Today is my 31st birthday.
For months, I have been thinking about what I would want to say to myself on this day. More so than January 1st, my birthday seems to mark a fresh start for me. It gives me a chance to look back at where I've been and to dream about where I am going.
At first, I thought I might write myself a letter much like I do for my daughters each year. But, then I thought about it and realized that all the things I say to them are the exact same things I would say to myself.
Be strong.
Fight for what you want.
Know you're worth it.
Show your love to those who love you back. And even to those who don't.
Be the best you EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.
Then, I stumbled upon this post at Banana Buzzbomb - A reverse bucket list. Rather than obsess over the things you want, this list takes stock in what you already have. It's something that I think I forget about too often, as I continuously strive to be a better me (or at least not lose ground to my current self).
So, today on my 31st birthday (and hopefully a lot more often than that), I am celebrating how far I've come, instead of worrying about how far I have to go. Here's my reverse bucket list:
1. I always made academics important, even if I didn't think attending school was. I absorbed as much as I could and held myself to a high standard. Ultimately, it paid off. I went to an Ivy League university.
2. I graduated from that Ivy League university in three years. Just because I could.
3. I've always been athletic. I played travel soccer from the time I was 10. I made the varsity soccer, basketball and track teams as a freshman. In college, I was on a Division I Track and Field team.
4. I broke my pelvis and dislocated my hip when I was 12. The doctors told me that I probably wouldn't play sports again. I was back on the soccer field six months later.
5. I overcame my hate of running and have run six marathons. Two in the same week.
6. I (mostly) overcame my fear of my bike after crashing it and destroying my shoulder. Now I am going to race a 140.6.
7. I married my first serious boyfriend. I knew he was the one for me immediately and I would have married him just as quickly if I wasn't deathly afraid of what my mother would have done. We waited two years and have now been married for almost nine.
8. I gave birth to three beautiful daughter who are truly my everything.
9. I ran eight miles two days before my third daughter was born. Nothing else has ever made me feel so bada**.
10. I changed my life and lost 70 pounds. I've kept the vast majority (aside from pregnancies) off for nine years.
11. I'm still friends with my childhood best friend. We've known each other for 28 years.
12. I never left the country before I was 20. Since then, I have been to England, Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas and Bermuda.
13. I am a two-time NJ state champion in the shot put. I still have the discus records at both my middle school and my high school.
14. I used to take karate. I've broken a board with my hand, my foot and my head.
15. I have been featured in Runner's World (August 2011). I was mentioned as a Twitter account to follow in the December 2012 issue, as well.
16. I was personally asked by Ethan Zohn (of Survivor fame) to run for his NYC Marathon team.
17. I was selected by Nuun to represent them at the Hood to Coast Relay. Twice.
18. I shaved my head. Kind of a ballsy thing for a girl to do.
19. J and I have purchased three houses in our nine years of marriage. Our current one is finally starting to feel like home, but I'm not entirely convinced.
20. I have no credit card debt.
21. I've never put my Ivy League degree to good use and the older I get the more OK I am with it. Staying at home with my girls has been one of the best decisions I ever made. Maybe one day I'll have a job with an income that can support us, but this thankless, wage-less job of shaping these children is the best one I will ever have.
22. I've gotten three tattoos. And I don't regret any of them.
23. I have been honored with the opportunity to be a member of Team Rev3 Tri. And let me just add that sponsorship doesn't suck.
24. I survived the death of a parent.
25. I went from being unable to lift my arm (at all) to finishing my first 70.3 in exactly 11 months.
Showing posts with label nuun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nuun. Show all posts
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Hood to Coast: AfterNUUN Delight - Team Noon
Location: Mt. Hood, OR to Seaside, OR (202 miles - there was a detour this year)
Date: 8/24/12-8/25/12
Temperature: variable (my coldest leg was 49 degrees and my hottest was 78 degrees)
Official Time: 28:17:58 (average pace of 8:29 per mile)
Place in Division: 2/28 (Womens Open)
Overall Place: 261/1070
I've been thinking (even prior to racing) about how I was going to summarize this experience. And what I keep coming back to is, I can't. There is nothing I can say that will accurately depict how amazing it is to run Hood to Coast with a group of like-minded running bloggers, supported and cared for by the amazing people at Nuun Hydration.
Plain and simple, there is nothing else like it.
If you are ever given the opportunity to experience it, I guarantee, it will change you in some way. I know that it changed me.
Nuun Hydration: Not that I expected anything less, but the people at Nuun were as amazing as always. In addition to sponsoring three teams (Team Morning, Team Noon and Team Night), they handled race logistics, pre-race activities, post-race festivities and everything in between. I cannot express how much I love these people. They welcomed us with open arms and we couldn't have asked for more.
The Mountain of SWAG: In addition to being sponsored by Nuun, we had numerous other companies supply us with gear, food and pretty much everything else you could possibly need during a relay. Talk about feeling like a kid on Christmas. I am extremely appreciative of their support and it would be totally worth your while to check these fine companies out.
The Course: I've said it before and I'll say it again - The views on this course are epically beautiful. Van 1 starts atop Mt. Hood while Van 2 starts roughly 40 miles down the road in Sandy, OR. Both vans make their way through the woods, down into the valley, back up over the mountains and to the sea. It's simply amazing.
My favorite part came a third of the way through my first leg. The sun was setting and I turned a corner and ran towards Mt. Hood in the distance. It was breathtaking.
My Nuun-mates: These women (and men) are awesome. I love them to pieces and am so grateful to have them in my life.
Pre-Race Activities: Unlike last year, we were asked to come into town early for team bonding. I loved this mainly because the lack of interaction between teams in 2011 was my main criticism of the experience.
Over the course of the two days prior to the race, we went to a Mariners game ...
had a scavenger hunt (my team won!),
visited Oiselle Headquarters,
and created a million memories and new friends that I will cherish forever.
My Legs (#7, #19, #31): I won't lie. Heading into the race this year, I was beyond terrified of my legs. I just remembered watching Jess run them last year and thinking how happy I was that I didn't have to climb those mountains.
As the race approached, I realized that I was less scared about the terrain of the course than I was of my ability to run them strong. At some point (probably about a mile into my first leg), I decided that the hills had nothing on me. I was just going to run to the best of my ability at that very moment.
And I did.
Yes, the climbs were challenging. And yes, I had moments where I longed for it to be over. But, I also tried to relish every single step I took and I tried to reclaim my run love with each stride. I finished feeling powerful and strong, something that has eluded me lately.
Our Van Song - If you want to get an idea of the feel of my van, then look no further than our official van song: "You Can Leave Your Hat On", by Tom Jones. If you haven't heard it before, you need to. Trust me, you're missing out.
Van Food: I think the thing that messes with you during a relay the most is the lack of real food. We ate lunch on the way to the first exchange on Friday afternoon and didn't have another real meal until after 8 p.m. on Saturday. The 30 hours in between were filled with trail mix, KIND Bars, Nuun, brownies, M&Ms, cheese stick, gummy bears and Chobani. And while it tasted good at the time, it was a digestive nightmare for me. It didn't take long for me to be carrying around a "food baby."
Late Start: All three of the Nuun teams started after 2 p.m. this year. While that made for a relaxed morning, it left us running on a rather empty race course. Road kills weren't nearly as prevalent as last year and we were often getting run down by the elite teams (think, Nike). The late start also meant that we finished late and arrived at the beach after much of the festivities had occurred.
The Ugly:
The stench: From the 24th through the morning of the 27th, I took 1 shower and ran 16+ miles. Enough said ...
Date: 8/24/12-8/25/12
Temperature: variable (my coldest leg was 49 degrees and my hottest was 78 degrees)
Official Time: 28:17:58 (average pace of 8:29 per mile)
Place in Division: 2/28 (Womens Open)
Overall Place: 261/1070
I've been thinking (even prior to racing) about how I was going to summarize this experience. And what I keep coming back to is, I can't. There is nothing I can say that will accurately depict how amazing it is to run Hood to Coast with a group of like-minded running bloggers, supported and cared for by the amazing people at Nuun Hydration.
Plain and simple, there is nothing else like it.
If you are ever given the opportunity to experience it, I guarantee, it will change you in some way. I know that it changed me.
The Good:
Nuun Hydration: Not that I expected anything less, but the people at Nuun were as amazing as always. In addition to sponsoring three teams (Team Morning, Team Noon and Team Night), they handled race logistics, pre-race activities, post-race festivities and everything in between. I cannot express how much I love these people. They welcomed us with open arms and we couldn't have asked for more.
The Mountain of SWAG: In addition to being sponsored by Nuun, we had numerous other companies supply us with gear, food and pretty much everything else you could possibly need during a relay. Talk about feeling like a kid on Christmas. I am extremely appreciative of their support and it would be totally worth your while to check these fine companies out.
- Team Sparkle
- KIND Snacks
- Road Noise Vests
- Sparkly Soul Headbands
- BenGay
- Aspaeris Compression Shorts
- Jamba Juice
- Tiger Tail
- Tough Chik
- Go Sport ID
- Endorphin Warrior
- ShowerPill
- Picky Bars
- Knuckle Lights
- Thorlos
- Maui Jim Sunglasses
- GNC
- Chobani
- Go Motion Gear
- Swiftwick Socks
 |
| My favorite swag - Custom Tough Chik Arm Warmers |
The Course: I've said it before and I'll say it again - The views on this course are epically beautiful. Van 1 starts atop Mt. Hood while Van 2 starts roughly 40 miles down the road in Sandy, OR. Both vans make their way through the woods, down into the valley, back up over the mountains and to the sea. It's simply amazing.
My favorite part came a third of the way through my first leg. The sun was setting and I turned a corner and ran towards Mt. Hood in the distance. It was breathtaking.
 |
| as the sunset during my first leg ... |
My Nuun-mates: These women (and men) are awesome. I love them to pieces and am so grateful to have them in my life.
 |
| Post-race festivities .. |
 |
| Reunited: 2011 Nuun Platuun Van 2 |
 |
| Love my van-mate, Kim |
 |
| Ready to roll ... |
 |
| Me and HLove ... |
 |
| Team Noon, Van 2 ... |
Over the course of the two days prior to the race, we went to a Mariners game ...
had a scavenger hunt (my team won!),
 |
| Ricole, Vanessa, Marjorie, Harmony, me and Stephanie |
and created a million memories and new friends that I will cherish forever.
My Legs (#7, #19, #31): I won't lie. Heading into the race this year, I was beyond terrified of my legs. I just remembered watching Jess run them last year and thinking how happy I was that I didn't have to climb those mountains.
As the race approached, I realized that I was less scared about the terrain of the course than I was of my ability to run them strong. At some point (probably about a mile into my first leg), I decided that the hills had nothing on me. I was just going to run to the best of my ability at that very moment.
And I did.
Yes, the climbs were challenging. And yes, I had moments where I longed for it to be over. But, I also tried to relish every single step I took and I tried to reclaim my run love with each stride. I finished feeling powerful and strong, something that has eluded me lately.
Our Van Song - If you want to get an idea of the feel of my van, then look no further than our official van song: "You Can Leave Your Hat On", by Tom Jones. If you haven't heard it before, you need to. Trust me, you're missing out.
The Bad:
Van Food: I think the thing that messes with you during a relay the most is the lack of real food. We ate lunch on the way to the first exchange on Friday afternoon and didn't have another real meal until after 8 p.m. on Saturday. The 30 hours in between were filled with trail mix, KIND Bars, Nuun, brownies, M&Ms, cheese stick, gummy bears and Chobani. And while it tasted good at the time, it was a digestive nightmare for me. It didn't take long for me to be carrying around a "food baby."
Late Start: All three of the Nuun teams started after 2 p.m. this year. While that made for a relaxed morning, it left us running on a rather empty race course. Road kills weren't nearly as prevalent as last year and we were often getting run down by the elite teams (think, Nike). The late start also meant that we finished late and arrived at the beach after much of the festivities had occurred.
The Ugly:
The stench: From the 24th through the morning of the 27th, I took 1 shower and ran 16+ miles. Enough said ...
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Three Things Thursday ...
Epic Blood - To go along with my RMR test last month, I had the most in depth blood work done. On Tuesday, I finally had my follow up appointment to go over the results. And the verdict is in ...
I have epic blood. Like, "my blood work results will kick your blood work results' a**" epicness. Sorry. It's true. (I may have challenged J to a "blood battle")
My cholesterol levels are awesome. (Total - 149, LDL - 48, HDL - 73, Triglycerides - 53. I knew you were wondering.) I have no signs of inflamation/oxidation. My glucose and insulin levels are rock star. My kidneys and liver know how to operate and my electrolytes are on point (Thanks Nuun!)
However, the tests showed that I am a carrier for Factor V Leiden (which increases my risk for venous thromboembolism, blood clots that form in the vein) and that I do not effectively metabolize folic acid. Also, I have a few hormone levels that while still in the normal range, are on the low side. Super interesting stuff.
And while I learned lots of new things about how my body is functioning, I was not at all surprised by two results.
I have crazy low levels of both Vitamin D and Iron, despite heavy supplementation over the last year.
In fact, all of the supplements barely raised my levels from the last time I had blood work done, which makes me think that I also have difficulty effectively metabolizing those nutrients. At this point, I'm not really sure how to rectify this absorption issue.
Epic Fit - Also on Tuesday, I had a professional bike fit on TigerBlood. After nearly two hours, lots of pictures, videos and lasers and numerous tweaks, it's like my bike was made especially for me. It's amazing. Definitely money well spent.
Dinnertime Crazies - I've been trying to focus on spending quality time with the girls while they are out of school. Part of this includes having conversations around the dinner table.
Day in and day out, I try to keep things civilized. It never works. Every single day ends up like this ...
Yes, I constantly question their sanity.
I have epic blood. Like, "my blood work results will kick your blood work results' a**" epicness. Sorry. It's true. (I may have challenged J to a "blood battle")
My cholesterol levels are awesome. (Total - 149, LDL - 48, HDL - 73, Triglycerides - 53. I knew you were wondering.) I have no signs of inflamation/oxidation. My glucose and insulin levels are rock star. My kidneys and liver know how to operate and my electrolytes are on point (Thanks Nuun!)
However, the tests showed that I am a carrier for Factor V Leiden (which increases my risk for venous thromboembolism, blood clots that form in the vein) and that I do not effectively metabolize folic acid. Also, I have a few hormone levels that while still in the normal range, are on the low side. Super interesting stuff.
And while I learned lots of new things about how my body is functioning, I was not at all surprised by two results.
I have crazy low levels of both Vitamin D and Iron, despite heavy supplementation over the last year.
In fact, all of the supplements barely raised my levels from the last time I had blood work done, which makes me think that I also have difficulty effectively metabolizing those nutrients. At this point, I'm not really sure how to rectify this absorption issue.
Epic Fit - Also on Tuesday, I had a professional bike fit on TigerBlood. After nearly two hours, lots of pictures, videos and lasers and numerous tweaks, it's like my bike was made especially for me. It's amazing. Definitely money well spent.
Dinnertime Crazies - I've been trying to focus on spending quality time with the girls while they are out of school. Part of this includes having conversations around the dinner table.
Day in and day out, I try to keep things civilized. It never works. Every single day ends up like this ...
Yes, I constantly question their sanity.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
3TT: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
The Good - After what seemed like an eternity (for me, not you), Nuun announced how our Hood to Coast teams would be divided on Tuesday. Each of the 36 runners was placed on a team, (Morning, Noon or Night) and assigned to a leg. Since we were allowed to give our preference of legs, I chose leg 1, leg 3 and leg 4 as my top three. I really wanted to be in van 1 in order to see other half of the course, as I was in van 2 last year.
So, what did I get?
Honestly, it probably wouldn't have been on my top three of van 2. At first I was a little bummed, but all that "woe is me" crap got washed away when I saw the rest of my van. Talk about awesomesauce. I hit the van-mate jackpot and I know we are going to have a blast.
Tonia – Racing With Babes: Legs 7, 19, 31
Kim – Nuun Employee: Legs 8, 20, 32
Tiffany – Heavy Medal: Legs 9, 21, 33
Zoe – Nuun Employee: Legs 10, 22, 34
Jessica – Pace of Me: Legs 11, 23, 35
Lindsay – Lindsay On The Go: Legs 12, 24, 36
And van 1 is pretty amazing too ...
Van 1
Kelly – According to Kelly: Legs 1, 13, 25
Laura – Nuun Employee: Legs 2, 14, 26
Laura– Camping Out In America: Legs 3, 15, 27
Jocelyn – Enthusiastic Runner: Legs 4, 16, 28
Sarah – Once Upon a (L)ime: Legs 5, 17, 29
Molly – Mollyberries’ Hodge Podge: Legs 6, 18, 30
Watch out Team Morning and Team Night, it's on. (I'm so not competitive at all ...)
The Bad - Yesterday afternoon, I ran out to the store to pick up some groceries. On the way home, I was accelerating from a stop when a car cut into my lane and sideswiped me. (I'm totally fine, by the way).
Startled from what had happened, I quickly collected myself and noticed that the other driver paused just ahead of my car and then started driving again. I followed thinking that he or she was pulling out of the way of traffic so that we could exchange information.
When we got to the traffic signal, I got a bad feeling and pulled out my phone to snap a picture of the other car.
Good thing I did, because seconds later, the other car turned and booked it.
A freaking hit and run.
I called the cops and hopefully they can find the person. Either way, pretty much the entire front right side of the car needs to be replaced. So that's awesome!
The Ugly - I have been growing out my hair for the last few months. I have also been bleaching my hair every four weeks for the past few months. Now, after all that abuse, my hair has had enough. It's pretty much stopped holding color, lost all of it's curl, has a waxy feel and horrible texture. I mean, last night I took this picture after J told me I looked like a troll doll ...
It was bad. And I was over it.
So, like any rational person, I decided to start from scratch. I told J to get the clippers and to shave my head. We thought it was kind of hilarious. So we videotaped part of it ...
Yeah, that happened. Despite how truly UGLY it looked, I really like the end result.
That's right. The fohawk is back ...
So, what did I get?
Team Noon: Leg 7. (Click HERE for course maps)
Honestly, it probably wouldn't have been on my top three of van 2. At first I was a little bummed, but all that "woe is me" crap got washed away when I saw the rest of my van. Talk about awesomesauce. I hit the van-mate jackpot and I know we are going to have a blast.
Team Noon: AfterNuun Delight Van 2
Tonia – Racing With Babes: Legs 7, 19, 31
Kim – Nuun Employee: Legs 8, 20, 32
Tiffany – Heavy Medal: Legs 9, 21, 33
Zoe – Nuun Employee: Legs 10, 22, 34
Jessica – Pace of Me: Legs 11, 23, 35
Lindsay – Lindsay On The Go: Legs 12, 24, 36
And van 1 is pretty amazing too ...
Van 1
Kelly – According to Kelly: Legs 1, 13, 25
Laura – Nuun Employee: Legs 2, 14, 26
Laura– Camping Out In America: Legs 3, 15, 27
Jocelyn – Enthusiastic Runner: Legs 4, 16, 28
Sarah – Once Upon a (L)ime: Legs 5, 17, 29
Molly – Mollyberries’ Hodge Podge: Legs 6, 18, 30
Watch out Team Morning and Team Night, it's on. (I'm so not competitive at all ...)
The Bad - Yesterday afternoon, I ran out to the store to pick up some groceries. On the way home, I was accelerating from a stop when a car cut into my lane and sideswiped me. (I'm totally fine, by the way).
Startled from what had happened, I quickly collected myself and noticed that the other driver paused just ahead of my car and then started driving again. I followed thinking that he or she was pulling out of the way of traffic so that we could exchange information.
When we got to the traffic signal, I got a bad feeling and pulled out my phone to snap a picture of the other car.
Good thing I did, because seconds later, the other car turned and booked it.
A freaking hit and run.
I called the cops and hopefully they can find the person. Either way, pretty much the entire front right side of the car needs to be replaced. So that's awesome!
The Ugly - I have been growing out my hair for the last few months. I have also been bleaching my hair every four weeks for the past few months. Now, after all that abuse, my hair has had enough. It's pretty much stopped holding color, lost all of it's curl, has a waxy feel and horrible texture. I mean, last night I took this picture after J told me I looked like a troll doll ...
 |
| Note: There is NO PRODUCT in my hair ... |
It was bad. And I was over it.
So, like any rational person, I decided to start from scratch. I told J to get the clippers and to shave my head. We thought it was kind of hilarious. So we videotaped part of it ...
Yeah, that happened. Despite how truly UGLY it looked, I really like the end result.
That's right. The fohawk is back ...
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Three Things Thursday -
Food, Food and More Food - After I posted yesterday about my RMR, pretty much everyone asked me how I was going to eat 3000-4000 QUALITY calories per day. And the answer is ...
I don't know.
It would be super easy to head to Shyndigz and have a jumbo sized piece of cake everyday. Easy, but wrong. Plus, we put a self-imposed ban on that place until Labor Day.
But, in all seriousness, I don't really know what I am going to eat. Yesterday, I only made it to 2511 calories and could not have eaten another bite. Unfortunately, my 80 minute bike and 90 minute yoga session (not to mention my normal daily activity) boosted my caloric needs by about 1300. Yeah, so day one might have been a fail.
I'm sure your heart is breaking for the girl who can eat whatever the f#ck she wants.
Anyway, I'm know that avocados will become a daily staple and that I'll eat a full serving (or two) of nuts compared to the half serving I usually have. But after that, I am kind of stumped. The nutritionist recommended some interesting options for balancing my nutrients, but they are kind of counter-intuitive to endurance training, so I am not sure how I feel about them. I'm going to give them a go and will "review" them after a few weeks along with a "log" of what I am eating.
In the meantime, if you have any helpful hints, feel free to email me with them.
P90X - Ever since Ironman 70.3 Texas, I have been trying to incorporate more strength training into my routine. I have been doing a free weights circuit at home two to three times per week and I can definitely tell the difference that it is making. My shoulders, especially the reconstructed one, are much stronger and my swim times are evident of that.
Since things were going well, I had no intention of changing anything. But last week, my sister, Beans, mentioned that a co-worker of hers wanted to try P90X and that she was also kind of interested in learning about it.
I took that to mean that she wanted to start it IMMEDIATELY.
And that's what we did. On Monday, Beans, J and I started P90X. And it's beating the heck out of us. When I tried to get out of bed this morning to run, I could barely move. My hips and butt were on fire. So, I took an unscheduled rest day. Oops.
Nuun Winners - It occurred to me this morning that I never posted my Nuun Giveaway winners. So without further adieu, here they are. There were 75 entries and thanks to random.org, the lucky numbers were ...
#23 - Hot Mama @ Hot Confidence
AND
#37 Christine Ashby @ Swimmer Turned Triathlete
Congrats ladies! Please email me at racingwithbabes (at) yahoo (dot) com with your shipping address to claim your prize.
I don't know.
It would be super easy to head to Shyndigz and have a jumbo sized piece of cake everyday. Easy, but wrong. Plus, we put a self-imposed ban on that place until Labor Day.
But, in all seriousness, I don't really know what I am going to eat. Yesterday, I only made it to 2511 calories and could not have eaten another bite. Unfortunately, my 80 minute bike and 90 minute yoga session (not to mention my normal daily activity) boosted my caloric needs by about 1300. Yeah, so day one might have been a fail.
I'm sure your heart is breaking for the girl who can eat whatever the f#ck she wants.
Anyway, I'm know that avocados will become a daily staple and that I'll eat a full serving (or two) of nuts compared to the half serving I usually have. But after that, I am kind of stumped. The nutritionist recommended some interesting options for balancing my nutrients, but they are kind of counter-intuitive to endurance training, so I am not sure how I feel about them. I'm going to give them a go and will "review" them after a few weeks along with a "log" of what I am eating.
In the meantime, if you have any helpful hints, feel free to email me with them.
P90X - Ever since Ironman 70.3 Texas, I have been trying to incorporate more strength training into my routine. I have been doing a free weights circuit at home two to three times per week and I can definitely tell the difference that it is making. My shoulders, especially the reconstructed one, are much stronger and my swim times are evident of that.
Since things were going well, I had no intention of changing anything. But last week, my sister, Beans, mentioned that a co-worker of hers wanted to try P90X and that she was also kind of interested in learning about it.
I took that to mean that she wanted to start it IMMEDIATELY.
And that's what we did. On Monday, Beans, J and I started P90X. And it's beating the heck out of us. When I tried to get out of bed this morning to run, I could barely move. My hips and butt were on fire. So, I took an unscheduled rest day. Oops.
Nuun Winners - It occurred to me this morning that I never posted my Nuun Giveaway winners. So without further adieu, here they are. There were 75 entries and thanks to random.org, the lucky numbers were ...
#23 - Hot Mama @ Hot Confidence
AND
#37 Christine Ashby @ Swimmer Turned Triathlete
Congrats ladies! Please email me at racingwithbabes (at) yahoo (dot) com with your shipping address to claim your prize.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Nuun Giveaway ...
It's no secret that I love Nuun.
I drink it throughout the day, while I train and when I recover.
And now that it's 90 degrees with 100% humidity here in Virginia, I love it even more.
And now that it's 90 degrees with 100% humidity here in Virginia, I love it even more.
I currently have a tube in my purse, in my car and two in my kitchen cabinet. Not to mention the four boxes I have in my pantry.
Nuun Active Hydration rocks my world. Here's just part of the reason why:
- Packed with electrolytes, light flavor, no sugars or carbs, and portable, Nuun Active Hydration is the perfect sports drink.
- The electrolytes found in Nuun will help alleviate cramps, help muscles function, communicate and burn energy efficiently.
- Nuun Active Hydration comes in 11 flavors: Banana, Orange, Lemon Lime, Strawberry Lemonade, Fruit Punch, Kona Cola, Lemon Tea, Tri-Berry, Grape, Tropical and Citrus Fruit. (Banana and Lemon Tea are my favorites. I could tell you were wondering.)
Not only does Nuun have their Active Hydration line, they also produce U Natural Hydration and Nuun All Day, which was released last week.
So, in honor of the unofficial start of summer and the high temperatures many of us are dealing with, I am giving away a tube of Nuun Active Hydration and a 21 oz Nuun Water Bottle to TWO WINNERS.
Entering is easy. Here's what to do:
Answer this question: What do you do to maintain your fitness when the temperatures rise?
 |
| I can't wait to try these new flavor combos: blueberry pomegranate, tangerine lime, raspberry grape and grapefruit orange |
So, in honor of the unofficial start of summer and the high temperatures many of us are dealing with, I am giving away a tube of Nuun Active Hydration and a 21 oz Nuun Water Bottle to TWO WINNERS.
Entering is easy. Here's what to do:
Answer this question: What do you do to maintain your fitness when the temperatures rise?
Good Luck!
Official Rules:
- One entry per comment.
- Only entries submitted correctly will be counted.
- Contest will run from 5/29 until 11:59 p.m. on 6/4.
- Winners will be randomly selected and announced on 6/5.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Three Things Thursday ...
Nuun - As you've probably heard by now, I was once again selected by Nuun to run Hood to Coast as part of their team, AfterNUUN Delight.
To say I freaked the freak out when they posted the list would be an understatement. I was jumping around and screaming. Then I told the girls and they started jumping around and screaming. It was pretty loud there for a second.
Once we calmed down, the first thing the girls said was, "So, that means we're going to get a lot of Nuun, right?"
Right girls.
That's why we made that video. It had nothing to do with me wanting to once again run the Mother of All Relays. Or wanting to represent a company and product I truly believe in. Or even because, sometimes, Mommy needs a break from all this chaos that the three of you produce.
It was nothing like that. Not at all. It was so you could have more Nuun. I mean, it's not like we currently have a stockpile of 20 tubes in our home right now. Obviously, we need to replenish our supply.
Tough Chik - And since we're on the subject of companies and products that I am completely obsessed with, let's talk about what is coming up on the East Coast for Tough Chik.
On May 19-20, I'll be running the Tough Chik booth at the Ground Force IT Powersprint Triathlon here in Richmond, the first of several Richmond Multisport events on the Tough Chik calendar for 2012.
Then on June 1-2, it's onto ZOOMA Annapolis Half Marathon and 10K. The Tough Chik booth will be set up at both the expo and the Post Race Party. If you are attending this event, be sure to stop by and say hi.
And if you haven't registered yet, here's your chance. By using the code ANNCON6, you will receive $10 off the half or $5 off the 10K.
Finally, if you missed registration for Team Tough Chik in December and want to join this FANTASTIC group of ladies, you now can. Registration for the team will open again on May 1st. If you want to learn more, all you have to do is CLICK HERE.
Seriously? - Apparently, my blog has finally made it. After four years and zero efforts to ever make a paycheck off all of my ramblings, I got this in the mail on Monday.
That's right, my blog has been pre-approved for a credit card. Too bad it would never be able to pay the bill ...
 |
| Click the image to see who else made the team ... |
To say I freaked the freak out when they posted the list would be an understatement. I was jumping around and screaming. Then I told the girls and they started jumping around and screaming. It was pretty loud there for a second.
Once we calmed down, the first thing the girls said was, "So, that means we're going to get a lot of Nuun, right?"
Right girls.
That's why we made that video. It had nothing to do with me wanting to once again run the Mother of All Relays. Or wanting to represent a company and product I truly believe in. Or even because, sometimes, Mommy needs a break from all this chaos that the three of you produce.
It was nothing like that. Not at all. It was so you could have more Nuun. I mean, it's not like we currently have a stockpile of 20 tubes in our home right now. Obviously, we need to replenish our supply.
Tough Chik - And since we're on the subject of companies and products that I am completely obsessed with, let's talk about what is coming up on the East Coast for Tough Chik.
On May 19-20, I'll be running the Tough Chik booth at the Ground Force IT Powersprint Triathlon here in Richmond, the first of several Richmond Multisport events on the Tough Chik calendar for 2012.
Then on June 1-2, it's onto ZOOMA Annapolis Half Marathon and 10K. The Tough Chik booth will be set up at both the expo and the Post Race Party. If you are attending this event, be sure to stop by and say hi.
And if you haven't registered yet, here's your chance. By using the code ANNCON6, you will receive $10 off the half or $5 off the 10K.
Finally, if you missed registration for Team Tough Chik in December and want to join this FANTASTIC group of ladies, you now can. Registration for the team will open again on May 1st. If you want to learn more, all you have to do is CLICK HERE.
Seriously? - Apparently, my blog has finally made it. After four years and zero efforts to ever make a paycheck off all of my ramblings, I got this in the mail on Monday.
That's right, my blog has been pre-approved for a credit card. Too bad it would never be able to pay the bill ...
Monday, April 9, 2012
2012 Nuun HTC Application ...
Unless you have been living under a rock, you probably know that Nuun is sponsoring THREE all-female, all-blogger teams to run the Mother of All Relays, Hood to Coast.
It's an amazing opportunity. One that I was fortunate enough to be a part of last year. And one that I would probably sacrifice a limb for to be selected again. (I'm kidding. I swear. Kind of. I mean, I REALLY want to run HTC and represent Nuun again. And I could always get a prosthetic.)
Last year, I wrote an essay, perhaps the most uncreative of the creative applications I could have chosen. And then, I only shared it with the selection committee.
But not this year.
This year, I stepped up my game.
This year, I made a VIDEO ESSAY. Kind of like a written essay, except you don't have to read it and you get to see my epically cute and Nuun-obsessed children.
And, because I am fully prepared to embarrass myself, I am going to share it with all of you. (Note: I only had a cell phone camera and my editing skills leave something to be desired.)
So without further adieu, here is my 2012 Nuun/HTC minimally Creative Application ...
Obviously, I should have been a videographer. But, I leave that to the professionals like Rodrigo and Becker.
So, are you applying too? The deadline is TODAY!
And if Hood to Coast isn't your thing, but you still want to represent Team Nuun, then check out this opportunity to race a Columbia Muddy Buddy event near you. Nuun will provide teams of two with race entry, Nuun shirts and Nuun hydration kits.
I'd apply, but Muddy Buddy and I are bitter enemies after that whole shoulder separation incident last year.
For full details on how to enter, CLICK HERE.
Good Luck!
It's an amazing opportunity. One that I was fortunate enough to be a part of last year. And one that I would probably sacrifice a limb for to be selected again. (I'm kidding. I swear. Kind of. I mean, I REALLY want to run HTC and represent Nuun again. And I could always get a prosthetic.)
Last year, I wrote an essay, perhaps the most uncreative of the creative applications I could have chosen. And then, I only shared it with the selection committee.
But not this year.
This year, I stepped up my game.
This year, I made a VIDEO ESSAY. Kind of like a written essay, except you don't have to read it and you get to see my epically cute and Nuun-obsessed children.
And, because I am fully prepared to embarrass myself, I am going to share it with all of you. (Note: I only had a cell phone camera and my editing skills leave something to be desired.)
So without further adieu, here is my 2012 Nuun/HTC minimally Creative Application ...
Obviously, I should have been a videographer. But, I leave that to the professionals like Rodrigo and Becker.
So, are you applying too? The deadline is TODAY!
And if Hood to Coast isn't your thing, but you still want to represent Team Nuun, then check out this opportunity to race a Columbia Muddy Buddy event near you. Nuun will provide teams of two with race entry, Nuun shirts and Nuun hydration kits.
I'd apply, but Muddy Buddy and I are bitter enemies after that whole shoulder separation incident last year.
For full details on how to enter, CLICK HERE.
Good Luck!
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Three Things Thursday ...
Attached - It's been four days since Ironman 70.3 Texas and I am still wearing my athlete wristband.
I know I could take it off but I just can't bring myself to do it. I kind of feel like once I do, I am saying that this whole journey is over and I don't want it to be. So, instead, I will just walk around letting people assume I was admitted to the hospital.
Nuun Hunt - Every year at my daughters' preschool, there is an egg hunt. Each family is asked to bring a dozen plastic eggs filled with non-candy items. Traditionally, I fill the eggs with tattoos and stickers, but this year, I decided to shake things up.
That's right, a bunch of lucky 3-5 year olds will be getting single-serve tabs of Nuun. Not sure how everyone is going to feel about this, but I know Doodle will think it's epic. Then again, we call our car, Nuun Platuun, so maybe she's an anomaly.
Photos - The only time I have ever purchased race photos was for my first marathon. I shelled out the cash because I thought it was the only time I was ever going to run a marathon and I wanted to have proof. And since they were so expensive, I thought I would never purchase them again.
Well, I was wrong.
My race photos from this past weekend were AMAZING. Like the best race photos I have ever had. So, I bought them. Unfortunately, the link they sent me to download them isn't working. So, rather then show you the high quality ones, you get to see what I hijacked from the site.
Pretty awesome, right?
I know I could take it off but I just can't bring myself to do it. I kind of feel like once I do, I am saying that this whole journey is over and I don't want it to be. So, instead, I will just walk around letting people assume I was admitted to the hospital.
Nuun Hunt - Every year at my daughters' preschool, there is an egg hunt. Each family is asked to bring a dozen plastic eggs filled with non-candy items. Traditionally, I fill the eggs with tattoos and stickers, but this year, I decided to shake things up.
That's right, a bunch of lucky 3-5 year olds will be getting single-serve tabs of Nuun. Not sure how everyone is going to feel about this, but I know Doodle will think it's epic. Then again, we call our car, Nuun Platuun, so maybe she's an anomaly.
Photos - The only time I have ever purchased race photos was for my first marathon. I shelled out the cash because I thought it was the only time I was ever going to run a marathon and I wanted to have proof. And since they were so expensive, I thought I would never purchase them again.
Well, I was wrong.
My race photos from this past weekend were AMAZING. Like the best race photos I have ever had. So, I bought them. Unfortunately, the link they sent me to download them isn't working. So, rather then show you the high quality ones, you get to see what I hijacked from the site.
Pretty awesome, right?
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Ironman 70.3 Texas Recap ...
Location: Galveston, TX
Date: 4/1/12
Temperature: mid 70's @ start, 80 degrees @ finish
Official Time: 6:39:39
Swim Time: 48:55 (2:31/100m)
T1: 4:21
Bike Time: 3:17:31 (17.01 mph)
T2: 3:07
Run Time: 2:25:45 (11:07 pace)
Place in Age Group (30-34): 73/112
Place in Gender: 414/760
Overall Place: 1699/2670
Racing with a Friend: When I first decided to race a 70.3, I knew I needed support. My solution - get a friend to race with me. Thankfully, I was able to convince one of my best friends, Heidi, to come along for the ride.
She trained in Texas. I trained here in Virginia. We met up for the race. And it was awesome. I can't express how grateful I am to have had her by my side (or in front of me, since she's wicked fast - she finished in 5:46). We had fun from beginning to end and despite the pain, we are already working on our future race plans.
The Bike: To be completely honest, I was a little scared that all of my miles on the trainer were not going to translate to the road and that I was going to blow up on the bike. But, fortunately, the course was so pancake flat that other than a serious headwind on the way out, this ride was just like my trainer sessions. Three hours and 15 minutes of non-stop pedaling.
After a rough start, which included that headwind and a bathroom break at mile 13, I kicked it into overdrive on the second half of the bike, negative splitting by 13 minutes in the last 28 miles. And I even rode in aero position for most of the second half. A huge deal considering I had NEVER gotten into the aero bars on the road before.
Nutrition: This is one area I feel that I really did well. Three hours prior to the race, I had a bowl of oatmeal and a banana, coffee and Nuun. 45 minutes out, I had a Luna Protein Bar. After the swim, a Honey Stinger Waffle. During the bike, four Chocolate Outrage GUs. Followed by another Honey Stinger Waffle in T2 and two more GUs during the run. It seemed to work for me and I never felt hungry or low energy. Maybe poorly hydrated, but that's a different story.
Strippers: No, not that kind of stripper. The wetsuit removal kind. Wiggle out of the top of your wetsuit, lay on the ground and two people rip it off you. Best thing ever.
The Bling: Just awesome.
The Swim: Prior to this race, I had never swam in open water. I had never been in a mass start. And I had never attempted to remove my wetsuit with any sort of speed. Needless to say, I was kind of freaking out at the start, even if I was doing my best to hide it.
I knew that on the perfect day, I could probably finish the swim in 45 minutes. About 30 seconds after the gun, I realized that it wasn't the perfect day. The mass start and open water kind of overwhelmed me. I was flailing. I swam with my head up. I swam backstroke. I swam breaststroke. I swam off course. I swallowed salt water.
It wasn't until 38 minutes in (I checked my watch) that I found my groove and cruised into transition. It was actually quite frustrating. Once I was swimming normally, I wanted to kick myself for getting so worked up. Later, I was shocked to learn I had only missed my "perfect day" time by about 4 minutes.
Hydration: In case you forgot, I am mildly freaked out by my bike. I am almost always certain that I am going to crash. Because of this, I was not brave enough to grab a replacement water bottle at the aid stations along the bike course. That meant I had 42 oz of water on the bike with me and once it was gone, it was gone - no matter how hot it was.
Right before I hit the mile 50 marker, I finished the last of my Nuun. 20 minutes left on the bike and nothing left to drink. Despite being very well hydrated heading into the event, those 42 oz of fluid were not enough to hydrate me during the first four hours of the race and I was so parched heading into the run. It was kind of a recipe for disaster.
The Run Course: Three 4.4ish mile loops. In direct sunlight. On an airstrip. Pure torture.
Signage: Although this was a very well run event entirely worth the $250 price tag, the pre-race (i.e. athlete check in/expo) was kind of a cluster. There was a severe lack of signage and we found ourselves wondering around quite a bit. A couple of big arrows would have been killer.
The Run: Although I finished the run in 2:25:45, well within in the 2:10-2:30 window that I anticipated, it was rough. Right from the start, I knew I was dehydrated and my legs didn't have the power that I needed. So, I made a deal with myself - run one minute, walk one minute. I knew that as long as I just kept moving I'd finish. Sure, I wanted it to be over as soon as possible, but I gave it everything I had on that day.
Of course, as I sit here now, I can say, "Maybe if it wasn't so hot. Maybe if I had drank more on the bike. Maybe if I didn't push it so hard on the second half of the bike." There are a million "what ifs". But, I own that 2:25:45. I kept going when I really wanted to stop. And now, I have a mark to beat.
The Aftermath: Between the sunburn and muscle soreness, post race (and the last two days) has been ugly. I'm hobbling around. I'm short-tempered. I'm tired. But I don't really care, it was freaking awesome and I can't wait to do it again.
Date: 4/1/12
Temperature: mid 70's @ start, 80 degrees @ finish
Official Time: 6:39:39
Swim Time: 48:55 (2:31/100m)
T1: 4:21
Bike Time: 3:17:31 (17.01 mph)
T2: 3:07
Run Time: 2:25:45 (11:07 pace)
Place in Age Group (30-34): 73/112
Place in Gender: 414/760
Overall Place: 1699/2670
The Good:
Racing with a Friend: When I first decided to race a 70.3, I knew I needed support. My solution - get a friend to race with me. Thankfully, I was able to convince one of my best friends, Heidi, to come along for the ride.
 |
| Athlete Check In |
 |
| Trying to stay cool |
 |
| At the athlete briefing |
 |
| Goofing around waiting for Lance to arrive |
 |
| Just before heading to the start |
The Bike: To be completely honest, I was a little scared that all of my miles on the trainer were not going to translate to the road and that I was going to blow up on the bike. But, fortunately, the course was so pancake flat that other than a serious headwind on the way out, this ride was just like my trainer sessions. Three hours and 15 minutes of non-stop pedaling.
 |
| Heading out from T1 |
After a rough start, which included that headwind and a bathroom break at mile 13, I kicked it into overdrive on the second half of the bike, negative splitting by 13 minutes in the last 28 miles. And I even rode in aero position for most of the second half. A huge deal considering I had NEVER gotten into the aero bars on the road before.
Nutrition: This is one area I feel that I really did well. Three hours prior to the race, I had a bowl of oatmeal and a banana, coffee and Nuun. 45 minutes out, I had a Luna Protein Bar. After the swim, a Honey Stinger Waffle. During the bike, four Chocolate Outrage GUs. Followed by another Honey Stinger Waffle in T2 and two more GUs during the run. It seemed to work for me and I never felt hungry or low energy. Maybe poorly hydrated, but that's a different story.
Strippers: No, not that kind of stripper. The wetsuit removal kind. Wiggle out of the top of your wetsuit, lay on the ground and two people rip it off you. Best thing ever.
The Bling: Just awesome.
The Bad:
The Swim: Prior to this race, I had never swam in open water. I had never been in a mass start. And I had never attempted to remove my wetsuit with any sort of speed. Needless to say, I was kind of freaking out at the start, even if I was doing my best to hide it.
I knew that on the perfect day, I could probably finish the swim in 45 minutes. About 30 seconds after the gun, I realized that it wasn't the perfect day. The mass start and open water kind of overwhelmed me. I was flailing. I swam with my head up. I swam backstroke. I swam breaststroke. I swam off course. I swallowed salt water.
It wasn't until 38 minutes in (I checked my watch) that I found my groove and cruised into transition. It was actually quite frustrating. Once I was swimming normally, I wanted to kick myself for getting so worked up. Later, I was shocked to learn I had only missed my "perfect day" time by about 4 minutes.
 |
| coming into T1 (Ignore the finger in the shot) |
Hydration: In case you forgot, I am mildly freaked out by my bike. I am almost always certain that I am going to crash. Because of this, I was not brave enough to grab a replacement water bottle at the aid stations along the bike course. That meant I had 42 oz of water on the bike with me and once it was gone, it was gone - no matter how hot it was.
Right before I hit the mile 50 marker, I finished the last of my Nuun. 20 minutes left on the bike and nothing left to drink. Despite being very well hydrated heading into the event, those 42 oz of fluid were not enough to hydrate me during the first four hours of the race and I was so parched heading into the run. It was kind of a recipe for disaster.
The Run Course: Three 4.4ish mile loops. In direct sunlight. On an airstrip. Pure torture.
Signage: Although this was a very well run event entirely worth the $250 price tag, the pre-race (i.e. athlete check in/expo) was kind of a cluster. There was a severe lack of signage and we found ourselves wondering around quite a bit. A couple of big arrows would have been killer.
The Ugly:
The Run: Although I finished the run in 2:25:45, well within in the 2:10-2:30 window that I anticipated, it was rough. Right from the start, I knew I was dehydrated and my legs didn't have the power that I needed. So, I made a deal with myself - run one minute, walk one minute. I knew that as long as I just kept moving I'd finish. Sure, I wanted it to be over as soon as possible, but I gave it everything I had on that day.
Of course, as I sit here now, I can say, "Maybe if it wasn't so hot. Maybe if I had drank more on the bike. Maybe if I didn't push it so hard on the second half of the bike." There are a million "what ifs". But, I own that 2:25:45. I kept going when I really wanted to stop. And now, I have a mark to beat.
The Aftermath: Between the sunburn and muscle soreness, post race (and the last two days) has been ugly. I'm hobbling around. I'm short-tempered. I'm tired. But I don't really care, it was freaking awesome and I can't wait to do it again.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Three Things Thursday ...
Craptastic - Yup. I said it. Miss "Always Look at the Bright Side" has had enough and is currently feeling craptastic. Nothing catastrophic has happened, but enough minor inconveniences have sent me off the deep end. I am irritable, moody and completely impatient. Very much not like myself. And thanks to the flat tire my bike got while PARKED ON THE TRAINER. I missed my 40 mile sweat session last night. Seriously, how does that even happen?
I'm just going to recommend avoiding me at all costs ...
Brightside - Now that I got that funk out of my system (OK, not really, I'm just going to pretend like I'm chill), I'm going to remind myself of the good things. Like the fact that we leave for Disney in eight days. And that J threw me a 30th birthday party last weekend and I pigged out on these chocolate dipped marshmallows that my sister, Angie Pants, made ...
And that my post from yesterday seems to have convinced my sister, G, that she can in fact run a 10 miler. Eventually. Oh, and did I mention that we are leaving for Disney in eight days? (race costume is EPIC by the way).
Nuun - In other positive news, I have been invited to continue to serve as a Nuun Ambassador for 2012. Considering my (and my family's) Nuun obsession, it's really the perfect fit. So expect some serious Nuun love around these parts.
And speaking of Nuun, yesterday morning at dropoff, the girls spotted this ...
Dizzle immediately said, "Mom, look it's a giant tube of Nuun. Can you imagine how big the waterbottle would have to be?"
Yes, people, I have brainwashed my children with all things endurance.
I'm just going to recommend avoiding me at all costs ...
Brightside - Now that I got that funk out of my system (OK, not really, I'm just going to pretend like I'm chill), I'm going to remind myself of the good things. Like the fact that we leave for Disney in eight days. And that J threw me a 30th birthday party last weekend and I pigged out on these chocolate dipped marshmallows that my sister, Angie Pants, made ...
 |
| little pieces of heaven ... |
And that my post from yesterday seems to have convinced my sister, G, that she can in fact run a 10 miler. Eventually. Oh, and did I mention that we are leaving for Disney in eight days? (race costume is EPIC by the way).
Nuun - In other positive news, I have been invited to continue to serve as a Nuun Ambassador for 2012. Considering my (and my family's) Nuun obsession, it's really the perfect fit. So expect some serious Nuun love around these parts.
And speaking of Nuun, yesterday morning at dropoff, the girls spotted this ...
 |
| Operation Hydration in Effect |
Dizzle immediately said, "Mom, look it's a giant tube of Nuun. Can you imagine how big the waterbottle would have to be?"
Yes, people, I have brainwashed my children with all things endurance.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
NYC Marathon Recap ...
Location: New York, NY
Date: 11/6/11
Temperature: 52 degrees
Official Time: 4:15:56 (9:47 pace)
Garmin Time: 4:15:58 for 26.86 miles (9:31 pace)
Place in Age Group (25-29): 964/2818
Place in Gender: 5183/16928
Overall Place: 20701/46795
The Good:
The Outfit - Epic, as always.
The Swag - 
Not only was the medal great (love the skyline) and the shirt actually something I would wear, as a member of Team Grassroot Soccer, I was given loads of great swag, including a team uniform furnished by Nike (tee, long sleeve top, capris and shoe laces), compression tights from 2XU, more SoyJoy bars and Muscle Milk than I will ever consume and of course, some Bengay for post-race recovery.
Meeting up with friends/bloggers/celebrities - As you know, Ethan Zohn is a co-founder of Grassroot Soccer and joined us on the marathon team.
But what you might not realize is that five other cast members from this season of the Amazing Race were on our team, as well as, former Survivors, Anthony Sullivan (of infomercial fame, he also made the name tag for my race shirt) and Aaron Scheidies, a 70.3 paratriathlon World Champion.
(the creation of my name tag)
While in NYC, I was also able to catch up with Kim, my Nuun Platuun vanmate, Melody, Miss Zippy and Molly.
The Course Support - I'm sure that if you know anything about the NYC Marathon, it's that the course support is awesome. And it is. There is never a moment when you are alone. Someone is always cheering for you. Pushing you. It is an amazing feeling and reason alone to run this race.
A new half PR - I raced the first 16 miles of this race perfectly. I was right where I wanted to be and when I crossed the mat at the half split, I set a new PR of 1:56:18. That right there, made my race for me. I felt great at that point and I know I can crush the half distance. But do I get to count this one?
No Wall - As much as my legs died over the last 8 miles or so, I never hit the wall. I didn't want someone to drag my body off the course. And I didn't want to stop. Some days you just don't have enough, I may have had legs of lead, but my head was strong.
Post-race logistics - Although the runners were funneled out of Central Park on what seemed like a mile long path, the finish line area was super organized. Every runner received a space blanket, medal and bag full of food. Easy and efficient.
Not Seeing my Mom - My mom doesn't live nearby, so she rarely gets to see me race. Fortunately, she does live close to NYC, so she and my aunt were able to come see me run. They were stationed near the 25 mile marker and although, I never saw them, they saw me. And knowing they were in the crowd (and that I would get to celebrate with them post-race) was awesome.
The Bad:
The Course - I loved this course and I hated this course. It is truly awesome to run through all five boroughs, but the bridges are KILLER and the last six miles are pretty much uphill at just enough of an incline to drain your legs. By mile 25, I was wishing for the downhill finish of the Richmond Marathon.
Crowds - The course was so congested with runners that I found myself doing a lot of weaving, right up until the finish. Due to this, I ran .66 longer than 26.2, a total bummer since I missed a PR by only 8 SECONDS.
8 seconds - Did I mention I missed a PR by 8 seconds? How about the fact that I lapped my watch at 26.2 and it read 4:09:16? Yeah, I'm a little bit bitter about that.
Weather - I know that 52 degrees and sunny sounds like perfect conditions to run in, but honestly, it was too hot for my liking. I would have much preferred 42 degrees, as I was crazy hot any time I wasn't in the shade, which was pretty much all the time.
The Ugly:
The Queensboro Bridge - At mile 16, this is the steepest climb on the course. It was also the only time I recall there being any wind. It was brutal. I'd like to erase that bridge from my memory.
Date: 11/6/11
Temperature: 52 degrees
Official Time: 4:15:56 (9:47 pace)
Garmin Time: 4:15:58 for 26.86 miles (9:31 pace)
Place in Age Group (25-29): 964/2818
Place in Gender: 5183/16928
Overall Place: 20701/46795
The Good:
The Outfit - Epic, as always.
The Swag - 
Not only was the medal great (love the skyline) and the shirt actually something I would wear, as a member of Team Grassroot Soccer, I was given loads of great swag, including a team uniform furnished by Nike (tee, long sleeve top, capris and shoe laces), compression tights from 2XU, more SoyJoy bars and Muscle Milk than I will ever consume and of course, some Bengay for post-race recovery.Meeting up with friends/bloggers/celebrities - As you know, Ethan Zohn is a co-founder of Grassroot Soccer and joined us on the marathon team.
But what you might not realize is that five other cast members from this season of the Amazing Race were on our team, as well as, former Survivors, Anthony Sullivan (of infomercial fame, he also made the name tag for my race shirt) and Aaron Scheidies, a 70.3 paratriathlon World Champion.
(the creation of my name tag)While in NYC, I was also able to catch up with Kim, my Nuun Platuun vanmate, Melody, Miss Zippy and Molly.
The Course Support - I'm sure that if you know anything about the NYC Marathon, it's that the course support is awesome. And it is. There is never a moment when you are alone. Someone is always cheering for you. Pushing you. It is an amazing feeling and reason alone to run this race.A new half PR - I raced the first 16 miles of this race perfectly. I was right where I wanted to be and when I crossed the mat at the half split, I set a new PR of 1:56:18. That right there, made my race for me. I felt great at that point and I know I can crush the half distance. But do I get to count this one?
No Wall - As much as my legs died over the last 8 miles or so, I never hit the wall. I didn't want someone to drag my body off the course. And I didn't want to stop. Some days you just don't have enough, I may have had legs of lead, but my head was strong.
Post-race logistics - Although the runners were funneled out of Central Park on what seemed like a mile long path, the finish line area was super organized. Every runner received a space blanket, medal and bag full of food. Easy and efficient.
Not Seeing my Mom - My mom doesn't live nearby, so she rarely gets to see me race. Fortunately, she does live close to NYC, so she and my aunt were able to come see me run. They were stationed near the 25 mile marker and although, I never saw them, they saw me. And knowing they were in the crowd (and that I would get to celebrate with them post-race) was awesome.
The Bad:
The Course - I loved this course and I hated this course. It is truly awesome to run through all five boroughs, but the bridges are KILLER and the last six miles are pretty much uphill at just enough of an incline to drain your legs. By mile 25, I was wishing for the downhill finish of the Richmond Marathon.
Crowds - The course was so congested with runners that I found myself doing a lot of weaving, right up until the finish. Due to this, I ran .66 longer than 26.2, a total bummer since I missed a PR by only 8 SECONDS.
8 seconds - Did I mention I missed a PR by 8 seconds? How about the fact that I lapped my watch at 26.2 and it read 4:09:16? Yeah, I'm a little bit bitter about that.
Weather - I know that 52 degrees and sunny sounds like perfect conditions to run in, but honestly, it was too hot for my liking. I would have much preferred 42 degrees, as I was crazy hot any time I wasn't in the shade, which was pretty much all the time.
The Ugly:
The Queensboro Bridge - At mile 16, this is the steepest climb on the course. It was also the only time I recall there being any wind. It was brutal. I'd like to erase that bridge from my memory.
Monday, October 3, 2011
September Rewind ...
Nine months down, three to go. Here's my recap of September 2011 ...
Run Miles Planned/Miles Ran: 213/218.75 (an all-time monthly high)
Bike Miles Planned/Mile Rode: 0/0 (I've given myself a reprieve to focus on marathon training. Half Ironman training starts after Thanksgiving)
Rest Days Planned/Rest Days Taken: 5/5
Highest Run Mileage Week: 9/19-9/25: 56 miles
Highest Bike Mileage Week: none.
Long Runs Planned/Long Runs Completed: 5/5 (with a post-surgery distance PR of 16 miles)
Current Book: Unless Curious George: Curious About Phonics counts, then none.
Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Lululemon. That is all.
Current Colors: Charcoal Gray and Purple
Current Drink: Grape, Lemon Lime, Strawberry Lemonade and Banana Nuun. I drink at least 64 oz per day.
Current Song: Story of Us - Taylor Swift
Current Triumph: That 3rd place overall finish and new 5K PR (22:04) earlier this month was pretty rock star. And yesterday's 16 miler at an average pace of 8:35 didn't suck either.
Current Goal: Stick to the training plan and crush NYC. And a new half marathon PR along the way ...
Current Blessing: I feel like my whole life is one big blessing and I am entirely grateful.
Current Excitement: Newport Half Marathon. NYC Marathon. Half Ironman training cycle. Christmas. My 30th birthday. Lots of exciting things happening in the next six months.
2011 Goals - Status Update:
Personal:
Run Miles Planned/Miles Ran: 213/218.75 (an all-time monthly high)
Bike Miles Planned/Mile Rode: 0/0 (I've given myself a reprieve to focus on marathon training. Half Ironman training starts after Thanksgiving)
Rest Days Planned/Rest Days Taken: 5/5
Highest Run Mileage Week: 9/19-9/25: 56 miles
Highest Bike Mileage Week: none.
Long Runs Planned/Long Runs Completed: 5/5 (with a post-surgery distance PR of 16 miles)
Current Book: Unless Curious George: Curious About Phonics counts, then none.
Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Lululemon. That is all.
Current Colors: Charcoal Gray and Purple
Current Drink: Grape, Lemon Lime, Strawberry Lemonade and Banana Nuun. I drink at least 64 oz per day.
Current Song: Story of Us - Taylor Swift
Current Triumph: That 3rd place overall finish and new 5K PR (22:04) earlier this month was pretty rock star. And yesterday's 16 miler at an average pace of 8:35 didn't suck either.
Current Goal: Stick to the training plan and crush NYC. And a new half marathon PR along the way ...
Current Blessing: I feel like my whole life is one big blessing and I am entirely grateful.
Current Excitement: Newport Half Marathon. NYC Marathon. Half Ironman training cycle. Christmas. My 30th birthday. Lots of exciting things happening in the next six months.
2011 Goals - Status Update:
Personal:
- Clean up my diet - I am tracking my food religiously at SparkPeople, survived my sugar detox and have been able to add a small amount of sweets back in without causing a total binge.
- Eat no more than 25 cupcakes - As of October 3rd - 21 cupcakes eaten
- Pay off our consumer debt by the end of the year - Due to purchasing a new car, our debt repayment has slowed, but we have paid off over half of our consumer debt and are on track to be credit card debt free in 10 months. Plus, we are on track to have our student loans eliminated by February 2013, five month ahead of our schedule. And 10 years faster than if we let it go to term.
- Spend $0 on clothing - As of September 2nd - $178.50 spent - I caved and bought some stuff from Lululemon and a pair of jeans from eBay when my lone pair ripped.
- Run 2,000 miles - As of October 3nd - 1451.22 miles run.
- Run a sub 1:55 half marathon - Next race - 10/16, Newport Half Marathon
- Take 30+ minutes off my marathon - Completed - 3/26, National Marathon, 4:15:48, 33:50 PR.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
condensed epicness ...
Remember that time I ran a little race called Hood to Coast? Well, what I never mentioned was that Nuun sent a videographer (or two) along for the ride. This is what they came up with. 27 hours and 59 minutes of epicness condensed into four minutes. Check it out ...
Nuun | Hood to Coast from eric becker on Vimeo.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Dilly's Running Debut ...
Yesterday morning, G, KC and I met for our first preschool run of the school year. It was blistering hot. We had to push a double stroller despite only having one kid with us. And my shoulder is weak, not really up to pushing a stroller, so G and KC had to pick up the slack. But other than that, we crushed it. Our seventh (and final) mile was our fastest at an 8:20. Talk about awesomesauce.
When we were about 4 miles into the run, Dilly started making a fuss that she wanted to get out of the stroller and run. I told her she could when we got back. So, when the Garmin beeped at 7 miles. We stopped and Dilly got out of the stroller to make her running debut, a .1 mile jog back to our house.
I handed the camera to our photographer and gave her a pep talk.
And then we were off.
She insisted on holding my hand.
But she ran the whole way.
It was an awesome thing to share with her. She was so proud and talked about it all day.
Later, when I tucked her into bed, we had this conversation:
Me: Dilly, I had an awesome day with you.
Dilly: Who did we run with?
Me: Miss G and Miss KC.
Dilly: Why?
Me: Because we like to run. Did you run with Mommy?
Dilly: Yes, I did.
Me: Was it awesome?:
Dilly: Yes, it was. I drinked Nuun.
And with that, I just laughed. I thought we had created her first running memory, but all she cared about was drinking Nuun. Go figure.
When we were about 4 miles into the run, Dilly started making a fuss that she wanted to get out of the stroller and run. I told her she could when we got back. So, when the Garmin beeped at 7 miles. We stopped and Dilly got out of the stroller to make her running debut, a .1 mile jog back to our house.I handed the camera to our photographer and gave her a pep talk.
And then we were off.
She insisted on holding my hand.
But she ran the whole way.
It was an awesome thing to share with her. She was so proud and talked about it all day.Later, when I tucked her into bed, we had this conversation:
Me: Dilly, I had an awesome day with you.
Dilly: Who did we run with?
Me: Miss G and Miss KC.
Dilly: Why?
Me: Because we like to run. Did you run with Mommy?
Dilly: Yes, I did.
Me: Was it awesome?:
Dilly: Yes, it was. I drinked Nuun.
And with that, I just laughed. I thought we had created her first running memory, but all she cared about was drinking Nuun. Go figure.
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