Handicap Run & Salsa

So my absolute favorite thing to participate in with my local running group is their Handicap runs!  I had convinced a couple of my running buddies to join me so that made it extra fun. Not to mention that I had lost touch with my wonderful friends in the running group and they always know how to have an awesome potluck!

So what is a handicap run?  Here are their rules:

Monthly handicap fun runs are held all over the city.  The timed handicap is designed to equalize runners of different abilities.  Each participant (runner or walker) is assigned his or her own start time which remains the same for the duration of the series. In theory, all runners would finish at the same time.  So the idea is to improve upon your own time so you can beat the other runners.  The first person who crosses the finish line receives the same number of points as there are runners.  The second finisher receives one less point and so on.  But everyone receives at least 5 points for participating or volunteering.  We organize potluck meals or go out to eat afterward, and you can have fun in friendly competition with your fellow runners.  Visitors and new members are always welcome!  No charge to anyone. Volunteers are always appreciated. Results including your paces are posted on the handicap page each month. Cumulative points for each runner are also posted so you can track your progress.

The year-long handicap series is divided into two six-month series.  The first-half series begins in January and the second-half series begins in July. A free pair of shoes is awarded to the points winner at the end of each series. 

The point of these of course is to have fun but also to motivate you to improve your pace over the 6 months.  I  love them because it gives us slow runners a chance to run with the speedsters and it personally it always gets me pumped up to try harder!  This one was a wake up call for me because I had stopped really running hills of any sort for the last few months and it definitely made my lungs burn.  


So another fun event from the weekend was going with my mom to see Kings of Salsa.  What great rhythms and wow were they in shape!!  I'm thinking Salsa dancing needs to be added to my workout routine!  Ok so maybe they have to do a little more than salsa dancing to get abs like that!  My mom finally couldn't contain herself and during their last song got up and busted a move!  :-)

Remember you have one more week to enter my giveaway!