Running...

I'm behind in my personal training schedule for the upcoming marathon season...  I've got 4 marathons, including a back-to-back over New Years, & 3 half-marathons...  Marathon #1 is 10/28...  I should be at 22 miles per week and I'm squeaking by at 12... Eke...

Tuesday I went out for what was supposed to be a 5 mile run but I left the house later than I wanted to and had it in my head that I would run at an EZ pace... but once I got through the first mile, it hit me...  It's HOT outside!

And... YES... I know it's going to get HOTTER!  At the 2 mile mark, I decided to head back home... I wasn't carrying any water, and I really wasn't paying attention to my pace... Honestly I wasn't prepared.

Yesterday I hit the road again and had a much better time...  Got out early... Had my music with me... The pace alert was set on my garmin so I wouldn't speed up (so easy to do, especially if you're having a good time)... Had my waterbelt on...  I was prepared to have a purposeful run of 5 miles at a 12 min/mil EZ pace.

And... I had a good run... I was hot but didn't run out of water... My run had purpose and a plan... I finished 5 miles at an EZ pace... It was good.

1 Corinthians 9:24-26, NIV
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air."

Training is good... My heart and my legs become more efficient and learn to endure the distance... 

Training with my Father is good... A training plan purposely filled with praying, reading my bible, worshiping, & fellowship... My heart and my soul become more efficient and learn to endure the distance and guarantees me that I will win a crown that will last forever!

Now THAT'S good!

Singing the Phonebook...

The American Idol Finale was last night and I am thrilled about the results...

If you haven't watched the Finale and have managed to stay away from any news of the results, don't worry, I'm not going to ruin it for you...

Instead, I only want to make sure you watch this!  It was so funny!  The hubster & I were crazy laughing!



How fun was that?!!!

Hodgepodging with Joyce...

Linking up with Joyce today...
(http://joyce-fromthissideofthepond.blogspot.com/)

1. What's something you miss about the 1980's?

If you're too young to miss the 80's how about the 90's?

PRINCE, BIG HAIR & BIG EARRINGS

2. Do you have a library card? If so, how often do you visit?

I REDISCOVERED MY LIBRARY CARD ONLY TWO WEEKS AGO.

I CHECKED OUT A DIGITAL COPY OF THIS BOOK. 

SO FAR, SO GOOD :)

3. What's the secret to success?

BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF.

ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR

YOUR FEELINGS, YOUR CHOICES, & YOUR OUTCOMES.

4. This is National Backyard Games week...what's your favorite backyard game?

AS A KID, CAMPING OUT & CATCHING FIREFLIES.

AS AN ADULT, SITTING ON A PATIO WITH GOOD COMPANY.

5. If I dropped by today what would I find on your coffee table?

MAGAZINES, REMOTES, & CUPS

THAT HAVEN'T MADE IT TO THE KITCHEN SINK.

6. Do you own a bicycle?

When was the last time you rode a bicycle? Is that something you enjoy?

YES I HAVE ONE.  IT HAS THE "DR PEPPER" LOGO ALL OVER IT.

WE WENT ON A RIDE IN THE PARK EASTER WEEKEND.  I ENJOY BIKE RIDING, BUT I TEND TO GET NERVOUS WHEN RIDING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH MY SON.  CARS DRIVE TOO FAST AND TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE DISTRACTED WHEN THEY'RE DRIVING.

7. What's your favorite cheese?

MUENSTER, AMERICAN, CHEDDAR & PROVOLONE.

OH, AND PEPPERJACK.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

MADE CHICKEN FOR DINNER LAST NIGHT.

GRILLED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH

ITALIAN SEASONING, BLACK PEPPER, SEA SALT & GARLIC.

FUSILLI PASTA IN A GARLIC BUTTER SAUCE

WITH ITALIAN SEASONINGS.

BROCCOLI NORMANDY MIX

WITH BUTTER, GARLIC & SALT.

**

HUBSTER ATE ALL THE PASTA

AND LEFT NONE FOR HIS LUNCH TODAY.

Birthday #8

It seems like only yesterday this little guy came into our life.

Instead - Yesterday - we celebrated this little guy's birthday #8...

This is what an 8 year old looks like... 

8 year olds have fangy teeth and they are always

making creepy faces...

Since we are having his party over the Memorial Day weekend...

We had a simple day celebrating...

We had cupcakes...

Big sister V & I took them to his class and the kids

sang "Happy Birthday"...

My son is a hoot...
I'm not quite sure who he takes after...


I asked him what he wanted for dinner...
His answer...
Egg tacos w/ketchup...

Like I said...

8 year olds make creepy faces...

We then went to basketball practice...

(sorry no picture)

Came home and ate strawberry shortcake for dessert...

I then asked him what are 8 things you have learned in your 8 years of life...

This is what he said...

"I learned how to walk."

"I learned how to stand."

"I learned how to put on a t-shirt."

"I learned how to go to the bathroom by myself."

"I learned how to take a shower by myself."

"There's nobody that can scare Dad."

"There's nobody that can tickle Dad."

"I know where my class is at school."

Awwe :)

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!

White Rock & COLD Marathon 2011

I KNOW THIS IS SUPER LATE!

It's been sitting in my DRAFTS folder since the beginning of January... eke!

*****

Got to Dallas on Saturday afternoon and went straight to the Expo to pick up our race packets.

Me, Diane, Connie & Karen

This is marathon #2 for our Texas marathon series and officially marathon #1 for the Marathons of Texas Medal.

We checked into the new Omni hotel downtown - it had only been open 2 weeks.  The rooms were really nice - the carpet was new - the decor was very chic.  What really "wow-ed" us was the bathroom mirror...

A.TV.IN.THE.MIRROR!!!

C-O-O-L!!!

One thing that REALLY stressed us out all weekend, was the weather.  We start watching the weather forecast as soon as it shows up on all the weather apps - which is usually about 10 days out.  All forecasts showed rain & low temps.  For us Real Texans - cold is almost anything under 55.  add rain and/or wind and that's a freeze.  I'm just sayin' ...

The race started at 8 am and this is what we were looking at...

We got to the starting line and we were HAPPY and RELIEVED because 1) the race organizers were handing out rain ponchos and 2) it was cold but it wasn't raining.  We were hopeful for 'perfect' running weather.  MAYBE the rain would only be a drizzle.

Then Roger from my Saturday running group posted a "Go Coach Go" message & this pic to my Facebook page. 

WHAT THE...?

Within 1 mile of the starting line, the rain came down and it didn't quit...

"We been through every kind of rain there is.  Little bitty stingin' rain... and big ol' fat rain.  Rain that flew in sideways.  And sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath."  ...Forrest Gump  (I love that movie-lol)

Connie & I paced the whole marathon together.  She was coming off an injury and I just wanted to finish strong.  I did not want to peeter out like I did 3 weeks ago at the 2011 San Antonio Rock 'n Roll marathon.  We kept to our nutrition and hydration plans.  When you're running in cold and rainy weather it can be a challenge to make yourself take in fluids so we held each other accountable.  We completed the marathon using a 5:1 minute intervals.  (Run 5 min: recover 1 min)  I've used this plan for the each of my marathons and it has worked well and, for the most part, been good to me.

The "wall" of this race was getting around the lake.  The rain came down hard and the wind was blowing across the surface of the lake so it was cold!  I believe the total route around the lake was almost 10 miles.  At about the halfway point around the lake, I was done with the lake.  No doubt that the scenery and the homes were beautiful but I was wet and I was cold and I was looking for the 19 mile marker so we could get to the finish line.  (I wonder how many times I can use the word "cold" in this post?)

When we trekked thru miles 19-23, we ran thru the Highland Park(?)

The houses were BEAUTIFUL and I'm convinced that the residents of this fine-china-residency made it a point to have their home fully decorated in their full holiday glory in time for race day!

I was very impressed!  I even forgot about being cold - for about a minute.

The rain did finally let up and was down to a drizzle and we caught a break at mile 22.  It remained cloudy & overcasted until we got to the last 1/2 mile - then it rained/drizzled again.  Connie & I revved up our pace when we saw the finish line... RATHER we thought it was the finish line and it was really the start line so then we choked back an "oh crap" and proceeded to hang a right turn and run another 100 yards to the real finish line. 

FINISH TIME

4:50:41

This was a hard race due to rain and cold weather but it was my personal-record-race for fastest finish time.

In fact we all PR'd that day!

Can you tell we were cold?

2 down - 2 to go

for 4 mothers in 4 months!