Dixie Dirty Dozen Part 1

Dirty Dozen (-1) Pre-Race

200 Miles, 2 vans, 24 hours & 12 people.....That's the short of the Dixie 200 Relay running race.

The full version is an awesome event that has made memories to last a life time. Months ago after following Michael on twitter tweet about his time doing the Ragnar Relay Miami to Key West, I told him that looked so fun and there was talk of the Dixie 200 Relay being set up for Atlanta to Birmingham. Right in my backyard! So in February while Michael was picking up his packet for Mercedes Marathon he also became team captain of the Dixie 200,and the  Dirty Dozen was born. At that time, it still just seemed like a great fun adventure and I really didn't put much thought into "what have I signed up for!?"

As the months went on for preparing for the race, there were many name changes in the dozen, some left the group and some were added and it wasn't until the week of that we had our final dozen, ok really 11 but who's counting! I had met a couple of them, briefly, prior to the race but we were about to spend 24+ hours together, we would get to know each other really soon!! 

Van 1

Van 1 (half dozen)
Sam @alum98
Kevin @kdwashburn
Jason 
Danielle 
Dave 
myself @jcrawford720  

Van 2 (half dozen -1)

Michael @bama26point2  
Allison 
Jeff
Tanya @tlsylvan
Niki @harrisniki1

Van 2

Pre Race Instructions

Now that we know everyone...onto the race it's self! It started with most of us jumping into our vans from Birmingham and traveling to the start point in Atlanta at the Silver Comet Trail. We arrived at the Holiday inn close to the start line around 10pm, and we settled in for what would be our last night in a bed until Saturday night. I shared a room with 3 of the other girls, Niki, Allison, & Tanya. I was 1st to sleep, mainly because I was the lead off person to start the race. Somehow I was picked to go 1st! Nothing like pressure to start of our team off right!! Prior to the start we had a little debriefing of the events of the race. Due to only 8 teams in this inaugural race we would have mandatory breaks after van 2 completed each leg. This was done to make sure the groups stayed together (as much as possible) and to help with volunteers at there check points.  Having these breaks made it nice to see everyone at the van exchanges, it really added to the bonding/getting to know everyone on this adventure! 

my Final Leg of Race

As for the running, myself, I had some of the best runs I have ever had!! My 1st leg started with 7 miles with a time of :58 a 8:11 pace!! I was amazed!! My 2nd leg which started about 11 hours later that day, was 4 miles with a time of :33 a 8:01 pace, still amazed!! my 3rd leg, a even shorter leg, but 12 hours later and (maybe) 2hours of sleep was 2.75 miles with a 8:08 pace. And let me tell you that 3rd leg..even though it was short I was shocked at how stiff I was when I started!! Wow the hamstrings were tight, note to self....next race like this make sure to stretch!!

Starting Line

Everyone seemed to have great runs through out the entire 200 miles! We in van 1 were very lucky, we were able to get most of runs in during the morning or early evening! Which ment cooler weather and not so scary!! As for van 2.....somehow they ended up running in the hottest parts of the day and in the middle night down some of the most back woods type areas with dogs....and from what they said ALOT of dogs!! According to Niki in order to be sub-8 for entire run is to have dogs chase you in the dark of the night!!

Instead of going on...I think I will make this part 1 of 3 on the Dixie 200!! This is just the 1st recap of the event, I have yet to cover the exchanges, and of course the finish!!

Finisher Medal! 

Before I end this portion, I want to say this was one of the best things that I have ever been a part of!! I am so glad I didn't scare myself out of doing it!! It was also a bittersweet....it was my last tour of the south before moving back to Michigan.

Have you ever been a part of running relay race?
Would you spend 24 hours with 11 of your closest running friends and run 200 miles?

Visit to the local running store

Day 2 of #RWrunstreak was spent running new roads in the new home town. I went out with the intention of 5 miles, at an easy pace. The pace I actually kept right were I wanted (9:20min/mile) I ended up with 5.5 miles, just because of new roads took a little longer to get back home then I thought. But On this new adventure did find a bunch of side roads that will be good to use when I start upping my miles! I am not a big fan of any repeats on a run, and I have to run as far away from home to make sure I do all my miles. As soon as I see home, my brain switches to "we're done" mode! Which is not good when needing to do a 10+more mile run!!

Playmakers (local Running Store)

After the run today and taking care of the dogs...I traveled out to visit the local running store here in town! Yep, you know you are a runner if your 1st store you visit in a new town is the running store.
So this store was HUGE!!! It had a bit everything! and no I didn't need anything, but who couldn't uses a new pair of socks! I bought a pair of Feetures Socks, something new to try! And of course stocked up a new flavor (to try) of Grape Nuun. Now that I am running with a water bottle trying all the flavors I can! So far I have tried Fruit Punch and Strawberry Lemonade, out of those 2 Strawberry Lemonade is winning.
Those that work in the store were super friendly and helpful! They offer at the store a free running analysis and free injury clinic! I hope to not have to visit the injury clinic but the running analysis I will be checking out! I will try it out, once I hear what my form is like now that was evaluated a couple weeks ago by my running coach. ...oh yeah, running coach..to be a blog post in the future!!

Do you have a favorite Nuun Flavor?

If you have moved as a runner what was the 1st thing you did to get into the running community?

New location & start of a streak

After a 12 hour car ride yesterday, I was ready for a run this morning. Yesterday my husband, 3 dogs, & 1 cat packed up my Jeep with the few essentials and made our trek from Helena, Al to Okemos, MI. We are moving back home, ok not same home or city, but Michigan is home to us.
So today is also the start to the Runners World Summer Run Streak! All you have to do is run at least 1 mile every day until July 4th! and seeing that I have no job at the moment, I should have some time to do this. No job is just a small part of the whole moving process...details to come later. I also hope to do a blog entry everyday as part of this run streak!! There's been a lot of fun stuff to get caught up on.
I also know that there a few of my running friends in Birmingham, AL that will also being doing the #RWrunstreak so knowing that IT WILL keep me accountable in doing this streak. You can follow them on Twitter at @5littleindians & @tlsylvan & @rlyle0951 (& his run streak has been going on much longer then this streak will be long!!

So today was 4miles this morning to explore a bit, and the start of the Runners World Summer Run Streak.

Time away from blogging

It's been a while since I've posted anything, and it's not because nothing been going on! Just the opposite to much going on!! But over the next couple weeks I will have plenty of time to recap all the fun events of the past month! Including a little 200 mile relay race!....Dixie 200
Put 1st just need to finish my 1st part of my move from Alabama back home to Michigan!
Currently in my Jeep Liberty with 3 dogs, 1 cat, 2 people and plenty of dog supplies, running supplies & stuff to hopefully keep me busy for awhile. Until I find a job!
This is a bittersweet move, which once I get to my computer and clearer head will be able to get my thoughts straight will be able to explain!
But until then....9 more hours in the car!

The unplanned rest weekend

For the past month my husband and I have been in a transition. A transition of moving from Alabama back to Michigan. He started his new job the 1st week of April, while I have been in Alabama taking care of the house (trying to get it to sell) working and living with our dogs (kids). So there have been a lot of Facetime and phone calls over the past month. He did come down 2 weeks ago, so that we could spend the weekend at the beach with my Dad and family. But we still were not alone, had family time which was a great weekend. 

So this weekend is here, it was planned for me to come up and we would drive around and search for the area we wanted to live. The last few weeks leading up to this trip I had been searching the Internet for running groups and routes. I had every intention on running this weekend. I had gotten my running bug back and runs had been feeling great! On Friday Mike had gone to work for the morning, so I got up and did an easy 4miles around the 'apt.' (hotel) where we will be staying until we get our new house. I just went up and down the main road, but found a bunch of side roads, Which will be great when I need to get the higher miles in! Training for Detroit Marathon is soon to officially begin!! The run felt great, it wasn't hot, and perfect temps. 

I had found a group that was going to be running at 8am on Saturday and I was all ready to go do that. Then I realized that I can run anytime, but in this time in my (our) life we can not see each other everyday.  So I decided to not wake up to an alarm, and just get up when ever the body wanted to get up. and I would wake up to the hubby! Did/do i feel guilty about not running, a little bit. But seeing that I was able to sleep in I think my body does appreciate this unplanned rest weekend. This is my 1st weekend without a run since October (when in Vegas!) So maybe it was good to have a rest weekend. 

Last Summer on Vacation

Do you have planned or unplanned rest weekends? 

Is there a voice in your head when you rest saying you should be out there? or do you ignore it!