The Grabbagreen Running Team

Three months ago, my friend and coach messaged me - 

After spending some time thinking about it and discussing it, we settled on a race to aim for.  The Rotary Monster Dash 5k.  It is part of the Centex Race Series and the proceeds of the event go to the local Rotary Club, which supports our local community.

Next, I searched the internet for 5k training programs to find something I could use.  I found one that I was able to customize for the 4 ability group levels I wanted to train and I was able to stretch it out to 10 weeks.

Instead of naming the groups beginner, advanced, and so forth, I thought it would be fun to name them after vegetables that are used as ingredients in the smoothies and foods at Grabbagreen.  We went with Teams Broccoli, Beet, Kale, and Spinach.  As coach, I became Asparagus.  

Coach Asparagus

I created a Facebook group and with the help of our local print shop, The Ohana Ink Co., we put together flyers and a banner at the Grabbagreen and a cover photo for our group.  I then published events on the page for our initial meeting to get information about the training plan to anyone that was interested.

I used social media and the in-store banner to spread the word throughout the community.  I was also able to get word out through The Killeen Community Games and my Sunday Morning Group Run events and pages.

Word spread quickly, and we had more than 50 people at our information meeting.  The community was excited about this opportunity and the energy was incredible to be a part of.

Love this team!

Every week, I planned routes through the neighborhood behind Grabbagreen for the runners.  Teams Broccoli and Beet increased their distances each week to work up to the 5k distance, while Teams Kale and Spinach started with longer distances and focused on their speed.  Every Wednesday was a speed workout with several ¼ mile or 1/8 mile repeats, increasing in repetitions each week.  Long runs were on Sundays and many came out to the Sunday Morning Group Run events to run with their new-found friends.

Early in the training program, I was at a race with many of my friends and I stopped by the booth for The Austin Trail Running Company and I asked if they’d be interested in visiting one of our running meet ups to talk shoes, racing, and anything running related.  Pam loved the idea and not only did she set agree to a visit but she also pulled in 361 Degrees for a shoe demo!  Phillip came to the Grabbagreen on September 3^rd and gave a running shoe clinic to the team and allowed them to wear test some shoes from 361.  The runners were extremely excited to get to talk to Phillip and try the shoes out.

Phillip talking shoes

361 shoe demo

At Pam’s suggestion, I stopped by the Altra booth at another race and asked Tracie if she’d be interested in visiting our team and she agreed, too!  On October 3rd, Tracie brought three models of Altra road running shoes to Grabbagreen and spent more than two hours speaking with the runners in small groups and one on one while they ran a few miles in the shoes to see how they liked them.

 

Tracie talking with runners

Altra shoe demo

Between the two shoe demos, we also scheduled a Yoga For Runners class with Live and Let Liv Yoga Studio.  Stephanie prepared and led a free session for the runners to increase flexibility, durability, and strength and everyone that attended love it.  We had a lot of positive feedback from the event and they learned a lot.

Should my thighs be burning in this position?

As raceday got closer I became more excited about seeing the training plan pay after all of the hard work the runners put in.  I was also excited to see the shirts that were being designed and kept as a surprise even to me!  I got to see the proof of the first shirt about 30 minutes before we released the photos to the team and I was blown away by the incredible design that The Ohana Ink Co. brought to life for us!

Eat Clean on the shirt front!

Team Grabbagreen!

I planned to take a pre-race picture with the team and even though we pushed it back closer to the race start, I still managed to miss a couple team members!  Everyone was excited for the race, though, and they loved the shirts!

Raceday!

After I finished the race, I turned back and ran in or cheered in every runner from the team still on the course.  The last bit of the race was up a hill to the finish line and it was another chance to see the strength and determination of each runner as they pushed their way to the finish.  Several of the other runners did the same, so we had three and four people running in with some of our folks.

Finishing strong!

I’m very happy with my own performance in this race.  I was 9^th overall, 1^st in my age category with a time of 22:34, which is faster than I ran last year on the same course.  

But more importantly, I am so very humbled and inspired by the opportunity to coach and assist so many people to a goal they set for themselves.  

Finally, I’d like to thank so many people for all they have done.

Thank you to Lisa, Doni, and Jennifer, my coaches and friends that encourage, inspire, and push me daily to be the best athlete I can be, for your trust and faith in planning and completing this program.

Thank you to Grabbagreen Killeen for partnering with me to support healthy goals for our local community.

Thank you to The Ohana Ink Co. for the fantastic shirts that were provided to our runners free of charge. 

Thank you to Pam and Phillip at The Austin Trail Running Company for your support and bringing 361 Degrees to the Killeen area.

Thank you to Tracie from Altra Running for visiting our team and the opportunity to talk and test your shoes.

Thank you to Stephanie from Live and Let Liv Yoga for donating your time and leading the Yoga For Runners class.

And a big Thank You to everyone that participated and supported the Grabbagreen Running Team in any way.  It has meant so much to me and I’m excited about what comes next! 

Stay tuned to the Grabbagreen Killeen Facebook page for the next healthy challenge.  Once the Centex Race Series calendar is posted for 2019, I’ll pick a race and we will do this again!

Run Hard.

Be Grateful.

Celebrate Love.