Mother Racer

So… I went to bed way too late to get up and meet with my running friends. I went out on a lone run this morning at 7:15 a.m. I struggled today and only ran for 50:31.47. I was tired and my legs just didn’t feel right today. I have never been one of those runners that stress about a race or really get nervous about a race. I go into them thinking I will race on feel and I don’t worry about time. I did that for the St. George marathon last year and it helped me to perform better than what I thought I could run (2:54.20). I don’t run with a garmin (I rely on everyone else :)). I do most my tempos off of feel and many times go faster than my “marathon” goal pace. But now that Corom purchased my plane ticket and set up all the accommodations for my “big” race in June… I am lacking the confidence of my goal pace!!! I fear that we just spent a lot of money on a goal way outside of my reach. I want to run a 2:42 and I laugh at myself sometimes thinking, “What am I thinking”! I know that is so bad (mentally) to be thinking that way… I have been comparing myself to other amazing women runners all going for the same goal and I know I have only put in half the effort they have put in. I feel out of their league… I know I am babbling but I hope I don’t disappoint myself and others… Oh all the different things to worry about now. I am just praying that everything comes together race day and if I don’t hit my goal pace then that is ok!
Now on to the rest of my day… I sent a big text out to all the neighbors around with young kids to meet up at the Splash Pad/Park in SF.

It was a lot of fun. I ran in a few times just to keep cool… They also played at the park for a while.

The only thing we were missing was my oldest daughter. 😦 She loves school though… After we picked her up we went to the car place.

No good! There might be some big problems with the car. What do you do… Cars are a nightmare! My girls had a few friends over from school today…

At one point I could not find my youngest. Sometimes she will find a spot in the house and will fall asleep… Well she was nowhere in the house and the kids said she wasn’t out in the back. My front door was locked so I knew she wasn’t out front… I eventually found her…

Talk about gross! 🙂 She was hanging out with the 2 baby bunnies, the mom bunny and one of the baby chicks…
All the girls went to bed but my oldest could not fall asleep… So her and I stayed up and watched “So You Think You Could Dance”. Corom is working late tonight and Z (our Foriegn exchange student) went out with some friends, so it was just my oldest and I… Doing selfies. 🙂

Fun times!

I met up with Amber, Rachelle and Melissa this morning. It was a nice and easy recovery day. We decided to run a 10 mile loop… I wish I had my phone on me because it was beautiful! I actually ran about 10.4 miles total in 1:20.09 (I believe about a 7:35 pace). It felt good and I ended my run with 3 strides.
I came home and everyone was still asleep except for one missing child (my 2nd daughter- 6 year old). I went looking around for her and found her outside singing to the baby bunnies. I sat there for awhile and listened (she didn’t know I was there). I quietly went back in and got my phone.

Yeah it was Christmas songs… 🙂 I took my kindergartener to her assessment testing. She did great!

I did take the girls to the Splash Pad in Spanish Fork. I met up with friends there and then hung out at a park for a while…

I think we will go back tomorrow… When my oldest got out of school, I took her and my 2nd oldest to piano/violin lessons. My 2 younger ones, my friend and her kids and I went visiting teaching (we visit a few ladies in our church monthly to make sure they are doing ok, etc. I have people that visit teach me…).

We had Youth Track practice tonight. The high school track kids split off into their groups (distance and sprints) and did their workout… Once they were done they went through the round of field events.

I owe the high school kids big time!!! Corom came for half the practice, then went to church meetings and visited families tonight. I and the girls went to the Fullmer’s house for their daughter’s birthday. The girls lost their cake privilege. I gave them all the 3 strike warning… And they still lost it. The final straw was when they got in a fight in the car and started to throw full things of water at each other. Yeah… Now my car will smell like mildew or something. It was so wet in there. Anyway… Up at the Fullmer’s, they are getting their yard done, so there are flags everywhere…

Or at least there were flags everywhere!!!

Thanks to my youngest… The workers will be a little sad in the morning to see that the flags are all missing. It is always something. Well after the girls went to bed, Corom and I hung out for a while and then I watched the Bachelorette with some friends for a little while. I’m extra tired tonight… My allergies were so bad today and the allergy medicine is now kicking in… It is 10:30. Time for bed… Soon! 😉

I started of my day with a Memorial 10k fun run. Amber, Rachelle and I met up at the race and ran a 2 mile warmup. It was a beautiful, warm morning… The course was very hilly and we were able to run through the cemetery. Loved it.

I was able to pull off a 37:44 (a 6:04 pace) and was happy with it. I will admit that I wanted to run a faster time but with the course being a tougher one and my legs still a little tired from last week, I was ok with it. I was able to take 1st in woman’s but they didn’t do awards because all the money/donations went to the Military. After the 10k, we went on a 2 mile cool down.

I came home and we did a lot of yard/house work…

I love mowing the lawn! After the work was done… Well when we were done… Some friends came over and we went for a bike ride to the cemetery.

I was impressed that our girls rode the entire time without help. It was about 2 1/2 miles there and then back. We did hang out for a little while. It was a very peaceful experience.

On the way home, we had a couple of wipe outs (but the kids jumped right back on their bikes) and of course, Corom got a flat…

It was quite the sight having him ride on the handle bars of the guy pulling a trailer with kids in it. 🙂
We stopped off at a neighbors for a little while (and Corom had to make sure he beat all the kids in tether ball)…

And then headed up to some friends of ours for a barbecue (the Martins).

Today was a good day! Love spending time with family and friends!

Another Sunday… Corom went to his church meeting at 6 a.m. and I got the girls ready and met up with him at 9. The girls were good in church today… And for most part of the day. They got in big trouble when I found out they were throwing things at the neighbors as they were having a barbecue. The neighbors were playing with them for awhile but sometimes our girls just don’t know when to stop. We had people over and had a good time. One of our friends is from Australia… She told my girls that eating ants was a “normal” thing there. So they had to try it (along with our friend).

It was quite entertaining! We were going to do “late night” with the girls but they were acting to grumpy and tired… So Corom and I put them to bed and watched our own movie.
No working out today… It was nice. 🙂

I had a babysitter come at 5:30 a.m. so I could go for a long run. She is a great babysitter and I am grateful that she was willing to come over. So I set out for my run. I ran the first 4 on my own and then met up with Mac, Amber and Aubrey for the next 11. I really struggled for the 1st half of my run (for about 60 minutes I felt like I could not get into my groove). Finally I was able to pick up my pace and I would run back and forth from the 3. After running the 14 1/2-15 miles we all split off (2 were done and the other only had a few more to do)… I wanted to run a loop that was 7.2 miles long. So I picked up my pace and ran 4 of it up hill (Harry’s to Woodland Hills mailboxes). Harry’s took me 6:45 and I was happy with that steep mile up. Once I reached the top I headed back to my house (3.2 miles left). I kept a strong pace and finished the 7.2 miles in 46 minutes. I ran a total of 22 miles! That is the most I have ever ran in a training run. 🙂 It took me 2:36.04 (about a 7:05 pace I believe). I didn’t bring any XOJO which I was really sad about.

I was in a hurry to get going… And I didn’t take any Gu’s or water either. I felt it badly when I was done! But at least It was a beautiful morning… Many bikers and runners out this morning!

I was happy to have ran that far… It has boosted my confidence but I do wish I didn’t struggle as bad for the 1st hour.
The girls and I went to a baby shower. It was an open house so I expected to go in, visit for about 5 to 10 minutes, drop off my gift and then go (mainly because I had the girls with me). But… I showed up and this was their “refreshment” table…

A gourmet salad bar, fruit bar, breads, desserts, etc… I stayed a little longer and the girls played out in the backyard with a few other kids. 😉
We then headed off to the baseball fields with a couple of other families and played T-ball.

My girls hit the ball really well, but playing out in the field was a different story. It was fun, though and they began to pick it up.

The neighbor kids played back and forth and then I was invited to go to our neighbors next door for dinner. With Corom still gone, I wasn’t in the mood to make dinner. It was very nice.

I, then let the girls do movie night tonight. Corom got home around 11 and it was great seeing him! He had a great time (with Mike Fullmer, both Booths -Jason and Steve and wives and an 11year old). They hiked the Narrows in Zion’s National Park.

Oh… One last story for the day. My oldest came into the kitchen with all the other girls and she flips me off. She asked me what that meant. I tried to hold back my surprise and a smile. I explained to her to never do that again because it was a bad word in sign language. She could not remember who taught her to stick her middle finger up. I know I probably shouldn’t admit this but it was a little cute… Now if it happens again that will be a different story.