First Race of 2023 Completed: Citrus Heritage Run 1/2 Marathon

On Saturday, January 7th, I completed my first race of the year which was the Citrus Heritage Run 1/2 Marthon which was held in Riverside, California.

Prior to the start of the race, I met up with two members of the Black Girls Run Inland Empire (aka BGR-IE) running club that I'm a part of and we took a selfie before the race began.

During running the 1/2 marathon, I ran past the local Citrus Hertiage Run Musuem as well as ran past local orange groves. 

After finishing the 1/2 marathon, I met back up with members from BGR-IE and took some photos to celebrate completing the 5K, 10K, and 1/2 marathon distances. 

In addition to this race being my first 1/2 marathon for 2023, I also ran this race in memory of my Uncle Willie who recently passed away and was also buried on the day of the race.

 Having completed this 1/2 marathon a little longer than I initally planned, I am working towards revising my training plan for my next 1/2 marathon which will be the Anchorage Mayor's 1/2 Marathon on Saturday, June 17, 2023.
 

Celebrating the Holidays With Black Girls Run - Inland Empire

I recently attended a holiday party held by the Black Girls Run!(BGR) Inland Empire club which is a local chapter of the national Black Girls Run running group I joined  2017.

The holiday party was held at a restaurant in Riverside called ProAbition and the evening was filled with games, raffles, good food, and conversation.

Friend Tina and Me at party

A cool thing about the evening was that I won the main game of the evening which was BGR bingo and won at Bath & Body Works gift card!

The BGR Bingo Game involved asking everyone at the party if these met certain requires such as being vegan, being left handed, singing in a church choir, and if they were born in the same month as me.

Me and other BGR Bingo game winner 

After the BGR Bingo game was done, we ordered dinner. I was happy see that the restaurant had a vegan burger on their menu called "The Bootlegger" which consisted of an Impossible patty, lettuce, tomato, guacamole on a vegan pretzel bun. The burger came with fries and while it was a good meal, I felt that the price of $24 was a bit high.

Bootlegger vegan burger with fries

At the end of the evening, we posed for a group photo and made plans to meet at future local races as well as weekly walking/running groups. I love Black Girls Run for the amount of friendships I've made over the years as well as the sisterhood that comes from seeing someone who looks like you at a running event. I've never felt more welcomed by a group of women than from joining this group due to its national reach as well as the goal of working with black women whether they are young or old or whether they walk, wog (walk/jog,) jog, or run. 

2022 Black Girls Run Inland Empire Holiday Party Group Photo

 

March Athlete Spotlight From Fleet Feet Fresno

I was recently surprised by being honored on the Fleet Feet Fresno Instagram and Facebook on March 1st for their athlete spotlight! I am flattered and honored to have my running journey and experience with Black Girls Run (aka BGR) highlighted by first Black Girls Run Central Valley last month and now Fleet Feet Fresno. Below is my finisher photo from the Honolulu Marathon in 2019 (aka my first marathon) followed by my running journey and experience with BGR.

 My running journey started in 2007 with the Winter Winds 2K (1.243 miles) in my hometown of Huntsville, Alabama. Unfortunately, I was under this mistaken impression that you could run a race without any training at all-just willpower and happy thoughts lol. After barely finishing the 2K, I belly flopped on some grass and told my husband I’d never run again and I didn’t run again for four years.

In 2011, after many life changes (moving from Alabama to California, becoming vegan, getting Sisterlocks,) I decided to restart running as a way to move my body regularly, set goals & see them through to completions as well celebrate what my body can do. I re-entered the running world by completing the Conquer the Bridge 5.3K in 2011 then in 2012, I ran my first half marathon (Tinkerbell 1/2 Marathon). After having the Tinkerbell 1/2 marathon medal placed around my neck, I was hooked on running!

I’ve completed over 80 in person and virtual running events ranging in distance from 5Ks to 10Ks to 1/2 marathons. Thanks to encouragement from my BGR sisters, I completed my first full 26.2 miles marathon last year in Hawaii!

I joined BGR in 2011 and what drew me to BGR is the sisterhood created based on movement and that this group is about support, encouragement, positivity, and lifting each other up.
Since joining BGR, I discovered a strong and diverse group of women from all walks of life constantly working towards taking charge of their health and life through movement. I love that BGR! One of my favorite race memories is from after the Wine and Dine 1/2 Marathon in 2012 and being introduced to Florida BGR members as well as participating in a group photo.
I feel blessed that a chapter has been created in the Central Valley and value the lifelong friendships I’ve made through being in this group. Thanks for allowing me to share my run journey & know that I feel honored to be traveling on this walking/jogging/running health journey with all of you!”

February Goals & Life Updates

     I'm happy to say that I'm still following the goals I set for myself in January and have only 17 miles left to complete the Slow AF Run Club Winter Warrior 100 miles challenge that runs from January 1-March 31. Below are the two latest mileage trophies  I recently unlocked by completing running and walking workout. 

     In addition to the Slow AF Winter Warrior Challenge, I also signed up for the free February Share the Run 20 mile running/walking challenge sponsored by Fleet Feet Fresno and Black Girls Run. By completing this challenge, each participant finisher receives a $15 Fleet Feet credit to be used to purchase an item in the future. Below is a photo of my virtual race bib followed by the finisher's badge I entered today.  

     In reference to life outside of exercise, work is going well in that our library system is now providing contact-free pick up service and our library patrons are happy to be able to come by and pick up their library holds a couple of times a week. 

     I recently had the opportunity to check something off m bucket list by being a model in a professional photoshoot. I follow Russo's Books which is a Bakersfield bookstore in California and recently one of their employees, Jason Frost,  who is also a photographer posted on Instagram that he was looking for women to participate in his #blackwomenread photo series.  After looking at his past photos for this series, I decided to contact him to participate. Below are two of twenty-two photos taken by Jason Frost of Jason Frost Photography. If you want to see all of the photos, visit my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tamaradjohnsonevans. 

 

Orange County 10K & Black Girls Run (BGR) Meet Up Recap

   
Last month, I attended my first Black Girls Run (BGR) national race meet up by meeting & participating in the Lexus Orange County 10K race in Irvine, California on September 9, 2017. It was awesome meeting BGR members from as far as Florida and Texas as well as meeting a member of the brother organization Black Men Run (BMR). I'm excited to see that BGR has spread to so many states and hope that I can eventually start a chapter for the Central California area since currently the nearest BGR chapters to me are in San Franciso or Los Angeles which are both over 2 hours away from me.

Me with new BGR friends before the race

Repping the south with new friends from Florida

Waiting with Black Girls Run (BGR) meet-up before the race starts

Me running the Orange County 10K

         

Me and a new friend who also lived in Huntsville, AL

Me with double bling after Orange County 10K

Half Marathon #4 is done and vegan Thanksgiving feast!

This past weekend I went to Walt Disney World for the first time and also completed my fourth half marathon. Disney World was really fun, surprisingly accommodating to me with my vegan diet and also a bit overwhelming at times. Here are some photos from our trip as well as the two medals I received for completing the race and completing a race in Disneyland and Disney World.

Here's us at Hollywood Studios

Here's us at the Wine & Dine 1/2 Marathon Expo

Here's me before the Wine & Dine 1/2 Marathon

Here's the two medals I received after the race - 1 for completing the half marathon and a second medal for completing two races at both Walt Disney World & Disneyland in the same year

  Here's a yummy falafel veggie burger I ate at Downtown Disney World

 
 Here are some delish vegan carrot cake cupcakes from Babycakes NYC in Downtown Disney World

 

Below is the vegan Thanksgiving feast me and Den had made by Chef Joy at Viva La Vegan grocery in Rancho Cucamonga. We ended up flying to see my family in Alabama for Thanksgiving and it was fun seeing them after a year and after having lost so much weight.

If you'd like to see more photos, you can visit my flickr page by going to flickr and typing the name bamalibrarylady and go to the Destination Disney World set.