Eight.

This morning I ran 8 miles.   On trails.  Pushing the double stroller. 

That's all. 


You can see my run HERE.



Ok, not really.  I wasn't really sure I was going to make it back to the end.  I turned around at 4 miles and headed back and at just shy of 6 miles, Ady had to pee.  So we stopped, busted out the folding potty (LOVE that thing) and she did her business.  We hit the trail again, but all my momentum was gone.  I hit a wall right at 6 miles.  I was sure I was going to have to crawl back dragging  the stroller behind me.  I sucked it up and started running again.  And it was horrible.  But I made myself keep going.  Once my watch chimed I was back in business and finished the 8 miles.  (My Garmin watch is set to chime every half mile)

This was my longest run to date.  I feel incredibly accomplished, but I am already sore. The stroller definitely adds some weight and drag. The stroller doesn't SEEM that heavy but it weighs 34 lbs and I put 60 pounds of kids in it. 

Also, once I hit the wall and was paying more attention to my watch than I should have been, I noticed at 6.13 miles my time was 1:14.  In November I ran a 10K (6.2 miles) and my time was 1:24.  So I shaved 10 minutes off my 10K time.... What's that??? Ah ha!!! Motivation to finish!! So we plugged along and made it back to our starting point. 

Everyone on the trails (which are very popular for running and biking) was very friendly and I think often amused that I was pushing a stroller while I ran. There was one group of bikers (3) that I must have seen 10 times (obviously they were looping me not vice versa) and the last time they past me I heard one guy say "I CANNOT believe she is still going!"    Several people asked me as we passed the 2nd time (most people run "out and backs" so you see them all twice) "How FAR are you going?!?!?!"  Of course they were surprised when I said 8 miles.  More motivation.

Once we finished, stretched, and loaded up I took the kids to Dunkin Donuts.  They LOVE Chocolate Munchkins (donut holes)!!  I didn't have a single bit, but I did splurge on a Latte Lite :) (And yes, they are in their pajamas! It was cold this morning!!!)

Anyway, I am very proud of myself and cannot wait for the approaching race days (at which I will NOT be pushing a stroller!!). 

And for those of you wondering... Anyone who WANTS to run, CAN!!!  I am.

It is.... My drug of choice.

Running, that is.  I am completely addicted.  I used to wonder how people could just go running for fun.  Miles.  People run MILES for fun???

Yes. WE do.  And now, I am one of them.  I am so, so ready for the weather to warm up so I can just get behind the stroller and go without bundling the kids and fiddling with gloves and earmuffs. 

I am planning to keep myself busy during deployment (gasp, it is looming in the oh so near future) running.  I am already registered for 4 upcoming races, and I am sure I will add more to the list.  So far, I have these races planned:

I am training with an AWESOME group of ladies, and we run long runs every Sunday (weather permitting right now of course) and training is going well.  I can officially say I "Run Like a Mother"

So far, I am registered for:

Virginia Is For Lovers 14K - (Feb 12th) This is a lofty goal.  I will probably be running intervals for this race, taking two minute breaks between running spurts.  This will be the longest distance to date.  (That is 8.69 miles)

Shamrock 8K - (March 19th) When I registered for this race an 8K sounded HUGE.  Now, I am almost disappointed that I didn't register for the half marathon! But, I will be able to run it and set a new time for myself to beat...next year :)

Metro Dash - (April 17th) This is a team (of 4) event and it is pretty much going to be insane.  It is a series of 30 Obstacle Courses  and we already have 5 (I think #6 is in the works or already a done deal) Stroller Strides teams.  I am really looking forward to this.  It is going to be a great time with friends, and quite the accomplishment to finish!

Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon - (Sept 4th) Yep.  You read that right.  I am going to run, yes I plan to fully RUN a half marathon.  13.1 Miles. 

I am not registered for these yet, but I will be....

Wiked10K

Surf n Santa 10 Miler

Even after I had started running, I had this "mindset" that I wasn't ever going to be interested in running long distances.  I would never run more than 5 miles and didn't really plan to participate in races.  Something happened when I crossed that first finish line.  Aaaaaaand, it doesn't help that I have some incredibly encouraging friends that I want to keep up with!  But all in all.  It is for me.  When I am running, I am free.  Well, almost.  Free between the callings from the stroller "Mooooooommy!! I need a drink!  I need to pee!  I want a snack......" Yeah, that's it... free! 

January...oh, January...

has been relatively uneventful.  I have spent practically every spare minute looking for a now rental house for us to move to in March.  Our current landlords want to raise the rent, even though they have not made any of the requested repairs, most importantly the dang garage door that has a mind of its own.  Anyway, all my work paid off and we will be moving March 1st AND saving $100 ($150 if you count the increased price) a month!  Yay! 

This is our new house...

After Ady returned to school from Christmas break, I was faced with a BIG decision.   They sent home registration papers for next school year.  Ady will be attending the same Pre-School but the 4-Year Old program has two options, three or five days a week.  I cannot believe my little girly is big enough for "full time" Pre-School.  Well, it is still three hours int eh AM not all day, but she is enrolled in the 5 days a week program starting in September.  Dang, they grow up fast. 

There is also a 2-Year Old program, but the cut off for age is Aug 31st and of course Cooper won't be 2 until October 23rd.  I have talked to the Pre-School and they said that he could probably start after his birthday as long as there is an opening.  He would go 2 days a week (Tu/Th) for the same 3 hours as Ady.

Cooper is finally getting big enough he knows to run from Ady to save himself... I guess her forgot this day...

"Look Mommy!! I am making Cooper a duck hair do!"

Cooper's duck hair

Playing babies...

and Cooper too!  He LOVES "Sid the Slog" (Ady can't say sloth - it always comes out 'slog')

"Coffee" time with Adyson

(It is really frothy milk with a little honey in it and cinnamon sprinkled on top!)

Cooper says "Cheese" when you point the camera - he was mid "Chee" when I took this picture.  He is gonna hate this one when he gets older, but I LOVE it.  It makes me laugh every time I look at it...

You laughed... Didn't you?

Busy, Busy, BUSY!

I try to keep myself (and the kids too) fairly busy these days with Stroller Strides classes 4-5 days a week, Pre-School 3 mornings a week, dance class on Mondays, story time on Thursdays, Freezy Yogurt on Fridays, and a long run on Sundays.... and I am succeeding.  I have kept myself so busy that I have yet again let 2 months slip by without a post. 

Since Thanksgiving (my last post - Oops!) we have put up and taken down the Christmas tree, rang in the new year (sleeping of course) and let the month of January fly right by. 

Christmas was very good for everyone at our house.  The kids had WAY more presents than they needed, but I guess that is what happens when you start shopping in January. 

We celebrated Christmas a day late because Quentin had duty on Christmas Eve.  Christmas Day we had lunch on the boat with Daddy and then we came home.  We let the kids open one present early, and put cookies and milk out for Santa when we went to bed.  Mommy made special arrangements for Santa to come the night of Christmas instead of Christmas Eve. 

I could list everything the kids got for Christmas, but we would be here for days.  (I am gonna work on that next year) but most importantly, Santa did bring Adyson a new DVD player for the truck :)

It snowed like crazy on Dec 26th - so we did indeed have a white (late) Christmas.  Adyson made Quentin help her build a snowman, while it was still snowing like crazy!!