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 

Good Choices and Bad Choices

Hi! 

I would call my run today more of a slogging, I just couldn't really get moving.  I ended up doing my cross training this morning before my run and my legs felt like they were filled with lead afterwards.  I normally love that feeling after cross training but not right before I want to head out for 7 miles.  Not every run will be great but getting out there always feels great.  Is it starting to get warmer when you are at?  It really warmed up this morning and was almost 60 when I hit the pavement I was so grateful to find a water fountain during my 4th mile.  I get so thirsty when I am out running if I am doing anything over 5 miles I need to start remembering to bring my water belt.  

The other day I bought a couple of the Starbucks Iced Coffees because they were 2 for $3.00 and I figured it was worth a try.  My opinion that I am sure you really value is to skip them.  

They didn't have an unsweetened option and I had hoped it wouldn't be that sweet.  The 21 grams of sugar should have been my first clue that yes they would be sweet.  I like my coffee to be the color of milk so I added more of my own creamer but it still was a no go.  I ended up pouring it down the sink, I won't waste calories on something that doesn't even taste good.  Save your money and just buy a real iced coffee of if you are talented enough make your own at home.  Then again you shouldn't really take my advice on anything because I go to the store and do things like this... 

{Instagram Pic}

So do what you want, I make awesomely bad choices!

Do you find that you are really affected by your previous days food choices when you head out for a run?  I know that certain things will affect a run the following day.  For example I normally do not drink any alcohol during the week because I know it is going to weigh me down in a major way.  I especially stay away from it the day and night before a long run because it dehydrates me.  Wine is totally off limits during the week and before any long run or race, that stuff hits me like a brick.  Wine not only dehydrates me but just 1 glass will make getting up with my 5:30 alarm clock nearly impossible.  Luckily I've never been a huge drinker so it wasn't much of a reach to now only have a drink once a week.  

Do you have a food or drink you have to stay away from because they'll affect your runs?  

Favorite flavor of ice cream?  

- I have so many!  If I had absolutely had to choose then it would be Baskin Robbin's Mint Chocolate Chip 

Are you a coffee drinker?  

Change Is A Good Thing

Good morning!  

Yesterday was a run day and I know at some point I should making my runs more specific.  You know easy run, speed work, etc, but I just like to run.  While I was at the gym yesterday morning I knew I was going to shoot for a 10 in front of my pace, even if it was 10:59 average pace.  It took a lot of restraint to keep from jumping up and down when I looked at my stats and saw this: 

Happy Dance!  That is a good pace for me and I was really excited to see I could average a number like that.  It was the boost I needed to show me that speed work WILL get me where I want to be.  

After I got home it was time to get ready for our day ahead, we had story time at the library, lunch with Daddy and some errands to run.  If we are going to get dressed and be out we might as well make the most of it!  Since we don't have an entertainment system in our rental the girls have been falling asleep while we are out and about.  So I do what any normal mother would do and get myself an iced coffee, hang out on Pinterest and take pictures.  

Yesterday was a good day for a few reasons, but FINALLY finding the only Starbucks drive-thru in Michigan was the biggest highlight.  They have Starbucks here, don't get me wrong, but this girl needs the drive thru if she is going to get one.  I can't justify unbuckling both girls, tromping through the cold and then having to re-buckle both girls for a coffee.  Iced Coffee no sweetener light cream made for a happy girl yesterday, that and the napping cuties behind me.  Sarah can breath I promise!       

Sunday was our Sesame Street Live day and the girls had so much fun!  The Grouch is Jesse's favorite charactor, Sarah seemed pretty excited to see him too.  As you can see all Katherine wanted to do was push that glowing button, don't worry she got her chance.  

This morning I decided to take a run rest day and will do my CLX Abs instead of my Burn 3.  I also wasn't able to go to the Barre class because they totally changed up their schedule on me, so I'll go this weekend.  See, write everything in pencil because it will change, it is the only thing certain.  

Also this Saturday February 9th is the 2nd Annual Virtual Run for Sherry.  This race is put on by her cousin and fellow blogger at Shut Up + Run.  I wish I had some pals to run it with but I'll be doing it on the treadmill Saturday morning, but I am grateful I can do that.  My Father in law and both of my Brother in laws work in Sidney MT and Williston ND.  I remember when Sherry first went missing and my heart sank, along with every other runner out there I am sure.  I know how tight those small communities are and what an impact her death had on their lives.  I'll run Saturday in memory of Sherry and hope our nation can get a grip on the senseless acts of violence seen everyday on our women and children.  

Let me know if you plan on running in the virtual run for Sherry!       

Anyone else find they have to change up their workout/running schedule during the week?

Do you have a lot of drive thru coffee places where you live? 

- Oregon is coffee headquarters, I didn't realize how spoiled I was! 

Random Friday

Hi!  Happy Friday!  My workout this morning was a short run to Old Town and back and CLX Push Circuit 3.  It was cold this morning, cold enough that my ears were froze by the time I got home and I could have easily wore my ear muffs.  Its still August right?  Just got me more convinced I am going to want my treadmill by winter time, which luckily gives me plenty of time to look!  Because from my search today I can tell I am going to need lots and lots of time to look.  After I finished Push and got the girls and myself fed we got dressed really quick so I could hit up some garage sales.  I don't do a lot of garage sale shopping mainly because I don't need anything, but today I was really hoping to find a treadmill.  To bad I am not in the market for an elliptical, about every other garage sale had an elliptical machine!  

I was successful though because I found some really cute Disney dress up dresses for the girls.  

They were $1 each and I looked online and they sell for at least $40 a piece brand new, score for this mom! I bought 3 different dresses and some play dress up shoes also, grand total $4.  My mom would like the white one because it has long sleeves.  I got married in the month of August and my mom wanted me to have a dress with long sleeves, no mom just no.    

Between garage sales we stopped at Trader Joe's and picked up some of my favorite things.  Trader Joe's is in Lake Oswego and I live in Sherwood, its a jaunt to get there, but sometimes so worth it.  Especially when I have my personal shoppers to run into my ankles push my cart.

I promise my children are really happy kids...except when a camera gets pulled out.  

Some of my favorites from my trip: 

Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels?!  Um...where have these been all my life?  

Trader Joe's is the only place I can find both sprouted bread and Laughing Cow Blue Cheese wedges for under $5, what is with that?  Cornichons are kind of a religion in my family, Jess said he didn't like them ONCE, he learned to never speak that blasphemy in this house again.  

After our TJ adventure we had a snack in the car to hold us over till we got home, I got an iced coffee to fill the void in my heart where a treadmill should have been today.  If you were wondering about the new flavor of Luna bars I can tell you its awesome, I'm a Nutz Over Chocolate girl and these blow them out of the water!

That's my random Friday!  Tomorrow I am running 16 miles with Katie and I am hoping I survive.  I've ran 14 before, but that was quite some time ago so we'll see how tomorrow ends up.  We are inching closer and closer to our Marathon so its time to get REALLY serious about the long training runs.  Hopefully she'll take me out to breakfast afterwards, oh I mean...no really, she better feed me.  Also I am not going to lie to all of you, I am so ready for the Marathon to come and then go, more go than anything.  I know physically I am more than capable of running this darn thing, but right now it is all mental for me.  I am ready to get back to running my way and not having such a large looming race hanging over my head.  Gosh I am such a motivator today right?!  Just want to be honest, don't want anyone out there thinking that marathon training is some quick and easy task and your such a loser for not completing one and therefore you are not a true runner.  I haven't even ran it yet and I already feel defeated a lot of the time, so YOU ARE A RUNNER even if you haven't ran a marathon nor do you have any intention of running one.  That is my PSA for the day!  I am sure tomorrow I'll be feeling much more marathon motivated, I think FINALLY getting this next hurdle/benchmark under my belt will boost my confidence.       

Who out there has ran a marathon? Please share any tips or advice you give a rookie!  

Do you have a Trader Joe's near you? 

-There is an apartment complex across the street from this Trader Joe's, those lucky ducks!  

What are some food staples you always have in your house?

Target Rewards

Good Afternoon!  Took a trip to Target this afternoon to get a few things, like detangler and shredded cheese, you know the basics.  I rewarded our under 40$ Target trip (will power!) with an iced coffee from S-Bucks, yum!  There is just something about that green straw.  

This also caught my eye as we were loading back into the car

Is that a woody convertible?!  Nice!  

So I am realizing that since I completed my half marathon this weekend that means its officially marathon training season for me and I am a little freaked out!  I have about 16 weeks of training to get ready for my first marathon and I am not going to a lie that I am little apprehensive.  If I hadn't have already signed up I probably would be backing out, isn't that awful?!  I don't know why I am so nervous about it, I am just afraid of not being able to do all that is required.  Luckily I have an awesome running group who has done this sort of training for years and years...I should be OKAY.  

I was reading The Happy Runner's blog this morning and she is currently doing a Marathon Monday tips and so far I have found them to be really helpful.  A friend of hers was sharing some of her tips from her marathon training and she said that it could be really easy to put on weight with the training.  Mainly because a lot of us (totally me!) think that because we logged 15 miles on a Saturday we have a license to eat whatever junk we want.  This just isn't the case, I know I was guilty of that this weekend.  So in order to keep my weight healthy and my training runs successful I will really try and keep the junk at a minimum...this will be no easy task!  

Does anyone else get that feeling of "I can eat whatever I want because I just ran a million miles"?  Please share any good snacks or meal ideas you like to have during your marathon training, would love any ideas!