5k and 10k all in one morning.

Don’t forget to enter my giveaway for a free pair of running shoes!

So far the Runner’s World 1/2 and Festival has been perfect.  I will be coming back yearly for this event.  

We met up for the shuttle to pick us up at 6:45 Saturday morning and I had a hot chocolate and BelVita bar for bfast.  Breakfast of champions.

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All of the festivities were held at the Steel Stacks (it was the second largest steel manufacturer in the nation back in the day and now it is a 10 acre campus with a ton of stuff to do) and it was incredible. 

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Why am I showing you my weird looking wrist?  Because I completely spaced wearing my Garmin yesterday.  I never forget my Garmin.  I felt naked.  

This weekend was all about having fun and doing what felt comfortable (I have a 1/2 marathon next weekend and I really want to do well in it so I am saving my legs for that) so it was okay that I didn’t have my watch because I just ran with friends and enjoyed it.  

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Kristin and I ran the 5k together and it was an awesome course… hilly, but awesome.  We finished in 21:20 (6:51 mile).  We had a blast together catching up on each other’s lives.

Bart Yasso and the other awesome Runner’s World peeps.

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My absolute favorite part about running/races is most definitely the people!  

PS Susan in the picture right under this took 1st in her age group in the 5k and 10k!

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I really like runners.  

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The 10k started about an hour after we finished the 5k.  It was an interesting feeling to get the legs moving again after finishing a race and then sitting around for a little while.  The 10k course was also hilly but it was so beautiful.  Bethlehem is incredible in the fall.  

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At about mile 2 we started running with Summer Sanders and ran the rest of the race with her.  She really is the sweetest woman alive and I loved talking with her.  The two of us represented Utah at the race.   

We finished in 45:16 (7:17 pace) and I also loved the 10k course.  Everything was seamless.

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We finished up and grabbed our things at the bag drop-off (it was so organized and really easy to pick up and drop your stuff) and then we jumped on the shuttle to get back to our hotel.

Ashley, Theodora and Ericka!

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I had a banana and another Belvita bar after the race followed up by some amazing Panera Bread for lunch.  

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Stoked for a 1/2 marathon this morning! 

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What 5ks or 10ks have you done?  Any favorites?

What is your Panera Bread order?

True feelings about hills in a race!?!

Favorite race time start?

-I love 7 a.m. race starts.

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60 comments

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Have fun in your half marathon!!! I can’t wait to hear what your “easy” race time is ;-)

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Um, your easy 5k/10k pace is my dream pace! Also, I am super jealous that you are running with Summer Sanders. Good luck today!

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So much running! And considering your saving your legs- they are fast times! Looks like fun though!

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Random Running Note- I had a dream about trail racing last night. If you ran below a certain time set for each distance then the RD gave you free entry into the next year’s event. However, if you ran slower than a certain time you had to pay $1.40/minute more.

In the dream I was reminded of how much I love hilly trail runs. Long hills that you power walk and then speedy descents- even technical ones that keep you on your toes.

Fyi- I used to plan my Panera runs around their soup rotation. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays are black bean soup days at Panera. Mmm.. Though the veggie works, too.

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$1.40 per minute! Hahah! I don’t even want to think about how much I would have to pay. It would probably be worse than my cell phone bill overages before I went with an unlimited plan :)

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I’m okay with hills as long as I know a race has them ahead of time. My last 10k was hilly and I wasn’t anticipating it. I love races that start at 8am, perfect time for me!

Panera order- I love their Thai Chicken Salad!

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I don’t mind hills. Since I’m used to running them on my training runs, I think I actually have a pretty good advantage when a race course is hilly. I noticed that Runner’s World is doing another festival in Boston in June…are you going to that one, too? After seeing all your posts on this one, I’m pretty tempted to go!

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Panera has THE BEST mac and cheese. Your times are pretty incredible for just running them for fun, but I think you made the right decision by taking it easy before next weekend. My favorite race start time is probably 8am.

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Sounds like an amazing day!

Happy Sunday!

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It was so fun to meet you yesterday! I was also really happy with the race and the event overall and definitely want to do it again next year. Good luck today!

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My favorite 5k/10k is Evan’s Run in MA. It was my first race. Panera order is usually salad and half a sandwich. I don’t love hills in a race, but if you have a down for every up I’m good with it. I agree 7 am is a perfect start time for a race.

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How cool! Running with Summer Sanders! I ran a 10k in Sept that is a fun race, folly hills and great post race goodies. My fam also runs a 5k on Thanksgiving day which is fun, flat, and I usually place in my age group. And can’t forget the the largest 10k, the Peachtree. Always fun! My Panera order is pretty bland, half cup black bean soup, half Greek salad, no feta. No hills at races for me. I am not a fan no matter how hard I train for them. :)

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Austin has the best 5ks…so many different themes! I LOVE Panera…always getting soup in a bread bowl or a panini. I hate hills, and I prefer races to start early because it gets hot so fast in Texas!

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I’m about to do a 14-mile training run in those exact same shoes. Thanks for the inspiration!

I’ve only done races that start at 7 am, and I can’t imagine doing it any earlier than that. Soooo not a morning person. My favorite Panera lunch is their veggie-pesto soup or black bean soup in a bread bowl. Yay for carbs!

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This looks like a blast! I would love to take part in something like this! And I love getting to know runners too! They all seem to be so friendly and real!

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Run fast, girl! Have a blast!

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Oh, you know – your easy-ish pace is my full out sprint. No biggie ;) Congrats on both your races! :D

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Sounds like an amazing weekend! And summer sanders?? What a beautiful lady, I remember her on tv as a kid:)

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Ok this is the coolest thing ever! Runners heaven! I have done COUNTLESS 5k’s. Only 1 10k. Although I really liked the 10k! They never have those races here though so I’m stuck with 5k’s. I’ve only been to Panera Bread twice ( :( ) and I got the pesto noodles. AMAZING. Then I got a turkey sandwich which was actually pretty disgusting.

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Awesome job! You need to come to Boston next spring to run the Heartbreak Hill Runner’s World challenge. I’ll take you to the Yogurtland that just opened! :)

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That looks like so much fun! I always seem to get really achy tired legs after running only 10km. Do you ever have this problem after longer runs? Good luck with the 1/2!

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I loved the 5k/10k yesterday! I saw you at the finish but never got to say hi! Are you going to do the RW festival in Boston in June?
I live by the beach so hills destroy my legs but it’s a great workout.
Good luck in the half today! Wish I did all three!

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I ran the 10k yesterday for the second year, and even though it’s hilly, I love that course! They called your name for an award after that race, but you must have been gone by then. Hope you enjoyed the half and your time in PA. It’s so pretty here this time of year!

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You ladies all look so awesome and I bet the weather is perfect. I’m kind of bummed that it’s still so hot here in south Florida.

My fave Panera order: asian chicken salad. That dressing is spot on! I recently found out you can buy the dressing at Publix which made me so happy!

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Your chatty pace for 5k is my PR…kind of a weird coincidence. I’ve only raced one 10k…the Philadelphia Zoo Run about a million years ago. I liked that course. I LOVE hills. They keep you honest. Looks like y’all are being shown a great time :)

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I am currently visiting Utah (Park City) for the first time ever!!! I’ve actually never been west of the Mississippi before, haha. I am forcing my entire family to go eat at Cafe Rio “because Hungry Runner Girl swears by it”. I can’t wait :))

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Ahhhhhh so so fun! Please let me know what you think! Enjoy :)

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You are so speedy! Those are some great races! I haven’t done any 5ks for an actual time yet and have never run an actual 10k race. I used to hate running hills, but now I actually like them. Somehow they make me feel better/stronger, if that makes sense. I think the half-marathon and marathon that I have done (more than once) both started at 8 am. So, I guess, I would have to say 8 am is my favorite race start time. However, the marathon I am running next month has a 9 am start time, so I will have something to compare it to then. Have a great week!

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We had Panera in Houston and I always liked their garden veggie soup!
Good luck with your half! :)

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Lately at Panera Bread I’ve been ordering the tortellini Alfredo with either a salad or the broccoli cheddar soup. So delicious!

I’m not a fan of hills in a race, especially when I’m not prepared for them.

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Good luck in the half! Sounds like a great weekend so far.

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Awesome Janae!!! love reading these recaps.

I have only done 3 halfs, no 5ks, but my first 5k will be this Thanksgiving! I also did my first speed workout today EVER with my very fast running friend! We determined my goal time to be between 21-23 minutes!

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Good luck on the race! You’re done by now though lol…
I love being around like-minded people… So inspiring!!

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SO glad you will be coming back yearly! It was an amazing, well organized weekend of races. I am so sad I missed the pure flow group shoe shot!! Haha! I bet running with Summer was awesome….she seemed really nice. I was with Kristin when Summer credited you (&Kristin) for helping her win 1st in her age group. You ladies are awesome!!! :) I am so happy to have met you! Safe travels, and enjoy every second with your lovely little girl!

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I love a 7:00 am race even though it means getting up early. My stomach is best empty, but the later the race, the hungrier I get :/

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Have fun in the 1/2!

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The Runners World Festival sounds like so much fun! I did a 5k this weekend and got first in my age group! :) I work at Panera right now so I am pretty sick of all their food… I like the new Autumn Squash soup a lot

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That’s so awesome! I’m so glad you are having a good time. You deserve a little rest and rejuvination!

But funny fact! Summer Sanders went to my high school. haha!!!

Can’t wait to hear all about the half :)

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I like 9AM starts because I don’t race in the summer and I like my sleep!

Looks like a fun time for all!

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I also love the 7am start…8am is just too late! Hills are always the downfall of races for me.
The Runners world festival looks like so much fun! Can’t wait to hear about the 1/2 marathon!

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I love a 7am start time! At Panera I love a meditteranean veggie sandwich with ceamy tomato soup or autnmn butternut squash soup!

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Congrats on your times in both the 5k and 10k. You are an awesome runner. My husband and I just ran the Columbus 1/2 Marathon today. Highly recommend this race with the best spectators, volunteers and bands. Never a dull moment with 10,000 other runners. Awesome!

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SO FUN that you got to run with Summer Sanders! Can’t wait to read your race recap on the half!

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I have only done a few 5 and 10k’s in the last few years and they are fun! They get me working on my speed. I HATE hills….they just killed me in my marathon yesterday! Your weekend looks awesome and super fun!!!

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That looks awesome. Do you mind if I ask how long it too you to be able to do 10ks in ~45 mins? I wish I was that fast!

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This event seriously sounds beyond cool! I have LOVED reading everyones recaps! Runners really are the best :)

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So good to finally meet you this weekend! RW puts on a great race, don’t they?? Hope you made it back safe to the west coast and good luck with your upcoming half!

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I don’t really love 5k’s because I don’t feel like I hit my stride until about mile 3 or 4. 10k’s are okay! I love the Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston, SC. It is really a great view but over the years it has grown exponentially. Not good for someone who doesn’t really love huge crowds! I just block it out and run.

I love the French Onion Soup at Panera with their Turkey Sandwich. Really I just love soup so much, especially in the Fall.

Hills – love to hate them! I really do love hills because they are a challenge and push me to do more than I think I can, but they are brutal especially when they come towards the end of a race when my legs have had it.

I like race times that start around 7am during the colder months and 6am during the warmer months. Not many start that early though.

Looks like you guys had a blast. Definitely want to go next year. Did you all get invited? Hope you have a safe trip home and get to snuggle with Brooke all night.

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I actually haven’t ran many races yet, but there is a local trail 5K that is a blast to run. Definitely my favorite!

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Sounds like you’re having a blast! Pretty jealous! :P definitely hate hills in races, I curse them. But it wouldn’t be so bad if I just hit them up more often. ;) I like nine I clock starts. I have a question, do you like the purple luluemon shirt you’re wearing a lot? I’ve thought about investing in some if their clothing, but not sure of it was worth the expensive price… Also, have you has the Ben and Jerry’s red velvet ice cream? I picked some up the other day, it’s good but I haven’t tried the blue bunny one you’re always talking about! Hope you had a blast on the half!!!!

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I have never actually eaten at Panera—oh what a sheltered life I live :)

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I hate hills. Ha! They are so hard and my parent’s neighborhood where I run have hills every where. Small hills, large hills, short hills, hills that seem to go on for miles. I know they are good for me, but I hate them when I am struggling to run up them.

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I missed you:-( I saw some of my other fave bloggers but didnt run into you. I ran the 10k, weather was perfect and Runners World really did an amazing job at keeping everything organized and energetic. I felt like the energy at the races were just awesome! I plan to return next year as well although next year Im running the hat trick.

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I love that a 21 min 5k is your easy paced 5k. You are so speedy!!

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Oooooh, that BBQ chicken salad from Panera is the bombDOTcom! Yummo!

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Way to go! Back to back races like that are so much fun…esp done with lots of fun runner friends :-)

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Panera Bread’s bread bowls are divine!

I used to work with a doctor who would bring Panera bagels and cream cheese to the nurses in the hospital whenever he was on-call on Saturday mornings. I don’t miss the job, but I sure do miss the bagels.

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I’ve done a color run…that was pretty great!

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I’m just catching up on your blog for the week and I wanted to tell you about my Chicago marathon last weekend that I trained my face off for for 4 months with the goal of getting a BQ. As I’m standing in the corral and turn on my Garmin… it won’t come on. I even charged it the night before. I have no idea what happened but it was totally dead and I almost stood there crying. My goal was a 3:40 race which is what I need for Boston so I just figured I was going to have to go mile to mile and watch the clocks. I actually ran a 3:38:35… NO WATCH. I think not having it helped me tune in to my body better and didn’t stress me like it would have if I saw the course becoming longer than 26.2. Something to be said for how amazing the human body is! Better than a GPS! :)

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You are a rock star! Amazing job!

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