Running For Angels 5k logo
We have our final design for the race logo. This design will be featured on the tech tees as well as the medals. To learn more, check out https://www.facebook.com/runningforangels5k or you can register at http://www.regonline.com/runningforangels. $20 gets an entry into the race, plus a medal. For $30 you get a race entry, medal, and tech tee.
Although the 5k distance isn’t my specialty, I decided to run one last weekend. I just wanted to do a race. The only day I was available was Sunday. It turned out the closest race was almost 2 hours away in Meridian Township, MI.
It was supposed to be a small event that is sponsored by Playmakers. The course consisted of a short, paved corse thru the woods, down 2 roads, then a short sprint to the finish.
The day of the race, I woke up with a sore throat, so I wasn’t really expecting a very fast time. I figured I’d run it in about 23 minutes.
I managed to run it in 20:28, which was way better than I hoped for. That ended up beating my PR by 3 seconds!
Polar Bear 5k results
I won my division, and come in 6th overall out of 229 runners. This was the first time I have ever won my division in a race.
Polar Bear 5k medal
Age group winners received great medals made by RunningAwards.com!
About the event:
Pros
-Race day registration was well organized.
-Very affordable. Only $25 on race day.
-Pre/post-race refreshments. Hot chocolate, coffee, bananas, granola bars.
-Nice medals to top 3 in division, plaques to overall male, female, and masters.
Race map on Strava.com
Cons
-Not chip timed.
-Shirt was not available in my size. Only XXL shirts were remaining.
-Almost no crowd support.
-They played awful music the entire time.
Overall
I liked the event. It was small, but well organized. You don’t really expect much when the price is so low, but it was better than I thought it would be.
-Tim
Yes. You read that correctly. I have been coordinating the Running For Angels 5k Virtual Race, and I have been offering entries for only $30. This includes a tech tee and a great medal. Starting yesterday, I decided to offer registration for only $20 with medal only. I figured this would gain interest of runners like me that have way too many race shirts.
If you’ve never done a virtual race, you’re probably wondering how they work. It’s pretty simple. Anyone can participate no matter where you live. In a virtual race, you can run or walk the mileage (5k, 3.1 miles) anywhere you’d like. You don’t even have to do it on the actual race day/time. The medal and/or shirt will be mailed to you for your participation.
The race will be benefitting The Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics. About 25% of your entry cost will go toward the cause.
For more information on the race, you can check us out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/runningforangels5k.
You can also register thru RegOnline at http://www.regonline.com/runningforangels.
–Tim
I have finally found a good graphic designer to create the logo for the Running For Angels Virtual Race. The final touches are being put in place and we will have an official logo this week. This means I can finally have the medals designed too! It feels good now that things are finally coming together. If you want to learn more about the virtual race I am coordinating you can check out facebook.com/runningforangels5k. It’s only $30 to register (until February 28, 2013) and you get a great tech tee and finisher’s medal for participaing. Plus, you will be helping me raise money for the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics.
On another note, I am absolutely thrilled right now because as of today I have over 100 followers! I really want to thank everyone for their support!
–Tim
7 weeks left until the La Jolla Canyon 50k in Malibu, CA. Since we don’t have mountains in southeastern Michigan, I have to improvise for my incline training. The only good way for me to train for these inclines is to head to my local sledding hill. It only rises about 35 feet at about a 40 degree grade on the easy side and about a 60 degree grade on the steep side. It really doesn’t simulate the race course, but it will have to do.
Today was this week’s “hill day” so I went out in the cold to put in some work. It was 16 degrees outside with a wind chill of only 9 degrees. I don’t usually mind the cold, but I under-dressed for it today. I planned on doing laps up and down the easier side of the hill until I reached a 5k distance. This ended up being a much easier task than what I had planned for. I kept a very even pace of 9:38. That is very slow compared to my average pace (~7:30) but I wanted to keep it slow because of the inclines. I like to run till it hurts, but I almost feel like I was slacking today. Next week on “hill day” I plan on doing 5 miles at a 9:00 pace.
Tomorrow is my long run for the week. It is also my birthday! I’m going to head out to my favorite trail for 20 awesome miles.
For those that don’t know, I am doing a fundraiser for the 50k to raise money for the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics. It is a very important cause that affects one of my dear family members. If you’d like to sponsor me, you can click here. For as little as $1 you can help fund research for treatment of this rare disorder.
I want to thank you all for your support.
–Tim
Running For Angels 5k Virtual Race
When I decided to coordinate a virtual race, I knew it would be a lot of work. Yesterday the race registration opened and I’ve had some kinks to work out. I believe I have everything taken care of now. The awesome people at RegOnline are facilitating the registration process and although it was a ton of work putting everything together, they make it as easy as possible. I was able to add the race to a few different racing sites in hopes of gaining more exposure. Active.com, RunMichigan.com, and TriFind.com were added today. I plan on adding the event to many more sites over the next couple of weeks.
Things have been a little stressful, but I knew the very early stages would be. Setting up registration and dealing with the early problems were bound to be a little tough. Even considering all of this, I’m happy. I have wanted to coordinate a race since last March and I’m finally doing it. I really haven’t been this excited in a long time.
I have done several fundraisers for my races to raise money for F.A.S.T., but this one is bound to be my biggest fundraising event yet. They are doing amazing things with their research, and that’s why this is so important. They are currently doing clinical trials in Tampa, FL concerning the drug monocycline. It has shown to reverse the effects of Angelman Syndrom in mice, and there is hope that it will do the same for humans. The Angelman community has kept a close eye on the trials with hopes that their loved ones will someday have a cure.
If you would like to participate in my event, you can register HERE.
To follow the event on Facebook or to learn more, click HERE.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me and this wonderful cause. If you plan on participating, don’t forget to tell your friends and family.
I’m proud to announce that the registration for the Running For Angels 5k Virtual Race is now open! The race is only $30 until 1/31/13. This includes a t-shirt and medal. These items will be shipped to you approximately 2 weeks after the event. I’m still working on putting together a design for the shirts and medals, but I will keep everyone updated. You can register at http://www.regonline.com/runningforangels. If anyone has any feedback on the registration, or any questions or concerns you can email me at timothymisiak@gmail.com. Please remember, this is a virtual race. Anyone can participate no matter where you live. For more information on the cause please visit http://cureangelman.org Thanks again for your continued support!I’ve been slacking lately. Ever since the Akron Marathon in September I have only been running 20 to 25 miles per week. This was such a drastic drop in mileage compared to the 50+ I was was doing before that. I really needed the rest though. My training for my 50 miler at Run Woodstock really wore me down and I battled 2 injuries because of it. A stress fracture on the fifth metatarsal on my left foot during my training, and a traumatic neuroma on my right foot that happened during the race. Although I have been “lazy”, I feel so much better. My body isn’t completely trashed anymore.
I was planning on taking a trip back out to California to see my brother and wanted to do a race while I was there. Last year I ran the LA Marathon with 2 of my friends and I thought about running it again. Although the race was incredible, I decided against it so I could discover some new terrain. The La Jolla Canyon Trail 50k is taking place on March 9th and that seemed like a fun challenge. I am ready for another ultra. I believe I still have it in me right now, but I still have 2 months to train for it. Every race beyond a half marathon that I’ve ever done was run with friends, but this time I’m going solo. I hope to complete it in less than 5 1/2 hours.
Trail map
The pics I found are absolutely breathtaking. I really hope to get a GoPro camera before then. With stunning views like these, I don’t want to miss a moment of it. During my first ultra I really didn’t take many pictures, so this time will definitely be different.
La Jolla Canyon Trail
Considering the terrain, I need to do some good hill training. Here in southeastern Michigan we don’t have any mountains, and the bulk of the land is very flat. I do, however, have access to a very steep sledding hill right down the road and have some aggressive hills within 10 miles of here at Bloomer Park and Stony Creek.
La Jolla Valley Loop
I plan on doing some hardcore hills one day, some fartleks another day, and one long run of 20+ miles each week. This will bring me back to my “ultra-self” in no time. 2 weeks before the race, I will switch to one day of hills, one day of 13 to 18 miles, and one day of cross training (legs and core). It’s a pretty simple plan.
Chumash Trail
I will also be doing another fundraiser for F.A.S.T. (Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics) to help fund important research toward a cure for Angelman Syndrome. You can sponsor me for as little as $1 here. Thank you for your support and encouragement!
–Tim
Tim's Running Reviews 