Semi-Wordless Wednesday!

A few of my latest pictures that I love...and had to share!

My running crew!  We rock it every FRIDAY...HOLLA

Does it get any sweeter?

Our "Snack"

I love my new mug for my morning green tea...don't you?

 

My BF and I at one of my fave spots!

Cole in my cute swim cap ( Diana got me) and his true love, baseball!

My favorite Ranger, Max...posing per his request after T-ball pictures.  How cute is he?  He is such a sweet boy!  Oh and is now a registered kindergartner!

Saturday Evening Run over the Narrows!

I love where I live, on a SUNNY DAY!  Yah we get a lot of rain, but when the sun is out...it's A-Mazing.  Chelsea was coming to T-Town (Tacoma) for the weekend and had 8-10 miles on the schedule and needed a T-towner to do it with...that's where I came into the picture, or should I say the RUN? Well you know what I mean!  After a rainy week I was thrilled when Saturday turned out looking like this!  Don't let the clear sky fool you though...it wasn't WARM at all, but I will take the SUN with cold any day over rain.

The Tacoma Glass Museum!

I live over there...can you see it?

Met Chelsea at her mom's house where she grew up!  Got to meet all the dogs and then we were on our way.  It was fun to chat since I hadn't ever run with just Chelsea.  We ran by her high school and then onto the same trail I had run when I ran the Tacoma Narrows Half Marathon a few years ago.  I didn't realize we were going to run over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge...that was cool.  If you ever get the chance to do that...do it.  It wasn't that windy until we turned around to go back over the bridge.  The views were spectacular with the sun and the clear sky's!  Neither of us had brought are cameras...bad bloggers, we know!  They are etched in our minds now!  We headed back home and faced a hill that I didn't like when I ran the Narrows Half, but this time it wasn't as bad since I knew what to expect. 

After our run!  The best part of a run!

We chatted the entire 8 miles about running, family, food and everything else there is to talk about!  We passed another school of Chelsea's...her preschool!  Wow that seems like forever ago!  How cool to grow up in the same place your entire life...I love that.  Before we knew it we were a few blocks from the house and we pushed it all the way to the end.  It was a great evening for a run. 

I was a little worried I wouldn't make it to run since it has been a busy few days and I don't typically run in the evenings and I was tired, but I'm so glad I did.  Thank goodness for friends and running with them because I don't think I would be running much at all lately.  I'm always more happy after a run with friends and time you get when you run with them...great way to get to know each other more! 

We can tell who didn't have to drive home!

Hmm...WE really are THAT AWESOME!

Silly face...

THANK FOR A GREAT RUN Chels! Awesome job on a DISTANCE PR! You are going to do great at the RnR Seattle Half Marathon!

Boston Envy!

If your a runner you can totally understand, especially if you aren't reading this from BOSTON!  Any runner knows the significance of BOSTON!  It's not just a CITY but a place you dream about as a runner.   I never thought about The Boston Marathon much before I became a runner, but the minute I was a runner I read about it, watched the Marathon live for the last few years, I'm addicted.  Through out the year I think about it and wish to be there, but as it gets closer and friends start talking about it and posting pictures of Boston...I really get BOSTON ENVY! 


I'm so excited for my friends running tomorrow morning and can't wait to Cyber STOCK them!  Amazing how you can be so anxious for people while they are running a marathon and that will be me tomorrow.


GOOD LUCK, MEL!  So excited for her and thrilled she is in BOSTON right now! 


There are so many more out there...GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU!


Chelsea and I decided we are for sure spectating next year!  It's on...who's coming with us?

"My Run"

Waiting for the movie to start! 

The best part of the evening was hanging out with my friends/running buddies.  We always have some good time and many laughs.  We met up for dinner before the show and caught up on all our lives happenings and then headed over to the movie.  The movie wasn't as great as I hoped it would be but I was still glad I watched it.  Funny to see what people wore for running in the late 90's which I didn't realize was so long ago...but after seeing all the crazy styles in the movie it was a little confusing because it seemed like it was from the 80's.  I graduated high school in 1997 and to me it seems like a few years ago...guess not!  As a runner you feel like you know some things about running...what to wear, what not to wear, what to eat, what not to eat and so on.  It was shocking to see what this guy wore and what he ate or didn't eat for that matter!  Maybe times have changed?  Maybe I think I know a lot about running and I really don't?  Just funny to watch some things.

This mans journey is incredible and all that he set out to do.  I love when people go after something that they are passionate about.  He did something he believed in and made it happen.  It was such a difficult thing to do day after day!  Wow!  He ran for a cause and brought attention to something dear to his heart.  I think a lot of us our passionate about something but are never sure what to do with it or how to go about it.  I'm always inspired when people go "AFTER" it!  They don't just sit and dream about it, but they MAKE IT HAPPEN! 

Kerrie, Jamie, Chelsea, Mel and ME!

Oh and by the way...all those ladies in that picture are running the Seattle RnR!  In case you were wondering!

FUN RUN FRIDAY=Wet Run!

Here we are again!  Oh yah...it's Friday!  I was so unmotivated today to run and was so happy I had 4 other ladies to get me out for my run.  Having a group to run with really changes things for the better.  Don't you all agree?  Ok I won't go on and on since my last post was all about running with my running group!  But I did have to show you the fun pictures from our run.  We missed our friends who couldn't make it this week.  Our plan was to do 5 or 6 but at the end of our run we had ran over 7 miles and that is not an April Fools joke! 



Some very wet shoes!  So grateful that these feet take me so far!



We clean up well!  Me and D (Diana) after our run after we were all cleaned up!  A little different then our after run photo when we were soaked!

Oh what FUN!

Running with friends is always fun, but running with a group of FRIENDS, FANTASTIC! Who knew? I had no idea what a great time it would be. Our Friday morning running club continues and is growing. We had 8 great gals this last Friday who ran and it was a great run, even though it was a tough, hilly course! What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? Yah, that's right! How many times have you said that on the tough part of a run? Too many times to count? Remember my, "I love where I live" post...that's the course we ran. It was another beautiful day for this run and again got to appreciate the amazing views with some fun gals. The hills are killer for the last 2 or so miles...straight up, oh WHAT FUN!?!?! A hard is always BETTER with people running it with you. Added an extra mile at the end for a 6.25 mile run! Good time had by all...well I hope by all!

Was so happy to have my dear friend, Jamie run with us.  It's been forever since we have run together!  Missing our runs together!

On Sunday I had some FREE time,  WHAT....FREE time!  I always get anxious with my free time and can never decide what to do since it so rarely happens!  I did a variety of things and one of them included a walk...run...walk...oh we will just run with Gracie, our dog.  It was so much fun!  I haven't taken Gracie out for a long time and was a little worried how she would do so we stayed close to home and did some laps.  She did great and it was so enjoyable!  We did 2 miles and then I did a little more after dropping her off at home.  I did a 3 mile run with her today and she did great.  It's great having her with me while I run and I know she loves being outside.  I love that she smiles...can you see how happy she is in the picture?  Cracks me up! 

I trained for most of marathon SOLO and now...the solo thing does not sound fun to me at all.  What has happened.  I used to prefer to do all my running solo and was scared to run with people...now it's all about the people runs!  I love it and it makes my runs so much more enjoyable with friends, a group of friends or my Gracie girl!  What fun!

Please feel free to join our Friday morning runs if you want!  We would love to have you!  But beware...we don't live in a FLAT running community so consider it a great Hill training run.  I love what Kim from (Just) Trying is for Girls said after running with us last year..."If you have a name for a hill, it's probably not a good hill"  And that is sooooo true! 

Wordless Wednesday! Toothfairy Edition...

Nothing say's BIG BOY like loosing your first TOOTH!  Wowzer...my little buddy is growing up!

I love where I live!

Can you see this picture?  If you can...isn't it beautiful?  I live here and durinng my run I realized how lucky I am to live here.  Now keep in mind that it was a BEAUTIFUL day here in the Pacific Northwest and you better believe everyone was LIVING it up!  It was a great day for a run and I'm so glad I took advantage of the day instead of going to the gym.  I had no idea how far I would go or what direction...but it all worked out better than expected.  I wanted to enjoy the sites so I headed where I could do that!  On my way I saw my hairdresser who is also my friend...FUN and an EAGLE...flew by, closer than I had ever experienced!

Let's get this PARTY started!



And we are starting out...here we go!



The run went down first...perfect, then up then back down.  It was a perfect route because it allowed me to warm-up in the beginning, have some challenging hills that lasted about 2 miles and then the last bit was down-hill which is always WONDERFUL!

Much needed solo run.  Got to listen to my music, stop and take some pictures, enjoy the sites and it also made me so thankful for where I live.  It's so pretty.  This was by far the most scenic route I have ever run in my neighborhood and I think I will do it a lot more.  You never know where your run will take you, but I'm always grateful when it takes me some where NEW!

And we're DONE!  See how sunny it was...oh look...my shadow...I haven't seen it in a WHILE!

Winner, WINNER!!!

So excited to announce our 2 winners for the BANANA BLOSSOM PRESS GIVEAWAY

Winner #1 is....and will win a T-shirt from Banana Blossom Press

Moonsword's Chamber

Winner #2 is...and will win some of Banana Blossom Press Cards! 

Shelby at Run Towards Him

Congrats!  Please email me at jillellingson @ hotmail dot com so I can get you your things!

Thank you all for entering my giveaway.  Please continue to check out Banana Blossom Press website HERE!  They have such fun products.

What's UP? Three Things Thursday!

Holla! Holla! 

Reporting to you live from my laptop!  Finally!  So happy that I don't have to go into our tiny, cold office if I want to blog!  Great news for me!

1.  Have been a little under the weather for a few days which is unusual for me.  Not totally surprised since I had a 1 boy throw up the other morning and the other with constant dirty diapers (sorry TMI)...it was bound to happen. I was bummed that it happened while my mom was visiting, but glad I had someone to help while I wasn't a 100%.  Love, love having my mom here! She helps with the kids and does thing that I hate doing, like folding laundry and dishes! 

2.  Today is the FINAL day to enter for my Banana Blossom Press Giveaway.  So please enter and see if the Luck of the Irish is with you!  Happy St. Patricks day!  Enjoy!  Go out and WIN something.

3.  Did you love my pictures from yesterday?  We have a new running group, well unofficial running group!  A group of gals who are going to run on Fridays.  It's fun having a group of gals take over the streets of our neighborhood and run.  We all have different running backgrounds but come together and love seeing each other succeed.  Looking forward to Friday morning runs with the gals.  Feel free to join us if you want!  Your sure to have some FUN!