Krazy End of 2014

Wow!  Where did 2014 go?  Around our house we are counting down until Christmas.  I love this time of the year.  And this year is no exception but as you can tell from the blog posts after July my life got a little Krazy... I was Running Kooky!

So let me sum up the past five months:

In August I prepared lesson plans for my two year old preschool class while also preparing my heart to send our baby girl to kindergarten.  One week into school we left for Disneyland.  I completed the Disneyland Dumbo Dare challenge- running a 10k on Saturday and half marathon on Sunday.  So much fun!!!  My husband states that we will never return to WDW and only visit Land... I'm planning our next Florida vacation for next fall! :)

September and October flew by with church, school, work, Girl Scouts, dance class, T-ball, birthday party, Halloween... The only running that was occurring were the wheels in my head once I finally laid down to go to sleep.

November hit me like a ton of bricks!  I was T-60 days until my 2014 Running Finale; the Fairview New Year's Eve FULL marathon.  Say what?  I seriously thought that I could do it.  While traveling for Thanksgiving, my brother held me accountable at 4:45am on a snowy Iowa morning to go and run!  I was logging training miles but not near enough to run a full marathon.  I planned on completing the event with the Galloway method by doing run/walk ratio segments.

And now here we are at December.  Planning Kindergarten room parties, preschool parties, Girl Scout parties, starting basketball (I think I lost my dance princess), and Christmas shopping.  My running still has not been up to par even for a half marathon training, let alone a full.  Then was the race medal reveal party and I was banking on that extra motivation to push me toward the run... and it did the opposite.  I requested a refund and cancelled my race.

So what does one do with so much passion for running but accidentally fell off the wagon?  I am planning my 2015 race calendar; keeping it with in reality of my time, mind, and money.  This next week rather than stressing out on logging miles; I am so glad that I can focus on the true reason for the season by celebrating Jesus' birth with my family!  Merry Christmas!!!

Feb 7, 2015   Dallas Hot Chocolate 15k
Nov 6, 2015  Disney World Wine and Dine Half Marathon

Just keep Swimming... Wait, what?

It has been a CRAZY month- especially the past two weeks!  Our family is in complete summer mode... Road trips, swim lessons, and lots of family time.  I have also been putting more onto my plate therefore running has been on the back burner (literally, every time I go for a run I'm burning!)

Last weekend we tackled Chicago!  I ran the Chicago Rock n Roll marathon series 5k on Saturday and half marathon on Sunday.  Oh wait, there's more!  We explored the city on Saturday afternoon by foot, logging over 13 miles towards my "Beat The Heat" half marathon virtual race through Jost running.  Not only did we walk off our Chicago deep dish pizza, saved on cab fees, and collected bling.  SCORE!  But coming off my running excitement left me tired and sore :(

 








All week passed by with my running shoes sitting at the front door waiting for me.  I did try to swim, but Kinnick and Cooper can swim better than me- although it's quite the cardio workout!  This morning I actually told my husband that I'm thinking about retiring from "running."  An hour later I was putting on my new Lululemon workout top and heading towards the gym.  Wow!  My Newton running shoes are just getting warmed up and ARE NOT heading into retirement.

My run this morning was on a quarter mile track (in the Texas sun) outside at the gym.  I did 4 min run/1 min walk intervals for most of the 3 miles and it was amazing.  Through out the workout I listened to music, prayed, and just took MY time.  I remembered what I loved about running- not the next race I was registered for or my slower pace, but MY time by myself!  Do you all enjoy that too?

So what do you or who do you run for?
I run for:
myself- to be a better mom/wife
to pray/worship
to eat (run to eat/eat to run)
enjoyment of my environment

Next on my plate:  Bible study, Girl scout leader orientation, Creating preschool curriculum, Jury Duty, etc... How many days until Kindergarten and then Disneyland?  :)

"Easy" Cross Training Day!

I love how I had admirations of blogging every other day, then it turned into once a week... Well folks, summer happens and it's been two weeks.  I have been watching my "steps" with my new Fitbit and I LOVE it, but I feel like my "steps" are my workout for the day.  My running has been pretty scarce.  T-26 days until I run my next physical race.  It's just a half-marathon in Chicago!  In the windy city hopefully I'll have the wind with me because I am going to need all of the help that I can get!!!

My next virtual race is Friday morning!  I love JostRunning!  This virtual race is the perfect motivation that I need to get moving, log miles, and collect BLING!  How cool is my racing bib? Anyone up for run/walking 6 miles with me?

 


Today, again not feeling like running, I opted for an "easy" stay at home workout day.  I have new Zumba DVD's and a new Plyo Fix DVD from Beachbody.  So much for easy!  30 minutes of Zumba and I looked like a hot sweaty mess! But the chick on the DVD was barely glissening, urg, and with those abs!  So I figured since I was already sweaty what's an extra 15 minutes of burpies, squats, jumps, etc???  OMGoodness!  I'm pretty sure I made the easy example on the DVD look good!

In conclusion, I'm sticking to running.  Just kidding- I need to cross training but I need to appreciate the workout as a workout and not an easy day.  It's all about calories in and calories out!  Hopefully good calories in and AMAZING calories out, Right?!  What are you favorite cross training workouts?  How many "easy days" to you have?  Lastly, I am serious, who's joining me Friday morning?!?!

Summer Challenge

June 2nd... The year is almost half over! How are your New Year's resolutions going? Ha, ha...right? Do you even remember? Now is the time to set goals and strive for them!

 

The new year brought me to the end of my marathon training and January 12th I became an official marathon runner.  Since then I've been on and off track but now I'm jumping on and not looking back!  For me, running is my way to get away.  Sometimes Vegas is a good get away too!  When I run, I can listen to music or just nature and I can think about things bothering me or think about nothing... It's your run!

 

I workout better when there is a challenge and a medal/reward at the end.  So now I'm challenging you! It's summer, it's hot, and it's easy to be lazy.  To be apart of the challenge all you have to do is to log miles--- walking or running through summer (6/1-8/31).  Post your miles on my Facebook page www.facebook.com/runningkooky  There will be two winners: one for the most miles logged and then one random one from a drawing.

   

But while logging all those miles register for JostRunning virtual races and make them count! I bet you could get a few medals per month for 5k, 10k, half marathon , and reach even for a full!

    

The challenge is on! Do you accept this challenge?

          www.facebook.com/runningkooky

http://runningkooky.blogspot.com/

          www.JostRunning.com (Virtual racing)

www.mapmyrun.com (website and app to track miles)

In Summer... •insert Olaf voice•

It's officially the end of the first week of summer break!  Did you enjoy yours?  Kinnick, Cooper, and I started the week off by making a list of 100 things to do in the 100 days of summer.  I am pretty proud of our checklist and we have already accomplished a few!  Dress up was on the list; not so much like a member of the Robinson family from Duck Dynasty but how cute!!!

 It was hard to want to workout on Tuesday but I did make it to the gym to run.  I haven't really done any tempo running training, because I need more information of the correct training sequence.  On Tuesday I turned on some music and ran the fasted mile that I could, followed by the fasted mile I could walk.  Mile three was a combo of jogging and sprinting.  I enjoyed the run and it was good practice for the half marathon I am going to be doing with my husband in August (I have a feeling we will be walking a lot)!

Wednesday morning I was ready to work out!  I watched the finale of Dancing with the Stars Tuesday night and went to bed thinking, "I am pretty sure if I get into better shape that I could dance like that too!"  Who doesn't want to dance with Derek Hough and MAKS!  So I ran... fast!  I used to run a solid 11 min mile, then 10:30, and have been stuck at a 10 min mile.  Now, I have consecutively ran two 5k's less than 29 minutes!!! After running I went inside for Zumba Toning (aka kick butt Zumba).  I left the gym so thankful for my lungs, legs, endurance, etc... 

So what's next?  I am running a 10k in the am--- anyone want to join me? :)  I will be running the full 6 miles but if you register for the Jost Running virtual 10k you have other options!  You can "Brave a New Route" by running, walking, biking in increments for a total of the 10k distance!  Check out their site at: www.jostrunning.com

I am also registering for their half marathon and you can too!  Don't roll your eyes!  Log 1 mile everyday for 2 weeks and then collect your amazing bling.  I run for medals!  Do it, Do it!

JostRunning Virtual 5k

This week was full of so many up and downs! My daughter graduated from preschool so I officially have my first kindergartner.  With all of the prepping and tears of graduation, parties, and teacher end of the year gifts I didn't get to run... At all!  Have you ever been in a lull like that?  Towards the end of the week I needed mom time, so I looked towards running.

Thursday was the last day of preschool where I teach and my kids attend.  I planned a perfect afternoon heading to the gym after school while the kids were still all wound up from last day school festivities.  I was going to run a virtual 5k through Jost Running and support ALS... But my kiddos had other plans.  (We ended up having snow cones for dinner!)  Have you registered for a race and then race day comes and you can't run, don't want to run, etc?  That is the beauty of virtual racing! It's your race! So rather than loosing my registration fee and chalking it up to a donation with at shirt; virtual racing allows you to race on your time to fit your calendar.

SO...Friday morning was my virtual 5k!  It was amazing! Perfect weather and I was feeling great.  5k in just over 26 minutes!!! I achieved a PR! With Jost Running you can input your time and see yourself on the leader board... just like a live race.  Not only did I get to pick my race day, time, and location- check out this bling. Let's face it- who doesn't run for the medal?  I am already registered for a 10k through Jost Running Virtual Racing.  Who wants to join me?

Still celebrating Cinco De Mayo 9 years later

Happy Tuesday!  Did you all celebrate Cinco de Mayo yesterday?  I enjoy the 5th of May not only because it's celebration of thanks to Mexico in fending off the French (Wilkipedia) but it's a great reason to eat yummy enchiladas, tamales, and margaritas.  It's crazy to think that nine years ago I had a Cinco de Mayo send off party from my hometown, Des Moines, to move to Dallas.  Wow!

Our first time in Mexico

My Mom and I celebrating during our trip to Mexico

This year I celebrated a bit different... first was our fun party at Kidz World preschool full of games, food, singing (Libre Soy!), face paint, and who doesn't love a photo booth.  My daughter singing Let it Go in Spanish was a hoot!

And now onto running while celebrating Cinco de Mayo.  I ran more like hiked a hilly 5k Saturday night feeling under the weather and before going into work.  Probably not one of my best decisions, but it was fun and I got to mark race #6 off my 14 in 2014 list.  I officially learned I am not doing a night race again (especially before a 12 hour shift at the hospital).  I run better in the morning- mentally and physically.

With that said, wouldn't it be amazing to run great races for wonderful beneficiaries while receiving bling!  Make sure to check out Jostrunning.com and register for their virtual races this moth supporting ALS.  After signing up you get to pick your race day and time!  Their website allows you to track your race as well as others so the virtual race takes on a community feel.  Register, log a 5k, submit your time and distance within the time frame, and you will find the below medal in your mailbox!  But why stop at a 5k?  I challenge you to register for a longer distance race... maybe not complete all the distance at one time but log it over a week instead.  It's your race!  I will add my virtual races to my facebook events and maybe we can all run -virtually- together! 

Retire, Run, Work

Wow!  What a crazy week and it's only Wednesday!  I am late on posting from Saturday's race, but better late than never.  I have just been non-stop from Monster Rehab Energy Drinks since Saturday and I have so many posts that I want to blog about...  So here we go!

Saturday morning started out with our LAST 3 year old soccer game that I have been "coaching."  We were the Hawkeyes and honestly, pretty good.  My son, Cooper, could name 263 other things to be doing during soccer.  He hated most of the season therefore, we both retired of soccer on Saturday.  It was a good run of 3 seasons, but he's moving onto swimming, hockey, and drums!

Lunch was at PDQ-- weird name (People Dedicated to Quality), but pretty amazing chicken strips.

Kinnick, my daughter in black, and her friend Addi
Thank you Nadine for the great picture!

After that was a whirlwind that sent my husband and kids to my daughter's soccer game (which I hated to miss) and me to my second ever 5k "night" race.  I run with a wonderful Moms Run This Town group of women from Allen, Plano, McKinney, and Frisco.  We registered with two teams for the Running Moms Rock 5k in Highland Village, TX.  After a few pictures for the costume contest (we were #teamflour- sponsored my The Flour Shop Cupcakes)  we headed to the starting line for a quick and not easy 5k.  There's only a couple hills in NTX and this race course found them...ouch!  But in the end we had a good time!

#TeamFlourShop from MRTT

Look Mom! 1st place until the next 2 girls showed up :)

Really feeling those push ups, hills, and chicken strips 

Of course it was Saturday night so I hung up my Mom bag, cupcake apron costume, running shoes and headed into work.  I really needed to shower but after a quick meal from my in-laws I decided to jump in their pool with my kids.  The first swim of the year lasted around 2 minutes for me... burr, banana, burr.  I was "clean" and headed back to McKinney for work.  I dread my shift Saturday nights but then Sunday night I know I only have one more day of work until Monday I can be back "being mom!"

Does anyone else try to cram their Saturday's full?
PDQ's chicken is great, but Cane's sauce is amazing, agreed?
Any advise on eating before of "night" race?

Spring (Diet) Cleaning

What a wonderful weekend. He is Risen! I love Easter, spring time, Texas allergies, 40 degree temperature changes within 12 hours, crisp air, and the idea of spring cleaning.  So this weekend while I was working at my weekend job, Baylor McKinney Medical Center, I received an email with a link to an interesting article and video about the results of sugar.  This would initiate my spring cleaning of my diet.  Of course we all know to shop the perimeter of the grocery store, filling our buggies (I have waited YEARS to correctly use that word in a sentence) with colorful fruits and vegetables.  But while educating myself more about the consequences of sugar something clicked.  We have a true epidemic on our hands! It's disgusting!  I was reading about Dr Mark Hyman's 10 sugar detox diet and watched his segment from the Dr Oz show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pJOak4kvgU
So here I am early Easter morning knowing that my kids would be kids and want all of their candy that I now see as a drug similar to cocaine.  We're addicted to not only sugar but food in general!  Fast forward 12 hours and I'm cleaning out the pantry before I leave for work.  The ER staff LOVED all of my "treats" of candy, chips, bars, etc that I filled a shopping bag.... ALL gone out of our house.

 "Hi, I'm Olaf and I like warm HUGS!"

 I couldn't wait to pickup Kinnick from preschool and head to Trader Joes and fill our kitchen with healthier options. The kids had a good time shopping knowing that they're normal eating staples didn't make the buggy (sorry, couldn't help it)!  Thank goodness for Pinterest- you have access to everyone's wonderful ideas after a quick search.  Here is to night #1 of fruit and vegetable prepping and eating with no added sugar!  I can't wait to see results as well as feel them, maybe I'll run faster for qualify for Boston by the time I'm 60.




Roasted cauliflower with ranch hot sauce, cottage cheese, carrots, and all natural chicken bites.  Kyron is the chef in our house but tonight it was me... so I had to prepare a back up plan for the kids of the chicken bites just in case :)

What are you favorite clean dishes? No sugar added treats?

Roy Meyers Children's Garden at the Dallas Arboretum

What blessings! Do you know how you are blessed? Are you thankful for them? Some days my life is going round and around, but I don't take a moment to thank God for everything! Last Wednesday I was thankful for a beautiful sunny, warm Dallas day that allowed me to take our kids to the Dallas Arboretum.  I thought we could cruse around the new kids part, head for lunch, stop at the Northpark Disney Store on the way home and have plenty time for the remainder of the day. Um, no! The Children's garden is the Disney of botanical gardens with science for preschoolers through grade school, wow!  I was able to take some pictures of Kinnick and Cooper with some flowers, but these don't even scratch the surface of the beautiful blooms that were on display.

Make sure to check out their webpage: http://www.dallasarboretum.org/visit/named-gardens-features/the-rory-meyers-children-s-adventure-gardenBefore planning your trip, make sure to view online if there are groups or field trips planned to attend your date.  Although we had to park in one of the furthest parking spots away from the front door (bring a wagon or stroller) it was surprisingly not too busy.  The Arboretum offers Mommy Mondays and Toddler Tuesdays that are perfect for little ones.  Lastly, I am so glad I promised the kids a picnic and packed my bag with drinks and snacks.  You are allowed to bring in outside food to enjoy at one of their excellent picnic areas.  One morning spent here allows you to pause your whirling everyday routine and take time with your loved ones while viewing the colorful blooms, posing for pictures, and even learning some interesting science.Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who observe justice (treating others fairly) and who do right and are in right standing with God at all times. Psalm 106: 3

The Right Time is NOW!

What a week.  I was busy but, not... does that make sense?  I hardly ran but did work out from home; the Beachbody 21 day fix workouts are great!  If I would follow the diet plans I'm sure I would look like Jillian Michael's by summer... but we all know that is not going to happen.  I hardly drink but my husband and I love to eat and celebrate everything!

For example this week: last Friday I had a Jamberry Nail party at our house- perfect reason to have treats and sangria.  As for Monday, I worked all weekend so I needed extra sugar and caffeine.  Tuesday was taco Tuesday and my kids love tacos and sitting on the patio.  Thursday was teacher appreciation day so I had to try some yummy treats.  Thursday night we survived tornado warnings, dangerous hail, and minimal fighting in the closet while the storm was hitting our house therefore I think we all deserved a trip to Sonic.  That was just one week!  Just how many celebratory treats to I need to eat?

To top it all off I joined a facebook group called, The Diet Bet.  I weighed in Sunday 15 pounds heavier than I was at the beginning of the year before my Disney Marathon.  Since then it has been either celebratory or stress eating.





When is the right time to start watching what you eat, stop drinking soda, start walking maybe even a run?  I read plenty of devotions, blogs, media about taking mom time and I know that its easier said than done.  That is why I have a love-hate relationship with facebook.  Being in a group that we are held accountable and there's even a cash reward at the end; I am going to at least try to be competitive.  Also, when I register for a race I post it on FB because that means I'm DOING that race; I will train, run, and feel better with an accomplishment.  And now that I have put it in writing on my blog I now have another public place for accountability.  I have a goal of running 500 miles this year and 14 races in 2014!

Here is where I am so far: 120.69miles logged for 2014

1. Walt Disney World Marathon   ✔
2. MRTT Start Your Engines        ✔
3. Dallas Rock N Roll                   ✔
4. Stonebriar Spring Sprint
5. Running Moms Rock
6. Chicago Rock N Roll
7. Run Like A Mother
8. Disneyland 10k
9. Disneyland Half Marathon
10. Dallas Ultra 13.1
11. San Antonio Rock N Roll
12. Fairview NYE Marathon (24.5 miles!!!)
13. Fairview NY Day 5k
14. ???

What are your goals for the rest of 2014? What keeps you competitive, accountable, and motivated?
Do you celebrate with food as much as I do?