Come on the Rising Wind

Runners, to your marks.
While we are 11 months in to our Grand Prix, the excitement is just about to start!  Mustaches and Mamas are pouring on the miles, prepping for races, and looking to blow PR's all the way to 2014!  Look out world, here we come.  We will wait to tally points until closer to the end of the year, because I know all of you are far from finished.  There are, however, a few things I wanted to make you aware of. 

NWA Turkey Trot  Thursday, November 28, 2013 at 8:00am
Arvest Ballpark, Springdale, Arkansas

 Just in case you're in town on Thanksgiving Day, there will be a Turkey Trot at Arvest Ballpark.  They are including this year a "Wild Gobbler 5K" which is a 5K with a crossfit workout.  If any of you Steven Ray athletes want to take that one on, I would put off my turkey nap to stay and cheer for you!

Then,

Ugly Sweater Run 5K & Stroll  Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 1:00pm
Springdale, Arkansas

I think this has Mama's and Mustaches written all over it!  If there is some interest, we may even meld our trophy ceremony into this one.  Talk this one over during your next run with friends and let me know what you think.  Oh, and some way or another, Santa Baby needs to be a part of this race.  Nothing would make my day more than to see that awkward, misshapen doll reaching across the finish line.  Did I mention there are prizes for the best sweater? 

 

Finally, I feel that I have failed as a blogger.  Sorry that I haven't been more consistent with updates and witty commentary.  I am, however, very excited to finish the year, and have some things cooking for next year that I am pumped about it.  Happy running, and we'll see you soon!

Results, Conspiracies, and Looking Ahead

 

First of all, congrats to Katrina and friends for her race in the Valentines 8K.  She is the only confirmed Mama's and Mustaches runner from that race.  More on that later...  But, 4th in her age group and a new PR will put Katrina at 15 points!  Now on to the seedier news.

Have you ever played a game of 3 on 3 wiffle ball?  If you have, you're probably familiar with the concept of a ghost runner.  The ghost runner comes into play when you have all of the players from one team on base, so there is nobody left to bat.  When that happens, the lead runner calls "Ghost Runner" and then goes up to bat.  If he gets a hit and gets on base, the ghost runner automatically moves on to the next base, until he scores or there are 3 outs.  I think someone may be trying to cheat our game by using a "Ghost Runner" in races.  Here are the details that I know of.

1)  I'm told via e-mail that one Brian B*. went out to run 15, running part of it with fellow mustache Nate M.

2)  The next day, I see this among the results in the valentines 8K

17

Brian B

Bentonville AR

472

37

89

43:35.8

43:35.8

5:27/K

So according to my logic, this man was either running two places at once, or, he has a ghost runner.  A hired gun that is out there running local races in order to add to his point total.  We will be investigating this very closely in the coming weeks, but be on alert.  This man could be out to steal your trophy.  Only guilty people post pictures without their face on their facebook account.

*  Last names were left out of this section because, after all, this is the world wide web.  As a side note, the shirt pictured above is available at The Mustache Goods and Wears in Fayetteville and Bentonville.

As a final note for this edition, there are a lot of races coming up.  If you are participating in one, please leave a comment on here saying the race and the date.  We like to know who to cheer for when we're watching you on TV.

Viva la Vida

 

There have been some cold, cold runs this month, and yet the mama's and mustaches are trudging on.  I wanted to make sure everybody knew about one of the few runs that is going on next month.  The nice folks who put on the Bentonville Half are putting on a series of races that goes through the year.  The first race in that series is called the Valentines Day 4K/8K.  In case the allure of catching up with the leaders isn't enough for you, here is a little more to sweeten the pot. 

 

1)  I'm pretty sure this will be your first 8K race, which means you'll get 5 extra points automatically.

2) In the spirit of the holiday, we are going to add an extra bonus.  If you get your significant other (who is not already part of our group) to run the race, you'll get another 5 points.  You also get a discount on registration if you register together.

3)  Just released today, you get these pullovers as your participant shirt.  Pretty cool, and, I must say, a little more manly than the medals they are passing out at the Little Rock Marathon this year.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/87813622@N08/sets/72157632521032531/

More info at http://www.runbentonville.com/run-bentonville-race-series-3-race-series/test-sub-page/

Hope to see you out there.  Even if you can't make it, don't let the cold stop you. They say that you start to feel warm again just before the hypothermia sets in!  Keep on running!

Running the New Year

Welcome Runners!

It is time to kick of the Mama and Mustache Grand Prix!  I'm planning to use this site to post updates and pictures about once a month.  Since some of us have already gotten started I can include in here what points have been accumulated that I'm aware of.  If you have pictures to add, please send them to me and I will post them to the blog. 

 

    

New Years Day 10K

       Fayetteville

5 runners and 3 fans came out on a wet, chilly New Years Day.  While there have been no official times posted yet, we are pretty sure of the outcomes and points.  Some people are making an early statement that they are in this thing to win it (I'm not naming any names, but one of them was dressed like Steve from Blues Clues.)

 

 

So, here are the days accolades.

 

Lindsey Kelley-  6 miles (6pts), New PR (10pts), Placed in her division (10pts)- 26 points

Ashley Bailey- 6 miles, new PR, placed in her division 26pts

Brian Bailey- 6 miles, new distance (5pts), 11pts

Patrick Kelley- 6 miles, 6 pts.

Jake Van Lear- 6 miles, 6 pts.

Amy Van Lear- Childcare 6pts.

 

If you missed this race, it is definitely worth running.  It's all very familiar territory, and lots of familiar faces.  I know lots of you have been getting out there this week in spite of miserable conditions.  Keep up the good work!  Just a small reminder, if you want to count weight loss as part of your total, remember to weigh yourself this week and write it down somewhere so you'll be able to compare it to your weight loss at the end of 2013. 

One more thing, please forgive me, I am new at this blogging thing.  I will try to get better.  If you want to check out an extremely good blog published by one of the runners in our group, check out http://www.sarahmcow.com/.  She often writes about running and races, but also family life and things that are generally amusing like the Chicken that holds the "We Buy Gold" sign being recruited by the Marine Corps right on the corner of Joyce and College.  Trust me, it's better when she writes about it.