Happy Leap Day!

Sorry I've been out of touch lately....life ya know???? The good news is that I'm an Auntie again! Yay! After 2 sons & 5 nephews I finally have a niece to love :) SO excited for my sis with her first baby!

Such a good sport posing for me!

On the home front we have wrapped up indoor track season so the Great American Hero here has been slacking a bit "No I'm not taking a week off between seasons...I barely got in 30 miles this week!" It's good to be young. So he finishes indoor track with a PR of 10:57 in the 2 mile & 5:10 in the mile.  He's hoping to break 5 minutes during outdoor track.  I'll keep you posted....

The other kid has been swimming like a demon.  Last swim meet last night with a 1:13 PR in the 100 freestyle....yeah he rocked it for a 5th place overall finish!  And his relay team finally didn't DQ & took 3rd with PR! Awesome sauce!

My running has been good.  Nothing spectacular, just enjoying the mild winter.  It snowed today for about 5 seconds and people around here started freaking out about schools not closing early....can you see my front lawn up there????? It's practically gone by dinner time! I think we've been too spoiled.  You should have seen the FB chatter! Really, if it bothers you that much, just go get your kids yourself. You are not OBLIGATED to use the school bus. Ok, stepping off my soapbox.  Anyway, got in a nice 5 miler today & then had an easy peasy ride on the stationary bike while catching up on you all.  Coy would be ashamed of me...I think I lolygagged along at less than a 10mph pace ;-D

Yesterday I joined a Core class at the gym.  I've been meaning to do it for a while.  Bodyrocked a bit at home last month but got frustrated by all the equipment they use.  I don't really want to use anything or buy anything if I can possibly do without it. I haven't had a chance to check out Zuzana's new website that Christy was telling me about.  Anyway, I thought it was a little weak and easy...except for my spazmo lack of coordination....but my abs and arms are just uncomfortable enough today to know it worked.  I will go back.  When I'm in a group class, this is all that keeps me going:

And finally, I will leave you with this: 

Happy Leap Day! I registered for the Wineglass Marathon in October!

If you are a boy, you are never too old to want the star wars poster that came with the cereal.

I have joined the Twitter Nation...

I'm not too sure how this works...but I'm learning! So since Google is messing with my followers, please subscribe by RSS feed or follow me on Twitter @unexpectedrun

The Best Run

Today I had the BEST run! It wasn't the fastest or longest, nor did I get a PR or conquer a new distance. So WHY was it the best? Because it brought me such joy & contentment just being out there today! What set those conditions that had me reveling in the simple joy of running was a particularly rough 3 days of work. Quite frankly, it was 36 hours of exhausting crap-ola. Thank god I have hilarious co-workers who can even make you laugh when someone pees on your arm. Again.

As I was running I just felt it all slide away. I was smiling. I felt light again. Balance restored :)

So tell me, what makes your runs the best? Is it a run where you worked really hard? A long run? One where you find the cone of silence that your kids keep hiding?

Whatever it is, I hope you found it today. Happy Running!

I Heart Running!

Sweet Pure-flows & snazzy socks ;D

Happy Valentine's Day! Hope your day included something you love....like running!  Mine did! I got in 5.5 miles on the trail in town! Woo hoo!

Now to assemble some goodies for my boys, then I'm putting my crazy cheering outfit on as Thing 2 hits the pool again tonight for another meet!

What have you done for the sweethearts in your life?

Peace Love Run

Today I ran for Sherry Arnold. I ran & reflected on all that I have been blessed with and am thankful for in my life. I ran my usual route & did not divert. I will not be afraid. I choose to not fear the 'what ifs'. I run not because I have to but because I want to & feel less myself when I don't.

I'm saving these for Ragnar ;)

I run for these goofballs who make me laugh every single day, laugh & shake their heads at my socks but then surprise me with these:

They fill my heart with pride & joy :)

I think it's the Hair that makes him fast ;)

I think it's the hair that makes him fast ;)

I forfeited my February race today & was happy to do it because I got to see Thing 1 run 3 of the best races of his life! SO very proud of him! He had an indoor track meet today and was seeded pretty high...I was nervous for him....but he was AWESOME!
1st in the 2 mile with a 10:58
2nd in the Mile @ 5:10
3rd in the 4x800M relay with a 2:23 leg. PR's in all!!!!
Good thing there was a Five Guys Burgers in the meet town...this kid was HUNGRY!

In between races I scored these slick new kicks: Brooks Pure Flow in a smokin' hot pink & took them for a test run as soon as we got home...they rock.




And last but not least, I was pleasantly surprised this week when this bling arrived from the Nike Women's Half marathon that I participated in virtually in January! Pretty sweet, eh?

Derailed

How often does life derail your grand running plan? Given that my job allows me the luxury of having 3 days off during the week, not too often. So when it does, it really throws me. Let's venture back to Monday, when Spring shone on upstate NY. I PURPOSELY did not leave for my run until 11:30...I wanted to run in shorts at the peak of the weather (high 50's!!!!) and do a nice slow long run. All was well until mile 2.6. When I received a call from the school nurse to come get my vomiting child. Ugh!!!! Luckily I was only a half mile from home, sprinted there, grabbed my car keys and dashed to the school. No long run in the sun for me :(. But leave it to Thing 2 to bring a smile to my face even as he lifts his head out of a garbage can and says "ugh, you couldn't change your socks before coming to get me?" With just the hint of a smile on his face ;-D

But you know, even 5K in those conditions felt like a gift. So far, this is the best running winter I've had!

The Voices in my Head...

I am so happy to share that I had another successful long run! I think I am back on track with my spring marathon training. YAY! Yesterday I took it really, really slow, listened to my body (this can be hard for me to do), walked a bit or stopped to stretch if I felt any twinges that threatened to get worse, remembered to stop twice for water (I don't remember to hydrate as well in the cold) & made it 15 miles! If you check out my log on the sidebar you'll see i didn't break any land speed records but im ok with that....I'm just happy i was able to do it. I got in an easy 5k this morning before having to spring Thing 2 for an orthodontist appointment & my legs felt a bit tired but no shin or hip issues.

A big shout-out to Thing 2 who won his heat & had a 7 second PR in the 100M Freestyle at his swim meet last evening! I would post the video, but he would be mortified. Rest assured, he was awesome & I cheered like the crazy person I am ;)

And back to the title of this post.... I HATE sitting in offices after my appointment time waiting....and waiting...especially at the orthodontist when they KNOW the kid has to get back to school! Really, he could have spent that 25 minutes in a class & I could have gotten in another mile! I may look patient but this is how I feel: