Happy Thanksgiving 2013

Hope you guys are having a great Turkey Day today. Good luck if you are running in a turkey trot this morning! We have our 8k that we are running in. SUPER COLD Conditions for me to be running in but I think that will be motivation to hurry up and get back to nice toasty warm house smelling like super yummy holiday feast!

Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday today!

Thursday Turkey Day - 1 Week Away!

~Mason and his cousins will be making these Turkey Cupcakes next week when we go to visit. Fun activity for children to do while waiting for food to cook!~

Next week is Thanksgiving day! YEA! I love this holiday because it is a day for me and my family. I remember going to Grandmas house for Thanksgiving when I was a little girl. All my cousins would be there. We would all sit at the table in the kitchen, wishing for the day that we could sit at the grown-up table in the dining room. (I actually inherited said grown up table and it is in my dining room.)

Grandma made her famous rolls that would be so yummy and Uncle John brought his homemade jelly. Mom made her yams and later added the spinach leaf salad to the mix. (MY FAV! And sharing the recipe next week!) I remembered watching Grandma getting the turkey and taking the innards out (EWWW!) and do all the fixing to that bird.

Sadly it seems that Thanksgiving is just another day sometimes. Or Black Friday is "the real holiday." This year so many stores are opening or staying open on Thanksgiving day. Where back in the old days, my days, everyone got the day off or most of the day off. The occasional grocery store was open for those who forgot something for their meal. Now stores are opening at 6pm and staying open over night and through the next day. If you want that deal be in the store at 6pm on THANKSGIVING!

Next week don't forget to just take a moment and really say thanks to all you have! Enjoy your family, whether you are with your entire extended family, traveling from one family to the next and having multiple Thanksgiving dinners in 1 day, we have done that, it is a very filling day. Or if it is just you and your sweet. Enjoy the day. Make a new tradition. Do something new this year and try to stick to it next year! Mine is running in my first turkey trot. With my hubby. I am super excited to do this and cross the finish line holding hands! It is a healthy activity and burns some calories that I am sure I will be eating later!

1 more week. Make it a special day.

QOTD: What do you plan on doing with your family on Thanksgiving?

Girly Girl!

I am, like totally, becoming a GIRLY GIRL! I am so excited and thrilled for my new find that I found the other night. I have known for awhile now what I and my teammate were going to wear for costumes for the Disney Princess Half Marathon. We are named team Brave Belles. Me as Merida (from Brave) and her as Belle. I also knew that I wanted to venture out wearing a tutu. I read that it can give you an extra little berth when running Disney races as the tutu's are so puffy and the races are so packed. I talked K into wearing a tutu, and actually just ordered hers the other day. Well, due to my pregnancy I have to wait to get mine until my belly is bigger and such.

But to top it off, it looks like I am starting the tutu thing a little early. When finding my friend's K tutu and my future tutu I found this amazing beauty!

I will be sporting it at my upcoming turkey trot on Thanksgiving morning!

 ~LOVE THE BACK PLUMAGE!~

 ~Side view~

It is the TURKEY TUTU! I love the back of it. SO CUTE! And for a top my shirt will say, "huffing for some stuffin'" I am really excited. I am so excited for my race and to run in my TUTU! Seriously, though, these are the things that get me excited now, running a race and what am I going to wear in it! So many tutu's to choose from now! 

Check out Angelina's website at Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/RaceJunkie. She is super nice and so fun to talk to. (I sent her a couple of messages asking how do I measure my pregnant belly, do I have to pin the tutu to me to stay up, and such.) She had prompt response and was so nice and is very willing to work with you for you!

QOTD: Have you or would you ever run a race in a TUTU? And what was the theme if you did?

My Second 5k- Forest Lakes July 4th 5k

Here is another throw back Thursday. I never got a chance to recap my second 5k race.

July 4- 2013.

(Pre-Race. Not sweating or red)

OH MAN IT was hot and humid. Just heavy feeling. I was sweating before we left the gate! I had a hard time sleeping the night before again due to fears of getting lost and being the last one. When we arrived we were like the first ones there. (Great parking spot because of it but a lot of waiting around.) I saw a ton of people running and walking around. I didn't know what the heck to do. I had been in my training program for a couple of week now. Hadn't quite run 3 miles yet but I could do it. I was considering this as my long run for the week.

My friend and her husband were running in the race too, but they are speed demons and I didn't expect to run with them. My friend's hubby went out and ran 1/2 the 5k for a warm-up before the race began. My jaw hit the ground when L told me that because I thought that was crazy. But he loves to run! I had some other friends running in the race too from my training program. Janet, who is now a good friend of mine was there but she is a speed diva! (she ran with me on my 10k if you remember.)

It was time to get lined up. I milled around the back because I knew I would be in the back. Started talking to those around me. One nice lady said that she was recovering from an injury and would run with me since I was a slow runner. Thus began another great friendship. This would be Jen, who also ran with me on the 10k. She did the whole race with me. Gave me tips and pointers to do better. Encouraged me, pushed me and helped me come in at the time I wanted.

The course was beautiful. It is in this beautiful neighborhood. The hood that we wanted to live in when we first arrived in VA but couldn't afford the prices of the homes. The course took us on a footpath near one of the many lakes and rivers. It was covered in silt and shaded and very slippery. (there was a fall at the beginning of the race right next to me. and I hoped there wasn't another later.) Not too many hills to worry about except for coming out of the footpath.

My favorite part of the race is the end though. Because you know you are close to the end and you can push yourself just a little harder. I also feel like the horse going back to the barn. I feel that pull of, I am almost done, almost done. I can sit down and rest if I just get there a little faster. Jen pushed me up till the end having me run a longer split at the end to cross the finish line. I was pouring sweat, tired and I had done it. Came in the at the time I wanted to. Knocked 10 minutes off my original time from the month before! I was faster. Stronger. And crying. Yes, I cry at the finish line because I am doing something I didn't think I could do and wasn't strong enough or courageous enough to try. But I am now!

~My new running friends!~

My Future Bling!

Run Disney Facebook just announced/showed the pictures of the new medals for the Princess Half Marathon, Enchanted 10k and the glass slipper challenge medal. Also the new Tink medals for the Disneyland race in Jan.

I am so excited to see that beautiful piece of hardware that in a few months will be swinging from my neck. Ok I know this is silly but I first got interested in running a Disney race because it was, well, Disney but I saw the Disney World Marathon Medal with Mickey on it and I WANT IT! Someday I will get that medal. But for now, I am a princess in training to get my royal princess medal!

~Here are the 3 medal you can get in the 2 days of races. Not doing the Glass slipper challenge this year. Kind of glad seeing how I will be near 30 weeks pregnant!~

Pick up training with a vengeance next week! I have been walking more but next week back to jogging, slowly. Then a week from tomorrow I will finally be able to begin the 10 miler training program. (Hubby had military duty last weekend and this weekend)

Oh, and I did find a race in NC for Thanksgiving day. They are offering an 8k and a 5k. I think I am going to do the 8k. Just trying to talk the hubby into doing it with me since he can speed walk as fast as I jog.

Throwback Thursday: My first 5K

I never got a chance to write about my experience on my first 5k. So I thought I would do that today. And next week I can recap about my second one. Why not? Need to have it to remember when I am old and grey as proof that at one point I did in fact move my butt fast enough to run!

~Pre-Race Photo Op why my little man!~

June 1, 2014
4 The Wounded 5K- Charlottesville Research Park

Exactly 3 weeks prior to this date I had my second miscarriage. It was a hard miscarriage. I was 1 day shy of being 11 weeks. 2 days prior I had an ultrasound that confirmed that there was no baby or growth only a gestational sac. We were devastated. I was angry, hurt embarrassed and just plan broken. On top of that in the 11 weeks I was pregnant I gain aprox. 15 lbs. I was getting blood work done every 2 days from when we found out I was pregnant up until the ultrasound. Most days was bad news only a few were good news that my levels were going up. I stress ate. I didn't exercise. I sat on my butt and didn't want to hurt the pregnancy. My husband was also gone for military during the entire 6 weeks so it was just me, and Mace.

A little over a week later I decided I needed to get my butt in gear. Stop feeling sorry for myself. And get working out. We got a membership at a great gym near my house that offers 2.5 hours of daycare A DAY! I started walking, Taking classes, and just moving. As I would drive to the gym I kept seeing a sign advertising the 5k race coming up. I finally decided that I am going to do it. Even if I had to walk the whole thing. I didn't care. I was going to do it!

For the next 2 weeks I walked and exercised. I just wanted to finish the race standing upright.

Day of Race:
It was a warm sunny sunny morning. I knew a few friends were running in the race. Actually running. I knew I didn't even dare to get in the pack with them. I meandered to the back of the pack. Where all the "walkers" were hanging out. Saw some ladies with strollers. As we were straining to hear the announcer talk, I mentioned to a couple ladies next to me that this was my first 5k. I was up half the night before afraid I would get lost on the course. Or come in last. Or a ton of other things that would not of happened.

They invited me to walk with them as one of them was pushing her child in the stroller. (Mason was on the sidelines with a friend of mine while I did my thing. This is mommy's activity. No baby allowed!) One lady, Janet (same wonderful lady that did the 10k with me last week!) kept talking about this training program coming up and basically trying to convince me that I should sign up and do it. It was for the Women's 4 miler. She is a good salesperson!

~The Starting/finish line~

The whole race we just chatted. I told them what happened a few weeks prior and they were impressed and probably a little shocked that I was participating in a 5k so soon after such a loss. We did jog to the finish line and I crossed in 55 minutes. I was so proud of myself. I cried. Thanked them for not letting me get lost. And told Janet that I would probably see her at the training program. We parted ways and Janet is a really great friend of mine as we have now done all 4 races I have run in together. (well we have run in the same 4 races. 2 were actually running with me the other 2 were her kicking some major butt in the speed department!)

~Almost to the finish line! Upright and Smiling? CHECK!~

So there it is. My first 5k! It is what convinced me that I can actually do this. I questioned why I never did this before. It was amazing. It is only 3 miles. Anyone can walk 3 miles for goodness sake. Just start walking and add a little jog every now and then. There is an app that is From Couch to 5k that you can try. You can do this. It really is as easy as signing up, arriving and doing. If I can do it seriously, you can too! As you see from the pix I am not a skinny minnie like the 2 beautiful ladies next to me! Someday I will be smaller, and I am currently smaller, tone wise, than I was in June but for now I am me. I am running. I am doing it!

QOTD: Did you walk or run your very first race you participated in?

3 Days

It took me 3 days to not be sore anymore from the race! Wow, I think that is a new personal record for me. I have still been doing light exercise to keep the lactic acid moving and not building up. My friend K is adamant that after the 1/2 marathon in Feb, no resting just go straight to the park and walk, walk, walk. I'm a little nervous about that but I do know that moving is best. That and a hot tub would be really good too.

Now on to just taking it easy and in a week from Sat the 10 miler training program will commence. And a new running schedule will begin!

(on a side note, as I am writing this Mason is pushing his truck as fast as he can and when he hits the carpet he is doing barrel rolls and laughing up a storm, then does it again. He is having way too much fun. Oh to have that kind of energy!)

QOTD: Are you participating in the 10 miler training program?

My first 10k

WOW! I can't believe that I actually did it AND survived. To be honest, I felt totally unprepared for this race because I felt like I had barely run in the last 2 weeks. I did more walking than running. But amazing thing is, I came in at my goal. I wanted to do it in 1 hour 30 min and I did. My average pace was 14:40. My splits were pretty good too. The last 2 miles (mile and a half) were faster than some of the earlier miles. My first mile was the fastest at a 12 min mile!

Here were my splits thanks to the RunKeeper App on my phone:
Mile 1- 12:08- HOLY FAST!
Mile 2- 14:38
Mile 3- 15:13
Mile 4- 13:46
Mile 5- 15:22 (HUGE HILL! Knew I was going to walk up it at the beginning)
Mile 6- 13:03 (Can't believe that I am faster at the end)
Mile 7- 13:15

Couple of things. I had an escort with me. I had 2 running buddies who stayed with me the whole time! AWESOME! They encouraged me to keep pushing, when to slow down a bit, when I was pushing myself really well, when to take my jelly beans for energy, my form. Everything they took care of me.

Also we had a police escort for half of the course. We were the tail end of the 10k, which I knew we would be but didn't think I would get a police escort. While we were on the beautiful river walk area one of the police men blasted religious music for us. It was quite entertaining running to an amazing soprano belting our her love for Jesus. One of the cops almost biffed it when trying to pass us on the grass and coming back on the trail skidded on some mud. He asked later if he splattered us with mud and felt bad. He didn't but it was nice to ask. Sometimes they tailed us, when we got back on the road they did the race to the next intersection till we passed them bit. Funeral procession is what I called it since we were going at such a leisurely pace.

It was a fun race. A beautiful course. The river was swollen with all the rain that we received over the last week. Some of the leaves changed so we got to see some beautiful fall foliage. And to top it off, I got my first medal! I had only received a t-shirt and yesterday I got a medal. I felt super special!

Thank you Jen and Janet for running with me! You guys are awesome!

QOTD: Do you like doing fall runs to see the fall foliage?

Something New

(source) 

I tried something new yesterday! I tried yoga. I have never done a class setting. Only by DVD. Thought I would give it a shot. It was actually really cool and I guess the DVD's did help me a little. I knew the names for most of the poses already and was able to hold most of them. It was a beginning super easy class. And to top it off.. I was the only one in there. I guess the cold rain kept everyone away from the class and I got an hours worth of personal instruction from the teacher. It was really neat!

I did the class to help me stretch a bit before Sundays run. I am feeling more relaxed and stretched and ready for the run. It is going to be a COLD morning and possibly rainy still. Looking forward to it.

QOTD: Any advice for cold rainy runs? 

Burnout?!?

Seriously! Already! It has been a hard 6 weeks for me. I miss the motivation I got by going every week to the women's 4 miler training program. I had set goals. I had to meet said goals to accomplish what I wanted to do. Currently, I have been my own trainer. I set myself to run 2 days a week and Saturdays are my long runs. Saturdays are going well, and I generally do the 2 day runs a week but the other 3 days of cross training, not so much.

So how do we get out of a rut? I just read an article here that I felt answered a lot of my questions and actually defined what I was going through. Yesterday I just thought I was getting lazy, today after reading the article, I AM BURNED OUT! I need something new. I know I have races coming up but I need that drive, push and motivation I felt with the 4 miler to get me going!

Sunday is my 10k. This past Saturday I did 6.5 miles out on the road with a friend. I did really well as that was my first time EVER doing that distance. So I know I will be fine on Sunday for the race. I just want to stay under 15 min/mile. That is my goal. Actually I want to finish the race upright but would like to be under 15 min/mile.

In a few short weeks I will begin my new training program for the C-ville 10 miler. I am excited for that and I think it will give me the drive and push I am missing.

I am going to try an incorporate some of the items in the article above to help get me going again. We all go through these times. It is ok. We just need to change our game plan a little to keep it fresh and new.

Thanks for hanging in there and still reading my blog!

QOTD: How do you stay motivated? 

In Awe!

This past weekend was the Disneyland Dumbo Double Dare extravaganza! Consisted of running a 10k (6.2 miles) and a 1/2 marathon (13.1 miles) all in 2 days! I knew a couple fellow bloggers who were running in it, Heather being the main runner I follow since she does a ton of Disney races. But also my cousin Jake ran in it too! He is AMAZING! He has been running for years. He is a fire fighter in Arizona now. He is an amazing husband and father too! Here is what his wife had to say about him on Facebook:

 My stud of a husband ran a 10k Saturday in 50 mins, after 12 hours at Disney park all day Friday, then stayed 15 hours in the park again Saturday, then ran a 1:46 half marathon this morning on 3 hours of sleep. Needless to say he could run circles around me for days. Prayers to him now though it did catch up to him...he's sick and dehydrated at the hotel resting. This vacation, though stressful and HOT, makes me stand back and stop to SEE what I have, and what I've been blessed with. Complainng has no merit!

Seriously?!? That is so amazing to me to be able to run that far and that fast and still survive and cross the finish line! HE is awesome! Granted his body, and I am sure plenty of other people, are feeling the affects of this weekends races plus walking around an amusement park all day long. Good luck! 

My personal goals are to finish with no injuries, upright and with a smile on my face when I run any race let alone 19.3 miles but I am sure after that amount of distance that I will be pretty tired too! (2015 I want to do the Glass slipper challenge at WDW which is a 10k plus the princess 1/2)

This past weekend has given me more motivation to work harder and I know that my half marathon is just around the corner. Lots and lots of training ahead for me and I am so EXCITED! And that is how this whole experience should be, EXCITING!!!

P.S. I didn't give props to my cousin, Holly, (the wife of Jake). She is awesome too! 2012 she ran the Tinkerbell 1/2 Marathon at Disneyland and the Princess 1/2 Marathon at Disney World and snagged a Disney Coast to Coast medal too! She is quite the supportive running wife!

QOTD: Do you have a dream race you want to run someday?

Race Is Finished!

The women's 4 miler was AMAZING! There were so many women there running it was such a neat experience to be apart of. I have learned how to weave and bob through women like a pro! I did really well but looking back I probably should have pushed just a little bit harder. But the humidity and "soup" like conditions were not favorable for me! It zaps my energy and makes it hard to breath easily. I just feel like every breath takes so much just to fill up. I cough a ton after those kinds of conditions later in the day too! Anyhew, my legs don't hurt, my feet do because they got wet before we started running. I will say this, I love my run keeper app on my phone because it has been keeping track of my running time. This month alone I went from a 14:30 min mile to 13:30 min mile. So I am getting better and I love seeing the results of all my hard work!

~Foggy, humid morning~

It was fun a lot of my friends were on the other side of the street running back to the finish line before my second turn around yelling my name as we passed. They are all such amazingly fast runner! And are my inspiration to keep no moving my feet!

The last mile of the race is considered motivational mile which has posters lining the road of cancer survivors or for those who have passed. Sadly the last mile I get tunnel vision to FINISH THE RACE and just get in that zone to get back. But before the we had to line up and we were lined up right in the motivational mile. It was really neat to see who we were running for and for the great cause we were running for. (How do you like my pink top?)

Excited to run again next year! This is only the beginning! Oh and one thing. I did get a little too much sun, just slightly pink but man my freckles are so dark after today! I will get a pix of my amazingly awesome racer back freckle line, I mean tan line! :)

 ~Running buddies and Sarg T (Rainbow skirt) who keeps us moving! and Pacing group lineup! A SEA of Women!~~

QOTD: What is your favorite post race activity? Mine is napping!

Pre-Race Jitters

I don't know about you but the night before, and my friend J can testify of this, but I always have bad dreams about me getting lost on the course, being late and missing the start up, questioning of I have everything I need, or being last. I am hoping that tonight that doesn't happen to me since I feel so well prepared for tomorrow! I really do. I know I can do it. My concern now is how humid is it going to be because that just zaps all the energy out of me. But I am assuming that with 3,028 other women running that there will be plenty of energy!

As J has told me before, I won't get lost on the course. Because there are 3,028 other women there running. It will also be marked so no worries there.

I have already set my alarm for 5:30am so that we can leave here around 6am and get to Foxfield area by 6:30. I am pretty sure it is going to be super foggy, because it was this morning. So allowing time to drive in fog is a must!

The pink ladies keep telling us on Facebook to lay out our clothing and everything we need the night before so that tomorrow morning we aren't scrambling to get everything! So my todo list for tonight is: PINK shirt with bib pinned on, bra bottoms, socks, shoes, W4MTP bracelet, towel, water, flip flops to change out of running shoes after, change of shirt for after (so I don't get fried since I am allergic to sun screen, more freckles are one thing but getting super burned, not fun!) iPod and headphones, icy hot,
and snacks for Mace and Matt while they wait at the finish line area to cheer me on. I think that is it.

Being last. WHO CARES IF I AM LAST! At least I finished the race and did it. I will hobble, crawl or drag myself to the finish line if I have to! I ain't quitin'! But like I said I feel prepared and I know that I will make it across the finish line exactly as I should and in a time acceptable. At least I am doing it. Again if I told myself a year ago that I was doing this than I would have laughed (and snorted) so hard! But I am so glad that I am doing this.

SO today is HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE and here is to happy dreaming tonight, an early rise tomorrow and an amazingly fun time with 3,028 other women racing for a great cause!

Planning Ahead

The race that got me actively running, (and yes it was all because of the awesome training program I was apart of), will be here and gone this Saturday. So what's next? I started looking online for other races. Maybe another 5k, whatever sounds fun. (I found a Danger! Zombies Run race which sounds like a blast!) But then I saw a beautiful 10k! Which is a couple of weeks before the Zombies Run race. Both races take place in and around the same area so I am debating on not doing the Zombies Race this year. Anyhew, I want to push myself, challenge myself and do something that keeps me moving forward! I asked the amazing pink lady that "suggested" (over and over, though to her credit it is what I needed) last night if this was something I could do. She pointed out that it is only 2.2 miles more than what I am currently running. (Less than that since we have done 4.5 miles a few times now) What is just a mere 2.2 miles more at this point?

Looking at my twitter and Facebook there are so many people running races this weekend! The big DUMBO race is happening at Disneyland! Good luck to all the runners! Soon I will be there with you smiling and laughing as I run through the happiest place on earth!

So here's to me planning ahead! (I am even thinking about doing the Richmond half marathon in Oct) Check out my races tab to see what I have done and what is in the works for me! Hmmm... maybe a disney full marathon, or a few more half marathons. Maybe the Tinker bell 1/2 at Disneyland AND the Disney Princess 1/2 at Disney World and get the coast to coast medal! Maybe even the Marines Corps
Marathon in DC or The biggest loser races! Man there are so many to choose from!!!

QOTD: What is your dream race or distance?

Second Day Soreness

You know you worked it when you are still sore, actually more sore, 2 days after a good run or exercise! I might complain to my husband that I hurt. I might take it a little slower going up and down the stairs but man it sure does feel good. I know good things are happening in my body when I have second day soreness. That means that I pushed myself. My body is saying, "What the heck was that!" Well body get used to it because 10 miler/ half marathon training will begin soon! I do know that my muscles will get stronger and I will grow more accustom to what I am doing because of it. Here is a great and fun read on DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). To help prevent DOMS Beachbody Recovery (post workout shake) and Recharge (nighttime recovery shake), part of the the Beachbody Performance Line, work together to help reduce muscle soreness and promote muscle repair and recovery. Plus there are some foods you can eat to help accelerate recovery? Check out Muscles Zone's great article here on some top foods you can eat!

Today, I'm going to do in home exercise. Maybe my Zumba DVD or a 2-3 mile walk DVD. Mason is still sick and therefore can not go to the gym childcare. GRRR! It is also taper week before the race. But I must keep moving today so that my soreness goes away!

QOTD: Do you reduce your exercise due to second day soreness?

Pretty in Pink

In 2 weeks I will be running in the Women's 4 miler. The benefits are donated to the UVA Cancer Center Breast Care Program. The running color for the race is...PINK! My whole life, my mother taught me never ever ever should a redhead wear pink or peach for that matter. I have never ever liked the color anyways so it was pretty easy to avoid the color for most of my life. For the first time in my adult life I actually want to wear pink. My husband thinks I am crazy and is mildly amused that I am going against my dislikes to support a cause.

I just purchased my pink shirt (oldnavy.com) and WOW is it pink. I think that it glows in the dark it is so pink.

Do not let this photo fool you. It looks like this shirt should be a soft salmon color. WRONG! Is is the most florescent neon pink I have ever seen let alone ever worn. It is a mesh like material that has a little static cling but I don't think that the static will matter when I am pouring sweat all over it. My husband will not have a problem finding me in the sea of pink in 2 weeks time as I will be the neon sign running amongst the other 4,000 women! Proud to show my support even if it means for me to wear pink. 

Charlottesville Women's 4 Miler: http://www.dominiondigital.com/womens4miler/

QOTD: Have you or will you purchase a specific outfit for a race?