Thankful Thankful Thankful

I know everyone is talking about what they are thankful for this month. To get in the spirit I thought I would do the same. I am pretty blessed and lucky with friends and family, sometimes I need to slow down and appreciate that.

Care Package from my Aunt and Dad. Nail polish for me, movies and candy for boys

Flowers from my father in law

Flowers from my hubby

Magazine day! BEST day of the month

Best husband and dad EVER

My anniversary gift so I can put my feet up

Four day weekend.....so far

The weekend started off great. We helped our friends pack up to move. The plan is for them to move today, not so sure that's happening....but we'll see :) I do not do heavy lifting....I was in charge of the kiddos.

some leaf fun

Leaf pile at the bottom of the slide

We got them all packed up and ready to move. Fingers crossed we can get them in today since we all have the day off.

Then there was Sandy:

I mean, who didn't picture this EVERY time? We dropped the ball, should have watched Grease and drank Hurricanes

Hurricane Sandy has blown threw and I think we have seen the worst of it. The wind was loud, the rain was non-stop...but luckily for us that was about it. No power loss or anything! We have a lot of trees and I was not looking forward to how many could come crashing through the windows.

The boys slept in the basement for two nights. They thought it was awesome - just like camping. They can't hear the wind down there - which was great because it was really howling.

Voldermort pumpkin and super spooky pumpkin

We played games, cooked, and carved pumpkins to fight off boredom and to keep from killing each other. It worked, everyone is still alive.We did "exercise" to stay alert for the storm

sammy back flippin

Sam back flippin

Sammy and Mason braving the rain

Playing CandyLand at Nana's

We also played a game for Time Out. If you went in Time Out to get out you had to say two things you like about who ever put you in there. It had alot of promise, unfortunately they did not get in time out much. :(

Sammy "I think your cute. I like your smile."
Mason "I like your cooking. I like your backflips."

Now we are in jammies, breakfast is done, and we MIGHT venture out today :)  Hope everyone is doing well and is safe!

The race that wasn't.....and a few favs

Today was the Army 10 miler. Sam and I were psyched to go and get our run on. Final race of the season and a local race tied into one.

Well

It didn't happen. Lots of reasons, none of them great reasons, but we were a no show. Sam is still struggling with an injured foot and wasn't looking forward to running or walking 10 miles. I finally did the math to figure out wake up time, leave the house time, race start time (my heat was 8:20), race finish time, metro time, and then go out to my sister's to get the boys. It started to all become overwhelming and before I knew it my whole day was being spent on this race. I was not prepared for that. Since Sam was out I decided I was not braving 33,000 registered racers for the 10 miles I wasn't totally prepared for.

The expo was awesome - the boys got to climb in a Black Hawk helicopter and I tried on a bomb suit helmet. Pretty great day.

So what did we do instead?

We went out with another couple Saturday night for a fun date night. We had dinner, caught up, stayed up late (10:30!!!!!)

This morning we slept in until 7:30. Felt UH-mazing! We got on our bikes and rode hard for an hour. Then we went to get the boys, came home for a bit, and went to our Team Fexy Oktoberfest party. How do we feel now? Like this:

barely on the couch, barely on the ottoman

Yep, fell asleep in a store

I also have been meaning to write about some favorite things I've stumbled across lately:

Magnet in the cap makes the design. SUPER easy

My husband brought these beauties home to me!

Loving this bubble necklace!

I have also recently been sent a few products to review - but since I skipped the race today I haven't used them yet. Oops! Looks like I will have to go on a run or two to try out some hand held water bottles. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

My treadmill love affair

The Pain Cave (now with TV)

 Ah, the treadmill. I used to hate the treadmill, I never understood why anyone would get on one, buy one, or even think about them. Our Pain Cave has become my best friend. I have no excuse but to work out. Rain, heat, darkness, kids......all can happen and none of them beat a treadmill.  My only saving grace is a power outage!

I have logged long runs, short runs, track workouts - you name it - on that ugly contraption. We have a TV in the Pain Cave now so I can catch up on my Housewives, Dance Moms, and the shows I can't stay up late enough to watch. Most of my 1/2 marathons were prepped on this beauty.

I even pretend that Jillian yells at me while I'm on it. She keeps me honest :)

Other than not needing a babysitter and no weather related cancellations - the treadmill is also great for when the outfit I pick just isn't working. I can stop for body glide, water refills, cramps, kid issues....and then jump back on and keep going. I've learned to appreciate the flexibility that the treadmill gives me. Sometimes Sam will be nice enough to hop on the bike next to me and ride while I run.

You can't get stretching services like this on a road run! Clearly Sammy is in the background not wanting to help me out - But Mason was all about it!

My drug

A little Kesha and glitter

I haven't been on a training plan in a while. I'm currently training for the Army 10 miler in October and now that the weather is getting so nice out I'm pretty happy about my training plan.

My plan is much more strength and cross training than just running. I have found that to increase my speed and feel comfortable on race day I really need cross training and strength training. Who knew?

I did my first longish run of the training plan on Saturday - 5 miles. It was great. The weather was perfect....less heat and humidity means less chub rub. I'm always ok with that. I ran with music - haven't done that in a long time. Sometimes you just need a little Bieber to get through some sweaty times. That 5 miles, through my hilly neighborhood, might have been the best run of the year.

How I felt the rest of the day is exactly why I run and do triathlons. I was on a total high. I did it, I did the run, crossed it off the list, and I felt great. Super accomplished. Go Ann!

Questions Questions Questions

I got these questions from SUAR. She's hilarious - you must check her out if you haven't before. 
 
Best run ever? I would have to say the first race, April 2009 - no picture, clearly before digital cameras were invented :). It was a 5K and I had to walk two times during it. I caught the running bug big time. I still get goosebumps thinking about that race. I spent the rest of the day laying on the couch doing nothing and yelling "I ran a 5K today!" It was not pretty, but great memories to think back on.


Three words that describe your running? Slow, happy, Slow

Your go-to running outfit? Anything that fights chub rub. Running skirts are great because they have chub rub fighting spandex but cover my booty. I also LOVE a racer back tank.

Quirky habit while running? I don't know - I do love to talk while running. I check my Garmin too much.

Morning, midday, evening? It all depends on the time of year. Summer = morning. School year = evenings.

I won’t run outside when it’s ____________ Dark - I get scared. I'm not the biggest fan of the rain, but you do feel pretty bad ass when you do 12 miles in the rain.

Worst injury—and how you got over it. June 30, 2011. The day my world crashed around me. I was diagnosed with Lyme's disease, migraines, and "we don't know what this is". Through Dr's, friends, family, cleaner eating, and exercise I'm coming out on the other side of it all.

I felt most like a badass mother runner when _________ When I hear : "How do you have time?" I work full time, I own a small private speech practice, I have 2 boys and a man-child husband. How do I find time? Because I want to.




Next race is __________ Army 10 miler in Oct. I am very excited to run this for the first time.

Potential running goal for 2013? Another 1/2 marathon, at least 2 international Triathlons - working towards a 70.3

Tears and Chears

What a week!

Mason's first day of Preschool

Sammy's first day of Kindergarten

Both boys had amazing first weeks at school. Sammy loves "everything" about Kindergarten. Mason loves preschool because he "plays with his friends all day". I love them because we are no longer paying for daycare! Woohoo!

The boys also completed their first triathlon. It was really well done, in a neighborhood, and SUPER exciting to watch. I may have shed more tears watching the tri than when they went to school!

I think Mason looks pretty BA here

Mason on the swim - passing chicks left and right

Strolling across the timing mat

putting the pedal to the medal with his crazy shark helmet

look at that form! no messing with a man that pumps his arms like that

sammy on the swim

Sammy killing it on the bike

Looking good, powering up the last hill

Yeah Hardman's!

Rockin the race shirt

That was a great weekend and week. I risked dehydration a few times between first days of school and first triathlons. It was touch and go for a bit there, but I made it!

This weekend was Sam's turn to make me cry. He completed his first 70.3 Iron distance Triathlon. Patriot's 1/2 Ironman is in Williamsburg so we stayed at my dads house which helped alot with nerves and just being organized. My uncle brought him in the am so I could be with the boys and get rested up for serious cheering.

Sam wore his wetsuit - kept him out of the running for winning anything, but since that wasn't a goal he went for it. The transition from swim to T1 was crazy long (as you can see). Lots of grass, sand, and straw to run through. He did have a HUGE smile on his face though - the swim was good.

There's that smile again. He clearly loved this race. I only got one picture of him on the bike because I could never tell which one was him until he was passed me. Always happens that way. I cheered like a maniac every time I saw him. The bike went well, the last 10 miles or so were a false flat - he said he could have done without that.

Mile 1. Got some chaffing going on

Mile 6 in the corn fields

Sam did not love the run. It got really hot, there was not much shade, and he had to run 13.1 (who loves that?) We got to see him alot because the run was a lollipop and they did the loop twice. It was so nice to run up and hug him and scream and yell.

Last .1 of the run!!!!! Home stretch

In the finish shoot with the boys

Crossed the finish line with the boys

Pretty great that Set Up Events lets kids cross with their parents. The even gave the boys medals! It was a great way to finish a long day.

so proud!

To get Sam in the zone for the race I made him a book of inspiration. His buddies all sent me quotes, inspiration, motivation, and funnies. I cried reading most of them - so did Sam :)

The book turned out great. Thank you everyone who donated motivation for Sam!

Now to look at what next years race schedule brings our family.