A Weekend of Races

The Oakbrook Half Marathon was on Monday.

13.1 miles at 1:47

Beautiful. Wooded. Hot. Humid. Hilly.

I was able to PR — my fastest time for a half marathon, yet!

I finished 4th in my age group, 25th overall for the women.

My foot still needs some TLC, but so far so good. I knew what I was getting myself into by running long and hard on a bum heel. It didn't start bothering my until mile 8, so that wasn't so bad. A little rest this week and each day it will improve.

Ice. Ibuprofen. Rolling, rolling, rolling...

On Saturday, my daughter ran an invitational and placed 21st for the sophomores.

3 miles at 21:33

So exciting to watch her run.

As I mentioned before, I am one of those moms. The yelling, cheering you on, loud moms.

And I'm getting to know Annie's running friends by name and how can I resist yelling for them too?

Ready Or Not...

Well, I'm in.

I picked up my race packet last night. 

And met a dear friend and her kids for pizza. It was a fun night out. Educational, really. You can learn a lot from your kids, that is for sure! Just let them do the talking and you do the listening. Lots of laughs!

This is the first time I will be running this particular half marathon. Although, the following weekend is the Chicago Half, which I have run the last two years in a row, and I honestly wish I were running that one instead. It would give me an extra week to train :) Since my foot injury, I haven't run more than 11 miles at a time since early July. I should have run 13 miles two weekends ago, but did 6. The course on Monday is mostly on a limestone path and is hilly. So much for a PR, right?

Whah, whah, whah.

I'll keep keep you posted...

Annie has her first Cross Country invitational on Saturday, so it will be super exciting to see her race. She has been running all summer.

Noah joined his Cross Country team and will start on Tuesday. (he will say, 'cause I made him)

Yay running!

I'm not allowed to talk about it, though. My kids don't like when I talk about running.

Come on. Runners love to talk about running.

But not with their mom.

Just let them do the talking and you do the listening.

Hold The Phone

Before anyone calls dcfs and rats on me for brainwashing my kids so they L-O-V-E running, I need to give you an update....

My son ran a fantastic race on Tuesday, his first CC meet ever. He finished 27 out of 100+ boys and was completely beaming!

Does a mom know her kids, or what?

He's a natural!

I, of course, hid behind a tree so he wouldn't see me watching him run...Our friends were cheering for him louder than ever and, of course, I could not hold back. I think he really liked hearing "Go Noah" after all. He was smiling!

I brought him an ice cold powerade (just in case it was needed for a truce for me being there) and he liked that too.

Look At This Kid

Noah had his first soccer game last Saturday and although his team lost, he looked pretty darn good on the field. There is lots of running in soccer.

Noah also joined his Jr. High's Cross Country team and today he will run in his first CC meet...Yes, there's another runner in the house!

I'm secretly brainwashing my kids to L-O-V-E running and they don't even know it.

Although, Noah would probably say I made him join CC.

Well, okay, maybe a little, but only because I know he will be good at it.

So this morning, Noah asked me not to come to his meet. He doesn't want me to see him run or yell "Go Noah."

Ugh.

Yeah, whatever...not missing it even if I have to hide in the bushes...

* * *

Annie had her second invitational last Saturday and ran 3 miles in 22:54, finishing 32 out of 257 girls!

On Friday nights after practice the team has a pasta party and then they go to the football game. Annie, being a freshman, has a senior buddy and before the meets they exchange a small present like candy or a powerade.

When I was saying good night to her, she was so happy. They had an easier practice because the weather had cooled, fun at the pasta party and a great time at the football game.

She said, "I love everything about Cross Country except the running...."

Ugh.

Hmmm. I don't know if my brainwashing is working, yet.

Yet....

Running Log

Last week: 22 total miles

Week of aug 1st: 31.6 total miles

Thank goodness this past week was a "rest" week. I truly needed it. My longest distance was 8 miles (at a 8:53 pace, my energy is coming back).

The week prior, my long run was 16 miles. I did it!

Not without pain, though. At mile 14, my knee started hurting. Walked a bit. Then ran slow. It worked itself out...just a little stress behind the knee cap...ugh.

In my mind any teeny bit of knee discomfort = knee surgery, but I'm learning this isn't necessarily true. No worries.

Ice and Motrin and I have become reacquainted.

Anyway...on that 16 mile run, which took me 2 towns west, I came across thee cutest little lunch/ice cream place...Dips & Dogs in Hinsdale.

I'm almost positive it used to be an old gas station...

So I just had to take the kids there....

Turkey sandwich.

Slice of pizza. (coming right up...)

And.....

...a Chicago Dog, of course!

Yum!

Running Log

I convinced Noah to go running with me.

Just a mile. (This kid can run a 6:30 mile in gym class.)

He complained like an old man the entire time.

See, he doesn't look happy.

But he did it!

He ran 1.67 miles. (Did you think I would only let him run 1 mile?)

I think he secretly liked it.

Nope, he still looks unhappy.

But check out his pumped up kicks...Reebok Real Flex.

Rock & Roll 1/2 Marathon Chicago

213 days ago I set a goal to run a half marathon.

On January 1st I started training. And yesterday, I accomplished what I set out to do with a strong finish to boot.

13.1 miles at 2:27:09

[Starting line at 5 am]

[ashley, rachel, me]

The three of us were laughing as we walked down Michigan Avenue at 5 am, that it felt like we were off to have a baby - the oddness of the hour, not where we should be (like in bed!), the strange readiness but nervousness, uncertain of what to expect...

[ashley, me, jim at mile 4.5]

Time to stop for a photo. What a great feeling to spot Matt, Annie and Noah smiling and cheering (looking fresh and unsweaty). Later, they caught up with us with less then a 1/4 of a mile left. Matt and the kids actually ran with us for a tiny bit. Loved seeing them, a tremendous boost.

[matt & me post race]

[kids at the eye]

[my oh-so-thoughtful neighbor/best "phone" friend and her kids decorated our front door]

Thanks to my family and friends and fellow bloggers for all their encouragement and support!