First Call 1/2 Marathon

I decided last minute to join Jenn and her family for a 1/2 Marathon in Bothell last weekend.  It was a cold morning....and things started off a little rushed.  But Nicolette was qualifying for the running club, half fanatics and I was glad I could run the race with her.  We kept a pretty good pace, and finished in 3 hours.  Not my personal best, but still good for not really training for it. 

 Nicolette and Arthur, coming into the finish.

 Jessica and I crossing the last bridge before the finish.

Nicolette and I after our 13.1 miles.  Great job, girl and welcome to the club!

Point Defiance 30K

Jenn and I participated in the Point Defiance 30K today.....which in miles turned out to be just under 20 miles.  Our training started only a month ago, and we never did do over 18 miles on the cedar river trail.  But the hill work we did, came in handy today.  After doing the 15K last year, we knew the course would be challenging but we also knew we are stronger today than last year. 

 Pre race smiles.

 Ferry and sail boats on the sound.

A massive tree root, upended and now covered with ferns.  Also the spot that we got lost the first time through.  We added about a 1/2 a mile and wasted 20 mins of time getting back to the right track.

Another tree, upended...this one was covering the trail so they cut off the tree.  It looks like a massive leaf in the photo below.

 Jenn on the trail, close to her favorite trees, the Madronnas.

 Tacoma Narrows Bridge from Point Defiance Park.

 Another one of our favorite spots.....I look like an amazon next to Jenn here! 

We took an hour off our time on the first lap this year....a big accomplishment for sure.  We finished the race in 5 hours and 40 mins.  Well done, girl!  I am so proud of us!

Tacoma City 1/2 Marathon

Jenn and I participated in the Tacoma City 1/2 Marathon again this spring.  It was my third time in the race, and the anniversary of my very first 1/2 Marathon.  It was a wonderful day, today.  Jenn and I both reflected back on our previous races and how different we felt this time.  In 2010, our time was 3 hours and 13 minutes.  In 2011, our time was 3 hours and 9 minutes.  Today, we kicked butt and beat our previous time by 20 minutes!!  Official time has not come in yet, but we calculated that we did the race in 2 hours and 45 minutes.  Amazing!  I felt stronger than I ever have on those hills, and the distance went by faster than it ever has. 

Jenn, I would never have started in this sport if it hadn't been for you.  And I continue to become more and more of a runner.  I enjoy the trail time, time for me and time spent with you.  Thank you for being such a good coach and Partner In Crime!

Double trouble 1/2 marathon

Jenn and I saw this race and just had to do it!  It was a half marathon, but the fun part was we were required to be tied together for the whole race.  No holding hands....had to be more than that.  So, we attached ourselves together with dog leashes.  We did a great job, keeping our fastest pace done in a race, to date.  We jogged a 1/4 of a mile and then the next 1/4 we split into thirds.  Walk/jog/walk. 


Pre Race smiles

I enjoyed how creative some of the racers were.  This couple was attached with Slinky's.  Metal ones.  Ouch!  But it was fun!



Jenn and I, after the race.  We got to race around this pretty lake, on Puyallup's east hill. 

We made it!

Arthur took this one, after we got home.  :)  Great race, my PIC!  xoxo

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Wet 13 miles!

Oh MY!  Jenn and I had a wonderful trail time today.  We did 13 miles IN THE RAIN, in just under 3 hours.  That's our BEST half marathon time, ever.  So exciting!!  I'm sore, but it was so worth it to push ourselves.  I feel fantastic on the inside!!! 

Whoops....

I've started using a fitness website to track my calories and exercise and it's kinda taken over my lil web-log!  Boo.  But I am still working out...actually more than ever and it feels AWESOME!  I'm kinda obsessed right now with loosing weight.  Burning FAT.  Eating right.  I'm ready to get my sexy back, baby!!  Tonight I tried an aerobics class called Zumba.  Oh. My. GRAVY.  I'm gonna hurt tomorrow, but wow it was fun!  They combine dance moves and fast, thumping music to make the hour go quickly!  I can see how addicting it can be.  Whoot!

Brrrrr!

Jenn, Diede and I braved the snow and ice today to get some miles in on the trail.  It felt great to be out and about, but it was slow going on the trail.  Many spots were very slick, like ice-skating!  But we made it (with our hips intact) even if it was a little slower than we'd liked.  We did about 6 miles in three hours.

Stepping and Aerobics

So, it's been snowing outside.  Not conducive for workouts, at least for me.  Unless you are shoveling snow, but I haven't been.  So, yesterday, I did some stepping while watching TV.  Tonight, I pulled out an old VHS aerobics tape that I have.  My GOD!!  Those women had the teased hair and pastel outfits straight out of the 80's.  Made me laugh, just watching them. Regardless, I still worked up a sweat for a good 30 mins. 

I do miss my trail time, though.  Sigh.

Almost three miles

It's Friday, and Derick is out of school today, so to get my work out in, I took the kids to the local park for some fresh air and exercise.  Derick rode his bike and I pushed Darla in the stroller.  We took a few trips around the park on the trail before I let Darla out to play with Derick.  We did almost three miles, counting the mile home.  It was pretty cold out there, but sunny.  One of my favorite weather conditions. 

My first weigh in in 2012

So, a week ago, I started tracking my food intake and exercise on a website called My Fitness Pal.  It's a website I have used before, but I didn't stay with it.  After one week of eating better and working out, I have lost 5 lbs!!!  I can't tell you how much this means to me!!  I think this is the year that I will finally loose the weight and I want to KEEP it off this time.  Healthy lifestyle, healthy choices everyday.  This is just the shot in the arm that I needed!  Whoot!

Cold!!! But sunny....

Spent a lovely three miles on the trail this morning with Jenn and Julia.  It's cold but we use that as motivation to stay moving.  :) 

Cold three miles

OMG!  It was COLD outside today, but Jenn and I braved the cold to get our three miles in.  We jogged a quarter, with a rest period in the next quarter.  I think the cold had something to do with how much jogging we did! 

Yoga

Got my monthly visitor (except for me, it's not that regular) yesterday, so today, I'm taking it easy.  I did one hour of yoga this evening.  Felt sooo good to stretch and breathe.

Late evening work

Had to get some exercise in yesterday....so I stepped to one of the shows I love to hate...the bachelor.  Ugh, this season is not great.  I'm just absorbing too much of the drama after I watch it.  I don't like how I feel after I watch.  But doing 60 minutes of stepping during, helped.

9 mile morning...WITH a hill

Jenn and I tackled the 140th hill this morning; it's a love/hate thing.  It's good training and gets the blood pumping...but it's a BIG hill.  After our jog back down, we did an extra couple of miles jogging 1/4 of a mile and then resting part of the next 1/4.  Lots of jogging for us, esp after THE hill, but we did it and it felt great.  I iced after, knowing my hips and heels will talk to me too loudly if I don't.  The ice bath is never fun, but it seems like it's MUCH colder in the winter months.  Great start to this week!

Solo three miles

Jenn has an injury that is keeping her from the trail.....so I went it alone this morning.  Since I didn't get her message til it was too late, she was sweet enough to watch Darla while I hit the trail.  I did the usual three miles, jogging a quarter mile, walking a quarter mile.  And I discovered that it was TOO much rest in between.  So, on two of the rest quarter miles, I started jogging early.  What??  Who is THAT girl???  Me, that's who!!  I'm already feeling the soreness, but that's OK.  I keep seeing this saying on the Internet right now, "I'd rather be sore than sorry."  Yeah, it fits right now.  :) 

3 miles in the rain

Jenn and I did 3 miles this morning, in the rain.  We jogged one minute and walked one minute.  It feels good to be back on course.  :) 

Stepping back into it

I did 40 minutes of stepping tonight...not my best effort, but hey, at least I did SOMETHING!  I even did a few sit ups too.  My hips and lower back have been really giving me some trouble lately.  I think it's just that I'm not stretching enough after workouts.  So, I'm trying to make a better effort to stretch and since I'm down there on the floor....a few sit ups will help the front side get stronger.

Happy New Year!

Back to the trail, for sure!  After a long winter's break, I am back and ready to keep on, keepin on!  I did 4+ miles in one hour this morning, by myself!  I have found that while I enjoy doing trail time most with my friend, sometimes it's nice to go it alone.  It's good for me to push myself and see if I can keep myself motivated.  I am proud of myself today.