Horizons Runners

Go For Bo! Sierra Leone Benefit 5K and 1M Fun Run/Tot Dash - October 15

2011-09-14T22:43:00.000-04:00

If you're looking for a 5k in the Stafford, VA area, here's a great one to check out.

http://www.active.com/running/stafford-va/go-for-bo-sierra-leone-benefit-5k-and-1m-fun-runtot-dash-2011

Run Scheduled - Saturday, September 17 at 0630

2011-09-14T22:37:00.000-04:00

From whymarathon.com...The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running. ~Author unknown, in reference to Ecclesiastics 9:11

The weather for Saturday is predicted to be stellar - a great morning for a run! The plan for Saturday is to meet at TBS to run the 8.25 loop, with an add on of additional mileage for anyone interested. We'll meet at 0630 at the Charlie Company parking lot. If you don't know where this is, let me know and I'll email you the details. Anyone can get on base as long as you have a photo id.

If you have any questions about this run, or any group runs, I'd love to answer those questions as well - email me at karenegyud@gmail.com.

Blessings,
Karen

T-Shirts

2011-08-09T23:25:00.000-04:00

Here are the pictures of the shirts we have available (Thanks Bob H.!) I'll post more details later, but if you are interested in the details, email me at karenegyud@gmail.com.

Men's Color

Women's Color (also available in Pink,small only - and the small is small!)

Run Scheduled this Saturday - July 9 at 7:00 a.m.

2011-07-06T18:41:00.000-04:00

After too long of a break, we will have a run this Saturday, July 9th. We'll meet at the church parking lot at 7:00 a.m. for a 5ish mile run. Hope you can join us!

Couple other notes...

- If you no longer want to received these emails, please let me know. I know we've lost a lot of families recently to other parts of the country, so I understand if you like to keep your email box cleared out. Also, if you know of someone else who would like to receive this info, feel free to forward it on to them.

- Bob H. is spearheading getting shirts made that have a message of grace and thankfulness for the gift of running. We'll get you more on pricing very soon - it will be very reasonable though. We are trying to get an idea of what sizes to preorder. If you are interested in a shirt, please shoot me an email with your size. It's not a commitment to order - just helps us plan a little better. I'm excited to already know what I'll be wearing at this year's MCM :)

Blessings,
Karen

Run Scheduled - June 4 @ 7:00 a.m.

2011-06-03T18:15:00.000-04:00

Hope your running is going well - hard to believe that we welcome summer tomorrow.

Dave R. has agreed to head up the run for this Saturday so the meetup time will be at 7 a.m. in the church parking lot for a 5ish mile run.

Congrats to everyone who completed races during May - I know there were a bunch of them. But, I have to give a special shout out to Dave R. for his finish of the Cateran Trail 55 Mile in Scotland on May 21. Of course, 55 wasn't enough for Dave and he ran a special extra 3 to complete a 58 Miler...love your nav skills Dave!

Finally, my brother sent me this and I thought some of you would find the humor too. In the category of "A sentence that only a non-running marketing person would write..."

"The Orlando office participated in the 17th Annual Corporate 5k run on Thursday, April 14. The 87-degree weather was perfect for a 5k through downtown Orlando, with record participation from local companies and organizations."

Maybe 87 degrees feels better in Orlando than here?

Have a great rest of the week!

Blessings,
Karen

Run Scheduled - Saturday, May 7 at 7:00 a.m.

2011-05-04T15:41:00.002-04:00

Happy Wednesday everyone!

We will do a run this Saturday, May 7th - we'll meet at Horizons at 7:00 a.m. for a 5ish mile run. Please email me if you have any questions about the run.

Congrats to Ed Atkinson on a PR at the Oklahoma City Half Marathon last weekend - in the cold and rain! There are a bunch of people doing 1/2 marathons (Marine Corps Half in less than 2 weeks), marathons and ultramarathons (Dave R. in Scotland!) in the next few weeks. I pray that God protects us all from injury and that we are mindful that He is the giver of our strengths and abilities and that we honor Him in all that we do. I'm thankful that I can run - may I never take that for granted.

This has nothing to do with running - but if you have young kids, there will be a concert at Horizons on Saturday night at 6 p.m. with Silly Norm and the Fun Bunch. It's just $3/person and I'm sure it will be a lot of fun. Check out www.sillynorm.com for more info.

Have a great rest of the week!

Blessings,
Karen

Run Scheduled - Saturday, April 16th at 7:00 a.m.

2011-04-12T16:01:00.000-04:00

After what seems like forever, we will do a run this Saturday, April 16 @ 7 a.m. We'll meet in the church parking lot and set off for our 5ish mile run. Please let me know if you have any questions about the run.

I'm one long training run away from the Pittsburgh Marathon next month. This is my first time training for a marathon in the spring. Even though it was hard to get the miles in early in the training program due to weather, I have to say that it is much nicer doing the long runs in the 40-50 degree temps compared to what we get around here is August & September.

Hope you're enjoying your runs...I'll leave you with a couple quotes about running that I came across today:

"Finland has produced so many brilliant distance runners because back home it costs $2.50 a gallon for gas." ~Esa Tikkannen, 1979

"To a runner, a side stitch is like a car alarm. It signifies something is wrong, but you ignore it until it goes away." ~Author Unknown

"If God invented marathons to keep people from doing anything more stupid, the triathlon must have taken Him completely by surprise." ~P.Z. Pearce

League of Their Own: National Road Racing League

2011-03-24T19:13:00.001-04:00

League of Their Own: National Road Racing League

Trail Run Scheduled - Saturday, March 26th at 7:00 a.m.

2011-03-24T19:11:00.000-04:00

Happy Thursday everyone! Can you believe there is a forecast for a wintry mix this Sunday? I just got used to running in shorts and a t-shirt again - I'm not ready to go back to layers and hats and mittens, etc.

We won't have our normal run from the church on Saturday, but Dave Robertson has organized a run in PW Forest. Check out the information below, and let Dave or myself know if you have any questions.

Please let the Horizons Runners know that I’m hosting a trail run for anyone who’s interested this Saturday starting at 7:00 AM in Prince William Forest Park. We’ll meet in the Visitors Parking area (If everyone could plan on arriving a little before 7:00 AM that would be great!). The plan is to do three 6 mile loops, so folks will have the option of doing a 6, 12, 18 mile run. We’ll even do a shorter 3 mile loop for those who are new to running. If you could let me know whether you’ll be running with us that would be helpful – I don’t want to leave anyone behind. Please email me at david.robertson@cbp.dhs.gov or call me at 703-470-1620.

See you on the trail!

Blessings,
Karen

Great 5K & 1 Mile Run

2011-03-19T16:54:00.000-04:00

Park Ridge Elementary School once again did a great job on putting on their 5k and 1 Mile Fun Run this morning. It was a beautiful morning, except for the wind, but the temperature was great. Spring is officially here! Well, technically, that happens tomorrow but it feels like spring now.

There were no first place category finishers from Horizons this time, but we made a good showing! Congrats to Mike S. who placed 16th overall.

Now I can look forward to my next race, the Pittsburgh Marathon. Only 56 days left to train. I just noticed their tagline, "Run the City of Bridges." I need to find one with the tagline, "Run the City of Flat."

Blessings,
Karen

Run Scheduled - Saturday, March 12th at 7:00 a.m.

2011-03-09T18:55:00.000-05:00

Horizons Runners will meet up in the Horizons Church parking lot for at 5ish mile run, this Saturday, March 12th at 7:00 a.m. We'll take advantage of the early sunrise...that we'll lose again on Sunday due to Daylight Savings Time. Also, we'll be done in plenty of time if you're planning on attending the Parenting Workshop that starts at 10:00 a.m.

Also, don't forget to register for the Park Ridge 5k (www.racetimingunlimited.com).

Please let me know if you have any questions - hope to see you there!

Blessings,
Karen

Park Ridge 5k - March 19th

2011-03-08T21:52:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again! The Park Ridge 5k and 1 Mile Fun Run is coming up on Saturday, March 19 at 8 a.m. Horizons Church will once again be sponsoring this event that is a fundraiser for the Park Ridge Elementary PTO. Childcare is available during the 5k. The 1 mile run follows the 5k at 9 a.m.

We've had several people from Horizons run this race each year and I hope you'll come out for this fun 5k. Who knows - you may even win a prize! (Several runners from Horizons placed in their age groups last year.)

More information and registration for the event can be found at http://www.racetimingunlimited.com/.

This will be my fourth I think...or fifth...so if you have any questions about the event, please let me know.
Time to start training!

Blessings,
Karen

Article about Children Running

2011-03-08T20:38:00.000-05:00

I ran across this NY Times article recently - I think it presents some interesting information about the physical impact of running at an early age.

Enjoy.

Running Video

2011-03-08T20:01:00.001-05:00

This is a neat video of the editor-in-chief of Runner's World magazine. Enjoy!

Run Scheduled - Saturday, Feb. 26th at 7:30 a.m.

2011-02-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

Today is the first day of regular registration for the Marine Corps Marathon. If you've been thinking about running this, you need to make a final decision asap because registrations are expected to sell-out in less than a week. It opens at Noon today (February 23rd) so mark your calendar! (www.marinemarathon.com). BTW, you can't access any info at their site right now due to them gearing up for registration, but if you have any questions about the race, I may be able to answer them.

We will run this Saturday. Meet up time at the Horizons Church parking lot is 7:30 a.m. We'll do our usual 5ish mile run. Hope you can make it out!

Also, if you're in the area on Friday night, don't forget about the Evening of Worship & Prayer at Horizons. It will be from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. Come for any or all of the time. More information can be found at http://www.horizonschurch.com/prayer.

Hope you have a great rest of the week and hope to see you this weekend!

Blessings,
Karen

Run Scheduled - Saturday, Feb. 12th at 7:30 a.m.

2011-02-09T16:54:00.001-05:00

Finally! The weather for Saturday (Feb. 12th) looks great so we will have a run starting at 7:30 a.m. We'll meet in the parking lot of Horizons Church and run our normal 5ish mile route. I hope to see some of the new faces who expressed interest at the Life Group Fair last month. If you have any questions about the run, please email me. Also, please note that the start time is 7:30 instead of 7:00 a.m. so that it will be a little lighter (and hopefully a little warmer).

Also, best wishes to Bob H. and Craig P. as they run the Holiday Lake 50K on Saturday. I hope you guys have an awesome run!

Have a great rest of the week everyone!

Blessings,
Karen

Not Running...Again

2011-02-04T10:33:00.002-05:00

I waited as long as I could to decide what to do tomorrow morning. I was hoping that the rain...or whatever it's supposed to be...would be out of the forecast, but since they're still calling for precip in chilly temps, I'm not going to plan a run. If the weather cooperates, perhaps we can run on the 12th. I'm really ready for spring. I have some new shoes that I want to try out!

Hope you've had a great week.

Blessings,
Karen

Not Running Saturday (Jan. 29)

2011-01-27T12:33:00.002-05:00

I had mentioned to a few people that I thought we'd be running this Saturday - Jan. 29th. That was before I remembered that the Horizons Worship Band is participating in a prayer event at Spotsy Church of God on Friday night - and we take the "stage" at 11:45 p.m. So...let's plan on a run next Saturday, February 5th. I'll send out another reminder email next week.

Stay safe & warm out there - there's lots of black ice to try and trip up your run.

Blessings,
Karen

Parallels to Ultra Running

2011-01-24T10:10:00.001-05:00

I came across the blog of a woman who is struggling through a serious medical issue. Her husband added the following post onto her blog, and I loved what he wrote about the parallels between their journey and ultra running. Please keep this family lifted in prayer: The Simple Wife

Holiday Lake Information (Feb. 12th)

2011-01-14T10:27:00.000-05:00

Here are some more details on Holiday Lake from Bob H.

Anyone interested in Holiday Lake, please shout. It is a great introduction to ultra trail events – challenging, but very doable with a moderate fitness level and desire to participate. Moderate fitness level = a recent (past 3 months or so) marathon completion and some running since and/OR current ability to run/walk steadily for 3+ hours. If you can do this, you can complete HL within the time limit. Don’t be put off by the ‘extreme’ description in the url – HL is pretty tame and exceptionally well run by a group from Liberty University. Another plus is relatively moderate cost, $75 if you sign up before 22 Jan, $95 afterward – plus, and this is a great bonus, you can stay in a cabin at the start/finish for only a few $. Dave R. ran HL last year and he can provide some scoop, too.

Run Scheduled - Saturday, January 15th @ 7:30 a.m.

2011-01-13T11:09:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a great holiday season. Are you enjoying winter? I'm thankful for less snow than last year, but I wouldn't mind it being a little warmer and less windy.

We'll have our first official group run of the year this Saturday, January 15th at 7:30 a.m. Please note the 7:30 start time as I don't think it's light enough out at 7 a.m. We'll meet in the Horizons Church parking lot for our normal 5ish mile run. If you're new to the group, please let me know if you have any questions. A few of us will tack on some extra miles (up to 7-10) at the end of the run, so if you're in the market for a longer distance, plan on that as well (ie bring hydration!).

For those who love trail running, the Holiday Lake 50K that will be held on February 12th. Here's the link to the website for the event: http://www.extremeultrarunning.com/ Bob H. will be participating and I trust him when he says this is an excellent trail run.

Feel free to forward the information to anyone else you know who may be interested in joining us for our runs.

Hope to see you Saturday!

Blessings,
Karen

My Review of Womens Camelbak Annadel Hydration

2011-01-11T09:35:00.001-05:00

Originally submitted at Road Runner Sports

Women's CAMELBAK® ANNADEL :: Designed to fit a woman's body perfectly, the women's CamelBak® Annadel hydration pack features a 50-ounce water reservoir and holds all your essentials in the zipper pocket while maintaining a sleek, aerodynamic shape that stays securely out of yo...

Love this Camelbak!

By Kedge from Stafford, VA on 1/11/2011

Pros: Adjustable, Good Quality, Lightweight, Compact, Improves Function

Best Uses: Running

Describe Yourself: Casual/ Recreational

Was this a gift?: No

I use this for my distance runs - 6 miles +. I tried a camelbak several years ago and wasn't comfortable with the fit. This one is designed for women and fits perfectly. It took the first run to get it adjusted and after that, I don't even notice it's there. I had been running with a fuel belt (the one with the 4 bottles) and my only challenge in making the switch is being able to tell how much water I have left.

(legalese)

Red Eye Trail Run

2010-12-09T11:39:00.000-05:00

Hope everyone is getting used to cold weather running. I didn't think I would have to pull out all of the cold weather gear this early.

Due to many other obligations throughout December, I don't think we'll have any organized runs this month. I did, however, want to plant the seed of a run many of you may want to consider.

It's called the Red Eye 50K Trail Run and is held on January 1st starting at 8 a.m at PW Forest Park. First, and maybe most importantly, you don't have to run 50K. It's a loop so you can easily run less. Also, and possibly equally important, there's no cost. Here's a website with more information. http://www.vhtrc.org/events/redeye-info.htm It's not updated for this year yet, but the information from last year should hold true for this year as well. I'll send out the link again once it's been updated.

I plan on doing at least 1 loop and I know there are a couple other people in our group who are planning to do it once again - as they are veterans of this event. Start the year right and come out and join in the fun!

Blessings,
Karen

Turkey Trot - Thursday, November 25th @ 7 a.m.

2010-11-16T18:38:00.000-05:00

I just did some quick research and math and have concluded that running the Horizons Church Turkey Trot will enable you to eat 2 additional pieces of pumpkin pie, guilt free. Make plans to join us on Thursday, November 25th at 7 a.m. We'll meet up in the church parking lot. We'll run our 5ish miles and you'll be home in time to put a turkey in the oven and catch the Macy's parade. If you have any questions about the run, please email me. I'm working on one person's suggestion to offer some sort of prize...like a pumpkin pie. :)
Also, congratulations to Bob H. for finishing his first 100 miler a couple weeks ago. I'm still impressed! And I welcome Ed A. to the running addiction - he ran his first 1/2 marathon last Saturday (Richmond), finished with a great time and is already planning to run his first marathon. Congrats and welcome Ed!

Hope you're having a great week and happy running!
Blessings,
Karen

Run Scheduled - Nov. 6th @ 7:00 a.m.

2010-11-04T10:17:00.000-04:00

Congrats for great finishes over the last couple weeks for everyone who did the Army 10 Miler and Marine Corps Marathon! I'm already looking forward to the MCM next year.

This Saturday, Bob Hagan will be participating in his first 100 miler in Alabama (Pinhoti 100). Bob - our prayers are with you for a great event! While he's running 100, we'll meet up for our normal 5 mile run - Saturday at 7:00 a.m. in the Horizons Church parking lot. Hope you can join us. Please email me if you have any questions about the run.

Also, mark your calendars for our 3rd Annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day (11/25 @ 7 a.m.).

Blessings,
Karen

Army 10 Miler & Marine Corps Marathon

2010-10-19T18:18:00.000-04:00

This week, we have a few runners getting ready for their first 10 miler on Sunday (Army 10 Miler to be exact) and several other runners in their taper for the Marine Corps Marathon the following Sunday. I thought I'd share a few tips with the newbies - things I've generally learned the hard way. :)

- Proper hydration starts....now. Make sure you are drinking lots of water this week, especially Friday & Saturday. Don't drink too much on Sunday morning. I generally only drink at most a bottle of water before a race - and that's typically only if I'm thirsty. Stop drinking water at least 30 minutes before the start time of the race; there's plenty of liquids available on the course. If you drink too much and too late on the day of the race, you will be one of the many unfornuate souls running into the woods, behind buildings, etc. during the race. Try and avoid this. Also, take fluids at every water/gatorade stop. You don't have to drink all of it, but at least drink some. When both are available, I take both, drink some gatorade and then wash it down with the water. If you can hear the water swishing around in your stomach, you've drunk too much. The water stops will be crowded. Plan on walking through them and don't feel like you have to get water at the very first table - there are typically several tables at each stop.

- If you haven't been eating before your runs, Sunday is not the time to start. If you generally eat before your runs, eat what you normally eat. The key is to do what you normally do - don't change your pattern. Of course if you normally eat Outback before you run, and you feel it while you run, then perhaps you should change your pattern. I speak from personal experience that Outback the night before a run is generally not a good idea, and a full breakfast of eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, etc. the morning of a race is not a good idea. My prerace fuel for the marathons is typically fig newtons and Starbucks Double-Shot. That's just what works for me.

- Don't wear the event shirt to the event. Save it to wear next year or a different race. You'll see many people who break this etiquette, but choose to be cool.

- Don't carry change in your pocket. This is just one of my personal pet peeves.

- Speaking of clothes, dress for the temp at the end of the race, not the beginning. Temps are predicted to be in the 50's at the start, 70's at the end. I would suggest short sleeves and shorts. If you dress for the cooler temp, you'll be regretting it at the end. I generally wear something warmer to the race and check it at bag check so I will also have it after I cool down following the run. (Bag check is great - they do an awesome job with this!)

- Also on clothes, don't wear any clothes that you have not run in before. The expo will have lots of cool looking clothes that may tempt you but comfort is the most important factor, and if you haven't run in something before, you don't know if it will cause chafing, etc. Stick with what you know.

- These races are measured by the shortest distance from point A to point B. So, hug the corners - think in straight lines. Don't spend a lot of your energy passing people and changing "lanes" so to speak. It will be crowded and I've wasted a lot of energy in the past darting in and out around people. Now I just take it a little more relaxed, pass when I can, and try to stay out of people's "sweat wakes" (excessive sweat flying off of other runners...gross).

- Plan your run, run your plan. Don't go out too fast. That's one of the most important factors for a new runner. The adrenaline will enable you to run your first few miles faster than you've probably ever run. Don't do this. It will make the end of the run miserable for you. You know what your pace generally is - run it. If you're feeling great in the later part of the run, then pick up your pace and sprint to the end!

- You've done the training, you are prepared. Now enjoy every moment of your race. Both of these races have wonderful scenery, are fairly flat, easy courses, and boast some of the best crowd support you'll ever experience. Take it all in!

"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1

Good luck everyone!

Blessings,
Karen

Race Season

2010-10-08T15:52:00.001-04:00

Not only does October bring great weather - it also brings a season of race events. Here's something that hopefully will provide a little inspiration as you complete your training and events.

I'll never forget the first time I saw someone with 2 prosthetic legs running. It was during my first ever 1/2 marathon. A combination of inspiration and guilt is probably the most accurate representation of my feelings. How could I complain about how my legs were feeling? Since then I've seen this same scenario at pretty much every 1/2 marathon and marathon I've done. The wheelchair athletes that compete in the Marine Corps Marathon are incredible!

The other night, I caught part of a special on ESPN, "The Body Issue." One of the stories was about Rudy Garcia-Tolson who is a double-amputee iron-man competitor. I was hoping his story would be included in the magazine but it's not. (Here's another article I found: http://blog.abilitymagazine.com/?p=722) One of the fascinating facts from this show (I hope I get this right...) - a double-amputee needs 280% more oxygen than someone with legs because of how the heart works differently pumping blood through their system. Also, when we walk or run and our foot hits the ground, we are helping circulate the blood through our system more efficiently - and this is another hurdle for amputees.

I am thankful to an amazing Creator for every breath I get to take and am inspired by those who do so much more with less.

Good luck to Debbie & Vinny who are running the Chicago Marathon this weekend! The weather forecast looks beautiful (not too cold like last year, or too hot like 3 years ago :)

Blessings,
Karen

Run Scheduled, Saturday, Oct. 2nd at 7 a.m.

2010-09-28T20:45:00.000-04:00

Hello Runners!

Fall running is finally here - now if the weather would just figure that out!

We'll meet for a run this Saturday, October 2nd (YIKES!) at 7:00 a.m. The run will be 5 miles and we'll be meeting in the Horizons Church parking lot. Hope you can join us. Please email me if you have any questions about our runs.
Have a great week!

Blessings,
Karen

12 Hour Endurance Run

2010-09-19T09:40:00.001-04:00

Congrats to Dave R. on completing 8 loops (6.5 miles each - do the math - WOW!) at PW Forest Park during the 12 Hour Adventure Trail Run. I ran loop 7 with him and he was running STRONG. Here are a few shots...

This is Dave finishing loop 6...

Dave at the end of loop 8!

Dave & Rich

Great job Dave!

Blessings,

Karen

3rd Annual Turkey Trot

2010-09-19T09:27:00.000-04:00

Thursday, November 25th @ 7 a.m.

Come meet us at the Horizons Church parking lot for a 5 mile run on Thanksgiving morning. There are no prizes, mile markers, water stops, t-shirts or registration fees. This is just a fun run to start the festivities of Thanksgiving Day. Bring your friends and family and burn some calories to prepare for the feasts laster in the day. Email karenegyud@gmail.com if you have any questions.

12 Hour Adventure Trail Run - Saturday, September 18th

2010-09-16T07:57:00.001-04:00

Hello Runners! This week, instead of our normal meet-up, I am including information on a trail run that Dave R. is doing on Saturday. See below for information on joining him for a lap or two. BTW, he mentions coming out for the "later laps" but I did confirm that we are welcome to join him for any of the laps. You should just make sure you can keep up with is fast legs in the early laps (that's my addition, not Dave's :)

Let me know if you have any questions about Horizons Runners or Saturday's event.

Blessings,
Karen

Fellow runners and friends,
This Saturday I’ll be in the 12-Hour Adventure Trail Run at Prince William Forest Park (PWFP), www.nps.gov/prwi just outside of Triangle, VA. The objective is to run as many loops of the course (each loop is 6.5 miles) within the 12-Hour time limit. Sounds like fun doesn’t it? My goal is to run at least 52 miles (8 loops) and it would be great to have my friends there to cheer me on during the last couple of laps and celebrate with me at the finish. Or, bring your running stuff and do a lap with me (I should be real slooow by the afternoon). So come on out to the Telegraph Picnic Pavilion (that’s the Rest Station/Finish Area) anytime after 3 PM – earlier if you’d like – and enjoy the show until you see me stagger out of the forest.

Here’s my run plan, but don’t hold me to it. Hopefully, I’ll be ahead 15-30 minutes of schedule by the 6th loop!

Loop Depart Arrive

1 6:15 AM (Start) 7:40 AM
2 7:45 AM 9:10 AM
3 9:15 AM 10:40 AM
4 10:45 AM 12:10 PM
5 12:15 PM 1:40 PM
6 1:45 PM 3:10 PM
7 3:15 PM 4:40 PM
8 4:45 PM 6:10 PM (Finish)

Crazy Ultra Runners

2010-09-04T18:33:00.000-04:00

Hello runners! I'm sitting here recovering from my training run this morning, not wanting to move, so I figured it would be a great time to do a blog post. Today was a 19 miler (total of 45 for the week). The good thing about doing the 19 is that it means the marathon can't be too far away (8 weeks...I guess that's still pretty far) and that fall is here! After the hot & humid summer we've had, I certainly am looking forward to some cool running days.

I also got to wear my new running shoes today - I had waited too long to change mine out - what a difference it makes. I actually tried a different brand that I wont' name last week, but they didn't work out for me, so I'm back to my trusty Asics - Gel Kayano 15's. So thankful that they became classics, available through http://www.roadrunnersports.com/ and also thankful that you're allowed to return shoes there, even after you've worn them.

Last week, one of the runners in the group did an ultra run, the Cheat Mountain Moonshine Madness 50 Mile Trail Run. He sent me an email afterwards describing the event and I thought it was so good that I'm sharing it here. For those who read that I ran 19 this morning and think that's crazy, wait until you read this (thanks Bob, for sharing):

quick recap from Fri night - Sat a.m. adventure.

tough event. rugged, beautiful location in WV. 13 miles of fire road (mostly uphill)) to start followed by 20 miles of mostly single track, technical trail (which was surprisingly wet - the kind of environment the Cheat Mountain Salamander (featured in today's F-burg paper) likes) and 17 miles of fire road to the end, which was mostly downhill. the nighttime start was cool. clear night, nearly full moon. I felt like I handled the fire road portion in the beginning just about right -- left the road at 2hr50min, so met my on the trail by Saturday plan...first segment of trail was surreal - I did not see another runner the whole time - 4 miles and change - felt fine, through an aid station and then onto second trail segment when the wheels started to fall off -- must have been about 4 hrs and change into the run -- off the trail and to the 23m aid station at just under 6hrs -- cutoff was 6:30, so I was closer than expected. left there at 6hr1min (3:00 a.m.) the next segment ate my lunch -- 1hr20min to go 4.5 miles...I then had 1hr40 minutes to go 5.5 miles to make the 33m cutoff of 9hrs -- a scooby doo 'ruh roh' moment. I consciously worked harder to move at a quicker tempo with some success, but really struggled with doubt and hoped at several points to miss the cutoff and just go to sleep - honestly, a real struggle. I prayed, but selfishly and did not feel any real peace. hit the aid station at 8hr45min, so able to continue but feeling pretty low. changed socks and stepped off at 8hr50min feeling poorly physically and mentally. the next segment was 3.8 miles up and down, but all fire road. I felt like I was moving backward. had to pit stop and wanted to sleep pretty strongly, but also dialed into the thought of Christ allowing us to overcome. put ipod on for the first time and made the aid station at 9hr50min, which was quicker than expected. 7 a.m. came and I started to feel stronger -- I honestly thought it must be prayers being spoken in the Horizons Church parking lot -- the next aid station was 7.2 miles and I covered it much quicker 1hr13min than I had on the way up. the last leg was 5.7 miles and I covered it almost exactly the same as the first time to finish in 12hr24min. . .13 hrs was the official finisher cutoff.
tired but not too beat up today. I am thankful for the chance to stretch myself in these runs. . .some confidence that you don't have to log as many miles as it might seem to be prepared b/c I have not run more than 4 days in any week since February.

Hope you enjoyed that as much as I did (from the comfort of my chair). We have some amazing runners in our group, and if you are interested in finding out about long distance running, ultra runs, etc., please don't hesitate to ask. We all love helping new runners catch the bug that we have.

Stay tuned for upcoming runs - we're off our usual every other weeks schedule to do training schedules, but we'll still be getting some runs in over the next couple months.

Blessings,
Karen

Run Schedule

2010-08-09T22:16:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone. Hope your running is going well.

Due to vacation schedules, marathon training, etc., the group runs are not going to run the normal every other week schedule for the next couple months. Here's what I anticipate the schedule will look like.

5 mile runs at 7:00 a.m. on August 28th, September 18th, October 2nd.

I will send out an email any week that a run is scheduled. I also hope to schedule some other runs in - perhaps some longer distances. Speaking of that, if anyone is interested in 8 miles early this Saturday, email me and let me know.

Stay hydrated - it's hot out there!

Blessings,
Karen

Run Scheduled - Saturday, July 31st @ 7:00 a.m.

2010-07-27T18:41:00.001-04:00

Hello Runners! We'll be doing a 5ish mile run this Saturday, July 31st. We'll meet at 7:00 a.m. in the Horizons Church parking lot. Hope you can join us and please email me should you have any questions. I do want to give everyone some advance notice that the scheduling of runs may change a little bit over the next few months as marathon training is in full gear now.

Horizons sends out a devotional to their leaders and based on the topic, I asked Rich's permission to share the one he sent out last week. It's obviously geared to those in leadership, but I think there is a lot that has application in whatever roles we find ourselves in. Here it is...I pray it encourages you. Blessings, Karen

I’m doing a lot of running right now – 5 days a week. I’m preparing for the Marine Corps Marathon – my first one. Do you know the thought that keeps haunting me during my runs – like the one this morning? If I am struggling through this run of 6 miles which is only about ¼ of a marathon - then how in the world am I going to run 26 miles? I believe the key is endurance. Day after day, week after week, I am slowly teaching my body to endure more than before and the idea is that it culminates in a cycle of building blocks that ultimately empowers you to do more than you could before. I couldn’t run a marathon tomorrow, but I believe I will on October 31.

In 1 Corinthians 15:58, the apostle Paul encourages all of us, but I think it is especially true for those of us who lead…be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. As a leader, you are engaged in guiding and caring for others that are on the journey of learning how their commitment in ministry will someday empower them to do more for God’s kingdom, maybe even more than they ever thought or dreamed. There are a lot of distractions and excuses I could offer each morning when it’s time to lace up the shoes and go our for another run – but I have committed to a path of endurance for 18 weeks that will lead me to my destination. So keep at it, keep abounding in the work of the Lord because what you are doing is making a difference for eternity.

Rich Pennington

Run Scheduled - July 17th @ 7:00 a.m.

2010-07-13T17:01:00.001-04:00

We will meet this Saturday, July 17th at 7:00 a.m. in the Horizons Church parking lot for a 5 mile run. I'm not sure what the weather will be, but I'm pretty sure it will be more enjoyable than last Saturday morning's weather. I've never run through that much rain - and don't plan on doing it again anytime soon. My mp3 player didn't make it - thankful that my Garmin did. I haven't checked to see if my shoes have dried yet.

Let me know if you have any questions about the run and I look forward to seeing y'all on Saturday.

Blessings,
Karen

Run Scheduled - July 3rd @ 7:00 a.m.

2010-06-29T18:11:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone. Hope you're having a blessed week. I missed running with y'all last Saturday, but the 24 Hours of Worship & Prayer event was awesome! We will meet this Saturday, July 3rd at 7:00 a.m. For those new to the group, we meet in the Horizons Church parking lot and our run is a little over 5 miles. The weather is supposed to be BEAUTIFUL - UNSEASONABLY FANTASTIC! Hope to see you there. Email me if you have any questions about the run and have a great rest of the week!

Blessings,
Karen

No Run Saturday - 24 Hours of Prayer & Worship Instead

2010-06-21T16:58:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone. Hope you are having a great summer of running. I'm still trying to get used to the hot and humid weather, but I know that training in these conditions will pay off when I'm running the Marine Corps Marathon on a beautiful 55 degree, low humidity day. :) At least that's what I'm praying for.

First, congrats to Dave R. for a PR in the Battlefield Half-Marathon (Winchester, VA) on Saturday and for finishing first in his age group. Awesome! And kudos to Bob H. who once again completed the 40 mile Highlands Sky Trail Run, marking his 10th ultra run . Check out www.wvmtr.org/news to see a very interesting video about the course and its maintenance. I'm humbled by even imagining this kind of run. As Bob mentioned in an email, it helps "focus him on the Sustainer...a chance to overcome like Christ has empowered us to do." That's a great reminder.

Typically we would be running this Saturday, but I'm going to push the run back a week to July 3rd due to the 24 Hours of Worship and Prayer event at Horizons. We'll have family in town and I will be part of the worship throughout, so I will put my running on hold. But please do make plans to come out sometime for the worship and prayer. I can't wait to be led in worship by some amazing bands and worship leaders. I'm especially partial to a couple of the late Friday evening sets which will include my brother-in-law and my former piano teacher (not together, but you get the point). If you have any questions about the event, feel free to email me or check out Horizons website (http://www.horizonschurch.com/).

Blessings,
Karen

Run Scheduled - Saturday, June 12th at 7:00 a.m.

2010-06-10T08:11:00.002-04:00

We will meet up for a run this Saturday, June 12th at 7:00 a.m. in the Horizons Church parking lot. We'll be doing the normal @ 5 mile run. Hope to see you there!

Please email me (karenegyud@gmail.com) if you have any questions about our runs.

Blessings,
Karen

Trail Run - June 5th at 7:00 a.m.

2010-06-04T11:08:00.003-04:00

Dave Robertson is going to be doing a trail run tomorrow at Prince William Forest Park and all are welcome to join him. He's going to be doing 12 miles, but if you are interested in doing the trail(s) but want a shorter run, he can break the run into shorter loops (4, 6 or 8). Meet up will be at the PWF Visitor Center Parking Lot at 7 a.m. sharp. Please email us back and let us know if you plan on running so we know who to be on the lookout for.

Tomorrow is supposed to be another HOT day so a run in the forest will be much cooler and shaded...

Thanks Dave for heading up this run.

Blessings,
Karen

Fun Article about an Ultramarathoner

2010-06-01T10:38:00.002-04:00

Here's a great article from the Washington Post about Michael Wardian, an ultramarathoner.

No Run This Saturday - May 29th

2010-05-26T08:15:00.002-04:00

Happy Memorial Day Weekend everyone! Because of the holiday weekend and multiple other obligations and opportunities, we will not be meeting for run club this Saturday. I may schedule the next run for the following weekend though - I'll keep you posted.

Congrats to all who ran the Historic Half a few weeks ago!
There is a race coming up in June that I wanted to let y'all know about - it's the Battlefield Half Marathon and is being held on Saturday, June 19th. It's in Winchester, VA and is only $35 to register. Here's the website: http://www.battlefield131.com/ I haven't registered yet, but I'm very seriously considering it. If anyone else plans to run it and wants to carpool, let me know. My plan would be to leave Stafford around 4:30 a.m.

Hope you have a great rest of the week, a chance to relax this holiday weekend, and don't forget what it is we celebrate on Memorial Day.

Blessings,
Karen

Run Scheduled - This Saturday, May 15th

2010-05-12T16:24:00.002-04:00

Horizons Runners will be meeting this Saturday, May 15th. We gather in the Horizons Church parking lot. At 7:00 a.m., those interested in a 5 mile run will meet up and run. At 8:15 a.m., there will be another run for beginner runners and/or those who are in the 3 mile or less ability range. If you aren't sure which group you would fit best in, email me and we can discuss your specific ability and I can let you know where I think you'll fit best. I would like to know who to expect at the 8:15 a.m. run, so if you plan on joining us, please send me an email (mailto:karenegyud@gmail.com.

For the runners who come at 7:00 a.m., you are all welcome (and encouraged) to hang around for the 2nd run and to help mentor the new runners. No matter which run you are coming to, please remember to be prompt as we head out for our runs a few minutes after the meet up time.

Good luck to all who are doing the Marine Corps Historic Half this Sunday. Even though I'm not running it, I'm hoping to hit the Expo sometime this weekend to take advantage of the great deals that are sometimes available on shoes, etc. There is also a donation drop-off for gently worn shoes.

Have a great rest of the weekend and I hope to see you on Saturday!

Blessings,
Karen

Marathon Training Article

2010-05-02T16:14:00.000-04:00

Thought this article from the Washington Post about marathon training with a coach was interesting.

Run Scheduled - Saturday, May 1st @ 7:00 a.m. & 8:15 a.m.

2010-04-30T15:57:00.000-04:00

Happy Tuesday everyone! Horizons Runners will be meeting this Saturday, May 1st. We gather in the Horizons Church parking lot. I am going to try something new this week, so here are the details.

At 7:00 a.m., those interested in a 5 mile run will meet up and run. At 8:15 a.m., there will be another run for beginner runners and/or those who are in the 3 mile or less ability range. This is an experiment so hopefully it works and accomodates the many different ability levels that are represented. If you aren't sure which group you would fit best in, email me and we can discuss your specific ability and I can let you know where I think you'll fit best. I would like to know who to expect at the 8:15 a.m. run, so if you plan on joining us, please send me an email.

For the runners who come at 7:00 a.m., you are all welcome (and encouraged) to hang around for the 2nd run and to help mentor the new runners. No matter which run you are coming to, please remember to be prompt as we head out for our runs a few minutes after the meet up time.

I hope this makes sense - please let me know if you have any questions.

Blessings,
Karen

Run Scheduled - Saturday, April 17th at 7:00 a.m.

2010-04-12T11:59:00.001-04:00

Join Horizons Runners this Saturday, April 17th at 7:00 a.m. for a run. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MEET TIME IS BACK TO 7:00 A.M. We will meet in the Horizons Church parking lot.

Now that I'm officially signed up to run the Marine Corps Marathon again, I'm excited to get out and do a race. October seems so far away. On the other hand, as the weather warms up, I know it will get harder and harder to be motivated to do the long runs. Anyone know of a good half-marathon in our area in the next couple months that isn't on a Sunday?

This Sunday, the Life Groups of Horizons Church will be "on display" before and after service so if you have any questions about the group, please come up and talk to me. I'd love to meet you! One of the best parts of this group is meeting other runners and learning from them.

Have a great week running and I'll see you on Saturday at 7:00 a.m.

Blessings,
Karen

Run Scheduled - April 3rd @ 7:30 a.m.

2010-03-31T17:05:00.000-04:00

We will meet this Saturday, April 3rd at 7:30 a.m. in the Horizons Church parking lot for a run. The weather is supposed to be spectacular! Hope you can join us.

Also, if you don't have a church home, we would love to have you join Horizons Church on Sunday morning for our Easter celebration. Services are at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Please let me know if you have any questions about the service, childcare, etc.

Finally, congrats to the Horizons Runners "Team" for a great showing at the Park Ridge 5k. The coordinators did an excellent job organizing a fun event!
See you Saturday.

Blessings,
Karen

Welcome Park Ridge 5k Runners!

2010-03-19T14:13:00.000-04:00

If you've found out about Horizons Runners from the information provided at the Park Ridge 5k, welcome! We'd love for you to join us for one of our Saturday runs. You can find out a lot of information about our group by reading past blog entries. If there are any unanswered questions, or if you would like to be on our email distribution list of scheduled runs, please email me at karenegyud@gmail.com.

Hope you had a great 5k!

Blessings,
Karen

This Saturday - Park Ridge 5k

2010-03-18T15:41:00.000-04:00

Typically, we would be meeting for a run this Saturday. However, due to the Park Ridge 5k, we will "technically" not be meeting - although I know I'll see many of your faces at the 5k. The weather is supposed to be BEAUTIFUL!!!

If you're interested in the 5k, it's not too late to join the fun - registration is available the morning of the race. Check the website for times (http://www.racetimingunlimited.com/).

Have a great rest of the week!
Blessings,
Karen

Race Registration Reminders

2010-03-13T15:26:00.003-05:00

Park Ridge 5k: This race will be held next Saturday, March 20th at 8 a.m. Childcare is provided and there is a 1 mile fun run at 9 a.m. Horizons Church is a sponsor of this event once again and it should be a great time. Race day registration is available. http://www.racetimingunlimited.com/

Marine Corps Marathon: The MCM is on Sunday, October 31st. This race sells out quickly (only takes a couple days to fill to capacity). If you are active duty military or reserves, you can register now. For the rest of us, registration opens on April 7th. I set a reminder on my calendar each year to make sure I don't miss out! If you've never done a marathon before, now is a great time to commit. You have PLENTY of time to train - even if you can't run a mile today - and this is in my opinion the BEST marathon for a first-timer. (http://www.marinemarathon.com/Marine_Corps_Marathon.htm).

Some other great runs coming up (links on the right side of the page):

Terrapin Mountain 50k and Half Marathon: March 27th

Charlottesville Marathon/Half Marathon: April 17th

Marine Corps Racing Series: There are some other great races coming up put on by the MC...Historic Half, Run Amuck, Crossroads 17.75K

Army 10 Miler: October 24th, race sells out - registration opens April 1st

Life is Like an Hourglass

2010-03-13T14:41:00.000-05:00

Spring is here! I loved running this morning in the rain - even though the conditions weren't perfect - it was so much better than being bundled up running with temps in the teens. I've been pushing up my number of runs for the last couple of weeks. One of the best parts for me about running more is that it gives me more time to think, to reflect, to clear my mind. I love listening to music while I run - especially songs that talk about our great God and songs that challenge me in my walk.

Not a Christian song, but a great lyric still, caught my attention this morning. "Life's like an hourglass glued to the table." A good reminder that we have a limited number of days here on earth, and we should first and most importantly know what our eternal life will be, but secondly, we should live the days we have here well. Are you living your life well? How's your thought life?

Run Scheduled - March 6th @ 7:30 a.m.

2010-03-02T14:32:00.000-05:00

All runners - and those training to be runners - are invited to join Horizons Runners this Saturday, March 6th at 7:30 a.m. for a run. We'll meet in the Horizons Church parking lot and will do a 3 mile run for anyone training to do the Park Ridge 5k - and will do a longer distance for anyone who desires that as well.

Hard to believe that the Park Ridge 5k is only 18 days away - a sure sign of spring. There is a 60 degree day in the 10 day forecast, so I'm ignoring the snowflakes that are in today's. :) Parents, did you know that there is childcare provided for the 5k? See their site for details.

I have spring fever bad. I only had to wear a long sleeve shirt and jacket today instead of my typical 2 jackets and shirt. That's a good sign. Once I can run in shorts without gloves and a hat, I'll really know that warm weather is here!

Hope to see ya'll on Saturday and don't forget to register for the Park Ridge 5k.

Blessings,
Karen

Park Ridge 5K - March 20th

2010-02-25T15:53:00.002-05:00

In 2002, I ran my first organized race. It was the Park Ridge 5K. I received a trophy. Since then, I have gone on to run several ½ and full marathons, but there’s still something special about that 5K. (In the interest of full disclosure, the trophy was for 2nd place in my age division and I think there might have only been 3 people in my age division…thankfully I can’t find the results online.)
The 2010 Park Ridge 5K is coming up in a few short weeks on March 20th at 8 a.m. The reason for my email about the race is two-fold:

Would you consider registering for this race and supporting the school that is in Horizon’s backyard? The registration is $20 and includes a t-shirt if you register by this Monday, March 1st. (http://www.racetimingunlimited.com/) After that the cost goes up and you don’t get a shirt. I know that many of you are used to running much longer distances, so why bother with a 5K? Others of you are intimidated by the thought of running a 5K. There is great value to both groups to running this distance. For the long distance runners, it’s a great time to work on speed – think about the burst needed at the end of a marathon. For those new to running, this is a great distance that gives you a very achievable goal and will build your confidence…refer back to my trophy :). (There is also a 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk that is great for kids who aren’t ready for the 5K distance.) But even if you don’t care much about the running part, please consider the following…

Horizons Church will once again be a sponsor of the event. I think this is a great way for the church to reach out to support our local community. We will also be able to promote that there is a group of people at the church who love to run and for those looking for a running group – we’re right in their backyard. Would you consider donating to the church’s sponsorship? If we each donated $25, for example, it would cover a sponsorship that will allow us to have a banner at the start/finish line, a link on the website and materials in the runner’s packet. If you are interested in donating, simply mark the $ amount and “5K” on your check or online gift. Let me know if you have any questions about this part. Also, if you or someone you know would love to run the race but would not be able to afford the registration fee, please let me know.

So, tell your friends, family, co-workers, etc. about this run and come out and join us. It’s a great time of fun, competition, and it’s good for the community. I’m hoping to win another trophy, but chances are I won’t see another one for quite some time. Please contact me should you have any questions.

Run Scheduled - Saturday, February 20th @ 7:30 a.m.

2010-02-19T09:52:00.001-05:00

Predicted high for Saturday - 45. Nice. Unfortunately, it won't be quite that warm at 7:30 :)

We'll meet up in the Horizons Church parking lot this Saturday at 7:30 a.m. for a run. For those who may be new to the group, we generally run about 5 miles - but at least 3. We'll have to be careful on our run as the sidewalks/running paths are still nonexistent, but at least the roads are generally cleared. It may be significantly better by Saturday if we get sun and warm temps before then, but I'm not to confident that we'll see that much melting in the next 2 days. Email me if you have any questions about the run (karenegyud@gmail.com).

Well done to Dave & Bob in their completion of the Holiday Lake 50K last Saturday in less than ideal conditions! Here's Bob (in the gray) running through the water - which as I undertand they had to cross twice.

Happy Running & Blessings,
Karen

Run Postponed Due to Weather Conditions

2010-02-03T10:13:00.000-05:00

Normally we would have a run scheduled for this Saturday, but due to the fact that we now live in a winter wonderland, I'm not even going to try... As it stands, most sidewalks and paths are not cleared of snow and ice and the fine forecasters are predicting another blizzard for Saturday.

I hope to enjoy a run either way, but I'm not holding my breath.

Happy Running - wherever it may be :)

Run Scheduled - Saturday, January 23 @ 7:30 a.m.

2010-01-20T11:58:00.000-05:00

First, I have to say that the trail run last Saturday was a blast! I'm still in a little pain from it, but it was a great time. I didn't feel bad while running - the muscle soreness was after the fact. Thanks to Bob & Dave for helping those of us who are directionally challenged not get lost!

This Saturday at 7:30 a.m., we'll meet at the Horizons Church parking lot for our normal 5ish mile road run. Hope you can join us. If you have any questions about the group, feel free to email me at karenegyud@gmail.com.

Hope you have a great week!

Blessings,
Karen

Trail Run at PW Forest Park - Saturday, January 16th

2010-01-11T15:23:00.002-05:00

We will be doing a trail run at Prince William Forest Park this coming Saturday, January 16th. I'm inexperienced when it comes to trail running, but thankfully Bob H. and Dave R. will be leading the way for this run.

Here's the plan and information on a baseline of experience that will be necessary. We'll meet at the HC parking lot next Saturday, Jan. 16th at 7:00 a.m. to carpool together to PW Forest (let me know if you want to/need meet us at the park instead). Bob will lead us on a 1 1/2 - 2 hour (approx.) trail run. Because of the distance, you should plan on carrying water - if you don't have a hydration belt or pack of some sort, let me know as Bob and others have extras.

New to trail running and curious if you have "what it takes"? Here's Bob's response: "If you can run/walk for an hour and you don't mind being on a trail, you should be set. The base loop I am thinking of is ~9 miles and it runs around 1:40-2hrs - combination of single track trail and service roads, but we can easily adjust the course distance to incorporate anyone interested. PWF is a gem, I will look forward to running there with the group of Christian brothers and sisters. My trail running last year really provided unique opportunities to grow in my faith. http://www.eco-xsports.com/terrapin.php is a link to an event that Dave and I both did last year...Terrapin Mountain 1/2 marathon and 50K. The 1/2 is a great intro to trail running -- challenging terrain, but a distance that is easier to get your mind around. May be of interest to anyone who has fun next weekend."

Please email me (karenegyud@gmail.com) if you plan on attending and/or if you have any questions about the run.

Run Scheduled - January 9th at 7:30 a.m. (New Time)

2010-01-05T16:12:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year everyone. I hope running made it onto your list of New Year's resolutions.

I am embracing a new love of running in the cold - okay, not really - but I'm trying. Because 39 remains the highest temp in the forecast for the next week, and the highest low is 24, I've decided that I can't wait until it warms up to run. That said, I am really looking forward to the next time that the sun is shining and the temp is 60 with the slightest hint of a breeze. I may be waiting a while.

Speaking of cold weather running, we'll meet up for our first run of the year this Saturday, January 9th at 7:30 a.m. PLEASE NOTE THE NEW TIME. We'll meet at 7:30 a.m. for the next couple months so it will be a little lighter when we start. See you in the Horizons Church parking lot at 7:30 a.m.

Cold weather running tip - where a scarf over your mouth/nose so you don't breathe the cold in directly. Saves you from the cold lung cough for the rest of the day. I'm also layering my hands - mittens on top of my gloves.

Hope to see you Saturday - happy running!

Blessings,
Karen

Run on 12/19 Cancelled Due to the Snow Forecast

2009-12-18T09:39:00.000-05:00

Due to the prediction of "the December storm of the decade," I'm cancelling our scheduled run for tomorrow morning. Hopefully the predictions will be wrong and I'll feel silly for cancelling.

Blessings,
Karen

Run Scheduled - Saturday, December 19th @ 7 a.m.

2009-12-15T11:54:00.000-05:00

Hard to believe, but we'll have our last scheduled run of the year, this Saturday, December 19th at 7 a.m. I was going to call it a Jingle Bell Run, but then I got concerned that someone may show up with jingle bells on their shoes, and wouldn't that be fun to listen to for 5 miles? :)

Anyways, we'd love to have you join us. We'll meet at the Horizons Church parking lot and run for about 5 miles. If you have any questions, you can email me at karenegyud@gmail.com.

Interesting Article on Stretching Study

2009-12-08T13:17:00.000-05:00

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/25/phys-ed-how-necessary-is-stretching/

Run Scheduled - Saturday, December 5th at 7:00 a.m.

2009-12-02T18:05:00.000-05:00

We'll meet up this Saturday, December 5th at 7 a.m. in the Horizons Church parking lot for a run - should be around 5 miles. If you're new to the group or have questions about pace, ability, etc., please email me at karenegyud@gmail.com.

By the way, blogger seems to have gotten rid of spellcheck, or I just can't find it, so please forgive any spelling errors I may make. I'm so used to the security of spellcheck, I'm not used to paying attention :) If you're familiar with blogger and know where this feature has disappeared to, please let me know!

Blessings,
Karen

Turkey Trot - Nov. 26th

2009-12-02T17:55:00.000-05:00

We had a great run last Thursday for our 2nd Annual Turkey Trot. Thanks to everyone who came out. As you can see, it was a little foggy! And thanks to Dave & Patty for the pictures.

2nd Annual Turkey Trot - 11/26 @ 7 a.m.

2009-11-16T12:21:00.000-05:00

2nd Annual Turkey Trot

Thursday, November 26th @ 7 a.m.

Run Scheduled, Saturday, Nov. 14th at 7 a.m.

2009-11-12T22:58:00.001-05:00

We're finally scheduled to run again! We'll plan on meeting this Saturday, Nov. 14 at 7 a.m. in the Horizons Church parking lot. Depending on who all comes out, we may once again split to do a 3 mile group and a 5 mile group.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for Thanksgiving morning for our 2nd annual Turkey Trot. By my calculations, the run will cancel out the calories of two pieces of pumpkin pie. Now isn't that worth it? We'll meet at 7 a.m. so you'll have plenty of time to get home to watch the parade, cook, eat, nap, etc.

Huge kudos to Dave Robertson and Bob Hagan on their finishes at last Saturday's Mountain Masochist 50 mile Trail Run. You guys amaze me.

Here's praying that the weather is better by Saturday morning (supposed to be)! Look forward to running with y'all again!

No Run Scheduled for 10/31

2009-10-27T12:50:00.001-04:00

I originally planned on having a run scheduled for this Saturday (10/31), but I'll be out of town at the end of the week and won't be back into Stafford until the wee hours of Saturday morning. So, I'll let y'all know if the next run will be 11/7 or 11/14. Don't forget that there will be a run on Thanksgiving morning again this year.

Congrats to all of the finishers of the Marine Corps Marathon. I am so impressed by the job that MCM does in putting together a fantastic event. You have to be okay with crowds to love this event, but there's nothing like running through large, cheering crowds and having our men in uniform stationed along the entire course. I could go on and on about the flyover at the beginning, well managed water and food stations, very friendly participants, etc., etc. The weather was fantastic too!

As I continue to relearn how to walk down steps, I look forward to getting back out there and planning the next event.

Happy Running!

Blessings,
Karen

HC Run Schedule - 10/3 @ 7 a.m.

2009-09-30T18:36:00.004-04:00

Can you believe tomorrow is the first day of October? Yes, hard to believe. My body is starting to get used to the cooler temps - hopefully we don't have any Indian Summer days. Those who are running the Marine Corps on Oct. 25th are getting their 20(+) milers in this weekend...I'm still trying to figure that out for myself. And good luck to Debbie & Vinny who will be running the Chicago Marathon on October 11th and Rich who will be running the Baltimore 1/2 on October 10th. Can't wait to hear how it goes!

Everyone's invited to meet up this Saturday, October 3rd at 7 a.m. in the Horizons Church parking lot for a run. Depending on who comes, we may once again split to do a 3 mile group and a 5 mile group.

Upcoming schedule...as it currently stands:

10/3 - run at 7 a.m.
10/17 - no run due to the HC Yard, Tool & Bake Sale*
10/31 - run at 7 a.m.**
11/14 - run at 7 a.m.
11/26 - TURKEY TROT at 7 a.m. -Thanksgiving Day - no run scheduled for Saturday, 11/28

* I'm going to be helping out with the Yard Sale, but if someone else wants to organize a run for that date (or any of the other open dates), great! Just let me know and I'll make sure the info goes out to the group. FYI, I am donating 2 fuel belts to the sale (the kind that hold one bottle against your back), so if you're in the market for one, you may want to check that out! They kind of look like this:

**I prefer the 7 a.m. time, but I'm aware that it's getting darker and darker in the mornings. If it's too dark at 7 a.m. to be safe in our running, I'll push the time back to 7:30 a.m.

Blessings,

Karen

Cape Henry Running Festival

2009-09-21T11:01:00.002-04:00

Here's another running (& cycling) opportunity coming up this fall. Thank you Mike for sending the information along. It's the Cape Henry Running Festival & Duathlon on Saturday, November 21st. There's a Duathlon ( 5K run, 32K bike, 5K run) and a 10 mile run. More information can be found at http://capehenry.kalerunning.com/index.html.

Run Scheduled - Saturday, September 19

2009-09-15T12:34:00.011-04:00

Everyone's invited to meet up with us this Saturday, Sept. 19th at 7 a.m. in the Horizons Church parking lot for a run. We have some new runners interested in participating, so the run length may vary based on who shows up. We may split to do a 3 mile group and a 5 mile group. As always, if you want to run more, you're welcome to run to the group or to add some extra mileage on at the end of our group run.

I have a new fav running gadget. My ipod nano is now going to collect dust. I am the proud owner of a Sansa Clip. I have a subscription to Rhapsody which allows you to listen to any music on your computer or authorized devices - of which the Clip is one. I've been listening to the same songs for a year on my ipod, so I'm pretty thrilled to be listening to new Crowder, NeedtoBreathe, POD, etc. while I'm running. It's very small, has a radio and has 4 GB of memory.

Congrats to my brother Don who finished his first marathon last Sunday (Erie, PA) and has caught the bug to run more.

If you're going to be in town for Thanksgiving, mark your calendars now for our 2nd annual Turkey Trot (or should we call it, Eat More Pie?) run. Time & distance to be disclosed at a later date.

Finally, for those training for a marathon (or, you simply like long runs), if you are interested in doing a 20 mile run on 9/26, please email me (karenegyud@gmail.com). I will also be scheduling a 16 mile run in early November.

For some reason, blogger won't let me put paragraph breaks in above, so I apologize for it the "run-on paragraphs".

Run Scheduled/Capital Crescent Trail

2009-09-01T18:20:00.002-04:00

So, I found a "new" running path that I love.

Last Saturday, in search of a flat run, I headed to Georgetown to run the C&O Canal Towpath, which is the only flat run in the metro area I'm familiar with. But, in my search for parking longer than 2 hours, I ended up at the Capital Crescent Trail. It runs parallel to the C&O for a couple miles before diverting up to Bethesda. I was thrilled because unlike C&O, it's paved instead of gravel - easier on the feet! It was a great 14+ mile run, but NOT flat. When I got home and plugged in the Garmin, I found out that it's a 500ft+ elevation increase from Georgetown to Bethesda. So much for a flat run.

Now that September 1st is here, and we are enjoying low humidity and lower temperatures, I will put those hard runs behind me, and look forward to long runs in perfect temperatures! (LOL - how long will this last, 5 days, 6 if we're lucky?)

Anyways, for those who are in town this weekend, Horizons Runners will be meeting in the Horizons Church parking lot this Saturday, September 5th at 7 a.m. for a 5 mile run. Feel free to add miles before or after if needed - last time I made it a 10 mile run.

Love running with y'all!

Blessings,
Karen

Running Sins

2009-08-24T18:40:00.002-04:00

Okay, so I know Horizons is doing a series on sin, so this is a very appropriate link for our group.

http://dailyviews.runnersworld.com/2009/08/forgive-me-bart-for-i-have-sinned.html#comments

I love the comments about the running sins...I'll be bold enough to add my own.

My sin is that I've been following a "have never run a marathon" training program, when in reality, I've run 3 in the last 2 years, so I should be progressing a little more than I'm committing to and should be following the intermediate program. But that requires a LOT more running. Forgive me. In my defense, or for my penance, I will say as much of the "Hail Mary" as I know, and I will try to run 6 miles 2 days in a row.

Blessings,
Karen

Run Scheduled - This Saturday (8/22 @ 7 a.m.)

2009-08-19T17:42:00.003-04:00

Join Horizons Runners this Saturday at 7 a.m. for a 5 mile run. We'll meet in the parking lot of Horizons Church and run the out and back through Augustine. There are runners of all skill level who come out and run, so even if you feel like 5 miles is a stretch...or your concerned about keeping up...please don't let you that hinder you from coming out. If you're concerned about this aspect, please feel free to email me (karenegyud@gmail.com) and we can talk through where you're at as a runner.

By the way, now I'm a big fan of this:

Blessings,

Karen

Run Scheduled - August 8 @ 7 a.m.

2009-08-04T18:23:00.001-04:00

"The biological ages of runners are at least 10 years younger than their chronological ones." Steve Hawkins, Ph.D.

Join Horizons Runners this Saturday at 7 a.m. for a 5 mile run. We'll meet in the parking lot of Horizons Church and run the out and back through Augustine.

There are runners of all skill level who come out and run, so even if you feel like 5 miles is a stretch...or your concerned about keeping up...please don't let you that hinder you from coming out. If you're concerned about this aspect, please feel free to email me (karenegyud@gmail.com) and we can talk through where you're at as a runner.

Blessings,
Karen

Mind Games & Goal Setting

2009-08-01T12:03:00.002-04:00

I have been reading a book about ultrarunning (thanks Dave) - it's a collection of different runners' experiences with doing runs 50K and up. While I type this, Bob H. is probably finishing his 50K, Dave R. is prepping for his 50K next week (Dahlgren - still entry spots available). I'm amazed at their ability to run these distances. I still struggle with the mental part of running 26.2 - or even 10. It can be overwhelming to think about running for that long of a period of time.

One of the runners in the book talked about how much of running is goal setting. Set the goal, put your mind to it and the body will follow. I do know it works because it's what has enabled me to run as much as I have already. And yes, it will be what it takes to run a 50K, if I can ever manage to work up that much courage.

My encouragement to you is that when you're training, make sure you're setting some goals that stretch your mind - not just your body. Don't believe you can even run 1 mile, let alone a marathon? What if you try believing that you can, and setting out to prove yourself right?

Even more so in the race of life that we are running, remember the words of 1 Peter 1:13 "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."

Blessings,
Karen

Run Scheduled - This Saturday, 7/25 @ 7 a.m.

2009-07-22T16:37:00.003-04:00

Join Horizons Runners this Saturday at 7 a.m. for a 5 mile run. We'll meet in the parking lot of Horizons Church and run the out and back through Augustine.

If you've never been a part of a running group and have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me (karenegyud@gmail.com). I know there is sometimes apprehension about the distance, running speed, etc., and I'm sure I can allay any of your fears. I always look forward to the fellowship and encouragement of being with other runners - people who understand this "sickness" we call distance running :)

I can tell many people are in full race training as the injury reports are starting to trickle in. Make sure you train smart - which often means not over training. Unfortunately, my problem is typically under training!

Last week I ran the 7ish mile loop at Prince William Forest Park (the road loop - not the trail) and ran the part with the horrible hills first. That is a tough, but great training course. If you've never done it, I highly suggest trying it out. It's actually 8 miles round trip from parking lot D. Let me know if you want better directions. There is a $5 parking charge - unless you're in out and before they open. I know there's some energy for running the trail loop out there - let's see what the weekends in August bring us and perhaps we get something scheduled.

Hope to see y'all Saturday! Happy running, enjoy the humidity and be blessed.

Karen

Run Scheduled - This Saturday, 7/11 @ 7 a.m.

2009-07-07T14:58:00.002-04:00

Join Horizons Runners this Saturday at 7 a.m. for a 5 mile run. We'll meet in the parking lot of Horizons Church and run the out and back through Augustine.

There are runners of all skill level who come out and run, so even if you feel like 5 miles is a stretch...or your concerned about keeping up...please don't let you that hinder you from coming out. If you're concerned about this aspect, please feel free to email me (karenegyud@gmail.com) and we can talk through where you're at as a runner.

Blessings,
Karen

Ragnar Relay

2009-06-24T16:00:00.002-04:00

I'm seeing if there's enough interest out there to field a 12 person team for the Ragnar Relay that will be held on September 25/26. The deadline to register at the lower price is June 30th, so I'm looking for commitments by this Sunday, June 28th. I have 6 pretty firm commitments, and a handful of other possibilities, so we're at least 1/2 way there.

For more information, review the website (www.ragnarrelay.com/dc/index.php) and if you're interested, send me an email at karenegyud@gmail.com.

Run Scheduled - This Saturday, June 27 at 7 a.m.

2009-06-24T15:47:00.003-04:00

Join Horizons Runners this Saturday at 7 a.m. for a 5 mile run. We'll meet in the parking lot of Horizons Church and run the out and back through Augustine.

Hopefully the weather reports will be correct and it won't be oppressively humid. I'm still trying to adjust to the heat.

Hope you can join us. Please email me should you have any questions (karenegyud@gmail.com).

Blessings,
Karen

Summer Schedule

2009-06-09T13:13:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to get some advance warning out to everyone on our summer schedule. We'll still be sticking with our every other week schedule, at our new meet time of 7:00 a.m. However, the next scheduled run will be on June 27th and every other week there forward. That keeps us off the 20th (I'll be on vacation :), and July 4th.

Run Scheduled - This Saturday, 6/6 @ 7 a.m.

2009-06-02T14:52:00.003-04:00

Hello runners!

I hope you are enjoying warm weather running. I'm not, but I'm hoping to get used to it soon.

We'll meet this Saturday, June 6th at 7:00 a.m. in the parking lot of Horizons Church (corner of Winding Creek and Flatford - back side of Park Ridge). Distance will be @5 miles. Please note that the time has been moved up 30 minutes and we will stay at a similar time through the summer due to the heat & humidity of our lovely Virginia.

See you Saturday!

Coupon for the VA Beach 1/2

2009-05-21T09:19:00.002-04:00

If you are planning on running the VA Beach 1/2 Marathon - here's a coupon for $10 off...

Price Increase May 31st!
Pocket $25 when you:
1. Register before the $15 price increase
2. Save an additional $10 with coupon code
Use Code: POCKET Offer Expires: 5/31

Run Scheduled - May 23

2009-05-18T14:19:00.003-04:00

Hey Runners. Join us this coming Saturday, 5/23, for a 5 mile run. We'll meet in the Horizons Church parking lot at 7:30 a.m. There will also be the opportunity to add a few more miles onto the end of the run if you'd like.

Congrats to everyone who ran in a race last Sunday. Dave Robertson & Steve Sparling ran the Ex2 Off-Road Half Marathon in Prince William Forest Park - great times guys. I do hope there will be pictures from this one! I know there were a few people in the Historic Half in Fredericksburg, too. I have to admit that my predominant thought on Sunday morning was one of thankfulness that I wasn't registered to run either of these races. :)

Training programs are starting to kick into full gear - I'll try and schedule some "off-site" long runs for those in training for fall half & full marathons. If you haven't signed up for something yet, there are lots of great options - Baltimore, Richmond, VA Beach. Dave R. is doing the Rattlesnake Trail 50K on July 11th in WV. Rattlesnake Trail? No thank you. But, for those who are into trails without snakes in the name, there is a 50K in Dahlgren in August. Here's the link: http://www.racetimingunlimited.org/raceinfo/DU09Info.aspx

Have a great week running in this beautiful weather and hope to see you Saturday.

Blessings,
Karen

Run Scheduled - May 9th

2009-05-06T17:04:00.002-04:00

We'll meet this Saturday, May 9th at 7:30 a.m. in the parking lot of Horizons Church (please note location). In case you're not familiar, the church is located at 12 Flatford Road (corner of Winding Creek and Flatford - back side of Park Ridge). Distance will be @5 miles.

Thankfully, there's no rain in the forecast for the morning!

Please email me (karenegyud@gmail.com) should you have any questions. Hope to see you Saturday.

Blessings,
Karen

Run Scheduled - April 25th

2009-04-21T13:57:00.006-04:00

It seems like forever since we've had a run together! We'll meet this Saturday, April 25th at 7:30 a.m. in the parking lot of Horizons Church (please note new location!). In case you're not familiar, the church is located at 12 Flatford Road (corner of Winding Creek and Flatford - back side of Park Ridge).

Distance will be 4-5 miles for the main run, with the option to add some additional miles on the end, if you choose. I'm planning on adding about 2...if my legs recover from last weekend by then.

Also, a reminder about the event coming up in a couple weeks that could use some volunteer help: www.athletic-equation.com/endurance-events/24hratr.html. You can contact Dave Robertson (david.robertson@associates.dhs.gov) for more info.

Good luck to the Goodroe's who are doing the Face of America Charity Two Day Ride this weekend.

Please email me (karenegyud@gmail.com) should you have any questions. Hope to see you Saturday.

Blessings,

Karen

A Couple Weeks Off

2009-04-08T07:35:00.004-04:00

Generally, we'd be running this Saturday, but because of the Easter holiday, I'm not going to schedule a run. Next week is the Charlottesville 1/2 which I'm running, so the next organized run will probably be April 25th - meeting in the church parking lot.

Blessings,
Karen

Run Scheduled - March 28th

2009-03-24T15:02:00.001-04:00

There will be a run this Saturday, March 28th at 7:30 a.m. We will meet for the last time at Rodney Thompson Middle School. (We'll meet at the church site in the future). Finally, the weather should be more springlike - hopefully in the 50's.

We'll do a 4 mile run together - all are welcome to add on to the run before and after. I've been loving the extended long run after our 4 miles, but this Saturday will just be the 4 miles for me as I need to get ready for the big move! (Items currently in storage, etc. moving into the church building Saturday!!!)

If you have any questions about the group, like where Rodney Thompson is or how challenging the run is, etc., please don't hesitate to email me (karenegyud@gmail.com) or call (703.403.3388) and as always, feel free to invite a friend to join us. See you Saturday!

Park Ridge 5K Pictures

2009-03-24T15:01:00.009-04:00

The Park Ridge 5K was awesome this year - it was really well put together. Kudos to the planners. Several members of the running club were out for the 5K or the 1 mile fun run. It was PR for me in the 5K, which really isn't saying much, but it's nice to see improvement year to year. Thank you to Pat & Danielle for sharing some pictures with me!

Park Ridge 5K

2009-03-17T13:21:00.002-04:00

Have you registered??? http://www.geocities.com/parkridge5k/

Park Ridge 5K is this Saturday at 8 a.m. and the 1 Mile Fun Run is at 9 a.m.

See you there!

Karen

Run Scheduled - March 14th

2009-03-10T12:15:00.002-04:00

Morning temp for Saturday is forecasted to be in the 40's. Considering how cold it has been for our runs recently, that will feel great!

There's a great article in Runner's World this month about running with others and the positive benefits. I am thankful for this group and how it has encouraged me to get outside to run on some mornings that I would have made any excuse not to get out of bed.

We currently meet up at Rodney Thompson Middle School (for just a few more runs - then we'll be meeting at the building!) We'll plan on doing a 4 mile group run. If you have any questions about the group, like where Rodney Thompson is or how challenging the run is, etc., please don't hesitate to email me (karenegyud@gmail.com) or call (703.403.3388) and as always, feel free to invite a friend to join us.

See you Saturday!

Run Scheduled - February 28

2009-02-24T20:26:00.002-05:00

We'll close out the month of February with a run this Saturday at 7:30 a.m. Can you believe it's the last week of February???? I know we all want spring, but I will try to focus on the fact that it's still FEBRUARY and it's supposed to be cold. :)

We currently meet up at Rodney Thompson Middle School. We'll plan on doing a 4 mile group run, and if anyone wants to go a little further, or needs to do a little less, we can work that out as well. If you have any questions about the group, like where Rodney Thompson is or how challenging the run is, etc., please don't hesitate to email me (karenegyud@gmail.com) or call (703.403.3388).

I was going to move the runs in March to 7:00 a.m. until I realized daylight savings time takes effect on March 8th - meaning that it will still be "darkish". I'll wait until April to move the time back.

Also, it's time to sign up for some races. Don't forget to check out the Charlottesville Half/Full Marathon and the Park Ridge 5K, coming up soon.

See you Saturday!

Blessings,
Karen

Great Run

2009-02-14T11:58:00.002-05:00

We had a great run this morning. It wasn't windy - even though it was still a little cold out. We had a couple new people - way to go Christian!

I decided to take Dave up on the challenge of an extra 4 miles - which was more like an extra 5 miles. My legs are feeling it and I could really use a nap now, but it's great to be up to that mileage so early in the year. Of course, the first humid day will knock me back down!

Dave will be getting us some info on a volunteer opportunity at a race coming up in May.

Thought for the day...when you run, what is your mind focused upon? For me, running is usually a great time to clear my head, but sometimes, I can obsess on problems or negative thoughts - as simple as, "I can't do this, I can't run any further." A better way to use the time: Psalm 77:12 "I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds."

Blessings,
Karen

Run Scheduled - Saturday, 2/14 @ 7:30 a.m.

2009-02-10T14:18:00.002-05:00

Do your heart some good this Valentine's Day and join Horizons Runners this Saturday, 2/14 at 7:30 a.m.

We currently meet up at Rodney Thompson Middle School. We'll plan on doing a 4 mile group run, and if anyone wants to go a little further, or needs to do a little less, we can work that out as well.

If you have any questions about the group, like where Rodney Thompson is or how challenging the run is, etc., please don't hesitate to email me (karenegyud@gmail.com) or call (703.403.3388).

Tentative Schedule for Feb & March

2009-01-31T12:11:00.002-05:00

Subject to change, runs will be held on the following Saturdays in Feb & March: 2/14, 2/28, 3/14 & 3/28. By March, as the weather gets warmer and it gets light sooner, the start time will move back to 7:00 a.m.

If you are not on the email list already to be alerted about scheduled runs, send me an email at karenegyud@gmail.com. Also on the calendar for March is the Park Ridge 5K on the 21st.

Running Playlists

2009-01-29T10:43:00.003-05:00

I just came across this cd today. I actually already have most of these tracks in my running playlist. I'm in the market for some new songs to add to my list. It's already 5 hours long, but I've been listening to the same playlist of songs for over a year. Anyone have suggestions of their favorite running songs?

Track Listings
1. Let God Arise (Chris Tomlin)
2. No One Like You (David Crowder Band)
3. You're Worthy Of My Praise (Jeremy Camp)
4. Hallelujah, God Is Near (Robbie Seay Band)
5. Filled With Your Glory (Starfield)
6. Happy Day (Tim Hughes)
7. Alive (Rebecca St. James)
8. Everything About You (Sanctus Real)
9. Blessed Is The One (Daniel Doss Band)
10. Burn For You (Shortwave Radio Mix) (tobyMac)
11. Strong Tower (Kutless)
12. Moment Made For Worshipping (Steven Curtis Chapman)

Scheduled Run - Saturday 1/31 @ 7:30 a.m.

2009-01-27T10:21:00.003-05:00

I have scheduled a run for this Saturday, hopefully to get us on the opposite days of the Men's Group. (We generally meet every other week, as schedules allow). So, join us this Saturday, 1/31 at 7:30 a.m. We currently meet up at Rodney Thompson Middle School. We'll plan on doing a 4 mile group run, and if anyone wants to go a little further, or needs to do a little less, we can work that out as well. Email me if you plan to come.

If you have any questions about the group, like where Rodney Thompson is or how challenging the run is, etc., please don't hesitate to email me (karenegyud@gmail.com) or call (703.403.3388).

Weather for Saturday looks a lot better than today! Hope to see you then.

Blessings,

Karen

Run Scheduled - Saturday, Jan.24th @ 7:30 a.m.

2009-01-17T14:54:00.003-05:00

I've scheduled a 4 miler for Saturday, January 24th at 7:30 a.m. We'll meet at Rodney Thompson Middle School. Please let me know if you have any questions.

It should be balmy compared with today. They're calling for a high of 38!

Race Schedule

2009-01-03T22:41:00.004-05:00

Here are some great races happening in 2009.

Saturday, March 21 - Park Ridge 5K (Stafford, VA)
Saturday, March 21 - National Marathon & Half Marathon
Saturday, April 18- Charlottesville Marathon & Half Marathon
Sunday, May 17 - Marine Corps Historic Half (Fredericksburg, VA)
Sunday, September 6 - Virginia Beach Rock N Roll Half Marathon
Saturday, October 10 - Baltimore Marathon & Half Marathon
Sunday, October 25 - Marine Corps Marathon (Washington, DC)
Saturday, November 14 - Richmond Marathon & Half Marathon

This isn't an exhautive list, but these seem to be the most popular races amongst the Horizons Runners, and most are on Saturdays.

Run Saturday, January 3rd

2008-12-31T10:54:00.001-05:00

Dave is coordinating a trail run for us for this Saturday, 1/3/09. It will be approx. 4 miles at the Prince William Forest Park. We will meet at 7:30 a.m. at the 610 commuter lot that is behind Liberty Lanes to carpool to the park. We'll meet near the Mine Rd. entrance. Let me know if you plan on attending so we don't miss anyone.

Park Ridge 5K - March 21, 2009

2008-12-14T17:42:00.005-05:00

Okay, I know we haven't even closed the books on 2008, but looking ahead to 2009, I'm excited to see that Park Ridge will once again be holding a 5K. (http://www.geocities.com/parkridge5k/). Most of us run for distance more than speed, so the 5K isn't what we live for, but....this has become a great bragging rights run. How great is it to say, "I placed 2nd in my age group"? Not ever going to happen for me in the Marine Corps Marathon, but with the Park Ridge 5K, I have hope of taking home a trophy. So, mark your calenders for Saturday, March 21, 2009.

Scheduled Run - Saturday 12/13 @ 8:30 a.m.

2008-12-11T14:23:00.001-05:00

Join us at Rodney Thompson Middle School this Saturday at 8:30 a.m. for a 4 mile'ish run through Augustine. Hope you can join us. Email me for more information/questions at karenegyud@gmail.com.

Blessings,
Karen

New Running Gear

2008-12-08T13:52:00.002-05:00

Saw this in ESPN, The Magazine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUuwEq98ByM

As ESPN said, "At last, a way for joggers to work out in the fresh air. Other than, y'know, jogging."

LOL!