Raleigh Rocks 1/2 Marathon - Quick post, full recap later

Unofficial time: (per my Garmin) 2:10:56

So yes, that means I shaved more than 10 minutes off my old time! Wahoo!

And I am walking normally, not like after OBX where I couldn't walk. I actually feel pretty good!

Grown up

I feel like in the past few weeks, Audrey has gone from a little toddler to this:

She looks so much older to me.

And she is slightly more mischievous.

And she was super-thrilled to accompany her Dad and sister to the Daddy/Daughter dance at our gym this year. Maybe that's what it was...whatever it was, I wish she would stay little forever.

Weekend Roundup...

Sorry for all of you hit with snow and such this past weekend, we had 80 degrees here on Saturday. The neighbors even had their slip-n-slides out, it was that warm.

Saturday was my last long run before the half marathon this coming Saturday. I did okay, had some goal pace miles in there, but the hills in my neighborhood killed me at the end. Not a good sign since the elevation of my half on Saturday is ALL HILLS ALL THE TIME. I would like to say I could beat my old half marathon time, but I am not even going to set that goal. I just want to finish.

Saturday the girls also left with my Mom and Stepdad to stay at their house in Myrtle Beach for a few days. Audrey could really care less about us leaving; Ashley is homesick. I think she is okay during the day, but at night she is crying and wanting me or Ray. So my Mom is letting her sleep with her (and of course Audrey ends up in their bed at some point too). Yes, you would think it would be the opposite, that the younger one would have issues. Maybe Ashley just understands more of how long she is gone? I don't know.

Sunday I got up bright and early, picked up a friend, and went to spectate the Tobacco Road Full and Half Marathon. I knew a few people from the blogging world that were running it as well as another friend, and I was looking forward to actually watching a race. I made the sign "Chafe now, Brag later" and received many compliments on my sign! I also downloaded a cowbell app for my iPhone (yes, there is an app for everything) and used that too.

Our plan was to see our friend Tracy at mile 4, 7/9 (it was an out and back section) and the end. We got stopped at mile 3 and couldn't go any further, so we saw her a little earlier than planned, but it worked. Then we headed over to mile 7/9 and saw her there (as well as LMC who saw me and said hi!) and then headed to the finish. Tracy beat her last half marathon time by more than 12 minutes, so she was happy.

I am actually pretty nervous for my race next Saturday. Not sure how I will do and I just don't want to come in last. I don't want to let down my friend who is running it with me. I don't know what I should wear (lows in the 40s, highs in the 60s) and I don't know if I should wear my fuel belt or not. GAH! I do know I look forward to seeing Ray and the girls at the finish line no matter how long it takes me to finish....

Spectating

I am going to be spectating my very first race ever on Sunday. My friend Tracy is running the Tobacco Road half marathon, and I am going to cheer her on.

And yes, I am going to make a poster, one of these probably:
"Toenails are overrated"
"If your feet hurt, it's because you are kicking butt!"
"You paid for this"
Chafe now, brag later"
Running is a mental sport, and we are all insane!"

I am going to try and see the start, mile 7 and 9, and then the end. I think I will need some luck too.

I also finally got to meet another runner that lives in my town a few weekends ago. We happened to run into each other at the park, and she recognized my kids. I am hoping she will do some runs with me in the future....

And I have also signed Ashley up for her first Duathlon! It's at our town park, and it is a .5 mile run, 2 mile bike, .5 mile run. The bike portion Ray is going to ride along with her just in case. I love the fact that Ashley thinks running is cool and wants to do it.

I realize my posts are getting fewer and farther between....

Another crazy week is almost in the books.

Sunday I had to travel for work since I had a meeting Monday morning and I had to drive over 4 hours to get there. I left as soon as Ray walked in the door around 5:30pm. I was back by 6:00pm Monday night. But as I said in an earlier post, we had to call my Stepdad in to help since Ray was in a class all day and couldn't take Audrey to her dance class. And yes, she could have missed class, but she is missing class next week since she is going to be in Myrtle Beach with her sister visiting the Grandparents.

Yes, Ray and I will actually have a few days to ourselves! I might actually go to the gym earlier that 8:00pm next Tuesday night. How crazy would that be??!!

And I am a little over a week away from half marathon #2. I would discuss my long run from last weekend, but I am afraid to jinx it for this weekend's run. Let's just say I was long overdue to have a good run with my speedy friend.

So work right now is kind of crazy. Ashley is tracked out of school which means our schedule is a little out of whack and also equals crazy. Time change and warmer weather, going out for a friend's birthday on St. Patrick's Day also really equals crazy (and reminds me just how old I am...).

Ready for an update

Okay, so I am back to the land of the living. It has remained nice outside, and I am calmed down from the spam comments.

Just a few things to make me crazy this past week:
Ashley is tracked out of school, so our schedule is a little different. Ray is working some open houses every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until who knows when. We have juggled some mornings (Ray actually took the girls to camp/school twice this week) and I think just that difference makes my kids crazy. Audrey didn't want me to leave this morning, and normally she is very easy going. It might have had to do with her sleeping in our bed again and wanting to snuggle more, I don't know.

And Monday, well let's just say Monday of next week we had to call in the big guns for help (my Stepdad) as Ray and I are otherwise occupied and needed some help. And we really owe my Stepdad for this one!

I am on track with running and have 9 miles on the schedule for tomorrow. Last weekend, I was going to have to do my 8 miles alone, but a friend stepped up and ran it with me. Unfortunately for her though, she hadn't run that distance in a while, and now her knee hurts. And yes, I feel totally at fault.

I had an awesome run on the treadmill Tuesday night, and then last night it sucked. As in I only made it 2 miles sucked. It was so freaking hot in the gym and I was there at a time I normally don't go. I don't think I had enough energy in me.

Two more weeks until Raleigh Rocks and my second (third if you count my medals since I got a medal at Myrtle Beach for the cancelled race) half marathon. I am not as prepared as I was for OBX, but I am more prepared than I was for the cancelled Myrtle Beach race.

And some funnies from my kids lately?
Ashley and Audrey were putting on a show the other night (this is what they do almost every night), and Ashley came out and said she was going to play the part of "small town girl". No idea where that came from!

And I had something funny that Audrey said recently, and now I can't remember it. Gah. I hate it when that happens. I am sure I will remember it at 3 in the morning.

Taking a break

Being pissed off from crappy spam comments on this blog, I am taking a few days break.

Plus, it is finally warm outside - the ice cream truck even made an appearance in my neighborhood on Sunday. 60 degrees last Sunday meant we were outside all day.

70 degrees today means I am pissed off I am in a building and am counting the hours until I leave.

But warm weather brings kids who inhale their dinners and sleep well at night. Bring on summer! (Yes, I am completely skipping over spring...I like it hot.)

Race Update

So we finally got the word from the Myrtle Beach cancellation - we receive half off our registration for next year's race ONLY if you actually picked up your race bib and if you do it by March 31, 2010. Yea, not going to happen. I am hopefully running a half marathon in a different state next February anyway (I will keep you guessing on which state!).

But, we also get half off our registration for the Historic Marine Corp Half Marathon in Fredericksburg, VA! After some snafus, I am now registered for that race. Yippee!