Holiday-to-Holiday #RunChatHunt

I'm not one to run with my phone, but since I recently won a FlipBelt from someone's blog...it now makes it easier to carry my phone.  So I thought I'd play along with this photo scavenger hunt sponsored by #RunChat . My half-marathon training is winding down, which will make it a little easier to be more relaxed on my runs & look for some of the items on the list...some of them I can even incorporate on race day.

Here's a list of the items I'll be looking for...

 Day 1: Thanksgiving Day

Before my COLD #RunChatHunt Run...giving a shout-out to my new #IRun4 Buddy, Bella!

My 1st item...a body of water! Easy peasy!

I couldn't resist this body of water when I saw the geese coming in for a crash landing. The pond is FROZEN on Thanksgiving Day in Tennessee (not normal)!

 

Item #2: a Snowman...real or decorative

Cold enough for snow, but no real snowmen yet...so a decorative Frosty will have to do!

I saw some deflated inflatables on my run, but didn't think that would count...maybe next time! I also run past animals on a farm (usually cows) on a regular basis, but they weren't anywhere in sight this morning.

Hopefully on my long run this Saturday I can get a picture of a mile marker, if we run the highway.

At the St. Jude Half-Marathon, I know I'll get a picture of a porta-potty & a runner I don't know. I wouldn't be surprised if I see someone running as Santa or at least wearing a Santa hat with the race being on Dec. 7.

Get a load of some of these sweet prizes...

Each tweet is considered one entry to #RunChatHunt for the following prizes:

• 4 CamelBak prizes: Marathoner, Dart, Arc 2, Arc Quick Grip
• 2 PRO Compression #RunChat socks
• 2 Headsweats #RunChat hats
• T-shirt and a 2.7 oz. RunGuard Anti-Chafe bar
• 1 entry to the Asheville (N.C.) Half Marathon at Biltmore Estate
• 1 crossFIXE MUSCLE paste from SKINourishment
• 1 6-month membership to RunSmart Online
• 2 SparklySoul headbands (winners choice)







Check back to see if I'm successful, or better yet...join me in the Holiday FUN!



Day 3: Saturday, November 30

Today was my last LONG run of training! I only had to run 8 miles, so I wasn't sure if I'd be successful with any pics today.

I ran with my training buddy, Ruthie. When I told her about the Scavenger Hunt, she was all for it...she said it'd help take her mind off all the miles she had to run.

We first looked for the COWS (animals on a farm) down our usual hill, but I still didn't see them. I swear, I think they're hibernating because it's so cold here in the South!

Next, we headed down to Meadowbrook (the next subdivision/street)...when what to our wandering eyes should appear, but a blue All-Brite porta-potty in the clear! Ruthie was the one that suggested there may be one..I had totally forgotten about the new house being built.

Porta-potty...Check!

 

Then we headed for the grounds of the Mental Institution in the hopes of a historical marker, but no such luck. Though, on our way out & past Wal-Mart we noticed THIS...

 

a MILE MARKER!

(Too bad it wasn't mile marker 13 for my upcoming half-marathon!)

 

Probably won't get anymore pics until Race Day, since my next two runs will be at 5am. Check back to see what I find next...

 

Day 5: Monday, December 2





The one day I don't take my phone with me, because it's a 5am run & it's dark...not a lot to see, I spot a holiday inflatable! I WILL bring my phone along on the next run!

Day 7: Wednesday, December 4

Today was my last training run before the St. Jude Half-Marathon on Saturday in Memphis.

I wore my FlipBelt this morning & took along my phone. Luckily, the holiday inflatable was up! I made my running buddy, Beth, take a picture of me with the inflatable on our 5am run. We had to go all the way up into this person's yard (almost to the porch) to get the picture. I was so scared we'd get caught or wake the people up, but I GOT IT!

This makes 5 items! 5 more to go...

I couldn't believe how warm it was this morning...so much so, that you can see I ran in shorts & tank top! We have had some cold weather early for Tennessee...now a few warm days...then we're under a Winter Storm Watch for Friday!!! The weathermen are predicting an ICE STORM! Just what I don't need for my half-marathon!

 





Day 11: Sunday, December 8

On Friday evening, I got the disappointing news I had been dreading...the St. Jude Marathon Weekend had been CANCELLED due to winter weather/ice (I live an hour east of Memphis & we didn't hardly any ice). Needless to say, I was devastated! I had trained my butt off (literally) to come back from injury. I was to run the half-marathon as a St. Jude Hero. I had raised over $500 & received my Heroes singlet to wear on race day.

I did a lot of moping on race day, Saturday, December 7. I could've run at home that day, but it was extremely cold & windy with a 5 degree windchill & 15+ mph winds. So I decided to run my own St. Jude Half today. I honestly didn't know if I'd make the whole distance. I didn't leave the house thinking I'd run 13.1 miles. I just told myself I'd just see what my body felt like doing. Well...I DID IT! I ran the entire thing all by myself...absolutely no running buddy motivation. I came within 12 seconds of beating my 1st half-marathon time! My 1st half-marathon I ran with no walk breaks with a time of 2:02:59. Today's half-marathon I ran in 2:03:11 with a few walk breaks (still have to take it easy with injury).

My husband hopped in the car with the dog & found me along my route to cheer me on and let me know how proud he was of me.

Here I am around mile 10 (wearing my St. Jude Hero singlet)

 

I did not find any #RunChatHunt pics on this run, but I just had to share. I was on the "hunt", just didn't see anything to take pics of.

 

The cancellation of the race really messed up my plans for pics. I had hoped to get a pic with many runners I didn't know & I just knew with the race being so close to Christmas I'd see someone in a Santa hat. Also, several miles of the race take place in downtown Memphis in which there are train & trolley tracks.

 





Saturday, December 14 (starting to lose track of how many days into the hunt)

I've been hunting, but in my small town I just haven't had a lot of luck lately with the photos.

I did snap a picture of this yard display of Santa. It wasn't the Santa or Santa hat I was hoping for, but it's the closest thing I could find. It may not count for the actual list item, but it's still fun to have people wonder why you're taking pictures of other people's yards. :)

 

Notice the little reindeer head with antlers on the house (a deer hunter must live there)

 

Tuesday, December 17

 

I ran by myself this morning, so I decided to take a different route to see if I could see the cows at 5am. I was in luck! Several of them were lying in the pasture. The flash of my camera phone must have startled a few, because they started coming towards the fence were I was standing. Unfortunately, the only thing you can see in the pic is the glow of the cow's eyes. Better luck next time!

 

Looks like an alien cow...freaky!

Tuesday, December 24: Christmas Eve

 

I headed out for a COLD Christmas Eve run by myself. I decided to have a little fun with my run, so I wore an elf hat...you know...the one with the big elf ears. I got a few funny looks since it was in broad daylight...not a 5am run...and I just so happened to be by myself!

 

I present to you...Jolly Jen the Running Elf spreading Running Cheer...

 

 

While out spreading my running cheer, I got a better pic of the cows, though they were a little further away.

 

 

 

Even though I did not find ALL the items on the list, I had a blast participating! It took my mind off some of my training runs. Thank you, #RunChat! Let's do it again sometime!