Week 12: Race Week

A cup of cocoa for each day of race week. The best one was served after finishing my HotChocolate 5K on race day! (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Holiday-Themed Sketches

I practiced painting poinsettias leading up to Christmas. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

I got the idea to paint holiday cacti from a roll of wrapping paper! (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Final Shoe Tracking Results

Logging the miles I put on my two pairs of shoes during this training cycle. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Final Weekly Mileage Log

Tracking those weekly miles! (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Another Fun Hot Chocolate Tampa Race Complete

Early morning pre-race views from above the starting line. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Crossing the finish line in 93% humidity. I'm so glad this was a flat course! (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Check out the medal! It's an aerial view of a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows plus chocolate squares. Each city has a specific ribbon. The 15K medal is larger than the 5K. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

The race course had lots of city and water views, along with the big beautiful homes on Bayshore Blvd. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Every finisher receives a medal, water, Honey Stinger hydration mix and a finishers tray filled with hot chocolate, chocolate fondue, marshmallow, pretzels, candy cane, rice krispie treat, oreos and a banana! (Image: ThisOldRunner)

A morning run along Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa is always a beautiful thing. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Want to Run a Hot Chocolate 15K/5K?

Week 10: Hot Chocolate Tampa Training

The grinch is back for the holidays. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

This is the St Pete Pier pre-holiday decorations. I was working on my urban sketcher skills. I hope to do another one with holiday decorations on it. We'll see. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Nutcracker teeth scare me. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Still practicing glowy lights. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Week 11: Hot Chocolate Tampa Training

Definite Dr. Seuss influence here with the cartoon trees. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Holiday greenery doodles. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Can't have enough decorated trees. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Turns out, Dec. 12 is Gingerbread House Day, so why not? (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Always on the low side of 30 miles per week. Gonna change that in my next training cycle. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

And Now, It's Race Week!

It's RACE WEEK for Tampa’s #HotChocolate15K and 5K races! The expo is Saturday (Dec. 18) and the race along Bayshore is Sunday (Dec. 19). I’ll post info on the Expo and Race Day later this week. If you’re in the mood for a fun holiday run, join us in Tampa next weekend! Register to run the 15K or 5K to earn some sweet swag. Use my promo code "HC21" to add a custom #HotChocolate Buff to your SWAG bag! 👉http://bit.ly/HCTampa

This week's miles totaled 29.94. As always, I didn't worry about rounding up. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Daily Miles as Pie

It was fun to paint slices of pie to record daily mileage numbers. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Die Cut Sketchbook Journal Page

When the die cut pie page is in the journal, the following page shows through. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Runs and Puns Filled This Week's Sketchbook Pages

I planned on the background showing through. I Love You From My Head Tomatoes! (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Every Now and Then I Fall Apart. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

This may be my favorite pun. It was fun to paint feathers. Rise and Shine Mother Cluckers. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

It's All About the Hot Chocolate 15K in Tampa

And because this training cycle and sketchbook are all about the #HotChocolate15K in Tampa, there had to be a pun about cocoa! Mmmm, I'm already dreaming about the Hot Chocolate Race's proprietary hot chocolate blend. It's sooooooo good! (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Register Before the Dec. 5 Price Increase

Come join me at the Hot Chocolate 15K or 5K in Tampa on December 19 by registering now. The price goes up this weekend, so hurry up! ​Don't forget to use my code "HC21" to get a FREE custom #HotChocolate Buff added to your goodie bag. Check out the finishers jacket and medal below. Register here 👉http://bit.ly/HCTampa

All 5K and 15K participants receive a #HotChocolate jacket and race medal PLUS a sweet, chocolate finishers cup filled with cocoa, fondue and dippable treats.

A Gratitude Attitude for November

I'm thankful for many things, include race starting lines, BibRave, Fall Flowers and my new Turquoise tube of watercolor! (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Weekly Mileage Page

Sketchbooks are for learning, experimenting and practice. This is such a practice page. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Festival Fun

It was fun to be under the night skies in the middle of a rambunctious Fall festival. All the sights and sounds were so much fun! (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Reference photo for the snack truck watercolor image above. (Photo: ThisOldRunner)

Register Now! Use My Code for Extra #HC15K SWAG

All 5K and 15K participants receive a #HotChocolate jacket and race medal PLUS a sweet, chocolate finishers cup filled with cocoa, fondue and dippable treats.

Full Week of Workouts

Fall is Pie Season, Right?

My New Favorite Buff® Headwear

Psst! Sign up to receive the BUFF® newsletter to get 15% off your first order. (www.buffusa.com/bibrave)

Are Fall Colors Ironic in Florida?

Weekly Mileage Reached 25.78

It's Starting to Snow, Man

I jumped ahead to winter one day to paint these cute snowmen when I saw an artist on Instagram painting them. It was so much fun to dress these guys in different hats and scarves. ​ A couple of them are floating 'cause I was thinking of it as practice more than a sketchbook page. ​That's the beauty of a sketchbook though — you can do whatever you want. I hope everyone has a good week of workouts! Hooray Running!