All I wanted was a Finsh Line Photo of My PR….

Below you will read the string of emails between me &  a photo company from my most recent race.  This is what happens when you have high expectations of people to deliver good customer service & they fall flat on their face miles before the start line.  All I wanted was to purchase a picture to honor my accomplishment (would have been the 1st time I’d have purchased a finisher’s photo) & not be deleted from their system.  Happy reading….. (Last names were XX’d out for privacy)

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Sent: Monday, October 06, 2014 4:58 PM

Subject: RE: Your 2014 Run Like a Girl Half Marathon Photos are Online NOW!

When I search my bib #, it pulls someone else & you have my name ties to someone else.
Jennifer XXXXX
Bib # 286
Half Marathon Distance

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Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2014 17:05:03 -0400

Hi Jennifer,

Upon closer inspection, that person is wearing 266.  Easy mistake to make considering the difficult to read bib style.  Thanks for the heads up, I fixed that.

If your bib was not visible, plese check lost & found.

Thanks,

Meghan

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Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2014 8:25 AM

Subject: RE: Your 2014 Run Like a Girl Half Marathon Photos are Online NOW!

Thank you for un-tagging the person who was not me.  I would like to note that now I could not find myself.  I could not search for me; my name disappeared & so did my bib #.  Seems rather lazy for the photographer to not go through your own photos to retag the correct person & bib #, it is your job not mine to search through every single photo, correct?  I would like to let you know that I am not normally a very particular person.  Nor am I someone to complain.  However I was very interested in purchasing a picture based on how they turned out because this was a personal record for me, it was my fastest race in 8 years & 18 half marathons.  With that being said, your customer service and website has been the least user-friendly that I have used in 8 years & 18 half marathons, well 25 if you include the 7 full marathons I have done.  Please consider your customers, each & every one.  You have no idea why the run the race or how important the pictures are to them.  I will be posting a comment on glassdoor.com about your level of service.

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Subject: Re: Your 2014 Run Like a Girl Half Marathon Photos are Online NOW!
Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2014 09:34:40 -0400

Ms. XXXX,

Your email has been referred to me, and I am responding herewith.

Your photos did not show up under your bib because your bib was not clearly visible.  This was compounded by the style of bib used; low contrast white digits with a very difficult to read font.  Normally, we utilize  timing data to verify unreadable bibs.  We did not have access to the necessary data at this event, thus had no option but to place unreadable bibs in lost & found.  I might add that every running event photographed has a lost & found section.

A quick scan of L&F resulted in several runners who could be you.  In virtually every case, the bib is worn on the side, or covered by a hand or jacket.  It is possible that you were mis-identified as 266 because the bib is worn on the side.  Experienced runners typically know to wear their bib on the front, to facilitate identification. 

A Zumba Instructor’s, or any person’s, characterization of our photographers as “lazy” is offensive and has no basis in fact.  I will be sure to share that characterization with Meghan and Katy.  Between them, they have over 18 years experience in photographing Marathons.  In 2 cases over the years, Katy was involved in providing immediate critical assistance, until medical responded,  to runners who were stricken at the finish line.  At this event, both Meghan and Katy stood in one spot for over 4 hours, photographing each runner.  They endured cold temperatures, high winds which blew down the finish structure, rain and hail, because they know the importance of our work.  These are very adverse conditions for photography,  their accomplishment in doing so is exemplary, and I am proud of them.

I will also share your “lazy” characterization with Sue and Marilyn.  They started  Saturday afternoon, worked into the night and all day Sunday, to identify each and every of the 6,728 photos that we took.  Again, given the difficult to read bib numbers referenced above, I am very proud of their accomplishment.

It is regrettable that you chose to respond in such an unproductive personal attack fashion rather than take a few minutes to scan for your L&F photos.  A reasonable conclusion would be that you are more interested in complaining than obtaining your photos.

It is our policy to defend our company against the type of libelous conduct you are proposing; certainly the tone of your email suggests willful intent.  Your assertions have no basis in truth or fact.  This email puts you on notice to that effect.  I will also share with Zumba corporate your offensive “lazy” characterization.  I am at a loss to understand why Zumba would attack these professional and accomplished women in such  a personal fashion.

Runphotos LLC

by Thomas XXXX

Vice-President

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Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2014 10:25 AM

Subject: RE: Your 2014 Run Like a Girl Half Marathon Photos are Online NOW!

Thank you very much for you long winded response Thomas.
I hope you have a wonderful conversation with ZUMBA home Office, when you report me.  They are a fabulous company who understand great customer service and will be happy to listen to a customer when they have a valid complaint.  Which, if it’s a personal opinion & can be proven by example/emails, cannot be a libelous statement.  (Not sure marathons cross the ZUMBA path, but you are free to chose & contact whom you desire.)

I am sure your workers understand how awful the elements were that day….standing there in the hail………I was out running in it as well.  Too bad one of those 6,728 photos they took won’t be purchased to commemorate my accomplishment.  I am sure your employees are very decent & kind-hearted people, willing to help injured runners…not to be confused with laziness.  But, you defend as you see fit, or interpret it, however you take it.

As a very experienced runner, my bib was placed high on my leg in the front for the camera & not on my shirt as I knew my sweatshirt would be covering it & would be removed during the race…..a few things you learn.  And I turned to face my bib to the camera when I saw them….but since you seem more interested in letting me know of my faults as an experienced racer, I shall save my breath & wish you a good day.  Leave you to run a company, maybe you could focus on assisting the customer instead of searching photos to prove a point instead of helping the customer get what they were asking for 3 emails ago.Best of luck in the future & hopefully obtaining BBB accreditation someday.

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Conclusion: They deleted me, I still don’t exist in their 6K + photos database & I’m not sifting through to find myself.  Guess I’m the lazy one.  But I refuse to give this company or this owner any of my $$$!  Here is what you get when you click on their “home page” … do it, I dare you!  (HINT: Nothing, it’s broken, their homepage website is broken)

http://www.runphotos.com/default.html

Truly the worst website ever.  Worst customer service ever.  I would say I should lower my expectations to meet them, but I refuse to do that.

Run Like a GIRL! (1/2 Marathon 2014)

Let me first start off by saying, I don’t run.  I am a race-walker.  Yes, it’s an actual form/technique…..yes it is an Olympic sport.  Yes, it is hard….yes it’s better for my arthritic hips.  Yes, I am faster than some runners…faster than a lot of joggers.  But I’m not bragging, I’m telling you this so you believe me when I say, it’s not just walking…..it’s race walking.  😀

It was a women’s only run….first time I had done one of those.  And, it was, of coarse, the coldest morning we’ve had in a long time.  Small race, I’d say 2K or less participants.  Always makes me nervous, I like to hang out right behind the packs…..I’m obviously not an elite athlete, but I need to make sure I stay close enough to a pack that is moving fast enough that I can “chase” them the entire race.

Not only was it the coldest morning we had in a long time, it decided to start raining about mile 3, just a little bit.  The mile 5…here comes the hail!  Holy crap!!  That shit hurt!  Mile 7-9 it rained again…and mile 11-13, we were back in the city & it was so windy I had to turn around at some point to catch my breath!  Did I mention we were all on the bike trail from most of the race, running up & down, round bends, narrow paths…..gotta’ say, not the most enjoyable experience I’ve had.  Although, the man at the finish line, in a tuxedo who handed me a bottle of wine, well that was a very nice touch!

However….I will excuse & forgive mother nature for all her nastiness.  Why you ask?  Because THIS WAS THE RACE!!!  This was the one!!!  This was finally the race where I was able to cross the finish line for a half marathon in UNDER 3 hours!!!  YUP!  I set a new PR & I FINALLY was able to achieve a sub-3-hour 1/2 marathon finisher’s time.  It only took 8 years and a ton of miles and 17 other 1/2 marathons to achieve it, but it’s finally done! 😀  I’m over the moon excited!!

I talk and write a lot about personal achievement & reaching goals.  I understand how important they are, a lot of people do.  But nothing comes close to feeling that warmth inside of actually making it “there”, to that place you’ve envisioned in your head for s0 long.  I remember finally fitting into my “goal weight dress”.  I cried.  This I didn’t.  This was a labor of 8 years…there had been plenty of tears along the way.  This one….well….yeah, I walked a lot taller this week.  (When I could walk normal, was very sore from all the hills & being in the cold, never really warmed up correctly!)  I cherish this race….it was nothing special; a shitty weather day, where I achieved an amazing life goal!

I have the Columbus full in 2 weeks.  I am gunning for a PR here too!  I would need to finish in 6:24:59 to make it a true PR…..they have a finish line gong you get to ring if you set a PR there.  Damn it…..I want to ring the gong!  I will ring that gong!  Victory will be mine!!!

Go, go get ’em……find your goal & DO NOT STOP!  Ever!

Hope, Peace & ZUMBA Love,

Jen 🙂

USAF 1/2 Marathon….2014

I do love this race, it’s a fun one.  It’s not too difficult…..it’s also the PR for my full marathon distance, so it does hold a special place in my heart.  I like that it’s a military run.  I get a chance to honor my grandfather every time I run one.  And it’s a local race…..I run (ha ha) into a lot of friends on the course….that’s always fun!  Here’s the sunrise just before the gun goes off.

This year, I have intentionally been pushing myself.  Any excuses that I would of had in the past have been cleared away.  I have just been through the worst (well maybe the 2nd worst) year of my life.  I am far stronger than I ever thought I was capable of being.  And there is no reason to allow myself to be easy on my self.  I am the only one who knows exactly how hard & how far I can go.  I plan on finding out in the next few years.  I have a couple of running goals I plan on achieving in the near future.  I’ll be damned if I get in my own way!

This race was my 17th half marathon.  I did not feel so awesome that morning.  Woke up with a migraine.  Wouldn’t be the first time that has happened, but I was just thankful that I was not throwing up…that has happened in the past!  Took some anti-migraine meds & prayed that I would finish the race.  Oh dear GOD…left me finish the race!

Got to the start, made it all the way to mile 7 before I started to feel kind of gross again, more than just pushing through 7 miles as fast as you can.  I stopped at the 1st Aide station for some advil & away I went.  I do not remember this race course being as hilly as it was this year, so they must have changed it again.  Either way, it’s a beautiful one!  I felt pretty good all the way to the end.  Which is a complete mind game…..you see the finish line for the last mile & half.  And you think you’re a lot closer than you are, but you just..keep…walking….ha ha ha!

I did tear up a bit at mile 12 (you hear the finish line and about a quarter mile later, you see it, finally).  Not because I didn’t think I could, but because I knew I was going to make it.  Sometimes I forget how far I have come.  And I do remember my very first race, sometimes like it was yesterday.  And there have been many races where I wasn’t sure I was going to finish.  This being one of them; who gets up with a migraine & runs a marathon or a half?  Um, this girl…and it’s happened twice now.  I am extremely intrinsically motivated….and something about knowing I was a mile or less away from my 24th long distance medal had me all choked up inside.  I believed I could, so I did.  Knowing you can do something and being so close to the finish line that you can taste it are two completely different things.  And being at that finish line never tasted so good!

It wasn’t a PR or under 3 hours, but it’s pretty damn close & I get another chance in 2 weeks.  Fingers crossed for speedy feet!

Hope, Peace & ZUMBA Love,

Jen 🙂

Little Miami 1/2 Marathon

This was one of the most boring races I have run…..ever.  It was small (which I normally don’t do) and on a path, even though it was a bike path (which I’m not a huge fan of), and in the middle of August in Ohio & it was humid beyond belief (what the hell was I thinking????)……HOWEVER……I set a Personal Record that morning!

I very rarely sign up for a race that is a true “runner’s” race.  Not because I don’t love the sport of it.  I get a trill out of watching elite athletes “go for it”!  But I am aware as a race walker, no matter how fast I have gotten, I cannot keep up with the runners.  I pass the joggers and those who have not trained well.  I can keep up with many people, but when there are less and 1,000 people on the track and 95% of them are under a 10 min/mile pace…..it’s devastating to the ego to be passed constantly.  And, while I do not agree with their thinking, they believe that a “race walker” should not compete with them.  Well…..I do compete with them and will continue to do so.  (They can suck it up and kiss my arse!)

It was a very boring race.  But, that was the best part of it!  Do not get me wrong, I love the city road races.  I love the cheering crowds!  I love the change in scenery and the thrill of the “race” and catching those who are my “speed” and passing them.  This race, there was NONE of that!  It was an out & back course, literally circled a city block, hopped onto the bike path & went for 7 miles, turned around & headed back.  Blah!  There were no mile timers, there were no crowds.  The water stations did not cheer us on.  There were 2 police officers blocking traffic for us, that was it!  Mentally and visually boring.  Do not mistake me, the view of the river and the trees was very pretty….for the first 3-5 miles.  After that, it lulled you mentally to sleep.  It was more mentally challenging to keep yourself moving than physically demanding to keep your feet on pace.  Not that going 13.1 miles was “easy” by any means….the air was so thick I thought I was choking!  What all of these random “dislikes” about this race added up to were mental toughness and fortitude.  I had no one to “chase” or “catch”.  I had no mile timers to make sure I was on pace.  I did have a few people chasing me.  With the lack of any type of visual cues from my surroundings (the entire course looked exactly the same), I went at a pace that felt right to my body.  Which was the fastest I had ever gone for a 1/2 marathon before.  I beat my own time by 2+ minutes in May.  Doesn’t sound like a whole lot.  But it was oppressive humidity, it was stupid early and I hadn’t done any training miles since my last 1/2 marathon in May.  So, I’ll take this win!  Thank you very much!

After I had realized I set a PR, I thought about it for a few days & before I wrote this.  Was it because I wasn’t looking at my surroundings, or watching people?  Was it because there wasn’t any timers to look at every few miles?  In fact, the mile markers were so small that I missed a few of them.  This race was purely training miles for me, I went into this race knowing I wouldn’t have trained much or at all since my Indy Mini.  I was pushing myself to go as fast as I felt I could when I felt like I had it in me.  Had I been holding back in the past?  Have the mile timers been mentally blocking me from going faster than I could have been?  Has my brain been holding my feet back?  If I hadn’t have known how fast I “should” be going, would I have been going faster all along?  Or was it because this was my 15th 1/2 marathon?  Has my body taken over my brain & circumvented the system?  HA HA HA

I have 2 more 1/2 marathons before my marathon in October.  The next race is a big one, the one after is another 1/2 to get some miles in before the full in October.  Yeah, I am nervous.  I am pushing for a PR in Columbus in October.  Why?  Because I haven’t set a PR in a full since 2007.  My next 2 1/2 marathons I will also be pushing for a PR and a sub 3 hour race.  This Little Miami 1/2 Marathon was finished in 3:01:55.  I took 2+ minutes off the 1/2 in May, I think I can lose another 1:55 within the next 2 months.  Why not?  I mean honestly, why not?  I think I had more in me last weekend, I think I could have pushed a little harder…….what do I really have to lose?  Nothing!  I will finish, I will get my medal……why not walk away with another PR?  Only I can hold me back and the only person I am trying to beat is myself.  So I’ll go for it!  😀

Hope, Peace & ZUMBA Love,

Jen 🙂

I saw this in the parking lot of the hotel the night before the race……I thought it was funny.  🙂  Was unaware we were to keep track on our vehicles.  I got this person beat by a few……this past was my 15th 1/2, not that I’m competing with anyone by me onesy; I’m sure this person is a wicked fast runner.  To everyone else, just keep running……you’ll get there! 😀

Running with the Dragons

It’s been awhile since I have run a 5K…..correction; race-walked a 5K.  I have a few 1/2 marathons & a full coming up pretty soon…but I’m not one who does the short distance race very often.  Couple of reasons, one being it takes me a good 3 miles to get warmed up & into a rhythm…..its how I’m trained.  If I take off full blast from the start for a full 26.2 mile race, I’m dead by the 1/2 marathon marker.  I have learned my lesson well.  I have learned to hold back so I can finish strong.  That was a hard one to figure out.  The excitement takes me away sometimes and I have to remind myself to let the people pass me…..so I can pass them at mile 20 feeling good while they are “dragon ass” (yes, pun intended).  ha ha ha  Anther reason I’m not a huge fan of the short distance is that there are a lot of women in my age group and most of them are faster than me….they are well conditioned for the short distance and call me selfish, I dislike seeing me so close to the bottom of the finishing list.  When there is a longer distance race, there are a lot who finish before me, but a lot who still cross the finish line after me.  It serves my ego a little better be somewhere in the middle of the pack or in the lead for my division.  I know, but it’s my race and I can run it how I want to.

So, when a group of friends suggested we do the Dayton Dragons 5K (its our local A ball club), I said yes, knowing I would be the slowest & last one to cross the finish line.

Here we are!  Yes, that is Jared with us….it is called the “Subway” Dragons 5K for a reason.  And apparently he is a huge Reds fan!  (Go REDLEGS!!!)

It was overcast & a little cold that morning (for mid July).  And very humid!  “Hard-to-catch-your-breath” humid!  When we arrived at the race, I immediately headed to the back of the line (where all the walkers go) and assumed the role of being the last person.  Little did I know what would happen.  I felt great during the 1st mile…..and was gaining speed during the 2nd mile.  When we rounded the park for the 3rd & final mile, I was flying past joggers.  Not passing them casually like I do during a marathon and pause to chat for a second, but literally flying past them  Felt like I had a jet pack on my rear-end.  ha ha ha  In all seriousness, I think I just wanted to have a decent time and not embarrass myself in front of my friends.  They are all aware I am a race-walker and that I would be slower, but I wanted to show that I can compete at a small level.  When we got to the .1 remaining, I actually took off running.  Flew through the finish line and found my peeps.  We walked around the finish line part for awhile, but I couldn’t help myself.  I had to know what my time was.

I had finished in 38:45..meaning a 12:30/mile average.  Meaning….I had tied my own Personal Record….from 2007…when . I. Was. Running!  My race walk has gotten so fast that I am tying myself from when I initially started my running trek and am now resetting or tying my PRs from that time period.  May not sound like a whole lot to anyone, but you have to think that was  7 years ago…my body has been through a lot of crap since then….and I am 100% race walking now, not running races in splits.  (meaning run & walk in divided time periods)  I shocked even myself; and I was not the slowest person in our group, but we will give her a break because she was not 100% herself that day.

Here we are right before I figure out I re-set a PR!  😀

All in all, a very successful 5K!  And, it gave me encouragement for the 1/2 coming in a few weeks.  Yes a 5K is significantly shorter than a 1/2 marathon, but I know what to expect from a 1/2 and I have a few in my radar before I push myself in Columbus for a marathon PR.  There is a gong at that finish line and when you set a PR, you get to ring the gong……trust me….I will be ringing that gong in October!

Happy & speedy feet to you all.  Never doubt yourself for one second!  EVER!

Hope, Peace & ZUMBA Love,

Jen 🙂