Ragnar and Leg #1

POST #100 WOWZER!!!

What a memorable, crazy experience Ragnar Relay was! I don’t think I will be able to come close to describing it all in my recap. First I want to say that it was like nothing I have ever done before. Everything felt different and exciting in an entirely different way. The whole team effort thing changes the whole dynamic of the runs that you do. From supporting runners to being supported, it was one of the most fun things I have done.

The dynamics of the race are crazy, 187 miles, 24 hours, 3 legs, two vans, no sleep, sweaty people, little food, competing with other runners, beautiful sites, night running, moonlight, red blinky lights, text tattling, porto-potties galore, funny outfits, crazy team names, holy HILLS, laughter, hot sun, downhill, and an amazing team describe it a little.

So true...

I really had no idea what to expect. I knew who most of my team were but have never spent a lot of time with them so I was looking forward to getting to know them better and I all I can say is that in a van for 36 hours with no sleep…you get to know people! I will say that I really have nothing bad to say at all…all of it was great.

Our Team name: Smells Like Team Spirit

Team Members:
Van #1 Alice, Jordan, Dave, Lindsay, Darcy and Holly
Van #2 Remy, Min, Jen, Corinne, Jill and Shannon

Start time: 11 am Blaine, WA
We decorated our van the night before which was great to meet the majority of our team. Woke up early and headed out for Blaine. Packing is a challenge when you don’t know what you will need. I realize now that I packed too much stuff and had way to much stuff all over the van…lesson learned.

The starting line...

Alice starting us out. She is an amazing runner. She ran Boston this last March!

Here our some of the crazy costumes....

Nice...

Since we were van #2 and didn’t start until 4 pm or so we had some down time. We saw Alice off at the starting line after some team pictures and headed to get some lunch before we met up at the exchange. Was hoping for a nice sit down meal before our starting time, but no luck and downed a burger from twilight zone hamburger place. Not my usual fuel but I was desperate! It really was a strange place, but the burger was good. Got to our exchange and waited for our team to come in.

Jen and I before all the crazy running began.

Go, Min Go

The ladies of Van #2 Shannon, Jen and Corinne

You can't read it but it says.."I'm petrified of Nipple Chafing"

The gents of Van #2 Remy and Min

Van #1...finishing their first LEG...our turn now.

I was curious to see how things would change once we started the race and it was GAME on once Remy started his leg. Remy was our first runner and went out like a champ! He had super hilly 1st Leg and KILLED it. He is a great runner…super speedy. IT was fun to cheer him on throughout his leg.

Exchange 6...where it begins for Van #2

Holly finishing her first leg...Way to Go HOLLY!

Van #1 finishes and Van #2 begins...Go Remy!

That is a hill and he still had more to go!

A few more runners and then it was my turn…Runner #11. My first leg was marked as hard and would be my longest of the 3. I had a major hill, then downhill and then flat. Looked decent….Corinne handed me the bracelet and I was off. My pace was way too fast during the beginning, sub 8’s and I knew I had to slow down to make it through, but it was feeling so great. Great music and it was shady during my run. Headed up the hill and it wasn’t bad…it was a good size hill, kind of like Mile Long hill but maybe a tad steeper. But then my iPod stopped working, just died…maybe because it was in my sweaty bra? Who knows but it had still not turned back on. I was so bummed because I had just downloaded some great music and was only 1.5 miles into my first leg…this was not good. My team drove by and I told them and at the top of the next hill our team captain Jen loaded me an ipod…whewww! Luckily I have run without an iPod so it wasn’t all bad. I just figured God preferred I talk to him for a bit during this leg which I was down with. Had a great few miles of talking to God about some things and then turned some music on for the long flat part of my leg. The view was AMAZING, beautiful farm lands and cute houses all around. Other teams cheered me on and it was so fun seeing my team drive my hollering cheers at me. It strange that when you’re running for a team, you push yourself so much harder the WHOLE time, it’s weird and I can’t say that I have ever experienced that feeling before. It was so exciting and the time seemed to FLY by and before I knew it….I was passing the bracelet onto Shannon, our last runner before we exchanged with Van #1 and we got a long break.

Waiting for Corinne

Corinne finishing her first and me starting my first

Woohooo...there is my team!  Loved seeing my team on my runs!

Running at about mile 3 of my first leg.

This is getting long and we aren’t even halfway through…more to come!

RAGNAR!

Why do I always wake up earlier than I need to.  I am 30 minutes early and am totally ready.  Well I guess that leaves me time to do a quick post.  I am heading out for the Ragnar Relay Northwest Passage.  I am excited and nervous because this is unlike anything I have ever done.  Everyone on the team is faster than me but few have run a full marathon, not sure if that makes a difference or not...but hey...I will take it.  I am running a harder leg than initially planned and I hope it goes well. 

Runner 11:

Leg 1   6:23 pm    6.8 Miles Hard
Leg 2   2:34 am    4.7 Miles VERY Hard
Leg 3   10:46 am  3.7 Miles Moderate

I have packed and have my outfits and food ready to go.  Who knows how much sleep I will get...not much I am sure.  The smell of 6 other runners will be one to remember I am sure...and not for the better. Our team name is "Smell Like Team Spirit"...which will for sure be true. 

Pray that it all goes well and that I do well.  Especially for Leg 2!  I have never run in the dark, but I am sure it will be an experience...very calming, scary and I am sure other things!  Hoping for the best.  I have logged many miles so in that way I feel prepared, but running in a new place can be different and to have no idea how the hills are is a little scary.  I have hills in all of the runs, but Leg 2 has the most...should be FUN!

Next post....Ragnar Race Recap!

10 Miles is so great with a friend!

Saturday was my first double digit run since my marathon and it felt so good.  Again it was at Ruston which I love for a 10 miler...it's the perfect route.  The route is great because it's broken into 3 sections that seem to make it easy on the mental side of things.  I was bummed that I couldn't run with the "You Go Girl" training group, but I hope to do that in a couple of weeks.  The plan was for for Andrea to pick me up at 5:45 am so we could get the run over without wasting the majority of the morning.  Set the alarm, which I never do and went to bed.  Slept great until my eyes opened at is was 5:50...my alarm didn't go off.  Andrea was already parked in front of my house ready to go.  Ran down stairs and popped a bagel into the toaster, I had to eat something for my 10 miler, got dressed and was out the door in about 15 minutes.  I didn't feel like running once we got there, I was tired and frustrated about my alarm, but we started running and after about a mile I was feeling good.  The weather was great, a little cold when we started but you warm up so fast when you're running.  A little over 3 miles we ran into Diana and the other gals who were starting their training run for You Go Girl...always fun running into friends on a run.  Finished the waterfront and started to head back with a stop at Starbucks for some water.  At mile 8.5 we ran into Diana and crew again and chatted for a few and then onto the finish.  It was a great run and I could have kept going...I love those kind of runs.  I am still in shock at how great my legs have been feeling and hope I can say the same after Ragnar this weekend.

In some exciting news...my friend, Rachel who I ran with on Monday (recap tomorrow) is very crafty.  She had heard about the sweaty bands and decided to start making them.  I love crafty people as I am not CRAFTY at ALL!  I wish I was!  She made two to test out and I can't wait to see how it holds up at Ragnar this weekend.  If it works I will be for sure doing my first giveaway with these great head bands. She is trying to figure out a name for them...any ideas?   As of now I love them and they work great.  I especially love the look of the one she made for me to test...Black with white stitching....isn't it cute?

100 & 97!

100 Followers and my 97th post...AMAZING!  I noticed 2 weeks ago that I had 100 followers and then the next day it was back to 99, maybe someone was tired of my cuteness and speedy runs?  Either way I am so excited to have 100 followers today! Thank you to Lisa at From Fat to Marathon runner for being my 100th follower!  Lisa, I can't wait to read more of your blog.  Did you really run the London Marathon?  I have to read on to find out all these details.

I had a GREAT run with Jamie yesterday and can't believe that I forgot to take a picture afterwards.  Too hard to remember when all your thinking about is getting you kid strapped in and finding a G2.  It was a fun (HOT) run of 8 miles and we got to catch up on all things running.  We talked about how we used to be so nervous to run with people, but we find it so enjoyable now.  I have to say that running with someone and talking can slow you down a bit, plus just coming off a marathon, I am a bit slower at the moment, but I would take running with someone and chatting it up anytime over a solo killer pace run.  Thank you Jamie for letting me go my pace and spending 8 miles with me.  So fun getting to know a friend over a run.  I am really looking forward to more runs with friends now that my marathon.  I'm also excited to watch Jamie go after her marathon dreams and hope to do some training runs with her as she gets into the long runs.

Since we didn't get a picture, here is one from the 4h of July!

Tomorrow, I will RUN!

Looking forward to my run tomorrow with Jamie at Nurse Runner.  This will be our first runner together and I can't wait.  She is faster than me, but hey...that is not that unusual.  She has just started training for her marathon so we will have so much to talk about it.  Plus this will be the first time we will be hanging out without our boys!  Isn't running great.  She is struggling with some knee issues so please visit her blog and see if you can offer any tips and/or ideas for her.

Still working on my rental house and the last two days have been DIFFICULT!  Today seems to be a little better and I think running tomorrow will be a great stress reliever.  I did get in a couple runs in the last few days and they have felt great.  It's amazing how much running is such a stress reliever.  Getting out there was the hardest part but once I was going, it felt great.  They were both evening runs and it was so nice to enjoy the blue sky's and the sun setting.  Saturday I figured I would go 3-5 miles, but my legs wanted more and I ended up going 8.5 and only ended because it was dark and I had no reflective gear on.  I really could have kept going.  Plus I wore my AMAZING running skirt that I LOVE.  I think my cousin, Jenny loves them too!  She just got her skirt and sweaty band and is in love...but who isn't when you get their amazing products.  RUNNING SKIRTS.com ROCKS!  My next run wasn't as easy but it felt good to do it.  Running was the last thing I wanted to do but knew I had to do it and of course I was so glad I did it.  I love running this time of year because of how light it is in the evening...it's the best.

Tonia is the best at these pics...You have to teach me Tonia!  I can do self portraits but getting it from this angle is hard.  Can we book a training session for full body shots Tonia...lets say September?

One week until Ragnar and I hope I will be ready, but either way it's a week away and I have to keep running.  I am so glad I had something on the calendar because with everything going on I would have for sure not been running much.  RAGNAR saved the day.  It's sure to be a FUN 24 hours!  ANY tips about RAGNAR, RELAYS?  Anything?  You know how much I love advice, tips and anything else you think might help. 

Here are a couple pictures from today with my niece and nephew in their mom's mini...I thought it was cute and had to get a picture!

Chase-Man buckled himself and everything...no one prompted him...he just did it. Not sure if I am more scared about that or what...I will just call it cute for now.

"Key Mommy" He kept asking for the key...it was cracking me up!

It's Hot, but I got a NEW pool!

It's HOT!  And I don't mean Paris Hilton HOT either.  How do you all run in crazy HOT weather?  I guess you get acclimated to certain weather so it's normal for most of you.  Hats off to those of you who continue to run and endure those crazy temps.  Due to this warm weather and other crazy things going on in my life...Running has fell to the back burner for this week.  I am thinking of maybe fitting in a evening run tonight, since tomorrow will be out of the question.  I have Ragnar in less than two weeks so I have got to keep it up and stay focused.

I have been consumed with fixing up our rental house for new tenants.  It's consuming me and also some other family things going on that I had refereed to before my marathon.  If you know me well, you know that very few things stress me out...but a those few that do are happening right now.  Our rental house is totally stressing me out, which is no good.  We have had to pull-up the carpets, re-paint, flea bomb the house 4 times and still have a work party happening tomorrow to fix more stuff.  I am OVERWHELMED like never before and it's hard to see an end in sight.  Maybe that's why I haven't been blogging much lately...too much crazy stuff going on at the moment.  We had to kick out the non-paying tenants, who haven't pain since April and now have to pour more money into cleaning up everything they messed up...not fun.  Sorry that I am venting...This is also why I need to run.  See what happens when I am thrown off my schedule and running takes a back seat....nothing good. 

In some GOOD news, (minus the crap going on) we have had such a fun week.  I have to say that the only thing better than enjoying summer as a kid, is watching your kids enjoy their summer.  Don't be jealous, buuuuttttt we have a new pool...it's new and I don't want to brag but it's pretty FREAKING awesome.  The four of us...hubby, both kids and I enjoyed it yesterday as we soaked in the sun and refreshed ourselves in the cool water!  I can't believe how some water can make life so much fun when you're in the sun.  We have a slide in our pool too which the kids love.  I am now the pool cleaner, which I don't mind...kind of fun.  Here are some pictures of our lovely pool...again...please don't be jealous...we are just really blessed (with 50% of at Fred Meyer...you could be too).

Ok so maybe it's just another kiddie pool, but we love it.  And I was not joking...all 4 of us were in it...always a good time at our house!  How great that something so little could be so much fun.

Yep...told ya we had a slide!  Jealous yet?

Max is a little big for this..but don't tell him.

Hello Cole!

Can't beat Watermelon on a hot day!

Oh and a lot of baseball....Cole is a fanatic!

Because of all the craziness I wasn't able to run the GREAT, AFFORDABLE 5k this morning with Tall-Mom and Muscle man.  Mel did great!  Wish I could have done it...I am dying to run a 5k.  Maybe I will go do that right now!  Thanks for checking out our new pool!  Feel free to come on over anytime you want to take a ride down our water slide...You are always welcome!  Just can't guarantee the 90 degree weather. 

Oh and a MAJOR shout out to Steph who ran her first 50 miler today....there are some amazing people in our bloggy world!  Congrats Steph...You are AMAZING.

What now?

Since my marathon is over I have felt lost on what to blog.  I started this blog to journal my journey to running my first marathon.  I never really thought about "after" I finished that goal?  So here I am writing as a MARATHONER and I feel lost.  Thank goodness I have a few races coming up which is keeping me mentally in the running game.  After my first half marathon, last year I took a longer break than I had planned.  This time I was better prepared and had a few things lined up for the next few months and plus having local running friends really helps a ton. 

I had a great run on Saturday with my best friend and we ran on Ruston, which is one of my favorite routes.  It was a perfect day and such a fun run.  They were setting up for the 4th of July so it was a happening place.  I love running with best friend and am really looking forward to doing more of that this summer.  We haven't done it much since I have been training, but now I am going to make sure that we do it a lot more.  An easy paced run with my BF is the best and so enjoyable.  I do most of my runs on my own, so anytime I have a friend to run with...I soak it up.  The best part was when we were finishing around 12:30 and I looked at her and reminded her that a week ago I had crossed the finish line!  Such a great thought.

I went on my first run the Thursday after my marathon and it was GREAT.  I couldn't believe how good I felt and was shocked that less than a week before I had ran 26.62 miles.  My legs felt great and I was thankful I had let my legs recover and rest.  Running without a marathon in my future is strange.  You adapt your life to this one goal for so long and now it's over and it's strange.  Plus I used to eat knowing I had a long run in the next week and now my longest run will be about 10 miles so and I have to remind myself that I can't eat whatever.  I don't want to go back to where I was weight wise.  I feel the best that I have in a long time and I want to keep moving in the right direction.  I wish I didn't like food so much.  I am closer to my weight goal than ever and I don't want to lose that.  I don't want to get lazy!  I want to keep moving forward with what I have worked so long for.

Next up is a 5k this weekend.  July 23&24 is my first ever Ragnar Relay which I am so looking forward to and then September is "You Go Girl" which is going to be ONE big PARTY that you are all invited to. 

Looking forward to the future and hoping to get a good weekly work out routine down now that my focus has changed.  

Today I am thankful for:

My husband, who is a GREAT dad!

Getting in a great run on a beautiful day.

The sun!

Watching Max enjoy his first day at Vacation Bible School.

Good Friends!

Random Marathon thoughts...and too many pictures!

What a difference a week can make!  Last week seemed to drag on forever and this week has FLOWN by.  My marathon was like childbirth...Like when I was pregnant and I could only focus on the birth on not much beyond that moment.  Everything (for that last 7 months), until last Saturday was about my marathon and I couldn't see much beyond that and here I am beyond it and LOVING every minute.  I loved running my marathon and knew that the whole day would be one of those days that I would look back on and miss.  I loved every moment from picking up my friend Jamie until I crossed the finish line to reunite with all my family and friends.  The memories I take from that day will last forever.  You never get your first marathon back and my friends will not be as excited for my next one... so knowing all that...last Saturday was a SWEET day that I will never forget. 

A few thoughts:

• I am so bummed that I wasn't able to spend more time at the expo.  There is a lot of great things to see and it takes more than 2 hours.
• I hate that I missed people.  I have read blogs and heard about friends who ran it and I never saw them...shoot.
• Having friends run in the same race, even if they are not your pace, is the best.  Just knowing that they are waiting for you at the finish line and experienced what you have is such a bonding thing.
• Meeting bloggers from out of town that I have been reading about was honestly the HIGHLIGHT of it all.  I am a total people person and love getting to know new friends so the whole bloggy, meet-up and dinner was the BEST.
• I loved that I ran to finish so that when my finish time was a minute over, it didn't really bug me (even though you and I both know that I ran 26.61 miles so actually I probably did run my marathon in under 5 hours) and just the fact that I ran a marathon is so darn exciting to me.
• The fact that I faced the imposable (well I thought) and I never have to do it again, if I don't want to...is the best feeling.  I will probably do it again, but the fact that I don't have to is a VERY free feeling.
• I can't wait to run with more of you and I hope I get to do so.
• Is so grateful for all the encouragement and support from my bloggie friends.  It has been so exciting to read your comments on my recaps...THANK YOU!

Are you tired of seeing orange in my posts? 

I think this is it for marathon pictures, but I had to give you the post marathon pictures!

Seeing my crew for the first time as a MARATHONER...BooYAAAAA!!!!

Hugs from my HALF marathon friend DIANA!

Dad and Beth

Diana and I (don't you love the sign behind us)

My sweetie.

My sweet support crew!

Look at that marathoner....

Max, Chase and Nat enjoying some freebies from the marathon.

I did it...

One my faves.  Mel congratulating me on my MARATHON

Thank you shoes...

Max sporting his RnR Shirt...

The reason I run...my boys!

Sweet baby Cole! 

My brother telling me how amazing it was that I did this...got a little emotional...

High fives and some emotions...

My brother and I

And there you have it!