RACING WITH BABES

And then you were three ...

2012-01-27T08:30:00.000-05:00

Dear Dilly,

Tomorrow you will be three and I am not entirely sure how that happened. OK, maybe I know how it happened, but it feels like it flew by. Like one night, you fell asleep a baby and woke up a preschooler. I swear your sisters didn't grow up this fast.

Dilly - One Day Old


Dilly, present day

But I guess that's what happens to third children. They age beyond their years. And, you've always been that way. You have a sense of maturity and an outgoing nature that have been evident since day one. I've always said that you were the most easy-going of my children, and that is still the case.

You wait your turn.
You follow my rules.
You understand my logic, even if you don't like it.

It makes parenting you easier in a sense. It's uncomplicated and straight forward. I don't fear that a parenting misstep on my part will result in a full on tantrum like with your sisters. Yes, I am aware that this will eventually change. But, please do your best to not let that happen.

Dilly, there are endless things that I love about you, but today, on the eve of your third birthday, I want to share with you those things that make you so very perfect in my eyes. The things that define who you are and shape who you'll be.

I love the way you say "I don't know" whenever you are asked a question. I've never heard another person convey so many different emotions and meanings with the same three words. Just by listening to how you say it, I can tell if you are feeling shy, angry, devilish or just plain silly.

I love the way your face lights up whenever you are happy. Whether you've just found out you are going to Disney or that you get to eat cake, you show such joy and excitement. Your eyes light up in a way that few others can. I hope that never changes.

I love that are brave and strong and that you only pretend to be shy. You hang with the big kids and you hold your own. You never let anyone tell you that you can't. Hold onto this trait, it will get you far in life.

I love that when you speak, you sound like a cartoon character. Your voice is high and squeaky and beyond adorable. Whenever you talk, I want to cover you with a thousand kisses just for making me smile.

I love that you relish in being our baby, at least for the time being. I know that one day, you'll want us to see you as grown up, and that's fine. But until then, I am going to soak up every second with my Baby Boo.

I love that you think that "toot" is the funniest word out there. You throw it into conversation whenever you can. It's kind of hysterical, although I'd never admit that to you.

I love that when I tuck you into bed at night, you want to tell me about your entire day from start to finish. You don't care that I was there for all of it. You just want to remind me of how much fun it was. It always makes me cherish those quiet moments I get to spend with just you.

Dilly, I love you for everything that you are and everything that you will ever be.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Baby Boo!

Love,
Mommy

Three Things Thursday ...

2012-01-26T08:05:00.000-05:00

10 Day Pledge - I'm not sure how I stumbled upon it, but last week I found the blog, 100 Days of Real Food. It chronicles a family's quest to eat real foods in a processed food world. On the site, they pose a challenge to readers, a 10 Day Real Food Pledge, to be exact (There are other mini-pledges too.)

As soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to try, but I was going to need a partner-in-crime. I pitched it to J. He wasn't feeling it. So, I did what any sensible person would do. I threw the idea out to my running friends and luckily, a few took the bait. Beginning February 1st, we will eat no processed food for 10 days. I am confident that it will be harder than I think. If you are interested in taking the pledge too, you can find all of the "rules" here.

Three - My baby, Dilly, turns three on Saturday. How the heck did my baby get to be three? And while we're at it, how do I have an almost seven year old? No longer having an infant or toddler in the house makes me feel so much older than turning 30 does ...

Early Risers - J's new position has him working insane hours. Not only is he going to be traveling pretty much every day in February, but yesterday he went into the office at 8 a.m. and he didn't get home until almost 9 p.m. It's crazy.

In order to get some quality time with the girls, he has taken to waking them up a half-hour earlier than usual. This is awesome. I don't get to sleep in, since I workout in the morning, but it has seriously dropped my stress level. In the past, J has slept through most of our morning prep, leaving me to manage the girls by myself. This results in me wanting to punch someone by the time we leave the house for the day.

When everyone gets up earlier and J handles breakfast, it makes my morning so much easier.

11 things ...

2012-01-25T09:15:00.000-05:00

The amazing EMZ tagged me for this "random things about me" post/game and I couldn't wait to play along. (Seriously, I was bummed every time I read one of these posts and I wasn't tagged ...)

Here are the rules:

1. Post these rules.
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself.
3. Answer the questions set for you in their post.
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog and tell them you've tagged them.
6. No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you are reading this. You legitimately have to tag 11 people.

Here it goes ...

1. I may have once told my kids that I am allergic to dogs and cats, simply because I have allergies. This is only partially true. Both cats and dogs aggravate my allergies, but not so much that I can't be around them. The truth is, I really don't like cats and dogs and I really don't like animals living inside the home. Leading my kids to believe that I am allergic stops them from constantly asking me to get a pet. I'd rather them believe this lie than have to tell them no on a daily basis.

2. Although I haven't eaten meat for over a year, every once in a while I get the urge to take a bite of my kids' hot dogs. Odd, considering I don't really like hot dogs and they're not really meat ...

3. I can not resist sweets. The only strength I have against them is that I WILL NOT open the container they come in. For example, if we have a bag of M&M's, they will sit on the shelf for months. I won't touch them. But the second someone else opens the package, all bets are off. I'll probably eat them all in one sitting. The same is true for sweetened cereals, whipped cream, and nutella.

4. I am often praised for my organization and planning skills. And while I thrive on being "on top of things," it's really a curse. I can not shut my brain off. If I get even a few minutes of "down time," I can't help but obsess about what I needs to be cleaned, what could be better organized, what project I should be working on. It runs through my head from the moment I wake up until the moment I fall asleep.

5. I have never seen Star Wars. Or Indiana Jones. Or the Godfather.

6. When I was in high school, my parents set up a trip for me and my friends to visit the set of Dawson's Creek and meet the cast. IT.WAS.AWESOME. And my teenaged self bragged about it for years.

7. As a kid (elementary through high school), I played on traveling soccer and basketball teams, year-round. I have zero clue as to how my parents handled that. Having my own kids shows me that it is not only CRAZY expensive, but totally time consuming.

8. I have two tattoos. I got both of them within 18 months of turning 18. I have always wanted another one, but couldn't figure out what. Just last week, after almost 10 years of pondering, I finalized the design. But, it will probably be months, if not years, before I get it.

9. I firmly believe that adding chocolate or cheese makes anything taste better.

10. I sleep on the left side of the bed. I have for the last 10 years. Except when J is out of town. Then I sleep on his side of the bed.

11. I turn 30 in 13 days. Feel free to send gifts.

EMZ's questions:

1. Do you love or hate the treadmill and why? Love. For one, my treadmill is epic. Who wouldn't want to run on it? I also kind of loath running solo outdoors. If my friends are around, I'll take an outdoor run any day, but the thought of running a cold, dark run myself just makes me cringe.

2. Describe yourself in three words. Driven. Organized. Awesomesauce.

3. Describe your best friend. - I have 7 people I consider to be my best friends. Three of them are blood related and the others are my best friend from elementary school, middle school, college and adulthood. All of them are like sisters to me. They get me, even if they don't agree with me. They tell it to me straight and would do pretty much anything for me. Some of them are in my daily life and some I only see every few years. Regardless of how often we talk, I know I can count on them and that when we are together, we will have an amazing time.

4. Text or call? Call. I kind of hate to text. In fact, prior to June, I didn't even have it enabled on my phone.

5. Favorite place to eat? Chardonnay's. It's a restaurant in Seekonk, MA. Obviously, I don't get to eat there often.

6. Where did you first see your wife/husband/significant other? On my recruiting trip to Cornell University. I was 17 and J, who was a sophomore at the time, was my student guide for the day. He took me to class with him and on walking tour of the campus. After that, I didn't talk to him again for two and a half years. When we reunited, I knew pretty much instantly that I was going to be with him forever.

7. Do you buy lottery tickets? Nope. I hate the idea of spending money on the very slim chance that you might win some money.

8. The first thing you do in the morning - Pee.

9. Favorite recovery drink. - Nuun. I'm kind of obsessed.

10. If you could have any car in the world, which would you buy? Bugatti Veyron. Just kidding. I only said that so J would be impressed. I would probably get a Nissan Armada or Chevy Suburban. I have absolutely no problem driving around in a tank.

11. What do you collect? Christmas ornaments and coffee mugs.

My questions:

1. Birthdays. Love them or hate them. Why?
2. Get your purse/gym bag: What are the first five things you pull out?
3. What is the one meal you can make better than anyone else?
4. You get one wish. No restrictions. What is it?
5. Cake or Pie?
6. What's your secret talent?
7. Early bird or night owl?
8. Biggest pet peeve?
9. What's your favorite weird food combination? (i.e. ice cream and pickles)
10. Which would you choose? No social media for a year or no working out for a month? Why?
11. What are you sending me for my birthday?

And now for the lucky few ...

G @ Neurosis of the Stay-at-Home Marathoner
Shannon @ Tough Chik
Tricia @ Endurance Isn't Only Physical
J ill @ Running to Sanity
Mel @ Tall Mom on the Run
H Love @ Keep On Keeping On
Jolene @ Journey of a Canuck Mom on the Run
Rachel @ Running Backwards in High Heels
Jess @ Pace of Me
Carrie @ Maine Mom on the Run
AJH @ Age Groups Rock

eating healthy on a budget ...

2012-01-24T08:16:00.001-05:00

J and I recently assessed our financial goals and although we are killing it in some areas (yay retirement fund!), we are totally sucking in others.

Can you say entertainment, recreation and groceries?

The first two categories present less of a challenge as most of the things that fall into those categories aren't really necessities. We can cut things and significantly reduce the amount of spending that falls into those areas. Sure, I like to race a lot, all over the country, but do I need to? No. I'll have to learn to live without it for now.

Groceries, on the other hand, are kind of crucial. I'm feeding three growing children, an endurance athlete and a budding runner, who happens to be a 6'7" man. Needless to say, we go through our fair share of food. And it ain't cheap.

We currently spend in the neighborhood of $900 a month to feed our family and stock our home with household goods (i.e. toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, etc.). I am looking to cut that down to $750 a month, with $650 allotted to food and $100 allotted to household goods. That's a pretty big cut and I'm not really sure how to go about it.

We already use coupons. Although, most of our food is perishable and thus, hard to get a coupon for.
We already "shop around" to a certain extent to find the best prices.
We are not willing to have a diet consisting of mainly processed foods.
We don't purchase any meat.
We almost NEVER have food waste.

So, what should we do? How do you save on your groceries? Is it possible to feed a family of 5 for $150 a week? Is this a lost cause?

active recovery ...

2012-01-23T08:49:00.000-05:00

As a coach, I am a big proponent of taking adequate rest days. For some people, this means taking an entire day or days off. For others, it means a short duration, low intensity workout. I have found that finding the correct ratio of workouts to rest is really dependent on the individual, their endurance base and their injury history.

But regardless of what my clients' schedules have laid out for them, my number one goal is ALWAYS to get them to the start line, injury-free, so that they have the opportunity to reach their goals on race day, whether it be to PR or to finish smiling.

As an athlete, I am less than successful at taking adequate rest days. I've been known to push the pace during recovery runs and I may have skipped a rest day or two. I'll be honest. I suffer from "more is better" mentality. I always have and fortunately, it has yet to come back to bite me.

I know that having this mentality when it comes to endurance training is 100% wrong. I know that in most cases, the best athletes (best being subjective, of course) do the least amount of training that will produce the largest amount of gains. This does not mean that they skip workouts or cut things short. Instead, they fine tune their workload to produce the biggest results. They push themselves hard enough to make strength, speed and endurance gains, but not so hard that they break. And perhaps most importantly, they find the balance of workouts and rest that helps them excel.

I am trying to find that balance.

Over the weekend, I had my longest ride to date (45 miles) and my fastest 12 miler since October (1:47:37). It wore me out. All I wanted to do was eat and sleep. I know I need to recover. And so does my training plan. This week marks the end of Build Phase I and the first of two active recovery weeks (the next one is in five weeks).

I've been dreading this week since I first saw my plan.

I mean, an active recovery week seems like pure torture to an endurance-aholic like myself. Three full rest days, one strength day, and an hour of each discipline seems like nothing. It's a third of my normal volume.

But, as hard as it may be, I am going to do it. If nothing else, it will be a test of my mental strength. And at least I'll have fresh legs for what looks like a soul-crushing week when Build Phase II starts next Monday. Wish me luck ...

Live Like the Honey Badger: Principle 1

2012-01-20T08:42:00.001-05:00

This is the first in a series of posts entitled, Live Like the Honey Badger. Each week, I will address one aspect of developing confidence, self-worth, a fearless nature and the like.

Principle 1: Honey Badger Don't Care

The honey badger does what he wants, when he wants, without regard for what will be thought of him. Simply, he is not controlled by external forces, like many of us.

Think about it. When was the last time you second guessed what your wore, how you styled your hair or whether or not you should make an attempt at greatness based on how you thought others might perceive you?

Be honest. It was probably recently.

We live in a society where we are judged by our peers and unfortunately, ourselves, for just about everything. All too often, we view the often unattainable images seen in the media and throughout popular culture as perfection. We try to live up to standards that can't and perhaps, shouldn't, be reached. And if you are constantly striving to be what others want you to be, somewhere along the way, you are going to lose who you are. Don't do it.

Don't live for someone else's happiness in sake of your own.
Don't hold your true self back just because others might show negativity towards your choices.
Don't change who you are or who you want to be because you are afraid that those around you won't support you.

The people who love you are going to love you regardless of whether or not they agree with how you choose to express yourself. That's what support systems do. They support. And if you are constantly faced with opposition for your life choices, perhaps it's time to reevaluate who you surround yourself with.

I know it's not easy to look past the judgements and I know it's not easy to put yourself out there, but believing that you have the right to live your life as you see fit and believing that you have value will make it easier.

Sure, you will face negativity. Haters are going to hate. But their reaction to you, probably has less to do with you and the way you choose to live your life than you think. I have often found that when people negatively judge your choices, it's not because of the choice, but rather how they think the choice with affect THEM.

Perhaps you make them uncomfortable.
Perhaps you make them question how they have been living.
Perhaps your choices scare them.
Perhaps they fear that what you do will somehow be used in another person's judgement of them.

One thing rings true in all of these scenarios - IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU. It's all about them. And you can't let "them" be in charge of who you are.

Realizing this is the first step to living like the honey badger. If you give yourself permission to be exactly who you want to be, regardless of who likes it, you'll build a strong foundation for self-worth and confidence. You won't be dictated by external forces. And each day, you'll get one step closer to being the best version of yourself.

The honey badger don't care. And you don't need to either.

3TT, money edition ...

2012-01-19T08:28:00.000-05:00

Money, part 1 - I know that everyone says that triathlon is an expensive sport. And it is. I mean, I spent $265 just to register for Ironman 70.3 Texas. And since I decided I was actually going to train for this, I had to get a pool membership. Then there was my bike. Yes, we got a great deal on it and yes, it was technically a birthday gift, but it was still paid for out of our family budget.

But, once I had the bike I was all set, right? Wrong. Then I needed water bottle cages and a new bike computer for the trainer. Oh, and let's not forget the bento box or the fact that I am still on a quest for the perfect goggles.

But that's it. I had everything I needed (except the goggles) and all I needed to do was drive to Texas. Well, that was until we decided NOT to drive to Texas. Now, we need to purchase a plane ticket (or use a bajillion frequent flyer miles) AND ship my bike there.

Do you know what it cost to ship a bike? It's not pretty. There's always the option of checking it with my luggage but the cost really isn't that different. And with either option, I still need to have some sort of case or reinforced/padded bike box. The sheer thought of all this money makes me want to cry.

But, if nothing else, this has taught me a lesson.

Only register for triathlons that you can DRIVE to in 12 hrs or less.

That's why this race is on my radar for next summer. It's only like an hour and a half from here with ZERO chance of a need to ship my bike.

Money, part 2 - It's no secret that we are Disney-aholics in this house. We've visited Walt Disney World four times since March 2010 and our next two trips are already planned. I mean, we need to put those annual passes to good use.

Anyway, we have always wanted to take the girls to eat with the princesses at Cinderella's Royal Table, but we've never been able to get a reservation. Until now. Somehow, when I searched the Disney Dining reservation system two days ago, there were four available reservations during our trip in February.

You know I snatched one up. And you know that Disney gladly took my arm and my leg to cover the cost.

Money, part 3 - A big part of why we have visited Disney so often is that children under three are admitted free, not only into the park but to any paid attraction, including character dining. Considering that we've had at least one child under the age of three for the last seven years, it was a big money saver.

That's about to change. Dilly turns three next week, just in time for our next trip. I'm less than thrilled at the prospect of purchasing her annual pass. She, however, could not be more excited. Just yesterday morning, we overheard her talking to her sisters about our upcoming trip and the fact that she'll have her own pass.

"Doodle, I'm not three yet, but when I am, I am going to have my own ticket and then I will get my own FastPass. We are going to go on the Tower of Terror and the Yeti."

Obviously, we've brainwashed our children. But, at least they have learned the importance of FastPasses.

Wordless Wednesday: Named

2012-01-18T07:42:00.001-05:00

Meet my new tri bike, Tigerblood

operation organization ...

2012-01-17T08:28:00.000-05:00

I am slightly obsessive compulsive.

My daily schedule shows it. Day in and day out, I do the same things in the same order. When things get thrown off course, I get upset. When others mess with things I like done in a certain manner, I get annoyed and then I fix what they've done. (Note: J no longer does laundry because he does not fold to my standards and I have to refold it anyway.)

I also have an issue with accomplishing a task in parts. When I read a book, I usually read it in one sitting. When I start a project, I find it necessary to finish it before moving on. When it comes to my training plan, I want to add more workouts, mileage, etc. And when it comes to organizing my home (using this nifty calendar I found) I want to jump ahead, to finish a week's worth of tasks rather than a day's.

My obsessive nature, that calendar and my love for Pinterest have led to Operation Organization in my house.

In the last few weeks, I have completed all of the January task on that calendar.

But that wasn't enough, so I organized our pantry and laundry room.

I made some wall hangings.

I transformed our standard desk into a storage station by removing the table feet and replacing them with two bookshelves.

Look at all of that storage ...

I made a command center for the girl's backpacks, ballet bags and soccer gear, complete with a morning checklist to help them get out the door.

I mounted crates to the wall and made bedside bookshelves for the girls.

I found a storage solution for our broom and Swiffer.

I organized our shoe situation and found a place for all the things we need to grab as we leave the house.

And I removed the broken closet doors in Dizzle and Doodle's room and turned them into a headboard for our bed.

I can't stop myself. It like organizational overload over here ...

16 days ...

2012-01-16T09:31:00.000-05:00

I haven't taken a rest day in 16 days.

It's not that I set out to do this, but rather, life necessitated it.

At first, I had to shift workouts around to fit my schedule. Then, J was out of town for a few days and single parenting drove me insane. An insane TMB needs some stress relief. And since we don't have any chocolate in the house, I ran. Or biked. So before I knew it, two weeks had past with no days off and I still had two more workouts on my training plan before the next rest day. Oops.

By the time my weekend sweat sessions rolled around, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Rest was on the horizon, but first, two big workouts stood before me.

1600 meters in the pool, my furthest swim yet and a 12 mile run, my longest since my double marathons in November.

I was apprehensive about both. And I crushed both.

1600 meters in 37:08. 1 mile. No stopping. Total confidence boost.
12 miles in 1:51:39. Proof that running fewer miles isn't killing my endurance or speed.

In the last 16 days, I swam 6600 meters, biked 133.07 miles and ran 62.32 miles.

But today I rest.

I've earned it.

My muscles know it.

And that's why I'm rocking compression tights all day.

live like the honey badger ...

2012-01-13T08:05:00.006-05:00

After I wrote my post about beauty and self-worth on Tuesday, I got what may be my all-time favorite comment ...

Initially when I read it, I couldn't stop laughing. All I could think about is this video (if you haven't seen this, take three minutes and watch it. hilarious!)

But, then I realized that Jason was right. I am a honey badger. And I am proud of it.

I don't give a sh*t about what others think of me.
I have enough confidence in myself and my abilities to quiet the naysayers.
I defy expectations and chart my own course.
I don't sweat the small stuff.
I am tough.
I am strong.
I am powerful.
And I raise my pack of little honey badgers to be the same way.

Armed with the realization of my inner animal, I've decided that starting next Friday, I will write a series of posts on the topic I get the most emails and comments about.

Confidence and self-esteem.

Otherwise known as, "How to Live Like the Honey Badger"

I have a list of subjects to cover, but if you have a specific question or idea for this series, please leave me a comment or email me at racingwithbabes (at) yahoo (dot) com.

I know my inner animal. What's yours? Why?

Three Things Thursday ...

2012-01-12T07:16:00.003-05:00

No Friends - On Monday, Doodle and Dilly were talking about friends. I interrupted their conversation to ask a question, but instead, Dilly turned to me and said,

"I have no friends because I have no preschool."

Between her sad expression and the immediate thought that I had prevented her from meeting kids her own age, I could barely hold the tears back. All I could do was hug her. Unfortunately, I realized in that same instant that she was 100% correct. With the exception of one person, Dilly really doesn't have any friends. At least any friends her age. In fact, I just sent out the invitations for her birthday party later this month and with the exception of her one friend, the party guests are ages 5-12. She's turning 3. Oops.

KDUB's 70.3 Birthday Challenge - Last week I participated in a virtual, cumulative 70.3 race for Karen @ Working It Out's birthday. Here's how it worked. You had from January 1st to January 11th to cover the total distance of a Half Ironman. Easy peasy. Especially when your training plan calls for you cover that distance anyway. My total time was 5:52:45 and it broke down like this ...

swim - 42:55
bike - 3:07:56
run - 2:01:54

Not too shabby. And wicked fun.

Mini Streak - I looked at my training plan yesterday and I realized that after I finished my run last night, it would be my 12th day without a rest day. Oops. I didn't really plan that.

While it's highly likely that my mini streak will end on it's 17th day as I have an off day scheduled for Monday, who knows? Maybe I'll keep it going. Surely, not for 600+ days, but maybe until my birthday. It would be kind of cool to finish out my 29th year on a strong note.

fresh start, new challenges ...

2012-01-11T08:08:00.005-05:00

On Monday, J got a new job. OK, not really a new job as much as a different position with the same company. This new position, not unlike his old one, will require extensive traveling. We're used to this. Although, things had quieted down in the last two months of 2011, the girls and I have grown accustomed to not seeing J much during the week. Truth be told, even when he's not traveling, his schedule doesn't allow for much daddy-daughter time during the workweek.

This new position, however, will consist of mostly end of the week/weekend travel. He'll be working at expos, events, concerts and festivals. All things that rarely occur during the week. (In essence, my new gig with Tough Chik is just like J's job, just on a smaller scale and in a totally different industry.)

Initially, I had mixed emotions about what this new position meant for us. I'm not a fan of J's long hours and travel to begin with and more travel, on days that are not normal workdays for him didn't seem ideal. Plus, I already have a lot on my plate. I manage our household, our three daughters' schedules, year-round endurance training, a coaching business and I just added the responsibility of being East Coast Event Manager (a.k.a. Lt. Awesomesauce) for Tough Chik. All I could think was, "How am I going to do all that with less backup then I have now?"

Then as fast as that thought crossed my mind, it faded away. I realized that we will make it work, we always do. Life is about balance. You can have everything you want and need, you just have to find a way to make it work for you and your family. And once you know what is most important to you, the rest will fall into place.

Right now, J is giving up some of his time with us to provide for our family and to allow us to live the life of which we have become accustomed to. Hopefully, it won't be that way forever. But if it is, we will make it work. We are a team and we have to do what's best for all of us.

Of course, I will give up some things too. My training and my sanity are the most likely to suffer. And I am OK with that. Here's how I see it.

My kids are going to drive me crazy, regardless. What's a little more drama going to do to me? Probably not much. It might even make my workouts that much more rewarding.
I am fortunate to have both a bike trainer and a treadmill in my house. If nothing else, I will always be able to complete those aspects of my training. Sure, the hours might not be ideal. But, I'll get it done. Now if I could just get that indoor pool installed ...
J is really excited about this new position. I am crazy excited for him too. He always does everything in his power to help me accomplish all I set out to do. And I would never consider doing anything less for him.
J has a job. A really good one. Some people aren't as fortunate. None of us should take that for granted.

We can't fail if we work together. That's a fact. I have faith that we'll find our balance. We always do.

chained to the scale ...

2012-01-10T07:38:00.004-05:00

The other day, G, wrote a post on self worth. It was fabulous, and reading it reaffirmed to me that I am not lacking in self worth. 99.9999% of the time, I truly believe I am the sh*t. Yes, like everyone, I have doubts. Doubts about what I can accomplish. Doubts about where I am going. Doubts that I am doing everything I possibly can to be the best me each day. But, rarely do those doubts ever creep to my physical perception of myself.

Truth be told, I am beautiful because I believe I am beautiful and I don't let anyone tell me otherwise. My beauty comes through in my powerful quads and strong shoulders. It can be seen in my eyes and my smile. But usually, I notice it in my freckles and the dimple on my cheek - both which remind me daily of my father.

And do you know what?

I saw all of those things when I weighed 220 pounds.

1999

They've always been there. I did not become beautiful because I lost weight. What losing weight changed about me was my health, not beauty. It doesn't work that way.

2011

But, even though I have, perhaps, an excessive amount of self worth, I am still to some extent tied to the number on the scale. Not because I need to weigh less or even want to, but because I fear that if I don't stay chained to the scale, one day everything I have worked so hard for might not be there anymore.

I fear that I could slip up and gain all the weight back. I think anyone who has lost a considerable amount of weight does. And it's a valid fear. Most people can't or don't maintain their weight loss over the long haul.

I have, with the exception of pregnancies, been maintaining for eight years. And I will do my best to maintain until my last day. But I promise, that no matter what lies ahead, I will still be beautiful. Because I allow myself to believe in my beauty.

first brick ...

2012-01-09T07:28:00.007-05:00

In case you didn't know, although I have raced triathlons before, I have never trained for them. I even wrote a note to myself about how I did the exact opposite of what I should have done. Call me lucky, but somehow, I still somehow manage to place well. And since I've never trained for a triathlon, I also haven't completed a brick (yes, I have biked and then used a run as a cool-down and run than leisurely pedaled, but no bricks).

At first, I thought my workout was going to be a piece of cake. 65 minutes on the bike followed by an eight mile run. No big deal. But then, after five days of thinking that was my scheduled workout, I looked at my plan again.

Oh, crap.

It wasn't 65 minutes on the bike. It was 110. Apparently, I can't read the word repeat.

So, I regrouped. I changed my plan of attack. Three hour and 20 minute brick is kind of like a 22 mile run - at least in time. And I run 22 miles, like ALL.THE.TIME.

Um, yeah. A three hour and 15 minute brick (my actual time) is not the same as 22 miles. When I run 22 miles, I'm usually laughing with my friends, having a great time and I feel bada**. Yes, when I finished the brick I still felt bada**, but I had my butt kicked. I couldn't even stand when Dizzle took my picture.

Lesson learned: Half Ironman training is not marathon training.

spoiled brats ...

2012-01-06T08:44:00.003-05:00

To the spoiled brats that live in my home,

I'm sorry that things have gotten to the point that I have to address you in this manner, but I can not stand silent any longer. Please consider this letter to be my formal complaint against the three minors residing in my permanent residence.

For too long, I have been your maid, your chauffeur, your personal chef, your nurse, your everything and I am done being abused.

I take care of you when you are sick.
I clean up after you approximately once every 7 minutes.
I bathe you.
I help you with your homework.
I financially support your way of life.
I cook you three healthy meals EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.
I drive you to and from school and all places in between.
I am your shoulder to cry on and your strength when you are weak.
I know when you need a hug and when you need to be told to "suck it up."
I surprise you when you need a pick me up.
I protect you while doing my best not to hinder the person you are.
I encourage you to play to your strengths, but remind you to do the things that scare you too.
But above all, I love you unconditionally.

You, however, seem to be oblivious to all of these things. Instead of thanking me, or even respecting me, for all that I do, you choose to give me an attitude, to yell at me and to call me the "meanest mommy in the world." I promise you, I am far from the meanest mother in the world.

I'd like to remind you of how good you have it here. So, when you misbehave and I take away one of your prized possessions (like your iPod, for example) please keep in mind that you are fortunate to even have such things and that screaming at me to give it back to you will not help your case. Neither will hitting, biting, name calling, stomping, crying or whining. I will not tolerate any of that and it will most likely lead to an extended separation of you and said prized possession. Additionally, I'd like to note that living in my home is not a RIGHT, it's a PRIVILEGE. Remember that.

Sincerely,
Your Mother

Three Things Thursday ...

2012-01-05T07:43:00.006-05:00

Twitter - When I created my Twitter handle, I didn't want to tie the name to my blog because I so often think about going "dark" (a.k.a private). Or what if I just stop writing all together? I think it would be kind of stupid to have a handle that once matched a blog, but now doesn't. I guess I just didn't want to be tied to this blog forever. Who knows?

Anyway, a few weeks ago, I noticed that someone I follow changed their Twitter handle. No interruption of service. One tweet had the old handle and the next one was updated. Easy peasy. It got me thinking that it probably made sense for me to unite my Twitter account and Racing With Babes.

So I did. You can now tweet me HERE (@RacingWithBabes). And if you aren't following me already, you probably should.

*UPDATED* Birthday Gift - For months, I have been hounding J with emails of potential 30th birthday gift ideas. 99.5% of these emails contained links to bikes. Yesterday, he must have finally had enough, because he told me that I could pick out a new bike as my birthday gift. I wasn't quite sure that I heard him correctly or if we had the same idea of what "pick out a new bike" means.

But, he was for real and his budget gave me more wiggle room than I expected. So, I looked around for the best deals and this morning I ordered this ...

2011 Fuji Aloha 2.0

Isn't it beautiful? Plus, it was on closeout for an awesome price. I'm kind of excited right now!

Tough Chik - If you still want to join Team Tough Chik and haven't done so yet, you are running out of time. Registration is open until Saturday. Even in just the first few weeks, the 100+ members have formed a great community that I am excited to be a part of. Plus, our uniforms are wicked cute. You know you want in, just click HERE to learn more.

training plan vs. desires ...

2012-01-04T07:51:00.004-05:00

Some people do not know how to self motivate.

I, however, am not one of those people.

All I need to get to me out the door is a little piece of paper.

That's right. All I need is my training plan telling me exactly what I have to do that day. To me, that little bit of black ink on the calendar is the "end all, be all." There is no questioning the plan. It was written that way for a reason.

My current training plan is epic. I have faith in its ability to produce results (it worked for Irondiva and she's a freaking Ironman) I feel like it's balanced and challenging without being so daunting that I want to stop.

The thing is, the plan is so balanced and challenging that it's messing with the game plan I have in my head.

You see, I like to run. OK, I love to run. But the disciplines are so balanced in this plan, that I usually only have two runs (and two bikes and two swims) each week. Sometimes, I get really lucky and there's a brick and I get a bonus run. At times, it can be torturous.

For example, this week, I have 15 run miles scheduled. 15? That's insane. I like to run 40+ miles. 15 just doesn't work for me.

My head is telling me to run. My plan is telling me to chill the heck out.

Confession: I do a little bit of both. On my "shorter" and strength days, I add a 3-5 mile run. It calms me. But, unlike my official training plan, these "penciled in" runs do not have the same power over me. If I miss them, I miss them. If I am feeling good, I brave the cold and log the miles. If I'm tired from the day before (like this morning), I choose my warm bed over the run.

In some ways, this inability to follow the plan in my head is disappointing to me. I have such high standards for myself that missing these self-prescribed workouts make me feel like I am letting myself down. Self guilt can be rather motivating.

But usually, that self guilt fades quickly. I know that too many "bonus" miles are going to start to take away from the training I am focusing on. I am learning to remind myself that the number one goal is a 70.3 finish, not "see how many other things I can do while getting a 70.3 finish." I need to remember that less run miles is not making me a weaker runner, but rather more diversity in training is making me a stronger runner.

For me, triathlon training is a road untraveled. I will find my way. I just need to trust the plan.

triathlon confession ...

2012-01-03T08:15:00.005-05:00

Confession: I am a runner who is really loving triathlon training.

Confession: Swimming doesn't suck. Sure, it isn't easy, but I actually look forward to my swim workouts. Well, other than the 4:30 a.m. wake up call.

Confession: I have serious bike envy. Sleeper does the job, but this $190 bike is giving me an inferiority complex.

Confession: Running less while maintaining my workout volume is making me love running more. I appreciate every mile.

Confession: I registered for a Fall Sprint Triathlon. I can't wait to see what I can do when I actually train.

Confession: Once all of my kids are in school, I will be an Ironman. It might be in two years. It might be in 10. But it will happen.

So, what are you hiding from the rest of us?

December/Year End Rewind ...

2012-01-02T08:00:00.003-05:00

Run Miles Ran: 115.43 miles

Bike Miles Rode: 128.15 miles

Swim Meters Completed: 5700 meters

Rest Days Taken: 5

Highest Run Mileage Week: 12/26-1/1: 29.2 miles

Highest Bike Mileage Week: 12/5-12/11: 37.34 miles

Highest Swim Volume Week: 12/26-1/1: 3000 meters

Long Runs Completed: 4

Current Book: Do instruction manuals for new toys count?

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Food. All food. December was like a month long binge.

Current Colors: lime and purple

Current Drink: Dunkin Donuts Mint Mocha Coffee. I am perpetually cold and it is the only thing that warms me up.

Current Song: Stereo Hearts - Gym Class Heroes

Current Triumph: Did you catch that part that I swam 3000 meters last week? I'm a total rock star. All joking aside, 2011 was pretty epic for me and I'm just trying to appreciate that fact.

Current Goal: 70.3 domination. That is all.

Current Blessing: I feel like my whole life is one big blessing and I am entirely grateful.

Current Excitement: Half Ironman training cycle is going fantastically. My 30th birthday is in 36 days (in fact our whole family celebrates birthdays before June). We are going back to Disney in 54 days ~~because we are obsessed~~ to run the Disney Princess Half. Lots of exciting things happening in the next few months.

2011 Goals - Status Update:

Personal:

Clean up my diet - I was pretty good with this one until after my back-to-back marathons. Once I finished those races, I kind of forgot that my training level wasn't so intense anymore.
Eat no more than 25 cupcakes - 23 cupcakes eaten

Financial:

Pay off our consumer debt by the end of the year - This didn't happen. Life did. But we are back on track and making strides to get where we want to be.
Spend $0 on clothing - $278.50 spent - I caved and bought some stuff from Lululemon and a pair of jeans from eBay when my lone pair ripped.

Running:

Run 2,000 miles - 1915.52 miles run.
Run a sub 1:55 half marathon - Set a new PR of 1:57:06 and recorded a half split of 1:56:18 at the NYC Marathon.
Take 30+ minutes off my marathon - Completed - 11/12, Richmond Marathon, 4:12:52, 36:46 PR.

2012 To Do List ...

2011-12-30T09:09:00.003-05:00

I am goal-oriented. When I decide that I want to do something, I find a way to make it happen. Yes, there are roadblocks at times. And yes, sometimes my timelines don't work out. But, it is extremely rare for me to set out to do something and NEVER accomplish it. I'm just not a quitter. It's not in my nature.

With that said, I am not feeling 100% focused right now. I feel like other than knowing that I will finish my first 70.3, the rest of the things that I'd like to tackle are kind of vague. Or maybe I'm just not sure what steps I need to take to get there. Either way, I've decided to approach my goals a little differently than I have in the past. More of a to do list. Something that I can add and subtract to as my vision changes.

So, as of today, December 30th, here is my 2012 To Do List:

Fitness:

Take 70.3 training day by day. Don't get caught up in what is coming, but rather focus on what is. Trust that it will get you where you want to be.
Find the strength to NOT add races to your schedule during 70.3 training. That is your focus, don't screw with that because of FOMO (fear of missing out).
Cross the finish line of your first 70.3 in less than 6:57:59.
Maintain at least one day of cycling and one day of swimming per week, post 70.3. Give J some proof that a new road bike would be a good investment.
Run 1,500 miles.
Race a 10K with a finish time much faster than your ~~very dated~~ current PR of 53:17.
Set a new PR in the Half Marathon, currently 1:57:06 (or 1:56:18, if the half split from the NYC Marathon counts).
Race a Fall Sprint Triathlon. Actually train for the event, unlike in years past.

Nutrition:

Eat like an athlete. Be mindful of the nutritional value of your food.
Consume no more than 18 desserts from either Shyndigz or Two Sweet Cupcakes (approximately 1 dessert/3 weeks)
Cut out snacking on the girl's leftovers. Just because they don't eat it, doesn't mean you have to.

Personal:

Only say yes to the projects you REALLY want to work on.
Throw away the credit cards. Stop repeating history.
Ignore your impulses. Take time to process the true value of the things you are filling your space/life with.
Declutter and Organize using this calendar.
Continue to balance family life, training and now, work.
Prioritize and be a good example for the people in your life.
Help and support J and the kids in reaching their goals. We are a team and that must always be the primary focus of our lives.

Three Things Thursday ...

2011-12-29T09:13:00.003-05:00

70.3 Training - Despite my early hesitations about the swim portion of my half Ironman training, things have been far from a total fail. Sure, I really don't know anything about the sport (including that you should be fitted for goggles, who knew?), but I am finishing my workouts, swimming only freestyle (huge, since I swam breaststroke in all of my previous triathlons) and on Saturday, I have my longest swim to date - 1300 meters. And in case you didn't know, that's like a super big deal.

Looking Ahead - I've made it clear that Ironman 70.3 Texas is my #1 goal for 2012. But the thing is, the race is on April 1st, leaving the last nine months of 2012 wide open. For some people, this might be an OK thing, but I don't really work well with a lack of structure. So, I am looking for suggestions (and don't say Ironman). How are you going to challenge yourself in 2012? What do you think I should attempt?

Tough Chik - As you probably know by now, I am part of Team Tough Chik for 2012 (registration is open for 9 more days if you want to join us). But, what few people know is that I am now working for Tough Chik as well. A few weeks back, I pitched the idea of putting together an East Coast expo schedule with myself as East Coast Event Manager (like that title? I've had no objections so I'm going with it.) Fortunately, Shannon, the original Tough Chik, had been considering expanding the company's reach and she agreed to my proposal.

Let me tell you, I could not be more excited. Our first event will be the Shamrock Marathon, Half Marathon and 8K in Virginia Beach in March. So, if you're racing it or are in the area, be sure to come and see us.

2011 Year in Review ...

2011-12-28T09:14:00.005-05:00

OK, I'm just going to say it 2011 was kind of epic for me. Like total awesomesauce. And honestly, I am kind of concerned that 2012 is going to have a hard time competing. I mean, how do you top your most fabulous year yet? It could be really hard.

Oh wait, I know, turn 30 and rock out your first 70.3.

But first, let's rehash 2011. In the past 12 months ...

I killed my first 15K in 1:15:41 (8:07 pace), proving that given the right conditions, I am way faster than I think.
Dilly turned 2.
I turned 29.
Dizzle got in trouble for the first and so far, only, time at school for kissing, not one, but two boys.
I set a new half marathon PR at the Disney Princess Half (1:57:06) in the midst of the stomach flu. Minutes later, I met Ethan Zohn and was asked to join his Grassroot Soccer NYC Marathon Team.
I ran 22 miles on my treadmill. And 60 miles in one week.
We celebrated Doodle's 4th birthday.
I ran the National Marathon and PR'd by over 33 minutes.
I sent J and Dizzle to Disney for a Father-Daughter birthday weekend.
I paced Dizzle to a mile PR and her first 5K finish.
I crashed a mountain bike and separated my shoulder. Then, 10 days later, I had surgery to repair it.
I watched my first baby turn 6.
I ran a 5K in a sling.
Dizzle, Doodle and I were featured in Runner's World.
J and I celebrated seven years of wedded bliss.
I went to San Francisco with G for our annual Girls' Race Weekend. We ran the San Francisco Half and hung out with some awesome West Coast Bloggers.
I registered for my first 70.3.
I ran Hood to Coast with the awesome ladies of Nuun Platuun.
I set a new 5K PR and finished third female overall in a race that I didn't tell anyone I was running.
I dyed my hair. PINK.
I ran two marathons in a week. First NYC and then Richmond, where I PR'd by 2:56.
I joined Team Tough Chik (and you can to until Jan. 7th).
I challenged J to an eating challenge at the Dunkin Donuts Munchkin Run.
I started 70.3 training and determined that I can, in fact, swim freestyle and I don't immediately sink to the bottom of the pool.
I won a heck of a lot of cake.
I showed my kids that it's OK to cry.
We celebrated Christmas at Walt Disney World.

And those are just the highlights. So, what do you have for me 2012?

Our Disney Christmas 2011 ...

2011-12-27T09:06:00.006-05:00

J and I have started the tradition of taking our children on vacation in lieu of gifts on Christmas morning. Thanks to a canceled flight to San Diego, we ended up at Walt Disney World for the second year in a row. And although it wasn't our original plan, it couldn't have been more perfect. Here's the good, bad and ugly of our Disney Christmas 2011 ...

The Good:

Disney Rocks: I'm not quite sure if you've caught on yet, but we are kind of Disney obsessed in this house. The girls love it, J REALLY loves it and I have to admit, even I get all excited by the sight of Cinderella's castle.

Since March 2010, J, Dizzle and I have each visited the most magical place on Earth four times and this vacation marked Doodle and Dilly's third visit. In fact, we love it so much that we finally sucked it up and purchased annual passes. And our next trip is already on the books for February. (I'm running the Disney Princess Half Marathon.)

Bonus: Now we have the perfect excuse to race every runDisney event.

The Weather: Can you say perfect? 80 degrees and sunny. EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.

My Princesses: The girls could not have been better behaved on this trip. They rolled with the punches, sprinted through the parks like champs and smiled the entire time. If they behaved that way all the time, they'd get anything and everything that they ever wanted.

Family Bonding: Since Dilly is now over 40" tall, she can go on pretty much everything. And since we don't really give our children a choice (if you are tall enough for the ride, you must go on), this was the first trip that we got to stick together the entire time. It was so awesome to do everything with our kids and not have to split into two groups (riders and non-riders).

Plus, it was pretty epic to take a two year old on Tower of Terror, Big Thunder Mountain and Dinosaur.

The Food: I already knew from our past trips that the food at Walt Disney World is delicious and um, calorie dense. We ate well (and by well, I mean we binged) all week long. And I loved every glorious minute. Especially those two chocolate dipped, candy coated rice crispies treats and the Ghiradelli Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate. Delicious.

The Characters: For the first time, we waited in line (or snagged a fast pass) to meet the Disney Characters. The girls loved it. Dilly danced with Phineas and Ferb (her favorite part of the trip) and they were all struck with awe by meeting the princesses.

As for J and me, our favorite character was Prince Eric. Talk about hilarious. Trust me, if you are going to wait in line to meet one character make it Ariel and Prince Eric. It will be well worth your time.

Having a Plan: The thing about the Disney Parks is that unless you are visiting on a non-peak week, you need to have a plan to navigate successfully. Knowing how you are going to attack the park can mean the difference between hitting every attraction (without waiting in crazy long lines) and missing everything and waiting two hours for Toy Story.

We executed perfectly. Despite insane crowds, we hit every attraction at the four parks in our first five days. Sure, we had to get there before the parks opened to beat the crowds, but we rode rides 2 or 3 times while we watched people wait for HOURS to just get on once. We kind of crushed it.

Happiest Place on Earth: Seriously, Disney is the Happiest Place on Earth. We had the best time ever ...

The Bad:

Tired Feet: We spent 11-13 hours at the parks each day, which left all five of us we really tired feet (we didn't have a stroller with us). Every night, I was convinced I wouldn't be able to walk the next morning, but somehow, we kept at it.

The Crowds: We knew that we were visiting during one of the busiest weeks of the year, but I don't think we really knew how busy it was going to be. My advice, visit in September when the parks are nearly empty.

The Ugly:

Oddities: The crazy people at the gym. Still can't quite figure out what was going on with them.

Nutrition Fail: Remember that food I was raving about? Well, all that indulging didn't come without a price. The scale isn't my friend right now.

resort gym oddities ...

2011-12-26T07:53:00.003-05:00

During our fantastic trip to Disney (which I will recap tomorrow), I was given the honor of using our resort's state of the art fitness facility (Note: By "state of the art" I mean that at some point in time it was state of the art. Like in 1982.)

When I first walked in I was psyched. The place was totally empty. I looked around.

Hmm. No bathroom?

OK, I'll just have to hold it.

TVs? Check.

Wait, why are the TVs positioned BEHIND the front of the treadmill? (As in you had to look over your shoulder to see them)

Views? Kind of.

I mean, I could almost see the pool through the blinds, which were broken and couldn't be opened, making for dizzying effects while running.

Equipment? Check.

Two treadmills, two recumbent bikes, two stepclimbers, an elliptical and some weights. Perfect, I have to run and ride. I mean, really, who cares that there were no displays and the buttons were limited to start, stop, faster and slower. And I mean, who needs a functioning incline? Not this girl.

Joking aside, and I'm only kind of joking, the oddest thing about the place were the people I encountered while getting my sweat on.

During my first run, a group of five men with ages ranging from mid-20's to late 40's crashed my quiet gym for an evening workout. Except they were obviously drunk, not wearing workout clothes and just trying to prove their manhood to each other. They held some sort of weight lifting competition and fumbled on the cardio equipment. I was confident that someone was leaving in an ambulance. Fortunately, after about 20 minutes they had enough of the gym and left.

The next day, while riding the bike, a man in his 30's joined me for my workout. Things started off well. I pedaled. He lifted. But then, about 10 minutes into his workout, he noticed the television which I had tuned to my workout standard, NCIS. Apparently, the show was so enthralling that the man never returned to his workout. He just sat on the lat machine staring at the television and texting on his phone. When the episode ended, he got up and left.

The last time I used the gym, I was about two miles into my run when four people came to workout - three teenage girls wearing Uggs (they used the weights and elliptical) and a man in his late 30's/early 40's, who jumped on the treadmill next to me.

When the girls entered, they barely noticed I was there, but the man gave me the "once over" and the eye roll, a typical male response to my skirt and sock combo. I kind of wanted to punch him in the face and say, "I run freaking marathons, sometimes two in one week. My 5K PR is 22:04 and I know my sh*t."

But I didn't. I just turned back to the nausea inducing window and kept running. A few minutes later, he started running next to me. Then, he must have realized the pace I was running, because he picked it up to "catch" me. But, the thing was that I was in the middle of a progression run. So, every half mile, I was picking it up too.

He tried to keep pace. And then it happened. He bumped it up too fast and he nearly wiped out. It was freaking awesome. I kind of chuckled and finished my run. He slowed the pace and stopped trying to prove something.

Let this be a lesson to you all, don't let the skirt fool you.

Ahnu Boots Winner ...

2011-12-16T07:34:00.004-05:00

Thanks to OnlineShoes.com, one lucky reader will win a sweet pair of Ahnu Monte Vista boots this morning.Kind of hope it's you, right?

Well, it might just be - if you happen to be the number that random.org spit out at me. And that number is ...#216 - Trinity @ Running Mother

Congrats Trinity! Please email me at racingwithbabes (at) yahoo (dot) com to claim your boot!

Three Things Thursday -

2011-12-15T07:33:00.004-05:00

Cupcakes - At Doodle's preschool, each parent has to be on one committee and handle one party. For the last 4 years, I have been on the hospitality committee. We handle all the food, drinks and door prizes at the co-op meetings. We are in charge of meals when families need help and welcome baskets when families grow.

But the biggest thing we do each year is give our Directress a Christmas gift and an end of the year gift. Like last year, it was my job to coordinate this. And once we have a gift idea worked out, it's actually quite a simple task. Except when things go awry. Like they did this year. Normally it wouldn't have shaken me, except I am also in charge of the Holiday party today. I had like a bizillion things to do. Like making these ...

I just didn't have the time for hiccups.

Vacation - We leave tomorrow for our Christmas vacation to Disney (which also means this blog will be on vacation until further notice). I have nothing packed. And I will be at Doodle's preschool all day today. And I missed my run this morning. I might be freaking the freak out by this afternoon. But, all should be alleviated when we surprise the girls with where we are going later today. I'm sure their excitement will help me chill out.

Last Chance - Remember, I will be announcing the winner of my Ahnu Boots Giveaway HERE tomorrow. So, if you haven't entered yet, do it now.

Wordless Wednesday: Winnings

2011-12-14T08:36:00.004-05:00

I won.

And it was delicious. Thank you!

an entry for me. an entry for you.

2011-12-13T07:36:00.003-05:00

Since Sunday at 2 p.m., I have swam 650 meters, run 11 miles and biked 23.34 miles. Oh, and at some point today, I will bike another 18 miles and run 3. Needless to say, I'm burning a lot of calories.

Well, I know how to make up for it.

With a cake from Shyndigz (You know, that place that made my Cake Shake last week).

Right now, until 5 p.m., they are running a contest for a free cake on their Facebook page HERE. I would love to win. But I need your help. I'll get one entry for each of you that goes to their page HERE, "likes" it and posts on their wall that I, Tonia Blanchet, sent you.

Super easy, right? And if you do so, I will give you a bonus entry in my Ahnu Boots Giveaway HERE. Just leave me a comment on the giveaway post to let me know.

Both me and my stomach thank you in advance.

Christmas Part One ...

2011-12-12T07:50:00.007-05:00

Since we don't live near our families, we have traditionally had three Christmases each year. First we celebrate with my mom and sisters. Then, we have Christmas morning at our house. And finally, a day or two after Christmas, we open gifts for a third time with J's family. Oh, and somewhere in there we take our annual week-long Christmas vacation (we take our kids on vacation in lieu of gifts).

As you can imagine, this makes for a very hectic December.

This past weekend was Christmas Part One for us. Everyone met at my little sister's house for a weekend full of food, gifts, baking, laughing and crazy Christmas shirts. The festivities began with dinner out. Afterward, we decorated the Christmas tree.

And posed for pictures (some not as successful as others).

In the morning, we opened gifts (which I failed to take a single picture of) and started our baking marathon,

while wearing these shirts (Note: that is Dizzle's finger in the picture).

And over the course of 24 hours, my hair went from this,

to this,

and finally, to this.

Yeah, no one said we were normal.

Ahnu Boot Review and Giveaway ...

2011-12-09T07:58:00.007-05:00

Recently, the amazing people at OnlineShoes.com gave me the opportunity to review the Ahnu Monte Vista.Prior to this, I had not hear of Ahnu, a footwear company that focuses on outdoor performance and convenience, with men's and women's styles ranging from water sports to casual exploration, but I was eager to try the Monte Vista, which retails for $199.95.

(Note: Check out the story behind Ahnu in their fall newsletter HERE).

The Monte Vista boasts a waterproof oiled leather upper with contrast stitch detailing up the ankle and calf for a sleek, flattering fit. The eVent waterproof bootie and 200 grams of insulation offer cozy, dry comfort in cold conditions. The Vibram® outsole of the Ahnu Monte Vista Waterproof boot ensures reliable traction on slippery surfaces. Plus, it's mid-calf design gives me the ability to rock my knee highs. And I am sure these boots would look epic over your pants as well.
There is a lot to like about the Monte Vista. Here are just some of my favorite features:

Waterproof - We don't get much snow here in VA, but we do get a ton of rain, especially in the Fall and Spring. I felt that I could stomp through the puddles and mud with my kids and not be concerned about ruining the shoe.
eVent - I just loved that my feet were always warm (a big selling point for this perpetually cold individual) but NEVER overheated or sweaty. I am attributing this to the eVent feature of the shoe which while offering durable waterproof protection, the eVent membrane allows moisture from sweat to pass directly through millions of tiny open pores and to the outside of the fabric. Outside water is unable to enter, in turn keeping you dry and comfortable.
Numentum Hike Technology - I have really bad feet. I can't wear unsupportive shoes for more than an hour or so and I can't ever go barefoot. This usually means I have to wear sneakers. But the Monte Vista's Numentum Hike Technology, which creates the comfort of an athletic show with the heal stability of a rugged hiker, allowed me to be comfortable even after 10 hours of wear.
Function vs. Fashion - We all know that I value style and function in my apparel and shoes are no different. I love the brick red color of these shoes that elevate them from your typical hiking boot.

With that said, there was one thing I'm not a fan of about this boot ...

I had the hardest time getting it snug enough. The lacing system didn't allow me to keep the lower part of the laces tight as I moved up the shoes. I wish it had the lace hooks, which are located at the top of the boot throughout the entire shoe.

Do you want to try a pair of Ahnu Boots? Thanks to OnlineShoes.com one reader will win their choice of either the Monte Vista (women's) or the Mendocino (men's). Here's how to enter (one comment for each entry please!):

REQUIRED: Become a follower of this blog.

BONUS ENTRIES:

Follow me on Twitter HERE.
Like Racing With Babes on Facebook HERE.
Follow OnlineShoes.com on Twitter HERE.
Spread the word about this giveaway via your blog, Facebook or Twitter (include @tmbrunnerfirst and @onlineshoes_com in your tweet).

Entries will be accepted until Thursday, December 15. Winner will be randomly selected and announced on Friday, December 16. Only entries submitted correctly will be counted. Contest open to U.S. citizens ONLY.

Disclaimer: I was provided this product for free to review. The opinions stated here are solely my own.

vulnerable ...

2011-12-08T07:49:00.004-05:00

Yesterday afternoon, while I was washing dishes, Dizzle asked me a question completely out of the blue,

"How did your daddy die?"

It hit me like a ton of bricks. First of all, she had never asked me that question before and I didn't know how honest I wanted to be with the answer. And second, she asked on what would have been his 56th birthday, a fact she was completely unaware of.

I thought for a moment and decided to tell her the truth without giving any detail.

"He died of a heart attack."

Which of course, opened a can of worms.

"Well, what is a heart attack? How does that happen? Why did it happen to him? How old was he?

Trying to compose myself, I answered her questions.

"A heart attack is when your heart stops working. It happens for lots of reasons, sometimes doctors can get it to work again and sometimes they can't. They couldn't help my dad. The reason why is not important. It just happened. He was 46."

At some point, I was crying more than I was talking. I'm sure I was freaking her out. No, I know I was freaking her out. I could see it on her and her sisters' faces. I don't think that any of them had ever seen me cry for any reason other than physical pain. They didn't really know what to say.

Once I got it back together, I took Dizzle aside and tried to explain why I had gotten so upset, which, of course, caused more tears. I wanted her to know that I wasn't upset with her or her question. I wanted her to know that it's OK to be vulnerable. And I wanted her to understand why I was crying.

So, I told her the truth.

"Dizzle, I'm not upset. It's just that sometimes when you really miss someone it can make you cry. Not because you are mad or hurt, but because you are sad and you know that nothing you can do is going to change your situation. Imagine you were never able to see me or Daddy ever again. Wouldn't you want to cry about that? That's why I am crying."

And she, being wise beyond her years, said, "Well, but it gets better, right? You don't always cry. But, I bet Mimi's really sad too."

With a new onslaught of tears, I told her, "It's not that it gets better, it just changes. You always have a bit of sadness with you, but you learn to think less about the sadness and more about all of the happiness. But you always remember."

Then she started crying too. I just hugged her and told her I loved her, and that I always would.

dental woes ...

2011-12-07T07:55:00.003-05:00

When I was a kid, I always wanted braces. For some odd reason I thought they were cool. Unfortunately, well perhaps fortunately for my parents, I had straight teeth (aside from one slightly turned tooth, which was fixed with a retainer).

The healthy of my teeth is another story.

As a kid, I remember getting fillings in my baby teeth. As a teen, I got a clean slate when all my adult teeth came in. I had zero cavities. Every checkup was a breeze. I gloated about how well I took care of my teeth.

Then I went to college. And I stopped going to the dentist. For like 6 years.

Can you see where this is going?

Finally, after having Dizzle, we moved to Virginia and I found a new dentist. Over the course of two years, I had 14 cavities.

I tried everything. Brushing more. Flossing more. Fluoride treatments. Nothing helped.

I had minimal plaque buildup and healthy gums, but my teeth kept failing me.

Yesterday, I had another five cavities filled (with two more next week). I couldn't feel my face for seven hours. Now I am sore enough to make eating anything that requires chewing a challenge. Oh, and cold isn't exactly my friend right now.

So, I asked my dentist what else I could do. And do you know what she said, "Just keep doing what you're doing. And we'll just keep checking. But, honestly, I just think you have genetically weak teeth."

Are you kidding me? At this rate, I'm not going to have any natural surfaces on my teeth in two years. In fact, if nothing is going to prevent these cavities and subsequent drilling sessions, maybe I should just have them all pulled and replaced with fake teeth. At least those don't get cavities.

decorations ...

2011-12-06T08:16:00.005-05:00

Christmas is not my favorite holiday. Thanksgiving is. I think Christmas has too much hype. Too much pressure. Too much stuff.

Until this year, our holiday decor consisted of stockings, a tree, and two strands of lights around our door. I was cool with this. The girls? Well, not so much.

They protested and I tried to get crafty.

I sewed ribbon garland.

I made a wreath (or two).

The girls decorated "trees."

We made salt dough ornaments.

And figures.

Plus, my fridge got a makeover.

And of course, we decorated our tree.

Which Dilly, then decided to undecorate while J was napping 10 feet away from her. She's lucky I was feeling festive.

Blue Ridge Marathon Entry Winner ...

2011-12-05T08:26:00.004-05:00

Thank you to everyone who entered my Blue Ridge Marathon Entry Giveaway. There were 29 entries and thanks to random.org, the winner is ...25 - Rene @ The Amherst Shuffle. Congrats! Email me at racingwithbabes (at) yahoo (dot) com to claim your prize.

And if you didn't win, you can register HERE. But hurry up, rates increase on January 1st.

strength ...

2011-12-05T07:57:00.003-05:00

Strength can manifest in a lot of different ways.

You can be physically strong.
You can be mentally strong.
You can be emotionally strong.

On some days, I am all three. On others, all strength eludes me.

Right now, I am mustering all of my strength to stay sane. I'm having a hard time focusing. My stomach is in knots. And the worst part is, my rock is feeling the same way. Uncertainty will do that to a person.

Maybe that's why I've been sick for what feels like an eternity. I'm using my strength elsewhere and my body can't fight back. Eventually, something has to give or you'll crack. Today, my run was the thing that ruptured.

7/10 of a mile in, I just couldn't do it. My body was screaming no and my brain didn't have the strength to fight it. I stopped and walked back to my car. I probably never should have shown up in the first place. I should have had the strength to take a rest day. But, some days you just need to run, or risk going insane.

November Rewind ...

2011-12-02T07:42:00.003-05:00

Eleven months down, one to go. Here's my recap of November 2011 ...

Run Miles Planned/Miles Ran: 81.4/149.09 (recovery month after two marathons in one week)

Bike Miles Planned/Miles Rode: 0/0 (spoiler alert! I rode my bike yesterday ...)

Swim Meters Planned/Meters Swam: 200m/200m

Rest Days Planned/Rest Days Taken: as many as I needed/10

Highest Run Mileage Week: 11/7-11/13: 37.82 miles

Highest Bike Mileage Week: none

Highest Swim Volume Week: 11/28-11/30: 200 meters (be impressed)

Long Runs Planned/Long Runs Completed: 4/4

Current Book: I've read If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, like a 1,000 in the last week alone.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Shyndigz. Thought I loved cupcakes? Well I love Cake Shakes, too. Half a slice of cake, blended into a vanilla shake with the other half of the slice on a plate. Freaking heaven.

Current Colors: Charcoal Gray and Lululemon Currant

Current Drink: Dunkin Donuts Mint Mocha Coffee. I am perpetually cold and it is the only thing that warms me up.

Current Song: Calling All the Monsters - China Anne McClain (yes, I am 12)

Current Triumph: Two marathons in a week was pretty epic. So was devouring 22 munchkins during a 5K. Oh, and I swam 200 meters. I'm kind of bada$$.

Current Goal: 70.3 domination. That is all.

Current Blessing: I feel like my whole life is one big blessing and I am entirely grateful.

Current Excitement: My new treadmill. Half Ironman training cycle. Disney. Christmas. My 30th birthday. Lots of exciting things happening in the next six months.

2011 Goals - Status Update:

Personal:

Clean up my diet - I am tracking my food religiously at SparkPeople, survived my sugar detox and have been able to add a small amount of sweets back in without causing a total binge.
Eat no more than 25 cupcakes - As of December 2nd - 23 cupcakes eaten

Financial:

Pay off our consumer debt by the end of the year - Due to purchasing a new car, our debt repayment has slowed, but we have paid off over half of our consumer debt and are on track to be credit card debt free in 10 months. Plus, we are on track to have our student loans eliminated by February 2013, five month ahead of our schedule. And 10 years faster than if we let it go to term.
Spend $0 on clothing - As of December 2nd - $278.50 spent - I caved and bought some stuff from Lululemon and a pair of jeans from eBay when my lone pair ripped.

Running:

Run 2,000 miles - As of December 2nd - 1805.27 miles run.
Run a sub 1:55 half marathon - Next race - 2/26, Disney Princess Half
Take 30+ minutes off my marathon - Completed - 11/12, Richmond Marathon, 4:12:52, 36:46 PR.

Three Things Thursday ...

2011-12-01T07:31:00.004-05:00

Merry Christmas - For a few months, J and I have debated whether or not we should get a new treadmill. I love our current one (which we have had for 7 years) and it runs fine, but J doesn't fit well on it (he's 6'7, after all) and it doesn't have some of the newer features that treadmills are being sold with these days (i.e. decline, tablet screen, Google Maps).

So, after much debate we decided to bite the bullet and purchase this on Black Friday ...

Isn't it pretty? (You can check out all of the features HERE) It's being delivered tomorrow and I pretty much can't wait. It will be like Christmas morning.

Vacation - I am in official countdown mode for our Christmas trip. We were going to take the girls to San Diego this year, but the airline canceled our flight and offered a full refund, so we took it. Rather than rebook and spend a fortune for tickets, we decided to drive to Disney. The girls love it (Seriously, they ask to go EVERY FREAKING DAY) and it's our last chance to visit before Dilly turns 3 and we add the cost of her theme park ticket. Heck yeah for saving money! And a double heck yeah for 15 days!

Quarantined - My family needs to be placed in a bubble and hidden from the rest of the world. In the last month and a half, we've had ...

Strep
Croup
Urinary Tract Infections
Bat-Pig Flu
Colds
Pinkeye

And now, Dilly woke up with some weird itchy rash. Are you freaking kidding me? Back to the doctors we go ...

6 a.m. wins and losses ...

2011-11-30T06:49:00.005-05:00

By 6 a.m. this morning, several things occurred. Some, wins. Some, not so much.

Things I DIDN'T do this morning:

skimp on my training
sleep in
put on my contacts
remember my GPS watch
run outside
drown
sink
drown
panic
drown
flail
drown
breaststroke
did I mention, drown?

Things I DID do this morning:

woke up at 4:30 a.m.
more swim training than I've ever done in my life
wore a latex cap, goggles and a new swimsuit
swam 200 meters (yes, that is more swim training than I've ever done in my life)
didn't drown
swam freestyle, something I was convinced was impossible
ran inside on the YMCA treadmill
swam
contracted pinkeye
swam
wore my glasses which are 10 years old and the wrong prescription
swam
wore a winter hat while running on the treadmill even though the gym was 14 billion degrees just to keep the glasses from falling off
did I mention that I swam?

I'm calling today a win. Pinkeye and all.

supported ...

2011-11-29T08:05:00.003-05:00

I feel that sometimes I take J for granted. He is 100% supportive of me, my crazy goals and pretty much anything I throw his way. I always know that if I want or need something, he is going to find a way to make it happen. He probably just wants me to be happy, but I have to wonder if he just doesn't see the point in fighting the inevitable (either way, I'm fine with it). It's true that I appreciate him and I do my best to make that clear to him, but I often forget that my situation is not necessarily standard. In fact, it might be unique.

To be honest, J and I have never had an all out fight.
Neither of us has ever left angry.
I've never said anything to him that I've regretted. And I'm sure he hasn't either.
We are a team through and through.

It's true that we don't agree on everything and at times we get on each others' nerves, but when it comes to the big stuff, we know that the individual pieces are less important that the end result. We know how to compromise without anyone feeling like they got the short end of the stick. We appreciate what each person brings to the table and we understand that we couldn't do it all alone. We want nothing more than for each other to succeed and to love every step of the process.

This thinking is so ingrained, that I often forget that this isn't the case for everyone. I forget that some people are faced with resistance and resentment. I forget that getting full support from the people in your life is not a requirement. I forget that they can choose otherwise. And it's in those moments that I see how good I've got it.

So J, if I haven't said it recently, thank you for believing in me. Thank you for being my rock. Thank you for never trying to squelch my dreams. And thank you for being my partner in all of this. I can't imagine a better person to navigate this life with.

ready, set, wait ...

2011-11-28T08:39:00.004-05:00

18 weeks from now, I will be toeing the line at my first Half Ironman, Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas.

Today is supposed to be the first day of my training plan.

It's not.

I will not swim today.
I will not bike today.
I will not run today.

Because I'm sick.

I've had a fever for two days.
I can barely swallow.
I am a mucus factory.
My head is pounding.
My entire body aches.

Instead of beginning my journey to 70.3, I am fighting the Bat-Pig Flu.

Someone pass the tissues ...

with a side of thanks ...

2011-11-24T09:21:00.004-05:00

It's funny to me that so many people ONLY feel the need to profess what they are thankful for at Thanksgiving. I honestly believe that appreciating and being thankful of the things in your life needs to happen on a daily basis. Tomorrow isn't guaranteed. And things could ALWAYS be worse. We need to take stock in all the good and shift the focus away from the bad. Perspective is the key.

I only say this because I can remember being a child and expecting things to be handed to me on a silver platter. I didn't know or understand all that my parents did to provide for us. And now that I have my own family, I do and I hope I can impart that message to my daughters. To help them see that it is not the material things in life that matter, but rather the experiences and people that fill our days.

In the past year, I have had plenty of moments that I have been thankful for and plenty that I would like to forget. And I am stronger and wiser and better off because of all of them. I have worked to remove negativity and replace it with positive people, experiences and energy. And today, like everyday, I am feeling blessed by all the things that fill my days, including ...

My loving and supportive husband. He encourages me to follow my passions, understands my quirks and is there for me 100%. I could accomplish nothing if it weren't for him. We are a team and we do our best to help each other get to exactly where we want to be. In the last year, I've come to realize how important this is and how lucky I am to have him. Not everyone gets this kind of support and I shouldn't take it for granted. (Note: He's also the kind of husband that will buy his crazy runner wife a high-end treadmill just because it's a "good deal." Thanks J.)
My three beautiful daughters. They light up my day (even when they are driving me crazy). They give me reason to live the best life I can, to be a positive example and to cherish the moment.
My mom and sisters. The older I get, the more I appreciate them. We don't agree on everything and we all have our moments, but in the end I love them more that I can express.
My running wife, G. She gets it. Good run. Bad run. And every run in between. She pushes me and lets me push her back, something that should not be underestimated.
The Core 4. Runners first, logical thinkers second. They are all crazy enough to sacrifice sleep to run with a friend. They know when to push the pace and when to hold back. We are united by a common love and drive with a little bit of healthy competition thrown in just to make things interesting.
My body. No, it's not perfect. But, it has created three of the cutest creatures I have ever laid eyes on. And it proves to me everyday just how powerful it is.
A healthy family. Enough said.
Patience. My girls can prove to be a challenge. And the one thing that keeps me from complete insanity is patience. And coffee. But mostly, patience.

Happy Thanksgiving!

21 bits of randomness ...

2011-11-23T07:37:00.004-05:00

I was tagged by Jen @ Miles, Muscles & Mommyhood to share 21 random facts about myself and then to tag 10 people to do the same. And since I always love a little bit of randomness, here it goes ...

1. My name is Tonia (Toe-Knee-Ahh). I have always had a bit of disdain for my name, as I have rarely met a person who could pronounce it correctly without hearing it first. Because my name is unique, I wanted somewhat unique names for my children. My plan kind of backfired. Dizzle's name, while unique for a girl was the fifth most popular name for a boy the year she was born and Doodle's name was the 22nd most popular in the year I bestowed it on her. When we found out we were having our third girl, I gave up on names all together and let Jeremy have control. It's was probably the first and last time that that will ever happen.

2. When I met my husband, I thought he had a huge gap between his front teeth. He doesn’t. However, all three of my children do.

3. I got married in the Bahamas. It was one of the best days of my life. One of the most memorable things that happened that day had nothing to do with me. My little sister fainted during the photos. Scary then. Funny now.

4. I don’t like waiting … for anything. I am a quick decision maker. I bought a house, got married and was pregnant with my first child in a matter of four months.

5. I had my first child young … I was 23. The second came along when I was 25 and the third, one week before my 27th birthday. This means that I was pregnant or breastfeeding for over five years straight. Despite that sacrifice, having children at a young age was the best decision I ever made, for numerous reasons. Think about it, we are the "cool, young parents", we are past the "baby" stage while all of our peers are just entering it, and I will only be 45 when Dilly goes to college. How epic is that?

6. Two of my biggest accomplishments are graduating from an Ivy League university (I finished in 3 years) and finishing six marathons. But, by far my greatest accomplishment is my daughters. Proof of the first two is hanging on my wall. I would hang my children on the wall too, but I think that is frowned upon.

7. I have never had a real job (i.e. one I could support myself with), but I am working on changing that. With that said, being a stay-at-home mom is more job than I could have ever wanted.

8. I like to do a lot of things, but running is my passion. Strangely, I used to hate running and would avoid it at all costs. Truth be told, I still hate running, but I run at least five days a week and am mildly addicted. Need more proof? I ran throughout my third pregnancy and completed two sprint triathlons, 3 10Ks, an 8K, 2 5Ks and a half-marathon. Four days before I delivered, I ran seven miles.

9. I used to be overweight. That is no longer the case and on more than one occasion have been told that I need to eat something. Funny, considering pretty much all I do is eat. It's just that the people who have known me for more than seven years or so, remember how I used to be and the bad habits I had and they think that my current healthy lifestyle is extreme. (Note: It's not extreme. I'm a pescatarian. I don't eat a lot of junk. I know how to indulge. I run. I bike. I weigh 150-155 lbs and I have for 7 years.)

10. When I was 12 I broke my pelvis and dislocated my hip. I was on bed-rest for two and a half months and gained 70 pounds. Although my doctors were sure that I would never return to sports I did, and I competed through college. The only lasting effect of the injury is that my right leg is an inch and a half longer than my left.

11. I have two tattoos, one is a discus thrower. The other is Chinese symbols, and my sisters have the same one. I want a third and I'm just waiting for the go-ahead. At one point in my life, I had 12 ear piercings, in addition to a belly ring, an eyebrow ring, and a tongue ring.

12. I met my husband when I was 17. I was on a recruiting trip to his school, Cornell. He was my tour guide. After that weekend, I didn't talk to him again for almost three years. We started dating while on the Penn/Cornell Track and Field trip to England. We dated for 10 months before becoming engaged and we didn’t live in the same state until a month before our wedding.

13. If given three wishes, I would wish for wealth for my family, health for my family, and for my father to be able to meet my husband and children. If I was only given one wish, I would wish for my father to meet my husband and children.

14. My father passed away when I was 20. It was the worst moment of my life. It was also one of the best moments of my life. It completely changed my perspective on life and how I approach things. It made me into the person that I have become and that is a person that I am 100 percent happy with, both inside and out. But, I miss him everyday.

15. The last time I had an alcoholic drink was at my wedding. It was an amaretto sour. I don’t plan on ever having one again. For no other reason than I don’t like how it tastes. And speaking of my wedding, the only thing I ate during it was a cream puff and a bite of wedding cake.

16. My weirdest quirk: Whenever I stay at a hotel I always sleep with a hood on. I don’t like my face resting on the same pillowcase that others have used. With that said, I love to travel, yet have done very little of it, mostly because I have either been pregnant or had children for all but two months of my married life, which began less than six months after I graduated. The place I most want to visit: Australia. Yet, if I could live anywhere, at least for a little while, it would be the Pacific Northwest.

17. I am tall for a girl, 5’9" Yet, I am destined to be the shortest member of my family. My husband is 6’7" and most of my family, including my mom, are over 6 feet tall. It’s said that you can double a child’s height somewhere between age 2 and 2 ½ to get an idea of how tall they will be. If I do that for any of my children and it’s true, they will be between 6’ and 6’3.

18. I’m not a sucker for romance. I think jewelry and flowers, while a nice gesture, are a waste of money. Give me a box of donuts and a good pair of running shoes any day. Although I am not a jewelry fan, I never take off my wedding band and engagement ring. Ever.

19. I have a best friend from each stage of my life. Elementary school, high school, college and adulthood. I love them all dearly, although each of our relationships are very different. I've know my oldest friend for almost 27 years. I am about to turn 30.

20. Before we had kids, J and I went out to dinner and a movie almost every single weekend. In recent times this has changed. We haven't gone to see a movie together since DaVinci Code in 2006. We'll be ending our hiatus this weekend when we go to see Breaking Dawn.

21. I am extremely Type A. I like pattern and routine and things have to be done the "right way" (which is usually my way). I write lists for everything, including other lists. I pack two weeks in advance to avoid forgetting something. And I CANNOT leave my house if it's messy. I'd rather be late (and I really hate being late) than come home to a dirty house.

And now for the next in line -

G @ Neurosis of the Stay at Home Marathoner of 3 (Kids)
Mel @ Tall Mom on the Run
Kerrie T @ Mom vs. Marathon
Jen @ Setting You Free
Jess @ Pace of Me
Kim @ (Just) Trying is for Little Girls
Jess @ Blonde Ponytail
Rachel @ Running Backwards in High Heels
Kari @ Running Ricig
Lesley @ Racing it Off

Blue Ridge Marathon Entry Giveaway ...

2011-11-22T08:00:00.007-05:00

Do you have your 2012 race calendar planned out? Bored with pancake flat courses? (I'm not, but you might be ...) Are you looking for a challenge? Well, then look no further than the Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke, VA on April 21, 2012.

Picture this -- a cool breeze at your back, the scent of blossoming flowers, “purple mountain’s majesty” in front of you…and the SEARING pain in your quads with each and every stride down this freaking mountain!

Don’t come to Roanoke, Virginia to enjoy a relaxing weekend; come to see just how much the National College Blue Ridge Marathon can kick your butt.

Deemed the WORLD'S TOUGHEST ROAD RACE, the marathon course boasts a 7,200+ foot total elevation change (the half course comes in at 2,500 ft of elevation change). That's just insane! But, it's the kind of insane that us runners like to brag about. Here's the race director's take on the race.

Blue Ridge Marathon: America's Toughest Road Marathon from Pete Eshelman on Vimeo.

Intrigued? Here are the details:

What: Full & Half Marathon, 5-Person Team Relay, Walking Half, YMCA Kids Marathon
Where: Roanoke, VA and Blue Ridge Parkway
Date: April 21, 2012
Start Time: 7:30 am
Total Elevation Change: ~7,234 ft. (full), ~2,500 ft. (half)
Most Difficult Section: Roanoke Mountain on Blue Ridge Parkway
Beneficiary: Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway
Magnificent Views: Plenty

I mean, how could you not want to run this?

I'll be there running the HALF. Another marathon is so not on my radar right now. And you can be too. If you register for the Blue Ridge Marathon before December 15th, you can use the code "tough" for 15% off the registration fee.

Or, if your lucky, you could win a FREE entry right now.

Here's how to enter (separate comments, please):
1. Leave a comment to let me know why you want to run this race.
2. Become a follower of this blog. Leave a comment.
3. Follow Blue Ridge Marathon (@BRM26pt2) on Twitter HERE. Leave a comment.
4. Like Blue Ridge Marathon on Facebook HERE. Leave a comment
5. Repost this giveaway on your blog, Twitter (include @tmbrunnerfirst and @BRM26pt2 in your tweet) or Facebook. Leave a comment.

Entries will be accepted until Sunday, December 4th. Winner will be selected at random and announced on Monday, December 5th.

Disclaimer: Blue Ridge Marathon is providing entry to their race for both me and the winner of the giveaway. There was no other compensation for this post.

Dunkin Donuts Munckin Run 5K Recap ...

2011-11-21T07:34:00.004-05:00

Location: Midlothian, VA
Date: 11/19/11
Temperature: 45 degrees @ start, sunny
Official Time: 31:25 (with donut deduction)
Garmin Time: 31:55

The Good:

Race Concept - If nothing else, the concept of this race was fantastic. Eating Munchkins while running a 5K is pretty much my idea of heaven. And the vast amount of food I consumed, once again proved that old habits die hard. Without some serious self control, I could easily revert back into my former self.

The Outfits - Seriously, how fantastic do J and I look? And I didn't even have to ask him to coordinate.

Munchkins - Did I mention there were munchkins? Yeah, like tables full of munchkins every mile or so.

Pace - I ran the first 2/3 of this race with J. Just after the mile 2 mark, he asked if I just wanted to finish the race. I did. So, after averaging an 11 minute pace in those first two miles, I ran an 8:50 last mile, which included two Munchkin stops and two photo stops (when I saw J).

My moving average was 7:30 and somewhere in there I was running a 5:26. It's like all that sugar gave me turbo boosters.

Swag - Not only did you get all-you-can-eat Munchkins on the course, hot chocolate and coffee before the start and a race tee, every runner left with a coupon for a free box of 25 Munchkins and a refillable coffee mug. Insane, considering that the race only cost $15.

Extreme Eating Challenge Title - As you know, this race was never about speed for me. It was about donut eating. With no intention of letting J (or anyone on the course, for that matter) beat me, I consumed 22 Munchkins over the 3.1 miles. That's equivalent to 7.33 regular donuts. And I could have eaten more. It didn't bother my stomach one bit.

(empty munchkin cups. had to be carried to the finish for credit.)

The Bad:

The Course - Since the route had to stay on school property at all times, the course looped like crazy over rather uneven off-road terrain. It was sloped. And muddy. And not what I am used to. I was constantly concerned that I might roll an ankle.

Munchkin Fail - So, before the race we were told that each Munchkin would be in a cup. Once you ate the Munchkin, you had to carry the cup to the finish. Each Munchkin consumed would be a 10 second deduction from your time. Fabulous. I figured I had two things to do.

1. Eat more than J.
2. Eat enough to get some serious time taken off.

And I totally did both. But, since I wasn't paying attention well enough to the announcements at the start (which were impossible to hear), runners only got deductions for the FIRST THREE (3) MUNCHKINS. WTF? So the 3 minutes and 40 seconds worth of Munckins (also known as 1,400 calories) were for nothing.

The Ugly:

Organization Fails - I know this was a first year event. And I know it was thought up by a high schooler. But, there were some serious fails for this race coined as an "Extreme Eat-Run Challenge"

1. The 3 Munchkin Cap - On what planet is eating 3 Munchkins EXTREME?
2. No Separate Divisions - There should have been two divisions for this race: Donut-Eaters and Non-Donut-Eaters. There also should have either been a set amount to eat at each donut stop or the ability to get a time deduction for each Munckin consumed.
3. Order of Donut/Water Stops - At each stop the water came BEFORE the donuts. Totally needed to be the other way around.

With that said, I'd totally run this race again.

interrogation ...

2011-11-18T07:40:00.003-05:00

Over the past few weeks, Dilly has become quite the kleptomaniac. We first noticed this behavior when we moved our sofas and found piles of toys thrown behind it and shoved into the cushions. Although didn't need confirmation that it was her, she did fess up to the crime.

Recently, Dilly has become a bit more bold with her klepto ways. Occasionally, she'll grab her sister's Nalgene bottle and ditch it in a random place. On Monday, she stole Dizzle's teddy bear and she tried to throw it in the trash can (I caught her as she was putting it in). And on Wednesday, when no one was paying attention, she took Doodle's pajamas and threw them away. We only realized this later when Doodle put something in the trash and noticed her monkey shirt in the bag.

Wanting to know what Dilly was thinking, I sat her down and asked. And I filmed it. Kind of like our own little NCIS investigation ...

And that cuteness is why she gets away with murder ...

Three Things Thursday ...

2011-11-17T07:48:00.003-05:00

Ignored - I'm confident that this happens to all moms, but when J is around, I pretty much disappear. My kids completely forget who I am and they all vie for his attention. On more than one occasion, I have been told, "Guess what, Mom? I love Dad." or "That's OK, Mom. I'd rather hang out with Dad anyway." or "Mom, go away!" This effect is amplified when there other "preferred" adults around. For example, at the mere mention of Grandpa or Grandma's name, the girls go crazy. And they completely ignore me.

Tomorrow, J's parents arrive, which means in 26 hours I will be rendered useless. Well, unless someone misbehaves. Because then, I'm the one who has to play mean cop.

Thanksgiving - Since J's parents are visiting this weekend, we are going to have Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday. My first Thanksgiving as a vegetarian and I am kind of at a loss for a main course that isn't Tofurky. Most everything I find is really just a side dish. Any ideas on what vegetarians eat on a day that focuses on meat (other than pasta)?

Munchkins - In two days, J and I will go head to head in a Munchkin eating/running challenge at the Dunkin Donut Munchkin Run. I have no intentions of racing this 5K, in fact, I am going to run the whole thing with J (at his pace). And then I am going to eat more Munchkins than him. Because really, that's the true contest here. And although he's nearly twice my size, I think I have the advantage. Here's why ...

My 5K PR is 22:04.
His 5K PR is 29:48.
Running at his pace is going to be considerably harder for him than it will be for me.
Since I will be running at an "easier" pace, I will be able to consume more without it bothering my stomach, thus winning the head-to-head battle.

It's a good theory, right?

swim-phobia

2011-11-16T07:49:00.004-05:00

Since marathon training is over (hopefully for an extended period of time), I am spending the next two weeks in recovery mode. It's a nice place to be. Run as little or as much as you want to, because there is nothing looming. Eat too much, because that's obviously the best way to regain your strength. Sleep like a log, because all of the pre-race jitters are gone.

Well, maybe that last one's a lie, because two nights ago, I woke up in a panic.

I had a race nightmare.

A nightmare about a race that is 20 weeks from now.

A freaking swim-fail nightmare.

As you may recall, I am not the best swimmer (OK, I've never trained a day in my life). My strongest stroke is breaststroke and even that is weak. In the past, I barely survived the swim portion of the triathlons I have raced. Seriously, I usually finish the swim in the bottom 5 of my age group. Thankfully, "the Quads" know how to represent on the bike and the run.

Anyway, back to this nightmare. I was in Texas (where my 70.3 is) and I was prepping for the race. We were about a week out from the event. For some reason, I remember everyone saying that it was next weekend. I had all my gear in place, but then it occurred to me ...

I never signed up for a pool membership. And with less than a week to go, I had yet to do a single swim workout. I was screwed.

I woke up in a cold sweat. No lie.

You can fake a sprint. But you can't fake a half Ironman. It's a 1.2 mile swim. And I'm pretty sure floaties are discouraged.

Can you say swim-phobia, anyone?

Team Tough Chik ...

2011-11-15T07:47:00.004-05:00

As you've probably figured out by now, I am extremely brand loyal. When I find a product I like, I stick with it. Hence, the 4,000 skirts from Lululemon and RunningSkirts. And then there are the socks. Don't even get me started on the socks.

And if you've been reading for some time, you probably know that Tough Chik holds a special place in my heart. I love the Tough Chik designs and I love the Tough Chik story. I mean, I wore their "i run" shirt in RUNNER'S WORLD. You really have to love something if you display it for bajillions of people to see it.

I am a "Toughie" (Yeah, that's me rocking my Tough Chik shirt with Mark Remy and Bart Yasso)

My kids are "Toughies"

And you can be a "Toughie" too. From now until January 1st, you can join Team Tough Chik. You can be a part of the Tough Chik community and show those around you, "What Tough Looks Like."

Interested? Then click HERE to learn more.

Note: I was not asked to write this post or compensated in any way. I just truly love this company and what they stand for.

Richmond Marathon Recap ...

2011-11-14T08:13:00.008-05:00

Location: Richmond, VA
Date: 11/12/11
Temperature: upper 30's @ start, sunny
Official Time: 4:12:52 (9:39 pace)
Garmin Time: 4:12:55 for 26.42 miles (9:34 pace), 2:56 PR
Place in Age Group (25-29): 98/281
Place in Gender: 562/1647
Overall Place: 1716/3787

The Good:

Pre-race Fun - From bagels on Friday morning ...

to the expo on Friday afternoon ...

to carb-loading on Friday night ...

marathon excitement was EVERYWHERE.

The Outfits - G, Pixie Green and I looked epic. As always.

No Pressure - There is something about running two marathons in six days that kind of takes away all the pressure from the second race. I knew that regardless of how fast (or slow) I ran, I could boast about the quick turnaround. And knowing that, somehow made it easier to run a consistent race.

The Course - I love this course. It's scenic and beautiful and the downhill finish is enough of a reason to run it over and over. But as a member of the Marathon Training Team (MTT), I ran the course so often that I knew it like the back of my hand. Talk about an advantage on race day. No surprises. No mental games. Just 26.2 miles and me.

Sub-2 Half - From the start, my goal for this race was to run with whoever I started with for as long as possible and then just finish, even if I walked the rest. I lost G pretty much in the first 10 feet of the race, but I was running with Jess and her sister Jodi (they both ran MCM two weeks prior).

We just decided to run whatever felt good. And somehow, as we approached the half marathon mark, we noticed that we were just going to break two hours (we crossed in 1:59:20) and that alone made the race a success for me.

PR Baby - Not exactly sure how it happened, but 6 days after running the NYC Marathon and missing a PR by 8 seconds, I finished this race with a 2:56 PR. It was awesome. However, I kind of wish my plan of "run a strong first half and then have fun with the second half", wasn't the plan I executed. When I caught G at mile 15.5, I decided I was just going to stick with her. Then she left me. And then I caught her again. It wasn't until mile 23 or so, that I realized that even with my eased pace in the second half, that a PR was going to happen for sure. Maybe I should have picked it up sooner.

The Last 2 Miles - Once I realized a PR was in the bag, I was re-energized. Add that to the fact that most of the last two miles are downhill and I was feeling unstoppable. Seriously. This is me at mile 25.5, looks like it could have been mile 1.5.

GBA - Like usual, our run group rocked it on Saturday. I'm proud of each and everyone of them. But, I am especially proud to be associated with G (who ran through illness), KC (who PR'd with a sub-4) and 3L (who BQ'd in her marathon debut). I love these ladies and am honored to have them in my life.

The Bad:

Un-GU'd - Although I started the race with four GUs attached to my race belt, all but one of them fell off while I was shedding layers in the early miles. Total Spi-Belt fail.

Photo-Op - As a member of MTT, we were scheduled to take a team picture at 7 a.m., one hour prior to the race start. Most days, that would be no big deal, but it was cold on Saturday. I arrived at 6:30 a.m. and by the time the race started, I couldn't feel any of my toes. And the worst part, you can't see me (or anyone I know) in the picture anyway.

The Ugly:

Wind - As you approached mile 24, a place I like to refer to as the "Lombardy Suckfest", runners were greeted with headwinds so strong that they threw you back a little. Not the time in the race to have a physical barrier like that.

bones ...

2011-11-11T08:42:00.004-05:00

One might say that Dizzle is inquisitive. She wants to know as much as she possibly can before she commits. She loves to learn. She loves to talk. Some days I love this trait, and some days I want to put in earplugs and walk away.

On our way to soccer the other day, she was in a particularly inquisitive mood. It lead to the following conversation.

Dizzle: If we are made up of bone, how do we bend?
Me: Well, Dizzle, the bones don't bend. Our bodies are made up of a bunch of bones and we are able to bend at the places those bones meet. It's called a joint.
Dizzle: Oh, so our hands have lots of bones then?
Me: Yes.
Dizzle: So, that's why they can bend here and here and here ...
Me: Right.
Dizzle: Well, that's good, because if they didn't bend, we'd have to use magnet gloves to pick up everything.

(End of conversation. Until Dizzle starts talking to herself)

Dizzle: Wow. It's really hard to do anything with straight arms. I can hardly do anything at all. But, professionals can. But, not magicians. They'd have a hard time.
Me: What? What would magicians have a hard time doing?
Dizzle: Getting the people out of those boxes.

(Ensue laughter)

Seriously, Dizzle? This is what goes on in your head? Magicians who can't bend there arms can't get people out of boxes? And you can't do anything with straight arms but PROFESSIONALS can? What kind of professionals are we talking about? The amazing straight arm professionals? Because, I've never met one ...

Three Things Thursday ...

2011-11-10T08:06:00.006-05:00

Photobomb - Dizzle lost her 5th tooth on Tuesday. Like always, she freaked out when I told her I was going to pull it and five seconds later when it was out, she was still screaming in fear. When I told her I was done, she said, "Oh. That was easy." Obviously, she's is all about the drama.

Afterwards, she asked me to take her picture for Facebook. She said that she did not want Doodle to be in it. So, we put her tooth in a bag and I snapped a quick shot.

Yup, Doodle photobombed.

Epic Photos - Speaking of pictures, mine from the NYC Marathon were awesome. If I wasn't so cheap, I would totally buy some. Here are a few of my favorites.

Round 2 - And since we are on the topic of marathons, I am running my second in six days on Saturday, the Richmond Marathon. Unlike NYC, I'll have my posse and a ton of friends running this race with me. If you feel like stalking, my bib number is 2224 (how wicked cool is that) and if you are out on the course and want to look for me, I'll be sporting the same outfit as G. It looks like this ...

erased ...

2011-11-09T08:33:00.003-05:00

Dear child who will remain nameless,

In case you haven't realized, I am not your typical woman. I don't have expensive jewelry (other than my engagement ring) or handbags. I don't own dress shoes. The only time in the last 10 years that I wore makeup was at my wedding and I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't have the first clue about how to dress for a formal affair.

In addition to being low maintenance, I also don't have prized possessions. What's mine is yours and what's yours is mine. I let you wear my clothes, fumble in my shoes, screw around on my $600 cell phone and wear my medals as accessories. I am chill like that.

But, I have asked you time and time again, not to touch my GPS watch. It's expensive and unlike my phone, does not have a warranty plan. And above all, it has all of my runs stored in it. All of my splits. All of the elevation changes. Everything I use to analyze my training.

Or maybe I should say HAD all those things. Because thanks to your reckless button pushing, the memory on my watch has been ERASED. Thanks for that. It's freaking awesome.

Love always,
Mom

NYC Marathon Recap ...

2011-11-08T08:47:00.006-05:00

Location: New York, NY
Date: 11/6/11
Temperature: 52 degrees
Official Time: 4:15:56 (9:47 pace)
Garmin Time: 4:15:58 for 26.86 miles (9:31 pace)
Place in Age Group (25-29): 964/2818
Place in Gender: 5183/16928
Overall Place: 20701/46795

The Good:

The Outfit - Epic, as always.

The Swag - Not only was the medal great (love the skyline) and the shirt actually something I would wear, as a member of Team Grassroot Soccer, I was given loads of great swag, including a team uniform furnished by Nike (tee, long sleeve top, capris and shoe laces), compression tights from 2XU, more SoyJoy bars and Muscle Milk than I will ever consume and of course, some Bengay for post-race recovery.

Meeting up with friends/bloggers/celebrities - As you know, Ethan Zohn is a co-founder of Grassroot Soccer and joined us on the marathon team.

But what you might not realize is that five other cast members from this season of the Amazing Race were on our team, as well as, former Survivors, Anthony Sullivan (of infomercial fame, he also made the name tag for my race shirt) and Aaron Scheidies, a 70.3 paratriathlon World Champion.

(the creation of my name tag)

While in NYC, I was also able to catch up with Kim, my Nuun Platuun vanmate, Melody, Miss Zippy and Molly.The Course Support - I'm sure that if you know anything about the NYC Marathon, it's that the course support is awesome. And it is. There is never a moment when you are alone. Someone is always cheering for you. Pushing you. It is an amazing feeling and reason alone to run this race.

A new half PR - I raced the first 16 miles of this race perfectly. I was right where I wanted to be and when I crossed the mat at the half split, I set a new PR of 1:56:18. That right there, made my race for me. I felt great at that point and I know I can crush the half distance. But do I get to count this one?

No Wall - As much as my legs died over the last 8 miles or so, I never hit the wall. I didn't want someone to drag my body off the course. And I didn't want to stop. Some days you just don't have enough, I may have had legs of lead, but my head was strong.

Post-race logistics - Although the runners were funneled out of Central Park on what seemed like a mile long path, the finish line area was super organized. Every runner received a space blanket, medal and bag full of food. Easy and efficient.

Not Seeing my Mom - My mom doesn't live nearby, so she rarely gets to see me race. Fortunately, she does live close to NYC, so she and my aunt were able to come see me run. They were stationed near the 25 mile marker and although, I never saw them, they saw me. And knowing they were in the crowd (and that I would get to celebrate with them post-race) was awesome.

The Bad:

The Course - I loved this course and I hated this course. It is truly awesome to run through all five boroughs, but the bridges are KILLER and the last six miles are pretty much uphill at just enough of an incline to drain your legs. By mile 25, I was wishing for the downhill finish of the Richmond Marathon.

Crowds - The course was so congested with runners that I found myself doing a lot of weaving, right up until the finish. Due to this, I ran .66 longer than 26.2, a total bummer since I missed a PR by only 8 SECONDS.

8 seconds - Did I mention I missed a PR by 8 seconds? How about the fact that I lapped my watch at 26.2 and it read 4:09:16? Yeah, I'm a little bit bitter about that.

Weather - I know that 52 degrees and sunny sounds like perfect conditions to run in, but honestly, it was too hot for my liking. I would have much preferred 42 degrees, as I was crazy hot any time I wasn't in the shade, which was pretty much all the time.

The Ugly:

The Queensboro Bridge - At mile 16, this is the steepest climb on the course. It was also the only time I recall there being any wind. It was brutal. I'd like to erase that bridge from my memory.

so close ...

2011-11-07T13:08:00.003-05:00

NYC Marathon - The short and sweet of it.

I finished.

I missed a PR by 8 seconds.

I ran .66 further than 26.2 miles finishing in 4:15:56.

When my watch clicked to the marathon distance it read 4:09:26, 6:22 faster than at National in March (which is all that matters to me).

I'm not even one bit disappointed.

I've got 5 days to recover before I tackle the Richmond Marathon on Saturday.

Full recap tomorrow ...

2011 NYC Marathon Training Recap ...

2011-11-04T09:28:00.004-04:00

On May 1st, I crashed my bike. On May 11th, I had reconstructive shoulder surgery. On June 1st, I started my comeback and began my marathon training cycle. At this time on Sunday morning, I will be toeing the line at the 2011 NYC Marathon with Team Grassroot Soccer. Getting to this point was a journey in and of itself. In the last five months ...

I have run a total of 928.17 miles
at an average pace of 9:22,
for a total of approximately 145 hours and 10 minutes,
which is 6 days and 56 minutes of running,
just to get one of these ...

A FINISHED TRAINING PLAN.

23 weeks of training. 6 runs per week. 3 new PRs.
0 injuries. 1000s of laughs.

26.2 - YOU ARE MINE.

3TT: NYC Marathon Edition ...

2011-11-03T07:48:00.004-04:00

Chill - Apparently, I am running a marathon in three days. Have you heard about it? It's like the biggest freaking marathon out there. Something like 47,000 runners are expected cross the start line of the NYC Marathon. And I will be one of them.

Oddly, I am completely unfazed by this fact. I haven't tapered (because my unorthodox plan said not to). I haven't checked the weather (although, several people have attempted to give me updates). I don't have a single thing packed (which is very unlike me). At this point, I am beyond chill. Maybe it's because I feel super ready. Maybe it's because I'm not grasping the magnitude of what I am about to do. Who knows? Either way, taper madness has forgotten to make a pit stop here.

Stalk Me - The one thing that hasn't eluded me is what I will be wearing on Sunday. And it looks a little something like this (although my socks will be solid black, not argyle) ...

So, if you are spectating and happen to see me, please call me out. And if you are at home, staring at your computer, please feel free to stalk me. My bib number is 30328 and I start in wave 2 at 10:10 a.m.

Solicited Advice - Have you run NYC before? Do you have any tips for having a successful race? I want to hear them. If not, then just tell me I'm awesome and that NYC doesn't know what's about to hit it.

Wordless Wednesday: Skype

2011-11-02T05:23:00.001-04:00

Good to know. Good to know ...

PlanetGear.com Winner ...

2011-11-01T16:01:00.001-04:00

Thanks to everyone who entered my PlanetGear.com giveaway. There were 48 entries and thanks to random.org, the winner is ...

#16 Randi S. @ S Club 4

Congrats Randi! Please email me at racingwithbabes (at) yahoo (dot) com.

October Rewind ...

2011-11-01T07:42:00.004-04:00

Ten months down, two to go. Here's my recap of October 2011 ...

Run Miles Planned/Miles Ran: 233.1/223.78 (an all-time monthly high)

Bike Miles Planned/Mile Rode: 0/0 (I've given myself a reprieve to focus on marathon training. Half Ironman training starts after Thanksgiving)

Rest Days Planned/Rest Days Taken: 4/7

Highest Run Mileage Week: 10/10-10/16: 52.16 miles

Highest Bike Mileage Week: none

Long Runs Planned/Long Runs Completed: 5/5

Current Book: Unless Curious George: Curious About Phonics counts, then none.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Lululemon. That is all.

Current Colors: Charcoal Gray and Orange

Current Drink: Dunkin Donuts French Vanilla Coffee. I am perpetually cold and it is the only thing that warms me up.

Current Song: Calling All the Monsters - China Anne McClain (yes, I am 12)

Current Triumph: Finishing another marathon training cycle in one piece

Current Goal: Stick to the plan and crush NYC. I've done the work and I need to BELIEVE that I can reach my goals.

Current Blessing: I feel like my whole life is one big blessing and I am entirely grateful.

Current Excitement: NYC Marathon. Dunkin Donuts Munchkin Run. Half Ironman training cycle. Christmas. My 30th birthday. Lots of exciting things happening in the next six months.

2011 Goals - Status Update:

Personal:

Clean up my diet - I am tracking my food religiously at SparkPeople, survived my sugar detox and have been able to add a small amount of sweets back in without causing a total binge.
Eat no more than 25 cupcakes - As of November 1st - 21 cupcakes eaten

Financial:

Pay off our consumer debt by the end of the year - Due to purchasing a new car, our debt repayment has slowed, but we have paid off over half of our consumer debt and are on track to be credit card debt free in 10 months. Plus, we are on track to have our student loans eliminated by February 2013, five month ahead of our schedule. And 10 years faster than if we let it go to term.
Spend $0 on clothing - As of November 1st - $178.50 spent - I caved and bought some stuff from Lululemon and a pair of jeans from eBay when my lone pair ripped.

Running:

Run 2,000 miles - As of November 1st - 1657 miles run.
Run a sub 1:55 half marathon - Next race - 2/26, Disney Princess Half
Take 30+ minutes off my marathon - Completed - 3/26, National Marathon, 4:15:48, 33:50 PR.

Shutterfly Holiday Card Winners ...

2011-10-31T08:55:00.003-04:00

Thanks to everyone who participated in my Shutterfly Holiday Photo Card giveaway. There were 69 entries and thanks to random.org, the winners are ...

#17 Julie Arts @ Adventure is Out There
#32 Wym @ A Tall Order
# 38 BigHappyFamily @ Big Happy Family

Congrats! Please email me at racingwithbabes (at) yahoo (dot) com to claim your prize!

baked goods and running ...

2011-10-31T08:33:00.005-04:00

As you may have figured out by now, I have a slight obsession with baked goods. Cupcakes are my best friends. I've never met a pie that I didn't like. And there may have been a time or two where I ate a half dozen donuts in a single day. Oh, and there was that time, I fueled myself for an entire day on Christmas cookies. A calorie is a calorie, right?

Fortunately, I might also have a slight obsession with running. It usually cancels out all of the baked goods.

But now, after what feels like an eternity of enjoying my obsessions individually, I have been given the opportunity to combine my two loves, because I just registered for this 5K ...

Seriously, this might be the best idea ever. Each racer will be given the opportunity to eat munchkin donut holes throughout the race. Upon completion of the race each racer will receive a box of Dunkin Donut Munchkins. Donut eating during the race IS optional (Note: Only optional to the weak.)

And look at all the perks:

Signature Dunkin Donut Munchkin Run race T-shirt
A certificate for a full 25 count box of Dunkin Donut Munchkins
Dunkin Donut 99 cent refillable Coffee Cup
Dunkin Donut Coffees at the finish line
Dunkin Donut Hot Chocolate
Post-Race beverages
Great Swag-Bag with a variety of coupons and certificates
GOT MILK - Refuel with Chocolate Milk Lanyard
Prizes for age group winners
Prizes raffled off at end of race for all racers
The chance to say you participated in the first-ever DUNKIN DONUT MUNCHKIN RUN!
You’re helping a phenomenal cause.

ALL FOR $15!

I seriously CANNOT wait. So, if you are in the Richmond area, you should totally check it out. For more information and to register click HERE.

Note: I was not asked to post about this event. I just think it will be a super fun event with the proceeds going to a great cause, ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation.

PlanetGear.com Giveaway ...

2011-10-28T08:11:00.004-04:00

OK, so yesterday I admitted that my pink hair wasn't done in an attempt to show support for Breast Cancer Awareness. A nice coincidence, yes. But the intention, no.

I have, however, teamed up with PlanetGear.com to help spread the word and raise as much money as possible for the Breast Cancer Awareness fund. From now until October 31st, PlanetGear.com will give $1 to the fund for each new "like" on their facebook page HERE.

If you don't know what PlanetGear.com is, here's a little information from their website:

"About Us: The world's best gear, apparel, and travel destinations at prices up to 70% off on most leading outdoor brands. Sale events start daily at 9:00am PST and last up to 7 days. All sales are on a first come, first serve basis. So please come visit us early, and have fun shopping!

At PlanetGear.com we're passionate about people, the outdoors and the world we live in, and we're excited to share this passion with you.

Invite your friends to become members of PlanetGear.com, and we'll send you an instant $10.00 credit when they make their first purchase* Membership is free!"

Pretty cool, huh? Great deals provided by a company that is supporting an amazing cause. You should probably CLICK HERE right now and go "like" their page.

And if doing your part wasn't simple enough, there's something else in it for you. Thanks to the people at PlanetGear.com, one reader will win a $40 credit to shop on their website.

Entering is easy, but please leave one comment per entry or they will NOT be counted.

REQUIRED: Like PlanetGear.com on Facebook HERE (you should have done that already) and leave a comment to let them know I sent you.
REQUIRED: Become a follower of Racing With Babes

BONUS ENTRIES (separate comment for each, please):

Share the link to the PlanetGear.com Facebook page HERE. The more "likes" they get, the more money that goes to the Breast Cancer Awareness Fund.
Share this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
Like the Racing With Babes Facebook page HERE and leave a comment on my wall to let me know how breast cancer has touched your life.

Entries will be accepted until Monday, October 31st. Winner will be randomly selected and announced on Tuesday, November 1st.

Three Things Thursday ...

2011-10-27T09:58:00.004-04:00

Shocking - Since I dyed my hair pink a few weeks back, people have been asking me if I chose the color to support Breast Cancer Awareness. Depending on who's asking, I say, "Um. Sure, that's why." or "Not really. I just thought it would be fun and it is a nice coincidence."

Honestly, I can almost always tell what people really think of it just from the look on their face and usually telling them that I did it as an awareness measure, somehow makes it seem less deviant. Go figure.

But, this morning, I totally read someone wrong. I was at Dizzle's school and one of the teachers asked me if there was a meaning to my hair color. I thought she was on board with the crazy pink hair so I said, "Nope. I just thought it'd be a fun thing to do."

Her reply? "Oh. (pause and loss of smile) That's nice."

See what I mean? Apparently, deviance is OK, as long as you have a good reason.

Six Minutes - Speaking of Dizzle's school, I visited this morning to join her for PE class. They were scheduled to run as many laps as they could in six minutes. It was awesome. Dizzle paced herself well and ran the whole time, finishing 5.25 laps (.58 mile) in the six minutes (10:20 pace).

When we got back inside and the teacher was tallying everyone's mileage, she asked how far I ran. I said I also ran 5.25 laps. She replied, "OK. I just wanted to check because some of the parents in other classes have run farther than their kids."

WHAT!?!? This was a race? I didn't have to stick with my kid? I could have schooled them all?

Don't get me wrong, it was great to run with Dizzle. But I already told her that next year I am going to crush her ...

10 Days - There are only 10 days until the NYC Marathon. My training plan does not have a taper built in. Yet, I am not freaking out at all. I guess this is what "trusting the plan" feels like ...

mistaken punchline ...

2011-10-26T08:26:00.003-04:00

If you've been reading for more than say, three seconds, then you know that we have a fair share of randomness and hilarity going on in this household. I mean, just last week, Dizzle spelled "DON'T" with a suppository instead of an apostrophe.

Many of the things that make me laugh on a daily basis are caused by user error, generally that of my children. They misuse household items. They misuse pieces of apparel. Most commonly, however, they misuse words, phrases or have incomplete thoughts.

Yesterday, Dizzle had the following conversation with me.

Dizzle: Mom, do you know what I am going to do when I am married?
Me: No, Dizzle. What?
Dizzle: My husband ...

(Long pause and blank stare from Dizzle, while I laugh)

Dizzle: No wait! I am going to do the work and my husband is going to do all the driving. Because I don't want to drive.

What Dizzle? You either work or drive? That makes no sense. Plus, I'm still caught up on that whole "my husband" thing ...

detail ...

2011-10-25T07:41:00.003-04:00

My number one running goal for 2011 was to run 2,000 miles.

This morning, I logged my 1,604 mile and had to admit that I am not going to make my goal.

Although, it will be REALLY close.

Sure, it's possible for me to run 396 more miles this year.

That's only 5.9 miles a day.

Maybe if I hadn't crashed my bike and only ran 16.38 miles in May.

Maybe if I didn't have bigger plans and goals for 2012.

Maybe if I didn't have three fabulous kids, a husband and a life that needs balance.

The thing is, I will not compromise the bigger picture for the details.

And 2,000 miles is a detail.

Shutterfly Holiday Card Giveaway ...

2011-10-24T06:16:00.004-04:00

Do you know what my favorite thing about Christmas is?

Christmas cards.

I stalk the mailbox all December long waiting for them to arrive. I ALWAYS send Christmas cards. And not just any Christmas cards. Christmas Photo Cards from Shutterfly.

You might even say that I am obsessed. OK, I am obsessed. It's just that I can ALWAYS find the perfect design on the Shutterfly website, in fact I often have a hard time selecting just one. With styles ranging from "simple and classic" to "bold and modern", I'm never disappointed. Plus, photo cards are super cute and I love to see how the girls changed through the years.

But for me, the process of creating the perfect holiday card starts long before December, in fact my 2011 cards have already been shipped to me.

Here's how the magic happens.

1. I take a zillion and one photos throughout the year, in search of the "perfect shot."
2. I start to narrow down my selection of holiday card designs in late September/early October.
3. I choose a design, a photo and have 100+ cards printed. (I use all the photos that don't make it onto the card in photo books that I give as gifts.)
4. I address and stamp all the cards by hand and have them in the mail the day after Thanksgiving. (My Christmas card is sure to be the first you'll receive.)
5. I sit around and wait for cards in return.

Want to see what I've come up with in the past? Of course, you do.

2008
2009

2010

And this year's is even better (Close your eyes if you expect to get one of these from me) ...

Awesomesauce, right?

Probably makes you want to go create your own holiday card right now. And you should, because thanks to Shutterfly, three (3) of my readers will win 25 FREE Holiday Cards from the 2011 Shutterfly collection.

Entering is simple, just leave me a comment telling me your favorite holiday tradition. Want a bonus entry? Let me know how fabulous (beautiful, talented) you think my family is.

Entries will be accepted until Sunday, October 30th. Winners will be randomly selected and announced on Monday, October 31st.

Note: I was provided these photo cards for free, but the opinions are all my own and I would have purchased them anyway.

love who you are ...

2011-10-21T07:47:00.004-04:00

Yesterday afternoon, my mom called and told me how she had been bragging about me. This fact alone is not uncommon. She's a proud mama and is happy to let others know all about the things her children have accomplished.

The thing that struck me what the response she got from the women she was speaking to. She told them about my running, the amazing experiences this blog has afforded me, my coaching business and my 15 minutes of fame in Runner's World.

The women (who are also runners) said, "She sounds exactly like who I want to be."

Hmm? Really? You want to be a middle of the pack runner who squeezes in her workouts between carpool and her three daughters' potty breaks? Or if she's really lucky, at 5 a.m.? Or is it the year-round training without pay or sponsorship that sounds appealing? (Note: I'm totally open to sponsorship. Feel free to email me.)

On most days, when I look at myself, I want to be something better. Something more. I think this is a great way to approach life. It keeps me motivated and driven, moving forward in a sense. But the problem with this outlook is that it is easy to overlook how far I have come, how lucky I have been, and how amazing my life truly is. Getting caught up in what's next can make you miss out on what is.

I won't lie, I often forget to take into account is that today could be the best day I ever have. And honestly, today could be my last. It's important not to forget to to LOVE WHO YOU ARE right now, in this very instant.

And when that seems impossible, just remember that there is someone out there who wishes they were just like you.

Three Things Thursday ...

2011-10-20T08:01:00.002-04:00

Rest - I'm on day two of court-ordered rest and I am feeling much better. Like so much better that if I could find my running shoes, I would hit up the treadmill tonight. But, I won't because I know I need a break and I'll be back on schedule tomorrow anyway. I really think the key to my quick recovery was that two hour nap I got yesterday when G watched my kids for a few hours so I could rest.

It's so awesome to have ...

1. A best friend who has a kid that is your kid's best friend.

2. A best friend who realizes the importance of proper recovery during marathon training.

Pacing - My biggest trouble in any race is pacing. I feel good at the start and get caught up in the crowd, ultimately running too fast in the first few miles, then crashing hard at the end. The few times this hasn't happened, I've crushed my race goals.

Headed into NYC, I need to have an awesome pacing strategy in place. So, on the recommendation of Erin, I checked out the Greg Maclin calculator and put together a pace band to fit my need. I am in love. It's epic. And completely doable.

I am leaving NYC with a PR.

Bank - On Tuesday, when I was tucking Dilly into bed, I asked her about our day. She recounted it like this.

Dilly: We went to Doodle's school and the pumpkin patch and soccer.
Me: Yes, we did go to all of those places.
Dilly: Where did we go too? (answers herself) We went to the piggy bank and I got a lollipop.

Yup, Dilly, We went to the Piggy Bank ...

cost-benefit analysis ...

2011-10-19T08:00:00.003-04:00

I get asked a lot of questions about running. I'm not sure if this is because people know that I am a running coach or if they just think that I spend every waking moment of my life obsessing about the sport. (Note: Just because the vast majority of my clothing was purchased from running stores and there are running gear/magazines/medals/etc all around my house does not indicate an obsession.)

Either way, I feel like I'm usually answering one of the following questions:

Non-runners: "How do you run so much? I'd die if I had to run a mile."
Runners: "Can I run through XYZ?"

To the non-runners, I say, "I just do. I wanted to run, so I started. Over time, I started running farther. I promise you will not die if you run a mile."

To the runners, I say, "Maybe, but probably not. If you have to ask the question in the first place, the issue is probably serious enough to warrant concern. But, go ahead and try. If it's too uncomfortable, stop."

Fortunately, I haven't personally been affected by too many of these questionable situations. I've been relatively injury free (i.e. no pains that have lasted more than a day or two) and I don't get sick all that often (other than the occasional runny nose - which is usually allergy related).

On Tuesday morning (OK, Monday night, if we are being honest), I had one of those questionable situations. I wasn't feeling well, but the ick was contained to my head. So, I got up at 4:30 for my 10 mile run, even though I wasn't sure 10 miles was a smart idea.

Within the first 4 minutes, I had decided that the whole run wasn't going to happen. Even after I warmed up, my pace had slowed considerably from usual. By mile 5, I was drained, but was left with no option but to run the last two miles back to my car.

I shook it off. No big deal. I'll probably feel better later and then I'll just rearrange my workouts for the week. I planned on trying 10 again on Wednesday.

That was until 3 p.m. I started to lose the ability to breathe normally. The thought of running pained me. Almost as much as the thought of not running did.

I tried again to rearrange my schedule. Started playing scenarios in my head.

"I'll skip the run in the morning. Then if I feel OK, I'll run it on the treadmill that night. I can always double up if I have to. I can do it all. I'm epic like that."

Truth is, I'm not epic like that. I woke up and felt worse than expected. I'm confident that the Bat Pig Flu has invaded my home. That's when I realized that I needed to apply some of those fancy principles I learned in college to my training. Specifically, cost-benefit analysis.

Cost-Benefit Analysis: a systematic process for calculating and comparing benefits and costs of a project for two purposes: (1) to determine if it is a sound investment (justification/feasibility), (2) to see how it compares with alternate projects (ranking/priority assignment). It involves comparing the total expected cost of each option against the total expected benefits, to see whether the benefits outweigh the costs, and by how much.

Let's consider the facts:

I'm sick, I know I am sick. But, I also know that I don't like to miss a run.
I'm just 18 days out from the NYC Marathon. I've logged nearly 1,600 miles this year. Missing 10, 20 or even 50 miles this week, isn't going to make or break my race performance.
Running some or all of those miles while in a weakened state probably won't help my training in any way other than making me feel good about accomplishing what I'm "supposed to."
Running some or all of those miles while in a weakened state may cause me to remain in a weakened state for longer than necessary.
When faced with losing my sanity due to not running or losing my PR due to running while ill, I'd rather be completely insane and unbearable than finish without a PR.
Running 2,000 miles this year is of lesser importance to me than running the marathon that I have trained for.

Looking at the facts, it's clear that the risks being stubborn and continuing my training uninterrupted far outweigh the potential benefits. And it's even clearer to see that the possible negative impact of my stubbornness could derail my ultimate goals.

So, I am making the executive decision to take the next few days off (I know, pick your jaws up off the floor).

No running today.
No running tomorrow.
And who knows, I might just take Friday off too.

I just hope someone hides my running shoes ...

spelling missteps ...

2011-10-18T07:27:00.003-04:00

The great thing about kids is that they often give you things to laugh about without even realizing it. It happens here pretty much every day. Sometimes, you squeeze them and they explode (literally). Sometimes, they draw crazy pictures. Sometimes, they mix up the facts. And sometimes, they blame their troubles on their parents.

Yesterday, Dizzle made me laugh (and everyone on Facebook) with her spelling. Like everyday, I was quizzing her on her vocabulary words. I asked her to spell "don't". She replied ...

"That's easy. It's D... O... N... suppository ... T."

I didn't have the heart to tell her otherwise. So, instead I just turned away and laughed. Yeah, I'm a good mother like that.

Baltimore Half Marathon Recap ...

2011-10-17T08:06:00.006-04:00

Location: Baltimore, MD
Date: 10/15/11
Temperature: 65 degrees
Official Time: 1:59:02 (9:05 pace)
Garmin Time: 1:59:03 for 13.16 miles (9:01 pace)
Place in Age Group (25-29): 258/1359
Place in Gender: 868/5374
Overall Place: 2248/9154

As you may recall, I was supposed to run the Amica Newport Half on Sunday. Well, due to the fact that all three of my kids were sick last week and one of them vomited all over my living room just three hours before we were supposed to leave, J and I decided to cancel our trip. Knowing that I was bummed to miss the race, J suggested I find a replacement. He offered up Baltimore (which only had spots left if people "no showed") and two races in NJ (a 5-6 hour drive from here).

When I woke up on Friday morning, I checked Baltimore's website to see if they had opened up any spots. It was listed that there were 50 spots left in the half, which would become available at the opening of the expo at 10 a.m. I knew if I left right that instant (7:50 a.m.), I MIGHT be able to get one of those spots (you had to show up in person to register). So, I told J my plan, picked up my bag and left.

When I was 10 minutes away from the expo (10:46 a.m.), I got a call from SpeeDee, who said that it had just been posted on the Baltimore Running Festival Facebook page that all the spots were gone and not to come to the expo asking for one. I started to tear up. Would I have made it if I didn't have to stop at the bank or get gas for the truck?

I decided to go anyway, figuring that I would shop at the expo, have lunch and head home. Once I arrived, I walked up to registration and asked if there was any chance that they had a spot left in the half. The woman behind the desk said, "Sure, I have two."

I nearly crapped my pants. I filled out the form and $95 later, I was in.

The Good:

A sub-2 finish: Although I was hoping to run faster, I am really proud of my sub-2 finish. The course was definitely challenging and I had a less than perfect day, so I am happy I was able to suck it up and power to the finish when I realized I could still break two hours.

My outfit: Epic, as always. Random people were asking to take my picture. I looked awesome.

Meeting up with friends: As I was walking out of the expo, I heard someone shout my name. I looked up to see Jen and TriGuy.

Later that night, I had dinner with SpeeDee and the rest of the HCB crew (I saw them off at the start of the marathon too).

I also ran into Katye and Becka along the way.

The course: The first 8-9 miles of this course is covered with climbs, but the atmosphere and views make up for it. You truly get a feel for Baltimore as you cover this course. After mile 9, the course levels out and eventually starts a decent into the finish area. Over the last mile and a half, you run a gradual decline into past Camden Yards and the Ravens Stadium. The crowd support is awesome. The route is awesome. Even with the climbs, I'd run this race again. I'd just pace myself better next time.

The shirt and medal: Under Armour is the title sponsor of the Baltimore Running Festival, so the shirts are AMAZING. And the crab medal was wicked cool.

Post-race pecan pie: Not actually from the post-race festivities, but still delicious. Yum.

The Bad:

Fire alarm: At 11 p.m., I was woken up and evacuated from my hotel by this.

A minor inconvenience, but I could have lived without walking down 29 flights of stairs, half asleep.

Late start: The half marathon started at 9:45 a.m. That's just insane.

The hills: Hills are never fun.

The weather: It was 65 degrees at the start (too warm for my liking) and there were winds of 25+ mph. There was more than one time when I lost my footing due to the wind.

Missed goals: I didn't achieve what I set out to do. It happens. Just kind of wish it didn't.

The Ugly:

Dehydration: I stopped sweating somewhere between miles 8 and 9. When I finished, my clothes were completely dry. It kind of made it hard to push harder during the race.

Now, I am sick. I have to believe that the two are related.

Three Things Thursday ...

2011-10-13T07:53:00.004-04:00

Big Hair - So, you might say that I have the opposite of big hair. Even when my shaved head is grown in, my hair is on the thin side. However, my lovely sister, who is visiting us this week and dyed my hair pink, is pretty much the definition of big hair. Her hair is super long, ultra thick and crazy curly.

After she finished bleaching my hair, we had the great idea to dye the underside of her hair blonde. We thought it would look great, but turned out to be less than stellar. So, yesterday, I dyed her hair back to dark brown. The thing is that she had to comb out her hair so that I could dye it. Have you ever seen big hair combed out? It's not pretty. It kind of looks like this.

Yeah, I laughed at her a lot.

Rhode Island - We are headed back to Rhode Island this weekend for a friend's wedding. Due to fantastic planning, her wedding happens to fall on the same day as the Newport Half Marathon. Coincidentally, there was a Groupon for this race a few months back.

Hello, fate.

I registered and am planning to crush this race on Sunday. I've got a kicka** outfit from Lululemon and a sweet bib number (3828). Plus there was that awesome 16 miler I ran two weeks ago, it's going to be good ...

Mileage - In the last 6 days, I have run 54 miles. And I'm already at 108 miles in October. Can you say peak marathon training?

open letter to croup ...

2011-10-12T07:19:00.002-04:00

Dear Croup,

While I can understand why you want to visit my awesome family, I am pretty sure I never invited you into my house. And if I did, you most definitely did not RSVP. Due to your rudeness alone, I am going to have to ask you to vacate the premises immediately.

Now don't get me wrong, I am sure you're nothing like the Bat/Pig Flu or the Plague, but I am also sure that I never needed to hear the sound of my child gasping for air or barking like a seal. You haven't made a good first impression and I suggest you get out before you face the wrath of an angry mother.

Oh, and while you're at it, please tell your friends UTI and Strep to hightail it out of here too. Thanks in advance for your understanding.

Goodbye and good riddance,
TMB and her three sick children

shock value ...

2011-10-11T08:06:00.003-04:00

Shock Value.
Otherwise known as: How to freak out all the other parents at your child's school in four easy steps.

Step 1: Cover your head in hair bleach.Step 2: Rinse out hair bleach.Step 3: Cover bleached hair with a less than subtle color.Step 4: Rinse out hair again and own it.

success = perfection?

2011-10-10T08:42:00.004-04:00

"The two hardest things to handle in life are failure and success."

That was my senior quote. I'm not really sure what made me pick it. Maybe, it just sounded profound to my 17 year old self. Truth is, I'm actually alright with success - especially when I am the one dictating the criteria of what makes something successful.

As a mother, a runner and a human being, in general, I'm constantly striving for success. The quest for success keeps me committed to my goals. Just as much as the fear of failure keeps me motivated to achieve them.

Success feels easy. It's comfortable. It's something you carry with pride.

Failure, on the other hand, is hard. It's painful. It's something you try to hide away.

They seem like polar opposites, but I think they are actually quite intertwined. And, running is the perfect example of this.

Have you ever finished a race and been 100% successful? I haven't. Even if I accomplish my goals or have an amazing performance, I almost always come up with something that could have improved upon. Some slight failure that if eliminated would have made me faster or stronger or better or more successful.

And maybe that's what makes success so hard to handle - the sheer fact that it is often equated with perfection. But, they are not the same thing. And they shouldn't be.

Perfection is unattainable.

Success is what happens when you accept that you are good enough. When you relish in your accomplishments and take pride in your achievements.

You set the standards for your own success. Be successful.

Flashback Friday ...

2011-10-07T08:04:00.004-04:00

Sometimes, you need to be reminded of who you were

(December 2002)

to appreciate what you've become.

(October 2011)

Don't let your past mistakes control your future.
You are stronger than you think.

Three Things Thursday ...

2011-10-06T07:56:00.005-04:00

One Month: Exactly one month from today I will be toeing the line at the NYC Marathon. In some ways, I am really excited. And in other ways, I feel completely unprepared. I'm sure you are saying, "TMB, unprepared? How is that even possible?"

Well, it is. As of right now, I still haven't figured out how I am actually getting to NYC, when I am going or when I am coming back. And then there's that whole thing about my unorthodox training plan? I've loved it to this point, but really, who uses a training plan that has NO TAPER and peaks at a 16 mile LONG RUN? I'm feeling kind of crazy about it.

Oh, well. At least my outfit is cute ...

(Note: I am completely ignoring the fact that I have run my fastest 5K and 16 miler ever while using this training plan.)

Domestic Partners: You are probably well aware of the fact that G is my training partner, running wife, and BFF. We are tight. We share a brain. And it probably annoys J that I take more vacations with her than with him.

But, what you might not know is that Doodle and G's daughter B-nut are BFFs too. Sure, we may have forced them into playing with each other since they were one and a half, but now they truly are best friends.

Since the girls don't (and won't) ever go to the same school, they don't get to see each other on a daily basis. I'm pretty sure they have become aware of that fact because the other day, when I had my girls and B-nut in the car, this conversation happened.

Doodle: B-nut, wouldn't it be so cool if you lived in my neighborhood and we could have playdates everyday?
B-nut: Yeah! That would be cool.
Dizzle: That would be awesome. But we need to get Tweet (our next door neighbor) to move out. Hmm ... We are going to need a lot of money to do that.

*silence*

Doodle (to B-nut): Maybe we should just get married instead ...

Smart thinking, Doodle. Smart thinking.

Outfit Planning: I'm 99.9% sure that I have my outfit picked out for the Disney Princess Half in February. Yes, I am that insane ...

Any guesses? I've dressed as Belle and a Punk Rock Princess in years past.

Wordless Wednesday: Self Esteem

2011-10-05T07:52:00.003-04:00

My philosophy: Found on a tee shirt at Target.

pace revelations ...

2011-10-04T07:53:00.004-04:00

I remember a time, back when G and I were training for our first Richmond Marathon, where we said to each other, "Wouldn't it be so awesome to just run eight minute miles and have it be no big deal?"

At the time, we were logging a lot of runs somewhere between a 10:00 and 10:30 pace. It felt hard. 8:00 miles seemed light years away. But, we kept running. Even if we'd never be fast, at least we were having a good time.

Fast forward two years to the present, G and I are training for another Richmond Marathon. It will be her 3rd marathon and my 6th (NYC will be my 5th, just six days prior). On Sunday, we met at MTT for a 12 mile run (I'd go on to run 16). It was just a typical group run, except for one thing. It was only 54 degrees outside. A huge departure from the 75 degree starts we had become accustomed to.

We started with the posse and Birch, who has a tendency to quicken the pace. Right around the end of the first mile, I tried to reign in G by saying, "Um, this 8:38 pace is great and all, but some of us have 16 on the schedule today." I think she missed my comment, but less than a mile later, she had separated from Birch and we fell into a comfortable pace. So, comfortable, that I didn't look at my watch again for seven miles.

By mile 9, when I finally checked our pace, G and I had split from the rest of the posse. Some were running faster, some slower. As my Garmin, clicked over from 8.99 to 9, I looked at it and asked G how she was feeling. She said, "Really good, actually. You?" To which I replied, "Yeah, I feel great. Weird, because I'm pretty sure we can't talk at an eight minute pace."

We both laughed. The pace on our watches: 8:08

In May of 2009, my 5K PR pace was 8:29.

Somewhere in the last two years, we became those runners who could run an 8:00 pace and have it be no big deal. Yes, by the end, it felt hard. It should. It's running, not napping. I finished that 16 miler with an average pace of 8:35 and buckets full of pride.

Afterwards, I got to thinking. People ask me all the time why I run so much. I usually just say, because I love it, which is true. But, Sunday's run really exemplifies why I run.

I run because it allows me to push my limits and continually improve. It gives me a firm, measurable achievement. It shows me that hard work pays off and that I can be better than I was yesterday.

I don't run to be thin. I don't run to eat. I don't run to get away from it all.

I run to be better. A better athlete. A better mother. A better wife. A better me.

It's as simple as that.

September Rewind ...

2011-10-03T08:34:00.003-04:00

Nine months down, three to go. Here's my recap of September 2011 ...

Run Miles Planned/Miles Ran: 213/218.75 (an all-time monthly high)

Bike Miles Planned/Mile Rode: 0/0 (I've given myself a reprieve to focus on marathon training. Half Ironman training starts after Thanksgiving)

Rest Days Planned/Rest Days Taken: 5/5

Highest Run Mileage Week: 9/19-9/25: 56 miles

Highest Bike Mileage Week: none.

Long Runs Planned/Long Runs Completed: 5/5 (with a post-surgery distance PR of 16 miles)

Current Book: Unless Curious George: Curious About Phonics counts, then none.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Lululemon. That is all.

Current Colors: Charcoal Gray and Purple

Current Drink: Grape, Lemon Lime, Strawberry Lemonade and Banana Nuun. I drink at least 64 oz per day.

Current Song: Story of Us - Taylor Swift

Current Triumph: That 3rd place overall finish and new 5K PR (22:04) earlier this month was pretty rock star. And yesterday's 16 miler at an average pace of 8:35 didn't suck either.

Current Goal: Stick to the training plan and crush NYC. And a new half marathon PR along the way ...

Current Blessing: I feel like my whole life is one big blessing and I am entirely grateful.

Current Excitement: Newport Half Marathon. NYC Marathon. Half Ironman training cycle. Christmas. My 30th birthday. Lots of exciting things happening in the next six months.

2011 Goals - Status Update:

Personal:

Clean up my diet - I am tracking my food religiously at SparkPeople, survived my sugar detox and have been able to add a small amount of sweets back in without causing a total binge.
Eat no more than 25 cupcakes - As of October 3rd - 21 cupcakes eaten

Financial:

Pay off our consumer debt by the end of the year - Due to purchasing a new car, our debt repayment has slowed, but we have paid off over half of our consumer debt and are on track to be credit card debt free in 10 months. Plus, we are on track to have our student loans eliminated by February 2013, five month ahead of our schedule. And 10 years faster than if we let it go to term.
Spend $0 on clothing - As of September 2nd - $178.50 spent - I caved and bought some stuff from Lululemon and a pair of jeans from eBay when my lone pair ripped.

Running:

Run 2,000 miles - As of October 3nd - 1451.22 miles run.
Run a sub 1:55 half marathon - Next race - 10/16, Newport Half Marathon
Take 30+ minutes off my marathon - Completed - 3/26, National Marathon, 4:15:48, 33:50 PR.

Zensah Fitness Bra Review ...

2011-09-30T07:58:00.005-04:00

When it comes to sports bras, I can wear pretty much anything. I've been blessed (or cursed) with an extremely small chest (36AA, maybe a 36A on a good day), so even if a bra offers minimal support, I can usually get away with it.

With that said, there are still some things I look for when making a bra purchase:

Style - Cute colors and cuts are a plus, especially on the rare days when I run "clear."
Price - Running clothes are expensive. I'd rather not spend a fortune on an item people aren't going to see.
Fit - Bras that give me unsightly bulges need not apply.

Recently, I was given the opportunity to test and review the Zensah Fitness Bra, a medium-impact bra designed specifically for smaller chested women (sizes range from 30AB - 36A). At first, I laughed. It humored me that the people at Zensah realized that this bra would actually fit me. But, once I checked out the Fitness Bra, I was really excited.

From the site:

"Zensah has developed the most comfortable fitness bra. The innovative fitness bra is made with Zensah Fabric which is thermal regulating. This allows you to never feel too hot or too cold, providing increased while you are engaged in fitness. This is an ideal fitness top for all levels.

The Zensah Fitness Bra has moisture wicking technology that keeps you dry. With a seamless construction and Zensah fabric, the Zensah Fitness Bra is the best fitness bra on the market. This high-performance fitness bra offers superior comfort and support."

I was intrigued. Plus, I love my Zensah compression socks and the Fitness Bra is wicked cute. Sign me up.

(Front and Rear views, post 10 miler)

Pros:

Ultra comfortable - Zensah's compression technology was supportive without being restrictive.
Stylish - Available in black and pink, the Fitness Bra matches 90% of my wardrobe.
Sweat Wicking - Despite the 75 degree tempertures and 90% humidity, I remained comfortable.
Price - At $31.99, the Fitness Bra is competitively priced and fits in my budget.
Design - The thin straps and seamless design were some of my favorite features of this bra. Plus, it looks good under a wide range of tops from tanks to compression gear.
Functionality - Although the Fitness Bra is marketed as a medium-impact bra, I was able to run in it for distances of over 10 miles.

Cons:

Minimizing - The compression technology of the Fitness Bra made me look smaller than I already am.
Hot Spot - Despite the seamless design, I chafed where the bra hit on my left side. A minor inconvenience that was ultimately corrected with a little Body Glide on subsequent runs.

Overall, I loved this bra and would definitely recommend it for the smaller-chested runner.

Note: I was provided this item for free. However, the opinions stated here are solely my own.

Three Things Thursday ...

2011-09-29T06:46:00.006-04:00

Music - I'm sure that as a child, I listened to my fair share of children's music. Old MacDonald. Puff the Magic Dragon. On Top of Spaghetti. You know, the classics.

But that's not what I remember. What I do remember, however, is listening to classic rock. I remember singing Creedence Clearwater Revival and Crosby Stills Nash and Young in the backseat of my parents' car. Basically, I remember listening exactly what my parents listened to.

Because of that, I am the same way with my children. Yes, there are a few select Disney songs on our iPods, but for the most part, my kids listen to what we listen to. At ages 6, 4 and 2, they know all the words to Goodnight My Angel by Billy Joel, as well as every last syllable of Ke$ha's Take it Off. That's just how we roll.

So, I was beyond ecstatic when Dizzle came home from school yesterday talking about The Beatles and singing Heroes by David Bowie. So awesome. I'm loving her music teacher right now.

Dizzle's new favorite song:

Gangstas - I'm starting to think that my children are leaning towards living a thug life. First, there was this photo.

I mean, look at Dilly, she looks like a baby mobster. And don't even get me started on the Fedoras.

Then, I realized that both Doodle and Dilly had started referring to Dizzle as "K-Fa." What?!?! That's not even remotely close to her name, but it is kind of bada** and is definitely gangsta.

Compression - You know you're a runner when, you think wearing this is acceptable ...

Aspaeris Pivot Shorts, Tommie Copper Knee Sleeves, RunLove Compression Socks

That much compression should be illegal. Oh, wait. Maybe, I'm the gangsta my kids are learning from ...

Wordless Wednesday: Pants Fail ...

2011-09-28T08:02:00.004-04:00

Side effect of potty training: Pants that no longer fit.

creature of habit ...

2011-09-27T07:14:00.003-04:00

I am most definitely a creature of habit. I follow a schedule based on whether its a "run" day or not and whether I have a morning or an evening workout scheduled. Other than these little variables, day in and day out, I follow my routine with little deviation. I've got the system down so well that I usually don't need to look at the clock to stay on track.

Take my morning routine for example.

If we are running from our usual spot, which is generally the case, I need to get up a half hour before the start of the run. It takes about 12 minutes to drive there and I like to give myself a little cushion (3-4 minutes). That leaves me 15 minutes to get dressed, put on my Garmin, fill my water bottle, check my email for last minute cancellations and eat a protein bar. Since I choose my outfit the night before and my posse doesn't care if I show up with morning breath, 15 minutes is usually more than enough time. So, 30 minutes before a 5:30 run, means a 5:00 a.m. wake up. But, every so often, we run at 5:00 or 5:15. Today was one of those days.

Last night, before getting into bed, I set my alarm for 4:45 a.m. I double checked it just to be safe and went to sleep. So, when it went off this morning, I got up like usual, shut it off (as to not wake up J) and followed my normal routine. I briefly looked at the clock, saw that it was at a time that I was accustomed to seeing, grabbed my keys and headed out the door. The same as any other day.

But, it wasn't like any other day, because when I got in the car and turned it on, I finally looked at the clock long enough for it to sink in.

4:44

My internal dialogue went a little something like this:

Huh? The clock must be wrong. I got up at 4:45.

Grab the cell phone. 4:44.

Seriously? What's going on here? When are we running? 5:15. Crap. I don't need to leave yet.

Can I go back inside? Nope, if I wake up the girls, J is going to freak.

I could go there and wait. Yup. I'll just wait.

Who the #$%! touched my alarm clock?

Whatever. I'll just go run.

And that's what I did. I ran before the run. But the entire drive over, all I could think was ...

1. If someone wanted to pull a killer joke on me, all they would need to do is change my alarm clock.

2. If the power ever goes out and my alarm still goes off once it comes back on, I'm totally going to end up running at like 2 a.m. or something and not realize it until I am done.

I guess that's what I get for being so stuck in my routine. But, I can't be the only one this has happened to.

Note: J said he hit a button on the alarm clock before going to bed, but he saw that the alarm was still set so he thought it was OK. What actually happened was that he set the other alarm on the clock which was preset for 4:30 a.m.

Rock Your Socks 5K/10K Virtual Race Results ...

2011-09-26T09:05:00.002-04:00

The results of the 2nd Annual Rock Your Socks 5K/10K are in. But first, I'd like to take a second to thank everyone who contributed to my NYC Marathon Fundraising HERE. Since May 18th, I have raised $3,226, exceeding my initial $3,000 goal. Without your generous contributions, this would not have been possible. So, thank you again for your support of my goals, as well as those of Grassroot Soccer.

Now, for the results ...

5K
Tonia: 22:04 (not included in prizes)
Kortni: 22:54
Earth Momma Mer: 30:34
Lyndsey: 30:34
MCM Mama: 31:03
The Jesse: 31:41
Melanie: 36:56
Becka and A: 43:10

10K
G: 53:52
Jess: 55:12
Heather: 1:03:xx

And the prizes ...

5K Winner: Kortni
10K Winner: G
Random Prize, Everyday Endurance Gift Certificate: Earth Momma Mer
Random Prize, Tommie Copper Gear: Jess

Thanks to everyone for participating. If you won, email me at racingwithbabes(at)yahoo(dot)com to claim your prizes!

becoming a runner ...

2011-09-23T07:54:00.004-04:00

Do you know what I think is the hardest thing about becoming a runner? The long runs? The endless hunger? The blood, sweat and cupcakes?

Well, you can see my answer on my guest post HERE on Strawberries and Tea.

And if finding out my answer isn't enticing enough, Strawberries and Tea is currently hosting a Sunfood Giveaway HERE, where they will choose five (5) winners.

So, go check it out. I mean, really, my awesomeness and free stuff, what are you waiting for?

Three Things Thursday ...

2011-09-22T08:10:00.003-04:00

Race Pace - Yesterday morning, I couldn't fathom getting out of bed to run. 9 consecutive days of early morning runs had finally caught up with me. So, instead, I told J to shut off the alarm and I went back to sleep. In the moment, it felt great. By mid-afternoon, I regretted it. I knew I still had to run and kind of wished I had just sucked it up and gone at 5 a.m.

Thankfully, however, once I was able to get my run in, I crushed it. First six miles at marathon pace (8:49) and since I was feeling so good, the last three miles were at half marathon pace (8:20). 9 miles in 1:17:57 = Awesomesauce. I totally needed that run.

Rock N Roll Providence - G and I registered for the 2012 Rock N Roll Providence Half earlier this week. They are offering a $65 entry fee to the first 500 registrants and since the two of us had already made tentative plans for this race to be our "Girls' Weekend," we really had no choice, but to register. Sure, it's no Bermuda or San Francisco, but we both have family there and it's convenient enough that maybe we can finally convince some of the posse to join us.

Virtual Race - Have you registered for my virtual race HERE yet? It's my way of saying thank you for donating to Grassroot Soccer for my NYC Marathon fundraising. So, if you've already donated and want a chance to win some great prizes HERE, all you need to do is let me know your race distance, name and blog address (if applicable). If you haven't donated and want to race, head over to my fundraising page HERE, make a donation of any size and then send me the above info.

The race runs through Sunday, September 25th and the winners will be announced on the 26th. And don't forget to send me a link to your finishing time and race report link once you are done.

condensed epicness ...

2011-09-21T07:34:00.003-04:00

Remember that time I ran a little race called Hood to Coast? Well, what I never mentioned was that Nuun sent a videographer (or two) along for the ride. This is what they came up with. 27 hours and 59 minutes of epicness condensed into four minutes. Check it out ...

Nuun | Hood to Coast from eric becker on Vimeo.

sock obsession ...

2011-09-20T08:16:00.006-04:00

Recently, the lovely Rachel at Running Backwards in High Heels asked if I would do a post about my socks. I pretty much agreed instantly and kind of wondered why I hadn't done one before, especially considering that my socks are what I most often get asked about.

The thing was that I didn't really know where to start. Yes, I love my socks. And yes, I have a ton of them. (This is the current state of my sock drawer, it's double stacked)

But, I don't really have a good reason for wearing them. Most of the time, they are more about fashion than function. Percentage wise, I have significantly fewer pairs of compression socks than anything else.

So, here it is, my sock collection. I didn't realize how much of a problem I had until I laid them all out.

Compression Socks Little MissMatched

Reebok All Sport Socks from Dick's Sporting Goods Random socks, mostly won in giveaways or sent to me by other bloggers

Crazy, right? Something like 50-60 pairs there. I think I need an intervention.

And since I get asked the same questions a lot, I figured I'd answer them all now.

What are your favorite compression socks?: CEP, but if you are on a budget SwiftSocks by Running Skirts are a close second and are half the price.

How/Why did you start wearing them?: The night before the 2009 Richmond Marathon it was forecasted to be cooler than usual at the start, so I went out to buy socks to use as arm warmers. Instead, I found pink and white striped socks for both G and me. I wore them that day and got so many shout outs along the course that I vowed that I would never run with out them again.

Do you ever run without them?: Never. It could be 100 degrees out or I could be alone on my treadmill, regardless, I still rock the socks.

Are they compression?: Sometimes, but not usually.

Do you get blisters?: I have never had a blister and I have never worn running socks underneath them to prevent myself from getting one. Nor do I use Body Glide on my feet.

Do they make you hot?: No, not at all. But, I am acclimated to them. I wouldn't recommend wearing knee high socks on a 90 degree day if you've never worn them before.

Do they slide down?: Nope. Not even once.

Do I have to wear knee highs to run with you?: No, put it is preferred. I'm kidding. Mostly.

ReeseStrong 5K Recap ...

2011-09-19T07:54:00.006-04:00

Location: Mechanicsville, VA
Date: 9/17/11
Temperature: 55 degrees
Official Time: 22:04 (7:07 pace), 2:05 minute PR
Place in Age Group (25-29): 1/12
Place in Gender: 3/123
Overall Place: 23/234

As of Friday afternoon, this race was NOT on my schedule. Since I am currently in the middle of marathon training, it can be hard to fit in a 5K. But, due to the fact that a couple of my runs went over mileage earlier in the week, I only needed 5 miles on Saturday. I knew Earth Momma Mer was running a 5K and in the morning and I also knew the weather was going to be perfect for running fast. So, at 8 p.m. on Friday, I decided to race. The next morning, I woke up and headed over to the event to register, ran a one mile warmup and raced my tail off.

The Good:

The Course: The mostly flat course started with a slight downhill into a residential neighborhood that I have been fortunate enough to run in before. I had a rough idea of what to expect, including the quarter mile climb back to the finish.

My Pace: My goal for this race was to run around 7:30 per mile for the duration of the race. I had run a 7:41 pace for 4.14 miles at Hood to Coast, on little sleep and food, so it seemed simple enough. Right around the one mile mark, I glimpsed down at my watch and saw that I was at a 7:10 pace and that there were only 3 or 4 women ahead of me. At that point I decided that instead of watching the clock, I would listen to my body. If I felt like I could push it, I would. If I needed to back off, I'd do that. As long as no one with a ponytail passed me, it was all good.

The strategy worked. I hit my goal and I didn't check my watch until the finish.

My Placing: 3rd woman overall. 1st in the 25-29 age group. Pretty much the coolest thing ever.

The Outfit: I have to admit that when I got to the start in my new Lululemon skirt and purple SwiftSocks, the other people at the front of the pack looked at me like, "This is a joke, right? She can't possibly run fast enough to be standing with us." (Note the dude in the orange cap giving us the crazy eyes)

It was either that, or they were jealous of "The Quads." Not really sure, but either way, I think I proved that fashion and speed are not mutually exclusive.

My Finishing Kick: When I turned the corner into the finishing chute, I could see that the clock still read, 21:xx. A sub-22 was within my grasp, I kicked it into overdrive and my last .1 was at a 5:36 pace. That is just insane.

The Weather: 55 degrees. Overcast. Light winds. A runner's heaven.

The Bad:

Tired Legs: Since I didn't decide to run this race until 8 p.m. the night before, I hadn't had a rest day in the 5 days prior. And I was just 24 hours off a quick 9 miler. I had run 34 miles in the four days. I have to wonder if fresh legs would have made a difference between 22:04 and sub-22.

The Ugly:

Let's be honest, there was no ugly.

Dilly's Running Debut ...

2011-09-16T07:52:00.004-04:00

Yesterday morning, G, KC and I met for our first preschool run of the school year. It was blistering hot. We had to push a double stroller despite only having one kid with us. And my shoulder is weak, not really up to pushing a stroller, so G and KC had to pick up the slack. But other than that, we crushed it. Our seventh (and final) mile was our fastest at an 8:20. Talk about awesomesauce.

When we were about 4 miles into the run, Dilly started making a fuss that she wanted to get out of the stroller and run. I told her she could when we got back. So, when the Garmin beeped at 7 miles. We stopped and Dilly got out of the stroller to make her running debut, a .1 mile jog back to our house.

I handed the camera to our photographer and gave her a pep talk.

And then we were off.

She insisted on holding my hand.

But she ran the whole way.

It was an awesome thing to share with her. She was so proud and talked about it all day.

Later, when I tucked her into bed, we had this conversation:

Me: Dilly, I had an awesome day with you.
Dilly: Who did we run with?
Me: Miss G and Miss KC.
Dilly: Why?
Me: Because we like to run. Did you run with Mommy?
Dilly: Yes, I did.
Me: Was it awesome?:
Dilly: Yes, it was. I drinked Nuun.

And with that, I just laughed. I thought we had created her first running memory, but all she cared about was drinking Nuun. Go figure.