FroYo 5k with the Family : 5k #9

The FroYo 5K has been 100% my favorite so far!

Preview Photo

I was expecting a huge crowd like the bubble race, but since this was the FroYo's first year, it was a modest size and I hope it doesn't get too big. 

The tattoos weren't in the swag bag, they were just kind of laying around on some of the tables, so we grabbed them.

They had some fun Pre Race group warm ups, but it was Zumba and I stood there for about 30 seconds before I accepted I was no where coordinated or quick enough to follow so I bowed out. Blake rocked it though. 

We then kind of hung out in our "wave" corral for about 20 minutes. 

 ... But there was a photographer roaming, so it was cool.

When we took off, I told Blake to just go b/c I wanted to concentrate and run and not really socialize. Plus I knew he would try to push me harder and I would just poop out sooner.

I didn't get any race picture because I don't know how to be that coordinated yet. It takes all my efforts just to tell myself to keep running. But they got a GREAT finishing picture of Blake and the Kids (that water bottle is about to hit Kaleb in the head)

With me however...

I'm the blurry background of this guy's awesome picture... wa wa.

But that doesn't matter, because check my time peeps! 

Best eva!

I've been talking to my friend Emily a lot about not straining yourself and running correctly, so I knew I wasn't going to push harder than I felt comfortable this race, but I kept my pace steady and I found that hills don't slow me down as much as others. I'm not super fast, but my legs can push me up and carry me up the hills without slowing down much (if i'm not pushing the stroller)

Blake met me when I was at the end (he finished before me, of course) and cheered which helped me sprint to finish line. 

I'm just a little proud of myself. (yup, thats froyo on my face)

Blake was pretty proud of himself too. He finished at 30.39 min. And that with a stroller and taking walking breaks. 

Kaleb was bribed with FroYo to stay in the stroller. 

He complied and was rewarded. 

 I tried to share mine with Rachel, but she was alseep... oh well. :D

 This was Rachel's face when she woke up and realised I had eaten all the FroYo.

 But I shared kisses with her ...

 So did Blake.

These are our slap bracelets. They are awesome and Kaleb loved them. Long live the slap bracelets!

 I told Kaleb to say "we're #1" but he said "No mommy, I'm 3!"

Seriously good SWAG. Especially that hat! built in sweat band. *fancy*

Honestly, I LOVED this run. It was awesome and well organized. It had all the perks of a fun run, but I was still able to run a good pace with no weird obstacles in my way.

It was awesome. Just can't wait for next year!

Why I run? I run for me.

This is why I started with my running races obsession.

I turned 29 in December.
Twenty Nine.

That meant, days later... when 2015 rolled around... that was the year -this year- I would turn 30.
I could feel an itch in me.

I wanted to accomplish something.
Something that was hard for me.

I have no problem accomplishing something that I LOVE or that comes naturally, but I never seem to do the unpleasant hard things.

I had also recently been watching my friend, Emily post all of these race pictures and results. She looked like she was having an awesome time and I was so inspired by her. Shes a normal lady who is doing something hard and awesome. I wanted to do that too.

So I decided to train for a 5K.
Seems like not a lot to you, but 3.1 miles is a lot to me.
And in a race you get a medal, and medals mean you've won.
I wanted to work hard and win. (not to actually place, but to just accomplish it)

I started doing the couch to 5k training via the app and I loved it. It hurt while I was doing it, but when I finished I felt so proud of myself for not stopping.

I saw there was a 5k near by but would be before my training was finished... I was nervous and worried I wouldn't be ready, but I signed up for anyway (and made my brother sign up for it with me)

As my training with the app progressed I realised I COULD run a 5k. My body didn't give out on me and I wasn't dead. I could hurt and keep going. I could totally do it. So I started looking for more races. I discovered virtual races and fell in love. I could drop the kids at the gym kid care and earn a medal? Heck yes!

I decided I wanted to do one a month... then two a month. Well, its now about three a month, but two a month is still my official goal.

I created the cool header for my FB page and blog that listed my races and when I would do them. I needed everyone to keep me accountable.

I did have to fix my runner girl I found online... she need more belly, more booty and a modest shirt. Shes still in way better shape than I am though.

I'm also obsessed with running rundisney races too.

Anyway, I'm really excited to be doing this and for the first time in a VERY long time I feel proud of myself.

I feel really good.

I'm living up the last year of my twenties and will welcome 30 with open arms!

HHL5K : 5K #8

The HHL5K was another Treadmill 5K.
I do enjoy them so.

 On our way to the gym. Kaleb was being supportive.

This just seems to be the picture I take before the treadmill 5Ks now. I dont even question it. I just do it. 

I also took the time to put on some make up (blush and chapstick), so I wanted one more "before" pic before the sweaty, red faced Paige took over.

I cannot tell you how happy my OCD heart was that I finished at 41 flat. 

When it was over I was exhausted...

But I had finished, and in a pretty good time for me...

So I was happy.

 Check the tee...  (there are a couple other designs too)

and my bib and medal that I'm too lazy to flip. 

This race doesn't actually, "officially" happen until September, so if you want to do it, you can get it on ETSY and read about it HERE. 

Jogger Mom Springtime Sprint : 5k #7

I haven't run in over a week because of a nasty staph infection on my leg, so I wasn't expecting much for this treadmill Jogger Mom Springtime Sprint on my first day back. But I was surprised and very much enjoyed it. 

That trash can is always behind me, isnt it?

This tee is from Another Mother Runner on super clearance 

(I actually don't think they even have it anymore.)

And I really like it, but I am not happy with the fit. I usually get unisex tees, because they're longer. 

This is a woman's cut tee and I just... ick. Not so much.

But I love what it says! The mantra for us slow runners. 

The 3.11 miles themselves were good. I kept even pace and actually listened to the Star Wars raido drama instead of my usual fast tempo music... it actually distracted me a little better. 

I pushed myself. I was well rested and I felt good when it was over.

Just waiting for this beauty to arrive

 My total time was 41 minutes and 33 seconds. My best time so far. :-D

Bubble Run with the family - 5k #6

The Bubble Run was - hands down - the most fun of my races yet. Like the heart walk, this was more of an event than a race. It was such a fun family day too. We even broke out Rachel's first pair of sunglasses . . . they got lopsided real fast. 

Since the kids are so little, we only had to register for Blake and myself. With that registration we got a shirt, a bib, a tattoo and a headband. I decided to sport my own headband and Blake decided to forego the tattoo, so Kaleb looked all geared up too.

So, There were so many people there, we had to be let through the starting line in waves. We were in wave 6 (the last wave went through as we were finishing... an hour later)

All the bubbles stuck to the stroller, but we had a nifty little net over it, so my sleeping Rachel was never touched by a sud. 

I ran as much as I could, dodging and weaving in between people, but as soon as you got near a bog (bubble machine thingy) it was backed up and you had to just stand there. Not to mention Kaleb was in and out of the stroller too. So, not a great race for PRs, but a super fun run.

There was White, Pink, Blue, Green, and Yellow Bubble bogs. I had the stroller most of the time, so I didnt go under the main bubbles until we got to the last one, yellow, where Blake took the stroller and told me I had to just wait to be covered. 

So I did.    

And a race wouldn't be complete without the obligatory post race selfie!

And my time and course. Like I said I walked half and stood still a lot, so I'm really not disappointed with this time. :D