My Year In Running - 2013

Linking up with the sweet Nicolasa at Shoelaces and Bibs for a look into the 2013 running year of others and to share mine!!!

1. My main goal for this 2013 was:

As always, my goal was to enjoy a healthy life!  Running affords me this and to realize what my body can do.

2. My Running Shoes: 

Started out with Hoka 11's (toe box too small which caused the lose of two toenails) then switched to Mizuno Alchemy Wave.  Will likely try out the Brooks Ghost in 2014

3. Favorite running gear item of 2013: 

GOSH!  I can't choose between my Garmin and my Apple shuffle...

4. Playlist screenshot: 

Shuffle has no play list, but my playlist is all over the place!  I have also found Rock My Run and they have some pretty awesome mixes that can be downloaded.

5. Number of races: Break it down:

3k

5k

10k

Half - 3

Marathon

Other:

6. Most difficult race & why:

Nike Women's - San Francisco  UGH!  The HILLS...

7. Favorite fun run: 

I have not run a 'fun' run to date

8. Favorite course: 

Big Sur Half in Monterey, CA

9. Race I want to do again next year: 

Seattle Rock n' Roll - It will be my 5th time!  Would run Big Sur again and I have entered the lottery for the NYC marathon, so we will see!

10. Best bling/shirt from a race:

Oh man, I love all of my bling, but for 2013 I'd say the Seattle Rock n' Roll.  The RnR series always have excellent bling!!

11. PR/PB: 2:36:47

12. Longest run: 13.1

13. Out of state runs: Seattle Rock n' Roll

14. Total miles ran: 356

15. Favorite motivational/inspirational quote of 2013:

There will come a day when this is not possible... Today is not that day

16. Lessons I've learned: 

I've learned the body is an amazing vehicle!  It is capable of WAY more than you think possible.

17. Injuries I battled and overcame: 

I managed to stay injury free this year!!!  Just the usual 'niggles'...

18. 3-5 Most inspiring people: List their blog, twitter or instagram-wherever you follow them:

Frayed Laces

Dirt Diva

ClintRuns

19. Favorite place on social media to connect with runners:

Daily Mile

Echofon

20. 2 goals for next year:

Follow a training program including interval & speed days!

Improve my PR/PB 

 

Boston Strong & the running community

I have numerous posts that should appear before this, but I have a moment right now to jot down some of my thoughts from this past week.

I truly have tried to wrap my head around why the recent Boston Marathon terrorism event has affected me the way that it has. 

I recall being very frightened by the 9/11 attacks; not knowing what else was in store.  My children were still young enough to be living at home and I was comforted by having them close.  I felt that I was able to shelter them and comfort them.  I was able to talk with them and we could discuss the current events and where we as a Nation would go from here.  I felt such compassion for the individuals and families whose lives had been forever changed on that day.

For me, the events in Boston hit me in a way I couldn't understand!  I was sad, then mad and then frustrated.  Why would anyone want to hurt innocent people?  My children are grown and not nearby.  We are all runners and share this as many of our family bonds.  I didn't feel that I could protect my family, all I could rely on was the faith that we would all be alright. 

We, the running community are such a peaceful people.  We strive to better ourselves and we have an incredible spirit.  This was proven so true by the number of runners that had completed a 26 mile and in most cases a 4+ hour run yet continued to run to local hospitals to give blood.  Some stayed at the tragic scene and offered assistance to those in need.

The Boston Marathon is the Academy Awards for a runner (in my opinion)!  Something that is not a given opportunity...  You have to QUALIFY to even REGISTER!!!!  Although you qualify, you may not be able to register that same year.  It is an HONOR to participate in the Boston Marathon.

My daughter was blessed to have qualified and run in the 2010 and 2011 events; we as a family accompanied her to Boston in 2010 for a fantastic 5 day experience!!  We all rode the T for the first time, we took a water taxi from Logan Airport to the hotel and we all attended a Boston Red Sox game!!  We sprinted to several locations along the 26.2 mile course to cheer on my daughter and raced back to the finish line to see her complete her goal!  The day before the actual running of the marathon everyone but dear daughter was able to run a 5k sponsored by the Boston Athletic Association.  We ran on the same street (Boyleston) that the actual marathon runners would run on.  I was there...  In the same location that these awful individuals desecrated...

However, due to the resilience of Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the running community the Boston Marathon and all running events will bounce back stronger than before!  As Steven Colbert said this week, we are people that run 26.2 miles for FUN on a SUNDAY!!!

As I ran this morning I was struck by how connected I felt with each runner that I passed!  I wanted to hug them, I broke out in chills each time I waved and greeted them with a 'good morning'!!!

I am so proud to part of this community; the running community ~  I feel we are all a little bit more connected now.

Thank you for allowing me to ramble and for hanging on to the end!

Much love to you all for being there for ME!!!

2012 - A Year of Blogging

Thanks to my bloggy friend Tracy's suggestion I am participating in this look back... To participate simply post the title or first sentence of your first blog post from each month.  You can also add a favorite picture from each month, even though it doesn't necessarily go with the post.

Here is Tracy's 2012 Year of Blogging, this is her 6th year!!!

 

JAN - Happy New Year

 

 



FEB - Uncle Tommy's Visit
 

MAR - Endometriosos Awareness Month

 

 

MAY - Here I Am

 

 

JUN - 5 Years Later and a Baby

 

 

AUG - Seattle

 

 

SEP - Fall into Fall

 

 

 

NOV - Harlow - 9 & 10 months

 

 

DEC - Merry Christmas 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 



Captain Vestal

2013 brought us exciting news that our Son-in-Law had been promoted to the rank of Captain in his Fire District!!

 

We are so proud of him and grateful that he is a dedicated Husband and Daddy...

 

Best of luck to him in his new assignment !

 

 

Merry Christmas 2012

  ~ Sending you all the very warmest of holiday wishes ~

 

This year I am fortunate to have my family together for four full days

beginning the day after Christmas.

 

May you all be blessed with a wonderful holiday season!!

 

Backyard upgrade

We have been in our home for 12 years and when we moved in there were 5 very well established shade trees in the back/side yards.  Through time these trees began to lose branches, trunks and stability.  The time had come to overhaul the backyard; removing the trees and making the yard our own.

 

First up we had the trees removed & stumps ground and then dear hubs removed the existing lawn

 

  We made two mounds of three white birch trees

 

We originally planted lawn from seed, but that came in so sparse we laid sod.

 

Next, dear hubs laid pavers around the perimeter of the yard

 

Finally, we prepared a square foot garden!! 

We have planted a winter crop which is currently under cover

 and we have lettuce, arugala, basil and cilantro coming up!!!

This is something that we have talked about doing for so long and is so awesome to have it finally come to fruition!!! 

We are super excited to reap the benefits of growing our own food...

 

Our patio has always been a place that we enjoy spending time in

and now can enjoy it even more having made it 'our own'!!!

 

Thanks so much to my dear hubs who spent countless (I'm sure he has counted) hours

 making this project happen...  Love him!!!

♥ - Harlow 11 months ♥

Sweet Harlow is now up and mobile, enjoying her new home

in Roseville with her Mommy & Daddy...

 

She loves having her very own kitchen drawer and playing peek-a-boo!

 

Much time is spent emptying and refilling pots, bowls and drawers.

 

♥ Harlow - 9 months & 10 months ♥

Baby girl is growing like a weed!

 

She is walking now, and is showing us all her independence early...  Her teeth are continuing to come in and she loves to clap and play peek-a boo!!!