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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Last Livestrong Post - Best Picture Ever

I am buying this picture, cause I don't think I have ever had a better race picture and I probably never will!  Great job Brightroom!  Most of my race pictures I look like I'm walking, or making a face that I would not want to keep in my memory book.

This is the alternative- me speed walking in Houston:
And me, ruining what would have been a good picture by looking at my watch.  Pretty much every race ends this way:
And look at my feet!  I can tell I am exhausted by my flip-floppy feet.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Upcoming Races Plans - Long Term Planning!

Tiara 5K Pflugerville - running this on Team Running from the Kids with Gwen and Maddy and my girls
Capital 10K Austin - 2/25, signed up way early
Bun Run 5K Austin - 4/29, not really sure about this one, may try to come up with an alternative motivator for April
Congress Avenue Mile Austin - 5/19, either this, or plan a series of 1 Mile track workouts to measure progress
Deutchfest 5K Pflugerville - 5/20, local 5k race with a kids K, will be fun to do as a family this year
Volunteer for a triathlon  - June
4th of July 5K - Austin or Georgetown
Silicon Labs Relay - September
Superhero 5K - September
See Jane Run 1/2 Marathon - 10/7 (or another Texas 1/2 marathon in Houston, Dallas or Fort Worth)
Race for the Cure - November (maybe)
Turkey Trot - November (maybe)
Dallas White Rock Marathon or Half - 12/2
Houston Marathon or Half - 1/13, running this with Jenna since she had to defer her race this year
Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon - End of February 2013

Other races on my 'wish' list of these plans fall through:
3M Half Marathon Austin - end of January.  Fast 1/2 marathon course with the best swag in the country!
Disney Goofy Challenge - 1/2 Marathon Saturday, Full Marathon Sunday in January.  Would need to convince some some people to do it with me.  This would be for "fun", not for time.  I say that, but I'm not sure if I can race for fun
Boston - for reals.  I'd have to cut at least 3 minutes off my marathon time, but with the right training I think I could do it!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Photos at the Park 2/19



John bought me a new camera for Christmas. A Cannon Rebel T2i with a couple lenses that I had no idea what to do with.  I was lucky enough to find a local photographer who teaches a class, Kristen Duke.  Her class was great and the handy book is a fabulous reference for day-to-day use.  I highly recommend it!

I have been using my camera on manual more and more, but find it easier to do when I have time to play vs. getting a quick shot.  Sunday's trip to the park gave me a chance to take a ton of pictures while the kids played.  These are some of the better shots.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Austin Half Marathon: Race Report

Start time: 7am
Weather: about 47 degrees, sunny, slight cool breeze
Course: effing hilly
Crowd support: Excellent!
Volunteers: Excellent

After the wheel chairs started, the runners surged forward to the start line.  I dumped my sweatshirt and stayed next to the 8:00/mile pace group.  First goal was to beat my previous time of 1:50.  My next goal was to beat 1:45. My plan was to do 8:00/mile for the first 6 and see how I felt, hoping to go faster the last half.  I totally did not do that and did the opposite instead.  I also messed up my watch at the start, so I lost about .3 miles from the first mile.

Mile 1: 7:47/mile
Mile 2: 7:29
Mile 3: 7:59

At this point I'm really annoyed that I signed up to do this race.  Running on South Congress is slightly uphill and I'm kind of 'meh'. 

Mile 4: 8:17 - see, not feeling it here

Mile 5: 7:54

Ok, time to Gu and head back North.  I'm starting to feel better, but not great.

Mile 6: 7:53
Mile 7: 7:41
Mile 8: 7:57

My left knee is starting to hurt and I am trying to ignore it.

Mile 9: 7:53 - one more Gu and lots of water
Mile 10: 7:58

Coming up on mile 11, my knee really hurts.  I consider walking but I don't think that will really help, cause I'm a stubborn ass.  I get to my favorite Eminem song "Lose Yourself".  At this point the marathon splits to the left and half goes right.  I am SO glad I get to go right, even though I know I have 2 hills ahead of me.

Mile 11: 8:16

Slowing down.  I do stop to stretch my knee in here.  It helps a little but its a weird place to stretch.  I know I need to ice and beat it up with the foam roller.  The giant hill looms over me and I grit my teeth to run up it. 

Mile 12: 8:28

More slowing down.

Mile 13: 7:47

All of the sudden I'm close to the finish.  Wow-wee!

Mile .25: 6:42

Official time: 1:44:57, Average 8:01/mile.

My stomach feels sort of yucky and I'm fricking freezing now.  Note for next time: use the gear check for warm clothes at the finish.  I get to our designated meeting spot and wait for my ladies, checking the Livestrong app for updates on their times.  Everyone did great!!  I'm so proud of my friends and glad that I have someone to enjoy the experience with. Cause this shit would suck without them!


I went home and did the ice bath thing, took some ibuprofen and headed to Rio Grande for a margarita. 

Monday, February 20, 2012

Austin Half Marathon - Race Prep

I spent the past week hydrating, trying not to eat Girl Scout cookies, trying not to eat all the kids Valentine candy, going to bed early-ish and mentally preparing for the Austin 1/2 Marathon on Sunday.  I was hydrated at least.  Jennifer and I were feeling pretty cocky when we signed up for this back on December 31 but did not prepare for the hills of Austin as much as I would like.

Saturday Christina and I went to the expo early and picked up our packets without a problem.  I got an long sleeve Austin 13.1 tee.  Then I took the opportunity to stop at Lululemon and got a new pair of my favorite shorts and a super cute pink jacket.  DAMN YOU LULULEMON!

Jennifer hosted a spaghetti dinner at her house.  Thanks to our lovely hostess!  Monica made a delicious sauce for the perfect pre-race dinner.  The kids disappeared into the playroom and we enjoyed chatting around the dinner table.

After getting the kids home to bed I laid out all my race gear: short sleeved shirt, bra, shorts, socks, hat and Body Glide.  Bib & pins, shoes and chip timer.  Hydration pack, 2 Gu's, tissue, iPod, sunglasses, chap-stick and gloves.  Throw away sweatshirt, extra long sleeve shirt and flip flops for after the race.  Breakfast I planned for a bagel thin, peanut butter and coffee.  Plus a pre-race Gatorade.  Whew - what a load of crap to pack!  I painted my nails purple and tried to relax before bed.

4:30 (yes 4:30) came quick, I got dressed quickly and ate breakfast.  The girls picked me up and Jennifer drove us downtown.  We parked, debated if we were wearing the right clothes (too warm/too cold) and headed to the starting area for one last potty break.  Jennifer and I tried to find our Blog buddy Mom Swim Bike Run but no luck in the crowded starting area.  After wishing everyone good luck, I went up to the 8:00/mile starting area.  I tried not to freeze my ass off waiting for the start, and soon enough it was go time!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Cool Video of the Race


Marathon (2012 Livestrong Austin Marathon) from Jordan J. Miller on Vimeo.

Music for the Moment

When I posted on Facebook that I was working on my playlist for 13.1 miles this weekend a friend asked WHAT was on said playlist.  Here it is, the good, the bad and the pop.  The last 10 songs are my absolute favorite running songs and I planned them for the hardest part of the race. 

Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
Welcome to the Jungle - Guns 'N' Roses
Fuck You - Cee Lo
TiK Tok - Kesha
Runaway - Kanye
All of the Lights - Ksanye
Born This Way - Gaga
Gotta get through This - Daniel Bedingfield
Run This Town - Jay Z
Under Pressure - David Bowie
Money Honey - Gaga
Dark Fantasy - Kanye
Dirt Off Your Shoulder - Jay Z
Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve
I Wanna Go - Britney Spears
Your Love is My Drug - Kesha
I Like It - Enrique
Lose Yourself - Eminem
Supermassive Black Hole - Muse
Jesus Walks - Kanye
Right Round - Flo Rida
POWER - Kanye
The Distance - Cake
Stronger - Kanye
Firework - Katy Perry
The Edge of Glory - Gaga
Sabotage - Beastie Boys

Monday, February 13, 2012

Party Pics

Birthday Girl!
Cowboy Connor
Brooke's Birthday
CAKE!
Pinata Bonanza!



Thursday, February 2, 2012

Maddy, I'm sorry, Princess Madeline Zetta

This girl cracks me up! She picks all this out herself and refuses to wear what I pick out. Normally she would add heels or cowboy boots.