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!