Sham Rock On!

I love Virginia Beach on St. Patrick's Day weekend. This was the fourth year we have gone down for the Shamrock Sportsfest races. This was the fourth year I did the 1/2 marathon but the first time I did the 8K the day before. My husband did both races, too (it was his first 1/2 marathon so that was exciting) and my mom ran the 1/2 marathon with me. They also have kids races on Saturday. Last year my son did the 1 mile kids race and my daughter did the 26.2 yard dash--which is really hilarious to watch. But all the kids get t-shirts and medals so it is exciting for them.

The weather is really hit or miss in mid-March. This year it was gorgeous on Saturday for the 8K. It was sunny and in the 60's. Then it rained overnight and got really windy and cold. We're talking 30 mph winds and temps in mid 30's on Sunday morning. Luckily it stopped raining 45 minutes before the 1/2 marathon started at 7:00. Having never run two races back-to-back I wasn't sure how I would feel on Sunday. Surprisingly I felt pretty good. I think running Saturday actually warmed me up a bit so I wasn't so tight starting on Sunday. But I took it slow considering my training was more non-training and my long runs were nonexistent. My mom and I pretty much followed my plan though, which was run to a water stop, walk to drink water, then continue walking for about 1/4 mile then run to the next water stop. It made the race go by pretty quick since I was always focused on the next water stop and not so much the mile markers. I won't tell you my time since it was pretty slow, but I will say it was within 3 minutes of my time 2 years ago when I also ran this race pregnant. So I guess I am consistent!

So if you are ever looking for a good race to start the spring running season, I highly recommend the Shamrock races in VA Beach (www.shamrockmarathon.com). Every year it gets bigger and better. Since Yuengling started sponsoring the race last year, it is obvious they have put a lot of money into it. You get great Brooks technical shirts, medals, hats, and LOTS of beer (they give you tickets for FOUR beers after the race--that's a bit much at 9 am, but it's one of the perks of getting up early on a Sunday and running your butt off for 2+ hours!!). So as they say in VA Beach...Sham Rock On!

St. Patrick's Day run with my girls

Well, we completed our second annual Round Elementary School St. Patrick's Day Fitness Walk. Gina, my 7 year old, Julia, my 5 year old, my mom and dad and I all braved the cold, rainy morning to power walk a mile in Manassas. Julia surprised us all by taking off and running the last 1/2 mile unprovoked! I decided to join her and (regretted bouncing my 32week pregnant belly) but enjoyed bonding with Julia as we ran under the balloon archway. She was so proud of finishing and was grinning ear to ear. Then she noticed the runners finishing the 5K race and decided that next year she wanted to run by the clock in the "real race". When I explained that is was 3 miles and not just 1 she decided that we should probably practice for a while first. :) I guess I will have a budding runner to train this spring and summer! Gina was not too happy to have been beaten by her little sister so she decided to mope and say that she hated races. I had to remind her that some days are good and some are not so good for running races. In her defense she had just recovered from an ear infection and 5ths disease (a mild relation of chicken pox that requires no real treatment as it is a viral infection that has to run its course. The red cheeks are the give-a-way symptom, she looked like she had been slapped. Luckily the redness didn't itch or hurt.) Anyway after bribing them with some eggs and pancakes at IHOP and talking about how cool our shirts were and how much fun it is to hang out and race together I think they agreed that it was a fun morning. I am looking forward to running with them some more and "practicing for the real race".
I am proud of all the virgin BYB(Back Yard Burn) runners who did an awesome job this weekend! I will be with you in the fall, I can't wait!!! Great job!

First Race! Backyard Burn EX2 Adventure Race

I don't know why, but I was really nervous about this race. Maybe because it was the first race I've ran since I had my second daughter (who will be two in just a couple months). Or maybe because I've never done a trail race before and had no idea what to expect. Or maybe because it was the first race of this whole race team thing and I didn't want mess up. Actually, I think I was most nervous about tripping over a tree root or sliding on a rock and seriously injuring myself (anyone watch LOST?!). So I probably didn't run as fast or as hard as I would have liked to, but with all that said, I think I did ok. I really enjoyed the run. Christa and I stayed together the whole way and talked as usual, so it was just like any other run except for all those HILLS!!!! Nobody told me about all the hills! We run a lot of hills in Montclair. In fact you can't go for a run around here without hitting atleast two or three. But this race, it was one steep hill after another. It was hard! But it felt great to finish and even better to laugh with good friends before and after the race. Everyone did great, Christa, Michelle and Sherry. And our sister team, Speed Sisters, Jenny and Erin! Thanks for a great race.

A new excuse to avoid the cold!

Well, I am the last one in the group to post a blog. Better late than never! Like everyone else, I was waiting for a great running moment to happen so I would have something exciting to write about, but it is just not happening with this weather. I think I have exhausted every excuse in the book to avoid running. There is just something different about this winter. In the past, I always noticed that when I got home from a run, the coldest part of my body wasn't my checks or my hands or my arms. . .it was always my butt. I always thought that was odd considering how much extra "padding" I have back there. But this winter is different. Every time I come home from a run, the coldest part of body is not my butt, it's my boobs. It's like I have two frozen boobsicles frozen to my chest. What's going on here? It is very painful when you're running with the bouncing and the jiggling. I have determined what I need is one of those fleece headband wraps that keeps your ears warm but in XXXXL to fit around my chest and keep my girls snug and warm. So there's a new excuse you can use for avoiding a run in the bitter cold...you want to avoid frozen boobsicles! (Sorry if this blog was suppose to be rated G!)

What is up with weather??

I love the on-line log.....BUT......this weather is not helping meet my goals! I am still hauling my butt to the gym treadmill but that sooooo sucks. Who wants to run in place in front of a huge mirror in front of you so you can contemplate how huge your thighs look? PLUS~~~~those numbers move soooo slow. Three miles feels like an eternity. Then you get someone who gets on the machine RIGHT NEXT TO YOU when there are at least seven others to choose from. Of course, this person usually is breathing super hard, wearing blue jeans and non-running shoes while attempting to run an eight minute mile.......... and then you wonder if your workout will be interupted because you will need to administer CPR to his dumb ***!! You couldn't just call out for help and leave since others there know your occupation..................Can you tell I am also PMSing?

Team Slacker

Hello, team slacker here. I've been waiting for a really great running week so that I'ld have something exciting to post but I just haven't had one yet! January was a complete bust, I barely ran at all. I got back into my regular running schedule in February, but honestly, it's like starting all over again. Running is so unforgiving like that. On Sherry's recommendation I started using the running log on the SMR website which is so addictive! I wish I had started using it earlier. Now I find myself feeling a little crazy because it's not a great week for running, weather-wise, but I need to log more miles. And also, I don't want to lose my momentum. I've been working hard the last few weeks to get back into running. It's way too easy in the winter to come up with excuses not to run, but this year I have races to train for! So I need to keep moving. I'll try to be better about blogging too!

February

My goal is to post at least once each month, so here goes for February! I am so excited to have received all the fun gear I ordered. I can actually get it over my 7 month baby body, not that I would go out in public that way,(especially when my 7 year old mentioned how much easier it was to see how big my belly was in that outfit) but at least there is hope for the future.

I have taken to walking fast instead of running now due to some discomfort but I can still move out pretty quick. I even passed a grandma walking her grandson in a stroller the other day. But I was very moved and highly motivated by my fellow running mommies who came looking for me after the run last week. I even got to go out for coffee with them! Decaf of course. They extended their run to find me which was very nice of them and I really enjoyed the company on the way back to the car.

I am still planning to walk/jog the shamrock 1 mile race with my girls in March. My parents and husband, Blake are going to join us. My father won his age group last year so he is going back to defend his title.
As long as we stay healthy, a little setback this week with a touch of the stomach flu and low fever, I have high hopes for dusting off the jogger and gearing up for the baby's first run in the coming months. I am especially looking forward to fitting in to my new running outfits as well. I love the new logo!