Three Things Thursday: Pre-Run, Post-Run, & Strength Workouts

Who doesn't want to become a better and stronger runner?  If you're like me and can't afford that gym membership just yet, I found these workouts online that you can do at home.  I picked these workouts to do before and after my runs and for my cross training days.  I like to vary my workouts to prevent boredom.  These workouts are also great for days when I have sick kids at home, when my free exercise classes are cancelled due to sick instructor, etc, and definitely for the upcoming summer days when all 3 boys are home.  I'm usually horrible at following exercise videos on my own, but exercises like these for injury prevention is enough motivation for me to turn on my laptop and follow along.  Check them out and enjoy!



1)  YOGA for Runners with Fiji McAlpine


Pre-Run

This is something I need to get up super early for on my run days. 

Post-Run

I usually don't have any time to do anything else after my weekday runs, so I wait until after lunch to do them.  Still a great way to stretch out those tight post-run muscles!

2)  Post-Run General Strength Exercises with Coach Jay Johnson 

This is just Part 1 of 5 exercises.  Go to the Running Times Article for more info and links to the other routines.  I love doing these exercises immediately after a run and then follow these up with the post-run yoga above. 

Running Times: Part 1 from CoachJayJohnson on Vimeo.

3)  IronStrength Workout with Dr. Jordan Metzl 

This is Part 1 of 5 series of exercises.  Great workout for injury prevention.  Go to this Runner's World article to see the other series of exercises.

Three Things (Plus One) Thursday: Craptastic Photos of My New Running Skirts & Shirts!

I LOVE getting new running clothes.  I admit, I'd rather go out and buy myself a new running skirt than a regular skirt.  I only run in running skirts and for a 10-11 min/miler runner girl like me, I want to at least look cute in my turtle pace.  

Ok, before I share my new purchases, I just want to say that I'm horrible at taking pics of myself.  Not only does it feel weird to take pics of myself, the pics never come out well.  So ignore the dirty mirror....I don't look as tan as these photos show, but at least you can see my new Running Skirts and new C9 Target tech shirts, I hope!

Outfit #1 (below) - This is one of two outfits that I might wear to my next race, the Rock 'N Roll USA Half in DC on St. Patrick's Day.  It doesn't scream Leprechaun green, but it IS a lime green shirt and there is some lime green on the skirt.  I've always wanted this skirt, the Mums Midnight Running Skirt, and I just got around to buying it.  RunningSkirts.com has them on sale now (awesome deal), but I got mine at RunningWarehouse.com for a great deal too!  What do you think?

 

Outfit #2 (below) - Another outfit that I could wear to my St. Patrick's Day RnR Half.  Same shirt and the skirt is from RunningSkirts.com, the Azure Dot Running Skirt, another favorite skirt that I was so happy to discover on sale.  What do you think of this one compared to Outfit #1 above?  My favorite black Zensah sleeves are kinda harsh against these spring colors, but I need to wear them for my races. 

Outfit #3 (below) - C9 tech shirts from Targets rule!  Not only were they $9- a piece, they're comfortable too!  I scored this shirt right after I bought the skirts and I couldn't believe how well the colors go.  I have horrible Photoshopping skills, so the shirt color is a little off, but trust me, it matches the blue on the skirt.  LOVE bargains!

Outfit #4 (below) - I call this my Barney shirt, another awesome find from Target.  I love bright colors and this shirt, again....how can I refuse when it goes so well with my Mums Midnight Running Skirt?  The color is a little more Barney than I wanted it to be - I think the skirt has more of a Violet color than this Barney color, but they complement each other well, I think.  I love matching inexpensive tops to not-so-inexpensive bottoms and vice versa....and I love how versatile this Mums Midnight skirt is!  I can create 5 outfits out of this skirt (purple, blue, lime green, black, and gray shirts to go with it!).  It's my new favorite skirt!  

So there you have it, my girly girl Three Things (plus one) Thursday of my new spring-y and summer-y running outfits.  :P  I can picture The Hubs just rolling his eyes at this post, hahaha!!

I could use some feedback....what do you think for St. Patty's RnR Half in DC - Outfit #1 or #2?  Have you bought new running clothes lately?  Or any new running gear?  Please share!!



(Note:  I bought these items myself.  I was not compensated in any way by RunningSkirts.com, Target, Zensah, or RunningWarehouse.com to write this post.  All opinions are my own)

Three Things Thursday: Procrastination? Excuses? and The Marine Corps Marathon 2012

So I saw this post from the Marine Corps Marathon's Facebook page yesterday morning.....

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I didn't freak out, I just felt like I was coming down with the stomach bug all of a sudden.  Sporto and Little Man just had the stomach bug, so it's very likely?

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No, this one is just from the realization that in 14 days, or sooner, I will be committing to twenty-six point freakin' two, my goal race this year.  I can't believe registration is literally right around the corner!!!!  Last year, they sold out in 28 hours.  Who knows how fast they'll sell out this year??!!  

I know for sure I WANT to do this race.  I NEED to do this race. THIS year.  I HAVE to do this race because I am turning 40 this year.

Yup, new age group, come November 2012!  LOL.  A friend thinks I'm crazy for being so eager to put my body through hell (training and running a full marathon), to celebrate my birthday.  Yes, other girls celebrate turning 40 with a spa treatment, a cruise to some exotic beach, a weekend away with girlfriends, with chocolate, or margaritas...but this girl wants to sweat, to ache, to test my limits, to cry, to go through mental and physical agony and aching feet for her birthday.  Fun, huh?  Can't wait!

Me and my mom back in 2006

So I'm planning to sign up for Lung Cancer Alliance's (LCA) Team Lung Love, a group of runners who train for marathons, half-marathons, and other distances while raising money for lung cancer advocacy and research.  I was really excited to learn that a non-profit like LCA was one of Marine Corps Marathon's charity partners this year because MCM is THE marathon I want to do as my first, AND I also want to raise money again this year for lung cancer awareness and research in memory of my mom.  I always carry my mom with me whenever I run, and I know I'll need her more than ever to carry me through this race.

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The nice thing about signing up with Team Lung Love is you get a guaranteed MCM entry.  No stressing and fighting over those limited entries on March 7.  AND you'll be helping out a great cause that is very much needed.  Lung Cancer is the least funded research program in our country, yet it is the #1 cancer that claims the most lives EVERY YEAR, more than breast, prostate, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers COMBINED.


Ok, so why haven't I signed up for Team Lung Love yet?  Why am I procrastinating??!  My Three Things (excuses?) Thursday....

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1).  Waiting for this Friday, when I get my yearly physical.  I want to get the green light from the Doc.  I'm having the same nagging soreness on my right outer thigh.  I am hoping it's just my SI Joint.  I've learned to self-correct and I know the exercises to do to help it.  Crossing fingers!

2).  I've got a few more questions for LCA so that I know exactly what my commitments are when I sign up to run for Team Lung Love.

3).  Honestly, I'm scared more about getting injured during training than the actual race itself.  Scared about getting injured and not being able to run this race.  I am so injury prone.  Since I'm still kinda new-ish to running, I could use all the advice I could get to stay injury free.  Like what kind of cross training is best to make me a stronger runner for this marathon, what training plan would you recommend,...ANYTHING!

My goal for MCM is to finish.  So if you've got any advice for this marathon virgin, please leave some below!   Thank you!

Are you running Marine Corps Marathon this year too?  Are you planning or signed up to run your first full marathon?  Please let me know! 

Three Things Thursday: Running After My Boys

OMG. I'm so. Behind. Still working on my Virginia Is For Lovers 14K Race Recap. Crazy busy here at home as always!

Anyways, my TTT for today will be all about my boys.  I have 3 boys, ages 9, 7, and 4.  Yes, 3 boys.  No, that's it, not trying for #4 to try for a girl, and nope, not even if I'm promised a girl.  My boys are part of the reason why I run.  Some days I run to get away from them, other days I run so I can be more patient with them, and every time, I run so I can live to see their grand-kids.

I don't think I've ever "introduced" them, so here are my boys.

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 1)  Meet Sporto.  My first boy.  Don't let those glasses fool you into thinking he's anything but active and all into sports.  The boy LOVES to run.  He LOVES to play football.  He loves being outside.  He would do laps around our culdesac for fun.  He can totally beat me in a 1-mile race.  Yes, he's fast like The Hubs.  A sprinter.  I'm glad he got The Hubs' fast-running genes.  Oh and he's got great running form too!  You should see him run!  He runs so carefree, always with a smile on his face.

He loves to read too.  Like Mom.  :)  He's currently reading the Harry Potter series and I have to tell him to stop reading or he'll be up until midnight or longer!  I'm very grateful for that. 

He's very emphatic, always thinking of others and very quick to make sure everyone is included in a game.  He's the first one to tell an adult if a friend is hurt.  He helps me a ton with his little brothers.  He's like the 3rd parent.  He can get carried away, though, disciplining his brothers.  He's the typical first born.

He loves to play his electric guitar.  He dreams of being in a rock band.  He can play Twist and Shout by The Beatles and Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit.

Everyday, as he gets ready for school, brushing his teeth, I stand next to him and silently wish he doesn't grow up as fast as he seems to me now.  I look at our mirror image and hug him, committing to my memory how tall he is that day (this morning he's up to my chin!).  He hugs me back every time - that is one of many things that I love about him and what I hope he never stops doing.

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2)  This is Tank.  My second baby boy.  He is the most inventive and creative out of the 3.  He thinks outside of the box, and he marches to the beat of his own drum.  He never gets bored.  He always seem to find something to do.  Like when we're waiting forever for our food in a restaurant - his little brother starts whining, big brother starts complaining, and Tank?  Tank starts making pyramids out of sugar packets and keeps rebuilding them if they crash.  I love that about him.  Patience.  Lots of patience.

He loves to draw.  He loves to paint.  He is fearless.  I get so intimidated by a blank canvas and he just attacks it with bold strokes, re-drawing or re-painting as he goes.  Another thing that I love about him.  He has his own sketchbook of drawings, doodles, that I treasure.  I need to buy him a new one.

He is forever building new Lego buildings and contraptions.  I am always amazed and in awe of his imagination.  He helps me look at things at a different angle.  I love discovering new things with him.

He is quiet, though, he won't speak up.  But he's ok with that.  Sandwiched between two very vocal brothers, he often just sinks back, very secure in just watching and listening.  Oh, but he's got this very mature wit.  He's hilarious.  It's a wit that you expect only from an adult.  I think he gets it from The Hubs.

I live for his hugs.  His hugs are quick and fleeting.  He's not a very affectionate boy, but when he does show some affection, I am so over the moon.  I cherish those hugs and hold onto his hug longer. I can't help but feel how fast his toddler years went.  I don't want to ever feel that way again about where he is now. 

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3)  Last but not least is Little Man.  He's the most vocal and the loudest out of the 3 boys.  He's the baby, and he insists on being heard.  He is like a cross between Sporto and Tank.  He loves to run just as much as Sporto, and he pretends to know how to play football.  He's got a great imagination, like big brother, Tank, tirelessly fabricating  battle scenarios and stories between Star Wars Clone troopers.  And like Tank, he doesn't bore easily.

Little Man loves to read or to be read to.  He is starting to read 3-4 letter words.  Really!  He is currently trying to read "Hop On Pop" by Dr. Seuss.  He loves to sound out each letter and blend the sounds together.  He thinks it's fun.

When he was just barely 2 years old, he already knew his alphabet and could recognize each letter on the page.  He started memorizing short rhyming books and stories by the time he was 2 1/2 years old.  It freaked us out at first, and then we soon discovered he's got a great memory.

He loves sharks.  When he loves something, he wants to check out every single book about that thing.  We currently have 10 shark books and every book he borrows from the library is a shark book. Yes, he's very passionate.

He loves to sing.  He sings anywhere and everywhere, like at Target.  And he sings LOUDLY.  He serenades me at Target while I shop.  Who needs an iPod, right?  Ok, maybe I do, unless I'm in the mood for Christmas songs in February or his preschool songs.  When he was 2 years old, he sang Beatles songs, thanks to my Dad and Beatles Rockband.  He has no inhibition whatsoever.  He's quite the entertainer.

When I started running, Little Man was just 2 years old.  He was my running partner for 2 years until he got too heavy.  I pushed him in the jogging stroller which he grew to love.  He was the best running partner, as long as I have enough snacks!  I ran my second 5K race with him while he napped!  When he turned 3 years old, he went from napping on the jogging stroller to singing in the jogging stroller.  I listened to medleys of Beatles songs for miles and miles.

These days, he cheers for me when I come home from my long runs.  He never hesitates to give me hugs, no matter how sweaty I am.  He is quick to make sure he hugs me before I go for my long run, to the grocery store, anywhere.  I like that a lot about him.  He reminds me to never take goodbyes for granted.  When I carry him (yes, I can still carry him), I etch into my memory how heavy his is now and take in his scent.  For as long as I can carry him, I'll hold onto him tight and savor his 4 year old-ness.  Because it does go by so quickly.

Three Things Thursday: The Little Things...

Not much for words today.  PF is better, 4 y.o. is better, but 7 y.o. is now sick, I haven't run since last Saturday, and I have a 14K race THIS Saturday.  Regardless, when you're injured and you've got 2 sick kids, you are thankful for the little things in life you often take for granted.....like:

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The Hubs, my hero - who always makes lemonade days out of lemony days.
 

Last, but not least, and definitely not a "little thing," LOL, is The Hubs, who continue to put up with my emotional eruptions and still wants to stay with me.  He's my "go-to-guy" when I want to hear, "it's going to be ok," and he makes me smile.  Did I mention he is going to run this 14K race WITH me AND finish WITH me?  If you can't call that love, I don't know what love is then.  :P 

Three Things Thursday: What Scares Me

Source. This cartoon snake is ok. Looks like a gummy worm.
Freaked out over the other wpclipart photos of actual snakes

While snakes are on top this list, I have no desire to overcome it any time soon, unless overcoming that fear will promise me magic powers or all the money in the world....


Umm...scratch that.  No amount of money or supernatural powers will make me want to get close to one.  No. Not a chance.  But here are scary things to me that I am think sure I can face, thanks to supportive friends who will (promised to!) join me.

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1)  Swim.  Swim classes.  Yup, I can't swim.  Or rather, I used to swim, The Hubs taught me how to swim a little, but throw me in a pool right now and I'll be screaming for a lifeguard.  Yes, you don't leave your kids alone with someone like me at the pool.  It's scary, isn't it?  So I'm taking the plunge, literally, and signing up for swim classes in the spring with a friend who doesn't know how to swim either.  I was a little intimidated by it - didn't want to be surrounded by 14 year olds, but thanks to my friend, I won't be the only one in the midst of 14 year olds.  Yup, I NEED to do this.


I'm motivated by thoughts of swimming with my boys and The Hubs this summer instead of just standing at the shallow end looking like a dork.  Oh and the cross training!  Yeah!

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2)  My First Sprint Triathlon.  The running part is obviously easy for me, and once I conquer Fear #1, I'm sure this one won't be so bad, but I don't trust myself on a bike.  I'm afraid I'd lose control and literally ride towards cars or fall off the bike.  I have issues about stopping too.  I know, right?  How old am I?  Six?  I don't know what it is.  I just don't bike often and obviously need more practice.


When I was injured last year, I dusted off my bike for a short ride with the boys and ended up almost crashing into them because I lost control.  Pathetic huh?  


Practice.  I just need practice, right?  I need to get on the bike more.  Just give me an empty parking lot.  I'll be ok.  Yes, a sprint tri- would be awesome to try.  Two friends promised me they'd join me on my first tri- race.  Eventual goal:  Irongirl!  

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3)  Marathon.  Full Marathon.  I think I'm ready for it this year in the fall.  I wanted a new running goal.  I'm scared about the long runs, the time commitment...running 26.2 miles in one day.  There were so many signs for me lately, though, pointing to 26.2 miles.  Signs that motivated me to just say, yes, I'm going to do it.  More on that later, but I am excited.  I'm not 100% sure yet which full to do, but somewhere close to Washington DC, Virginia, definitely.  Thinking of Marine Corps Marathon.  ACK!!!!  


When I feel the fear, the doubt, I think about this quote, "A life lived in fear is a life half-lived" from the movie, Strictly Ballroom.  So true!


Anyone doing MCM this year or in the past?  What was your first full marathon race or triathlon?  Would you recommend it to a first timer?  Are you training for your first full too?  

3 Things Thursday - First 3 Races of 2012

RACES
One way to get out of the winter doldrums is to sign up for races!  I'm excited about my first 3 in so many different ways.  


Here are my first 3 races of 2012.

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1.  Virginia Is For Lovers 14K, Virginia Beach, VA - February 11, 2012.  I'm REALLY REALLY excited about this one because I get to run it with The Hubs.  As in crossing the finish line together as a couple, at MY pace...!!!!  The Hubs and I  have run the same races before, but this will be the first time that we will run side by side and finish together.  He is much faster than me.  His half marathon PR is 1:48:something, while mine is 2:24:something, so he always finishes first. 


So while this race fits in well with my RnR half marathon training, it will be a "fun run" for The Hubs.  Before signing up, I kept asking him, "are you sure, are you sure?"  We looked at maybe having him finish the race at his pace and then back-tracking to meet up with me and then running the rest of my race at my pace.  When we compared our half marathon time splits, we discovered that by the time he finishes 14K, I would only be at.....the 10K mark, if I'm lucky...realistically, probably somewhere between Mile 5 and 6.  (WOW, I'm slow).


But The Hubs said, "Nah, forget it.  I want to run with you."  With you.  With me.  Sniff.  O.M.G. He loves me.  Sniff.

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2.  Carefirst Rock 'N' Roll USA Half Marathon, Washington DC - March 17, 2012.  I almost forgot I signed up for this race until I went to my March 2012 calendar page when signing up for another race.  I signed up for this one last spring/summer.  I've always wanted to run a RnR race and with The Hubs claiming the RnR race in Virginia Beach later this year, I grabbed this one.  Mine!  Mine, Mine!


I'm both excited AND nervous about this one. I'm excited because I'll be running with some of my Ragnar Relay DC 2011 team mates.  We were so pooped at the Ragnar finish line that we didn't get to celebrate afterwards.  The celebratory beer made us more sleepy than triumphant.  So this race will make up for that.  Two team mates will be running the full and 3 of us are running the half.  


I'm nervous because it's an inaugural race, and after all the scary stories coming out of the last RnR Las Vegas race, and the "epic-fail" reports on the inaugural Hot Chocolate 15K/5K Race in DC, I am hoping that this inaugural RnR race will meet everyone's realistic expectations.  (Crossing fingers and staying positive).

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3.  Scope it Out 5K, Washington DC - March 25, 2012.  I'm running this race with my girlfriends!  I've been helping them train for this race, their first 5K race, and I'm so excited for them!  Most of my friends are new to running, some are struggling to get passed running non-stop for 6 minutes, and some are trying to get back to running after a very long break.  I'm looking forward to watching each of them cross that finish line and feeling the way I felt when I crossed that same finish line 3 years ago - with smiles, tears, and that wonderful feeling of "OMG, I did it!  I really did it!"


Yes, it's exciting, I get to re-live MY first 5K race, this exact same one!  Three years ago at my first 5K, my friend, Margaret, stayed with me the entire race while I struggled to keep running.  If it wasn't for her, I would not have finished that race running the whole way.  Yes, it was THAT hard for me.  


So this race is going to be all about my friends.  Here's to hoping this won't be their last race!




Your turn.  What are your first 3 races of this new year?  Please share!  Oh and anyone else running my first 3 races?

3 Things Thursday - These Are Sort Of Like Running....

Running has taught me so much about living in the moment - in the mile I am in - and not get too caught up in all the miles I have left ahead of me.  When I start to think about the 8 miles I have left in my 10-miler, or even the last mile in any of my runs, I go on freak out mode.  I start to feel rushed, then stressed.  All those doubts in my head start crawling, the run starts to overwhelm me, and I can't get my running groove on.  So I focus on the mile I am currently in, soak up what's around me, go with feel, and fall into the rhythm of my breathing.  And try to relax.

Thanks to running, I've learned to tackle things in my day that...well, that I really don't feel like doing!

1)  Like doing the tower of dishes in my sink.....

2)  ....while trying to chip away at this never-ending mountain of laundry.....

3)  ....and juggling the day's must-do tasks.....

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So just like running, I try to take it one dirty dish at a time, one laundry load at a time, and one task/crisis at a time.  Relax.  Chill.  Be patient with myself.  It will all get done somehow.  One at a time.

(I have no idea why my blog looks this way - the right hand column should be down on the bottom.  Grrr..Time to go to Wordpress?)

(UPDATE!  YAY!  I got my blog all fixed - turns out my images were too big, it pushed my sidebar items to the bottom of my blog!)

3 Things Thursday: Defeated, Redeemed & Inspired

From wpclipart.com

What a roller coaster of a Thursday it has been for me!

1.  Deafeated.  Feeling very pathetic, but after just 3 days of my Streak, it all ended yesterday due to so many things beyond my control - the hubs coming home later than usual, ridiculously cold temps outside, total meltdown from the youngest 2 boys, and a homework war with the oldest.  By the time I got everyone and everything fed, cleaned, bathed, and off to bed, it was already 10pm and I was exhausted.

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 It pains me when I can't follow through what I set out to do.  Tet deep down, the adult in me knew that what I set out to do (to run at least 1 mile a day in January) wasn't very realistic.  Swept by the new promise of a new year, I made very ambitious goals without thinking through the logistics, since I have to work my running goals around my priorities (the hubs, the boys, the house).  So I'm going to put a bookmark on the streaking challenge and come back to it later this year, when the days are longer, and I'm ok with that.

From wpclipart.com

2.  Redeemed.  It must have been from all the pasta I feasted on last night.  Or the 14 gummy bears I ate pre-run.  Or the (ahem) 4 pounds (YIKES!) I gained over the holidays (yeah that's it).  Or because I ended my Streak and got to rest yesterday.  Or maybe it was born out of the frustration for not being able to complete my Streak, but this morning, I ran 5.

Yes, 5 miles, and it felt SO GOOD!  I think I am finally getting my running mojo back!  I went by feel and started out slow, afraid I'd injure myself.  Running 5 totally surprised me since I felt so done at the end of my 3.5 mile run just 2 days ago.  I'm so relieved.  I'm back on track.  I'm so happy to be following a training plan again. :)

3.  Inspired.  Finally, after basking in my personal triumph from this morning, I discovered this little video, and it made me smile and all warm & fuzzy on the inside.  What a wonderful thing to do on your birthday!  It inspired me to do something similar on my 40th (ACK!) birthday later this year - to give back, to be grateful, to bring smiles. So please check out what Lucas did on his 30th birthday below:

Three Things Thursday: Why I've Been MIA

So enough procrastinating on my part.  It is 12:17am, I have a 9 miler early tomorrow morning, but I am here, updating my blog.  Finally.  It's not Thursday, but it's never too late for Three Things Thursday.  So here is why I've been MIA for the past 2 months.  :)

The Month of May Excuses (lol)
The dreadful SOLs that my 8 y.o. has to take.  Thank goodness he's got a great memory, but I was on top of that boy since "last day of schoolitis" is going around.  He did great on those tests, by the way. 

Yard sale.  I love and hate yard sales.  Love them because it's a chance for me to get rid of our junk.  Hate them because I have to go through our junk to figure out which ones are junk and then to have to haul them all out onto the driveway.  Why I do this every year escapes me, but for a quarter for this and that, it helps me save many trips to Goodwill.

Ragnar Picnic.  I am the team captain, so did a lot of organizing, researching, to get 12 runners together to meet for the first time for most.  We had a blast. Perfect picnic weather, but that day I was exhausted.  I did an early morning run - 7 miles, I think, and all I wanted to do was lay down and sleep. 

The Month of June Whereabouts
Susan G. Komen 5K Race for the Cure.  This needs a race report which I will add to my growing list of must-write race report.  There is nothing like running a race with friends.  More later.

And then I got sick.  I had to skip a few runs which I did not want to do.

Fundraiser.  I got myself even more busy by planning a fundraiser!  In case you didn't know, I am running a race every month to raise money for LUNGevity Foundation for lung cancer research.  I did a used book sale fundraiser.  So for a month we were swimming in books donated by friends and neighbors.  It was heavenly to be surrounded by books but it got out of control, so my time went to organizing them all as if I lived in a library or a bookstore.

The Month of July Excuses
By this time I've had all 3 boys at home.  It's nice to not have to be up every 7am...and sleep in, but the challenge went into entertaining the boys.  So many trips to the library, park, the pool, and playdates outside.

My fundraiser was just last weekend.  I went from having just $50- in my donation bank to now almost $800-!  Thanks to friends who bought books and donated money online.  Oh and if you're wondering how you can help me beat the crap out of lung cancer, please go to my DONATION PAGE.

So the last week, I've been trying to reduce the amount of books I have here before I haul them to the used book store in town.  I've kept up my running since May, and last week signed up for a fitness challenge so I can lose the last 4 pounds I need to lose. 

So there you have it, my Three things for Thursday.  Why you haven't heard a peep from me.  In a nutshell.  I've missed visiting and reading everyone's blogs, but I am back, because I've missed the bloggy world.

Three Things Thursday: Three More Races!

I am a total addict.  I'm addicted to races.  I'm not a fast runner, but I love the rush of a race, the people, and especially the friends whom I get to run with.  A few days ago, I decided to sign up for 3 more races.


1)  Glow for Hope 10K - I'm excited about this one because it's a NIGHT race and lots of glow-in-the-dark possibilities to add to my running outfit.  I'm most excited about running this with lots of friends - my 2 running buddies from my last 10K, my Ragnar Relay teammates, and a couple of Mom's Club friends.  We're just as excited about the Beer Garden at the finish line and the craziness that can happen when you combine post-race euphoria, beer, and friends!!

2) Sunrise Stampede 5K - It's their inaugural race.  I love small town races.  Even though I almost always end up at the back of the pack, I love that it's not crowded and you can't beat the $15- registration fee too!  Running this one with the hubs.  We won't be running together - he's way too fast for me - but it's always fun to start together and to get that big hug from him at the finish line!

3)  Marine Corps Marathon 10K - On the other end of the spectrum is this huge race.  Nope, NOT the full marathon (YET).  I decided to run the MCM 10K because I NEEDED an October race that is not too close to my Ragnar Relay race.  I have no idea how long I would need to recover from Ragnar so I have this one set at the end of October.  Oh and I also like that you get a medal for running a 10K race too. Hee hee.  I'm a little nervous about this race being a week away from my 5K race and 2 weeks away from my first half marathon!  But I think I'll be ok.  I'm going to treat this one as one of my long runs and just have fun.  I haven't found a friend to do this race with me yet.  Hoping my friend Nikki does it with me.

Are you just as addicted to races as me?  How often do you have a race?  Every month, every other month?

Three Things Thursday: All I Want For Mother's Day....

The hubs and the boys already gave me an early Mother's Day gift - the gift of letting me race this Mother's Day weekend.  This Saturday, I am running the Manassas Runway 10K - it's an inaugural race on the airport runway!  How cool is that?!!  No hills, flat, AND I just found out last week they give out medals to all finishers!

I'm excited, a little nervous (because of the pressure I have deep down on myself to PR), but I couldn't ask for a better Mother's Day gift - it was a race that the hubs wanted to run too (he hasn't run a 10K race yet), but in the end let me do it since it is Mother's Day weekend after all.

So I'm all set for Mother's Day....but I was daydreaming this morning and thought, ohhhh....I wouldn't mind having THESE too....lol!

Garmin 210

1.  GARMIN 210.  I feel like I'm not worthy of one yet since I'm not really working on speed yet, just piling on the mileage, but oh what a neat gadget!  Love that with a quick glance, I know what my instantaneous pace is and how many miles I've covered so far.  LOVE!!

2.  Running Outfits:  Running Skirts and matching RunLove Compression Socks.  OK, I know that's 4 things but I couldn't decide which one I liked best.  I run in nothing else but running skirts and these skirts are just a few of my favorites...oh and I want all 4 of those socks.  :D

3.  Water-resistant Spi-belt.  For those less than 1 hour runs.  I have an arm-band but prefer putting my cell phone in a pocket or a pack and I've been wanting one of these since they're so light, not bulky, AND water-resistant.  (UPDATE: In light of Katie's comment below, ok, I wouldn't mind having a Fuel Belt too with the water bottles for those more than 1 hour runs (thanks, girl!) - I don't know which kind yet, not sure how many bottles I'd want, and I would like one with a pouch for cell, GU, etc.!)  :)

So that's my Three Things (more like  7 I guess) for Thursday.  A mom can dream, right?  Well if not for Mother's Day, birthday, Christmas....Do any of you have any of the above?  What do you think of them?

Three Things Thursday: Things I MUST Do Before the Weekend

My Three Things Thursday this week is a little boring, but it's what's on the brain.  Actually there's more than three things I need to do want to do, but here's the top three.

Laundry.  It never goes away at my house - not even for a minute.  The hubs has a race this Sunday, and we need to wash a big load of our running/exercise clothes.  Very grateful that the hubs does his share of it whether it's washing them, folding them or putting them away.  It's still something I never look forward to every week.  It's the bane of my existence.  Ugh!

Purging Forgotten/Old/Useless Toys.  We have 20 remote control cars and trucks like the one pictured above.  Really?  For 3 boys?  Time to purge!  I'm excited about doing this task, actually.  We have a community yard sale coming up at the end of May and I'm hoping to get rid of old toys then.  It can get pretty touchy feely with the boys when it comes to getting rid of old toys, but they come around and get inspired after I tell them they can keep the money they earn from selling their old toys.  Of course, after requiring them to save 10% of their "earnings," this usually means they can bring newer useless toys!  Ah, the irony!  What a vicious cycle we weave!

Catching up on my blog and everyone else's blog happenings.  I'm still playing catch up since the beginning of April!  I have half written blog posts waiting for me to finish, and I have blogger friends' blogs I want to read.  What's slowing me down is my Ukrop's Monument Av. 10K Race Recap Part 3.  I have to get over that hump to move on.  But this is one of my favorite tasks I do every week.  If I could blog all day I would!

So there you have it, my Three Things Thursday for the week.  Nothing exciting, nothing inspiring, it's what's consuming me lately. 

Can't wait to read your TTT!

Three Things Thursday: Celebrations

This girl's been so BUSY over here, and there's so much to blog about!  I feel horrible about giving an "in an nutshell" blog post, but it's going to have to be that - a synopsis - a should-have-been-3-separate-blog-posts, instead, condensed into my three things for Thursday:

 I WON!

 
I was one of 3 winners from Another Mother Runner's Video Contest!  I made a short video on how "I Run Like A Mother."  I got the pink running hat on the right and I LOVE it!  Can't wait to wear it on my next run!  If you haven't seen my little vid yet, check it out below!  ;)

I RAN for the first time in a month since my injury!

No walking, no jogging!  Ran 3 miles last Saturday and another 3 miles Monday!  It feels SO GOOD to be back to running again!  So grateful for my Physical Therapists for helping me out and so thankful I am finally healed (knock-on-wood).  In addition to graduating from Physical Therapy, I had an epiphany last weekend.  After another frustrating attack of plantar fasciitis on my left foot towards the end of my first 10K race, I finally took the time to google "arch pain and running shoes."  I was so ready to go back to Saucony Pro-grid Ride shoes (my first pair of running shoes) since they never gave me issues, but I really did not want to go back to traditional running shoes.  (Yes, I'm stubborn).  Well, can you believe I figured out the cause of my PF?  My left shoe is too big for my left foot!  When I doubled my socks on my left foot, I felt no pain!  Yay!  It worked on the 2 days I ran 3 miles.  So excited!  I am just hoping and praying I'm finally on the road to running again with no injuries.  Yay!

MY BOYS GOT STRAIGHT A's and S+'s!!!!

Proud Momma moment!  My boys brought home amazing report cards!  Cannot help but be proud of them, of course!

Thanks for "celebrating" with me!  I still need to post a Part II to my first 10K race.  I will be able to come up for air more and blog more once this week is over.

Three Things Thursday: "Do One Thing Every Day That Scares You"

This has always been one of my favorite quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt.  I don't know what it is about this year or the last 2 years that made me inch outside of my comfort zone. Last week, I definitely went outside of my comfort zone and just did these three things that seemed pretty scary to me at the time.

Submitting drawings to a juried art show - my first time! 

It's always a huge gamble, putting yourself, your art out there.  It makes me feel a little vulnerable which scares me a little.  I guess my art can be a little personal and the 3 drawings I submitted were a bit close to me.  I had been going back and forth between "should I?" and "should I even bother?" for the last 3 weeks.  Two days before the deadline, I decided, the heck with it, I don't want to end up thinking "what ifs" which is worse.  So I paid my fee and emailed my drawings and hoped for the best. (Update:  My drawings were not accepted into the show.  Well, at least I tried, right?  Need to try again next time!)

SIGNING UP for my FIRST HALF MARATHON :O) 

Deep down, my sister and I are trying hard not to throw up.

I was at the Ukrop's Monument Av. 10K Expo with my sister last Friday to pick up my race packet when we saw the SUNTRUST Richmond Marathon booth.  I had been thinking about running my first half marathon in Richmond for weeks.  Somehow, seeing their booth made me believe it was a sign that I should sign up.

So I signed up for my first half marathon, before my first 10K race with only five 5Ks under my belt.  What was I thinking?  Well, if Flea, from Red Hot Chili Peppers, can run the Buffalo Run Half Marathon and Drew Carey, who signed up for his first half marathon, had the guts to do it, then why not?  Right?

Doing the 10K race anyway, despite not being able to really run the whole way.

Me in yellow, yards away from the finish line, praying my painful calves wouldn't give out on me before I crossed the finish line.

My first 10K race wasn't exactly how I planned it.  I planned on running it.  Instead, I HAD to walk/jog it.  My physical therapist advised me against running it to prevent a relapse on my SI Joint Dysfunction.  After I got over the huge disappointment, my rational adult side of me knew I couldn't just skip the race.  I had raised money for the Massey Cancer Center, and I just couldn't disappoint my friends who had donated money in memory and in honor of someone they know who was touched by cancer.

So when my wave start group crossed the start line, it took a great friend and a lot of mental strength to keep me at a jogging pace and to slow to a walk at each water stop.  The ironic thing is, my lower back and ITB on my right leg did not bother me at all.  It was my calf muscles that started twitching and totally scared the crap out of me!  I did not want to give up.  I wanted to finish even if I had to walk.  So I slowed down to a walk whenever my calves started twitching.  It was painful physically, mentally, and spiritually because the rest of my body was saying, "go, you have the energy!  You have the cardio!  I know I can do this!"  But it was my calves that totally stopped me.  So I ended up walking more than jogging.  I almost walked over the finish line and I was like, "NO!  It can't be over!  I feel like I can keep going!"

But I finished and I did it.  It's done.  There is a next year.  But man, was that a tough race result to accept.  Well, it is what it is and at least I am rest assured I will have many more miles in front of me - risking everything for my first 10K was not worth it when I have a half marathon race coming up in November.

Three Things Thursday!

Hat

Outfit

Gear

Every Thursday before a weekend race, I start obsessing over what to wear.  The Ukrop's Monument Av 10K race is an "away" race, and a huge part of me wants to pack everything I've been considering, just in case I change my mind.  Again.  Like as I am typing this, I am already thinking this ensemble might be too hot.  Might ditch the long sleeve or should I go with white?  Or go with a black skirt?  Black skirts are not "chick-ish" though.  More on this at the end.  Do I really want to bring that Nathan hydration pack or not?  There will be 41,000 runners in this race and I would hate to fight the crowds to get a swig of water - in case it gets hot.  I typically don't bring anything with me when I do 6 miles, BUT.....

You're probably wondering what the heck is with that hat?  It's my chick hat.  My friend and I are dressing up as chicks - and her hubby is the chick magnet.  :P.  Just want to have a little fun at this race since it's going to be insane!!!  Looking forward to it though!  Wish me luck, please.  I'll find out tomorrow at my PT appointment whether I can go on a full out jog (though I'd rather run) on this race!