2014 New Years Resolution 5k

Posted on January 4, 2014 by shannonjoe | 2 Comments

My 1st race of the year was a virtual one on New Year’s Day. This one also got me registered for the World Run Day in November so really 2 races in 1.

I made a deal with my husband. I hung out with him and the boys that day, and then he followed me on the 4 wheeler while I did my 5k. And he agreed!!! Gosh, what other things might I have gotten him to do in the past 16 years if I had just asked??!! 🙂

JANUARY 1, 2014

New Year’s Resolution 5k

3.1 miles

37:47

144 lbs

I made this collage with the Pic Collage app on my iphone. Super easy.

That bundled up man running beside the 4 wheeler is my hubby. I was approaching this particular hill that hates me. You know the kind- it’s not that it’s so steep, it’s that it’s looooooooooong. 🙂

Well, he just hopped right off the 4 wheeler and started running with me to get me up the hill. Lest you think he’s an angel, he only did that for about ummm, 15 seconds???? 🙂

It was a great way to start the new year-ESPECIALLY since I’ve joined in the #500in2014 challenge. GULP!

Have you run your 1st race this year yet?

Finishing With Faith 5k

Posted on May 11, 2013 by shannonjoe | 6 Comments

Kara and I ran the Finishing With Faith 5k this morning. A slow 37:45, but a great run!

Karen (in the middle) holds this race each year in memory of her sweet daughter, Kara Hay, who lost her fight with cystic fibrosis at the age of 21. So it’s an emotionally charged race. Karen is such an upbeat person who even through her tears still manages to see the positive side of things. This race is a celebration of her daughter’s life. 🙂

This is the 2nd time I have run it and hope to run it many more times! It’s held at a city park with a pond. It’s beautiful and serene. About as close to God as you can get.

A great way to jump start my weekend after a VERY VERY hectic week. Well, let me take the words “jump start” back because the only jumping I have done since the race was to jump on the couch!! 🙂

I AM DETERMINED to run tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after, and the day…..

This lack of running is for the birds. HA! Literally! 🙂

Have a great weekend!

Jellybean Virtual 5k Race

Posted on March 31, 2013 by shannonjoe | 6 Comments

YAY! I got it done. I ran 3.1 miles this evening for Run With Jess annual Jellybean Virtual Run. It was a slow one. I can totally feel it when I don’t run on a regular basis. Like I felt it for 38:15 minutes. 🙂

BUT-it felt soooooo good to run this far again! I took 4 of the 7 dogs with me up the dirt road. (Hey, don’t judge!! We are animal lovers!)

A little goofy, but we can’t all be beauty queens! 🙂

It was a GREAT Easter 2013! Hope yours was fantastic as well.

ASD Redskin 5k

Posted on March 22, 2013 by shannonjoe | 4 Comments

Kara and I ran in the Alabama School for the Deaf and Blind’s annual Redskin 5k this past Saturday. We came in at a slow 35:37. 🙂

It was a great time, but do you know what I was thinking at 5:30 am on Saturday morning? Who in the world does this on the weekend?????????????? I am SO not a morning person!

After I picked her up and we headed to Talladega all was right again in my world. 🙂

I have to say that this is the 4th EMOTIONAL race that I have run in.

#1-My first 5k last February-My brother ran it with me and kept tabs on me to make sure I was ok.

#2-Finishing with Faith 5k last May-In honor of a sweet girl who passed away from cystic fibrosis. I’ll be running this one again on May 11th.

#3-Disney Princess Half-Marathon-My first half marathon produced some tears. Joyful ones and painful ones. 🙂

#4-This one-Do you know what it’s like to see a blind person run an entire 5k holding the hand of someone who is guiding them? Oh, my!

I should really start getting a before shot so as not to scare all of you with my HIDEOUS HAIR and SCRUNCHED UP EYES! 🙂 Or maybe I should take some hints from Kara and wear the good ole hat and sunglasses!!!!

🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

My next one is in April!

Running Beauty Pageant Queen

Posted on February 21, 2013 by shannonjoe | 10 Comments

You know how your race pictures just usually don’t look too good? I mean it’s not like your makeup is intact with your hair styled and pretty. OR you even know your picture is being taken so you can flash those pearly whites. LOL! 🙂

Well, I was looking through some of my race pics from August/September and lookie lookie lookie what I found! I will not be a Running Beauty Pageant Queen anytime soon. And Kara won’t be either! 🙂

I’m on the left-no, I don’t think I threw up during that 5k, but it sure looks like I’m about to!

Kara is on the right-what is she doing with her tongue????

This is just a free laugh on my behalf. Enjoy. 🙂

New Years Virtual Resolution Fun Run 2013

Posted on January 2, 2013 by shannonjoe | 4 Comments

This was a great run for these reasons:

1. It was virtual so I didn’t have to travel to a race

2. It was FREE

3. I ran it on my treadmill in my house

4. It started the new year off right

3 miles in 34:26

That resolution says to enjoy running this year as much as I did last year. Photography will never be my 2nd job. 🙂

Don’t I look lovely with the “no makeup” look??? Oh, and the sweat had already dried by the time I got my husband to take my picture 3 hours after my run. Let me tell you I was drenched in sweat. Something about running in sweats and a long sleeved t-shirt in a house at a warm 72 degrees. LOL!

Thanks to Run to the Finish and Mommy Run Fast for hosting this virtual fun run! 🙂

Color Me Happy

Posted on September 18, 2012 by shannonjoe | Leave a comment

Have any of you ever done the Color Run 5k?? 3 of us ran in this FUN 5k on Labor Day. On a speedway track. Not that it helped me any with my speed. 🙂

It was in Birmingham, Alabama so we had to leave (2 of us) at 5am. Gulp. I am NOT a morning person! But that’s ok-diet pepsi is a close friend of mine. Our other friend just met us at the race. Which was VERY crowded!! It’s a wonder we ever found her. She texted me to find out where we were. I told her we were the ones in the white shirts. LOL! EVERYONE had on white shirts. But then I told her we were in line to buy some swag-she said she was, too. I told her I would raise my hand-to look for it. Ummm…I’m only 5’1. 🙂 I guess I had already consumed TOO much diet pepsi. 🙂

So we bought our bandanas to wear around our mouths ~~in case we needed to rob a bank~~ to avoid dying of color powder bacterial infection. Could that happen? 🙂

In the midst of all that fun it started raining. Pouring. NOT drizzling. And being the cold natured person I am-I FROZE!! It ended up raining on us the entire race. Which was a good thing because I didn’t get too hot.

This race was a fun one where they throw colored powder on you at each 1k marker so you end up with color ALL OVER YOU! My friend, Kara, ended up looking like a blue smurf!

It’s not a timed run since it’s just a fun run.

So I’m sure I ran it in like 23:21. LOL!

Afterwards we didn’t stay around for the celebration party (if there was one) because it was raining. Did I mention that?

Kara and I went to eat. Pure bliss. It’s so nice to put in twice the amount of calories that you just put out!

It was a great day!

Here we are BEFORE the color.

Kara, Me, Janet-Don’t we look beast in our headbands?

Here we are “in color”:

A little bit of rain and color mixed together=Wet Rainbow. 🙂

It’s all about the color run.

Back to School 5k

Posted on August 31, 2012 by shannonjoe | 10 Comments

PR, BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

32:55

Ran this 5k with my brother in Georgia. He stuck with me since he was running on an injured knee, otherwise he would have been waaaaay ahead of me!

I actually thought I was going to throw up and faint on this 5k. Want to know why?

Because I have NOT been running consistently like I used to. I can feel it. It makes such a difference to run on a regular basis. 🙂

Notice the time behind us? That’s how long it took me to get back up off the steps to come and get the picture made after finishing the race!!!

Next 5k coming up:

THE COLOR RUN IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA THIS MONDAY ON LABOR DAY!

Can’t wait!

Literacy Run 5k

Posted on June 19, 2012 by shannonjoe | 6 Comments

I really think I would run in a 5k EVERY weekend if I could! There’s just something about running with a group of people for a good cause that just inspires me. Plus I get a t-shirt and maybe some good food. 🙂

This 5k race was in Auburn, Alabama and the proceeds went to a literacy club in Auburn. Me + literacy= happy

I can’t even remember my time-I think it was 33:something. 🙂 It was actually my fastest time so far-you would think I could remember it, but getting up at 4am this morning to work at a gas station has done something to my pea brain!

They had an entire spread across a table after the race: bagels, peanut butter, bananas, more bagels, more peanut butter….. oh, and water. I just snagged a banana because I was going to buy me some DELISH california rolls for lunch!!! Yep, a 5k race, california rolls for lunch, and a book to read. What more could a girl ask for? 🙂

Didn’t get any pictures since I went to this race by myself. The course was through neighborhoods (partly shady). It started out FLAT and DOWNHILL. Can you believe it? What more could a girl ask for? Ooops-I already asked that question. And then……..the hill from

_ _ _ _. Seriously, everyone was walking up it, but not this girl. I ~~ran~~ ~~jogged~~ slogged my way through it and got to the top. Really, I did run up it! And gave much appreciation to God when I got to the top. 🙂

It was a good race and a good time for a good cause. What more could a ….never mind. 🙂

Good night!