The Biggest Loser RunWalk 10K Recap

Hello all. Hope your day is going well. I just wanted to share all about the lovely race I did last weekend.

A few weeks ago, Girls Gone Sporty's Laura Williams (http://www.girlsgonesporty.com/) shared with the GGS Ambassadors that she was in contact with The Biggest Loser RunWalk series (http://www.biggestloser.com/fitness/partners/runwalk-race-series) and they were looking for ambassadors to join them in their new race series and blog about it. Being a fan of the show...and races...you better believe I signed right up. :)

Not too long after, I received an email from them and they said they would love to have me participate in the inaugural Austin race and gave me a coupon code to cover my registration fees. Holy moly...I was so excited.

Here's a little secret:

 This is the first thing that has been given to me because of my blog and my affiliation with Girls Gone Sporty and I am still so excited. It makes me feel like I just got a blogger promotion. Lol.

My daughter went to packet pickup with me Friday night and it was super organized for a new race. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. They had 2 previous Biggest Loser contestants there speaking on stage. I did not get a chance to listen to them (bummer) because the child and I had a million errands to run that night.

My daughter is a Girl Scout (and I am the troop leader,) and we had our first cookie booth scheduled the morning of race day. Luckily, the other two moms in our troop understood how awesome this opportunity was for me and let me drop off Natalie & the cookies at the booth before the race and took care of her until I was able to pick her up after. (Thank you Shannon & Angie!) 

And, yes, I see the irony of my daughter selling Girl Scout cookies while I was running a Biggest Loser race, but alas...I haven't talked the Girl Scouts into selling fruit. Yet. ;-)

The reason I race is the girl on the right :)

After I left the cookie booth, I picked up my best running friend and we headed to the race. She wasn't even running it. She just volunteered to go stand in the rain for moral support and to hold stuff for me. Many of the photos in this post were only possible because she was there. Love her!

We arrived at the race in the nick of time. Here is a pic of me being goofy before I turned around and ran to catch up with all the racers who had already started. 

(I spy #sweatpink laces!)

Pretty sure I was the last one to cross the starting line. I ran as fast as I could through the swarm of 5Kers & walkers to catch up with my fellow 10K runners.

The race had many inspirational signs throughout. Some of you may know I have a small obsession with inspirational quotes. To me, they were little reminders of how far I've come and motivation to dig a little deeper.



The race was in a county park I had never been to and I loved the trails. It was a really gray, drizzly day, but for me, that is the perfect race weather. And the scenery was beautiful. I am used to running in my neighborhood in the city, so this was a treat.

Around the halfway point, I saw my BRF Susan (http://soozind.blogspot.com/) cheering me on. She is wearing a pink jacket & holding my blue race bag. I took this pic right before I threw my sweaty sweatshirt at her. I am truly a great friend. ;-)

I ran most of this race. I took a few walk breaks, but not many. I really felt great. It was one of those perfect runs. The only thing about the race that was a little stressful is the fact that it wasn't marked well. I almost went the wrong way twice. There was a 5K & a 10K going on at the same time and the signage wasn't entirely clear. I talked to others after the race and some of them were pretty sure they made at least one wrong turn. I'm certain they have heard about this (because I told them) and I am certain they will make steps to improve this in the future.

The race had a variety of runners of all fitness levels. I was so excited to see them all out there. I cheered on everyone I ran by. I thanked all the volunteers that I saw. I was in a super good mood for the whole race.

That being said, I'll admit, I was really was happy to see this sign. Can you read it through the fog & drizzle?

Mile 6. :-)

  

I ran by some volunteers who said, "Better fix your hair...the finish line is right around the corner." Of course, I replied with, "What?! Are you telling me my hair looks bad?", and we all laughed. I love nice volunteers.

Then I took off. I was happy to see Brandon Brickley from Camp Gladiator with the microphone. He is seriously the nicest trainer I have ever met. Seeing him this day spurred my return to boot camp yesterday, so thank you Brandon!  

And then I smiled. And hydrated. My Fit Foods was at the finish line, so Susan & I each got a complimentary bowl of what I'm pretty sure was Good Morning Sunshine (https://www.myfitfoods.com/products/good-morning-sunshine). 

And then I admired my medal...

And all the other medals...

We wandered around after that and ran into previous Biggest Loser contestants, Dan & Jackie Evans. They are the national spokespeople for this race series. They seemed really nice. And they laughed at my jokes, which is always a bonus in my book. Of course, I am really funny, so it's understandable. :-)

After the photo op with the semi-famous people, we wandered over to check out the race results and what do you know?! 

10K PR!!! 

I was super, ultra excited!!!!

So, all in all, it was a truly fantastic race. Take The Biggest Loser, add in two of my Austin faves--Camp Gladiator & My Fit Foods--and it was just a great morning. I am passionate about continuing my restoration, and helping others in the process. I am thrilled that I got to be a part of this inaugural race. 

A big, huge thank you to Girls Gone Sporty & The Biggest Loser RunWalk series for this opportunity.

Me with my medal & PR face

Disclaimer:

I was given free registration for this race in exchange for this post, but the opinions & excitement expressed are my own. :) 

Races and Plans and Goals...Oh My!

Hiya, kids!

As you probably know, I was a big fan of 2012. Big. Huge. :-)

Let's see....Color Run, Diva Dash, Race for the Cure, Warrior Dash, Turkey Trot and....hmm... I feel like I'm forgetting something....

Oh yeah...a HALF MARATHON. (Like y'all didn't know that already..lol.)

I would have loved to have done a ton more races, but apparently they cost money.

Yeah, weird, right? Who knew? Sometimes the practical (mom) side takes over and won't let me register for more.

I know of a lot of people that are doing a lovely 13 in 2013 challenge, and I have almost joined them a bazillion times. Basically you commit to running 13 registered races in 2013. This would be so cool. If you want to join in on their fun, here is a link:

 http://blog.runtastic.com/en/blogs-and-reviews/13-2013-jill-conyers-mom-psychologist-fitness-enthusiast-runs-13-races-2013/

Now that I've visited the page again, I'm starting to lean toward joining in again. Lol. Can you see the devil and angel sitting on my shoulders arguing? I'm already registered for 3 and have sort of committed to 3 more. So that is 6 already. Hmmm....

And we're going to change the subject...

I started a new job in September. While I love my new job and I definitely think it has improved the quality of life for myself and my daughter, it has kept me super busy working 50-60 hour weeks. Luckily I can work from home for some of it, so that is awesome. I've been told my load will be lightened in January, so keep your fingers crossed.

The point of me talking about my job is....you know when you get super busy and you have to cut some things out because you don't have time to do it all?

Guess what I've cut out? I don't even want to type it.

My daily workout.

*GASP*

Yep. I'm that girl. I have still been doing my #plankaday and running sporadically, but the girl whose day wasn't complete until she finished her workout has used the "too busy" excuse more times than I can count in the past couple months. This is part of the reason my half marathon training didn't go as planned.

The funny thing is, in retrospect, I probably would have been a lot more productive if I took a break and went for a run or did a video, then went back to work. I've just been so overwhelmed trying to prove myself at my new job that I was focusing more on that than my restoration. And my new job involves a lot of driving in a car and much more sitting in front of a computer than I've been used to. Put all that together and I'm sad to report that I've gained about 10 lbs since I started it. Boo!!!

Thankfully, I now have the hang of my new job and have gained the respect and trust of my new employers and coworkers, so while I don't plan to be a slacker by any means, I am going to stay between 40-50 hours a week. Any more than that is crazy talk.

Luckily, my new job doesn't require me to be on call on the weekends like my old one (YAY!), so I'm definitely going to try to set up something more organized for Saturdays & Sundays to be certain I get a run in. I've got a couple half marathons planned this year and need to train my butt off. I plan to have a chat with my mom and some friends.

This is an idea I've borrowed from Mindy Artze (watch her awesome Vlog here: http://mindysfitnessjourney.blogspot.com/2012/12/s-just-got-real-my-2012-story.html).

It's so easy to let single parent guilt win. I cannot use this excuse, too.

Despite these setbacks, I am entering 2013 with a great attitude. I am aware of my issues and I have plans to keep me motivated and on track.

My friend Nichole asked me quite awhile ago if I'd like to be a Beachbody coach. Most of you have probably heard of the Beachbody programs like Insanity or P90X. They also have a variety of other products. Videos are great when you aren't able to find a sitter and can't leave the house for a run.

I've been mulling over being a BB coach for about a year. Since I have so much free time now (bahahahaha), I've decided to go for it. I definitely am inspired by this new endeavor. My new Les Mills Combat video and Shakeology will be coming in the mail soon. I seriously cannot wait!!! This video is a mixture of martial arts and that just happens to be my favorite sort of work out. Apparently you are supposed to see very noticeable results in 60 days of doing it consistently. I plan to post before & after pics at the end of that time & we can all decide if it was worth it. I'm telling you all this for accountability. Won't I look like an ass if my before & after pics look the same? Lol. Knowing you will be expecting to see changes will keep me going. :)

While I welcome any interest in the Beachbody program and definitely believe you see results with it, I don't plan to be super annoying salesperson lady. I will definitely post about my workouts and impressions, and may even ask if anyone has any questions or wants more info about it. I do not plan to pressure anyone into doing this, but as I said, I will welcome the interest. :)

Another motivating/inspiring plan I have in the works is in the form of a mini-vacation. How does that motivate, you ask?

Some of you may have heard of a little thing called Fitbloggin. If not, here is a link: (http://fitbloggin.com/)

This is a blogger conference and this year it is in Portland, Oregon in June. It's full of fun bloggery info and super workouts and fantastic healthy food. Oh, and according to all the pics that were posted on Twitter and Instagram during the 2012 conference, there is some sweet SWAG and much fun had.

And who will be there???!!!

Well, lots of super cool people will be there.

Including Meeeeeeeeee!!!!! Yay!

As long as Southwest doesn't go out of business before then. Don't laugh. It's happened to me before.

I've booked my flight. I've reserved a room.

I also have 3 fantastic roommates lined up. Here are links to their blogs:

Larisa http://www.zerototwentysixpointtwo.blogspot.com/
Melissa http://melissarunningit.com/
Carrie http://familyfitnessfood.com/

This is going to be a fantastic experience!!!! And what could be more motivating than a trip to hang & work out with fitness fiends from around the country?

EXACTLY.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.

 

My Very First Half Marathon

Today was an amazing day. I am still all smiles. I finished my first half marathon this morning. I was not fast. It was really hard. There were way, way too many giant hills. Honestly, I walked a lot. But I did it. I finished a half marathon. It was sheer determination that got me to that finish line. It was my friends---in real life and my Twitter friends---that kept me going. Actually, if it hadn't been for Twitter, I may not have actually gone today. I wasn't meeting anyone there. I didn't know anyone there. But, I knew there would be people looking for my updates & recap & pictures of my bling. :-) I would have had to cancel my Twitter account if I didn't do it. And we all know that ain't happening. Lol.

I think I joined Twitter in January of this year. I love it. I am a single parent. I work 50+ hours per week. I don't have a lot of free time to hang out with friends, and I don't have a lot of active, runner-type friends in Austin. Twitter has given me tons of friends from not only the US and Canada, but many other countries around the world. Most of the people I follow are runners. They inspire me and motivate me. They support me and make me laugh. They couldn't know the funk I've been in the last couple of weeks, but last night and ALL DAY TODAY, I have been receiving messages NON STOP. People were wishing me luck, giving me advice (because I asked for it) and just being all around wonderful. I was congratulated and people were genuinely happy for my accomplishment.

I got super emotional on the drive home from the race. I cried a good twenty minutes on and off, but I was smiling at the same time. I was so happy I did the race. I was so happy I finished well before the cut-off and got my medal. And I was feeling so much love and support from Twitter & Facebook. People cheering me on when I posted pics during the race. Tons of people congratulating me after the race. It was amazing. It is making my eyes well up now just thinking about it. It is possible that I haven't had much sleep lately and had a super life changing event today which add to my emotional state, but I thank you all. Everyone that gave me advice. Everyone that liked my posts. Everyone that cheered me on along the way. And the many, many people that cheered when I was done. It is surreal to me that I am the same person that could barely walk from the car to the house 2.5 years ago and now I am a half marathoner. What?? Let me repeat that. I am a HALF MARATHONER. Holy moly, kids!! I still can't believe it. I am still so excited and possibly a little in shock.

The first mile was the worst. Weird, right? I think I felt out of place and still very anxious about what I was there to do. But once I got out there, I knew I just had to get this done. One wise friend told me to just "fall forward and run". It really is that simple.

Around mile 2 some muscle in the back of my left leg started hurting. At mile 5, a motorcycle cop drove by ,and I had this daydream of jumping on the back of his bike and riding to the finish line. I didn't. Maybe next time. ;-)

Around the half-way point, I really couldn't believe I still had to go 6.5 more miles. I had already gone that far. I was tired. I was sweaty. I got out the Gu. I've heard about "hitting the wall" and knew that I couldn't do that.

At mile 8, I grabbed my phone and updated my FB & Twitter statuses & uploaded a pic to Instagram. Some of you may find that strange to do during a race, but at that point, I needed a boost. And I was not disappointed. I got some well wishes and likes and favorites & it made me feel like I was not alone. And I kept going.

Around mile 9, my feet started to hurt. That muscle pain from mile 2 had been gone for awhile, but now my feet were killing me. It was just the bottoms of my feet, like they were bruised. I started running and walking in the grass on the side of the road, because in my mind, I thought it might be softer. I was really wanting to put clouds in my shoes. Or take my shoes off. But I decided to leave them on. Does this look like clouds? Yeah, it didn't feel like clouds either.

 

Mile 10 was the worst hill yet. There were 2 of those motorcycle cops at the top of the hill. I think they were laughing at us. I was laughing. The whole way up the hill. I was laughing because I thought it was hilarious that they put that hill at mile 10. I may have been a little delirious. This was about 3/4 of the way up the hill. Can you see those cops mocking us? Lol.

At mile 11, I posted this pic.

That pretty much said it all. I almost cried when I saw mile 12. I kept looking for the finish line. It was hidden until I was almost at mile 13, which I think is just mean and cruel. Then I rounded the last curve and saw it. I heard the announcer calling out people's names as they crossed and I started running faster. My left thigh didn't like that and started cramping up, so I was run/limping to the finish with what I am fairly certain was a smile on my face. I really tried to make it a smile. We'll see. Haha.

Then I crossed the finish line and stopped running and some nice girl placed a medal around my neck.

And I kept smiling. I wandered into the expo center and got a banana and some gatorade. Then I went to my car and changed into my flip flops & grabbed some money and bought a commemorative coffee mug.

Then I headed home. And cried most of the way. I think I was astonished that I did it. I did this awesome thing that I had been talking and stressing about for months. I completed a goal. My training had gone downhill the past couple weeks, so I wasn't as fast as I wanted to be. And the hills. I had heard about them, but was soooo not prepared. My chip time was 3:15:59. I originally wanted under 3, but at one point during the race, I was afraid I wouldn't make the 4 hour cut off and wouldn't get a medal. That thought kept me moving. Maybe I could have gone faster, but I was also trying to take it easy so I wouldn't injure myself. I wanted to finish. I needed to finish. So I just kept going at a very easy pace.

The Decker Challenge is well-known as one of the most challenging half marathons in the area because of the hills. Have I mentioned there were hills? I am seriously considering signing up for another half next month. It starts about a mile from my house and is mostly downhill. That sounds a bit like heaven right now. ;-)

Warrior Dash Recap

I am not a morning person. I don't understand why all the races start so early. I know a lot of runners like to get up early and all, but a lot of them (or maybe just me) don't. 

That being said, I got up earlier than my alarm this morning--which NEVER happens--and started getting ready for the Warrior Dash. I had a little anxiety last night thinking about swimming through mud, but that didn't stop me from jumping out of bed this morning like a kid on Christmas morning to get showered & have coffee & be (mostly) ready when our chauffeur/photographer for the day (Thanks again Derek!) arrived. 

We ran through McDonald's (don't worry--just for coffee) and headed to meet up with our group. We got to the race and parked (for $20---whoa!) and headed to pick up packets & line up.

It was a beautiful day for a race! I've done 5Ks & I've done obstacle races, but I've never done anything quite like this. I remember my biggest complaint about the Diva Dash is that the obstacles weren't challenging enough.

Enter Warrior Dash. Unfortunately our photographer wasn't able to follow us through the course taking pictures, so I don't have many obstacle pics. I did find a pic of my favorite obstacle. It was a little warm here in Texas today (surprise, surprise), so this was very refreshing. 

You swam through the water and climbed up the wall with the water showering you the whole time. My biggest fear today was slipping on one of the many climbing walls or hills and breaking an ankle. I did not fall once. Yay! :) This obstacle is where I first started rethinking the mascara I had applied before the race.

In addition to the hill climbs & numerous wall climbs & rope climbs, there were water/mud obstacles, tires, dirt mountains, balance beams, barbed wire, etc. 

They were all challenging for me. Except maybe the the one where we climbed over tires. Ooooh....wait. I saw a spider in one of the tires, so that was definitely a challenge. ;-) 

There were two that challenged me the most. One was a very tall wall that you had to pull yourself up with a rope while using your feet to climb. I do not have the strongest upper body yet, and I still have way too much upper body to hold up. When I first started up the wall, my first thought was, "There is no way I can do this." Luckily my second thought was, "I must do this." Was it hard? Heck, yeah. But I did it. 

The other one that seemed super challenging to me is again for the same upper body problems. You swam/sloshed through approximately 4 feet of water to a large raft-like walkway. Then you had to climb up onto the raft by pulling yourself up with your arms while your feet were stuck in mud. Yeah, that was hard. Very hard. But I got up. Once you get up on the walkway, you see that you have to jump back in more water to swim to a second raft-like thing. 

 I thought, "Okay, fine. Let's do this." And jumped in.

This is where I rethought the morning mascara application a second time. I had assumed the water was approximately 4 feet like before. Nope. When I jumped, I was not expecting to go under. But I did. And inhaled water into my nose & mouth. Ewwww! Those that know me well, know I'm a wee bit of a germophobe, but since it was more important to stay afloat than to dwell on what I had just swallowed, I started swimming. I got to the second raft. This one was even more challenging to climb up on because you had only water under your feet...nothing to push up with. I struggled to get up & got a friendly shove by the person behind me. I probably could have made it up without the boost (eventually), but at that moment I was thankful for it. 

Once up on that raft, you had to (carefully) jump in more water and swim to the end of the obstacle. Done and done.

In between obstacles, I was trailrunning. I was trailrunning with a marathoner, a half marathoner and a triathlete. I kept up. Mostly. They did stop a couple times when they saw me struggling to keep up, but I did better than I thought I would. They were taking it easy to avoid any injuries with  a marathon coming up--the same day as my first half.

After the super hard ones, we finished up with a little jumping over fire (so awesome) and crawling through mud. Luckily our photographer was all ready & got shots of us crawling through mud under barbed wire. That's me below with the white sunglasses on.

And then we finished. 

And posed.

And showered.

And ate.

(The turkey leg was just for the photo op with the giant Warrior sized beer. I actually ate the patty out of a veggie burger. Yes, they have veggie burgers at the Warrior Dash. Oh, and they gave away sunglasses at the after party. I do realize I am wearing 2 pairs. Lol.)

Then we went home. And I realized I am a Warrior. Without a trace of mascara left. ;-)

Short & Sweet

I realized today that my first half marathon is in LESS THAN 5 WEEKS. While I know I could be more prepared by now, I am going to go ahead and pat myself on the back anyway, because I could definitely be less prepared. :-)

While I haven't stuck exactly to my training plan (and let's be honest--none of us really thought I would), I haven't been super lazy and sticking my head in the sand either.

Oh, and I also ordered a FitApproach tank (http://fit-approach.myshopify.com/products/sweat-pink-tank-top) & pink sparkle skirt (http://www.team-sparkle.com/shop/pink-sparkle-running-skirt/) to wear on the day to make it a little more fun. ;-) Who says I won't be prepared? I need to tell you all about how I am now a #SweatPink Ambassador too, but that'll have to be tomorrow.

Just got back from a run & I've earned the shower I'm about to take & promised my cycle buddy I'd shave my legs for her tonight (hahaha...tmi?), so gotta go so I won't be late for work....

Happy Monday! Have you sweated yet today? Do it!!!!!

What Do I Take on a Run?

Today is a beautiful day. It is sunny and 86. I didn't realize that fact until I was out the door for my run. Most of my workout clothes are black, because, well...black is slimming, folks, and I will not wear running pants in any other color at the moment. And probably forever. We'll see.

But for now, they are all black. And sweaty. This picture is supposed to be showing you my sweaty knees, but, alas, you can't really tell. Lol.

And, I'm not feeling super thin today, so what did I pair with my black running pants? Oh, a black t-shirt and a black bandana...which made a friend ask if I'd run into a rival colors gang (haha Blair)...but it kept my crazy hair under control, so mission accomplished. I'd been inside cleaning all day, then grandma came to take Natalie out for the afternoon, so after they left, I put on my running clothes as fast as possible and headed out. About 1 minute in, I decided I wouldn't be going as far as I had anticipated in that outfit. Boo!

I ended up doing 2.5 miles. Slowly.

Seriously, would someone tell Texas it's fall already? Thanks much!

Here's my purple post-run face:

On the bright side, my toes don't hurt. :-) Let me explain...

My second toes are slightly longer than my big toes, and as some of you know, I've been losing toenails periodically the last couple years. Once, I lost a big toenail, but every other time it has been one of my second toenails...or both of them. 

Last week, there was a Q & A session on Zooma's Facebook page with the authors of "Run Like a Mother" and "Train Like a Mother", Dimity McDowell & Sarah Bowen Shea. I posted a question asking for ideas to help me keep my toenails & got many, many responses, including one from Dimity. :-) There were recommendations for different/bigger socks, different/bigger shoes (which I've tried), different lacing techniques, and the one I tried today...Body Glide. This is an anti-friction cream that runners use for "irritation and hot spots". I rubbed this into my toes & put on my loosest socks before I headed out. 

(Yes, I took time to do that, but did not check the weather...lol.) 

My toes feel great! This was a short run, so the true test will be in the next few days with some longer runs, but right now I am a huge fan of body glide.

I also tried out the Sprigs wrist wallet I picked up at REI the other day. I've been using a Spibelt to hold my phone, house key & ID while I run, but I really don't like things around my waist. I rarely wear a regular belt. I also have a water belt that holds---you guessed it---water---that my friend Susan gave me for my long runs, so wearing 2 belts at once is unacceptable. I like the wrist wallet. I'm not in love with it when it's sunny & 86, but I bet I will love it when it cools down a bit. It warmed up my arm more than needed today, but it is very soft and comfortable otherwise, so I'm a fan.

The top (pictured) is the fold over place to keep your phone/iPod and on the other side is the zippered pocket where I put my key, ID & unused Gu. That grey-looking stripe is reflective & will help me be more visible on my night runs. And I also don't dress in head-to-toe black on my night runs. Sometimes I am sensible. ;-) 

By the way, I have yet to actually try Gu, but put it in there with plans to run more than 2.5 miles. Oh, well. I will shoot for this tomorrow night. Jet Blackberry sounds good....

All in all, it was a good day. I still have a ton to do, but thanks to my mom taking Natalie to see "Frankenweenie", I got to run and tell you all about it. I am happy now. Hope you all have a great week! 

PS- #runchat tonight at 7 central. Can't wait!

13.1 Registation Completed

Yes, I finally chose a race. I only hyperventilated briefly after registering. And maybe every time I've thought about it since... 

My first half marathon will be the Decker Challenge here in Austin, TX on December 9, 2012. All year long, I have been telling myself (and others) that I would do it this year. I think that made me finally decide on a race. I was running out of time. The other races I was considering were in January & February, so I would not have met my goal of THIS year. My plan is to finish this race, then train more for the Zooma Texas Half in March. My birthday is in March and what better present for myself than what I'm sure will be a PR? Is it wrong that I assume my 2nd will be faster than my 1st? Is that pessimistic? Or practical? Hmmm....either way, I plan to do both. Fun stuff, kids! I am super excited!!!

Being from Iowa, both of these races appeal to me because they are done in such scenic areas. While I definitely love-love-love living in the city, I appreciate the beauty & serenity of the country from time to time. Austin is in the Texas hill country, which is good and bad for my running all at the same time. It may make it more challenging, but I know that will only make me better. That is what I chant to myself while running uphill anyway. I'm like the "Little Engine That Could". I focus a mailbox, or a tree, or a car parked in a driveway at the top of a hill & mentally pat myself on the back when I make it to that spot.

Before the Shape Diva Dash 5K at Decker Lake- April 2011

The Decker Challenge (http://www.austinrunners.org/DeckerChallenge) is in an area I'm familiar with. It seems that 50% of the races in Austin are in the Decker Lake area. I've been there for the Diva Dash twice & our super muddy Color Run this year. It is really a lovely area, so I understand the choice. All of those races are only 5Ks, so I will be seeing much, MUCH more of that area in December. 10 miles more, to be exact. I'm sure I will love every second. Right??? Well, maybe not every second, but at least half. I'll let you know.  A 5K & Kids K are also happening that day, so I plan to talk my mother & 7 year old into going along with me for support. I also love having my daughter see people spending their time doing fitness-y stuff in their free time. While I can't force her into loving healthy living, I believe the more she is around it, the more natural it will seem to incorporate it into her life. That is very important to me, and many other parents, I'm sure.

Natalie, the 7 year old

The  Zooma website (http://zoomarun.com/texas/) advertises tranquility, wildflowers & cattle. What more can you ask for your 2nd half marathon? Being from Iowa, I will feel right at home there, I do believe. :-) I am hoping to talk some friends into joining me for this one. It just feels like a race you want to do with friends. There is a 5K option as well, which may be easier to persuade some of my newer running buddies into tackling. We'll see. I can be very persuasive. And there is still plenty of training time left for that one. 

Well, as much as I love talking about these races, I actually have to train for them, so must go run now. 

Happy Tuesday! :)