Race Day!

Today was our local Y's Holiday Hustle. I signed up for the 10k, but I considered doing to the 5k. Instead, I convinced my sister to run with me.

A couple of weeks ago, we were supposed to run a race with Mom wearing the tutus she made, but it was pouring rain that race. We decided to wear them today instead.

The weather was perfect this morning! Mom took off on her own since she was meeting up with some other runners at the end for another 6 miles. Carrie and I ended up running with my neighbor the whole way. Surprisingly, the tutu didn't bother me too much, even with the jungle bells.

Carrie pulled away from us at the end, but I finished in 1:04:54. Not a pr, but it definitely wasn't my worst 10k time either! Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to medal. Still, I'm super pleased with the run! 

Fruits and Veggies!

I managed to eat 12, yes,  12, servings of fruits and veggies today!

I woke up hungry so I ate a banana first thing.  Then I had sauteed zucchini and tomato with an egg.  Count: 4

For lunch I had a salad with chicken, roasted veggies, baby carrots and clementines.  Count: 4

After school, I had a green smoothie with half a banana, a cup of spinach, and some frozen fruit.  Count: 2ish

For dinner, we had mini meat loaves (with hidden veggies inside), a small sweet potato and a good helping of broccoli. Count: 2

That's 12! Now, I'm not saying everything else was spot on. I caved and had candy after school... but yesterday, I didn't. There's hope yet.

Now, to hit the treadmill for the streak (and I'd really rather not but I can't give up that easily!)...

Sunday setup

Time to plan for the week!

This week for the Holiday Sweat Challenge, we earn a bonus point for each day we reach 9 freggies. That takes a lot of planning! I'll have my veggie and egg breakfast each day (1 cup of zucchini, half a cup of tomatoes and a "fried" egg). For lunch, I'll mix it up with salad, black bean and corn sweet potato, and veggie soup, adding in a fruit for a side. Green smoothies will help as afternoon snacks. Then it's just two or three freggies at dinner, and we are good!
My goals this week
Home: Take out the Christmas decor boxes
Print the kids' school pictures
Make our Christmas cards

Heart: Take a look back at the year and make the kids' ornaments and write in their books (and read past years')
Take some time each day to unplug and relax

Health: 9 freggies a day
All my water and vitamins
Run at least a mile a day

3 weeks until Christmas break! We've got this!

Thanksgiving run

I love to run on Thanksgiving morning. My mom and sister were doing a local turkey trot, but with two Thanksgivings today and food to prepare, I couldn't wait that late.

I headed out on my own at 7, wearing my new Nathan light up hat and fleece - lined Marika pants. It was 32 degrees, and my long sleeved shirt was not warm enough! Lesson learned. Everything else was spot on.

As for the run itself, the third mile was awful and I had to walk some, but after that, I was ok. I ended up running 4 and walking 1 for a total of 5 miles today.

I'm thinking about doing the Runner's World streak, from Thanksgiving to New Year's (maybe?)...

It's challenge time!

Today is the first day of the Holiday Sweat Challenge (formerly the Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge). Unfortunately, I was under the weather yesterday and wasn't able to grocery shop or prep veggies like I'd planned. I stayed home sick today and was determined to make the most of it anyway. I did some light stretching and made a veggie soup for lunch. With the soup and a few snacks of fruits and carrots, I managed to make my freggies for the day. And I definitely made sure to get my water!

Tomorrow is a new day, and I'm hoping to get a run in before school and my shopping done after school.

I'm back!

It has been far too long since I've blogged. This has not been a good running year. After having a great first marathon experience in January, I seemed to be fine, until about three weeks after. Then I battled Achilles tendinitis for months. I restarted running in the summer and worked my way up from a mile to 3 or 4 by September...when I either broke my tail bone or tore the tendons around it.

But today. Today rocked!

I ran my first race since my marathon with my mom and sister. In the pouring rain too! It was my sister's first race since her marathon and since having a baby in August.

We weren't even sure the race would happen as it was thundering and lightning most of the afternoon. But there were about 40 of us crazy enough to show up. We were able to run in the pouring rain, and it was awesome!

Mom and I placed 3rd in our AGs, and Carrie placed 2nd. So cool! 

Support Crew

I know my blogging has been, well, nonexistent, but I just have to get this one in there. Yesterday, I ran my first 20-miler, and I had the most amazing support crew ever! I had to miss last week's "fall back" run of 10 miles (which I was really looking forward to after some long runs) because I was sick, so I was a little nervous heading into this run. But it all worked out.

I woke up and checked the weather. 38 degrees. I debated changing what I had planned to wear, but then I saw the wind chill. 18 degrees. Nope. I was fine with my cold weather gear. I ended up ready and waiting for the sky to lighten, heading out around 7:10. I had about 45 minutes on my own before meeting up with my sister, who would be finishing up teaching a BodyBack class at 8.

We got to run about 5 miles together before I dropped her at her car with about a mile back to my house to go alone. Once at home, I met up with Dad.

He was good for a 5K. Unfortunately, the best 3 mile route I know had us heading north right off the bat, and boy, was that north wind cold! We made the north neighborhood loop and headed back to the house where Mom was waiting.

 

I think Mom drew the short stick because my pace definitely fell off during her shift. We had about 5.75 miles together. It was awesome to have company for the majority of the run, with different conversations each time. I felt pretty darn good until right before mile 19. My back was already tight and I could feel my form slacking. But I did it!

I feel like that was a huge mental hurdle. Done. I know I still have two major long runs to go, but I feel good knowing I can do this. I came home, took a warm Epsom salt bath (yes, I know most people take an ice bath...trying something different), showered and got ready to leave. We had to eat, get my daughter some basketball shorts and get to the kids' basketball games (where I had to keep time for one and sit on the floor for the other). After that, we went for ice cream and shopping for Christmas gifts for church. We had a simple dinner of soup and sandwiches (and had to play restaurant for the kids). I was in quite a bit of pain last night, with the worst pain being my knee caps. Yes, my knee caps. I iced them and felt considerably better when I got up this morning. I'm still sore today, but I'm moving. In fact, I'm not sure I ever stopped moving today. With Christmas right around the corner, there's no time to stop :)