Mother Racer

I was supposed to get up at 5:15 a.m. to meet up with Amber, Mac and Aubrey. I could not get up and just wanted to sleep… So I did. I went out at 6:40 instead and I felt good. My legs felt so much better than what they would have been if I were to have run at 5:30. I went out for a total time of 1:01.39. I ran up the dairy loop and into Harry’s hill to the mailboxes in Woodland Hills. The 1st 40 minutes was either a gradual or steep uphill. I then tempoed down to my house (I’m thinking it was a 5k worth of speed). I was tired towards the end but It was a good run and I enjoyed being by myself today. I had time to think and enjoy the beautiful morning!!!

It was a busy day for errands!!! But I got them all done before the high school track meet… I went back to the Hersey’s Track Meet to pass out fliers for the youth track program for the city. I help run the youth track here in our city (and the high school track runners come out and volunteer their time to coach the younger kids)… The younger kids love being coached by the high school track team! They think that is the coolest thing.

I then went to my oldest daughter’s class and had the kids sign a card for their teacher for teacher appreciation week. The girls’ teachers have been so amazing and deserve so much more. My girls just love them.

After a few more errands and helping a neighbor out … I was off to the 2nd day of our Region (finals) track meet. It went as well as it could have gone!!! The boys did everything that they had to and then some to pull off a #1 Place In Region. They won the 2nd place team by 73 points (we had 172 points total and the next team had 99 points… We were only supposed to be within 10 points to the 2nd place team). The guys did well!

(As you can see… We as coaches were in charge of long jump again ;)). It was so fun to watch our athletes in this event.

The distance boys left me speechless on many accounts. Every one of them PR’d in the 2 mile event! It was huge.

For our top 2 guys… They raced to compete and to win! Well in the 2 mile, that is just what they did. One took 1st and the other took 2nd on a battle against each other to the finish. They were not even a second apart. They ran it very smart and pulled away from the pack the last 400. These 2 have been back and forth throughout the entire season and have helped each other grow mentally and physically!

For the 800’s today… 4 of our distance runners placed in the top 8 to score the boy’s team more points. It was exciting. I will say that about the sprints and field events as well… Many placed, where on paper leading into the event, they shouldn’t have. The 4 x 100 took first and their 4 x 400 took 2nd barely missing the 1st place by a fraction of a second. The javelin throwers placed in 5 of the top 8 spots. High jump the same. The throwers (disc and shot put), did well and the long jump guys all did well. They gave it their all the past 2 days!!!

For the girls… It was the same. They went out to compete and they did well! The entire meet was exciting to watch. We had one of the high jump girls take 1st when going into it she was supposed to take 4th… There were a couple more that scored points and qualified for state. The javelin girls threw well and scored high in points and qualified in State. The throwers and long jumpers held their spot and did what they were supposed to do to PR and earn team points. Our sprinters raced so well, taking 1st in the 4 x 4, and breaking their own PR’s etc.

The distance girls stepped it up today! Our top female raced down a few girls on the last stretch of the 2 mile to score high on points. She needed this finish to help her realize that she is a great runner. And that she should be up with the front group! We had an 800/mile girl jump into the 2 mile and place in the top 8 to score points. It was exciting to watch and to cheer! Most of the distance girls PR’d in their races too.

The team came together and helped each other out! I do want to say that that was the best part… Watching the entire team cheer on their teammates. This is A great group of kids!

I love coaching and seeing all the runners through their journey… Good times!!!
After the meet, I did stop off at a cute little malt shop, Parley’s place to meet up with some friends for a few minutes.

I was excited to get home and tell Corom all about my day and to hear about his… He took care of scouts for me today and then took the girls to their end of the year school activity. They had a magician there as the performer (Corom’s friend) and then he put the girls to bed. He said the activity went well (especially having all the snacks fall on the cafeteria floor and him eating them off the ground:/). That is Corom for you! Well time to go to bed!

I met up with Amber and Mac this morning at 5:30. I was tired but not as sleepy tired as I thought I would be. I did feel flat during my run though. We ran a little over 9 miles in 1:12.49 (a 7:50 pace). It was nice to have a recovery day. My legs needed it!
I took my 3rd daughter to her speech class (with my youngest and 2 extra kids I was watching). They had a fun time!

I did go to the chiropractor today (to Dr. Crockett). I started to feel a little pain again in my buttocks and it was after yesterday’s speed workout. Today’s run didn’t help it too much, so I decided to go in.

The girls did great at the office!
The girls then went to a friend’s house and I went to a track meet. Today is Region and the nerves are running high on all accoumts. I was just as nervous for “my” distance runners and for all the other athletes as I am when I have a race. The kids had a fun time driving up, they warmed up together as a team, and had a great time together at the meet cheering each other on. They are a very close group and are always there for each other. It was beautiful out, a little cold and windy, but beautiful… Coach Thompson gave his motivational speech before the meet and the kids (and coaches) were really inspired and pumped up by it.

Despite all the nervous energy, the team came out today and competed!!! They did what they had to do and then some (they went the extra mile :)). Our entire team looked strong and confident and went for their goal.

As for the distance runners… The guys took 1st and 3rd in the mile to score some big points for the team. It was an exciting race to watch. It was an all out sprint for 1st, and our guy won by a fraction of a second (he leaned a little more forward than the 2nd place person to beat him out). The other boys ran well and some PR’d even in the wind. It was fun to watch them race well and give it their all. The girls also performed well. They pushed hard in the mile and 800 (for the relay). Like the boys, a few ran their PR and it made me so happy for them. The girls have come a long way with injuries and just with believing in themselves! A perfect meet to do it in! The other events, field and sprints, was also very exciting to watch! We placed high today in the field events and qualified in many sprint races for tomorrow’s finals.

We (the coaches) were in charge of running the long jump… That was nice for me because I was able to cheer on the distance runners while they were racing. Well… Coach Warr had to keep burying my foot every single time in the sand. I probably came home with half the sand from the pit. Gary (our most faithful fan and bus driver) insisted on helping to with the long jump. We love him! By the end of the meet… Our boys were in 1st place and the girls in 4th, I believe. But as the head coach stated… No one cares who is ahead the 1st day, it all comes down to the 2nd day. It will be tough to hold onto both positions (from the males and females) because There is tough competition! But, if everyone does what they are very capable of doing, they should be able to hold on! Now another day to be anxious and nervous! 😉 I love coaching and I love the feeling of being nervous for the kids. I love sharing their triumphs and even their disappointments! They have helped me grow in so many ways. We headed home and Z and I hung out (Corom has to work late tonight). She is making Baklava ( a Mediterranean dessert) for a school project. It is so yummy!!!

The girls did great today with my neighbor and went to bed really well for Z. She stayed home from the track meet because she had so much to do for school. It was a good day and I’m glad my kids did well!

Well, I woke up this morning dreading the workout a little! I did have others that met up with me at the track. That always makes it easier to do speed when you know others will be there (even when everyone is at a different pace).

The speed I did today started with a 2 mile warm-up. Then we began 30 x 300’s on the track with a 100 recovery (making it a 400- 1 lap around the track). It was 52 minutes of speed (7 1/2 miles total). I ran each 300 between the times of 58-1:02’s. My legs were tired! I wanted to stop after many different laps (15, 20, 25, 26, etc.) but I am so glad I finished the 30 and that I kept the times in my time range. We finished off with a 2 mile cool down. I did go to the gym for 20 minutes of weights (nothing to hard core).
It was the Hersey’s Track Meet today and the girls and I watched the kids race and then passed out fliers for the youth track club for the city. They had fun!

Camille and her kids came over for a little while. It was nice for me to have her there to break up my day… The girls and I then went to track… The distance kids went on an easy run and ended off with a few strides.

We have Region tomorrow, so it is kind of a big meet!!! 🙂 Exciting stuff. The 2 older girls went to piano/violin practice. And then After dinner a couple of friends and I went to a movie…

It was nice to get out and be with some friends. We saw “The Other Women”. Pretty funny. Corom went to a meeting for church and then we headed over to friends of ours. It was his birthday (Travis) and he is Corom’s “Brony”.
http://fordhamcyberculture.wordpress.com/2014/03/14/gawking-at-bronies/
They are one of the funniest couples to hang out with… So funny! Ain’t that right Megan. 😉 Anyway… We hung out there for a while. We sang happy birthday…

But for some reason when I jumped in to sing this was the reaction I got:

To be completely honest… I do have a terrible voice! I cannot hold a tune/note or whatever. It is now close to midnight and I am getting up in 5 hours and fifteen minutes. I can’t wait until my alarm goes off!!!

My morning run began at 5:45 and went until 7:01 (1:15.52). It was a nice 10 mile recovery run from this weekend. I ran the 1st few miles with Amber and Rachelle and then we split off. My legs did feel a little tired but that is to be expected. It was really windy this morning and my allergies were really bad. This time of year is hard for me with all the pollen floating around.
I helped out in my daughter’s kindergarten class (it was also the teacher’s birthday).

After school, the girls and I spent the afternoon at our neighbor’s house helping them clean before their move out day…

My girls did really, really well with cleaning. I was proud (and a little surprised) how well they did. Well my youngest did OK but that is to be expected.
At track the distance runners went on an easy 4 mile run, then ran 3-4 laps around the track using the straight away for strides (6-8 strides). They circled up and did their stretching.

As they were stretching, I was ease dropping on their conversation. The boys were “strategizing” for Region (finals) that is being held this Wednesday and Thursday. They were talking about their times and their placing to score more points and to qualify (place) for State. It was a good conversation for ease dropping!
We had a few friends, family and neighbors over for Cico-de-mayo. (A few were from next door that were helping the neighbors clean… It made it easier to come here and eat, then go back over…) Good fish tacos and burritos!

After a couple of neighbor boys took their Christmas Tree back! Awesome and funny!!!

It took him a while to ride his bike around the block… But he did make it back.
Last minute touches on the neighbor’s house… I don’t know why we are helping them! I am so sad they are moving!

Now time to get ready for bed!

The girls were a little grumpy this morning (or maybe I was the grumpy one). We did get to church on time (at 9) and Corom, very impressively, got to his church meeting on time at 6 a.m. (We went to bed a little too late.) It was Fast Sunday and my 2 older girls bore their testimonies… They have no fear. Me, I am scared to death to stand up in front of everyone to bare my testimony. They are great examples to me and my kids are always putting me in check. Children are so pure and innocent and love life! It is great! Anyway, we went to a neighbor’s house after church to plan a back-packing trip we are going on and then my family came over for dinner. 🙂

All the kids ate up in their half-way built tree house… They loved it! It was so great seeing my parents this weekend (they are visiting from California) and my little brother and one of my little sisters…

I do love my family! Both Corom and I are fortunate to have great families. He gets along really well and loves my family and vice versa… I get along great with his and love them! Anyway… Today was a good rest day from running or any form of exercise. Now it is bed time!