Merry Christmas To ME!

It's getting close! Are you ready for Christmas?? Me, I'm about where I usually am at this point, which is ALMOST done. There are always last minute odds and ends to clear up.

I've been desperate for some new shoes. My current pair have more than 300 miles on them, and for me, that's a LOT. So when John came home from work on Friday and handed me $180 in gift cards to my favorite running store which he'd WON from work, I was over the MOON.

I got a new base layer shirt, new adrenalines, and a pair of adrenaline TRAIL shoes. I am so so excited to run in them!

Then yesterday, I got my bloggy secret santa present! It cam from Aimee who blogs at I Tri To Be Me. (She just completed her first Ironman at IMAZ - if you haven't read her report, you totally should - AMAZING!)

I busted into the box like a little kid!

oooo, a pretty box inside the box!

what's inside?

This is what I saw when I opened it up - LOVE!

Already, I was in love. I am not crafty, and I refused to pay outlandishly for a running related ornament, but OH did I WANT one - so before I even took it out of the box, I was so excited! BUT! Then I turned it around...

this made me cry. yes I am a sap. SO AWESOME!

I immediately hung it on the tree. I couldn't love it more. THANK YOU!

why yes, it IS right next to a Slayer ornament. (love my hubs.)

But THEN I remembered there was MORE in the box! Gotta check that out too!

her family is gorgeous! and GU!

Thank you so much Aimee! It couldn't have been more perfect! And thanks to Jill for organizing this gift exchange - so much FUN!

Lastly (because who knows when I will be able to post again - today is the kids' last day of school for winter break) I was tagged by The Unexpected Runner to share 7 random things about myself. Since I did this recently, and since it IS Christmas time, I'm going with a Christmas theme today.

1. My earliest Christmas memory is sitting crammed with all my cousins in my Grandmother's kitchen singing carols and waiting impatiently. After a bit we'd hear a loud "HO HO HO" and run into the living room to what seemed like a MOUNTAIN of presents! It was magical!

2. My Dad is Polish and my Great-Aunt (who married into the family) was from Japan originally. So early Christmas meals were kind of dyslexic - czarnina next to egg rolls, anyone? But I loved it.

3. I love Christmas music, but prefer it done traditionally. To me, it should be quiet and reflective more than upbeat and peppy (which gets annoying to me every year - please no more Mariah Carey. Ugh.)

4. I used to sing in church choir and midnight Mass was always my favorite. Although I haven't been in many years...

5. Since having kids, Christmas traditions have changed. Now, each Christmas eve, John and I drink lots of wine and wrap presents until the wee hours of the morning. So much that it doesn't even occur to me that I could get the wrapping done ahead of time.

6. When I was a teenager, instead of having a big meal on Christmas eve, my mom would make every delicious appetizer she could think of and we'd munch all evening as people would stop through. I miss this, and hope to resurrect it when my kids are older.

7. I haven't been to Christmas Mass in years. I prefer to spend Christmas morning in my pajamas, surrounded by my family, and just take in the joy on my kids' faces.

Merry Christmas to all of you!!

Made It (mostly) Through....

Well, I managed my way out of this week, for the most part. I'm glad to have it as a memory now.

Tuesday I managed a 7.4 mile trail run. I knew I'd need it to make it through the rest of the week.

Julia's Christmas program was the sweetest thing. She looked beautiful, proudly sporting her new 'do. I was (of course) super proud of her, and despite being REALLY nervous, she did beautifully.

I wish I could say I enjoyed the rest of the show, but truthfully, I wasn't paying a whole lot of attention. James has had a rough month, and has been fighting a cold. Add that to his normal personality, and it was a rough go. I spent the majority of the time trying to keep him from having an outburst, getting kicked, getting stepped on, bla bla bla. But we made it til the end. Barely.

The next day, we had Jack's winter band concert. I was looking forward to this - he really is getting good! I was anxious to see him perform.

In hind sight, I should have known better. I should have done it SO differently. We got a decent seat, but were smashed on bleachers. The warm up is always excruciatingly dissonant. The lady directly in front of us had no regard for people behind her. The chaos of the room left James anxious and volatile. We had 15 minutes of warm up to go, and he was already in full on melt down mode. So I took him out.

I wish I could say that I calmed him down and we made it back inside in time to see Jack play, but that wasn't the way of things. Sometimes autism fucking sucks. I spent the concert in the van, crying. James was happy to wait for the performance to be over. I didn't get to see any of it.

But. Jack did extremely well, and the concert was a success without me. We got home, got the kids in bed, and instead of running (which is what I SHOULD have done) I busted out french onion dip and pretzels and stared at the TV. Not my finest moment, but it felt like the right thing to do at the time.

Yesterday, I woke up with another crazy morning ahead of me. Everyone was tired. We had to get to James' school early for his IEP review. James woke up PISSED off. *sigh*

But once he got all that out of his system, we had a great meeting with his teacher and therapists. He is doing beautifully, and they are starting to prep him for kindergarten. I'm really proud of how far he's come, and thankful for a system that is working for him, despite the difficulty of the last weeks.

I left him at school, came home, and got a call from my friend Sarah - could I run? HELL YES. It was 47 degrees and I wore a skirt and a long sleeved tee. I froze my ass off the first mile (damn it was windy!) but I didn't care. 4 miles later and I was a new person. It was Sarah's birthday the day before, so she shared some of her cake with me. I ate it for lunch. Don't judge.

I'm really behind on Christmas shopping, but hoping to finish this weekend. The tough stuff is behind me, and the fun stuff coming up. Can't wait!

(oh, and only 32 miles to go!!)

"Faster Than My Bullet"

Bullets is all I have time for, so today, bullets is what you get:

• Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday. There are no expectations, just food and family. Christmas stresses me out, even though I love experiencing it through my kids - but there is so much pressure to get it "just right" and we are struggling financially this year, so there's that.
• If you click on Riyanti's blog, she's got a great picture of us from the Turkey Trot. I am too lazy to steal it and post it, but click if you want to see...
• Last weekend I took Jenna, my 12yo, to her first concert. We saw Christina Perri, Kelly Clarkson and the Fray. It was a fantastic show, and I had so much fun hanging out with my daughter. I am a new fan of the Fray - seriously good band.
• The temperatures are starting to creep lower. Not a fan. My drive to get out the door wanes a lot as temperatures fall into the 20s...and the wind! Ugh.
• Next week is going to be psychotic. Julia's Christmas program and Jack's band concert and James' IEP review, trying to get shopping wrapped up, trying to figure out teacher gifts. Plus I need to get our cards mailed. Bla bla bla. Need to get OFF the internet!
• Running has been going well. One interesting thing to note - I am addicted to running on the trail. Consequently, I haven't run with any music in I can't even tell you how long. Now all my marathon training cycles so far have had their "song." (Pumped Up Kicks was TCM's song). I'm not sure what to expect for my next training cycle - I wonder if I don't RUN with music, if I'll still feel like a particular song defines that time frame. I mean, it still plays in my head whether I'm listening to it or not...

Gotta run (literally) - only 60ish miles to go!!

Drinking the Kool-Aid

As I may have mentioned, I have been attending a 1 hour strength training class every Wednesday since the first week in October. When I first started, it was something new to try. I knew that my core and girdle were weak, and I figured, what better way to work on that in the off season?

So. One hour. Once a week.

Not to belittle the class at all - I sweat my ASS off in that class, and shake and grunt and sometimes I CAN'T do what he wants us to do.

But really? It's only once a week.

I figured it couldn't hurt my running, right? I mean, other than being a little sore in the couple days after class. It might even help a little.

It might even help A LOT.

Seriously, in the last month, not even 2 months after starting the class, I can COMPLETELY feel it in how I run. I have more speed. More endurance.

I FREAKING RUN BETTER BECAUSE OF A ONCE A WEEK STRENGTH CLASS.

On Saturday morning, I set out for at least 8. The skies were ominous and it was supposed to rain all day long, but it was unseasonably warm, with temps in the 50s. I drove to my favorite spot and set out. It was supposed to be a longish run, so I was keeping the pace easy, but running by feel, not looking at my watch.

Just after mile 4, I turned back around, just in case the skies opened up. But it was still not raining when I got closer to my car, so I took a side trail and tacked on another couple miles. When I got back to the car, I was so close to 10 that I turned around to run the little it'd take to get there. The whole time, I was feeling good. Strong. Easy.

Imagine my surprise when I uploaded my workout! My splits were 10:52, 10:40, 10:18, 10:20, 10:13, 10:36, 10:13, 10:04, 10:04, 10:22. My fastest miles were 8 and 9. I freaking negative split a 10 mile run.

And the amazing thing isn't that I did that. The amazing thing is that it DIDN'T feel like work.

At all.

I'm a believer...

A Tale of 2 Turkey Trots

I guess I needed a bit of a blogging break? It's been so busy - it's that time of year I guess - and something had to give. Needless to say, the computer time was the first to go.

***

Last Saturday was the first of 2 turkey trot 10k races that I'd registered for this year. The Clear Water Outdoor Turkey Trot is the same race I walked last year with Kim and Tori. (We didn't MEAN to walk it, but Tori hurt her knee early on, and it turned into a giant gab fest, with us coming in dead last). It's held in Big Foot Beach State Park, right along Lake Geneva in WI.

This was going to be my friend Sarah's very first 10k race ever. it's nice, local, and relatively inexpensive, with the race shirt (a long sleeved tech tee) as an optional add on. The downside, if you can call it a downside, is that it's on real trail - not HORRIBLY difficult, but most certainly not easy either. They do a great job keeping it clear, marking roots with spray paint, and the route is well marked. There are some tough hills in there though, and the course changed from last year, making it tougher on the back end. (garmin data) I had warned Sarah about the course, but I don't think she REALLY knew what she was in for...

Sarah offered to drive, and picked me up plenty early. The race started at 9:30, and we were out my door by 7:30, with about an hour drive.

Well, an hour drive IF you stop where you are supposed to.

We were gabbing gabbing gabbing, and before you knew it, we'd turned off on what we thought was the right lake road. We SLOWLY made our way around the lake, and I began to doubt. Pulled out my cell phone, and turned out we were one lake PAST the lake we were supposed to be on.

Well, shit.

By the time we made it back to where we needed to be, it was just after 9, and we still needed to pick up our bibs and stuff. Which wouldn't have been a big deal, except for the 30 car back up to get into the state park.

Nothing like a little stress to get your blood pumping on race morning.

But it was no big thing - there were LOTS of people behind us, so they ended up delaying the start by about 15 minutes. We got our stuff, waited in line for the port-o-potty, brought extra stuff back to the car, and only had to wait for about 5 minutes before the race started. Just enough time to connect with a bunch of running club people who were there too.

The run itself was fairly uneventful. I let Sarah know right away that I was NOT racing, that I was there for her as fast or slow as she wanted to go. She'd hoped to finish with less than 11 minute miles, but quickly figured out that that was unrealistic. The first half of the course we shared with the 5kers which was crowded and rather obnoxious. Sarah hung in pretty good, even when the hills were kicking her butt. She only walked up a couple of the steeper hills at the end, and we finished in 1:15 and change. 10 people finished behind us, which was a definite improvement from last year.

Afterwards, we found that they'd run out of nearly everything including water. I think the turnout was WAY more than they had anticipated, which was great for them - proceeds go right to the park. I love this race, and next year, I'd like to RACE it. As for this year, I was SO proud of how well Sarah did, and I know that she'll kill her next 10k.

***

I ran a new to me hilly trail route with Kim on Sunday. I had really missed running with her, and it was so great to catch up.

Then, this week was school breaks and John off from work and conferences for my older 3 and Thanksgiving prep; even though I didn't host this year, there was still so much to do. John was completely focused on finishing odds and ends in the basement. My niece spent the night Wednesday.

Basically, all the workout plans I had for the week, including my strength class, went right out the window. (which means by Wednesday night I was a complete bitch. seriously.)

***

Thursday morning, I got up after a crappy night's sleep. I felt crappy. I was blah about my next race, the Mayor's Turkey Run put on by the Kenosha running club, along with a 2 mile race. I ran this one with Riyanti, a running club member (with a new blog). I still hadn't decided if I was going to race it or run it for fun.

We made it up to Kenosha plenty early, and they had the museum open so we could hang out in the heat and use indoor bathrooms, which was really nice since it felt MUCH colder than they had said it was going to be. I was pretty worried that I'd really under dressed. (I wore my screaming green turkey trot tee from Saturday's race and capri's. No jacket. No gloves.)

Riyanti and I run a really similar pace, which is great. We decided to start together, and I told her I'd know later in the race if I was going to push for my sub-60, but the goal was start out pretty easy. We lined up towards the back.

This turned out to be my only mistake of the day.

The first mile was a cluster. This was a pretty decent sized race (almost 2000 total with 600 10 k racers) and we spent way too much time dodging and weaving and getting COMPLETELY stuck. I didn't care at the time - we counted it as a warm up mile. It clocked in at 10:27.

By the second mile, I was finding a good groove. We were still passing people, but it had thinned out a lot. I wasn't pushing it, so I was surprised when garmin beeped 9:55.

They had a water station that we hit twice at the beginning of the third mile. We skipped it here. (We ended up skipping it later too.) We were feeling good, and pushing the pace a little. We were cheering for all the runners coming back off of the turnaround. We hit mile 3 at 9:36. I started to consider the possibilities....

After the turnaround, we were following some girls running just the right pace. I was just keeping up with them. Passing runners right after they were. Not paying attention to my watch except when miles beeped done. They were having a random conversation about bikini waxing. Freaking hilarious! It kept me laughing the whole mile. Didn't pass them until they peeled off for a photo op, and then never saw them again. Mile 4 = 9:42.

Right at the beginning of the 5th mile, I decided to see just what I had in me. I was feeling good. I was hitting the hills perfectly. I was feeling comfortably uncomfortable, aiming now for flat out uncomfortable. Why not? I left Riyanti behind in this mile. 9:29.

Mile 6 hurt. But in a totally good way. I was passing people like CRAZY. Me! Passing people. At the END of a race. Who is this girl? I was chasing 2 girls, picking off others one by one. It felt amazingly good, but strange. I was watching my average pace creep down to where I needed it. Just before the mile marker one of the girls dropped an eff bomb because her shoe was untied. She kept running, and I passed them. Hit mile 6 at 9:17.

Her friend was having NONE of me passing them. They passed me back, and urged me on with them. I laughed and said I was down for the chase. We TOOK OFF. All I could think was that I started my kick way to effing early, but it was too late to do anything but hang on. Untied shoe girl peeled off to hurl. I was right behind her friend til we crossed the finish line, gasping. The last 0.24? Yeah, I did that (almost a quarter mile) at a freaking 7:46 pace. Yes, I did.

Once I caught my breath, I congratulated my 2 rabbits and cheered Riyanti over the finish. We both PR'd. Perfect.

Official finish time: 1:00:21
Garmin time: 1:00:22
Pace: 9:44
Half Split 31:03
414/600 runners and 22/31 in my age group

I couldn't be prouder of how I executed this race. Had I lined up farther ahead (which I would have if I'd decided I was racing before the start) I could've hit it under an hour. Next time...

***

We spent a wonderful Thanksgiving at my sister's with her family, my parents, and John's Dad too. It was a lovely afternoon with all of my family. I have a lot to be thankful for, and I know it.

Hope your Thanksgiving was as good as mine!

This and That

It seems that with the loss of giant looming goals, I've kind of run out of things to say. Weird. It isn't like there's nothing going on around here...

Last week, the crisp Fall air and sunshine were overshadowed by gray and gloom and rain. I didn't manage to run until Friday. When I ran just over 7 miles, where I felt like I could run forever. No walk breaks, AGAIN. Average pace in the 10:30s, and my last mile was the fastest of the day, coming in at 9 something. I think I just might be starting to figure this this out!

On Saturday, I went out for 8 with a new running club member. I started out too fast, and crapped out at the end. But it still felt good - it's been in the 60s! It's crazy. Summer's last push. And with that poorly executed run, I'm learning more about what exactly I need to manage a successful one.

On Sunday, Jenna, my 12yo, wanted to run with me. So we hit the trail on a gorgeous 67 degree afternoon. I started slowish, around a 10:40 pace (my easy cruising pace) and she complained that I was going SO SLOW. I smiled. About a half mile in, she was complaining that her side hurt SO MUCH. Yeah. Take it easy kiddo.

So we walked for a bit, and talked over where she was going wrong. We set out to do some easy 400s, where I made her run super slow. She finished each of those, and we were so close to 2 miles in by the end, SHE wanted to finish it out. So we ran 2 miles (I stopped my watch while we walked) with an overall pace of 11:59. I was really proud of her for letting me push her a little (so not her strong suit - she is her mother's daughter, after all) and for finishing strong.

When we got home, my 6yo wanted to run with me. So we went around the block (0.55 miles) and I cheered her on the whole way. She was whining a ton by the time we finished, but I talked her out of it, and she was so proud of herself. :)

THEN, James, my 4yo wanted in on the action. Now, he has pretty little legs, like I can WALK as fast as he can run. But I was astonished! He ran the whole thing! And when I'd walk (since it was almost easier than running that slow) he would have NONE of it. "RUN, Mommy!" he's admonish me. So freaking cute.

So I ran a 5k with 3 out of my 4 kids this weekend. A highlight, for sure. I love that they want to run with me. I think Jack was actually a bit bummed that he didn't get a turn (he was playing with his friends outside, and cheered for the munchkins as they went by).

When we got all finished, I asked Julia (my 6yo) if she'd like to run a race some day. Her eyes got huge. "Mom! I can't run 26 miles!" she said. I laughed and told her that they had shorter races too. Even ones for just kids. She got all excited about that and ran out of the room to tell her dad...

***

James has been such an up and down kid lately. I think he's reaching a couple turning points. We've had a few successes at the potty (yes, my 4.5yo is still in pull-ups) and he's both excited and terrified by that. He's been doing beautifully in school, most of the time. Amazing progress from last year, really.

But he's still James. Case in point, we went to church yesterday. We've been terrible about making this a priority as a family (mostly BECAUSE of James) but we went. We got half way through Mass, and he pitched a fit because I was SINGING. In CHURCH. He screamed, and I promptly removed him, and when we came back, he pitched a fit because the kneeler was down. Seriously. BUT. This fit was quiet. So he's getting it. Slowly. A lot of that is my fault - once he knows the routine of church better, he will handle it better.

***

I have at least one, maybe 2, Turkey Trots coming up. I'm excited to race a 10k. The first is a trail run (one I did last year) so there will be no racing. But the second one is a road race. I've grown to love the 6ish mile distance, so I'm excited to see if I can execute a race as well as I've executed some of my training runs at that distance. My unofficial 10k PR is 1:01:41. I'd like to come in under an hour. We'll see.

A letter for G

For G,

This weekend you are running a marathon.

I was totally going to write you a pep talk letter. You know, the kinds of letters you've written to so many of us? But then, then you went and wrote yourself one yesterday, so that part is pretty much covered.

So instead, I'd like to go back a couple weeks, when I commented on one of your posts. This one. One of many you've written where I feel like you somehow live inside my head.

In that comment I called you "my running idol." Later, you kind of blushed and brushed it off, but it IS true, and I think maybe I should tell you why.

To be fair, the blogging community has blessed me with MANY running idols. And some of them I've even had the pleasure of running with and some have become SUCH good friends. It's definitely the best thing to come out of all this bloggity goodness, and frankly, the most unexpected.

But back to you...

You are my running idol because you started where I started. A mother, not so sure about this running gig, just seeing where it'd take you. Determined. But not fast. Not yet.

Over the years you've built an enviable support system. You've worked hard and trained hard. You've made running an integral part of who you are. And you have gotten SO STRONG. You show me what is possible.

But what I really love is how you share your love of running with everyone. You reach out, over and over, to virtual friends. You build us up. You support our dreams, and relish in our successes and lament our failures. You offer advice. You pay it BEYOND forward.

You are a great writer. A great friend. A great runner.

This weekend, it's your turn - your race, your way, with your crew all around you.

You are going to CRUSH it.

And while you're killing it, remember that you have all of us there with you too, pulling for you, believing in you.

SAVOR your run!

Versatility

I've been tagged! The fantastic XLMIC, who I recently discovered after the blog world took HTC by storm, tagged me with the Versatile Blogger award! Thanks! (and if you don't read her, go CHECK HER OUT!)

1. I loathe shopping. It does not make me happy. Even when I am shopping for something I REALLY want, it's not fun for me. If I had the cash, I'd gladly spend it on a personal shopper, for real.

2. Some of you may already know this, but after calling myself a runner for more than a year and a half now, I have never in my life run on a treadmill. While I am oddly proud of that fact, I kind of want one. But then again, I kind of don't.

3. I got married in Vegas. And although I did NOT get married in an Elvis chapel (which I will admit a teeny part of me regrets now), my husband still managed to bring Elvis into the day...

They wore those glasses when I walked in with my Dad - I totally cracked up

Please ignore the crayon drawing I scanned for my daughter that you can still see - I am much too lazy to rescan...

4. I have a ridiculous fear of public speaking of any kind. At the same time, I wanted to be a professional singer when I was young. I can sing on stage, no problem. But ask me to speak? Horrible. I read one of the readings at my Grandmother's funeral mass, and still, at 40 years old, I thought I was going to fall over, my legs were shaking THAT hard.

5. Besides my aspirations for a career in the music biz (*snort*) when I was young I wanted to be a doctor. Right up until college, when I was registered "pre-med." I wanted to be a pediatrician. Somewhere near the end of my sophomore year, I realized JUST how much school (and DEBT) that involved. So I bailed, and ended up with a Medical Technology degree (read: lab rat). I'm not sorry, and if I were to go back to med school, I think now I'd probably end up an ME instead of actually working with the living...

6. One of my very earliest memories is camping with my family. I was laying there VERY early in the morning before anyone was awake, watching a spider snake its way down a string of web just above my sleeping bag. I'm still afraid of spiders.

7. After dealing with sickness this week (hence the radio silence) I can honestly say that I'd take 4 sick kids over ONE sick husband. Any day.

I'm supposed to tag people, but I am a lazy procrastinator, so I'm opting out. Play along if you want to, though, and let me know - I LOVE reading these!

One Goal Left

And just like that, it's November!

Since I skipped any mention of my yearly goals last month, a quick recap is in order. The weight is officially off (plus 2 extra pounds. GO ME!), I completed my marathon goal back in June (with a PR of more than 1 hour and 6 minutes), my house is still a mess (sigh), I've done pretty well spending 1 on 1 time with my kids, and I'm working on cross training via a strength class I started at the beginning of October, which I am LOVING by the way. So that leaves one teeny tiny goal left for the year: 1000 miles.

In October, I managed 74.39 miles of running. I am a little disappointed in that, but it is what it is. Truthfully, I kind of needed the break, and while I didn't run a LOT of miles, the miles I DID run were so so GOOD. So. That brings my 2011 total miles to 843.22, which means I need to run 156.78 more in order to reach 1000. 80 miles a month. Easy peasie, right? I hope so...

This past weekend was full to the top with Halloween goodness. Backing up a bit, on Friday, James' teacher called me at home after school, just to tell me how proud she was of him! They had gone through a haunted maze that was set up in the gym, and James had participated and then gone back for more. AND he'd been trying all kinds of new food in their classroom (they've been having pumpkin seeds, pumpkin pie, apple, all kinds of fall treats) and he's tried them all (and even liked some!). For James, this is huge progress, and it makes me so happy.

For Halloween, we had the Mad Hatter, Harry Potter, Kung Fu Panda and a cute little witch. Everyone had a great time, and the weather cooperated JUST long enough to get Trick-or-Treating done before the rain started. James freaked out initially, but after sitting with me and handing out candy and running costume-commentary, he settled down and went back out for a while. I have entirely too much candy in my house, and yesterday, I gave myself full on permission to indulge. But today? NO. No more candy. (I am unable to ration myself. It's sad really, but I do much better when I can't have any than I do when I tell myself I'll have just 1, which inevitably turns in to just 1 MORE.)

Before the Halloween festivities started Sunday, I snuck out for an 8 mile run with some running club people I hadn't seen in forever. It was THE BEST run. I felt strong, I paced perfectly, and I ran 8 miles. With NO walk breaks. Without even feeling like I NEEDED to walk. This is HUGE for me (don't laugh - really!) and in fact is a personal distance record for me for running without walking at all. Which seems crazy, but I've always taken them. Every mile or 2. So I'm not sure if it's the weather, or the strength class, or smarter pacing or just BELIEVING I COULD, but it felt so so good. I averaged a 10:38 pace, and hardly varied from that the whole run. And it felt easy. New goal? A half marathon with no time goals, but no walk breaks.

And one last question for the parents of middle schoolers out there. What is your take on make up? My oldest is 12, and she doesn't wear much, but would really like to. Some of her friends wear full on war paint ("She wears too much make-up. Makes her look like a whore." Movie, anyone?) and I think that it's ridiculous. Still others have parents who say it's just a "little" and I'm thinking, REALLY? Looks way more than a little to me. So. Am I being over-analytical? Should I just stay out of it? Is 12 old enough to let her do what she wants as far as make up is concerned? I need some advice please! :)

Yeah, I'm All Over The Place...

Hmmm. I guess in addition to a training break, I've been taking a blogging break too. Truth be told, I stare at this screen a lot and random post ideas flit through my head often, but when I try and put together something cohesive, I got nuthin'. So let's skip the cohesive, shall we?

1. NOT running in effort to have more time for other stuff is ridiculously counterproductive. I spend all my time wishing I'd run. I feel like a lump so I have no energy for chores. So basically, I've succeeded in shooting myself in the foot. MUST REMEMBER THIS.

2. I had the most amazing run with Kim last Friday. I was thinking about running 10, but I knew she was running long, so I asked to join her. It was a gorgeous day! We checked out a new trail. Starting out, I said I'd do 12, but we were feeling good so we made it an even half mary. I faded a bunch at the end (can you say, OUT OF PRACTICE on the long run?!) but I made it farther and felt better than I ever expected. Win!

3. Saturday night we had a DATE! I went to the Blackhawks game, sat 14 rows off the glass, parked like a rock start, and had an all out fabulous time with friends. It could only have gotten better if the 'Hawks had managed a win, but it was a great night out in any case. AND. Jenna babysat. SCORE!

4. Sunday I had a run set up with my friend Sarah, who just started running at the beginning of this year. She was going for 6 miles (she is working up to a 10k) for the first time. In spite of belly issues (GOD do I know all about THAT!) she finished the distance with her legs and lungs feeling strong. SO PROUD! She told me afterwards that I inspire her. That watching me succeed as a runner gave her the confidence to start, mostly because I'm not the stereotypical teeny tiny runner. She called me "realistically inspirational." I like knowing that watching me has given people I know the confidence in themselves to start doing something that I've grown to love. It's a whole new dynamic to my love affair with the sport. And it's kind of like a circle - it's inspiring to ME to see my friends start from scratch. and motivating to help them accomplish their goals.

5. We are all getting excited for Halloween around here. I have succeeded in getting costumes for everyone, on time even, and they are all excited about it. I'm sure you'll be seeing pictures coming up soon - we trick-or-treat on Sunday here, which was weird for me when I first moved into the neighborhood. Do you trick-or-treat on Halloween? Or on a different community designated day?

Running For Fun

This morning I ran 6 of the best miles in forever. I felt AMAZING. Last week I ran 5.5 gorgeous miles on the trail Wednesday. It was a stunning mid-October day and I wore a tank and was almost hot but not quite. And between those 2 runs?

NOTHING.

And I'm so not stressed about it, and I can't tell you how much I'm LOVING that feeling. If I go out and feel like shit, I can bail after 3 miles and who cares!? If I feel spectacular, I can run as long as I want and as fast as I want. Today, my average pace was 9:55 minute miles! THAT IS WAY FAST FOR ME.

So instead of running, I've been giving back to my family. They sacrifice for my training more than they should, even if they don't see it as such. It was nice to hang with them all weekend, and not worry about when I was going to get a long run in.

So I guess you could say I like this laid back approach.

BUT! Unlike last year, I still have a goal to meet. Which means I can't just stop running regularly. Last October I logged 53 miles. Only 11.64 were post 10/10/10 (Chicago marathon). I ran 23 in November and 10(!!!) in December. This year, so far, I've run 810 miles. Which means I still need to run close to 20 miles a week to break 1000 for 2011. I AM going to do that. But it's going to be more fun and less work. :)

I have been enjoying dinner (and WINE!) with friends, without worrying about being out too late or eating the wrong thing.

There's been a way lot of volleyball happening. Unfortunately, their season ended with a disappointing showing at the conference tournament, but I'm super proud of how they progressed this year.

I got to go with James on a school field trip (yay for youngest kid - I could never do this before!) to the Chicago Botanic Gardens last Friday. It was a beautiful day and we had a lot of fun.

And yesterday we finally made it to Fright Fest at 6 Flags - we had a great day, and came home to venison chili in the crock pot. We watched a fantastic Bears game. It was perfect.

And finally, 2 decent pictures from TCM. The first is significant, since it is my VERY FIRST official race photo with air. I tend to look like I'm walking. The second is just past their giant inflatable "you're running through the wall." Mile 22 I think? I'm smiling!

Three Things Thursday

1. I've been quietly trying to catch up on everything that got left behind for marathon training. There's a lot. It's going to probably take me until the next training cycle starts to complete it. Ack.

2. Sick kids make everything suck.

3. Because I love you all (and because I am so boring), I leave you with this goodness. She is much funnier than I will ever dream of being. So stop drinking / eating (don't say I didn't warn you!) and enjoy, courtesy of the Bloggess.

Glutton For Punishment

I just registered for Grandma's 2012.

There's something wrong with me. Truly.

And there's a pretty outstanding chance that I'll be running a Fall race with my sister.

So.

2012 looks to be another 2-marathon year.

Bring. It. On.

Twin Cities Marathon: Race Report

I feel like I've said so much about it already, that this is going to be rather anti-climactic, but here it is, in all it's glory...

Friday FINALLY got here, and I was packed up and ready to go. As soon as I got the kids off to school, I headed towards Minnesota. I know I've said it before, but there is something about crossing that state line that always makes me smile. Minnesota makes me HAPPY. I miss it.

On the way, I was talking with my Mom and realized that the Expo was on the way to her apartment, so I stopped and picked up my bib just to get that out of the way. I shopped a little bit, and drooled a little bit, but the budget was not allowing for much buying, so I didn't stay long. Which ended up being a good thing, as it took me over an hour to get to the restaurant where I was meeting my parents for dinner - I HATE being stuck in traffic. So annoying.

An early dinner, a walk by the lake near my Mom's place, and I was hashed. I was falling asleep on the couch and my Mom sent me to bed. I think I slept for 10 hours straight - I really needed it. (Julia has been sick, so I've been listening to coughing all night for about a week now.)

The next day was kind of a blur. Shopping, lunch with my parents' friends, and back to the expo to meet Carly! We chatted for a while and I met her friend Kelli (they both grew up in my hometown and ran high school track with my sister - small world!) and I left them on their mission to find just the right race shirt. I did a little more shopping at the expo, and bought a new SPI wrist band with a pocket, since I hate belts of any kind SO much. Then back home to chill.

I went to bed early, but didn't really sleep well. Not too surprising. My stomach had been talking to me for since arriving in MN...it doesn't really travel well. I was still hopeful that I could work it out in the morning and have a good race.

But, as you know, that wasn't how that played out at all.

SO. Race morning! It didn't start until 8am, so I got up early, but not obscenely so. My Dad dropped me at the metrodome for the start, where we could wait inside and use real bathrooms. It was CRAZY inside, but really nice to be out of the morning chill. As cool as it was at the start, I was a little nervous about how warm it would end up.

With just 20 minutes to go, I headed outside to sunscreen up (I ended up sharing with a couple people) and check my stuff. I found my corral and waited. I'd been texting with Sara, but it wasn't until just before go time that I realized we were in different corrals (which is why I was unable to find her). It was crowded and exciting!

that's the metrodome on the right...

For as many runners (there were 8500+ finishers) it was REALLY well organized from start to finish. I crossed the start just 11 minutes after the gun went off, and was on my way.

The first mile, the thing I remember most was that my skirt was giving me fits. It kept falling down! I have worn this skirt on a gajillion long runs and never had this issue. I know my weight is down a little, but I didn't think it was enough to make a difference. But it was disconcerting to be messing with it for the entire first mile.

Luckily, that was short lived, and I was able to just settle into a pace that felt comfortable. My goal was to stick to as close to 11 minute miles as I could, for as long as I could. I felt AMAZING. It was gorgeous out, the energy of the race was so high, and the spectators! They rocked!

I had my walkman around my neck, but I never even put it in until mile 7. And then I took it off again, since I couldn't hear it anyway. There were very few quiet spots on this course - people lined the ENTIRE thing, whole families and neighborhoods cheering. It was outstanding!

The course starts in Minneapolis, weaves around several lakes and through gorgeous neighborhoods, runs all along the Mississippi river and into St. Paul, and then down Summit Avenue which is lined with incredible historic mansions, and ends smack in front of the State Capital building. It is BY FAR the most beautiful course I've ever run. There were no crappy industrial areas or boring spots to get through. From start to finish, it was gorgeous.

The first miles ticked off easily. I felt great. My splits were right on point. (garmin stats here.) I was chatting with other runners. I was smiling at everyone. It was perfect. Spectators, as I said, were outstanding. But the best part was seeing the same families and signs over and over again throughout the race. To the point of me actually saying to them, "Hey! I saw you just a little while ago!" It was a great race for seeing your loved ones on the course many times. Some of them I saw as many as 5 or 6 SEPARATE times. (And they didn't even belong to me! They really know how to work it!)

Even the hills! (And there ARE some hills on this course.) I ran steadily up them. I was only walking the water stops. The plan was running beautifully.

And then? Mile 12 happened. And my stomach made itself known. I had been running for a couple miles with Jess, a first time marathoner, but I sent her on her way to wait in line at the damn port-a-potty. I spent 5 or 6 minutes there, and when I finally got a turn, some RUDE guy outside was screaming like a 2 year old for us to HURRY UP IN THERE!! Really?! You think I LIKE wasting precious minutes in the damn toilet? I got the hell out, and he RAN ME OVER on the way in. He kicked my ankle out and I nearly fell. Nice. I was pissed.

And just like that, it all fell apart. I couldn't settle back into a pace. My mental game was struggling. I was upset and nearly in tears. I couldn't find a rhythm. I texted my husband that I was struggling.
He was so encouraging.

But I never got it back. I tried, and for several miles it was back and forth...I'd think I had it, and then it was gone again. Just past mile 17, I ran into my aunt and uncle on the course! That was a really nice boost right then, and I thought I could get it back. I had already been passed by the 5 hour pace group, but I wasn't so far off yet.

And then? Damn stomach again.

It was then that I realized I was hot, and a PR was out of my cards for the day. I was in it to enjoy it. I walked when I wanted to. I talked to everyone. I really had an amazing time soaking in the course, and I am glad I didn't try to kill myself when it was no longer necessary. For a while, I felt like I'd given up on myself, but after a few days to process it all, I realize I simply adjusted my goals with what the day had brought me.

And I KNOW I did the right thing.

At mile 19, I saw my parents. My Mom had been worried, since I was so far off of my projected time, but I just shrugged. I was fine. It just wasn't my day.

coming up to the Franklin St. bridge at mile 19

getting some love from my Mom

After that, I just kept with "constant forward motion." I was hot (I realize that some people thought this was a PERFECT running day, but I like it much colder. I suppose if I could run MUCH faster, it wouldn't be such an issue...) but I was having fun. I smiled. I chatted. I high-fived. I ran some. I walked some. And before long, the finish was in sight.

This is THE BEST FINISH LINE EVER. It's on a nice downhill, the Capital in full view, and they announce your name as you cross (which I loved - it was the first time I'd ever experienced that). My family back home got to hear the announcer say my name and watch me cross live. That was also pretty cool.

looking AWAY from the finish up the hill - first we ran under the flag...

Finishing this one felt great! The finishers area was really well organized, and after getting my medal, shirt (you have to FINISH to get the shirt) and picking up my stuff, I met my family again.

I am a giant dork :)

The rest of the day was spent ice-bathing and showering, and then chilling. After a bit, Carly made it back from urgent care, and I headed to her place to hang out and rehash the day and trade Duluth stories. It was the perfect end to a great day.

With so many superlatives used to describe everything about this race, there's no way I can say I had anything other than a fabulous time. Sub-5 hours is still waiting for me, and I'll still chase it, but that doesn't diminish my accomplishment in any way. I reminded myself often that day - I am BLESSED to GET to do this. I am LUCKY. I trained with wonderful people. I GOT TO RUN.

Now on to what's next....

Lessons

(Race report is still coming - I'm waiting on pictures before I put it all together, so AHEM! Daddy! Email me!)

For the record, I'm really not as crabby as I sounded in yesterday's post. I just never had a chance to get upset about it until I walked in the door yesterday afternoon, and John hugged me. It honestly caught me off guard, feeling upset like that. I shed a couple tears. I wrote a pouty post.

But I don't want any of that to diminish the fantastic weekend I had.

Erin (go read her OUTSTANDING race report!) commented yesterday, "You know what our running club coach says to us after we run a race we're not happy with? "You have one hour to be upset. Then you tell me what you learned from this race."

Perfect. Here are some take away lessons from the weekend:

• Heat sucks the life out of me. 78 degrees at the finish. Adjusting goals because of weather is something I just need to accept and deal with gracefully.
• It is possible to be having the day of my life one minute and not be able to get up to speed a mere 10 minutes later. It happens.
• It's possible to watch your dream goal fall into the port-a-potty abyss and STILL have a fabulous time.
• High (and low) fiving little kids makes every race better.
• God bless spectators with outstanding signs. I guffawed loudly several time Sunday.
• I LOVE chatting with first time marathoners. They inspire me so much!
• This was my first "race with expectations." Just because I expect it to go a certain way, doesn't mean it will. 26.2 is a long freaking way. Anything can happen.
• Meeting awesome bloggers rules. (YAY for internet dating!!)
• Cake makes everything better.
• Text messaging awesome bloggers also rules. Even if we couldn't get our shit together AGAIN enough to meet.
• Never underestimate the boost gotten from seeing family. Especially unexpected family!
• Running a well-supported course with music is stupid (for me). Leave it home next time.

The Twin Cities Marathon was by far the most beautiful course I've ever run. I am blessed to have been able to run. I finished. It was (and is) all good!

Processing

5:31:32

A pretty far cry off from where I'd hoped to be.

While the easy answer is, "You finished! Be proud!" the reality that is my brain right now is having a much tougher time wrapping my head around Sunday.

There's a lot of disappointment there.

But don't worry - I really did have a great day, and SO much fun, but that's because I adjusted my goal mid-race to "have an AMAZING time, no matter what the pace is." It worked for me that day.

I'll be back with a real race report in the next couple days, and I hope to get caught up on everyone.

I'm way proud of so many of you! SO many PR's this weekend.

Which may or may not make my less than stellar showing sting just a LITTLE bit more...

Three Things Thursday: The Calm Before The FUN

1. I've settled into an excited calm. No stress. No panic. Just a bubbly giddiness over what's to come. I'm not sure I've looked forward to a marathon more than this one. Maybe it's all the amazing supportive emails and comment I've gotten this week. Maybe it's re-reading G's amazing letter to me (from the week before Grandma's) over and over again. Maybe it's all the TCM race reports I've been gorging on. Whatever it is, it's working.

I am SO FREAKING READY.

2. Today will be spent packing and double checking and getting everything ready around the house so John doesn't have to stress TOO much while I'm gone. I'll be out the door hopefully before everyone gets up tomorrow, just to make things simpler on everyone. And to get me to the cities as early as possible. I get a 6 hour drive to settle into my head. I'm actually looking forward to that...

3. If runner stalking is your thing, you can go here for the TCM website. Or here for the runner tracker website. Not sure if you need my full name (Bobbi Welch) or just my race number - F7789. (And Jamoosh, the F stands for Female - I guess they want all the guys on the course to be SURE they're getting chicked).

I'm not sure what kind of internet access I'm going to have, so I'll see you all on the flip side!!

Scatterbrained

My head is all over the place this week. I guess that's to be expected, but I can usually focus a bit better, so it can be disconcerting. And overwhelming.

Upon announcing the winner of my giveaway, I immediately had one less follower. Not that I give a crap about who follows me, but it made me giggle. Do you do that? Follow for the contest and then unfollow? I never have - it's never occurred to me...

The weather just keeps looking better and better for Sunday. I hate to say it out loud, because we KNOW how much it can change, but it's gone down almost 10 degrees. *sigh of relief* PLEASE anything but hot...

I have been doing a ton of visualization. I love finding videos of the course and imagining myself on it. It really helped me mentally at Grandma's, and I'm hoping it does at TCM also. Do you visualize yourself on the race course prior to running it? Does it help you?

Lots of little goals are niggling at my periphery. Goals I'm going to try to attempt, but not entirely sure I'm capable of. Here's the one that scares me the most. BECAUSE it scares me the most, I'm putting it out here: I WILL ONLY WALK WATER STOPS. Can I do this? Yes. Will I convince myself I can in the moment? Not as sure. But I'm putting it out there so you all can help me stick with it.

I got a really really good 8 miles in this morning between storms. It was really windy, but I stayed dry, and I felt SUPREMELY strong. So good. I really needed that one...

HOLY CRAP IT'S 6 DAYS AWAY!.

Sorry.

I am doing my absolute best to avoid any and all germs currently circulating my house. I really hate school for that. So. Much. Coughing. And the snot. Ugh.

Are you running TCM too? Please, let's try to organize a meet up. Leave me a comment or email me if you are interested. I'm going to be in the Cities from Friday mid-day through Monday. I'm WIDE OPEN as far as time, place, whatever.

I'm sure I'll be spewing randomness at you all again soon :)

TCM Training Week 14 (And A WINNER!)

This has been a strange training week for me, but I'm in full on taper mode (complete with crazy mood swings) so I guess I can't care too much.

Monday: Rest

Tuesday: 6 miles (ave. pace - 10:41)

Wednesday: 5.12 miles (ave. pace - 11:19) I ran with Sarah - this was a new distance PR for her!

Thursday: 4.29 miles (ave. pace - 11:19) I ran this evening with Sarah again, nice and easy.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday: Rest. Boo. I planned on getting my 8 mile long run done on Sunday, but I was thwarted by thunder and lightning. Later we had friends over to watch football, so it'll have to wait until tomorrow.

Week Total Miles: 15.41

I'm getting excited. And calming down at the same time. The weather forecast is looking better at this point, but I'm really at peace with however this goes down. I just want to soak it all in and enjoy every second. THAT'S my main goal...

On to the WINNER! As chosen by random.org, the winner of the YMX Tribal Sea Run Tee is Ms. Caboo!! Please email your shipping info to bandthejs at yahoo dot com, and we'll get your shirt to you!

Last Call

Just a quick reminder - today is your last chance to get in on my giveaway. Go HERE for a chance at a really cool shirt from a really cool company!

Winner will be announced tomorrow - happy Saturday everyone!

Antsy

Ok, I'm at that point in my taper where I'm anxious. Don't get me wrong, I love me some taper, and the running part is going really well, but the rest of it? *sigh*

Every time I log on to accuweather I swear the predicted high for 10/2 goes up a degree. Last week, it looked like a stunning high of 60. Right now? It's up to 77. This freaks my shit RIGHT OUT, even IF my hubs keeps reminding me that IT IS A GUESS, and they CAN'T POSSIBLY know yet. I know this in my head, but well, ACCCKKKK!

I'm wrapping my head around logistics while dealing with the pissed off 12 year old who can't understand why she DOESN'T GET TO GO.

I'm addicted to past race reports. It's seriously bad. I've read them all 16 times. No one freaks out TOO much over the hill at the end, so I'm choosing not to also.

11 DAYS!!!!

I'm struggling with goals for this race. The obvious choice is to come in under 5 hours, but if it's REALLY close to 80 degrees on race day? Yeah, that'll be amended. The only good thing about dealing with heat is that it'd make choosing the appropriate race outfit SUPER easy.

Geez. I'm even getting sick of me...off to daydream about the perfect race (while sanding and staining basement doors). Later...

An Unlikey Love Story. Happiest Ending Ever. (subtitled - damn I'm lucky!)

(a celebratory post, marking my 13th wedding anniversary - I have always wanted to write up a "how we met" post, but never actually gotten around to doing it...)

A little more than 14 years ago, I was still unsure as to where, exactly, life was going to take me.

Just a few years prior to that, I had gone through a pretty ugly (although uncomplicated - the ugly was entirely due to hurt feelings and bruised egos) divorce. Being the giant chicken that I was at the time, instead of facing my friends and family, most of whom did NOT understand my reasons for leaving, I ran. I ran to Illinois, where I'd done my last year of school, and where I'd remembered who I was again. It made sense to me to start fresh here. It was far enough away, but still close enough to Minnesota.

After settling in and finding a job, I picked out my "rebound guy." We dated, but it was a strange relationship. We never really gelled. He liked to push my buttons. We fought an insane amount. It grew old after a time, but neither of us was willing to call a spade a spade and move on to something better.

It was September of 1997. I got drug out with the rebound guy to a local Fall festival. We were working the beer tent with his sister and brother in law. I positioned myself at the tap next to his sister (which HAPPENED to be as far from rebound guy as possible) and started pouring hard cider and laughing and joking with people. It was a lot of fun.

Before long, 2 crazy (and obviously intoxicated) guys began running up to my line, cups in each hand. They were smiley and silly, one would ask me a question, and the other would declare that, "enough!" and drag him back away. Then they'd reappear again, louder than before. It was only a little obnoxious - more funny and flattering. He asked my name. Later he asked for my number. I politely declined, pointing out my "boyfriend." RG's sister was laughing too.

When my shift was up and we were cleaning up, he found me again and handed me his business card, saying, "You won't give me YOUR number, but I can give you mine." I took it, laughing and shaking my head. He was cute. And funny. I stuck his card in my pocket.

The next day, RG was heading to a wedding with a friend. A girl. Not me. I knew where this was going. I headed to the Bears vs. Vikings game with friends (who were bound and determined to find me a NEW guy). They were obnoxious while we tailgated, but it was hilarious. The game was a great time - it was a noon game, so I got back to my apartment rather early. I was still steamed at RG's whole "wedding with a friend" thing (seriously, who does that?) and fueled by the beers of the day, I drunk-dialed John. I left some rambling ridiculous message on his answering machine, but not my number. (I am WAY smart, yo.)

Monday after work, I was frankly embarrassed. I couldn't remember exactly what I'd said on John's machine. So I used that as an excuse to call him to apologize. We talked for a long time. We totally clicked.

A couple days later, I called it off with RG. He was not happy. In retrospect, I'm not sure why he put up such a fuss, since he ended up marrying wedding chick (who is way cool, and a much better fit for him than I ever was) but whatever. I had my first official date with John (yes there may have been unofficial dates first. we don't need to go there. this is a PG blog and I already established that I was LESS than smart).

I called my mom and told her I was going to marry him.

I heard her rolling her eyes at me through the phone.

The following May, we went out to dinner. During dinner, he stuck a jewelry box on the table and pushed it towards me. We were flat out broke, and I was confused. I kept asking him, "What's that??"

He kept telling me to open it.

When I did, I found the most perfectly beautiful ring I'd ever seen. That I'd had absolutely nothing to do with just made it even more special. I still consider it the best present I ever received. He asked me to marry him, and of course I said yes. Dinner was on the house, along with a bottle of bubbly. Best day ever.

It was John's first marriage, so I let him choose the logistics. We got married in Vegas and used the money we'd saved on a huge wedding to buy a new to us house. We closed in June, lived in sin for a few months, and got married in September. Somehow we found the money to swing a package deal and honeymooned in Maui. Which, for the record, is still the most beautiful place I've ever been. I can't wait to go back some day.

Throughout everything in our lives, he remains my rock. He is my best friend. My partner in crime. The one person I can ALWAYS count on. He supports every hair brained scheme I can come up with. He is my biggest fan. He is an amazing father, and has never once looked at any houshold chore as "not a man's job."

We are a team.

I am blessed to have him in my life. I am blessed that he ran up to my beer line that day (an aside, I am STILL "beer chick" in our football pool). I can't imagine anyone better by my side.

So. Lucky.

TCM Training Week 13

This was a great week of running for me! That said, why the hell is it that I wait 3 days before I start running?? I run 4 days a week. I know this. When I start on Thursday, that means 4 days in a row (which I normally don't like to do). Dumbass. Moving on...

Monday - Wednesday: REST. Not on purpose really, but Tuesday, my procrastinating nature got the best of me, and I was thinking, no problem. I'll run on Wednesday! Then my friend who's husband was recently diagnosed with cancer calls and says she wants to hang out. What can I say? Cancer trumps pretty much everything.

Thursday: 6.01 of the best miles in recent memory. (ave. pace - 10:07) Negative splits. Last 2 miles sub 10. Awesome.

Friday: 11.6 miles (ave. pace - 10:58) I wanted to get my long run out of the way, since the weekend was going to be crazy. I had 12 on the schedule, and met Kim and another running club member out for some morning miles. I only got 9.5 done before I had to get back home to meet James' school bus. Before the bus came, I managed to squeak in 2.1 more mile. I called 11.6 close enough!

Saturday: 5.5 twilight miles (ave. pace - 10:29) A gorgeous evening run...I had to wait until Jenna was back from an all day volleyball tournament, but it was worth the wait.

Sunday: 4.01 easy miles with friends (ave. pace - 11:29) I ran with my friend Sarah and her daughter in the misty rain. Perfect.

Week Total Miles: 27.12

Three Things Thursday: Complete 180

(pssst! GIVEAWAY!!)

1. I whined a ton during July and August about being burnt out. About feeling stuck in a rut. About losing my running mojo. Well, something happened in the last week, because it's BACK! Maybe it's the weather? Or a successful 22 mile day? Or TAPER? Or the weather?!?

I love running again! It's so nice to not dread running and training. It's so nice to be on the cusp of finishing out a training year that began in FEBRUARY. It's so nice to run HAPPY. I had the most incredible feeling 6 mile run this morning ending in 2 sub-10 minute miles. PERFECTION.

2. Speaking of loving running and a successful 22 mile day, check out this finish-line photo:

nothing like crossing the line with your daughter AND your friend to make you happy!

3. Truly, I was kind of dreading TCM before. Now? I am so STOKED for that race. I've been stocking up on old race reports, photos, videos from last year, all of it. I CANNOT wait to run this gorgeous course. Even if it DOES sport a 2 mile long 250 foot hill starting at mile 21. I am going to OWN that freaking hill! Right?!? Right!

Almost Wordless Wednesday!

I just got the mail! My bib number is F7789 (love) and I'm REALLY starting to get excited !

(If you missed it, hit up my giveaway!)

GIVEAWAY!! YMX Tribal Sea Run Tee Review and Giveaway

A while back, YMX contacted me about hosting a review of their Tribal Sea Run Tee. I was super excited, because their designs are SO cool. So I meant to get this moving a while ago, but honestly, it's only been cool enough for me to want to sport sleeves recently. Last week, I was finally able to take it out for a spin around the neighborhood. I LOVED it! (AND I got compliments from my kids. WIN!)

From their website:

ABOUT YMX

YMX (acronym for YellowMan Expression) was launched in 2009 as an extension of the original, high-end tattoo clothing brand, YellowMan (founded in 2004). Built on an extensive library of original tattoo artwork collected around the globe, YellowMan offers collectible, limited wearable art prints. YMX was created to offer an alternative to YellowMan in a broader, commercial market, while still preserving the authenticity of its origins.

YMX offers multifunctional garments that bridge the gap between athletic and fashion garments. Featuring high-comfort, lightweight MadKool fabrics and detailed, original prints, YMX garments can be worn for athletic use, or for casual wear. As a matter of fact, because of the moisture-wicking properties of the fabric, many people wear YMX in both active and leisure activities without having to change!

Their designs are so so cool. Seriously, poke around their website - their stuff is more like artwork. And their MadKool fabric? Is SO nice to wear. Soft and silky and lightweight and breathable. It feels great on your skin and wicks like you wish all your running stuff would wick. It also has a pocket that sits at your lower back, perfect for gu, tissue, chapstick, whatever.

About MadKool® technical fabrics:

MadKool® technical fabrics enhance the athletic performance of the people who wear it. MadKool® efficiently moves sweat away from the body to the outer layer of the fabric, where it dries faster than with other fabrics.

In addition, MadKool® fabrics regulate your natural body temperature so you will stay warm in cool weather activities, and cool when your heart is pumping

Some MadKool® fabrics, such as those used in YMX cycling jerseys, offer UV protection so you can wear them on your next outdoor excursion without having to worry about exposure to the sun's harmful rays.

MadKool® fabrics have a lot of stretch, hold their shape and are abrasion resistant. Although they feel delicate, they aren't. Wear YMX garments hard, they can handle it just fine.

As an added bonus, MadKool® fabrics are engineered to receive prints with vivid clarity and permanance, so you don't have to worry about wearing your garment hard.

Once you experience the comfort and performance of MadKool® fabrics you will never want to take it off.

Truly, I think this is my new favorite shirt. And they sent me a super cool pair of arm sleeves made out of the same material. I can't wait till it's cool enough out to try those out too!

no making fun of the messy bathroom!

 Want to win one for yourself?? Become a follower! (MANDATORY) Leave me a comment. For extra entries, please leave me a comment for each:

1. Lie YMX on facebook. Leave me a comment.
2. Share this giveaway on your blog, facebook, twitter. Comment for each.
3. Visit the YMX by Yellowman website. Tell me what you love!

The contest will run through midnight on September 24. I will announce the winner the following day.

Disclaimer: YMX provided the shirt at no cost to me, but the opinions are all my own.