9 on the 9th: Sweetheart Shuffle Official RACE RESULTS

Once again, the results are in and the race reports are posted. This virtual thing seems to be working out.

I might be a little more sappy this time (understatement) -- I think because I realized a bunch of people are out there running 9 miles, because I said I needed a reason to keep training. You are all SWEETHEARTS in my book and certainly, you are all WINNERS. Thank you so much for getting out there and for indulging me on these virtual races. If you are new, check out the inaugural race, 8 on the 8th.

A word of thanks to Gretchen at heArt-a-day for designing our lovely logo. She's a budding artist and we met by chance on-line, only to find out we live only 100 miles apart. Thanks for the perfect logo and your generosity for our little shuffling blogging gang. XOXO

Again, the race reports are pretty fun so I've provided some official race pictures, links to reports and highlights for your perusing pleasure. It was quite a competitive race, lots of reports of fantastic race directing, aid stations and crowd control, and the pacers seemed to be well accepted although some people brought their own (Derek Jeter, Beckham, etc). There were some reports of attempting to bribe the RD with lipstick, G2, Cliff Bars, and Sport Beans. Well done! :D My most favoritest thing to hear, "I wouldn't have done this today if it hadn't been for this race." AMEN. Mission Accomplished.

Before I get started, special shouts to Laminator who had wanted a second shot at the title and instead is recovering from a broken bone, we all hope you are recovering well; Bill, our previous KING, who is tapering and planning to completely ROCK his marathon next week, and my nemesis, Scott, who thought about running 9 minutes and thought that should count for something. My friend, after Rocky Raccoon, you get an honorary finish.


Be sure to use your titles wisely. You have so earned them. Make your significant other use them at least once. If you don't have one, at least you got called a cutesy name for Valentine's Day. (know that you are loved!) Although, doesn't everyone just want to be a Lasting Lover? That was one of my better ones. :D Also, the hearts are your race medals. ENJOY!!

KINGS OF OUR HEARTS
59:25 (6:36) Doug is the Relentless Runner - finally feeling 100% - He's fast, he's really fast. And he is our King.

59:29 (6:36) Nic from Left Foot. Right Foot. Repeat as Necessary - How fast would he be without 4" of new snow? Also, a King of our Hearts.

RAPID ROMEOS
1:08:23 (7:36) Bob has Random Thoughts While Running - 14.11 miles and a new PR!! Such a Romeo.

1:08:25 (7:36) Reid at Life Strides - another great pic, Sweetheart Shuffled with his wife

1:14:36 (8:16) Brian's Journey to Endurance - 2 days before a marathon!! How do you approach a hot woman walker?

1:17:00 (8:33) Tom at Runner's Lounge waited until the wind whipped up ?

1:17:06 (8:34) Brian Sawyer - damn ankle pain

1:17:22 (8:36) ShoreTurtle - battled a nasty headwind

1:20:33 (8:56) SLB+ at Quadrathon ran this race THREE times??!!

QUICK CUPIDS
1:25:00 (9:27) Topher Runs for Donuts - unfortunate injury - broke a bone!! #1 Cupid

1:28:12 (9:48) akshaye at One More Mile - had an interesting neighborhood pic

1:29:20 (9:55) Eric's a Marathoner in Training and a PR'ing bad boy with tattoos and plumber butt

1:29:29 (9:57) Peter the DC Spinster

LASTING LOVERS

1:32:00 (10:00) Running to Oz - Stealth over speed. Said the RD is brilliant. Of course, that gets him 1st Lover status.

1:39:00 (11:00) Bob Gentile - ran for 3 hours (9plus) - great pics

1:40:12 (11:08) Wes at Code Geek's Tails almost didn't do it but got it done and kept his HR in zone 2.

1:47:05 (11:53) Rob at I Dare is making some definite progress

1:48:27 (12:03) Jeff at Formerly Fat Running Guy - persistence paid off in 3 segments

SWEETHEARTS OF THE SHUFFLE
1:06:46 (7:25) Sarah's a smoking hot Blue Stocking Runner who ran part of the Boston course - She's our #1 Sweetheart!

1:14:00 (8:13) See Zanne Run - this little rocket was doing a full marathon and got a big PR!!

1:15:03 (8:20) Christine the Runnin' Duff was adamant she get a race medal. :D

1:15:11 (8:21) Wendy ran this once with Jess but took a mulligan and ran it again!

1:16:32 (8:29) Our Little World was actually scaring people off at the gym!

1:17:14 (8:35) Marci at I Signed Up For This?? - Great pics with her pacer!! :D

1:17:45 (8:38) Kristina, the Marathon Mama, interprets signs for delirious runners

CRUISING CUPCAKES

1:18:30 (8:43) Amanda at Run to Finish - our leading Cupcake! :D

1:20:42 (8:58) Laura at Absolut(ly) Fit ran a half mary today and credits us with getting her started blogging!

1:20:50 (8:59) See Jenny Run for 13.1 and get a PR under 2 hours!! She's a beast.

1:21:38 (9:04) Kathryn is Jenny's running partner and quite the harlot. Also a big HM PR!!

1:23:00 (9:13) Marathon Moon described all sorts of man scenery

DASHING DARLINGS

1:32:00 (10:13) Run Audrey Run - would not have done 9 today and now she's our featured Darling!!

1:32:26 (10:16) DawnB Lives Life on the Run and always has the urge to go further.

1:33:49 (10:25) Country Cruiser - not much time for blogging but still running!

1:34:03 (10:23) Ovens2Betsy did 9+5K with a perfect HR.

1:35:06 (10:34) Taryn's Life and Running experienced silent spectators and live ducks?

1:35:43 (10:38) Laurel at Lily on the Road - intrnatl entrant - battled vehicles that slipped through race support.

1:36:35 (10:44) Database Diva - did 10.25 and then ANOTHER 10!!

1:37:05 (10:47) Jess at 21 Days had fun with Wendy despite delays

HUSTLIN' HONEYS

1:40:05 (11:07) Motleyblog had buff pacers and the shirts were flying!! She's our Honey.

1:42:46 (11:25) Patty's not blogging right now but she's still running

1:43:00 (11:26) Michelle's first time for doing 9!! YAY, you!

1:43:08 (11:28) Vickie did a reverse TRI and just kept going...

1:43:47 (11:32) Sonia, the Solo Running Chick, was a last minute entrant who would've bailed early if not for the race.

MOTIVATING MUFFINS
1:50:27 (12:16) Bev's Journal of a Slow Texas Runner - 1st timer, now 1st Muffin. Wore lipstick in my honor!! :D

1:57:06 (13:01) Pokey - vultures actually circled, but she and Lisa weren't dead

1:57:06 (13:01) Java~Mom - documented in pics, offered to bribe RD with lipstick!! :D

1:58:05 (13:07) Katie at K80K - tried out new gear and shot blocks

1:58:29 (13:10) Barb, the Running Jayhawk, did 9.2 while keeping her HR low.

1:58:45 (13:12) Nancy, race director, put on heels that night like Katie Holmes. Still needs a bra.

2:ish (13:20) Amy at Runner's Lounge almost let work bury her but she pulled it off!! YAY.

2:09:00 (14:20) Nat did 18 miles and gave us great excuses for walk breaks.

2:37:24 (17:29) Cheryl from Velocity Challenged used inspirational signs to keep her going. You go girl!

VALIANT VALENTINES

58:25 (11:41) teacherwoman did 5 after a hellacious rock concert -- great rock pics.

1:14:44 (12:27) Viv at I'm Not Fit kicked hubby a$$ for 6 miles. He's so lucky :D. Atta Girl!!

1:20:00 (11:26) jkrunning 7 of 9 is awesome! Thanks for joining us!

cewtwo at Why How What Where I Run did 6+3.5 - YEAH!!

Congratulations and thank you to all the participants. I hope you enjoyed the race!! Please let me know if I've left anyone out or there are late entrants. I will make updates if this occurs. (updated 2/15/08)

HAPPY VALENTINE's DAY!!

9 on the 9th: Sweetheart Shuffle RACE REPORT

I actually did it. I wasn't sure if I could complete this, in fact I thought about doing just 6 and putting my earlier in the week 3 with it (I hear the race director is really lenient that way!), but I made it. Slow, but Steady.

It started with a stellar meal the night before at my favorite brewery and included 2L of pub beer and some basic bar food: Nachos, Titan Toothpicks, Beer Bread and cheese. Yeeeeah. I would normally not do that before a race but decided to see how it would work. There was one time way back where we signed up for a local 5k and then decided to drink several bottles of wine, but I try not to go back to that day too often...

I woke up feeling fine and downed a Vanilla Cliff Shot in honor of Vanilla's recent adoption by the Cliff people -- lucky stiff. Then it was off to the treadmill. I decided to choose a movie that had about 120 minutes on it, just in case I could do 5 or 6 and walk the rest in. Well, that is basically what I did, sort of. Incorporated some walking whenever I needed it, but actually when I started to do that, it allowed me to run slightly faster when I was running. It was a great choice to put a movie on, I couldn't see sitting on the couch to finish it, I might as well keep moving as long as I feel good.

Amazingly, I feel pretty dang good. I haven't had much pain or discomfort. Perhaps there is progress in this ole bod? I think the PT, professional insoles and all the cross training and weights might be starting to pay off. I was pretty PO'd when Katie Holmes ran a marathon (sans bra, buts that another story) then went out with Tom that night in heels. Guess what, I put on my super high heeled brown boots and went out tonight!! Yes, I realize it was no marathon, and I will always need the jogging bra, but THIS IS PROGRESS, PEOPLE!!

13:00

12:21

12:35

13:20

13:21

14:09

13:06

13:15

13:35

1:58:45 ~

Besides my cute baldy pacer, I invited Derek and his G2 along with me. I , like Derek, prefer the light purple. Normally I am pretty much bringing up the back of the back of the pack and there is nobody back there with me. Having Derek and Baldy along makes for a very nice improvement. :D Well, I did say SWEETHEART SHUFFLE.

This virtual thing really works! Got me off my keester for longer than I would have dreamed of going today. As far as I am concerned, 9 on the 9th was already a success. You guys are just icing on the cake.

I can't wait to read all your race reports!! Good luck, everyone!