Teresa's weekend: Great Pumpkin Run and Tarheel Service Day

From Colts cheerleader to Roaming Advocate

I was very busy over the weekend, with The Great Pumpkin Run on Saturday morning and Tarheel Service Day on Sunday.  Both events involved a little wardrobe fun, too.

 

The Great Pumpkin Run

This is a Fall/Halloween themed trail run at The Appleworks in Trafalgar, IN.  I thought about doing it last year, but I didn't really want to drive all the way down there by myself.  It seemed like a race that would be more fun with friends, and I didn't really have many runner friends back then.  But now I do, and happily several of them wanted to do this race too.  It was a total blast!  Jana & Erin made super-cute Batman & Robin costumes complete with tutus, while Mel, Becky, Kathy, Alyssa & I went as Colts cheerleaders.  (Side note: I am a big fan of Sparkle Athletic's Sparkle Skirts for cosrunning.  I think they look great, and they are extremely comfortable too.)



It rained a lot last week, so the course was extremely muddy and slippery, which added to the fun.  We ran through fields, a corn maze, a pumpkin patch, and an orchard.  It was a very scenic race course, and it was very well marked so we always knew which way to go.  The race shirt & medal are really cute, and we also received a small pumpkin and a cup of cider afterwards.  We all agreed we would definitely do this race again!

I did overhear some people complaining that the mud had ruined their good running shoes, but we were warned in an email the day before that it was really muddy, so they only have themselves to blame.  On a much more fun note, I heard quite a few people talking about how it was their first 5K ever.  They were so proud and so excited, and had such a good time that they were planning to run more races.  That makes my runner's heart very happy. 

 

Tarheel Service Day

This happens every year on October 12th, in honor of University Day.  Tarheels all over the world sign up to serve their community and show the world what a difference we can make.  Since the date coincided with the Indianapolis Walk to End Alzheimer's, I decided to volunteer at that event instead of walk it like I did last year.

I signed up to serve in whatever capacity they needed me, and I was assigned to be a Roaming Advocate.  I wasn't quite sure what that meant, but it actually turned out to be fun.  I was there at Military Park for the 2 hours before the Walk began, walking around asking people to sign cards requesting Congress fund Alzheimer's research - cards that the Alzheimer's Organization staff would then be delivering personally to the Indianapolis offices of our Senators.

Only one person declined to sign a card the entire time I was there.  I had to go back to the Advocate table twice to replenish my supply.  It was fun walking around chatting with the Walk participants, and seeing their team outfits.  It was also just a beautiful day to be outside in downtown Indianapolis.

We also get a little swag for volunteering, and this year it was another wristband along with a rally towel, certificate, and stickers.  Sweet!

 

Up Next

Next Thursday, 10/23, is Run (317), a 3.17 mile run to benefit Keep Indianapolis Beautiful.  (For readers not in the Indy area: 317 is the Indianapolis area code.)  This looks like it is going to be a lot of fun, and the shirts are really cute too.

I'm already starting to think about 2015.  I'd like to do the Winter Night Trail Half Marathon on Jan. 25, so I will need to start training at the beginning of November.  And from there I will need to keep training, because I am planning to run the Carmel Marathon on April 18.  That will be my first full marathon.  Yikes!

 

Santa Hustle Race Discount!

If you'd like to run the Santa Hustle 5K or Half Marathon in Indianapolis on 12/21, go HERE to register and use discount code TERHAZELIN to save $5!  Share with your friends too!