A dog walks up to bar

yes, it's sideways, but 20 minutes later I'm giving up

Today Gwen had no school and a doctor's appointment in the morning.  I let her stay home the rest of the day instead of going to after school care.  She entertained herself building a giant fort, making Valentines and playing outside.  At one point she was in the front yard.  From my seat in the office I could see her doing something in the bushes, picking weeds or seeds, whatever she does.  Then I glance up and there is a HUGE black dog in front of the window, also in the bushes with Gwen.  Just looking at her while she nervously backs away.  He wasn't scary, as you might be able to tell by looking at him sideways above.  He just wandered up, saw a small human and thought he'd say 'ello' I guess.

I came out front and he happily asked for pets.  There were a few neighbors out washing cars or playing with their kids, but no one looking for their dog.  Mr Bo (as we are calling him), had a chain on but no tags.  He was clearly well fed, friendly and an older fellow so he belonged to someone.  We sat with him outside for a bit, well Gwen climbed onto John's truck and watched from 5 feet away, and gave him some water.  I was debating what to do when I got a work call I had to take.  I took Mr Bo into the backyard, which he was more than happy to do, and he barley knows me!  While working I sent an email to the HOA to post a picture on our 'lost pets' message board.  I made a little flyer and hung it near the community mailboxes.  I also posted a message on the city's 'lost pet' Facebook page.  This was all before 1:30pm. When I picked up the other 2 from pre-school I drove slowly through the closest streets to see if anyone's back gate was open, no luck.

I threw the ball around the yard for Mr Bo for 20 minutes, this guy didn't not travel far today, he was out of breath after 3 throws, (but really pushy about throwing the ball).  And when I sat down he was all "pet me, pet me, slobber, slobber". 

So now it's 8:30pm.  This guy has been missing from his family for quite a while.  I was really hoping I would get a call around dinner and he would get rescued.  It's going to be a low of 40 tonight and this poor bastard is sleeping on my porch.  John is allergic to dogs so I really can't let him in the house, and who knows what kind of weird quirks he has (I chew anything wooden!  I like to poo in dark corners where you won't find it for weeks!).  He was probably just out for a short walk around the block and now he's been dog napped by some lady who won't let him come in the house.

~sigh~ so, now I gotta figure out what to do with my new friend. 

**Update**
Tuesday night Bo's owner called.  He saw my flyer on the mailbox and knew it must be his dog.  Turns out he lives around the corner and HIS NAME IS ACTUALLY BO/BEAU.  Seriously, how crazy is that?  So our new friend is back at home with his family.

What to Pack for a 2 Day Relay

Last TIR related post for awhile.  This is for posterity IF I ever need it again, which I surely will.  Tuesday after TIR I found myself making a list of all the things we packed and what we should have packed.  This is the list I will use next time compiled from the TIR recommendations and our own experience.

TEAM:
At least 2 flashlights or headlamps.
At least 2 reflective vests or belts.
LED blinking lights
Vehicles (not to exceed 22 feet in length)
IDs for team members.
Stop watches, clipboard, pens
Coolers (2/van)
Cell phones
Trash bags
Scissors/knife
Hand sanitizer
Markers for decorating van

First Aid Kit (per van) includes:
    sunscreen, bug spray, after bite, ibuprofen/advil, tylenol, various bandaids, neosporin, Tums, ziploc bags for ice packs,
    Baby wipes, spray bottles, or some other creative washing method
    team toilet paper
    Picnic blanket, tarp, and maybe even club tent for finish line area.

Information Binder (per van)
    Maps (course maps, Houston, and Texas road maps)
    Leg assignment sheet (with approximate start/finish times, relay exchange points)
    Team member phone numbers of both vans
    Emergency contact list for all team members

Water guns?
Van Decorations


INDIVIDUAL:
Electronics   
    Extras of the required items an individual may want to bring
        reflective vest, blinkies, flashlight, headlamp, etc.
    Phone & car charger
    Watch or GPS watch (and charger if necessary)
    Camera
Running Stuff   
    Sunglasses
    Cap or visor
    An extra pair of running shoes
    3-4 sets of running clothes (1/leg + 1): socks/shorts/bra/shirt/hat
    Plastic bags for damp clothing
    Water bottle (2)
    Cell phone carrier/waist pouch?
Other Clothes   
    Sleeping clothes & dry clothes for between runs
    Sandals or flip flops for between runs
    Jacket/sweatshirt
    Sleeping bag/blanket, pillow
    Towels (2 to dry off & sit on after running, 1 after showering)
Misc    Toiletries: tooth brush, tooth paste, deodarant, BODY GLIDE, soap, shampoo
    Money for meals, etc.
    Frogg Togg (ice wrap for neck)
    Book/Magazines
    ipod/head phones (not for running)
    sleep mask
    Ear plugs
    Anything special that you HAVE to have on trips or runs. Epi pen? Meds? Inhaler?


Food list for the team
    Ice (2-3 bags per van to start)
    cooler of ice/van
    cooler for food/van
    Bins/boxes for food (to keep from sliding around and for easy access)
    Plastic utensils
    Big plastic cups for ice/water dumping on runners
    1-2 gallons of water per person
    Gatorade
    GU/Gels/Blocks
    White bread
    peanut butter
    jelly
    turkey lunch meat
    sliced cheese
    pickles (for salt!)
    mustard
    bagels
    chips
    almonds/nuts
    fruit: clementine oranges, pears, apples, bananas
    Energy bars/granola bars
    Pasta salad (bowls/forks)
    Gum
    Candy (non-melty)

Texas Independence Relay Part 2

We're run 2 rounds now, is 3am - ish?

We head to a local high school and pay $5 for showers - well worth it!  I crashed out in the back of the van to attempt sleep before the NEXT round.  Monica and Ian got stuck driving to Katy.  They found the parking lot where our next exchange would be.  Bad part, was at 4:30am a local DJ decided to get this party started!!!   Gah!  At 5am I got up to pee and then I was pretty much up.  Even with almost no sleep my body was up.  I felt hung over.  Both hungry and nauseous, tired and awake.  Vblah!

Leg 32 was through the Hershey Trail in Houston.  I started at 8am, the mosquitoes were out in full force.  I felt pretty shitty and was just hoping to make it through my 6 mile leg.  Joe came charging to the exchange point racing another runner.  I took the baton and turned to start.  Then Red Shirt guy passes me and says "Road Kill #1!"  What. The. Fuck?  I get counting runners you pass, we did that too.  I would never count out loud.  Everybody is slower or faster than somebody else on any given day.  This pisses me off.  Red Shirt takes off down the path.  Another runner sprints past me.  (Side note: this is part of the starting strategy, faster teams start later and catch up to slower teams, so we all finish closer to the same time).  A third guy passes me, but was very friendly.  Slowly, I gain on Red Shirt.  2 miles in I am closing the gap.  I try to wait, biding my time but this guy is dragging ass now that his team isn't around.  I pass, on the right, "who's road kill now?"  BITCH!  I didn't say bitch, but I could have.  Now I'm feeling hot, enjoying the run and the scenery.  I pass the same speedy guy walking who passed me at the start.  I come into the exchange point screaming "CHUPACABRA!" catching Heather waiting in line at the porta potties, ruining her last break. It was not my fastest 6 miler ever, but I did better than I thought I could do after 2 previous runs and no sleep.

Race Name	Date	Distance	Time	Pace
Texas Independence Relay Leg 8: Chicken Coup	3/31/2012	5.86	0:52:35	08:58.4
Texas Independence Relay Leg 20: Eagle Lake	3/31/2012	4.71	37:06	7:52
Texas Independence Relay Leg 32 (Hershey Trail)	4/1/2012	6.68	56:21	8:26

Now I'm done running, but no where near close to being done with the day.  We are now in Houston so the scenery is much different.  I cool down while we bring Heather water 1/2 way through her run.  Then Jennifer starts her last leg and we bring her water, too.  It's starting to get hot and humid.  Jennifer finishes her run in a park, a park full of bicyclists and families.  Monica kicks off the Captain's leg now.  I was getting changed and by the time I got back to the van we thought we would be too late to catch Monica at the one point in her run we could get to her.  So we planned to go to the end of her leg and get Ian ready.

But here is where the 'be ready for anything' with a relay happens.  We drive through this park in busy traffic, Heather is navigating and I'm mostly watching the cars.  Suddenly Jennifer spots Monica on the side of the road waving.  We panic and pull over a half a mile down the road when we find a spot to safely stop.  Heather, Jennifer, Ian and I look at each other... who is going to run?  Ian doesn't miss a beat and says "I'll go!"  Heather jumps out and goes for Monica.  Jennifer and I prepare ice, ibuprofen and clear a seat in the van.  Unfortunately Monica is down for the count with a sprained ankle. 

Now, there are 2 legs left to run for our van before Van 1 gets back.  Jennifer and I meet Ian at the next exchange point.  He says he's ok to keep going.  It's probably 85 degrees now so we decide to meet Ian every 2 miles with water and ice.  After about 6 miles he asks Jennifer to step in and do 2 miles for him.  She is super awesome and cranks out 2 miles (after eating a shit load of candy, chips and soda).  Ian finishes up the last 2 miles and passes the baton to Van 1.

Van 1 has 4 legs left and it is 90 degrees now.  I get my running clothes on just in case they need help.  Fortunately they are an awesome crew and the most I have to do is drive our van and then help run water out to our last runner.

Me in yellow, bringing Shellie water and ice

 It's 2:30 or 3:00 when we meet at the finish and run the ceremonial last lap together up to the monument.  WE take a bunch of pictures and get our medals.  We take our pizza back to Monica, who is resting in the van.

The Running Chupacabras 162 Austin / Corpus Christi, TX Open Mixed

• 9m:10s Mile Pace
• 30h:47m Overall Time

• 54/101 Open Mixed
• 82/146 Overall

I. Am. So. Done.  So now we make the trip back to Austin.  Jennifer takes another one for the team and drives the whole way back in record time.  We vacuum and wash the van, unpack all the crap and trash.  I think it was about 8/8:30 before Jennifer and I pile back into her car to Pflugerville, where I unpack all my own stuff and wash my disgusting clothes and shoes.

So, what's the final verdict?  I feel like this relay was harder than a marathon.  The amount of time I was physically UP was an extra challenge.  I'm pretty good about nutrition before running, but having to think about it all day to eat at the right time after and before running was different.  The heat and running during the day I was not at all used to yet.  I'm glad it didn't rain - that would have been a huge beating.  Sunday and Monday I said I wasn't sure I would ever do it again.  But Tuesday I found myself thinking about what I would have done different (more sleep), what I should have packed (paper towels & pasta salad), and how we should have gamed the system (provided slower than planned pace times to start earlier).  So would I do it again?  Yes.

Texas Independence Day Relay - Part 1

The Texas Independence Relay is a 203 mile relay event from Bastrop to Houston TX.  The Running Chupacabras ran 40 relay legs with 11 team members and 2 vans.  It was a challenge, harder than I imagined, hotter than I expected, just as smelly as I thought it would be and much more exhausting than I anticipated.

I will do my best to describe my experience here, but will certainly miss a few things so bear with me.

Friday: stop at REI for last minute GU for the team, reflective vest and head lamp.  Meet up with Monica at Costco to buy food for the team.  We stood there amidst the hordes of bulk buyers (like me normally) debating what 11 adults running adults will eat over 2 days.  We decide on sandwich fixins, bagels, chips, breakfast bars, bananas, oranges, pears and apples, nuts, gallons of water and Gatorade.  Friday night I spent a lot of time deciding what to pack and organizing my bags.  My biggest concern was bringing too MUCH stuff.  In the end I think I did pretty good and used almost everything I brought (I will post my packing list later).

Saturday: up at the usual 5:10am to shower, make coffee and eat a little breakfast.  Jennifer picked me up at 6 and we headed to Monica's.  There we met our other van mates Heather and Ian.  Heather was super awesome nice, and a genius navigator.  Ian was just about the nicest guy that could get stuck with 4 girls in a van.  Monica is our Running Chupacabra team captain and fearless leader.  We packed up the van with all our food and crap and headed to Bastrop to meet up with the rest of our Chupacabras.  We got to the starting area just in time for our 8:32am start time.  Teams have a staggered start times based on approximate finish times.  The 11 Running Chupacabras posed for a picture with a cannon (really) and did a ceremonial lap together before Logan and van 1 took off.

Ceremonial first leg, cow patty makes it authentic Texas

 Van 2 headed to Smithville TX to hang out before our first round.  We milled about and had some lunch.  We also finished decorating our van and tagged other vans with the 'Chupacabra'.

Smitty in Smithville, TX

not so great picture of the van

As we are hanging out we realize it's getting hot.  Balls hot y'll.  I am up to run leg 8 at about 1pm (?).  As we head out to the exchange point I realize I'm not going to do the sub 8 min miles I thought I was capable of.  Shellie and Jennifer W in Van 1 warn us to GO SLOW and be careful, and they are serious runners.  Joe hands off the baton (slap bracelet) to me and I take off.  Well trudge off is more like it.  The temps are at 88+ degrees and humid.  Leg 8 is a country road with little shade.  There are only a few runners and vans passing me by.  I pass 5 other runners on this leg and I am not going that fast, everyone is dialing down the pace.  Lucky for me, my race crew stops twice to toss water on me.  Later we figure out ice in the hat and bra are the key to staying cool (remember that tip!).  The scenery was pleasant, fields, flowers and a freaking ginormous chicken farm.
Leg 8: ~5.86 miles, ~51:35 minutes, 8:58/mile average.  I forgot to turn on my Garmin until after I started, so I'm estimating.  

It's Hot!

After my leg I cooled down and then joined in to support the rest of the team, running water and ice out, driving along the country roads of Texas and screaming "CHUPACABRAS!"   Here is where I find my real niche - driving a huge ass van.  I can't back my minivan out of a two car garage, but I can drive a 12 person van like no body's business, I kick ass!

Crew support for Heather

Jennifer passing the baton to Monica

Monica whipping ass

Ian killing 2 legs in the blistering heat

We finish our round of legs (8-13) and find a place to eat for dinner and clean up a little.  Then we drive toward the next exchange point before our round of night legs.  Lucky for us the girls find a nearby parking lot where we can rest or sleep for a while.

I kick off leg 20 around 10:45 pm, running some country road and through Eagle Lake.  I run the first mile and feel better than this morning so decide to pick up the pace, finishing 4.71 miles in 37:06, average 7:52/mile pace.  Whew!   Back to driving, checking in on our runners in the dark.  I don't know when we finished our round of night runs, 2am/3am?

Part 2 and Sunday's events to come...

The Freedom of Starting Over

A few weeks ago I was using the ole' home computer putting new books on my Nook.  I got side tracked and when I returned the computer was no longer functioning as it should.  This happens occasionally, so I did what anyone would do, I turned it off and on.  Sadly this did not help and John has been trying to bring the system back to life ever since.  A few nights ago as he attempted to fix it he asked me what files and documents I wanted saved.  I thought about it and decided NOTHING.  Well, other than the thousands of pictures (that were backed up else where) and our music files.  The only thing I really cared about what the Excel file that I track all my race data in, which I had emailed to myself a month ago so I had a recent copy.  Other than that, bookmarks - start over, half completed projects - start over, passwords to websites I never use - start over. 

It's sort of liberating! 

If this happened on my work computer I would cry real tears for an hour and bitch about it for months.  A good reminder to ALL OF YOU TO BACK UP YOUR COMPUTERS!  Not that I would know what the hell to do to with a back up drive, but I assume a nearby tech nerd would know. 

Happens Daily

Workout Log: 10/31-11/6

Monday - 6.00 miles, 58:05, 8:51/mi avg, with Christina.  Started out way to fast cause I got up late (again).  I ended up feeling pretty sore by the end.
Tuesday - Track workout, 8x.25m repeats with Jennifer.  5.75m, 52:16, 9:05/mile total
That night I get it on with the foam roller, super sore
Wednesday - much needed rest day
Thursday - 6.70m, 58:39, 8:45/mi avg. Tempo run in very windy conditions.
Friday - off
Saturday - 14.30 miles, 2:14:29, 9:24/mile avg.  Ran 5 with Christina and Jennifer and I did 14. It was 45 degrees but I ran in shorts, I thought that was a mistake to start but I was comfortable after going numb.
Sunday - rest

Total mileage 32.75

Good news is that my Sunday/Monday runs reminded me that warming up and cooling down is essential for running pain free.  Not warming up definitely made a difference. 
Bad news is that my stupid toe has a stupid blister that is driving me bonkers.  It seems like little feet constantly step on it, my shoes rub it and it's making me walk funny.  Not sure what I can do about it, other than complain.

The Ice Contraption

My sister is getting hip surgery next week.  As part of her recovery, they are giving her one of these to use.  A portable electric powered ice wrap.  I snickered for about 10 seconds at the thought of my younger sister having to drag this thing about.  And then I realized that is fricken awesome!  I want one for my own personal use!  ~ Jealous

Race for the Cure

My Race for the Cure Page.  On November 13th I am running the Susan G Komen 5k in Austin.  This is an event I have run 6 times and for the 3rd year I am running for Renee's Rack Pack.  One of my dear friends Renee is going through cancer for the second time.  My grandmother had breast cancer twice and lost her life to it.  My Aunt Susie recently went through treatments.  John's Aunt Beth, two of my mom's close friends... this is something that has touched many lives around me.  This year I put a call out to close friends and family to donate to my race page, and pledged that I would match all donations dollar for dollar.  Our team is a Dell corporate team this year, so they match our entire team's donations dollar for dollar as well. 

I have raised $255 dollars so far!  Holy crap.  I have to admit I did not think so many people would give so generously to support the Rack Pack and my fund raising goal.  But I'm sticking to my word ya'll!   I will be matching the $255 and Dell will match the whole $510. 

Weekly Workout Report 10/24 - 10/30 and Bonehead of the Week

Monday - Maintenance run: 5.15 miles, 47:32, 9:14/mile avg, w/ JC
Tuesday - Track: WUP; 4x500m @ 7:43/mile + 3:00 recovery; CD.  6.00 miles, 51:54, 8:39/mile avg
Wednesday - 6 week 6 pack, 35 min
Thursday - Tempo: WUP; 30 min marathon pace; CD. 6.01 miles, 54:28, 9:04/mile avg (too fast), w/JC
Friday - 30 minutes arms & abs
Saturday - "rest"
Sunday - Long run: 12:10 miles, 1:49:37, 9:04/mi avg (too fast)

Friday I wore my ole' black boots with the heel and by the end of the day my messed up big toe was killing me.  John mocks my sensitive toes, but it was killing me almost all day Saturday.  By Sunday I could feel it but it wasn't nearly as painful.  Stupid kids dropping shit on my feet!

Sunday was our long run.  Jennifer and I planned to meet at 6am, which means I need to leave at 5:50.  So I set my alarm for 5:15, giving myself enough time to get dressed, eat something, drink water and go to the bathroom.  I groggily woke up about 4:30, and snuggled back in bed glad for another 45 minutes of sleep.  My alarm went off at 5:15 and I dragged myself up.  Clock in the bathroom reads: 6:15.  Clock on my phone reads: 6:15.  Mother effer.  My 15 year old alarm clock though today was the F-ing end of day light savings time, so had "rolled back" the clock for me.  GAH!  I knew Jennifer would have already been at our meeting spot at 6:00, would have gotten to my house at 6:10 and seen it completely dark.  In panic mode I run downstairs, turn on the outside lights - no Jennifer.  I text "COME BACK!!!" hoping she might go home and check her phone.  No luck.  So I grab all my crap in record time and get out the door at 6:24.  We run a pretty standard loop around our neighborhood, but I really had no idea if she would run the regular route or run it backwards, or might come home early.  Turns out she decided to do the full 12 and ran it backwards.  I eventually caught up with her at her half way point, 3 miles in for me.  I was glad to see her, I felt like a dummy for getting up late, but was very glad she decided to do it without me (good girl!)! 

She finished off 12 and I had 3 to go.  I ate a Gu.  My digestive system decides Gu in means I have to go to the bathroom - NOW!  See, I neglected my normal second bathroom trip when I sprinted out the door this morning.  I was fine for the first 10 miles, but there's only so long I can go before I have to 'go'.  It was daylight, there were people out, even if I was brave enough to drop trou' in the open I can't do it in daylight!  This becomes a race to the finish.  The faster I run, the more I have to 'go', but I really don't want to crap my pants.  At 11.5 miles I drop my water bottle and belt on the lawn, unlock the door, knock innocent children out of the way and dart into the bathroom. 

Afterward, I jog around the block to cool down and finish the last .5 I owe to the running gods. 

Two lessons for today.  One, get a new alarm clock that isn't so smart.  Two, the second bathroom break is worth the extra time.

Time Waste # 432 Pinterest

If you use Pinterest, you already know it is a huge, fun, time suck.  Worse than Facebook or Twitter.  If you don't use it, email me and I'll send you an invite.

I found this, this, and this today, all while I should be curled up in bed sleeping.  But no, instead I'm thinking how cute it would be to make a sandwich shaped like a piggy, and that I should really try steel cut oatmeal again - for real!  And creating a new pin board for travel ideas for our next road trip.

Damn you Pinterest!

I am way to into this

Well, the format doesn't make it easy to read pasting it in here, but this is every race I have ever signed up for.  The 1/2 next weekend will be my 58th race 5th 13.1.  There are some gaps here and there after I had Gwen in 2006 and the twins in 2008.  One race I did not make it to (SHOCKER).  I also have a load of race t-shirts that I love dearly.

Race Name	Date	Distance	Time
DashDown Greenville 5K	3/15/2003	5K	28:53
SusanGKomen 5K	11/2/2003	5K	27:53
Capitol 10,000	3/28/2004	10K	1:03:19
Texas Round Up	4/17/2004	10K	1:04:53
Chuy's Hot To Trot 5k	5/8/2004	5K	28:46
Keep Austin Weird 5k	8/28/2004	5K	30:56
Cedar Perk 5 Miler	10/10/2004	5M	43:35
Pervasive 10 Miler	10/24/2004	10M	1:43:42
SusanGKomen 5K	11/7/2004	5K	26:45
Trukey Trot	11/25/2004	5M	42:07
Dallas White Rock Half Marathon	12/12/2004	13.11M	2:05:27
Capitol 10,000	4/3/2005	10K	52:30
OKC Memorial Half Marathon	4/24/2005	13.1M	1:56:52
Chuy's Hot To Trot 5k	5/7/2005	5K	41:43
Silicon Labs Marathon Relay	6/5/2005	12K	1:07:18
Moonlight Margarita Run	8/4/2005	5K	25:17
Cedar Perk 5 Miler	10/9/2005	5M	42:11
SusanGKomen 5K	11/6/2005	5K	27:28
SusanGKomen 5K	11/5/2006	5K	28:20
Trukey Trot	11/23/2006	5M	45:35
3M 1/2 Marathon	1/28/2007	13.11	2:04:12
Mardi Gras 5k	2/10/2007	5K	27:08.70
Hawk Hustle 5K (3.06mi)	2/2/2007	5K	24:30
Capitol 10,000	3/25/2007	10K	51:10.2
Texas Round Up	4/28/2007	10K	51:11.3
Chuy's Hot To Trot 5k (bruised up)	5/12/2007	5K	25:15
Freedom 5k	7/4/2007	5K	23:36
Cedar Perk 5 Miler	10/7/2007	5M	38:15.4
Detroit Marathon	10/21/2007	26.2M	4:11:30
Jingle Bell 5k	12/16/2007	5K	25:00.35
Mardi Gras 5k (course 2.94)	2/2/2008	5k	24:59:00
Hawk Hustle 5K			volunteer
SusanGKomen 5K	11/1/2008		untimed
Statesman Capitol 10K (w/ Jenna)	3/29/2009	10k	1:02:11.0
Schlotzsky's Bun Run 5K	5/3/2009	5k	25:54
Detchenfest Pfun Run 5k (w/ Gwen)	5/17/2009	5k	26:51
Livestrong =		5k
SusanGKomen 5K	11/1/2009		DNS
Statesman Capitol 10K	4/11/2010	10k	59:46
Detchenfest Pfun Run 5k (w/ Gwen)	5/16/2010	5k	26:46
Ignite 5K and Family Fun Mile (w/ Gwen)	6/12/2010	5k	29:21
Nelson Scholarship 5K Run Georgetown	7/3/2010	5k	25:06
Caleb 5k	7/17/2010	5k (3.15)	24:35
Casa Superhero 5k	9/19/2010	5k* (3.04)	23:21
Pflugerville Mom's Group	10/10/2010	5k (3.15)	24:08
SusanGKomen 5K	11/7/2010	5.k (3.19)	23:45
Jingle Bell 5k (w/ Gwen in stroller)	12/12/2010	5k	25:14
3M 1/2 Marathon RELAY individual	1/30/2011	6.79m	52:50
3M 1/2 Marathon RELAY w/ Jennifer	1/30/2011	13.10	1:46:48
10k pace	1/30/2011	6.20	47:48
Austin 1/2 Marathon	2/20/2011	13.22	1:50:05
Diva 5K Pflugerville	3/5/2011	3.17	23.32
Capitol 10,000	3/27/2011	6.28	48:34
Georgetown Red Poppy 5k	4/17/2011	3.14	23:18
Deutschen Pfest Pfun Run	5/22/2011	3.10	23:27
Moonlight Margarita Run	6/16/2011	3.12	23:43
Casa Superhero 5k	9/25/2011	3.19	22:52

Just for Fun, the Garbage Men Hate Us

I am standing in the driveway taking this picture.  We are the ONLY house that had our cans tossed about, so I can't blame the wind.  We must be putting the wrong stuff in recycle bin or something.

Umm... what?

I'm still not sure what to think about this, but there it is.  We are a 3 car family all of the sudden.  So much time is spent in the garage now, I can only assume a fridge and TV will soon be installed in there.  The guitar has not been played in weeks!  Boys and their toys.

Art Work - 1 year later

When Maddy got her 'big girl bed' months and months ago I picked out really cute bedding from Target that is pink with woodland creatures on it.  I planned to make my own art work to coordinate.  9 months later I finally did it!

BRICK #1

Saturday I was in a bad mood.  Just crabby crabby crabby.  The kids were driving me bananas and it seemed like anything I tried to get us all in a better mood failed miserably.  I tried to get everyone dancing, Jack was clearly annoyed and Gwen cried because I wouldn't "freeze dance."  I tried having a tea party and Maddy refused to come upstairs on her own two feet, so cried on the bottom step for 15 minutes.  I made everyone attempt a nap and then left for a workout.  I could have taken a nap, too, but decided the workout would make me feel better about all the bad food I knew I'd be eating later.

I did my first Bike/Run workout and actually rode my bike for the first time in months.  It was 90 degrees and windy but the bike part felt good.  I did about 6 miles in 34 minutes, around the neighborhood.  After the bike I drank some water, ate a shot block and then did a 3 mile loop.  My legs felt like lead, I was struggling hard and was sure I must be doing 12 minute miles, which was ok given the heat and already riding the bike. But I was actually doing 8:30/mile.  I was in a weird cadence where I could either walk or run fast and could not change my pace.  I finished the 3 miles but it was killer.  I would have rather done 10min/mile and gone a little longer.

Afterward I iced my legs and streatched and felt a million times better mentally.  The kids still drove me bananas, but I had slightly more patience to deal with them.