Two Crazy Ladies

Hardly a master runner, Bess! I've been running for a loooong time, but it comes and goes depending on how busy I am with work and school. I've been running in races at my turtle-speed since middle school. I've ran 2 marathons and 2 half-marathons, so I guess that's why Bess called me a "master".

Like most of America, I started thinking about what I wanted to accomplish in 2011 as the new year loomed closer. I knew that I wanted to get back in the routine of running consistently since I'd already conquered working out consistently (plug for Round Kick Gym in Urbandale - Love it! Go there!).

Around the same time that Bess started plotting her race schedule, I started planning mine for the year. I sent her an email about the Red Flannel Run next weekend and she thought I was crazy at first. And then a few weeks later she called me about the Race-a-Month plan and the Winter Games 5k - the week of the race! I had a busy weekend planned, hesitated at first, but then agreed to her crazy scheme.

And so here we are. We decided to blog about our experience and our progress since our first race was actually pretty fun.

January's Race - Iowa Winter Games 5k in Dubuque, IA

Bess picked me up at 5:45am and we trekked 3 hours across Iowa to run in 20-degree weather. Hmmm...crazy much? Apparently we were lucky. The race volunteers said that it was much warmer (if you call 29 degrees warm) for this race compared to last year. We slipped around on the ice before a salt truck came through, waiting for the race to start. I was worried about being last place because the last time I ran was a half with Erica in November. Thankfully there were some walkers. It took the first two miles for my toes to regain feeling, and then the race was done.

Here's what I learned that day: I like longer runs better, but I supposed a 5k is better in freezing weather! I can run a 10-minute mile 5k without any training, and only needed my inhaler before and after because I had a neck gaiter. Bess has over 20,000 songs on her iPod! Anamosa has the largest maximum security prison in Iowa. There's also is also a motorcycle museum there. Dubuque is actually quite pretty. The Field of Dreams was listed for sale in May for $5.4 million, but is only worth $1 million. We couldn't find anything that says there has been a sale or a change in listing price. If you change in the bathroom at a HyVee gas station with a bag full of clothes, etc. the cashiers don't think to highly of that. Banana bread french toast is AMAZING. Bess does not find sausage in her food amazing at all. According to Bess, you have to drive through West Virginia to get to Galena, IL from Dubuque. If you don't pay careful attention to signs, you just might end up missing your exit and driving back to Des Moines via Davenport...slightly out of the way.

Stay tuned for February's race!