Max's first RACE...How could I forget?

This is MAX at his very FIRST race on THANKSGIVING day at our local TURKEY TROT!  I can't believe I have not posted these pictures until now!  The story goes like this...I registered for the race for the first time, since it has never worked out in prevoius years...I was totally stoked.  Then I realized they had a kids run...sweet, Max can run!  Awesome...totally stoked for us to both run.  Then I was un-stoked...because the kids run happens at the exact same time as the 5k that I would be running...totally not awesome!  This was his first race and I would not, could not miss it...though it did take me a while to realize I wasn't going to run it...like until the night before!  On a total personal note...it really sucked walking up to the race seeing all the other runners and knowing I couldn't run...who knew it would bother me that much...I sure didn't!  Ok, back to MAX!  He did way BETTER than I ever would have expected.  I was so proud of him and lucky for you ...you can re-live it through pictures!  He RAN his heart out the entire way and I was such a proud MOM!  Loved every second of it! 



And here are the pictures that got him to win that awesome blue ribbon above!



Headed to the START

Here we go!

And we're off!

I guess the sidewalk sounded like a good idea!

Coming down the hill for a STRONG finish!

Running his heart out the whole way!

And there he goes...his FIRST FINISH line, but not the last!



Couldn't be PROUDER!



Three Things Thursday - REFLECTION edition!

1.  The HOOD to COAST aka HTC was A-MAZING!  So glad I risked my life and my friends life by adventuring out through the snow!  It was fun to have done a RELAY and then be able to watch another one...knowing what it was like first hand.  I HIGHLY...no I DEMAND you all RUN a RELAY at some point.  Don't ever turn down the offer...it will be life changing and you will make friends for life! 

2.  Wow, I have a lot of body fat!  Really, jumping rope in front of mirrors shows you just how much.  Running outside I always have the vision of myself in my head of what I look like running...and then that vision is totally ruined once I run by a window or see a picture of myself running, not the most flattering!  Lately I have been doing classes at the gym to change it up a bit and these are in front of mirrors...HOLY COW!  I can't believe how much FAT I have on my body.  It's a wonderful thing to see and a terrifying thing to see, all at the same time.  Wonderful because it reminds me why I'm doing what I'm doing....Terrifying because I'm sure no one in that room would ever GUESS that I once ran a marathon...6 months ago!  So sad!  Running alone does now make you skinny...Running with cross training, weights and eating RIGHT get your body fat down!  Problem when you train and run a marathon, but don't change your eating habits?  You stop running long distances and are still eating what you ate when you were training...can we SAY WEIGHT GAIN!  Lovely!  So now I'm trying to get the food thing under control and so far it's going well.  Amazing how much you actually have to think about food if you want to make good decisions, and the less I think about it, the worse I do.

3.  Blogging, running!  Where am I at?  I feel distant from both right now and am trying to figure out where to go!  In one hand I love blogging and all the friends I have made and I love reading where everyone is at on a daily basis, plus it's so encouraging!  The reality...I seem to have lost the time and the content.  I have had  written posts for a month or so and have logged on numerous times to write and/or finish a post and I totally draw a blank.  When I started this blog in December 2009 I had a goal...to run a marathon and since I ran my marathon I have seemed to loose my gusto for blogging!  Not sure why?  Maybe I will incorporate more of my life instead of just running...which leads me to running!  I knew it...I knew it...I knew it!  Winter time always throws a curve ball, even when I see the curve ball coming!  I have barely ran?  Cold weather, dark nights...what's up.  In good news...I have been switching it up, which has been so fun.  I have a plan (already registered) to run the RnR Seattle Full, but there is a chance I might just do the half.  Here is the truth...fulls and I aren't the best of friends...tons of training and they are not easy!  I have done one...not sure if the need to do another one is there.  Halfs...so much fun, not near as much training and 13.1 miles are enjoyable for the most part!  Hearing that Zoe, Kerrie, Jamie and my mom are doing the full...might have helped me stay with the FULL...TIME WILL TELL!

2010...The YEAR of the MARATHON!

Do you know what shirt that is? 
Looking pretty in the morning before my run!  Don't be jealous...you too could have sweet fly aways!

 

Wow, it's 2011.  It was so fun reading 2010 recaps of every ones goals and all that they accomplished and all the new goals for 2011.  So encouraging and exciting, so thank you for sharing! 

 

I used to not be someone who set goals until a few years ago when a group of friends and I started getting together to share our goals for the upcoming year.  Since then I have put a lot of time, thought and prayer into my resolutions.  I have journaled through out the year and always enjoy reading what has happened the last couple of years...all the ups...and downs.  It also helps me decide on the upcoming year and what I will do.

 

Some major HIGHLIGHTS from 2010...

 

*Take a guess...MY MARATHON!  I did what I set out to...I ran my first MARATHON!


*I PR'd my HALF MARATHON by 8 minutes with TALL-MOM beside me.


*Max "Prayed Jesus into his HEART"...those are his words.  Very SWEET moment.


*I ran with FRIENDS all year long.  Not sure how I could have trained for a Marathon without all of them.


*Did more organic and natural food shopping by visiting my Trader Joe's more often.

 

There is more I'm sure but since I have had this sitting in my Post box for a couple weeks...figured I should publish it.  I had really wanted to share pictures and more exciting stuff...but finding the time right now...now as easy as it once was...long-long ago...you know...before my MARATHON days! 

 

Enjoy the pictures...they are all from my last run of 2010!  Great day for a run and I picked the perfect outfit to close out 2010...THE YEAR OF THE MARATHON!  (I was wearing my MARATHON shirt...if you didn't notice, which I never run in)

 

Max make a silly face...obviously my face didn't get the memo...

 



And because you always need a self portrait...you do, right?  RIGHT!



Peace out 2010!

 

What does 2011 hold...We will shall see!  I'm excited for what is to come, I have made my 2011 resolutions...or should I say resolution!  I only made one and it's not running related, but I hope it leads me to some great races!  Kind of making life a little simpler and more focused with the resolution this year.

 

I love to run...

...I hate to RUN!

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I love to RUN with friends!

I love to RUN alone!

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I love RUNning with Hills!

I love RUNning on a flat course!

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I love RUNning at night

I love RUNning  in the morning, late morning...or early morning!

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I love that I can RUN a marathon again, if I want too!

I love that I never have to RUN a marathon because I already did it! (a marathon is 26.2 miles...just an fyi)

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I love RUNning in a skirt!

I love RUNning in a tank!

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I love to RUN with music...

I love to RUN with no music.

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I love to RUN so I can think...

I love to RUN so I don't have to think!

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I love training for a race...

I love when I can RUN with no race in mind!

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I love to RUN in the sun...

I love to RUN in the rain!

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I love to RUN!

I hate to RUN!

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Just some of my thoughts on a recent RUN!

Santa Run 5k

This was one fun RUN!  My fun run almost didn't happen due to a conflict with hubby's schedule but thanks to great friends and a wonderful MOM...I was able to make it.  I really didn't want to miss out on seeing my running girlfriends. It's so rare that we get to do these runs together!  We have a wonderful group of local bloggers, minus 1 now...Amanda!  Though she will always be a local blogger even if she moved to the EAST Coast!  And Zoe couldn't make it because Goober...I mean Isla is keeping her busy, but we hope to see Isla running her first 1k soon! 

Socks...need I say more!

I woke up to rain and wasn't thrilled, but had to pick up my running buddy, Jamie so I was committed!  Got my most crazy Santa outfit on...ok, so maybe not totally crazy, but hey...I tried.  Thanks to Jamie for picking up our cute, striped socks.  Green tea and some Almond butter on a bagel...and I was ready to go. 

We had to do day of packet pick up because they would not give me my packet at 3:15 the day before...really...the packets that are right here...you won't let me grab because I'm a little early!  I actually had no idea what time packet-pick-up was...I just happened to be by there and figured I would swing by...guess they had other plans.  Whatever!!!

Jamie, Mel, me, Kerrie and  Chelsea...where were you?

Happy to find parking, find my friends and get our packets with no problems.  Got some cute pictures...that is a must!  One potty stop and we were ready to GO!  My toes were cold, but I was ok...(you were worried, weren't you)!  I'm a tough cookie!  Have I mentioned that I haven't been running much or have you just gathered that from my lack of blogging and daily mile?  Well...I'm a little out of shape, but what's a 5k?  Well today...a 5k felt a little further.  Why is it that you can run a marathon, but when you know you are going to run 3.1 miles...it seem further.  Yah...RUNNING...IT's MENTAL!  I was happy to have my friends around.  So happy that Jamie is running again!

Aren't we FUN!

I love these kind of races because people get so creative.  I have no creativity in me and ALWAYS appreciate CREATIVITY when I see it.  Tons to see.  I'm sure Mel will post some great pictures!  (Note to self...when wearing a hat...put your hair down...way cuter!)

And that's what happens...not just when I finish...but when I see my buddies!  It did help that they had a camera!

The Start line for Max...

Getting READY to GO!



I'm a proud MAMA!

The race was fun and I was happy when I was done so I could go get Max for his race.  There is such excitement to see your kids run a race.  Max was totally excited and after his race asked when his next race is!  Love it!  I need to do some training with Max because HE goes out super fast and dies quickly...well the HILL didn't help.  I debated on running with him and glad I went with him because he wanted to walk pretty quickly so we walked and then turned around a little sooner then the official turn around and headed back.  He did great and crossed the finish line like a champ.  Such a proud moment for this mommy runner!



Max finishing...Way to go little buddy!



All in all a great day.  I love days like this!  Running, pictures, FRIENDS!  Great day.  Oh and I forgot my garmin so I don't know what my official time was.  The results haven't been published yet.  THANKS TO MEL and her MOM for having a GREAT camera to take some great shots.  It's always nice having a personal photographer!  THANK YOU!

Marathon...Say it like you MEAN it!

I was watching a reality show yesterday and the description of this particular episode was about one of them running a marathon!  Sweet...always excited to watch someone who I didn't know run...run a marathon.  And then...as I watched the show...she was running a HALF marathon.  No offense...I hope I don't offend anyone...because I'm not trying to do that.  A half marathon is a big deal for anyone...It's a great distance and an amazing race to run, but it's not a marathon.  Why do people on TV refer to half marathons as marathons?  I was kind of frustrated watching the show.  I was excited to watch the women cross the finish line and be proud of herself...I remember crossing my first HALF MARATHON finish line and it was AMAZING to feel like I accomplished something so big. 

I do remember feeling a little bit of the same with my marathon last June.  At the expo all the clothing for sale said half and full marathon and I wanted something that just said "MARATHON" since it was my first marathon.  I think for those extra 13.1 miles that I would be running...I should have a shirt that set me apart.  I could only find a little magnet that said 26.2.  I was bummed.

What are your thoughts?  Does it bug you...or am I just in a mood? 

Rewind- BLACK CAT FUN RUN!

This is the best picture...out of all of them. And it still isn't clear!  Oh well, I gave up...we had to get to our run!

Just found this on the race website...Yayyy...I picture that isn't blurry.

Black Cat FUN Run, was just that.  From the moment I saw the poster at the gym advertising this run, I knew I wanted in.  It was a 5-mile run at night, through 5-mile drive, which is a beautiful trail at Pt. Defiance Park with some amazing views. 

Diana, Kellie and I decided to wear tutu's and black.  Thank You to Diana for easy, make your own Tu-tu's.  We had a cute outfit and were ready to go.  We got our head lights and gloves ready and were off.  The starting line was non-existent and un-organized!  Luckily the rain held off for the most part, but it was COLD.  Surprisingly it wasn't too dark when we started running.  The first couple miles were a little bit of a climb and I felt winded right away and was hoping I would find my groove, but would end up feeling that way the whole time.  Kellie and I were trying to push it as fast as we could for as long as we could.  We chatted and watched all the costumes around us.  PEOPLE are creative!  A few of the costumes were a little scary with masks, which I'm not into scary, but hey...to each their own.  It was fun and as we got to 3.5 miles it was mostly down hill, which was LOVELY!  Kellie took off at the end, which I always tell my friend to do if they can do it!  It got darker as we were finishing and raining, but we pushed it to the end.

This race was a total fun run.  It had no official start and no chip-time, which I haven't done before. Diana kept reminding me, "Jill, it's a fun run"...and yes it was.  We for sure will be doing this race again next year.  WE got a great pair of gloves and a glow necklace...SWEET!  Oh and I forgot to tell you that it wasn't even 5 miles, it was 4.78 miles, which I ran in 44 minutes which was a 9:11 pace.  Feel free to check out the elevation, HERE. 

Pictures didn't come so easy for this race...I tried, but as some of you know...I'm still learning to take my amazing cell phone pictures.  This phone has taken some of my talent away, but here is what we got.

Oh shoot, you didn't even get to see our tutu's!  Oh well, Esper, Kellie, Diana and I are the only faces you get to see...good thing we are cute!  After our FUN RUN we headed to sushi before we had to get home to our families.  Fun times, Fun Run, FUN Friends!

Extra-EXTRA...I just found a few of the pictures from the Race Site...

Drinking HOT chocolate after a race...mmm...good!

1,000 Mile and Beyond!

Yes, that's right...a 1,000 MILES...do you see that?

I'm so happy to report that I have run over a 1,000 miles, already for 2010!  I assumed I would make this goal this year due to marathon training, but had no idea it would be the thing that kept me running.  Who knew this goal would be so helpful! 

Mel had mentioned she was meeting with friends for a run and invited me, but 7am...that means I would have to get up EARLY.  Mel was kind of enough to meet a little later and a little closer to home so we could run together.  Surprisingly this would only be our 2nd run together.  I was looking forward to catching up with Mel and also running my 1,000th mile with the creator of the 1,000 mile challenge.  The weather was great, cloudy, but not raining and a little chilly outside.  I had never run on Orting Trail and was looking forward to new sights on the trail. 

Our run was GREAT, all the way through.  We got started and the chatting didn't end all the way through.  I love when runs with friends are so great that you aren't even thinking about the miles.  So much to chat about.  Its crazy how sometimes running can be the only time to get some catch up time with friends.  Life with a family, work and everything else can keep you so busy.  Having a face-to face conversation is always better so nice.  It's what makes running so great.  Love it. 

Before we knew it we had run over the 10.26 miles that I needed to reach 1,000 miles!  Woo-hoo!  We high-fived and like any healthy blogger, we took some pictures!  I was so hot...I was steaming...hey...it's a gift...what can I say?  After the pictures, STARBUCKS...because you have to celebrate all the time.  Our fun chit chat continued with some YUMMY coffee and some cozy chairs. 

Thank Mel for the CHALLENGE and for helping me get there!  Always fun running with you and so glad we got to connect over the miles.  You helped me to get a PR and then to my 1,000th mile...You are awesome and I'm so grateful for all your help getting me there!  THANK YOU FRIEND!

Almost there!!!

989.74

That's how many miles I have run in 2010, which means I'm only 10.26 miles away from hitting 1,000! Woot-Woot!  Thank you TALL-MOM for the 1,000 mile challenge.  It has kept me running when I haven't wanted to run.  Having a GOAL is so important!  In fact it's time to start thinking of GOALS for 2011.  How is that even possible that 2010 is almost over...wow, that is crazy.  It seems like I just organized my 2010 goals!

Can't wait to have my training partner back.  My friend, Jamie has been nursing an injury and is almost ready to run again!  I can't wait.  Jamie has decided not to run Seattle Marathon, but it going to run Seattle Rock-n-Roll with me in June.  Praying that she can stay injury free between now and RnR Seattle.  I have missed our runs together and can't wait to get back into our run/chat time.  It's amazing how you feel like you have so much time with someone when you run together and when you miss out on the runs, you feel like you never see each other anymore.  That's what makes running with friends so great...it's such a great time to connect in a busy world.  Running always gives you time to slow down and catch up with each other. 

THANKSGIVING is 2 weeks away!  WHAT!  How did that sneak up on us.  Who is running a TURKEY TROT?  This will be such a fun tradition!

This was not my plan...

To be out of bloggy land for so long.  Just haven't had the time, motivation or really much to say.  October was a long, hard month.  Not for me personally but for those I love, around me.  I have a handful of friends who had a tough month...all for different reasons.  So though nothing happened to me directly...I was feeling kind of down for those around me that I care for. 

I feel like I have a lot to say and not much to say all at the same time!  Not a common feeling for me...the "not much to say" part!  Maybe it's the time of year, maybe that at 6 pm tonight it was pitch black outside, maybe it's my lack of vitamin D...no, I have been taking that.  Who knows, but either way I wanted to say HELLO to those of you who are out there.

I went on 2 runs this week and it was A-MAZING.  It felt so good to get out and run!  Fall days here are absolutely beautiful!  That is when the suns out.  The clear, crisp air and the beautiful leaves filling the sidewalks make it so much fun to run.  Running with friends has been great on days like these.  I got to run a race a few weeks ago called, the BLACK Cat Fun Run.  It was in a beautiful park that is 5 miles long and we ran it in the dark...well more like dusk, but it was fun.  Diana and I with a few friends ran it and we were tutu's...so cute and a lot of fun.  Next race will be Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day and I am excited to finally get to do this.  I have always wanted to do it, but it never worked out with the days festivities.  Plus Max  is registered for the kid run....can't wait.

Before I forget...I am 25 miles away from my goal of 1,000 for the year.  Though my wiget says 1,000...do not be fooled, that has some biking and a couple other things included.  I want to get 1,000 miles of just running.  It would be great if I could get those 25 in this week, but with my last few weeks for running 2 days a week...probably not going to happen.  But I think, 2 weeks...we can get'er done!  What do you think?

I'm also really excited that there is a running club starting in my neighborhood and I am thrilled.  So excited!  I will be getting involved in that.  We did a training run last Saturday morning and it was a blast. I have never run with a running group before and it was great to meet new running friends who live in my HOOD!  Looking forward to see how that evolves.

So what's up next:

• Running Club
• Turkey Trot
• Santa Run

Fun stuff ahead. 

P.S.  Wasn't the New York Marathon great?  I got to watch it and find it funny that watching running can be so interesting.  The elites...they are amazing to watch.  They cover the same ground that I do...in the half the time!  Talented!