Running, Football, and Tuscaloosa

Those are a few of his favorite things.  Husband, that is.  

A few weeks ago when it looked like we were on the cusp of spring, we drove to Tuscaloosa, ran around campus for an hour (that double stroller is getting heavier and heavier), then played football on the quad, then enjoyed the river walk, then had lunch at Pepitos.  (holy run on sentence, Batman.)  

It was pretty much Husband's dream day.   And he deserved it.

My mini football team

The Zoo 5k and kids' race

Before I get started on this post, I need to tell you the reason I'm almost a month behind in posting updates ... I dropped/lost my camera in the Tidal Basin in front of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC.  True story.  I had a couple of ugly cries about it and I'm (a little) over it.  I lost 6 months of photos (all that hadn't been posted on the blog) And it really killed my blogging and picture taking mojo.  Luckily, Husband took a few pictures at the zoo and a few in DC on his phone so we're not completely pictureless ... but I am completely cameraless. boo.

Anyway, the zoo race was fun.  I didn't have any kind of record setting time (not by a long shot) but I did finish two minutes faster than I had been practicing at home.  So that WAS a victory.  My iPod froze right after the first mile and that was frustrating but I just tried to keep my pace and walk as little as possible.  There was a woman power walking behind me that would catch up to me when I was walking and she'd encourage me to keep going and get back to running every time she caught up to me.  She was a really big help in keeping me going.  I tried to find her after the race for a sweaty hug of thanks but I had zero luck with that.

The biggest most exciting part of the day for the kids was getting to run in the Chicken Cha-Cha (the short race for 3 and 4 year olds).  It was their first race and we practiced for weeks.  There were about 30 kids and it was mass chaos.  The kids had to run through and around the petting zoo barn and back to the finish line.  Son was in third place until he spotted the llama (every one remember when the llama spit on us last year? HE sure does.)  Well, he saw the llama, shrieked and turned around to run away.  luckily, one of the volunteers turned him around and encouraged him to keep going.  Bless is heart, he was a blubbering mess of llama fear and race excitement when he finished almost last.  Daughter ended up finishing 6th and did a great job.  They were both so excited to get race medals and race t-shirts to celebrate the day.

All three racers celebrating their finishes.

Daughter pretending to be a lion.

Son enjoying his carousal ride.

It was a lot of fun and, I think, easier than last year.  But I think that was because I was more familiar with the route that was mostly the same.  

I've only signed up for one more race (the Color Run on Labor Day) but I might do one or two more between now and then.  Right now I'm just concentrating on increasing my pace so that the power walkers can't catch up to me when I need to slow down and walk! It's slow going and hard but unless I break an ankle or some other such horrible thing, I'm going to keep at it.  My ultimate goal is a 30 minute 5k.  It's a long way away but I want to do it.  badly. 

DST or Running Restart

Weeks ago, I decided Sunday, March 11, 2012 would be the day I restarted my running schedule after taking the winter off. (I'm such a wuss when it comes to running in the cold.  I can handle 105 degrees as long as I have lots of water, but man, when it dips below 55, I put those running shoes back in the closet!)

Anyway, March 11 sounds a little arbitrary but it's also the day Daylight Savings Time begins.  With that extra hour of sunlight, Husband can join me (and a stroller full of kids) on a run.  And that's how I like it best.  Even though he's much faster than me(esp when I have the stroller), I still feel like we are doing it together.

Our plan right now is to run Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

MY plan is to start over the couch25k series that I've had great success with the past two summers.  But instead of just doing the 30ish minute podcast and being done, I am doing a 5k - every time I run.  (when the podcast is over, I restart it and go until I've reached a 5k) I figure that's the best way I can get my body used to running that far is just to DO IT from the start.  In intervals.  So yesterday my 5k was 46:57 because I was doing it to week 1 of couch 25k.  So I actually only ran 14 minutes of that 47 minute time.   (btw, it takes me about an hour to walk 5k)  This is the part of my post where I recommend sports-tracker.com.  I use it on Husband's android phone and really like it.

I have that huge 46:57 written on the calendar and I'm ready for a slightly smaller number each time I run.

I'm excited and optimistic about this approach.  The last two years I could easily manage all the podcasts but even at the end, I wasn't running fast enough to run a 5k in 30 minutes. So when the podcast was over, I was finished but never got the distance.  I'm hoping this will do the trick

After yesterday's run, I'm a little stiff and my left hip is hurting.  But overall, I feel good and I'm excited about doing it again on Tuesday.

I've got a race on the calendar for late April in Oneonta.  And, as of right now, that's the first one I'm planning on doing. I'm excited.

My July 5K (and some slime)

Saturday was my 5K for July.  It was fun because it's one that a sweet friend I've had since middle school organized (this is the 2nd annual) to benefit her church's missionary efforts in Haiti.  But when you don't really run on any kind of consistent basis in the 3 weeks before the race, you really can't expect to have a great run. And I was overheating and a lot of other excuses.  At the water stations I took a cup of water for my throat and a cup to pour down my back.   hot, hot, hot. Luckily, it was a pretty flat and easy course.

Anyway, kind of like the way Mandy and I hope to one day beat the mayor of HYT in a race, I hoped to beat one of Husband's law professors that was running.  But alas.  I stuck to him pretty close for most of the race but then I opted to walk from the mile 2 marker until the mile 3 marker.  He got ahead and beat me by about a minute.  And won 2 place in his age division: 65+  seriously.

a family picture right before the race started.  stretched and ready to go.

the kids LOVED the bouncy house during and after the race 

Looks like I'm really booking it, huh?  That's because I walked for A MILE and I had  some energy left at the end to hurry up and finish!  (I also got a little sunburn on my shoulders.  must remember sunscreen)

Son asked for something that I did not understand and neither did the face painter.  So I suggested a basketball.  He was pretty giddy about it.

with no prompting, Daughter asked for a pig.  She is currently in love with all things Peppa Pig.

After the race, we went to Mcwane for Slimy Slippery Saturday.  The kids were excited.  And then we got there and they saw how crowded it was and how hot it was outside and suddenly they wanted to go in and play with the bubbles!  I prompted them to do everything once and we'd go in.  

Son, going down the slide into the slime.  Daughter opted not to go up the slide because she said the rubber was too hot to touch.

Walking in the slime.  They thought that was cool.

Then they were ready to go in and do all their normal McWane things.  It was a fun and exhausting day. 

The 5k That Wasn't

Saturday was supposed to be my June 5k. I was going to race to the courthouse. Instead, I raced home and got in bed.

Starting Wednesday, the whole family took turns being a little sickly. Son, then Daughter, then me and lastly Husband (his always seems to last the longest). But I was sick Thursday night and spent most of the day Friday trying to feel better. I stayed hydrated and really felt like I could still run on Saturday.

I woke up Saturday morning and got dressed and ready to go. I was a little bummed that I was going by myself, but Husband was still sick and definitely in no condition to watch the kids while I ran. On the way, I actually had to stop because I got sick. boo.

But I kept driving. Went to pick up my (very) cool race shirt and goody bag and went home. And got in bed. And felt horrible. I really wanted to run.

The only consolation was that I ran a practice 5k on Wednesday and felt really good about it and had a good time (all while pushing the double stroller) So, I felt like Saturday would have been even better. oh, well.

On to preparing for July's 5k.

a Father's Day 5k

Husband ran his first 5k of the season on Saturday. And he did well. Not as great as he wanted to do, but still respectable (under 31 minutes). His playlist wasn't in order, there was NO WATER on the course and it was pretty hilly. But he did great. I'm always so proud to see him come into view at the finish line. I cheer and cheer and can usually get the kids to at least clap and shout out one "GO DADDY" This time I got so excited cheering that I didn't even take a picture at the finish line. eh. oh well.

The race was at Oak Mountain State Park and started and ended at the beach. I was glad about that because it gave the kids and I something to do while we waiting the 25-ish minutes for him to show up again!

Before the race.

family photo before the race.

the kids running to the beach

their first steps

respecting the boundary I put in place: DO NOT GET YOUR CLOTHES WET

Also respecting the boundary

still respecting the boundary with rolled up shorts

completely disregarding the boundary.

I'm not even going to tell you how much sand were in the pockets of those shorts!

Husband talking to his running buddy after the race.

We went back down to the beach again for about 30 more minutes before the kids changed clothes and we were off to our next destination.

P.S. My favorite part of Saturday was when Husband and I went to V.Richards for lunch and Frank Sinatra singing Nice and Easy started playing and he asked me to dance. It was nice, esp dressed in funeral clothes.

My June 5k - registered

In sticking to my "At least one race a month until October" goal, I have registered for my June race.

I'm running the Race to the Courthouse in downtown BHM. It's the first race that Husband ran two years ago and he really enjoyed it.

He's thinking about entering also (and running with the double stroller and kids).

We're already planning on running a practice race on the route the Sunday before. I think running downtown is pretty cool. (I'd also like to live there)

I'm excited.

We've kept up a very consistent schedule of running at night on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. But my shins and calves have been KILLING me, so I usually take one of those nights slower than normal but for a little break.

It's been a nice family activity. We're running a new route (not the cemetery anymore) that ends up right at the community ball parks and playground. So Husband and I run/walk for 30 minutes then the kids get to play for about an hour. Then we walk home. It works out really well for us.

The Birmingham Zoo 5k and a visit with the primates

The 5k at the Birmingham Zoo Saturday was pretty fun. I enjoyed it. Jessica and her kids came PLUS we also saw another Judson girl, The Doctor JF.

My official time was 38:46. (I finished 348 out of 457+) Not bad considering I had a set jog/walk schedule. I'm still working on couch25k and I am on week 5. So I just did week 5 and repeated it until I finished. jog 8 minutes, walk 5, until the finish line. I haven't decided on my next 5k. (but hopefully it'll be sometime in June and I would like my time to be around 34 minutes then)

Before the race. Jessica raced with her son and a non-jogging stroller. Which is probably heavier than our double jogging stroller (with kids). She did great with that extra weight.

(Note to self: Your boobs and torso are much bigger than they were in college. hide that shirt until it fits.)

that's me, behind a tree. hair whipping in the wind, caught running like a flamingo.

This was right at the end.

It was really fun jogging though the zoo. I liked seeing the animals (but I didn't really like smelling the "zoo smell" a couple of times. does not bode well for running!)

Daughter with the Cow.

As soon as I suggested that the Cow was probably friends with Big Owl and Aubie, she was all for meeting him. Son, on the other hand, shrieked every time he saw one of the 3 cows. I don't blame him. In his world, cows stand on four legs in a pasture and eat grass. They don't walk around on two legs, wearing hats and high fiving little kids.

post race with our race food swag. The best thing about 5k races is all the free stuff.

Son and Daughter with Mindy and the elephant who shot water mist out of his trunk.

All four kids, so excited to see the animals.

Son was in a primate coma. He was mesmerized as soon as this little buddy came and sat down right in front of him.

They were equally excited about the lemurs.

Next the mommies showed the boys a couple of guys eating breakfast ...

These guys.

Seriously, being at the zoo at 9:00am is fantastic. Breakfast time. I have never seen the primates so active. climbing, jumping, cleaning, playing, eating. It was a fun time.

I changed clothes and headed South after the primate house for some sewing. More on that on Thursday.

Tune in tomorrow for all the zoo fun Husband and the kids had after I left.

First 5k of the season AND sewing

I double booked myself for Saturday and I hope it means double fun -- I'm pretty sure it will, anyway.

I haven't been to the Birmingham Zoo in nearly a decade but on Saturday, I will be running [and walking] a 5k there. HURRAY. I had a high school friend and a college friend who signed up also, but then because of work conflicts, they can't run. I'm excited, but I'm not ready. I know I'll be walking a little. but I'm excited nonetheless. I have to start somewhere and starting at the zoo sounds like a fun fun thing to do. Plus, since I'm racing, I get in for free and Husband and kids get in for $5 each. Not too shabby. If fun is had by all, we may decide to get a family season pass.

So, after I get cooled down from the run, I'm headed to Prattville for our Second Saturday Sewing day. (a bag. I'm pretty excited.)

Husband and the kids are planning on staying at the zoo for as long as he can stand it. I'm excited for the anticipated fun they are going to have.

The new running shoes just arrived.

When I picked the box up off the porch, I seriously thought it was empty. These shoes are so light weight. I can't wait to try them out!

Christy Ross, sent from phone

It's a measuring day ...

... but I'm not measuring today. So instead of looking at some names of body parts and their corresponding numbers, look at these cute kids.

Why no measuring today? Well, because for the last few weeks I have been such a slacker. I can tell ZERO difference in my body and I'd rather not take the chance of getting down because the numbers went up.

I've spent drastically less time on the weight bench and the elliptical. But on the up side we've been outside A LOT.

We've gone hiking twice. Walking (a 5k) three times and running (the couch to 5k program) three times. The weather has been too nice to stay in on the elliptical. But My knees and hips have been begging me to just sit and crochet instead of getting on the elliptical on non-running days.

I ordered some new running shoes. So that's nice. Nothing fancy or special. Just a pair of New Balances that are in the "performance running" category. And they were on sale and I had a coupon. So that makes it better too. I'm excited for them to arrive and hopefully I'll get a little relief on my knees and hips.

I have scheduled (but not signed up for) my first 5k of the season. March19th, It's the Clay House 5k in the Bham area if anyone is interested in joining. I will definitely not be ready in the sense that I will be able to run the entire thing (I'll only be on week 6 of C25K by then) but it'll be the last 5k I can enter before my 30th birthday. I'd like to give it a go.

Sunday RUN Day (or how I almost killed myself 2 days ago)

Sunday after the park and a trip to Wal-mart for soil to start my seeds for the garden. I had the brilliant idea to run outside.

I've been on the elliptical for 30 minutes a day, 5 or 6 times a week for a month and a half. Surely, I could handle week 4 of couch to 5k. surely.

surely. NOT.

I forgot how much of running is mental. And skipping to week 4 is like skipping an entire month of preparing mentally. I also forgot how HIGH impact running is. burning 400 calories in 30 minutes on the elliptical is like taking a bubble bath in clouds when compared to running on pavement. seriously.

My lungs were like, "It's 65 degrees out here. WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO US?!?"

My calves and quads were like, "This hurts. This hurts a lot. We're going to make you pay for this for days."

My feet were like, "Those insoles are crap. You need to buy new shoes."

My stomach was like, "Stop or you'll be sorry." I threw up five minutes later and they mocked a little more, "See, I told you."

The stomach evacuation meant I missed one of the 4 runs. But Husband ... Husband was a rock star. He had the double stroller with two sleeping kids in it and still completed it. He did amazing. He pushes me for sure.

The kids after we finished. Son just starting to wake up.

Husband resting.

Me pretending that I'm mostly ok.

time to replace. insoles or no insoles.

I asked Daughter is she wanted to get out and run and she said, "maybe later." I reclined her seat so she could get a little more comfortable.

loving on Son. waiting on Daughter to wake up.

Finally awake and ready to go. I love how Son runs a little like Phoebe Buffay. He's all out.

Unfortunately, he's also a little clumsy. And Daughter got a little too close. Son tripped. Daughter was right behind him and landed on him. There were tears. But no broken skin.

After a short break to listen to music by the big tree they were ready to run again.

After his fall, Son only wanted to run while holding Husband's hand.

I was happy that even after they fell neither kid wanted to go back to the car.

Daughter got to decide our path because she was the first runner.

Husband wanted me to take this picture and he made sure to ask if I lined up the sun between the trees. (yes, I did.)

We ended up doing the 30 minutes of intervals of week 4 and then we kept walking (5 laps is 3.3 miles. a 5k is 3.1) to finish 5 laps plus let the kids sleep a little longer. Then they wanted to run an almost entire lap.

It was fun, but wow, I my quads are still so sore. Even after stretching and time on the elliptical yesterday. Husband is coming home a little early today so we can run again. I think I'm going back to WEEK ONE!!!

In Shape, Here I Come

I'm going to be 30 this year (in late March) I'm not afraid of 30. I don't think I'm suddenly old and whatever else the people who freak out about 30 think. But I do think it's past time for me to get in shape and actually train for those 5k races I want to run. Plus I have lots of great clothes from back when I was a single woman with a great income who loved to spend money on clothes, clothes and more clothes. (plus my favorite pair of jeans Seven for All Mankind that I can't even bare to look at because I am too big for them)

BTW, I didn't run a single race last summer. I claimed it was too hot to train, so I slacked off to the point that I quit. I walked a little, but that's about it.

Husband and I have talked a lot about how we don't like taking the kids out for walks in the winter when it's 40 degrees outside, but WE still have to do something active. Gym memberships are out. We just don't have the money for it, plus if I go during the day while he's at work I would have to pay for childcare. And if we went together in the evenings, we'd still have to pay for childcare. Suddenly the cost of our monthly gym membership would almost double.

For our anniversary, I gave Husband this weight bench. Well, it was my idea to give it to him, but because of the cost we decided it would be our gift to each other. I started pricing weight benches and found this one at Academy. And three days before I anniversary it went on sale! $15 dollar off. SCORE. We got the 160lb weight set to go with it. It's definitely what we need for now and then some. Plus we can always add more weights on to it later (when/if Husband starts using more weights)

You can't really see the leg press because if I zoomed out any more, you'd be able to see how messy our room was!

For Christmas we asked for this elliptical trainer. It's the Gold's Gym one at Wal-Mart. I love it. (Because of the pneumonia Husband hasn't been on it much) It even has an iPod dock but so far I have been watching television while using it.

Again, I'm not trying to be vague with the pictures ... just trying to hide the clutter!

I've started my own program

day 1: elliptical 30 minutes, weights

day 2: elliptical 30 minutes

day 3: elliptical 30 minutes, weights

day 4: off day

repeat.

It's going well. I've stuck to it everyday since I started except Monday when I took Husband to the doctor. And I felt like my sinuses might explode.

results? already.

We don't have a scale and to tell you the truth, I don't want one. The last time I was weighed was at my 6 weeks postpartum appointment after Son was born. Instead, Husband and I measured each others body parts we wanted to shrink/sculpt/whatever.

For me it was thigh, hips, waist, chest and arm.

For Husband it was waist and chest.

I am only measuring every 3 weeks. (that's the hard part. sometimes I want to do it everyday) So I only have my original calculations. BUT I do have jeans that used to be tight that I can now take off without unzipping and unbuttoning. SO excited.

I am 2/3 sizes away from the fabulous clothes in my closet I haven't been able to wear in years.

and because of my 30 minutes on the elliptical I think that 5k aren't horribly far away either. I'll be excited for a warm day (60+) so I can get outside and see how close I actually am!

I'd love to run a 5k on my birthday, but it's the week between the 19th and the 26th. So, those are the days I'm looking for races on. I'm going to search Active.com soon for possible races.

guys, I'm so excited about this. It's hard to even express. I really love running and now I have a great off season way to get in shape and stay in shape! I'm excited to feel like I'm in charge of my own body again. And to have my body feel "like me" again.

a running update

where have all the running updates been?

oh wait ...

no running = no running updates.

it's true.

BUT, I ran today. and plan to walk tomorrow. and run Wednesday. and on and on and on.

I'm not going to lie. Today's run felt like I haven't ran in weeks. because ... oh wait. I haven't.

But as always it felt great when it was over and I relished that runners high that I lived on last summer.

Last night while at Wal-mart to get chicken, I also got two sports bras, a pair of running leggings, 2 pair of running shorts and two tops. I've got to learn to stick to the list better.

I jest.

But the new clothes did help. It's important (for me anyway) to be comfortable in what I'm running in. And that means a lot more than just good running shoes. It means pants that don't ride up or sag down and tops that don't ride up exposing the jiggle I'm running to get rid of!! And most importantly, a good bra. The two I got were both Danskin and the one I wore today worked great. I recommend making that $11 purchase to anyone wondering.

I've decided to run in the HYT 5k (the one I ran last year). It's October 2. I'm not even going to make any silly "promises" like I want to finish with this time or I won't walk. I just want to finish and do the best I can.

we're recommitting

to the run.

Remember a few months ago when I was ever so excited about getting back to 5k training? well, here is where that went.

no where.

I never made to to week 3. sad but true. lack of motivation mostly. I just didn't have the drive.

running is so mental.

but today, Husband and I have recommitted ourselves.

We both have races we want to run in and we know we can do it.

this time.

(p.s. It's thundering right now. great.)

it feels nice

I just got back from a two-ish mile jog with Jack (the good jogging dog) to pay our local utilities bill.

I definitely haven't been pushing myself like last year. I've been walking about 4 times a week ... but no jogging.

I needed a nice mind cleaner-outer tonight before going to bed to start the week anew. Feels good.

tingly legs.

achy feet.

cramping hand. (from gripping the dog leash)

the sweat.

the breeze on my face.

it really feels good.

and helps me sleep better at night. Jack had fun too. He got to smell 7 new things before I pulled him along to keep up.

running, running, running

I ran today. It felt amazing: like I was dying and being born all at the same time.

This is my third run of the season as I'm starting to get back in the swing of things for 5k season.

I'm so excited to get back to running again. I really fell in love with it last summer.

Right now I've got my Google Calendar pulled up in a tab and my Active.com search results for local 5k races pulled up in another. Trying to figure out what races will fit into our schedule will be harder this year for sure. But I'm so excited.

I'm training with Podrunner Intervals {you can find it on iTunes} this year. It's not as much fun as the Couch to 5k podcasts I found last year, but I think the pace is a little faster so I'm toughing it out.

I still haven't decided what my first race will be. I have decided I'd like to run 3 races this year and I would like my best time to be 30:00 ... Yes. I know this isn't an amazing time. but it's an amazing time for me and what I'm shooting for. and if I can do better? hurray for me!!

And Husband will be running again too. He'd love to do a 10k this season but it all really depends on how much training time he can get in. {Podrunner Intervals also has 8k and 10k programs}

ok, back to the calendar and search results!

opted out.

changed my mind.

wussed out.

took the easy way out.

quitter.

blah blah blah.

call it whatever you want. put whatever label you want on it. whatever justification you need.

I'm not running in the 5k Saturday.

ready for my 'reasons?'

number 1. I guess is that I just don't want to. yes. I think running in the cold is hard. and I have the sinus infection to prove it.

on the one hand I feel like a quitter for not pushing through and making it happen. on the other hand, I feel relieved that my sinus troubles have subsided and I can breathe normally again.

I'm still going to the 5k, just as an athletic supporter. <-- go ahead. laugh at my 7th grade joke.

and now that I'm not running every other day, I feel so lazy. my jeans feel tighter. I've even resorted to doing sprints in my driveway during the warmest parts of the day and pulling out old VHS workout videos just to get my exercise fix.

I'm ready for spring.

running in the cold bbbbrrrrrrrrrr

I've never really fancied myself a sissy. I've always thought I'm pretty tough. mentally and physically. I'm also really healthy. I never get the flu and only have mild sinus issues twice a year when the weather changes. BUT, I've never really run for miles in the cold before.

My next 5k is less than a month away so I'm back to running every other day/night. no matter the weather. (I've come to like running in the rain) I've discovered I like running at night. just me and my headphones. nothing but my tattoo as identification if I'm abducted and murdered. (yes, I think about that a little every time I leave my house to run for a mile and a half and back at 10.30 at night)

well, with night comes cooler temperatures. my sinuses have been going crazy. for the past 2 weeks every time I run (every other day) my sinuses get congested and I feel horrible. while nasal irrigation and pressing on my sinuses, most of it is gone by the time of my next run. but seriously. it's taking its toll. I'm not big on taking lots of medicines, but even if I wanted too, I'm limited right now as to what I can actually take and it not mess with Son.

it's hurting me. I hear I will get used to it. I hear I'll love to run in the cold more than the hot, but that remains to be seen.

please.
please.
please.
let it be seen soon.

I'm hoping with the help of Mandy I'll have an improved time on this 5k and reach my goal of not having to walk.

I've also switched my training to Podrunner Intervals (can be found on iTunes). The sessions are a few minutes longer than what I was previously doing and I feel like that's helping with my pace and endurance.

I survived my first 5k!

I survived. It was amazing.

ok. so I didn't meet my goal of not walking, but I did surpass my secret time goal. either way, it was a victory. Mandy and I started out together and would have probably finished together if I didn't stop to walk, because I thought I was going to throw up. [coffee 30 minutes before running a 5k = bad idea]

At the 2 minute mile mark, Mandy announced we were making great time. The first time I tried to walk, she encouraged me to keep going. It was so great to have an encourager right beside me pushing me to do my best and then I in turn trying not to let down. I think I'd like to run all my races with Mandy!

I finished at 38:58 ... which I thought was so amazing because my practice time on Tuesday was almost 43 minutes!

I woke up Saturday morning at 6am and said to myself, self I said, "why did I pay some one money for the privilege of running down the roads of my hometown at 8am?" but now I have the bug. I'm excited about doing more training tonight and I'm trying to decide on my next race!

Superstars: Mandy & Christy [I look a lot more tired than I am!]
I'm glad I decided to wear pink. it made it easier for Husband to find and photograph me in the crowd of navy and grey.

During the race, Daughter got her first balloon. She wore it around on her wrist for the next 12 hours.

And as always, Son enjoyed the race from the comfort of his infant seat.

with my Brother after the race. even with a pulled muscle he had a great time.

I think it's worth noting that the mayor of Hueytown ran in the 5k and beat our times. but in our defense, he's in great shape for a 56 year old man!

also noteworthy, Mandy's husband ran the race in just over 25 minutes and was 3rd in his age division.

I can't wait to race again.