Training Update & Good Life Race 5K

Well hey there! I hope you had a great weekend! Today I thought I'd give you all an update on my training for the Palmetto 200, as well as let you know about an AWESOME local race for Chicagoans in April. First up, Palmetto 200 training! If you missed my first training post, the Palmetto 200 is a relay from Columbia, SC to Charleston, SC and is run similar to a Ragnar, which I'm sure many of you are more familiar with.

I'm not sure exactly what I'll be running yet, but I know I'll be running anywhere from 12-20 miles over the course of 2 days, so my goal with training has been to run back to back days to get used to running on tired legs. So far things have gone pretty well! (knocking on wood!). My IT band hasn't been bothersome over the past couple weeks and I've had a lot more energy for my runs. I did have a shorter running week when my friend visited since I didn't get a chance to run over the weekend or on Monday with a busy schedule, but a few days off is always good for fresh legs! Here's a look at my running so far:

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Along with running, I've been getting in some great strength training days as well. I try to do at least 3 days of weights, which end up being on my days off, or days with shorter runs. For those, I break it up into Chest & Tri, Back & Biceps, Legs & Abs. I'm sure it will change since I tend to get Strength Training ADD (that's a technical term ) but for now that's working well for me. Now on to the awesome race! It's the 33rd Annual Good Life Race 5K put on by the Oak Park Runners Club and benefiting the Collaboration for Early Childhood. I ran this race last year with Kelsey and Lindsay and we absolutely loved it. Not only did we like the course (running through a pretty neighborhood in Oak Park, IL) but the race was so well organized, not crowded and we got a rose at the finish line! Here's some more information about the race:

The Oak Park Runners Club invites runners and walkers of all ages to participate in one of five events taking place at the Good Life Race 5K (formerly known as the Race That's Good For Life) on Sunday, April 6, 2014 starting at 8:45 AM at the Oak Park River Forest High School, 201 North Scoville Avenue, Oak Park, IL . Events include a women's 5K run, a men's 5K run, a 5K fitness walk, a one mile youth race (for kids ages 5 to 12) and a Junior Dash for kids five and under. All proceeds from race entry fees will be donated to the Oak Park-based Collaboration for Early Childhood. In 2013 the race donated $9500 to CEC and hopes to top that number in 2014.

The race has received the Race of the Year Award from CARA (Chicago Area Runners Association) for two years in a row. Oh, and my awesome friend Erin helps put on the race, so of course it's amazing. For more information or to register please visit http://goodliferace.com or send an email to race@oprc.net. And you SHOULD because I'm already registered!     What's the best race you've ever run/walked? Are you training for anything right now?