Runners Helping Runners - Run For Boston 5K

Good morning! 

Yesterday I hopped on my treadmill to do a ladder run from my TLAM training plan. I love ladder runs mostly because you are pushing really hard for 1-3 minutes which is something mentally I can handle.  It was an epic fail to put it nicely, what did I learn?  Two glasses of wine in the middle of the week will not help me get faster, just fall asleep faster, ha!  I woke up this morning did my cross training and headed out to redeem myself after yesterday's sad attempt.  I ran to the middle school track to warm up and did 4 fast (relative term) 100 meters.  Then I wanted to push myself up some hills, I apparently really wanted to punish myself, I kid.  I actually really like hills because not only do they push your body in a different way they are secretly speed work too, double score!  I will be putting at least one hill workout into my weekly plan from now on.  Sometimes I find myself feeling sluggish and unexcited about the gains I am making with running but I think taking a step back and just being grateful for the health to run puts everything into perspective.  So enough about my lame running abilities and onto much more pressing matters! 

Have you done a Run for Boston yet?  Katie and I ran in tribute of Boston and used a virtual run bib during our 10 mile last weekend.  

Katie and I both wanted to do something else and jumped at the chance to register for the Uberthon's Run For Boston on May 11th in Champoeg Park.  What I love about this race, besides it benefiting Boston, is that it is in the evening!  I am already registered for the Doggie Dash earlier that day and I can still come and support Run for Boston in the evening.  Score!    

100% of the proceeds of this race are going to the Boston One Fund to help those who were affected by this tragedy.  As we all know those hurt and killed by this senseless act are the very people who we know and love, our spectators.  They are the people out along the course cheering us on, calling out our names/bib numbers, they are our families, our children.  As a runner I did not hesitate for a second to register for this race, it is time for me to give back to my supporters.  

The event cost $25 and also has a kids race that is FREE, Sarah is all signed up and ready to go!  There is also an option to purchase a meal afterwards for $8, which I would spend easily anywhere else, this girl likes to eat.  This event is for both runners and walkers, the whole family!  I hope I will see you there running or walking in support of our cheering section that was so tragically hurt during the bombings.  

If you are looking for more information about the race you can go HERE.  

The Specs: 

Race Runners start @ 6:00 PM 

Race Walkers start @ 6:05 PM 

Fitness Walkers start @ 6:06

My favorite part the FOOD starts @ 6:25, dang I better run fast! 

If you don't think you can run or walk the event please consider donating your time to volunteer.  For more information on volunteering go HERE.  Your help is more valuable than you know!

       

Sunday Housekeeping & Favorites

Hi! 

I ran my first race of 2013 this morning and it was great!  I'll share more of the details tomorrow, but it was definitely a good start to the season.

I realized the other day I should give the heads up that Google is going to be shutting down Google Reader in July.  For me personally I don't use Google Reader to keep up on my blogs so I don't need to transfer anything.  I am sure a lot of people do use it and if you do my personal recommendation is to switch to Bloglovin.  I talked about it just a couple weeks ago here, but I'll share my love for it again.



An Ode to Bloglovin'

- It is simple all around and I am a simple minded girl    
- Adding and searching for blogs is super easy
- There is a free app for your iPhone and Android based phone, sweet!  
- Both the app and the website lay out the blogs so that you never miss a new post from your favorite blogs

That is my 2 cents on a great blog reader that is simple, easy and keeps track of all of your favorite blogs at the tip of your fingers.  I have a link to my blog on Bloglovin' on the right side bar of my page if you are so inclined to follow this runner!

Sarah made this necklace for me and it immediately jumped to the top of my favorites list.  They are at an age where they want to know about Mama and Daddy.  Recently the big discussion is what our favorite color is and obviously mine is pink.  I love pink, all shades I am not discriminatory.  The other day I pulled out their bead kit so they could make some necklaces and Sarah made this one special for me.  I was doing some chore when she brought it to me and my heart skipped a beat.  In her sweet little voice she said "Look Mama, I made this necklace for you because your favorite color is pink!"  The idea of Sarah sitting quietly and thinking to herself "hey mama likes pink, I'll make her a pink necklace" pulled at my heart strings.  Usually once all of the strings and beads have been used we'll take the necklaces apart and start over.  I hid this one, I'll keep it with me forever, it is such a true representation of my sweet children.  I'll pull it out when she is 15 and hates my guts, it'll remind me of her innocence at 4 years old.  I question myself as a mom a lot, I think most mothers do, but for a moment Sarah made me feel pretty good.  I really do have some amazing little girls, I am a lucky mom.

Back to running news!  Road Runner Sports in Tualatin Oregon is having a Girls Night Out Wednesday March 20th @ 6PM.  I went to their last GNO and it was so much fun!  They have yummy snacks, wine, great vendors and lots of prizes.  If I was home I would be there in heartbeat, but alas I'll have to wait till next time.  Grab your best running girlfriends and go, if not for you do it for me!  

Are you going to humor me and go to the Girls Night Out? 

Do you have a blog reader that you really like?  If so, share what it is!  

Did you do a St. Patrick's Day themed race today?!  

-There was so much green in my race this morning, I loved the tutus the most!

        

Grateful

Good morning. 

It is snowing a little bit here in Oregon this morning and it just makes everything feel so peaceful.  It makes me grateful for my cozy little house filled up with my family.  I consider myself a grateful person, I haven't always had the easiest go of things (like a lot of people) but I consider myself blessed.  These last couple of years have been challenging with the loss of my Grandmother who I adored and just this last August of my Jenny.  I learned so much from both of these two women and am still learning from there everyday.  Indirectly my Grandmother has taught me how to be a strong wife and support your husband, putting your relationship in front of any other and sticking it out.  She grew up in a time where if something was broke you fixed it, and my Grandparents had a long and happy marriage because of that.  

The biggest life lesson I have learned from Jenny is to be grateful.  She would tell me almost daily how important it is to be grateful for the gifts we've been given.  Sometimes those gifts can be hard to find during the darker times of lives, but she said to look because I would find them.  Jenny would always remind me to keep a gratitude journal because by recognizing how beautiful our individual lives are we can fully appreciate them.  I am grateful for that lesson because it has helped me these last few months since her passing.  I was pretty upset and mad for a while, I couldn't understand why God would give me this amazing person and then so quickly take her away.  I have learned to not be mad anymore but to be grateful for the time I had with Jenny.  She helped raise my brother and me and I have the best memories of her as a child. While I wish my girls could grow up knowing Jenny it'll be my job to keep her memory alive.  I'll make sure to pass on the knowledge she taught me.  I will make sure my girls grow up to be grateful, not just for their "things" but the people and experiences in their life. Like Jenny I'll have to show them to be grateful, not just tell them to be grateful.  It is important to try and see the good in every bad situation.  It is to easy for us as a culture to complain but if we look hard for the good and focus on that complaining becomes less and less.  

I have always been grateful for my children, always grateful for their life with me.  Something in me has changed since Friday, I can't put my finger on it but something is different.  I can tell its a permanent change but I just can't quite pinpoint what exactly the change is.  I can feel my heart is different, better, bigger.  There has been a shift for me and its a shift in the right direction for my family.  Be grateful, look for the good in the bad.  The good is there, you just have to take the time to look for it.  Appreciate the good in your life, ignore the bad things, they don't deserve your attention.  Let your heart be filled with peace and love and teach your children to feel the same.  Forgiveness is a powerful tool, I have forgave a lot in my life and because of it I know I am able to lead a better life.  One day I'll need forgiveness, we all will, so lets be sure to pass it out to the people who also need it from us.  

If you are in Oregon enjoy your snowy morning!  Write a couple things down you are grateful for today, you'll be surprised how it'll change your mood.