It seems sort of surreal, but today I’m announcing that I will be participating in the Runner’s World Heartbreak Hill Half & Festival as part of the official Runner’s World blogger ambassador crew!
Me, partnering with Runner’s World?! Crazy!
The festival takes place on the campus of my college rival Boston College (grrr, go BU!) the weekend of June 6-8, and consists of a 5K, 10K and half marathon.
You can sign up for each race individually, tackle both the 5K and 10K (called the “Five and Dime”) or … drumroll please … take on the Hat Trick, which is running all three races.
I toyed with the idea of doing the Hat Trick for, hmm, three seconds before opting for the Five and Dime, since I have Boston’s Run to Remember half marathon like two weeks before. Plus I’ve never run two races on the same day before, so I think that will be challenging enough.
The festival weekend is kind of mind-blowing because it includes seminars, live music, a keynote address by Ironman triathlete and Paralympian (and “Amazing Race” alum) Sarah Reinersten, a prerace dinner with Runner’s World editors, kids races and children’s programming, and – of course – the races themselves (5K and 10K on Saturday, and the half marathon on Sunday).
While I am so honored to be included as an official race blogger, I’m also feeling a bit intimidated. The other ladies (and a few gentlemen) joining me are well-known fitness and healthy living bloggers, many of whom I’ve been following for years. They are the ones I started reading nearly three years ago when I decided to focus more on running. They are running bad-asses who blow me away with their PRs and times and distances, even while juggling jobs and families and, well, life.
I’m trying really hard to push aside the nagging insecurities. And feelings like I am totally out of my league here. And questions like, Am I going to be the oldest running blogger? The slowest? The only one who hasn’t run a full marathon or broken a sub-25 5K (yet)?
Because if I focus on all those perceived negatives, I am going to miss the overwhelming and undeniable positives of this incredible opportunity.
Yes, I know I’m not an elite athlete; I am, at best, a recreational runner. And you know what? I’m damn proud of it. I’m proud that Runner’s World is giving me the opportunity to represent the other runners like me, the average gals who still lace up those sneakers several times a week but may never run a 7-minute mile or line up at a marathon starting line. Because you don’t have to do any of those things to be considered a “real” runner. You just have to, well, run.
And all I can do that weekend is run my own race(s) with pride, confidence and determination, and focus on crossing the finish line(s) with a smile on my face. I may not be the fastest, but I will always push myself and I will always finish.
I can’t wait to share tips and information with you from Runner’s World editors (Bart Yasso!) and Olympic athletes (Shalane Flanagan!), and meet – and learn from – my fellow bloggers and running enthusiasts who I’ll be spending the weekend with. And the fact that I get to run up the infamous “Heartbreak Hill” and spend a lovely weekend in/near the city that I love? Icing on the cake.
And I want you to join me!! (I’ll need all the support I can as I tackle running two races in one day!) If you’re planning to run too, mention it in the comments below or email me at jessica@keepingmommysane.com so we can meet up!
Here are some exclusive discount codes so you can save 10% off your registration!
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide says
So exciting!
Sheri says
Sounds like a lot of fun!!
Deb says
Thanks for writing about the negative thoughts we all have, but reminding us to focus on the positive! Good luck!!
Katy Scarpulla says
Hi Jessica,
I found your blog when looking for other mother runners out there to follow and learn from and saw that you were in Boston 🙂 I am also doing the five and dime at HHhalf weekend. See you there!
Jessica says
Hi Katy! Welcome! Are you in the area too? Hope our paths cross at the race(s) next month. It should be an awesome day!