... When No One Else is Watching

One more accomplishment down

I had my 5k race this morning. No, I didn't win - shocker, I know. But, I didn't come in last, and as many people know, that was my only goal!

As for the stats, I finished in 39:04 which equates to a 12:34/mile pace. I wanted to finish in 38 minutes but as a new runner, I found a few things were up against me. The race officials decided to start the course on a steep hill - yeah, I wasn't pleased about that, something about a mix up and they decided to move the starting point down the hill about two tenths of a mile so that we would have to run up it for the start of the race, why didn't they just have us do an extra lap around the park at the end? They obviously forgot to consult with me to find out I only started running nine weeks ago and I wasn't completely hip with the idea of starting my first 5k experience on a ridiculously steep hill! I'm not bitter. The hill was the only bad part of the race and it was the only time I walked; when I started running I think I tried to keep up with all the other runners (something I promised myself I wouldn't do) and my legs would just not move me all the way up that hill, so I ended up walking for about a tenth of a mile. When I got to the top of the hill I picked up the pace to a run and didn't stop until I hit the finish line.

Mother Nature wasn't kind to me either, it was 40 degrees at race time with ridiculous headwinds. Soooo cold! Actually, I shouldn't complain, it was much worse for my family who had to wait for me at the finish line, at least I was doing a form of exercise that warmed me up. I believe the strong headwind and the fact I had to walk up part of that hill kept me from hitting the finish line in under 38 minutes but I'm really happy I finished, and finished strong. Now that I look back on it, I'm happy I faced those obstacle so that I can be more prepared next time.

Yes, there will be a next time. I will still be running the 5k on October 20th and I'm also looking at two other races between now and November 10th. I think I'm a bit addicted and I love that I enjoy something so healthy for me.

We don't have the greatest pictures because as I said, it was so cold and Rob was taking care of Avery and pictures seemed to be the last thing on the agenda. But, Rob did get a few. They're not the best pictures but they show you a bit of my first race.  39:04. Not too bad for a newbie.

The start of the race - the picture doesn't do the hill justice, it got steeper. Notice how I'm still smiling? I obviously wasn't feeling any pain yet. YET.

I'm still smiling! This was actually near the end of the run and I was waving hello to Avery. She was so cute, she had a huge smile on her face when she saw me!

I just crossed the finish line. Notice how quickly I stopped running? Yeah, I was pooped. But exhilerated! Weird how that happens.

Here I am talking to some race officials. Probably something about that bleeping hill at the start!

Now,,, on to the next one!!!

See you at the finish line!

I'm running my 5k at 8am tomorrow morning! Send me lots of energy vibes!

I'll report back on how the run goes,,,, I'm surprisingly nervous!

Another reason I love Fall

My life has returned to normal. It has not been completely normal since the end of May. Why, you ask? The reason is simple, Grey's Anatomy. The show finally came back from hiatus and I LOVED the first new episode tonight. It felt like the show got back to it's roots; it has rekindled the humor from the first two seasons without losing the edginess of the hospital situations. I thought last year kind of sucked in the way of storyline and I'm so happy to see that the fourth season started out so well!

So, yes, I really just typed out an entry about how my life wasn't complete without new episodes of Grey's Anatomy. Sad? Yes. Do I feel guilty about it? No. It's the only show I am truly addicted to and I have no problem with it staying that way. And neither does my husband. Because for one hour out of the entire week he knows that he gets a full sixty minutes of me not chattering away at him. Silence. Ask him, it's hard to come by in our house. I'm sure he was just as grateful to have my show return as I was.

Just to let y'all know...

I'm running my first official 5k race on Saturday. This Saturday. The Saturday which is Sep. 29th. Aaaaaahhhhhhh!

I wasn't planning on running my first 5k until Oct. 20th but I was looking online last night and noticed there is a 5k race to benefit a local theatre being held on Saturday. Usually that wouldn't have caught my interest but the fact that the race is being run on the trail I regularly train on is a bit too hard to pass up. How great is this? I get to run my first 5k on my "home turf!" It's a trail I know I can run and even better than that is the fact it starts at the opposite end I usually start out on, meaning there isn't a huge uphill portion. The majority of it will either be flat or on a steady decline!

I'm excited and also a bit nervous. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. You've all just read what I will be telling myself every inch of the three miles I will be running.

Oh Yes I Can!

The running program is going well. So well that I am now running thirty-four minutes in a stretch. I know, it's not much for some people but for me? For me, it's HUGE! Thirty-four minutes pretty much equates to two and three quarter miles. Not fast by any means but I'm not going for speed, I just want to finish the 5k.  I'm only one quarter of a mile away from that 5k mark and I'm shocked that I'm going to make it! I'm also ridiculously proud. So proud my family wishes I would shut up about it already! But I'm not gonna! Because, did you hear? I can run thirty-four minutes!!! You're jealous, admit it!

This Girl is a Genius

Rob, Avery and I attended a surprise 60th birthday party for a close family friend last night. Our friend's ten year old granddaughter, Jess,  was there and was completely smitten by Avery. They played together the entire night -  I should probably rephrase that and say Jess manhandled Avery  like she was her own personal doll. Avery LOVED every minute of it and rewarded Jess with lots of kisses! I was close by the entire night but needed Rob to take over parenting duties for a few minutes so I could get something to eat. During the time I was away, this is part of the conversation Rob had with Jess.

Jess: Are you the father?

Rob: Yes I am.

Jess: You and your wife made a really cute kid.

Rob: Uh,,, thank you.

I couldn't agree with Jess more.

What The?

So, I watched the VMA's last night and here's my rundown of the event, an event I am having a hard time understanding why I gave up two hours of my evening for.

• When did Nelly Furtado go blonde? Why do I care?
• Britney was horrible! So horrible I don't even feel sorry for her, because let's face it, when you CHOOSE to make as many mistakes as she has, what's one more?
• Sarah Silverman is kinda mean,,, kinda. The sad thing is she's also somewhat honest, which makes it hard to dislike her.
• Famous people are their own biggest fans.
• I don't like hip-hop.
• I don't like the people who create hip-hop,,, way too self-congratulatory and smug.
• Two grown men should not be fighting over Pamela Anderson, just my personal opinion.
• The only seemingly normal person in attendance was Jennifer Garner, and she didn't even look like she wanted to be there. (I knew there was a reason I liked her, besides the fact we share a name.)
• We won't know where 75% of these people are in five years, and we won't remember them either. Although, with it looking like they want to spend all their money in mock speed, we'll probably be supporting them through the welfare system. You're welcome.
• Wow,,, I'm really not feeling good about the people who are supposedly wanting to be role-models for our youth. Terrifying. And even if they don't want to be the role-models, unfortunately, children are still watching and learning from them.
• I'm ashamed for watching this bad excuse for an awards show. The only thing I agreed with last night was Justin Timberlake's request for MTV to actually play more videos, it is Music Television after all, right?

So, that's my personal opinion. If there was one thing that became strikingly evident to me last night, it's the fact I am now an adult. I don't think I fit into the MTV demographic any longer, and that's definitely okay.

This week is so much better than last week

Last week I had the toddler from hell. Actually, I should change that, last MONTH I had the toddler from hell! I swear someone switched my sweet, lovable child for a little girl I did not know. She had been moody, possessive with her toys, and just all-out whiney. So much so that there were points I would take her out of Little Gym or our playgroup and have to either go home or give her a stern lecture about how badly she was behaving. Well, what do you know, this week there has been a return to our wonderful child and I am no longer considering only having one child. She's been such a delight and everyone has said how amazing she is this week. She either loves the compliments or just reallllllly doesn't want to go to her timeout chair.  I'm betting on the second choice.

Also, on the 5k training front, I am now doing my 25 minute runs. I have only had one day where my body refused to move for me but I got over it when Rob told me to stop whining, suck it up and stop acting like such a girl. He's so motivating! But really, that's what I had to be told because believe me,,, there was A LOT of whining going on. There was just as much whining as there had been self congratulation two days prior about running for 25 minutes and over two miles. Neither the whining or the self congratulation was attractive. I just want to remind you to go and read two sentences back - the part about running two miles - see,,, not attractive, but pretty damn impressive, right? Okay, I'll stop.

I'll end with a picture of my girl, my sweet girl, the girl who isn't being a snot this week. She's so much cuter when she's smiling, isn't she?