9 days to go!!

I can't believe there's only 9 days to go until my first marathon!!! I can't wait to run it. It's going to be amazing! Plus, keep an eye out for Saturday cause I have a great giveaway coming to celebrate my marathon. :)

I have to be honest though, I was SOO pumped for this marathon, but once I started having IT band issues I have lost almost all motivation. The only thing that's been keeping me going are the long runs each week. I love my long runs.I think that's a big reason I've been slacking on my blog, it's not just because the laptop's in the shop. I don't know what my problem is, but somethings gotta change!  I've lost my "muchness".
This morning was a changing point for me. I got up and took the kids on a run around the lake. I started out walking, just cause I'm not used to running with a stroller. Anyway, I start to run and B, my 5 yr old says, "Mom, are you running?" I reply, "Yep, I'm running." B says, "Are you sure mom cause grandma goes a lot faster when she runs." Hahaha! Why, thanks B...I'm glad to know that you don't even know when I'm running cause I'm THAT slow...

Then after picking up my pace to show B that I can run fast too, I stop to walk cause I'm a slacker like that. After walking for about .25 B says, "Mom, can you run again when you get to that tree?" So, I run as fast as I can until I get to the tree and walk again... So, after another .25 she says, "Mom, can you run across the bridge?" "Sure, B...I can run across it."

It's sad when your 5yr old realizes that you aren't putting in 100% and makes you do Fartleks just so you get a workout. :) For the whole 5+ miles she had me running to different things and running down hills until I reached a certain point.

Thanks B, for helping me realize that I need to put in 100% when I set a goal. I love ya girl! :)

Today I did 5 miles, Monday I did 2. I skipped yesterday cause I didn't make it a priority. Tomorrow, I'm getting up early and doing the same thing I did today, but running a lot more of it.

Run to Walk Family 5k

Today's race was FUN! I'm telling ya, it's such a great thing running as a family. Sure, everyone finished at different times, but it was fun to talk about it when we were all done.

Hayley and Adam were amazing. She did it in 26 and Adam did it in 19. I could only dream to do it that fast. I can't believe this was the only picture I got of Adam today. Lame...

Mom and pop before the race. :)

Mom was 2nd in her age group and did it in 34 (I think.). Dad did it in 36, but I'm not sure. All I know is he finished WAY before we did. He kept saying, "I had to do this every day for 34 years and now I'm paying to run!?" Hahaha. The joys of being in the Army. :) At least he's retired now and doesn't have to do PT if he doesn't want to. I think he enjoyed it.

Here's Mr. J before the race started. He was all ready. He screwed up his back a couple weeks ago and his PT told him he couldn't run, so he walked... He's such a tall guy that his walk is my jog. So, while pushing 3 little kiddos in a stroller and putting up with one of them getting in and out of the basket in the back while he was still going.  B got in and out of the basket and ran about a mile of it.

Poor guy, he's not used to going that fast for so long. The last time he did a 5k was a year ago with me. He just laid there on the ground for about 15 minutes. It wore him out!

It's all good. I still love him! :) We walked it in 44.02, not bad considering he was pushing over 100 lbs in a non-jogging stroller. He puts up with so much. I'm glad I have such a great man!

Before the race I ran 4 miles around the riverwalk and then did the 3 miles with the race. Good times!

Today, today...

I don't think it really counts as "running" cause I didn't "run" the whole time, but today's 4 miles was an "easy" 4 miles. It was easy running wise, but the effort it took to get the kids back up the trail was TOUGH. J and I took the kids down to McDonald's and Harmon's (grocery store). We walked down and walked back up with a heavy bag of groceries. It's about 2.15 down hill and then 2.15 back up plus the walking we did around the store. But, I did run. B and I raced up the trail and then C and I ran to catch up with J & B. I even wore my running shoes....So, do you think it counts as my 4 mile training run? :)

Tomorrow J & I are taking B & A somewhere special. There will be some fun pictures. Tomorrow's 8 mile run is going to be done around a track. Any tips for running a long distance around a track? I'm a little nervous to do it that way, but I don't know the area I'm going to be in and I want to make sure to get my run done.

Riding with my girl on St. Patty's Day.

HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY!!!

The breakfast of champions. YUM! You like my green milk? It was GOOD.

Today I thought it would be fun to take B with me on my run. She really enjoyed it. She talked the whole time, telling me about her dream last night, and asking why there were things like dragonflies. It was kinda fun listening to her little mind wonder while I ran.

The weather was perfect and we went 4 miles. Her little legs biked her up and down hills, over bridges, and through the dirt. She was so proud of herself. I asked if she liked riding while I ran and she said "Yeah, cause you're my best mom!" :)

I felt good the whole time. No achy muscles. No sore feet. Tomorrow's a 7 miles and I'm confident that I'll feel great again, lets just hope this great weather keeps up.

I don't feel good...

It's crazy. I woke up this morning at 6 when little Mr. Man had to go potty. I felt fine. I even debated if I should go run, but I decided to sleep in. 30 minutes later I wake up for good and it feels like I was hit by a train. You know the aches and chills  you get when you have a fever? Yeah, I had those really bad. So, needless to say I didn't get in my 4 miles plus sprints today. Even though I had a couple hours during the day that I felt like I could muster up enough energy to run, I thought It would be better to rest. I just really hope that I feel better tomorrow. A 24 hour bug would be nice...well, not nice as in I like having them, but nice as in I don't want it to go longer.

So, in some happier news. Miss Ma'am has been inspired by my running. She wanted to run on the treadmill. She did .5 miles in 7 minutes. :) She was so proud to be running like mommy.

Then she wanted to do push ups. She wanted to do 5 cause she was 5.

Then she wanted to do sit ups. Again, she wanted to do 5 cause she is 5.

I love my girl. She's so excited to exercise like mommy and she keeps asking if she can run a race too. There's a cute little Cookie Chaser race for Girl Scout Cookies that I thought she would have fun with.

Anyway, at least one of us got some exercise today. :)