Forest Park St. Louis Run(s)

I've run the same routes over and over and over again. Street routes in my neighborhood, the trail from East Peoria to Morton, the Rock Island Trail, Grandview Drive, Springdale Cemetery, the Peoria Riverfront and even before the trail 'official opened' in Peoria Heights, I was running that too. Trails are so much better than roads, because you don't have to contend with ass-munch drivers who don't pay attention (I've been nearly run over more times than I can count), garbage cans, yard waste or other things left on the sidewalk blocking my path. However, on trails, being a girl, bathrooms are few and far between, if any at all and it's hard to keep hydrated, especially with longer runs. And, last, running the same routes and trails gets very mundane. Especially if you've trained for more than a few races.

Me at the start of our 8 mile run at Forest Park

So, this weekend, I was beyond excited to head down to the S-T-L and take in a run. They have this place, it's called Forest Park and it's in the heart of downtown St. Louis and it is a runner's haven. It's a running/biking trail, two paths parallel to each other, one for runners and one for bikers and it makes about a 6 mile loop of the entire park. It's fan-freaking-tastic! The only traffic you contend with is other runners and/or bikers if you choose to run on the bike trail, which many do. I kept it to the running trail. It's so peaceful and beautiful with a very good mix of sun and shade, awesome downtown skylines and great greenery. In fact, you pass a fishing lake, the mounted police horse pasture (and it doesn't stink), a golf course, the Science Museum and even the St. Louis Zoo, yes, all of this in one glorious park.

I love the little waterway with the city in the background

It's amazing and that is why you see HUNDREDS of runners, walkers and bikers on the trail. I came across people who were just there to cheer on the runners and even vendors. But, they were vendors that cater to the running community. The local running store was there, offering both water and Gatorade to everyone (and he was there both Saturday and Sunday) and other companies offering electrolyte enhanced H2O.

It was such a joy running in Forest Park, that on Saturday, I did an extra 2 miles in the pouring rain (and even saw a Team RC member on the trail) and even though Sunday was supposed to be a rest day, I couldn't pass up the chance to run there again and went back out for a quick 6 miles.As you can see the pictures below even after 8 miles, 2 of which is driving rain, I was still feeling great and all smiles!

You Might Be a Runner If...

You Might Be A Runner If



1 Starting with a 5:30am run is a great way to start your day.
2 ... you find greater joy in spending your money on running apparel, shoes & gear than on a pair of designer jeans or monogrammed purses.
3 When people ask what happens if it rains during a race, you smartly tell them, "You get wet."
4 your day isn't complete until you've put your run in.
5 your daily run is like therapy, or an anti-depressant.
6 you're looking at this website instead of Facebook.
7 Your 'To Do' list reads: 1) Go Run  2) Everything Else
8 you get upset about injuries because they keep you from running, not because you have actually damaged your body.
9 You know that a course was accurately measured just by looking at your race finishing time
10 you run.....for fun
11 you are proud of and respect all runners of all abilities.
12 you don't like having to take a "rest day"
13 you consider getting a PR almost as great as winning the race.
14 you feel an instant kinship to any other runner you pass by on the street.
15 you are impressed and also happy when a female wins the overall race
16 you are on this website (wait, didn't I already say that?)
17 Whether a 5K runner or a marathon runner, you understand "the runner's high".
18 you have a list of all the races you plan to run for the next 12 months.
19 You think $20 for a banana and some Gaterade is a good deal
20 The high you feel after a race outweighs the anxiety you feel before it.
21 while driving places, you're constantly evaluating the road for it's "running route potential".
22 a nice walk doesn't really feel much like excercise.
23 you ask yourself 'why did I do this?' the last 5 miles of a marathon and 'when can I do it again' five minutes after you finish.
24 you have 4 pair of running shoes, one for mud/trail runs, one for the road when it might rain, one for the road on a clear day, and one for the treadmill.

25 You get more excited about finding a good new running route than finding a good sale at the mall.


I'd like to add....that when you go out of town your more excited for the run in someplace new than the vacation its self.

I could add alot more but I want to leave room for you, what do you want to add to the list?

Trying To Play Catch Up But I'm Still Left Behind

I'm a bad blogger and I'm just going to have to let it go. I've been on the site for almost an hour now reading all the blogs and commenting as much as I can. However I think if I keep it up I'll never get my blog posted, I thought I'd give you a lil update on my so called life.

Running-starting with what this blog is all about! I've been getting back into it but its been filled with bad run after bad run. I was burnt out around July so I slowed down, practically stopping all together and it shows in my slow ass pace. Nearly 10 minute miles and over is not what I'm used to. Plus I have sore muscles every day from all the other crap I'm doing so my legs are feeling like I have ankle weights attached to them every time I run. And last weekend I did 6 miles and it was the most painful hour of running because I had the WORST case of trots I've EVER! MISERABLE I tell ya MISERABLE! But I'm still at it and I've been running 6-8 miles on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. I will start officially training for my first Rock N Roll series race the first week of September. I'm very excited to be doing the Las Vegas 1/2 Marathon on December 4th and running the strip at night, woo hoo! While training for Vegas I'll make a stop in Mankato Minnesota again to revisit my first 1/2 and make it my 3rd 1/2. The race is on October 22nd and I am so excited to be going back because it was such a great race and so well organized and we got the hotel hook up thanks to a booking mistake at hotels.com (read about it here-trust its worth the read).

Body Combat-After nearly a month of struggling I finally did what I don't do, I asked for help. Don't ask me why, IDK, its always been hard for me to ask for help. But I didn't want to quit so I spoke up and WOW all the girls on the BC team at the Riverplex stepped up to the plate. All offering helpful hints and getting me going. It seems each day I feel better and improve. I tested for my fitness manager and got my passing grade and even have completed 2 of my 8 required team teaching classes, I have my 3rd one tomorrow. I am now aiming to finish my video by the end of September, which will still put me ahead of the game. So what makes BC so tough? Well everything is done on an 8 count, which I haven't done before, we don't have that in RPM. Plus the moves are much quicker and have to be done exactly with that 8 count (and Les Mills is PICKY), your choreography needs to be spot on and your coaching needs to also be spot on. And then to make it just a bit more complicated you have to mirror teach, meaning I'm doing everything with my left, you do it with your right, so while I do left I have to tell you right. But I'm getting better in fact the girls told me last night that I've improved a ton from last week and that whatever I am doing that I need to keep doing it cuz its working. Want to know the goofy thing I am doing? While I am running, I listen to my BC music and I count "1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8" over and over and over again so the beat becomes 2nd nature to me. And by the looks of it, its working. I pretty much eat, sleep, and even run Body Combat. I hope it pays off because there are only 5 classes that will be offered at the RP but there are 6 instructors!

This weekend is my birthday I'm turning 34! And all I can think about is I have only one more year left in that 30-34 age group for races, isn't that funny. I don't want to leave that group because its very competitive. Every race I've done I look at the next age group and its not as competitive I can SMOKE those numbers. I want to stay in a competitive group. I know what your thinking, everyone gets a year older, sadly the girls I've been competing with are all already younger than me, so they will still be left in 30-34 and I'll soon move to 34 and up. One more year, I'll make sure to enjoy it. Matty is taking me to St. Louis for the weekend. Were going to see Incubus, I seriously cannot believe the luck that my favorite band in the world is playing on my birthday. This maybe the best birthday and weekend of my life. Great city (including a run in my favorite place Forrest Park) + My favorite band + the best boyfriend a girl could get + on my birthday =  the stuff dreams are made of! I don't think there is anything that could make it even sweeter than it already is other than can I wake up tomorrow and it be Friday?

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!