A week in review and other things too

Wow!  When I first started this blog I didn't think anyone would want to read what I had to say.  Now,  I have over 60 followers and I cannot believe it!  So, if you are a new follower, welcome!  :) 
  
Training:
Here are my numbers for the week:  I know the numbers are low, but I swapped my weekend workouts for family time.  Once my training really kicks in I'm not going to have the luxury of skipping workouts.  So, it was the choice I made, and I wouldn't have had it any other way! :)
(What I've done is in green and what I still need to do is in purple)
Swim:  3830yd / nada
Bike:  1 hr. / 1hr. today 
Run:  2hr. 15 min (15.5M) / nada


*  This has actually been a great training week (minus the skipped workouts over the weekend).  I'm in week 2 of my plan and am getting back into training mode.  The hardest part so far as been trying to figure out WHEN to fit it all in.  I've decided that on the days I have to run and bike, I have to do one of those during my son's nap time.  If I don't do that, then it's most likely to get skipped or moved to another day, which I really don't want to do.  


* I went to my Masters swimming class on Thursday again, only to find that it was canceled due to the high Ph and chlorine content in the pool.  I guess they switched to a new chlorine system and it screwed the whole balance up in the water.  I was so bummed because 1) I got up early to go, and 2) I really wanted to get back in there and see if the lesson would go better than my first.  I guess I'll just have to wait another week.

* I've started getting some weird pain on the outside of my ankle.  I do not think it is a stress fracture, but I'm not sure what it is.  It's kind of like a burning sensation and hurts intermittently when I work out.  What's weird is that it actually hurts more when I first start to bike then when I run.  My husband thinks it could be Peroneal Tendonitis.  So, I've been icing it every night and taking some Aleve.  So far, it seems to be helping, but I have to be consistent with it or it flairs up again.  I'm really nervous about it because I'm just starting my HIM training and I would hate to be sidelined with an injury.  If it gets worse or continues I'm definitely going to see a doctor.

*  O-kay, I have a clothing question.  I am in search for a new tri top, and so far I just haven't found one that I absolutely love.  My question is: are tri specific tops necessary or can you wear a fitted, wicking running tank?  I have been doing tris for about 4 years now and have always worn a tri top, but I'm wondering if they are necessary?  I know tri tops have pockets in the back, but I have actually never used those in my races.

Also, for the women out there, do you wear a sports bra under your top?  After nursing two boys, I don't have much left, but I still get bounce when I run.  Most of my tri tops have a shelf bra, but they're not that supportive.
So, what do you think?  Should I stick with a tri top or chance a running top? And, do you have a tri top that you absolutely love?  I welcome any suggestions you have! :) 

*  I'm getting geared up for my first OWS this weekend.  I have my wetsuit soaking in the tub as I write this.  The place where I swam last year was awesome, but they are working on the lake and the water level is really low.  I'm not sure what the condition of the lake will be in when I go out there, but I'm really hoping that the water is still high enough to swim comfortably without being able to touch the slimy plants...yuck!  If it's not, I guess I'll have to find a new place to swim.  

*  Have any of you heard about hottristuff.com ?  I saw it mentioned in an email I got and decided to check it out.  I guess it's a place where you can buy and sell used tri specific stuff.  I thought it was a pretty cool concept.  Don't you think?

Life:
*  I am once again fortunate enough to be able to stay home with my boys for one more year.  My husband and I sat down and figured out that what I would be making as a part time teacher would basically go right to paying for both of our sons to be in preschool, which is ridiculous.  While I love teaching and someday want to go back into the classroom, I am not feeling a strong desire to be back in the work force again.  Plus, my boys are still so young and I know that soon enough they will be spending more time in school then they do at home.  I guess I'm just not ready to give them up yet.  :)

 
*  I got my shirt from the SheRox triathlon I'm doing in June.  One thing that's great about doing an all women tri is that the shirts are actually cut for women.  **Rant on: Guys, I know you never have this problem, but girls, we all know how frustrating it is to get a cool race shirt that doesn't quite fit right.  I have a whole closet full of those that I now wear as P.J.s or work shirts.  When are companies going to realize that women do not wear smaller versions of men's shirts.  Our bodies are built completely different!  After doing tris for 4 years, there has only been one other race, the 5430 sprint tri, that made women specific shirts!  Can you believe that?  I think it's just ridiculous!  Rant off. 

* We have had a ton of rain over the last couple of weeks, and the spring flowers are blooming everywhere.   Have I mentioned before that I love flowers?  Next weekend, Mother's day weekend, is our annual tradition to get flowers to plant all around our house and in our planters.  I CANNOT WAIT!  Even my boys are asking when we'll get to plant our flowers and start our vegetable garden.  Each of our sons has his own plantar that he gets to fill with whatever flowers he chooses from the nursery, so they're getting pretty excited.  I know it might sound lame that they're excited about planting flowers, but we all love spending time outside making our yard and outdoor space clean and beautiful (The inside of course is a different story with toys all over the place, snack crumbs on the kitchen floor, and dirty socks scattered throughout the house..ha ha).

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  :)      

Humpastry Day -Whole Wheat Lemon Waffles

Sorry I've been MIA for awhile, but a lot has been going on recently.  My husband took a couple of days off of work for our anniversary, so we had a family 4-day weekend that was great!  The weather was pretty blah, but we still had fun.  Then, I took on another house project, repainting our living room.  I like the color so much better now, but it takes A LOT of time to paint!  Needless to say, I just couldn't find time to write up some posts.  But, I promise I'll be visiting your blogs soon! :)  Alrighty, back to the point of this post: Humpastry Day.

Whole Wheat Lemon Waffles:

O-kay, so I know the waffles don't look that great in the picture, but trust me, they are super yummy!  I adapted some recipes from those I found online and in Vegan with a Vengeance to make these just a little bit healthier.  I made these for our anniversary breakfast and the lemon flavor makes these so delicious.  They are light and fluffy, and not heavy and dense like a lot of pre-made waffle mixes tend to be.  I don't think I'll ever buy pre-made waffle mix again because this recipe is really easy and a definite family pleaser.  I think my boys ate 2 whole waffles themselves...ha ha!  You can serve these with maple syrup or agave nectar, but they go really well with a blueberry compote.

Ingredients:

*  1 1/4C whole wheat flour
*  2tsp. baking powder
*  1tsp. baking soda
*  1/2tsp. salt
*  3/4C cornmeal
*  1/4C canola oil
*  2C soymilk
*  1/4C plain yogurt
*  2-4Tbl. raw sugar (Use more or less depending on your tastes.  I used 4Tbl., but will reduce the amount next time because I don't think they need to be as sweet, especially since we usually eat these with syrup)
*  Juice and zest of 2 lemons

Directions:
1.  Preheat waffle maker
2.  In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cornmeal, and lemon zest together.
3.  In a smaller bowl, mix the oil, soymilk, yogurt, lemon juice, and sugar together until well combined.
4.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry, mixing until just combined.  **Note:  the mixture will become almost fizzy, but don't worry, it's normal! :)
5.  Make waffles according to your waffle maker.  **Note:  I'm not sure if it is just my waffle maker or not, but when I made these, they tended to stick a little bit to the maker because they were so fluffy.  What I did was slowly open the waffle maker, and with a fork, release the waffle from the sides.

  


You can see how fluffy they are in this picture.











6.  Enjoy!

If you want to make a blueberry compote, it is really easy.  All you need to do is take some frozen blueberries, defrost them in the microwave for a little bit, add a little agave/maple syrup, and viola, you have some compote!  Again, the lemon and blueberry flavors go really well together!  Yum, yum, yum!  

Honest Scrap Award

I got nominated by Big Daddy Diesel at Tri Diesel (Thanks BDD!) for the Honest Scrap award, so here are 10 honest things about myself:

1.  If I had to choose between salty or sweet treats, I would pick sweet 95% of the time!

2.  I have dreamed of doing an adventure race, and think it would be so amazing.  But, realistically, I don't think I'll ever get to do one.

3.  I feel so very lucky and fortunate to have an amazing husband and two wonderful little boys in my life.  They mean the world to me and I honestly don't know what I would do without them.

4.  With #3 being said, when I drive somewhere by myself (no kids) I turn the station to MY music and turn it up loud! Too often, car time gets filled with versions of "Wheels on the bus" or songs by Raffi, and it's nice to have some moments that are kid free.

5.  I love naps and would probably take one every day if I could.  Maybe it has something to do with getting up at 4:30 to swim..ha ha.

6.   I have major body image issues.  I wish I could flip a switch in my mind to make them go away, but I can't.  My fear is that somehow I will pass on my insecurities about my body to my sons, which is something I hope never happens.

7.  I don't really like beer (I'm more of a wine person).  Sometimes it's nice to have one with pizza or if we're BBQing on a hot day, but really I could do without it.  My problem is that I can't drink a lot at once so my beer always gets warm before I can finish it....yuck!

8.  I make awesome homemade guacamole and look forward to hanging out outside on warm, summer days with chips, guac, and my husband's homemade margaritas.  Yum!

9.  Spiders inside my house scare the begeegies out of me!  I don't have arachnophobia or anything b/c they don't really bother me outside.  But, we get some big ones in our basement and I hate them.  When my son was younger, sometimes he would just say "spider" and point to it on the wall.  I would run to get a shoe or a dust buster to suck it up as fast as I could.  Sometimes if they are really big, my husband has to take care of them...I know, I'm a wuss!

10.   My perfect temperature is 72 degrees with NO wind.  I am neither cold or hot...just content.  I know it's a weird temperature, but I have a hard time regulating my body temp.  I'm either cold, or hot, or both and it drives me and my husband crazy!  Those 72 degree days are few and far between, but when they come, you'll find me outside enjoying #8.  :)  

I hope you all have a great weekend! :)

A week in review and other things too

Training:
*  It's official!  My HIM training started on Monday!  Woohoo!  I am very excited about my training and can't wait to get into the thick of it.
Here's my week M-Sun (what I did is in green, what I have yet to do is in purple):
Swim: 5230yds/ 2500yds
Bike:  2hr/ 3hrs.
Run: 1hr. 40min/ 45min.
Yoga: 1hr.  (O-kay, technically yoga is not part of my plan, but it's something I do for myself every week to help balance all the training, and I love it!)


*  I was supposed to bike for 1:30 on Tuesday, but I cut it to an hour because LOST came on and I just couldn't focus on the show!  Ha ha...gotta have priorities!

* As you all know, I went to my first Masters swimming session yesterday.  I just want to thank all of you for your comments and encouragement.  They really meant a lot to me.  I am planning on sticking with it as well as doing my regular 4:30AM swims.  And, I am still going to a swim coach once every 2 weeks.  Hopefully with all of that, I will see some improvements!

* I have had to do all of my rides on my trainer this week and I was really looking forward to riding outside this weekend.  But, good ole' Mother Nature has different plans in store: rain, rain, and more snow.  Lovely!  So, it looks like I'll be on my trainer for my long weekend ride, again.  Ughhh!

Life:
* I'm in the process of figuring out what I'm going to do next year in terms of work.  I have been very fortunate to be able to stay home with my boys, but I may be going back to work part time next year.  I'm not quite sure how I feel about it, but whatever we decide I know it will be the best decision for our family.

*  My husband and I will be celebrating our 8th anniversary on Monday!  It has truly been an amazing adventure!

* I know yesterday was Earth day, but I think every day should be Earth day-don't you think?  We try and do our part, but I know there's always more we can do.
Here are just a few of the things that we do to help:
     * Use reusable shopping bags as often as we can.  I even keep a collapsible one in my purse for the times I forget to bring one.
     *  Use reusable mugs when we venture out to Starbucks (Seriously though, you would think that Starbucks would have the means to make their cups recyclable!)
     *  We actually use our bread bags as poop bags when we take our dog for walks.  Have you seen how much special doggie poop bags cost?  Ridiculous!
     *  We have our t.v., dvd player, stereo, etc. plugged into a power strip that we turn off when we're done with them.  That way, they're not using electricity even though they're not on.
     *  We recycle as much as we can.  Our neighbors, who are in their late 80's, don't recycle at all.  C'mon people...it's so easy to do!

*  Lastly, I got this video link through my Facebook page and for some reason I feel compelled to share it.  Colorado passed a no texting law, but I still see people doing it all of the time.  There have been so many accidents lately caused by people talking/texting on their phones and they could have all been prevented.  I know that sometimes it's nice to talk while you're out driving, but I don't think any phone call is as important as someone's life.  Now, I am guilty of talking on the phone while driving, but after seeing this and the countless number of stories on the news about people getting in accidents, I will definitely think twice about picking up my phone.  Warning: this is pretty graphic, so viewer discretion is advised.  Since I still don't know how to upload videos, here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pubTiDCEVZ8&feature=related

1st Masters Swim - wow!

This post may be a little long, so bear with me!

I have been thinking about joining a Masters Swim program for awhile now, but none of them ever fit into my schedule.  That is until I found out about a program at a 24 hour fitness not too far from where I live.  It's held at a Super Sport, which I didn't have access to.  I guess the people at 24 hr. fitness like to think that the Super Sports are far superior than the regular clubs, which is why they charge an arm and a leg to be a member of one.  But, this week, they were running a special where I could update my membership to just $15/mo. and have access to ALL the clubs.  After doing some research about the price of joining a Masters Program, I realized that $15/mo is WAY cheaper than anything else I could find, which was in the $45-$55 range.  And, they meet at 6AM which is great.  I'm able to go to the class, shower, and get home before my husband has to go to work.  Of course, my husband and I had to talk about it because on the days that I do the class he would have to get himself and both of our boys ready and fed, which is something I normally do, but he was all for it.  He is really supportive of me and knows how frustrated I am with my swim.  So, he's willing to take on some extras to help me with my goal.  I'm so thankful to have such an amazing husband!

Anyways, I decided to get to the gym early and swim for about 20 minutes to loosen up before class. Um, I don't think I'll be doing that again (keep reading!).  So, I introduced myself to the instructor and told her it was my first time doing a Masters program.  She was like, "But you know how to swim right?"  I said, "Yes" and I could tell she was relieved!  She wrote down the first part of our workout and I jumped in a lane and started swimming.  After a couple of minutes, more people started coming and the instructor asked me to move to the end lane.  I forgot that the lanes were set up by speed...oops!  But, I wish she would have told me that from the beginning.  Anyways, I went to the end lane, the slowest lane.  There was one other girl in the lane with me, but once we started the main workout she  moved over a lane.  I didn't understand why she would want to be in a lane with 2 other people, but I was kind of happy to have a lane to myself.  But, in the back of my mind I was thinking that she didn't want to be in the "slow" lane with me.  :(  

Now, there were probably about 10 other people in the class and I could tell that they had been swimming together for a long time.  They were laughing and joking with each other and I immediately felt like an outsider.  Plus, I'm pretty sure I was the youngest swimmer there.  Then, once the workout started, I knew I was definitely an outsider.  They were all super fast and they all did flip turns.  Needless to say I was very intimidated.  At one point, the instructor had us do 4*100, odd IM/stroke, even free.  Now, I don't know about you but I cannot do the butterfly stroke!  I looked over at the other swimmers and they were ALL doing the IM.  But, I just kept swimming and doing my thing.  I could not keep up with them and realized that when they were done with their set of 4-100s, I was only on my 3rd.  So, I would just move on to the next set because I thought it would be better for me to get in a variety of sets then just keep doing the same thing.  At one point I stopped and rested because I was pretty tired.  With my extra swimming before hand I had actually been swimming for about an hour already and I could really feel it.  I told the instructor that I couldn't keep up with them and the intervals.  She said that it was alright and that I shouldn't feel like I needed to keep up because the morning classes usually have all of her fast swimmers.  It kind of made me feel better, but not really.  

Overall, the class really kicked my ass!  I mean, I have been doing drills and interval work when I go to the pool, but not at this level.  I had to leave a little early to ensure that I would make it home in time, and when I got out of the pool it felt like everyone was just staring at me.  I'm sure it was all in my mind, but still, I didn't like that feeling.  I thanked the instructor, said goodbye, and went to change.  I'm ashamed to admit that I had a little breakdown involving some tears in the shower.  It seems so silly to say that, but I HATED being the slowest swimmer and not being able to keep up.  But, more than that, I hated that I compared myself to the other swimmers and let that comparison get to me so much.  I  am just so frustrated with my swimming and I don't know what I'm doing wrong.  Why am I so slow???

Obviously, I need to get over my insecurities and just think of this as a great opportunity to become a better swimmer.  I know it will be good for me to go to this class on a regular basis because it definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone (both physically and mentally).  But, I just wish the results would come faster.   

Do any of you go to a Masters swim class?  If so, how do you like it?  Do you think it has helped your swimming?  

Humpastry Day - Chocolate Chia Pudding Dirt Cups

Chocolate Chia Pudding Dirt Cups

In honor of Earth Day, which is Thursday, I wanted to make a fun treat for Humpastry Day.  I was originally going to make animal and plant cookies and have my boys decorate them with frosting, but then I remembered dirt cups.  I knew my 2 1/2 and 4 1/2yr. olds would absolutely love these!  Now, these aren't the healthiest things because there's not much you can do in replacing gummy worms and Oreo cookies.  But, I did find a way to make the pudding a little healthier.  :)

I have been reading some great things about Chia seeds, and found some recipes online from http://www.chiativity.org.  I was intrigued by the Chocolate Chia Pudding recipe, and thought it would be a good way to make the dirt cups a little healthier.  But, I wasn't sure how it would taste because I had never used chia seeds before.  However, after reading this post from Anne Marie at Goals for the week, I finally decided to make a trip to Whole Foods and give the little seeds a try.      

As a quick side story, I went up to the customer service desk at WF to see if they carried chia seeds, and the lady said, "Like the chia pets?"  It was pretty funny.  I had to explain to her that they are similar, but they're actually seeds that you can eat.  She had never heard of them before, but after a quick computer search see directed me to the bulk isle.  Hooray!  

Chia Pudding Ingredients:
Makes 4 servings

*  4Tbl. chia seeds
*  1C soymilk (you can also use regular, almond, hemp, etc..)
*  4Tbl. agave nectar (you can add more depending on how sweet you want it)
*  2Tbl. cocoa powder
*  1tsp. vanilla

Directions:
1.  Put all ingredients in a container that has a lid.  Stir them well and leave the container, uncovered, on the counter for 20 minutes.
2.  After 20 minutes, stir the mixture again, put the lid on, and put in the refrigerator for an hour or so.  *Note:  the longer the mixture stays in the fridge, the thicker it gets.

 This is what the pudding looks like after 20 minutes.

This is what the pudding looks like after about 5 hours.  You can see how much thicker it is after sitting in the fridge.  You don't have to let it sit in the fridge for this long, but I made the pudding during lunch and we had it for dessert after dinner, so it had a long time to sit.

I have to say that it was pretty strange seeing this change into a gelatinous mixture.  I was really hesitant to taste it, but once I did I was pleasantly surprised!  The texture is very similar to tapioca pudding and it was actually really good.  I think you need to taste it after it sits for awhile and add more cocoa and agave depending on your tastes.  It wasn't as sweet as regular pudding, but I figured once I added the Oreo cookies, it would be plenty sweet, and I was right.  

How to assemble the dirt cups:
1.  Put some pudding in a small cup (I used ramekins).  This is the "mud."
2.  Put some Oreo cookies in a ziploc bag and use a rolling pin to crush them.  Once they are crushed, put them on top of the pudding.  This is the "dirt."
3.  Add some gummy worms for a fun effect.
4.  Enjoy!

The Sunday Sampler - Health

Welcome to another installment of The Sunday Sampler.  This is the day where I share my insights, thoughts, and opinions with you about different things in three categories: fitness, parenthood, and health, rotating each category each week.  I hope that makes sense! :)  

My hope is that I will be able to help you along your adventure just like so many others have helped me. So, let me know what you think!  I'd love to read about your perspectives on these things as well!  :) 

Health:
Hemp protein:

O-kay, don't let the word "hemp" scare you.  I'm not talking about good ole' Cannibus, but rather a protein source that is considered to be the "gold standard of plant protein."  I was first introduced to hemp protein in Brendan Brazier's book, Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life.  I was a little hesitant to eat it because of the whole "hemp" thing, but after doing further research, I realized that it is actually a wonderful product.
So, one thing I always got asked when I became a vegetarian was, "How do you get your protein?"  I soon realized that these people really didn't care how I got my protein, what they were really saying was that I was a fool for being a vegetarian and thinking I could still be an endurance athlete.  Turns out they were actually the fools.  It's interesting how much different information you can find about the protein requirements for athletes when you Google it.  Now, I am not a doctor or a sports dietitian, but I believe that how much protein you need is dependent on who you are, what you believe, what type of training you are doing, and what your goals are.  I think everyone is different and therefore requires different amounts of protein.  But, one thing is certain, we, as athletes, all need it in some amount or the other.  Why?  Here is some info. about protein from the book, Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes:

Protein plays an important role in the growth, repair, and muscle maintenance of muscles and other tissues in the body.  It is needed for the formation of hemoglobin, the substance that carries oxygen to the exercising muscles.  It can even serve as a fuel source during endurance exercise if your body's carbohydrate stores run low.  Protein is also crucial to controlling fluid volume in the body and maintaining water balance.  Insufficient protein can hinder muscle recovery in the hours after training because of protein's essential role in the building and repair of muscle tissue.   

Now, we all know that the best way to get protein is from whole foods, but sometimes it is nice to have easy access to it pre and post workout.  Here is where protein powder comes in, hence the reason for this post. :)

Why should we use hemp protein over other proteins out there?
*  It is a complete protein and contains all 10 essential amino acids
*  The proteins found in hemp are similar to the ones found in the human body
*  It provides the essential fatty acids Omega-6 and 3 in a healthy 3:1 ratio
*  Is a high source of fiber.  2Tbl. of hemp provides 8g of fiber, about 1/3 of our daily requirement
*  It has natural plant chlorophyll and alkalizes to maintain a Ph balance in your body
*  Since hemp protein is raw, the body is able to utilize it easily, reducing digestive strain
*  It is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, including calcium and iron
*  It is free of oligosaccharides, the component that can cause gas and upset stomach
*  It is gluten free, vegan, kosher, and non-genetically modified
*  It contains no sugar, saturated/trans fats, or cholesterol

How to incorporate hemp protein into your diet:

*  Add some protein powder to your smoothie, oatmeal, or yogurt
*  Add hemp seeds to salads, cereal, granola, soups, and stews.  They have a nice nutty flavor, kind of like sunflower seeds, and add a nice little crunch to food.
*  Sprinkle the seeds on steamed veggies (kind of like you would do with sesame seeds)
*  Use the seeds in baked goods (breads, muffins, cookies)
*  Add the powder or seeds to your favorite homemade granola bar recipe
*  Make hemp milk by blending 1C hemp seeds with 4C water
*  Use hemp oil as a salad dressing base (I have a great salad dressing recipe that uses hemp, flax, olive oil, and garlic! It is delicious! Let me know if you want the recipe)


Some things to be aware of:
*  Hemp seeds can easily turn rancid, so make sure to put them in the fridge or freezer to make them last longer
*  Store hemp protein powder and hemp oil in the fridge as well
*  If stored correctly, hemp products will last from 8-12 weeks.
*  Hemp products are free of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, so you can't get "high" from it
*  It's more expensive than other proteins out there, but I think it's worth it.
*  Check out this link for some FAQ about hemp products

Do any of you eat hemp products?  If so, what is your take on them?  
I hope you are all having a great weekend! :)

A week in review and other things too

Training:
*  This week has been a weird week.  I'm kind of in limbo with my training.  I finished my 1/2 marathon on Sunday and don't officially start my HIM training till Monday.  So, I've just been chillin' and relaxing and doing things when I can fit them in.  I didn't get stressed out if I didn't get to ride my bike, run, or swim b/c I know soon enough I won't have this luxury.   


*Here's a picture from my race.  I don't think it's too bad, which surprises me because I never get good race pictures.   
                                                                                                      


*  My legs were still kind of sore on Monday from my 1/2, so I decided to do some easy spinning on my bike.  Once again, I set up my trainer outside while my youngest napped and my oldest played in the yard.  I only got in 30 minutes, but it was great and my legs felt so much better afterwards.  


*  I got to go to another yoga class on Thursday.  I got called out half way through by a kids' club staff member because my son had an "accident."  I thought about grabbing my stuff and just leaving, but changed my mind because I really wanted to finish the class.  I quickly went to change him, then got back on my mat.  I'm glad I decided to stay because it ended up being a really good class.   


* I've been so focused on doing the drills that my swim coach told me to do that I haven't swam continuously in a long time.  So, for one of my swim workouts I decided to just swim.  I wanted to make sure that I could still do it.  I did a 300m wu, stretched, and then just swam.  It was awesome and it felt so good.  I was originally only going to do 1500m, but I was feeling good so I kept going and ended up doing 2000m.  I was able to get into a groove and I felt smooth in the water.  I love that feeling! 


* I can't wait to see how I do in the open water.  The place I go to for OWS opens May 1st and I'm really excited about it.  Besides figuring out my stroke, I also have to figure out how to get past the mental part of being in open water.  For some reason, I tend to freak out, panic, and revert to swimming breast stroke every once in awhile to calm myself down.  I know that if I just swam and focused on swimming I would be fine, but I just can't seem to get over it.  I know everyone says it takes practice, but I've been doing tris for over 4 years and it's the same thing every year.  Ughhh...I just wish I could get past whatever it is that goes on in my mind!  Hopefully, this is the year!

Life:
*  Blog giveaways rock!  I won a cool tiki mug and some bora bora bars from Kelly at My Life as a Trimommy and they are really yummy!  And, I love how they have all natural ingredients.  I just happened to be at Costco the other day and they had a box of 18bars...woohoo!  One thing about Costco, you always end up buying more than what you planned.

Here I am drinking my soy chai tea in my new tiki mug after my swim.  I didn't realize my hair was parted so weird until after I looked at the picture..ha ha.  Please excuse the dirty dishes in the background.  I didn't get around to getting them done last night.  And, the sweatshirt I'm wearing is one that I actually won in a 5k race.  It is the only race that I won anything from.  Of course, it was like 10 degrees out so there weren't a lot of people there, but still, it was nice to win something and get a warm, comfy sweatshirt as a prize! :)

*  Remember how I was frustrated about potty training my youngest?  Well, besides his little "accident" on Thursday, I am happy to say that he's been wearing big boy undies all week and has been doing great! Woohoo!  I think  the reason he had the accident at kids' club is because he didn't feel comfortable telling the staff he needed to go.  Poor little guy.

*  My youngest sister ran in her first 1/2 marathon this past weekend and she did great!  She did have to stop around mile 12 to throw-up (maybe Big Daddy could give her the pukie award through me...ha ha), but she kept on keepin' on and finished in an awesome time!  I am so proud of her!  I can't wait to run the Denver Rock-n-Roll marathon with her in October...it will be the first marathon for both of us.  We're also doing the Muddy Buddy in Phx. in November.  That should be a lot of fun!

* This should probably go under training, but oh well.  After 5 years, I had to buy a new watch.   I use it for swimming and running when I don't feel like wearing my Garmin.  And, since I'm not a "girly-girl," I actually wear it as my every day watch too.  This has been, by far, the best watch I have ever owned.  It can really take a beating, and isn't very expensive considering how long it lasts.   Here is a picture of my old one.  Notice the left side coming undone.  The top section came undone about a week ago.  My husband super glued it, but when the bottom broke too, I figured it was time for a new one.  Plus, it was getting foggy after my swims, which it has never done before.   Bye bye watch.

Here's a picture of my  new one:  I love the new color and the yellow indiglo light button!  At least the yellow button will be one thing that matches my new shoes! Ha ha.

 I hope you all have a great weekend! :)  

Humpastry Day - Ginger Lemon Muffins

Ginger Lemon Muffins

I just got a new book called, "The Joy of Vegan Baking."  I was hoping that it would help me in my baking adventure, but honestly, most of the information in the book I already knew from doing my own research online.  I think it has some good recipes, but again, they all use white flour.  I don't understand why there aren't any cookbooks out there that have adapted the recipes to include healthier ones.  It's really not that hard to do and the results are still super tasty...at least in my opinion they are.   Anyways, I was a little bummed about the cookbook, but I am excited about using the recipes as a base and figuring out how to make them healthier without compromising the flavor.  

The recipe for ginger muffins in the book really intrigued me.  I don't think I've ever had a muffin or scone that had ginger as the main flavor, so I wanted to try it out.  The recipe below is my version of the original with healthier ingredients.  I used amaranth flour in the recipe, because it works really well in muffins.  For more information about amaranth flour, you can read my post about it here.

I'll be honest with you, I wasn't expecting these to turn out too well, but I was pleasantly surprised.  They have a nice, subtle flavor and the combination of lemon and ginger is interesting, but in a good way.  They were good plain, but I especially liked them with a little strawberry jelly.  Oh, and after eating them, I think the addition of figs or dates would be really yummy in them.  I may have to make another batch and try it out. :)

Ingredients:
Makes 12 muffins

*  2 flax eggs (2Tbl. flax w/ 6Tbl. water mixed until creamy)
*  1/4C finely minced ginger   **Note: I use ginger in a lot of my cooking, so I always have a jar of minced/chopped ginger in my fridge.  It might be more expensive than fresh ginger, but it is super easy and tastes the same.
*  1C raw sugar (divided)
*  Zest and juice of 1 lemon
*  1 1/2C whole wheat pastry flour
*  1/2C amaranth flour
*  3/4tsp. salt
*  1tsp. baking soda
*  1/2C vegan butter, softened (Earth balance is my favorite)
*  1C soymilk

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Grease your muffin tin, or line with paper cups.
2.  In a small saucepan, combine the ginger with 1/2C sugar.  Cook over medium heat, stirring, until sugar melts (about 2-3minutes).  Set aside to cool, then add lemon zest to the mixture.
3.  In another bowl, mix the flour, salt, and baking soda together.  Set aside.
4.  In a mixing bowl, beat the butter with the other 1/2C of sugar until blended.
5.  Add the flax eggs and stir well.
6.  Add the milk, lemon juice, and ginger mixture and stir well.
7.  Add the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
8.  Spoon the mixture into the muffin cups.  Bake for 15-20 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
9.  Cool in the pan for 1-2 minutes, then transfer to a wire race to cool.
10.  Enjoy!

Platte River 1/2 Marathon Race Report

The race started at 9AM, so I was able to sleep in, have a nice breakfast with my family, and then make my way to the race start.  My husband dropped me off because it was a point to point race, and he and my two boys headed to the park to play.

When I got to the start, I was surprised at how nice the weather was.  It was sunny, beautiful, and there was barely any wind.  In case you are wondering, I decided to wear my running skirt, a short sleeved shirt, and a long sleeve shirt.  I was glad I wore my skirt b/c I would have been hot in the capris.  I still had about 20min. to the start, so I hung out for awhile, made my way to the port-a-potty line for one last time, checked in my bag, and headed to the start area.  Because the race was run on a narrow multi-use trail, they had pace signs to help prevent a major back-up at the start.  I stood in the 8:00/mile line, knowing that I was hoping to run at or a little slower than this pace.

The gun sounded and we were off!  The first 2 miles were run around the main street of Littleton, then headed onto the Platte trail.  I felt good and tried to keep my pace above 8:00miles.  For the first 6 miles or so the trail was pretty much flat with a couple inclines here or there.  I was able to maintain my pace and I was still feeling good.  But, after the half way point, the inclines started getting bigger and more frequent.  If I would have known there were so many inclines I would have trained on more hills.  Most of my training runs were done on pretty flat areas, and although the inclines were followed by short down hills, my legs were just not prepared for all the climbing.  My pace started slowing and I started getting worried that I wouldn't meet my goal.

We ran right by the Platte river, so there was always a small, cool breeze while we ran.  My long sleeve shirt worked perfectly, but after mile 9, I was burning up.  I had to stop to take it off, and when I did, I immediately felt how tight my legs were.  I really wanted to stretch them out, but I had already wasted a couple of minutes, so I decided to skip the stretching and start running again.  I got back up to pace, but then around mile 10.5 I started getting side cramps...ughh!  My pace dropped a little more as I tried to run through the pain.   Finally I realized I was breathing pretty shallow, making the cramps worse, so I tried to really focus on my breathing.  Before long, the cramps were gone (thank god!) and I just really wanted to be done.

There was one last aid station just before mile 12 where I grabbed some powerade.  Then, came the big hill.  I knew this was part of the race, but I did not realize how hard it would be.  It started at mile 12.1 and lasted until about mile 12.8.  My legs were burning and my body was screaming for me to stop and walk, but I didn't.  I kept my head up, drove with my legs, and focused on picking people off one by one.  At the top of the hill I knew I had to kick it in gear if I wanted to PR.  I turned the corner, saw the finish, and gave it all I could.  I saw my husband and boys and heard them screaming, "Go, mommy go."  It was awesome!  I crossed the finish line at 1:47:06, a new PR by 2 1/2 minutes!  It wasn't exactly what I was shooting for, but I was happy with it.

Happy and sweaty after my race!

Here are my splits:
Mile 1: 7:47/M
Mile 2: 7:48/M
Mile 3: 7:51/M
Mile 4: 7:47/M
Mile 5: 7:46/M
Mile 6: 7:55/M
Mile 7: 7:56/M
Mile 8: 8:08/M
Mile 9: 8:00/M
Mile 10: 9:01/M (Stopped to take long sleeved shirt off)
Mile 11: 8:14/M
Mile 12: 8:37/M (feeling the inclines)
Mile 13.1: 8:37/M (Massive hill!)
Total: 13.18M(according to my Garmin)    Time: 1:47   Pace: 8:07/M

I definitely think not training on any hills really played a part in my time today.  I wish I could do the same 1/2 marathon I did last year (which is completely flat) and see what my time would be.  It's hard to compare race times when they are completely different races.  That being said, I'm pretty happy that I PR'd on a course with inclines.  I'll definitely be back next year to do this again.  Only next time, I'll spend more time doing hills!

This evening, we celebrated my race and the first 70 degree day of spring.  I made some homemade guacamole, and we had grilled portabello "burgers", grilled pineapple, and cauliflower mashers.  Yum!  It was a great end to a great day! :)  I hope everyone else that raced today had a good race.  I can't wait to read all of your race reports.

 

Expo fun!

I went to my race expo today and look what I got in my goody bag!

Ha ha..not really.  The Brooks tech shirt was part of the race, but the rest is what I couldn't live without.  I know that I'm going to need a new pair of shoes soon, so I took advantage of a 20% off coupon and got the new Brooks ST 4 Racers in yellow!  And, the blue water bottle was a free gift...how cool is that?  I also snagged a pair of Yaktrax for $15!  Woohoo!

Now, here's a quick clothing question for you.  The temp at the start of my race is supposed to be in the low 50s.  Would you run in shorts/skirt or capris?  Guys, I know you don't wear capris, but what would you wear?

A week in review and other things too

I've noticed that a lot of bloggers have "Three Things Thursday," Big Daddy Diesel has "Weekly Ramblings," and others have weekly recaps.  So, I thought I'd try one out myself.  But, instead of just talking about my training, I'd like to talk about things going on in my life too.  Sometimes I just need to vent and put ideas down on "paper" and I thought this would be a good place to do it!
 
Training:
* I managed to get in 2 swims this week instead of 2.  I don't think I can use "being tired" as an excuse anymore.  My official training starts next week for Boulder 70.3 and I need to HTFU and get to the pool! Period!

*  This week was a taper week for me because of my 1/2 marathon on Sunday.  I know some people have a hard time with taper weeks, but it was a nice change of pace for me and my family.  My husband had a meeting yesterday that got done early, so we took our youngest in the jogger and went for a nice, easy ~4.5M run around Wash park.  It was great!

*  The 100 push-up challenge put on by Jeff is getting tough!  Although, I have definitely seen an improvement.  For my initial test I could only do 12 push-ups.  For the exhaustion test at the beginning of this week I could do 26!  Woohoo!

Life:
*  REI dividends rock, especially with the 20% member coupon!  My husband and I have the REI Visa so our dividend was pretty sweet this year.  We divided it up and each got part of it.  I got some new clothes, none of which I really needed, and he got some camping stuff.

Here's a picture of one of the shirts I got.  It's a jersey/running top by ZOIC.  I like how it has a zippered pocket in the back.  And, I thought the color and design pattern was super cute! :)











*  For any of you that have little kids, can I just say that potty training sucks!  It is soooo frustrating and takes every ounce of patience that I have.  My 2 1/2yr. old is making progress, but it seems like it's taking forever!  Some days he'll go all day without an accident, and on other days, he'll have accidents one after the other.  Ugh!  I have to keep reminding myself that he's not even 3 yet, and he'll get there eventually.  I'm just so tired of diapers and pull-ups and want to be done with them!

*  The weather here is getting nicer and is supposed to be in the mid 60's-upper 70's this weekend!  Woohoo!  That means lots of time outside with the boys, and a perfect temp. for my 1/2!

*  I finally got my copy of "Run Like A Mother" from Amazon.  So far, I'm really enjoying it.  I really like their writing styles and how they present the information.  I'm sure you have seen it on all the blogs, but if you haven't and you're a mother, you should check it out!  Yesterday was so nice outside, that while the boys were content playing in the sand box, I pulled up my lounge chair and read....it was soooo nice.

I guess that's it for now.  I hope you all have a great weekend!  My Sunday Sampler may be put off b/c of my race this weekend (I know, I know, big surprise!), but hopefully I'll have a good race report in its place. :)

Humpastry Day - Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

I know this isn't a pastry, but I've had more Easter sweets this week than I can handle, so I thought I'd post something a little different.  Plus, my family and I love this recipe, so I wanted to share it with all of you!  This pizza dough is a cinch to make, is healthy, and is really tasty.  There is no way to mess it up and you can adjust the rise and bake time depending on how you like your crust.  You can also use this recipe to make calzones.

Ingredients:
Makes enough dough for 1 large pizza

*  1 (1/4oz.) package of active dry yeast (or 2 1/4 tsp. if using from a jar)
*  1C warm water
*  2C whole wheat flour
*  1/4C wheat germ or ground flax (I used wheat germ)
*  1tsp. salt
*  1Tbl. honey
* cornmeal for the pizza pan/baking stone

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 480 degrees.
2.  In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in the warm water.  Let sit about 10min. until creamy.
3.  In a large bowl combine flour, wheat germ, and salt.
4.  Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add honey and yeast  mixture.
5.  Mix well to combine.
6.  Cover and let sit in a warm place to rise for a few minutes.  *Note:  You can let it rise for a couple of minutes, or rise for longer depending on how thick you want your dough.  For example, if you like a thin crust pizza only let it rise a few minutes.  If you want a thick crust pizza, let it rise longer.
7.  Roll dough out on a floured surface and poke a few holes in it with a fork.  *Note: this dough is pretty sticky, so you will need to make sure you have enough flour on your hands, rolling pin, and surface to prevent sticking.
8.  Transfer dough to a pizza pan/baking stone sprinkled with cornmeal (the cornmeal prevents the dough from sticking to the pan).
9.  Bake in preheated oven for 8-10minutes.
10.  Remove from oven and lower the oven temperature to 425 degrees.
11.  Put your favorite toppings on the crust and bake for 8-10minutes or until desired crispiness/doneness is achieved.
12.  Let cool for a couple of minutes before slicing.
13.  Enjoy!

We ended up making two pizzas, one with cheese and one without.  I actually liked the one without better because I could taste all of the different veggie flavors.
Here are some toppings that we like:
* roasted red peppers
* sundried tomatoes
* garlic
* artichoke hearts
* spinach
* olives
* onion
* whatever other veggies we happen to have in the fridge!

LOST:
On another note, how cool was last night's LOST episode?  I love the whole parallel universe thing, but I have no idea how it's going to end!  I can't believe there are only 5 episodes left.  What am I going to do when it's over?  :(

Easter fun for all!

Yesterday was a perfect day!  The weather was beautiful, there was no wind, and we basically spent all day outside.  My husband went on a long 3 hour bike ride after breakfast while I dyed Easter eggs with my boys.

They wanted to wear some latex gloves that we use for cleaning.  As you can see, the gloves don't even fit them..ha ha

When my husband got back from his ride, it was my turn to go for a ride.  I was so excited to get out on my bike again.  I got a new Descente jersey during REI's super clearance sale months ago that has been sitting in my closet waiting to be worn.  I finally got the chance to wear it yesterday.  It's kind of hard to see in the picture, but the sleeves can actually snap off.  I thought the jersey was so cute and clever.  Don't you think?

My ride went really well, but after an hour my shoulders and neck got a little tired from being in the aero position.  Although I've been riding on the trainer, it really isn't anything like riding outside.  The good thing is that the pain will go away the more I get to ride outside...which will be quite often now that the weather is getting nicer. :)

I had an embarrassing moment when I stopped to adjust my shorts (for some reason they have started riding up...ughh!).  When I was ready to go I had my right foot unclipped and clipped in my left.  I brought my left foot up a little bit to give me a little push, and at the last minute I decided that I should get some water since I was already stopped.  I tried to bring my left foot back down, but I started to fall to the left and somehow managed to hop on my right foot until my bike was balanced again.  I honestly do not know how I didn't fall over.  But, my theory is that all the balancing poses I've been doing in my yoga class had something to do with it.  That, or dumb luck!  All I know is that I'm sure other riders that saw me were probably laughing their a**es off!

When I got home, this is what I found: the loves of my life.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  :)

The Sunday Sampler - Parenthood/Fitness

Welcome to another installment of The Sunday Sampler.  This is the day where I share my insights, thoughts, and opinions with you about different things in three categories: fitness (gear/clothing/accessories/etc.), parenthood, and health, rotating each category each week.  I hope that makes sense! :)  

My hope is that I will be able to help you along your adventure just like so many others have helped me. So, let me know what you think!  I'd love to read about your perspectives on these things as well!  :) 

Parenthood/Fitness:

BOB Sport Utility Jogging Stroller

I thought this post would work best as a combination of parenthood and fitness because when you're using this jogger the two go hand in hand.  In my first Parenthood Sunday Sampler (here) I mentioned using this jogger as a way my husband and I try to find balance.  It has definitely served us well and I honestly cannot imagine our lives without it.  

Here is what www.bobgear.com has to say about the BOB Sport Utility Stroller:

  Knobby tires, state of the art suspension, sparkling personality.  The Sport Utility Stroller is a perfect match for moms and dads who love the Great Out-There and want to share it with their kids.  Bumpy trails, curbs, cracked sidewalks, they're all tough to get along with in other strollers, but a breeze with the Sport Utility Stroller.  

Here are some specs for the Sport Utility Stroller:

• 16" knobby tires for maximum traction
• Easy fold-up design for stow-and-go portability
• Adjustable suspension 
• Padded seats that recline up to 70degrees 
• Seats can recline independently from each other
• Large independent canopies that are adjustable and provide shelter from sun and other elements
• 100lb. capacity
• 5 point padded safety harness
• Rear wheel foot-activated parking brake as well as a hand activated front wheel brake
• 2 interior seat pockets perfect for holding kid stuff
• Large seat back pocket to hold anything and everything
• Large low bay cargo basket underneath

Here are my thoughts about the jogger:

*  My husband and I did a lot of research before deciding to buy this jogger.  We wanted something we could run with, take off-road on hiking paths, go to the park with, and use as our everyday stroller.  This jogger as far exceeded our expectations!

*  It is actually easy and comfortable to run with.  Don't get me wrong, it's tough running while pushing two boys, but the jogger is designed so well that I actually don't expend a ton of energy making it go forward.

*  I LOVE that the seats move independently.  For any of you that have more than 1 child, you know how each one likes things his/her OWN way.  Sometimes my oldest wants the shade down and my youngest wants it up...no biggie!  When my youngest was younger, he would sometimes fall asleep in the stroller.  I could recline his seat to let him sleep more comfortably, while my oldest sat up and enjoyed the ride.  

*  It is very rugged and has great traction on off-road terrain.  There have been times when I was racing in a 5K with the jogger and to avoid being a "battling ram" and crashing into people in front of me, I would would have to run on the grass.  Again, no biggie! 

*  I feel like my kids are safe because of the 5 point harness.

*  The seat pockets are perfect for carrying my boys' snacks, toys, or whatever they feel like bringing.

*  The back pocket is very roomy and is great for carrying a water bottle, keys, cell phone, wallet, etc.

*  The basket underneath is awesome!  It can hold a ton and always seems to be filled with something! 

*  I love how easy it is to fold it up!  

*  One downside is the handlebar.  It would be nice if it could be adjustable for different heights.  My husband is pretty tall and it's not the most comfortable hand placement for him when he pushes it. 

*  You can buy some great accessories for it.  We got the weather shield b/c we live in Colorado and the weather can change in an instant.  Plus, we wanted to be able to use the jogger in the winter too.  Here's a shot of the jogger with the weather shield:

This was at a 5K race we did.  You can read about the race (here).  It served us very well at that race!   

Here is a picture of me jogging with my boys in a different 5K.  We have run with this in many running races.  If you are a parent you know how hard it can be to fit in workouts.  The jogger is perfect because I am able to get in a run while being with my kids at the same time.  Usually when I'm done with my run we'll end at the park so the boys can play.  They actually love to ride in the jogger and for the most part don't even fuss.  There are times, however, when I have to stop the jogger multiple times to referee a fight or argument between my boys, pick up a dropped water bottle or snack trap,or pick up a dropped toy or blanket.  But, I can deal with the infrequent stops because I'm just happy to be outside running.    

So, if you're in the market for a jogging stroller, I highly recommend looking at the BOB strollers.  Yes, they can be a little pricey.  But, sometimes you can find them used on Craigslist for a great price, and sometimes they go on sale at REI (until Mid-April you can use your 20% off member coupon) or Amazon.com.  Either way, you'll know that you are buying a great product that will last through the years.  And, once your kiddos have outgrown it, there is always someone else looking for one who will be willing to buy yours.  :)

  

* Please note that these are my own thoughts.  I am not endorsed by BOB nor was I paid to provide this review. 

Saved by the porta-potty!

So, I'm sure you all know where this post is going, but I'll start from the beginning anyways.  My plan called for a 12 mile run, my last long run before my 1/2 marathon next weekend.  I decided to run on the Highline Canal again because I honestly just love that trail.  It's so beautiful, great to run on b/c it's dirt, and there's always fun things to look at.

I started my run with 20mph wind gusts blowing every which way and was immediately grateful I wore capris, my bondiband to keep my wisps at bay, and a long sleeve shirt.  It was a little chilly and running into the wind was not fun.  Have I mentioned before how much I hate the wind?  I mean, you can have a beautiful, sunny day that ends up being cold because of the wind.  Ughhh.  Anyways, once I got more into the trail, the trees blocked some of the wind and I actually started getting hot.  I think I took my long sleeve shirt off around mile 3.  The trail was beautiful and there were quite a few people out running, walking, and biking.  I felt safe the entire time and never got that  heebie-jeebie feeling I sometimes get when I run alone.

My run was going really well and I felt strong and fast until about mile 6.  Something started churning a little bit in my stomach.  I was hoping it would go away b/c the trail isn't the best place to sneak in some business (if you know what I mean).  Although it runs along a canal lined with trees, it has houses on both sides.  There are spots where you could potentially hide behind a tree or a bush, but they're few and far between.  And, because there are so many people that use the trail, there's not much privacy.  Anyways, the feeling kept getting worse and I honestly didn't know what I was going to do.  Then, just as I was starting to panic, out of nowhere I saw a parking lot where people could park to access the trail.  And, the best sight of all, was a porta-potty at the far end of the parking lot!  Que angels singing!  I have never loved the sight of a porta-potty as much as I did just then!  I ran to that thing as fast as I could.  And, it was open...thank god!  I did my business and kept on with the rest of my run.

My legs had a hard time getting back to normal after my stop, but after awhile I was back on track with my pace.  I got to about mile 8 and my right knee started to hurt a little bit.  I thought, "What is this?"  I haven't had knee pain since college!  I don't know if it was the uneven terrain on the trail or what, but I did not like that feeling.  I kept thinking about it and focusing on it, and the more I thought about it, the worse it felt.  Finally, I said, "Enough!"  out loud on the trail.  Thankfully no one was around to hear me!  I tried to forget about it and focus on other things like the massive million dollar houses that surrounded me.  Or the birds singing in the trees.  Or the beautiful trees and blue sky.  Or the couple that was walking a little too tense and looked like they had just had a major fight.  And, what do you know, the pain stopped and it didn't bother me for the rest of the run.  I don't know what it is about the mind, but it is a powerful thing.  I honestly believe that what we are capable of doing is more mental then physical.  Anybody else think that??

The last 1 1/2 miles were up a slight incline and my calves were killing me!  My pace slowed a little bit, but I was still pushing on.  I started thinking about my 1/2 next weekend and how it will be 1.1 miles more than what I was doing today.  I've done 1/2s before, but I really want to try and get a PR this time.  I've never run the course so that will be interesting, and the weather is always a factor here, but I feel ready.  If I don't get a PR I will be o-kay with it, as long as I know that I gave it my all.

Happy to be done with my 12 Miler!  

Here are my stats for my run:
Miles: 12
Time:  1:40:55
Pace:   8:24/mile
Anyways, I hope you are all having a wonderful Easter weekend!  I'm off to die eggs with my boys! :)