Early Thankful Thursday

I'm posting this early since we will not have internet tomorrow.  I'm actually thankful for that very fact! 

There is something very freeing in knowing that I don't have email to check, FB/Instagram etc to follow/keep up with.  Just a low tech day with Sky playing, and living life. 

I'm free, free, free!!!! 

Enjoy your Thursday!  I'll catch you on the flip side! 

Be thankful for something large or small tomorrow! 

All Kinds Of Running Fun!

Last night was the Fleet Feet Run Club (FFRC) First Annual Christmas Part!  After a little 3 mile group run (thank you Michelle for sweeping with me!) we gathered for food, drinks, cookies, and gifts.  A good time was had by all!

Run, drink, eat!

Can we just talk about these cookies for a moment please.  They are amazing, if I do say so myself.  Let's be clear here, I am not a baker, like never, ever, don't even like it.  Give me $150 cut of prime rib roast and I will spend all day in the kitchen perfecting the most amazing meal, but give me $7 - $10 worth of ingredients to make cookies with and I break out in hives.  Not. My. Thing.  I was super not excited about the cooking exchange part of the FFRC party, but like a good sport I searched Pinterest and the blogs and found these bad boys. 

 Hot Chocolate Cookies!

I got the idea from Hungry Runner Girl, if you don't read her blog go check it out!  But, the recipe is actually from Seeded At The Table, which isn't a blog I follow, but maybe we all should!!!  

My only word of advice would be not to double the batch because the batter is so thick that it becomes impossible to blend.  As in it burned up my mixer, it was actually smoking.  I finally had to put gloves on and use my hands to blend it all together.  Other than that they are easy to make and totally worth the time and effort. 

The running fun continued today with a visit from adidas for the stroller group run.  Everyone that wanted to try out the Glide Boost had an opportunity to do so.  Those raspberry pink laces just make me smile!  After the run we had snacks and more cookies.  But the best part was Elya and  her new bundle of joy joined us for cookies, and baby snuggle time.  Thank you to Kelli for bring the shoes for the group to try out.  They appreciate the effort and attention!   

Sky just loves babies so much.  Once she got her hands on Rielle she was not going to let go.  It took some convincing to get her to share the baby with everyone else.  I'm so excited, for all the right reasons, that Rielle is here and part of their family, but I'm also excited because it means that soon Elya will be back to running.  I have missed running with her so much!  

Don't tell Sky but I'm sneaking over to Elya's when she's at the grandparents this afternoon so I can have my very own baby time!!!

The last exciting running tidbit is that in a last minute decision Sky will be running her second race this weekend!!!  We visited Tacoma City Marathon Association (TCMA) offices today and got her registered for Santa Runs Tacoma 1K.   

I found out today that the kids get a wrapped gift at the finish...How cute is that!  Per usual there will more pictures than are necessary.  :)

What is your go to Holiday Cookie?

Snow!!!

We have snow!!!  It's only a very slight dusting, just enough to say it snowed, and bust out the champagne!  I love our champagne tradition every time it snows.  Last night I opted for a hot buttered rum though.  I really just wanted something nice and hot so I could warm up from the inside out.  

I guess a morning run with Sky, as in no stroller...Sky picks the trails and we pick up leaves/spin/skip/hop kind of run, is out.  She does not have a snow suite and is finally healthy, so don't want to get her out in the wet and cold just yet. Plus, I'm running with the group tonight and don't really want to start and end the day on a cold note.  

Speaking of being cold the heating system was broke at the gym last night.  Talk about a brisk soccer practice!  Since Mark was there to help keep Sky on track I was able to take some pictures.  In the nick of time too since it was the last class!   

You would think soccer would be perfect for her with all the running...except for she uses her hands instead of her feet.  So maybe playing goalie is in her future?  All three of us saw huge improvement from the first class to the last though.  She hardly used her hands at all last night, and she was very focused on the goal drills!        

 She looks so determined in this picture!  

Our happy little soccer player! 

I'm actually going to miss the class.  Since it's a "parent and me" class I ran all the drills with her, and it ended up being a good 30 minute leg workout.  Lot's of stopping and starting, and sprinting to chase Sky or an errant ball across the gym.  My legs got a bit of a different workout than they are used to.  Plus, Sky had just gotten used to coach Bret and would actually let him do drills with her instead of me.  That's probably the most important achievement of the whole class! 

What sports did you play growing up?  

Anyone still participate in sports (other than running) as an adult?   

adidas Glide Boost Review

Happy Monday everyone!  

A few weeks ago I was able to test run a pair of the adidas Glide Boost shoes. I've been pretty vocal about my adidas Energry Boost love affair, you can read about it HERE and HERE among all the other mentions in posts, so I was really excited to give this new Boost family member a go!

 Retails for $130

The Technical Info:

Revolutionary Feel – Endless Energy

• Revolutionary BOOST non-foam midsole developed by adidas Innovative Technology (aIT) which provides a soft comfort and responsive performance unachievable with EVA. BOOST retains its responsiveness far better over the life of the shoe than EVA midsoles.
• EVA cradle sits against the foot in heal to give a more structured feel compared to Energy
• Engineered mesh upper adapts to all foot and is Wider 
• CONTINENTAL RUBBER for 21% better traction in dry conditions and 23% better in wet.
• TORSION SYSTEM designed to aid smooth transition from midfoot stance to forefoot push-off.
• Longitudinal decoupling of blow rubber in forefoot allows the foot to move as nature intended.

Tech

• 31/21mm stack heights
• Women’s 8.8oz, Men’s 10.4oz
• 110/64/88mm bottom nets (men’s size 9)
• NEUTRAL COMFORT SILO

Bold bullets are the major differences I noticed between the Glide Boost and Energy Boost.

I love this color combo, the black with raspberry pink laces is totally my thing! Photo credit to Michelle Beckham!

My initial reaction to putting them on was how solid they felt.  They feel firm and sturdy, which is a good thing since it was designed to provide a more structured feel.  I liked the mesh upper, and that there was plenty of room for your foot in there.  As already mentioned I loved the color combo, especially with the outfit I had on, it was a perfect match!  

So, how did they feel on the run?  They have a nice rebound when pushing off the pavement, like they are providing a little extra oomph to your legs.  I liked the sturdier feel, it gave me confidence in my landing and that I wasn't going to roll an ankle or anything.  My hips, knees, and ankles felt aligned and good on impact, zero hot spots/blister issues with my feet (yes I get blisters on 3 mile runs if I'm in the wrong shoes!), and it felt like I was getting a good mid-foot strike without having to think about it too much.

I feel like the Glide Boost is closer to the type of shoe I typically get fit into, and in comparison to similar types of shoes that I have, I for sure like the Glide Boost better.  It's just really hard to beat the Boost material and how much pep it adds to your legs!  

However, I have to say the Energy Boost still has my heart!  It has more of the Boost material than the Glide does, and I could totally feel the difference on the run.  I also really like the sleek design of the Energy Boost Techfit upper.  There is just enough there to fit the foot perfectly yet still provide the technology and performance you want.  They just feel lighter and faster, and that spring off the pavement is where it's at for me!  

My one and only running shoe true love!  adidas Energy Boost

The differences between the two that I notice the most: 

• The Energy Boost is 0.6 oz lighter than the Glide Boost (While the Glide felt heavy on the run I think it was my sick legs that felt heavy...want to see how they feel when I'm healthy!).
• Energy Boost has the four-way stretch Techfit upper and Glide Boost has the mesh upper
• And the biggest difference is the amount of Boost material, the Energy has more than the Glide

Even though I'm an Energy Boost lover I wouldn't rule the Glide Boost out.  It's nice to have the different types of shoes to rotate, and for some runs a different shoe is nice/helpful depending on the goals for the run.

If you're Boost curious hit up your local running store (in the Tacoma area Fleet Feet Tacoma!!!) and try them on!  Find out if there is going to be an adidas group run and give em a go! 

Let me know if you have any questions about any of the adidas Boost shoes.  I'm happy to get answers for you or connect you with Kelli!     

Disclaimer - I was not asked by adidas or Fleet Feet to post about the shoes.  The opinions are completely my own and I decided to post about them because I wanted to.  I did ask Kelli (adidas rep) for some technical info, so that I could provide accurate information, but other than that there has been no other input on this post.    

Sky's First Christmas Tree Lighting

We made a last minute decision to take Sky to the University Place tree lighting last night.  I'll admit we found the small tree, in such a huge space, a bit sad.  But, the upside was it was a small event, except for around the fire pit, and Sky had fun.  Granted she didn't care a bit about the tree.  All she wanted to do was run around, and all we did was chase after her, but it helped us stay a bit warmish I guess. 

It was kind of perfect really.  We showed up around 5:30, found front row parking, only had to try and stay warm for 25 minutes or so before the tree light up, and then on the way home we got Hot Buttered Rum makings.  By 7:30 Sky was in bed and I was warming back up with Hot Buttered Rum!   

 She refused to look at me for this pic. 

 Her hat and jacket don't match at all, nor do the boots.  I was going for warmth, not fashion points.

Kisses are serious!

 The tree was small, but for Hawks fans...it is Hawk's Blue.

Proof I was there.  :)

Planning on streaking today (2 days in a row is a streak right?!) with another chilly run.  I don't know if I'm going to go early with Sky, or wait for nap time and do a quick 4 alone...mostly it will come down to which football game I'm willing to miss part of.  

Hawk's or 49ers, who's going to win?  

I plead the 5th on this one since I'm a Steeler fan living in Hawk country, and I like Kaepernick.  Already have too many strikes against me.

Whatever you're doing today enjoy it and stay warm!  

Ninja Running

I got my a$$ out there and got a run in.  Only 2.7 and it was an easy pace, but felt hard because I was so dang cold.  Thankfully there was zero wind, otherwise it would have been way worse!

The face cover saves my lungs from the searing cold air, but I do get called a ninja a lot when I wear it.  I know I'm being a baby about this...there are runners out there running in sub 10 degree weather.  For perspective it was 27 at the end of our run.  Now that I've broken the seal on the cold weather running I think I'll be fine.  Just had to get out there the first time and embrace it.

 P.S. - those boots are ridiculous to run in, she fell every few feet, but jumped up and took off again!

As you can see Sky loved it!  When we got back to the care she yelled at the top of her lungs, "I LOVE RUNNING!", for all to hear!  It's all her, she was begging to get out and run which is why I stopped at 2.7 instead of going for 3...she was getting very vocal about it.

Even though we were both chilled and had runny noses we hit up the park for some play time after we were done running.  She lives this swing so much.  I call it the lazy swing, because it's like a lounge chair and does nothing for teaching her to swing herself.  But after running in the cold I thought she deserved a bit of pampering.  :)

Now for nachos, beer, hot coffee, and a hot shower to warm back up!

Have a great weekend and stay warm out there!