Alive and well....

It has been nearly a week since I have posted. I just wanted to make a quick post before heading off to bed. The good news is that I expect to have Episode 5 of the podcast up and available before the weekend gets here! :-)

The trip to Vermont went really well. The weather was great, and I enjoyed driving through the Green Mountains (since we don't have any here). My dad was quite surprised that we all made it up there for the weekend. It always amazes me now much everyone's kids grow in just 2-3 years. I may get out a quick, short, podcast on the trip. I didn't record lots of things, just the travel part, but it would be fun to share.

I didn't get a long run in again this weekend - by the time we got home it was nearly 7 pm and I was too beat to run. As it was, I passed out around 8:30 pm for the night! But I got up Mon am and got a 5 miler in (a great run). On Tuesday I ran 1.6 miles with my daughter, and today got another 5 miler in. I have been feeling good for the runs, but a bit run down during the day. Lots of factors may be involved, although I have changed my diet this week, swearing off sugar, processed foods and most starches. I think I am still adjusting.

So that is it for the quick update. Run strong everyone!

Headed North and a Running Update

Tomorrow is my dad's 70th birthday, so to celebrate the occasion, my siblings (there are 6 of us total) along with our respective families, are descending upon my father's town for a little get together. His hometown: Swanton, Vermont. This town is the last exit off the interstate before entering Canada!

I am traveling with my two daughters while my husband holds down the fort. This will be a fun, short trip (leaving Fri returning Sun), and I plan to take the iRiver along so who knows, you may hear more about this little adventure before long! :-)

Running this week has been great. I didn't get a long run in on Sunday since my younger daughter and I spent the entire day walking around Seaworld and I didn't want to push it with my heel. Monday I ran 4.14 miles in 45:54 min - about an 11:05 min/mi pace, fighting 15-20 mph headwinds on the way back. Tuesday I did a short run with my daughter around the block a few times for 1.4 miles. I also did weight training and about 15 min on the elliptical! Wed I ran 5.2 miles in 57:30 min, an 11:03 pace. It was pretty smoky due to the area fires. For that reason I skipped running this morning (Thurs)and opted to run a bit with my daughter later in the day during my younger daughter's soccer practice. The smoke seems to clear later in the day. I felt so good that when I got home I ran a fast 3.14 miler in 33:07, a 10:32 min/mi pace! My heel is aching a bit today for that fast run, but I am taking a couple days off so it should recover well.

I am going to try to get my long run in on Sunday but it will depend on when we get back from Vermont and how I am feeling.

So have a great weekend everyone! I will be back online on Sunday evening :-)

Running Adventures Episode 4 - Gone Fishing!

This edition of Running Adventures takes you fishing, driving and, or course, running. We got a chance to go fishing with our friend Joe an a nearby neighbor's fishing pond. You will also hear a drive cast where my daughter and I talk about meeting Dean Karnazes. She also presents some interesting bird facts. Finally, you will hear parts of two of my long runs. The first segment from my tough run on 4/22 and the second from the end of my run on 4/29.

Featured music this week from the Podshow Podsafe Music Network includes:
"Meant to Be" by Robert Costlow
"Waterfall" by Jon Schmidt
"Merrigan's (Reel)" by Jim Fidler

The opening music is "Super soul" by 4saisonz and the closing theme is "Adventures of the Deaf Dreamer" by Josh Woodward.

Other mentions this week:

Nigel from Running From the Reaper
Adam from The Zen Runner

Have a great adventure in the coming week!

The Go Red for Women 5K

It was a beautiful, cool morning. The temperature was in the 60s and the humidity was not so bad. As we drove across town to Downtown Disney for the race, the sun began to light up the sky. By the time we parked the car, it was light outside and the loud speakers were already blaring announcements about the 1 mile and 5K races that were soon to begin.

We wore our matching shirts that we picked up with our race packets at the expo the night before. Personally I don't like the tight shirts, but I underestimated the size shirt I would need. Some mediums seem large, others small....but I was going to wear the team shirt. In addition to our race numbers, we received a special bib that showed we were a mother-daughter team - also including our names. We wore those on our backs.

Minnie Mouse was on hand to start the race (since it is part of the Minnie Marathon Weekend). At 7:15 am, the 1 mile walk and fun run began. Then at 7:30 am, the 5K started. Although it was not a huge field of runners, the course was not very wide, and in some places only the width of a large sidewalk. There was little room for walkers and runners - and those of us who were both walking and running had to adjust for the traffic - but overall it was a really cool run.

We made our way through the West Side of Downtown Disney - the race entered from the parking lot right near Cirque de Soleil and the House of Blues. We ran through the shopping area, and then through Disney's Pleasure Island - an area with a variety of dance clubs and other night spots. Coming out the other side of Pleasure Island, we then ran through the Marketplace. There are many shops there including a huge Lego outlet which included a sea monster and T-rex made out of legos. As we ran around the small lake that was at the Downtown Disney area, we ran through part of the French Quarter (a hotel/resort area) along the water, then ran through part of the golf course before coming back to the parking lot outside of Cirque de Soleil once again.

My daughter and I did well - and though toward the end we were taking running breaks between walking, my daughter finished her third ever 5K!!! At first I was a bit frustrated that she wanted to walk so much, that is, before I realized during the last mile of the race that it was amazing that she was even doing a 5K. I didn't run my first 5K until I was 40 years old. So I stopped being such a fuddy dud and enjoyed the last mile of our race together.

As we crossed the finish line, hand in hand with our arms in the air I was so excited and proud to be running with my daughter. Our clock time was 43:23, net time of 42:59. I grabbed her medal and insisted on placing her finishers medal around her neck. I was so proud. We hugged as we waited in line for a finishers picture together. It wasn't until a good 5 minutes after that when I realized I never shut my Garmin off. I guess I was really enjoying the moment!

After a banana and bagel, we headed home - happy and tired after another race, listening to Phedippedations and getting inspired for the next one!

Later I learned that our mother-daughter team placed 29th out of 62 teams! Go team!!

Best of Luck to All Racing this Weekend!!

Wow, it looks like just about everyone is running some race this weekend. Maddy is doing the Minnie Marathon 15K on Sunday, Shirley is running the Colorado Marathon, Susan is running the Toad Suck 10K on Saturday, Cory is running the Half Marathon in Colorado, and Kyle is running the Santa Monica 10K.

This weekend my daughter and I are running our target race, the Go For Red 5K at Disney on Saturday. We will be running as a team!

Have great races this weekend folks!!! Run strong!