one last post …

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This year’s Fifth Third River Bank Run 25k was great! All the preparations, hill training, and the smaller races we did along the way this year really paid off. I knew exactly what to bring to the race, what to wear, what to eat, and had a goal in mind. I was excited to run and represent Paws with a Cause, my charity partner! We had perfect running conditions – cool, no precipitation. I felt really great that morning so I made a last-second decision at the start line to push my pace about :30/mile faster than I had been planning on. I knew it would hurt a lot and it’d be tough, but I really wanted to push myself and give a full effort. I loved running the hills (who says that!?) not because it felt great, but because I was able to experience the benefits from all those tough hill workouts our coach had us do. I passed more people on the hills than I think I did the whole rest of the race combined! The last mile was brutal as I was in a lot of pain but I knew my coaches would be at the finish line cheering me on so I held my pace and pushed on, knowing I wanted to make them proud. I finished the race almost 7 minutes under my goal time!

While the race was such an amazing experience, it was bittersweet as it was my last hoorah as a Road Warrior. Being a Road Warrior has been an awesome journey. I have taken away so much from this opportunity. From the technical training tips that I learned from the coaches and events we attended to the lasting friendships I’ve made with other road warriors and members in the running community, I will never be the same runner again. I have grown not only in speed and strength, but as a person. Thank you to everyone who supported me along the way. People say that running is an individual sport but they have no idea how many people support, encourage and inspire each runner out there.

Whether you ran in one of the events Saturday, volunteered in some way, gave toward a charity partner or cheered someone on – thanks for helping make this event so great. You now officially have 364 days to get training for next year’s race. Enjoy some days off from training as your rest your legs, then get out there and keep running!

“May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back.”
-Irish Proverb

 

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THANK YOU!!

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So this is my final blog as a 2013 Fifth Third River Bank Run Road Warrior.  This has been an amazing experience!!  The other Road Warriors are my new friends for life.  We have seen a lot of ups and downs over the last 6 months but yesterday, we all accomplished our goal of finishing the Fifth Third River Bank Run.  I am going to miss seeing you guys once, twice or even three times a week.Thank you to Coach Mike and Coach Amy for all of the time and effort that you committed to us, from the Tuesday and Thursday speed training at the YMCA, to our Sunday cross training sessions, to our Saturday morning long runs.  I truly appreciate the time that you put in, because it is a major commitment on your part too.  To Brooke and Kristen, thanks for all that you did for us too.  You really do know how to put on a world class event and the experience that I had as a Road Warrior would not have been possible without you.  Thanks for all of the “incentives” and positive support you gave us.

The 2013 Fifth Third River Bank Run Road Warriors, with Coach Mike and Coach Amy, right before the race.

As for the race itself, the training that I have done with the Road Warriors really paid off.  I ran my best time and felt better than I have ever felt running in this race.  I actually started out a little faster than I wanted to and kept on waiting for my annual crash near the zoo feeling.  It never happened!!  I felt strong through the zoo, didn’t take any walk breaks, and actually ran hard through the finish line!!  I have been waiting 5 years to run a River Bank Run like I did yesterday and I finally did it!!

I guess my only goal for next year is to get into the two hour club!!

I hope that you have enjoyed my blogs over the last 6 months.  I am a science teacher and not a writer so I know that some of these blogs probably weren’t the most exciting pieces of writing.  If you took one tip or piece of advice from my blogs and used it to your advantage, I view my blogging experience as a success.  Take care everyone! I hope to see you out on the road running some day!!

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The Journey Never Ends….

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2013 Fifth Third River Bank Run Road Warriors

 

On November 6, 2012 my life changed forever, I became a 2013 Fifth Third River Bank Run Road Warrior! 

6 months of training and preparation has gone by in the blink of an eye, I am so proud to have been part of this amazing group of 10 Road Warriors, 2 Coaches and numerous Event Coordinators.  They are and will always be my friends for life.

Throughout these past months, my new friends have come to know my quirks quite well…from Commando to Toe Nail Fungus and even a Secret Hero.  I hope that I have left my mark on them as much as they have touched my heart and soul.  Remember to run like the wind and if you can’t….then Run Pretty!

Love,

Joann

PS…Special shout out to my number one fan, my husband Patrick, I could not have done this without your love and support…Chicago misses me…

 

 

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An Amazing Ride

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Tomorrow my role as a Fifth Third River Bank Run Road Warrior comes to an end.  What a fantastic experience this has been.  I’ve met a lot of great people, and had a lot of great opportunities.  I’ve been given this space to share what I’ve learned over the last decade plus in changing my life for the better, and I hope that I have inspired people to take charge of their own life and not settle for being less than what you deserve.  I am also grateful for being able to share what I’ve learned over the years as a runner. Hopefully I’ve helped new runners achieve the love of running that I have.

Thank you to the Fifth Third River Bank Run for giving me this opportunity.  Thanks to Coach Mike and Coach Amy for your guidance and motivation to help make me a better runner.  Thanks to the rest of the Road Warriors for your inspiration, motivation, and friendship.  Thanks to my RunGR buddies for training with me and pushing me during our workouts together.  Thanks to Conductive Learning Center for providing me with such a great opportunity to help some amazing kids!  Last, but not least, thanks to my wife and daughter for putting up with my busy schedule over the last 6 plus months.  I know it was tough having me gone so much – or maybe you enjoyed it, I don’t know!

Being a Road Warrior was a great experience that I will never forget. I had a lot of fun, I grew as a runner, and I made some great friends in the process.  See you all at the finish line.

Don’t cry because it’s over.  Smile because it happened.

- Dr. Seuss

Happy Running,

Adam

If you’re not registered, you can still do so at the Expo at Devos Place until 8pm tonight!

And you can still Donate to team CLC!

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My Reflections on my Road Warrior Journey

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Hard to believe this was over 6 months ago!!

It’s hard to believe that at this time tomorrow morning I will be getting ready for the 36th annual Fifth Third River Bank Run! I know I will be excited, nervous and anxious to get going, but a little part of me will be sad too. This whole journey as a Road Warrior has been an amazing experience! Running with my fellow Road Warriors and coaches has become like my own running family. Trust me, when you run15 miles with a person, you get to know each other!

Even though we all came from different walks of life and run different paces, our bond of running has been a strong bond. Running with this group has inspired me to do so much more with my running. They have pushed me to run faster and farther. They have pushed me to believe in myself even through my injuries. They have pushed me to trust my instincts and how to listen to my body.

Although our journey as Road Warriors will come to an end when we cross the finish line tomorrow, I know that it will not be the end for many of us. Many of us have plans of running together in upcoming marathons and to try to continue training throughout the summer. For me, this is so important, because I yearned for the sense of camaraderie that I had in the military. And with this group, I found that again.

So with all that being said, thank you to my husband and daughters for putting up with me being MIA so much. Thank you Kristen and Brooke for coordinating the best race in West Michigan (at least in my opinion!). Thank you Road Warrior coaches Mike and Amy, and all my fellow Road warriors, Anna, Becky, Daniela, Jenni, Joann, Adam, Daniel, Eric and Jacob. I wish each one of you the best, not only for tomorrow’s race, but in all your future endeavors.

That goes for all runners out there reading this, good luck tomorrow in your race, whether it be the 5k, 10k, or 25k. I hope everyone has a strong run and remember that no matter what time you cross that finish line, YOU ARE A RUNNER!

 

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