Reindeer Romp

I had heard about the Reindeer Romp on Facebook through the TIFL Alumni group page. I saw pictures of last year’s race. I noticed the race participants received hooded sweatshirts. I love a hoodie. As fall drew near, I started to google the race and kept it on my calendar. I reached out to a friend who is from Charlotte to see if she was interested in doing the race as well. Then we could stay at her mom’s house. Win-Win. Forward to a week before the race, my reindeer romp weekend partner informs me that she has another commitment and cannot make the race but she has made arrangements with her mom for me to still stay with her for the race. SCORE.

The race was held on December 12, 2015 at the Harris YMCA in Charlotte. I drive down Friday afternoon. I make it to packet pickup at the Y just in time. As I turn into the parking lot, I spy with my little eye a car in front of me with a TIFL sticker. I think to myself well I bet that we are probably going to the same place. I indirectly follow them. I park and then I see the driver of the car is TIFL Charlotte past president Hilary Crabtree. I yell out her name and we head over to the Y. I pick up my packet and Melva’s packet. Once I told Melva we were getting hooded sweatshirts she changed her mind in trying to sell her race bib. Good call.

I checked the weather before I left Raleigh and the forecast at 8am was 55 degrees. In my mind that’s COLD. I opt to pack long sleeve running clothes. Since it’s a Christmas theme race I pack my Star Wars ugly t-shirt. I’m up and at it Saturday morning. I have about a 30-minute drive from Mary Peed’s house AKA Melva Peed’s mom AKA my hostess with the for the weekend. I arrive at the Y about 7:26am. We are meeting at 7:30am for group picture. As I get all my gear out, I see a few TIFL sisters. I have now been designated the Raleigh exchange student. Isn’t’ that special? I will travel for a race. I’m starting to feel warm from the two layers I have on. I didn’t bring anything else to put on. We head over to the race start. Our group is way too big for a groupie pic. We recruit someone to take a real group pic. Geri Hampton Jackson who has been designated the best Southeast groupie photographer gets one with her phone. After the picture, I go “pay the water bill”. I see the crowd has dispersed. I just follow folks and end up at the start line. I’m walking this race as I have done all my races this year. I will return to running soon. I’m lining up with Angel and Tiffany and Alexia in the baby stroller. She has it the easiest and doesn’t even know it.

At 8am, the race starts, we start on a slight incline. We make our way through neighborhood behind the Y. I’m moving along pretty good with Angel and Tiffany. This course has some HILLS. The weather is started to warm up. It’s foggy and humid. I’m sweating like a sinner in church in my too many layers of clothing. We pass mile 1 and we all are like it’s just mile 1. I’m sipping on the water in my CamelBak like it’s the best thing since sliced bread. It really is because I am losing water from sweating like it’s going out of style. The neighborhood is actually nice. We are admiring the Christmas decorations and the panthers decorations because this is Charlotte, home of the undefeated Carolina Panthers. We have just passed mile 2. I see another hill. I’m like come on. There’s a cop out on the course who tells us “This is the last hill”. Angel ask “are you sure” He replies I have 2 weeks left on this job so I would not lie. Strangely enough he was right, that was the last hill. We make a few more turns after the hill. Angel tells me that we are making our way back to the Y because there is a traffic up and head. I’m so happy to see we are headed back to Sharon Road. The right lane is still blocked off for traffic. Our lovely personal stalkers, the race course pickup crew and the sweeper car tell us to get on the sidewalk because they are opening the road up. We get on the sidewalk and cross the intersection. We are about a block and some change from where I parked. We head to the finish; I tell Angel it’s a shame my car is parked right there. She tells me nope we have to make it to the finish line first. We run into Geri and Donella who are leaving. We run into another course monitor who directs on where to go to make it to the finish line. We meander through the parking lot and turn onto the sand and head to the finish line. The very helpful course monitor volunteers try to get us to run it in to the finish line. I’m seriously looking at her like it’s so not happening. I tell her I’m just happy that I made it. We all cross the finish line. My official time is 1:10:23. They hand us what looks like a medal but I am told it is a Christmas ornament. How cool is that? I wasn’t even expecting any bling. I was SOLD on the hoodie. Another 5K is in the books. Back to back 5K’s are done. 1 race left to complete for the year on December 19 in Virginia Beach, Surf-n-Santa 5 miler.

Wing and a prayer

American Family Fitness Half Marathon AKA Richmond half marathon 

On November 14, 2015 I participated in half marathon #7 in Richmond, Virginia. I went into this race un properly trained. I have no real excuse for not training except I just didn't train. This was my first time doing this race. Since the beginning of 2015 I've been traveling with a few of my TRI sisters for race weekends. We started off with Charleston in January and finished off the year with Richmond. We drove up Friday afternoon and immediately hit the expo. I LOVE race expos. It's like Christmas morning as a kid except you are your own Santa Claus. I didn't get too caught up. I only bought 4 pairs of Balega socks (they were buy 3 get 1 free) and a pair of 13.1 earrings. I did score a free race shirt from the All-American marathon which is held down in Fayetteville. I remember some of my Fit-Tastic peeps ran it last year.

I'm often told that I know a lot of people. People fail to realize I've been around this running community since 2008. I'm an alumni of a few running groups, i.e. NCRC Women's beginner running group, Fit-Tastic, Raleigh Galloway, a one time appearance at lifetime run and of course last but certainly not least Tri It For Life.

We check into the hotel. We decide to find some food at the hotel. The reality of race day is starting to hit me emotionally. I have a slight breakdown at dinner. What can I say I'm an emotional chick. Our hotel is 5 blocks from the start. We decide to sleep in until 6am and head over to the start around 7am.

Saturday morning shows up in like 5 minutes. Seriously it was just that fast. It's about 39 degrees outside. I'm from Alabama and that's cold to this southern gal. I'm pretty glad I packed my jacket and almost thought about rolling with my hoodie but my clothing is not disposable so I left the hoodie in the suitcase. 

We pick up a quick bite from the hotel. We make our way to the rave start. Lord have mercy nobody mentioned the HILLS we had to climb from the hotel to the rave start. By the time we made it to the rave start I'm already sweating. Mary asked me "jo you sweating already" I'm like I was born sweating. That was the pre race workout. We see the start line. There are people everywhere. Race day excitement is in the air. All 4 of us are in corral K but we pull a "sharon" and line up with corral H. I don't know why because all the corrals are going to pass me by anyway. I'm a team player, sometimes. I see a few familiar faces from Raleigh. Carolyn Quarterman is in our coral. She tells me she has done the full before but not the half. Larry Stroud from Galloway finds me and we take a pre race picture. I met Larry at a Galloway training run at Capital RunWalk in 2014. He came up to me after the run and told me you kept going out there and that's all that matters. I'm going to tell you how small Raleigh is and how I have a theory that all the brown people know the brown people. People tell me it's just me that knows everybody. Larry's daughter signed me up for a personal trainer at my old gym. She's a runner as well. I've run into her at Diva myrtle and city of oaks in 2012.

They are making the race announcements. Then the race starts and we move up as the various corrals head out. Once our corral hits the timing mat I start my Garmin. We are off. Since I have not been running, I opt to walk. Garmin is running, I hit the play button on my playlist. I'm off and moving. Folks are passing me by as they are running down the street. I spy with my little eye the marathon has started on my left. As I head towards mile 1 I see my friend Natasha who is doing her first marathon and I yell her name. She waves back. I'm so excited for her, first full. I'm only 1/2 half crazy.

The pack is thinning out and it's just me and my personal stalker, Richmond police cruiser. The first 3 miles are the hardest and they ain't never lied. As I hit mile 3, I see a stadium and I realize this is where the expo was held the night before. I'm like holy moley we are all the way over here. As we head to mile 4, I see folks coming up the road from where I'm headed and I see Sharon and Claudia. They ask me if I'm ok, I'm like yeah I'm good. As I head out of the neighborhood I see a few cops on motorcycles and I realize the lead marathoners are headed my way. There they are 2 Kenyans flying down the street like its nothing. I'm headed to mile 5, my personal escort has pulled closer and is in the left lane. A race volunteer heads towards me and tells me she needs me to get over in the left lane and head into the Park. Once I come out there is an aid station available with whatever I need to help me get to the finish.

I head into Bryant park. I see other half racers coming out. I get a few high fives from folks telling me to keep it up, you go this. In my mind, I'm thinking why am I out here and not back at the hotel chilling watching HBO. I'm in the park and I'm like good gracious where are we going, Maryland. This feels like the longest part of the course. I pass mile 6. Then I pass the 10K spot. The volunteer walks up to me and tells me to walk over near the timing mat so my time is recorded. I hear it beep and I think I've made it to 6.2 miles. Only 6.9 more to go. The sun is out and kicking my tail. I'm guzzling down water and I still have my Powerade in my jacket which I sip on. I stop for a minute to get it together. My escort pulls up and ask me if I'm ok or if I need medic. I tell him I'm ok. I knew it was going to be a struggle and that's exactly what it was. I keep on walking and pass mile 7. I come to a turn and there is nothing to indicate what direction to go in. I turn around and ask the cop. He has no idea either. He drives up on the right and comes back and tells me he doesn't know where the course goes. He tells me to hop in with him. You think I didn't. We ride left and we see nothing with course directions. We come out the park out of a totally differ the entrance than we started. We turn onto a major road that is open so it's not part of the course and BAM we hit the course. He asks me what I want to do. I told him Im finishing. I get out and head towards the course. The race volunteer from early heads to me. She tells me "I've been waiting for you" I tell her we lost the course. She apologizes and tells me they must have pulled up the course. I'm thinking to myself "no shit Sherlock". She directs me to the aid station and packs of runners are out now on the marathon course. I'm back on the course and I pass mile 8. At this point, we are going through neighborhoods, folks are partying all up and down the street. I see a house that is grilling. There's a beer station. Lady offers me a cup. I politely decline as i am that non beer runner. I keep looking out for the infamous junk food station that's supposed to be at mile 9. I assumed I've found it as a volunteer comes over and tells me what they have and I tell her I'll take the gummy bears. I know the chewing will help me to keep moving, that's a tip I remember from Jeff Galloway training manual. My body is really starting to run down as I have just passed mile 10 and I stop in front of the medic aid station. One of the volunteers ask me if I'm ok. I tell her I need to sit for a minute. She offers me water and Powerade, which I take. I'm feeling slightly better, I head back out. She tells me you only have 3 miles left. Only 3 miles, hmm. I tell myself I have a 5K left and that DNF is not an option. I keep thin,ing about the fleece blanket that finishers receive. That is my true motivation. One foot in front of the other. I hit mile 11, I decide to use my lifeline and call a really good friend of mine who I call tall drink but his government name is Greg. I tell him to talk to me because I'm dead on energy. He is motivating me and all of a sudden I hear someone call my name and I turn around and its Kat from Charlotte. We hug. She tells me she's so glad to see me. Kat says jo I'll see you at the finish I have to knock out these 2 miles to get my medal. A little over 2 miles to go, I think I can I think I can. I see Virginian Union university. I'm thinking didn't

my cousin Reggie go here and isn't this a HBCU and aren't they in CIAA. Tall drink is still on the life line and he says yeah jo they are. The course is FINALLY headed into downtown. I pass mile 11. I'm like 2.1 miles left to go. So close but it feels so far. I'm walking through downtown. I pass through buildings that have VCU. I see 2 ladies pass me. I yell out "Priscilla is that you" she yells back hey Johanna. The other lady says yes it's Priscilla and she's headed to a PR. how cool is that. I pass mile 12. Guess who passes me as she heads to becoming a marathoner, Koren. She's looking great. Seeing Raleigh peeps heading to the finish line gives me extra energy. I'm getting real close. Folks are telling me you have 3 turns left and then it's a downhill finish. This totally random lady walks up to me. She asks me how I'm doing. I'm ok just ready to be done. She's a local race coach. I mention how I didn't properly train. She chastises me. I tell her but I've made it this far. She asks me if this is my first half. I tell her no it's my 5th. She replies really with the FACE. I'm pretty use to getting the face so smart ass Johanna comes out. I tell her that I did shamrock back in March, 8K on Saturday and half on Sunday. Her face hit the floor. Don't judge a book by it's cover. I may be 3 dollars and 6 dimes but these hips do get it in on the pavement. I didn't tell her that but I was thinking it. We get to the downhill finish. She tells me she came go any further. At this point I'm filled with every emotion known to man because I know I'm almost done. As I head down the hill, folks are cheering me on. I hear someone yell my name and its Angela griffin from Raleigh. I see the finish line. I hear the announcer call my name. All I can think is thank god this thing is over with. As I cross the finish line I see a familiar face waiting for me, my TRI sister Intisar is there. She gives me a hug and I hold on for dear life. I am a half marathon finisher again. I don't care that it took me over 6 hours. No I do not.

Special shout outs go to my TIFL sister, Mary Hicks, Sharon Johnson, Claudia Gunter,  Kat Collier and Intistar Hamidullah, my NCRC buddy Carolyn Quarterman  and my tall drink Gregory Clanton. They all played a part in this journey. For that I say thank you. 

24 Hours of Booty

When I first heard of 24 hours of booty about a year ago I thought to myself that's an interesting title for an event. Every time I mention it I get crazy responses. Last night I'm FaceTime with my mom and sister, I tell them about my trip to the Queen City. My sister responds "yeah i got that weird email about it" The name is absolutely correct. You can choose to be riding on your booty for 24 hours. For those who are still wondering what it is, let me break it down for you. 24 hours of booty is a 24 hour fundraising/charity bike ride. In order to particiapte as a rider, you commit to raise $400 for the Charlotte ride. The other locations have lower committmment. You can ride as much as you like. You can ride as little as you like. I had some ladies from my #TriTribe do it last year. I followed their ride vicariously through Facebook like most Facebook "stalkers". I've been trying to figure out ways to truly celebrate turning 40 this year. 1 of my goals was to do races and events that I have never done before and in places I've never raced. This event met both goals. To my own shock and amazement, I have become a pretty decent fundraiser. It also helps that my employer has a matching gifts program. $400 was raised about 5 weeks before the event took place.

I've been kinda lazy lately. I have not been riding like I normally do. I was completely unprepared for 24HOB. A really good friend Tiffany Davis told me that I needed to set a goal for the event. She kept telling me "Jo you really should go for 50 miles" I kept telling her #ByeFelicia. Another friend Gregory Clanton told me "Jo you could easily knock out 100 miles" I responded "you have me confused with someone who is in much better shape and has been training properly" Friends, how many of us have them. They are great for encouragement and motivation.



I leave out Friday afternoon on 85 S for the Queen City. The max and i are flying until about 56 miles outside of Charlotte and we hit standstill traffic. Delayed by about 15-30 minutes. I make it to Charlotte city limits about 3. Where would we be without GPS. I follow mine and it leads me to Queens University of Charlotte. My BFF asked me where the event was and when I told her, she responded "Jo you headed to the rich side of town". As I am driving on Queens road, you can tell i'm on the other side of town just by the houses in the neighborhood. They are gorgeous. I turn into the University. I park at what looks like the right place and then change my mind. I drive further down the street and I see signs for event parking and i see a volunteer waving me down to turn. I swear fore God the event guide mentioned there would be no one to direct you for parking. I am turning 40 so maybe i misread that. As I turn I see the field with tents up. I spy with my little eye pink TIFL tent. I know I am in the right place. I park in the North lot. The guide did mention do not park in the South lot because you could be towed. I have made it to Bootyville. I park and start to unload my gear. People don't believe me but deep down i really am lazy. I'm trying to take all my gear in 1 trip. Yeah it's not going happen, book bag, bike, lawn chair, bike pump, stick, pillow, shower bag. I take 80% of it.
I head over to Bootyville. My TIFL charlotte sisters have our area set up like home. I LOVE TIFL. Our team captain is the amazing Jeannine Dagasse-Maus. I unload my gear and head back to get the rest. I make it back and sit in my chair because I am TIRED from the drive. 2 other TIFL Charlotte sisters are there, Sandra Crowell Asher + her daughter and Laurie Certo.

We head over to registration, pick up packets and other freebies. I told myself that i would only shop at the Booty expo if they had a pilsner glass. They are my new collector item. They do not. Jeannine had on a nice 24HOB tank that i heard was $5. I find one in my size and it's my only purchase, woo hoo. Tiffany you would be proud of me. Did I mention i was starving? Dinner is until 8pm. Great Harvest bread is there with bread, peanut butter and honey. I had a slice of cinnamon crisp with peanut butter. You would have thought it was steak and lobster it tasted so good. dunkin donuts is next to them giving out iced coffee and doughnuts. Yes i think i will have a doughnut and iced coffee ma'am. Thanks for being here.

Sandra is the resident 24HOB alumni. She explains that it's better to go out after the first wave starts at 7pm because it's uber busy. We shower and change into our TIFL kits. She takes me out for my first booty loop while it's still light out. The loop starts about a block from our spot in Bootyville. We head out. We get to the start. The course volunteer motions for us to head out. Here we go, the beginning of the loop is flat. There are tons of people on both sides of the loop spectating. Crowd support is AWESOME. There is a nice downhill and then a turn. There's a huge tent with a DJ and people cheering and yelling. I'm thinking to myself this is pretty cool. It's still flat and here comes the turn and BAM there's a hill. It literally came out of nowhere. I was in my high gears since I was on flat and didn't realize the hill was next so I didn't really change in time. I'm downshiftting into my low gears and they are not working with a sister. I'm struggling because the gears are truly talking back so loud a bike course monitor comes over to me and ask if i need help. I finally get them straight and start the slow climb up the hill. I keep thinking about Dorie in Finding Nemo "just keep pedaling" The climb on this hill is like FOREVER. There is no option to get off and walk because the other cyclusts are zooming past you. I keep pedaling one at a time and make it to the top. I truly believe i saw my life flash before my eyes on that hill. I look down at my iphone and it has only been 1 mile. LAWD HAVE MERCY,  there is still 2 more miles of this insanity. The road is now flat and i glide.I am reminded of my TIFL mentor Melva Peed who told me last year as an athlete "save your legs when it's flat, enjoy the glide when you can" My legs and my heart are finally take a small rest. I take in the scenery on the loop. Homeowners are straight chillin' and partying' all around the loop. I want to trade places with them especially the house with the huge grill going. I make the final right turn which i know it is because RunKeeper has me at 2.50 miles so i know it's not that much left to go. There is a slight hill to the end of the loop. I see Sandra waiting for me. I exit off the loop. I have survived my first booty loop.

I'm thinking what in the world have I gotten myself into. Too late to think about that i'm here. Is it dinner time yet because I am STARVIN'. We have a TIFL group photo at 8:30pm.

Then we head over to dinner. OMG they know how to take care of their riders. Hamburgers, veggies burgers, chicken breasts, grilled veggies, pasta salad, cookies and ice cold Coca-Cola. I have found heaven and it's in a 12 ounce can of carbonated beverage. I haven't had a soda in about a week in prepping for this event. When I am truly committed to healthy eating I drop soda like a bad habit but not tonight. The hospitality tent reminds me of lunchtime at high school except we are all the cool kids or are we crazy because we will be here for 24 hours biking. We finished dinner and head back to our spot in Bootyville. I'm slowly recovering. I pull of my stick and roll it over my quads, legs and hamstings which are talking to me and not in a good way. Jeannine asks me if i'm ready to go back out. I tell her "give me 5 minutes" Lazy johanna wants a shower and a nap. I get up and head back out for loop #2. The 2nd time on the booty loop was much better. I'm thinking my muscles warmed up on the first loop. The sun has left the building. I have all my headlights on. I have a headlight on my helmet. The temperature has dropped a little. It's pretty cool riding at night. It's pretty scary as well as there is a section of the loop that pretty much is pitch black because there are no street lights that i could see. I finish loop #2. At this point I have ridden over 6 miles. I don't know if I want to do anymore or what. I just chill in the tent for awhile.

There is a total of 14 on our team. Some of the ladies have goals of 50, 56, 100, 150 miles.

All of this is pretty AMAZING to me. My longest ride is 20 miles and that was back in January. I'm just enjoying the experience.

Pizza party is at midnight. Shockingly I could eat again. After the pizza party, my body has told me it's time to call it night. I find an air mattress to crash on and Jo is OUT like a fat kid in dodge ball. They say that at the end of  the Ed Lover show on Sirirus/XM every day lol.

I sleep pretty good because I was TIRED. I wake up around 5:45am. My bladder is telling me to get up and empty it. I make a pit stop and then head over to the hospitality tent because of my of TIFL sister/good friends is volunteering over there. I'm going to go see her. She is Katrina Blake. We met 2 years ago on the SAG(snatch and grab) wagon at Diva NMB. We've been buds ever since.

Since i'm already over here and it's after 6am, might as well eat breakfast. The spread is just as awesome as dinner, eggs, bacon, sausage, bread, fruit, oatmeal, juice. i heard through the grapevine that the coffee machine was broken and there are a lot of unhappy cyclists. A random stranger sees me wearing my TIFL kit and ask "are you going to do a TRI?" Snarky johanna really had a good comeback but since i am in unfamiliar territory I respond with "i've already done a TRI." I met another cyclist who stopped by our tent last night looking for someone who used to be a TIFL mentor. He tells me that she taught him how to swim and that's how he got into doing Triathlons. This is his 3rd or 4th year at 24HOB, he's going for 200 miles. I look at him like he's an alien. Katrina tells me i should go out and do 1 more loop today. The sun is coming out and i'm just not feeling it. Rob, the guy i met at breakfast, tries to peer pressure me as well. Get back out there, come find me and i'll get you up that hill. #ByeFelicia. I head back over to our spot in Bootyville. Did i mention i'm still wearing my TIFL kit from Friday evening. I'm pretty stank lol. I head to the showers and decide to put on real clothes and be done with 6+ miles. I hang out a little longer with my #TriTribe. I can feel the affects of getting under 5 hours of sleep hit me. I decide it's time to head on back to Raleighwood. I pack up the Max and say my goodbyes and head back to the Capital City. I truly enjoyed my first time at Bootyville. I will be back next year with a plan. Next up MS:New Bern Ride in September.

The HOTTEST 5K of my life

Esprit de She

June 25, 2015

Koka booth Amphitheater

Cary, NC

FOMO is extremely real. I have been on a mission to regain my running mojo. I signed up for lifetime 5K training program. Between the zero dark thirty shift I work and how lazy Johanna kicks in around the evening I've only made 1 group run. I signed up for the target race Esprit de She 5K.

Since summer showed up with a vengeance I knew I would just take it slow and easy for the race. I had been hydrating pretty well for days leading up to the race. A true sign you are drinking PLENTY of water you spend a lot of quality time in the ladies room. "I've gotten a meeting in the ladies room, I'll be back real soon". Random song verses just pop into my head these days.

The race is at Koka Booth in Cary which is pretty much like the other side of wake county. As I'm turning into regency parkway to Koka booth I see ladies with their packets walking to their car. I'm thinking OMG is there no closet parking. I keep following the event parking signs and I see there is parking nearer the entrance to the amphitheater. I'm in the 2nd lot which seems like miles away but it really isn't lol.

I back into my parking spot. Shout out to my coworker Anthony Cooper who chastises me for not doing this at work. I'm getting all my race gear on. A car parks next to me. I start talking to the lady who gets out. I ask her is she's ready, excited or nervous? She tells me all of it. I tell her that's normal because my tummy has already talked to me and not in a good way. She tells me she hopes to finishes the race as this is her 2nd attempt at a 5K. Apparently her 1st attempt was the commitment day race back on January 1. I tell her that weather a race would have been a breeze compared to the heat storm we have today. I pull out my frog tog. She tells me I'm a professional. I laugh because I am so not a professional but I sure do prep like one as I put on my camel back.

As I'm leaving my car I see a lady I know but for the life of me I can't remember her name to save my life. I tell her didn't you do Fit-Tastic. Turns out her name is Michelle. 

I walk through the 1st parking lot and I see 1 of my TIFL sisters Ayuna King. She is trying to talk herself out of doing the race. I tell her you're too late you're already here. In my Ed Lover voice "come on son". We head to the runners village inside the amphitheater and I spy with my little eye another TIFL sisters ride. Her car is like mine full of stickers that tell the story of our adventures, it's Claudia Mello.

We head to the entrance and I see another TIFL sister Maureen Broderick Walters. We both think we are cra cra for being out here in this heat.

I haven't been to Koka booth in a few years. I like it so much more than Walnut Creek.

I hang out near the registration area and I run into my FAV mother/daughter running team Ellen and Brittany. These 2 ladies ROCK!! My new haircut is shocking everyone because no one has ever seen my hair this short. I run into another running buddy Rebecca Sitton from NCRC. Another TIFL sister comes over and ask me is there anyone I don't know. Story of my life. I tell her I don't this lady right, I point to a random lady in line who just cracks up. 

I walk towards the pavilion and cop a squat on a bench to chill out and test before the race start. TIFL sister Connie walks over to me and ask me if I have picked up the free swag. As much as I like free stuff I'm way to lazy and hot as this point to go get it and take it back to my car.

The race DJ is making announcements like we are in school. Countdown n everything. It's 6:40 at 6:45 head over to the start line. It's now 6:44 head over to the start line. Good gracious that brother must don't get out often.

It's 6:45 and as a good girl I follow orders and head to the start line. These wonderful angels are passing out ice cold water. I use it to re-wet my frog tog. Who do I spy with my little eye some of my #TriTribe, Val, Renee, barb and Lillie who I haven't seen Ramblin Rose. Did I mention there was a rumor going around that I was injured and my drink tickets were being auctioned off to the highest bidder. Turns out Johanna also means Julie who was injured and not at the race. For those who aren't familiar Julie Erin and I are known as the 3 amigos.

We are at the pack of the race. I get my Garmin and RunKeeper ready for our latest adventure. At 7pm we are off to knock out 3.1 miles. I'm sweating like a sinner in church (that's a line from Princess and the Frog). My playlist starts off with the Fugees ready or not. I hear my name being called so I take out my headphones. It's my fellow runner/triathlete sister Serena Hutchins Flood. She introduces me to some fellow BGR sisters and tells them she's a triathlete. the race goes up a slight incline and it passes the parking lot. For a split second I'm really tempted to turn n head for my car. I don't. Ladies are passing me telling me "you got this" I'm breathing for dear life and drinking my camel back. I'm really wondering why am I doing this. Race is 90% mental and 10% physical. At this point I'm already ready to call out but I keep moving. Michelle catches up to me. She said I told you I was going to walk wit you and that's exactly what I'm going up doing. She's my hero because it always help when you struggle with someone during a race. We keep walking and talking. One of the bike monitors rolls up besides us and i realize we are the end of the race. He tells up once we hit the HILL it's pretty much downhill after that. We hit the 1 mile mark and we head past it and there is a dude who is yelling "ladies you got it" he's one of those serious hype volunteers you need to give you sine energy. He ends up walking with us. Turns out he works with Michelle at SAS. I spy with my little eye an Iron Man tattoo on his right leg. He tells me he's done a full and a half Iron Man. I'm like you are an official bad-ass. In my book anyone who has done any part of an Iron Man is a bad-ass. We get to the next corner and its wife and other son there. The whole family volunteered. He tells the wife "these ladies are killing it" Michelle and I just chuckle. We keep on walking and we make it to the lake. At this point you see what you have left to do on the course. We see the turn around on the parkway. We wish we were already at that point. We are around the lake and u swear fore God it's gotten more humid. We are making it back around the lake and I see a U-hal truck picking up cones. I tell Michelle "they are closing out the turnaround". As we get closer to the end of the lake path, the bike course monitor tells us the EMS team has decided to close the course and open the road up because of the thunderstorm that's headed our way. We miss about .20 miles of 3.1 miles. We are not all choked up about it lol. We turn left and I tell Michelle "I hope the finish line is still there" as we make that last turn its still there. I cross the finish line and think I'm glad that's over with. My official finish time 01:16:58 827/827. Next adventure 24 Hours of booty July 24-25 in the Queen City

Sent from my iPhone

How I spent Sunday May 17, 2015

Ramblin Rose Raleigh
May 17, 2015

Typically you don't get good sleep the night before a race but I slept pretty good. I tend to toss and turn continuously through the night. This was pretty typical of my sleep the night before the race. Because I was extra paranoid I set double alarms for 5am. Like most athletes, I woke up and checked the time to make sure I didn't oversleep. It was about 4:21am. I went back to sleep and literally 2 minutes later both alarms were going off like someone had broken into the house LOL. I started my race prep. I ate my typical morning breakfast of peanut butter and bagel. My appetite was off as normal so I decided to go ahead and head to the race. Car is packed, bike loaded and off to AE Finley YMCA I go. I get to the race site about 5:40am, oh yes it's early. I see a few of TIFL sisters pulling up. I unload my bike, check my tire pressure, unload my bucket and head over to transition. I actually only make 1 trip this year, woo hoo. My race number is 41, I'm all the way in the back of transition like 2 shakes of a lambs tail from the bike start. I rack my bike and set up my transition area.

It dawns on me I left my 2nd bottle of powerade in the fridge. I start to panic. I notice my bike bib sticker has been torn apart from attaching it to close to the gears, panic sets in again. I can tell my nerves are kicking because I'm sweating like a sinner I'm church. Then my stomach starts tripping. This is going to be a long day. I head to the timing chip area. Don't bring my race bib and have to walk back to Durham county AKA my spot in transition and get my race bib. I get my chip. Head over to get body marked. One of my TIFL sisters Barbara Ferrel is volunteering there. She body marks me. I ask her if she can put my chip on. We both discover I'm bloated because the chip strap barely fits around my ankle. Can you tell I'm having an awesome start to my race day? I hang around this area as I see a few of my TIFL future triathletes coming in. I think back to when it was me and I walked around like a kid on his first day of school and my TIFL mentors were guiding me on what to do. I see Monica Oliver and I tell her get your chip and then head to transition. I feel like a TIFL greeter. I love it. When it's your first triathlon it can be slightly overwhelming.

I head back to my spot in the transition area and I see more ladies have shown up. I'm surround by my TIFL sisters, Kelly Truncer, Trina Burkett, Sherry Johnson Vann and Tracey Brown Burton. I guess I wasn't the only one who registered EARLY.

I pull my swim cap and goggles out because it's close to 7:45am when transition closes.

We head over to the gym for the pre-race meeting. We meet up with the rest of our TIFL sisters. Our cheer captain AKA social committee co-captain Sharon Johsnonleads us in our TIFL cheer. Who are we? Triathletes What do we do? Finish Strong. We are loud like a white linen suit on Halloween. I just came up with that lol.

The swim portion of the race is here, the 10s AKA the female Michael Phelps head in first. I was marked as a 6. My partner in crime AKA my amigo Julie Reed is a 7. I go with the 7s. As we line up we meet another TIFL sister Clar Raynell Ty DeVane who tells us she is doing Beach 2 Battleship in the fall. My jaw drops to the ground. For those who are unfamiliar, this a HIM(half iron-man) 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 run. Yes the words BadArse and crazy come to mind. We head into the pool, I'm directed to swim on the left. I love swimming but I don't know what it is about race day that I get shook in the pool. I was inhaling water like a smoker. I got in under control and got 225 yards done. Out the pool and walking back to transition and I'm wishing I would have brought my flops because you walk through some type of sod or grass outside the pool which hurts. I make it to transition, sit on my bucket and have a little talk with Jesus because it's about to get REAL on the bike course. Helmet on, gloves on, socks and shoes on, iPhone in case and sunscreen has been applied. I head out for the HARD part, the bike ride. The course has changed twice, lovely. I had just taken a Test Drive on the course the day before so I knew where I was going. Lawd have mercy the heat was on and so was the humidity.

The beginning of the bike course goes downhill. You have to remember what goes down must come up. I'm doing pretty good for the first 2 miles. Then we get to the last street before the turn on six forks and this thing is a steep hill. I look ahead and see Amigo Julie is in front of me walking her bike. I get off and walk as well. I get to six forks and see Julie has dropped her bike on the grass and sitting on the curve. Our TIFL sister Barbara Ferrell is at the turn. She is checking on us as well. You leave no amigo behind. I stop to see what's going on. She's felling nauseous. Heat, hills and humidity are not joke. She refuels but is thinking about doing DNF. When I heard her say  DNF I almost decide to call it myself but there's bling waiting for me at the end. Another TIFL sister Harvestine is coming up to the turn. She checks on us as well. Julie is feeling better. I head out with Harvestine. At this point you are still at an in incline, I ask the cop can I walk across. The cop tells me "you can do whatever you want. You are doing better than me because I wouldn't even be out here" I'm on six forks and I get back on the bike. North on six forks and left onto mount Vernon church road. I am familiar with this road, it was on the course last year. They have warned us about the downhill. Downhills are my friends. I LOVE downhills. I FLY down hills. There is no fear on downhill. I will SMOKE you on a downhill. What goes down, must come up. I walk up the rest of mount Vernon because it's a hill. Once it flattens I get back on and turn left onto Kinsdale. I know exactly where I am. Turn onto Countrywood. I know what is coming up next, Carrington AKA the devil in disguise. Who do I see at the top of Countrywood and Carrinngton, 1 of my fav people in the world, Brett Friendlander, my TIFL sister Karen Friendlander's better half. He tells me "Johanna you were booking up Countrywood" apparently I haven't run out of fuel yet. I turn onto Carringtn. Carrington and I have an understanding. I will fly down and I will promptly get off my back about 100 yards from the "pot holes in my lawn" section and walk the rest of the way. A Carrington resident tells me "it gets flat once you past the for sale sign" he must think this is my first rodeo because I know for a fact it doesn't get flat until you turn at the stop sign. I pass a family at a house on the right and I ask them "where are the mimosas" the mother tells me "that's the house next door, they're out of town" FYI the house next door was handing out mimosas last year. By the time we got to them they were out of orange juice. Amigo Erin Kenner asked them what else they got to drink. At the turn I see a TIFL sister Lauren Herring telling me "come see me jo" I get back on the bike and continue on the course. I really know I'm almost there. Turn turn and I am riding across the 540 bridge and I really know I'm almost there. I make that left onto Baileywick and I head back to the Y. there is a hill to get back to the Y. My body tells me to go ahead and walk. I walk all the way back to bike finish. I'm worried about Julie. I see my TIFL sister Lillie Ebron at the bike finish and I ask them have they send Julie. They haven't. I'm thinking she is ok. I head to rack my back and prepare for the final piece, 2 mile run. If you know me I have never ran on the run course. I use it as my recovery. Apparently I was doing too much as I removed my iPhone from the bike mount with the Otter box pieces in the same hand and my iPhone falls out my hand and onto the ground. It literally takes me a minute to realize that was my phone that just hit the ground. Let's take a moment of silence for my phone. As I am recovering from the bike and my cracked iPhone, who do I see coming into transition JULIE REED. She made it through the bike course. She tells me "jo let's walk the run together" I'm like oh yeah this is going to be a straight up walk.

We head out of transition and hit the run course. We see fellow TIFL sisters who have finished rooting us on. We are strolling on the course.

We are in no hurry. We will get to the finish line slow and steady. The heat is starting to take its toll on me. I stop a lot and take in water alternating with powerade. One loop down and we head on the last loop. When we make that turn on Baileywick and head toward the finish I'm so excited. Julie decides to run it in. I tell her "running is so not going to happen" I walk to the finish line. Guess who is at the finish line giving out the finishers medals Amigo Erin Keener. She doesn't like to be touched. I give her an extra long sweaty hug. She tells me "put on your own medal." I reply back "nope that's your job" she puts on my medal.

I have completed TRIATHALON #5 Ramblin Rose #3. I am a TRIATHELETE again.

I love my #TRITribe

Shamrock weekend March 20-22, 2015

I turn 40 this year. I've been deciding on how to truly celebrate it. I decided to do races in cities I've never been. I heard of Shamrock from other runners. Then I got an email from the race sponsor, J&A Racing, about doing something great in 2015. It talked about fundraising with LIVESTRONG for the shamrock race. I put down $50 and I started fundraising as part of my race registration. I was committed to race $500. As of the week before the race, I have raised $800. I mentioned to a few of my TIFL sisters that I was doing shamrock and they decided to do it as well. We made it a weekend. As I read more about the race I found out there is a dolphin challenge of running the 8K on Saturday and the half marathon on Sunday. I contacted LIVESTRONG about changing my registration from the half to the challenge. They advised once I make my fundraising goal, my registration would change.

I rode up to Virginia beach with Claudia and Tom Mello on Friday as Claudia and I were both doing the dolphin challenge. My fellow shamrock divas were only doing the 1/2.

Saturday morning came and I headed to the shuttle at the hotel at 6:30am. The 8K didn't start until 7:45am but I wasn't familiar with where everything was. Early bird gets the worm. I drop my gear bag off and head back to the race. I hear someone talking to me from one of the hotels. I'm thinking "do I know this person" turns out it is one of TIFL sisters from Charlote who I met at the Diva NMB race on the SAG wagon. She invites me back to her room to warm up because it's about 30ish degrees outside. Brr cold. I meet her other weekend roommates and Julie, another TIFL sister from Charlotte who I met on the SAG wagon. It might be true, I know a lot of people. You get around in this running/triathlon community. 

Jen and I head to the start line. We are in corral 16 which was like a mile back from the start. We run into Angel and Tiffany from TIFL charlotte and Claudia and Tom Mello. It didn't dawn on me that we wouldn't actually start at 7:45 until they started moving the corrals. We didn't hit the start line until 8:25. Angel Tiffany and I walk together. We are in no hurry. Angel and I are doing the half tomorrow. Tiffany is 17 weeks pregnant, she's not trying to do anything fast and furious either. We notice we have our own personal escort, VA Beach sheriff behind us. KEWL beans. We notice all the food places as we walk down Atlantic avenue. Not a lot of them are open which is a good thing because we probably would have made a detour. We make the first turn onto the end of the boardwalk and we are hit immediately with a headwind. The wind coming off the Atlantic Ocean is no joke. A lady walks up to us and tells us the SAG wagon told her "you need to catch up with the pacers". Isn't that something they called us the pacers. Do you know that same lady ended up passing us. Hilarious. We turn right at the end of the finish line chute. That sucks because you see the finishers headed to the party tent. We are back on Atlantic and there are people walking on the street with us and there's a car that tries to run us down. Dude yells out "there's a sidewalk" we yell back "we're in the race" IDIOTS. we pass a course monitor so apparently the streets are not open. We tell him about the car and he can't believe it. That confirms we were in the right. We make the turn onto the boardwalk and make the final stretch towards the finish. OMG it really feels like the last green mile it's so long. I can see the finish line but it just seems so far away. A lady comes up to us, she's one of the race officials. They are about to start one of the kids races. She's going to walk us I'm to the finish line. This chick means business. "Make room we have 8K finishers coming through". We cross the finish line holding hands, Angel, Tiffany and I. My feet are screaming at me. All I want is my flip flops from my gear bag. 8K is done in 01:53:13 which beats my St Paddys Run Green 8K time from 2 weeks ago and that makes it a PR ladies and gentlemen. 1 race down, 1 to go.

SHAMROCK HALF MARATHON

As every runner knows you don't sleep well the night before a race. I kept tossing and turning all night long thinking about my race day game plan. 5am wake up call wakes us up along with everyone's cell phone alarm ringing. The shamrock divas are waking up and getting our race day gear on. Our plan is to head down to the shuttle at 6 and get to the race with plenty of time before race start. I go back and forth on wearing my TIFL hoodie because the forecast shows its in the 40s. I opt to wear the hoodie. We head to the lobby to catch the shuttle. The lobby is full of fellow runners who are waiting for the shuttle. I must give kudos to Wyndham because they have the shuttle system very organized. We are onboard the minivan AKA the shuttle. It takes us literally less than 5 minutes to get to our drop off spot which is 1 block from the race start. 

This is Mary's first 1/2 so we are super excited for her. We snap pre race pics by the start line. Then we head to the gear drop which is literally a mile away because we are in corral 12 the last one. We made a strategic decision to pack all our stuff in Mary's gear bag because she's the fastest off all of us and will be at the finish line first. 

Gear is dropped off. We join the lines for the porty pottie. What I have learned is you must carry hand sanitizer when you race because you might need your own. That's all I'm going to say about that. The ladies have decide that we are going to join corral 8. Since I have a serious case of FOMO(fear of missing out) I join in with them. Corral 8 is up about 7:20am. We walk to the start line and everyone except this chick takes off running. I set the Garmin and opt to just walk the first mile and let me legs warm up.

I'm listening to my shamrock race playlist on my phone and I'm just enjoying the first few miles. A few people pass by giving my high fives and fist bumps. MaryMolly from Raleigh who I know from being in the same running groups passes me. Angel from TIFL charlotte passes me and asks me if I'm ok. I'm a lost at mile 2 so I'm ok. Then I hit mile 2 and my bladder starts to YELL at me. I see a porty pottie over at a construction site. I made a pit stop. A lady yells "hey you all found her secret stop" pit stop is done. I get back on the course. One foot in front of the other, I'm headed towards mile 3 which is a major water stop. At this point Rocketeer by Far East Movement is playing I'm in a good zone. I start dancing and waving my arms like a plane. I'm hoping this good zone lasts. One foot in front of the other. I opt to decide to just keep walking, no interval running. Im on this long lonely road that looks like it's literally going nowhere and it curves to the left and there is an aid station with a band and they offer me a mimosa. I've never had an adult beverage while being on a race course. I only take a few sips and then throw it out. It warmed me up for a few minutes. I head into the entrance of Fort Story, a US naval base. I hit the 10K mark and I make sure I hit the timing mat. The volunteer laughs at me as I do it. I'm starting to feel a tender pain on my right foot. I'm thinking uh huh the toenail has broken off. I try to ignore it. Did I mention my feet started hurting about 2 miles back but I've gone numb to the pain. Im just walking and jamming to my music apparently too loud because I missed the lead vehicle telling me to get out of the way because apparently the lead male marathon finisher is coming through AKA the royal Prince. Yes I am hating because I am I'm the same race but I need to get out his way. Rant over. More marathoners are coming through. I'm really feeling like i should just call for a taxi or at least Lyft ride. Then I see this guy pass me on one of those bikes and I do a double take. This dude has no legs just arms and he's hauling tail down the course. I think to myself I seriously have no real reason to not finish since I have 2 good legs that are working. This buttercup sucked it up and kept on walking. I'm making my way out of the naval base and I've not noticed they have taken down the mile markers for the half but left up the ones for the full. I pass the coolest water stop on the planet. I see some of the kid volunteers have Popsicles. They ask me do I want one. Yes I do. I take a blue one and it's like the best thing I've ever had in my entire life. The sun is coming out. It's slowly getting warm. I pass our hotel for a second time. If I wasn't such a bling chick I would have just went back to the room but wait I don't have a key Mary and Sharon do. Oh well I have to make it to the finish. I pass marathoners who are heading on the course where I just left, poor things. I see 2 runners wearing NBMA(National Black Marathoners Association) shirt which is super cool. My boyfriend calls me and I tell him how tired I am and how my feet feel. He tells me to block it out and tell this race course I got it. I tell him to talk to me about anything to get my mind off the pain. He tells me he ate my box of caramel delight Girl Scout cookies. Yep that did it. Because I'm no longer thinking about the pain. I really don't care about the cookies. I just needed the distraction. He hangs up.chrisette michelle starts playing again and then my phone dies. Note to self do not stream your music from iCloud while doing a half marathon because it will 1)kill your battery and 2)suck up your data usage. Even the geek has lessons to learn. No music and the Garmin has died as well. It's just my mind and my breathing keeping me company. I make that curve past the Cavalier, stop by the last water stop and drink water and Gatorade. Head down Atlantic, make that last left turn that brings me to the boardwalk. If this isn't the longest part. I can see the finish line in the distance but it seems so far away. Out of nowhere an ANGEL appears. Her name is Angel. She's my TIFL sister from charlotte who has been my rock my sword and shield all weekend. She's already finished, came back out to find me and walk me in to the finish line. We post for the official race photos. We head into the last stretch of the finish line. People are cheering and I hear my name over the PA. I cross the finish line of my 2nd completed half marathon. All I want is my flip flops. Dolphin challenge is done. 18.1 miles I2 days. Put a fork in me because I am DONE