -- Oh my gosh, there was a spread like I dont think I have ever seen before for a 5K! I start to get excited now (food always does that :) There was live music going and it was already crowded at 6:45 (race started at 8:00). I walked up to get my chip timer and they only have chips numbered to 1500!!! ... my number is 1515... I am beginning to wonder if it just wasn't meant to be when they finally found the last box of chips.

While they were off hunting the chips, I see my neighbor guy that sometimes I see running in the neighborhood! He told me its his first race ever and, since we have a similar pace, we hung out, warmed up, lined up and ran the first half of it together. This was the first time I have ever pre-ran at a 5K. I know lots of people do it to shake the cobwebs off, get that pace going before they start, but I just never have. Today though, I had to go put my stuff in the car, which was probably only a third of a mile away, so little over half-mile we warmed up. The lineup was LONG, and its the first 5K I've been to where you lined up by pace, which I thought was really cool.

The beginning of the race was a bit slow - soooo many people and a single lane of road, it was difficult to maneuver around. I had begun to wonder if I should just run with the flow. We found some breaks on the causeway though, as people started to fall behind and we stayed together until the halfway mark. We grabbed water and headed back, but when we hit the second hill and I gained a little distance on my neighbor and I was on my own.... (ROCK ON J! All that causeway training IS worth it!!)

During the second half of the race, it seemed like I gained a good bit of speed, but my garmin says its only 10 seconds, so I guess that 2nd causeway cross must have slowed down everyone else...whoohoo! I passed so many people! LOL. Finished in 28:48. (28/103 in my age group). Not a PR, but I'll take it - did I mention there were 1800 people in ONE lane?! I dont think I will ever forget the view of the massive crowd plowing up that bridge in front of me, it was something to behold!

We were suppose to go to a meditation workshop this afternoon - have been looking forward to it for 2 months. (Matt wanting to find his Zen). BUT Matt needs to be picked up from school right smack in the middle of it so we aren't going. I did find an alternate to go next weekend though.

Long story short - nothing turned out like I planned today, but it's all good - it turned out to be A OK! :)

28 597 1515 Chandra Claycomb 34 Palm Bay Fl 28:48 9:18

Melbourne & Beaches Music Half Marathon 2/8/09

Sunday, Feb 8, 2009
Melbourne & Beaches Music Half Marathon *3rd Half* [Done! 2:14:28 pace-10:16]

I ran the Melbourne half today with my dear friend Jeanine and we ROCKED. My inlaws were there before the race to wish us well. That was so TOTALLY sweet of them to come out!!! We didn't make any PRs, but we had a great time and we finished in the top half of our age group! I cannot say enough about how well coordinated this race was...It was fabulous! AND this was the inaugural year, we expected some learning curves....if there were any, you wouldn't know it by running it. Everything was perfect and beautiful. the waterstops were everywhere, Gatorade and water, there were a couple GU stops but I brought my own, the potties were everywhere, one at a time - every mile or two, there was never more than 1 person waiting and most of the time it was FREE (imagine that?) The police presence was awesome! there was an old rude man that pulled onto the race course and drove behind J & I for about a quarter mile. We still arent sure if he got taken to jail because he was yelling at the police officer and refused to get off the race course.

There were music groups set up about every 2 miles and at the start and finish lines. and the day was BEAUTIFUL - almost no wind, 52 degrees at start time (6:45am) and sunny. Not to mention the scenary was gorgeous! I stopped to potty and told jeanine to go on, it took me 2 MILES to catch her! But - I know you guys are all sitting around waiting to hear - NO EMERGENCIES FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!!!! YAY!!! ;)

We walked for 0.10 mi at the base of the 2nd causeway, but that's it, we ran up it and all the way to the end. I think our gun time was 2:14:?? so our chip time is about 2 minutes less than that, I forgot to stop my watch, J might know. two other people I know from the race said they thought it was difficult and neither of them made their goal either. I think maybe next time, we might try to conquer an "official" training plan because we will both probaby be out of commission for a little while, but it was SOOO worth it. If this becomes an annual event, you shouldn't miss next year's race, it was the best race I've seen so far!!!!

21 433 801 Chandra Claycomb 34 Palm Bay FL 2:14:28 10:16

Jacksonville Bank Half Marathon *my 2nd half!* 12/12/08

Sunday, December 18, 2008
Jacksonville Bank Half Marathon *my 2nd half!*

Matt and I spent Friday and Saturday night in Jacksonville for this. He very sweetly surprised me and we took off for two nights instead of just one. Super-stoked about this, since my Sparkie friend Magda (Smurfette0725) and her husband Rob (Geepas) were already there and we were planning to meet up! She is the most darling person! Even sweeter and more beautiful in person! So glad I had this time with her, it made the race very special.


Matt actually mapped out a couple good areas to on the race course to cheer me on! I was so happy about this  there he was – I saw him 4 times!!! Panic struck around mile 5 when I realized my expected monthly visitor had arrived…but the port-a-jon DIDN’T until mile 7! Glad to report that I was able to finish the race. Wasn’t the best time, but far from as bad as it could have been under the circumstances.

The weather was NICE, a little chilly start – since Magda had us getting on the first bus while it was still dark-thirty! LOL! (actually I think it was 5:15am). We chatted for the bus ride up, we chatted and took a couple of pictures and a couple of potty breaks while we waited. We got separated at the last potty break.


I finished the race and Matt and I immediately went out to cheer her on, but she never came. She called later and explained that she was ambulanced to the hospital for dehydration. I didn’t even get to tell her goodbye  We actually caught up with each other on the highway and waved our goodbyes from there….its all good 


1690 336 57 Chandra Claycomb, 34, Palm Bay, FL 1:01:02 2:14:48 2:16:16 10:24

Jubilee CityFest 8K: 5/24/08

Saturday, May 24, 2008
Jubilee CityFest 8K [Done! 47:00 / ave pace 9:12]

Stephanie Horne and I ran together at the Jubilee CityFest! The morning started with me picking her up at the crack of dawn and off we went!
This is the last race I will run in Montgomery. Bittersweet. We took several pictures of the people who I am used to seeing at the races. It was HOT! Summer again in Alabama! We did the best that we could under the circumstances. I wish I would have recorded the temp and humidity! Whoa! My heartrate was the highest in this race as its ever been (185).

After the race there was a huge party, loud music, big crowd! We stayed for just a minute, but we both had other things to do for the day so I took her home and we tentatively planned to get together for another race in the future…someday! 

161 Claycomb, Chandra Montgomery, AL F 33 177 47:11.00
** They lost Steph’s time when she came thru the shoot. 

Adios friends! Thanks for all the support!

YMCA 10k Race: 4/12/08

Saturday, April 12, 2008
YMCA 5k/10k Race [Done! 53:30 / ave pace 8:31]

Current mood: triumphant - decided to leave this from (original) myspace blog :)

I've never ran a 10K before but I was shooting for 55 minutes and I finished in 53:30! So I was very excited!!!

The race went through a very prestigious part of downtown - the historic district of Cloverdale, where the houses are colonial style for the most part, the roads are cobblestone, the huge methodist church that sits in the middle of the park is built with rock, and plenty of trees everywhere - big and green - even at this time of the year. It was beautiful...I've never been there before.

It was raining, heavily, 20 minutes before the race was to start -- thunder and some lightening, the works. I was afraid they were going to call it, but they didn't!!! I think we might have started a couple of minutes late though just to let it all pass.

The course was partial loop / partial out and back for 5K, the 10K sent you on the same route over again..which I thought would SUCK...and it did for some because I know several people who were suppose to go for 10K quit half-way because it was an option.

But...I had a strong day - Very pleased with my time & Very pleased with my run. I thought on the 5K that I should slow down, that I would burn out. But this guy was pacing right with me and I didn't want to give it up!!! On the second trip around, I lost him! I kept turning around to see if he was keeping up, and he was falling further behind. I seems like a long ways when you are running, but he was just a minute behind me. I checked the Garmin and saw that I had actually picked up speed as the race went on! I guess it takes me a while to get warmed up...

I stuck around for the awards because there weren't many people there and I thought for sure I would get an award...then I realized since there weren't that many, the age groups were divided like this:

less than 18
19-39
40-55
over 55

I fall in the 20 year range there.... THAT SUCKS. 90% of the racing females fell in that category!

But I am happy with my progress! I have something to set the bar for next time. I'll post the time sheet and some pics as soon as they go up on the website ;)

SeaSide Half Marathon *My First* 03/02/08

Seaside Half Marathon *my 1st half!*
Sunday, March 02, 2008 [Done! 127 mins / ave pace 9:37]

WOW! I did it! I ran a half marathon!! Me! The girl that couldn’t run through a commercial at lunch! I thought back to when I told the first people I was going to do it and I could see this tremedous mountain ahead of me. The climb to the top was sooo gradual that I barely remember actually making it!

The run itself was fun. First of all, let me say that if any of you want to do a half, this is the place to be apparently. I heard soooo many people talking after the race talk about how much better this one was than ___ (fill in the blank). I specifically heard JACKSONVILLE, Disney and Memphis. (Though Disney got rave reviews, just that it was PACKED).

Matt needed coffee pre-race so he hung out at starbucks while I pottied, lined up, etc. Then he came out where I was waiting to start just to give me good luck kisses! He is such an angel. He departed to get down the road ahead of me to take pics. He was also a little ways out waiting to take pics on the way in. Such a great supporter :) I am such a lucky girl! Here's me blowing kisses at him when I pass on the way out!


I started talking to a girl in the bathroom before the race and we lined up at the same pace. we ran and talked for the first half of the race and I lost her at a water stop around mile 8 - the first time I thought about my ipod. She caught up with me a little ways down the road, around mile 10 I think, and we chatted again until around mile 12 where she stopped to walk. There were people (mostly kids) holding signs of encouragement by the road. I didn't pay a lot of attention to waterstops, as I had my fuel belt, but I think they were good. They had gel on the way back, maybe around mile 8? The run back was much longer than the run out it seemed. I was so excited to see my husband on the side of the road! I knew I was almost homefree!!!

My garmin said 13.28 when I crossed the finish line and 2:07:53..but my official race time was 2:10:??, so...I’m not sure what’s up with that! LOL. Either way, its around a 10 minute mile and that is A-OK with me on my first race! I ran the whole thing and that is all I was hoping for!

There were about 2000 people at Seaside, and it was organized so well. There wasn’t music everywhere on the course, but there were people intermittently all the way down and back with their music blaring for you. Lots of cheering going on and the course was AWESOME. The course was flat, mostly, with little hills which made it fun and broke up the monotony without being incredibly hard. I didn’t get all weepy or anything, no lifelong dream - just something I decided to do a couple months ago ;o). The after party was lots of fun with a DJ playing awesome music, FREE massages, free beer and BBQ...and I got a free Vera Bradley tote for finishing along with my metal.

I took a second to reflect on all of the support I've gotten from my friends at sparkpeople.com! I dont know that I would have made it through 13 miles of training without them holding my hand (so to speak!)

We only stayed at the after party a few minutes before heading back to our place for some breakfast...
The bed and breakfast that we stayed in was just so quaint! We had our own little room w/ bathroom, they had a little library and common area (which we didn’t have time to check out), and an excellent cafe that served the best oatmeal and frittata ever! And excellent coffee of course...It was such a wonderful weekend.

** Thanks for all of your support Jessica and John! I thought about you bunches during my run :)

Place Name Bib No Age Age Group Rnk Time Rnk Time Time
888 Chandra Claycomb 1345 33 F 30-34 935 1:04:22.05 888 1:05:38.54 2:10:00.59

Polar Bear 5K - 1st Place in my age group! 2/9/08

Saturday, February 09, 2008
Polar Bear 5K [Done! 25:25 ave pace 8:10]

Today was cold and drizzly. The whole family went. This was the same course as last time, and I finished with the exact same time (25:25)! There is always that one person to get me though, this time it was one of the group of “funny people” who were only running to raise money for the church…That being said, he told me during the run that he was still half drunk from the night before and the next day he would be running a relay at the Mercedes Marathon in Birmingham. Anyway, he did the whole come on lets take it home! Lets blow it out! Lets give all for the last .25... Whew! We did it! YAY! Thanks dude, I dont know your name...

Bean ran the 1 mile fun run that followed! She did so good and I was so proud of here...because you know she she doesn't really like to do anything strenuous! LOL!

Matt got hungry and wouldn’t eat any of the food there – goodness me – this was a church affair, there was brownies, cookies, cakes, sandwishes, pizza, muffins, chikfila biscuits… you name it! However, being picky and ill as he was, he totally missed it when I BROUGHT HOME FIRST PLACE IN MY AGE DIVISION TODAY!!! I got a medal and a little Polar Bear! YES! There is no official race stats to follow as they never posted them.

Cruising the Creek 5K - 2nd place in age group! - 1/12/08

Saturday, January 12, 2008
Cruising the Creek 5K [Done! 25:25 ave pace 8:10]

I'm finally seeing a difference in my running! I ran 5K this morning and beat my last 5K time by over 4 minutes!!! My time was 25:25 (chip time), pace was around 8:32, speed around 7mph - all this AND it was hilly - there was a freaking gigantic hill 200ft in about .2 miles or less! (ok, you mountain people might not think that's so bad, but I'm in Alabama here, that is HUGE to me!). The whole family went to support me again.

The race was in downtown Prattville by the community center. I didn’t see the regulars there, but I did meet a girl from Alfa who has Lupus.
Interesting story about my motivation here… there was a lady that was running BAREFOOT! I laughed to myself, thinking there was NO WAY she could run like that for 3 miles… I was struggling to keep up with her, but I did! I kept thinking her feet would have to start killing her any minute now…then I was thinking there is no way I am going to let a barefoot woman beat me! But she did! LOL. Thank goodness she was in a higher age bracket! They had some excellent door prizes and food at this one! WhooHoo! I have to go back to get my long sleeved Tshirt because they ran out.
Here are the results, there were 254 entrants: *I won 2nd place in my age group!


Claycomb, Chandra Montgomery, AL F 33 25:30.63

12Ks of Christmas Run *First over 5K Race, and scared to death!* 12/8/07

Saturday, December 8, 2007
12Ks of Christmas Run [Done! about 7.5 miles, pace around 9:23, I think]

I was so nervous for this race because I was NOT prepared. I have only ran 5 miles, ONCE at this point. 12K is nearly 7 ½ miles!!! Since I would be running for well over an hour, the fam decided to sit this one out. However, since its Christmas on the Coosa, my wonderful Sister and her whole family was there! Before the race Carson said – Aunt Chandra – You HAVE to RUN the whole way. You can’t walk but you can run slower if you have to. Jessica and John were there, I hung out with them for the most part. I also saw Dwayne and Drew … Jenny Hamilton was here too!

Once the race started, we headed up Company street, up a little hill and doubled back. I started feeling tired around mile 1.5, by the time I got to mile 3 I was seriously starting to wonder if I was insaine! The 5Kers were turning off to head to the finish line and I was... way less than halfway finished! How in the world was I going to make it 12K, I wished so bad that I had signed up for the 5! I ran on… over the bridge, around the park, down through the streets of downtown, past the schools, past Josh’s house – I wished soooo bad that he and boy would be out in the yard! (they weren’t of course, it was 8am!) Right after I passed Josh's house I reached mile 6…and I didn’t think I was going to make it – I knew how much further it was to get back to the starting line! It was here especially, when I couldn’t run any longer, I thought of what Carson said, I slowed down until I caught my breath and could pick back up – and I MADE IT!!! THANK YOU CARSON! I will use this little trick on all of my races in the future. **Check it out – less than 70 minutes for a 12K!!!

33
1:09:56
F
Chandra Claycomb

Senator Stampede 5K *My 3rd, Boy's 1st* 9/29/07

Saturday, September 29, 2007
AUM Senator Stampede 5K

Ah, probably my MOST favorite race! Boy has been practicing so hard and he got out there with me and gave it his all! What a trouper! I couldn’t have been prouder of him! The whole family was there and Matt and Hannah cheered us on as Boy and I ventured out through the AUM campus. The course was dirt road, to pavement; out and back. Once we hit the dirt on the way back I told Boy he could unleash it and he did!!! But then he fizzled out and I had to talk him the last 10th of a mile in. I didn’t think he was going to make it – but he did!

Boyce Estes 11 M 32:59:00
Chandra Claycomb 33 F 33:00:00

He should have won 2nd in his age group, but they only did 1st place “under 18” which I thought was completely bogus. And I told the coach as much. Boy ended up getting the second place award in the over 18 category (they didn’t have a second place for that age class) ;)

As a side note, this is the race where I met Drew and Dwayne - Such great runners!

Riverfest 5K *My 2nd* 8/07/07

Saturday, August 04, 2007
2007 Riverfest 5K (on the Coosa in Wetumpka, AL)

I only thought the last 5K was hot. Good Lord, people were dropping like flies out there! I even took a walk break down by the park (about halfway), but there were such great supportive runners coming past me, encouraging me that I dug deep and found a way to complete my run. Good thing too, this proves that it doesn't matter how fast you are - sometimes its just about finishing - I was 3rd in my age group!!!! Who would've thought?

There was one lady running with frozen water bottles in her hands. Such a great idea on days like today. Jessica and John was at this race too. My mom was here to support me today, cheering me on like crazy when she saw me coming! AWE!!! Thanks Mom – Love you!

**3rd in my age group!
Bib#44
30.13
Claycomb, Chandra
33

Red Cross Red Hot Run My Very First 5K 7/28/07

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Red Cross Red Hot Run My Very First 5K --- with my sister! She's the best! [Done! (pace around 9:42)]

This race was held at the Arrowhead Golf Club in Montgomery, AL. I was so excited to be running this race with the girl who got me running outside to begin with J Yay for Lacey’s sporatic endeavors!!! This race also had a 1 mile fun run which both of my children participated in. It was HOT as … well, it was very hot. John and Jessica Drosyk was there. It was fun!!!

The 5K results (out of 159) were as follows:
Claycomb, Chandra
33
Montgomery
30:08:00

** More to come, I have to get all my blogs in here :)