A Fun & Pink Update!

Good Morning! 

I had every intention of getting out for a run this morning but I had the age old excuse of  I was up too late and tired lame.  The week won't be a total lost I am still on track to hit 4 runs and 25 miles so all is well.  Plus since my laid out clothes went untouched by me this morning Katherine had some fun playing dress up. 

{Instagram Pic}

I also FINALLY got my Runner's World magazines, I was going through a bit of a withdrawal.  They had auto-renewed my subscription and I've been waiting and waiting and finally got the August and September issue yesterday.  Part of me wants to subscribe to Running Times, any opinions?    

We have a fun project this weekend! 

{Instagram Pic}

Jess got to drive a U-Haul yesterday and picked up the girl's new bunk bed!  We'll be putting that sucker together this weekend.  It actually shouldn't be so bad Sarah told Jess this morning that he can do it because he can fix anything.  He better bring his A game.  

Tomorrow is the Huckleberry Half and I'll be having a sleep over with Katie tonight, yay!  I am interested to see how this run goes tomorrow, lots of rolling hills.  I am not planning on a PR but I am hoping for a time around 2:15.  Time to start hydrating for half marathon #5!

You may have noticed a new badge on my sidebar...I am now officially a Sweat Pink Ambassador!  I am really excited to be part of this community, I mean hello Pink?!  I met a lot of these ladies while at Fitbloggin' last month and I love their enthusiasm and welcoming personalities.  I didn't feel like they were an exclusive clique type of organization and feel really good about being one of their Ambassadors.  

Time to wrap up my most random post ever.  Happy Friday and Happy Running!

I've been told that August 10th is the busiest race day of the year in Oregon, are you running any races? 

What running magazines do you subscribe to? 

- Runner's World & Women's Running 

How many days a week do you run? Average miles? 

A Runner's Reflections

Good morning! 

Last week was a slow week in terms of running not so much in other aspects of our life.  I know it is hard to believe runners have other things going on outside of running.  Sometimes I forget that too, guilty!  Some weeks are really awesome for running.  I got out 5 times (not 6) and feel really good about my mileage for this particular week.   

Then I have a week like this where I get out twice and I am lucky I even ran that much.  

I want to say this summer has been busy but honestly this entire year thus far has been stuffed.  I am starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel and am grateful we just have one more big trip on the horizon.  This week is quiet and we don't have much going on besides normal day to day things like dance classes and play dates.  I am really glad I wasn't trying to train for a marathon during everything, this summer would not have been marathon training friendly.  I am thinking about doing a spring marathon but I am not entirely sold on it yet, we'll see.  Honestly I would like to slow things down for a while and I think signing up for a marathon would be counterproductive to that.  I really didn't enjoy the training last year for the Portland Marathon and it makes me hesitant to sign up for another one.  

There are a lot of different mothers out there and my personal style is I like to be home as much as possible.  I enjoy being available for their activities and not feeling stressed about one more thing on my calendar.  I am extremely fortunate that I get to be home with my girls everyday and I know this time is fleeting.  Sometimes I feel obligated to sign up for things and say yes when I know I am taking on too much.  These are things I am consciously working on right now, I am learning that I don't have to be the one to do everything.  I don't have to be the one who is responsible to plan our family visits, the road goes both ways.  I need to remind myself that it isn't being selfish but it is putting our families needs in front of others.  Once I find myself becoming resentful I know it is time to take a step back and look at everything going on in my life.  Nobody but me is responsible for my feelings and therefore nobody but me can make the changes necessary.  That may mean I don't sign up for the full marathon but only the half, but that also means I'll be at the finish to cheer on my friends as they cross the finish line and that would make me happy. :)               

This picture also makes me really happy!  Katie and I took the the girls on a mini girls getaway last week and it was so much fun.  We made a stop at the Enchanted Forest on the way to the beach and took a ride on the Log Ride.  As you can see Katie and Sarah really enjoyed the ride!  Katherine is there too but she is hiding behind Katie, it was hilarious!  I am so glad she is my girl's God Mother and I they love her as much as they do, we are lucky.  

Happy Running!    

I am still waiting to hear from Kari about the Color Run, I'll give it a couple more days before I pick a new winner.  Shoot me an email and I'll get you the code Kari!

 

Train Like A Mother!

Good morning! 

I had a really great running week last week and got out there 5 times for a total of 29 miles.  Friday I ran my long run, 12 miles, and it was my best run of the week.  I felt strong the entire time and never felt the urge to cut it short.  I am notorious for cutting my long runs short when I am running them alone.  

After my run I grabbed an iced coffee and jumped in an ice bath for a few minutes.  Ice baths are new to me but the last couple of times I've done one after a long run I find my recovery is much quicker.  I vote YES for ice baths, iced coffee and compression socks.  I did a nice and easy recovery run on Saturday and took Sunday and Monday for rest days, they were glorious.  

This morning I wasn't feeling my normal ready to get back at it mojo but I finished my cup of coffee and trudged out there.  This will come as a shock but I actually feel 100 times better after my run this morning.  It is rare for me to not feel better after a run.

I am starting to throw in some speed work during my runs and today was as good a day as any!  One of my favorite forms of speed work is doing strides.  Strides (for me) are 20-40 second bursts that I throw in 3-4 times during my somewhat easy run, 4-5 miles.  During my stride I'll push to 80% and then slow down to my comfortable pace until I am ready for another set.  This morning actually ended up being a negative split run also which was a pleasant surprise.  I started at a 9:41 mile and ended with my fastest mile being an 8:56 for the win!  I learned about strides while I was keeping up my training in Michigan and following Train Like A Mother Half Marathon Own It Plan.  

In September I'll be starting their 5K Own It Plan, I'll be tweaking it to make it work in conjunction with my Half Marathon training.  My good friend's husband has challenged me to a 5K on Thanksgiving and at first I sort of brushed him off and didn't think he would really put much effort out...I was wrong.  I am not worried because I know if I follow a training plan and get my speed work in each week I'll be golden and score a new 5K PR, it is all positive thinking right?!  I guess if I lose I can drown my sorrows in food and booze and also put my house up for sale because they are also our neighbors and he will NEVER let me live it down, ever.  Ah good times :)      

In other news my mom received a letter yesterday from the Navy with my brother's address at Boot Camp!  I have a Polaroid camera and I am glad I'll be able to include a picture with the letters we send him.  Lucy wanted to include her bone in the picture, she carries it around with her everywhere!  The girls love the Polaroid and think it is so cool the picture just pops out like that, I love it too.  

When was the last time you wrote a hand written letter? 

Did anyone you knew growing up have a Polaroid? 

When do you do your long run?  Friday, Saturday or Sunday? 

-I prefer Friday but anything over 15 miles and I get lonely.  I'll do anything 15+ with a group or with my BRF (Best Running Friend)! 

Boot Camp and Fairytale Town

Good morning! 

It is official my brother is at boot camp and has started his Navy journey.  Joey officially passed his test back in March and at the time July seemed like an eternity away.  Yesterday he was sworn in and we had 3 minutes with him before it was time to say goodbye. 

Joey arrived at boot camp in Chicago last night and literally was able to make a 1 minute Hi!/Bye! phone call.  He let us know he would shipping a box back with his clothes and iPod and that we won't hear from him again for at least 2 weeks.  I am a little nervous for him but also know that he has been waiting for this for a long time.  It'll be exciting when we get an update in a couple weeks and we can start sending him letters.  

After we said our goodbyes we checked out of our hotel and headed to Fairytale Town in Sacramento.  

I see a Christmas card picture!  

Fairytale Town is a cute little theme park full of play structures that are all fairytale story themed.  

     

The little old woman who lived in a shoe. 

Sherwood Forest and Robin Hood, which reminds me our Robin Hood Festival is coming up! 

Today is our last day here and tomorrow morning we start making the journey home.  We are going to take Highway 101 home and stop at the Redwoods, so excited!  This *should* be our last BIG trip of 2013, I hope I don't regret saying that.  Next week we start up our summer camps, dance classes and swim lessons!  I am ready to get back to a schedule and be done with all of the traveling.  I love to travel but sometimes this girl needs to be home for a full 90 days.  Plus I have a million things swimming in my head that I want to get done and being on the road isn't conducive to getting any of it

When was your last big road trip? 

How does your running and fitness routine shape up when you are traveling? 

  

Be Uplifting (Without Weights)

Good morning! 

(Wordy not so many pictures post FYI!)

First and foremost I have to say how glad I am that I am not training for a marathon right now.  I initially had the Sunriver Marathon for a Cause planned for Labor Day weekend but that I am going to drop to the half.  This summer has become full to the brim and I am glad to not have a marathon to be training for on top of everything else.  To be honest with you I really didn't enjoy marathon training last summer, I found it to be really stressful.  Even though my long training run was only one day a week it consumed my whole weekend. Needless to say I am perfectly content running half marathons right now, it is a manageable distance for me and I am not toast after every race and training run.  I am sure I'll run another marathon at some point but not anytime soon, for now I am focusing on the joy of running.  

This picture reminds me to have fun with running

To continue with the slacker theme of this post I'll share with you that I ran a whopping 2.5 miles last week!  Granted I wasn't sitting around doing nothing but obviously not much running happened.  We went to Montana for the week and it is always a challenge for me to get out for a run while we are there.  We stay up late and our days are filled with family and lots of driving which make getting out for a run difficult.  We did go on lots of hikes, lots of yard work and digging up sage brush so it wasn't a complete loss.  I also fell off of my fitness challenges and hit every branch on the way down.  I am guilty of always trying to take on too much and I definitely did that with all of the June challenges.  I was so excited to take on something new I didn't take into account how crazy June and July is for our family.  

This last week was actually a good re-focus for me.  I was able to think about what I want out of my blog and where I want to take my writing.  Getting out of my usual pattern really helps me to refocus and figure things out.  I am able to see the forest through the trees and do some soul searching.  We went to a family reunion on our 1st Saturday in Montana and celebrated Jesse's Aunt and Uncle's 40 year wedding anniversary.  Their 4 children put together a photo book documenting their life thus far and watching the two of them go through it and cry was so touching.  Being able to be part of that experience really opened my eyes to what I want out of my life with the girls and with Jess.  

1st day of Preschool 2012

I like to run and eat healthy but I love my family.  I don't want a big house with a fancy kitchen, I want 40+ years of a life together with Jess and I want my marriage to be an example to my girls.  They had photos up for everyone to admire and nobody was looking for what car they were driving or what clothes they were wearing, all everyone saw was how big their smiles were when they were together.  That is what I want more than anything, more than flat abs or a fast half marathon time LOL!  This isn't a post declaring that I am retiring from running but just a mental dump of everything that has been floating in my head the last few weeks.  I was shown this week some people's priorities and it opened my eyes to my own.  We have to remember to keep family first before all things.  Family isn't always the family you were born into, family are the people who are walking in the door when everyone is walking out.  I know who I can count on to be walking in that door and that is where I'll be focusing my energy.  It is okay to let go of the people who bring negativity and sometimes we just have to clean them out of our lives.  I have to remember to always be an example to the girls and that means the people I surround myself with also will be an example.  I want to be someone who brings good into others lives and lifts them up.  I am a constant work in progress and am slipping up on my goals daily but I just have to keep moving forward.  

Okay I could go on and on forever!  My brain is just on overdrive today.  Make sure you come back tomorrow after all of my ramblings today because I'll have my final Time Management post up and the information on my GIVEAWAY! 

I ask these questions at the bottom of the post because I really like to get your opinions and ideas.  Trust me if I didn't care I wouldn't ask :) 

Do you hold on to people in your life who don't lift you up? 

Do you try to lift up others in your life? 

Have you every had an experience that completely caught you off guard and ended up really affecting you?     

28 Miles!

Good morning!  

It has been a slow week in blog-land for me, well in run-land too but we'll get to that later.  Nike has me as a rockstar this week though!  28 miles, ya sure I'll take that even though it has actually been 10!   

After Saturday's half I've been really sore so I've done a 2 runs and am just taking it easy this week.  The girls had their last day of preschool on Tuesday so I took that as a great excuse to get some froyo, like we need a reason.

I just love being their mom and spending my days with them, it just doesn't get better than two 4 year old little girls.

At school Katherine's teacher gives each student an award that celebrates something about them as a individual, this woman is incredible.  Katherine received the "Precious Picasso Award" because the girl loves all things art.  I am going to be creating an art station in our extra room for her to use this summer instead of her usual covering my entire island in the kitchen. 

Yesterday was our car maintenance day, yuck.  I hate car maintenance, I am always certain they are going to find something drastically wrong with the vehicle.  Luckily that wasn't the case and they put on Sesame Street for my girls, A to the Men.  

It has been a good week just hanging out with the girls and getting caught up on life stuff.  I am really looking forward to this summer.  It is going to be crazy busy but filled with so many amazing things.  We have a family reunion on Jesse's side in Montana, my not so little brother is heading off for the Navy and I have 3 half marathons on the calendar all before school starts back up again.  Add in dance, the girls summer day camps and my first blogging conference and this summer is going to fly by!  

Just a heads up that Google Reader is getting close to shutting down.  I really like Bloglovin' and you can find me on there.  So if you follow me on Google Reader be ready for it to be closing down next month.  You'll like Bloglovin' I promise!  

What blog reader do you use? 

Do you keep up on all of your car maintenance?  

- I swear I drive so much that every time I turn around I am at the mileage to something. 

Rum Run 2013 Review

Good morning! 

Workouts 
Saturday - 7.5 miles 
Sunday - Rum Run 5k 
Monday - Rest 
Tuesday - 5 miles 

I hope you all had a good Memorial Day weekend!

My Grandpa served in the Air Force for over 20 years he wasn't a pilot but worked as an interrogator because he was fluent in French, pretty cool right?!  He set a great example and both of my cousins and now my brother are serving in our Nation's Armed Forces.  

We took the Jeep out on Saturday up to Lost Lake on Mt. Hood with our friends Katie & Bryan.  It isn't a huge lake, probably 3-4 miles around, it is really beautiful and serene.  

Sarah wouldn't take a picture with us because she is a jerk she was too busy playing in the lake water.

Sometimes Katie is nice to Bryan...sometimes.  

Okay onto the reason you probably read this post, the race report!  

Sunday morning I picked up Riley at 7:45 so we could be at the race by 8:00.  The Rum Run is held in Tualatin which is only 5 miles from my house.  It was really nice to have a little more time in the morning and not have to leave at 6:00 am.  Once we got there finding a parking spot was a breeze and we walked to the starting area.  

Pre-Race 

What I like about this race besides it being so close to home is how easy and laid back the feel of it is.  You can pick up your packet the day before or you can easily grab it race morning and still have time to run your goodies back to your car.  There are plenty of porta potties and the lines for them move very quickly.  The race starts and ends at the Tualatin Commons which has a man made lake in the center.  The announcers are always letting people know how much time they have to get to the starting line and they separate the crowd into waves a minute apart to help with congestion.        

Riley and I before the race

Race

Riley and I started with the 10 minute milers because I wasn't sure where Riley would be comfortable and I didn't want us to be trampled.  Well I underestimated that girl because she really took off and we were passing runners left and right, my bad!  The course takes you through Cook Park and then a residential neighborhood where you are basically running downhill back to the lake.  You finish the last quarter mile or so of the 5k by running around the lake and finishing right in the commons.  There are a lot of volunteers and police making sure everyone stays on course and drivers are aware of you.  There is also a lot of signage directing people.     

You all know that girl! 

Post-Race

Once you finish the race there are lots of volunteers handing out water and leis.  With your registration you get a ticket for a beer, a 10 Cane Rum Mojito and Hawaiian Chicken and Rice.  We finished at the same time as Katie and her dad so we all went in before the crowd to get our Chicken and Rice.  We sat by the window and could watch the other runners finish their race which was pretty cool.  Since I was the responsible adult (ha!) I gave my alcohol tickets away, said goodbye to Katie and her Dad and took Riley and myself to Starbucks.  An iced coffee taste so much better after a run!

In a Nutshell

I really like this race and would like to do more runs with the company that puts on the Rum Run.  They are really organized and the race always has great energy.  I love this course in particular because of the majority of it being downhill, talk about a self esteem boost!  I actually PR'd at this 5k and had no intention of that whatsoever.  Riley and I finished with a time of 27:07 and both of us weren't even that worn out at the end, seriously who am I?!  I will do this race again next year and will be looking to run another Energy Event in the future.    

How did your runs go this weekend?  

Do you notice the company putting on your race or do you even care? 

- I have just started paying attention and am starting to notice different quirks about each company 

Favorite post-run/race food/drink, GO!

- Iced Coffee/Coffee 

Lessons Learned from The Office

Good morning! 

Today is the start of the Portland Rock and Roll Expo and I am so excited!  A lot of the races I do are smaller hometown races (which I love!) so there isn't usually much of an expo.  This Expo should be pretty large and have some fun vendors and SAMPLES!  Katie told me she wants to run the half with me so we should try and get into the same corral.  I just think she wants to use me to make her race pics better, I am on to her!

Last night was the series finale of The Office and since I don't have a DVR I sat down and watched it LIVE last night.  Does anyone else still watch live TV or am I the only one left?  It was a 2 hour block of TV so I really only sat down to watch the final hour the first hour was flash backs.  I remember when The Office premiered and I was hooked, who doesn't love the Jim and Pam love story?!  I really like the way they did the final episode and some of the life lessons the characters shared with the audience.  

Darryl talked to the camera about how he would come to work all these years and couldn't wait to get out of there.  Now he is looking back he realizes that those were the good ol' days, he thinks why can't we realize we are in those days at the time?  Do you find yourself doing that too?  When he said that line it struck a chord with me, I know so many people who live in their past and feel that was the good ol'days.  I personally feel really grateful for the ability to recognize that THIS time right now is my good ol'days.  

I use to be a person who was always living in the past annoyed with how things were and wishing for the future. I never allowed myself to live in the present and appreciate all that was around me.  After I lost Jenny last year it was as if my entire world was turned on its axis.  Jenny was everything to me and my family and always will be, her presence is huge.  I never thought I would lose her because it never dawned on me that I could ever suffer that kind of loss.  Since she has been gone my life has been changed drastically because I now make every effort to live in the moment.  

I can honestly say that right now in this moment I am living my good ol'days.  I am going to look back at this time in my life with pure joy and happiness.  Being able to spend every day with my girls, get up and run in the morning and have my husband home every night is simple and wonderful.  I use to suffer from a lot of anxiety and worry because I was constantly fast forwarding to the future and its scary possibilities.  I couldn't fully feel grateful or fulfilled because of that constant worry about the future and I have finally just let it go.  Yes I still have to make plans and be organized and realistic but I also don't let it consume me anymore and I can step out of it.  I can't help but think Jenny has given me the gift of the present and it is the best gift I've ever been given.  

I have taken this approach with my running also.  I use to feel that if I didn't get fast (relative term) then I wasn't a "real" runner.  Why I felt that way I couldn't tell you because I don't feel that way about any of my running friends, so why was I holding myself to such a standard?  I couldn't enjoy my runs or my races because I wasn't really in them I was too consumed with the future of my running.  Well not anymore!  I am honestly just happy to get out there in the morning and have such a supportive network.  I am literally surrounded by people who love me and who I love right back twice as hard.  

At the Run for Boston last weekend one of the speakers told the crowd that we shouldn't wait for big moments to tell the people we care about how much we love them.  I hope I live in a way so that all of those who I love know how much I love them.  I've always worn my heart on my sleeve but I can get better at expressing just how important my loved ones are to me.  Take time every day to show gratitude to someone because it is those smalls acts that make a big difference in someone's life.  We are all a work in progress in so many areas but don't let it take away from the RIGHT NOW!  Enjoy this moment you are in.  

Pam's final words on The Office last night were simple but exact: 

There's a lot of beauty in ordinary things, isn't that the point?

Did you watch The Office?  

Have you ever ran a Rock and Roll race, any advice? 

What are you grateful for right now in this moment?!  

- Watching the girls build "a house" on my couch and hear them make plans for it   

    

   

  

Uberthon's Run for Boston 5k

Hi! 

Saturday was such a full day and by the time we all got home we were exhausted.  We started the day with all of us heading into Portland for the Doggie Dash and ended the day at Champoeg Park for the Run for Boston.  Yesterday I had originally planned as a rest day but Friday wasn't in the cards for my long run so it was moved to Sunday.  I have found that the more flexible I am in my life the happier and less stressed I've become, funny how that works.  I had planned on 10 miles but cut it short about 3/4 of a mile because my feet hurt and I was just done.  Jess surprised me with a stop at the Portland Running Company on Saturday for a new pair of kicks, points!  I tried on 3 different pairs of Mizunos ranging from minimum control to full on foot don't move control.  I am always in the mindset of avoid injury anyway possible and to me that means a solid pair of shoes.  I decided on the Alchemy 12's and for me they have too much stability, does that even make sense?  

I felt like I was running with blocks on my feet and afterwards my feet hurt like I had been walking for days.  Normally after a run in a new pair of shoes my feet feel great so I am going to exchange them for this pair instead.  I have about 300 miles on my current shoes so I'll start switching back and forth and using my Wave Rider 16's for shorter runs.  

*The picture is sideways because I am technically challenged, sorry*

Saturday night was the Run for Boston I had really been looking forward to and it was a really great race for me, wanna know why?  Oh I just PR'd!  YAY!  I cannot really tell you why I wanted to make this race a race against my old PR but I just felt like I should at least try.  Probably because I knew I would have Katie running with me and she could pace me.  I knew she wouldn't let me slow down and would try and distract me by talking about double sided tape and eating bugs.  

She looks so perky here and I am apparently getting my fists of fury ready for a fight!  Please don't ask what is happening with my face, it was rare moment when I ignore a race photographer.

I guess I thought I would try to double high five the photographer?  Um...I dunno...

I honestly just wanted it to be over at about mile 1.5, but that is just a guess because there was not a mile marker to be found.  Maybe I have my thumbs up because I just feel so awesome, ya that is it.

Here is the thing, I don't run hard in races.  I think I am running hard but I ALWAYS finish with way too much left over in my tank.  This has been disappointing for me and I decided I was going to just see what I could do this time.  I finished with an official time of 28:31, 9:10 average pace and beat my old 5k PR of 30:12.  I feel really good about this PR and I am so grateful to Katie for getting me there.  When we saw the finish line clock she said "OK Dani go for it get under 30" and I said "OK, ya I can do that" then she said "Under 29! Under 29!" LOL!  So I really just pushed with all I had, that girl is always pushing me to do better :)  The conditions weren't really there for a PR either, it was hot and muggy and not a breeze to be found.  Thankfully they had 2 water stations for us runners which was so appreciated by all I am sure.  I am an almost 100% morning runner and this race started at 6:00 pm, so I really had no business gunning for a PR.  Needless to say but I am saying it anyway, I feel pretty stoked!  Thank you Katie, seriously if you hadn't paced me and kept me at an extremely uncomfortable wanting to hurt someone where the hell is the finish line pace I wouldn't have came close.      

Do you have someone in your life who pushes you to be better?  

- Katie pushes me a lot both in running and in other areas she probably doesn't even realize

What is your PR you are currently most proud of?  

What is coming up that you are super excited about?!  Doesn't have to be race related!  

- I am really looking forward to the Rock and Roll Half this weekend and my first run with my favorite teenage neighbor in a couple weeks :) 

OHS Doggie Dash 2013

Hi!  

This morning was another successful Doggie Dash at the Portland Waterfront!  

We met Katie and Maverick at the start line this morning before they took off for their 2.5 mile dash.  

My crew did the shorter 1.5 mile walk because Lucy Lu couldn't even be carried that far let alone walk/run 

I really should invest in a front pack for her.  In case you were wondering YES people do that for pugs.

Sarah and Katherine were total troopers and believe it or not actually had a good time. 

The sweetness between the two of them is just too much sometimes!  Love those girls <3 

This was my 2nd year doing the Doggie Dash and it is quickly becoming a tradition.  Maverick is the reason Katie started running and therefore me too.  Plus any excuse to get all of my favorite people together is something I'll never turn down!  OK off to pack snacks and change for race #2 of the day!  

Happy Mother's Day Weekend!   

Doggie Dash 2013

Good morning! 

Today is an unplanned rest day since Jess had an early meeting so I just moved my run to Sunday.  Yesterday I did 5 miles in the morning before heading to the girl's preschool to celebrate Mother's Day.  Their teacher's worked so hard to get everything ready for Muffins with Mom and made all of us feel so special.  The girls had each made me a frame and we took a picture for it when I first arrived.  Each class sang songs and read poems and then we all enjoyed a really yummy snack, muffins!  Costco muffins I may add, oh ya the good stuff they are my favorite.  

These frames and little candle holder are my favorite gift I've ever gotten, sorry Jess!  

We have a big fun family filled day tomorrow!  I love when I can combine all of my favorite things and have it all come together so nicely.  All 5 (including Lu) of us will be heading to the Portland Waterfront tomorrow morning to meet up with Katie and Maverick for the Doggie Dash.  I like this event because it benefits the Oregon Humane Society which is a great organization.  Everyone brings their dogs and their funny costumes and they have a mimosa tent, nuf'said.    

Last year I did it with Katie and Maverick so I am excited to bring my family down this time and also have Lucy participate.  They have a 2.5 mile run/walk and also a shorter 1.5 mile walk.  Lucy isn't one for dashing so we'll do the shorter 1.5 mile walk and hopefully I won't end up carrying her the whole time!  

Warming up before last year's Dash! 

Later in the day Katie and I will head to Champoeg Park for the Uberthon's Run for Boston.  I am pretty sure there are still spots available!  Go HERE to register.  

Enjoy your Mother's Day weekend all you mom's out there! And Dad's bring your A-Game :) 

Finish this sentence: 

I feel the best when...

Do you have any races this weekend? 

Are you a mom?  Do you have any fun plans for the weekend?

   

Birthday Run and Run for Boston Info

Good morning! 

Yesterday was a good day not just because it was my birthday but because it started with an awesome run.  

I have been feeling great about my runs lately not for any reason in particular, just happy to be out there.  I go back and forth with myself on "speed" and I put speed in quotes because it is a relative term.  My "slow" pace is someone else's goal pace and my "fast" PR is another runner's worst race.  I want to improve on my runs but not at the cost of losing my joy of running.  If we focus too much on what is ahead we can never fully enjoy where we are and what we have already accomplished.  So while speed would be fun and who doesn't want those bragging rights, I won't let it steal my current joy.  

My Current Joys: 

- I have increased my weekly mileage 

- I feel really good about my current running base 

- I am really excited about my upcoming half marathons 

- I've been getting up with the sun to get my runs in which I love! 

- I've learned to not stress or have anxiety about upcoming races, those feelings really steal my joy! 

Other running joys?!  

I made a pit stop at Road Runner's last night to test out some new kicks and find some Nuun.  I have been reading all about how great and amazing and earth moving the flavor Cherry Limeade is so I have to try it for myself.  I think the birthday gods were looking out for me because as I dug through the Nuun bin I realized there was no Cherry Limeade :(  So I started looking through the GU Brew just to see if they had something similar and BOOM there it was!  Somebody must have mixed them up so I was glad I dug around, I am also glad it has caffeine because I love caffeine as much as I love my kids.

I have to say that I actually really like it!  I don't normally like anything sports drink'ish but I can see drinking this after a long run.  It really does have a real limeade taste to it so it feels like a treat, not a recovery/hydration drink.  While I was there I also picked up the Margarita flavor Cliff Shot Bloks.  They are something else I have wanted to try so I was excited to see they were also in stock.  They have more salt content and are suppose to help with any cramping, plus they taste like a margarita, hello?!     

Last night we went to dinner with Katie and Bryan and had the best time.  Katie gave me the coolest gift!  Right now I just hang my medals in the closet with Jesse's hats but now I have my own medal display.  I feel pretty cool :)  

I love family pictures, we are missing the one of Jess, me and the kids...who has that one?!  

My birthday was pretty awesome and I am excited for 29!  

In other news the Run for Boston Bib Pick Up is TODAY!  

Go HERE for all of the information you'll need.  If you haven't registered yet and are looking for an evening race this Saturday that benefits the Boston ONE Fund and will be super fun go HERE!  

When is your birthday? 

What is your favorite race distance? 

- Half Marathon for me! 

What are you doing today? 

- We have a fun play date planned!  Well with those 2 every day is a play date.