Playing Catch Up

Just because he's so cute!!! :)

What a crazy, busy week this has been! I can't believe it's Friday already. It's that time of year when recruiters are very busy! Job fairs, summer internships, upcoming graduates looking for work, plus all of our openings...it's crazy but I love it! I attended my first job fair of the season this Wednesday which means on my feet from 11:00 to 6:15 talking about my favorite company: ScanSource! I love my job.

This weekend I am doing something super fun and exciting but it's also a surprise, so I can't say anything yet!! Jake is down for his nap, the house is cleaned, and I have spent some time catching up on my favorite blogs!! I'm still not done, though...I'm addicted to so many of them I can't miss a post! :)

Sunday: between church, football (Go Pack!!), and my couch I didn't end up working out.

Monday: I wanted to start my week off right, so I got up to work out on Monday morning and then met my Dad that evening for a run. We had a great run! He hadn't run more than 3 miles since he's started running again, so he wanted to shoot for 4 at a slightly slower pace than he typically runs. I am still working on getting faster, so it was a tempo run for me. Since he averages 8.5 minute miles and I average 9.5 minute miles, we agreed to run 9 minute miles. I ran a mile at my normal pace and then we did 4 miles together. It was the perfect day to run - sunny and a little chilly but just perfect! I love spending time with my Dad and he loves to talk just as much as I do so I was happy to listen to him while I ran. :)

Tuesday: after work my wonderful husband made dinner so I could get in a workout.

Wednesday: I went to the gym in the morning to do some speedwork on the treadmill. I wondered if I should do that or not since I would spend the day on my feet at a job fair, but I didn't want to miss it so I went for it!

Thursday: I was exhausted from being up on my feet all day Wednesday, and I knew it would be a long day at work. I didn't have the energy to get up in the morning and by the time I got home and made dinner, I was ready to sit down.

Friday: I did another early morning workout and then I'm running with my Dad after he gets off work. Besides my early workout, I spent the day cleaning the house, working some and entertaining my teething baby boy. Poor guy. Teeth pain is the worst! I see them poking through and I'm just praying they get out here FAST!

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend! One more picture before I go. Jake loves apples and he just started eating one on his own. It's great - it takes him like an hour to eat it. :) He thinks he's pretty cool too! I love this boy!!!

Greenville News Run Downtown - 5k - A Family Affair!

As I have mentioned several times, one of my goals this year is to PR in a 5k, 10k, and half marathon. So today I set out for my first PR of 2011. Last year I ran this race in 29:33, and that is my 5k PR up until today. Dad was running with me too, so we were very excited about this day!

Dad picked me up at 7:30 so we could get downtown and walk/jog a little bit to warm up...literally. It was 26 degrees when I left the house - brrr! It took a little while but I finally warmed up...except for my fingers and toes. My fingers were numb until I took a long, hot shower when I got home.

I told you it was cold...check out the frozen fountain! BRRR!

Dad recruited my brother and his wife to run with us too! My nephew couldn't resist getting in the picture with the runners. Isn't he adorable?? How about my brother, who didn't train at all for this, running in just over 24 minutes...grrr...people like that make me so mad. :) Okay, not really - just jealous, that's all. I'm proud of him - that's awesome! It was pretty fun to see him cheer me across the finish line, too. I think this is the first race he's seen me run in!

I just love this race. It starts with a gradual incline for the first mile. I had already warmed up, so I felt pretty good. With a focus on a PR (which I don't typically do), I had to create a new mindset. I talked to my husband about it earlier this week and he gave me a new idea: just run fast the whole time. He's brilliant, friends, just brilliant. Why hadn't I ever thought of that?? 5ks are typically my worst races because I just take so long to warm up and feel comfortable. But honestly, I don't want to feel comfortable! I want to push myself and run as fast as I can!! So I listened to him. I ran the first mile in 9:21, the second in 8:33 and the third in 8:40 - I sprinted the last tenth of a mile in 7:32. My average was 8:49/mile. Just to give you an idea, I'm typically a 9:30/10:00 minute mile runner in most races. The third mile had the longest incline in it so I was nervous that I was pushing it too much and not saving enough energy for that, but I told myself to stop worrying and just run!! So run I did. I typically use the downhills as a time to recover from the uphill but today I used the downhill to make that time up and run faster. I know, this is all probably basics to most people, but I just haven't done it before. I am more of a slow, steady, longer distance runner. At least that's what I've always told myself. I also told myself I'd never be a runner and I have ran close to 20 races including a marathon and three half marathons. Just shows you that anything can happen!

Finishing up at 27:05!! (unofficial time)

Edited: I am so bummed, they did the time only off of gun time so my "official" time is 27:16. Oh well, still a good PR for me. How cool is this, though, that I was #28 out of 134 in my age group! I typically am somewhere in the middle or past, closer to the end...so I'll take that and be very happy for the progress I am making!

Dad (in the white) finishing up just after 25 minutes...wow! Did I mention how proud I am of this dude?? It makes me cry every time. I mean, seeing him laying in that hospital bed last May, skin and bones, and needing help getting into his wheel chair...and now ROCKING a 5k? Seriously, wow.

Edited: 25:31 and #11 out of 33 in his age group (60-64)!! Impressive!

Today was very exciting for me. I was thinking I wouldn't run too many more 5ks, but now I want to run more and get faster! They are just fun and you're done in a half an hour! Why would I stop?? I truly think I just haven't pushed myself to my limit. I CAN do more. Today I had hoped for 27 minutes but I never said it out loud. I am so afraid of failure. That's something else I just need to get over. Especially if I set high goals for myself with these PRs. I will fail sometimes, but I am going to learn from my mistakes and get better!! And guess what? Whether it's a PR or a PW (personal worst) I still have my fan club (a.k.a. my family and BFF) screaming for me as I cross that finish line. Does it get any better than that? I wish I had pictures of all of them, but I had to leave right away to get home, shower and be at a shower for a dear friend by 11:00. I was a little late but I thought she'd prefer me cleaned up and late than the alternative. :)

So I decided on yet another goal for myself. When I was looking at the video that my husband took of me near the finish line I realized I strike down on my heal. I'm pretty sure you aren't supposed to do that. In order for me to be a better runner I definitely need to educate myself more. I'd love any advice you may have on that. Have any of you had to change how you run - your stride or anything? Has it helped?

Another Race and a Great 30th for my Hubby!

Dad told me about a race at one of my favorite running places - Furman. It's called A Hero's 5k and is in memory of a local soldier who died last year fighting for our country. My Dad served in Vietnam and gave 20+ years of his life serving our country. I am so thankful for him and many others (including my cousin serving in Afghanistan) who fight for our country. If you have time, check out the videos on this site. It makes me so incredibly grateful not only for the men and woman who sacrifice but also their families at home! My Dad was in the reserves while we grew up and just having him leave 2 weeks every summer was brutal enough for us. I can't imagine being without him for years.

He·ro (heer-oh) noun
(U.S. Soldier) a man or woman of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities who puts his country before his own life.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he died for his country.


That definitely describes my Dad! I think all who know him would agree.





Here's Dad and I after a race at Furman last summer. He was trying not to touch me since I was so hot and sweaty! :)







We had a great weekend celebrating my husband's 30th birthday! My wonderful parents took Jake home with them after church Sunday so we had the rest of the day and all day Monday to ourselves! We hardly knew what to do with ourselves! I planned several different things and wrote them on 3X5 cards. So for lunch he would have a couple of options, then I had options for Sunday afternoon, etc. It was really fun. I tried to really think of things that he would enjoy doing. Then Monday I invited some of his good friends over for a guy's video game night. I got them some food and left them alone to play - win/win! :) I would say it was quite successful since he had a great time!


Here's me and the birthday boy...from 2 months ago. I know, sad...I have so many pictures of my son but hardly any of us!

I was so glad to get Jake after worked yesterday. I missed him so much the last couple of days and the house was way too quiet! :) He may have been slightly more excited to see his trains then me, but that's okay - I was glad to have my baby back!

2011 Races

Mostly Fit Mom asked what races I am planning to do this year. Now that is a great question! I need to put it in writing to commit myself to what I want to accomplish this year. I find myself with a tentative racing schedule but haven't exactly settled on what I'm going to do. I am still debating whether or not to do another marathon this fall and then there's the whole second kid thing that Phil and I have been talking about. So close to being ready, but not quite there.

Speaking of that, I have to say that Phil and I are all about waiting until we are ready! We waited 5 years to have Jake, and though we wouldn't trade him for the world, we really enjoyed 5 years of just us! I'll be honest, it was tough when my friends were having kids after 1, 2, 3 years of marriage and it was still just us, but that didn't last long when they couldn't do this or that because of the kids - I decided to continue to enjoy our time of being together! We were as "ready" as you possibly can be for a kid (it TRULY changes your life - for the good, of course, but it's so different). We are using that same mind set for our second - making sure we are really ready and not just doing something because everyone else is. I know some think my running is holding us back, but believe me - family comes first! We just have to do what's best for us. Okay, I'll get off my soapbox. I learned quickly after having a child not to judge people for their parenting decisions or for when they decide to have kids. One of our favorite phrases is "to each his own!"

Anyway, back to racing! Here is my tentative plan. I have done all of these races before except the Publix half marathon, so I'm excited to see if I've made any improvement in a year!

Greenville News 5k - Jan. 22nd

Green Valley Road Race 10 miler - Feb. 12th (may do the 8k if I'm not feeling the 10 miles)

Reedy River 10k - March 5th

Publix half marathon - March 20th

Cooper River Bridge Run 10k - April 2nd

Greer Earth Day half marathon - April 9th

So as you can see, I have only thought as far as April. Okay, that's not true at all. I dream about doing the Chicago marathon (October 9th). I have family there so it would be great to have some cheerleaders! If we can't do that (we'd most likely have to fly - it's a long trip), then I'm thinking about the Savannah marathon (November 5th). I also would love to do the Army Ten Miler in DC (I have family there, too!). That's also on October 9th, so if we can possibly get awesome tickets to fly somewhere it would depend if I'm up for 10 miles...or 26.2. :) I guess even though they are far away I need to decide soon...I have been burned before on trying to register too late!

I am so excited for my race on Saturday! We have some awesome cheerleaders to come cheer us on too, so that's always fun!

That's More Like It!

Today was sunny and 47 degrees. That's more like the South Carolina I know and love! :) How could I possibly resist a run on such a gorgeous day? I went out this afternoon to one of my favorite running spots - Furman. I ran for 5 miles and just enjoyed being back outside in the sunshine. It was great. I could definitely tell it had been a while since I had run outside, though. I was loving being back on some hills! There aren't a lot there, but there are a few smaller hills and a big hill around the lake. This week at work Len was telling me his neighbor was outside running during our snow storm on Monday. I thought that sounded pretty crazy...until today. Though it was sunny and warm, the last few days have been very cold so there is still snow and ice in the shady parts. The big hill I mentioned was still covered in snow. I thought about being careful and walking, but I hate to back away from a challenge! It was pretty fun to run in the snow, plus I felt pretty hard core since everyone else was stopping to walk up/down the hill...or maybe it was more stupid than hard core. Oh well. It was fun! Maybe I should have tried it earlier in the week....then again, maybe not. :)

Phil and I were so excited for Jake to get up from his nap to show him what we got him. Call it a late Christmas present or a really early birthday (May) present - we just couldn't wait! We got it for half off after Christmas. The boy is literally obsessed with all things train (including his train jammies that he had to put on one afternoon after I got them out of the dryer). Anyway, I asked Phil to keep him upstairs if he got up from his nap before I got back from running. There's nothing like seeing your kid's face light up!! I love it! We are careful to try to not spoil him (Mema takes care of that for us) :), but we just couldn't resist.


"Ooh!!" Don't mind his messy shirt....it's hard keeping this little one clean!






He's saying "choo-choo!" :)










Here he is with my Dad watching a very exciting episode of Thomas the Train. He points during most of the show saying either "choo-choo" or "ooh!" I love it. :)

Success so far!

I have never done a Jillian workout DVD that I haven't loved, and 6 week 6 pack is definitely no exception! I was debating whether or not to buy it and Rae mentioned on her blog that she loved it, so I decided to go for it. I wondered how tough of a workout an ab workout could be (I like to get and keep my heart rate up during workouts). How could I ever doubt Jillian?? It was great.

Yesterday I ran a 3 mile tempo run (after warming up for 1/2 a mile). I am loving tempo and speed runs! I have never really done them consistently before. I feel like I got such a great workout at the end! However, I haven't run over 4 miles since my marathon so I'm starting to get nervous about whether or not I can still do a "long" run. I am about to sign up for my first half marathon for 2011, though, so training will begin again soon.

I mentioned one of my 2011 goals here: get faster and PR in a 5k, 10k, and half marathon. And I mentioned another one here: mix up my workout routines so that I am doing different things every time. So far things are going well and I am having some great results:

1. I am having so much fun! I thought I would really miss my marathon training, and I do, but this has definitely been a fun substitute for that right now!

2. I have toned, built muscle and lost a couple of pounds in just these last 4 weeks. I wasn't necessarily trying to lose weight, but hey - I can't complain about that! Part of it may have to do with the fact that I don't eat all - the - time! I don't know about any of you, but when I was training for my marathon it seemed like I was always hungry...and always eating! I have to admit, it was kind of fun, and I felt I could get away with it since I was running so many miles per week!

We'll see if I get my 5k PR on Saturday and then I'll really be excited about my success so far! But even if I don't, it's been worth it. It's been so fun doing new things and I'm just enjoying it!

I had a great time with a friend and her two kids tonight and was thrilled when she told me she might start running with me! Yay!! I always love when someone starts running, and I love new workout/running buddies!! I'm hoping she gets as addicted as I am! :)

I am so excited for my hubby's birthday next week!! He is turning 30 (I robbed the cradle...I'm 31 and he never lets me forget it). :) Since we are so different I really tried to think what would be fun from his point of view and I have several fun things planned!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Snow Days in South Carolina!

We don't typically get a lot of snow around here, but we have already had our second snow storm of the winter! I'm from Wisconsin, but I have been here almost 10 years now so I have definitely adjusted to the south. I used to think it was crazy how everything shut down over a little snow, but they just don't have enough equipment to clear the roads. We now have ice covered roads. The sun was out today, but it didn't get warm enough to melt everything so it was still pretty bad out there when I drove home from work. I sure do love a little bit of snow every once in a while! It's so pretty. This is a picture from our backyard.

I was still able to get my workouts in, so I'm glad about that. I'm off on Mondays and instead of working from home, my husband took the day off. Of course we invited our parents/neighbors over for games. We had a blast. Dad and I took a break for me to workout and him to run on our treadmill while Phil and Mema played with Jake. I love that Dad doesn't like to miss his workouts either so I'm not the only crazy one who wants to stop a game day for a workout! :) Yesterday I did a speed run on the treadmill and tonight I did a strength training workout. I hope to get back to my routine next week when I can get to the gym in the mornings.



This crazy kid was ready to get out of the house today! :) Mom and I go on coffee dates most Monday mornings so when she called, he said "cock-ee, bye-bye?" (that's how he says coffee??). He cracks me up. He knows our routine!

First Race of 2011

Today I registered for my first race of 2011 - the Greenville News 5k! I'm really excited. One of my 2011 goals is to get faster and PR in a 5k, 10k, and half marathon. Plus, I am even more excited about this race because my Dad is running it with me!! I know I talk about him a lot, but he is such an inspiration to me and I am really excited about doing this with him. He has been such a great support and cheerleader since I have started running. He even ran my first race with me in October 2008!

Here are Katie and I before the Greenville News 5k last year:

Here I am afterwards enjoying my coffee. Call me crazy, but I love races that have coffee afterwards, especially when it's cold!

I spent some time today looking up my results from my 2010 races (and my last few from 2009). In November of 2009, to celebrate mine and my best friend's 30th birthdays, we decided to run 12 races in 12 months. It was a fun experience, and I actually ended up running more than 12. I hope to run as many of the same races as I can and really push for those PRs. I am doing things like speedwork, tempo runs, and a lot more strength training. I also will be doing some workouts focused on plyometrics. I did a lot of plyometrics the first few months of my marathon training. I didn't do much except running the last month and a half, but I still feel like what I did helped. So hopefully this will all pay off! If not, I'm still excited about my awesome workouts I've been doing and getting back out there and racing some more! Even though it hasn't quite been a month, my marathon seems like forever ago.



Happy Friday!

Arts and Crafts Time

We sit in the same area as our Legal department at work, and we share a conference room. Our paralegal often puts board books and different packets/binders together in the conference room, and he likes to refer to it as "Arts and Crafts Time." He is hilarious. Anyway, I thought of that as I have been working on "my project." I have been going through my stacks of old magazines and pulling out any workouts I find so I can start getting more creative with my strength training. I was motivated by this post from Megan to continue to confuse my muscles rather than stick with the same routine over and over (which I tend to do). My husband makes fun of me as I sit at the table with my scissors and stapler. I'm glad I can entertain him. :) Imagine how excited I was when I found this box upstairs in a closet in the computer room!! Woo hoo!! More magazines! :) Anyway, I finally finished going through all of them (I sure do hope I find another box somewhere!) and now have so many great options. I love the cards from Self that I can mix and match. I know I'm a big nerd, but I get really excited for my workouts now! Phil was laughing at me as I sat at the table after we ate dinner the other night studying my workout moves for two days away. :) I ended up doing three strength training workouts last week and hope to do the same this week. I can seriously tell a difference and I'm just on my third week. I have missed strength training so much!

Of course I'm still loving my running and am focusing on getting faster. Last night I did 4 miles - warmed up for the first mile and then did 3 miles at a quick pace for me. I wanted to stop but just kept pushing myself and it felt great! I'm really hoping to PR at the 5k race I'm doing in a couple of weeks.

Check out Rae's giveaway for a BIC Band here!

Happy Hump Day!

Better Than a Nap!

Is it possible to read Runner's World and not be inspired?? This was one of my favorite Christmas gifts so I was so excited to get it in the mail on Friday!! I wanted to sit down and read it right away but I also like to save it - I'm weird like that. :) Saturday I woke up feeling like I got hit by a bus. I was so tired from staying up late the last two nights, was still getting over my cold, and had a horrible headache. But when your 1 1/2 year old calls, you have no choice but to get up! So, I got him his breakfast, turned on something entertaining for him to watch on t.v. (like Thomas or George) and sat on the couch with my magazine. I spent the next few hours going back and forth with Jake and reading my magazine and finally had a chance to sit down and finish it while he was napping. My husband was napping then too (he was pretty sick on Saturday so I gave him a Jake break! :) ), so I didn't want to go in our room and wake him up. I figured I'd get my nap after he was up. But, after reading the magazine from start to finish, I had the big decision to make: nap or run? Here's what made my decision:

"Taking even 20 or 30 minutes for a run will help you organize your thoughts, clear your head, wake up, and return to your tasks with a clarity and energy that you can't get from coffee or even a nap." - Mark Remy, executive editor of runnersworld.com.

What? Better than a nap? I decided on some speedwork on the treadmill, and it felt great! I know from experience that I never regret it, and as always I'm so glad I did it! I was sweating like crazy and breathing heavy so even though my old treadmill doesn't tell me how fast I was going - I know I got a good workout in. I followed it up with some abs and stretching.

Sunday I rested from working out. I get very rigid in my workout schedule and though I like it most of the time, I think I need some more flexibility. So instead of a set rest day right now, I'm going to rest on the day I feel I need/want it most. This ended up being Sunday. After church I made lunch, read my book, took a 30 minute nap and then played "choo choos" with Jake and Phil before cheering the Colts on to victory!! What a great weekend!

Happy New Year!