Catching Up.

Hello there.

I have been so quiet that I'm not really sure how to just jump back in without sounding like a weirdo who has been pretty bad at blogging lately.

{Nutshell - My Life}

Work, Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years, New Babies (and baby showers), friends/family in town, running, celebrating our 3rd Anniversary, volunteering at my 1st Ironman (whoa), preparing for the Holidays AND thoroughly enjoying them (parties yes please), making new goals, a trip up North to a haunted hotel, marathon training in full effect and eying some more races), running a 10 mile race and a half marathon...which resulted in a new PR, booking some trips (oh boy!) and embarking on one amazing one....life.

So yeah...all that. I won't spend the time going back through the details. I was sick on and off about 3 times over the Holidays which is never ideal but I am 100% now and feel great. My running took a bit of a hit with all that and I am noticing it quite a bit in my speed, endurance and my lung capacity. That's OK, I feel healthy and injury free so I'm content with that.

Coming up...

February 2nd - Desert Classic Half Marathon (training run)
February 17th - IMS Arizona Marathon 

The last few weeks at glance, in numbers:

• 43 miles
• 47 miles
• 34 miles (setback week, whew)
• 46 miles
• Current week (tapering) 12 miles

I am extremely sore today from a couple of new HIIT workouts the past 2 days, so I skipped today's run in lieu of rest so I have 2 full days before my half on Saturday.

Looking forward to:

•  The Phoenix Open this weekend. Party time, excellent.
•  Super Bowl Sunday!
• A night in Sedona to celebrate my Dad's 65th Birthday...it's a surprise, shhh.
• Girls Weekend in San Fran.
• Our FIRST trip to Europe. I.cannot.wait.
• Working on my race calendar and trying a new to me distance, gulp!

How about a mini photo bomb?

What's new with you?

Motivation with a hangover.

Fall Racing is definitely here. Each weekend my Facebook feed is filled with photos, stories, and new PR's from friends all over. I love it.

And as you know, I also love a good spreadsheet. I love a plan. Now executing the plan...that's the tough part.

The other night, we sat down and finally watched the 2012 Ironman Kona Championships from a few weeks ago.

Motivating? Yes. 
Intimidating? Heck Yes.

These chics are beasts. Animals. Machines. Athletes.

Miranda. My Favorite.

I know that will never be me, and that's OK....but every once in a while, I think to myself...could I train for an Ironman? Would I? Could I handle it physically or mentally?

And then I snap back to reality. I'll just make Wade do one someday.


I was amped up to run the next morning and I knocked out a great 6 mile run and then did a full body weight circuit. I was excited to log it and proceed with the next day'd double run.

And then I got drunk on election night. And woke up hungover and swore off alcohol forever. Who do I think I am? (<--- an idiot?)

I missed my double runs today. But that's OK, I kinda had a good excuse.

Two of my best friends from High School. Steph was in town from Florida and we finally got our shit together and made plans. It had been 6 years since the 3 of us were together. We laughed, talked and reminisced for 4 hours. (and Steph and I apparently drank too many beers, oy)

So tomorrow's a new day, time for that double run day.

Lately. And a PR.

Busy Week. Whew.

{Highlights}

A new baby arrived....and she is amazing, adorable and absolutely perfect.  I'm in love.

We Trick-or-Treated with Cyn, Jeff and little Natalie.

I attended a baby shower (do we sense a theme amongst my girlfriends?)

Wade was gone a few days working on projects at our Cabin, so I had some QT with my puppies.

And the best of all. I got my PR. I am on cloud 9 right now!

I set an intention this race during my first mile. I ran for NYC. I ran for my husband. And I ran for my new "niece" and her Momma...who better get her ass in gear once she is cleared so she can run side by side with me. I stayed out of my own head the entire race which I have NEVER accomplished before. I was happy, I felt good. I stopped smiling at all the cheering spectators at mile 11 because I was so focused on my goal and was feeling like a robot at that point. I hope no one thougth I was a grouchy ahole. I wasn't, I promise.

I almost cried when I looked at my Garmin at mile 12.5 and KNEW I was going to make it. Hard work pays off....what a concept.

Time to celebrate. (and set a new goals)

1.48.55
(Edited to add official results)

RnR SJ Race Recap

I still have a bit of a wedgie about my performance at the RnR on Sunday. I've been stewing over my race the last few days and will chalk it up to this:

1. I was mentally lazy the last 5K
2. I got warm/sun in face half the race (bad excuse from a Phoenician)
3. I wasn't rested (traveling the day before isn't ideal + crappy night's sleep)
4. I was hungry

My biggest issue really....I just need to try harder. I need to make it hurt, push myself. And that means DURING training and DURING the race. Why put all these miles on my legs and then not see improvement? All of this stuff was purely "me".

Yes, I beat my PR from February by seconds, (1:53:41 vs. 1:53:12) but I have put in a lot of miles since then and I should be making strides (pun intended) in my goal times.

But I'm over it now and it's time to move on. To work harder. Maybe I need to run less miles and the ones I do run I need to really push myself on? Ideas anyone? I am happy I can do this, to run and all that jazz....but let's face it, we all want to be better for ourselves. I do anyway.

The race itself was well organized as all RnR's are. Fast and efficient expo, I picked up and my packet and bailed so I can't say how it was from that standpoint. My biggest beef with RnR...not an option to get your bib ANY other way but picking it up. We had to drive to San Jose twice and that could have been avoided if they had a paid option to mail your shit. 

The race start was uneventful...I freaked out a tiny bit when I saw I was in Corral #3 and super close to the start line. I have only ever run the RnR in Phoenix and I was in Corral #7, which was a HUGE corral for a HUGE race. Not that any of this matters. J-Johns were plentiful and it was kind of cold so I stripped my jacket off and handed it Gio right before the gun went off. 

The course was boring and fairly quiet (except all the cute and peppy cheerleaders lining the course) and my splits were pretty good until I hit mile 10 and then they kind of sucked. Looking at them just pisses me off as I could have hit my goal if I would have tried a little harder. I guess it wasn't my day. 

Now that I think about it, I have never had a TERRIBLE race. I read stories about people having horrible, painful (OK Ragnar hurt) or emotional races but I don't, I just have good or OK and I'm alright with that.

I think my mind was not in the race, but with my friend waiting at the finish line and with the streets of San Fran. I couldn't wait to be done. And when I crossed the line, I was done.

Gio asked me "do you want to hang out, sit down or rest?" and I said "nope, let's roll". She was the dream race crew. She woke up early, had my pre-race breakfast on hand, drove my ass around, cheered me on (I saw her 2x on the course and she yelled SO loud and took pictures and gave me the play by play on all the girls outfits and was very perplexed at the amount of makeup she saw on girls faces) and told me she was proud of me even though I was grumpy for like, 5 seconds afterwards.

The End. 

Actually we went and drank a few cocktails and ate some food...and Matt put up with us for 2 solid days, he is angel because I know we are annoying...

Walked around (Fleet Week in SF is awesome) and caught part of the airshow...

I felt super "fall like" (or Lumberjack-ish) in my plaid shirt and you are welcome for this high quality vanity shot...

I soaked up some Cali sun...

 We watched bad TV, I shopped (hello Lululemon), drank wine, ate pizza and ice cream cones on a street side cafe and laughed MY ASS OFF until I went home Monday night.

 And ya know what, good friends are better than "OK" races.

Ready as Ever....

I'm going going back back to Cali, Cali.

Yup. 9 days and it's Rock 'n' Roll San Jose (how the eff did I get roped into running another RnR).

Oh yeah.

This little pixie was planning on running it with me, only I'll be running solo due to some old injuries that have popped up in little Gio's knees. I'm bummed yes, but taking care of her body is #1. She says she is excited to cheer me on. She's crazy. This is small for a RnR event, only about 12k runners (include mini marathon) so I am pretty happy that it will be slightly less of a clusterfuck that RnR tends to be. I'm more excited to eat, drink and be merry with my frayonds - the race is just the icing on the cake.

I busted out my last long run this morning. I had a 5:15am wake up call so I could get it done before work and because my weekend is jammed pack (and I want to drink wine tonight, for reals). I ran 12 miles. It was non-eventful. A little tight in my right hip, as usual. It was a reasonable pace and the weather made it a quick and painless run.

My week should end with 36 miles and 3 days of HEAVY weights. I feel good about that. 

Do I feel ready? Yes. Am I going to PR? I sure hope so....but I won't be upset if I don't. I don't feel like I have the speed to do it, hopefully I'll surprise myself.

And hopefully the course is flat. And the weather is cold.

Gio tells me "pack shorts or a dress for the day and a sweater at night".

RIGHT. Did you forget where I am from? That's full on winter for me.

Off to work for a few hours, stuff my face and hopefully have 2 FULL says off. Psh. (um hello pizza party tonight and Dback game tomorrow)

Anyone doing anything SUPER fun this weekend?

SF Photo Bomb

Day 1

A BIG Birthday. A Flight.. A Westin Lunch. An Upgraded Room. A Seafood Dinner. Many Many Drinks. And we just might have gotten escorted out of a club #2...whoops. I swear it wasn't me. (side-eyeing my husband)

Day 2

A Hangover. Irish Coffees at Buena Vista. Wine Country (nuff said). Sushi Dinner.

Day 3

A Drag Brunch. Shopping. A Bar Tour. A Thai Massage. Clam Chowda

Day 4

Union Square Shopping. China Town. A Goodbye Lunch. A Flight.

Wade and I have traveled to SF together and separate and it was really fun and refreshing to see it from a local's perspective. I can't wait to visit again in October! (hint, I'll be there for a race too)