Week 3 of training for the Chicago marathon

Okay so I wasn't paying attention to exactly when my plan started.  I guess I started two weeks ago with "official training", so this is week 3, yipeeee!  This week is going to be a bit cray cray.  Andrew's first ever big birthday party is Saturday and our probably last time at Day at Thomas is Sunday.

Monday:  Rest day.

Tuesday:  Speed work, 1 mile warm up, 2 minutes hard, 2 minutes easy, 1 mile cool down.  I for some reason was a little slower this week versus last week with lower humidity and lower temps.  It is what it is, and I am not going to stress about it.  Most of my repeats were in the 9:30 range and I will take it.  Okay, so found out that our algal lab got funded Monday for the next four years.  Our PI wanted to celebrate Monday night, but i pushed him back to Tuesday night, so I could actually have a drink or two.

Wednesday:  Strength and cross training.  I had plans of getting up early and biking, as I had been doing and consistently I might add, but a celebration the night before and getting in bed later than normal made that not happen.  No biggie, no sports to do post work, so grabbed Rocking Robin and we headed out.  We are both now (thanks to her) addicted to the podcast My Favorite Murder, so we talked about recent episodes and documentaries we were watching on Netflix. After our hour or so ride, I headed home, took my mat outside and did my MYRTL, and strength training.  I was one tired puppy before bed!

Thursday:  5 miles with 5 x 30 second strides.  Melly had a long night the night before, so I got about 45 extra minutes of sleep, and headed out around daybreak.  The sunrise did not disappoint.  It was so amazing that I had to stop a couple of times and just stare at it.

Friday:  Cross training and strength.  I actually managed to get up and get on my bike early morning and get my strength training in to counteract my log run meal of pizza:).  I still am at 5 lbs for lost weight, and still not fulling hitting my macros, but getting closer.  I do like getting those extra calories, even if I don't use them.

Saturday:  Long run 10 miles.  Up early to fuel and poop.  Seriously considered going back to bed post eating, but made myself stay awake.  The temperature was already 70 when I got up with humidity in low 80s.  Sigh.  Right on the borderline for it being too yucky to take the doggies. I decided to take Stella only, and warned Tony that I might be calling him to come and get her.  We made it, but it was borderline too hot and humid for sure.  I stopped every 2 miles and made her drink from her water bottle, and as soon as we got back, she got to play in the hose and cool down.  It makes me sad that they will be taking a hiatus from running with me, but that also means I get to go up to Konza lots more now!

Of course post long run, we had to get ready for the big party!  I will do a separate post for the party because my hubby took a thousand pictures and some of them are really cute (and that way if you want to skip over, you can :).  Andrew was so confused that we were celebrating his birthday on not his birthday, but he had so much fun and most of his class that we invited showed up!  I had 12 party bags made and we had 11 kiddos, whew.  We got invited over to a class mates house for some slip and slide post party, so we headed over to grill and chill.  Let's just say when we all got home that we were VERY tired!  I decided to not set my alarm clock and try and get some sleep and dread mill it the next day.

Sunday:  4 mile recovery and DAY AT THE THOMAS!  This was our third year at Day at the Thomas, and while we were weary from the festivities the day before, we were excited as well! I decided to sleep in and save my run for later and I am glad I did (even if it was feels like 100 later).  We had 10 am tickets for thomas and 12:30 tickets for percy.  I will also keep this for a separate post but we had SO much fun.  I was so worried he wouldn't like Day at the Thomas as much this year, as he has been moving away from Thomas toys and Thomas stuff in general and more towards legos.  We loved it and hopefully will get one more year in next year.  I had to run post the trip back and I just couldn't do the dreadmill, even with the feels like 100 temp outside.  I decided to take it easy, walk when I needed, run slowly when I could,  and just get it done.  I also ran with a sack of ice so if I needed to put some in my bra or on my head under my hat, I could.  Of course it melted after mile 2 so just had a bag of semi cool water to tote around but it was the thought that counts right?

I only went 4 miles and I kept it close to the house just in case, especially since I couldn't take any dogs.  It wasn't pretty but I did it and I don't want to do it again :)

What a great week!!!  We made it through Andrew's first big party that I had to throw without my mom's help (she did his first and second party) and another Day at the Thomas.  Not looking forward to the high heat we are going to have this coming week, but it is summer and there is nothing I can do about it.

Weekly mileage:  24

Have a great week!!!!

The third annual Seriously FUN Mud run

Okay when I saw that the Discovery Center in Topeka was having a mud run for kids, I jumped online and signed Andrew and I up.

They had two options, option one meant your kid ran the course by themselves OR you could run with them but not do the obstacles.  I knew andrew would need help, so I signed up for the second option, which was the family run, in which you ran as a family unit together and got to do all of the obstacles together.

We got to the center about an hour early (OOOPS:) so had to wait outside until the closer till time for the run.  They had closed the center down for the day for the run, as the earlier waves had finished and we were the last to go.

As we drove over, the storm clouds kept building and building.  The bottom fell out right as they opened the doors.  Here is a tip for next year if you want to do this race.  Get there early and be one of the first to go in.  They assign the numbers just by where you are in line, and the early numbers go first, so it is worth it to get an early number.  We got our t shirt and bib first, and then waited for the storms to pass by.  Luckily since you are at the discovery center, there is plenty to do.  As it became apparent that we would be on rain delay for a while, they opened all the exhibits to let the kiddos paint and build and do whatever they wanted to.  

Finally after an hour or so, the rain let up and they herded us outside.  Andrew and I were the second team to start, and after they checked our bibs, we were off!  It was still sprinkling, which made it even more muddy and fun.  The first obstacle was a water curtain and then we hit the trails.  We had to go over logs, under logs, and through the woods, and speed demon andrew took off like a shot!  The second obstacle was running around the play area where people were shooting us with high powered water guns!  Next, we hit up a patch of mud that we were suppose to roll down.  Andrew said NOPE, so I got down and rolled for him.  He tried running on it, and the mud almost got his shoes off!  We hit the mud pie area where we got to make mud pies and then smash them on our heads.  Once again andrew was NOPE, and I kind of didn't want mud in my hair anyway so we played with the mud and then headed on.  Next was another big patch of mud to crawl through, but andrew just ran over it and I crawled.  

We had to walk on hay bales next and we did so hand in hand.  We headed up the hill to get bowls of muddy water to carry over our heads down the hill to the muddy pool.  

We dumped our buckets in the pool (that had mud in) and then had to jump in the pool and transverse the pool.  Once again andrew said NOPE, but I did what I was told and almost face planted.  We crossed the finish line with him ahead of me and got our goody bags.  The course was maybe 4 tenths of a mile if that long.  We headed over to the park where the fire men had hoses spraying for us to rinse of in.

I pretty much had mud in every crevice even after the hoses, so it was easier to just strip him down for the ride home and sit on towels for me.

We will be back next year.  The entry fee was I think 22 bucks per person, but the money goes to a very good cause in the discovery center.  Even though we had a delay, we got to play in the discovery center and one of the activities was building a track with black track, PVC pipes cut in half, and little wooden balls.  You could make whatever type course you wanted and Andrew LOVED it!  They even had an engineer present that would help you design your course OR help you trouble shoot why your ball wasn't making it on the course.  I so wish we had a place like this in Wamego/Manhattan!

Overall, much fun had by all, even in not doing the obstacles as is.  I feel like next year, we will rock out this course and have a ball yet again!

Chicago Marathon Training 2017 Week 1

I think we have officially started our training for the Chicago Marathon, as we are 20 weeks out. Summer is here and humidity is here to stay.  BOOOOO!

Monday:  Rest day.  Well, I woke up to a glorious day, which meant I couldn't not do anything.  I headed out on my bike and got over 13 miles in as well as my MYRTL exercises.  I need to be more diligent about doing these exercises on top of my strength training and my cross training.  I feel like I am doing really well with my cross training but the rest, well,  I am a work in progress.  Just doing 12 minutes of MYRTL kicked my butt and felt so good.  In fact I could feel my hip kind of release during and felt much better the rest of the day.

Later we attended andrew's best friend's birthday.  These kids are party animals!  Just in case you were wondering, they are frogs in a pond AKA a water table :)

Tuesday:  My first speed work session of the training cycle.  1 mile warm up, 2 minutes hard, 2 minutes easy x 8 and then one mile cool down.  Coach gave me lee way on what hard was.  I didn't program a number on my watch, but just went by feel and just let whatever happen, happen.  Post running, the 2 minute hard was kind of all over the place.  I had some as low as 8:51 minute miles and some as high as 9:33.  I will take it because the humidity was high and was affecting my breathing.

Wednesday:  Real rest day.  I went to bed Tuesday night feeling VERY tired after a full day of running, coaching the kids at track practice, and then driving back to town for something tony needed for work.  I had decided since I rode my bike monday, to skip my bike ride, get some extra sleep, and strength train with the kiddos at track club.  We had SO much fun talking about the exercises and what they do for your running.  I am so going to miss these track kids!

Thursday:  5 miles with 5x30 second strides.  This was the morning of no good.  I had a beer before bed that was a huge bad idea.  My tummy was off from the minute i woke up, PLUS my stupid iphone decided to die and play possum the one morning i didn't have a running partner.  I seriously considered not running, but it was cool (though humid) and I just needed to get my run done no matter what my tummy and or phone wanted.  Got through the run, but it was tough.  Bleh.  Of course my phone isn't on any plan and is 6 months away from an upgrade so I guess I will be buying a phone off of someone and or using my mom's old iphone for now.  You don't realized how connected you are to your phone till you don't have one.  Mark my words, my damn van will probably break down now, since I won't have a phone. (p.s. it did not and my phone miraculously starting working normally again although we do think it is a bad battery and are leaving it out of the case for now meaning I probably will shatter the screen soon).

Friday:  Cross training.  I had taken the day off to take Stella in for her one year visit post IMPA.  I am really happy to say that she is disease free and off of all meds other than allergy meds.  I am holding my breath and praying this sticks!  I am really enjoying having her back with me running and being pain free.  After getting done at KSU vet med, I headed out on my bike and got a nice long bike ride with Rocking Robin and finished up with a full three rounds of my strength training.  I have to laugh, strength training gives me extra calories since I am tracking calories, so it is a motivator to get that done :) . Whatever it takes right?

Saturday:  4 mile recovery run.  Well, was suppose to do my long run BUT hubby had to work.  I am not going to complain, over time is a great thing and steady work is a great thing. I can adjust my schedule no problems.  Saw a beautiful sunrise that made me forgot for a few minutes how horrible the humidity was.  Came home and did my MYRTL exercises.  Post running, andrew and I kidnapped my grad student and showed her the lazy river/splash park in front of the discovery center,  the insect zoo and KSU, and the KSU gardens.  We also had lunch at subway at Andrew's request.  Daddy worked most of the day but we did get to go to the street dance post work.  Our little town has a band come in and play and blocks off the downtown area for everyone to come down and put their chairs and blankets down to watch.  This year they had kid's activities and art and more food and a bigger beer garden.  We had so much fun but i had to watch it since I was heading out for a long run the next day.  The band played some great 80s and 90s classic rock and I could have hung out all night but had to head back so I could get in bed at a decent time.

 Sunday:  10 miles.  I knew this would be tough because i just didn't get into bed as early as I had hoped.  Plus, I had 2 beers because it was just a perfect night for a beer.  I had drank 2 bottles of water post street dance, and then had some more water when I got home, so I had hoped I would be okay.  I woke up later than normal, fueled with coffee and food, and promptly went back to bed to wait out digestion.  I then drug myself back out of bed an hour later, and headed out way later than normal.  I was blessed with some nice cloud cover that at least kept me from baking in the sun, but the humidity was ouch.  I had decided since I am still not acclimated yet and it really affects my breathing, that I would allow myself a walk break every 2 miles.  I also decided to just carry stella and not drag deuce along, as the humidity was so bad and she typically handles humidity better.  The run went well with walk breaks intact.

Post long run, we got ready for our very first mud run.  The discovery center in Topeka KS was holding the mud run at their place and it was called the Seriously FUN Mud Run.  I will do another post with pictures and the low down.  While Andrew would not do ANY  of the mud themed obstacles correctly (he just ran through the mud versus crawling or rolling), he RAN the whole time and left me on the trail part.  Maybe I have a trail runner on my hands?  I pretty much was covered in mud from head to toe, but the fire fighter's hoses got us a with a little less mud on the ride home.

Great week of training!  Gaining calories is helping me get ALL of my work outs in but whatever it takes!

Have a great rest of your week and next!

Recovery week

The best part about doing multiple races?  You get multiple recovery weeks!!!!  I took it easy this week yet again, with some biking and some walking before I got back to some low mileage.  After much thought I have decided to take the plunge and make my goal race the 6/12/24 hour race in wichita in November.  To get the 50K belt buckle, I will have to run my 50K in 6 hours or less.  I really think I can do it on an easy course and this is a 1.33 mile loop.  While mentally I think it will be challenging,  I am hoping with my hubby's help as crew, I can get it done.  SO this means chicago will just be a dress rehearsal for the timed race.  I need to maintain an 11:35 mile per mile pace the entire 6 hours to finish and get that buckle.

Speaking of sports, we are done with T-ball clinic for the second year!  Next year, we get to do the real thing!  Overall, much better this year with him staying on the field and participating.  If a drill was not the best, he would get very distracted, but who wouldn't.  I really liked that they did more game specific drills this year to prepare them to really play.  I have indicated that I am willing to coach next year and i hope tony agrees to coach as well!

We also celebrated Tony's birthday this week with some cake (hello 540 calories in one little dessert).  It's always fun when we are the same age for a few months!  Andrew and I got daddy a new Royal's shirt.  Hoping it will bring them luck!

I did attempt a sort of long run saturday morning.  I had no clue it was suppose to storm and I woke up to this radar picture above.  It appeared to be heading due north and looked like it would completely miss us.  I was hoping the radar tracking and timing was right, as I fueled and got ready.  I spoke with lindsey in manhattan to see what it was doing there.  I also made the executive decision to go ahead and run earlier than I normally would post eating.  I got about a mile and a half out and looked back to see this.

Let's just say my easy long run turned into a mad sprint for home post picture of course :).  As I was walking in the door, the bottom fell out, and I finished up the 2.83 with 0.2 on the dreadmill and called it good.  

I tried for my sort of longish run again on sunday.  Luckily, I woke up to nothing on the radar, BUT I totally forgot I was out of my breakfast fuel for long runs.  Oh well, another experiment I guess.  Other than the humidity, it was a good run.  The dogs enjoyed the giant puddles left over from the rain the day before.

We also had our new normal of arrow coffee pre grocery store and then walked around the university gardens.  I wanted so many of those roses and irises for my house!!!  So beautiful!

No filters just pure beauty!

Also for some final news, I am going to get to pace my first race with a professional group!!!!!  I have paced people individually in races before, but never as part of a group.  My good friend Lindsey over at livinglovingrunner.com has been pacing for a couple of years now and has been trying to get me to throw my hat in the ring for pacing.  After having so much fun at the Bill Synder and seeing so many of our local runners as pacers, I decided to just ask and see if it was too late for fall races.  Low and behold, I got chosen to pace the KC half marathon in the fall! I also am a back up for another half in Lawrence in the fall and am SO excited!!!!  I am pacing the 2:45 group and can't wait to help people finish their race and finish strong!  Pacers have helped me hit my goal for my half marathon PR and got me to a respectable time at my first marathon in Chicago and I am excited to give back.

Have a GREAT rest of your weekend and Memorial Day!  Remember the Fallen!  I may not run Monday since it is a rest day but I will more than likely bike some miles in remembrance.

Week 2 of the in between. Goals for Chicago and a confession

I am really at a loss as to what goal for Chicago and my coach is pressing me to decide.  While I do want to run a 4:30 marathon someday AND Chicago is the place to do it, I know I really, really struggle with speed work in the heat and humidity of Kansas summers.  Quite honestly, I like walking during my run too.  I like walking a tenth of a mile every mile, especially when the humidity is high, and i know in doing that, I am not going to get to a goal of a 4:30 marathon, so decisions, decisions.  I also have a confession and need help with accountability.  My weight has spiraled out of control.  I have a number that if I see on the scale or a size I reach in my clothes that causes me to immediately cinch down on my eating.  I for the most part eat healthy, but my weakness is sweets post meal, and lately I have been partaking at work on my coffee breaks, before sports, and sometimes even after dinner or ALL THREE!  These are things that I am not eating because I am hungry, so easy to get rid of.  Hold me accountable next time you see me picking up that piece of chocolate or getting whipped cream on my coffee.   I am going to track my food for a week and see where I am at macro nutrient wise and calorie wise, and then figure out a strategy.  I am also buckling down on my mindless sweet eating this week.  I knew it was getting bad by the way my clothes were fitting, but seeing that number on the scale snapped me back to reality.  I want to be a successful ultra runner (successful = finishing LOL) and I can't do that as well with extra weight.

Monday:  Rest day.  T ball week 3.  The best week thus far.  Other than bumping a smaller boy a few times and then actually pushing him down, things went well.  All the boys in his rotating group were being handsy and pushy, and while I wanted to go out there and fuss at him for being too rowdy, I kept my mouth shut and let the coach deal with it.  They got to bat, run the bases and work on throwing.  No tears = success!

Tuesday:  5 miles.  Well, this was a weird day.  Woke up to storms bearing down.  Thought they would be done by 6 am, so went back to sleep and woke back up to more storms.  Instead of getting up and on the mill, I went back to sleep.  I figured I could go out post my first PTO meeting post working.

Well, we met at the bar and rest is history.  I am not going to turn down beer if it is right in front of me.  Decided to not feel guilty, but instead enjoy the company and take and extra rest day this week.

Wednesday: Cross training and strength.  See above day for explanation :)  Got in my five that I was suppose to do Tuesday morning.  Hello humidity.  96% at 5:45.  Bleh.  

Thursday:  4 miles.  Whoops.  So i accidentally looked at the wrong week and thought I needed to do 5.  Ended up doing 4 because the race is this weekend.  

Friday:  Suppose to be shake out run, but did it early and 2 more miles than was suppose to be done.   Since Coach Jenny changed my plan during the week, I think that the emails sent out and the stuff on my final surge calendar actually got mixed up, which takes my brain off the hook for going haywire.

Saturday:  The Bill Snyder Highway half!   Recap here.

Yep that is me being silly. I just saw the photographer right after I had taken a huge bite of my honey stinger waffle

Sunday:  Recovery.  Not as sore as I thought I would be.  Ask me if I am sore monday though.  Part of me really wanted to go for a short run today, but I am technically still in recovery mode from the 50 K and now this race.

I am really excited that I finally got to run the Bill Synder as we all call it or "The Bill".  I really enjoyed one of very few point to point races that i do.  I am looking forward to taking a few weeks to relax and run some slow and easy low miles before Chicago training officially kicks in.  I also am pleased at how I did for the week eating wise.  Yes, I did have a beer a couple of times this week, but not the every night that I have been doing with dinner.  Yes, I did have some chocolate candy, but no mindless eating of sweets during the day, at home, and then after dinner.  I am getting way too much fat in my diet and not enough protein, so need to work on that. Overall though, stayed under my calories and have a plan moving forward to work towards more protein and less fat!  

Have a great week! 

The Bill Synder Highway Half Marathon

Okay, so I have always wanted to do this race as it is 1) local and 2)is a big fundraiser for some awesome charities (much like Wicked), and 3) a great way to meet THE Bill Snyder, as he hands out awards and mills about taking pictures with people.  Plus bonus, the race is a point to point race at which you are bused out to the start and then finish at the football stadium, which I think is one of the most gorgeous stadiums ever built.  The first year I was doing too many races to run it, the second year I had a booth for the Wicked (and was also doing too many races in a row), so this year was the year!!!!  Plus, a friend was selling her bib and needed someone to take it so she didn't just loose her money.  I really took it as a sign that it was meant to be.  While I couldn't and shouldn't technically race it since I am still totally in recovery mode, I felt like I could do it, have fun, and take it easy.  Plus bonus, rocking robin was running with me, so I could ride with her to the start and then we could run together!

Got up around 4:45 am, which is super early, but around my usual time for getting up and running.  Robin was by shortly to pick me up and head to the start.  Coffee and belvitas for me.  I did make a flat michelle the night before, but totally slacked and did not get a pic.  The weather was suppose to be cloudy but 55-60, but just in case, I wore a tech T with my gypsy runner arm warmers, pro compression calf sleeves, my gypsy runner shorts, my new headsweat's hat (now being carried by gypsy runner), and my brook's jacket.  I also decided to carry a drop bag (provided by the race) and coat myself in Trail toes,  because I am still being brave and wearing my Juno Moving comfort bra that seriously use to chafe me bloody.  When we left Wamego, it was drizzling and COLD.  I like cold, but I am not a fan of cold + rain, and was having huge flashbacks to my 50 K yet again.

When we reached the buses, we quickly got on the first bus in a line of multiple buses.  Robin made a comment that maybe we should have gotten on the last bus to avoid standing outside in the drizzle and cold, but I just wanted to get to the start.  I hadn't, um, cleaned the system yet, and I knew once I got there, my nerves would kick in and I wouldn't have an issue.  Plus, I had my jacket and some gloves in my drop bag that i could use till time to stay warm.  The bus ride took us out onto I77, near where you get off of the interstate, to a nice area with a field and a bank of porta potties.  No lines for the porta potties yet, so I immediately got in one.  No go.  Sigh.  Anyway, it was pretty cold and windy and still drizzly, so huddled under the tent till we had about 10 minutes to go.  I did have success after the second try in the potty and still didn't have to wait in line, but right after I got out, WOW, the lines were LONG!  

We headed to our pacer that we had decided would be our guide for the race.  Since I had NO goals for this race and wanted to FINALLY do a full race with Robin, we picked the 2:25 pacer.  Her previous PR was 2:30, so anything under that would be awesome.  Plus, we had me the guy while we were huddling and he seemed super cool.  I honestly had no clue what my body was capable of post marathon and post 50 K, plus it has been a LONG time since I have done ANY speed work, but 2:25 seemed like a good safe idea.  Okay, so I had been hearing this was a huge down hill course over and over again. I will admit, I don't mind uphills, but down hills scare me.  My hip still isn't 100 percent and I just don't like going down.  I know, I am weird.  Anyway, while there is a nice down hill at a point in the race, there are still some pretty big rolling hills.  Duh, I should know this, I have driven on 177 numerous times.

I felt like it was a good idea to hold back and darn it, I have never been able to start slow.  We were both good till I saw the porta potties at mile 2.  Gulp.  Yep, that familiar feeling of needing to pee came back. I am seriously going to start peeing in my pants.  I am getting so sick of having to stop.  I really think it is a mental thing, even though I did indeed go and go and go when I stopped. All i had prior to the race was a little bit of coffee.  That is it.  No water and I didn't over hydrate the day before, like I have done in the past.  I made it to mile 4 where I HAD to stop.  I told Robin to go on and actually sprinted a bit ahead of her to get to the bathroom quicker.  Unfortunately, there were only 2 porta potties, and at least 4 people ahead of me for both.  Bummer.  I honestly wanted to go squat behind the cars that were parked there of volunteers, but I didn't want to risk having  something else come out  if you know what I mean.  So i waited.  The funny thing was the front 2:25 pacer also stopped to pee and he was behind me in line.  He was super fast running wise, so I knew he would be able to catch back up, and I was hoping i would as well.  

Look at mile 5.  That is where i stopped and waited.  Then look at mile 6 and 7.  In fact my watch told me I had a new record for the mile, whoops.  In my defense, I am pretty sure that is where the down hill started and I just let gravity do it's thing. Honestly, despite the hills, if the weather were cool again, this would be a GREAT course to try and PR on.  But we all know how weird spring in KS is.  We could have cool, or insanely hot and humid.  Today we cool and drizzly, and I will take it and not complain one bit.

The course meanders through town and campus and I just loved it.  Again, I don't mind hills and the big downhill was actually fun.  We went down 177, around the mall, down poyntz (down town), around city park, through aggieville, all around campus, and finished up by the stadium.  It was nice to not do loops or out and backs for once.  Unfortunately, I lost Robin  for a while, and when I caught up to her around mile 7, she was really struggling and was walking.  I went on without her, and now totally regret it. I had NO goals, so walking was not an issue, and it probably would have helped her to walk with her, but I just took off like an idiot.  I ended up catching up to the 2:20 pacer, who I think thought I was previously part of his group, and was cheering mightily to get me to catch up to him.  I complimented him and told him how awesome he was at motivating, and while I had no time goal thanks to my previous ultra and marathon, that he really spurred me on to catch up.  He really was a good back pacer, and I got in at 2:20 on the dot, which amazes me since I started out much further back, and stood in line at least 10 minutes in the line for the porta potty.  Yeah for that 8:55 mile LOL!!!!

After the race, we headed out fairly quickly, since we were all cold and tired.  Both of my traveling partners, Mel and Pat had great times.  Pat got a PR and fourth in his age group, and Mel was under 2 hours with a 1:55 and change.  I had to ride back with them because post running, Robin had a wedding to attend.

I did have time to change out my race shirt, which was women's cut and waayyy to small at the size I had requested, got some chocolate milk, which I spilled all over myself, and a water and a banana.  We also stopped at the coffee shop where I got my well earned grasshopper mocha WITH whipped cream.  I would definitely do this race again and highly recommend it!  I know the weather is fickle this time of year and we got lucky this year, BUT the scenery and the point to point course makes it well worth it, even with less than ideal weather!  Thanks Manhattan Running Company for putting on a very awesome race!  I hopefully will be back next year to race again!

Week 1 of the in between

Not sure what to call this.  I am doing another half marathon, one that I have been wanting to do for a while now.  The Bill Synder half is in Manhattan, which is 15 or so minutes away, and most of my friends run it every year.  It never has fit into my schedule of races and last year Andrew and I worked it for the Wicked race as ambassadors.  This year, I decided to take the plunge when a friend was selling her bib.  I most certainly will not be racing it, just mainly hoping to survive it on some weary legs.  This week is more about continuing my recovery and staying injury free!!!  While I admit, I am jealous of all of my ultra friends who are already back racing or running major mileage, I know my body and I know that I need more time to recover than most.

Monday: Rest glorious rest.  Round 2 of t ball clinic.  Much better this time. Tony went out and warmed him up,  as most of the other parents were doing.  Post that, Andrew instructed me he wanted me to stand at a hole in the fence and watch, so I did so.  He came off of the field three times to "rest" and get a drink.  In his defense,  the thermometers were reading 90 at the bank, but it didn't feel that hot.  I like the fact that this year, they are doing some good drills that actually get the kids ready for games and incorporate basic skills like throwing and catching.  Last night had a drill where the second baseman was scooping up the ball and throwing to first, so they all got to play two positions.  No crying and post t ball, he ate like a horse, eating a whole plate of sweet and sour chicken (with the sauce on it), and most of a cup of egg drop soup!

Tuesday:  5 easy miles.  While it wasn't super hot or humid, it was much more than I have previously dealt with,  so my body was hating me.  Legs still felt heavy and body still feels a little tired, but overall, glad to be back in the saddle again.  Stomach was pretty not happy by the end of the run, so there was lots of clinching and praying that last half of a mile.  The glorious life of a runner!

Wednesday:  bike ride/strength training.  I am trying something new.  Since after work is jammed packed with activities with andrew including track club and t ball now, I have to start getting up and getting my work out pre-work.  I tried doing strength before work previously, but it just didn't stick.  Fortunately, the sun is coming up earlier, so there is enough light for me to hit my bike and head out on the gravel pre-work.   I tried getting up about 5:30 and fueling before heading out around 6 am.  I didn't get the 10 miles in I wanted to, but it gives me a goal to work towards.  I think I ended up with 9.69 miles in an hours time.  Strength I can do at any time, even right before bed, so not going to worry about that for now.    

Thursday:  easy 4 miles.  When we awoke at 4:20, there were angry storms about.  We decided to call it quits and run later.  I woke back up at 6 am and it wasn't raining, so I decided to get a quick four by myself.  Of course a mile in, it started to down pour again and I didn't have my phone in a Ziploc, but I decided it was probably water proofed enough in my gypsy runner shorts.

It stopped raining a few times, long enough to snap some pics of my crazy dogs!  Stella's hair is growing back finally, YIPEEE!  Maybe soon enough she won't look like the bad gremlin from the movie gremlins.  Later on that night, this happened.

I can't believe it is already kindergarten time!  I will make a separate post of all the pics and videos, because we took a bunch!  I didn't cry though, so be proud!  I figured I would be a blubbering mess.

Friday:   Got in another bike ride with Rocking Robin.  We got in 12, only because I took the day off and mom was there to watch andrew.  We gave andrew the choice of what he wanted to do that day and he picked donuts, zoo, and walmart.  Didn't make it to walmart, but did make it to the zoo.

It really was the perfect day for it, except for the fact that EVERY LOCAL SCHOOL was there.  I am not kidding, I have never seen so many buses in one parking lot.  

This was the only animal pic i took.  My high school mascot was a cougar so SHOULD HAVE BEEN A COUGAR was going through my head the whole time he was sitting there.  Yes, there is glass between us.  How majestic is he/she?  Look at those paws!  May I never ever meet one of these guys in the wild!!!!

Of course we had to hit up the kid's room in the museum, and we had to play with the legos for quite a while.  He even picked out a lego giraffe for his toy at the end of our visit.  Kind of like the lego phase, but sad to say good bye to the Thomas phase.  One more year of day at the Thomas and then no more :(

After our day at the zoo, we decided to stop at the Russell Stover's factory outside of Abilene.  I am blown away by how much candy they had there!!!!  Plus, they had ice cream that they made sundaes with that included the chocolate that they made the candy with.  Holy moly that was the best sundae EVER!  They even have a room with discounted chocolates and let's just say you could drop a major amount of money there and have enough chocolate to last for years!  

Since I wasn't sure if my hubby had gotten me anything for mother's day, I got me and my mom some chocolate.  I had previously ordered a new trucker hat for running and it came in when we got back from our trip, so I let my hubby off of the hook and said he could count that as my mother's day present.  Pretty excited to try out a headsweats technical trucker hat and really excited that gypsy runner may start stocking them so I can get more!

Saturday:  Long run.  6-8 miles.  Just me and the pups.  Mel was racing and Rocking robin was graduating her daughter from college.  I am not going to lie, this run plain sucked from start to finish.  I had had two beers the day before, plus a whole bunch of bad food.  I struggled from start to finish, but I got 7 miles in and called it good.  

It was so humid, which didn't add to the fun.  I am not ready for humidity in the 90s.  Bleh.  

Sunday: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Was treated to doughnuts in bed sort of (had already gotten out of bed by that time) and coffee.  Put off my running till after the doughnuts were digested.  Decided to make it a family affair.  I was hoping andrew could make it with me for the full three miles, riding his bike of course.  He almost made it to mile one before he petered out.  Luckily Tony was tailing us so he caught up and took him for me while I finished my run.  I only did 3 miles as I am really, really sore.  I am not sure why I am so sore actually.  I am hoping that I am just getting old and that I am not on the edge of injury.  Sigh.  

Post my short run, we headed to topeka to have mother's day lunch.  My mom and I enjoyed our cracker barrel and then afterwards we hit up a putt putt golf place we had never been to.  Let's just say I had huge flash backs to our little local Jackson gooney golf place that went out of business years ago.  

Many of the obstacles were the exact same.  SO many nights and weekends playing with friends on that course.  Sigh.  Those were the good old days!  Afterwards we played in the arcade and won some tickets.  Andrew left with a blow up guitar which makes me laugh.  Of all the choices, that was what he wanted.  

Hope you had a great week and hope you have a great upcoming week!  I am getting super excited to run the Bill and run with Rocking Robin.  Hoping too to continue my streak of getting up early and to get back to strength.