Luckython 10K and hangin' with Andie of "Andie's Army"

It's Saint Patrick's Day and the day!  Did you participate in a themed race this weekend?  

After a few scattered showers in the Portland area, I spent a beautiful (and chilly) Saturday morning helping out at "The Celtic Crox Half Marathon" which was held in the beautiful Champoeg State Park.  After a few hours on my feet and helping out where I could, I was ready for an afternoon cat nap....

I am amazed by people's strength and endurance to be out in a race and then to do it all over again the next day!   Several friends either ran that half and had a 15K the next day at a local Shamrock Run, or were racing that afternoon at Luckython and then hitting the road for Shamrock.  Such was the case with Andie, doing a 10K on Saturday afternoon/evening and an 8K the following morning.

Chances are you "know" Andie and have meet her on running forums such as "Favorite Run Community" or "Meg's Miles".   If you are really lucky, you might see her while you're out on a run or even at a race.

I was able to catch up to Andie and stay with her, most of the time, at the "Luckython" 10K.  Her energy is unwavering and she was all smiles at her event.  It put my aches and pains and desire for a little nap into perspective!

How Andie got started:
Andie started her journey to walking and joining races earlier this year.  The first obstacle for this task was obtaining a walker.  She had been in a power wheelchair for about 4 years previous.  Her insurance felt that if someone was in a power chair, they "didn't need" a walker.  After several hoops to jump through, the obstacle was mastered and she was out and about on the move!

Andie's first race was "The Heart Breaker" 5k race held on Feb. 16th.  I stood on the sidelines of that race and cheered for people as they passed by with my sign "You make my <3 (heart) race!"  After the half and 10K races started, the 5K came through the course and i first met Andie in person.  "Go Andie!  GO!!"  She was all smiles and based on her posts on the runner's forums mentioned above on facebook, I know that she had an incredible sense of accomplishment.  There is no denying the pride on this young woman's face as she conquers these obstacles that many, for so long, have told her she would never be able to do.

Andie is one determined gal and building up her endurance, she often will walk some distance in the morning and then go out for a second walk in the evening, with a total daily mileage equaling that of a half marathon.

A little more background:
Andie suffers from a form of muscle myopathy.  While in high school, the muscles in her back started to weaken and deteriorate, resulting in a slumped/arched posture and causing some of her disks to fuse.  After several tests and meeting with pediatric neurologists around the US, she was finally able to get some answers and the initial diagnosis.  Once that had been determined, she had surgery to correct her back.  However, it was not long before the disease progressed and attacked her legs.

I listened to Andie explain this to me with a quiet seriousness but an upbeat mood.  I imagine she must explain this a lot or has told her story before.  She is, after all, quite inspirational.  People want to know! But, I felt awkward and over curious with all my questions... but one question had been plaguing me that I wanted to know more about.  I looked over to her with her stoic strength, humbly accepting passing runners' encouragement and cheers or "Hey!  I know you from 'Meg's Miles'!"

I sheepishly asked, "So, this disease... it... it attacks a random muscle group?"
"Yup.  It can."
"At any time?  And you won't know what muscles until it does? Completely unpredictable?"
"Right.  But I'm not going to worry about it."
"But Andie... can it... could it... well, the heart is a muscle.  Could it target your heart?"
She smiles at me and I know she has more courage than I ever could muster.
"Yes.  The heart is a muscle.  Yes.  It could target my heart.  I'm not going to dwell on that.  I choose to remain positive."

Andie conquering a steep hill at Luckython 10K

Walking has helped Andie's muscles to gain some strength and helps her mentally to push through the challenges.  Andie has several races on her radar that she'd like to do, including someday (soon) a half marathon.  Some obstacles she has to face, in addition to the ones she already faces with her health, are races that are "walker friendly" not just to people who walk, but a terrain that will allow her walker to roll on the course.    One thing is for certain though, very little is going to keep this girl off the course.  She is strong, determined and a very caring person.

Official chip time 2:33:59 ...including about 10 minutes or more of chatting with other runners about half way through.

When Andie isn't training, you can find her on "Andy's Army" and learn more about the amazing "Smile Boxes" she puts together for sick children at the various hospitals, Ronald McDonald house, or rehab centers in the area.

I didn't make it out to cheer (or run) the Shamrock race the following day, but I had such a fun time walking with Andie at Luckython.  The course this year was the "South Course" of the Reserve golf course.  The rolling green hills, streams, one wooden bridge, lakes, sand pits and general atmosphere seemed like a perfect spot for a Irish themed race.  I haven't been to Ireland, but I imagined the green rolling hills were something reminiscent of it.  And, as always, Uberthons has some pretty amazing medals.  I'm looking forward to running that one next year!

Did you get out and run a St. Paddy's Day themed run?

Race Recap: Archer Series Stinger 5k &10K

Race Recap for the Archer Series "Stinger 5K and 10K" on January 19, 2014.

This was a very fun event!  There are some things that may have made the race a little "smoother" or a little bit better, but overall, this is an event worth attending.

The race series is brand new, having started in 2013.  It is a small, intimate affair with about 86 runners.  I believe there were about 50 people registered to do the 10k distance.

Being a brand new event, there are a few glitches that might need to be worked out.  I think I may have seen a few more of the "wrinkles to smooth" as a volunteer with my Moms RUN This Town group.  We were not able to accept day-of-race registrations, and I know that was disappointing to a few people.  I did overhear a runner speaking to the Race Director at the finish.  She stated this was the first 10K she had participated in where there were no water tables or aid stations on the course.  There were granola bars, bananas and a hydration/sports drink at the finish.

The shirts were a plain white cotton shirt with a small logo on each sleeve.  Sizes available were only medium or small.  Instead of spending funds on a shirt, save the money for the beneficiary or invest maybe in a visor for everyone.  5k participants were given a yellow visor (with no logo) as part of their swag.

These things are easy fixes and hopefully not something that will turn runners away from future events.  I'm sure that the Race Director will be working to make all future events memorable and enjoyable.

The beneficiary was the Hillsboro Public Library.  The Archer Series is dideicated to picking a local public library to help provide reading materials and math supplies or upgrades to e-devices in the K-5th grade levels.  (Maybe the shirts could have said something like "I run for my library."  Or something more witty...)
Past events benefited the Newberg public library and the Sherwood public library (located in Oregon).

The course is an out-and-back starting near a coffee shop in Hillsboro and before I knew it, on softly rolling hills and curvy roads in farm land.  We ran parallel to Hwy 26 in the distance and the sound of swooshing cars, but within a mile or two the distant highway dipped out of sight too.  I wouldn't call the course flat, but the inclines were not too much trouble.

There were no mile markers, but this is good for me to ignore how far I have gone and how much farther I have to go and just focus on my surroundings.  Focus is a good thing, because while the major road we ran on to the twisting country road had a lane closed for us... but the country road was not closed to traffic and there wasn't much of a shoulder.  Besides a car or two, we mostly had the road to ourselves.

Signs were put up for the 5k turn around and a volunteer shouted encouragement to those nearing her for the 10K turn around.  

I had a lot of fun, got to cheer for friends and strangers as they passed me and ran on roads I wouldn't have even considered before.  It was a beautiful, freezing morning.

Race bibs were round to help ensure that the timing chips would read on the sensor.  Round bis were pretty cool...

The Bling is a nice medal that was first produced to commemorate the start of the Archer Series Foundation.  Age Division winners were given a weighty "coin" for their award and 5k finishers were given a pin of a shoe with wings.  I really wish I had gotten that... I love Hermes.  

This was a fantastic way to support the local library... and probably more appreciated than the late fees I seem to keep accruing on my account.

I do hope to see some improvements to the website for this and for the future events.  Maybe I worry too much about races and like lots of info... but it would be nice to see: 

Course information:  
How long participants have to finish the race.  

Is the course dog friendly?

Is the course stroller friendly?

Course description or map of route.

Is there medals for this event?  For certain distances? 

Is the event timed?  (It was.)

Will there be race photos?  (Not for this one.)

And a final suggestion would be the facebook link on the website takes you to "Archer Series Race" which is a person to send a friend request.  If it were set up as a "facebook page" to click "like" on, it would be easier on that forum to see future events.  Those events would be made public for everyone... instead of Archer Series "inviting" his friends and relying on those friends to continue the invitation process.

I would definitely do this event again, look forward to watching this venue grow and look forward to the half marathons coming up... which I am told offer a BBQ afterwards and "great bling".

Trying to breath again,"I get a medal?" and I PR'd!

 According to my garmin, I have three new records!  Woo Hoo!

New records to smash:
9:44 fastest mile (thanks to a Mariah meeting me at the last mile and not taking any of my excuses...)
31:22 fastest 5k
1:04:04 fastest 10k

What is the smallest race you have ever done?  Did you enjoy it?