Before:
{7am cell phone pic….I look a little worried, don’t I?}
After:
My {mind} is relieved.
However, now my {body} needs RELIEF.
Once the Ibuprofen and Icy Hot wear off, I’ll post more.
Off to Hash House for din din and then this Mama is gonna sleep like a baby.
I’m tempted to ask the hotel for a wheelchair to get me to and from the car, though!
Thanks for ALL the “rah-rahs” and faith in me ~ I used it along the way!
XOXO
Hoping to eat {this} tonight:
Would LOVE to sit in {that} tomorrow night:
{via}
And hoping I don’t need this come Monday:
*****
We’re off!
Got my waters, Emergen-c, Luna Bars, CLIF MoJo peanut butter pretzel bars {mmmmm}, Gu gels, beanie, iPod, dri-fit gear, socks, band-aids and my New Balances.
All I need now is 13.1 miles of pavement and I’m good.
Time to get in the ZONE and FOCUS.
Wish me luck!
XOXO
I’m bad at drinking water on a daily basis.
When I run or workout, I drink LOTS.
But the “8 glasses a day”…..not so good at it.
I need to hydrate and carb load the next couple days….that’s what the seasoned runners do. 😉
I tried this little pre-race concoction and it’s delish:
Cranberry Pomegranate Emergen-C
+
Vitamin Water ZERO Squeezed {lemonade}
=
Cold fighting, energy boosting, nutrient rich beverage!
Now to get the regular H2O stuff in my body, too!
On another note, I have a pain in the neck. Must’ve tweaked it last night in my sleep. I have to do the whole “turn your entire body” thing when I drive because my neck is so stiff! Ugh….heating pad where are you?
Could be worse.
T-minus 2 days and counting!
DEEP breaths.
I feel like I have LOTS to talk about on this sunny, gorgeous Monday and am overwhelmed with putting together a mile long post, so I will just bullet everything!
* I made shepherd’s pie on Saturday night. So comforting and Fall to me. I used this recipe, but instead of the layer of mashed carrots {random} I sliced some baby carrots, diced red and orange peppers and onions and simmered in beef broth with thyme, salt & pepper before adding some frozen peas at the last minute. I then layered the beef, this veggie mixture and the mashed potatoes. YUM!
* I also made an apple crisp using this recipe. Used the granny smiths and Arkansas black apples from our apple picking adventure weeks back.
* Yesterday my long run was 7 miles. This is the longest I’ve gone…and it was LLLLOOOONNNNGGG. But 13.1 is longer so I will forge ahead! Next week I am shooting for 9…I’m not going to lie, this “race” in less than 3 weeks has me stressed. Along with Thanksgiving and preparing for the holidays, the last thing I want to think about is running 9 miles and then finishing 13.1 the weekend after the long Turkey Day weekend. But I am committed and will get through it. Running, walking or crawling…I will get through it! On a positive note, I am not very sore this morning and haven’t had to ice my knee for weeks now.
* I have a new quick craft that I am in love with. I love a craft that I can bust out and be done with. I’m not a fan of lingering projects hence why I haven’t started sanding and painting my little table! I like instant gratification in the craftiness/DIY department.
Check these out:
Glitter Clothespins
Adorable, huh?
Elmer’s glue, a foam brush, some clothespins and glitter.
Wham! Bam! You’re done!
This year I am going to use them to display our Christmas cards ~ I usually put them in my Santa basket and call it a day, but I think they will certainly add a festive touch around the house. I used a couple pictures from last year to see how they’d look clipped to the chicken wire doors of the secretary…
I love that something as simple and mundane as a wooden clothespin can instantly be turned into a fun, fancy, useful piece!
* This past weekend marked our 2 year anniversary back in So Cal. It’s unbelievable to me that 24 months ago the giant Allied Van Lines truck unloaded our belongings here in the SCV. We were greeted with the Sylmar fire the weekend we moved in which caused our refrigerator delivery to be postponed for a week! Ugh….eating every meal out for a week is TOO much.
But here we are 2 years later. Happy we made the move. Sad we left wonderful friends and family in Nor Cal.
* The kids watched Toy Story 3 like 4 times in a 24 hour period this weekend. Thanks Red Box!
I think that’s it.
Happy Monday!
I’m so glad Jay decided to run the Santa Clarita Half Marathon yesterday.
{He’s actually in this pic in the back of the pack}
Not only am I so proud of him and his time, but it also got me excited for the Vegas Rock & Roll.
Yes, I may have bitten off more than I can chew considering I have never even done a 5K.
And yes, I should have maybe joined a Team In Training group instead of “training” myself {hilarious, I know!}.
But I know I can do it.
I have 4 hours to complete the 13.1 miles.
Yes, I have done the math and that is an 18 minute mile.
My {goal} is to maintain a 15 minute mile throughout. That will put me at 3 hours and 15 minutes. I got some good insoles. The course is flat. It’ll be chilly. I think I can do it.
It will be close, but my goal is just to finish and get my paws on that medal.
After the morning of December 5, 2010, I may never want to run another 10 feet in my life or I may want to sign up for the one here in SC each year.
I won’t know until I TRY.
Please someone tell me that once you hear that gunshot signaling the start and are amongst the crowd, in the heat of the {half marathon} moment, that you find the will to keep putting one foot in front of the other…narrowing the 13.1 down to 12, down to 11 and so on. The spectators, the bands, the glory of finishing MUST take over and carry you through when you think you cannot go on, right?
Hoping the “runner’s high” hits me HARD!
I am hopeful that all things will come together and I will step on that pad, be proud of my time and be changed forever.
We wanted to cheer Jay on along the way this morning.
Fortunately we caught him at two locations before the finish line, but it wasn’t easy.
I forgot the stroller to I had to hustle with Holden on one arm, the camera on the other AND our banner!
But we made it and loved seeing Jay looking so strong at the 8.5-9 mile mark…
From here, we raced back to the car and sped down to the 12 mile mark and waited there.
Elliott & Emilie helped distribute water to the runners:
This sweet couple held the sign so I could take pictures:
Jay was behind a few people and I couldn’t get a good shot.
From here we RACED to the car and made it to the finish line just in time to see him cross. Again, couldn’t get a good pic.
But he finished and did great ~ just shy of 2:35.
His first half marathon under his belt.
Scott celebrated his birthday by running 13.1…
{Happy Birthday, Scott!}
{Notice Holden’s banana phone}
*****
We’re SO proud of you, Babe!
I’m next…4 weeks from today.
Yikes!
Just add an hour onto his time and that is what I’m shooing for! As long as I’m not the LAST one across the finish line I’ll be happy.
Better get running…literally.
*****
Hope you had a marathon of a weekend!
Jay is just about to start running in his first half marathon.
He’s fueled with whole wheat pasta, steel cut oats, half a PowerBar and some Powerade…
{whole wheat spaghetti, lemon grilled chicken, feta cheese, marinated artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes, fresh garlic & olive oil}
Elliott, Holden and a couple of their little friends made a big butcher paper sign. Holden put some finishing touches on it this morning…
The race passes by a little stretch at the bottom of our hill. We’re trying to time it so that we can cheer Jay on between the 8 and 9 mile mark. Then off to the finish line to greet him.
Good Luck, Babe!
Go show that 13.1 who’s boss!
*****
As the family was biking this morning, I thought about how fortunate we are.
We have FREEDOM.
Reminding myself not to take it for granted.
Remembering {that} day.
Realizing that it’s been NINE years and it still hurts.
Reveling in the beauty of today.
Red. White. Blue.
Yesterday Elliott’s principal said something at their Patriot’s Day ceremony that got me choked up…
She first thanked all the students, faculty and parents for wearing red, white & blue and then she said that even if your clothing didn’t reflect our country’s colors that was OK because we hold red, white and blue in our HEARTS.
So true.
*****
My sweet new beach cruiser can certainly hang in the SCV, too.
I am just grateful that Jay sprung for the 3-speed over the one-speed! I got the heart pumping while coming up the gradual hills home! However, there would always be a little reprieve at just the right time where I could cruise for a minute before pedaling like mad again.
We glided through the paved trail to the donut shop where Elliott & Holden paid for their two frosted cake donuts with colorful sprinkles with quarters from their lemonade stand last weekend.
I had my first Pumpkin Spice latte of the season.
So many people out and about with their dogs. There were kids in their Pop Warner, Fall ball and soccer uniforms. Bikes. Jogger strollers. Tweens on their Razors.
Such a busy Saturday.
Now off to the new “Sprouts” ~ so excited since we loved Henry’s from our San Diego days!
This afternoon we’re headed to Pasadena to sit under the gorgeous San Gabriels and tailgate before watching the UCLA/Stanford game this evening.
On the menu: Asian Chop Chop Salad with Sriracha-Lime Ranch
And a fun surprise sweet something.
Stay tuned for the recipes!
Wishing you a bustling, beautiful, “proud to be an American” weekend!
Cheers!
how cute are these homemade Pop Tarts?
Found them over here…
I must make these.
When I complete 5 miles non-stop {running}, I am going to make these for a weekend breaky.
The blueberry with key lime icing look ridiculous, but I think I’ll try some cinnamon & brown sugar with maple icing.
The brown sugar cinnamon variety have always been at the top of my list.
Although I haven’t eaten a Pop Tart in a million years and my kids don’t even know what they are.
YET!
But somehow the homemade ones make me feel less gulity.
No?
Am I the only human being that treats herself to “junk” food once I hit a fitness goal?
Most would probably have a nice pile of alfalfa sprouts or a shot of wheat grass…
Oh no, not me…I’m just going to reward myself with more calories!
However, I will always be a foodie and love to bake.
I guess that’s why I’m trying to make running a recurring part of my life.
So I CAN eat all these things, but still {try} and be fit!
Stay tuned….if I can run a little over 3 miles, I can CERTAINLY do 5.
Homemade Pop Tarts coming soon.