I Interrupt Thankful Thursday For This Important Message

I'm pushing Thankful Thursday to tomorrow for a Thankful Friday post.  Today I have some links to share with some challenges and other stuff that all starts tomorrow! 

First up Old Navy is having an active wear sale that starts TODAY!  10/31-11/8.  There are several bloggers out there that love Old Navy for training runs, walking, cross training etc.  40% all active wear now until the 8th!  I have tried some of the tanks on, but they didn't fit me right.  They have some cute stuff though, so go check it out!

Next a 28 day challenge that I am so excited about!!!  olivetorun blog is hosting a 28 day Count Your Blessings challenge.  Click HERE to read her post about the challenge! 

All you have to do is print the below calendar (there is a link to it in her post!), fill in a blessing/something your thankful for every day, take a picture at the end of the month, and share it with her.  Super easy! 

 

There is enough negative news stories, people complaining on FB, Twitter, etc about how cruddy life is...just a lot of negativity in general.  This is an excellent way to take a moment each day to think about the good things in your life and be thankful! 

 

Now for a couple of running/exercise related challenges for Nov.  I love these too because November starts the Holiday/ton's of yummy food and treats Season.  It is so easy to slack off a bit with the cooler weather and busy holiday schedules.  But these next two challenges will help keep you motivated and fitting in your favorite outfits! 

 

I've already talked about this one, but since it starts tomorrow am mentioning it again.  SkinnyChick Blog is participating in a RunVember challenge, and has invited everyone to join in!  Check out her post about the challenge HERE  

 

 

Pretty basic, run 30 miles in 30 days.  Totally doable!  And, if you're going to do this one you might as well do the next challenge as well!!! 

 

Monica at Run, Eat, Repeat is hosting a Pile On The Miles challenge in November.  Check out THIS link for all the details.  You need to set a goal, fill out the form which there is a link to in her blog post, check in the beginning of each week for accountability, and then work towards your goal.  It's pretty easy and there is an awesome prize drawing as well!!! 

 

Please go visit the blog links I included, even if you don't participate in the challenges.  All three blogs are really fun to read! 

 

Who's in?!  What are your November goals?

 

My goal for November is 40 miles for the month.  After finishing the Half Fanatic quest I have dropped off on the longer runs.  I'm still running, but only 3 to 4 miles per run.  I can continue to do that and hit 10 a week no problem, but I'm hoping that the November challenges will help get me back into the early morning weekend long runs.  I'm not a truly happy runner until I hit mile 5, so need to get back to 5 or more mile runs! 

 

It wouldn't be a complete post without a quick Sky Pic...

 

 

  ...she takes cleaning her plate seriously!  Apparently she liked the fajita's I made last night!  



Tuesday Night Beer Run with adidas!

Michelle and I had so much fun last night!  Can you believe last nights run was our first run together since Race For A Soldier, exactly a month ago?!  We spent the whole summer running together and then apparently needed a break.  ;-) 

Just kidding, we were smart when we scheduled our races and knew life was going to get crazy busy after 9/29, add in Sky and Michelle being sick, and running together just didn't work out.

We are back though!  Two beers and 3.89 miles back!  The weather was actually pretty perfect for an evening run, thank goodness it didn't rain otherwise it would have been miserable.  It's really hard to run, cool down, run, cool down, and run again.  Add in beer and it's a bit of a challenge. 

Our first pre-beer mile was 9:18 our last, two beer's in, mile was 10:31 and that felt hard to maintain.  Legs were heavy, not sure if it was cooling down or the beer, and burping beer while running made for an interesting last mile back to the store.  But, it was so much fun, can't wait for the next beer run! 

We were wondering if drinking beer then running gets you tipsy faster, or helps you process it faster so it doesn't hit you as hard?  I suppose I could google that and find out. 

 Above and below stop #2 at MaGoos, and a photo op with Batman (and his crooked nose)!

 Stop #1 at The Parkway (I always do that with my leg in every picture)!

A big shout out to adidas and Tim for sponsoring the run!  I was already a huge adidas fan thanks to my Energy Boost shoes, but now that they sponsored a beer run it's an over the top love affair!

Seriously I'm still in love with my Boost shoes!  I'm about 150 miles into them and they still feel great.  I have zero issues when I run in them, no blisters, no inserts needed, and they are my go to start line and long run shoe.  Plus some of the new colors are awesome!   

Energy Boost and adidas For Life!!! 

All sorts of running fun around here...today's stroller run is all about the tata's!  Moving Comfort is joining us for fittings and discounts!  Super excited!  No pictures of that though!  :)

What's your go to, all time favorite running shoe? 

P.S. I have never been asked to post about any of my running gear by the store or vendors.  I share my love of adidas (and any other brand/items) purely because I want to share the joy, and provide feedback that may help others when it comes to finding the right shoe (or gear) for them.  Financially I can't afford to make too many wrong choices when it comes to running related purchases, so I count on blog/customer reviews/advice from those that use the item already before I make my purchases.  Just trying to help others do the same.    

If I ever do a sponsored post you will know up front! 

From I Run, Run to I Cuddle

Yesterday Sky was all "I run, run" and today she is all "I cuddle".  My car still isn't starting, so it's a good day for her to want to lounge around cuddling.  There are worse things in the world than being "stuck" home all day with a cuddle bug!

No run to the park today since I have the group run tonight.  I'm just not a two a day girl at all (especially when run #1 would be pushing the stroller and run #2 is with a much faster group of runners).  Besides yesterdays run blasted my legs.  I had several days off too, but I think the massage worked em over pretty good since they were tired from the start. 

The upside of running with Sky is there are lot's of breaks for stuff like this...

I was actually hoping she would swing/play at the park longer than she did.  Even though I purposely kept a slow, easy pace my legs felt like led, and I really wanted the play break so I could re-gather myself for the run up the hill back home.  But, Sky had other ideas.  After a few minutes of swinging she jumped off the swing, said "I run, run" and took off towards the lake and home. 

I'm looking forward to a speedy beer run with the group tonight!  I have a hard time running fast enough to keep up without beer on board, so will see how I do with two beer stops scheduled tonight.  I love that adidas is the sponsor for tonight's run!!!  My favorite shoes, favorite rep, and one of my favorite beverages all together! 

I don't usually run with my phone, but think the photo op potential for a beer run are going to be pretty high tonight!

What's your favorite beer?   
I love Blue Moon, but am hoping for some seasonal options for tonight's run!

Weekend Fun and Hip Work

It seems like my Dad's visits always happen at just the right time for my hip/knee/foot/back issues to be worked on!  This runner always seems to have something that needs attention.   

This time around it was my TFL.  A little hint for you runners out there...everyone thinks it's the IT Band that is the source of all the issues...the TFL is where it's at!!!  It always hurts a bit, ok a lot, when he works on me, but this time around was the first time I had to fight vomiting on the massage table.  He hit the TFL in my right leg and it fired everything up from hip to foot, and my knee felt like it was going to jump out of my leg and run out the door.  I almost asked him to get me a bucket because I was going to be sick. 

That feeling only lasts for a little bit though.  Once the bad stuff releases then it starts feeling magically good, like I can run as far and as fast I want forever.  I'm happy to report that today I'm 100% pain free!!!  Good thing too because my car won't start, so I'll be running Sky to the park in the jogger.

Thankfully the rest of the weekend was nothing but fun times.  Sky loves all the rough and tumble play with Grandpa.  She really loved visiting Lattin's Country Cider Mill, feeding the animals, eating apple cider doughnuts, riding the horses, running through the pumpkin patch, and riding in the wheelbarrow.  If you live in the Olympia area and haven't been, you should go!

Apparently the weekend wore her out because it's 8:00 a.m. and Sky is still asleep...unheard of!!!  But, I love the quiet time to drink coffee, blog, get ready for our run etc.

Just a nice easy, purposely slower paced run, to ease the hip/TFL back into it today.  I have a fast group run in store tomorrow, so no need to run too fast today especially while pushing Sky.  She is getting heavier and heavier! 

Tell me something cool you did this weekend?  Any running or racing success to share? 

Don't forget about the RunVember challenge...who's joining me? 

Ready for a RunVember Challenge?!

Who's going to join me for this?!  You can run 1 mile a day, 16 a week, or whatever combination you want.  Just hit 30 for the month! 

Thank you Skinny Chick Blog for the idea!  Check out her blog HERE ! 

Sky got her run on today.  She actually cut my run short because she was yelling "I run, run...I run, run" over and over.  So after 2.5 I gave up on my run and let her out of the stroller.  She got .28'ish in before seeing the playground and then it was all over.  But still, I'm loving that she is loving running so much. 

Our view today...no sun, just fog, but still beautiful in it's own way!

Disclaimer...this is all her.  I don't suggest she run, ask her to run, talk her into running.  She runs because she constantly asks me to run, run.  She goes as far as she wants as fast or slow as she wants.  I'm just along for the ride.  And, BTW there are plenty of times she asks to run, run that she doesn't get to.  If it doesn't work with the schedule then it doesn't work.  I indulge her when I can, but never force her.

She has lot's of other, non-running, interests such as:

    Helping in the kitchen!

 

Climbing!

 

 Swinging!

 

Reading!

 

 

 

I hope you all have a fun filled weekend ahead!

 

Anyone else have kiddos that run? 

 

How young is too young, and how far is too far?  Let me know what you think!

Thankful Thursday

Some day's it's harder than others to be thankful.  But, that's the whole point of why I started doing Thankful Thursdays. 

So, while there is a bit of stress today I am still thankful for a few things... 

-That Sky was perfectly pleasant grocery shopping this morning.  While she did kick one of her shoes off in Costco, and I didn't find it so she now has no running shoes, I'm thankful that nothing worse than that happened.

-I don't mind fog.  It's kind of cozy and quiet.  It's a good thing I don't mind it because it has been nothing but fog for weeks now. 

-Thankful for the few hours of sun break that Lakewood gets every now and then from the fog, because it led to this picture yesterday afternoon...

Sky's shadow looks so tall!!!

 

-I'm thankful that we live so close to Ft. Steilacoom Park!  It means that we can drop everything at a moments notice and enjoy the sun, and Sky gets to run, run when she has energy to burn.  Yesterday there was a cross country event going on, so we stopped for a bit to cheer the runners as they went past.   

 

-Lastly I'm thankful that while Sky isn't sleeping during nap time the last few days at least she's laying in there talking and singing quietly to her toys.  I get a little bit of peace and she gets to rest her body even if she isn't sleeping.

 

Tell me one thing you are thankful for today!

Twisted Hair and Stuff

Anyone else hate growing their hair out?!  Yep, me too.  Thankfully my hair grows pretty fast, but still there is a stage in every grow-out attempt, sometimes more than one stage, that you just can't do a thing with it.  Going from pixi'ish short to angled, just below the ears, bob = frustration! 

I'm fine with where it's at right now though, because I know the end result is going to be amazing!!!  But, it also means there is long hair in my eyes that I can't stand.  The result is a lot of this...

...not making this pic big because my forehead is already ginormous enough!  I either pin it, twist it, clip it, or braid it back out of my face almost every day.  For special, I need/want to look nice, occasions I will leave it down for a tussled in my eyes look, but I can only handle that for a few hours.

Sky was super thrilled about the stroller run today...I was super thrilled about the fog.  I actually kind of like the fog, but it made for extra cautious street crossings with the strollers. 

Her biggest issue I think is that I'm running and she isn't.  She finished her snack super fast, before the run even started so I kept hearing "I want out", "I run, run".  I just can't slow the group down that much.  I may have to start letting her out on the last home stretch back to the store though.  She just isn't happy if she isn't running. 

I had an awesome run with the Tuesday Night group last night!  I must be getting faster because I wasn't the last one this time!  When I left the house it was sunny and nice, but Tacoma was full of fog.  I didn't bring my headlamp, so I ran my a$$ off to keep up with the group.  It helped that there were a few people behind me, and I could hear them talking.  So I pushed to stay ahead of them.  I just didn't want to get left alone in the dark and fog....it's not that it's not safe, but it isn't safe.  If that makes sense. 

Mile 1 - 9:22
Mile 2 - 9:36
Mile 3 - 8:50 - Felt like I was hauling a$$, turns out I was, for me anyway. 

Next week is a beer run, and I'm so excited.  Not sure how drinking beer and running is going to work for me, but I'm going to give it my best attempt! 

It's driving me crazy not to have a half on the calendar until April.  I miss it!!!  Miss the training, miss the distance, miss the discipline.  I think I'm addicted to 13.1.  Tempted to sign up for every 5K and 10K I can find between now and then just so I have some races to look forward to. 

Funny yet annoying new thing Sky is doing.  She is all of a sudden very, very opinionated about which direction I'm driving.  If I turn right and she wanted to go left it's screaming, crying and yelling "no go this way".  Every time we go anywhere she gets upset about how I'm getting us there.  Fun times I tell you. 

Please tell me your toddler is doing something funny and/or annoying as well! 

What races are people doing?  I'm really needing to find some fun ones to run!

Anyone done a beer run? 

Planks Are Hard

Can I just say a 3 minute plank feels like torture...I have no idea how I'm going to do a 5 minute plank next week!  Yikes!!! 

I'll be honest...I start out in perfect plank form, but after 1:30 all bets are off.  I straighten my arms/go to my knees as needed.  I go back to proper form as I'm able, but I can't hold a proper plank for 3 minutes.  My core feels stronger though, and that was the whole point.

I'm going to feel that 3 minute plank during tonight's adidas sponsored run!        

Dinner last night was so good!!!!  I usually share recipes on Friday's, but this one can't wait.  Sky cleaned her plate twice, and Mark said it was even better as leftovers today! 

I got the recipe from my Bon Appetite magazine: Original link HERE

What mine looked like above, what it looks like in the magazine below.

 

 

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2½ pounds skin-on, bone-in chicken legs and thighs
• Kosher salt
• 8 garlic cloves, peeled
• ⅓ cup (packed) light brown sugar
• ¼ cup (or more) unseasoned rice vinegar
• 2 slices ¼"-thick slices peeled ginger
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• ¼ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced
• Cooked white rice (for serving)    

PREPERATION

Heat oil in a large wide heavy pot over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and, working in 2 batches, cook until golden brown and crisp, 6–8 minutes per side; transfer to a plate. Add garlic to pot and cook, stirring often, until golden, about 2 minutes; transfer to plate with chicken. Pour off fat from pot.

 

Return pot to medium-high heat and add ½ cup water, scraping up browned bits. Add brown sugar; stir to dissolve, then cook, stirring, until mixture thickens and turns a deep amber color, about 4 minutes. Carefully add vinegar (it may bubble up; sugar will crystallize); stir to dissolve sugar.

 

Add ginger, broth, and soy sauce, then add chicken, skin side up, and garlic. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer gently until chicken is cooked through, 20–25 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate.

 

Bring cooking liquid to a boil and cook until thick enough to coat a spoon, about 10 minutes. Return chicken to pot; turn to coat. Top with scallions and serve with rice.

 

 

Recipe by Chris Morocco
Photograph by Hirsheimer & Hamilton

 

What food magazines do you subscribe to?

Bon Appetite

Rachael Ray

Food & Wine

Cooks Illustrated

 



 



"I Run, Run"

I think Sky may be more of a runner than I am.  She is constantly asking to "run, run".  She was not happy Saturday night when we left Grace's race, because she was having the time of her life running around the park while we waited.  Pretty sure she ran at least a mile.  All the way back to the car she kept saying, "no car, I run, run, no car".    

I'm going to use her love of running to my advantage this week!  She climbed out of her crib for the first time yesterday which means it's big girl bed time.  My plan is to tire her out with running so that bed time in the big girl bed = sleeping!  I do not want to deal with her emptying her dresser, closet and toy bin because she can get out of bed and play in the middle of the night. 

BTW - I almost wish someone had been hear to take a picture of the look on our faces when Sky walked into the living room after having been put in her crib.  I was sort of shocked even though we knew this day was coming.

No running today.  Plank challenge bumps up to 3 minutes today, and I was already struggling with 2.5, plus it doesn't help that Sky sits on my back while I'm planking.  I should get extra credit for that right?!  Anyway...plank challenge, foam rolling/trigger pointing for the hip, and some house cleaning on the schedule today. 

A few cute, mostly Sky pics, from the weekend. 

Cinnamon hard apple cider...it's the best! 

 

 Practicing her chopstick skills.

 

 

I'm really thankful that Sky is a good eater.  No matter where we take her she tries whatever we put in front of her.  She doesn't always end up liking it, but she always gives it at try.  And, if we are using chopsticks, then so must she!  

 

 

Bishop hugs.

 

 

Lastly check out one of my favorite blogs for a change to win a cool bracelet giveaway!  SkinnyChick Blog

 

Good Luck!    



Happiest Little Runner EVER!

Congratulations Grace!!!!  She finished her very first race last night!

 

 

That's Grace with the biggest grin on her face I've ever seen!  The bright light just behind her is Michelle.  I know it's not the best picture, but it was dark, Grace was running really fast, and it was the best I could do with my phone. 

She ran 2.5 miles, which included the hardest hill on 5 Mile Drive, and Michelle said she ran the whole darn hill!  I have a special place in my heart for Grace (and her sister Kiera), and watching her cross he first finish line brought tears to my eyes. 

All I know is that every runner should have that much joy in their hearts while running!  I can't wait to see all the finish lines Grace has ahead of her!  I am so proud of her!   

Loving My Running Life!!!

I actually have a DIY project, and decoration challenge/solution to share, but first I must share the awesome little run I had today! 

Numbers are a love hate thing for me when it comes to running, and health in general.  On one hand numbers are the proof positive way to determine gains/losses, improvement/declines, strength/weakness, winners/losers etc.  On the other hand, numbers can lead to a lot of judgments and comparisons from others, and from ourselves.  

When I mention numbers it's not really to say look how amazing I am, or how fast I am, it's really just a reference point for how far I've come.  I started out running 12'ish minute miles (which was really hard for me) and felt content with that.  So, it's shocking to look at the Garmin and see anything under 10 min miles. 

Today I saw sub 9!  Not only that, but I felt good, like I could keep going at that pace for much longer than I did!  I stopped after 2.3, because I was hitting the uphill section to get back to the house, and needed to stretch out the hip (it feels awesome while running except for hills) before taking on the hill from the lake back up through the college.

Since the first two miles were in the 8's I thought I would take the last, mostly uphill, mile home easy and comfortable.  Ummm, since when was anything under 10 easy and comfortable?  Again I'm shocked to find that my comfortable, I feel like I can do this forever, pace is getting closer and closer to a 9 minute mile!  I'm loving this whole running thing! 

On to my nap-time projects from yesterday! 

Does anyone else have a huge, ugly electric panel just out in the open with no idea how to make it look nice?  We do!  It's in the dinning room, and while our dinning room is super casual it's still not nice to look at.  So I came up with this solution...

    Great use of 4x4 instagram prints!

 

Mark actually has a great idea to cover it up by extending the curtain rod/curtain past the window to cover it up, and make it look like the window is much bigger than it is.  But, I know it will take us some time to find new curtain's and rods, so this is my solution until then. 

 

Any other A Beautiful Mess blog followers out there?  If you don't follow them, you should!  So creative and colorful and just fun!  Check em out HERE !

 

I got the idea from THIS  post to mod podge my instagram photos to a 12x12 canvas!  I had run out of room on the refrigerator for all my instagram prints, so needed to figure out something to do with them.     

 

 

Vacation canvas above and Sky canvas below.

 



Since they print 4x4 a 12x12 canvas should fit 9 pics perfectly.  It doesn't by the way, they hang over the edges a bit and overlap each other.  But in theory it should work.  Anyway, they didn't turn out as awesome as I had hoped they would.  It looks ok, but I'm not in love with the final outcome.  Not sure how much I like working with mod podge, and how it looks painted over the pics.  I would maybe cut the borders off all the pics and if there was any canvas showing between the pics use colored sharpies to add jot's of color between the pictures.  I don't know though that I will try this project again to see if that would look good or not.  If you give it a go let me know!   

I do love this little project though...

 

...since I only had two black and white prints I got 4x4 canvases and mod podged a picture to each one.  There are miniature easels you can get for the 4x4 canvases for easy display.  So cute! 

 

Any DIY success or disasters to share? 

 

Running plans this weekend?

I want to get a 5 to 7 mile run in, but just depends on the weekend goes.  When I don't have a race on the books I try and spend as much time with my babe and baby as possible.  We will be at Graces first finish line Saturday night!!!  So excited to see her finish her very first race!

 

Have a great weekend! 

 

 

 

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful that I still got a run in even though I had decided not to run today.  I was bummed that I woke up with my hip really hurting me on top of not sleeping worth crap last night.  Since I'm not training for anything I figured taking an unexpected rest day isn't the end of the world. 

Apparently Sky didn't get the memo.  I thought that when I took her to the park she would want to play, but I kid you not when I say the first words our of her mouth were, "I run, run", and off across the soccer fields she went.

I was walking behind her letting her do her thing, but she wasn't having it.  She kept stopping and waiting for me, and once I'd catch up she'd grab my hand and say, "I help Mommy run, run". 

Let's just say she knows me too well.  Of course I had to give in and run with her, back and forth across the soccer field.  We did that three times before she got down to the business of playing! 

Playing her own song on the bells.

She totally posed for this one!

 

A few other things I'm thankful for:

 

-That there is a Goodwill drop just a few minutes from our house.  I swear every week I think surely there is nothing more to clean out/get rid of, but every week I take on average two garbage bags full of stuff.  And, that isn't counting the stuff I'm setting aside to pass on to friends who are pregnant/already have baby girls.  

 

-That I discovered http://www.thredup.com/ as an avenue to clean out my closet a bit, and potentially make some money.  I have a hard time not trying to get something out of my high-end denim.  It's in great shape, but I either just don't wear it enough to justify the space it takes up, or it doesn't fit perfect anymore.  I have a few pair I'm holding on to because I do wear them all the time, but the others had to go.  (I'm actually waiting to see what of my stuff they will accept and what the offer will be...I'll share the results once I hear from them).  

 

-For cozy, snuggly pj's because today is one of those days that I just don't feel good and need to be snuggly and comfortable.  I feel like I've been on the edge of being sick ever since Race For a Soldier...if it's going to happen, just happen already!!!!  I am thankful at times like this that I don't have a "real" job.  So much easier to feel sick'ish at home in pj's playing with my favorite little girl in the world!

 

-Salted Caramel Mochas...they also make feeling sick'ish easier to deal with. 

 

-That this weeks menu is almost over!  I clearly was distracted when meal planning this time because every single dish was pasta.  I finally snagged a meal from next weeks menu just so we could get a carb break!  (And, that is why being gluten free does not necessarily = losing weight...hello rice and corn pasta!)  Usually when meal planning I take in to consideration how many pasta/grilled meat/Mexican dishes are on the menu each week.  I try to add lot's of variety so we don't get bored, but I failed this time around.

 

Tell me two things you're thankful for this week! 

 

Anyone else out there meal plan?

 

 

 

 



Quick Sky Picture Post

I have too many things to try and get done during nap time for a quality blog post.  So, here is how lunch went down in pics! 

 

 

 

 

 

P.S. We had to have soup because I needed something to warm up with after a chilly stroller run.  It just felt cold today. 

Running Rest Day

Today wasn't going to be a rest day.  But, sometimes that's how it goes.  My hip has been bothering me, and getting worse and worse.  I think I know why...Sky has been way overly clingy and wanting to be held all the time.  I have been bad and have been propping her on my hip...really bad idea! 

So, after a nice easy morning walk with Jodi it's all rest, foam rolling, stretching (maybe a little beer), and no more propping Sky on my hip.  But, still cuddling and holding her as much as I can, because at 2 1/2 years old those days are quickly coming to an end I'm sure. 

It all works out though.  I'll swap my Thursday rest day for today and Sky and I will hit the waterfront again!  Can't wait! 

Shout out to Garmin Customer Service.  My watch has been randomly deleting my entire history/deleting runs before I can upload them.  I finally took the time to call yesterday.  The step by step instructions were amazing and I was impressed because not only do they know their products, but they understand how all the different versions of window works, and how Mac vs PC work.  Time will tell if it is fixed or not, but it did track, save and upload my walk today.  That's a good sign!

After our morning walk it was time for one of Sky's favorite snacks.  Hummus!  Just don't share dip's with her because she dips and licks, dips and licks over and over.  It's like double dipping x 10!   

One of her other favorite things...

 ...brushing her teeth!  Yep, that's toothpaste on her nose.  It gets everywhere, but at least she enjoys the process. 


How do you spend your rest days? 

Waterfront Run!

The PNW can be rough to live in when the weathers rainy, cold, and gray, and when most of the running blogs I follow are in CA where there is always sun, shorts, and tanks.  Ok, maybe not always, but I tell you it really sucks to be running in the middle of winter in the cold, snow, and rain and see sunny CA pics.  Not picking on CA, apparently I just don't follow blogs from anywhere else sunny.

Anyway, it's all made up for with days like today!  When it's sunny around here it is pretty amazingly beautiful!  And, the whole week is supposed to be just like today!  Mild temps with sun after the morning fog burns off.  (Although, of course the only day that has a.m. showers is stroller group day...whatever!).

Sine I was pushing Sky today I wanted to run somewhere flat, with a great view, and a playground!  My usual go to location is Chambers Bay.  I kind of wanted a break though because I walked there twice last week, and am doing so again tomorrow.  Plus, I wanted 5 miles today and the only way to do that at Chambers, without running the same out and back over and over, is to run the whole loop with the crazy hills.  That's just not something I do with the stroller.  It's too hard pushing up the hills and too easy to lose control coming down the hills.  So, we packed up and drove to the waterfront!  I try and limit the number of times I drive clear across two towns during the week, so the waterfront is a special treat!  The view was a special treat as well! 

 Totally worth the drive for this view!

  Short of the 5 miles I wanted, but we hit the playground before I hit 5 miles.  

 

I try not to brag too much around here, but can I just say I'm killing it with the pace on my stroller runs!  For the longest time 10:30 to 11:00 was fast for me when pushing the stroller, now I'm pretty consistently hitting an average of 9:45 or under with the stroller (when I run on my own, I don't push the stroller group that fast). 

 

Today I was proud of myself because I didn't look at the watch once while running; I was focused on cadence and landing mid-foot, and feel like I did a pretty darn good job; and, there were a few times it started to feel hard and I was so tempted to stop and stroll with Sky and enjoy the sun, but I kept going and stayed focused.  I was so happy to see the pace that I didn't even care that it was short of the 5 miles. 

 

Plus, the smile on Sky's face when I stopped at the playground (most of the time we don't have time to stop and play so I run right on by playgrounds) made that last .5 totally worth skipping! 

 

For some reason blogger won't let me make all the pictures large, it picks and chooses, sorry you can't see her face better.  She is smiling though! 

 

 

 

 She spent most of her time swinging and yelling "flying backwards" which comes out more like "f'ing bastards".  So, it was good we were the only ones there!

 

 

  Had to get a little climbing in!

 

I'm pretty lucky, because when it's time to leave Sky rarely fights me on it.  I tell her it's time to go, and we go with little to no fit 99% of the time!  Let me tell you though that 1% is pretty impressive when she does fight it! 

 

It helps to tell her that she can run, run back to the car.  I parked about 1.5 miles from the park and didn't think she'd make it all the way back on her own.   

 

 

 

That hat is so silly, but she picked it our herself at REI and loves it.

"I push like mommy, no mommy help you"

Look at that stride!

 

She made it all the way back to the car with one pause to watch the train that went by.  She was so excited she was jumping up and down and twirling as it went past.  Girl loves her trains! 

 

Love my little running partner so much!!!  I'm going to be really sad (probably mostly relieved though...she is getting heavy!) when the days of pushing her in the stroller are over.  We have a lot of fun together for sure! 

 

What's your favorite view while running? 

 

How do you like to start your Monday?