Vacation Run-Lake Delton-Wisconsin Dells

One of my favorite things to do on vacation is go for a run, its a great way to still stay active and to explore your surroundings. I've also noticed that when I run on vacation that I tend to be a little bit more wiser with my food choices (although I do make plenty of bad choices as well) and I enjoy the fact that I can be leisure with the run. I always recommend to pack your running shoes and gear when ever you venture out of town, trust me, you'll thank me later. Another bonus to running on vacation is feel I can ignore my pace and just run.

I did a google search for "running routes in Wisconsin Dells" and found quite a few routes that were posted on dailymile.com so we decided to follow one that went around Lake Delton, the route posted it was just over 6 miles so that was the perfect distance and it seemed to go right by our hotel. Turns out it was over 7 miles because our location on the main drag was further North from where the dailymiler poster had stayed. We ran this route on Tuesday and today and today I brought along my phone and snapped a few photo's at each mile marker. The whole route was rolling hills so it was a challenging run but in a good way, I liked that between each hill there was ample time to recover from the climb and there was always a downhill or vice versa, depends how you look it, what goes up must come down after all.

Start-Mykonos Village, Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park

Mile 1-Still on the main drag-Wisconsin Dells Parkway

Mile 2-Still on Wisconsin Dells Parkway but going in a different direction (see garmin map)

Mile 3 (actually about 3.5)-and finally on a different more secluded road-Canyon Rd and along the lake



Around Mile 5ish-still giving the thumbs up!



Mile 6-on County Road A and the edge of the Lake.

6.5-It was very humid today so we stopped for a water at the Bait & Tackle

Ohhhh water tasted ohhh soooo gooood!

Mile 7-On Lake Ave and right by Noah's Ark and only a 1/2 mile to go!

The End-Sweaty Messes!

Body Combat



Riverplex Trainees and our Trainer

 Pass Delayed. What does that mean? Well, I didn't fail...but I also didn't pass. I have 30 days to prove that I can achieve all the elements of Body Combat. I've got some, actually I think I have most of them, my problem is I just can't put them together and its made me feel defeated.

I've spent the last three days in Body Combat training, and I'm thinking maybe I should have just stuck with what I know. I'm sitting here in my Steamboat shirt trying to build my confidence back up from the ground.  I need to be reminded that I am good at something. Funny thought, although I suck at BC, I cannot wait to punish myself (and my class) tomorrow in RPM, I need a great RPM class or a great run to get my mind out of this hole. I know I can hit all the elements of being a good instructor, I do it all the time in RPM. I'm a bad ass RPM instructor! But in BC I just can't get the timing down and it makes me feel defeated. I want to keep at it, just so I can prove to myself and everyone that I can be one bad ass bitch when it comes to BC.


Instead I'm simply torn. One part of my mind has a plan of action on how I am going to overcome this obstacle. The other part just wants to stick with what I know.  And ya know what is really killing me? I know if I want this-to be a BC instructor-that there is a very good chance that I will not be able to run the Las Vegas FULL marathon. Half yeah I can do that but for the full...I don't know. I simply don't know if I can training for a full marathon and try to do this. I don't think I can do both and man I reallllly wanna run that 26.2, I want that so badly. But I also want to teach Body Combat even if now its just to prove that I can.

Right now, I simply don't know. I wish it was Tuesday, I need a good loooong run to clear my mind. Fuck it, I may even just get up with the sun tomorrow, just so I can clear my head and get my power back. Then tear it apart in RPM and show myself that I do indeed posses all the key elements of a great instructor.

I said I would lose weight, so I lost 30lbs. I said I would be an RPM instructor, and I am, in fact I am told all the time how great I am at. I said I would be a DJ and I rock every day on a freaking radio station, I am on the radio people! I said I would run a 1/2 marathon, I've ran 2 and am about to start training for a third. I've been winning medals in local races, I was asked to be on the local run team. People look to me for running advice now. I do everything, everything, I set out to, always have. I've tasted victory. I'm tasting defeat. Which one will I eat?

My bibs, signs, awards and medals, see I really don't always suck!

The Sole Sisters Have Taken Off Running

There’s a new ladies group in Central Illinois that is promoting the fun of fitness and the bonds of sisterhood, they are the Sole Sisters. They are endorsed by the Peoria Area Track and Field Club and Running Central. According to the Sole Sisters facebook page they are “a women specific running group catering to beginning runners. Participants with more experience will find groups to meet their needs as well. This is a running program but it is also "girlfriend" time where we are each others biggest cheerleaders.” They meet every Wednesday for a shorter run (3-4 Miles) and then on Sunday for a longer run. Wednesday they meet at the start of the Rock Island Trail off Pioneer Parkway and on Sunday mornings at the Riverplex.


And cheerleaders they are! The group started just a few short weeks ago but due to my work schedule I am not able to run with them but due to this weeks change in shifts I was able to “crash” the Sole Sisters run last night. The very second I arrived I was welcomed by the group and conversations were immediately started up. Not only that but they also asked me to lead their group with the 10 minute mile pace! Of course I said YES and it made my night as I was honored to be able to lead a group and help people with their running questions. I ran with a group of about 8 ladies and heard stores of how they began running, ½ marathons they have done and what they look to do in the future. The comrade amongst these women makes you feel as if you’ve been best friends for years instead of just meeting minutes ago and to top it off it seemed like our 4 mile run was merely minutes instead of the 40 that we ran. Time sure does fly when you’re having fun with your Sole Sisters!

If you’re interested on joining they have runners and walkers, all ages, sizes and fitness levels. It is $30 to join but this fee allows you to also take part in any event done by the Peoria Area Track and Field Club and covers costs like the water and Gatorade that is provided to you on the runs/walks (they even have this places at various places on the run/walk route) and also covers insurance costs. However I am told that if you’d like to come out and try it first before joining you are welcome to try it for free. Join the fun and get inspired with your sisters, your Sole Sisters.

Firecracker 5000 (5K) Recap

Finally it's "Race Day" in Peoria Illinois, the Peoria Jaycee's Firecracker 5000, a simple 3.1 miles in downtown. I'm was aiming for a PR of under 24 minutes, my best time is 24:15! In preparation I've been running 800's, I really have backed down the running since Steamboat. I finally laid down some distance on Saturday morning and I struggled with the heat and humidity and lack of hydration but I finished 5.5 miles and then rested up yesterday.

The race begins right at 7:30 a.m and I got my place right at the start line with a few fellow Team RC runners, gun goes off and so do I. This is always where I screw up, right out of the gate I take off and I take off too fast. I always put a slower song as the number 1 play list pick to get me to slow down but I was just so jazzed and I shot out the gate. I tried to slow down but its hard once you've began. I am able to back it down a bit and hold my goal pace of about 7:45 for the first 2 miles but dammit going for the 3rd mile my shotgun start catches up to me, as my legs are burning and I'm winded. I know the course so I'm telling myself over and over "your going to PR" and I keep pushing but once I get back downtown and past the Gateway building I know I'm not going to PR and I feel like puking. So what do I do? Stupidly I tell myself its OK to slow down a bit and I take my pace to about an 8 and then chuck it home for the last .10. I'm mad because I'm only 55 seconds off a PR but still happy for a good race. Then finally results are posted and I'm back to being pissed.

Ignore how they screwed up my last name but look at the top three finisher times from first to 3rd there is only like an 8 second time difference and although I'm extremely pleased with my 2nd place finish (woo hooo) I'm only 3 seconds behind 1st. But those are impresses times look down that list all 8 minute miles paces for the top 13!

I absolutely love how running is in a boom and catching on. Steamboat saw an addition of 1500 runners this year and this race has a record turn out as well with what I heard was about 1000 registrants. Their previous max was 700, last year was like 680 or 90! I'm so happy more and more are getting into this sport but its making me push myself further because now that I know I can be competitive, I want to be a top contender at every race. Guess that's the winning attitude in me.

I love local races because you see so many friends, so here's a few shout outs to my fellow runner friends.

Jess-Check her out here at Run With Jess.

Susie-Losing Susie

My Buddy and Indy 1/2 Cohort Bob.

And of course the person that means the most and my #1 fan, Matty!

2nd Place-I run because I can!