tackle the miles {13in2013}

Half-Marathon #4 is in the books and it was rough!!

I broke this virtual race into 4 challenging runs, wheww!! When you're husband is on deployment, that's how things go. I {sometimes} feel kind of guilty putting my kids up with friends for virtual races. It's happened but not often. Anyways, I went from treadmill to outdoors and back to treadmill. Booyah!!

Friday's run, was challenging, my shins were a little annoyed. Maybe from the spin classes. I logged in 2 miles in 26:02 with some hills mixed in.

Saturday was rough, I had crabby kids in tow at the playroom and with the shins still bothered I gave myself some inclined walking intervals. I logged in 3.22 miles in 45:32. Ehhh.

Tuesdays, impromptu run in the rain was fabulous!! I doubled these miles with the 5 by the 5th virtual race. That rush from coming home soaked is awesome, I love it!! A friend joined in and we logged in 3.20 in 1:07:02

Today's last 5 miles. Whewww, I was a sweaty mess during the first mile. Yuck!! It didn't hurt but I was just soo over the treadmill. Ever feel like that? I wanted to get it over with, mixed in hills and speed. I logged in 5 miles in 1:05:00.

What's next?
Resting these legs from running for the next 2 days. I have a weekend of racing; my first outdoor races!!!

Sweetheart 5k and Fishline 25k trail run.Holy cow, a 25k!! I'm excited for some "me" time!!

#anywhere 5k stache dash

Mama got her run on this evening.
After 6 miles on Thursday and 3 days straight of work..
..my body needed some miles!

I've been a happy runner participant over at #anywhere5k virtual races for most of 2012.
This was a fun one!!

I got to the gym a little early, logged in .44mi in about 6 minutes
but lost the data when Ailea distracted me to go use the bathroom. Agh!!
Once, my friend arrived, I got back on and started my run. It was a little rough, legs were heavy.
We gave ourselves time, walking intervals, picked it back up and RAN!

I logged in my 5k in 43:31.

I went on for a little more 3.67 in 50:03

November daily challenge is almost over and I need to update my times.

Back to foam rolling, a runner's best friend!!

"Don't wait to for inspiration to find you; BECOME IT!!"

Wednesday RunDay!

Mama was on the Run this morning!! I laced up my running shoes, loaded up baby girls in the double jogger and turned up the tunes for a fabulous morning [base] run!!

It was a FOGGY morning and we even caught a little drizzle halfway through. I made a quick stop at the Base Redbox to get my girl a rental. She was happy, and they enjoyed the views ahead! It was actually the first time I took them along on the particular route. It's usually a route for SOLO Runs, since it's along the base roadways but we kept as far from the road, as the pavement allowed. I felt AMAZING, not much pain on my knee, however, my foot was a little annoyed so, I kept easing off of it with a couple of "slow" paced intervals and was easy on the hills. Oh, those hills, can't avoid them in Washington. We logged in 3.27 Boo! Miles in 44:18.

[Foggy Morning]

 [There's the hill that got my knee a few months ago]

[Fabulous Fall Colors!]

[Feeling SUPER & SWEATY!!]

[Happy Mail; Received the BLING for the Boo! Half-Marathon]

"Don't wait to for inspiration to find you; BECOME IT!!"

Runner's Rant!!

Hello, Tuesday!! 

That Busy Day where my morning starts between 5:30-6, followed by waking the girls up at 6:30 and we are all ready and out the door by 7:50ish. School Drop off for my Preschooler, back home for lunch prep and out the door to walk first grader to gate. 

Moms Run This Town Meetup: We had a New Mama, who just moved back into the area, she wanted to get out and be active. We walked 3 miles to ease her back into it. As you can see, I pushed the double jogger, still haven't gotten my wheels fixed for the single, it's on my to-do list. No worries, Baby Girl had one of her baby princess' keep her company. Seems like we are back to the regular Washington weather; gloomy and cold!

Treadmill Run: After our surprise Skype Date with our man during lunch, we went to the gym. It's been a while since I stepped foot on the treadmill, I logged in my first 5k in (36:22) for the Boo! Half-Marathon Virtual Race!! I felt AMAZING, kept it easy with soft/hard intervals. Mama is back at it, and the girls did awesome in the playroom; no climbing!! WhooHoo!!!

 On our walk home, we checked the mail and received the medals for Kids Run This Town! Ailea was SO excited and wanted to tattoo her self right away but we are saving them for the final day, also wearing the medals at the end!! They've began logging in miles and we've enjoyed the sunshine on those days!! It also doubles apart of Leanna's daily homework for her physical activity log. They love the running more than walking!


What is Kids Run This Town Virtual Challenge?

This is a month long event that will encourage kids ages 2-14 get out there and run or walk!  Here’s how the event will work:

For the month of OCTOBER your little divas and dudes will log their miles.  Let them borrow your gps watch, measure the distance in your neighborhood or let them run on a track…. we aren’t being exact here – but PLEASE try to be as accurate as possible!!!  Keep a log for each day they walk/run.  At the end of the month we will post a form for you to fill out to log their miles.

We will tally up the total miles for everyone participating and see who RULES THE ROAD – is it the DIVAS or is it the DUDES!!!

The winning gender will be the “prize pool” for the grand prize – but we will have prizes for BOTH genders!!! Miles are only to be counted from Oct 1st – Oct 31st.

"Don't wait to for inspiration to find you; BECOME IT!!"

First Half-Marathon

See Jane Half Marathon Seattle
Garmin Stats;
13.14 mi
Time:2:35:46
Avg Pace:11:51 min/mi
Elevation Gain:196 ft
Calories:1,450 C

Official Chip Time; 2:48:53

Gloomy. Light Rainfall. Windy. Peek-a-Boo Sunshine. Typical Washington Day.

Race Swag, even a Fabulous Re-usable Bag

Race Gear Ready

Quick Snapshot before the Race

Just call me, Super {Runner} Mama!!! I did it, I crossed the FINISH LINE; STRONG, I did it!! 

Let me tell y'all it wasn't easy; with little to no [training] running in the past 4 weeks, I was super nervous but beyond excited!! It was a pretty BUSY few days leading up to the BIG Event, there was a week full of SUNSHINE. It was a BIG DEAL in Washington. And, I was tanned and relaxed. I wasn't sleeping well, haven't been since husband had been out to sea. And, then we received the news of a [SUDDEN] change in DEPLOYMENT Plans, 4 months earlier than expected. Husband had just returned from a deployment in March, only home for roughly 3 months,....bummer but duty calls.

Soooo....I very much needed this [RACE] RUN, I needed some time to MYSELF, in a different environment and I would be crossing a HUGE Goal off my Fitness List for 2012. It took a lot of [easy] planning; a friend to watch my 3 girls, ferry ride schedule, mapping the drive from the ferry terminal, figuring out the bib packet pick-up. Thankfully, asking a friend was easy, I'm happy I've met some Fabulous Mama's and I'd return the favor just as easily. Ferry Ride was made less stressful, since I was able to go to the See Jane Run Expo the day before for the packet pick-up [a little Seattle outting], and the drive from the terminal would be roughly 20minutes. Whewwwww! Sunday Morning came; 4:20 Wake-up, 4:50 Wake-up for girls, 5:45 Girls Drop-off, 6:20 Ferry [50 minute] Ride; BUSY Morning before 13.1 Miles. Right!? Hah

See Jane Run; Parking was somewhat easy, the excitement and nerves were HIGH as I walked up to the event location. They had just started the "stretching" for Half-Marathoners, I got in on a little; Ouch!! It had been a few weeks since I lunged, or Squated. I asked another runner to snap a photo; before snapshot. Shortly after, we started lining up for the pace groups, I stayed in the 10-11:59 min/mile group. It was a little slow once they sounded the "GO", crossing the start line. And, then off, I went...

Mile 1-6; I RAN the entire first 6 miles straight, with the exception of a bathroom break at Mile 3 and water stations. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL; a little windy, a little rainfall, a little gloomy weather was PERFECT!! We made a loop at one point, so you would ran against others. And, then....I heard yelling from above the music....The FIRST runner was coming through against the crowd, everyone cheered her on and this continued with others not too far behind her. I could SEE their speed, the motions, their bodies were on FIRE. It was pretty amazing, and inspiring!! And, they were pretty damn FIT, you could see their muscled, toned legs; Wow!! 

Space Needle in the distance

Mile 7; It started out a little rough, my body was a bit worn in, I grabbed a GU GEL at one of the stations and it helped a little. It got a little warm, somehow zipped out of my pull-over and tied it to the waist. The fresh air felt gooooddd!!! Running alongside a lake, seeing sailboats, restaurants, roadways at the other side. Plenty to keep distracted with.

Mile 8-10; Kept going, pushed it with sprints, I could see the SPACE NEEDLE in the distance; AMAZING!! The sun peeked out several times, I took a few stretching/walking breaks. There was HILLS, STEEP hills going down. I thought I going to fall. Hah! We crossed over a bridge, at Mile 8, looping back toward the Park. I could see it, I could see it WAY in the distance. I smelled the excitement.

Mile 11; Holy Cow, it felt like forever!! There was a loop but it seemed like it was NEVER going to be close. My Right foot started to ache, I knew I was pushing myself more than usual and I kept telling myself, "you're almost there, you're almost there". I gave myself some walking time. And, went full speed when I was ready. There was a cheer crowd at Mile 12, so close, so close.

Mile 12; This is it!! I knew I was a MILE away, I was running against the other runners (who would realize the turn-around wasn't as close as they thought), I paced myself, going uphill was a bit rough, once, I was up, I hauled booty and FINISHED STRONG!!! I was over the moon with happiness. And, quickly asked someone to snap my picture. :D

13.1 Miles of Peace & Quiet Accomplished!!!

I quickly went to grab a banana, water, bagel; I was STARVING!! Caught my breath, stretched, sat, took in the RUNNER'S HIGH and then took my booty over for CHOCOLATE & CHAMPAGNE!!!

The Champagne glass is SO FABULOUS!!!

Photo Booth Fun

I can add Half-Marathon along to my list of RACES. It was an AWESOME Experience and after 8 hours away from my 3 girls, I was READY to be back with them. MUD RUN is coming up this next weekend!!!

"Don't wait to for inspiration to find you; BECOME IT!!"