Easter Beach Run 4-Miler

Well, I normally don't do 3 races in one month- but I just had to run this one- Was I crazy? LOL! The Easter Beach run was fun, but running in the sand for 4 miles is a whole lot different than running on the roads! They say it adds like 15 seconds per mile onto your time...not sure if thats exactly true- but I do know it adds some time. Also, the race was at 4 pm - so that was a little different, too. I got 2nd in my age group this time, and my time was 30:10...not happy with the time- just have to keep reminding myself it would have been faster if the race was on the road. Well, I have a couple weeks off before my next race on April 5th- I'm sure I will post a new blog then.... Oh yeah- raced in the jersey for the first time- Very Nice- I LOVE it!

" Some people say I have attitude - maybe I do...but I think you have to. You have to believe in yourself when no one else does - that makes you a winner right there." Venus Williams

Time to Start Training for Real!

Well, the sun has been peeking out here in the midwest... I think it got up to 50 last Friday. (Hurray!!) The Shamrock Shuffle is about 2 weeks away, my knee is almost fully recovered - which by the way, I think the supplement Astavita is amazing and really helped me heal.

I'm also signed up for the Danskin Triathlon in July; the Wondergirl 5k to do with some of my daughters and their friends in June; and I'm signing up for Muddy Buddy today. (I've inspired a few of my friends to participate, that's exciting!) My beautiful, quiet, shy Korean friend JuSun is going to be my partner for Muddy Buddy - I hope this sweet woman knows what she's getting herself into! The great thing about Muddy Buddy is they have a kids race, too... isn't that every child's dream, to race through a giant mud pit?! (My husband is going to have a heart attack taking all of us home in our car.) The Danskin Triathlon and Muddy Buddy are all over the country, so check it out and perhaps challenge yourself!

I realized that I have lost a good 20 pounds since I started training for the 2007 Chicago Marathon last spring. About 15 to go and I'll be as thin as when I got married in 1989!!! That's awesome, but really my goal now is to get my blood pressure down without meds.

So I'm finishing up my Triathlon beginner swim class. Our coach has been incredible. I am making slow but steady progress and am confident the 1/2 mile swim will be fine, pretty easy by July. (My arms are shaping up nicely, too!) This class has been so humbling, I'm usually fairly good at most things, but with swimming I'm like the big dork in the class. Everyone else is swimming, and I'm just... sinking... swimming... sinking... grabbing a breath... sinking... swimming - you get the picture. As soon as I can get a good rhythm, I think I'll be much better. Who would have thought the simple act of swimming actually could be so complex?!

Time to get on a bike and start training for my cycling trip through Ireland with my 11 and 9 year old children this May. Funny, "30-40 miles a day" seemed like nothing to worry about in the middle of winter - but now, I'm thinking, "was I nuts?" (The longest bike ride we ever take is about 5 miles.) It's a good thing my kids are just excited about seeing castles and have no true concept of how far we'll be going each day :-) I'm sure this trip will be an adventure worth telling once it's all over. Happy Easter!

My 5th race of the season completed...I'm happy this one's over!

Well, I had my 2nd 10K this morning. I wanted to better my time from last month...but it didn't happen. It was actually over 2 minutes slower...that's what happens when the last three miles consist of going over a HUGE bridge, turning around and doing it again before the finish line! I am happy this one is over. I do have to say I am not at all sore this time, I think it has to do with the great suppliment Astavita!! I was first in my age group and my time was 48:54- hopefully my next 10K will be in the 45:00 time!

Noah was too busy playing on the playground to run his race today.

"Accomplishment of small things leads to mighty things. Motivation to lead small victories results in glorious triumphs. Letting your light shine, even in defeat, is not failure but a stepping-stone to become stronger."- Chad E. Hardy

Running among the Animals!

Okay, yesterday I ran a pretty cool race. It was a 3K at the Brevard County Zoo. I can't say I am a fan of such a short distance (1.8 miles), but the course made up for it. We ran through the zoo past the animal exhibits...the animals must have thought we were nuts! They also had the new Dinosaur Exhibit open, so about half way through we had dinosaurs growling and hissing at us! Very fun! Noah ran the kiddie race, laughed the entire race, had a blast! I was 1st in my age group, my time was 12:46. Next race is next weekend, another 10K- let's see if I can beat last months 10K time!! Happy Running to All!

" The goal you set within is the first stone to stand on to become your best. You must keep setting goals and achieving them. To become the best in life you must believe in yourself and strive to stand on top of the mountain looking down and not midway looking up."- Chad E. Hardy