Dunkin Donuts logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This past weekend was H-E-C-T-I-C to say the least.  Here is a breakdown of our task list for the weekend:

• Organize and coach a 20 mile training run.
• Two  2 hour baseball games
• Run a 5k
• Work in my own 20 mile training run.
• Two children’s fun runs.
• A bike training route for Jeff.
• BBQ with friends
• 5 hour shift volunteering at the Hero Rush for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to receive a $500 grant.

Well the best laid plans do not always work out right. Really, A LOT of things bombed that weekend. I ended the weekend in tears. Needless to say my own 20 miles and Jeff’s bike were out the window. We were too strapped for time, we had a car battery die, some things did not go as planned and I spend the entire volunteer shift passing out medals in billowing smoke.

I still had the Dunkin’ Donuts 5k where I could get a run in.  As I pasted this logo, I had to giggle at the slogan “America runs on Dunkin”.  I did run on Dunkin on Sunday :).  But I digress from my quirky sense of humor. So, I threw caution to the wind and went for my 5k.  I decided to run hard enough to feel winded but not toss my cookies (or donuts). Silly, I didn’t have a donuts, I went to Dunkin’ Donuts before and ordered an egg and cheese wrap and a Dunkachino–because that makes more sense 😎 ???

It paid off!

I shaved off 1 minute and 47 seconds off of my 5k and set a new personal record!!!! My official time was 27:11 or an 8:45 pace. I came in 18/85 in my age group in a really competitive field.  Still far from my high school race pace days but at the end of the race I still had a bit left so I know there is room for growth.

Peer Pressure + Giant Coffee Cup + Flat Course = PR!

A few things helped. It was a flat course, the pace car had a giant coffee cup strapped to the back, and it was a USATF  Championship event.  Nothing like peer pressure and chasing down a coffee cup on a flat course to get me going.

Will run for coffee.

Why do it?

The swag was great, super cute long sleeve tech shirt, large bright orange water bottle, munchkins and coffee galore and a fun kids race to include the entire family. The weather turned out to be much cooler than our unseasonable hot weather in days prior so it was a good day all around.

From now on I am going to train by chasing a car with a driver holding a giant Starbucks Iced Vanilla Latte out the window. Now that is motivation!

❤ Jennie